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We asked the same question and it took us somewhere new. Gone were the lazy days of summer. A cool breeze swept the streets with leaves under foot and the familiar hustle of the city. Welcome to autumn in New York.

It’s a simple question and the answers can lead us anywhere. So go ahead, ask yourself…

Visit fiftypeopleonequestion.com and post your response.

We also asked this question in New Orleans, LA. Check it out: vimeo.com/1737450

We asked a new question in Brooklyn: vimeo.com/2540216

Credits

1,026 Likes

  • Ashley Harrison plus 1 year ago
    I love these types of videos. Added to HV20 channel.
  • Thanks for watching Ashley :) new vids from Brooklyn and London coming soon
  • Helen Pham 1 year ago
    How about Los Angeles? (:
  • Pigfish★ 3 months ago
    How about Singapore! =D
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  • americanvirus plus 1 year ago
    I love the look of this series. Love that shallow DOF.
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  • Benjamin Reece 1 year ago
    Beautiful, peaceful rhythm. It lets the project breathe, the second chapter in a beautiful story, featuring a very unique place.
  • Matt E plus 1 year ago
    Great filming Benjamin. Looks like you're putting the HV20+Brevis+Cineform combo to awesome use. Love it!
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  • Mark Jacinto 1 year ago
    Very cool and nice editing. The part with the man with colon cancer is pretty powerful.
  • Thanks for watching Mark. Always some surprising moments when we do this, and that was certainly one of them.
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  • Tasi Alabastro 1 year ago
    I enjoyed this! I would have used similar music too, can't beat that. This has inspired me to take the train back up to SF soon. I'll keep you posted!
  • Cool! Let us know when you're hitting up SF - we're going to be out there in December too actually :)
  • Tasi Alabastro 1 year ago
    Oh fantastic. Maybe we can meet up then! I don't live too far from there.
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  • sophie dabuzhsky 1 year ago
    breathe of fresh air this is.
    mm hmm.
    made my eyes well up while in my cube today.
    mmm hmmm.


    looking forward to more to come...
    theeenks.
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  • mexisurfer 1 year ago
    What was this shot on?
  • Benjamin Reece 1 year ago
    Here is the rig explained: tinyurl.com/indiefilmmaking
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  • Paweł 1 year ago
    Smile ;-)

    Great job :)
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  • mexisurfer 1 year ago
    Great! Yeah, I've been trying to go through my options with the HV20. Seen just about everything you could imagine, but I thought your composite was probably one of the sharpest and most invoking I've seen. It may be the edit and how you used the camera, but I'm very intrigued by your piece.

    Thanks for sharing.
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  • Thanks for the likes and comments everyone…makes our hearts happy :)
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  • kaspars plus 1 year ago
    This is so great, greater than the first video, I must admit! This is so positive. ;-)
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  • kaspars plus 1 year ago
    And music..ahhhh. I LOVE IT.
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  • Scott Gold 1 year ago
    Great stuff, keep it up!
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  • -GO- plus 1 year ago
    Inspiring stuff! The comment from the guy with colon cancer "which is spreading to my lungs" is haunting. Tough break.
    Try and ask the question in Dublin if you can. I'd love to hear the responce from there (being a Dub myself).
  • Jamie Martin 1 year ago
    Yeah, I'm not sure if the music matched that part.. or maybe that was the point - I'm not sure..
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  • Alekx 1 year ago
    That was sweet.
    Love it.
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  • Ruben Avila Media 1 year ago
    I'm not trying to be critical or judge you... A huge element of this video is the music. It really sets the tone. Did you actually get the rights for it? As artists, what is your perspective on using material that is out there? I struggle with this given the digital age in which we live...you know what I mean???
    Beautiful piece of work.
  • James 11 months ago
    I recognized the first song as "La Vie en Rose" by Louis Armstrong. And according to their website the second is, "On the Sunny Side of the Street" performed by Louis Armstrong.
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  • Kenneth Chu 1 year ago
    Hey Ruben, thanks for the comment. We are in the process of licensing the rights to the music actually. As this project grows to different cities, we think it'd be really great to work with artists whose music is reflective of that particular place/people. Glad you liked the piece.
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  • Nathan Heleine 1 year ago
    Ruben, thanks for your thought. Just to add to Ken's note, this is a huge priority for us now. Originally the project was just a personal experiment. Now that it's growing we recognize that music is a big part of it (and definitely want to do it right). Keep an eye out for upcoming pieces which will feature local artists.
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  • Roberto Lepe 1 year ago
    Love what all of you are doing!
    Completely Beautiful.
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  • Mike Hutcherson plus 1 year ago
    great. simply perfect.
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  • loonachic plus 1 year ago
    can't wait to see more!
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  • Thanks guys, glad you like it. We'll be going to London this weekend to shoot another... check our site for updates.
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  • Nicholas Luckett 1 year ago
    Wow, one of the most interesting and beautifully shot things I've seen on Vimeo.
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  • Jan van der Meer plus 1 year ago
    Love this concept. Every Vimian should try this. Its a very good experience. I know its hard to do but: take care to put the eyes on one line and the size of the talking heads in the same size. Now you're jumping sometimes to much from medium shot to closeup. Also in widescreen you can put head 1 left and then head two right and so on... The dof is nice as long as it doesnt jump.
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  • AIR Interviews plus 1 year ago
    It's interesting that most people actually say what's on their minds. Cancer. Boys. Baby. Jobs. I think you did a good job of eliciting these types of responses. It makes me wonder what is on the cutting floor!
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  • Kenneth Chu 1 year ago
    What's on the cutting floor? A fair amount of interviews, but for the most part, I think we accounted for all the types of responses we encountered that day. Glad you liked it.
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  • olaf h. ☞ nadu 1 year ago
    hey that`s great!!!
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  • Pikku 1 year ago
    haha great :D
  • Glad you like... we'll be sure to let you know when we come to Germany.
  • Pikku 1 year ago
    Hope you will come ;D
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  • Nathan Heleine 1 year ago
    New production photos from 'Fifty People: London' are available for love and consumption via Flickr: bit.ly/50P1Q_London
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  • Jon Rawlinson plus 1 year ago
    Brilliant work again!

