Hey, for those who like to keep track, let me be your media monitoring service....
The Spoken Word Almanac Project will be performing their year-end show this weekend at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City, Friday through Sunday, starting at 7 p.m. Some of the media design featured was created by yours truly earlier in the year...
Or if you find yourself in the New England area, catch a movie at the Triplex or Beacon movie theaters, and you'll see a flashy new promo I created.
Either way, it's a chance to see my video and design work on a big screen... and I'm not talking about that billboard this time!
My SWAP colleague Darian Dauchan passed along this flyer today for The Spoken Word Almanac Project year in review performance. This year's show will once again by held at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City, on December 14, 15, and 16, starting at 7 p.m. SWAP is an annual poetry and media extravaganza recapping the news events of the year through the various perspectives of a diverse group of performance poets. I have been working with the group since 2010 as their Media Designer, although this year I have had to scale back on my contributions due to my wedding, moving, and assorted busyness. Nevertheless, I hope to make it out to one of next week's performances... the project is a unique mix of performance and multimedia that I have been happy to be a part of.
The other day I got into a discussion with a couple local artists about the topics of media literacy and the changing dynamic of social interactions, especially among young people. Dare I say, I have started to feel old (make that "older") as I witness the way teens and pre-teens' lives are being shaped by changing technology. There is a definite shift in the way this younger generation socializes... or doesn't socialize. Maybe you've been there... pulling up to the tool booth and finding the attendant with his feet kicked up, texting away, and then realizing he needs to wait on you (begrudgingly)... or failing to find much enthusiasm from students or interns, whose sense of entitlement might be the result of getting everything too easy... Maybe I'm just venting, but there are times that I shake my head, and realize that things are changing at a rapid pace... faster than we may have ever experienced before.
Even before the current explosion of online social networking and smartphones, there has also been a need for media literacy. I studied this subject a bit in my communications courses in college, and its importance was reinforced by the time I started working in TV news in the mid 90s. Anyone who followed this past election could probably sense the very partisan style of reporting that was prominent... and we're not just talking MSNBC and Fox News here. Sound bytes have been overtaking real content in news for some time now, and corporations have wielded an unhealthy influence... Thankfully, there are some outlets that I trust (although even The New York Times has fallen under some criticism in recent years).
Beyond news, there are the entertainment programs... even though I consider myself pretty liberal and open-minded, the content in some shows airing in so-called "family TV" hours has me shocked! Movies, on the other hand, just get depressing... I had a conversation with a friend last week about some of the crass material that has become commonplace in children's films (even Disney has fallen victim!).
I know that my head often feels like it will explode from all the information that is coming my way... change is inevitable, but how to digest all this properly... and guide a younger generation?
Hmmm... that's a lot to think about in a simple blog post. Tying it back to SWAP, I have taken great strides to create visuals for the poets' work that avoid a distortion of the facts or appearing too pointed... I like to think I'm an open-minded guy, and even though most of the performers and myself are of the liberal persuasion, I would rather chose imagery that poses questions rather than supposed answers...
I look forward to further study of the media. And the kids... yeah, they're alright... but I'll keep an eye out for them too, all the same.
I must admit that I wasn't sure how the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Care Act was going to pan out. Things have become so incredibly divided when it comes to politics, that it's easy to become cynical. However, Chief Justice John Roberts broke with his fellow conservative judges and voted to uphold most of President Obama's health care reform (the vote was decided 5-4). In my view, yesterday was a huge step forward for our country, helping more Americans get the care that they need.
Source: Amnesty International Facebook page. All rights reserved.
It was shrewd of the President's team to turn the word "Obamacare" into a positive,after his opponents had been throwing it around as a derogatory term. As a President, I do think Obama cares. Over the past four years I think some of his supporters have felt that he hasn't acted "liberal" enough--that he has run more moderate, and maybe even acted more aggressive in regards to the use of military force (i.e. the escalating use of drone missiles). I'm no fan of war and am uneasy with the idea of assassinations. During the 2008 election, the President promised to close Guantanamo Bay, where some of the previous administration's more troubling abuses of political prisoners took place, but near the end of his term, it remains open...
