About
Editor: Michela Ledwidge
Accounts
Friends
-
Loading…michela 4 days ago
Click here to check if anything new just came in.
August 11 2011
Wicked Solutions for a Wicked Problem
DIY DAYS is coming to LA on Oct 28th and we’re excited to share a new site we’ve been working on. http://www.diydays.com
When we started DIY DAYS back in 2008, the goal was to share information and creative process within a social environment. As we prepare for what will be our 9th event, we are excited to announce a number of new additions to DIY DAYS that will focus on action.
Wicked Solutions for a Wicked Problem (WS WP) will be a center piece of the event. A wicked problem within the educational space will be targeted. WS WP is a “think tank meets hackathon” that will combine design thinking, storytelling and co-creation in an effort to move from concept to working prototype within a 48 hour period. DIY DAYS LA will close with a presentation of the prototype to a live audience.
Robot Heart Stories is an experiential educational effort that will have students in two underprivileged schools, one in Montreal and one in Los Angeles, co-creating stories that will move a robot (connected plush toy with GPS capabilities) from Montreal to Los Angeles. The project kicks off Oct 17th at the FESTIVAL DU NOUVEAU CINÉMA and concludes on the 28th at DIY DAYS LA. The journey will be documented and the children can check in with the robot’s progress as she attempts to find her way home. The student’s stories will be brought to life by designers, illustrators and animators and copies of the children’s work will be placed in an “actual rocket” that will be making its way into space this fall. The project mixes social gaming mechanics with creative writing while at the same time enabling the students to learn using math, science, history and geography.
SPEAKERS
In our first wave of speaker announcements we’re thrilled that Henry Jenkins, Tommy Pallotta and Christy Dena will be joining us. We’ll be sharing more speaker and program details in the coming weeks.
We are still looking for interesting people and projects. So if you know of someone or something that would be an amazing addition to the event please drop us a line at work@workbookproject.com with the subject “Diy Days LA.”
TICKETS
DIY DAYS LA is free and tickets will be available on a first come first serve basis. Starting on Sept 12th you’ll be able to get them from http://diydays.com
PARTNERS
We’re proud to partner with the UCLA Library as one of their Open Access Week events. Open Access Week is a global event, now in its 5th year, promoting Open Access as a new norm in scholarship and research. UCLA is giving us access to their amazing Charles E. Young Research Library which has recently been renovated.
CINEMA SPEAKEASY PRESENTS ‘SHOW & TELL”
In a special section of DIY DAYS we’ll be highlighting amazing innovative work. We’ve teamed with Cinema Speakeasy to put on a “show & tell” that will give creators of film, games, music, design projects, immersive experiences and anything else that deals with storytelling a space to show. Space is limited so make sure to contact us early. For more details check out http://diydays.com/2011/08/special-showcase
VOLUNTEERS
Last but definitely not least, we are looking for a few good women and men to help us put on the event. It’s a fun great way to meet people and network. Not to mention volunteers are what help to keep DIY DAYS free. It is the volunteers who share their time and talents that make DIY DAYS possible. We are in need of folks to help with logistics, tech, and documenting the event. If you’re interested you can find more details here http://diydays.com/volunteers
May 13 2011
RADAR NYC 5.12.11 – feat. Lori Nix
This week, we return to our contributor-curated series of blog posts with Lori Nix (RADAR ep 33 – Unnatural History). She found us a nice mix of beautiful works of art and some quirky, off the wall stuff–sort of like her own work.
Cravendale Cats
That’s it, I’m officially jealous of the British. After outdoing us in music and comedy for years, they now roll out this oddly addicting TV spot for milk—which is undoubtedly a result of years of its creators spending too much time on the Internet. Because—and I’ve mentioned this before—the equation goes: cats + doing weird things = roughly 85% of Internet content. Also, note the strange milk cartons they use over there (hey, at least it doesn’t come in bags like in Canada).
Find more on this clever campaign HERE.
Bodies of Water: Ears Will Pop and Eyes Will Blink
The music from this extremely talented LA-based collective has this rolling, lively Spaghetti Western-esque epicness to it that hooked me pretty much immediately, sort of like Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros without all the gimmickry. Ennio Morricone would be proud. But don’t get me wrong, there’s still enough theatrics and choral pieces to make this record the very definition of grand. Listen to it while walking down the street makes your life an instant musical. Just don’t blame me if people stare at you when you start singing along.
You can buy the album HERE
Bodies of Water’s website
Hi-Fructose Magazine
Despite new media’s repeated attempts to kill off the magazine once and for all (blogger’s note: hi there, sorry about that!), Hi-Fructose Magazine may be all the proof needed to show that there will always be a place for a beautifully-made, high quality, full color quarterly. Hi-Fructose aims to profile and discuss alternative artists, while at the same time dissecting what “alternative” means, bending genres and shattering norms in the process. Whatever you want to call it, there’s really some stunning work on display here.
You can pick up a copy at most bookstores, or check out their web presence HERE
Otherworldly: Optical Delusions and Small Realities
It may still be a ways off, but Otherworldly at the Museum of Arts and Design should definitely be worth the wait. Lori Nix and other diorama artists will be showcasing their different creations, extremely detailed microcosms of worlds that are both realistic and surreal—glimpses of our world both as it is and as it could be.
Otherworldly: Optical Delusions and Small Realities
June 7 – September 18
Museum of Arts and Design
2 Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10019
$15 Admission
EVENT INFO
New York Mag (and comments)
When Lori told me she liked to liked to read New York Magazine online to laugh at the comments following the articles, I wasn’t quite sure what she meant. But I didn’t have to look far to find out—the comments section is a nice concentrated cross-section of the Internet as a whole. You’ll find cynical, snarky millennials, sarcastic storytellers, political pundits who insert their opinions of Bush and/or Obama into every conversation, and trolls of course, because trolls simply are and always will be—they are as deeply ingrained into comment threads as the Pope is into Catholicism. It’s worth a laugh on any day you could use a bit of a confidence boost.
May 05 2011
RADAR NYC 5.5.11
Image via Dr. Sketchy’s
Welcome to Pine Point
I’ll be honest; it’s difficult for me to describe this without just suggesting you watch it for yourself, and it’s even more difficult to classify this as “watch.” From the National Film Board of Canada, this project tells the story of Pine Point, a planned mining community in central Canada, the people who lived there, and its eventual demise—being completely razed and taken off the map. It’s told through interactive bits, archival footage, pieces of animation, and recorded interviews with the former residents, and it all combines with some lovely music from The Besnard Lakes (one of my personal favorite Canadian bands) for a truly engaging experience that tells more than a straight up documentary ever could.
Check it out HERE
Washed Out – Eyes Be Closed
Ernest Greene, better known by his recording name Washed Out (RADAR season 3) will be following up last year’s excellent EP with his just-announced debut LP, Within and Without (complete with NSFW-ish cover art), due out July 12. But if you can’t wait that long, you can download the first single off the album right now. Eyes Be Closed sounds like a dreamy, trippy journey through a beautiful desert, or perhaps flying through the clouds. Either way, it’d be cool to listen to on the subway just as your train bursts above ground, the sunlight hitting your face.
You can get the mp3 straight from Sub Pop HERE
How the Social Web Reflected on bin Laden’s Death
By the time President Obama came on to announce the death of Osama bin Laden, it was already old news for a lot of wired people—myself included—who probably found out on Facebook or Twitter, and had about an hour to divulge their two cents on the matter. And it really showed how much the world has changed in the past 10 years. It was fascinating to watch the news unfold over the Internet, through mediums such as social media and imageboards, while major news sites struggled to keep up. Mashable has an interesting article on the role of social media in bin Laden’s death, complete with several fascinating infographics that reveal a lot about the world in 2011.
Read the article HERE.
Cake on the Bowery, Murder in Victorian England
Let Us Make Cake
Shantell Martin (RADAR ep 26 – Hidden Oras) will be joining about a dozen other visual artists will be using the façade of the New Museum as a canvas for their collaborative projection installation, Let Us Make Cake, part of Flash:Light, a night time, site-specific series of temporary art installations that re-imagine public space. Other events are planned at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and on Mulberry Street, so it should be quite a night.
Saturday, May 7 · 8:00 pm
The New Museum
235 Bowery
New York, NY 10002
Free
EVENT INFO
Dr. Sketchy’s Does Jack the Ripper
Not even one of England’s creepiest and bloodiest legends is safe from the imaginations of the good people at Dr. Sketchy’s Anti Art School (RADAR ep 8). Though really, in hindsight it seems like the perfect backdrop for the grisly tale of murders that scared the petticoats off of Victorian England.
