10 most thought about thoughts...

Top 10 things that I probably think most about

1- My relationship with God

2- Women

3- Food (kind of lame but I plan these things out)

4- Film

5- Work (most likely inter-exchanged with film on a regular basis)

6- Current Events

7- Family

8- Tomorrow

9-Yesterday

10-Art

TMA 273 Reaction Paper- "La Blogotheque"

So this is the last post for the Reaction Papers.  Brad, I apologize that it is not on the viewing list and that I didn't email you but I was working with the podcast thing (which was extremely frustrating) and it got late and not it is 12:22 am and you wouldn't get the email before tomorrow anyways.  I am being assertive.  

Anyways, awhile back everybody hated the French because they weren't backing us in the war with Iraq or something like that.  French fries were freedom fries.  French salad dressing was suddenly an "American Classic".  We boycotted everything French.  In the spirit of reviving ties to the great people who gave us the statue of liberty I am personally endorsing a French website.  it is www.blogotheque.net or if you can't take that and want something more American try www.takeawayshows.com.  This website, and also podcast, is available for free and contains some of the greatest new musicians out there.  It is some guys who film musicians playing at small venues or at no venues.  Think of it as the step child of documentary who was married to a music video who has a bunch of hipster friends that played music and did art.  Take that child and call it the takehomeshow and enjoy.  It is really amazing.  It makes me want to continue to do music for people and also make films about things that I am passionate about.  This is my new favorite thing right now.  I don't know what the point is quite yet.  Some of the shows and really strange and ramdom, but it is all very unique and creative.  Even the way that they shoot the people and portray them is great.  Everything is usually either blown out or super saturated with color and life.  Yes, I believe I found the word I was looking for.  Life.  They portray a sense of life that is unique.  The podcast it very "life-y".  It is invigorating.  Anyways, check it out and enjoy.  I suggest, Bon Iver, Jose Gonzalez, Pricilla Ahn (my favorite right now), Jason Mraz, REM, The Shins, Seasick Steve, Vandaveer, and whatever else seems good to you.  It is spontaneous, creative, energetic, and just plain neat.  They are breaking the barrier between the French arrogants and the American idiots.  Good job guys!

TMA 273 Reaction Paper- "The Lumiere Brothers"

So I go to the library alot.  And when I say alot, I mean ALOT.  I am not talking about the BYU library, though it is dear to my heart, but I am talking about the Orem Public Library.  I discovered this library when I was in high school and it has always been a special place for me.  A while ago they started checking out movies, and I started taking advantage of that.  Now their collection is large and I have over 1300 items checked out in my library career.  I have a habit of going there and checking out a few DVDs every week with a few CDs (unfortunately school has my reading taken care of, but I still love you books!).  I browse through the aisles looking for things to spark my interest.  I have been interested in art lately so I check there frequently and I found, by the photography section, a DVD with some of the Lumiere brother's first films.  I had seen quite a few due to the fact that film is what I study, but never more than around ten.  I checked it out because of curiosity and my constant desire to get back to the root of things.  

Before I go on, I must elaborate on the historical importance of the Lumiere brothers.  They, among others, were the first ones to really start film as we know it.  They made a camera called the 'cinematograph' that was the first real film camera that was portable.  It shot short film (less than a minute) on celluloid.  It acted as the camera, the developer, and the projector which is really amazing.  Anyways, the Lumieres developed this camera and sent people all over the world and locally to film normal events.  They were literally the first documentarians.  They had amazing skill to shoot such things and after they would shoot they would advertise and get people to come later that day or whenever and watch the film they made.  They could do it all and thanks to them, we have film as we know it now.  To me, they are the grandfathers of film. 

So I watched the DVD and was astounded at the simplicity and beauty of the films that they made.  They were completely delightful.  There was a French narrator who is the director of the Lumiere institute in Lyon, where the brothers were from, who gave further historical insight into what the films meant.  I was touched and moved and proud to be part of such a great movement.  One of my favorites that I saw is the snowball fight and it is appropriate for this time of year.  You can see the pure joy of setting up the camera and having something simple go on in front of it.  This film is one that I want to watch over and over and keep for further reference.  It was freeing and reminded me of something else that I am going to write about tonight.  I feel that film is getting in touch with it's roots and that there is alot going on that is simple and reminicent of the Lumieres.  