When I volunteered fot the President's election campaign, Obama appeared to be level-headed, intelligent, and idealistic--well, maybe he is more of a realist... There is a poem that I worked on for the Spoken Word Almanac Projectcalled "My Obama"--it's a funny piece, written by Darian Dauchan and being performed by several of the spoken word artists. The poem tries to understand who the "real" Barack Obama is:
"...His Obama would throw you into a cell indefinitely
My Obama wouldn't do that
I know who he is!
I know what he did!
I know what he's capable of!"
And so on...
You can see the visuals I created for this poem, and more of my media design at SWAP's mid-year show being held this Saturday, June 30, at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City. Show starts at 7 p.m., and it should be interesting with all the news that has happened so far in 2012...
Here is the flyer for this year's Spoken Word Almanac Project mid-year show, to be held at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City on Saturday, June 30, starting at 7 p.m. I have created visuals for about ten of the poems that will be performed that evening. Come check it out if you are in the area (it's a nice venue). $8 in advance, $10 at the door:
Photo from last year's SWAP mid=year show. Media design by your's truly. Photo courtesy SWAP. All rights reserved.
I spent the evening trying to wrap up the visuals for The Spoken Word Alman Project... almost there! Earlier in the day I heard an interesting take on the concept of poetry inspired by news and current events--it seems that each month NPR is airing a poet's take on the news of the day... now that's a challenge (the SWAPsters at least have three weeks to come up their monthly poems)! It's called NewsPoet, and the entry today is by Robert Pinksy, who served as the United States Poet Laureate from 1997-2000. Looking further back, I notice that they also have an entry from Kevin Young, who I had been hired to film last year at The Mount, writer Edith Wharton's estate in the Berkshires, where he did a special reading of his work. Poetry is an interesting art form... I wouldn't mind learning more about the structure... I am always drawn to rhythm, which is probably why I enjoy video editing so much.
Closer to home, my long-time friend Leslie emailed to let me know she had finished a poem of her own for Sarah and my wedding... looking forward to hearing that on our big day... I can only imagine!
I spent the day on the farm today, working on the Spoken Word Almanac Project poems I have committed to finishing for their mid-year show... It's a good thing I didn't agree to do all of it, because creating visuals for even just a handful of poems is taking longer than I expected... it may have something to do with the fact that I can't do something half-heartedly... when I'm being creative, I tend to pour all my soul into it... but I'm not getting so hung up on every last detail this time around... because I can't afford to spend the time. Keep it simple, soul boy.
Speaking of soul, there are a couple of interesting covers I heard today... One is Willie Nelson doing a version of the beautiful Coldplay song "The Scientist." Willie has such a vulnerability in his voice, and it's an interesting take on the tune... I first heard this in a Chipotle commercial, and was immediately drawn in (of course, the original is just a classic song):
After taking a couple mile run later in the day, I happened to hear this next song on the radio...I had no idea that Otis covered The Beatles! The man never disappointed... he was just in a class all his own:
It was a gorgeous spring day out today... but I was stuck inside by my computer. That can mean only one thing: yup... I have been busy creating visuals for The Spoken Word Almanac Project again.
Actually, I have budgeted my time fairly well this go-round. I have visuals for a good number of poems already gathered, so it should be an easy transition and completion in time for the New York City-based mid-year show next month. So yeah, while the sun was shining, and birds were chirping, I was busy watching footage of Rush Limbaugh insulting a college student, and Mitt Romney declaring his indifference to poor people... to make poetry out of these dissonant topics will be no small feat.
Google is my best friend when I am working on these shows. Basically I brainstorm possible visual ideas by combing through the Google Images database, and video elements through YouTube... it is hilarious what I have come up with at times (try it, any topic)! Other times I stumble upon something that is quite moving, thought-provoking or artistically done, like this video clip that was created to support the recent student protests over tuition hikes in Montreal, Quebec, and proposed law enforcement required before they take place:
Now that's what I call an effective protest.
After I have collected a number of suitable images for SWAP, I usually edit the works together in Final Cut, and then convert each individual clip into .mov files that we add a playlist that is run during the live show. I have been trying to get more abstract with my visuals, but for this show I am under a bit of a time constraint... so it is mostly straightforward visual representation. That doesn't mean that I am any less thoughtful in my construction of the clips, and still utilize my artistic insight in terms of the rhythm of the sequenced images, and effective storytelling structure that hopefully complements the spoken word.
