SUBTERRANEAN

KNIFE FILM

2011-11-16T16:09:00.001-08:00

It maybe about knives, but it's totally relevant to writing, filmmaking, and other trades. Check it out. Pretty intriguing.

BEAUTIFUL CREATION

2011-11-01T14:16:00.000-07:00

I love watching people actually doing the work.

SLATE

2011-08-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves doing slate on set, but this is definitely an enjoyable display on a great filmmakers set. I do have a QT bias.

THE ART OF FLIGHT

2011-08-17T16:14:00.000-07:00

INSANE PHOTOGRAPHY. ENOUGH SAID.

FLASHLIGHTS IN THE DARK, JOHN FORD, ETC.

2011-08-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

Insightful interview with some great filmmakers. Spielberg always has great things to say. I've heard this story about John Ford before, but is always great to hear.

GRAFFITI FILMS

2011-08-16T14:57:00.001-07:00

I find graffiti street art very intriguing. The attitude, rush, and danger associated with it is undeniable. Here are two films that explore graffiti art. Both are very different stories, but are dealing with similar themes. I'm definitely going to check these out.

David Choe - Dirty Hands Trailer from RVCA on Vimeo.

GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

2011-08-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

I'm a big David Fincher fan and he continues to amaze me with his work. He knows his craft and how to tell great stories. Here is an intense trailer with Karen O. doing a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Immigration Song." No dialogue. Just the music track. Sick.

KUBRICK vs. SCORSESE

2011-08-02T17:11:00.001-07:00

Enough said.

Kubrick vs Scorsese from Leandro Copperfield on Vimeo.

TABLOID

2011-06-20T12:00:00.001-07:00

I'm pretty intrigued by this trailer. The content just seems way out there. The trailer is well done too.

GROOVIN' SURFERS

2011-06-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

Music videos are very hit and miss for me. Sometimes they heighten a song and other times they just don't do it justice. Here are two videos (and songs) I like very much. One cool aspect that each use is projecting images within objects. I really like the use of projection in the PANDA BEAR VIDEO. Enjoy.

PANDA BEAR "Surfer's Hymn" from m ss ng p eces on Vimeo.

Maximum Balloon- "Groove Me" (Director's Cut) from Carlos Lopez Estrada on Vimeo.

GO THE F**K TO SLEEP

2011-06-16T11:28:00.000-07:00

There is a new children's book that incorporates the F-bomb because the child won't go to sleep. All parents experience this at some point or another. In NYC Werner Herzog did a reading of the book and if you know Werner, you'll find this very entertaining. There is a version of Samuel Jackson reading it too. Awesome.

J.J. ABRAMS

2011-06-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

I saw SUPER 8 this weekend and really enjoyed it. Took me back to my childhood expereinces watching Spielberg movies. I just read an article about J.J. Abrams and how the next Star Trek release was being postponed because of his work on SUPER 8. What impressed me about Abrams was his response to why he was postponing it.

Abrams told CNN, “We’re working on the script and story and doing everything we can to make it well. I would just so much rather make a movie that’s worth people’s time than make a movie that’s on time.”

"Making a movie that's worth people's time rather than a movie that's on time" is such a perfect sentiment to someone who really gets it. Most filmmakers would do their best to shove a film through every stage of production just to get it out into the market to make money. Money does make the Hollywood machine move, but what keeps people coming back to the cinema is good films. Cheers to Abrams for his proclamation.

HERZOG VS. KINSKI

2011-06-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

Werner Herzog is one of my favorite directors and one of his notorious actors was Klaus Kinski. There was only one Kinski and in this secret recording Herzog made during the making of "Aguirre," he records Kinski going off on him. It's highly entertaining if you know the Herzog vs. Kinski feud.

BRILLIANT MOVIE THEATER SPOT

2011-06-08T11:27:00.000-07:00

I must be getting older because when I go the theater I get really peeved at people either talking or texting. i can barely handle all the candy wrapper/popcorn mouth smashing that occurs. Anyway, not the point. This movie theater in Austin, Texas takes it serious when it comes to people talking/texting. You talk or text, they kick you out. They don't play around.

Check this spot out that they produced. It features a very angry caller who was kicked out of their theater. Some foul language, but so good.

TREE OF LIFE

2011-05-31T14:14:00.000-07:00

I saw Terrance Malick's "TREE OF LIFE" the moment it came out and loved it. It is more a meditation then film at times, and the first 30 minutes leaves you wondering if Malick will lead you astray. As you stay the course though, you are lifted to new heights in the cinema as you are immersed in juxtaposed images of creation and children growing up before your eyes. You suddenly remember snippets of your childhood that you've left behind many years ago as Malick searches every nook and cranny in the universe.

I'm incredibly impressed by how challenging the film is and the great reward you receive at the end. Ignore the critics and follow Malick into the dark!

?UESTLOVE + NIKE = GENIUS

2011-03-07T14:56:00.000-08:00

Two of my favorite things are coming together for a show collaboration. The Roots' ?uestlove help create these throwback kicks. Inspired by mid 80’s era American television, ?uestlove draws from the favorite sitcoms of his youth and interprets their story lines through design.I like his custom Afro insigna on the toungue of the shoe. I probably can't pull these off, but they're still pretty fly.

“ I always opt against taking the easy way out, ” says ?uestlove, “I wanted to choose colors that were extremely hard to match with outfits with a simpler design that stand out as the topic of conversation.”

PLAYGROUND

2011-03-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

Check out this guy. Serious talent. When I taught in a high school kids used to drive me nuts when they'd try to make hip-hop beats with a ballpoint pen. I now stand corrected.

Burn Ignite presents :: PLAYGROUND :: Julius Wright a.k.a Lyrical God from Burn on Vimeo.

BURN IGNITE: RIDE

2011-02-07T12:11:00.000-08:00

Stunning photography, music, and concept. All shot on the Canon 5D. SLR's are game changers. Check it out.

Burn Ignite :: Ride :: feat Steve Berra (OFFICIAL HD) from Burn on Vimeo.

I HATE 3D

2011-01-25T11:02:00.000-08:00

There was a time in the 60's & 70's when cinema was going in an ugly direction. It produced really expensive and corny B movies such as 'Towering Inferno." As a direct result of these terrible movies, filmmakers such as John Cassavetes made pure films that got back to the heart of story and characters.

Now with the re-immersion of 3D, we are seeing that curve in cinema once again. Every big Hollywood film is produced in 2D then redone to make money with 3D. My feeling is that audiences will eventually get bored with paying high premiums for 3D and will desire to get back to more pure forms of storytelling.

For the record, I think 3D is a waste of time. There is such distance from me and the story. It has such a 'spectacle' type quality to it. I haven't been able to put my finger on exactly what isn't working about it until I read this article from legendary editor Walter Murch. Here is a letter that he wrote to a critic in regards to 3D. I couldn't have put it better myself.

Hello Roger,

I read your review of "Green Hornet" and though I haven't seen the film, I agree with your comments about 3D.

