The BBC transforms a great Brian Wilson song into a video promo

Brian Wilson's great "God Only Knows" has been transformed by the BBC into a "for the love of music" video promo with a cast of thousands. I like it. The song comes from Pet Sounds, the Beach Boys' masterpiece, according to many critics, and one of the influences for The Beatles' Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. I barely paid any attention when Pet Sounds came out in the summer of 1966 as I was busy sharpening my dancing skills for Motown hits. Take a look...

Forget the networks -- get live video and on-the-street blogging from the Republican National Convention

We're beginning to get a sense of who will be covering what at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Forget the major networks and their talking heads -- they'll miss all of the important stories. CSPAN will have unedited feeds of the proceedings, and may even catch some of the action on the streets. My attention will be tuned to Laramie's Meg Lanker-Simons and her Cognitive Dissonance blog, whose irreverent take on the world is always refreshing. Go to http://cognitivedissonance.tumblr.com/. Reporting live feeds from the Romneyville encampment a mile from the convention center will be Mobile Broadcast News. Go to http://mobilebroadcastnews.com. 

Progress Florida offers the Progressive's Guide to the RNC at  http://progressflorida.org/rnc/

To be continued...

See it now -- Wyoming Video Contest

Big Horn Samurai Sinema's home-grown filmmaking talent on display in Wyoming Video Contest. Scary, too. Music by Ten Sleep's Jalan "Trailer Park Fire" Crossland.

A few photos from the filming of Democratic Party video at Cheyenne's Atlas Theatre

The band warms up the audience (and vice versa) for the 3/11 filming of a Democratic Party video filmed at the Historic Atlas Theatre in downtown Cheyenne. The video, filmed and produced by filmmaker Alan O'Hashi, will be out later this month. Stay tuned... Photos by Marguerite Herman.

Music on the wintry streets of Cheyenne

Homemade music video by hometown musician Reboot the Robot. Filmed in downtown Cheyenne. The city never looked so big-city gritty (and cold). Hummingbirdminds likes the song. Good job, R the R!

Take part March 11 in the filming of a Democratic Party music video

This announcement comes from Wendy Soto of the Democratic Grassroots Coalition:

Be A Part of A Professionally Produced Music Video

Enthusiastic Audience Needed for an adaptation of WOODY GUTHRIE’S “UNION MAID”

To Celebrate Our Great Democratic Party

Arrive at 2 p.m. for Refreshments & Instruction

Filming Begins at 3 p.m.

Sunday March 11

Atlas Theatre

211 W. 16th St.

Downtown Cheyenne

Is it art or is it Occupy -- or both?

On Sunday, The Denver Post's Ray Mark Rinaldi reviewed some of the first alarming outbreaks of Occupy-themed art in the city. An excerpt:

"As an artist you have a responsibility to be relevant, to put something out there that has meaning," said Denver hip-hop artist Molina Speaks, explaining why he feels connected to Occupy. 

Molina talked at a community forum Monday [Jan. 16], at RedLine gallery/studios in downtown Denver, an event that literally brought art and Occupy into the same room. The afternoon of speeches, performance and workshops, coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, was a smashing success, at least in spirit. 

More than 300 people showed up, and many had never stepped into the high-end gallery before. The Occupiers brought their message, the artists had their work on display, and the two meshed quite naturally. 

One workshop, about using music as a community-organizing tool featured Dee Galloway of the Spirituals Project and Jonny 5 from Flobots. Music met politics, and the singing could be heard down the street. 

"We are really beginning to break down those artificial walls between art and community," said RedLine's executive director, P.J. D'Amico. "Art has the power to radically reframe the conversation." 

--snip-- 

OCCUPY ART: View excerpts from the Civilians' cabaret show "Let Me Ascertain You" at thecivilians.org. The Lockerpartners have posted "The 99th Problem" on their website, lockerpartners.com (see video above). 

Read more: Rinaldi: The fine art of the Occupy movement shows stripped-down, naked anger.

"Come Together" at Occupy Cheyenne

YouTube video by Annie Shay

"The Tide is Turning," Occupy version

This beautiful YouTube video by Stonehartfloydfan is set to a Roger Waters song that I didn't know much about. So I looked it up on Wikipedia:

"The Tide Is Turning (After Live Aid)" is a song from the 1987 album Radio K.A.O.S., by Roger Waters. Though Waters had offered his services for the Live Aid concert in 1985 and was turned down by organizer Bob Geldof, the event still inspired Waters to write this song. After he had recorded the Radio K.A.O.S. album, which ends with a simulated nuclear attack in the song "Four Minutes", his record company informed him that the album was too bleak and needed a more upbeat ending. Waters then recorded and added "The Tide Is Turning" to give the album a more optimistic finish. Waters also performed the song with Joni Mitchell, Cyndi Lauper, Bryan Adams, Van Morrison with The Band and Paul Carrack and the Rundfunk Orchestra & Choir in the 1990 concert, The Wall Live in Berlin.

