Dan O’Brien
@drdanobrien.bsky.social
I am a lecturer in Film and Digital Media. My research publications span across: Film, Television, Video Gaming, Digital Performance and Video Essaying.
https://vimeo.com/user107379730
https://criticalcommons.org/user/DanOB1/media
https://vimeo.com/user107379730
https://criticalcommons.org/user/DanOB1/media
🎬 Double Bill this Saturday 1st Nov at the Electric Palace:
The Collector (William Wyler, 1965)
Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
🎟️ Discount available for both!
👉 Event info: www.essex.ac.uk/events/2025/...
🎟️ Tickets: electricpalace.com/production/2...
📺 Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmBP...
The Collector (William Wyler, 1965)
Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
🎟️ Discount available for both!
👉 Event info: www.essex.ac.uk/events/2025/...
🎟️ Tickets: electricpalace.com/production/2...
📺 Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmBP...
Halloween Double Bill Screening | University of Essex
Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho and William Wyler’s The Collector at Electric Palace Cinema, Harwich
www.essex.ac.uk
October 29, 2025 at 1:19 PM
🎬 Double Bill this Saturday 1st Nov at the Electric Palace:
The Collector (William Wyler, 1965)
Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
🎟️ Discount available for both!
👉 Event info: www.essex.ac.uk/events/2025/...
🎟️ Tickets: electricpalace.com/production/2...
📺 Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmBP...
The Collector (William Wyler, 1965)
Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
🎟️ Discount available for both!
👉 Event info: www.essex.ac.uk/events/2025/...
🎟️ Tickets: electricpalace.com/production/2...
📺 Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmBP...
My review for The Thing With Feathers 🪶 theconversation.com/the-thing-wi...
The Thing With Feathers: a dark but uplifting exploration of grief and despair
Dylan Southern’s film is a sharply crafted adaptation of Max Porter’s poignant book, grounded in powerful performances.
theconversation.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
My review for The Thing With Feathers 🪶 theconversation.com/the-thing-wi...
Reposted by Dan O’Brien
Very happy to have contributed a (35-seconds-long) fragment to the 2nd collection of @fragmentsjournal.bsky.social, alongside fragments by @drdanobrien.bsky.social, @bolddecade.bsky.social , @ursmusically.bsky.social, and others!
Our 2nd Collection of experimental videographic practice is now live. 9 fragments (from eight creators) ranging from 35 seconds to an hour. fragments.video
September 25, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Very happy to have contributed a (35-seconds-long) fragment to the 2nd collection of @fragmentsjournal.bsky.social, alongside fragments by @drdanobrien.bsky.social, @bolddecade.bsky.social , @ursmusically.bsky.social, and others!
Reposted by Dan O’Brien
Screen Stars Dictionary #36: Arnold Schwarzenegger, by @drdanobrien.bsky.social: vimeo.com/1104220855
Arnold Schwarzenegger. Screen Stars Dictionary
This is "Arnold Schwarzenegger. Screen Stars Dictionary" by JOURNAL OF AUDIOVISUAL ESSAYS on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who…
vimeo.com
August 4, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Screen Stars Dictionary #36: Arnold Schwarzenegger, by @drdanobrien.bsky.social: vimeo.com/1104220855
Very pleased my video-essay will be part of today’s screening at the Marienbad Film Festival, showing alongside the brilliant work of fellow video essayists and filmmakers. m.youtube.com/watch?v=LdHX...
June 14, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Very pleased my video-essay will be part of today’s screening at the Marienbad Film Festival, showing alongside the brilliant work of fellow video essayists and filmmakers. m.youtube.com/watch?v=LdHX...
Reposted by Dan O’Brien
SUPERB! The Film Atlas is a collaboration between the International Federation of Film Archives and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It is - or aims to be - an interactive global map of the history of film technology. The site has just gone live and it is free to use for all.
www.filmatlas.com
www.filmatlas.com
FILM ATLAS
The International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) brings together institutions dedicated to rescuing of films both as art and as historical documents
www.filmatlas.com
June 1, 2025 at 3:04 PM
SUPERB! The Film Atlas is a collaboration between the International Federation of Film Archives and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It is - or aims to be - an interactive global map of the history of film technology. The site has just gone live and it is free to use for all.
www.filmatlas.com
www.filmatlas.com
Very pleased to be part of this new issue of MAST on Time Machines with some more video-essay work on Time Loops. Many thanks to Michael Goddard, James Burton, and Aleena Chia for your support with this 🕰️➰⏰ www.mast-journal.org/vol-6-no-1-2...