    I really enjoy these. Very inspiring!
  • Kenneth Chu 1 year ago
    Thanks Jon, you've got some interesting work as well. Glad you liked them. A new pair of "Fifty People" videos will be coming soon...
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  • Aziz K. plus 1 year ago
    It amazes me how nice these people are, just like the one before. Can't wait for London!
  • Kenneth Chu 1 year ago
    Yeah, it's a pleasant surprise for sure. London and Brooklyn will be coming soon.
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  • Daniel Hayek staff 1 year ago
    Awesome, makes me nostalgic for New Yorkers, those lovable oafs.
  • Kenneth Chu 1 year ago
    Haha, thats the feel we were going for. Thanks, glad you liked the video...
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  • persistent cookie 1 year ago
    bravo! lovely indeed.
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  • Hudson Gardner 1 year ago
    This honestly gave me hope that all the scowling people I see every day are really genuinely good hearted and nice.
    By the end of today, I hope to do something of some significance, whether it's to me, or anyone around me.
    Great work guys.
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  • Hudson Gardner 1 year ago
    Ps
    Do one in Portland, I'd love to see how people around here react.
  • Kenneth Chu 1 year ago
    We'd love too! We have plenty of friends in Portland. Glad you like the video.
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  • Daniel da Rocha 1 year ago
    total süß :)
    congrats!
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  • AndyM801 1 year ago
    clean and classy. nice camera work.
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  • Bill Ecay 1 year ago
    what camera was this shot with?
  • Kenneth Chu 1 year ago
    Hey Bill, it was a Canon HV20 with this setup: tinyurl.com/indiefilmmaking
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  • Mark Barry 1 year ago
    Wonderful! Great spirit and surprises when you least expect it.
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  • Bill Ecay 1 year ago
    Thanks Kenneth! That's a great camera. It looks like film. Did you apply a filter?
  • Kenneth Chu 1 year ago
    No filter. Ben used a 35mm lens adapter, which is why there is such great depth of field.
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  • geoffd 1 year ago
    Poetic beautiful idea.