Sunday, May 8 · 4:00pm – 7:00pm
The Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery
New York, NY
$12-$15
EVENT INFO
FreedomLab
FreedomLab Future Studies is an Amsterdam-based think tank and research lab committed to finding creative solutions to issues in technology, business, and society. The site also features a blog offering thoughts on subjects such as social media, storytelling, and intelligent green energy, while also emphasizing the growing influence of non-Western societies, such as Brazil and Africa, on the world stage. This is definitely a site to watch if you want to get ahead of the curve in the 21st Century.
FreedomLab’s website
@freedomlab on Twitter
April 29 2011
RADAR NYC 4.28.11
Eliza Skinner – The Oscar Party
Eliza Skinner (RADAR ep 2 – I Eat Pandas) returns to the world of Internet videos with this short about a couple going through an angry breakup just as their friends arrive for an Oscars party. Hijinks ensue, guests are weirded out, and movie puns are thrown around—and for some reason movie puns are so much funnier when shouted in a fit of rage. Movie nerds will either cringe or chortle. Or both. Either way, Eliza is quite hilarious as a pissed off ex-girlfriend.
Morningbell – Lovefool
Before I watched this video, I thought the title was just a coincidence—surely they weren’t covering that classic 90s radio mainstay? But that’s exactly what Morningbell (RADAR ep 33 – Unnatural History) did. And they did it gloriously. They stayed true to the original while giving it a bit of their own odd flair. And the breakfast-tastic video definitely ups the weirdness factor. You know, for those of you who like your 90s nostalgia with a side of scrambled eggs.
Download the mp3 for free HERE
Morningbell’s website
Morningbell’s MySpace
Sophie Blackall – The Crows of Pearblossom
Sophie Blackall has to be one of our busiest contributors. When she’s not creating beautiful blog posts about her father’s adventures or the Missed Connections of complete strangers, she’s creating amazing illustrations for children’s books. Her latest work is the illustrations for The Crows of Pearblossom, a short story originally written in 1944 by the legendary British author Aldous Huxley. Her vivid artwork gives a modern and whimsical flair to the classic tale.
You can buy the book HERE.
The Digitour & SLAM Theatre
The Digitour feat. The Gregory Brothers
Have you ever wanted to see Internet memes live on stage? As it turns out, the Gregory Brothers (RADAR ep 27 – Auto Tune the News) are among the many YouTube musicians performing as part of the DigiTour—and they’re playing New York on May 1. Go see the show, and then spend the rest of May with musical current events stuck in your head.
Sunday, May 1 · 7:00 pm
Gramercy Theatre
127 East 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010
$18
EVENT INFO
Slam Theatre week 1
SLAM Theatre (RADAR ep 6) is back this spring with another round of their fast-paced playwright and actor competition. It will be going on for the next four weeks, but Sunday is the first round of eliminations for this series, and you don’t want to miss the beginning.
Sunday April 24 · 7:00 – 12:00 am
Sunday, May 1 · 7:00pm – 10:00pm
The Tank NYC
354 West 45th Street
New York, NY
$5 suggested donation
EVENT INFO
@LukeGWilliams
Luke Williams is a professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business who specializes in disruptive innovation—a constant stream of unexpected changes and challenges to the old status quo. And in this world where “recession” is the word on everyone’s mind, new, disruptive ideas are more important than ever. While his blog (and book), DISRUPT may have been written with businesses in mind, the ideas he gives in his posts are surprisingly applicable to anyone.
DISRUPT blog
Luke Williams on Twitter
March 24 2011
RADAR NYC 3.24.11
Artwork by Cynthia Von Buhler via Dr. Sketchy’s
Parts + Labor
Parts + Labor from Sean O'Malley on Vimeo.
Parts + Labor is a cute short film made by Los Angeles-based filmmaker Sean O’Malley and starring Barak Hardley and Tipper Newton. In it, a girl on a budget tries to get her motorbike fixed and strikes up a conversation with the mechanic. What follows is a simple yet extremely well made and funny short about a short but sweet connection between two people. It’s nice to see a comedy short that feels natural and doesn’t rely so much on awkwardness as similar films tend to do. If you’ve been having a nasty day so far, this should quickly turn it around.
Javelin – Canyon Candy
Electro/hip-hop duo Javelin (RADAR ep 27 – Auto-Tune the News) just wrapped up their latest 10” entitled Canyon Candy, which will be out later this spring. Their next project will be a film to go along with it—a surreal, epic western, shot in Brooklyn of all places (but if the final product is anything like the preview video, it should be quite amazing). They’ll be shooting it this April, and you can actually help out—they launched a Kickstarter campaign, and as of today they’re quite close to reaching their $9500 goal. Maybe your pledge will be the one that accomplishes that feat? Either way, there’s also something cool in it for you—a $25 pledge gets you the full album on a sheriff’s badge Playbutton.
Javelin on MySpace
Javelin’s website
Thought Catalog
Thought Catalog is exactly what it sounds like: a catalog of thoughts. It’s a regularly-updated site where writers from all walks of life, from bloggers to published journalists, publish short opinion pieces on various subjects, ranging from Facebook to the New York City Subway to house parties. The reflections are more cultural than political, and clever without being pretentious, and the pieces are packaged together on a clean, well-designed site that doesn’t inundate the reader with ads. Take a look; odds are you’ll find something that interests you on the first page.
Thought Catalog
Thought Catalog on Twitter
Springtime Events in New York City
Now that the snow’s all thawed and everyone’s back from SXSW, spring has finally arrived in New York! And that can only mean one thing: funny, sexy pillow fights?
Dr. Sketchy’s Tribute to Cynthia Von Buhler
Dr. Sketchy’s (RADAR ep 8) is back, and what better way to celebrate spring than showing off your art skills? This Sunday’s show features doing a tribute to artist Cynthia Von Buhler.
Sunday, March 27 · 4:00pm – 6:45pm
The Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery
New York, NY
$12 advance, $15 at door
EVENT INFO
G.L.O.C. Launch Party
When Glennis McMurray (RADAR ep 2 – I Eat Pandas) curated for us a while back, we mentioned her new project G.L.O.C. (Gorgeous Ladies of Comedy). Now that the website TheGLOC.net has launched, it’s time for a party! Expect to see some hilarious comedy from some of the funniest women out there, as well as some other surprises.
Thursday, March 31 · 6:00pm – 8:00pm
92Y Tribeca
200 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10013
$6
EVENT INFO
Newmindspace Pillow Fight NYC 2011
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Newmindspace (RADAR ep 10), but they’ve returned with a new website and big plans for the 4th annual Pillow Fight Day! Bring your own feather-free pillow and meet at Union Square for the pillow battle of a lifetime.
Saturday, April 2 · 3:00 pm
Union Square
E. 14th St. & Broadway
New York, NY
EVENT INFO
Regretsy
You know, when I used to think of Etsy, I always thought of cute things, like polka dotted dresses and hipster-ish girls selling scarves and ribbons and such. So I was not prepared for what lurking horrors awaited me on Regretsy. And by “lurking horrors” I mean things like “vegan” soap made with human breast milk, ball-exposing man thongs, and actual dead mice dried up (mummified?) and made into craft… things. I’m actually not sure what the mouse things are, except terrifying, and a constant reminder of one’s own mortality—which can be yours for $12.00! Regretsy does us all the service of digging deep into the bizarre, frightening, and occasionally depressing world of the very worst stuff people try to hawk on Etsy, and blogs it to the world with a healthy dose of snark.
Regretsy (occasionally NSFW)
March 04 2011
RADAR NYC 3.3.11 – feat Marc Horowitz
This week’s edition of RADAR NYC is brought to you by Marc Horowitz (RADAR ep 18 – Google Maps Road Trip). When we last checked in on him, he was working on The Advice of Strangers, a project where he had strangers vote on all his life choices. His latest project is a series of short video “studies,” showing a day in the life of things like talking random objects and dust. Many of his selections for this blog seem to fit the theme of “a day in the life,” whether it’s the life of a city or the life of an imaginative teenager.
You can see the rest of the videos HERE.
Manhatta
Directed by Paul Strand and Charles Sheeler, Manhatta is a short film depicting the city in 1921. And it’s honestly amazing how much hasn’t changed since then—the film depicts shots of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Staten Island Ferry, as well as a few buildings modern New Yorkers would certainly recognize. These are things we see every day, just as we did 90 years ago. A series of shots filmed to show the creators’ love of the city, the stark images of steel and steam invoke a feeling of strength and power It chronicles a moment in the life of not just any city, but The City.
Martin Creed: Thinking / Not Thinking
At first glance I thought this was a music video, but it’s actually much more than that. Martin Creed is a Glaswegian conceptual artist, though many of his works mix music and visuals. The song itself manages to be both catchy and chaotic, which contrasts nicely from the minimalist video of two dogs of (very) different size representing Thinking (the small one) and Not Thinking (the large one). It’s quite a funny juxtaposition, reflecting the different roles of consciousness and unconsciousness.
