MINICONCEPTDOC #23: CRASS

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I'm happy. I got to talk about one of my favorite activities: reading comics. And, I got to shoot this MCD on a twenty year old VHS camcorder!

With CRASS, I was trying to talk about it as a label for comics, but I was also trying to create an unrefined or crass look to the video. I think I achieved it in these ghostly images you see are about to witness. Right?

It's a static shot that lasts about sixteen minutes... Which is how long it took to read this particular issue of Amazing Spider-Man. For the sake of the audience's attention span, I sped the footage up to contain it under three minutes.

It's kind of amusing to play it back and look at all my strange habits, ticks, movements. In high speed it really accentuates the small things, or better, puts one's behaviors under a microscope. Apparently I like to choke myself while I read comics. Who knew?



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MINICONCEPTDOC #22: HOODWINK

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So, I wasn't exactly sure what Sunday's MCD was going to be. But once again, an open mind, serendipity, and spontaneity prove valuable in this project.

I won't explain too much about where this MCD is coming from, or how it came to be... The short answers those questions.

What I will say is, I didn't know the national treasure we had stumbled upon until I got home and did a little research on Sonny Holliday, the star of this short doc.

Sonny Holliday is a busker, also known as a street performer. He's saucy and a bit cantankerous. A true original to say the least.

I only wish I could have filmed him more... Though my negligence prevented that.

You can read more about Sonny on his All About Magicians Profile: Sonny's Profile and Biography.

You can also meet a network with him at these two well-known social network sites:

Sonny on FACEBOOK.

Sonny on MYSPACE.

Thanks to Pete for his assistance and invaluable encouragement... which was extermemly helpful in my post-film mishap depression.

For now... Let the magic begin:



LARGER VERSION AVAILABLE AT MINICONCEPTDOCS CHANNEL, HERE

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MINICONCEPTDOC #21: DISORIENTED

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Here is an example of a happy accident. I went into this situation looking to create another MINICONCEPTDOC, but as my journey stretched, I realized it was morphing into another MCD word that I had in the bag... So I seized the moment.

This is also a testament to finding things when you aren't looking, memory, dream, and wonder. How it is all these things... You decide.

Get lost:



LARGER VERSION AVAILABLE AT MINICONCEPTDOCS CHANNEL, HERE

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MINICONCEPTDOC #20: HA

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This is my 20th Anniversary!! Congratulations welcomed people... gifts as well... Only 32 more and I have reached my goal: I will have enough MCD's to equal a feature length movie, or, enough for people to watch one a week for a whole year! And I made it in half the time!

This Sunday's post should have been a Sunday post about three weeks ago! It is, to date, the only abandoned MCD... It was replaced by BALK. Though, I did return to it and finish it, so I feel good about that.

However, I couldn't get it to "do" what I wanted it to "do".

So after returning to it with a new perspective and more patience, I think I like what I finally have here.

Thanks to Jesse for supplying the funny ha-ha, and our studio audience, which probably provided the heartier laughs, at the expense of Rob no less!

Asking you laugh, or not, is HA:




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MINICONCEPTDOC #19: MAKE-OUT

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Well... I could have gone in a completely different direction here. I have no problem with capturing gritty reality. In fact, I prefer it.

However, as I was cruising around doing some location scouting for another MINICONCEPTDOC I saw something that struck me like a lightning bolt!

The current fad of adorning "house for sale signs" with balloons adds a nice splash of color and whimsy to the suburban landscape.

As I watched these balloons flail about, they began to form the dance of two lovers furiously making-out. Depending on the wind factor, the couple would slowly peck, or brush each others cheek before exploding into the wildest of kisses!

Watch them closely and imagine the faces of two lovers, coming together, grasping at every moment they have in each others presence... to connect.

Once again, this was shot entirely on my cell phone.

Find your partner... MAKE-OUT:



LARGER VERSION AVAILABLE AT MINICONCEPTDOCS CHANNEL, HERE

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MINICONCEPTDOC #18: FLOAT

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Here we have another small piece of New Jersey history.

I've been thinking about a project on the history of Lakehurst's airfield and the airship's legacy in NJ.

This small piece could easily be a full length. The approaches seem limitless. Here, I've only looked at two German airships visits to the Garden State. I haven't even scratched the surface of the U.S.'s own airship program.

Perhaps in the near future... I did meet two people from the station at Lakehurst at my last DeLuxe screening and they invited me to an open house at the airfield in May! I'm stoked!

Today's MCD would be nothing without the absolutely perfect music of Theo Langason. His last two pieces have thoroughly inspired and influenced the tone of my last two MCD's. Best part... I haven't even gotten to the hot beats yet!

Listen for those soon!

Now, I present, FLOAT:



LARGER VERSION AVAILABLE AT MINICONCEPTDOCS CHANNEL, HERE
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MINICONCEPTDOC #17: GROUND-LEVEL

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Today's MCD is my first micro-documentary for the series. It's about half a minute!

However, despite it's shortcomings, I am very fond of this little guy/gal.

I had GROUND-LEVEL in my word list and I was contemplating what to do.

As often happens, inspiration came during a daydream moment:

I was taking a break from working on a play I am doing video projections for, so I decided to get a sandwich and eat it at a nearby park. While I was eating and listening to Have One On Me, I spaced out while staring at the grass and the tall weeds blowing within it. Right then it occurred to me what to film... Unfortunately I had no camera... And let me tell you I try to be prepared at all times: I keep a flip camera in my bag with me. However, I left said bag in my office.

Hmm... what to do? Yes! We live in the 21st century, where all devices are equipped to receive and produce media. I had my cell phone!

I took that cell phone and put it at ground level in the hopes of gaining some new perspective.

Upon viewing the terse clip, I feel it sums up my mood in those spaced out moments leading up to filming. Yes, it depicts how I was feeling exactly.

Then, as luck would have it, Theo Langason gave me a WHOLE disc of his music the day before. As I scanned the tracks, one proved to capture my mood just as the video had.

I think they make a perfect pairing, and I hope you think the same.

So, if you want to see how I as feeling at about 6:30 yesterday, just watch this:



LARGER VERSION AVAILABLE AT MINICONCEPTDOCS CHANNEL, HERE

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MINICONCEPTDOC #16: CRANK

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This Sunday's MCD is an Easter holiday treat!

It's also another homage to a forgotten medium.

Here we have a fine specimen. A Victor-Victrola owned by my bothers Kevin and Steve. Watch as the family gathers around the hearth for a delightful tune and good conversation.

Please, join us in song at 78 rotations per minute:



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