Make all Americans pay their fair share

Arts entrepreneurial idea from our neighbor to the South

Cool idea. No surprise that Colorado's Governor was an entrepreneur before a politico

2011 SI Snowsport Entrepreneur Award

Future leaders wanted. Apply here today.

The dynamics of business are changing. Something Independent is looking to hear from future leaders who are creating this change by embracing the core tenets of entrepreneurism – innovation, creativity, purpose and perseverance – in pursuit of their ideas and passions. In the creation of this first-time award, we look to the Colorado snowsport community, all that it represents and all that it inspires, to help us feature the ideas and companies that are poised to become leaders in Colorado’s new entrepreneurial economy. Is that you? Apply today.

Tell us your story by submitting a 60-90 second video demonstrating you’re idea, product or service, why you’re passionate about bringing it to life, how Colorado has inspired your idea and how the industry and culture of snowsports influences your business. All entries must be uploaded to http://tinyurl.com/somethingindependent by Friday, September 9, 2011.

This winning entrant will receive a cash award of $1,500. These funds will be unrestricted and may be used at the discretion of the award winner. Other benefits include a marketing & communications package from Sprocket Communications and media recognition from ColoradoBiz Magazine, media sponsor of the 2011 SI Snowsport Entrepreneur Award.

Requirements

·       Video entry required – 90 seconds or less. Tell us your story. Get creative. Inspire us.

        o      Video entry requirements

                §       Explains and/or demonstrations of idea, product, service;

                §       Why you are passionate about bringing it to life;

                §       How has Colorado influenced and/or inspired your idea, product, service;

                §       How has the industry and culture of snowsports influenced and/or inspired you

·       Idea originator must live in Colorado

·       Idea must be original to the person or business

·       Applicant agrees that SI has right to use their video footage for promotional purposes

·       Applicant agrees by virtue of submitting video application that Something Independent has the right to use all content, in any manner, all or any portion thereof or in connection with the Award

        Program or otherwise

·       Winning idea agrees to show how award has furthered growth

·       Deadline: Submissions must be received by 5 p.m., Friday, September 9, 2011

"Freedom Riders" asks: Would you put your life on the line?

An amazing documentary. My wife and I saw it on WY Public TV several weeks ago. Donate to Truthout and get a fee copy. 

Talking about Netroots Nation Monday night at Laramie County Democrats meeting in Cheyenne

Van Jones

If I can get my laptop (and myself) to function properly, I will be showing a few clips from happenings at the recent Netroots Nation conference during the monthly meeting of the Laramie County Democrats at the IBEW Union Hall, 810 Fremont St., Cheyenne, on Monday, June 27, 7:30 p.m.

Although I have an entire composition book filled with notes, I thought that a few vids might be a lot more fun than a reading a batch of my scribbles from the event. I am especially fond of Jill Sobule's new song about the Tea Party that she debuted at the conference. There's a rousing speech by Van Jones and a wry, deadpan address by Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota, Minneapolis hometown boy. And if we get bored, we can always look at footage of Wingnut Andrew Breitbart trying to crash NN11 because The Right Online conference across the street was so bloody boring.

So come on out. All are welcome. It's free, although LarCoDems' treasurer Gary Roadifer may badger you for spare change. Sometimes we have cookies. Get more info at www.laramiecountydemocrats.org

ProPublica video answers the musical question: "What the frack is going on?"

The good folks at ProPublica have produced a video rap that explains fracking for you. Here's the chorus:

What the frack is going on with all this fracking going on
I think we need some facts to come to light
I know we want our energy but nothing ever comes for free
I think my water’s on fire tonight

As seen on New West

On YouTube and in Wyoming: Jam with Peter Lewis and M.L. Liebler

Peter Lewis (left), one of the founding members of Moby Grape, and Detroit performance poet M.L. Liebler perform an impromptu jam in front of the deli counter during the 2010 Midwest Literary Walk in Chelsea outside Detroit. Peter and M.L. will be jammin' and workshoppin' from 2-4 p.m. today at the Laramie County Public Library in Cheyenne. No lox and bagels at the library, but lots of poetry and music. Bring your poetry and/or guitar. And it's free!

