2009 Halloween Math Class v2

This is a Halloween video trick I did for my Nature of Math class at Biola University, October 28, 2009. It was another experiment in video editing and mixing video with live action.
UPDATE: Version 2 - I fixed the audio so you can hear what I'm saying better.
You can download the full-quality version of this at: blog.MatthewWeathers.com/2009_...
UPDATE: NOV 1, 2009
Thanks for all the compliments. I appreciate it. All this attention was quite a surprise - I mainly posted the video for the students who weren't in class that day, and so my students could pass it on to a few friends.
I've read a bunch of comments, and I have a few general responses:
Math: No, I wasn't actually trying to teach anything with the video - it was just for fun. This was the last 5 minutes of a 75 minute class - I actually taught real math for the first 70 minutes. And yes, I love teaching this class, and I try to keep it lively by doing little fun things like this once in a while.
Software/Camera: I used Pinnacle Studio Ultimate, version 12.1 - the "picture-in-picture" feature for the special effects. I filmed it with a simple Panasonic PV-GS35 MiniDV camcorder.
Idea/Time: I did this last semester as an April Fool's joke. New class, new year, I decided to try it again, with a few more twists. It took me about 45 minutes to film the video, maybe 2 hours to edit and refine it, then I practiced the interaction with the video a couple times.
Class: This was filmed with a video camera on a tripod in the back of class, with about 80 people in class that day. Those are real people, not a laugh track. The class is called "Nature of Math," and is a general education class for non-math people. We do some basic math and study the history and philosophy of math. Yes, that's Edwin Abbott's "Flatland" I mention - students have to read it for the class.
Biola (biola.edu) is a private Christian university located in a Los Angeles suburb. I don't place much significance in Halloween, but I don't mind trivializing the day, and making it just about candy and costumes. The disclaimer at the end of version 2 is an imitation of the disclaimer Michael Jackson put at the beginning of his "Thriller" video. (BTW, Biola grad Judith Hill sang the last song at his funeral. Yeah, Biola!)
So thanks again for all your generous comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I hope it inspires you to go out and do creative, fun things of your own.

[@MatthewWeathers]

Thanks for all the compliments! I appreciate it. All this attention was quite a surprise - I mainly posted the video for the students who weren't in class that day, and so my students could pass it on to a few friends. I've read a bunch of your comments, and have responded to some of your questions by updating the info - click (more info) above to see those responses. I'm glad so many of you enjoyed the video. I hope it inspires you to go out and do creative, fun things of your own.

[@zekeggy]

my life got out of my body

[@cel__es__tial6888]

Can I ask one question

[@ShadowGaming26548]

@@cel__es__tial6888 go ahead

[@ZLTang]

Hey it’s been 11 years

[@ShadowGaming26548]

@@ZLTang yep

[@MentosCubing]

"Oh look! I don't know what this is for, this is a water bottle. I wonder if it works?" ~ Matthew Weathers 2009

[@marsburbridge1685]

"Wait. No. Stop." Something about how bad that delivery was made it even better

[@lizard_man4379]

Hey it's been two years

[@littensy]

Hey it's been three years

[@bananabro1010]

_wait no stop_

[@FluffyDragon-cm8bz]

Hey it's been seven years

[@idontwantaname6643]

The face scared meh :(

[@romanmiguelmontelibano3539]

+Dashie Puppyluv me too

[@vogod4580]

TEST IT WITH HEADPHONES

[@wolfkillgaming]

Same.

[@diegobenito751]

I was Scared to death.

[@royalzavala8545]

IDon'tWantAName i knew when he said “look very closely at the triangles” I knew that he was gonna scare them, because I knew something was up.

[@niccolom]

When he said "look very closely", I knew exactly what's going to happen.

[@diamonddavis8872]

It will be so cool if he is my teacher..... And somewhere at the end scared me!

[@aaronladera3445]

I Mask me too and high volume shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

[@Cody-gy3zy]

I Mask me two... at high volume!

[@cantshakeyoumel]

dude me too!

[@anetupoumoniati7709]

ohh man if he is my teacher i would never sleep in the class ... you are perfect teacher i have seen..

[@djmaxisthebest]

hello sir, i just saw your video and want to tell you that we really need teachers like you.... so creative....

[@TheJapanChannelDcom]

cool teacher!!

[@ppp1994]

My darn ears.... Should not wear earphones, arghh.. Uh.... *drops dead *

[@darcybrummett7004]

+ppp1994 I'm glad I wasn't listening through my headphones.

