Everything is better now (production still, 2007)
The Infomercial
Everything is Better, the importance of Ambiguity in Life
16 min. Digital video, 2007
Everything is Better Now, is an infomercial on the importance of ambiguity in life. The main presenters start out with a cheerful and upbeat presentation but slowly become lost in their examples and drift into a personal argument regarding a handwritten note. The camera work and the editing move from a smooth infomercial style into a more hand held and jittery emotional documentary (or “real-life” TV) style. In the end, the video becomes a larger example for the themes put forth in the infomercial: the importance of confusion and clutter.
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The video features the editing and cinematography work of Shane King, and the acting talents of Jon Ingbretson, Erna Herzog, Jenifer Wofford, Matthew Troy and a whole slew of others (Mike McConnell, Robin Li, Kara Hearn, Jaime Cortez, Pete Nelson and the amazing Joe McKay… not to mention an entire bus load of muni riders). See below for full credits.
Video Production Credits
Writer, Director………………………………Jonn Herschend
Director of Photography……………………..Shane King
Sound…………………………………………Shane King
Editor………………………………………..Shane King and Jonn Herschend
Key Grip…………………………………… Ben Hess
Production Assistant…………………………Z school
Wardrobe Consultant……………………… Ms. Max Schroder
Special Effects……………………………….Joe McKay
Original Music……………………………….Wayne Schroeder
Cast in order of Appearance:
John………………………………………….Jon Ingbretson
Linda Cole………………………………….. Erna Herzog
Video store manager…………………………Mike McConnell
Video Store Customer…….…………………Robin Li
Car Driver………………………………………Kara Hearn
Bus Driver………………………………….. Jaime Cortez
Highway Patrol officer………………………….Pete Nelson
Mr. Tennis………………………………….. Matthew Troy
Woman who takes the shoe………………….Jenifer Wofford
Sound Man…………………………………. Joe McKay
Camera Man………………………………… Jonn Herschend
Passengers on the bus:
Michelle Alesandro, Lorene Anderson, Joseph Barber, Cheryl Brinkman, Ellen Campbell, Chris Cobb, Rich Coffin, Renee Curran, Callum Day Ham, Fynn Day Ham, Melissa Day, Leah Edwards, Ben Frombgen, Haven Frombgen, Sam Frombgen, David Hamill, Hans Herzog, Sarah Keefe, Hugo Kobayashi, Jill Manthei, Jersey McDermott, Juanita Rusev, Michael Smith, Christina Stavros, Nina Thompson
Special thanks:
Kota Ezawa, Anne Walsh, Amy Hicks, Max Schroder, Tony and Sherrie Groshong, San Francisco Muni, Mike McConnell for his Apartment, Will Rogan for the extra video camera, Rick Popko for the police uniform, Complex Corporation for Insurance, Beyond Pix, Fayes Video and Espresso Bar
Why this is not going to work so well productions © 2007
This production was made possible by a grant from the UC Berkeley Dept. of Art Practice and the McPheter-Stolz Fellowship