this is just brilliant ...posted at the curious brain

Like the simple idea a lot.
Just the music is way too cheesy for my taste.

I am greatly moved by this video. Thank you.

Great concept

I have seen two different renditions of the "I AM" shot film theme. This one was OK, The swirling around camera does make it. The brief look into a few lives is quite shallow, I would like to see the filmmaker really go for it and find a central core for the film and find what people in the park really think.Make a long form film.

I am annoyed at how many times the director managed to put his own name in the credits, and that he tried to pass this off as a documentary.

I AM in full disagreement with the above comment..
I thought the brief insight into 3 of the people were beautiful done. Camera skills aside,, This is a tricky docu to make as it really can only be as good as the random people infront of the camera make it..

I am really happy I could watch this

@Tabitha, hit me up;]
and beautiful video Mr. Smith, made my day!

I am someone that just watched a cool idea get executed well.

fantastic. beautiful

I am beating Lyme Disease. Miss diagnosed since I was a kid and now I am 38, so I did not know if I could do it, but I did I just got my blood test last week finally clear of the bacteria that gave me migraines, seizures ect.....my whole life,...I am crying happy tears :-)
tell Kelly I love her :-)

A great idea, and well shot. I AM glad I whatched it.
However, the typography part could do some more wok, white text on almost white background is hard to read, even though its for a few seconds and in few parts, its still forces the eyes to focus harder on the text.

Nice work! I used to work with BPA. glad to see Jared in there!

I am inspired

I am sharing this with the viewers at the189.

thanks.

Dan - the189.com

I am motivated now.

"Be your self" 2010 - Garry Steawart & ADT
in regards to your interest in contemporary Dance...

beautiful people.

Beautifully done and to the point! A timely reminder that the real stories are here on our streets. Thank you for sharing and best wishes for the future. JB

I am.... Happy I watched this.
Good work Steven...

Thank you everyone for your comments and critiques!

loving this .. always amazing what ordinary people give you when you take the time to ask.

I teach English in Spain and I have just posted your video in my blog. I hope it´s OK with you; I´m sure my students will enjoy it.

i am awesome ,i mean you r awesome

Steven, here´s my blog

inglesiesollosgrandes.blogspot.com/

I´ll let you know what my students think of it

I am posting a comment for the first time on Vimeo. Great concept. Very creative. Music worked well. Liked all the stories and thought they were a good length. How many days did it take you to shoot and edit?

I am thinking , what am I ?!

love it .

I am who I am. That is the person I aspire to be, want to be, and love being everyday!

I loved the video so much. I am truly inspired by the concept. Props to you!

Hi Steven,

I am ‘currently disappointed with your film and vimeo’

Although you give a voice to many people, you describe three narratives quite rapidly, which in a way de-sensitizes us to their stories. This, I believe is the opposite effect that you desire. Don’t get me wrong; I love your concept but I honestly think that you could explore it a little more so that it becomes stronger and actually does have an impact on people. As opposed to viewers just having the following thought “oh that is a cool video, thank you - next”.

Here are a few of my thoughts:

1) You might want to explain how you ‘took strangers and asked them to finish the sentence “I am________” ‘ In that I mean, how were they selected, at what time of the day and at what location exactly? All these are extremely important questions so that your social experiment looks credible and is not considered as just another home made video (on vimeo). The selection process might be random but you had the choice of the day/time/location. This will subsequently affect your selection process whether you want it or not - as certain people will be present at different times/days/locations. For example, if you are at a financial center, you will mostly interview people that work there. If you shoot after working hours, then who will be the people you interview, and if you don’t shoot at a financial center, then that will change everything once again. Hope you understand what I am saying…

2) The three stories you share with us should not enforce stereotypes. Let me explain what I mean. In the first narrative you present your subject walking in the street then falling down, lying on the floor in the middle of the street, and standing on the crosswalk while others walk past her. But have you thought of the consequences of these placements? By doing this, people that walk by look at her and wonder what is wrong and dismiss her for her actions which they consider to be not-normal. While I do understand that this might be your desired approach, I would like you to think about what this visually represents. In my opinion, it seems that she is blocking the path for society, in this case the people walking. And in so, she is stereotyped as an obstruction or some’thing’ that is in the way and is therefore undesirable. I would rather like to see her strong and full of life, (as you show your next subject at the playground) walking proudly on the street.

3) Have you thought about questions of equality? The three narratives you portray are all of white individuals – two white women and one white man. I am not suggesting you try to present everybody possible, but I am suggesting that you consciously think about this choice. Society is predominantly geared towards white individuals (just think about who gets stopped at the airport and who doesn’t,…) so you might want to consider giving a voice to a person of color, for these people struggle everyday – just like anybody who is not heterosexual (who you might also want to consider giving a voice)

At the end, it’s all a question of choice. I am only suggesting that we reflect on these choices and make conscious rather than unconscious decisions. As filmmakers, we are consistently making choices whether we want it or not – Someone needs to make the choices that characterize a film (camera angles, positions, locations, color, lenses, and so on…) and if it is not you, it’s the person YOU assign for the job.