[@esmafigge7955]

so, is this a real teacher? this guy is amazig!

[@ShadowGaming26548]

Of course it is

[@hallowizer440]

0:23 it's your head below the board.

[@jaylin7877]

I'm almost deaf from the jumpscare

[@sparkles8109]

I had a feeling that was going to be a jump scare video and yet I still jumped, lol!

[@ArbocDraw]

Great job Mr. Weathers! Making school lively & fun helps keep students interested, sparks creativity, while at the same time, they actually learn something. It also shows that you are passionate about your subject & students. Schools & students need more teachers like yourself. Bravo to you, sir.

[@alyshatan2156]

R.I.P. earphone and headphone users xD

[@Sevenvad]

And their pants as well

[@ShadowGaming26548]

What

[@suryavasireddy6819]

What I saw is this teacher is very down to earth, just because of video, he say down the desk for sometime. Very heart touching effort

[@meghanmulkey2002]

I wish he was my teacher

[@gmidkiff]

This is so great!! It's so good to see a teacher that enjoys his job and wants to stimulate his students! Wish I had had a teacher like you.

[@monkeygirllove9885]

I can see the teach under his desk moving his head

[@chuongkosal783]

Same

[@masonwu8950]

Same

[@ricefeetus]

@@masonwu8950 omg that profile pic XD

[@masonwu8950]

@@ricefeetus better than yours

[@ricefeetus]

@@masonwu8950 nothing bad about it im a yas main too

[@brandoncrz2228]

11 years later and this video is still timeless

[@PWTimesNetwork]

You're work is unbelievable! Reminded me of one of my history teachers back in high school. Again, awesome stuff!

[@LucasTillery09]

Wish I had you as a teacher. You're Awesome!!

[@gelmejor]

That was incredibly excellent! wish all the lectures would be not exactly like that but a thing of the sort... being in touch with young guys and their expectations... or better beyond their expectations

[@sakuraliz2411]

This is really unique and realllllyyy COOL. I'm studying to be a teacher myself, and you inspire me to be innovative and creative in my lessons. I wonder if I can do something like that. But I bet ALL students would love such classes, wherever they're from ! :P Good job ! Keep doing what you're doing. I'm sure your students appreciate what you do for them :)

[@forwardmotion45]

You have to be the best college professor ever! I wish more teachers were like you!!

[@RyonsVids]

oh man i would LOVE a teacher like that. great sense of humor. i swear he makes school awesome.

[@soupsful]

What a professor!!! your students are truly lucky!!! Way to go sir!!!!!! Hats off to you!

[@Garrywith2rs]

Sharing the sentiments with other posters wishing they had a teacher like yourself when they were at school or still there, I applaud you Sir. How people can dislike this is beyond me

[@Lugia625]

You, sire, are the world's most awesome teacher.

[@LtKaraWade]

The world needs more teachers like you.

[@KingRCT3]

I'd have switched the lights off for the jumpscare!

[@AsbjornOlling]

Damn, this guy takes the award for best ever teacher.

[@OMGshinyobject]

I love the THRILLER reference at the very end, that made me laugh :)

[@tanapatyangkaew4649]

Mj

[@wilsonkwek2000]

bitch, right as i turned the volume up!

[@kolorazomg]

Wow. I wish I had a teacher like you. That was fun, even to watch. Good idea to entertain the class, you truly love your job. :)

[@jhhwild]

That is incredibly clever, I think students would pay a lot more attention in class if more teachers did cool stuff like this.

[@betteboop57]

You've got to be THE best teacher I have ever seen!

[@Ion115]

So it would seem..

[@PattyPybus]

Thank you for making all of us math people look so cool!

[@aballeri515]

you are very creative with teaching and those students are very lucky. this is so cool.

[@MichaelRudich]

Hi Matthew, I wanted to let you know your video made it to Israel, and I was just showing it to a teacher friend in New Zealand, your making some serious rounds. :) Really hope my kids have a teacher who puts so much into his job, keep it up :)

[@FullMetal5]

RIP ears lol

[@TurnRight4Jonas]

Awesome demonstration of creativity!

[@njdss4]

Wow, what a great teacher! I wish this whole world had more teachers like this guy!

[@Urainium235]

Incredibly Awesome way to mark Halloween. Pro maths teacher right there!

[@orangeslice4432]

Literally the best teacher

[@Atomic_Haggis]

Outstanding work!

[@Chunkytot1]

wow, that was awesome! it's professors like you that make long lasting impressions. ROCK ON!!! :0)

[@LysolPionex]

Such a genius way to present materiel!

