Huh?? No, it isn't me -- y'see, somethin' gives it away (know what it is? No CATS& on the monitor/papers/keyboard/nerves, etc. ...)

Okay ... back to (come to thinkof it, it does a little.  NAAAAH!  More like Larry King ...) business: In the RelicMail this AM was the musical question: "Which was the best American band in the time of the British Invasion?"

Well, to the Relic, there were three bands that really deserve that title (oh ... and remember that we're only goin' from around 1964 to 1967 here):

For harmony, driving rhythm and just plain ol' good vibrations, ya couldn't do any better than Carl, Mike, Brian (and, later, Bruce), Al and Dennis -- collectively, The Beach Boys.
These California dudes came out with their great surfs-cars-and-girls sound at a time when we needed it. Y'see, while The Beatles and company took some of the edge off our sadness over JFK's death, it took this all-American quintet to pull us back into the light ... and they did it well.

The next would have to be Paul, Mark, Smitty, Drake and Phil: Paul Revere and The Raiders. Not only did they mix humor with their driving, gutteral rock-n-roll, but they also tackled different issues with their music (such as drug addiction with Kicks, peace with We Gotta All Get Together and the plight of Native Americans with Indian Reservation -- though that was actually just Mark Lindsay with session musicians). They were a welcome sight at any venue, pulling in screaming fans by the thousands.
Today, a version of the band (with Paul still fronting it) is performing regularly in Branson, Missouri.

The third has to be Mike, Micky, Davy and Peter -- you knew 'em as The Monkees. Now, these guys really impressed The Relic when they finally got out from under Kirschner's thumb and did their own thing.
Y'see, first ya had the cultural diversity (Mike, the long, lanky, wool-hatted Texan; Davy, the jockey/rocker from the UK; Peter, the studious folkster from the Rockies; Micky, the comical, former celeb from California).
But there was more than just music and mayhem: These guys introduced the Moog Synthesizer to rock music (the grandaddy of today's synths), financed another band called Three Dog Night (think Jonas Brothers circa 1966 ... without the "brothers" part), introduced Jimi Hendrix back to U.S. audiences, and -- in time -- Mike Nesmith joined with Todd Rundgren to form what was to become MTV.
Oh ... there are a coupla hidden items here, too: The fact that Mike was the first superstar rocker to actually stand up (and violently) to the record moguls and win (the band wanted control of their own music ... performing the songs without a "ghost" band playing the music behind them!).
The other's been hidden for years: After a fantasy episode, where Mike, as a "fair maiden", was rescued by Peter (whom "she" wouldn't give the time of day!), there was the obligatory interview with the boys (remember, Mike had a son named Christian. It'll fit into the story in a sec). Among the questions: "Mike, what do you think Christian will think about seeing you in a dress?" Before Mike could respond, Micky blurted out, "Same thing as a Jew, I suppose." The studio burst out in laughter ... and the television audience witnessed the first time a rocker wasn't bleeped or cut for an off-the-cuff reference like that.

Now ... it's your turn, yardbirds. Whatcha think? Lemme know who you think deserves the honor (they could be miles apart from mine, but that's okay), and I'll print yer response herea along with info about the band.

Okay ... bein' the afternoon, The Relic's still got a load of stuff in front of him (and after cleanin' the litter pans, still some paperwork to do!) So, until tonight, remember:

Keep yer eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, yer heart with the music ...
and I'll see ya on the flip side!

• The Blue Hawaiians - Quiet Surf (album: Sway) [1998]
• Jimmy Luttrell - Egyptian Surf Queen (album: USA Guitar Surf King) [2001]
• Don Grusin - Surfer Girl (Prelude) (album: A Jazz Portrait of Brain Wilson) [2005]
• Clark Burroughs Group - Surfs Up (album: A Jazz Portrait of Brain Wilson) [2005]
• The Chantays - Pipeline (album: Big Waves - Five Decades of Surf Rock) [2007]
• The Lively Ones - Surf Rider (album: Big Waves - Five Decades of Surf Rock) [2007]
• Pollo del Mar - A Flash of Green (album: Big Waves - Five Decades of Surf Rock) [2007] (Removed at Artists request)
• Dick Dale & the del-Tones- Surf Beat (album: Dick Dale & His Deltones - Greatest Hits 1961-1976) [1992]
• The Surfaris - Wipe Out (album: Hot Summer 101 - Sunset Party) [2007]
• Blue Stingrays- Goldfinger (album: Surf-N-Burn) [1997]
• The Beach Boys - Surfin' U.S.A. (album: Endless Summer)
• McFly - Surfer Babe (album: Room On the 3rd Floor) [2004]

