£10,000 in coins, arranged as dominoes

November 15, 2006 4:30 PM

£10,000 in coins, arranged as dominoes, set into motion, filmed and posted to Google video.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (31 comments total)

That's fantastic. Although I have to wonder whether or not this was really all in one take. There are so many cuts that it would be easy to splice in bits and pieces to make the whole thing seem complete.

Still, very impressive. I used to be way into this kind of stuff.
posted by rossination at 4:35 PM on November 15, 2006

How did I know that was going to be an advert for something?

I always wonder with these ridiculously long domino videos whether they have some sort of fail-safe set-up so that they don't accidentally trigger it before it's finished, or if it takes a few goes and lots of swearing before it's ready.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:38 PM on November 15, 2006

I imagine that have a pretty firm "no sneezers" policy for the setup crew.
posted by cortex at 4:40 PM on November 15, 2006

Well, I have no experience with large setups like this, but if *I* were building something like that, I'd pull out small sections. That way, if something fell over, it would just be a few hundred instead of the whole thing. As the very last step before starting, I'd fill in the little holes.

I have no idea if people actually do that, but it would seem prudent.
posted by Malor at 4:46 PM on November 15, 2006

I imagine that have a pretty firm "no sneezers" policy for the setup crew.

No bukkake, either.
posted by loquacious at 4:47 PM on November 15, 2006

that was incredible . . . and incredibly disappointing that it was a commercial in the end. almost a complete letdown, in a way.
posted by avisualperson at 4:47 PM on November 15, 2006

that was incredible . . . and incredibly disappointing that it was a commercial in the end. almost a complete letdown, in a way.

Why is that?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:49 PM on November 15, 2006

Bah, that's so bullshit. I only counted 9,998 coins. What a rip.
posted by quin at 4:50 PM on November 15, 2006

That said, the British Pound is my very favorite coin all time. It is the perfect size for rolling across my knuckles.

Also, if you really want to aggravate drunk people, go into an tavern and start balancing quarters (American $.25) on the bar. Do it while you are having a conversation with your friends, kinda absentmindedly. After about 10 minutes, all the people around you will be trying to do it with their change as well. It's quite funny.
posted by quin at 4:53 PM on November 15, 2006

That's a tremendously good idea, Malor.
posted by cortex at 4:55 PM on November 15, 2006

Yeah, from watching a couple of "making of" bits for these things, it seems that they almost always do groups of 9 or so, with a few missing, so that if one falls over, it's not the end of the world.

Anyone remember that famous early-90s clip of the VHS boxes? It was a bunch of guys at a Blockbuster or something, and they spent all night setting it up. It made the rounds on America's Funniest Videos - the days before YouTube, natch.
posted by rossination at 4:59 PM on November 15, 2006

Nice idea and nice video.

But it was not shot as it happened. Most of the shots are locked or tracking shots, not handheld. There's even a ceiling shot.

There is no way a single camera could have recorded it. If they used multiple cameras prepared in advance, you would have seen them in the wide shots.

Also, the lighting is professional.

Excellent work, but the work of a professional crew.
posted by Argyle at 4:59 PM on November 15, 2006

The Ikea commercial that's on the same page is good as well.
posted by QuietDesperation at 5:23 PM on November 15, 2006

I wanted so badly to come in and snark about fiscal wastefulness.

Then I watched the video. Anyone else feel somewhat hypnotized? Regardless of its purpose (Commercial), one has to admit it was neat to watch.
posted by Fejery at 5:30 PM on November 15, 2006

That said, the British Pound is my very favorite coin all time. It is the perfect size for rolling across my knuckles.

Mine too. It's pretty much designed to fall out of pockets. I used to make an extra 15 quid a week as a bartender in Wales by checking the cushions. And that was big money for a bartender at a crinklies' hotel in Wales in the mid 90's.
posted by Mayor Curley at 5:36 PM on November 15, 2006

I agree with Rossination. If you spend the time setting something like this up, for Pete's sake, get it all in one shot.

Also, the "let's set up a shitload of dominoes" idea is really played out at this point.
posted by zekinskia at 5:39 PM on November 15, 2006

Is the pound coin kind of flat such that it would prevent rolling? If not, extra points. Also extra points for setting up on a wood floor. I know from experience that a step in the wrong place can knock em down.