The 3D image is dark, as you mentioned (about a camera stop darker) and small. Somehow the glasses "gather in" the image -- even on a huge Imax screen -- and make it seem half the scope of the same image when looked at without the glasses.

I edited one 3D film back in the 1980's -- "Captain Eo" -- and also noticed that horizontal movement will strobe much sooner in 3D than it does in 2D. This was true then, and it is still true now. It has something to do with the amount of brain power dedicated to studying the edges of things. The more conscious we are of edges, the earlier strobing kicks in.

The biggest problem with 3D, though, is the "convergence/focus" issue. A couple of the other issues -- darkness and "smallness" -- are at least theoretically solvable. But the deeper problem is that the audience must focus their eyes at the plane of the screen -- say it is 80 feet away. This is constant no matter what.

But their eyes must converge at perhaps 10 feet away, then 60 feet, then 120 feet, and so on, depending on what the illusion is. So 3D films require us to focus at one distance and converge at another. And 600 million years of evolution has never presented this problem before. All living things with eyes have always focused and converged at the same point.

If we look at the salt shaker on the table, close to us, we focus at six feet and our eyeballs converge (tilt in) at six feet. Imagine the base of a triangle between your eyes and the apex of the triangle resting on the thing you are looking at. But then look out the window and you focus at sixty feet and converge also at sixty feet. That imaginary triangle has now "opened up" so that your lines of sight are almost -- almost -- parallel to each other.

We can do this. 3D films would not work if we couldn't. But it is like tapping your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time, difficult. So the "CPU" of our perceptual brain has to work extra hard, which is why after 20 minutes or so many people get headaches. They are doing something that 600 million years of evolution never prepared them for. This is a deep problem, which no amount of technical tweaking can fix. Nothing will fix it short of producing true "holographic" images.

Consequently, the editing of 3D films cannot be as rapid as for 2D films, because of this shifting of convergence: it takes a number of milliseconds for the brain/eye to "get" what the space of each shot is and adjust.

And lastly, the question of immersion. 3D films remind the audience that they are in a certain "perspective" relationship to the image. It is almost a Brechtian trick. Whereas if the film story has really gripped an audience they are "in" the picture in a kind of dreamlike "spaceless" space. So a good story will give you more dimensionality than you can ever cope with.

So: dark, small, stroby, headache inducing, alienating. And expensive. The question is: how long will it take people to realize and get fed up?

All best wishes,

Walter Murch

THE TREE OF LIFE

2010-12-16T15:22:00.000-08:00

Terrence Malick has an astounding ability for storytelling. His aesthetic of filmmaking is so humbling. If you haven't seen his early films such as 'Days of Heaven' and 'The new World,' please go check them out. He's master at his craft. Here is a trailer for his new film. It's overwhelming watching this trailer. He is just so unbelievable.

GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS (1992)

2010-12-14T15:00:00.000-08:00

I just recently revisited this film and was struck by just how good the opening scene with Alec Baldwin is. He doesn't have a single second of hesitation as he plows through Ed Harris, Jack Lemmon, and Alan Arkin. The film itself is okay, but this scene destroys. If you haven't seen it check it out. Funny thing is he doesn't show up for the rest of the movie, but leaves such a mark with his few minutes on screen. "Coffee's for closers!" The Art of Selling...awesome.

POWERFUL PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT

2010-12-09T14:07:00.000-08:00

Artist/photographer known as JR made the world his canvas. He took photos of ordinary people in tough cities around the world and pasted them up in urban areas. In seeing these images against the canvas of countries around the world, you get a global perspective on humanity and just how similar we all are. Check it out. It's worth your time.

BRING ON THE PICTURES

2010-11-19T12:11:00.001-08:00

I love this time of year. Tons of great films come out which means great directing, great acting, and money well spent sitting in the dark. I have already seen great pics this year (Gaspar Noe's ENTER THE VOID and Danny Boyle's 127 HOURS), but here are some on the horizon that I'm getting excited about.

I must say though I'm most excited about The Coen Brothers' "True Grit." I love westerns and it has such a great cast. The trailer also has a great track from Johnny Cash...okay I'm obsessing now. Enjoy.

TRUE GRIT

BLUE VALENTINE

RABBIT HOLE

VETERAN'S DAY

2010-11-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite websites is postsecret.com. They created a video from all of the secrets submitted from soldiers and they're families. Pretty nice tribute.

CAN'T WAIT!

2010-11-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

He's a comin' back people. I really can't wait. He has always been my favorite and when he left NBC I was pretty heartbroken. But the truth still holds true: You can't keep a great man down.

Get ready...next Monday! Welcome back, COCO!

BANG BANG BANG

2010-10-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

I seriously haven't been able to get this song out of my head for like three months. A jam is a jam and there's nothing you can do about it.

The video is kinda out there, but the song is as danceable as you get. It's Mark Ronson and the Business International. Try to listen to this song and try not to bob your head...I dare you! Happy Friday and enjoy!

Mark Ronson & The Business INTL "Bang Bang Bang" from Warren Fu on Vimeo.

AXA AD

2010-10-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

Technology continues to blow my mind. Sometimes I want no part of it and other times I am mystified by how cool it is. This advertising scheme is pretty out there. Advertising continues to make leaps and bounds. And of course this is surrounded around the iPhone (big shocker).

DAMAGE CONTROL

2010-10-25T15:45:00.000-07:00

I HATED the way that LeBron James went to Miami. I didn't care that he didn't want to be in Cleveland anymore. It was the way that he did it. Seemed so egotistical to have an exclusive show called "The Decision." I can't stand Jim Gray either (the dude who did the interview).

Anyway, Nike has a new commercial that is trying to put LeBron's image up for questioning. A way of bringing everyone back down from their criticisms and consider his journey and choices he had to make. This still feels very out of character, but if the King wants to continue to put himself out there instead of focusing on basketball I'm fine with that. I look forward to "WITNESSING" the Lakers three-peating anyway.

MARWENCOL

2010-10-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

Pretty fascinating documentary. A man is beaten so badly that he loses all sense of memory. To recover he creates his own little world with toy soldiers. The world he creates are realistic and the staging is pretty spectacular.

MARCEL THE SHELL

2010-10-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

Simply put...hilarious.

SOMEWHERE

2010-09-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

Some people don't like Sophia Coppola, but I do. I really enjoy her films. There is a quiet authenticity about her films that is always reflective. She also uses music in such an beautiful way. Here is a trailer for her new film "Somewhere." It obviously hits home with me having a daughter, but I'm also intrigued by the story. No need for the synopsis, watch the trailer.

BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE

2010-09-10T10:05:00.001-07:00

They're coming back to LA! I'm very excited to see them. I've seen them 3 times (I think) and they never disappoint. Strange how bands travel time with you. The first time I heard BSS was when I moved to LA. When they released they're third album I was living in Brooklyn. With their new release I'm a dad now. Listening to them becomes more than 'listening'...it becomes almost time traveling, a way to reminisce and a way to connect to thoughts of the future.

Anyway, here is a video from they're new album. Pretty unusual as most of their videos are.