MAST
www.mast-journal.org
May 31, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Very pleased to be part of this new issue of MAST on Time Machines with some more video-essay work on Time Loops. Many thanks to Michael Goddard, James Burton, and Aleena Chia for your support with this 🕰️➰⏰ www.mast-journal.org/vol-6-no-1-2...
The Phoenician Scheme: a fun watch even though it’s the same journey in a different vehicle
theconversation.com/the-phoenici...
theconversation.com/the-phoenici...
The Phoenician Scheme: a fun watch even though it’s the same journey in a different vehicle
Anderson is in danger of parodying his own style in his 13th film, but there’s still plenty to enjoy.
theconversation.com
May 28, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The Phoenician Scheme: a fun watch even though it’s the same journey in a different vehicle
theconversation.com/the-phoenici...
theconversation.com/the-phoenici...
Reposted by Dan O’Brien
Cut to Sound #2: "Ears Led the Way"
A collaborative video, with images and words by
Oswald Iten, Rotem Sudman, @drdanobrien.bsky.social, Daniel Pope, @vikap8.bsky.social, Eduardo Gama, Ada Etgar, and Alan O'Leary: vimeo.com/1076654961
A collaborative video, with images and words by
Oswald Iten, Rotem Sudman, @drdanobrien.bsky.social, Daniel Pope, @vikap8.bsky.social, Eduardo Gama, Ada Etgar, and Alan O'Leary: vimeo.com/1076654961
Ears Led the Way (Cut to Sound, Group 2)
Made as part of a collaborative videographic experiment I organized in 2024-2025. Participants: Oswald Iten, Rotem Sudman, Daniel O'Brien, Daniel Pope, Viktoria…
vimeo.com
April 30, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Cut to Sound #2: "Ears Led the Way"
A collaborative video, with images and words by
Oswald Iten, Rotem Sudman, @drdanobrien.bsky.social, Daniel Pope, @vikap8.bsky.social, Eduardo Gama, Ada Etgar, and Alan O'Leary: vimeo.com/1076654961
A collaborative video, with images and words by
Oswald Iten, Rotem Sudman, @drdanobrien.bsky.social, Daniel Pope, @vikap8.bsky.social, Eduardo Gama, Ada Etgar, and Alan O'Leary: vimeo.com/1076654961
Reposted by Dan O’Brien
Amazing Rebellious Research workshop at @baftss.bsky.social today from the Practice Research SIG - bring on the manifesto! Also a plug to all creative practice researchers for the Creative Practice Colloquium at UoB in June! #BAFTSS2025
March 27, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Amazing Rebellious Research workshop at @baftss.bsky.social today from the Practice Research SIG - bring on the manifesto! Also a plug to all creative practice researchers for the Creative Practice Colloquium at UoB in June! #BAFTSS2025
Reposted by Dan O’Brien
Not quite a comedy, not quite a horror, not quite a musical - film expert @drdanobrien.bsky.social reviews Opus.
He explains why this satire about an evil celebrity cult has plenty to say, but what that is remains frustratingly unclear.
theconversation.com/opus-clunky-...
He explains why this satire about an evil celebrity cult has plenty to say, but what that is remains frustratingly unclear.
theconversation.com/opus-clunky-...
March 26, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Not quite a comedy, not quite a horror, not quite a musical - film expert @drdanobrien.bsky.social reviews Opus.
He explains why this satire about an evil celebrity cult has plenty to say, but what that is remains frustratingly unclear.
theconversation.com/opus-clunky-...
He explains why this satire about an evil celebrity cult has plenty to say, but what that is remains frustratingly unclear.
theconversation.com/opus-clunky-...