For the Romney poem, I thought I had the killer ending visual... I had seen it going around: a photo of the Republican Presidential candidate seemingly staging a group of kids in t-shirts to spell out his name, but they mixed up the letters to read M-O-N-E-Y!
However after trying to find the source of the actual image, I now realize it was actually Photoshopped. It's still funny, but I think I'll hold off on using it... there are enough strange but true photos out there that are funny enough. Speaking of the real Mitt, I once "met" the former Governor of Massachusetts when he did a whirlwind tour of the Museum. It was strange... felt almost like a choreographed dance routine in and out the door... I think it was all over in about ten minutes.
By this evening, I was ready to dance myself. After a day of staring at the computer screen, I was happy to get out into the open air of the Hudson Valley countryside. Everything smells so fresh and looks so lush... a great time of year. From there, Sarah and I drove on to the Berkshires to take in a performance by the dance group Noche Flamenca. It was a dramatic performance, with live Spanish guitar and often spirited tap/flamenco dance routines. I only wish they had more colorful costuming to match the mood outdoors...
Tomorrow is Memorial Day, and we have quite a bit to do. One thing to add to our list: I would like to look into practicing some swing and/or ballroom dance again... it has been awhile, but it would be great to brush up on our moves in time for the wedding. Last night we went over some of the songs we are thinking about for the reception. Like everything, it takes some time... but I know a few "must-have" Blue-eyed Soul selections that should be there.
I've been feeling a bit of the "heat" this past week, so I decided to take the day off from the Museum today. It gave me a chance to catch a breath, save some cash from my hour-long commute, and do my "homework"... as Sarah puts it.
I started the day by working on some visuals for the Spoken Word Almanac Project's mid-year show... Trayvon Martin, freedom of speech, and Obama are just a few of the many topics being covered so far. Fortunately, the group has narrowed it down to a definite list of at least one poem by each artist that will be included in the show. This will help me to focus in the next week on laying something down before I need to hand it off to the show's producers to finish. Unfortunately I won't be able to join the group for the show that is scheduled to take place on June 30th... that's the day of my bachelor party, and I'm not sure I should even try and pre-visualize that!
Around noon I switched my attention to the wedding, and hit the town to visit a few tuxedo shops. Sarah was working, and I have to admit that I felt a little "lost" without her... I know what looks good, but it's hard to remember all the details regarding what will complement the bridal party... plus, it's just more fun to have her around. However, by the end of the day I stumbled upon a place that might just work in terms of outfitting me and my groomsmen. Sarah met me at the shop late in the day, and then we walked up to the road to grab a meal at one of our favorite Indian restaurants. An hour or so later it was off to the gym, and back home to watch the finale of Glee... the running theme of the day seemed to be about changes and style... maybe it's better to not stray to far from what works... classic with a modern twist.
On that note, here is a video my SWAP colleague Darian Dauchan just released today with his hip-hop group The Mighty Third Rail:
Ok, I'm on a tear this afternoon, using some of my old shelving and storage units to help organize our cohabitation. It's not even spring, but things are feeling good! I could keep going like this all day, but I probably should stop and get some of my other work in order.
Speaking of work, my buddy/poet Darian Dauchan will be performing his new piece Obamatry this afternoon at 1 p.m., at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City. The performance is what he calls a "spoken word remix," collecting many of the poems he has created, that document Obama's presidency. Adding to that mix, he will be using several of the "chiefly commanding" visuals I have created over the years for the Spoken Word Almanac Project, where I serve as multimedia designer. The afternoon event is free, but donations are being accepted for a Kickstarter campaign for Dauchan's hip hop poetry musical Death Boogie, which he is attempting to share with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. If you can't make today's performance, you should be able to stream it live at www.bowerypoetrylive.com
On a political note, I was watching Meet The Press this morning, and I swear it's a miracle that anything gets done in Washington. Some of the bantering is so petty, and this latest controversy over the funding of contraception by insurance companies is infuriating.I think Al Franken was spot on when he declared: "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot." Go ahead and have a public discourse, but keep your sexist comments out of it. Oh, I better get the visuals ready... I'm sure one of the SWAP poets has already started working on this one...
