MINICONCEPTDOC #41: UNCONSCIONABLE

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If there's one thing that gets my goat, it abandoned corporate structures. It's downright pollution. ESPECIALLY, when a previous structure is torn down, replaced by some template of a chain store, then abandoned because it didn't "perform" well.

The most sickening and egregious case of all, and to see it now still makes me nauseous, is the raizing of the New Century Theater in Audubon. Even after its days of the flickers, it housed Capas Costumes... But all that was stripped for a drug store... WHICH LASTED TWO YEARS! I suppose it couldn't compete with the drugstore DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET! What is wrong with us, America?





Read more about the Century at Cinema Treasures: http://cinematreasures.org/theater/4610/

Again, the same fate befell the Harwan Theater in Mt. Ephraim.





Read more about the Harwan at Cinema Treasures: http://cinematreasures.org/theater/6080/

Well, today's MCD is a similar story. Unique in its own way... Still pollution...

Still UNCONSCIONABLE:



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MINICONCEPTDOC #40: FREQUENCY

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It was Michael and Megahn's wedding last night! So, why not continue to keep Michael in the spotlight he has tried oh so hard to avoid all his life.

So, today's MCD stars MTB.

Here we see Michael masterfully manipulate the famed and mystical Cracklebox. It's inventor, Michel Waisvisz, passed away a short while ago, but STEIM continues to produce the device. Though, they are always on back-order and difficult to acquire, so this video may be your closest brush with the startling sound box!

Read more about STEIM, Waisvisz, and the Cracklebox at the links below.

http://www.steim.org/steim/
http://www.crackle.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Waisvisz



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MINICONCEPTDOC #39: ZILCH

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MINICONCEPTDOC #38: OFFSHORE

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Sandy Hook. Great Place.

Oh yeah,,,, There's a nude beach there. Me and Carmine stumbled on to it. There was a volleyball match in session. Nuff said.

This is another historical short doc.

I think I took a bit of a circuitous route to get to the theme OFFSHORE, it's just how it happened. I got sucked into the back-story. But, the clincher is a totally bizarre footnote in NJ history.

If you thought the Yankees over Phils World Series win was bad, wait until you see what they did in the 30's.



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MINICONCEPTDOC #37: NEWFANGLED

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Basically, we all need help, right?

This was the promise of mid-century America. The 20th century, that is...

The future, the brilliance of humanity will bring us that help, and life, life will be one of ease and comfort.

That's what this MCD is about.

Also, I was able to use a brilliant new resource available to documentary filmmakers!

Check out the inventions of the future now:



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MINICONCEPTDOC #36: SOUL

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This was a difficult week. First the botched Wednesday MCD, caused by the brain-slip, then today's short doc which proved a challenge.

I am not sure how effectively I communicated what I am trying to transmit here, and I can say that I don't think I was able to fully put what is in my mind on the screen.

A lot of the narration comes from my dissertation.

In fact, in the opening clip, where I am writing the short's narration, you can see the selections that I cut straight from photocopied pages of my book.

After re-reading and re-reading, I think I could have done both the dissertation, and this short better.

Damn you time. Damn you for knocking at our doors and even if we refuse to answer letting yourself in. Go away. I'm working, and I don't need you to rob me of my concentration!

Indeed, you win again Madame Clock, and here is your SOUL:



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MINICONCEPTDOC #35: DAMAGE

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This may be hard to believe, but I was so busy yesterday, and was concentrating, researching, and writing for Sunday's MINICONCEPTDOC, that I completely forgot to make one for Wednesday!

Yesterday I was with Mimi in the day, then at night I had a screening for my film Goodwill: The Flight of Emilio Carranza. It screened to a very nice audience in Tabernacle. Despite the weather it was a wonderful turnout.

After the film I received what I consider the highest complement I have ever been given. During the "Director Q & A Period" a gentlemen remarked that I had made the film with "such integrity". With all that went into making Goodwill, that means a lot to me.

As a documentary filmmaker I am constantly asking myself the most important ethical questions that are necessary to creating meaningful, soulful work.

Today's MCD is asking some of those questions. It's something I go through every time I point my lens at something or someone.



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Third Practice/Second Attempt at Second Jam/Lights

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(L to R: Kent, Pete, Justin, Phil, Bobby)

Here we are, our third practice, working on a song. We needed inspiration, hence the lights.

We don't have a name yet, but I've taken to calling us "Rough People". Though, it hasn't stuck with anyone else yet. They just ignore me.

Here is a song jam. It is tentatively called, MICHAEL:



Here is some inspiration:


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MINICONCEPTDOC #34: FIASCO

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The ongoing oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico has been on all our minds.

There's a whole lot of finger-pointing, and not much effective problem-solving. I don't have the answers, and I'm not bringing anything new to the table with this MINICONCEPTDOC.

I do, though, hope it's obvious what I am doing with the language... Admitting arrogance, naivete, and unpreparedness, and in these, I hope wisdom is gained.



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MINICONCEPTDOC #33: INCOMPLETE

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I am not going to say much here. Draw your own conclusions. What I will say is, I really enjoyed creating and playing this song. Quite frankly, I think it rocked.

The recording of this began in January 2010.

Maybe in the future this song will be posted to this blog in its completed form... but for now, and most likely for always, it will remain incomplete:



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