Tiny Feature Saturday’s – A Day in The Life of a Kyoto Geisha
This week on TFS we feature a short by Glen Milner who also brought us A Trinidad Teen that profiles a subject I have yet to see in DSLR cinema. Milner documents Miehina who gives us some insight into the passion and dedication that it takes to continue her family tradition of the Geisha lifestyle.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Wayback Thursday’s 2007 – Down And Derby Rollerskating Party
Out of the hundreds of videos that I made during those early party days at The New Pop there are 3 or 4 that will always hold a special place in my heart. This is one of them. The event was called Down & Derby and it was one of those events in which the incredible buzz would only be exceeded by the energy of the night. Organized by Vince Masi this event was a masterstroke of sorts, Vince combined a roller derby vibe with the popular American Apparel hipster style that was at it’s high point 4 or 5 years ago. It was as if Vince gave the hipster set a venue in which they could parody themselves (you will never get them to admit this of course) and exhale if just for one night. The week leading up to the event, even the coolest of the cool were calling me trying to get on the guests lists. And from the moment we arrived at the venue Studio B (the hot venue in Brooklyn at the time) there was a palpable energy in the air and a line that went down the block for most of the night. So many of our new friends from the scene were in attendance. There were DJ’s, musicians, bloggers, fashionistas, promoters, and if you weren’t there, you probably heard about it and regretted missing it. It was the place to be that night, the photos and video Tone and I captured still holds up as some of the best I remember.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Wayback Trivia: The last scene in this video in which Tone tosses New Pop stickers in the air was our little experiment in Hipster complacency. The resulting smugness exhibited by the folks who we knew would detest our attempts to make them exert any unnecessary energy or public displays of excitement could not be scripted any better. The audio and visual reactions from those on and off camera are like a scene from the IFC hipster parody show Portlandia. Even more credit to Vince for getting these very same folks to put on the skates, drop the ‘tude and party!
Wallpaper Mag: Famous For 15 Years
As part of it’s 15th year celebration Wallpaper* asked some of their friends to recall how Wallpaper* first entered their world, and what it means to them today. Included in this piece architect and designer Matteo Thun and gallerist Rossana Orlandi, retailer and gallerist Murray Moss, designer Tom Dixon, chef Fergus Henderson, Terence Conran. designer Yves Behar and the Sartorialist himself, Scott Shumann who shares a lovely anecdote about the early buzz of the magazine. In this day and age when so many print publications have seen their doors close, it is good to see a design staple like Wallpaper* transitioning well to New Media while still putting out relevant print publications.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Cool Hunting Presents: Lou Nasti
It’s been awhile since I featured a video from the folks at CoolHunting.com. Just so you know coolhunting is one of the original video blog sites along with your’s truly. It will probably be a decade or two before the new media video pioneers are recognized for their pioneering ways. But I digress.
This video features Lou Nasti who is a modern day Geppetto with all the eccentricities included. Nasti is the animatronic mastermind responsible for installations around the globe, most notably some of the most iconic Christmas displays on 5th Avenue in Manhattan. This video captures Lou at work in his Brooklyn based studio.
Enjoy
TrvZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – Eames Furniture Marilyn & John Neuhart
This week on TFS we present a Gestalten.tv video interview with Marilyn & John Neuhart, Both have worked with the Eames Office in various capacities from the 1950s. Shot at their Los Angeles home, they tell the tale of working with Charles Eames. Marilyn also talks about her book “The Story of Eames Furniture”.
Enjoy
The Palms : The Experience
Here is an updated version of the video flyer (Shot and Edited by yours truly) for this new event in L.I.C. just a few blocks from PS1 called The Palms. It’s taking place every weekend until Labour Day. Several art/event producers took over an abandoned bank building to create a living ode to the Boca Raton resorts of the 1940′s and infused it with music, spectacle and thoughtful hedonism. I had allot of fun last weekend. Here is a link to the Facebook Page and The Palms website.
TrVZ
Wefi Surfboards
This video takes a look at the craftsmanship behind Hollow Cedar Surfboards shaped by Randy Weflen.
TrVZ
Live At The Loft Gets Primal with Monogold
A couple of weeks back I attended one of the best live shows in recent memory when Monogold played at Live At The Loft. Immediately I downloaded their album The Softest Glow and they have been on replay ever since. This LATL video of their performance of “Spirit Or Something” is sweeter than I remembered. It is Raw primal energy.
As a seen it all, done it all jaded New Yorker there isn’t much that gets me excited enough to get me out of my apartment. But I make it my duty to cross two rivers whenever LATL goes down. For those of you who haven’t found your way to this invite only event, the best way to describe it is… Live At The Loft is like eating a home cooked meal from a 5 star chef. Nuff said.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – Lower East Side
This week on TFS I am posting a video that reminds me in more ways than one that the more things change, the more they stay the same. This video is a montage of images set to a psychedelic track that is reminiscent of the slice of life videos that are so prevalent in DSLR films today. There is a common thread that links the Beatnik and Hippie culture of yesterday to the Hipster culture of today and the sometimes tense juxtaposition with the local indigenous population that they both share. This video resonated with me partly because I rarely see slice of life videos of Downtown NYC from this era.
But there was something more personal that connected me with this video which highlights the common thread between different generations. You see one of the directors of this video is Tom Hurwitz. As a young Production Assistant working on film sets in the late 90′s I worked on a TV documentary in which Tom was a cinematographer. To me he was this old guy who I assumed had little if anything in common with me. Then today totally by accident I came across this video. It illustrates a common thread linking our generations that made me see Tom in a different light so many years later. Now almost 15 years after working with Tom on that gig, I am creating films like Tom with the prevailing social movement as it’s subtext. A poetic illustration that “The more things change the more they stay the same.”
Enjoy
TrVZ
Sarah Illenberger: She Speaks in Images
This film courtesy of the folks at Gestalten.tv profiles the Berlin-based artist Sarah Illenberger who transforms even the most abstract and complex content into vivid, humorous, and concise visual forms without ever forcing a meaning on them.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Handmade Portraits – Domestikate
This video by Tara Young for the folks at Etsy profiles Kate Fix otherwise known as Domistikate. Kate is a secondhand collector who lives in Graham North Carolina. Like my mom I love to collect useless items that I won’t ever throw away. My mom drives my dad crazy with her stuff. In my apartment among other things I have a taxi roof ad, a street parking sign, a pay phone full of quarters and a big blue Teddy bear. Not much but it’s a start. My dream is to buy a little home upstate NY one day, and when I do the collector within me will be unleashed. Is this video a glimpse into my future? I hope so : )
TrVZ
The Palms : Long Island City – Video Teaser
I have been dying to create a video that utilizes the portrait orientation in a way that justifies it’s form. So when the folks at Artists Wanted asked me to do a promo for what looks like a very cool event and they sent me the flyer I knew this was it. So I took the flyer made the movie to match its dimensions grabbed some vintage clips and went to town. I hope that I can find more practical uses for editing in the Portrait orientation, just because it is so much fun!
Oh yeah and here is a brief description about the event.
“The Palms is a collaboration between several arts organizations and party producers, building an oasis resembling the pool of a 1950’s Boca Raton hotel…”
TrVZ
Wayback Thursday’s 2007 – Korrupt
This week we take the Wayback machine to sometime around December 2007 and the Korrupt 4 party at Club 205. The level of interactivity and engagement in our old party videos was something to behold. The fact that I went through the trouble of buying a whiteboard and approaching people to write their thoughts on it throughout the night gives you an idea of my commitment to making our videos unique and fun. The very idea of me doing something as interactive today mortifies me… Well actually it mortified me back then too.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Wayback Trivia: This video gives us some interesting insight into what was happening in the world at the time with references to the World Cup, immigration, and the race for the Democratic nominee between Obama and Clinton among other things that includes a prediction from photographer Kareem Black that Obama Will Win!
Inventor Portrait: Ernest Nussbaum
This latest in a series of videos by David Friedman profiling inventors features 83 year old inventor Ernest Nussbaum. His invention called the Prakticello is a wonderful example of solution oriented thinking and elegant design. As Nussbaum puts it…
“If you want to take a regular cello on a flight, you have two options: one is to check it into baggage or buy it a seat. So the idea is to have a practice instrument which is carry on luggage and fits into an overhead compartment… it would be good if something like that existed.”
