Saturday, October 31, 2009
Pitchfork: Sufjan Stevens- There's Too Much Love
I really like this song. That's all there is to it.
Pitchfork: Sufjan Stevens- There's Too Much Love
I really like this song. That's all there is to it.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Hurt Locker - Wikipedia: Feels Like a Truthful film About Iraq
[Note: Every page I wanted to bookmark about this film had too many crazy bomb ticking sound effects that this page was the safest to post].
Saw this film tonight and was impressed by everything-acting, direction, camera, story. Wow. This film really shows some interesting characters and highlights the camaraderie between soldiers. Hopefully people don't forget about this very real and awful war that extremely young men are fighting on America's behalf. Three scenes stood out to me in the film. One was when we meet the main character, Bomb Specialist Will James and he takes the plywood away from the windows in his new bunk, "I like light", he says and by this we understand that he can see the light in this very dark situation of war. The second is when he and his foil in the film, Sgt Sanborn are staking out a sniper situation in the desert when a number of British intelligence officers are KIA and he asks for a juice for his shooter that he is helping spot the enemy. It is hot, their lips are caked and dry--almost bleeding. They are suffering and it's probably 115 degree heat. He is tired and he carefully digs a straw into the top of a little foil juice packet, and hands it to his gunner. He's caring and wants to help his fellow man. he doesn't ask for a juice for himself, he just toughs it out. We learn so much about him in this scene as his gunner is one who he has fought against, personality wise since meeting, a few weeks before.
The third scene is when they are leaving a suicide bomber situation where James is unable to unlock the many padlocks that hold a bomb cage to a man who doesn't want to die and he realizes it and runs for his life. As they are driving away in their humvee, his partner, Sanborn is broken, and bleeding and asks, "How do you do it Will?", and he answers, "I don't know, I just don't think about it." At this point, we know Will is lying, he does think about it as the viewer has shared private moments with Specialist James where he has broken down, he's just done it in private.
Such a powerful scene, such great dialogue and such a memorable film. Hopefully, everyone who has the opportunity can see this poignant film in order to not forget the War in Iraq.
Below is the site with lots of cool stuff, just too many sound fx for me, http://www.thehurtlocker-movie.com/
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
TheNewYorkTimes's Channel: When No One's Looking: Runaways in Oregon
This was a powerful and sad news story that had some poignant profiles of young people living on their own. Wow. Reminds me of the story of Debra Gwartney and her two runaway daughters-http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2009/03/07/live_through_this/
Hmmm. I was driven by hearing the "This American Life" story of them and read the book in a weekend as somehow I was moved by their story. I always feel so lucky that familial bonds kept me safe when I was a teen, but, it could happen to anyone. A few of my close friends in my late teens just disappeared, so you wonder, did they end up like these kids.
I think the photography and video in this piece tells the story in an extremely effective way. I'm interested and will try to find out more about the two women producers and the reporter, Ian Urbina. I blogged about NY Times video about a tent city in Redmond Washington earlier this summer thinking about this same destitute group. It made NYC seem a long way away from this kind of life.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Canon 5D Mark II | Climate change in Bangladesh - Dan Chung | TheEOScars.com - the best of Canon 5D mkII moving images
Keya's story is a great example of how the Canon 5D Mark II can work in an extreme documentary situation such as this. It's a lovely bit of filmmaking and I am impressed with the shots in the house of Keya telling her story. Having such a small space in which to shoot is why this camera makes sense here. While some of the wide shots lose definition and seem clunky with pans that are not so smooth, I don't mind as the close up's and depth of field shots are what interest me. Found this site with good examples of video from this camera so am exploring more. Looks like a good place to study.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Kevin Meredith Photography - Hot Shots the Photography Course
This guy takes some amazing photos. Constantly inspired. one of my contacts on Flickr so I look at his stuff all the time. It really does seem like film is the way to go for better shots. He keeps it FRESH, like it should be.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Rabbits Against Magic Doodle Jump in comics!