Turns on the lights -- the party's just starting

Here is a very creative (dare we say "arty") video by Alan O'Hashi. The corner of Capitol Avenue and Lincolnway (16th Street) in Cheyenne captured by Scott Eckburg during the Wyoming Plein Air "Quick Draw" event. The Hynds Building is shown on the left in Scott's painting.

His work is melded with "before" interior views of the Historic Hynds Building set to open for the first time in 24 years on September 24.

Buy tickets for the Night D'Light Champagne and Dessert Reception on line at http://lightsonhynds.eventbrite.com/

One has to wonder why a solid brick building such as the Hynds -- located in a prime downtown location -- was empty for 24 years. Yes, we are thankful to have the building put to such a fine use. It could be the catalyst for a downtown arts revival. Hats off to Brian Haberman and Rebecca Barrett (Link Gallery) and the new Cheyenne Arts Council and Alan O'Hashi and the Wyoming Cultural Trust and other visionaries. I know it's a cliche, but "it takes a village." And wily entrepreneurs. And, yes, government funding. Than darn gubment.

Local film fest features local filmmaker

Until tonight, I'd never been to a film festival.

"Film festival" means Sundance or Tribeca or -- even further afield -- Cannes or Berlin.

But not Cheyenne, Wyoming, as in Cheyenne International Film Festival.

They said it couldn't be done -- but they did it. Alan O'Hashi, a Wyoming guy now in Colorado (like so many Wyoming creatives) and his partner, Michael Conti, got the jones for putting on a filmfest in Cheyenne. They started last fall with Shoot-Out Cheyenne, a 24-hour hometown filmmaking marathon. And then turned their attention on putting together CIFF.

This weekend, all the films will be shown in the Historic Atlas Theatre in downtown Cheyenne. It used to be a movie theatre -- when Hector was a pup. Now it serves as the venue for the summer melodrama and several seasonal plays offered by Cheyenne Little Theatre Players. There is no movie screen or digital projectors. The dressing room for theatrical players is located down some rickety stairs into a spooky basement. You have to be Rube Goldberg to make the lights and sound effective.

Turns out, it's a perfect place for a filmfest. Credit to O'Hashi and his crew for rigging a screen and setting up a digital projector and getting the sound to work pretty well. This evening, an almost-full-house watched three films by hometown filmmaker Daniel Junge. Three wonderful documentaries by a guy who made his first video at Cheyenne East High School and last year had a film nominated by an Academy Award in the documentary category.

Daniel's father, Mark, is a long-time journalist and author. The past few years, Mark has been known as the guy on oxygen who rides his bicycle cross-country -- and sends dispatches to the Cheyenne paper. A fine writer. A storyteller. Damn fine progressive, too.

In his post-screening talk, Daniel credited his father and his teachers and his mentors in the filmmaking biz for teaching him how to be a storyteller. That's what it comes down to -- storytelling. Film is a visual method to tell a story.

As I watched Daniel's films, I could follow the arc of the story in "Come Back to Sudan" and "No Strings" and "Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner." I know stories -- I write them. I could see why "Last Campaign" was an Oscar nominee. Conflict. Tension. Great characters. Mystery. I was, literally, at the edge of my seat. And I wasn't disappointed.

Film festivals are sprouting up all over. Technology has allowed young filmmakers and newbies with a cause to join the fray. Said Daniel: "Democratization of video allowed schmucks like me to make films."

And even younger filmmakers are jumping in. "Kids have a visual literacy that's out of this world," said Daniel. "I think it comes through their umbilical cords."

Daniel said that he'd like to continue making films, although it would be nice to be able to support his family. He has four films in various stages of development. One is set in Pakistan and follows a Pakistani doctor in London returning to his country to treat women who have been victims of acid attacks by their husbands. He's researching a reggae-based school for the homeless in Jamaica and the medical marijuana issue in Colorado. He's also looking into the case of an Iraq War veteran in Southern California who murdered his girlfriend.

Not all ideas turn into films. But Daniel says that he's been pretty lucky that most of his subjects have become finished films.

Lucky for him. Lucky for us.

The Cheyenne International Film Festival continues at the Atlas Theatre through Sunday evening, May 23.

One more reason to like Calexico

Wow! Arizona and France and Mexico on stage in London. Hummingbirdminds craves Calexico.

"Science is the Poetry of Reality"

Thanks to Ellie Chamberlain and Kevin Shay of Tucson for referring me to this beautiful vid about "real poetry in the real world."

Great example of nuke animation

As I was saying just the other day, there are not enough YouTube videos on thermonuclear annihilation: