you’re in my web now

Thanks to Geldin, I got to see two of my favorite filmmakers chat about their next project to an audience. I’ve always felt as though Robert was super cute and QT was just like some nutball I’d hang out with. But just last night I was told that QT’s movies are self-indulgent and too verbose. I disagree. I like his movies. I think to say they’re “too violent” is just so… simple. I’m so excited to see Grindhouse so in anticipation of that moment later this afternoon, I’m posting my notes from the Times Talk held at the City University of New York Graduate Center, NYC on 3/30/07.

I’m sorry, but is it not totally hilarious that the Sopranos have, of all things, their trademark slapped onto Ice Cream Sandwiches?

If I were to brainstorm products that accompany the show, I’d imagine a bottle-opener keychain-cum-shank… or tacky silk boxers with holsters printed on them… or “iced” cream at the least but Cherry Chip Bada Bing Ice Cream Sandwiches?

Wow.

I attended another handy NYWIFT event called Music in Documentaries which covered creative decision-making and practical issues with finding music.

Please take a look-see at my post on the Film Panel Note Taker’s blog.

I got a big-time job writing a blogpost for The Film Panel Notetaker! It will be especially useful if you’re curious about copyright and fair use for your documentary (but could be applied to any artform).

Also, I read an awesome book on this topic that goes into this stuff in-depth– it includes history, debates, cases and best of all (my favorite) SOLUTIONS.

Hey Pals,

I know you haven’t heard from me in a while and though you may not wonder about it, I’ll nonetheless let you know that I’m sorry about that. I’ve been busy.

And…

I am totally obsessed with my new coffee maker. First of all, for the longest time, I didn’t really consider myself a coffee drinker. I started drinking coffee ever since landing in NYC (among other bad habits) and, even then, only drank ICED coffee. I tend to avoid any and all hot beverages since they burn my face off (my lack of patience along with a craving for instant gratification apparently don’t mix well with said beverages). But over time I became more… “Dependent” on iced coffee. This adds up $$$, as you well know, and a regular ole at-home consumer coffee maker just wasn’t cutting it– the coffee I made was gross (and the coffee makers I used were always strays from various chea– er, uh, “independent” production craft-service departments).

Until the Toddy.

The directions may seem tedious and involved. Probably because they do take an extra step or two… and twelve whole hours to brew. You see, it’s a COLD brewing system and I personally think it balances out when the ONE carafe of Toddy Coffee lasts you a week. The carafe it produces is a concentrate of low-acid/oil version of the coffee that we all know and love. And the little book included also has recipes– so I go to work every day with iced mocha. Yum!!!

Further, any iced coffee I pick up anywhere in this godforsaken town is not as good as my toddy coffee. Period. If you can’t handle the process it requires to make it, then you don’t deserve it.

Moving on…

You may have already heard that I was devastated by the robbery that took place at my apartment at 11:00am October 3, 2006. Devastated. Having taken YEARS to build the arsenal of equipment I needed as a filmmaker… being robbed of them within 20 minutes was disheartening to say the least. And despite the financial set back, my TOOLS and eight months of work on my movie were taken from me. And before you start being a jerk about insurance and back-ups, just know that the back-ups were not offsite and stolen as well (lesson learned, thanks) and insurance… well, I thought of getting it in the months before being robbed but never followed through. I had simply never owned anything before and any urgency on the matter hadn’t occurred to me (lesson learned again!). So thanks for not being predictable and a jerk in my time of weakness.

The EXCELLENT NEWS is that with the help of good ole Brian Geldin I began logging and digitizing NO Cross, NO Crown again. I currently have an awesome hour and thirty minute cut! I’m so excited and I will say, it kicks ass. I maintain that though there’s nothing gimmicky about the idea, it’s still unique and a story that should be told about New Orleans. It’s almost as though the people from down there are not able to articulate what New Orleans really means to this country, and outsiders can only see the human rights atrocity. I hope to finally smooth that out for everyone.

Then…

In moments (like riding the subway) when I can’t be editing or working on the New Orleans film, I’ve begun reading and researching for my next behemoth project, the Hacker Ethic. I’m taking a totally different approach on this one than I am NCNC because it’s a totally different species of creature that I’m studying. The development is going really well. I’ll let you all know more when I release the demo this spring.

In other news, I screened the trailer for NCNC Feb. 1 (along with yet another appearance by Jack Quack– who knew an exercise in putting moving images together from paper would turn into my little hero?). There’s another screening of the NCNC trailer Feb. 19 in Brooklyn at Barbes, Park Slope. You guys should come! People respond really well to the NCNC trailer and I can only dream of them responding just as well to the finished film.

Next…

For those of you whose New Years’ resolution was MORE READING, I thought with Global Warming and Sustainability being trendy and all, I’d delight you my recommendations to start you off here in 2007:

Why not begin with the Third Chimpanzee by Jared Diamond. I went to see this guy speak when he was in NYC for the release of his latest book Collapse . I’d compliment this reading with the viewing of the documentary series based on his OTHER book Guns, Germs and Steel Either way, get your dose of some Diamond. The man is a genius.

Then move on to Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring . It will set you up for basic environmental stewardship principles, all the while being the perfect springboard for my next HUGE recommendation: Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. I’ve peddled this book to two architecture firm types just in the last couple of months and have gotten rave reviews. The “paper” they use for the book is awesome in itself. Seriously, reading about potential SOLUTIONS for once is a relief.

And so not to overwhelm you with non-fiction while playing into the theme appropriately, be sure to check out Robert Heinlein’s The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and if you didn’t read it in high school, the Lord of the Flies .

Admittedly, if my theme is the environment, then it seems a bit off-track to so heavily recommend the socio-biology fare, but I figure it’s a good idea to understand why our species are so hell bent on self-destruction.

AND…

For those of you whose New Years’ resolution was WATCHING MORE TV, during this Winter sweep of shows, I’ve become a fan of Dirt and of course, my hour of Bauer. Please note I couldn’t care less about American Idol. Don’t fret– I view this as potentially a problem on my part. But I’m not willing to work on it. I simply don’t give a shit.

And perhaps I shouldn’t mention Dirt and 24 together since I find them to be likable for two reasons that are on separate ends of the spectrum. For example, I love that 24 is totally insanely ridiculous. Like, bonkers out of this world over the top ridiculous. And they do it well! I love it for the pristine manipulation of the craft. I’ll delve into this in person if we must, but I’ll spare details on this for now.

Dirt , on the other hand, is well crafted and over the top in a way that’s somewhat plausible, but if nothing else, fresh. I haven’t seen this scenario on television before (a lot like Nip/Tuck, I’d like to mention). I like the characters and how they interact. I do notice there are some awkward moments here and there that come from the show being green, so I’ll sit on it a bit more before coming to any drastic conclusions. And I hate the title song. Yuck.

Lost was pretty good last week. I wish people would just leave it alone and let it breathe. From what little I glean from folks covering and being fans of the show– they are totally up its ass! Cut it out! Geeze!

I heard a hint of what’s new from the Fantastic Ooze. I’m looking forward to their new album because even though they’re really scared of me (as most boys are), I think they’re awesome.

TAFN!
-amp

I like vampire stories because they seem to tap into that deep down fear of our indispensability, smallness, irrelevance, all the while embodying our sick craving to live forever to overcome it… but then demonstrate the inner conflict with knowing it’s probably a good idea to die eventually.