Patton Oswalt: Zombie Spaceship Wasteland
Zombie? Spaceship? Or wasteland? Take your pick, if you like awesome things. Or if you’re a teenager with an overactive imagination. According to comedian Patton Oswalt, these are the themes we tend to gravitate toward as young storytellers. Oswalt shares his thoughts on growing up in this hilarious memoir of his own experiences (of the three above topics, he picked wastelands), from dealing with relatives as a child to working in a “grim Canadian comedy club.” It should definitely be a great read for all those creative kids who grew up in the suburbs.
You can buy the book HERE
Roman Signer at Young Projects
This week’s even goes out to our readers in LA. Roman Signer is a Swiss Artist who specializes in what he calls “momentary sculptures,” essentially small live installations that are captured on video. One work, “Barrel with Camera,” is of Signer placing a camera in a barrel and rolling it down a hill, though the video withholds this information until the end to give the viewer a humorous revelation. Many of his works invoke humor, ranging from slapstick to dark comedy, all laced with social commentary against pretensions. The art world could always use a bit more humor.
Ongoing through March 14
Young Projects
8687 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA
EVENT INFO
News, Words, and Drawings of the Day
Finally, Marc gives us a few things to follow, including a couple we can follow on our smart phones. The Fluent News app gives us a break from the cacophony of all the different news outlets out there, and aggregates the top stories into a mobile newspaper that the viewer can customize to his or her own tastes. For all the language geeks out there, there’s the Dictionary app, which includes a Word of the Day feature for those of us who like to confuse our friends with our ever-expanding vocabularies. And this last one isn’t an app, but artist Lauren Nassef posts a new drawing every day on her website, ranging from current events (Gaddafi) to some rather beautiful vintage-esque portraits.
Fluent News app
Dictionary app
Lauren Nassef’s website
December 03 2010
PULSE – Heeb Magazine
Happy Hanukkah! And what better week to celebrate Jewish New Yorkers by showcasing Heeb Magazine? Started in Brooklyn (where else?) in 2001, it continues a long line of cheeky, self-deprecating Jewish comedy for a young, urban Generation Y audience.
And seriously, I mean it when I say self-deprecating. For example, for people who want to get involved in the publication, there’s a section titled “Join the Conspiracy.” The magazine covers arts, music, politics and culture, though the subjects don’t necessarily have to be Jewish themselves. You can find an article about Kanye West’s new album right next to one about an expensive, “swanky” menorah.
It’s not all silliness though. One informative article, titled “Jews Aren’t Actually Racists: Who Knew?” discusses the little-known interactions between Jewish Americans and Native Americans in the Old West. They also include sections called “Chosen Books,” “Chosen Music” and “Chosen Video,” where they feature a profile on various musicians, books or videos.
There’s also the “Heeb 100,” which features short articles on “Jews (and half-Jews) who are making a difference” in fields such as art, music, comedy, activism and entrepreneurship. Another semi-regular installment is “Gratuitous Jewess.” It’s exactly what it sounds like: photos and a profile of a rather beautiful young Jewish woman, though more than just a pretty face. The current honoree, Leyla Leidecker, is a boxer, filmmaker and model.
And it’s really not just a magazine. Heeb also organizes plenty of events: On December 21, RADAR contributors Molly Crabapple and Dean Haspiel will be among the performers at Heeb Storytelling: The Live Comics Edition at Joe’s Pub, where the creators will project live, graphic novel style comics on a big screen. And on Christmas Eve, Heebonism, at Fontana’s, promises to bring “Jews and gentiles together in celebration of that nice Jewish boy’s 2010th birthday.” EVENT INFO
That last event probably sums up Heeb Magazine the best: you don’t have to be Jewish to get a kick out of it, but it helps to be in on “the conspiracy.”
November 12 2010
RADAR NYC 11.12.10
Auto-Tune the News: Rent Too Damn High! Song
Well the greats of Auto-Tune the News (RADAR Ep.27 – ATTN) have done it again. They have used the evils of auto-tune for good! How you ask? Well they took the already comical Jimmy McMillan and made a musical number out of his speeches during the Gubernatorial debates. It’s hard not to find a comedic note with the Rent is Too Damn High party because of their name and Jimmy McMillan’s facial hair configuration, but the people of Auto-tune the News took it to a whole different place by making a smooth R&B for a party that should have taken office. Try not to giggle too hard when you watch this. Remember your coworkers can hear you.
http://www.rentistoodamnhigh.org/ – Rent Is To Damn High Party – the website
Brian Grainger (Milieu) New Album
Brian Grainger, of Milieu (RADAR Season 3), is releasing a new album called ZYUAXOHTVIMIVTHOXAUYS! For those of you that can’t get enough of warped and twisted ambient music turned into melodic rhapsodies be sure to check this album out. His fervor for creating complete experiences has never been this strong. From the beginning of the album you are quietly lulled into a state of engagement by the low key and slow introduction. The shift into genius music goes almost unnoticed until you realize that your speakers are rumbling uncontrollably and you don’t want them to stop. You just have to let the wave of sound come crashing over you. Give in to Brian Grainger and his electronic arrangements. The album is for sale on Grainger’s bandcamp website, and for an extra four bucks you can get the special edition CD-R which should be a fun treat for you electronic heavy addicts out their. You can’t miss this album, it’s overpowering!
Pecan Pie Baby – Sophie Blackall
Illustrator Sophie Blackall (RADAR Ep16 – Missed Connections) has a new book out. She has teamed up with Jacqueline Woodson on the children’s book Pecan Pie Baby. The book focuses on Gia, a young girl who’s mother is about to have a second child. Gia has a hard time coming to terms with everyone’s obsession with the baby on the way. Blackall’s illustrations fit perfectly with the colorful characters, and accentuate the familial sweetness of the tender story. Sophie Blackall received the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award. She has illustrated several award-winning picture books. Her blog Missed Connections features her creating these accessible and quirky illustrations based on the Missed Connections section of Craigslist. Her caricatures are wonderfully whimsy and fun to encounter. Be sure to give Pecan Pie Baby a read if you have a little one of your own.
Buy the Book HERE
Visit Sophie’s website HERE
Dr. Sketchy’s Factory Revival
If it smells like beer and charcoal you know Dr. Sketchy’s (RADAR Ep.8) is coming to town. Come join the fine people of Dr. Sketchy’s as they revive Andy Warhol’s Factory days. The troops will meet at the Red Lotus Room, and revive the spirit of pop art eras past. There is no way that an upstanding New York citizen wouldn’t want to attend a debaucherous drawing session in the persona of Edie Sedgwick or Basquiat. You really can’t miss this one because it is sure to be a once in lifetime opportunity to tap into the power of art while you are playing the part of a great artist. Cigarette girls will deal art supplies. Guests will pose for polaroids and confess dark secrets in the “Screen Test” video booth. Drawing jams will take over the walls, art students will become models, and at the end of the night, one guest will shoot Andy Warhol. As always, this event is brought to you by the wonderful Ms. Molly Crabapple! Go!
Saturday, November 13 · 6:00pm – 10:00pm
The Red Lotus Room
893 Bergen Street
Brooklyn, NY
EVENT INFO
Paris Vs. New York
You always hear the hipster girls in bars say that New York is no Paris. Even some of the older generations of New Yorkers can’t help but bring up how the two cities are the most wonderful in the world. The comparison between Paris and New York is timeless, well except for the bit of history that Paris existed without having New York to be compared with. The two cities embody the metropolitan spirit of the Western world, so it’s kind of hard not to talk about the similarities and differences between the two. That’s where the blog Paris vs. New York comes to play. Over at Paris v. New York, they create graphic representations of aspects of both cities, and take the city out of them. They choose to accentuate just the sensory details that can be encountered when traversing the cities. From Amelie v. Carrie to Quasimodo v. King Kong, their distilled imagery of Paris and NYC iconography is quirky and fun. Who do you root for in these visual comparisons?
http://parisvsnyc.blogspot.com/
October 29 2010
RADAR NYC 10.29.10
Wall of Light
Luca Barcellona is a supremely talented calligraphy and letter artist who has a streak of figural arts in him that is amazing to encounter. When he draws his intricate and dazzling letters it is a fluid performance of delicate proportions. The long, broad strokes of steady perfection are hypnotizing to watch. His work has been exhibited in galleries and on the large walls across the streets of Europe. His public works are a combination of ancient manuscripts and urban graffiti that defies many modern ideas of what public art is and could be. The Wall of Light project by Luca Barcellona and features the artist creating a dynamic light show where he creates poetic musings with his beautiful lettering. These words are accompanied by vivid illustrations and settings in which the words float around. Interesting to note is the public’s interactions with the wall of light. People can be seen at the bottom of the wall moving around and interacting with the moving surface. These people become ghostly images that become part of the settings that Luca Barcellona creates. What a cool video and awesome concept!