Elegance in simplicity.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Paper Planes by Studio Glithero
This short video by Studio Glithero and presented by the folks at Wallpaper Magazine documents London-based letterpress printers Baddeley Brothers and the process behind their paper planes idea. This is one of the better “making of” videos that I have seen in a long time.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Tiny Feature Saturdays – Tattoo Age
The folks at Vice Magazine in collaboration with New Era bring us the story of Smith Street Tattoo’s. This first episode in a three part series focuses on Dan Santoro who’s very distinct style attracts tattoo enthusiasts from around the globe. Dan who his partners describe as “a little odd” shares some amusing anecdotes about tattoo’s gone awry as well as gives us some insight into his appreciation for the classic sailor style shared by his partners. The clubhouse atmosphere that exists in that little shop in this little corner in Brooklyn is pretty special.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Camerabag.tv | Frank Ockenfels
This video portrait of photographer Frank Ockenfels from the folks at Camerabag.tv provides some refreshing insight into the humbling side of success. Despite shooting some of today’s more interesting personalities like David Bowie, Snoop Dogg and President Obama, Frank is still amazed when someone hires him to do what he loves. As he puts it…
“The act of being hired for what you want to do is a very different thing than being hired to be a photographer”
Frank achieved “overnight success” when a portrait he shot of Tracey Chapman originally intended as just a quarter page section in Rolling Stone magazine was moved to the front page when shortly after the shoot Tracey’s album shot to number one. His views on success and failure are insightful and inspiring.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Frank Ockenfels from camerabag.tv on Vimeo.
There’s No Place Like Here – Brazenhead Books
This video by Andrew David Watson and the folks at Etsy profiles Michael Seidenberg’s and his second hand book store Brazenhead Books. This secret bookstore tucked away high above the hustle and bustle of a busy NYC street is one of those stories that make up the unique fabric of this city. Michael who goes by the moniker “the secret bookstore guy” seems cast right out of a Woody Allen film. He has found a way (albeit illegal) to keep the second hand bookstore alive. Read more about this mecca for book lovers at the Etsy blog.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Live at The Loft Episode 8 – Full Crate & Mar
A few weeks back my former partner Tone invited me to check out a really cool event/show that he created called Live At The Loft . This invite only event feels like a blend between the Saturday Night Live music performances and The old Lyricist Lounge sessions (The live venue, not the busted TV show).
The moment I entered the loft I could feel that this was unlike any show I ever attended. There was a palpable buzz of anticipation in the air. Once the show kicked off Full Crate & Mar treated a house full of modern day bohemians to some good old fashion soul. These long time friends remind me of some combination of Deangelo and Jamiroquai. You don’t have to take my word for it, check out the video posted below and form your own opinion. Going by how full the loft was I doubt most of you will ever get to see a Live Show. Personally I can’t wait to trek it out to Hoboken for the next Live At The Loft show.
Enjoy
TrVZ
EP08 Full Crate & Mar “2U4U” from LIVE AT THE LOFT on Vimeo.
Tiny Feature Saturday’s – Visionaries: Nick Knight
As a part of their Visionaries series, Vice and Blackberry profile photographer and ShowStudio.com founder Nick Knight. Among other things Knight shares his views on fashion as an art form, fashion as communication, and the effect New Media has on the fashion cycle. We also get some insight from ShowStudio fashion director Nick Knight.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Relentless Short Stories – Other Side Of The Lens
Yesterday my friend Tamara sent me this short film directed by renowned surf photographer Mikey Smith for Relentless Energy Drink titled Dark Side of the Lens. Mikey’s dedication to documenting the Ocean as he see’s it is the embodiment of what true passion is. My attempt at describing the raw and majestic power of this video with words falls way short of just watching the damn thing. Director of Photography Allen Wilson deserves a boat-load of the credit. Most of these images are simply breadth-taking. So just press play and maybe you will be inspired to find the limits of your passion the way Mikey did. Bravo.
TrVZ
Wallpaper Visionaires: Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)
The folks at Wallpaper magazine are launching a new series titled Visionaries which explores ground-breaking ideas within the realms of architecture. In this first episode film maker Victor Vroegindeweij travels to Rotterdam where Reinier de Graaf, director of AMO, the research counterpart to the leading architecture firm the OMA, is laying the ground work for his hugely ambitious project: to create A world driven by 100% renewable energy by 2050.
Enjoy
TrVZ