SHINYA KIMURA

2010-08-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a short docu video on a Japanese motorcycle builder named Shinya Kimura. He doesn't build them for money, but because that is his purpose, his meaning. It's extraordinary to see how different people's craft is when they strip down to the point where it is a matter of survival. That if I don't create this, I die. Pretty powerful stuff.

The video has such poetry and really builds on the sounds that surround the motorcycle experience. Lately it has been inspiring to see so many different videos put together that are essentially profile spots. It reminds me of the Mast Brothers Chocolate spot that I posted last month.

shinya kimura @ chabott engineering from Henrik Hansen on Vimeo.

BLUE NOTE IN MOTION

2010-08-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

My brother sent me this little video tribute to Reid Miles who did the artwork for the Blue Note Records label. The graphics are pretty incredible and the way they recreate the covers is flawless. Great jazz track too! Check it out.

Hi-Fi from bante on Vimeo.

DAFT PUNK HELMET

2010-08-16T16:41:00.000-07:00

I love me some Daft Punk, but not as much as this guy. This guy made the famous Daft Punk helmet himself and it only took him 17 months. Wow...that's very dedicated, dude.

BOTTLE BANK ARCADE

2010-08-03T14:19:00.001-07:00

Who said going green can't be fun?

PATHS AND MASKS

2010-08-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

There is a website called mydamnchannel.com and on it they have a bunch of hilarious videos and submitted skits. This one is from YOU SUCK AT PHOTOSHOP. The humor is pretty dark, but I dig it. This one a guy tries to photoshop his wedding ring to put on eBay. As he shows you how to crop it, the guy starts to lose it.

SCBOTS

2010-07-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

My brother is a very talented artist who currently works at Dreamworks. He's always working on side projects and one of them is a comic strip involving a man named, "Guy" and his robots. Here are a couple of strips from the website http://scbots.com. Check it out, its pretty humorous.

LIFE IN A DAY

2010-07-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

ONE WORLD. 24 HOURS. 6 BILLION PERSPECTIVES

Ridley Scott and Kevin McDonald are teaming up to create a historic cinematic experiment. How it works is that people will film their life for one day on July 24th, then they submit the footage. Then the distinctive footage will be edited by Scott and McDonald.

Pretty cool experiment. You should film something and submit a glimpse into your life. I might have to take part in this.

PERSEVERANCE

2010-06-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

"In each age men of genius undertake the ascent. From below, the world follows them with their eyes. These men go up the mountain, enter the clouds, disappear, reappear, People watch them, mark them. They walk by the side of precipices. They daringly pursue their road. See them aloft, see them in the distance; they are but black specks. On they go.

The road is uneven, its difficulties constant. At each step a wall, at each step a trap. As they rise the cold increases. They must make their ladder, cut the ice and walk on it., hewing the steps in haste. A storm is raging. Nevertheless they go forward in their madness. The air becomes difficult to breath. The abyss yawns below them. Some fall. Others stop and retrace their steps; there is a sad weariness. The bold ones continue. They are eyed by the eagles; the lightning plays about them: the hurricane is furious. No matter, they persevere."

-Victor Hugo

KIA SOUL

2010-06-18T12:40:00.001-07:00

I saw this commercial last night during the Laker game and thought it was pretty pimp. I love the attitude and creativity and of course I love the track from Black Sheep. Took me back to my teenage days. Once again...my childhood fighting back for position.

WORLD CUP

2010-06-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

I didn't grow up a huge soccer fan and it wasn't until two years ago did I get into it. In fact, American soccer kinda sucks. It's a little boring and a little soft. Then some friends got me into European 'Football' and I was a little hooked. Watching Barcelona and Manchester go at it is pretty exciting.

Anyway, the US got robbed this morning against Slovenia, but we'll take the draw and look forward. Here is a video from Adidas mixing Star Wars and the World Cup. Get into it!

NIKE MUSIC SHOE

2010-06-17T15:32:00.001-07:00

This is pretty old at this point, but I still find it inventive and dope as hell.

Check it.

STOP, POP AND ROLL

2010-06-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty amazing art piece. Keeps you engaged and you get a peek at some great art along the journey.

The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia

2010-06-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

I saw this trailer online and was pretty blown away by the candid vibe of this documentary. If I were the filmmaker on this film, I think I would be very scared of getting hurt. Best believe I would have been had my mullet working and my Confederate flag peal-on tattoo rockin'. Wow...check it out.

CHARACTER VS. REPUTATION

2010-06-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

"Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are." -John Wooden

R.I.P. John Wooden

MAST BROTHERS CHOCOLATE

2010-06-03T15:59:00.001-07:00

I love this little documentary on these brothers from Brooklyn who make their own chocolate. The style of the titles reminds me of a Wes Anderson film (which I love).

The best quote from the film is when one guy describes going into business with his brother. He says, "There's nobody your going to fight harder with than your family, but there's nobody your going to fight harder for than your family."

Thanks to my own brother for the clip. Enjoy.

COPPOLA LETTER

2010-05-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

There is this website that archives some handwritten letters from famous people. I really liked this one because it was from Francis Ford Coppola.

The letter is a job offer for "Apocalypse Now" from Francis Ford Coppola to Lee Marvin who was an Oscar-winning leading man. Marlon Brando took the role, but I find it pretty intriguing that he would send a handwritten letter on American Zoetrope stationary, as opposed to sending a formal letter.

The letter, along with the 1969 draft of Apocalypse Now that accompanied it, recently sold for a mere $5,078.05.

MIND IS EVERYTHING

2010-04-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become." -Buddha

THE PEN STORY

2010-04-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

Here is a pretty amazing video using stop motion. They shot 60,000 pictures, developed 9,600 prints and shot over 1,800 pictures again. No post production!

It's pretty inspiring to me how much work was put into it. And the story arch is pretty well thought out, except what happens to the dude's wife? Huummm...one wonders.

Enjoy! Have a great weekend!

SCARFACE

2010-04-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

Its simple. Kids school play + Scarface = I want to enroll my kid in this school. Happy Friday and Happy Easter!

WINDOW SEAT

2010-03-31T15:17:00.000-07:00

I posted the Matt and Kim video "Lessons Learned" a few months back now. It is the video where they're in Time Square and it is a single shot of them taking their clothes off. Well, Erykah Badu has done a take on this video, but turns it into a more political statement. She is in Texas where JFK was shot.

I won't give away the statement of the video, but will say that it is interesting to see someone take another artist's video and spin it to their own liking. I love this song by the way (WINDOW SEAT). I love me some BADUISM from time to time. Check it out.

Eryka Badu feat. D. Nito - Window Seat Remix from D. Nito on Vimeo.

STROSZEK with WERNER HERZOG

2010-03-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

Last weekend at the Egyptian Theater the American Cinematheque screened double-features of Werner Herzog's work, then had a Q&A session with him. I caught the screening of STROSZEK and really loved the Q&A. He has always been one of my favorite filmmakers and to see him in person and get his insight on making STROSZEK and his take on filmmaking was pretty amazing.