Pleased to have another article published with @uk.theconversation.com on One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest & the role of games within the film. Like Anora, it picked up 5 Oscars at the 48th Academy Awards including best picture, actress & director. This article includes a short video-essay I made:
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest: 50 years on Jack Nicholson’s greatest performance is as fresh as ever
McMurphy becomes an unlikely leader to the asylum patients, helping them to discover self-belief and confidence.
theconversation.com
March 3, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Pleased to have another article published with @uk.theconversation.com on One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest & the role of games within the film. Like Anora, it picked up 5 Oscars at the 48th Academy Awards including best picture, actress & director. This article includes a short video-essay I made:
Reposted by Dan O’Brien
Film expert @drdanobrien.bsky.social reviews the multi-Oscar nominated Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.
Does this ballad of a thin man live up to the hype or is it tangled up in blue?
Read the full review in the @uk.theconversation.com
theconversation.com/a-complete-u...
Does this ballad of a thin man live up to the hype or is it tangled up in blue?
Read the full review in the @uk.theconversation.com
theconversation.com/a-complete-u...
January 24, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Film expert @drdanobrien.bsky.social reviews the multi-Oscar nominated Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.
Does this ballad of a thin man live up to the hype or is it tangled up in blue?
Read the full review in the @uk.theconversation.com
theconversation.com/a-complete-u...
Does this ballad of a thin man live up to the hype or is it tangled up in blue?
Read the full review in the @uk.theconversation.com
theconversation.com/a-complete-u...
Was pleased to attend another press screening today, this time for A Complete Unknown at Soho Hotel. The plush surroundings certainly did not upstage the film and a very favourable review will follow shortly 🎸🪕
January 13, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Was pleased to attend another press screening today, this time for A Complete Unknown at Soho Hotel. The plush surroundings certainly did not upstage the film and a very favourable review will follow shortly 🎸🪕
Incredibly happy to be included in the Sight and Sound poll of best video-essays of 2024. In fact all videos from ILUMINACE: Configuring Computer Labor, put together by @veronikahanakova.bsky.social & @jirianger.bsky.social was. Proud to be in such great company. www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-so...
The best video essays of 2024
From film festivals to TikTok, our annual poll showcases 183 unique video essays nominated by 47 international voters.
www.bfi.org.uk
December 18, 2024 at 6:41 PM
Incredibly happy to be included in the Sight and Sound poll of best video-essays of 2024. In fact all videos from ILUMINACE: Configuring Computer Labor, put together by @veronikahanakova.bsky.social & @jirianger.bsky.social was. Proud to be in such great company. www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-so...
Reposted by Dan O’Brien
A video lecture on teaching the video essay by James Slaymaker, author of a new book on the essay film. youtu.be/7nbmM4gfJ8c
Second Essay Film Seminar 2024
YouTube video by Essay Film BAFTS SIG SEMINAR
youtu.be
December 16, 2024 at 11:36 AM
A video lecture on teaching the video essay by James Slaymaker, author of a new book on the essay film. youtu.be/7nbmM4gfJ8c
Reposted by Dan O’Brien
New issue of NECSUS: European Journal of Media Studies out now. necsus-ejms.org #follow necsus.bsky.social
NECSUS - Double blind peer-reviewed Journal of Media Studies
NECSUS is an international, double blind peer-reviewed journal of media studies initiated and published by NECS.
necsus-ejms.org
December 11, 2024 at 10:01 AM
New issue of NECSUS: European Journal of Media Studies out now. necsus-ejms.org #follow necsus.bsky.social
As it’s Thanksgiving, here’s some of Dylan Baker’s original audition for Owen in Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)✈️ 🚋 🚗 Happy Holidays
November 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
As it’s Thanksgiving, here’s some of Dylan Baker’s original audition for Owen in Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)✈️ 🚋 🚗 Happy Holidays
Pleased to have received an author copy of this in the post
November 26, 2024 at 4:31 PM
Pleased to have received an author copy of this in the post
Reposted by Dan O’Brien
💙 My baby is here 💙
ILUMINACE 2/2024 - OPEN ACCESS - TEXTS & AV ESSAYS
What if we stopped asking how computers shape moving images and asked: how is computer iconography represented in audiovisual media?
