2009 Halloween Class Video

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: 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. After the first version started getting a bunch of hits, I wished I had spent a little time cleaning up the audio, so I posted "Version 2," which is pretty much the same, but my voice turned up a bit.
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.

[@bruh-yo1vf]

Nice.

[@savy789]

Noice

[@bxdro]

Man I would pay actual money to have you as my math teacher !!

[@davidkippy101]

Be Bo They do pay money

[@FardadisawesomeOfficial]

r/facepalm

[@AmazingErrChannel]

bxdro I agree

[@PrankstersinLoveNikkiandJohn]

this is so cool. hahah, thanks for checking out our videos

[@Mary-bo6sm]

Hey you still alive ?

[@aname456]

@@Mary-bo6sm probably not

[@finchblue7322]

I was laughing alone with the class though the whole thing!

[@mitchharris1354]

NICE WORK TEACH. I DECREE EXTRA CREDIT FOR YOUR WORK !

[@amador805]

Where does he teach? Cause im a math major and he needs to teach me...

[@yamilet679]

Read the description

[@jpingage]

This is the sort of teacher I aspire to be. :)

[@zahleynaozsat5568]

Amazing teacher ! ! ! #Awesome

[@gonz3296]

Do you remember this comment?

[@jesterr965]

@@gonz3296 Do you?

[@gonz3296]

@@jesterr965 absolutely

[@jesterr965]

@@gonz3296 👁👄👁

[@ArjunMehrotra]

@@jesterr965 Do you remember this comment?

[@WritingHannah]

Wonderful to see such an engaging, creative, and passionate teacher! Brava!! We need more teachers like you, sir.

[@realbritney]

If I had this guy as a teacher i would actually listen!

[@aliyachanhdy1620]

But still loved it

[@shampoo023]

Some Liar in the back said I knew it was coming like no you didn’t

[@ducetbomb]

I wish I had more teachers like this when i was in college.

[@thek_king]

wow 11 years no replies.

[@windowxp1386]

@@thek_king wow 2 years and no reply

[@kerobe101]

i saw his head thumbs upif u did too.

[@aliyachanhdy1620]

I can see some body behind the table moving the board!!!

[@brisksoda6256]

WOW NO WAY!1!!!1!1!11

[@anjmehra]

that is one awesome teacher!! i'm actually jealous, none of my classes are ever that exciting!

[@MatthewWeathers]

Thanks, I did. See "Version 2"

[@AttilaSzabadkai]

love teachers that keep you involved by doing some fun things in class kudos from hungary!

[@TribuGalactica]

I'm studying to become and English teacher and this dude is my role model.... SO COOL!

[@herosoulsh2357]

Are you teaching now?

[@itszeytroin__]

@@herosoulsh2357 No, he sadly passed away

[@themeancat123]

if iwas in and these triangles were in the video i was saying EVERYBODY CLOSE YOUR EYES ONE SCREAMMER IS GOING TO POP OUT!!!

[@urcrazyn]

Dang, kinda jealous that he's not teaching MY class

[@lorndarken]

most math teachers i have met are cool like that and make learning fun and intresting, now if only other teachers could be more like that :)

[@shampoo023]

2019

[@JoelGilmore]

Awesome!!! That was brilliant! The timing was excellent - my favourite bit was sliding the board across. Great stuff!

[@laurenkim]

so great!!! Very thoughtful. It's nice to see teachers that really love their job.

[@Moonpies]

Bola U? Never heard of it, but now I suddenly want to enroll there. You're a credit to the profession!

[@T0talFaveL0adKid]

so creative!! this is great. "Hey! What are you doing here?" "N-nothing sorry..." virtuously no screw ups... very impressive.

[@kai3908]

Hi

[@AlisanUgur]

Best professor ever in the existence :D

[@heyjudette]

Awesome! It's nice to see down to earth professors willing to make their students laugh.

[@Strideo1]

That was super cool! :D

[@bderrick4944]

Strideo1 Hey man how’s life been treating you the last decade?

[@pa3io843]

Lol

[@Strideo1]

@@bderrick4944 Pretty good, all things considered.

[@kokym8]

can any one tell me what the that screen called ?!

[@tahlilialmadnutsi]

*BISA AE BAMBAAANG*

[@Fordged]

well think about it, you get lectures and homework and tests daily by this guy, so to see him do something like this would be pretty awesome.