My friend Igor's IPhone game has made it into a comic! The popular game is called "Doodle Jump" and is a really fun app to buy at the App Store. Igor is a talented colleague from Parsons and I've known him for years. His company is Limasky http://www.limasky.com/and he and his brother in Croatia make absolutely addictive games for the IPhone. Check his work out, you won't be disappointed. Another review here: http://www.pocketgamer.biz/r/PG.Biz/Lima+Sky+news/feature.asp?c=16243
Driving My Tractor Animation by Barefoot Books
Here is the latest animation that my talented husband, Zachary has completed for Barefoot Books. It's really fun and I have been humming this song now for weeks. Our "5 and under testers" give it the thumbs up along with a small group of their friends. We did the pilot for this idea years ago when Zachary was working at NBC and you can see it on our site in the work area. The pilot is called "Bear on a Bike" and I did the sound effects and helped direct the musician, Lou Barlow in doing the voice-over. "Driving my Tractor" isn't as complicated as the original, but I think it has the same impact. We have had it on our IPhones for years so our kids have watched it enthusiastically since then. Barefoot Books has a whole catalog of books that they want to animate like this so we are excited.
Let us know what you think. It's made for kids, big and small and won't disappoint. Rate or comment on YouTube for impact!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Josh Gosfield's Gigi Gaston as the Black Flower
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Memories at Company in Chelsea
These shots are from my grandmother's house in Jaffrey, NH and I was reminded tonight of this place while having dinner with my parents and Zachary at an excellent pizza restaurant in Chelsea called Company, http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/co/
We talked about my family and traded gossip, and I was brought back to this place and how special it is to my family. My grandparents bought it in the early 1960's and now finally with my grandmother at 94, she is putting it on the market. It is an old hunting lodge that was converted to a three bedroom and has lakefront property, a boathouse and bunkhouse and lovely grounds that are filled with Queen Anne's Lace wildflowers in August. I visited there this summer and was astounded with how quiet and green it is. They have a view of Mount Mondadnock from the front lawn and really for me, it was a place for visiting and enjoying the peaceful relationship of my grandparents. Otherwise tonight, we talked about my friend from Bedford, Liz Welch and her new book and the local news from Averill, VT, where we have a summer cabin. AND, the pizza is excellent!!!!!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Spike Jonze: We Were Once a Fairytale | Video | Creativity Online
More from: Spike Jonze | Spike Jonze | Creativity Latest
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Kanye stretches as an actor in this Spike Jonze short
This is interesting. Liked seeing this finally after reading about it a while ago. The camera really lets us float along with the action. Lovely to look at, in regards to the shots and lighting plus the acting is really strong. Didn't know Kanye had it in him. Even though it gets a little crazy at about 9 minutes in, the animation is supreme and super realistic, and the expressions on the little guy's face make it all worth it. Especially when he backs away when the implement of destruction is offered to him. Wow.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Op-Ed Guest Columnist - Rebranding America by Bono
My brother Tim sent me this. He currently resides in Ramallah. Take a moment to read it as it's a nice piece on Obama and his big wake up call to Peace this past week. I admire Bono for his eloquence here in talking about issues that affect us all. Poverty eradication + energy of a world working together can equate a better future for us all.
Video: Arctic Monkeys - 'Cornerstone' (Official)
Nothing more to say except that I like it. Wish I had his little recorder and mic too. Nice song and Domino is all over it. I particularly like the way his belt flops over.
Friday, October 16, 2009
puppydiseases: Fishing with Gandhi: Video. Early Kasper Hauser comedy improv
If you would like to start your day with a smile, spend the next 4 minutes watching 3 out of 4 of the brilliant comedy group, Kasper Hauser in the first feature film they starred in back in 1998. It was called Fishing with Gandhi and was directed by Gabe Weisert. Zack did the editing and I originally met Gabe while synching his dailies back at Monaco Labs and Video.
If improv were to be taught (Danno, actually teaches an improv class at Stanford University in CA), this would be a good example of a successful scene.......
James and John and Dan talk stream of consciousness while waiting for their truck to cool down from overheating. Check it out! It's one of my favorites. Thanks for posting Gabe! Check out the stuff that Kasper Hauser is doing now as they are amazing: http://www.kasperhauser.com/
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Photo - Rosemarie Castoro's sculpture "Cathedral"
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> Karen Nourse
> 917-406-2433
> Karen@kzfilms.com
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Video: David Byrne: Live on Two Wheels
Watch this cool video of him riding on the West Side bikepath in Manhattan. It's a place we spend a lot of time on and echo his sentiments of riding. He talks about bike-friendly cities and also suggests NYC puts the West side Highway underground " if you want to keep the damn highway". Nice!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
| life - photoblog | September.10.2005
This guy Chris Milk has some nice material up here. I like this portrait and some of his moving stuff, particularly his movie #9 that starts with some slow-mo shots of a kid leaving the house. His photos are cool. I like this Polaroid where I can see that when he peeled the paper some of the material left these white dots in the center and on the bottom. Like it anyway. I have some Polaroids like this around. Makes me want to scan some old ones. Liked this video he did here:
Idiotic subway SAFETY poster: NYC
This poster on the NYC Subway is communicating a bad message to normal people out there with families. It's so dangerous to do this, to take the child out of a stroller and get into the subway car, that no one does it and no one SHOULD do it. For one, these subway cars and buses jerk around a lot so these kids are better off strapped into the safely of their carriages. Secondly, this woman is wearing little heels and it is literally impossible to pickup an infant and fold a stroller with one hand all by yourself, no one can do it. Thirdly, I wish I could roll my stroller with a sleeping child onto a bus in Manhattan as the hassle of waking the kid, folding the stroller, affixing any bag or backpack to your person and then managing to actually get on the bus is not easy. Whoever came up with this safety PSA certainly has never done this action before. CRAZY......
Sunday, October 11, 2009
YouTube-chalk animation-Firekites AUTUMN STORY
This is nice. Like the concept and the clapping of the hands and whispering is super cool. Like the traveling from one board to another and it's so nicely done with the birds at the beginning of the film and then the progression all the way through the piece. I liked seeing the little mounds of chalk dust at the base of each board too. So cool. Don't know anything about this band except I like the video and this song. Makes me want to practice my drawing skills.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Blondie's 'Rapture' video at MOMA
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Lou Barlow "Soul & Fire" ALBUM RELEASE SHOW in NYC 10/6/09
We attended Lou's show the other night celebrating "Goodnight Unknown". They were early into the tour, but it didn't matter as everyone did a lot of laughing and he played some wonderful songs. He was playing guitar and also the bass with his feet as he had rigged up some foot pedals. Someone at the beginning of the show, yelled out, "Stick to the bass!" which didn't help. He was over on the left of the stage and everyone yelled out their distaste for the comment. But after that the crowd rallied around him and he played wonderfully. I like this moment here as it's tender and sweet and you can hear at the end the encouragement from the crowd. Amazing to me that someone can be so delicate with a guitar. A really cool show with lots of great playing. And, the album is wonderful!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Jon Hopkins - Insides (Live at The ICA, London) and Skip Sweeney
Jon Hopkins - Insides (Live at The ICA, London)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Leo: 16 months
There is a lot happening in the busy life of my 16-month old son, Leo. First, he just learned to back up. At the playground, he walks over, turns and backs up into my arms or next to my leg. It must feel nice and familiar in this big world he is noticing. From this he has learned to spin around, after which he falls down with a dizzy smile on his face. Second, he points at everything. This is his gesture for either commenting on things or that he wants something. Today he was pointing at a pigeon that landed on a nearby fence post as if to say, "Here is a pigeon, take a look". And finally, the best thing of all in raising little people, is that he now walks into my arms. This is the most precious thing as a parent and worth all the energy and focus, his unconditional love.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Jon Lajoie: About Me and new video, WTF Collective
There is nothing to say except watch the "about me" video and his new YouTube video. My friend Josh (http://www.youtube.com/22ndCenturyJosh) pointed me to him. All I can say is that I needed something like this today. Brings tears to my eyes he is so brilliant. His deadpan works perfectly. The video is just toe-tapping.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
White Hills Fall US Tour
My friend, Egosensation, the bassist for the band White HIlls did this promo for their Fall tour going on now around parts of the midwest, Canada and the Eastern US. It's cool, has a neat feel and grabs my attention. That is exactly what this is supposed to do and I think she does it very well. Check it out and come on out to see them.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Beauty Academy of Kabul
This is a very interesting film and I really liked watching every moment. Zachary saw it at the Tribeca Film Festival last summer and was impressed so I was happy to rent it on Netflix. Inspiring camera work and stories of the women are really in-depth. Bizarre to see such lovely women with huge hearts take this step to teach beauty and hair skills to Afghan women. My big concern now, is about how the school doing today. Wondering in light of the awful situation there now. My brother Tim, has spent some time in Kabul with his micro-finance development work (US-AID Sponsored project that has since ended), but when he was there, he wasn't able to do much "sight-seeing". Hope that it is still in operation.
One touching scene is when the throngs of women go to the school to enroll and learn that they can only accept 20 students at a time. Another lovely moment is when they explain on a white board, that a woman student needs to be healthy and rested to be fresh to absorb the material. They explain exactly how much sleep a woman needs to be healthy, (6-8 hrs/night). I think this was so interesting and just shows some of the completely fascinating documentaries out there that we can now rent over our computers that shed light on far away places and cultures. Rent it now.