By George, it's Presidents Day! I have decided to "celebrate" by taking the day off to get some other work done. One item on the list is to look for a photographer for our wedding. I'm all about details, so the photographs that interest me most are those that can tell a complete story through even the most subtle expressions and composition.
One professional whose work I admire is Pete Souza, the official White House photographer. My stepfather sent me a link to this great slideshow of Souza's photographs documenting President Barack Obama during 2011.
President Barack Obama with Ruby Bridges in front of
Norman Rockwell's "The Problem We All Live With."
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza. All rights reserved.
For a President who has been criticized by some as being too distant or cool, these photos illustrate just the opposite (maybe it's the whole "introvert" challenge again). Through Souza's lens we receive a surprisingly intimate portrait of a man who comes across as a caring and involved leader. It can't be easy to capture such beautifully composed images in the life of such a busy person, but the photographer succeeds again and again--occasionally coming up with truly remarkable shots (the photo of the Obama family in front of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio is exceptional). I have frequently utilized Souza's photos in the media design I have created for the Spoken Word Almanac Project. SWAP founder/poet Darian Dauchan is busy working on a one-man show about Obama's presidency (so far), and will be using several of the multimedia displays I have created during his performance. More details to come. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to watching the new documentary on President Bill Clinton−another great leader of our time, despite his obvious flaws. Presented through the American Experience series, it premieres tonight on PBS:
I have been issued a creative assignment this week: to reinterpret the news. Whoa... didn't I just finish that with The Spoken Word Almanac Project (S.W.A.P.)? Well yes, but this is a different request. Thank God I keep up on the news... New Hampshire Republican Primaries? Nuclear threats in Iran? The high schooler whose photos are too sexy for her yearbook? And the week has only begun!... Things change so rapidly nowadays, and there are so many new, faster outlets from which to retrieve information. I still prefer my news the "old-fashioned way"- we're talking clear-headed, in-depth journalism that takes time to tell an accurate story. So here's to you, NPR and New York Times... it can't be easy to do what you do, and still attract new audiences in this "instant age."
Ok, while I get that thought around my head this evening, here's another collection of visuals I created for poems performed during S.W.A.P.'s December 17, 2011 year-end show, covering everything from protesters around the world; Superman giving up on his American citizenship; the uprising in Egypt, to the death of Gaddaffi. Not always an easy task or for the squeamish (and I'm not talking about Advocate of Wordz's Superman undies)! As they say, "viewer discretion is advised."
I had a great time in New York City yesterday. The Spoken Word Almanac Project (S.W.A.P.) 2011 encore show went over very well, and we performed in a beautiful theater called Wild Project. This venue had a different feel than the Nuyorican Poetry Cafe, where we had performed our year in review show last month. Both sites had their advantages-- The Nuyorican is a renowned poetry club, where the audience really responded to our work; and Wild Project was more of a theater setting, with stadium seats and a separate lobby area (the venue actually reminded me of the former Main Street Stage theater in North Adams, Massachusetts, where I had performed over the last ten years as a company member).
Wild Project also had a huge back wall, where we projected my visuals. They looked great-- particularly the Debt Ceiling piece performed by poet Advocate of Wordz. For this poem, I chose to run footage I had shot of the debt clock in Manhattan. It was a more simple, "abstract" visual, and I find myself wanting to move more in this direction, when possible.
After our tech rehearsal in the morning, I had some time to kill before picking up Sarah at Grand Central Station. I decided to run over to The Museum of Modern Art and have a quick look at their latest offerings and permanent collection. The Diego Rivera show was interesting, and I also enjoyed looking at some of the Pop Art on display. I think this was the first time I had been back to the museum since their renovation, and the place really looks great. I even stumbled upon a unique video presentation-- it looked as if it was documenting an artist's day on dozens of screens lining the gallery space. I'll have to look more into it. As I said, this was a quick trip to get inspired, and I was happy for the reciprocal program between my museum and others, which lets me take in such things for free.