Some of my favorite stuff by him HERE
Luca Barcellona website
Tin Pan Band Live – Union Square
Everybody’s favorite lilting blues band, Tin Pan Band is having a very public show, and you just have to give them a listen. The Tin Pan Band will be playing Union Square above the N/R/Q platform. The instrumentals are lively and mesh together beautifully to create a solid backing for lyrics about love, loss, and overall living. Their brand of Blues is distinctly urban by focusing on topics like gentrification of old city neighborhoods and greed. In New York, the Blues are experiencing a Renaissance, and Tin Pan Band is at the forefront of this rebirth. On your commute back from work, stop by and give them a listen. Also, check our RADAR episode on the Poetry Brothel featuring music by Tin Pan Band.
Where:
Thu Nov 04, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Union Square subway station, above the N/R/Q platform
My Biggest Regret Ever
PostSecret established a candid intimacy that only the internet in its immaculate glorification of the individual can achieve. My Biggest Regret Ever takes the most gut-wrenching of human emotions and splatters it across the internet in plain black font against a white screen. The stark directness of the blog correlates wonderfully with the honesty and forwardness of the confessions that make up the site. Regret is something that runs through every person, and the anguish that comes from past mistakes affects everyone. What do you regret? What still haunts you to this day? Read what others have to say, or post your own entry. Maybe this is the cathartic release you’ve been looking for.
http://www.mybiggestregretever.com/
Overlap by Aakash Nihalani
Aakash Nihalani (RADAR Ep21 – Tapes and Mirrors) is a great public art figure. His ephemeral compositions are mostly shaped through the use of bright florescent adhesive tapes and cardboard. He creates simple polygonal shapes and places them within an urban setting in ways that make them look three dimensional, but still out of place. With his newest show he takes the founding elements of his aesthetic and lets them run amuck around the urban sprawl of the USA, India, and parts of Europe. This time his polygonal figures start to take on organic forms through the layering of tape and cardboard into intricate forms. These sharp organic figures now interact within their environments through their purposed interactions with city surfaces from different points of perspective. Nihalani manipulates what the audience can see by making floors become backgrounds and sides of buildings become foregrounds. Aakash Nihalani uses public space in a smart, mind bending way, and his show is sure to be engaging.
Overlap by Aakash Nihalani
Bose Pacia
163 Plymouth Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
November 4 – December 18
Artist Reception: 4 November, 6 – 8 pm
After Party: 4 November 9 – 11 pm @ 17 Frost (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) – Featuring Das Racist
In Conversation: 20 November 3pm
Design Related – Social Network for Designers
Design Related is a place where creativity inspires creativity. It is excellent source of inspiration through the exploration of a pool of diverse artists that practice different in mediums of creation. They have a stimulating inspiration section on their website where members can post a steady stream of inventive and cultured articles and links that can really get the juices flowing. Their twitter account distills the very idea of the flow of artistry into a torrent of media and sites that send you on a flight of fancy through design and imagination. Overall, even though Design Related is about the abstracts that are art and design, it grounds itself in the practicalities of being able to make what the mind sets out to think. This is a place where functionality meets the muse. Get impelled. Get enlivened. Let yourself get Design Related.
Follow them on Twitter
October 21 2010
WBPLabs partners with 3rd Ward (exclusive membership offer)
WBPLabs has partnered up with 3rd Ward for our latest series, Inside Design (to be released). 3rd Ward is a member-based art and design center for creative professionals in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Workbook Project is a big fan of 3rd Ward as it’s an innovative business space that is fueling the creative community.
As part of our partnership, 3rd Ward has offered Workbook Project readers an exclusive membership promotion. Unlimited Membership offers access to resources that would otherwise be too costly for many artists and designers: a wood/metal shop, a media lab, photo studios, jewelry studio, private & collaborative workspace, and over 100 education classes — all under one roof. Please take advantage of this generous offer and also spread the word. Share this promo code with your friends, family and colleagues. And if you don’t plan on becoming a member, do yourself a favor and check out the website for upcoming events and monthly classes.
Exclusive Offer:
Workbook Project readers who sign up for Unlimited Membership get their first month FREE (a $359 value). Schedule a tour and claim your free month today at: http://www.3rdward.com/takeatour/wp
PROMO CODE: OPENCREATE
I spoke with Jessica Tom, 3rd Ward’s Marketing Director, about 3rd Ward, how it’s facilitating the emerging creative class, and what’s to come.
What is the main concept and intention of 3rd Ward?
Give creative people the resources they need so they can take risks and make things the world has never seen. When you don’t have to worry about space, tools, knowledge, etc… the world is at your fingertips. Without physical limitations, you can realize your creative potential and more.
How is this concept of community / shared workspace and artist development facilitating the local creative community?
It is low-cost, high-inspiration. Don’t know how to use After Effects? Take a class. Need to shoot your new jewelry line? Book a photo studio. Need some legs for your table? Ask your new friend in the metal shop. By sharing tools, knowledge and space, creative people can seamlessly cross media boundaries, learn faster and grow stronger. More and more creative people are moving to freelance. 3rd Ward gives them structure and endless possibilities to create and collaborate.
How has 3rd Ward been able to sustain and grow into a thriving business?
We’ve been able to grow by listening to our members. We’d just be a building with some expensive stuff inside were it not for our people. They are very vocal about what works for them, and we respond in kind. Ultimately, what’s best for their businesses — whether we’re talking about out photographers, set designers, fabricators, hackers, or whatever — is best for our business. We succeed as a creative workspace if they succeed as creators.
We’ve grown by offering the best possible experience to our members — through our comprehensive facilities and classes, but also by creating a truly warm and supportive environment. Together, that creates pretty fertile ground for pretty amazing work!
What’s the future of 3rd Ward? What’s the future of creative workspaces?
We’re building out our 2nd floor to include a bigger wood shop, more photo studios, and more learning spaces. We’re also developing a “3rd Ward Member-Made” brand of furniture that we’d like to sell at stores across the country (if you’re a buyer, contact us!).
The creative workspaces of tomorrow will likely have some aspect of sharing. There’s less waste, less money spent, and more opportunities for collaboration. Also, being successful now depends on how well you’re able to draw upon different disciplines. People wear more hats now because budgets are tight and companies must do more with less. Knowing how to use Photoshop is like knowing how to use scissors and glue. Everyone needs to be a marketer. If you’re a set designer, you might do some 3D modeling, but you’re much more marketable who if you can build the set, choreograph, film, edit, and write the copy on the fliers!
3rd Ward is a pretty unique place and there’s no where in the world quite like it. It’d be interesting to see more place like us. They’d be competition, but I believe a rising tide raises all ships.
October 15 2010
RADAR NYC 10.15.10
Beardfolio
Like mustaches? Ok, weird question. At least for someone like me, who, before seeing this project, probably would have answered with indifference or confusion. However, after being exposed to Beardfolio, a photo project by Matt Rainwaters, my opinion has definitely changed. His unique portfolio of men with outrageous facial hair is really like nothing else, and one that words really can’t do justice. Upon first glance, I was sure that the images had been skewed or Photoshopped, but after further investigation, I learned that the facial hair of the subjects is indeed real, albeit presumably styled for the occasion of being photographed. Check it out for yourself. I can almost guarantee that you’ve never seen anything like this before.
Dfalt – Free Mixtape
Dfalt, the instrumental side project of Cassettes Won’t Listen (featured on RADAR Ep25, Subway Etiquette) just released a new single called Summer Drinks. The song is part of a brand new, completely free, 30-minute mix tape, which is available HERE. Summer Drinks is a unique blend of upbeat electronic dancy goodness that seamlessly transitions into a heavier, darker, more intense sound, with slight remnants of the Mission Impossible theme. And that’s just the song. The video that goes with it is insane. In a good way. A great way. I can’t even describe it. Just watch it; you won’t be sorry.
Cuba: My Revolution – Dean Haspiel
Looking for new reading material? We highly recommend Cuba: My Revolution, a graphic novel illustrated by Dean Haspiel (RADAR Ep1, Next Door Neighbor). We love his illustrations, and the book itself looks really cool, too. Here’s a short summary, from Free Publishers Weekly: “This dramatic account of the experiences of a young woman named Sonya during the Cuban revolution is based on the experiences of Lockpez. The narrative traces Sonya as she transforms from an idealist revolutionary studying to be a surgeon to a dissident artist who realizes she must flee her beloved but troubled country. Along the way, she witnesses carnage, is imprisoned and tortured, and is separated from her family. In the midst of the chaos, she also finds love. Haspiel, who has known Lockpez for over 20 years, provides striking illustrations that chart Sonya’s shifting emotions and alliances; particularly strong are the surrealist depictions of her dreams and her ordeal in prison. Painter José Villarubia adds tones and shades of red that further intensify the story. At times Lockpez relies too heavily on clunky exposition explaining the history of Cuba and Castro, although some readers may find the context helpful. It is impossible to deny the power of Lockpez’s dramatic coming-of-age story, which make the human cost of the revolution all too clear.”