Some of my favorites parts of the Q&A had to do with how STROSZEK was made. He said that he originally cast the lead (Bruno S.) in another film WOYZECK, but he realized he wasn't right for it and re-cast Klaus Kinski. Bruno S. was very hurt on the phone when he told him. To make him feel better, Herzog offered to make another film with him and that he would have a script by the end of the week. This script became STROSZEK. The film was essentially a script with a structure, but improvised scenes.

At the end of the film Bruno S. leaves a truck in gear and makes it go round and round in circles as he flees the scene. Someone asked Herzog if that was a metaphor for chaos. Herzog simply said 'no' and went on to describe how when he was a young man in Germany during Octberfest, he had to park cars. People were incredibly drunk and he would withhold the keys from them. Once when he got bored driving these cars around, he abandoned a car and let it roam in circles.

When asked about what films he watches, he surprisingly said that he only watches a few films a year. Isn't that unbelievable? Only a few films. His best answer was that he wasn't concerned with what other filmmakers were doing.

My favorite part of the whole night was that Herzog was sitting a few rows in front of me during the film. So while I watched the film I could see Herzog taking in his film he made 33 years ago. There were moments where he had this sincere and gentle smile on his face as if he was remembering the exact moments of filming it in Wisconsin, NYC, North Carolina, and Germany. It was surreal watching a legendary filmmaker watching his own film and seeing his reaction to it. It was equally captivating as the film was.

It was a special night and if you haven't seen any Herzog films, I highly recommend him. He is a unique filmmaker from the German New Wave and continues to make films to this day. Great night in the dark.

A FULL MEAL

2010-03-15T13:23:00.000-07:00

“My work requires a deep commitment to emotion while hitting you hard with laughs. To watch actors careen between comedy and pathos is my favorite thing in the world, and I think audiences are relieved these days to see comedies with a dark center. It's like I'm providing them a full meal." - THERESA REBECK

It has been an amazing experience directing Rebeck's work and I am definitely satisfied with the full meal that has been served. SPIKE HEELS hits hard for two hours and really keeps the audience at bay.

I have loved watching the actors come full circle from rehearsal to curtain. And it was a little bittersweet when the show opened for that meant there was nothing left for me to do. It becomes the actors' show at that point. They carry the torch to the promise land. I'm very proud of their hard work and performances.

If you get a second to step out over the next two weekends, go see SPIKE HEELS. You won't regret it and if you do, I once again am offering to pay for your ticket.

COCO IS COMING BACK

2010-03-12T16:53:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited that Conan O' Brian is coming back! He's not coming back to TV anytime soon, but he will be doing stand-up here in LA.

He'll be hitting up the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk on April 24th & 25th for an evening of fun and many, many laughs.

I must say that I was very saddened when he left the air. Watching him since I was in high school, it brought a sense of pride when he got the Tonight Show. And it felt like a natural progression in life that I would be enjoying him as I got older. But politics ousted that dream.

I do appreciate the way he left the air though. Here is the last thing he said on air. I commend him for trying to keep the youth in tact. Conan is a CLASS ACT.

"To all the people watching, I can never thank you enough for your kindness to me and I'll think about it for the rest of my life. All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere.

"Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen..."

A PROPHET (2010)

2010-03-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

I recently saw a French film that left me breathless. It is A PROPHET. There were large portions of the film where I found myself holding my breath.

Its about an Arab guy who goes to a French prison. As he becomes a servant to a French gang inside the prison, he is forced to kill to survive. And as he serves his sentence we see him rise to power as a drug pin.

Powerful performances, powerful filmmaking, and one of my favorite films of the year. It is still at the Laemmle, so this weekend pass on REMEMBER ME and see a great piece of cinema. If you disagree with me, I'll pay for your ticket.

BROKEN BELLS

2010-03-01T15:38:00.000-08:00

I'm a pretty big fan of The Shins and Danger Mouse. So when I heard that James Mercer of The Shins and DM collaborated on a new album, I was pretty siked.

The group name is called BROKEN BELLS and their website is pretty cool. When you move your mouse over these orbiting planets, everything moves. You can click on the planets and they play sample sounds from the album. Be sure to check out the new video too. It's pretty coolio.

http://www.brokenbells.com

THE PROPOSAL

2010-02-19T16:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! A friend sent me this video of a pretty unusual and creative marriage proposal. The question is...is it real? Let me know what you think?

TERRIBLY HAPPY (2010)

2010-02-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

I'm all for a weird David Lynch experience once and awhile. Although this is not Lynch, I think I would partake in this one. The trailer is really intriguing and makes you keep guessing and saying, "What the heck is going on?" Check it out.

I'M HERE (2010)

2010-02-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

Spike Jonze made a short film that played at Sundance. It was produced by Absolute Vodka, which I find very intriguing. I'm curious how it came about and what was Absolute's sponsored involvement. It’s a robot romance and a futuristic fable rooted in the universal emotions of first love, ruminating on youth, identity, autonomy and loss. I can't wait to see it.

SPIKE HEELS

2010-02-05T12:18:00.001-08:00

SPIKE HEELS goes up on March 5th and runs for a month on Friday and Saturdays at 8pm. I'm really happy with the cast and although the theatre is small, an intimate setting is appropriate for this play. So if you have a free moment to come check it out in March, please come show your support for the theatre. For mature audiences only. Tickets are on sale now.

PANIC ATTACK

2010-02-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

A friend sent me an article on this short film an unknown producer from Uruguay made. Fede Alvarez, shelled out about $300 to create a cool video of a robot invasion in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. The four-minute short, "Ataque de Panico!" (Panic Attack) features ginormous (but slow-moving) weapon-wielding robots that blow stuff up.

He apparently posted it on youtube on a Thursday and on Monday his inbox was full of emails from Hollywood studios." Long story short, a bidding war ensued. The offer he pocketed: A $30 million deal with Sam "Spiderman" Raimi's Ghost House Pictures. That's a nice return on investment.

I think the video obviously has a lot of potential, but I'm not completely sold on the fact that it was made for $300. Unless $300 goes a long way in Uruguay. You got to give it to him. Looks great, but 300 bones...hummm? Whatcha think?

LAST DAY IN BKLYN

2010-02-04T15:06:00.000-08:00

I recently was going through some old boxes in the garage and came across some old film. So I got it developed and was shocked to find photos of the last day I lived in Brooklyn. These images are pretty rough and worn since it's been 4 years since I took them. They were taken with my Holga camera and shot on 120 medium format.

I remember it being a pretty chilly day in January, but I wanted to get some last shots of my neighborhood in Borough Park. The sun came out, so I shot off a few frames. Even got a self-portrait outside my apartment.

Outdoor subway platforms, four-story walk up, and Prospect Park...damn I'm missing Brooklyn right now. Feeling quite nostalgic at the moment.

BANKSY FILM

2010-01-28T11:41:00.000-08:00

Banksy is an incredible street artist and brings a real intensity to everything he does. He's releasing a new documentary this Spring called "Exit through the Gift Shop." It appears pretty subversive. I love this trailer because it has a very 'anti-trailer' vibe to it, especially in it's use of titles. Check it out.

