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Bob Blankenheim has only posted a single remix to the internet, but man…

Over 9 million youtube views so far. What was it about this remix that excited so many viewers? There were lots of other trailer mashes hitting the internet thanks to Robert Ryang’s Shining. But most trailer mashes focus on modifying the moods and premises of Hollywood advertisements--- Blankenheim’s remixed Titanic trailer goes way beyond this.

Probably you’ve already seen this remix. If you haven’t, go watch it now. Anyway I’ll try not to spoil it.

The remix trailer has more than a premise; it has a plot in which nearly every Hollywood trope converges against the protagonist. It’s a brilliantly insightful and hilarious parody of not only Titanic, but the whole supercharged drama business of Hollywood production and promotion (it uses clips from 23 different films).

Blakenheim has put a “director’s commentary” version of the video on his website– click here to go watch it if you feel like being blown away a 2nd time. You’ll get details on the CG and editing tricks he used in the remix. They’re seamless and lots of them are quite elaborate, but the creativity with which Blankenheim applies the simpler effects is equally impressive. I’m thinking in particular of two different effects he applies to a single closeup – one of them is during the “warm liquid goo phase….”

It’s been a few years since the Titanic sequel, but Bob Blankenheim’s involvement in the Open Video Conference tells us that he hasn’t lost interest in remixing. If/When he releases another video, I expect you’ll be hearing about it.

UPDATE