Look At or Buy Cuba: My Revolution HERE
Start Trekkin – Improv
Like improv? Like Star Trek? Never thought you’d see the day when both of those questions would be asked consecutively, and are thus bursting with excitement? Well, we have the perfect event for you! Star Trekkin (RADAR Ep36, Start Trekkin) is a long-form improv group that explores the human condition while embodying characters and plot lines from, you guessed it, Star Trek. They have a show coming up this Saturday, October 16th, at The Tank and two more shows after that in 2010. Check out their website for more info, performance dates, and updates.
Sat, October 16, 7:30p – 8:30
The Tank (45th Street Theater) – 354 w. 45th Street
Event Info
@almostontheL
When you think “the L train,” what comes to mind? Quick zip into (and out of) Manhattan? Hipster paradise? Flannel wonderland? Or, perhaps, the most romantic subway line ever? Well, if not, then maybe you should reconsider. According to a “study” conducted by the geniuses at Craigslist, the L train was determined to be the best subway line for romantic sparks to fly. At least, that is, if your definition of “most romantic subway line,” means “the best odds of a fellow passenger falling for you across a crowded car or platform, and then posting a ‘Missed Connections’ ad on Craigslist in search of you.” Sounds about right. At least some people seem to think so, enough to create “Almost on the L,” a Twitter version of Missed Connections, devoted exclusively to the ever-dreamy L-train. And it’s created quite a following. Who knows? Maybe that cute guy that you make awkward look-away eye contact with every morning at the Morgan Ave stop (which, by the way, is scientifically proven to be the most romantic subway stop in New York) feels the same way about you as you do about him. All we ask is that you be specific. I don’t think that tweets like “I thought you were adorable with your red and white plaid shirt,” which someone posted on October 11th, will do you much good. It might be the most romantic place on Earth, but it’s still the L train.
Almost on the L Twitter
Email your L Train missed connections: almostontheL@gmail.com
October 01 2010
RADAR NYC 10.01.10
Collapsus
This is the official trailer for Collapsus, a media phenomenon that will expand the limits of how different forms of communication work together to create a complete experience. The project is headed by Tommy Pallotta, producer of Waking Life and Scanner Darkly. Collapsus is set in the near future and details the effects of the imminent energy crisis on ten individuals who become the central figures in an energy conspiracy. Collapsus is the transmedia project related to the movie Energy Risk which focuses on the rough transition from fossil fuels to alternate resources and how it would affect worldwide energy infrastructures. Collapsus is being developed by SubmarineChannel, in collaboration with the Dutch public broadcaster VPRO. The combination of animation, narrative, documentary, and interactivity will plunge the audience into a highly developed world that is falling apart at the seams. The audience becomes a player within the story by making decisions that affect the global arena. The story is propelled through the interactions of different media forms, but that is what makes it all the more engaging, as there are layers and layers of intrigue and drama. For those who need some assistance with getting started with this correlative experience, Tommy Pallotta, the director of Collapsus, has made a video walkthrough for the project.
Collapsus – http://www.collapsus.com/
Walkthrough – Link
Javelin– Intervales Theme (found VHS)
Javelin was featured in RADAR episode 27, Auto-Tune The News. Their use samples and original sounds to create music that fuses Bollywood singsong together with 80s arcade game sounds creates melodic fusions equivalent to a sunny day on the moon, a mix of the haunting and upbeat. Their focus on rhythm harkens back to the days of the B-Boys of old creating music that is as easy to listen to as it is to dance along with. In this video they feature footage from a VHS tape they found on the streets of their native Providence, RI. The little boy eating ice cream looks like a character ripped out of the Cosby show, fitting for the song Intervales Themes, which Javelin chose to accompany it. The slick beats and melodic tunes create a solid feel for the era when this VHS footage was probably taken. Javelin has managed to fake a genuine relic, which is no easy feat to master.
Link to Video- HERE
Stuff Hipsters Hate
Brenna Ehrlich and Andrea Bartz have been running the blog Stuff Hipsters Hate for a year now, and recently they have published a book that can serve as handy guide to turn the tide against the plaid shirts and silk scarves of the hipster zombie mob. In the book and blog, Ehrlich and Bartz highlight topics, links, and questions that the targeted subculture, even with a few PBRs in them, can’t handle. For those who live in big cities like New York and San Francisco, hipsters are all too familiar. Urban pavements are crawling with scrawny, mustachioed men on fixed gear bikes and young, beautiful women in granny clothes and glasses. What is this strange Halloween-like phenomenon? For those that haven’t been exposed to the hipster culture; congratulations, you have dodged a gaggle of unoriginal originality obsessed self-professed freaks of pop culture, but every day city dwellers struggle to figure out a way to repel the ubiquitous plague of hipsters. Look no more my fellow urbanites! Stuff Hipsters Hate is here to save you from partying with people that think they are too good to listen to anything produced after 1992.
Blog: http://stuffhipstershate.tumblr.com/
Buy the Book:HERE
Open Video Conference
The web video is an accessible form of communication, but lately the fear of a tiered internet experience and of loosing the ability to explore an open web have made the comprehensive and free web video an endangered species. The Open Video Conference being held in New York City is dedicated to broadening the impact of the web video as a medium for communication and expression. OVC is being held by the Open Video Alliance, a group created by individuals and coalitions who seek to create an open web video experience through building inclusive tools, practices, and policies. The conference takes place over three days, and has tons of seminars and talks dedicated to the web video as a media form and essential transmedia tool. Sunday will be Hack Day, where conference attendees, HTML5 developers, and transmedia storytelling experts, will get to work on a series of activities that range from mapping out a transmedia strategy for content to building a custom HTML5 player for sites.
Our own Lance Weiler will be presenting along with Tommy Pallotta (Director of Collapsus, Producer of Waking Life and Scanner Darkly) at 4PM on October 1, 2010. Their talk about “Storytelling Without Bounds” will focus on joining of many media forms to create a complete experience. Be sure to check in early, and go to as many events as you can in order to gain a greater understanding of the web video and how it is evolving into something greater.
http://www.openvideoconference.org/
http://openvideoalliance.org/
Seminars
October 1st & 2nd
Fashion Institute of Technology
7th Ave at 27th St
Hack Day
October 3rd
NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program
721 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
Events – Link
The Advice of Strangers
Marc Horowitz doesn’t feel like any of the negative connotations associated with the word stranger should affect his new web series. Horowitz has been featured as part of RADAR episode 18, Google Maps Road Trip, a virtual, internet assisted road trip, where he shared his life and time with Peter Baldes, a man unknown to him at the beginning of their project. His unique brand of art and entertainment, which is closely related to culture jamming, is heavily influenced by social interactions and the reactions of other people. Children’s television has made stranger danger a staple of our vocabulary, and the word stranger has become synonymous with shadowy figures and hazardous situations. Now, Marc Horowitz is going to take the input from strangers and weirdos from the internet make life decisions based on their opinions. Follow him through his internet fueled journey, which is sure to be a life-changing experience for him and for the people that become active participants in his experiment.
Link – The Advice of Strangers
Link – Channel
September 28 2010
PULSE – Shelley Jackson’s “Skin”
In August of 2003, Shelley Jackson began a new project, simply dubbed “Skin”. This project in particular took what we consider to be “literature” to its most abstract. What Jackson calls a “mortal work of art” began with her putting out a open call for volunteers to be a part of this living experiment in literature. She was searching for people who would tattoo a single word, anywhere they please on their bodies, with the only restriction being that it must be in black ink, in a “classic book font”.
First, people from around the world reached out to her online, (grossing a total of over 21,000 emails worldwide), and then they would receive a release form. After signing off on the project, the individuals would receive their word, sometimes just a letter, (a, I, etc.) and now it was up to them to get the tattoo. Upon documenting the tattoo, and submitting that documentation, the individual would receive a full copy of the full text. This work would never be published to the public. So far, 553 words have been tattooed, with 1445 more volunteers who have already been released, awaiting their day in the tattoo chair.
Shelley needs 646 more volunteers to complete the story. The literature world has never seen a project of this scale, nor this level of user-based interactivity. Not only will this story only exist on the bodies of the volunteers, acting as their pages, but it can only last as long as they do. In this writer’s opinion, Shelley Jackson has created an entirely new concept, and therefore changed the face of what we know as “print” forever. As a matter of fact, I am considering joining this group of volunteers, becoming a page, and forever being a part of this human literature experiment.
