Canadian Music Week – night one last night

Last night was a lot of fun, seeing a few bands that I’d never heard before, in venues that were familiar.  I took in clubs that were right across the street from each other: The Hideout and Tattoo Rock Parlour. Then, I  went down the street a bit to the Cadillac Lounge. I’ll have some video online shortly from the first of four nights! We’ll see how many I make it out to!

Bands I saw: Abandon All Ships, The Rebellion, Good And Broken, TV Heart Attack, PUMPS, The Cringe, Tin Star Orphans, Eddie Orso.

Clip now online on my Rockin’ Films blog:  http://rockinfilms.com/blog.htm

Video I did for Alex Grey at his art opening in Toronto, June 2009

This was the second time I’d had the pleasure to meet Alex Grey and his wife Allyson. They were in Toronto last summer to open a show called “Anatomy of Being.”

So, I headed down to the opening and brought my trusty DVX100 along for the ride to shoot a little video.

It was a very enjoyable summer evening, filled with visionary art, enlightening conversations, stimulating connections and good vibes, as always!

I think some magic of the evening was captured!  Well, see for yourself!

Click the link below to go to the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors blog and watch the video.

http://cosm.typepad.com/cosm_blog/2009/06/index.html

I wrote a new feature film outline yesterday

It’s nice when, as a writer (or during any kind of creative endeavor),  you’re “hot,” “on a roll,” “in the pocket,”  in “flow” state – there are many ways to describe that time when ideas are pouring out of you, almost effortlessly (sometimes this effortlessness is the result of a lot of hard thinking, sometimes not), and all you can do is struggle to keep up as you jot the ideas down on paper. I had that happen yesterday morning.

I had been thinking about a low budget script I could write to make a feature movie from for a little while now, maybe a few weeks. The possibilities had been turning over in my mind as I chewed over plot lines, characters, settings, themes and logistics. I wanted a story that I could film with a very small crew, that would not have much in the way of expenses like special effects, travel, or make up and wardrobe. I didn’t want to have to try and convince anyone to give me money to make the film. I knew that if I could get a story that was interesting enough to film on a very low budget, then I could be inspired and able to get the movie made.

It all came together yesterday as I got a great story idea – my prayers were answered! My imagination had been sparked by a couple of ideas, inspiration struck as the Muse visited me and suddenly I was writing a three page outline for a new film! I also got a few visual/music “filmmaking” ideas of how the film will look and sound.

It’s about a woman who is in a dark place in her life and doesn’t see much point in going on living. She is aided in some strange, metaphysical ways to turn her attitude and life, around.

I’m not going to give away too many details of the story just yet; you’ll have to check back later for that.

I’m going to keep refining the story with some index cards this afternoon, and I’m meeting with an actress I’ve worked with a few times before. Hopefully she’ll be interested in the film and have time to do it. I’d like to shoot it later this year, after my Goth documentary is finished.

I’ll be at Canadian Music Week and Film Festival

CMW banner

I’m going to be blogging/video blogging about some of my experiences at Canadian Music Week, happening from March 10 to 14, in Toronto. It should be a lot of fun, as I’m a music lover and have done a lot of music-related videos and film work. For more info on CMW, see their site: http://www.cmw.net

Also, of particular interest to the filmmaker and film lover in me is the Canadian Music Week Film Festival, which runs from March 12 to 13. There is a new Doors documentary called “WHEN YOU’RE STRANGE” and a film about John Lennon titled “NOWHERE BOY”. I’m looking forward to them both, and there are some other interesting films, including a screening of the 1974 Brian De Palma, classic “PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE” !

See the complete film listings here: http://www.cmw.net/cmw2010/film_festival.asp

Fashion Show at Brava Last Night – Goth Designers – for my film GOTH:insideOUT

I attended a fashion show last night at Brava on Queen Street West, Toronto, which featured several designers, including the collections of a couple of Gothic inspired designers I am interviewing for my documentary on Goth called GOTH:insideOUT. I also met some great people and got some more short interviews for my film! A bunch of us hung out after the show, then I drove home in a raging snow storm (glad I had good snow tires)! What a fun night!

Here are some stills (frame grabs from the video). I am going to have a new blog for the film up soon at http://gothinsideout.com and it will have video of the fashion show.

Goth fashion show image 1
S.I.N.S. Gothic Punk Fashion

Goth fashion show image 1
S.I.N.S. Gothic Punk Fashion

Goth fashion show image 1
S.I.N.S. Gothic Punk Fashion

Goth fashion show image 1
S.I.N.S. Gothic Punk Fashion

Goth fashion show image 1
Fluffer Designs

Goth fashion show image 1
Fluffer Designs

Goth fashion show image 1
Fluffer Designs

Goth fashion show image 1
Fluffer Designs

Goth fashion show image 1
S.I.N.S. Gothic Punk Fashion

Goth fashion show image 1
Fluffer Designs

See the site for the film http://gothinsideout.com for some video clips from the show.

Liberty Village – Somewhere In Heaven – My Film


Photo by Zaiden

“Liberty Village – Somewhere In Heaven”

I made a documentary film on the Liberty Village neighborhood in Toronto called “Liberty Village – Somewhere In Heaven,” because I saw an area changing that I had come to appreciate. It was home to artists for decades and many other cool things. I used to love wandering around the colourful streets…you never knew what you’d find next…

I’ve put a couple of clips from the film online:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KM-VMJtK0E]

Also see:  http://www.vimeo.com/8467306

Liberty Village resident Corky Laing was interviewed for the film, and provided music from his band Cork. Also interviewed was photographer Taffi Rosen, and you’ll see some of her work in the film, along with other artists, developers, workers and residents of the special place called Liberty Village.

To buy the DVD and for more information, an interview with me and pictures, see the page on Rockin’ Films: http://www.rockinfilms.com/lv.htm

New Album Preview – Peter Gabriel’s Scratch My Back

I’ve just had my first listen to songs from Peter Gabriel’s new album Scratch My Back and I love it. It’s deep, rich, beautiful, sad, joyous and very touching. His music hits me in an emotional place and has often brought tears to my eyes; this album is no exception.

It’s orchestrated and is all cover songs! Gabriel does songs from artists who agreed to cover one of his songs in return. Not what I was expecting, but it’s surely an innovative album – not a surprise from an innovator like Gabriel. There are some interesting vocal effects that make me think of early Gabriel work from his solo albums.

He’s been one of my favourite artists for many, many years. I’ve seen him live a few times too – the first time in the 80’s on the Shock The Monkey tour. He’s on tour this year in support of his new album, with an orchestra, and billed as with “no drums or guitars”.

Listen to the new album online, free:

guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/feb/04/peter-gabriel-scratch-back