It was fun to do the show again after a couple weeks off. I spent some time talking with the producers about the next steps for 2012, and enjoyed hanging out with the performers after the show. Sarah and I got back to the Hudson Valley very late, and so today has been a rather sleepy, laid-back day-- perfect for watching movies.
On that note, here is a film-related clip from the December 17th S.W.A.P. performance at the Nuyorican. In 2011, filmmaker George Lucas once again updated his original Star Wars trilogy with enhanced computer generated imagery. Now, a lot of us were greatly inspired by these films growing up, and take great exception to their need to be updated... including yours' truly! I have a lot of problems with CGI in general-- it is so overused, and really distracts from the moviegoing experience, in terms of story and quality. Bring me back to the innovative days of the 70s/80s where such incredible sci-fi films had an organic quality, and just as much care has been put into their story!
The "Open Letter to George Lucas" poem, co-written by S.W.A.P. poets Adam "ShadoKat" Bowser, Justin Woo, and Caroline Rothstein, was a lot of fun to work on. I found some fun images, including a cryogenically frozen George Lucas-- take that! I hope he soon learns that we don't need his "excessive use of Force" (pun intended), and would like our childhood inspirations kept intact.
The poem following this is by the talented Scott Raven Tarazevits, and deals with a recent trip he took to Ireland to shoot an infomercial for the country's Tourism Bureau. As he filmed a scene about the local cuisine, where the producers had laid out an unnecessarily gluttonous feast, he opened the newspaper to find a story about the ongoing famine problem in Somalia. A little different in tone from the Star Wars piece, obviously, but just as interesting. We actually updated this one for the encore show, including a few personal photos from Scott's trip to make it more clear.
So, that's a wrap for another year of S.W.A.P. I once again enjoyed my time being a part of the artistic scene in New York City.
Speaking of Adam "ShadoKat" Bowser, here is a poem he created for the Spoken Word Almanac Project (S.W.A.P.) on the topic of gun control. It was actually written in response to the news of the assassination attempt of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, representative of Arizona, back in January 2011. The tragic shooting actually happened a year ago to this day... so it shows just how early the poets start their work.
This poem made it into the year-end show--and for good reason. It has all the elements of the best S.W.A.P. pieces, which I described in the previous post. An emotional response from the audience, and for the poet--equally invested.
The process starts like this: first the poet chooses a news story each month. From there, they write the poem, eventually sharing it at a monthly meeting of the entire group. In this early stage, I start to think about visuals that might accompany the piece, and wrap my head around not only the story, but also the idea/tone the poet is trying to convey.
I like Adam's delivery: it gets more intense, more heightened as the poem goes along. I responded by making the imagery more and more alarming, and the cuts a little more frantic. I thought this one really captured the feeling of an idea gradually unravelling--losing control.
As good as this piece was, there are only so many works that can be included in the final show. It was decided to switch this out for the encore performance, so that Adam could have a chance to deliver his poem about Troy Davis (see last post). I am reminded of my years working in TV news, where the stories prepared for a live broadcast would sometimes get shuffled around last minute--or a new story would need to get cut. I have memories of frantically running back and forth from the studio to the editing room to facilitate such requests. Thankfully, things aren't quite that "last minute" with S.W.A.P., but we all need to be on our toes. That is the exciting thing about the live performance--I have experienced it on the stage as a performer, and here, behind the scenes as S.W.A.P.'s media designer.
Well, I have a train to catch--see you tonight in NYC!
Details:
The Spoken Word Almanac Project 2011 Encore Show
Friday, January 7, 2011, 9 p.m.
I'm getting ready to take part in the encore performance of The Spoken Word Almanac Project's 2011 Year In Review show, that will be taking place at The Wild Project in New York City tomorrow, January 6, starting at 9 p.m. There has been one last addition-- a poem written about Troy Davis, the man who was executed this past year after a long drawn-out fight to determine his innocence. This is one of the interesting photos I have found during my research, and I'll be using it as part of the visuals I have collected to accompany the poem (created and read by the talented spoken word artist Adam "ShadoKat" Bowser). It's an intense poem, guaranteed to stir up some emotions, and at its best, that is what S.W.A.P. is all about.
