Question: Open source tools for web-based split-screen media

A reader writes:

I am an artist, who is not very technical, looking for any existing open source code that would enable a web site to pair two videos on a split screen for simultaneously play. The video artist uploading his/her video would simply note which video he or she wanted to appear opposite his or her own video on the split screen and "viola", the videos would be play side by side.

YouTube Doubler and You3b provide the functionality described above, but the reader informed me that she is looking for an open source software package that can be installed on a given site and presumably customized. If you know of such software, or would be willing to work on something similar, please leave any info in the comments.

YouTube-based tools for split screen

This post is an ongoing collection of YouTube-based tools for making split-screen media. These web-based tools allow you to select the YouTube clips that you want to use as part of your own multi-channel mashup. I'll update this list as I find more; newer additions are nearer the top of the post.

YooouuuTuuube

YooouuuTuuube lays out the frames of a YouTube clip within a grid. The frames can be scrolling by as the clip plays, or be shuffled around the screen. Examples: Alice and Auto-Tune the News #2. See the related MetaFilter thread for more samples.

YouCube

YouCube creates an interactive 3D cube whose faces are composed of YouTube clips. You can rotate the cube to control the visible faces and the audio mix. See the demo video for YouCube.

Question: Mystery film

A reader asks:

I've recently seen a film I think where there were several split screen boxes - I think it starts off with one guy, his phone rings, intro the guy on the other end - someone else then either gets intro'd or one of the previous guys hangs up and dials someone else - whatever, in the end there are several people on screen either interacting or have just interacted with each other via phone. I can only liken it to this (YouTube) but done as a split screen.

Wall Street? Charlie Sheen calls someone with an insider stock tip, who then calls someone else, who then calls Oliver Stone appearing in a cameo, and so on.

Please leave possible answers in the comments.

UPDATE: The answer is indeed Wall Street.

Ask Metafilter: The art of multitasking, split screens in media

Looking for movies with the technique of split screen. Also, I'm looking for free media theory papers on the topic.

Refractory: Double Trouble - Special Issue on Split and Double Screens

Double Trouble - Special Issue on Split and Double Screens is the latest volume of Refractory, a "refereed, peer-reviewed, e-journal that explores the diverging and intersecting aspects of current and past entertainment media". It is published by the Cinema Studies Program, School of Culture and Communication, at the University of Melbourne. The special issue focuses on multi-channel media and it should be interesting for readers of this blog.

Thanks to Julie Talen.

Question: Split-screen live web show

A reader asks:

how would you set up a web show using split screen. what i mean is two diffrent people making a show using two diffrent computers feeding to one website. the viewers see both people at the same time. a split screen. and its live.

The first thing that came to mind was Bloggingheads where two bloggers are shown side-by-side having a dialogue while the audience watches them. However, I'm told that the show is not captured live: the two video streams are recorded separately and later edited together. Not what we're looking for.

There was a thread on the Bloggingheads forums that did point to a possible solution: ooVoo. It does promise live split-screen broadcasting, but I haven't used it and can't vouch for it.

Please leave any answers and suggestions in the comments.

Trapped

Trapped (Flash Video)

Time-lapse video of a man trapped in an elevator for 41 hours. It's from Up and Then Down, a New Yorker article about the man's ordeal and about elevators in general. In the clip, the presence of security footage from the other 3 elevators adds to the tension and highlights the feeling of isolation.

Maradonna vs Messi

messi-maradonna (YouTube)

A visual comparison of two similarly spectacular run and goals by Diego Maradonna and Lionel Messi, both Argentinians, one already a legend, the other working on his own.

Status

I'm back blogging after a tough couple of months involving much work and not enough non-work. I'll be making another attempt to keep Split Screen going.

Many thanks to everyone who sent emails with suggestions and kind words. I'm quite the slacker when it comes to Split Screen correspondence. My apologies & I'll attempt to get thru your emails soon.

Feel free to use the comments for this post to share any interesting split-screen works you've seen recently.

Petition for Picture New York

Split-screen filmmaker and frequent contributor Julie Talen is asking for all of us to help:

We need everyone who works in any kind of independent or personal or experimental film or video or installation work to click on this site - and sign this ePetition, please:

http://www.pictureny.org/petition/index.php

I'm with this ad hoc group of us, Picture New York - pictureny.org - who just formed to fight these proposed regulations from our Mayor's Office of Film Theater and Broadcasting --- these proposed rules would require any two people doing handheld work for more than a half hour and any five people with a tripod for even ten minutes - (including set-up & breakdown) - to get a permit from the city -- which can take up to a month - AND to get a million dollars worth of insurance.

So - I don't have to explain to your readers the chilling effect this is going to have on all kinds of films and videos -- They just didn't know what they were doing when they wrote these regulations, and these two laws are merely the most heinous.

The only ammunition we have is public pressure - we got a great write-up in The NY Times on Saturday, we've got 6000 signatures, lots of very talented people on it - major stills fotogs, patti smith, barbara kopple - adn we're meeting with the Mayo's Office and trying to get them to delay the August 3 deadline and throw these regs out

I know everyone gets asked to sign things online - but this is one case where every single signature really matters - we're going to print them out at the end of the week and personally hadn them over to the mayor's office and - also - hopefully - email the MOFTB, or even write a real letter, and email everyone they know, especially any kind of official group.

Please take a minute and help out if you can. You can also get more background in this clip (YouTube), and post video comments as well.