[@TheLuckyNumberKevin]

Lol, what a clever teacher!!! Come to my channel and watch me scare the crap out of my girlfriend!!!

[@Prognox]

It may irritate you, but fortunately only people who believe in God go there, or would want to go there, so as long as you don't go there yourself, you should be fine. No harm no foul, if the students aren't being forced to listen or do anything against their will. But uh, as a side note, good luck to all of those students there who are trying to get into the biology field with the belief that God is the source of all life.

[@Jamescreaney]

It's time. It's time. Time for the big giveaway. Halloween has come. All you lucky kids with Silver Shamrock masks, gather 'round your TV set, put on your masks and watch. All witches, all skeletons, all Jack-O-Lanterns, gather 'round and watch. Watch the magic pumpkin. Watch...

[@joncoppola28]

>>>HAHAHHAA AMAZING! They don't make teachers like that anymore! great idea & vid!

[@dcshutter019]

The disclaimer at the end where he mentions the occult is actually a reference to Michael Jackson's thriller video, not really a disclaimer for legal reasons. If you notice, he replaces Michael Jackson's name with an annotation that has his own name.

[@utopianguy]

Let a = b, Multiplying by by a a^2 = a*b, Subtracting b^2 a^2 - b^2 = a*b - b^2 (a+b)*(a-b) = b* (a-b) Dividing by (a-b) a+b =b. But this is a trick actually, Since a=b therefore a-b = 0. Thus you cannot divide by a-b i.e. by 0 because that is meaningless.

[@MariuszMisiek]

Like always, stupid comments, this time some of you have problems with university being christian. Noone force you to go there and you should respect someone who do. Anyway, amazing video, great idea! I only wish i had profesors like this!

[@cedsalvador]

cool....nice teaching style.....no wonder your students loves you....you're a genius

[@woogike4]

i see a head

[@phantasMoon69]

Best Math Teacher xD......Gee I wish my MathTeacher was this funny he looks angry all day... But cant complain Many people have thought me and you know...this world is full of everything you can imagine...

[@unglaying]

que buen profesor se merece un 20 ... bravo.-..jajaja me hizo reir mucho con el bajo nivel de ingles que llevo jajajaja

[@treble818]

great video, very clever and humorous. You sound like a stand-up guy. I bet you're making a great impact on the students there, thank God for professors like you, keep it up! :)

[@dufforin]

Yeah that is pretty awesome. dont get alot of teachers that would go threw so much trouble these days. I knew he was gonna scare them when they had to concentrate on the triangles.

[@TheAnnoyingShrimp]

I think it was amusing and just hoping that my own math teacher will have a glimpse of this to get some inspiration :) Keep it up m8, believe me, it's needed!

[@swtstprfctn]

wow...nevermind i thought it was the john carpenter Halloween main theme...but i just checked it out again and I was completely wrong. i don't know what that is.

[@egfx]

My history teacher in jr. high was also like this. He would come into class dressed as historical figures and we played these amazing role playing games.

[@XxXEmoSpongebobXxX]

I think this would be really cool... but i can see the guys head and him throwing brushes and everything under the desk.... funny,, but kinda obvious

[@womanofthehills]

Did you hear one of your students? Best class ever. Mission accomplished on making learning a GOOD TIME. I would have thoroughly enjoyed that class!

[@aaroshiz]

hahaha thats so cool. you guys saying how badly this was done grow up.. try going to any form of post-secondary first and see how bad most profs are.

[@tiagotiagot]

the camera angle wasn't the best to show how the effect felt for the people who were there during the presentation, but it seemed like it was great

[@mattachine]

Took a lot of work to pull that off and made those kids school year I'm sure. And like any good math teacher, totally shows you how to do it. lol

[@dragonmissy]

I wish i was in school i think that is very creative and would have love to be in math class where a teacher done entertaining and fun stuff

[@tautukas]

one question for you all. don't your have holidays on halloween, guys? I do. that's why I don't have such an entertainment from my teachers.

[@yzigarza]

Ok i am sharing this. Im going to my former school and show it!!! Congratulations I wish any of my former teachers were as dedicated Congrats

[@SwimFlySwim]

I miss college days, too, even though none of my profs did anything fun like this. Nice that you took a break from the norm....or did you?! ;)

[@saudigarage]

bestest

[@akemitsukino]

That is full of WIN. You're like this one teacher at my university everyone calles Uncle Phil. Professors with humor are the best!