For the record, I am against the death penalty. I feel it is a flawed tool used to exact revenge in the name of "justice." I think I actually had my mind made up by art. When I first moved out to the Hudson Valley, I volunteered at the innovative community arts organization Time & Space Limited. Based in Hudson, New York (where I currently reside, and my family is from), the company offers a mix of the arts, theater, community activism, and a progressive forum for discourse. Their 2000 exhibition Condemned dealt with Sing Sing's death row, and included mug shots of some 130 people who were executed at the Ossining, New York correctional facility, along with copies of their final letters, autopsy reports, menu for a last meal, and other memorabilia-- it was quite striking and alarming. According to The New York Times, "between 1891 and 1963, the year of the last legal execution in New York State, more people -- 614 -- were executed at Sing Sing than at any other prison." In very simple yet bold design, the exhibition showed how many death row inmates were falsely accused and sentenced, with proof of their innocence showing up after it was too late. Read The New York Times' June 21, 2000 review of the exhibition here.
I hope that the multimedia I create to accompany the S.W.A.P. poets' work might achieve the same result-- make the audience think, and above all feel for the subject matter. It is the personal that interests me, and it is a beautiful thing to be able to use your creativity in a way that contributes to the greater good of humanity-- no matter how small.
Learn more about the Poetic License festival and buy tickets to the S.W.A.P. encore at: www.poetictheater.com (friends, please use the "SWAP10" discount code to receive special $10 tickets)
The Occupy Wall Street (and #everywhere else) movements
...2011 was some crazy year, huh?
Imagine trying to turn the year's top headlines into poetry. That is what The Spoken Word Almanac Project (S.W.A.P.) is all about. This group of New York City-based poets sets out each year to come up with their own insightful observations about the stories everyone is talking about. The group then selects the best of these poems to perform in front of a live audience, with visual support from yours' truly.
For the last couple years I have been working as S.W.A.P.'s official media designer. It is my job to create visuals to accompany each poet's words, so in a sense I am interpreting their interpretation. Ironically, I worked in TV news for several years as a cameraman and editor... but this is a whole new ball game. I like to think of S.W.A.P. as the news on acid... or antacid!
Starting in January, I listen to and read each poets' submissions, and then start brainstorming on a possible visual concept. Then, I start searching for existing still photos and video footage. Let me say that Google Images has become my new best friend-- it is sometimes amazing (and ridiculous) what you will find just by searching for a word like "gun rights." Depending on the tone and pacing of the poem, I might choose to use very literal images to match the words... sometimes I find myself steering visuals into a more abstract realm. Other times, I head out to film my own video, or take my own photos. It has been a fun and challenging exercise for me, and I certainly don't look at these news stories in the same way (hopefully, neither does the audience).
We just performed three high-energy and well-attended shows at New York's Nuyorican Poetry Club last month. I saw "we" because I was right there working alongside the poets-- not literally on the stage, but from behind-the-scenes, running the visuals in time with each poet's performance. What fun to be back working in live theater... a little different this time, since I am used to being the one performing. I do think there is some element of performance in running the visuals though-- like a musician, I try to respond to the rhythm of each piece... like an actor, I try to hit my marks and respond to the lines. Over the course of several performances, I might decide to run the visuals at different times, or switch things up completely... that is part of the fun of learning how to interact with what is unfolding.
S.W.A.P. is presenting an encore performance of its year-end show this Friday, January 6, at Wild Project, 195 East 3rd Street, New York City, starting at 9 p.m. The show is being presented as part of Poetic License, a larger festival promoting social justice through spoken word, hip hop, and slam poetry. If you are in the area, I encourage you to come check us out-- including all the topics listed at the top of this blog posting (and more), this year's show is funny, sometimes dramatic, and always entertaining. Please stop by and say hello... and let me know what you think!
Purchase tickets to S.W.A.P., and other shows featured in this year's Poetic Theater Festival at www.poetictheater.com
Here's a video of S.W.A.P. founder Darian Dauchan performing "She's Just Not That Into You" at the July 2010 show. Visuals courtesy of yours truly (with thanks to Pete Souza and the other talented White House photographers!).