Dive into the complex portraits of computer labor in film & TV.
See: bit.ly/3YMMG5m
ILUMINACE 2/2024 - OPEN ACCESS - TEXTS & AV ESSAYS
What if we stopped asking how computers shape moving images and asked: how is computer iconography represented in audiovisual media?
Dive into the complex portraits of computer labor in film & TV.
See: bit.ly/3YMMG5m
November 18, 2024 at 5:44 PM
💙 My baby is here 💙
ILUMINACE 2/2024 - OPEN ACCESS - TEXTS & AV ESSAYS
What if we stopped asking how computers shape moving images and asked: how is computer iconography represented in audiovisual media?
Dive into the complex portraits of computer labor in film & TV.
See: bit.ly/3YMMG5m
ILUMINACE 2/2024 - OPEN ACCESS - TEXTS & AV ESSAYS
What if we stopped asking how computers shape moving images and asked: how is computer iconography represented in audiovisual media?
Dive into the complex portraits of computer labor in film & TV.
See: bit.ly/3YMMG5m
Reposted by Dan O’Brien
If you want to contribute to the newest volume of the Screen Stars Dictionary, then here's your chance.
Previous entries in this series of video essays can be found on the website of the Journal of Audiovisual Essays TECMERIN (see tinyurl.com/2f74a8ej).
Previous entries in this series of video essays can be found on the website of the Journal of Audiovisual Essays TECMERIN (see tinyurl.com/2f74a8ej).
November 23, 2024 at 5:14 PM
If you want to contribute to the newest volume of the Screen Stars Dictionary, then here's your chance.
Previous entries in this series of video essays can be found on the website of the Journal of Audiovisual Essays TECMERIN (see tinyurl.com/2f74a8ej).
Previous entries in this series of video essays can be found on the website of the Journal of Audiovisual Essays TECMERIN (see tinyurl.com/2f74a8ej).
Very pleased to be part of this wonderful publication and congratulations to @veronikahanakova.bsky.social and @jirianger.bsky.social for putting it all together 💾🖥️💿⌨️
🖥 ILUMINACE 2/2024 Configuring Computer Labor in Film and Audiovisual Media presents INTERFACES:
@sfanders.bsky.social - Envisioning the Interface
Here: criticalcommons.org/view?m=it2cP...
@drdanobrien.bsky.social - The Allure and Threat of the Cine-Computer
Here: youtu.be/LdHXj-09lVw
@sfanders.bsky.social - Envisioning the Interface
Here: criticalcommons.org/view?m=it2cP...
@drdanobrien.bsky.social - The Allure and Threat of the Cine-Computer
Here: youtu.be/LdHXj-09lVw
November 22, 2024 at 9:36 AM
Very pleased to be part of this wonderful publication and congratulations to @veronikahanakova.bsky.social and @jirianger.bsky.social for putting it all together 💾🖥️💿⌨️
Reposted by Dan O’Brien
Gladiator II: a wavering thumbs up for a rehashed sequel that can’t escape the ghost of Russell Crowe
Gladiator II: a wavering thumbs up for a rehashed sequel that can’t escape the ghost of Russell Crowe
While undoubtedly entertaining, the sequel feels like a duplicate of the original which sacrifices characterisation for ambitious set pieces.
dlvr.it
November 15, 2024 at 12:49 PM
Gladiator II: a wavering thumbs up for a rehashed sequel that can’t escape the ghost of Russell Crowe
Reposted by Dan O’Brien
Are you a film & media scholar who wants to learn how to make video essays? Applications for the two-week June 2025 workshop Scholarship in Sound & Image at Middlebury College in Vermont are now open. Come be a videocamper and spread the word!
Scholarship in Sound & Image
Workshop on Videographic Criticism
sites.middlebury.edu
November 18, 2024 at 5:57 PM
Are you a film & media scholar who wants to learn how to make video essays? Applications for the two-week June 2025 workshop Scholarship in Sound & Image at Middlebury College in Vermont are now open. Come be a videocamper and spread the word!
November 17, 2024 at 9:28 PM