A choke of grief heart hardened I
Beyond belief a broken man too tough to cry

Surf's Up
Aboard a tidal wave
Come about hard and join
The young and often spring you gave
I heard the word
Wonderful thing
A children's song

" Surf's Up" - The Beach Boys

When I'm working, there are some days that the only "sunlight" I really get is from the music that I play in my office. Music can sometimes be my closest "connection" to God. Sometimes a paticular song can be God's closest connection to me. Spirit has such a way of communicating through music. Try it sometime. When you hop into the car, ask God to play a song just for you . Chances are you'll be moved to tears or truly inspired.  I've found that what's spiritual for me may not be spiritual for you. I still wanted to make a short list of the tunes that are really making my heart sing for the week. I hope some of you will comment on your favorites! It'll give me new songs to download! Think of what makes your "heart" sing! Well here's my short list,

"Surf's Up" - The Beach Boys (the last minute and half of this song is "Spiritual" beyond measure.)

"Vida La Vida" - Coldplay  (a coming of age song for me. Very cool.)

" Love and Mercy" - Brian Wilson  ( The title reminds me of tolerance everytime)

"Warwick Ave" -  Duffy  ( when this gal sings...I feel it!) 

" Blue" - Lucinda Williams  ( this tune reminds me of the two most important girls in my life)

 there are so many more....but I hope this inspired people to use music this week and every week. Can't wait to hear your favorites at work!

Junior stood before me, wielding a plastic sword. That might have been how The Avalanches did it, come to think.

I am slowly falling in love with Dr. Dog's new album, Fate. "The Old Days" has been the immediate stand out favourite for me. But lately I have been listening to a new song off the album called "The Breeze". It is a beautiful song, filled with lush vocal harmonies. The Beach Boys would be proud!

Dr. Dog - The Breeze

> STORIA del SURF ROCK < fonte Wikipedia

Per capire di che genere musicale si tratta, basta pensare all'esempio più famoso, il brano 'Misirlou' di Dick Dale che nel 1994 esplose nelle sale cinematografiche, grazie al successo della pellicola > Pulp Fiction < nella cui colonna sonora il regista Quentin Tarantino decise di inserire alcuni brani di Surf Rock.  

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.657012&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26] Dick Dale - Misirlou - Pulp Fiction Theme

Il surf rock nasce negli anni sessanta come genere ispirato dalla cultura surfista della California meridionale. E' qui che viene lanciato da Dick Dale al quale poi seguirono formazioni come la più nota > The Beach Boys < con la loro famosa Surfin'USA. Il genere, rimasto in una nicchia, è andato poi scomparendo. Negli anni novanta alcuni si ispirararono al Surf Rock di allora per dare vita al Surf Revival. Oggi questa Musica arriva a noi con influenze di musica ellettronica, punk rock e garage ed è caratterizzata da un ritmo di base aggressivo, tipico delle sonorità underground.  

Quello di  Calafuria è sicuramente l'evento europeo più importante perchè vedremo sul palco alcuni tra i gruppi più significativi della scena provenienti da tutto il mondo. The Vibrants, The Barbwires, The Charades, Bitch Boys, The Surfadelics, I Surfoniani, The Wavers, Jaguar & The Savanas e poi Gli Ambasciatori dell'Amore, I Rifflessi e molti altri ancora. 16 e 17 Agosto 2008 Calafuria, S.S. Aurelia, Loc. Romito Livorno

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.657041&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26] Bitch Boys - Gotchya!