Anyway, hope you get the general idea… I’m new to vimeo and it looks like this space is going to become like youtube and that would suck. Vimeo is a space for artists and so that artists can share their work with other artists. It would be nice if this could also be a space where we could get feedback from others so that ultimately, we can all grow and make better movies.

I hope I didn’t offend anybody – this was not my intension.

Cheers to making viMeos!

Steve

PS: I can’t wait to explore the film-school channel- that’s a great idea!

I liked the material, nice, not necessarily the filming style or direction as its not really my style. I agree with a few points coming from 'Steve Hoffman' but majority of it is delving too deep into the semiotics of the actual shots/sequences, which in a way can be constructive feedback depending on how you set out to view the film in the first place. I appreciate that its not to my taste, but the idea is very good, balanced well with the visual images of different people, different personalities made a somewhat heart warming insight.

Well Done.

... I am.. filming a chainsaw cutting through fake flesh next Wednesday with my crew..

:) hope that's good enough, the mind is boggled right now

I await your next film

Regards,

Ben Jennings

I am glad I joined Vimeo today, if for no other reason than to see your video. I loved it. Very fun, creative, made me feel happy. Screw those freak'n know-it-all's ... you know the ones ... those who always have a condescending opinion ... you are AWESOME! Such Talent! You will produce many more wonderful videos! Keep up the good work!

i am intrigued.

This is great, well done:)

I AM a VERY proud dad. Congratulations on the creation of a great short film. I really like the concept and the execution. Consider doing an "I AM" #2.

I am :-)

I am :-)

great work steve

What I am, who we are, is all derived from who and what He is: "before Abraham was, I Am" –– Jesus.

Get that right first and its a lot easier to say 'I am....'

For the record: I am saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. I am a child of God. I am in Christ. I am born-again. I am hopeful. I am in love with Jesus Christ. I am in a relationship with the living God. I am forever secure in Him.

I am a fan of vimeo.

What camera did you use and what software?

Thanks!

nice movie!

Niceee

Really unique and touching concept. I also loved the short further looks into "I am".

I am a filmmaker....

vimeo.com/11973165

And you, who are you?

I AM greatful for having watched this little gem of a short film. I liked it very much. Thank you for sharing your talent with us.

I am really liking this video

I am watching Philly with brand new eyes.

Nice perform.

I am, because I think.

i am applauding you!

Hmm, Reminds me a little bit to much of the I AMsterdam campaign...

Very nice!

its now on spaced.blog.com/ :D

I am content with my life at this very moment.

I suggest sequels of I feel, I wish, I dream, I love, I hate, I eat, etc.

Nice, simple, great.

It's like "Talking heads" from polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski.

I strongly recommend to check that out :)

I realy like this concept! Really great film! My favourite aspect is when you have put in the odd breakdown when people go into detail about their lives. Keep up the good work.

Awesome!

This must be the most beautiful short movie I've ever seen. I am deeply touched.

I'll share this on my blog too on of these days.

I am one Love, expressing itSelf in many beautiful and diverse voices ~

I am inspired to have found this link on the ron orp newsletter. Our clips are starting even more with: "I remember"..
memoro.org/de-de/ or the international page memoro.org

Great day from Munich

Thanks for making this.

very, VERY good! it created great emotions, positive vibes.
greetings from Poland.

I am an entrepreneur, lost in an idea that has no real meaning... I am wrong!

Cool little doco Steve. Stoked you shared this with us...

great idea

well done, I like it

I am happy now!

Nice work :ö)
Thanks for sharing Steven

I am enjoying this a lot and "I Am" inspired me a lot. :) Not to be rude or something like that but according to me, this IS a movie ;)
anyway, great job. The stories that were developped were all good, especially the actor's story. It was the one that touched me the most

I am in love with what I'm doing right now.

I am... Content with my life right now. Just watched your video for the 2nd time, and enjoyed it again. You should make a sequel called Why? Or I love.

I am not sure i like this video, but i loved it.

Thanks for sharing :)

I am ... Am I? I don't know anymore. I am sure I was. But am I now? When was I? I can't remember. But maybe I will be again. I must. Because I want to be.

The simplicity and the message of this short film endeared me into loving and living each day as it comes. I am worry-free! :)

I am gay, and gay about it!

nice video! Wanna make one for my dream...

Simple and brilliant piece of art.
Inspiring and relevant!