TMA 273 Reaction Paper- "An Inconvenient Truth"

This is the third time that I am writing this.  I love the internet.  And speaking of loving things, I love our planet.  I thought that An Inconvienient Truth was very convincing and inspired me to start a recycling service to the apartments here in Provo.  I hope that you all participate.  Anyways, the whole "powerpoint" style that everybody critisizes this film for was interesting to me.  Instead of being disuaded by this type of style, I was intrigued.  It was very convincing and seemed to flow fairly well.  The graphs, animations, and pitcures were quite appropriate and all of that gave me another idea to make an informational, convincing film using things that I find from google is all.  You can bend information and images to fit your agenda and though I found the agenda of almost Mr. President Gore to be nobel (hence the prize) I was inspired but unconvinced.  I was not convinced that all of the earth's heating problems are due to carbon and cars and factories.  According to geological history, the earth has heated up and cooled down multiple times.  We are just part of a heating up part.  That is not to say that we shouldn't ride our bikes and recycle and do the best we can, because we should.  We should do our best and then let it be.  I don't know if old Al would agree with me, but then again, he is still doing good things so more power to him.  

TMA 273 Reation Paper "No Direction Home: Bob Dylan"

Bob Dylan is a legend.  Ever since I discovered him in the Orem Public Library perusing through CD's, I have admired this unique musician.  His lyrics are impeccable and his style is timeless.  It is music for all times.  This film highlights his story, from his small town in the midwest until his european tour right before he was in his motorcycle accident.  This nice thing about this film is that it is very seamless.  It is complied of current interviews with Dylan and some of his associates and friends from past times.  Those interviews are interlaced with vintage footage of his concerts also with some scattered photographs.  It was interesting because of much of the feeling of it.  I could relate to some of the events and feelings.  Wanting to get out of a small town and out into something larger, thus proving oneself.  Working hard and starving to be able to do what you want to do.  Failing and just wanting to go back to what was simple.  Bob Dylan is just an extraordinary talent put into an ordinary man.  He is simple and down to earth.  It was also inspiring to see his simple songs played live.  There is music throughout the film.  Bob Dylan has written more songs that most musicians could ever dream of writing.  The film is 3 1/2 hours of music, history, and creativity.  I would definately recommend this film for everybody to see, and now that it is Christmas break you might have time.  Check your local library or if you have 10$ to spend, download it off of iTunes.  "'Cause the answer my friend, is blowing in the wind.  The answer is blowing in the wind."

Indie Christmas Movie Series

Tonight started my first annual "Indie Christmas Movie Series".  I have spent some time collecting short films that I feel embody Christmas in some way.  I assorted them in an order and invited people to come and watch them on the projector together and eat homemade cookies.  It was fun to see people's reactions to different films.  I had already seen all of the films and most of them I had seen by myself, so it was interesting to watch them with other people.  They found things funny that I hadn't thought of and I laughed and got some blank stares as well like, "were we supposed to laugh there too?".  It was alot of fun.  This is a poster for one of my favorite films that we watched tonight, Peter and the Wolf.  It won the Academy Award in 2008 for best animated short.  It is very polished and reminds me of forgiveness and differences and fears in different generations.  Besides that the kid just looks plain cool.  If he were real, we would be friends.  I am sure of it.  I mean, look at that hat.  Is that not something that I would wear.  Anyways, I am going to do this every year and show different shorts.  

I had an idea to have a video dance party because of this.  Just get a large group of people and have them watch films.  A bit under half of the films were music videos that people could dance to and have fun with.  Here is an example of one.  Can you imagine a bunch of people getting together and having a great time with this?  Yeah, and just wait until next year.

Reading & Writing

You would think that since I write so much for my major, writing reports of film theories, film movements, film history, film films, etc, I might become good at actually writing.  I have found the opposite to be true.  My writing is drab and boring, like toast without any rasberry jam, or even butter. 

So since I am a self-proclaimed documentarian, and I feel that my life, though boring, holds some intrinsic value I am going to create an experiment.  I will keep a steady blog through the semester, and if I go back and read it and it seems boring to me, I will resolve to delete this blog and start a new one with a new, more adventerous lifestyle.  

I hope to share things that I find along this blog journey, relating funny stories, sincere feelings and self discoveries along this 5 month road.  

I hope that people enjoy this.  It will start out rough until I get the hang of it.  Think of it like a new relationship.  This is new to me and I feel hesitant about it, yet something drives me to continue and put myself on the line.  Enjoy and hope we find what we are looking for!