KEEPING

2010-01-27T16:04:00.000-08:00

"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors. Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny." -Gandhi

CATALYSTS FOR INTERNAL DIALOGUE

2010-01-21T17:59:00.000-08:00

"For me, photographic projects are catalysts for internal dialogue. This project started off as a fascination with a subculture, but as I looked into the life of the Amish children, seeing them milking cows and riding horses through the snow, I got to experience a lifestyle I wouldn't have ever dreamed of living, even though I grew up relatively nearby, and I started asking questions about my own upbringing. I'd never really liked the Midwest before this project," he adds. "Now a lot of my work revolves around it."

- Richard Choi

I went to school with Richard Choi and have collaborated with him on a few projects. He is one of the most talented photographers that came out of Art Center. I have always loved his photography and have been intrigued by how close he gets to his subjects. His approach is always very sincere and genuine. He has photographed musicians, boxers, and now Amish. Check out this whole article with photos. Great stuff.

http://www.good.is/post/picture-show-the-shipshewana-amish/

MONEY GIG/ ART GIG

2010-01-07T16:38:00.000-08:00

"Generally, what I try to do is always have a money gig and an art gig. And then, whatever moves in front of the other, when a deadline comes up, that part of my brain is what moves to the fore." – Theresa Rebeck

With the new year here I am pleased to announce that I will be going back to my roots in the theatre for a short time. I will be working with the Red Brick Road Theatre Company here in Los Angeles and I will be directing Theresa Rebeck's "Spike Heels." I was a huge fan of Rebeck's work in my undergraduate and I'm excited to stage the verbal combat that is this play.

I really appreciate her quote above because it draws the line in the sand where it appears invisible some time. Most money gigs are usually not art gigs. It is in blessed and rare circumstances in which you are paid handsomely for your art. That is the goal for all artists; to paid to do what they love and are passionate about.

In this case, I'm passionate about this play, these actors, and the forum where the actor rules, not the camera. I'm happy to be back to my roots. I have already cast the play and have just started rehearsals. It will be opening in early March, so stay tuned.

DON'T GIVE IN

2009-12-02T12:45:00.000-08:00

"Don't give in! Make your own trail. Don't moan. Don't complain. Think positively."
-KATHARINE HEPBURN

I like this quote because it is probably the biggest challenge for any artist at any level. You have to make your own way and keep your head in tact. It's easy to get caught up in what isn't working, what you don't have, and where you are not. But I personally feel the best place to be is where you are at and to keep striving for the vision of the future. What you will find is that the future has a way of sneaking up on you and you realize that you are exactly where you were striving to be.

THANKSGIVING BABIES

2009-12-01T10:53:00.000-08:00

I didn't get a chance to express my gratitude for the thing I am most grateful for this year and that is my new daughter, Kaiah. She has been an incredible blessing and reminds me everyday of how things in life are fragile, new, and always changing.

To honor her, I have posted this trailer of a new documentary coming out called BABIES. I saw the trailer recently and loved it. It follows several babies in their first year of life. The best part is they are from different walks of life living in places such as SF, Japan, Africa, and Mongolia. The trailer also features one of my favorite musical artist, Sufjan Stevens.

Check it out and I hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving.

BRONSON (2009)

2009-11-25T12:19:00.000-08:00

I find this film pretty intriguing. I'm curious about how it handles violence and if it glorifies it too far. They try to compare it to Stanley Kubrick's "Clockwork Orange," but I'm weary of any comparison like that. The visuals seem very strong though and the performances seem risky.

It raises the question: where does film become glorifying and exploitative? It's an important question to ask and I'm sure the line is very subjective.

Check out the trailer and let me know what you think.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

2009-11-09T11:27:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited for this film. This is a film that my little brother, Adam, has been working on at Dreamworks. He is an animator in the story department and has a slew of talent. This will be his first credit. You know what's up! Congrats, Bro!

How To Train Your Dragon Trailer from How To Train Your Dragon on Vimeo.

My Son, My Son, What Have ye Done (2009)

2009-11-05T09:57:00.000-08:00

I will say straight up that I'm a big advocate for Werner Herzog and David Lynch's work. So when I heard that Herzog was directing a Lynch executive produced film, I was pretty excited. I was totally intrigued at just the notion of Herzog and Lynch having a conversation together. Can you imagine? Must be hilariously weird. That is a 'let me be a fly on the wall' moment.

Anyway, this film is inspired by a true crime and follows a detective (Willem Dafoe) as he uncovers the truths to what leads a Man (Michael Shannon) to slaying his mother with a sword. Not sure where it goes from there, but I sense we discover that Michael Shannon believes he is the Messiah.

I'm definitely going to check this film out. I also really love the body of work of Dafoe and Shannon. They are both great at playing subterranean characters that are creepy and yet endearing at the same time. Check out the trailer and let me know what you think of the Herzog/Lynch match up.

Iggy Pop - Préliminaires

2009-11-03T13:39:00.000-08:00

"One of the most moving songs of the record Préliminaires is called King Of The Dogs, where Fox tells you how cool it is to be a dog, how much it beats human life". - IGGY POP

I'm a huge Iggy Pop fan and this year he came out with a romantic crooner album that explores the French language. On the album is a song called "King of the Dogs" and they came out with a music video that is pretty intriguing. When you go to the site, there is actually three interactive versions of the video. The protagonist is a dog, but you see him in three different lifestyles taking on the world. In one he is a construction worker, then a businessman, and in the other a motorcycle rider.

Below is the one which features the businessman. Be sure to check out the other two. Pretty awesome. Enjoy.

EDGE OF THE CITY (1957)

2009-11-02T10:50:00.000-08:00

I caught this film recently and was really blown away by the performances. It follows an Army deserter named Axel (John Cassavetes). He gets a job as a longshoreman in NYC and works under a cool cat named Tommy Tyler (Sidney Poitier). As they become fast friends, they are continually harassed and threatened by Charles Malik. When Axel's past catches up with him, he is left with a fatal showdown with Charles to save his friend and protect his secret.

I obviously am a little Cassavetes bias, but there are some scenes between John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier that are really memorable. Their chemistry is immediately apparent and it is so refreshing to see Poitier so light and happy. I'm used to seeing Poitier in roles where he confronts authorities and is in a place of confrontation, but in this film he is funny, dancing and smiling a majority of the film. Really very charming.

There is a particular scene where Cassavetes and Poitier are drinking in some bar. Axel tells of how he killed his friend by driving drunk. At first Cassavetes enters the monologue by talking about his love and admiration for his friend, then breaks it he killed his friend. The attack on the scene in regards to the writing and performance is pretty incredible.

Martin Ritt, who directed this film, also did "The Long, Hot Summer.' He has a great feeling for characters in conflict and knows how to capture their inter-dialogue really well.

If you get a chance to Netflix this film, do it. It has the same vibe as 'On the Waterfront,' but it holds up a lot better emotionally.