Shelley is now teaching at the New School in the Graduate Writing Program.
If you are interested if becoming part of the project visit http://ineradicablestain.com/.
September 24 2010
RADAR NYC 09.23.10
Diane Birch – Valentino: “Behind The Screen”
Diane Birch’s video for her song Valentino is certainly innovative and fun. There are plenty of moments where the Diane and the screen do a few visual tricks that keep you guessing. For those wondering how they pulled off these tricks, here’s the “Behind the Screen” making of video. The “Behind the Screen” shows how much actual work it takes to make the magic of a music video actually happen. The interactions between the screen and the real world were carefully planned and timed. Watching the making of video for this project made it obvious that there is a high level of craftsmanship that is necessary to make a music video look flawless.
Valentino by Diane Birch- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMl0T8oNqfE
Lewis & Clark cover David Bowie’s Changes
David Bowie is a true icon. He made his image and music an international sensation by putting on personas and creating characters that were larger than life. This weeks listen is a cover album that features TWO discs that cover a large span of Bowie’s career. The catch is that it’s not just one artist covering the best of Bowie, but several indie favorites, including Lewis & Clarke who’s music we featured on RADAR episode 34 – I Hate Perfume. The tracks though familiar are adapted into each artist’s style, but to the bone they still maintain true to their hardened Bowie edge and playfulness. Covers might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but these re-imaginings of classic rock songs recreate the aura of the great Ziggy Stardust.
Link to Lewis & Clarke and others cover Bowie HERE
Entrepreneurs Funding Shorts
This article by Ryan Nakashima is great for aspiring filmmakers and for filmmakers that have short they want an audience to see. It concentrates on finding financial backing for distribution and different options for sharing film projects with the rest of the world. Albeit, a little more geared towards the financial aspects of a very creative process, this is a good read because it is important to stay informed about ways to get your movie watched by more than just your family and friends. Visibility is a sure step in the right direction for any filmmaker, so check this article out.
Link: Article
DUMBO Arts Festival
Come one! Come all! No, but seriously, missing the DUMBO Arts Festival this year is not an option. This year there are tons of diverse and eccentric artists showcasing their masterful talents in the iconic and chill Brooklyn neighborhood of DUMBO. The festival takes place throughout the area, and the types of arts and shows to watch are innumerable. It is an entire weekend of art, music, and recreation open to everyone, but especially right up the alley of New Yorkers who don’t have solid weekend plans. Get out! Dive into the art scene! Have a good time! Before I die I want to…, featured in RADAR episode 28, will be present at the festival expanding the scope of their project. Stop by and get your picture taken, and become part of this amazing art project.
DUMBO Arts Festival
9/24/2010-9/26/2010
Before I die I want to… @ DUMBO Arts Festival
9/24/2010 from 6-9pm at 45 Main Street, #703, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Event Info
Everyone is Gay
Danielle and Kristin are two girls who like girls who like to answer their internet audience’s questions about sexuality, dating, relationships, the nice and/or dirty stuff in between. This is a blog for everyone, not just gay people. The questions on the blog aren’t only from a gay audience but from all sorts of people trying to find down to earth answers to their complex or more sexual questions. Danielle and Kristin are cheeky but honest girls who playfully explain that sexuality isn’t something that gets in the way of human interactions, but that it can actually create a better dialogue between people. Danielle and Kristin are relatable, funny, and sincere with their answers to their readers and the way they handle questions is open and candid. Got any dirty, sexy, homo, questions you’ve been dying to get answered? Hit them up, and maybe you can learn a thing or two about what’s taboo.
Link – Everyone is Gay
RADAR NYC 09.23.10
Diane Birch – Valentino: “Behind The Screen”
Diane Birch’s video for her song Valentino is certainly innovative and fun. There are plenty of moments where the Diane and the screen do a few visual tricks that keep you guessing. For those wondering how they pulled off these tricks, here’s the “Behind the Screen” making of video. The “Behind the Screen” shows how much actual work it takes to make the magic of a music video actually happen. The interactions between the screen and the real world were carefully planned and timed. Watching the making of video for this project made it obvious that there is a high level of craftsmanship that is necessary to make a music video look flawless.
Valentino by Diane Birch- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMl0T8oNqfE
Lewis & Clark cover David Bowie’s Changes
David Bowie is a true icon. He made his image and music an international sensation by putting on personas and creating characters that were larger than life. This weeks listen is a cover album that features TWO discs that cover a large span of Bowie’s career. The catch is that it’s not just one artist covering the best of Bowie, but several indie favorites, including Lewis & Clarke who’s music we featured on RADAR episode 34 – I Hate Perfume. The tracks though familiar are adapted into each artist’s style, but to the bone they still maintain true to their hardened Bowie edge and playfulness. Covers might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but these re-imaginings of classic rock songs recreate the aura of the great Ziggy Stardust.
Link to Lewis & Clarke and others cover Bowie HERE
Entrepreneurs Funding Shorts
This article by Ryan Nakashima is great for aspiring filmmakers and for filmmakers that have short they want an audience to see. It concentrates on finding financial backing for distribution and different options for sharing film projects with the rest of the world. Albeit, a little more geared towards the financial aspects of a very creative process, this is a good read because it is important to stay informed about ways to get your movie watched by more than just your family and friends. Visibility is a sure step in the right direction for any filmmaker, so check this article out.
Link: Article
DUMBO Arts Festival
Come one! Come all! No, but seriously, missing the DUMBO Arts Festival this year is not an option. This year there are tons of diverse and eccentric artists showcasing their masterful talents in the iconic and chill Brooklyn neighborhood of DUMBO. The festival takes place throughout the area, and the types of arts and shows to watch are innumerable. It is an entire weekend of art, music, and recreation open to everyone, but especially right up the alley of New Yorkers who don’t have solid weekend plans. Get out! Dive into the art scene! Have a good time! Before I die I want to…, featured in RADAR episode 28, will be present at the festival expanding the scope of their project. Stop by and get your picture taken, and become part of this amazing art project.
DUMBO Arts Festival
9/24/2010-9/26/2010
Before I die I want to… @ DUMBO Arts Festival
9/24/2010 from 6-9pm at 45 Main Street, #703, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Event Info
Everyone is Gay
Danielle and Kristin are two girls who like girls who like to answer their internet audience’s questions about sexuality, dating, relationships, the nice and/or dirty stuff in between. This is a blog for everyone, not just gay people. The questions on the blog aren’t only from a gay audience but from all sorts of people trying to find down to earth answers to their complex or more sexual questions. Danielle and Kristin are cheeky but honest girls who playfully explain that sexuality isn’t something that gets in the way of human interactions, but that it can actually create a better dialogue between people. Danielle and Kristin are relatable, funny, and sincere with their answers to their readers and the way they handle questions is open and candid. Got any dirty, sexy, homo, questions you’ve been dying to get answered? Hit them up, and maybe you can learn a thing or two about what’s taboo.
Link – Everyone is Gay
September 16 2010
RADAR NYC 9.16.10
Eliza Skinner – The 5 White Characters in Every Tyler Perry Movie
Eliza Skinner is too hilarious to pass up. She is blunt and to the point in a bubbly and infectious way that you can’t help but crack more than a smile. Being funny, honest, and polite about how ridiculous life can be are hard qualities to combine. By doing so Eliza Skinner captures your heart, then her infectious brand of humor starts to take over your brain until all you can think about is the Five White Characters in Tyler Perry Movies, when you should be doing something productive. But the smile that Eliza Skinner can put on your face is worth its weight in gold, and spending a little time combing through her online work leaves one with a sweet taste in the mouth from all the smiling, giggling, and out right laughing. Eliza is simple, straightforward, and effervescent with comedy flowing right through her, into a camera, onto the screen, and crashing into your brain. Make sure to check our RADAR episode on Eliza and her project Slam Theater (RADAR Ep5).
Morningbell – New EP – We Are Angular and Beautiful
Morningbell is a band that is hard to forget. A few weeks ago we featured their polished brand of rock in RADAR Ep33 – Unnatural History, and now we can’t help but sing their praises again. Morningbell just released their new EP “We Are Angular and Beautiful”, and now you can download it for FREE courtesy of the band! This EP is full of upbeat and psychedelic tracks that feature plenty of reverb and bright, high harmonies over rock guitar riffs. The title track “We Are Angular and Beautiful” is a great example of the band’s sound. The song is playful, nostalgic, and mellow as it flows gently into your eardrums. Go grab your copy of the EP and get addicted to the great sounds of polished rock and roll. Become a fan! Think about it, wouldn’t it be a delight to see Morningbell play their new EP live accompanied by their infamous $100 light show? Yes! But first you gotta learn all the words to the songs after you download the EP.
