Monday, August 31, 2009

Pacific X-Change Participants

I just got back yesterday from Oahu. I was there for three days for a filmmaker conference, and I met a lot of cool people. I have another blog entry that is being posted on the ITVS website about the conference itself, which is reposted below. But I thought it would be good to showcase some of the other filmmakers that I met while I was over there because there is absolutely a budding community of filmmakers all throughout Polynesia, which is very exciting for me to see. Here are just a few:



Jacob Holcomb - lives on Oahu and is currently working on a documentary about the revitalization of the art of Tongan Tatooing. I also got to see the vampire film that he made. It was an official selection of the 2008 Louis Vuitton Hawai‘i International Film Festival. He is working on making the feature. You can see the trailer and more at: www.hawaiivampire.com



Keoni Kealoha Alavarez - is from Pahoa, Hawai‘i his current project is about Hawaiian burial grounds. You can learn more about his productions here: www.hawaiianislandproductions.org

Sunday, August 30, 2009

The Pacific X-Change ITVS blog entry

Below is a little taste of the article I wrote for the ITVS blog. If you would like to see the entire thing and leave a comment that is great. Just go to the ITVS blog Beyond the Box.

Monday, August 17, 2009

The Jump Project goes to Amsterdam



It is so satisfying to look around and see the great work that friends are doing. My friend Leyla Rosario is an amazing photographer originally from the South Bronx. She has so so many awesome projects happening. Here is just one. This video is about her recent trip to Amsterdam for her first international exhibition. For her photo project called The Jump Project

You can also see the rest of her photo work at: http://www.ltrphoto.com/

Luv ya lady!

Here are a few images from her project:






Thursday, August 13, 2009

Future Tense on VIMBY



I think you can tell from this video I had so much fun with these guys. I love riding in the back of trucks and shooting. I am not a track stand expert or anything but Allender is amazing. Thanks so much to Zach of www.zlogblog.com and Ryan of www.gomeansgo.org for working so hard to put the whole thing together, and thanks for the beer Maiki.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Blogging for ITVS



I will be attending and blogging about the ITVS Pacific X-Change conference in Honolulu, Hi from August 27th - 30th. More to come about that.

Green Filmmaking Resources

Filmmaking is hectic. Because of this it is also wasteful. The sight of hundreds of plastic water bottles all getting thrown into the garbage has always bothered me. Along with all the styrofoam plates from crafty, wasted food, and miscellaneous plastic, wood, metal and other junk from the art department I have seen some mountainous heaps of waste created in the wake of movie magic.

I understand that especially a low budget filmmaker is always trying to do everything cheaper and faster. But if we start making small changes and becoming aware of places we are wasteful on set and taking small manageable steps toward making less environmental impact while we work it is a good beginning. Most other industries are being required to make changes in their environmental practices. The film industry really shouldn't be any different. Here are a few suggestions and resources from the California Film Commission.

You can also find more suggestions at their website: www.film.ca.gov/greenfilmmaking



GREEN TIPS FOR FILMMAKERS

Catering and Crafty

- use bio-degradeable plates and utensils made from corn
- use prominently displayed recycling bins
- label garbage cans "landfill" so people will think twice
- donate leftover food to an organization like Angel Harvest (Don't worry you are covered by the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act)

Set Construction

- use-reusable building materials such as metals
- donate materials such as furnishing, hardware, lumber, and appliances after the shoot to Habitat for Humanity

Monday, August 3, 2009

Make Sick Shoes: How to Customize Shoes



This is a video that I made for my friend Louie Gong. He is an artist and activist of mixed heritage living in Seattle, WA.

You can see more about him and his customized shoes at his website www.eighthgeneration.com

Join his Facebook Fanpage here

Most of the designs that Louie makes are in the 1st Nation style of the Coast Salish cultural group, but he does draw inspiration from all types of art including Northwest Coast Art, and graffiti. I am pretty excited to be getting my own custom pair of hummingbird design Van's in the next couple of weeks!