CALENDARIO CONCERTI:

SABATO 16/08 PALCO PRINCIPALE
16.30 The Surfadelics
17:45 Jaguar & The Savanas
19:30 The Crashmen
21:00 The Charades
22:15 The Vibrants

DOMENICA 17/08 PALCO PRINCIPALE
17:00 I Surfoniani
18:15 The Wavers
19:30 The Wet-Tones
21:00 The Sunny Boys
22:30 The Barbwires
23:30 The Bitch Boys

DJ SET alla fine dei concerti

DOMENICA 17 PALCO LATERALE
18:00 I Rifflessi The Italian face of 60s surf beat
22:00 Gli Ambaciatori dell'Amore Fantastic beat from the fabulous 60s

i mille colori della la favolosa
> Fender-Jaguar < 
utilizzata nel Surf Rock

In 1969, Joe branched out into personal management, guiding the careers of Neil Diamond, Ricky Nelson, Lou Rawls, O.C.Smith and David Axelrod.

In 1972, he was hired by MCA as Executive Vice-President of their music division, and was responsible for the day to day operations of their Decca, Kapp, and Uni labels.

In 1975, Joe exited MCA and formed his own Shadybrook Records label. Artists such as Delegation, Kellee Patterson, El Chicano and The Mystic Moods made Shadybrook one of the most successful independent labels of its time.

In 1981, Joe sold the label to Phonogram, and he and Mickey Freeman reestablished the Freeman and Sutton Public Relations firm.

Since 1993, Sutton's client roster has included the likes of Martin Lawrence, Jerry Seinfeld, Burt Reynolds, The American Film Institute, Detour Magazine,  Billboard Live, The Fred Jordan Mission, Green/Epstein Productions, Oprah Winfrey, Grosso/Jacobson Entertainment, The Musician's Assistance Program, The Motion Picture & Television Fund, Paul Haggis Productions, Total Media Group, The National Film Preservation Foundation, David Lynch's, 'Twin Peaks,' and many more.

Select talent included Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Sullivan, Jerry Douglas, Lorenzo Lamas, Tim Truman, Patty Duke, Michael Sutton, Kenny Rankin, Jose Solano, Benjamin Bratt, Drew Barrymore, Scott Bakula, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, and Brendan Fraser among others.

In 1998, Joe put his years of show business expertise and philosophical beliefs before the Los Angeles radio public.

His first radio show, "Talkin' With Papa Joe," debuted on KYPA in January and stayed on that small local station until March. The show them moved to the CBS owned KLXS and took on a new title, "The Heart Of Hollywood ^® with Joe Sutton."

Joe's audience not only grew by leaps and bounds but his show had the #1 audience retention rating according to Arbitron. His guests ranged from producer Steve Tisch, to AFI's CEO, Jean Firstenberg, to the L.A. Times columnist, Mike Downey, to young Hollywood talents like Jenny McCarthy and Sean Astin, whose life blood and dreams are typical of how success is created in Hollywood.

Academy Award winning producer, Mark Harris, talent guru Joan Hyler and Al Ruddy, the legendary producer of "The Godfather," as well as Syd Field the maven of "How To Write A Screenplay," have been among the many Hollywood family who have guested on "The Heart of Hollywood ^®."

Joe's program and writings are about the spiritual and Ethical core of his beliefs in life and how they can be used to live and succeed in this fantasy world we live in called Hollywood.

Joe's initial book, THE HEART OF HOLLYWOOD: FROM HOLLYWOOD TO HELL AND BACK, was published in the spring of 2003 by Creative Arts Book Company of Berkeley, California and can be purchased at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Joe is currently a Public Relations Consultant for the Motion Picture & Television Fund and developing Senior Programming for Seniors and by Seniors for the Fund’s on Campus Station, MPTV, Channel 22.

Joe is also producing and hosting his Heart of Hollywood Program with The Motion Picture & Television Fund not only for their on Campus MPTV, Channel 22, but also for sale to commercial Television, Radio and Internet outlets.  Part of the production funds will go to MPTF in honor of their long standing relationship with Joe.

Joe lives in Hollywood, California, USA. He is a swimmer, sports fan, cherishes his family, non smoker, eater of healthy foods and lover of life.