MAX WANGER

2009-10-30T13:18:00.000-07:00

I totally dig Max Wanger's style and aesthetics. There seems to be something so classic and playful about it. I get this old feeling that comes over me when I see them, as if these aren't modern photos, but from a different time and place where love is as new and hopeful as it appears in old novels (which it is of course). I especially love his use of props. The props give you a visual sense of who these subjects are.

Hit up his blog and check out the wedding of JOHANNA + ALEX. Such a wonderfully envisioned wedding. I think you'll agree. Love it.

http://www.maxwangerblog.com/

GREY GARDENS

2009-10-22T15:08:00.000-07:00

I recently caught the HBO Films telling of GREY GARDENS, starring Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore. I originally was attracted to seeing this because I loved the 1975 Documentary of the same name.

Grey Gardens is about this mother and daughter who live in this broken down home out in the Hamptons. They are from a family of money and the eccentric relatives of Jackie Onassis Kennedy, but over time they lose everything but the house. They don't upkeep the house and it becomes an infested and disgusting flat where they stay until their demise.

The intriguing thing about this story is really the original documentary. These two women live in a fantasy world and think they are in a documentary because they truly believe they're stars, but really the filmmakers are just taken back by how crazy they are. If you have not seen the 1975 documentary, SEE IT. It is brilliant.

As for the 2009 retelling of how they became that crazy and what happened to them after the house was condemned, you should see the HBO version. I had low expectations and it turned out to be really well done. I was most impressed with Jessica Lange. She blew me away with how unrecognizable she was. And I was pleasantly surprised by Barrymore. She usually plays one note for me, but she nailed a very difficult accent and made her character very accessible and redeeming.

KOBE DOIN' WORK (2009)

2009-10-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

'I was very calm, I was very focused, nothing was going to take me out of the space."

- KOBE BRYANT on scoring 61 points at Madison Square Garden

I'm a huge Laker fan and also like Spike Lee's work. So it was obviously going to be a good experience checking out his documentary of Kobe Bryant playing in a 2007 game against the San Antonio Spurs.

Although I think Kobe is an amazing player, I'm not a big fan of him as a person. His ego tends to get in the way of me seeing him as genuine. But the documentary holds up due to the mass amount of camera angles and coverage. Spike also has a great way of bringing us into the game in a visceral way when he cuts B&W still images to a jazz soundtrack (Bruce Hornsby). It's really effective in seeing the poetic nature of the game by bringing the game's fast tempo to a reflective tone.

Kobe does commentary over the whole film, but my favorite part was his emphasis on EXECUTION. He may have the best players, best coach, and best circumstance in a game, but when it comes down to it, you can't accomplish victory without proper execution. I feel in life everything is relative. When it comes to culinary chefs, athletes, or a doctor performing surgery, I can usually relate most things back to art and film. For me, his take on EXECUTION was an important one. Same holds true in filmmaking; you may have great actors, production design, and locations, but if you don't execute on the very basic levels, you don't have a film.

Lookin' forward to some execution in the new season. Go Lakers!

SATISFACTION

2009-10-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

Q: Are you satisfied with your accomplishments?

A: No, I don't feel satisfaction. I feel "next." When you used the word 'satisfied,' I didn't even really know what it meant."

- JOHN MALKOVICH on his long career in acting

I love this statement Malkovich made in a recent interview I read. If you are an artist or a filmmaker for that matter, satisfaction is never really a thing you feel. Personally, every film or spot I have worked on is never up to par with the initial vision. There is an emotion and feeling that I ultimately am seeking in the storytelling I desire to tell, but sadly have never felt satisfied.

I feel more closely to the term 'next' in regards to my pursuit. I suppose this is the true nature of an artist in that you are never satisfied and that you have to continue to make films until the day you die such as Altman, Kieslowski, or Cassavetes. What a glorious pursuit it will be.

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND (2009)

2009-10-07T11:12:00.000-07:00

With the Fall comes the weather and a slew of intense looking films hitting the screen. I caught this trailer recently and was really intrigued. I am into rough period pieces and filmmaking where they weather the storm.

Check out this trailer. The last shot gets me. Pretty intense.

WE LIVE IN PUBLIC (2009)

2009-09-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

I have yet to see this documentary, but it is really intriguing. It tells of the effect that the Internet has had on us over the last 40 years. It also follows the Internet pioneer and his experiment to put his life on the Internet 24/7. That includes bathroom, private time with wife, etc. I'm most intrigued by this museum piece in which people are on display like animals. They have no rules and no structure which leads to chaos.

The trailer is a tad terrifying to reflect upon especially in a society where we are so hooked on facebook, myspace, and the blogosphere. The trailer closes with a intense quote:

"Years ago the lions and tigers were king of the jungle. Then one day they wound up in zoos...I suspect we're on the same track."

Check it out. Let me know what you think and if you have seen it.

MAD MEN

2009-09-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

All right, I have a tendency to rebel when a new show is popular or is getting a lot of hype. MAD MEN would be one of those shows. I purposefully have avoided it and have waited until I could be objective in my viewing. Well, that time has come and I humbly must say that this show is fantastic. It has really great writing, good character arcs, and is directed beautifully.

I love how the show portrays the honest male sexist stance and the raw truths of adultery of the time. Even has some crazy scenes where the lead, Don Drapert, actually has phone conversations with his wife's therapist to discuss her sessions. Awesomely Bizarre (i know that's not a word).

The production design is also tip top and it even has a killer opening title sequence with one of my favorite artist's music behind it (RJD2). I have completed Season 1 and am now upon Season 2. I hope the show holds up. If you haven't seen the show, I highly recommend it.

Here is the opening with RJD2's music. It's sick.

Mad Men Title Sequence from Caleb Woods on Vimeo.

AMOEBA - WHAT'S IN MY BAG?

2009-09-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

I love AMOEBA MUSIC. One of my favorite things to do on my birthday is getting up, trekking to Amoeba, and buying a large bag of new music, DVDs, and old vinyl records. If you haven't been to AMOEBA, you don't like music.

Amoeba has this great feature on their website called, "WHAT'S IN MY BAG?" It's where they ask famous musicians or filmmakers about what they just bought inside their store. They usually play video of the actual interview.

I really enjoyed Eli Roth's take on some films he likes and the choices of the band Dead Weather (Let's see if you can figure out why I like their choices).

Check check, check it out.
http://www.amoeba.com/whats-in-my-bag/index.html#/page1

BRIEF ENCOUNTER

2009-09-18T10:21:00.000-07:00

It's FRIDAY, so I always try and keep it light.

So check it out, the other night I'm driving late on the 5 freeway. It's 30 minutes after midnight. Of course this is the time they shut down the freeways for Caltrans to start working. I'm bummin' because I'm exhausted, falling asleep, and just want to get home. I'm detoured off the 91 somewhere, I'm totally lost and to add to the joy, I was out of gas.

I'm driving around trying to locate a gas station. This sucks. Finally, I spot a Chevron. Hallelujah. I pull in and the station is abandoned. I start gassing up trying to stay awake, then this brown DOG appears. He comes around the car. Now mind you, this isn't some ordinary dog. I'm looking around for it's owner, and they're no where to be found. He's lookin' at me, I'm lookin' at him and I'm like, "What is up with your outfit?" (I think I might have said that out loud).

