My blog

Label... Category... Standard Entry Video Information Press Release Event News

• birthday, burningman, blogs

  Friday, Sep 5, 2008 1:43PM / Standard Entry / Members only

  i just realized that last "blog" entry was a bit of a cop out and said very little about my life or the world around me.
  
  the birthday party at Shine two weeks ago was a blast!  so many friends under one roof. it's very rare to have old college classmates, former coworkers, wushu friends, current college classmates and raver buddies partying together. there were friends i've known for nearly 13 years and others i've only known a few months.  Eunice, the queen of homemade custom birthday cakes, made a bento box sushi-cake made from twinkies, fruit roll-ups, jelly beans and dried mango.  it looked awesome!  (can't say it tasted awesome as i hate twinkies...but i did try to eat one)
  
  here are some photos from the Shine photobooth.  despite what these photos show, there were non-Asians attending this event.
  
  
  
  my shining accomplishment this year was that i stayed on my feet throughout the night and remember the majority of conversations i had. 
  
  this is a huge improvement over last year when i celebrated my birthday at a DJ gig at 1015.  i blacked out after the third song in my set, but somehow continued to play another 30 minutes...until i was unable to operate the equipment and was carried out of the club.
  
  this past weekend, i travelled to Reno, Nevada to DJ and party at a post-Burningman event.  though i didn't go to Burningman this year (last year was my first time attending), it was a blast seeing so many familiar faces fresh from the playa.  throughout the day and night, lots of dusty, suntanned souls walked into the hotel.  i'm sure the regular tourists in the hotel were wondering what the hell all of those tattooed, pierced, strangely clothed freaks were doing there.
  
  the pool party during the day was fantastic.  the club at night was lightly attended, but i enjoyed the music.  i'd never heard J. Phlip before and her set was filled with some very refreshing sounding beats.  blippy and odd, but still very fun and danceable.  Justin Martin and Claude von Stroke were good, as usual.
  
  in other news, i've been watching the Democratic and Republican national conventions.  American politics = ugh.
  
  
  
  
  

  2 comments –  Add a comment

• Samurai Girl? *GAG*

  Friday, Sep 5, 2008 6:48AM / Standard Entry / Members only

  no, i haven't watched this.  yes, i've only spent about 15 minutes reading a few articles and interviews about it.
  
  still, something about this makes me gag.
  
  http://abcfamily.go.com/abcfamily/path/section_Specials+Samurai-Girl/page_Detail
  
  and this review just isn't doing it for me:
  
  "Although "Samurai Girl" may not be among the TV series greats like "Roots" and "The Sopranos," its importance in other ways shouldn't be overlooked: The series is yet another example of the ABC Family Channel's well-thought-out campaign to diversify its programming racially as much as if not more than most other general-interest cable or broadcast channels."
  
  give me a fucking break.
  
  sorry, Samurai Girl.  i'll be too busy this weekend watching Ping Pong Playa.
  
  
  

  4 comments –  Add a comment

• Music Help - Asian American/Asian band?

  Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 6:14AM / Standard Entry / Members only

  i need help finding a song for a project.  i'm looking for something that sounds whimsical and friendly.  possibly that reminds you of birds flying.  acoustic preferred, but not neccessary.
  
  also, it would be nice if the artist/band is either Asian American or Asian.  San Francisco roots/connection a huge plus.
  
  nothing too poppy and nothing too heavy.  few if any vocals.
  
  i know this is pretty vague, but it's for a piece for an Asian American film festival and the animation will have flying birds.
  
  i'm thinking kinda like Julie Plug?  maybe something with South Asian influence?
  
  help?
  
  
  

  7 comments –  Add a comment

• Bam's Birthday Blowout - San Francisco

  Friday, Aug 22, 2008 1:35PM / Standard Entry / Members only

  for those of you in San Francisco, you're invited to a little birthday party!  (the party is little, my age is not)
  
  Saturday, August 23rd
  Shine
  1337 Mission Street @ 9th
  9pm-2am
  Free before midnight with email signup at www.evilbreaks.com
  $5 otherwise
  
  DJs:
  Aaron Jae (EB/Space Cowboys)
  Evinrude (NetAmp)
  M.O.D. (EB/Strategik)
  Redstickman (FnF/Ambient Mafia)
  
  Music should range from breaks, house, tech funk and fidgit...but don't rule out the possibility of some kind of cheesy 80s track.
  
  My friends claim that I'm also DJing, but that's not in  my plan at all.  Taking shots is also not in my plan....but who's to say that I'm going to stick to a plan?
  
  
  

  1 comment –  Add a comment

• Creative Inspiration: Jamie Caliri

  Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008 2:14AM / Standard Entry / Members only

  We are surrounded by motion graphics daily and there are those pieces that really catch my eye.  Recently, you may have seen United Airlines new television ads.  One in particular always makes me stop and watch.
  
  It's called "Heart" and is directed by Jamie Caliri.  Motionographer.com recently posted the ad online here:
  
  "Heart" by Jamie Caliri
  
  More often than not, I automatically assume that a piece is completely (or mostly) digital.  In the case of "Heart," I wondered "how did they manage to capture this beautiful aesthetic of paper with that amazing lighting and depth."
  
  I figured it was paper that was then scanned and then animated in After Effects.
  
  I was wrong.
  
  I learned that Caliri also did an earlier United commercial called "Dragon."
  
  I also recall that piece striking me and so I checked Caliri's website where I learned that both "Heart" and "Dragon" were done with paper cut outs and stop motion animation.  I was floored!  Both pieces are so amazingly graceful with impeccable camera moves and lighting.
  
  Here are some production photos from Caliri's website:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  After you've gotten a chance to watch "Heart" and "Dragon," take a moment to watch the making of video for "Dragon."  You can download it here.
  
  In addition to the incredible craftmanship, both pieces have a captivating storyline.  I think in motion graphics and even more so in animation, it's the story that connects the audience to a visual piece.  It's all empty eye candy without the human element.
  
  Also, I feel like a chump animating on a computer.  Caliri's work is amazing!
  
  
  

  2 comments –  Add a comment

45

1/9

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

>