He is the very proud father of sons Michael and Robby Sutton.

Birth

1953. Ian Bairnson (Pilot) born in Shetland.

On The Street

1999. 150 fans turn up to see a star unveiled on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame to country legend Patsy Cline. Her husband, Charlie Dick, was onhand to represent the family, 36 years after the singer's death.

In Court

1969. Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys) is indicted in Los Angeles for failing to undertake his work as a hospital orderly in lieu of military draft.

In Hospital

1965. Johnny Little lead singer with The Vikings pop group is released from Perth Royal Infirmary following his accident on July 27th when he fell from scaffolding during his job as a painter.

On Television

1974. The Partridge Family (ABC, U.S.A.) in an episode entitled, "Keith And Lauriebelle". 8m 26s. This clip will link to another two to give you the whole episode.

Death

1992. Jazz trombonist and rock 'n' roll singer Don Lang dies of cancer in London's Royal Marsden Hospital. He had a long session career that included work on The Beatles' "white" album.

Go to Rockmine's main site here.

© Copyright 1995 - 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.

Podobnie rzecz ma się z Louisem Armstrongiem i jego niezapomnianym utworem - "What A Wonderful World". Niejaki Joey Ramone przerobił to na punkrocka i wg mnie efekt końcowy jest zaskakująco dobry. Mogą się tutaj oburzyć fani pana Armstronga ale biorąc pod uwagę nurt muzyki w jakim tworzył pan Ramone, wykonanie "What A Wonderful World" jest może nie totalne ale naprawdę całkiem dobre.

Update #1: I got a new phone!
Yes, this is actually newsworthy; anyone who's seen my old phone knows that this is a big deal. I've had my old phone since I was a senior in high school (that was seven years ago!), and it has really hung in there, bless it, but it was also really starting to croak. Check it:
[caption id="attachment_78" align="alignright" width="300" caption="It's like, the future."][/caption]My friends at work called it "the Zach Morris phone." I think my other friends just called it "the brick." I can't tell you how many times people have told me, "I thought that was your HOUSE phone!" It's incredibly embarrassing, but now I am rid of it. Check out the new phone! It has a "1" key and a backlight and everything, fancy! Seriously though, it fits in my pocket and has texting capabilities and charges the right way (REALLY excited about it holding a charge), so I'm very happy, even though it was probably the crappiest phone in the whole store. I still can't take a camera to work, and that eliminated a lot of options for me. But like I said, I'm very happy with my new phone. I'm totally cooler now.

Update #2: I'm going to Vegas!
Brittany called me up a few weeks ago and told me she needs a vacation. Next thing I know, I've got tickets to Vegas for this weekend. Turns out they're pretty cheap from Seattle. Brittany, Joe, and Britt's friend Tarin are going, and we're staying at Treasure Island, so it should be fun. But there's one thing I'm worried about... Brittany and Joe have been in San Diego for the last three months rackin' up some big bucks working on the Nimitz, and I've been, you know, paying rent. I hope they don't expect me to keep up with them.

Don't worry, I have a plan! I'm bringing my guitar. That will keep me occupied for hours for free! Please see Excuse #3 below.

Update #3: I'm going home to New Mexico!
No, not forever, though I haven't stopped dreaming about that day. I bought more tickets to visit Las Cruces the 22nd through the 25th, and I can't wait to see my family! I don't know how long I can keep up this every-four-months schedule; I miss them too much. But I am also incredibly excited about chile roasting season, and I will be just in time, I think! Thank GOD. I don't have the heart to tell you right now about my futile chile searches. Just know that Jen made enchiladas while she was visiting (see Excuse #1 below), and I really almost cried, I was so happy. That's not a joke.

Excuse #1: Friends... yes, I have them.
Not just Jen, but Scott and Isis came to visit a few weeks ago, which kept me understandably occupied. It was just like college again... the green couch always seems kind of weird unless Scott is sleeping on it. In case anybody doesn't know, Jen was my roommate my last year of college, and Isis was her friend that was always at the house, and Scott was my friend that was always ALWAYS at the house, so having them in town was really wonderful. Of course Jen and I stayed up all night one night talking about boys and literary analogies (I totally missed her. I love having THAT friend), and Scott unlocked almost all the songs on Guitar Hero Areosmith (and, you know, won lots of money playing poker while I was at work), and Isis introduced us to her super-cool parents in Kirtland (their whole family is awesome), and we had SO much fun.

