Rejuvenation :: Blom & Blom

January 23, 2015April 4, 2016Leave a comment

I love finding new uses for old items laying around the house. I can’t say that I’m overly skilled at making things look seamlessly renewed (usually they have a “handmade look”) but I like to know that I’m not giving up on something that has plenty of life still in it. For instance, my old doll house now houses books and my grandpa’s old army trunk is acts as my coffee table. Family relics repurposed that house old memories of times gone by.

One thing I don’t dabble in reusing (usually) is anything that needs electrical repairs. Not knowing how to repair lamps etc. is a little off putting. However, the gentlemen at Blom&Blom have found just the way to do it:

iGNANT

I love the history of each part that the gentlemen at Blom&Blom use in their creations. The history of Eastern Germany always seems a little bleak, or at least during the years of communist rule, but the fact that these lights can be made into something original yet practical just proves that anything, however old or seemingly mundane can be made into something beautiful.

Rejuvenation :: Controlled Chaos

January 16, 2015April 4, 2016Leave a comment

It’s been ten days since I got back to work, and I’m finally getting back into the swing of things. And… I’m ready for vacation again. It’s not that I don’t like what I’m doing right now, but it’s that the routine hasn’t changed much and I’m ready for a new one.

These last ten days have felt a bit chaotic, even if it was only a mental chaos, but now I feel like I’m back in control again. In other words, controlled chaos – like in this video:

MP Cunningham

I feel like this video is the perfect metaphor for what most of us go through while working in a creative industry. I often feel like I’m drowning or that I’m never going to make it, but every once in a while something happens, like when the photographer makes $25 for one photo and feels like he has finally made it. I have that feeling every once in a while. Now I’m waiting for that next fleeting moment when I can tell myself that I’m actually doing ok and that this decision to work in this industry is not a huge mistake. Those little moments make it all worth it and I’m sure another one will come when I least expect it. Those moments are rejuvenating enough to make me work for the next one.

So even if I’m not feeling completely sure of what I’m doing, it’s reassuring to know that everyone seems to go through this in life. I seem to be right on schedule.

Rejuvenation :: Ballet & Robots

January 9, 2015April 4, 2016Leave a comment

I’ve been working more on the editing side of things that last few months and so I tend to notice the camera work more than ever lately. Some can seem kind of… well, still. I like the kind of camera work that includes motion and unfortunately, includes using a dolly and or a jib arm or if the director is really lucky, some sort of drone with a camera attached. Let’s be honest, all of this equipment does’t come cheap and therefore, it’s not unusual for smaller productions to forego the extras. At least I know I’ve had to several times.

So as I was perusing new videos on my feed a while ago, I came across this one:

Da Rimini Film

One I like going to the ballet, even if that happens only once every few years and two, this had an interesting aspect of the camera moving with the dancers to add a whole new element for those in the audience. What would it be like if we did this more often on our shoots? Of course, this is all possible with the help of CGI and other special effects, but I mean for those of us without the millions of dollars poured into our productions. I’m not expecting this to be used in any of my upcoming projects, but it’s an interesting thought. It’s a completely new take on how we use the camera as a part of the story telling process.

And so that you can see what happens when the camera moves with the dancers… et voila!

Cheers! to a New Year

January 2, 2015December 23, 2014Leave a comment

New-year-2015-snow

I hope everyone has survived the holidays and for some of us, we still have a ways to go before we end our holiday season. It’s almost all over though and once again it’s time to put the nose the grindstone.

I can’t believe that my little hiatus from work is already over, but I’m actually feeling rejuvenated from the time away from my desk and ready for action. Well, at least as ready as I’ll ever feel. Getting started again is always the hardest part but lots will be starting up in the next few days, so I better prepare myself before the starting gun fires and it’s time to start up the race. Again. I already have several meetings on my calendar for next week and that is only the beginning.

The specifics are not quite ready for announcing yet, but in the next few weeks I hope to share a little more about what is coming down the pike. For now, I leave you with this month’s theme – Rejuvenation. You probably figured that out already with the new year and all, but just in case you hadn’t.

Here’s to the year ahead! Cheers!

Ohana :: Family Feast

December 19, 2014April 4, 2016Leave a comment

What’s my favorite part about the holidays? Well, if you haven’t figured it out yet, it’s about being with loved ones. Decorations from the great out doors (I love the smell of fir trees) and hot cups of peppermint tea are also pretty awesome, so of course, this video jumped out at me straight away:

Kinfolk

I love the simplicity of this video. It’s short, sweet, gets the message across and it gives me a calming feeling even with all of the hubbub of the festivities happening practically every day right now. As much fun as all of the parties and last minute shopping is (or isn’t) my favorite time of the day is sitting down with a good book next to the fire and letting the calm wash over me.

I wish you all a relaxed and enjoyable rest of the the year. I myself am checking out for the next few weeks and will return in January – yes, I’m actually taking some time off. Until then, Happy Holidays!

Ohana :: On Ice

December 12, 2014April 4, 2016Leave a comment

It always amazes me where we find our families, biological or otherwise, even if it’s only for a few hours a week, a week here and there, or everyday. One such place for me has been with my teammates.

