Stephanie Augello

A Day in the Life

2011-08-11T10:55:00.001-07:00

To view my resume and online portfolio, go to: www.krop.com/stephanieaugello

While living in Savannah, GA, I spent time contributing to local website NewYorkisBoring.com as a music photographer and writer. Even after leaving the city to return home to NY, I kept on working with the site. Below are a series of links to the articles I've played a part in creating. They are in chronological order, from newest to oldest. Enjoy!

Yet We Are the Movers & Shakers of the World, Forever, It Seems

Tales of "Sad Bastards" & Other Showmen

The Northern Invasion

Jamison Murphy: Born to Perform

A Day with Oryx & Crake (and then some)

Give Us Your Tour!

Oryx & Crake: 9 Pieces of Margaret Atwood

Halloween Photo Roundup

Wednesday Photo Roundup: 10/27/10

Wednesday Photo Roundup: 10/20/10
Dare Dukes: Evidence of an Underground

Slingshot Via Savannah: The Sleeping Wake Here

"Bird" Music Video Shoot: Day 2

A Lil' Venture with General O

Fitzsimmons & Golan @ Wormhole

Mobbing the Midnight Hour

Robot Love Conquers All

Hope for Youth Benefit

2011-05-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

This Friday, May 13th, is...well...it's Friday the 13th. Yes, yes, I think of a masked Jason Voorhees and Camp Crystal Lake too. Pop culture has infiltrated my soul. Before I get to the point of this post, I will take a moment to grace you with some interesting information about this presumably inauspicious day, brought to you by our friends at Wikipedia. The fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia, which in and of itself, is a pretty interesting word. Also, there is no written evidence regarding the negative superstitions associated with Friday the 13th prior to the 19th C. That wasn't that long ago. So, that being understood, we will carry on perceiving this as simply Friday, May 13th, when Mr. Beery's in Bethpage will be holding a benefit show for Hope for Youth from 8PM-2AM. The line-up will include my summer, All New Episode, Riot Punch, The Kid Henry, AfroDJMac (who creates quite the dance party), Glen and the Boys and Vision Through Sound.

According to the show's Facebook.com invitation, the goal of Friday's event is to "reunite families, by providing services from parenting skills, to financial help and much more."With administrative offices based in Amityville, Hope for Youth has been "serving the children and families of Long Island since 1969." It was then that Judge Elizabeth Bass Golding of the Nassau County Family Court created "a group home program for adolescent boys." Hfhy.org also states that "Judge Golding envisioned a community based alternative for Nassau County youth placed in residential treatment centers, but capable of living in the community with appropriate supports." Currently, Hope for Youth offers "7 residential facilities, over 50 foster homes and 130 staff" members. They sustain contractual relationships with agencies throughout both Nassau and Suffolk counties, and accept referrals from those such institutions listed on their website. In addition, Hope for Youth provides diagnostic and emergency services, a therapeutic group home program, foster care and outpatient/preventive services.
May 13th will not be the 1st time Mr. Beery's has hosted a fundraising program. The popular watering hole has a history of contributing to the greater good of the Long Island community. This past March, they were the organizers of the Benefit for the People of Japan, raising money to send to the nation after it was ravaged by both an earthquake and tsunami. Below are a few photographs taken that night. Many of the performers featured here are also on Friday night's bill.

my summer
All New Episode
Imaginary Weapons
Playing Dead
AfroDJMac
The Terence Marciano Band
So, Wikipedia has spoken; you've learned a little about Hope for Youth; have seen photos from a previous benefit show. In case you missed the key information mixed in with all of this, here it is again: Friday, May 13th, Mr. Beery's, Bethpage, 8PM-2AM. Hope to see you there.

"Who Spilt the Milk?" or "Sharper than a Butter Knife"

2011-04-06T07:34:00.001-07:00

I spent my time yesterday working on a sticker design for Long Island band All New Episode. I've been involved with vocalist Nicole Heller and guitarist Sean Timpa since they began their adventure as a band years ago. I always enjoy contributing to their progress. So, when Nicole gave me this little assignment, complete with correction notes and a deadline, I was more than happy to create something for her group. Below is the finished product, which ended up being, not just a graphic design/merchandising piece, but also something indicative of my (slight) background in sequential art. Yes, I really enjoy the drawings in Love and Rockets.
Note: The featured photo is one I personally took of the band this past January.

All Grown Up & Back in NY

2011-03-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

Since returning to my home state of NY 2 months ago, I have spent most of my time at home, organizing things, and figuring out where exactly to go from here. I ventured out for one show back in January, and didn't step forward for another until Saturday, March 18th. That night, I saw All Grown Up play at Mr. Beery's in Bethpage, LI, and couldn't have been more delighted. The bar was overflowing with elated attendees, excited to see a favorite band of theirs performing on a home stage. Though I knew little about the band walking in (late) to the show, I left feeling like I connected parts of my musical past in this place with those of the present and future.
All Grown Up's drummer has relocated to North Carolina, the same state that I moved to in my escape from NY back in 2006. Feeling an affinity with both states left me feeling an affinity with this band. During the performance, a few jokes flew that involved the word "confederate," and I couldn't help but crack up and get as giddy as a child, as I recalled the countless times my NY friends have referred to me as being the exact same thing. Down south, the proper terms are usually "damn yankee" and "carpetbagger." That moment reminded me of why I felt the need to peek at the world outside of this place, how I grew to love the south, and also why I'm happy to be home again.

Benefit for the People of Japan

2011-03-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

Photos by Phillip Retuta, Nicole Heller & Stephanie Augello

On Saturday, March 26th, from 6PM-12AM, Mr Beery's in Bethpage, LI will be holding a fundraiser for the people and infrastructure of Japan. I could very easily go into a limitless diatribe about the earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear instability that has rattled that country, but really, news sources such as CNN, BBC and even Twitter have already served to inundate the public with information and images. I will though, throw a few factual figures at you.
According to BBC.com, as of March 21st, the death toll from the dual disasters had climbed to "8,450, with nearly 13,000 people still missing." It is believed that, in Miyagi Prefecture alone, the number of lives lost could ultimately reach 15,000. BBC also reports that, "More than 350,000 people are still living in evacuation centres in northern and eastern Japan. There are shortages of food, water, fuel and medicine in shelters...Nearly 900,000 households are still without water." It has been estimated that the cost of rebuilding the country will cost 25 trillion yen, which is the equivalent of $309 billion.
In addition to being currently unable to fulfill the basic needs of many of their citizens, Japan is also in the process of confronting potential nuclear catastrophe, stemming from a multitude of issues at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The progression of these problems has already been compared to the 1979 and 1986 meltdowns at Three Mile Island in the United States and Chernobyl in the Ukraine, respectively. As of March 23rd, there had been warnings issued to citizens regarding the drinking of tap water in Tokyo, "after radiation from Japan's quake-hit nuclear plant affected the capital's water supply."
Friends of mine, Alex Stachelek and Phillip Retuta, had a flight to Tokyo scheduled for the day after the quake struck. Despite the disaster, they went anyway. Phil has been nice enough to let me post a few of his pictures below. Though much of the extreme, initial physical damage to the nation did not occur in Tokyo, Phil's photos offer us insight into the current state of the capital city.

So, now that we've gone over all of what has, unfortunately, gone down in Japan, let's go over what we're going to do to help out. As was previously stated, on Saturday, March 26th, Mr. Beery's will be raising money to aid in disaster relief for the country. Slated to perform that night are My Summer, Playing Dead, All New Episode, Glen and the Boys, Signal for Pilot, Terence Marciano, Imaginary Weapons, Afrodjmac and The Kid Henry. Mike Longo, frontman of My Summer, sound engineer at Mr. Beery's and Saturday's organizer stated, "The goal of the show is to raise as much money as possible. It was supposed to be a smaller thing...but now we've added a lot more in the hopes of raising money for the Red Cross...It's just really sad, and I wanted to help, that's all."
My Summer are regular performers at Mr. Beery's, consistently sharing the bill with many different acts, including All New Episode. The two bands have a well-established system of collaboration, with Nicole Heller (aka, Noko Ohno) of the latter having recently shot a series of promotional photographs for the former.

When asked what she enjoyed most about being a female in the music field, Heller replied, "Someone has to keep these boys in check, and it's great not being part of a conventional girl-lead band. Who wants to be a cardboard cutout when you can show people that you're talented, smart and know how to do your thing?" In addition to being active in the local show circuit, All New Episode is also working on a 5 song EP at Killingsworth Studios in Farmingdale, LI.

Being a part of Saturday's line-up is just one aspect of the intelligence and compassion alluded to by people like Longo and Heller. The two musicians and their bands are a part of a more expansive collective of artists, passionate about their craft, scene and the larger world. So, join us on Saturday for a night of great music, good company and the opportunity to help out our friends in Japan.

The Wheels Keep Turning

2011-03-12T19:11:00.000-08:00

Despite living the life of an everyday working stiff, I'm truckin' on with this poetry site. Here are a few posts from people who have offered up their words:

Ellisia Jesnes; Savannah, GA

Marty (aka, Morty Porty); Minneapolis, MN/The Road

Malik Peterson; Doha, Qatar

Whit Alexander; Philadelphia, PA

Ian Carr; New York, NY

Please feel free to submit that which you write to augello.stephanie@yahoo.com. Include where you live, what you do professionally and some rambly stuff about you.

Poetymology

2011-02-15T11:08:00.000-08:00

Last night, I launched a new blog, entitled Poetymology. If you can't tell, it revolves around poetry. Through this site, I aim to create an open-minded online forum for the medium, so that it may continue playing its role as an outward manifestation, and essentially a derivation, of the human spirit. There is, of course, a lot more to the concept behind the blog, which is all iterated in its initial "mission statement" of a post. This is where I cue you to redirect to that site, or at least contemplate doing so as soon as you finish reading the next paragraph.
POETYMOLOGY
I am encouraging anyone who reads this blog to submit pieces of their poetic work. Go for it. Send it over. Just please, use good (enough) taste, and make sure that it doesn't date back to when you were in the 3rd grade, and had your "America the Beautiful" poem published in the local newspaper. Stop laughing. It happened to me.
Please send your submissions to augello.stephanie@yahoo.com. Make sure to ramble a bit about yourself and your work before you get to the poetry point. Also, please include your professional title, and where you currently live. That's all important information. I will make sure to get it posted within 5-7 business days from receiving it.