And of course after they were gone and my apartment was all empty again, it took me a while to remember what it was I USED to do... but I found my way back to the internet eventually. :)

Excuse #2: Work.
Work this month has been very... different. Instead of working swing shift and stealing peanut M&Ms from the trouble desk in between frequent pointless trips to the boat, I've been working days, and I've been in charge of training some college interns on working on a sub. So part of this is really good, because I have more responsibility, and training and sort of "mentoring" (kind of hate that word, but had to use it) is what I like to do and what I feel like I'm good at, but on the other hand, it's really difficult and I miss my peanut M&Ms. And maybe it's not related, but the number of times I've been yelled at for not wearing my safety glasses has skyrocketed since the interns got here. Hmm.

I'm trying hard to make the interns' first experience with the waterfront better than mine was, but it's not easy to tell how it's going right now. I only have most of them for about a week before they move to another project, so I mostly take them on tours and show them the "chores" and try to familiarize them with how we do work. I think it's going okay! I'm kind of excited about it. I feel like a nerd for putting so much effort into this, but this is actually what I like to do.

Excuse #3: My guitar is so awesome, I can't even tell you.
DUDE. I mentioned I have Guitar Hero Areosmith, which I bought for my Wii, which I kind of love, but I really haven't played like, ever, because my real guitar is so much fun and I cannot put it down. I LOVE MY GUITAR. I seriously get sad without it. I'm not just taking it to Vegas to get me out of expensive outings; oh no. I would miss it far too much to leave it behind.

I have had "Take it to the Limit" by the Eagles in my head for no less than five days, and it's not even my favorite Eagles song, but I can't stop thinking about it. I've played it... not sang it... in my head since Thursday. I sit at work and think about my guitar. I sit on the ferry and think about my guitar. I walk into the test house and say, "Look at my callouses! I'm a rockstar!" and everybody says, "That's nice Holly, you showed me yesterday," and I say, "No! Feel my fingers! I'm a rockstar!"

It has kept me from my blag more than anything else. A poor excuse, maybe, but it's the truth.

Besides "Take it to the Limit," the songs that I am currently totally stoked about and obsessed with are "Breathe" by Pink Floyd and "Help Me Rhonda" by the Beach Boys.

I could talk about this for hours. I think I have a problem.

Alright! Three excuses and three updates... it's a good start. I'll try not to be so irresponsible in the future about keeping everything up to date. Maybe I'll even post this weekend from Vegas!

Later.

80′lerden 500 Yabancı Hit. Bölüm#3
Bölüm#3 içerisinde sanatçı isimleri S-Z arası 107 adet şarkı mp3leri bulabilirsiniz.

500 80’s Pop&Wave Songs Part#3
Part#3 contains Artist name S - Z   107 mp3 Songs

.

Puesto número 75.

Cream. Shunsine of your love.

Puesto número 74.

Little Richards. Good Golly, Miss Molly.

Puesto número 73.

Chubby Checker. The twist.

Puesto número 72.

The Beach Boys. God only knows.

Puesto número 71.

Elvis Presley. Heartbreak hotel.

But Smile, I mean, wow.  What wonders the world might have wrought if it had been released on time, before Sgt. Pepper and before the Beach Boys lost the head of steam they'd built with Pet Sounds.  While Pet Sounds is melancholy and lovely, Smile is transcendent, spiritual, American, orchestral, and utterly unique.  It's accessible but wears well with each repeated listening, and Van Dyke Parks' lyricism is a big part of what makes it so interesting.

Anyway, I have to stop writing, before I scoop myself!  But take a look at Van Dyke Parks waxing nostalgic about the Troubadour.  Doesn't he talk like David Lynch?

