Wanna make a film but can’t be bothered auditioning actors or finding crew? Or perhaps you’re a bit of a shut-in and don’t venture outside until the hours of darkness. Whatever, now you with the aid of the internet and the appropriate software and a computer much like the one you’re using now, you can make your movie!

But how, Mr Trivia? you ask. How can you Geoffrey! guys make my dream come true? Well, we’re only the conduits for this information. The heavy lifting has been done by the good people at archive.org. As it says on their site.

The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Like a paper library, we provide free access to researchers, historians, scholars, and the general public.

There is a myriad of video and audio and even written material available there. Some of it is in thepublic domain and some of it has a creative commons license. Good folk like yourselves have uploaded the material to the archive and – providing one sticks by the rules – we can use this material in a variety of forms. It’s your opportunity to culturally mash-up the intellectual property of others and do so with their legal permission. Now there’s fun.

Much of the material is historical, newsreel or public information, however there are all kinds of gems like animations and features available for filmmakers who take the trouble to search the archive carefully.

Below is my attempt at collage-y goodness. It is of course deeply moving and almost impossible for others to understand – such is the nature of all truly great art. Why not go to archive.org directly and create some of your own brilliance using the sounds and images of other eras.

It’s better than say, decoupaging.

Mr Trivia

Edwin and I are planning the New Year. He’s a big fan of using Freemind mind-mapping software to create a picture of his future. He’s visual (being a director) and it makes perfect sense for those who are. I’m basically Luddite (being a writer) and I like to see things written down on a piece of paper.

Somehow we’ll bring it altogether as we assemble 2009 for Geoffrey.com.au. Expect to see more Shivering Geoff, Shivering Geoff -Series 2 and some new features: The Lawnmower Diaries, Donna’s Lovely Feet, and more on-line marketing for our on-line feature, Women of Various Ages.

Keep your eye out for the new stuff. Above is a word from our new sponsor.

Cheers, Mr Trivia