Poetry

2011-02-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

Generally, I reserve this space for work-related notions. Being that today is Valentine's Day, I will make an exception, and reserve this space for love and emotion.
Poetry is a painful thing. This, I know. I'm not surprised that it went out of fashion as technology advanced us into the 21st Century. I am, though, charmed by the thoughts and actions of poets.
When I think of expressions of sentiment, I think of Pablo Neruda. He has been a personal favorite of mine for years. To me, he just knew how to grab hold of both happiness and heartache, and phrase them in such a way, so as to be accessible in a multitude of translations. So, here is Neruda the lover. Neruda the cynic. Neruda the person.

From--20 Poems of Love
(translated from Spanish)

I can write the saddest lines tonight.

Write for example: 'The night is fractured
and they shiver, blue, those stars in the distance.'

The night wind turns in the sky and sings.
I can write the saddest lines tonight.
I loved her, sometimes she loved me too.

On nights like these I held her in my arms.
I kissed her greatly under the infinite sky.

She loved me, sometimes I loved her too.
How could I not have loved her huge, still eyes.

I can write the saddest lines tonight.
To think I don't have her, to feel I have lost her.

Hear the vast night, vaster without her.
Lines fall on the soul like dew on the grass.

What does it matter that I couldn't keep her.
The night is fractured and she is not with me.

That is all. Someone sings far off. Far off,
my soul is not content to have lost her.

As though to reach her, my sight looks for her.
My heart looks for her: she is not with me

The same night whitens, in the same branches.
We, from that time, we are not the same.

I don't love her, that's certain, but how I loved her.
My voice tried to find the breeze to reach her.

Another's kisses on her, like my kisses.
Her voice, her bright body, infinite eyes.

I don't love her, that's certain, but perhaps I love her.
Love is brief: forgetting lasts so long.

Since, on these nights, I held her in my arms,
my soul is not content to have lost her.

Though this is the last pain she will make me suffer,
and these are the last lines I will write for her.

Jim White and His Call to Arms

2011-01-17T18:40:00.000-08:00

I was introduced to Athens, GA musician Jim White this past September when he joined Dare Dukes at the latter's home for a dinner party and live performance. Jim is funding his next album through online platform Kickstarter.com, and the deadline is January 19th at 9:30PM. I have plenty of broad, descriptive and wonderful things to say about him, his stories and his songs; however, those of you who know me know that I'm a bit verbose. By the time I spit out everything I have to say, it'll be January 21st at 2AM. So, I'm simply going to post a link to JIM WHITE'S KICKSTARTER PAGE, so that you can have a look for yourselves. There's plenty of great information there. I'll be back here in a few days to provide you with some more episodic rambling. In case you couldn't find the link the first time, THIS IS IT.

Jamison Murphy

2011-01-13T18:26:00.000-08:00

A better version of this story can be found HERE

"On the page it looked like nothing. The beginning - simple, almost comic. Just a pulse - bassoons and basset horns - like a rusty squeezebox. Then suddenly - high above it - an oboe, a single note, hanging there unwavering, 'til a clarinet took over and sweetened it into a phrase of such delight. This was no composition by a performing monkey; this was a music I'd never heard, filled with such longing - such unfulfillable longing. It had me trembling. It seemed to me that I was hearing the very voice of God."

-Antonio Salieri, Amadeus

Do You Hear the People Sing?
When I was in high school, I remember collecting 7" records, making necklaces out of Barbie heads, using my class presentation time to portray Aristotle as a stoner, and concocting lewd jokes about the Commedia dell'arte stock characters (also during class time). Pulcinella. Scaramouche. Arlecchino. Use your imagination.
Class clown? Socially contentious? Pain in the butt kid? Absolutely. I wore that badge with pride too. In the end though, I was still a dork. I opted out of AP Calculus my senior year because, well, it was my senior year. I also once told the assistant principal that he was "violating my 1st Amendment rights" by making me turn my t-shirt inside out, and was of the conviction that not handing in a bibliography page on time was an act of justifiable rebellion. I cut class one single, solitary time because a teacher had given me permission to do so. Apparently, I was not only a dork, but also a wuss.
Jamison Murphy is a kid. He's 14-years-old. Aside from possessing an intellectual and creative aptitude well beyond that of the average 9th grader, he is also unbelievably disciplined - something that I was, evidently, not when I was his age. His Facebook Bio reads as such:

I am 14-year-old poet, songwriter, and musician. I play a multitude of wonderful and weird instruments, many of which I incorporate into my songs. In 2008, I won the Savannah Youth Folk Songwriting Competition and was featured in an article in Savannah Magazine. I often play shows around Savannah, and I have performed at the Savannah Market Bazaar, The Sentient Bean, and many other venues. I have released two albums, and I am always making new music.

When the Beating of Your Heart Echoes the Beating of the Drums...
It is obvious that Murphy has a natural passion and propensity for music. I have seen him perform on a 6-string guitar, dulcimer and harmonica. I have heard him mention practicing on piano and 12-string guitar. His lyricism echoes the philosophical content of giants such as Goethe and Nietzsche. He is too young to get into bars and clubs. The first time I saw him play was at a house shown arranged by General Oglethorpe & the Panhandlers. I was, well, completely floored. I had to leave the room. I stepped out onto the expansive porch of 121 W. Jones St., and said, "I can't handle him." Devin Smith, General O's singer/guitarist replied in shock, "What? You don't like him?" My answer was simply, "No. It's not that. That kid is freakin' Mozart." It was a rather humbling experience.
Last month, a few of us threw a surprise house show party for a friend's birthday. Venice is Sinking was gracious enough to trek all the way from Athens to Savannah for the event, and our good fortune also gave us the awesome performances of Anna Chandler and Duncan Iaria (General Oglethorpe & the Panhandlers), and Murphy as well. Jamison played an ample set of originals, all of which he affectionately introduced to our intimate audience. He attributed the influence of one of his tunes to jazz pianist Thelonious Monk, whose offbeat style of playing my ear could barely comprehend until I'd hit the ripe old age of 22.

It turns out that Mr. Murphy is quite the jazz fan, and feels that Monk's music is the color green. I told him I thought that Charles Mingus' is burgundy. We shared a few notions pertaining to the color orange, or jazz trumpetist Dizzy Gillespie. That brief exchange with Jamison was quite possibly the best conversation I'd ever had about jazz. The time has come for me to find a note on which to end this story. In addition to being precocious, humble, enthusiastic and eager to learn, Jamison Murphy is also . . . a really nice kid.

New Terminus

2011-01-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

Etymology
In Latin, the word "terminus" is literally defined as "boundary stone." I would like to thank Google for providing me with that direct information, as I immediately translated it as "an end." Terminus--like a railroad or airport terminal. It's the end of one pathway, yet the beginning of another. The more obvious definition is valid as well. This I also learned from Google. Toss in the phrasing of Merriam-Webster, and you have "an extreme point or element." All of these, when lumped together, essentially create the same characterization of the same word. Step to the extreme point, or the boundary of border, and you've simultaneously reached the end of one road, and the beginning of another. With all that rambling out of the way, I will now attempt to drift to my point.
Atlanta, GA is definitely a hot spot for powerful, creative, driven, intelligent music. New Terminus, a rock outfit derived from the gritty 1990s style of song writing and performance, is one piece of this colorful puzzle. If you were to dissect the technical meaning of their name, perhaps they could be considered a new beginning resulting from an end. The band played a show at Savannah's The Wormhole back in November, where I had the chance to witness their energy, as well as spend some time getting acquainted with the members themselves. What I saw was unpretentious rock n' roll. In a pre-show write-up for website NewYorkisBoring.com, I offered Savannah residents the opportunity to come out and experience the "spirit of garage rock," which is exactly what New Terminus brought to The Wormhole that night. Friends were there as a show of support, and in between sets, the speakers resounded with the sounds of alt-rock favorites such as Sunny Day Real Estate.

Yes, I Digress
A rock show isn't just about a stage and its performers. It is also about those who contribute to its execution--the physical venue; the venue's proprietors; the bar stool dwellers who wandered in for a beer; the dialogues, exchanges and movements. That night, New Terminus' drummer Dallas Peavy did double duty, performing as a duo with impromptu set-up Fuzzy Dunlop. New Terminus also offered up the headlining slot to Nirvana aficionados Pure Ed, whose 3 chord grunge tributes conjured up memories of the Northwest musical revolution of yesteryear.

There were Mad Libs books out on the bar for patrons to enjoy. One such attendee was a white-haired man, whose words and demeanor distinctly reminded me of Ernest Hemingway. After the show, the members of New Terminus and I went for some late night breakfast at the Pankake Palace, and discussed such things as day jobs, higher education and pets.
What I love about rock n' roll is its innate simplicity. Beyond the shiny images and elaborate wording is a very basic human-to-human exchange--a certain degree of companionship and generosity--that is far removed from the glamor often ascribed to it. It truly involves groups of people who work beyond their songs, simply as a means of sustaining themselves; yet who take on the extra load of travel and arrangement because they genuinely enjoy the process itself.

-New Terminus will be playing at Atlanta's Highland Ballroom on Saturday, January 15th at 9PM. They will be joined by The Color and Little Horn.
-Drummer Dallas Peavy also plays with Atlanta-based Ricer, who can be seen at The Jinx in Savannah, GA on Friday, January 21st at 10PM. They will be joined by Indian Giver, as well as local post-punk favorites Howler.

Brandon Nelson McCoy

2011-01-08T13:56:00.000-08:00

Guitar Pickin' Man

Picture yourself walking down Broadway in Nashville, TN at about 7PM on a Friday. You're on a road trip, and you decide to stop in the country music capital to see what the beer tastes like. A door to one of the strip's many bars is ajar, so you step inside. The door guy charges you $2, and tells you that they're serving Bud on draft for $3 a pint this evening. Inside, the walls are adorned with giant photographs of country music legends-Gene Autry, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline. In here the beer tastes like Bud, and the air smells of cigarettes; however something from the speakers sounds like bluegrass blown south to a big city; infused with a twang of nostalgia, and seeking anyone else who might be a friend of the devil. Picture Brandon Nelson McCoy, and you've successfully pictured Georgia's own succession to the history of country music sensibility.

Originally, from Calhoun, GA, McCoy moved to Savannah to study English at Armstrong University. Many literature aficionados also prove themselves to be great songwriters, something that McCoy, who's been writing lyrics since he was 9-years-old, clearly understands. About a year ago, Brandon made his live debut when he played 5 songs as an opener at Tantra, in what he describes as a "...very nerve-wracking experience." Despite the stage fright, something clicked, and in July he launched Brandon Nelson McCoy & the Sad Bastards.

Show Support

Fronted by McCoy, the Sad Bastards are Thomas Worley (drums), Andrew Plymire (bass) and is cemented by McCoy's childhood friend Kyle Martin on lead guitar. Though Martin will soon depart from the troupe to tend to academic obligations, the Sad Bastards will continue expanding their sound, and are hoping to add pedal steel to the mix. States McCoy, "I couldn't imagine NOT playing music. It seems like I'm stuck with it, and it's stuck with me."

-McCoy will be showcasing his new endeavor, The Sad Bastard Stringband at The Wormhole in Savannah on Friday, February 4th at 9PM. He will be joined by local favorite Dare Dukes, as well as west coast troupe The Red River.

Character Sketches

2011-01-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

When I go out and observe people and events, I'm constantly logging an evolving mental description of them, their environments, influences and movements. Capturing all of the above with a camera serves a great purpose in conveying what I notice; however, there comes a moment when it becomes necessary to juxtapose those images with words. In searching for the best way to do that, I landed on the notion of posting a series of brief visual and verbal portrayals of those who have caught my eye. So, without further adieu, good people, I will now begin to provide you with these such character sketches. Remember, when I say "without further adieu," I mean "in about an hour." I need more coffee first.

Sawdust Restaurants with Oyster Shells

2010-09-15T20:24:00.000-07:00

Once again, I offer you a title with no relevance to the post itself. I pulled it from T.S. Eliot's The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock, which has been one of my favorite pieces of literature since I first read it in high school.
Moving along.........
My posts on this here site have slowly, but surely, been tapering off. Since returning to Georgia, I've been rather preoccupied with projects, and have also been taking photographs for a local website called New York is Boring. It has honestly been a lot of fun, and has also helped me to become acquainted with the Georgia music scene. I've been able to capture some great moments of some great musicians, and as a result have a collection of pretty high resolution photographs. That being said, uploading them here would probably take an eternity. So, if you like to peruse pictures, below is a link to my Flickr page. Enjoy!!!

THISISWHEREYOUCANLOOKATSTEPHANIE'SPICTURESOFSILLYMUSICIANSETC

Beats Happening

2010-07-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm reaching the end of the road here at SCAD, which means a demo reel must be compiled. As a fun aside, I decided to mix my own soundtrack. Playing with beats is a nice break from playing with pictures. I can strain a different sense for once, and it just further expands my geekery. I think I'm gonna be a DJ in my next life. Not one of those "wicky-wicky" DJs though. No, no.
Anyway, this little piece mixes 1920s jazz with hip hop. The song sampled in this here short reel is "Over in the Gloryland," which I pulled from a compilation called "Jazz the World Forgot."

The most updated version of said demo reel can be found HERE.

Mobbing the Midnight Hour: A Couch Surfer's Reflection upon June and Otherwise

2010-06-26T07:11:00.001-07:00

A better version of this post can be found @:

New York is Boring.com

"Because the night belongs to lovers. Because the night belongs to us." Patti Smith's classic song rang throughout Whitaker Street's Hangfire, as DJ Brian Lackey spun an exuberant crowd into last call. Such was the auspicious climate of Friday, June 18th - the night of Outlet Magazine's Summer 2010 release party.

The fun began at The Co-Laboratory, where attendees were treated to live music and copies of the publication we were all out to toast. Thrill seekers then spilled over to Hangfire, where the PBR flowed like water, and Savannah proved that it deserves the title of "Dance Party Capital of the East Coast."

Last week's Outlet party was the culmination of an adventurous month, which began, not only with New York is Boring's 3 day launch party, but with the symphonic invasion of Athens-based troupe Venice is Sinking onto our turf in the Low Country.

Athens, GA is no menial point of origin for a band. The city has, in the past, given us The B-52s, R.E.M. and Of Montreal. Venice is Sinking released their latest album, Sand and Lines, on June 15th. A quietly experimental live piece, it possesses a gentle, yet profound sense of melody and composition. With a creation such as this under their belt, Venice is Sinking might just be the next essential puzzle piece to emerge from that prolific locale.

Until recently, it seemed that Savannah was a forgotten city on tour routes. The times, it seems, have changed. Venues such as The Jinx, The Wormhole and The Co-Laboratory create raw, honest experiences for audiences. Things are happening here in Georgia, and other locations on the East Coast could learn from its example.

The music circuit in my hometown of New York was once filled with a sense of grassroots dynamics. Much of the spark that had resided there is now absent, and the current conducted energy level is often equal to that of staring at the walls of a bank interior.

Now, I would like to provide a little back story. I grew up in Merrick, Long Island, and went to high school in the mid-late 1990s, an era which many consider to be the "glory years" of the Long Island music scene. My early experiences range from sitting in on countless basement band practices, to getting kicked in the face in a mosh pit at The PWAC.

At 13, I caught a Foo Fighters show at NYC's Tramps - 3 months before the release of their 1st album. When I was 15, my buddies and I danced on the stage during a performance by San Francisco punk outfit Tilt. That same year, I also stepped in a pool of vomit at a Bouncing Souls show. I just thought you'd like to know that.

Those last 2 episodes took place at Coney Island High on St. Mark's Place, which, to me, is STILL the coolest place to have ever existed. The above accounts are, obviously, remembrances of things past, and I regret to inform you that all of the aforementioned venues had shut their doors by the early 2000s.

Today's fledgling Long Island bands often have to take it to backyards to showcase their stuff. While up there earlier this month, I attended one such exploit. The event was to promote local band Midnight Mob's debut as headliners at NYC's Webster Hall on Sunday, June 27th.

Opening acts Vision Through Sound and Harold's Trousers kicked off the evening, which reached its climax when Midnight Mob took to the arena with its self-described brand of "Psychedelic Sex Rock." Their strong class rock influence, and electric live energy, conveyed that they are certainly worthy of tearing up the main stage at Webster Hall.

Produced by Chris Russell, Midnight Mob includes Lauren "Blackey" Palazzo (vocals), Mickey "Squeez" Occhino (lead guitar), Carly Quinn (bass), Michael James "Mikey Catastrophe" Sarna (drums) and Sal "Spydyr" Manteria (rhythm guitar).

They originally united as a cover band in 2008, but quickly abandoned that route in favor of creating original music. They've spent the past year competing in a contest sponsored by Emergenza, winning 1st place in both initial rounds. The show at Webster Hall is the final round of U.S. competition, and if they win, Midnight Mob will head off to perform in Germany.

Their ability to work as a team has greatly expanded their fan base, and Sarna feels that, with the addition of Spydyr this past spring, things have "finally come together." "This is just the beginning. It's scary and exciting," stated vocalist Blackey Palazzo. "Life has been so small. I don't think anyone grasps that it could be you."

At just 21-years-old, Blackey has already shown the verve necessary for success in the music industry. Highly influenced by Southern gospel and blues, while still a teenager, she traveled to Mississippi to aid in the post-Katrina clean-up. Blackey's sense of altruism and gratitude rang out during Mob's set that night, when they presented a wild rendition of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire."

To this band, it's about more than just tours and screaming fans - it's about the soul of the music itself; one that is derived, not just from a Southern blues tradition, but from the roots of their own backyards. Guitarist Squeez is of the belief that the scene on LI currently fails to cater to original music, and that Midnight Mob can play a significant role in "bringing back" the vitality of previous generations.

The day after that backyard show, I got into my rental car to trek back to Georgia, stopping to spend a few hours in Athens with the members of Venice is Sinking. Bands such as Venice and Mob make me optimistic about the future of music, in that both are fueled by a passion stronger than the superficiality that exists in much of today's market.

When I 1st dropped into Savannah 5 years ago, I was a prematurely jaded stranger on a "blues tour" of the American South. Equipped with a spiral notebook and a video camera, I sought to answer a somewhat rhetorical question: "Is the spirit of Rock 'n' Roll alive in the land of its birth?".

While painting the town on 1 of those 1st nights, I was full of whiskey and a crisp 23-year-old attitude. At some point, I bolted across Congress St, over to The Jinx, hit the "record" button on my camera, and voiced my question to the crowd of partygoers. With just a few words, a man summed up what it has since taken me 5 years, and countless travels, to distinguish: "The spirit IS alive. The spirit is alive - HERE - in Savannah." If that same fire can be further fanned up in New York, it's possible that, one day, that place can again become, well, just a little less boring.

All photographs share a copyright with New York is Boring.com

Project-ion

2010-05-19T15:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a clip of the intro I've created for the music video for Got a Hold. I love making intros. I think they totally set the pace and tone of the rest of the piece. This time around, I color/speed corrected pixilation footage I'd shot in NYC's Washington Sq. Park to reflect the feel of 8 mm film. I coupled that with a sound clip of an 8mm projector, and then cut up both the video and audio tracks to imitate a projector skipping. Technically accurate? I doubt it. There are still a few more details I'd like to throw in, but those can wait. I have other things to do.

"Let's Get Digital"...or..."Midterm Malaise"

2010-04-21T18:05:00.001-07:00

Until further notice, the titles of my posts will take on the naming convention of the old Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons. That being said, the first title makes me think of yesterday, when my professor started singing that in class, and then proceeded to dance behind me down the hall, repeating the phrase over and over again, until I jokingly exclaimed, "Aaaah, there's a crazy man following me!" I still have his little tune stuck in my head. Thanks, Larison.
Anyway, I don't know why I have the desire to post my silly little thumbnail drawings, but I do. I guess it's because they show a process, and a certain degree of looseness that I've developed over time. These are from a script that was written by the department's Comic Book Scripting class.