[@gvluvv]

what a brilliant idea! such a great professor to take the time to do that!

[@KathaleenWhisper]

Wow. This is the kind of teacher I want to be. I want to be able to bring this sort of fun into the classrooms as well. Thanks for posting this!

[@LabRat4680]

You are awesome. Universities need more professors like you.

[@Turtlebear]

i'd come to class everyday with this prof.

[@pjf2675]

If I would have had you as a Math teacher I might actually understand it. Bravo Sir for your engagement methods with your students!

[@bob10023]

That guy deserves an award. :) I've had cool teachers but that just blows me away! Really cool!

[@Brianne337]

I am going to be teaching 8th grade Algebra.. I would love to make my class laugh and enjoy class that much. Kudos to you teach!

[@nec8972]

Wish I would have had teachers like him. Great job!

[@ravenclawoutcast13]

You sir have made math fun! I wish you were my teacher!

[@MikeAgent006]

Thats one of the coolest video's I've seen; too bad there weren't profs like you at my college for undergrad ):

[@hallowizer440]

It would be funnier if when you erased the "1 = 2" the "original" you disappeared instead of your clone.

[@michgee]

Wow, that was awesome! I wish we had teachers like that here.

[@quackk2b2t]

very nice work matt :))) i love this

[@mjr256]

Seriously awesome!

[@riskman108]

Greatest teacher ever!

[@shannonlee1010]

this teacher enjoys teaching, u can tell! we need more teachers like this so kids want to learn!

[@bigboss2011]

Best teacher ever...If i'm going to be a teach I hope I'll be just like you.

[@Slayer3345]

That is one AWESOME teacher! I wish I had him.

[@jmiro]

Awesome! We need more teachers like you!

[@pooey100]

Wow this makes me want to go back to school, well as long as there are teachers like you up in MN

[@Colby2Cheese]

Your timing is perfect :)

[@AnimePRFury]

You sir just made my day!

[@DrGenoHQ]

Wait...1=2?! MY LIFE HAS BEEN A LIE!!!

[@Jontiz39]

Best math teacher of the year

[@kunkle493]

Awesome! That was nicely done sir

[@turbotoby95]

you got to be one of the coolest teachers on the planet

[@Carrera_elameer]

Awesome video... i love the creativity

[@martrocksnuts]

that was fantastic, there`s a teacher that knows engaging the students is half the battle!

[@vanimapermai]

we need more teachers like him

[@huntawpn]

Teacher of the year!!!

[@whatYouBeenDrankinOn]

keep teaching and motivating the generations of our future :)

[@KlNETlCS]

Coolest math prof ever. I wish I'd been in your class!

[@cashqueen100k]

wonderful teacher . so clever . wish more were like him

[@etherlite7]

Damn, i wish my class was this good. Can't wait for the 2011 one

[@Eudaletism]

"First there's a reminder that Flatland paper's due..." Unless I'm hearing incorrectly, another reason he is awesome: Flatland. Also, how the heck did he know what that girl's question was going to be, about chapter 15? That was kinda freaky.

[@Jasmine-gp4vm]

The girl was instructed so, probably

[@Eudaletism]

@@Jasmine-gp4vm You found a comment of mine that I genuinely don't even remember writing.

[@portineo]

great and imaginative teacher

[@nimk]

Me: Why are there pumpkins? Maby they represent- *face shows up* Me: SHIT

[@Freezeframe18]

Wish I had a cool math teacher like you back in high school.

[@ReveLuv1814]

amazing ! best teacher ever

[@Kduckify]

this is so wonderful!! A aspire to do this with my math class one day! : ]

[@freesk8]

I'm a math teacher. This is really good stuff! Congrats!

[@DIYinventorA]

you are a great teacher,

[@tong3059]

Happy 10 year anniversary in 5 days time.

[@RaqeTube]

coolest teacher ever

[@EdouardPicard0224]

Best teacher ever

[@glitteringstars33]

O_O AHH!! THAT TOTALLY FREAKED ME OUT!! If only all teachers were like you.

[@youas_memoir]

YOU MUST BE THE COOLEST MATH TEACHER EVER!!!

[@Zeromux]

This teacher is awesome!!!

[@mrErikLundgren]

I love this. I smell subscription here... Keep it up!

[@69bodean]

We need more teachers in the world like this man :)

[@Mongo61]

Hilarious and impressive! What a production. How hard could that have been to perform? Kudos.