My Interview with Contour Magazine
A couple of months ago an old friend of mine Nikolai Soudek asked if I would be interested in being interviewed for his recently launched webzine/blog Contour Magazine. Described as a blog dedicated to people and their passions. Not only did Nikolai do his homework in terms of finding out who I am, but the article (specifically the way it incorporates embeds and links) most accurately captures the 6 year arc in my videography career. Nikolai took full advantage of what New Media offers us to create a piece that will stand the test of time simply because it very accurately reflects the time. I told Nikolai that if anyone wants to know what I am about today or in the near distant future all I have to do is direct them to this interview.
Enjoy
TrVZ
One Year Ago Obama. Today Brown.
Yesterday’s stunning upset in the U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts of Democrat Martha Coakle by Republican Scott Brown ends the Democrats 60-seat filibuster-proof “supermajority” in the Senate, and may mean the end of the Health Care Bill and any chance of significant Healthcare reform. Suddenly everyone is looking to lay blame at someone else’s feet. Understandably people are upset, but the problem isn’t campaign mismanagement. It runs far deeper. Ironically the seat lost was occupied for 47 years by the Late Ted Kennedy, healthcare’s most visible supporter.
One year ago today it seemed like the world had changed. I was there. I was in Washington when Obama was inaugurated. I slept in the street and stood in the cold with tens of thousands to welcome in change. We had spoken and our voices were heard, this was our day. One year later Obama’s approval rating is down 20%, and those same voices demanding change have seemingly gone on with their lives. We treated Obama’s election as the end and not the beginning of a long struggle. Somehow we missed the point that Obama is a representative for the people, he is our voice. Who can forget this Obama quote “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” We embraced that mantra and moved like a tidal wave over a nation fed up with the Bush regime and centuries of oppression. We washed away old ways providing fertile ground for change. We had arrived.
One year later it appears that the fertile ground for change we sowed is being reaped by another group. A new movement is saying to our President that the Democrats are getting a little ahead of themselves. NJ, Virginia, said it loud and clear, and now Massachusetts is saying it again. This is how our political system works. The loudest voices will be heard. It’s not about racism, or sexism, or anything else. Its about vocalizing your concerns and getting out to vote. That is the only voice that matters. It is unfortunate that this lesson may have to come at the expense of Healthcare reform, but if we learn from our inaction now, maybe it won’t mean learning this lesson when the November 2010 elections or the 2012 Presidential elections come around. If you disagree about what is happening now make your voice heard. There are no excuses. One year ago today, we showed the world that we can bring on change in the face of overwhelming odds. We proved the system worked. One year later, It is the same system.
I posted a video of my trip to Washington for the inauguration one year ago. It’s an intimate reminder of where we were one year ago. Check it out. And listen to the wise words at the end stated by Andrea. Listen and ask yourself what are you doing?
Trev
The Naked City – Williamsburg Bridge 1948
The film “The Naked City” is a 1948 black-and-white film noir directed by Jules Dassin. The movie, shot in documentary style, was filmed on location on the streets of New York City. It is known for having one of the more famous quotes in movie history. “There are eight million stories in the Naked City; this has been one of them.” I actually watched this entire film just to hear this quote in context after hearing it out of context my entire life.
One scene that I took note of during this film was the final chase scene on the Williamsburg Bridge. The transformation of the Williamsburg Bridge from then to now is pretty fascinating. The West bound side has incoming and outgoing traffic, and the current eastbound side has a stairway that leads to the walkway. The most striking difference is how folks back then (Assuming that this portrayal was true to life.) utilized the Manhattan side walkway as a park. You can see kids rollerskating, jumping rope, playing marbles, etc. The only bridge in NY that bears any resemblance to that now is the Brooklyn Bridge. However the Williamsburg Bridge 1948 seems to have been a playground for locals as opposed to the tourists who cross the Brooklyn Bridge now. Also fascinating is how little Delancey street has changed. Haha.
Another interesting note about this film. The visual style was inspired by the New York photographer Weegee who published a book of photos of New York life entitled Naked City (1945). Weegee was known for his stark black and white street photography. Check out the embed below that has both the Williamsburg chase sequence and the famous quote. And if you get a chance see this film by all means do. It pops up on TCM every now and then or you can order it on Netflix.
Who Are You, Polly Magoo?
The 1966 French film “Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?” is a satirical art house movie spoofing the fashion world and its excesses. It stars native Brooklynite Dorothy McGowan as supermodel Polly Maggoo who is being followed by a French television crew. I caught this on TCM one night and was drawn in by how it poked fun at the cool mod style of the late 60′s. The director William Klein is a well known photographer and one of my inspirations. The asthetic beauty in this film, balanced with the cutting satire intrigues me. It draws many parallels to the world I work in today. Beautiful, inspiring and cool, while hilarious, silly and superficial. The difference with this film and a film like Zoolander, is there is a insiders perspective and reverence that acknowledges that there is something to love about this world. Zoolander tosses it all aside as fodder for laughs. Don’t get me wrong I love Zoolander, but “Polly Maggoo” deals with the dichotomy of that love hate relationship in a serious way without fishing for the big laugh.
The first clip is the opening scene from the film. It is a fashion show where the “clothes” are so outlandish and impractical that the models are cut by the material and the designer has to make modifications with a wrench. It illustrates just how silly the fashion world can be. The second is a trailer just in case you were thinking of renting or buying it. There isn’t much substance in terms of storyline, but if you are intrigued by cultural commentary about the super cool today, tomorrow, or 40 years ago, I would say go for it.
Thunder Perfect Mind
A lovely ad made for Prada with the beautiful Daria Werbowy reciting Thunder Perfect Mind. Thunder Perfect Mind is a poem discovered among the Gnostic manuscripts at Nag Hammadi in 1945. It takes the form of an extended, riddling monologue, in which an immanent saviour speaks a series of paradoxical statements concerning the divine feminine nature.
Art Basel Miami
Wow! I just realized this is my first new video post in 3 or 4 months. I have been busy. Finally caught a break so I spent some time updating and such. Anyway this is my first post in 3 months, and last post of the decade. It’s from my trip to Art Basel earlier this month. This is my second year down there. Last year I was shooting for Pernod. This year it was for Societe Perrier.
Art Basel and art fairs in general are easily my favorite events to cover. Really chill, good food, good folks. And this art fair is the grand daddy of ‘em all. Not only do you see the most intriguing art on the planet, but there are a ton of beautiful people and lots of partying going on. Unfortunately due to my hectic shooting schedule this time around and the fact that I decided not to rent a car, I didn’t get to visit any other galleries and fairs outside of Pulse, nor as many parties as I did last year. The ones I did make I was too beat to bring my camera. But what I did cover was great. In the clip below keep an eye out for Russell Simmons, The Vivian Girls, Hollywood Holt, The Shepard Fairey mural that was all the rage, and of course all the Hot ladies! I love NY, but we can’t hold a candle to Miami and L.A. when it comes to dimes. Also check the photos I took below. I took a flight from Tampa to Miami on the smallest plane I ever flew in and I thought I was going to die when we were landing. The plane was swaying from side to side 10 feet above the ground. The pilots (one pictured below) looked like members of a boy band. My girlfriend said the pilots were probably practicing their dance moves. That made sense. Anyway they got us on the ground in one piece god bless ‘em.
I also have morning shots from my hotel room. The hotel sucked, but the location and view were amazing! I love the geometric patterns the streets and buildings formed and the lighting due to the passing storm. Also included a couple of shots of the art. Happy New Year! See you in 2010.