"When the hell did I start liking Coldplay?"..or..."I think I burnt my retinas."

2010-04-19T02:46:00.001-07:00

That ridiculous title has nothing to do with anything. In fact, this post has really very little to do with anything. I did some thumbnail drawings, and made some slides for an upcoming midterm presentation. Here's a few that I've liked so far. That's about it. See, this had no point. And somewhere in the midst of all of this sleep deprivation, I've pondered moving to China. Why? Well, because I can.

I Do Drawerings

2010-04-14T19:27:00.001-07:00

Just a few rough pages I did for class. I'm trying out this whole cartoony thing. It's definitely simplifying my process a bit, and it's more along the lines of how I'd like to create comics/animation/illustration in the future.

Heartbreak Hotel

2010-04-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, every once in awhile, I still write poetry. To me, poetry has become the result of when your heart gives itself without your mind's consent. It's just a somewhat pretentious way of singin' the blues. Maybe it's a little dramatic; maybe it's a little old-fashioned; maybe it's a little pathetic-perhaps, it's even misplaced or unnecessary; but hey, if it takes shit to make bliss, then eventually I'll be able to convince myself to feel pretty blissfully.

Here are some words that have been in the vault for a few months:

1)
Conversational cautions.
Lacrimose, lacrimonious, Lacrimosa.
The answer's not on the internet;
The answer's not in a cigarette;
The answer's not in solids exchanged under the stagnancy of night.
Tip-tap-tipping in sight.
Receiving a fright.
Engaging in a fight-
A flight...
I think I'll do both;
Causing one,
Effecting the other.
Dramatic swells of sound abound,
Cracking like shells on metals;
Uttering decrees of belief in-
And hope for-
Confidential liaisons.

Masses of hair.
Little freckles gently dot your epidermal landscape
Amidst the subtlety of gyrations.
Appease this-
My curiosity...
And weakness in resistance.

Pushing against heavy-reamed paper,
Attempting to tear the wall to shreds;
Taking the right-sided softness,
And masking it behind
Cold networks of circuitry.

This is the architecture I drafted.
This is the story I wrote-
Inked,
Submitted,
Copied,
Pasted.
In pencil,
I will stop running now.
Indelibly...
I still have a ways to go.

2)
I want a piece of ephemera with you written all over it-
Dashed with the potency of your stare,
And cased with the abbreviations of your words;
Guarded by the curtain of your hair,
And tilted like the tires of your car.
Axles crack,
As do cans of beer;
Codes plug-in systems,
And logic sometimes aligns with the toes of
Scuffed-up,
Bought with style,
Somewhere in the city,
Boutique or not
Shop
Shoes.
I'd crack my front tooth again
Just to react in the mid-tone shadows
Of an unpurchased bar.

Design Graphically

2010-04-11T20:32:00.001-07:00

Lately, I've been trying to curb my Facebook addiction, so I deactivated my account. I now need to find other means of digital procrastination. This is one of them.
In this post, you will find examples of overhead shot diagrams that I've been assigned to create for class. Instead of doing rough drawings of these, I've been building them in Photoshop; thus satiating this graphic design urge that I developed while in New York. And now, since I've given up Facebook, you have the privilege of glancing at some lovely diagrams, dear anonymous viewer-if you even exist.

Insert Witty Statement: [ ]

2010-04-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

One very large After Effects file later, I've brought my SIGGRAPH Asia/SCAD piece to a reasonable conclusion. Aside from playing multiple, visual roles on this project, I also had the pleasure of creating my 1st "original" music track. I am not a sound designer by any means, and am entirely unfamiliar with commonly used sound programs; hence, I used Adobe Premiere CS4, which serves a decent enough purpose. Though I've been able to teach myself a lot throughout this exploit, I could not figure out a way to successfully remove "room tone" from some of the convention center clips, and will be making an attempt to augment the full track in the near future.
To digress for a moment, manipulating sound is a highly abstract procedure. It's like working from your mind's eye-from something intangible. I'm accustomed to seeing, not hearing, my process, and noticed that I compile sound like an animator. Anyway, below is a low res version of the film. It will be used by SCAD to promote their Hong Kong campus, which will be opening in the Fall of 2010.

*Video updated since original posting.

I Heart 8 mm

2010-03-30T16:14:00.000-07:00

My WIP video for Shut up Sean's song Got a Hold will contain, what I hope will be, nifty geometric and camera animation, as well as the usage of graphic Flash cut-outs. Aw, isn't the unification of vector-based programs adorable? Anyway, the aesthetics of the film will take on characteristics of the previous 2 posts, and projections of simulated Super 8 footage will be incorporated using After Effects. Here are a few clips that I've taken the liberty of Super8ifying. I shot some pixilation in downtown Manhattan, fiddled with it in After Effects, and then exported it at 15 fps. In the end, I do not want it to possess such a sepia tone; rather I would like it to contain more muted reds and yellows. In other words, less 1920s, more late 1960s/1970s. Rock on.

Inspiracion

2010-03-30T12:59:00.001-07:00

Another assortment of aesthetic influences for my project. Further explanation to arrive shortly. 'Til then, behave yourselves!

Sense of Direction

2010-03-29T18:07:00.001-07:00

These are some stylistic tests. I'm going for this rubber stamp/photocopy look, which will reflect a notion of Street Art->Pop Art->Comic Art. The end result will have a little more color, and will be augmented using Maya and After Effects. All of these images are a product of Photoshop.

"Angelheaded Hipsters Burning for the Ancient Heavenly Connection..."

2010-03-11T11:21:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more stills from my upcoming project. These focus not on band members, but on the miscellany that exists on the streets of NYC. I have some high-minded concept behind all of this, and will keep on working until I hone it. For now, it's progressing and solidifying. Keep in mind that all of these individual images are part of photographic sequences. The title of this post is credited to Allen Ginsberg's "Howl."

This is Only a Test

2010-03-10T20:45:00.000-08:00

In preparation for my senior project at the Savannah College of Art and Design, I have been gathering footage of the members of Shut Up Sean having a grand ol' time in the parks and on the streets of Manhattan. The final product I'm aiming to produce will be stop motion photography juxtaposed with more "traditional" forms of animation. Here's a sampling of some stills.

Mob Mentality

2010-03-07T18:43:00.000-08:00

In celebration of the release of their new EP, Delicious Cream, Long Island band Midnight Mob recently held a show at Vibe Lounge in Rockville Centre, NY, which was inevitably followed by an after party. Classifying themselves in a genre all their own, Mob describes themselves as being "Psychedelic Sex Rock," and exemplifies a creative enthusiasm that maintains itself long after the bars have closed all tabs. The above photos were taken during the aforementioned after party. Playful. Fun. Pretty bad ass.

Photographic Soundscape

2010-03-04T16:29:00.000-08:00

Over the summer, I had the opportunity to photograph/write up Kelli's Bar and Grille in Bellmore, NY for the website Patch. I've included a link to the listing, as I can only recall having a nice experience speaking to the management and staff of the establishment.
Last night, Shut up Sean played a brief open mic set at Kelli's. This girl believes that they gave forth a stellar performance. Below is a selection of photographs I took, which I've, of course, taken the liberty of messing with a bit in Photoshop.

Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride

2010-02-17T14:45:00.000-08:00

Below is a rough edit of the aforementioned SIGGRAPH Asia video that I am creating for SCAD. I still have some corrections/augmentations to make, which pertain to timing and effects. Currently, this video does not have sound. I exported it from AE as H.264, in order for this site to accommodate the file, so I apologize if aspects of it are not entirely clear.

The Illusion of Movement - Rock 'n Roll Style!!!

2010-02-17T14:42:00.000-08:00

In lieu of doing anything concrete tonight, I decided to run some experimental tests for my next project. Here's a colorful, yet low res, stop motion clip of the drummer of Shut up Sean-Mike. You can call him Mikey Catastrophe. And yes, you have to address him in italics.

Ji pa n im a tio n

2010-01-16T21:47:00.000-08:00

Glimpses of my current WIP - a SCAD/SIGGRAPH video piece, documenting this year's SIGGRAPH Asia conference in Yokohama.

A Poem

2010-01-10T21:12:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, my best friend Nicole brought to my attention the subtitle of this blog, which has been there since I began it as a school assignment almost a year ago. You can read it (or reread it, for that matter), if you choose. Anyway, I chose that particular quote from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, because, well, I've always liked it. In the early days of my animation studies, I would frequently get it stuck in my head while pulling all nighters, trying to figure out 3D modeling. Yesterday, I also learned that it is an excerpt from, what I consider to be, a wonderful poem. Enjoy.

Ode

We are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams:
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world forever, it seems.

With wonderful deathless ditties
We build up the world's great cities,
And out of a fabulous story
We fashion an empire's glory:
One man with a dream, at pleasure,
Shall go forth and conquer a crown;
And three with a new song's measure
Can trample an empire down.

We, in the ages lying
In the buried past of the earth,
Built Nineveh with our sighing,
And Babel itself with our mirth;
And o'erthrew them with prophesying
To the old of the new world's worth;
For each age is a dream that is dying,
Or one that is coming to birth.

-Arthur O'Shaughnessy

Prehab

2010-01-10T20:36:00.001-08:00

On Saturday nights, Broadway in Amityville, NY has a little fun. I was in attendance last night, and caught a piece of the action. Known as Prehab, this event is continually hosted by Frank Antonetti, who can be seen in the photographs posted below, entertaining the crowd with vinyl.

Paparazzi

2010-01-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

So, I work part-time at a restaurant called Paparazzi, in Westbury, NY. This past week, we had a belated holiday party at a popular Long Island bar called Mulcahy's. After our private party disbanded, we all wandered downstairs to enjoy some fun with the masses. I decided that my fun would entail taking pictures of the clientele. I guess you could say that I spent my evening as the Paparazzi. No one seemed to mind; in fact, a lot of these people, who I don't even know, seemed to relish the attention. I do though, know the girl in the first picture, and this somewhat candid moment gave me my favorite shot of the night.

Photografia

2009-12-26T16:24:00.000-08:00

So, as was previously mentioned, I recently returned from a trip to Japan. I was there working as a student volunteer for this year's SIGGRAPH Asia conference. It was definitely a pretty awesome experience; however, I was so overworked and jet lagged, that I primarily spent my free time sitting in the hotel lobby, editing my photos/videos, and creating silly pixilation animations in Flash. I've already posted some of those clips. Below are some of the photographs. I took 400+ that week, which means I will probably be posting more in the near future. Isn't that just stellar?

Reel Time

2009-12-24T09:57:00.000-08:00

A short compilation of some work I've done. The music is Ghostwriter, by RJD2.

Yes, I went to Japan.

2009-12-21T22:35:00.000-08:00

These clips are tests for a video that I am creating for the SCAD Admissions Department, which documents SIGGRAPH Asia 2009, in Yokohama, Japan. Both are comprised of stop motion photography. If you can't tell, I was sans tripod. Adds to the grittiness and/or reality factor, I guess.
The first is of a waving Japanese flag. I took the photos near the amusement park in Yokohama, messed with the colors in Photoshop, and then sequenced them using Flash.
The second is of a crowded promenade in downtown Yokohama. Same basic process.

Photoshoppery

2009-12-03T12:46:00.000-08:00

In my new found spare time, I've decided to become more adept at Photoshop. I'm posting some of the text exercises I've been using to practice. All of the words come from lyrics to songs I've been listening to while working. How original.

Web in Front-Archers of Loaf

Quiero Ver Amanecer-Los Fabulosos Cadillacs

Dirty Lives-Love as Laughter

Dream a Little Dream-Dean Martin

Reject All American-Bikini Kill

Particular

2009-10-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

I watched a tutorial on creating simple particle effects in Maya, using Soft/Rigid Bodies. I could write out the step-by-step, but would really just be doing that for myself, so I'll spare you. Enjoy!

The Joys of Rigging

2009-10-04T17:06:00.000-07:00

This little animation was playblasted from Maya - everyone's favorite program. I found this tutorial online on how to rig a piston using constraints. So, I built a simple piston, rigged it, then created a quick animation, just to test my handy work. If you're unfamiliar with constraints, they involve "constraining" one piece of a model to another, so that when the parent piece moves, the child moves with it; however, if the child moves independently of the parent, the parent will stay stationary.
My animation moves a little slowly for my liking, but I'll fix it up in a few days. I don't feel like looking at it anymore. Meanwhile, stay tuned for some more Shut up Sean stuff, and glimpses of a Darth Vader rig. Nerdtastic. Yowza.

A Piguana in Tijuana

2009-09-29T21:34:00.001-07:00

This is a piguana.

He crossed the border into Tijuana.

He indulged in the local flavor.

He vandalized a car.

And then he went to church.

The End.

Songs of Experience

2009-09-29T20:42:00.001-07:00

Today, I learned that an article I wrote for Suite101.com has received an Editor's Choice Award. It's called In the Shadow of Personal History, and is a review of sorts of Art Spiegelman's graphic novel In the Shadow of No Towers. I'm totally honored that they appreciated my writing. It's also pretty neat to see a link for your article right at the top of the homepage.
I had a similar experience last year when I poem that I'd written received an award from a different site. I believe that these 2 pieces of writing bear social significance in that they are, well, somewhat relevant to contemporary affairs. The poem is, of course, about a guy. I think he's the only guy I ever wrote volumes for. He appreciated them when we were kids. So, though poetry and emotional frivolity are not really things I indulge in anymore, I'm posting that final poem here, as a salute to Romanticism as a whole.

34th between 5th and Park

Bar stool exhibition.
Neon signs and drowning stocks.
Heavy - lidded light and languid talkers say,
"Sir, you are safe.
Argyle socks will be up again in a few days."
At a glance; At a gaze.
Looking through and not at
Out of reservation.
Playing not coy,
Rather, sarcastic;
Editing the impulse to stare,
To jump out of my chair
And exclaim,
"It's you! Right there!
You look the same,
Down to the slicked back hair!"
Awestruck and wanting to tell all-
Instead-
Only playing hours long Devil's Advocate,
Lending the wrong impression.
I am sorry for that.
You are so you,
And I-
Was so scared.

Bukowski-Mation

2009-09-28T21:29:00.001-07:00

I decided to practice a bit more with After Effects. This time, I created some text/collage animation. After doctoring an old B&W photo in Photoshop, I pulled a line from my favorite Charles Bukowski poem Style. AE CS4 has this nifty Puppet Pin tool that lets you "rig" still photos for animation. So, I then made the man himself do a little dance to a segment of Charles Mingus' Haitian Fight Song. The video seen here has the corrections I'd proposed in an earlier version of this post (ie, fix the shoulder, add more animation to "Everything," and synch the dance better with the song). All in all, this was a simple, fun project that didn't take long, and also made me chuckle. Another successful Adobe Premiere chop job. Gee, I just plugged Adobe a lot in this post. "Can you say Adobe? Uh-doh-beeee!"

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

2009-09-25T13:39:00.001-07:00

Throughout most of the summer, and into September, I have worked with Patch.com, creating listings for small businesses in Bellmore. Basically, it's involved collecting basic data, a few little personal pieces of information, and taking photos. It's been both a fun and exhausting experience. After spending so much time (willingly) removed from Long Island, becoming what I jokingly refer to as "Miss Bellmore," has been pretty cool. I feel like helping businesses by providing free advertisements for them during a terrible economic time is a great service.
The photos posted here are some of my favorites out of the ones I took. They've all been augmented in Photoshop, and though I think that they could use more tweaks, I'm going to leave them as is for now. So, enjoy your little slice of Long Island, and feel free to visit Patch.com. A link is featured in the first sentence.

Would you bring them home to mom?

2009-09-24T21:30:00.000-07:00

Well, kids, meet the band. They're Shut Up Sean, and this is the very beginning of what will end up being a rather extensive project. I shall say no more. Well, no more other than that the 1st clip is a raw, grainy, rough, shot under basement recessed lighting, piece of something. I'm becoming better versed in After Effects, and wanted to see what I could do to spice this up a little. So, I gave myself a "Color Correction 101" lesson, and did what I could to brighten it, balance the tones and remove blur and noise. That would be what you see in clip #2. Voila. The complete file was too large to upload here, so I've just included a clip. Now, back to work.

Hybrid Creatures

2009-09-24T15:26:00.000-07:00

I've developed a fondness for creating ghastly hybrid beings in Photoshop. I'm starting to get pretty good at it. From top-bottom, most recent-earliest, they are the 1) Piguana; 2) Buirrel; 3) Flaminguin; 4) Gazawk. More to come!!!

Doodles allo Symposio

2009-09-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

These are some quick sketches I did on my server notepad. This summer, I worked in a small Italian restaurant in Bellmore, NY called Cafe Symposio. I had barely spent more than a few weeks in New York in 3 years, and feel that the experience I had there was a suitable way for me to be reintegrated into my home.
One thing I've always liked about this place is the cultural diversity. Sometimes, at the restaurant, I would hear Spanish in my left ear; Greek in my right; and English in both. I also had the pleasure of hearing some Italian and Arabic, and running into customers with a broad spectrum of surnames.
I've worked in a lot of restaurants, and this place was the first time that almost everyone accepted me as a friend from the moment I walked in the door. Conversely, I also learned that not everyone revels in a multi-faceted world. Some naive part of me thought that it was common to feel genuine happiness at being surrounded by a heterogeneous group of people. I learned a valuable lesson at Cafe Symposio. It'll be there with me on my next adventure.

I Done Good in English

2009-07-22T21:46:00.001-07:00

Spalding Gray

2009-06-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

While enrolled in Mark Kneece's Comic Book Scripting class this past winter, I wrote the story seen below, which is entitled Resubmission. I was a 19-year-old, idealistic Long Island kid when the events of 9/11 changed the city forever. Prior to that, I had spent a year at Boston's Emerson College, Gray's alma mater, and also distinctly remember following the 2003-2004 news articles that reported his disappearance, and eventual discovery of his death. Years later, I created the character of Scott Black, and via fiction, decided to change the fate of an individual with whom I'd felt connected. I'd like to thank the estate of Spalding Gray, as well as writer John Boland for posting this script on Spalding Gray's official website.

*The following is an element of fan fiction. It is a means of reflection, and an expression gratitude, and should be perceived as entertainment only.*

Page One

Panel One

Shot of the silhouette of a man, Scott, seated at a table against a gray, unlit background. He is hunched over, with a burning cigarette in his hand, gesturing while speaking.

Scott: It was an old city with its ghosts and crevices, yet a new city, reduced to fear and nothing.

Panel Two

A stage technician is sitting in a lighting booth at the back of the house, looking over a lighting board. He is in the foreground, and we can see the vague figure of the smoking man on the stage in the background. An audience, filling up a small theater separates them. The technician flicks on a stage spotlight.

SFX: FUTOOH!

Scott: I saw the buildings fall; the dust cloud the air, drying tears if only for a moment. I wanted to know why they had struck the heart…

Panel Three

We now see the clear figure of the smoking man seated on the stage. It’s evident that he is in the middle of a performance. He is in his mid-fifties, and dressed modestly. His expression and demeanor are anything but happy. His cigarette has just about burned down to its filter.

Scott: …why they had taken the essence of our lives; stolen our city from us. Maybe history took it back as an overdue payment.

Panel Four

A man, Jim, a stockbroker type, who is younger than the one on stage, is seated in the packed audience. He is staring intently in front of him, mouth agape, obviously taken by what he is hearing. Some of the other audience members have similar expressions, others don’t seem to care, and a few are sleeping.

Scott (from stage): It hurt to see her so victimized by outsiders.

Jim (whispering): Geez.

Panel Five

Close up of Scott’s cigarette ash, as it falls into the ashtray.

Scott: And now, every time the subway doors close behind me; every time I buy the Times; every time I open my eyes, really, I stare into a chasm that not even a spectacle of lights can fill.

Panel Six

The curtain falls. The audience claps.

Curtain SFX: SOOOSH!