Link to EP: Download Morningbell EP
Passive Aggressive Notes the Book
Internet lovers out there are probably familiar with the Passive Aggressive Notes, but did you know that they’ve made a book? Everyone has had someone push them to the breaking point, but few have had the gall to take action against the offender. How can you tell someone off without having a huge freak out? You could always write them a nice, polite letter that glazes over the hatred that boils deep inside of you every time the individual even dares to look your way. Kerry Miller has collected some of the best passive aggressive notes and letters, has bound them into a tight, hilarious, and down to earth book. The letters are relatable, and strike a chord with almost all audience because everyone gets annoyed by someone, it just happens. Some of the letters are sincere, others are combative, and there is the rare case where the letter itself is crazier than the actions taken against the writer. Awkward social interactions have never been this funny. Passive Aggressive Notes is a fantastic low maintenance read, great for a commute or a lazy Sunday afternoon. Buy it, read it, share it, enjoy it. This simple book’s message is universal: Not everyone gets along, and when they don’t it’s pretty hilarious.
Link: Buy the Book
Lori Nix: The City and Other Dangers
Lori Nix, featured in RADAR Ep33 – Unnatural History, is the focus of an upcoming event at B&H. Her use of dioramas instead of actual subjects creates a dynamic and dramatic setting for her photography. Her process truly differentiates her from other photographers because she prefers to work with her hands rather than create worlds through computers and editing tricks. She doesn’t even edit her photographs after shooting. She is an overall artist with a true vision and a strong sense and fidelity to her subject matter. The worlds that she creates are completely vivid, and realistic, her photography then captures these hyper-realistic mini-worlds, and freezes them in a believable facsimile of the real world. During her showcase at B&H she will be detailing her inspirations and the stories behind some of her works. For those of you who love art and photography, this event is a must see. The interaction with a great art alone is worth it, but to be able to meet and greet the actual artist is amazing. Lori Nix is an inventive and talented creator of worlds that deserves to be put in the spotlight as much as possible. Come to B&H and watch her shine.
Lori Nix: The City and Other Dangers
420 9th Ave, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001
Sunday, September 19, 2010 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Event Info
Dealing with the 90s
Edward Wittlif’s blog “Dealing with the 90s” is a stellar collection of iconic pop culture moments, foods catered to 90s minds, and a revisiting of the music that fueled a generation. The 90s have been back for a while. The most compelling evidence for this argument is that cringe-worthy fringe has been making its way back into fashion, and that ice cream, pastel bathing suits were all the rage this summer. You can’t deny that you love girls with pool blue fingernails, and the return to lo-fi makes you squeal with joy. The 90s kids are now running more than a few things, and their sensibilities have been flooding pop culture more and more each day. The 90s was a gold age of decadence and irrational consumerism, and it was a truly magical era where having atomic purple Gameboy Color made you the most popular kid on your block. It’s hard not to spend an entire afternoon scrolling through this compendium of your childhood without wishing that you were in your Power Ranger pyjamas watching All That on Snick. Check out “Dealing with the 90s” for a internet fueled injection of nostalgia.
Dealing with the 90s – http://dealingwith90s.tumblr.com/
RADAR NYC 9.16.10
Eliza Skinner – The 5 White Characters in Every Tyler Perry Movie
Eliza Skinner is too hilarious to pass up. She is blunt and to the point in a bubbly and infectious way that you can’t help but crack more than a smile. Being funny, honest, and polite about how ridiculous life can be are hard qualities to combine. By doing so Eliza Skinner captures your heart, then her infectious brand of humor starts to take over your brain until all you can think about is the Five White Characters in Tyler Perry Movies, when you should be doing something productive. But the smile that Eliza Skinner can put on your face is worth its weight in gold, and spending a little time combing through her online work leaves one with a sweet taste in the mouth from all the smiling, giggling, and out right laughing. Eliza is simple, straightforward, and effervescent with comedy flowing right through her, into a camera, onto the screen, and crashing into your brain. Make sure to check our RADAR episode on Eliza and her project Slam Theater (RADAR Ep5).
Morningbell – New EP – We Are Angular and Beautiful
Morningbell is a band that is hard to forget. A few weeks ago we featured their polished brand of rock in RADAR Ep33 – Unnatural History, and now we can’t help but sing their praises again. Morningbell just released their new EP “We Are Angular and Beautiful”, and now you can download it for FREE courtesy of the band! This EP is full of upbeat and psychedelic tracks that feature plenty of reverb and bright, high harmonies over rock guitar riffs. The title track “We Are Angular and Beautiful” is a great example of the band’s sound. The song is playful, nostalgic, and mellow as it flows gently into your eardrums. Go grab your copy of the EP and get addicted to the great sounds of polished rock and roll. Become a fan! Think about it, wouldn’t it be a delight to see Morningbell play their new EP live accompanied by their infamous $100 light show? Yes! But first you gotta learn all the words to the songs after you download the EP.
Link to EP: Download Morningbell EP
Passive Aggressive Notes the Book
Internet lovers out there are probably familiar with the Passive Aggressive Notes, but did you know that they’ve made a book? Everyone has had someone push them to the breaking point, but few have had the gall to take action against the offender. How can you tell someone off without having a huge freak out? You could always write them a nice, polite letter that glazes over the hatred that boils deep inside of you every time the individual even dares to look your way. Kerry Miller has collected some of the best passive aggressive notes and letters, has bound them into a tight, hilarious, and down to earth book. The letters are relatable, and strike a chord with almost all audience because everyone gets annoyed by someone, it just happens. Some of the letters are sincere, others are combative, and there is the rare case where the letter itself is crazier than the actions taken against the writer. Awkward social interactions have never been this funny. Passive Aggressive Notes is a fantastic low maintenance read, great for a commute or a lazy Sunday afternoon. Buy it, read it, share it, enjoy it. This simple book’s message is universal: Not everyone gets along, and when they don’t it’s pretty hilarious.
Link: Buy the Book
Lori Nix: The City and Other Dangers
Lori Nix, featured in RADAR Ep33 – Unnatural History, is the focus of an upcoming event at B&H. Her use of dioramas instead of actual subjects creates a dynamic and dramatic setting for her photography. Her process truly differentiates her from other photographers because she prefers to work with her hands rather than create worlds through computers and editing tricks. She doesn’t even edit her photographs after shooting. She is an overall artist with a true vision and a strong sense and fidelity to her subject matter. The worlds that she creates are completely vivid, and realistic, her photography then captures these hyper-realistic mini-worlds, and freezes them in a believable facsimile of the real world. During her showcase at B&H she will be detailing her inspirations and the stories behind some of her works. For those of you who love art and photography, this event is a must see. The interaction with a great art alone is worth it, but to be able to meet and greet the actual artist is amazing. Lori Nix is an inventive and talented creator of worlds that deserves to be put in the spotlight as much as possible. Come to B&H and watch her shine.
Lori Nix: The City and Other Dangers
420 9th Ave, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001
Sunday, September 19, 2010 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Event Info
Dealing with the 90s
Edward Wittlif’s blog “Dealing with the 90s” is a stellar collection of iconic pop culture moments, foods catered to 90s minds, and a revisiting of the music that fueled a generation. The 90s have been back for a while. The most compelling evidence for this argument is that cringe-worthy fringe has been making its way back into fashion, and that ice cream, pastel bathing suits were all the rage this summer. You can’t deny that you love girls with pool blue fingernails, and the return to lo-fi makes you squeal with joy. The 90s kids are now running more than a few things, and their sensibilities have been flooding pop culture more and more each day. The 90s was a gold age of decadence and irrational consumerism, and it was a truly magical era where having atomic purple Gameboy Color made you the most popular kid on your block. It’s hard not to spend an entire afternoon scrolling through this compendium of your childhood without wishing that you were in your Power Ranger pyjamas watching All That on Snick. Check out “Dealing with the 90s” for a internet fueled injection of nostalgia.
Dealing with the 90s – http://dealingwith90s.tumblr.com/
September 15 2010
One Hundred Mornings – LA screening, Shorts, and Panels
WBP Discovery & Distribution Award 2010 Feature Film Winner: One Hundred Mornings
The WorkBook Project (WBP) is excited to present the LA screening for its Discovery and Distribution Award Winner, the Irish post-apocalyptic drama One Hundred Mornings. One Hundred Mornings cast and crew Conor Horgan (writer/director), Katie Holly (producer) and Kelly Campbell (actor) will be in attendance for the opening night event. Every night of the run other than opening night will feature an independent local short film curated by Cinefist, Cinema Speakeasy and Slamdance. Also, there will be panels through-out the week on pressing issues such as film distribution, sustainability, and more. Don’t miss this unique event!
