VISUAL REVIEW 8

Mitchel Wu’s 60-Second Doc

Professional Photographer Brings Toys To Life In Surreal Shots—Mitchel Wu

April 2, 2023

I picked Mitchel Wu’s 60 Second Doc because he stages plastic toy characters to create stories.  I used his technique for “Painting2Life.” I got plastic toys related to horseback riding and created a video story of a bleeding heart based on Jim Dine’s Satin Heart. And, of course, I recreated that painting physically by drawing it and coloring it.  

From Wu, I learned how to use effects in photography.  He is gifted in recreating and capturing the expression needed in what is a still.  He uses look and sound to make you sense the explosions.  Depending on the scene, he uses compressed air, dirt, water, etc. Visually, however, Wu makes us think that we are watching a motion film. In addition, I like his philosophy – be playful and do something you enjoy. 

For my 60 Second Doc on making tzatziki sauce, I can draw from Wu’s use of Photoshop’s digital effects as well as practical effects.  His digital effects are visible in his surreal shots. He is concise in capturing someone’s attention.  And this is important as the story is told in sixty seconds.  His script is to the point too.  In addition, he uses captions throughout the video. That should make it easier on the viewers to follow, especially when the video involves a recipe. 

As to the camera shots, movements, and angles, Wu uses a variety of them.  Here are the most memorable ones: a one-person medium full shot of Wu; a close-up involving an explosion effect, to zooming in on “Wall;” a full shot, high angle, of Wu holding a compressed air can and looking down at the toys; a close up of a motorcycle at eye-level; a tracking (left to right) as Wu’s hand moves, with crane up; 2-shot of Wu and a woman, eye-level, as he throws dirt and she pumps air; close two-shot of characters with a zoom in; a medium shot of Wu and his camera; a point of view with a camera close up in which the camera shows us what Wu is looking at; a one-shot camera panning right to left; 2 medium shots of two characters with zoom in (Rambo); a close shot of dinosaurs; a close up of a pan; full shot of Toy Story with pivoting/panning left to right; a close-up of Wu with his head down; a close-up of a toy box with Wu’s hands craning up; an extreme close-up of Wu’s fingers as he drills a toy; a wide shot of Wu and his surroundings at eye-level; a close-up shot of a pump; a zoom in on a figure (including Sponge Bob); a single shot of a loose close up of Wu’s; a high-angle medium full shot of Wu touching Toy Story’s figure; a tracking as camera moves left to right; a medium shot with point of view as Wu looks at his computer and camera shows us what he’s looking at; a zoom in on Wu’s close up as camera moves to show Wu’s head movement; a close-up of Harry Potter; a zoom in on the Lion King, frogs, Toy Story, etc.; and a full shot of Wu closing his toy box.

In this video, Wu’s patio/garden area serves for staging different scenes with different toys and photo-taking.  He also has a photography lab where he stores the toys he uses, a computer, and lighting.  The toys include SpongeBob, Toy Story, Rocky, Harry Potter, The Lion King, and Batman. 

For Wu’s video, please visit https://youtu.be/M50xRaEgMw4

For more information on sixty seconds movies,  please visit https://www.youtube.com/c/60seconddocs