Audience: TUT-TUT-TUT

PUH-PUH-PUH

Page Two

Panel One

A hallway leading to the backstage of the theater. It is filled with people who are holding coffee cups and martini glasses, wearing VIP badges, and chatting. The air is stuffy with pretension. The focus is on Jim, the man from the audience as he walks swiftly through the hall.

VIP: Blah, blah, Really?

Another VIP: Blah, when I was in Rome, blah, blah.

Panel Two

Closer shot of Jim looking at the different people in the hallway. It is obvious that he is looking for someone. His gaze is intense, and he is clutching his program.

Jim: He’s gotta be…

Panel Three

Shot of Jim from a different angle, looking at different pretentious people. He still hasn’t found who he’s looking for.

Jim: …here somewhere.

Panel Four

Jim has stopped towards the end of the hallway, where he has found who he was looking for. It is Scott, the performer of the evening. We see a bird’s eye view of Jim’s foot in the immediate foreground, and are looking up at Scott, who is holding a martini glass, holding casual conversation with a man in glasses. Scott and the man with glasses are blurred by shadow.

Jim: Mr. Black…I, um, I’d like to speak with you.

Panel Five

Closer shot of Scott and the man with glasses. Scott has stepped forward, and is now half in, half out of the shadows. He looks tired and cynical.

Scott: And who are you?

Page Three

Panel One

All three men are now in the shot. Jim is stepping towards Scott, who is directing his position to the man in the glasses, who is stationary.

Jim: Just a…just a guy who saw your show.

Scott: Please excuse me for a moment.

Man with Glasses: Certainly.

Panel Two

Jim’s expression is somber, yet it is only in reflection. Scott looks innately miserable, and is shaking his head.

Jim: Your speech on 9-11 really hit me. I was on Wall Street when it happened. I saw a lot of people die.

Scott: Que sera, I guess. Terrible thing. Terrible.

Panel Three

Closer shot of Jim’s face and hands. He now has that youthful, idealistic expression on his face that makes you want to vomit.

Jim: But it brought us together. It made us stronger. I swear, even the cabbies were nicer.

Scott (off panel): Did it though? New Yorkers are a miserable lot.

Panel Four

Scott is pulling a cigarette out of a pack.

Scott: They just don’t care. Too busy making deals and catching trains.

Panel Five

Scott lights his cigarette. Jim is positioned slightly behind him, in the shadows.

Scott: What did Shakespeare say about life? It’s a walking shadow. A poor player. A tale told by an idiot.

Jim: Signifying nothing. Yeah, yeah, I don’t buy that.

Panel Six

Wider shot of the two men. They are now surrounded by both men and women who are wearing VIP badges, and carrying coffee cups and martini glasses. The new people seem to want Scott’s attention.

Scott: You should. It’s a crapshoot. Most of the time you lose.

Person A: Mr. Black, I-

Person B: Excuse me, Mr. Black-

Scott: Pardon me. I have to go now.

Panel Seven

Jim has stepped in front of Scott and the others, and is no longer in the shadows. Now, Scott and the others are. Scott’s cigarette has burned down, and is now little more than a really long ash.

Jim: Poor guy. He doesn’t realize how wrong he is.

Page Four

Panel One

Scott is walking down a dark, empty city street. His hands are in his pockets, shoulders are slumped, head is looking down, and there is a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

Panel Two

He sees a discarded paper advertisement in the gutter of the street that catches his eye.

Panel Three

Close view of the advertisement. It is for the show that he’d just performed.

Panel Four

Scott is walking, reading the advertisement, not paying attention to the street.

Panel Five

He bumps into a woman, who is walking in the opposite direction.

Woman: Watch where yer goin’, asshole.

Scott: Sorry…Sorry.

Panel Six

Scott continues to walk, as he tosses the now crumpled up piece of paper into the street.

Scott: Waste of time. Total waste of time.

Page Five

Panel One

Jim is getting into a cab outside of the theater. Most of the show goers have left already, but there are still a few people hanging around outside.

Panel Two

Inside of the cab. The cab driver is foreign, though not a blatant stereotype. His cab driver’s I.D. is visible on the dashboard .

Cab Driver: Where to?

Jim: Have you ever met someone who was just…so sad, but shouldn’t be?

Panel Three

Different angle inside of the cab. Jim’s face is solemn. The cab driver looks irritated.

Cab driver: Where?

Jim: Do you know who Scott Black is? He’s a writer. Performer. Sad.

Panel Four

Close shot of the cab driver, who is pretty pissed off, but trying to contain himself. He just wants to drop this guy off, so that he can find someone else to transport.

Cab driver: I do not know this writer. I just want to know where you are going.

Panel Five

Jim leans forward, gesturing towards the square hole in the Plexiglas that separates him from the cab driver.

Jim: Sorry…Sorry. Pinto di Blu restaurant. 71^st and Lexington.

Panel Six

The cab is driving away from the restaurant. Display signs of the restaurant’s name and menu are visible. There is a doorman outside, and a woman with a fur coat is walking out, arm-in-arm with a man in a suit. Jim is walking inside.

Page Six

Panel One

Scott is standing outside of the same restaurant that Jim walked into. The scene description is similar to the previous panel, however there is no couple walking out, and the doorman is positioned differently so as to denote a passage of time. Scott is smoking a cigarette that is almost down to the filter.

Doorman: Good evening, sir.

Scott: I hate publicity dinners.

Panel Two

Scott stomps out his cigarette at the doorman’s feet, directly in front of the door to the restaurant.

Doorman: SIR!

Panel Three

Interior of the restaurant. A maitre d is standing at a podium, and there are diners seated at tables throughout. A small, but classy bar area is just beyond the podium. The lighting is soft, there are paintings on the wall, and Mediterranean plants decorate the establishment. Jim is standing near the bar holding a wine glass, talking to someone. Scott is speaking to the maitre d.

Scott: I’m here to join the Kistner party.

Maitre d: Follow me, Mr. Black.

Panel Four

Jim has spotted Scott. He looks pretty excited. Scott doesn’t. The maitre d is stopped in his tracks.

Jim: Mr. Black! Looks like we run in the same circles.

Scott: Scott. It’s Scott. I have to be here. What’s your excuse?

Panel Five

Scott is following the maitre d towards a table.

Jim: Well, I…Look, Mr. Black. It’s all really not that bad.

Scott: I just met you. I don’t know if you’re a prophet, or a Mormon or something, but I have to go. Thank you. Good-bye.

Page Seven

*Panels One-Three all show Scott seated at a table with Upper Eastside art collector types. As each panel progress, he looks more and more discontented.

Panel One

Woman: Would you believe that the Guggenheim turned down Matthew Barney’s new project?

Man: Good.

Panel Two

Man: People don’t seem to understand quality these days. Right, Scott?

Panel Three

Scott: Sigh. Excuse me.

Panel Four

Scott gets up from the table. The woman who speaks, whispers the dialogue to another woman sitting next to her.

Woman: What’s his problem?

Panel Five

Scott is walking up a winding staircase towards the door to a balcony. The restaurant and its diners diminish in size. Jim is watching as Scott walks upstairs.

Panel Six

Scott is leaning over a balcony, smoking a cigarette.

Scott: Who is this show for anyway?

Panel Seven

View of Scott looking over the balcony at the distance to the street.

Page Eight

Panel One

Scott climbs onto the ledge, still smoking.

Scott: Not gonna cater to you bastards anymore.

Jim (off panel): HEY! Mr. Black! What are you doing?!

Panel Two

Scott looks at Jim’s shocked expression. He’s gesturing wildly, nearly falling off balance.

Scott: IT’S SCOTT! And I’m sick of it! Sick of these people. Sick of this farce. No one REALLY cares. They only want you if it suits their wallets.

Panel Three

The atmosphere is warped by Scott’s lack of balance. Jim is leaning towards the camera, as if to grab Scott. We see a distorted view of Jim from Scott’s perspective.

Jim: What about people like me? I just liked your story.

Panel Four

Jim grabs Scott by the arm, pulling him downward, and away from sudden death.

Jim: Empathy, Scott! You have it for everyone. That’s why it hurts.

Scott: They don’t care!

Jim: Some people do!

Panel Five

Scott crashes hard on the balcony floor.

Panel Six

Scott is pulling himself into a seated position. Jim is hunched over, with his hands on his knees, catching his breath.

Jim: Most…people…want…money. Some…want…insight. You’re important, Scott. You provide…insight.

Scott: Insight?

Panel Seven

Jim is leaning down, looking Scott right in the eyes. Scott, who is now seated, leans back on his hands, looking at Jim.

Jim: Yes. That’s why I’m here. For insight.

The Culprit

2009-06-23T23:22:00.000-07:00

As an insomniac child, I used to stay up late watching TV, even though I knew I'd have to wake up for school at the unholy hour of about 6:30 AM. Being what could be considered as a strange child, I also really enjoyed black and white films, so eventually the remote would guide me to PBS (Channel 13 on Long Island). Since beginning a course of study in animation, I've often thought back about animated works that struck me when I was a strange, insomniac child, and always think of the opening sequence of Mystery. It's an animation inspired by the late Edward Gorey's off-color, often morbid, illustrations. As a strange, insomniac adult, I am posting it to this site.

Quality

2009-06-22T20:25:00.000-07:00

While spending some quality time on the internet, I came across a few awesome short animations. One is of ridiculous fish singing My Heart Will Go On from Titanic, as cut-outs sink around them. I wish I had come up with something this clever! It made me laugh so much, I had to share it. I'll credit the animator(s) as soon as I find the necessary information.
The other is a piece entitled Collision, by Royal College of Art graduate Max Hattler. He clearly conveyed social/political perspectives using only simple patterns, precise timing and appropriate sound effects. To me, that's brilliant.

Videos

2009-06-14T17:44:00.000-07:00

Since I've been griping about the degradation in quality that occurs when a video is uploaded to this site, I decided to post them via You Tube. For some reason, I still can't get the flying piece of toast to upload well, and it's making me a sad panda.

In addition

2009-06-13T18:06:00.000-07:00

While I'm at it, I figured I'd post some pieces that were created during my stay in John Larison's Materials and Techniques for Sequential Art class.
The first is a work in progress acrylic painting of a mountain range in Utah. The saturation level is still too high, and I feel that two more layers should suffice to tone it down. I will post that image when it's completed.
The second was my way of reflecting upon a negative experience I had in February with a man who was breaking into my roommate's car. Working as a student animator often requires that we keep late hours, and one night, I found myself returning to my apartment at 3 am. Apparently, I wasn't the only one outside. A man, who I so lovingly described as a "crackhead," was there as well. We had a conflict, which mainly involved me yelling at him to leave the premises. I have never been both so grateful for, and so afraid of, my loud New York mouth. Anyway, when it was time to create a 3 panel scratchboard comic, I decided to revolve my story around the characterization of a crackhead. Instead of conveying negativity with text, I chose to include lyrics from the gospel song Farther Along.
The third image is a watercolor, involving a cranky humanesque character, who really wants his toxic piece of toast. Alas, his breakfast manages to escape, yet reaches a sorry end on the kitchen floor. I have to admit that, mixing some of those blues and greens, was absolute torment.
I was oddly obsessed with toast during the quarter, and if you flip through to one of the earlier posts, you will see a simple animation I created in Flash, which also involves a flying piece of toast. Sometimes, I don't even understand my sense of humor.

I love the smell of 928 GB of free space in the morning...

2009-06-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

So, I have finally arrived in my home state of New York. I need a job. Pronto. Wish me luck. As of now, I am living on Weight Watchers microwave meals (they're on sale at the grocery store), and watching reruns of The Golden Girls. It really is a well written show. When I'm that old, I'd like to be a combination of Sofia Petrillo and Blanche Devereaux.
Aside from the thrilling existence described above, I have also been making alterations to Transmissions, while as always, listening to Brazilian music. I still have more of it to work on, and am aiming to have it completed enough within the next few days, as I have other projects to get started on. So, here I am posting the new introduction, as well as a still image of what the ending will look like. What am I going to do with all of those buildings? You'll find out sooner than later. The sound isn't quite correct yet in the intro, but what else is new? Enjoy!

And in the end.....

2009-05-27T05:44:00.000-07:00

Well, it's done-for now. There are elements of this project that I'm really happy with, and things that I feel need altering. This film is definitely something I want to elaborate upon over the summer.
I ended up editing the last line "He still lives in that city. I wonder if he's still sad...." because, when it really boiled down to it, I was unsure of, well, just unsure of something about it.
I definitely changed some of these scenes, and eliminated the idea of using stop motion photography for the time being.
Basically, I ended up referring to my project as "fun with Photoshop." When I go back into it, I would like to add the stop motion photography, as well as incorporate frame-by-frame animation. Syncing sound in After Effects is an awkward process, and Premiere seems a bit rudimentary. Needless to say, my sound clip isn't perfectly aligned at the moment, but I'll fix that as soon as I can.
When beginning this piece, I realized that I was going to have to make some edits, as my original ideas were too ambitious. I thought about how much fun I'd had cutting up photographs for the walk cycle, and decided that manipulating photos was the way to go. I even wanted to make jaw flapping dialogue, and I'll tell you now that that part is going when I rework this.
My friend Jose recorded me reciting something I wrote, and I was fortunate enough to stumble upon the Kid Koala track that I did.

In the beginning, there were, well, shapes.

2009-05-26T06:59:00.000-07:00

This is a clip of the introduction without text. It has sound! For this, I've utilized a portion of a Kid Koala song. For those of you unfamiliar with him, he is a Montreal, QC - based DJ. I became familiar with this song, believing that it was called "Drunk Trumpet," as this was the title given to it on my internet playlist; however, I've since learned that it is not that particular song. I've searched around to find its exact title, but cannot. Oh well.

Design

2009-05-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

Many of the design elements of this project came about throughout the creation process. Prior to beginning this, I'd felt that I needed to develop a greater sense of comfort with manipulating valuable programs such as Photoshop. Much of what you see in my film has involved me memorizing, via practice, certain tools (ie, magnetic lasso), procedures (ie, layer masking) and augmentation techniques (ie, adjustments, levels, hue/saturation). So, knowing all of this, I hope that you can get a better glimpse at the stills in this post. Please not that, upon looking at the scene involving the blurred out signs and the text, I felt that I could have accentuated the contrast more. I will more than likely fix it over the summer.

It Continues...!

2009-05-24T14:08:00.001-07:00

Here is an updated clip of the combined Radio, Contact and Map sequences. This one is mute as well. I figure, I'll spare everyone until everything is combined. Once again, I'm not thrilled with the way the animation translates when uploaded to this site.

Contact Information

2009-05-24T04:26:00.001-07:00

A still shot of the contact sequence.

Clock Radio

2009-05-23T23:42:00.001-07:00

Here is a clip of the clock radio segment. Again, this one does not contain sound.

Introduction

2009-05-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

Here is a clip of the introduction without sound. Again, the .mov file didn't really translate well when uploaded to this site.

Numerical Introduction

2009-05-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

The film's introduction involves the images you see in this post. Basically, instead of an establishing shot, it begins with an extreme close-up, then leads the audience into the full scope of the first scene. Posted are those introductory images.

Belated

2009-05-17T00:18:00.000-07:00

I neglected to post these earlier, so am doing so now. They are the videos from our "jump" tutorial. The first is the specific material assigned to the whole class; the second is my own creation. It involves a yellow and green piece of toast getting shot out of a toaster. For some odd reason, I have been fascinated by toast all quarter, and have used it for projects in both this, and my Sequential Art class. I've posted that piece here as well. Who would've thought that crusty pieces of heated up bread could fuel multiple assignments? Regardless, when I uploaded it to this site, it appears like the motion is "sticking;" however, it does not appear that way in the actual .mov file. I checked all of my export settings, and they don't seem to be causing this.

Radio Killed...ummm.....Vaudeville?

2009-05-06T06:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a screen shot from the clock radio segment. I'm posting this so that everyone can get an idea of the general design theme of the film. I adjusted the contrast issues from the other day.

Non-Representational

2009-05-06T05:14:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the backdrops for my film. The top one, which is the proper orientation, is a version which was tinted in Photoshop, and the bottom is the original painting. It's an ink/ink wash/salt splatter reminiscent of Ralph Steadman and Jackson Pollock. The rest of the backdrops are also relatively non-representational, but not of the same exact style.
Also, this past weekend, Jose Landron was nice enough to record the narration for me. Due to time and resource constraints, I ended up reciting the piece myself, so I guess I'll have to deal with listening to my own recorded voice over and over again while I'm working.

Name Change

2009-05-04T05:08:00.000-07:00

I've decided to change the name of my film to Transmission. I feel that the general theme of the whole thing involves movement/mobility, and well, communication is transmitted, transmissions make cars go vroooom, and even this is transmitted. So, yes, transmission it shall be.

Schedule

2009-04-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

It's film making time! I'm both excited and nervous at the same time. Here is a schedule that I will do my best to adhere to over the next few weeks:

Sat. Apr 25th- Fri. May 1st
- Assemble necessary cut outs for such segments
-Shoot photography/augment frames for pixelation animation
-Further solidify design elements for piece
-Find a sound designer

Sat May 2nd- Fri. May 8th
-Research movements of falling paper
-Begin to assemble cut out/ scenes
-Tweak pixelation animation
-Test transitions in After Effects

Sat. May 9th- Fri. May 15th
-Rough animate frame-by-frame animations
-Test transitions once again

Sat. May 16th- Tues May 26th
-Clean up previous animations
-Further tweak, test and compile.

Well, looks like I have my work cut out for me, but I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Mojizu

2009-04-20T05:43:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago, we were asked to search through this site, Mojizu, as a means of finding inspiration for character designs. Being that my final project is a loose bit of stream of consciousness, lacking in definite characterizations, I couldn't seem to derive particular inspiration from that site.
I have, since then, gone back, and glanced through the characters, as a means of studying their construction, and have found one who I find to be pretty fun. I still have to complete one of the assigned tutorials, and will most likely use a shape similar to his for that exercise.

Without further adieu, here's a look at Plasmatic Boy, designed by an artist, who goes by the internet name of exitman.

Plasmatic Boy

This artist has other characters that I consider to be creative and appealing. While we're on the subject, take a look at this one too:

les yeux dans les yeux

Walk Cycle Tribute

2009-04-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

Creating a lip sync piece to Monty Python lines made me want more, so I decided to incorporate some of their humor into our walk cycle exercise. The assignment sheet said to "be creative," so that's just what I did. Paying homage to the animation style of Terry Gilliam, I collaged together different pieces from Victorian era imagery, and made a rather large-headed hybrid cut-out character in Photoshop. Apparently, she doesn't like Spam.

Lip Syncing - Monty Python Style

2009-04-16T22:22:00.000-07:00

For our lip syncing assignment, I referred to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and the words of John Cleese as the French Guard. These lines never fail to make me laugh:

I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries...Now, go away, or I shall taunt you a second time.

Surprisingly, I couldn't find the clip in it's uncut entirety, so pieced my own sound byte together from smaller ones. As a result, it's not 100% true to the script, and the noise levels fluctuate. As you can probably tell by now, I am not a sound designer. Perhaps, I should take a class. Hmmm.

Hobology

2009-04-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

This is a single page pencil illustration produced as part of a texturing assignment in John Larison's Materials and Techniques for Sequential Art class. I am posting it to convey the idea that the conception of one's work should not only be derived from personal experience and the stream of one's consciousness and/or conscience. Sometimes, you're given an assignment, and just have to think of something as quickly as possible. The criteria was as such:

Two detectives are standing over a dead body in an urban setting. A crowd has begun to form. There must be at least twelve people on the page, and the manner of death must be evident.

I referenced the city of Asheville, NC for the backgrounds, and decided that the characters would take on the appearance of contemporary hobos. My ultimate goal with this assignment was to see how much detail I could fit in a 10" x 15" surface area. I believe, at final count, I placed 15 people, a dog, multiple buildings, mountains, a dumpster, lettering, bricks, a hat and a rucksack. I made some edits in the final version, which involved the appearance of the blood, the tones on some of the clothing, and a few sizing issues.