P.S. I'm not talking about Brian Wilson's SMiLE album that came out a couple years ago.  It's really good, and I own the DVD and all that.  But it's no more the "real" Smile than seeing a concert by Al Jardine and Friends is the same as seeing the Beach Boys.

Todos esos detalles negativos fueron puestos por los asistentes en los foros del sitio oficial de Brian Wilson, donde se quejaron también de que les habían prometido un concierto con banda y se habían tenido que “conformar” con Brian en solitario. En definitiva, que o había ido el público más tiquismiquis de la historia del pop o a Brian Wilson le salió uno de sus peores días.

Pues bien, tras las numerosas quejas, el compositor de discos como Pet Sounds ha decidido cortar por lo sano y ha anunciado en su página que reembolsará el dinero de la entrada a todos los fans descontentos. Con sólo contactar con el responsable de relaciones públicas de Brian, el dinero volverá a las cuentas de quienes se hayan sentido ofendidos. ¿Os imagináis algo así por aquí? Algunos festivales no iban a dar a basto...

This guy is so damaged and yet he has created so many amazing songs. You forget how far ahead of everyone he was when it came to song writing and arranging. And you look at him now and you can see he is so heavily medicated and yet his backing band is amazing with all of the arrangements. Check out both movies if you want to see something amazing.

Your Angry Filmmaker Tip.

When I was in Film School, I realized that film was so much more than I thought. It wasn't just a way to tell a story (which is still important); it was a way to truly communicate with an audience. To use film as a way of saying things. To protest, to educate, to enlighten.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide (coming really soon)

When I first went to film school I had modest goals, I just wanted to make Hollywood films, like the ones that I grew up with. When I got there I was thrown in with all of these people who said they were influenced by Godard, Fellini, Bergman and others. Film was considered an art form to these people and they all seemed very serious about what they wanted to do. When I had to get up in front of the class and say that I just wanted to make films to entertain you could’ve heard a pin drop. The faculty and a lot of the other students wrote me off at that moment. I had a few instructors that I couldn’t buy a decent grade from, because I was that guy “who just wanted to entertain”.

It was while I was in school and watching films that were not only assigned but were also being screened for other classes, or on weekends that I truly realized what film was all about. I had a conversion if you will. I realized that I didn’t know shit about film, film history or anything that was important. (Although I still think that Citizen Kane is not only NOT the best movie ever made, but it’s not even Welles best film.)

I felt like I was playing catch up the whole time I was there, and even the first few years I was out of school and working. Growing up I didn’t watch films, I watched movies. \Lots of westerns and war movies with my Father who rarely talked about fighting in WWII. If he did talk it was usually because we had just seen something in a film that he either agreed with or laughed at.

I don’t think the filmmakers of today have any knowledge of the past when it comes to films. They don’t believe that any films were made before 1985 and if any films were made they’re in black and white and boring. I think that’s why most of the mainstream movies are so bad today. Its one thing to know that the people who run the studios also have no knowledge of film history, but the fact that the filmmakers themselves are nothing more than “Commercial Directors” is something that really bothers me.

Directors are lauded for doing things with special effects and not for using film as a means of expression. It’s bad enough that young filmmakers today idolize filmmakers who aren’t very talented, (Yes I’m talking about you Michael Bay). I know that films have always been a business and the moguls would make commercial films to make money so that they can make movies that they felt were important, but when was the last time a film came out of Hollywood that was really important?

I love mindless entertainment as well as the next person, and I will go see Hell Boy 2 just because I thought the first one was a lot of fun. But I am getting sick and tired of being fed junk food by a bunch of people who wouldn’t know a smart and important film if it bit them in the … you know what I’m saying.

If you are serious about making films, then learn your film history. See classic and foreign films and draw inspiration from them. Don’t draw inspiration from bad TV shows you grew up watching, or from toys and computer games.

Give us a reason to go to the theater and not just so you can take our $10 and try to over whelm us with loud noise and special effects. After a while even the hungriest kid gets tired of nothing but Twinkies.

Other stuff.

Internet Special!!!!