I swear, this Dog had the most hilarious gear on. He had a collar on, and tied to his collar was this green glow stick and a giant metallic balloon floating from a string. It was like out of a French Film like Jacques Tati. Totally random, incredibly bizarre, yet made some sense on a surreal level (and on no sleep).

The thing that struck me most peculiar about the situation was that the glow stick wasn't old, it was highly lit up. Meaning that someone had just snapped it. Also, the balloon wasn't dragging around on the ground, this metallic balloon was inflated to the max, ready to fly away. Bizarre...where did this Dog come from?

So I took a photo with my phone and have posted it. Mind you, in the photo it appears that he is biting the glow stick, but I assure you, it is tied around his neck.

So here lies the writer's questions:
1.) Where the hell did this Dog come from?
2.) Where is it's owner?
3.) Was he at a DOG RAVE, ran out of King Cobra, went to restock at the gas station, forgot his wallet and thus was panhandling for change?

One will never know. This photo does seem like a great start to a short story or a beginning thread of a flick. If you feel like tellin' me where the heck this Dog came from, chime in. I'd like to know so I can party where this Dog came from. I'm sure your thoughts will be very entertaining.

Have a good weekend and keep it light. Cheers.

CEMETERY SCREENING

2009-09-17T15:27:00.000-07:00

Every year CINESPIA screens movies in the old Hollywood Forever Cemetery. They usually show great films too.

The last one of the season is this SATURDAY at 8pm. And they're screening Roman Polanski's ROSEMARY'S BABY. Amazing film and stars one of my favorites in John Cassavetes.

If you get a chance to check it out, do it. Only a $10 donation...and don't forget a blanket!

http://www.cinespia.org/calendar/

BLUEPRINT 3

2009-09-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

I love me some Jay-Z and am excited to hear the last of his trilogy. I saw this video that shows how they put the artwork together for his BLUEPRINT 3 album cover.

I thought it was pretty rad. You rarely get to see what goes into shooting the cover for albums. Enjoy.

THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA

2009-09-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

Guy sent this to me yesterday and made me laugh. There is a school of young students that tried to do the orchestral score to the opening of Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey." I'm not trying to make fun of them, but it was classic.

I will leave you with a few comments made on youtube that made me laugh.

"Someone's strangling cats!"

"Is this serious?! sounds like a dying elephant to me."

WILD THINGS

2009-09-15T16:36:00.000-07:00

I know everyone is like me in being super pumped about Spike Jonze's upcoming "Where the Wild Things Are." The trailer obviously has killer music and stellar cinematography. And with all the controversy trying to get this picture completed, the anticipation is high.

One thing I'm really into is a blog that Spike started to promote the film. It has random contests and cool updates on artwork, photos, etc.

Check it out. I think you'll dig it.
http://weloveyouso.com/

Singer's Sing/ Actor's Act

2009-09-11T16:26:00.001-07:00

I’m not a huge fan of the band The Killers (except the song “Shadowplay” rocks!), but I did like an interview the lead singer Brandon Flowers just did with RS. He was asked about whether he would ever try acting (since he must get a lot offers). He replied:

“I have to say, I get annoyed with people that leapfrog around like that. It’s like taking advantage of a situation that you’ve been given. If I were an actor, I’d be pissed if I saw a musician trying to act. And if you’re an actor, you have no business making an album, no matter how good you sound when you sing in the shower.”

I have to agree with Flowers on his statement. Lately, I’ve been driving to work in Burbank and I see this billboard on the side of a record companies building. It’s this one:
It really gets to me for some reason. I didn’t even know Scarlet Johansson sang. But I think the photo says it all. She leans over him as if to say, “OMG, you’re so talented. Would you play a little ditty and let me sing on it? What a collaboration we would be, cutie pie.”

I think Pete Yorn is actually very talented, so when some Hollywood star jumps the coattails of a legitimate artist, it’s a little annoying. I imagine his reply in this photo would be:
'Dude, get off of me. Good thing you're sorta hot and I have these sexy 80's glasses on, or you'd be outta here.'

I don’t think the crossover applies to all, but for the most part, artists should keep to their respective sides. Disagree? Here is my running list so far. Thoughts?

ACTORS
Billy Bob Thornton – Acting only Please
Keanu Reeves – He's on the fence with Dogstar
Zooey Deschanel – Better singer than actor in my opinion. Have you heard her band ‘She & Him’? Amazing.

MUSICIANS
Sting – Okay once and awhile
Barbra Streisand – Not a fan of her music, but 'Yentl' is respectable and 'The Prince of Tides' made me cry...haha
Mick Jagger – Super good in Nichola’s Roeg’s “Performance”
Justin Timberlake – Prefer him bringing ‘Sexy Back’

Anyone I’m missing? Chime in, suckas.

9.11

2009-09-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

I'm shocked that it has been 8 years. I'm also saddened that we are still at war. I spend Sept 11th thinking of those fallen victims.

I'm over the fear of terrorism, the Patriot Act and the failed presidency of the last 8 years prior to Obama. Trying to move forward with gratitude.

I'm grateful for the freedoms that we have in this country, especially the freedom of speech. For the filmmakers and artists who speak out about the war, immigration, and all things that effect us as HUMANS.

May we overcome fear with determination, and overcome our apathy with solidarity.

I remember.

DISPOSABLE MEMORIES

2009-09-03T16:50:00.000-07:00

So this photography website is super cool. The Disposable Memory Project is a project where you take a disposable camera, take photos, pass it on to someone else, the camera travels around the world, then comes back and is developed. Hopefully you will have an array of photos from the single camera.

One I liked in particular was Camera #38. http://disposablememoryproject.org/cameras/camera38.html

Camera 38: Left in a bar in London, and was immediately picked up and taken to Cambodia. Was returned home in April 2009.

Here is the photo that caught my eye. It was one taken in Cambodia.

When I see this image, I'm caught by all the things I have not seen in my lifetime yet. Will I ever get the opportunity to travel to distant lands, meet unusual people and hear unusual stories? One wonders. Either way, I think the Disposable Camera Project is a brilliant idea that could be used as a form of peace and diplomacy. Thoughts?

Check out all of the different cameras that have been returned. I think you'll be amazed by what several eyes 'see' and ultimately photograph. http://disposablememoryproject.org/

Leave your comments if you are travelling and want to give this a try with me.

PERSONAL SHAMAN

2009-08-31T15:27:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE fan. When I hear their music, it takes me back to the summer of 2004 when I moved to Los Feliz. I had no money, was renting a loft in a friend's pad (that didn't have a door), and was preparing for my journey in film school. Okay, enough reminiscing...

Well, BSS are working on a new album and Kevin Drew has been blogging about his experiences recording the album. A few posts back he kind of gives this 'word of advice' kind of moment and I was feelin' it. So I thought I'd post it to strike up some convo. I personally am on facebook and have given a weak attempt at a blog, but I will never ever do twitter. Here are his thoughts.