Teammates is a very broad term as I’ve found “family” with teams of people that I have worked with (even if the project is a short one), on a sports team or with people at school. I don’t always keep in touch with all of them, usually those that are most important to me, but the memories of those times with them have a special place in my heart.

Tony Franklin

I love this film because of the ebb and flow of the family unit. They accept new members and lose others but for one day a week, they are a family even if they don’t know each other’s names. That’s the cool thing about family – there are some things that just don’t matter.

Ohana :: Roots

December 5, 2014November 20, 2014Leave a comment

Our roots are sometimes buried so deep that we don’t always realize that they are there even if they are an integral part of who we are. The little clues that we get from remnant notes and family heirlooms can help us discover those unknown roots and sometimes reveal something about our family’s past that we would have never known. Sometimes, it sharing a special place or a special relic. And sometimes it brings us closer to knowing ourselves a little bit better.

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/107815949 w=640&h=360]

Free People

I love this video, even if it’s for a clothing company, because it reminds me that there is so much to our pasts that we may never know, but there are always little clues that guide us through life.

The holidays always seem to bring out some family memories (the good and the bad) but I hope that this year brings only the good ones.

It’s what month?

December 1, 2014November 23, 2014Leave a comment

Somehow, and I’m not quite sure how, it’s already December. I’m pretty sure I’ve been in a fog the last few months, I’m finally coming too and I can’t quite figure out how it’s time to start wrapping up the year. Now that I’ve survived making Thanksgiving dinner for 15 people and I’m working ridiculously long hours – for which I am very grateful for even if I am feeling very sleep deprived, I’m very excited that it’s finally December.

I’m usually not a big fan of the holidays season because of the holidays themselves (sorry, not trying to sound like the Grinch, but the holidays usually include a lot of stress). In fact I could probably skip them all together except for the fact that it signifies a time when I feel like no matter what, I can take some time off. This year, that means seeing my family for several weeks and believe it or not, I am elated. So many avoid their parents like the plague. I on the other hand can’t wait to see mine. No work and having mom and dad pamper me for a few weeks sounds heavenly right now.

Plus, this is the first year in a long time that I’m excited about the idea of decorating the Christmas tree, baking cookies and wrapping presents. It must be that holiday air… and that I’m pretty excited about the gifts that I’m slowly collecting to give to my favorite people.

Like last year, I’m dedicating this month to:

I know it’s cliche but to me, this is the best part of the holidays. So wherever you are and whatever your beliefs, I hope you can take some time now that we are wrapping up yet another year, and appreciate the relationships that we have with those we call family.

Goodwill :: Feed the World

November 28, 2014April 4, 2016Leave a comment

If you live in the U.S. or are an American expatriate, or just happen to like celebrating the American holiday Thanksgiving, you are probably recovering from your turkey coma and now gearing up for the December holidays. Then there are those of you who have been up since all night to sit in line for all the Black Friday sales. All I can say is that: You. Are. Brave.

Me? Well I’m recovering from making dinner for 15 people and will probably catch a movie or some other activity with the family members who are still in town. To put it lightly, I’m rather exhausted. I am feeling grateful for all that has happened this year- the good and the bad and not just because this is the time of year when we are supposed to remember to

But mostly because it really has been a good year, even with the lulls in my work schedule. Now it seems like I’m going to end the year with plenty to do and I’m trying to psych myself up for it. December, here I come!

One last thought on this month’s theme of “goodwill”: It’s so easy to forget about the less fortunate at this time of year. We get caught up in the hubbub of buying gifts and magnificent feasts – all with the people we love, or don’t love in some cases. But we don’t always remember the people in the rest of the world that are stuck in terrible circumstances and that have no way out of it unless we help them from wherever we are.

The New York Times – Video

So thank you to people like Bob and other celebrities who yield their fame for the greater good and not just to make themselves wealthier.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone – wherever you are, and may we always be grateful for what we have.

Goodwill :: Making Charity Beautiful

November 21, 2014April 4, 2016Leave a comment

If you went to the kind of schools that I went to, giving your time back to the community was always a big deal . We had to log a number of hours each semester just to graduate from my high school and in college, many of my PR class projects were for non-profits. Usually this was in the form of creating promotional pieces in print or video form and the most we got out of it was a grade and the simple satisfaction that we helped someone else.

After years of volunteering at soup kitchens and fundraising for cancer research, the hard truth of charity can come through and make things look a little drab at times. Because lets face it – charity makes you take a hard look at what is not quite right with the world and trying to change that is often messy. I know that it’s worth it in the end to help those less fortunate than yourself, but just for once it would be nice for it to look nice too.

And that’s what Michael does – he makes charity beautiful:

Cory J Pop

I realize that this is my admiration for designers coming out again, but this is something rare that as someone in the creative industry, it’s nice to see beauty and charity coming together. I only wish that my work space looked as nice as Michael’s! Something to aspire to, right?

And with that, I’m off to start prepping for Thanksgiving as I’ve been put in charge of cooking this year. How did that happen? Stories of dried out turkey and a messy kitchen most like due for next week. Wish me luck!

emfirno

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