In all my years of blogging I have never had anyone flat-out ask me to share their work with the readers BlogDogIt.com until I came across Barry Wax and his blog called "Short Stories by Barry Wax." Barry Wax is a colorful figure of a man whose work with words runs the gamut from humor and poetry to politics and free-association thinking out-loud prose. A labor of love to be sure!
I do enjoy sharing interesting discoveries - that much is a fact known by all who frequent this place - so I told Barry I would poke around his prolific pile of posting and pick something particularly pleasing. I found the following poem to be a prime example of Mr. Wax's way with words and hope that you enjoy...
A prime example of the many benefits in supporting and promoting independent filmmakers came to me a little while back in the form of a new twitter follower by the name of Kyle Hester.
A visit to Kyle's twitter feed will show him in a relentless promotion of his latest Acting / Producing project Burden of Freedom, which promises a gripping story in support of PTSD awareness. You should check out the film's Sizzle Reel/Preview and support the project via their GoFundMe efforts, if you are so inclined.
It was through this vein of exploration that I happened upon Mr. Hester's Acting Reel and therein discovered a sparkling gem of a short film:
You may take the girl out of Chicago but you will never
take Chicago out of the girl.
Jen is set in her ways even after relocating, but ultimately gives in to her cousin / coworker's coaxing to glam it up in an effort to join the West-Coast "in" crowd. Jen is portrayed by the film's writer and producer Carrie Lynn Certa; a role that seems as comfortable as an old pair of sneakers for this very talented actress. Of course the character draws heavily on Carrie's own personality and as such results in a completely believable portrayal. Small wonder then that A Day in the Life of Plain Jen and Carrie Lynn Certa (Ursa Productions) were awarded the 2011 Accolade Competition's Award of Excellence for Leading Actor.
Kyle Hester offers up a note-worthy performance himself as Matthew, Jen's primary "plot complication." Together this match-up results in an explosive "chemical" reaction that leaves jaws, walls and furniture arrangements feeling the effects of their having come together. This action packed short film is expertly produced with precious little indicators of its independent origins.
Having seen the behind the scenes reel prior to watching the actual finished production I probably did myself no favors - beyond getting to know the cast and crew a little bit better, going in - but it was all the motivation I needed to seek out this brilliant example of independent cinema and I am so glad I did.
This was a very entertaining diversion and great fun to watch. I regret that I came to this creation too late to catch it on the festival circuit but I have no doubt that every screening room was witness to a smiling public exiting afterward convinced they had just experienced some 21 minutes well spent.
Thanks to Kyle Hester and Vimeo I can happily encourage you to treat yourself to this inspired work of art.
I am just watching the game,
sometimes hunting for the right moment.
You can find me in each and every
capture I make. - G. Dvornik
My previous post featured compelling image and words by Hungarian Photographer Gabor Dvornik as originally shared with Kendall Person's "The Neighborhood" Blog.
The collection of images shared to the world by this creative genius is as staggering as it is captivating. I implore you to treat your eyes, your mind, your heart and your soul to his extraordinary work.
You say you don't have the time for Gabor Dvornik? You do now...
Toronto may not seem a likely spot for top-quality lemon production but when the Lemon is Nicholas and the production is a Lemon Productions creation, I don't think "top-quality" is too strong a term.
I happened upon Nicholas quite on purpose during some friendly investigating of my Twitter followers. It will come as no surprise to the regular follower of BlogDogIt that I like to see who my followers are following because if they have the good taste to follow these humble efforts then the chances are good that others they follow may be worth checking out (maybe even following.)
The universe has been directing me toward the high art of puppetry of late so when I came upon Lemon Productions I was compelled to have a closer look. What I found was a very dedicated and talented Nicholas Lemon offering his services via social media in an understated manner that suggested he was an established craftsman and genuinely interested is sharing his passions. No doubt about it (as it turns out...)
In 1994 at the age of 14, Nicholas Lemon co-founded Lemon Productions, a live touring company. For more than ten years, this company toured Ontario providing countless live puppet performances. Using a camera linked to monitors, to enable the puppeteers to see what the audience was seeing, along with full sound equipment, lights and special effects, it was possible to not only entertain small intimate groups but, also to stage productions for audiences of 700 or more. Having a concern for the wellbeing of young people and wanting to be a positive role model, plus the fact that the scripts were written by the company, allowed them to fit the specific needs of schools, corporations, community groups, special events, etc. --- More ---
I'll just let Nicholas set-up the following embedded clip...
Story behind the film:
I've always been fascinated with old school comedy and the pure silliness that it holds. It's a perfect jumping-off point for a character to show their personality.
Kevin and Herkimer are two vaudeville comics (and brothers) spending the rest of their lives in Purgatory because they "borrowed" the lookout's binoculars on the Titanic and forgot to put them back. Not to mention that they worked that material into their act upon arrival in New York).
So, they have been charged with entertaining Seven Circles of Hell...albeit with the same level of comedy skills they had when they were alive.
Dante's Cabaret Night 2
UPDATE: Unfortunately The Featured Video is no longer available. In its place is this Keven and Herkimer act - while not as good as the one originally featured, it should give you the idea...