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRDiqinG8Ow
What: One Hundred Mornings opening night screening and party
Where: Downtown Independent Theatre, 251 South Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Screening: Thursday September 16th at 8:00PM with a 10PM Q&A with the Filmmakers
Rooftop Party: Thursday September 16th at 10:30PM, sponsored by Dos Equis
Tickets: Available now at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producerevent/124646
One Hundred Mornings cast and crew Conor Horgan (writer/director), Katie Holly
(producer) and Kelly Campbell (actor) will be in attendance for the opening night event.
Subsequent One Hundred Mornings screenings, with shorts:
*denotes no short screening.
Friday Sept 17th:
7:30, 9:30
Plays with short film ‘Unawakening’ Dir. by Jack Daniel Stanley (in attendance)
Sat Sept 18th:
5:30*, 7:30, 9:30
Plays with short film ‘Kitty Kitty’ Dir. by Michael Medaglia (in attendance)
Sun Sept 19th:
5:30*, 7:30, 9:30
Plays with short ‘Dos, Por Favor’ Dir. by Fabian Euresti (in attendance)
9:15PM PANEL – Distribution: Understanding how curation and community mix in a new distribution landscape
Mon Sept 20th:
7:30, 9:30
Plays with short ‘Look Not At The Mountains’ Dir. by the Younesi Brothers (in attendance)
Tues Sept 21st:
7:30, 9:30
Plays with short ‘Some of An Equation’ Dir. by Burke Roberts (in attendance)
9:15PM PANEL – Sustainability in Cinema
Wed Sept 22nd:
7:30, 9:30
Plays with short ‘02’ Dir. by Tim Hyten (in attendance)
About One Hundred Mornings:
www.onehundredmornings.com
(85 mins, Ireland, written and directed by Conor Horgan)
photos for press
One Hundred Mornings – LA screening, Shorts, and Panels
WBP Discovery & Distribution Award 2010 Feature Film Winner: One Hundred Mornings
The WorkBook Project (WBP) is excited to present the LA screening for its Discovery and Distribution Award Winner, the Irish post-apocalyptic drama One Hundred Mornings. One Hundred Mornings cast and crew Conor Horgan (writer/director), Katie Holly (producer) and Kelly Campbell (actor) will be in attendance for the opening night event. Every night of the run other than opening night will feature an independent local short film curated by Cinefist, Cinema Speakeasy and Slamdance. Also, there will be panels through-out the week on pressing issues such as film distribution, sustainability, and more. Don’t miss this unique event!
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRDiqinG8Ow
What: One Hundred Mornings opening night screening and party
Where: Downtown Independent Theatre, 251 South Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Screening: Thursday September 16th at 8:00PM with a 10PM Q&A with the Filmmakers
Rooftop Party: Thursday September 16th at 10:30PM, sponsored by Dos Equis
Tickets: Available now at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producerevent/124646
One Hundred Mornings cast and crew Conor Horgan (writer/director), Katie Holly
(producer) and Kelly Campbell (actor) will be in attendance for the opening night event.
Subsequent One Hundred Mornings screenings, with shorts:
*denotes no short screening.
Friday Sept 17th:
7:30, 9:30
Plays with short film ‘Unawakening’ Dir. by Jack Daniel Stanley (in attendance)
Sat Sept 18th:
5:30*, 7:30, 9:30
Plays with short film ‘Kitty Kitty’ Dir. by Michael Medaglia (in attendance)
Sun Sept 19th:
5:30*, 7:30, 9:30
Plays with short ‘Dos, Por Favor’ Dir. by Fabian Euresti (in attendance)
9:15PM PANEL – Distribution: Understanding how curation and community mix in a new distribution landscape
Mon Sept 20th:
7:30, 9:30
Plays with short ‘Look Not At The Mountains’ Dir. by the Younesi Brothers (in attendance)
Tues Sept 21st:
7:30, 9:30
Plays with short ‘Some of An Equation’ Dir. by Burke Roberts (in attendance)
9:15PM PANEL – Sustainability in Cinema
Wed Sept 22nd:
7:30, 9:30
Plays with short ‘02’ Dir. by Tim Hyten (in attendance)
About One Hundred Mornings:
www.onehundredmornings.com
(85 mins, Ireland, written and directed by Conor Horgan)
photos for press
Short Filmmaker Profile: Tim Hyten
As part of the upcoming ‘One Hundred Mornings’ run at the Downtown Independent in Los Angeles, Cinema Speakeasy, CineFist, Downtown Independent Theatre, and Slamdance Film Festival have come together with the WorkBook Project to jointly curate a short film program to highlight new independent directors. What follows is the last of six director profiles.
TIM HYTEN
No stranger to hard work, and with a clear sense of determination, Tim is of the new generation of filmmakers reared on accessible technologies and everpresent distribution outlets, a generation that would see a felled tree blocking an icy one-lane mountain road simply as an opportunity to break out the 4 wheel drive.
Case in point: When he realized he would never be able to afford film school, Tim set about finding a rigorous learning strategy, regardless. He offered his services for free, and was taken up on it by the city’s producers. Net result? He learned every aspect of filmmaking through the school of hard knocks- and perhaps gained an equally effective education, to boot.
Indeed, Tim seems to actually embrace the no-budget-no-problem approach endemic in independent film, theorizing that a dedicated crew is worth the same, perhaps more, than a stack of cash. As he puts it:
“Listen to any filmmaker and you’ll quickly learn how time consuming, meticulous and painful the process can be and I think one of the best things you can do is take the time to assemble a group of talented people that can all help move projects along. That’s why I was lucky to meet Mark Johnson and Luis Sinibaldi, through which we’ve founded the company Fat Monster Films. We continually work with a tight group of film makers who work for next to nothing, sleep on our floors and don’t bitch when we forget they’re vegetarians…This, I think is the key to getting shit done.”
One begins to see his latest directorial foray, ‘O2′, as a big fat metaphor for Tim’s life, and for filmmaking in general: In deep space with a crippled oxygen supply, a three person crew grapples with the notion that life support will only allow two to survive the trip to a neighboring freighter.
Were Tim one of those three people, I’m pretty sure he’d find a solution.
We caught up with Tim for a little Q&A in anticipation of O2’s upcoming screening in support of WorkBook Project Discovery and Distribution Award Winner ‘One Hundred Mornings’.
What are the biggest issues you’ve faced, as a filmmaker?
In this town I think it’s probably somewhat common to have a sort of epiphany (in my case it occurred around the 16th or 17th time I found myself working on a screenplay in a coffeeshop when I recognized most of the people around me were also working on their own scripts.) It all comes into focus as to just how difficult the road stretching ahead is and how, for most of us, moving forward is going to require a lot more work and having to borrow money from family and friends to get anything done. It is a bit scary jumping into an endeavor with such a negative return factor, but there’s no real choice to be made for many of us. We do it because we’d rather eat Top Ramen, smoke “re-lights” (the part of the cigarette left over after it’s owner tossed it to the ground), and subject ourselves to uncountable ignonomies just to stay on “the ride.”
How do you typically distribute your short films? What has worked, for you?
We are currently looking at all the different routes (many that are still emerging on the net). With all the different models available today, you just have to figure out what makes sense for the particular project at hand. Unfortunately our pace is so frenetic that we often move on from a given project before giving it a proper run anywhere. We’re changing that now, though, in part due to the mentoring of our good friend, Zak Forsman at Sabi pictures, who has been slowly educating us on the subject.
How do you define success as a filmmaker?
If you’re going to be making films you had better be unflinching, determined, self aware, passionate, etc. etc. …. the list goes on and on. That being said, I think too many filmmakers actually believe they’re saving babies or something. It only takes getting stuck in a few conversations with these elitists [to make] you think “Jesus Christ, man, it’s a fuckin’ movie!!!” Don’t get me wrong, if you’re going to make a film and you want it to be of any quality you have to treat it as if it’s the most serious thing in the world at the time (especially if there is other people’s money involved.) But when it’s all said and done, we’re here to entertain people, hopefully in a way that can add a bit of something to their life and if we can get a few bucks in the bank while doing it…That’s success in my opinion.
CineFist & WorkBook Project present:
‘02‘
Directed by Tim Hyten
Written by Mark A. Johnson and Jack Daniel Stanley
Produced by Mark A. Johnson and Luis Sinibaldi, with Barry Green and Blaine Golden
Wednesday 22 September
7:30 and 9:30
Followed by the WorkBook Project Discovery and Distribution Award winner ‘One Hundred Mornings’.
Click here for screening tickets
Maybe Soup is currently being updated? I'll try again automatically in a few seconds...