And, zekinskia, you don't know "played out" if you don't have a 4-year-old, who has discovered domino videos on YouTube, and wants to watch them over and over. Every day. So there.

Finally, they still got nothin' on Pitagora Suicchi.
posted by rikschell at 6:14 PM on November 15, 2006

I have no idea if people actually do that, but it would seem prudent.
posted by Malor
These large displays always use stoppers to prevent a premature performance.
posted by tellurian at 6:32 PM on November 15, 2006

drink .... more ..... ovaltine.....
posted by The Deej at 7:12 PM on November 15, 2006

Having spent most of my life in the states I've always been envious of countries where the, how would you put it, standard unit of currency (dollar, pound, etc.) comes in coin rather than bill form. (I know, we have the Sacajawea dollar, but it ain't the same) The reason for this is I've always admired the sound made especially by two pound coins knocking against one another, so to hear 10,000 tapping away was a real treat. thanks.
posted by jrb223 at 7:14 PM on November 15, 2006

Is the pound coin kind of flat such that it would prevent rolling? If not, extra points.

No, but it's very thick-- like double a US/Canadian nickle. But that makes me suspect that these coins weren't "naked"-- something prevented them from rolling all over that old floor.
posted by Mayor Curley at 7:38 PM on November 15, 2006

I want to see someone taping one of those to have it stall about halfway through.

"fuck."
posted by craven_morhead at 9:59 PM on November 15, 2006

Der Lauf Der Dinge
posted by Balisong at 10:41 PM on November 15, 2006

Great to watch - gutted it was viral marketing though....
posted by algreer at 10:59 PM on November 15, 2006

Thanks for posting this. It was kind of hypnotic to watch. I too, am in awe of the way they managed to stop the pound coins just rolling off. They must have a considerably more level wooden floor than the one in my house.

I was especially impressed by the uphill bits. But then, I am quite easily impressed.
posted by MrMustard at 11:23 PM on November 15, 2006

Falling dominoes are like "Who's on First." They never get old.

I don't care if it was filmed in 12 takes. I certainly don't care whether they tagged it with a commercial at the end. It was cool to watch. Thanks.
posted by cribcage at 12:12 AM on November 16, 2006

I think this was all started by the old Domino Rally commercials... or that scene in The Toy... but thinking about Domino Rally makes me remember just how frustrating those flimsy plastic dominoes were.

I also kinda doubt this was all done in one shot. Otherwise, why not show the completely fallen aftermath in one huge overhead shot.
posted by blackvectrex at 1:25 AM on November 16, 2006

I'm conflicted about the single take idea. The camera angles could practically all be done so that the other cameras wouldn't be in shot. Considering they could afford £10,000 worth of coins, they could probably afford the 20 odd cameras you would need for this. Logistically this isn't probably the best way to do it. Continuity with something like this is easy enough to fake.

But yeah, so, how about them viral videos, eh?
posted by slimepuppy at 2:02 AM on November 16, 2006

Not so much a viral video, in fact, as a trailer/promo for a new TV series on UK Murdochvision's main channel Sky One.

You may remember them from such other oft-Youtubed clips as "Live Action Simpsons Intro".
posted by genghis at 4:43 AM on November 16, 2006

Lovely, but there is something unsatisfying about the editing - definitely filmed in sections.

jrb223 writes 'The reason for this is I've always admired the sound made especially by two pound coins knocking against one another'

You should track down a copy of The Soft Pink Truth's 'Dry Hustle' 12" - Missy Eliot's vocal from Get Yr Freak On over beats constructed entirely from samples of solid gold coins being dropped on solid silver ingots. Bling!
posted by jack_mo at 5:02 AM on November 16, 2006

Considering they could afford £10,000 worth of coins, they could probably afford the 20 odd cameras you would need for this.

But if it wasn't filmed in a single take, maybe they didn't afford £10,000 worth of coins. If they filmed short clips, they could have just reused the same £2,000 in different positions. Is there one shot in the video that actually shows £10,000 worth of coins?
posted by cribcage at 10:52 AM on November 16, 2006