    Thanks.
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  • Liam Shostakovich 11 months ago
    I loved this. Uber-Sweet work!
  • Kenneth Chu 11 months ago
    Thanks Liam, glad you liked it. We're working hard on editing the new videos now.
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  • Teah 11 months ago
    Aww, the last guy's wish made my heart turn to goo.
  • Kenneth Chu 11 months ago
    Yeah, haha. He was really cool. We had a great conversation with him afterwards.
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  • Anne 11 months ago
    Beautiful!!! Plan on doing a Paris series some time? Please hit me up. Please, pretty please!
  • Kenneth Chu 11 months ago
    Paris? Definitely. :)
  • Anne 11 months ago
    Oh that is good. Good good good. I'm your man! I'll translate... or bring fresh croissants. Or something.
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  • Es un vídeo tan neoyorquino como fresco, de un formato breve y dotado de una sinfonía de emociones que infunden una suave serenidad. Enhorabuena.
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  • Bill Kirby 11 months ago
    Moar!!!!!!
  • Benjamin Reece 11 months ago
    Soon, Very Soon :)...
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  • the SaNdMaN 11 months ago
    Great location . . . and great editing, as always . . . the guy with colon cancer stuck with me -- very unfortunate but puts our lives in perspective . . . we are all on borrowed time.
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  • Bringo 11 months ago
    beautiful
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  • dannyjelinek 11 months ago
    Excellent, can't wait to see more of your videos. What song was that?
  • all the music from the 'Fifty People' videos is now featured on fiftypeopleonequestion.com and available for purchase as well :)
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  • Catarina Soutinho 11 months ago
    Hi! I'm a journalism student from Portugal and I saw your videos during my sound and image classes. I just want to say that I did like more the Fifty People, One Question: New Orleans, than the New York version, but I think you did a great job with an simple ideia: a good question!

    Thank tou,
    Catarina

    valetacomum.blogspot.com
  • Benjamin Reece 11 months ago
    Awesome! Film class! Sweet!
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  • Jörg Brönnimann 11 months ago
    i want see more ...
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  • Scratch 11 months ago
    If there is any value in saying it again - beautiful work.
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  • North Dakota 11 months ago
    Lovely work! Thanks for posting this!
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  • nic 11 months ago
    Hey guys: I had two semi-different reactions to each video. The NY video gave me a wave of nostalgia and romanticism: louis armstrong, manhattan and human honesty. there was a lovely woody allen feel to it. The New Orleans one felt more vulnerable, if that makes sense: there seemed to be more heart in the people who answered. i found myself tearing up in the answers that were given. beautiful dof/lighting/editing and an all-round great project. more please :)
  • Kenneth Chu 11 months ago
    Yeah, I think your reactions are pretty accurate. Whatever happens that day, happens… and so that's how we approach the videos. More coming soon :)
  • Benjamin Reece 11 months ago
    Haha! Ken is Woody Allen! Yes! I love that description. Thanks for the great feedback nic. :) Its nice to hear such well thought out comparisons.
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  • nic 11 months ago
    ha! awesome. well, keep it up, and keep 'em coming. beautiful work.
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  • Mahalo 11 months ago
    The level was too high wiht the first one in New Orleans. But now with this one a new dimension has come. I don´t know if it is your proyect but it "fifty people, one question" instead of a single film it becomes a serie of films the experience it could be amaizing: how people think, depending where those people lives.
    If you think about it, first of thinking abroad, why not trying with a little american village and their people.

    Keep walking, Ben
    Congratulations!

    Juan (from Spain)
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  • Bracken James Batson 11 months ago
    So Simple, So Amazing. Just Brilliant
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  • Eglair Quicolli 11 months ago
    so nice and great idea!!!
    ;D
    i loved
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  • Thanks so much for the continued love and support everyone! New videos coming this week. Our friends here on Vimeo and Twitter - twitter.com/crushlovely - will be the first to know when they go live.
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  • Once upon a time, we asked a new question in Brooklyn: vimeo.com/2540216
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  • Brandon Beck 11 months ago
    Your videos are very sweet. Thank you.
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  • That guy has the coolest mustache ever.
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  • Will Haslun 11 months ago
    i feel really bad for the guy with colon cancer
    he seems so sad and hurt
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  • benoit Rudolph 11 months ago
    what comes after lonon uk? berlin Barcelona? these videos are great!
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  • Fabien Poux 11 months ago
    Nice, very touching
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  • Inofaith 11 months ago
    The little girl on her daddies shoulders has this really cute hiding look in the shot.

    Keep up the good work.

    (there's some edges around the image... not completely 16:9?)
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  • Maxwell W. Malinow 10 months ago
    This was sooo well done. Thanks to it I ordered up the parts to make my own DOF adapter. Keep up with the amazing work.
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  • simply: this is amazing.

    beautiful. please keep up the wonderful work, and we'll keep with these awe-inspired adjectives.
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  • tyler lassiter 10 months ago
    so...rad
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  • will 10 months ago
    awesome work! loved it
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  • Berislav Petrovic 10 months ago
    That was so nice!! made my day...
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  • Cheryll J 10 months ago
    This is really interesting and I look forward to more vids from you guys. *subscribed*
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  • Beth 10 months ago
    I loved it. You should try out Portland, Amsterdam, or Berlin!
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