[@fightthepowerman]

the laughing in the background made me want my computer to explode, killing me and stopping the video. But instead I paused it.

[@1979Tron]

I miss college. I had probably about 20 math classes, and none were as cool as what happened at Biola. :( Great class idea!

[@avideo4u]

rare do I rate anyting 5 stars - this one deserved it - Too Funny!

[@doncastrian]

lol very funny, you must have spent alot of time on this and im sure the kids appreciated it greatly and learnt from it

[@jtupac]

I'd say that the teacher got inspiration from the Blue Man Group. They did something similar to this and it was awesome.

[@matt7988]

Wow, I wish my teachers were as creative. My school sucked. :(

[@cycophuk]

everyone have their own life to live... How is this news? that is so stupid its so cute!!! Uhm.... after 9/11?

[@nthomas87]

that is an AWESOME teacher, even if it is math! if ppl were more like this, more students would be successful!

[@saeka88]

It's three minutes out of the class for something fun on Halloween. God, when did you lose your childhood? 8?

[@leujhin]

Teachers,, Professors... Only FEW of them have a sense of Happiness while teaching.. hehe.. Rock On... :)

[@claw728]

That was awesome. Way to care about your job teacher. Wish more of you were that creative and resourceful.

[@lilbigbang]

To think of all the work this teacher invested in planning such and original class! I bet he's really fun!

[@zemanor]

sickkkkk teacher , honestly he really looks like a guy who want his kids to learn while having fun lol.

[@weliveinmilkyway]

OMG! you are the coolest teacher in the whole universe of teachers. Would you be my new best friend :P ?

[@iJonWeston]

He put a little more work into than that. I feel bad that you weren't the least bit impressed by this.

[@whiteknives]

Haha, definitely not fake. I attended Biola and took his class. He's absolutely capable of this. :)

[@zntx]

actually, the camera was slightly over the students, so I'm guessing they couldn't really see his head.

[@DamnRandall]

I can't believe there's people complaining about an awesome maths professor like this. Just blows my mind.

[@Bmacthesage]

i commend this teacher! my favorite teachers were always the ones who could make me laugh!

[@kokym8]

me too !! he's hilarious and crazy hhhhhhh

[@Muzic4lifee]

I wish i had tht teacher! i wonder if he is still there?? LMFAO bc if he is, im soooo going there!

[@Roadball]

You should make up a Disney themepark ride. Something like Cinemagique. Thumbs up mister teacher!

[@AinuLaire]

You are the coolest teacher ever. I think I'd like math more if I had math teachers like this.

[@markinhifi]

This is incredible. I wish all professors were like you. Maybe kids would actually show up for class and want to learn this way. This video is going viral in 3...2....

[@dqnel]

the fact you can see him kneeling down behind the desk

[@grumpymonkey14]

why do 99 people dislike this????? they must've been the geeks in the corner of every class

[@JeremiahJUX]

Really cool video! This is the kinda interesting and productive stuff that people should do!

[@maushammer]

Nope, you've got to learn to make your own fun rather than wait for others to entertain you.

[@ginomac]

This guy is cool as hell, maybe if my professors were like this I would actually go to class

[@xarukanox]

I wish I had a teacher like that, I wonder how much weed he smoked before he taught that class?

[@victoneter]

lol this teacher has no life why does he spent so much time on making this and practicing

[@SofieHiyatsuki]

It doesnt take much to entertain kids these days just have to jingle some keys or somthing

[@crazyphan18]

I want that math teacher!!! hope he that clever all year round for a math teacher any way!

[@earthgirl45]

keep up the great teaching and humor. your students are lucky to have you as a teacher!

[@MeloDeath31]

i meant judging by the sounds the students make, it sounds like they had a good time.

[@liberator279]

all my teachers just give us a worsheet and go "check their e-mail" the whole class.

[@teljudi]

Good vid dude like a laugh then watch Soopardoopar on utube its good fun Tel

[@toyotaboyhatman]

what an awesome teacher, god bless people that put the extra mile into their work!

[@SkittyGirl300]

It'd be awesome if there were teachers like him

[@TheAC4L]

that was very creative adn awesome :D only if all teachers can be that cool