Go to www.angryfilmmaker.com and check out The Angry Filmmaker Work Books. They are packed with lots of good info and are a real bargain at a mere $10 each or the set of three for $25 (plus S&H). If you order all three work books, (Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production) before July 15^th, 2008 I will send you a free DVD copy of Kicking Bird. That’s all three books plus a Kicking Bird DVD for $25 + $9 S&H.

This special has gone so well that I am going to extend it to July 20^th, 2008!!!

And just a reminder, I am available to consult on your films.

What do you get out of the deal? You get the best value and advice in making your film. No matter what stage you’re in. I’ve been in the business for 25 years, working on everything from animation to live action, Independent features, Real Independent features, Hollywood studio stuff, and documentaries. If you check out my bio and filmography (www.angryfilmmaker.com/who.htm) you’ll see I’ve worked on award winning films, and films that never got distribution.

I will look at your work honestly and objectively. If there are problems, I’ll point them out, in a constructive way. No one wants to hear, “This sucks!” My goal is to guide you through the process, so that you can see what the problems are, and we’ll come up with ways to fix them. Check out (www.angryfilmmaker.com/consulting.htm.)

My Masters Class, Making the Extreme Low Budget Film has been re-scheduled for August 18^th thru September 5^th in Franklin, Indiana. Check out www.independentcinema.net for more information as it becomes available.

As always,

Talk later,

Kelley

www.angryfilmmaker.com

www.myspace.com/theangryfilmmaker

www.youtube.com/theangryfilmmaker

]]> http://progshinevideos.wordpress.com/?p=158 Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:22:44 +0000 Diego http://progshinevideos.wordpress.com/?p=158

That means that not only were the fashions in Shampoo supposed to be highly laughable even to its initial viewers, but the music (selected, it seems, by Phil Ramone and buddies) was cleverly chosen to represent the "sixties."  And I think they did a great job of it--during the Nixon election party, we hear a classy Tijuana-brass type version of an early Beatles song, and the shift to a hippie party afterwards is accompanied by a shift in Beatles music--this time by the abrasive, hard guitar sound of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," signalling the changes wrought in the mix-sixties that took rock and youth culture past the point where it could be used as simple evening wear. 

We also hear snippets of "Wouldn't It Be Nice?" by the Beach Boys at the movie's start and end.  It feels a little forced: one of those typical, Pavlovian book-ends they often do in movies to hammer home a conclusion ("Remember this song from the beginning, fair viewer?  Clearly we're concluding now!") but it does serve to contrast nicely with all the brash hippiedom we've heard throughout.  If the Beach Boys are the older, more innocent brothers of the Beatles, then they are wary enemies of neighborhood toughs like Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane and pretty much every other band we heard in the film.  Here, Brian Wilson's sonorous voice champions an idyllic and wide-eyed America that Warren Beatty's hairdresser somehow has at his core, even though he's at the same time deceitful and sluttish.  He's full of that yearning, and the simple American dream of starting his own business, but he fritters it away somehow in endless entwining lies and affairs (though, admittedly, every other character seems busy doing the same).

However, what really really bugged me about the movie was the original music by Paul Simon.  In one of the few touches of the movie that remind you of the then-present 1975 (the others being Nixon and Agnew on television and the foreshadowing of a Vietnam casualty), whenever there's a poignant moment for Beatty's character to be, say, riding a motorcycle and thinking about the meaning of it all, we hear soft guitars and Simon's gay-ass voice singing bee-weep bee-woos and crooning us softly.  See, this scene is poignant, man!  Just as poignant as if we had Clapton here to hold that one bluesy note and then do a soft little noodle. 

That's one of the things that annoys me so about Woodstock-era rock, and the softer or rootsier rock that followed in the early and mid-seventies in this country.  It's as though all that came before was classic but dated, and somehow rock had broken past those silly trappings such as hooks and into a bright dawn where we let it all hang out into the true and serious meanings of real life.  Simon even throws his own "Feeling Groovy" into the soundtrack earlier, seemingly in a deliberate contrast between his earlier, "goofier" work and his modern "deep" stuff.

Urg.  Anyway, Paul Simon was great when he was writing songs for the Cyrkle, and even pretty good with Garfunkel on them there folky songs.  But his solo career is perhaps only slightly better than a wet fart wrapped up in a baby seal hide and stuffed into your dead grandmother's vagina.