Animatic

2009-04-13T06:25:00.001-07:00

In just under 2 weeks, I will begin full production on the piece seen in this animatic. As of now, the working title is Base-Communicate. Though quirky and pretentiously poetic, it doesn't sit right with me. Hopefully, I'll come up with a title that does - fast.
Please feel free to chuckle at my sound job. I recorded it on a little Canon Powershot, then proceeded to chop up the clip in Adobe Premiere.

Savanijam

2009-04-11T23:27:00.000-07:00

Every year, the Contemporary Animation Society at SCAD sponsors a contest called Savanijam. Basically, you form a group, are given a theme, then have 24 hours to create a short animation. This year's concept was Power. Dave Hale, Fay Helfer and myself concocted this little piece entitled Collective Brain Explosion. We received an Honorable Mention for Style.

"Style is the answer to everything. A fresh way to approach a dull or dangerous thing."
-Charles Bukowski

More Rotoscoping

2009-04-11T14:39:00.001-07:00

So, as you can now see, I posted that Capoeira video for a reason. I really saw this assignment as an opportunity to study dynamic movement, and get comfortable with drawing on a Cintiq screen. The sound clip is taken from this song "Hey, Magdalena," by Sergio Mendes. I have to fix the sizing and compression on the video, but it'll work for the time being. I seriously had A LOT of fun doing this. A lot. I wanted to roto the whole clip, but had to stop because of time restraints.

Capoeira

2009-04-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

To illustrate my fascination with beat, rhyme and movement, I have posted this video of Capoeira fighters. For those of you unfamiliar with the art, it's a form of "fight dancing" from Brazil, generally set to percussive music. The fighters do not try to hit one another, rather it appears that they simply play off of one another's movements as dancers would.

Rotoscoping

2009-04-09T01:16:00.000-07:00

As part of an assignment, we were provided with some of Eadweard Muybridge's footage from the 19th Century. Originally animated at 30 fps, I posted it at 15 fps to make viewing easier.
Muybridge's name is quite frequently mentioned amongst artists and animators, and somewhere in my subconscious, he's definitely on a pedestal. Apparently, in 1874, he shot and killed his wife's lover, and then his lawyer pleaded insanity, claiming that Muybridge's rash behavior was a result of head injuries sustained by the photographer in a stagecoach accident 20 years prior. Muybridge was acquitted.
Sorry, I can't resist factoids.
Anyway, I decided to use this man's footage as an exercise in free hand fun. Black and white photography creates such distinct shadow patterns, and I felt that rotoscoping was a great opportunity to incorporate that into animation.

Progression

2009-04-08T05:15:00.000-07:00

Currently, I am in the midst of tightening up the designs for my short film, and I am hoping to be done with that over the weekend. Everything that was laid out in the initial animatic is definitely at sketch level. I will be integrating pixilation into this primarily Flash-driven project, and if all goes well with my schedule, I'll be able to capture that footage in the coming week. I'll also be using cut-out animation to represent certain aspects of the film, in particular the fire and the variety of street and highway signs that make appearances. I am still undecided about whether or not I would like to frame-by-frame animate the hands, or animate them using highly illustrated cut-outs. I feel that, due to the time restrictions, I will keep them as cut-outs for the time being, then further animate them at a later date.
I will post the tutorial exercises when I feel that they are good enough for submission. I like to keep silly things such as blogs organized.

Shooting Script for "Base-Communicate"

2009-04-01T05:22:00.000-07:00

Shot #01: ECU-Zoom in/Dissolve

A number 5 is set within a shape-oriented design. Zoom into the center of the 5, and dissolve

Shot #02: MS; low- Pan down/Tracking

Narration: I used to think that new area codes equaled new existences…

A clock radio is positioned on an elevated surface. It’s time face says “516.” A hand appears from outside of the frame, pushes a button on the radio, changing the numbers first to “617,” then to “828.” All three number sequences are representations of United States area codes. Sheets of paper fall downward from the top of the frame. The camera follows this motion.

Shot #03: MCU- Pan down/Tracking

The sheets of paper continue to fall. The radio is no longer in the shot.

Shot #04: CU-Dissolve

Narration: …but everyone still has my contact information. There are no new highways when they all have rest stops.

Focus on a single piece of paper, which has fallen to the ground. A hand holding a rubber stamp reaches in, and contacts the sheet of paper. It leaves the frame, and the paper is left with a mark on it. Three rows of symbols of street signs appear, forming one-by-one in a horizontal direction.

Shot #05: ECU; Animated Transition

Narration: When everyone you know is just a thumbnail representation of…

The three horizontal rows of street signs are replaced with three horizontal stripes, alternating black-white-black. They leave the screen in opposing directions.

Shot #06: CU; x/lo

Narration: …every gesture you’ve ever made; every lie you’ve been told; every secret you’ve kept…

Open with a cracked sidewalk. A woman walks down the street, and we see only her shoes and ankles. Three words appear as she walks: gesture, lie and secret.

*Note: This whole shot is executed utilizing pixelation

Shot #07: CU

Narration: (continued) every secret you’ve kept…

The word “secret” is left alone on the otherwise blank surface. It shrinks, until it is only a line, which then travels across the screen, transforming into the contour of a male figure.

Shot #08: CU; eye level-zoom in

Narration: …every sad, lanky bartender, who wanted to run away with you in an air-conditioned car.

We see only the man’s face. Camera zooms in to his left eye.

Shot #09: ECU

Narration: We’ll laugh at nothing, and use the bathrooms in under-stocked, dirty gas stations.

The man’s eye is the only aspect in view. Lines shoot from out of and around the contours, creating a map. A car rides over the lines, as symbols for United States Interstates appear.

Shot #10: CU

Narration: Admire the crackle of burning cigarettes in the dry Texas air.

A fire appears as the road map fades. A hand holding a cigarette comes into frame. The cigarette is lit, and smoke appears. The hand moves out of frame.

Shot #11: MS-Animated Transition

Narration: No one will find us; no one will care-except for the debt collectors. They always have a friend’s phone number in case you conveniently disappear.

The fire fades, leaving only a smoke trail, which creates the form of a man and woman embracing. A wad of paper drops from off screen, and the woman opens her hand to catch it. She tosses it to the side. As it bounces off the side of the frame, it leaves a solid sheet which covers the screen.

Shot #12: CU-Animated Transition

Narration: (cont.) –except for the debt collectors. They always have a friend’s phone number in case you conveniently disappear.

Upon the solid-colored screen appears the image of Benjamin Franklin on the one hundred dollar bill. He blinks. The bill peels from the corner, covering his image, and leaving a solid-colored screen.

Shot #13: LS-Fade-out

Narration: He still lives in that city. I wonder if he’s still sad. He’d probably be much less attractive if he isn’t.

Lines form on the screen, creating a cityscape. They merge into one another, leaving only a single line, which shrinks to the ground.

The Premise; The Project

2009-03-26T22:01:00.000-07:00

For my project, I would like to create a stream of consciousness, experimental piece, which is a reflection upon some of my past experiences. The visual aspects of the film will be a mix of frame-by-frame animation, cut-outs, and illustrated pixelation. All dialogue will be voice-over narration, which reads as follows:

I used to think that new area codes equaled new existences, but everyone still has my contact information. There are no new highways when they all have rest stops; when everyone you know is just a thumbnail representation of every gesture you've ever made; every lie you've been told; every secret you've kept; every sad, lanky bartender who wanted to run away with you in an air-conditioned car. We'll admire the crackle of burning cigarettes in the dry Texas air. No one will notice; no one will care-except for the debt collectors. They always have a friend's phone number in case you conveniently disappear. He still lives in that city. I wonder if he's still sad. He'd probably be much less attractive if he isn't.

I have a full production blog for this potential piece, which can be viewed at:

www.base-communicate.blogspot.com

I will be augmenting the already existent pre-production materials, and will post them as soon as they are completed.

The Muse

2009-03-25T05:26:00.001-07:00

Lately, I've been inspired by sketchy, almost stream of conscious drawings, which I feel explore the the in betweening (is that last one a word?) of animation. I doubt that John Lennon realized he was an animator. Maybe he did.

A few favorite animations...

2009-03-23T06:19:00.001-07:00

I was recently exposed to a whole realm of animation that I had no idea existed. It makes me as excited as a 3-year-old. I am posting "The Man with Beautiful Eyes," by Jonathan Hodgson. Though his particular drawing style is not quite my personal preference, I appreciate the fluidity of his animated thought processes, as well as his use of intelligent literature.
Below that, you will find the 2009 demo reel for a Montreal based animation company called La Moustache. They're creative. I love it. In addition to that, I am also including a clip from Norman McLaren's 1952 film "Neighbours."

Getting to know you. Wait...getting to know me. I'm confused.

2009-03-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

Hello there. As you can see from the title of this blog, my name is Stephanie Augello. I'm from New York. If you met me for more than 30 seconds, that would most likely be obvious, though I'm proud to say that my acting teachers eradicated my accent years ago. Yes, I am a reformed theater kid, and am also a recovering poet. When people who I have known for years ask me the question, "How did you decide to study animation?," I respond with the same explanation every time. I bet you want to know what that is. Okay, I'll tell you.
I have a prior degree in Fine Arts, and also a practical background in both film production and administration. I moved to Asheville, NC 3 years ago, worked in a bar, and also roamed the country in a variety of rental cars. After awhile, I realized that the job title of "transient" would one day look awful on a resume, so instead of choosing that career path, I decided to go back to school at the Savannah College of Art and Design. I thought about my previous background, and then realized that I also had no idea how to use a computer. I had avoided them for years because I'd thought that they were ruining society. I obviously got past that opinion. Anyway, 1+1+1= animation. So, here I am. It was an educated guess, really, and a serious pain in the beginning. You try learning something you're basically clueless about at the jaded age of 25. I dare you.
I have cats (Only 2. I'm not a cat lady.), a Volkswagen with a lot of bumper stickers and a busted window, and a rather large bookshelf. I still keep in touch with people I've known since birth. I have a list of things I want to do before my time is up on this earth, which includes climbing Machu Picchu, seeing Europe on a bicycle and living on a tropical island.