"Enjoy your lives, avoid the instant gratification society, watch out for vampires, easy on the all the drugs out there (legal and illegal), don't ask guidance from your stereo, just ask for a little bit of truth. Also watch out for this twitter shit that has become the new thing these days...if instant communication keeps going like this we’ll have to all find our own personal shaman to help remind us how to live and there is not enough of them on this planet for all of us..." thanks, kevin

THE SEARCH BEGINS

CARLOS SERRAO

2009-08-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

I'm always a sucker for great photography. I saw Serrao's photography many months ago and really was into the energy of his portraits. He shoots a lot of stars and athletes beautifully, but I'm more attracted to his non-descript models and landscapes.

I'm captivated by the way he creates mood and captures an isolation in his portraits. His subjects always seem to be beyond thinking and more in the realm of being confronted by an emotion. I'm very attracted to this concept and how you can create these same universal emotions in cinema.

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (2009)

2009-08-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

I saw INGLORIOUS BASTERDS this weekend and I have to say it’s Tarantino’s best film since PULP FICTION. I'm a bias QT fan, but it is undeniable that QT is a distinct VOICE in a very shoddy filmmaking world.

QT takes his time with dialogue through scenes and really ramps up the tension until the frame can’t hold it any longer. One thing that most people dislike about QT (that I love) is his dialogue. People complain that it’s too much in his own voice, but it is part of the charm of QT. He has his distinct style and attitude. When you hear Harvey Keitel and Samuel Jackson do a voice over cameo in a WWII pic, you gotta love it.

The music is always a marker in a QT film and I was impressed that he was able to fit David Bowie into a period piece. The cinematography was also exceptional with QT consistently giving homage and nods to all the films he loves, including shots reminiscent of old John Ford films. He is a true cinephile.

The performances were exceptional. Brad Pitt is entertaining and Christoph Waltz stole the film as SS Colonel, Hans Landa. I haven’t seen him in anything else, but I’m certain we will see more of him.

The climatic ending is incredibly intense and is a real payoff for the journey you take over the 2 ½ hours. The psychology of the Jewish ‘payback’ is hardcore in the viewing experience. The film plays out in a world of fiction and fantasy, but it ultimately gives you pleasure seeing them take out the third Reich with vengeance and a justified death in the cinema.

Go see and enjoy the slaughter that is INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.

JUSTICE - STRESS

2009-08-24T16:41:00.000-07:00

Most music videos don't really capture the essence of the band nor the song. In most cases, if I like a song a lot I won't watch the music video because I don't want to have that visual association with a song. This standard is 99% of the time.

The music video for Justice's STRESS is the other one percent. When I hear this song, I think of the video and I am blown away every time I see it. This came out probably a year ago, but I heard the song again this morning and was immediate transported into this intense visual ride.

The magic of this video is that the approach is very narrative, doesn't actually show the music artists, and really is quite an insubordinate and aggressive video (which I tend to be attracted to). It doesn't hold back. It is also shot so well, it really feels more like a documentary, more than a staged situation.

Get ready for a ride. Pure destruction. I don't condone this behavior, but I do condone this type of filmmaking. And if you agree or disagree with me, let me hear it.

Justice - Stress from Freedom Record on Vimeo.

16: MOMENTS

2009-08-19T17:08:00.000-07:00

A friend sent this to me and I found it pretty compelling. It's a short film that emphasizes various moments in one's life. It doesn't have any dialogue, but is edited really well to a reflective soundtrack.

The film makes you take a breath and consider all the simple, mundane moments that we take for granted and let pass by. These unique moments are very universal and have (or will be) experienced by most of us in our lifetime. Hope it let's you take a breath and smile.

POST SECRET

2009-08-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

There is a blog I’ve been following for sometime and was originally very weary of this website. How it works is people anonymously submit postcards with their secrets. It can be any kind of secret; dark, witty, humorous, or sad. They are sent in from all over the world and they are posted for everyone to see. They are confessions on life, death, and God.

My first impression was that the intentions of this blog were not a positive one, but as you get more in depth in the post cards submitted and the personal artwork on them, you really start to feel compassion for these anonymous submissions. Where I had judgment for someone’s brutal honesty and lack of integrity, it quickly turns into a respect for their honesty and courage. Some of the secrets are so emotional you secretly send your good energy to them in hopes that they feel clarity, resolution, and happiness.

The guy who runs the blog spoke briefly on his intentions. He says, “I hope it allows people to be a little free or open with themselves and a little more accepting of people too.”

Check it out. http://www.postsecret.blogspot.com/

LESSONS LEARNED

2009-08-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

MATT & KIM came out with this music video “Lessons Learned” many months ago, but I really love the concept and the song. The rhythm section really drives the song and the lyrics are pretty reflective.

The video is simple, yet engaging. It’s always intriguing to see music videos that go against the grain. Most videos are swamped with montage so you rarely get a sense of who the artists/band really are. In this case, with the drums driving the song, you would expect the usual fast cuts, but it goes the other way with a single shot. It is beautifully choreographed and allows the audience to be a real intrigued spectator. By the reaction of all the people in the streets it definitely doesn’t feel like they did more than one take. You keep thinking, “Where is this going to go?” I think it ends pretty well.

HOMESTAR TECHNO

2009-08-14T12:47:00.000-07:00

This cartoon takes me back a little bit and made me laugh for a Friday. It's the website homestarrunner.com and it is animated driven. What makes me laugh is this character named Strong Bad who likes to answer random emails.

In this video someone emails him about techno music and for some reason, it makes me laugh every time.

Have a great weekend! Enjoy!

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ALL THE SAME

2009-08-13T14:59:00.001-07:00

I’m not a big fan of Conor Oberst’s music (Bright Eyes). I have had many passes at his music and it comes off a tad whiny in the way Bob Dylan comes off to some (although I love Bob Dylan). I’m not even an admirer of his emotional persona and approach to everything he does, but I do like this statement that he made in a Rolling Stones interview back in June. Here is the excerpt:

-At an all-ages club in Pomona, California. After a nerve-settling parliament Light in the bathroom, Oberst has retaken the stage, alone with an acoustic guitar. He surveys the crowd with large, dark eyes. “You’re all the same,” he says. He looks from face to darkened face. “I just wanted to say that. Look at the person to your left. Look at the person to your right. You’re exactly the same person. The sooner you learn that, the happier you’ll be.”

I normally would translate this statement as “I’m better than you,” but in this context I do sense a humbling unification that we aren’t really different from each other in that we all have problems, we all have struggles, and we all have dreams. He doesn’t say that directly, but if we take his statement to heart, we see there is room in all of us to have more compassion for those around us and not judge them so quickly, for we ARE all the same, except for our individual paths.

EMBARRASSMENT TO BLOGGING

2009-08-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

Life is quite hectic most of the time, but there is no excuse for having a blog you do not blog on. I will attempt (soon) to post everyday...maybe even every other day. All the same, I will attempt to post those things that intrigue me, make me laugh, make me cry, or just simply bore me.

It most likely will be film driven for my own sake, but a lot of the time it will reflect art, music, and design.

Okay...here we go.