This Fourth of July was the 232nd anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence - yay America! People all over the United States celebrated in all sorts of ways, some wild & crazy, some traditional:

• Boy Scouts in Connecticut rang a replica liberty bell
• A rehabilitated bald eagle was set free in Florida
• 2,000 new citizens were sworn in on the U.S.S. Constitution in Boston
• Several military bases honored troops by hiring performers such as Wynonna Judd and LeeAnne Womack
• A thrill seeker walked 2,000 feet across a suspended high wire in Cincinnati
• Coney Island held its annual hot dog eating contest (Joey Chestnut of C.A. won)

Parades and concerts and shows and picnics were held all over the country, and of course fireworks were set off in all of the usual (and some not so usual) spots:

• Washington D.C.
• New York City, NY
• Louisville, KY
• Boston, MA
• Philadelphia, PA
• Seattle, WA
• Lake Tahoe, NV
• Marin County, CA

Scotland, Japan, Canada, and Holland also set of fireworks during the July 4th weekend (not necessarily celebrating the same event as the USA, of course). And let's not forget good old New Jersey. The Borgata and Harrah's Casino of Atlantic City set off a spectacular display coordinated with music, and Margate City, Ocean City, Cape May, and Wildwood all offered a decent show which could be seen from the beaches or the bays. In addition, Atlantic City held several free concerts on the beach starring the Beach Boys and Three Dog Night.

Unfortunately, for some, the often lovely and amazing fireworks displays were not so family fun as one expects. In Des Moines, Iowa 37 people were injured due to a mis-firing of fireworks. A fired up shell shot through spectators, causing destruction along the way. So far, it seems that a stack of 13 fireworks malfunctioned and shot across the ground horizontally instead of shooting into the air. Luckily most of the injuries were minor. However, others were not so lucky.

In Riverside Ohio, a man lost his leg when fireworks exploded inside of his car, with him inside. The blast blew out all the windows. I have no idea how they went off inside the car. It could have been a malfunction. A second man from Michigan was badly injured when a firework exploded in his face as he tried to put it in the tube. Maybe fireworks have had enough of human playtime and are going rogue on us [kidding]!

A 6 year old suffered 2nd degree burns due to fireworks landing in her lap. The girl was not at a public, professional display though, and it appears that neighboring kids or amateurs were handling the explosive lights a little too close for comfort. Another little boy, aged 3, also suffered severe burns because his father set off fireworks (which he was illegally playing with) near him.

I guess America needs to be schooled on the safety of pyrotechnics. Fireworks happen to be one of my favorite things to watch, but lucky for me I am to paranoid to watch from a close distance. There is no reason why I need to be sitting right on top of gigantic, exploding lights in order to see them (or hear them). No such thing as a 'good' seat; any seat where you can watch fireworks is a good one, and the farther away the better.

Happy belated Independence Day, America!
My sincere apologies and sympathy go out to any family who had to endure a painful 4th of July. America prays for you.

*Nerve interviews The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle on his Black Sabbath novella, Black Sabbath's Master of Reality: "I thought about pitching stuff that was lots heavier, but I thought, one, I came late to most of it except for Celtic Frost and Megadeth, and two, you got to get Sabbath out of the way first." [largehearted boy]

*Peruse: A very large list of MP3 blogs, broken out by category. [mediaeater] Also from the indomitable Mediaeater comes TasteKid, a recommendation engine for music, movies and books.

*Inventions: A nanotube radio receiver - created from a single carbon nanotube, these things could swim in the human bloodstream. "We have already used the nanotube radio to receive and play music from FM radio transmissions such as Layla by Eric Clapton (Derek and the Dominos) and the Beach Boy's Good Vibrations." [neatorama]

*The New Yorker's Alex Ross tours the Chinese classical music scene: Classical music draws huge crowds in China, and more young people are training, but Ross says commerce, art, and politics are keeping the scene a messy one.

*Off topic: The 50 Worst Sex Scenes in Cinema. Get the butter. And the popcorn (I guess?). Hello?