After the first Video Dumpster Dive, my trusty video capture device broke. Too much soldering and desoldering that poor USB connector I suppose. No problem though, we can still watch DVDs!
I found this DVD in a charity shop in Penge. It has a wonderfully handmade sleeve, and was rated ‘N’ for Nasty.
Yeast Tenders is a handmade comedy feature about two friends who try to open a sandwich shop. Its like Peep Show meets the vomit sketch from Meaning of Life.
And look: Some parts of Yeast Tenders are funny, and a lot of parts aren’t. But what stands out the most is the amateur production. Weird edits, poor framing, that shot-on-video look. As I was streaming this one, I’m sorry to say I fell into the trap of criticizing the video, and mocking it for the jokes that didn’t land or the awkward filmmaking choices.
Going forward, that’s not what I want to do with Video Dumpster Dive. Making art is hard. That’s why I’m streaming other people’s videos on the internet instead of going out and making my own. The guys who made Yeast Tenders, probably sometime in the early 2000’s, are still at it today. They have an active Youtube channel and a website. They obviously love doing what they do, and they are putting the work in. It’s something I want more people to do. It’s something I want myself to do. For me to sit there and nitpick is some obnoxious behavior, and anyway, there are people on the internet who can do it better.
The trouble is, smug aloofness is just too easy a default mode. Unless I have a better idea, I’m going to veer back into The MST3K approach. Surely, there must be a kinder and more interesting way to watch weird TV while others watch you watch it. Should I try to find a deeper emotional connection with the tape? Should I cut the commentary altogether and just stare? Perform an interpretive dance in time with the images on screen?
Guess I’ll try again next week…