UPDATE: Another Keven and Herkimer act has been made available - still not the originally featured bit but getting there :/...
To shine a spot light on Noël ILL is akin to pointing a flashlight at the moon; so many features -vs- so little light.
I have been following the work of Noël for a couple of years now and am still learning about her many talents and areas of interest.
I first discovered Noël as the earthling behind "Saucer Time" and soon found that "Independent UFO Researcher" was just the proverbial tip of her iceburg proportioned resume
From NoelIll.com:"Noël ILL earned her BFA in illustration from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Her personal artwork has been displayed in art galleries around the U.S. Throughout her freelance design and illustration career, she has had the opportunity to apply her artwork and tasteful design sense to the publishing and entertainment media fields. While working as a character artist on the animated series, The Life and Times of Tim, she provided a voice over on one of the episodes that kick started her voice acting career. Noël's hobbies include performing on-line puppet shows, writing and playing music, blogging for her UFO blog Saucer Time! and watching history documentaries on Youtube."
A source for UFO and extraterrestrial independent research: SaucerTime.com is maintained by UFO witness and
independent UFO researcher, Noël ILL.
Alissa Grosso is one of those folks that seem to have the internet all figured out. It was her serious diversification into all the social media avenues that suggested to me that this is an individual connected and in touch. I first learned of Alissa via Twitter so I can honestly say that Twitter does have at least one redeeming quality.
So what is it about Alissa Grosso that sets her apart from others who rely so heavily on social media? Is it the fact that she is an author? Oh heavens, no - show me an author and I'll show you someone social media savvy (more than likely) - Alissa is not the typical in-your-face, buy-my-book, author/promoter. She is however, persistent, powerful and oh so Awkward™
Of course Alissa did not just wake one morning and decide to affix the label "Author" (awkward or otherwise) to her name; she has earned the title through the hard work and "dedication to craft" that has resulted in the publication of three very well received novels that have brought her much acclaim.
There can be no dispute that her very first novel was Popular. We all know not to judge a book by its cover but I think that this cover points to cleverness by virtue of the title alone. "Popular" - a killer title by any measure; but in the genre of YA? This is a pick-it-up-and-flip-through-it type of book cover if ever there was one. However, since I did not discover Alissa Grosso in the book store it was other equally effective techniques that ultimately resulted in my having consumed the work. And now I feel compelled to recommend that you do likewise.
So how did she do it? How did she get her "High School Clique Drama - YA Fiction" into the hands of a 50+, fiction adverse, creepy old man? Well, it all started with a book trailer:
Video book trailer for the YA novel Popular by Alissa Grosso, available from Flux.
For reigning popularity queen Hamilton Best, the very idea of graduation is filled with fear. She's always been the star of Fidelity High's most exclusive clique, idolized for her perfection and her fabulous parties—you know you're "in" when you make Hamilton's guest list. As high school draws to a close, Hamilton is about to lose everything that makes her who she is.
To make matters worse, the clique is slowly coming apart at the seams. Although the hand-picked members—Olivia, Zelda, Nordica, and Shelly—all have their own agendas, desires, and secrets, they do have one thing in common: they're desperate to break away from Hamilton. Yet Hamilton has the biggest and most shocking secret of all, one that only her devoted boyfriend Alex knows. If the truth got out, it would completely destroy her fragile world.
And she'll do anything to keep that from happening.
And then there was the offer to begin reading:
I thought, "hey this is nice..." and jumped right in and started reading; thinking all the while I would stop at some point and return to my pre-Grosso activities. Before I knew it I was enthralled with this author's unique style of story telling and soon found myself at the end of this rather generous excerpt and eager to turn yet another page. Alissa you crafty trickster you! I was hooked, and soon (metaphorically) hit the streets in search of those high school girls that had so innocently gotten under my skin.
Not being the independently wealthy sort - of course I am rich in love and happiness (and all that) but did not find where Amazon was accepting those methods of payment - I went online to my local library and entered a hold request for the public copy owned by the citizenry of Indianapolis. Before too long I received notification that the book had arrived at my local branch and drove on over to pick it up. Trying my best not to put forth an "Aqualung" vibe I collected the item, allowed the swipe of my card and left the institution with the balance of that Fidelity High tale right there in my (really not greasy) hands.
If I thought Alissa Grosso was a "Crafty Trickster" before - by simply getting the book into my hands - I was not aware of the mere "half" nature of that perception. With book at hand the only thing standing between me and "the end" was finding the time - in a very busy schedule - to read. This was a page-turner to be sure. A genuine hate-to-put-it-down novel that taunted me whenever I would see it setting idle beneath the reading lamp, daring me to think I knew how it would end, mocking my priorities to the point I would often shirk responsibilities so that I could catch-up with the clique; just a few more chapters - I promise.
I really can't say more than the publisher's description for fear of spoiling what the author has so brilliantly constructed. However, I will add that although this is obviously targeted to the YA reader - who will no doubt, eagerly share this with all their friends - it represents an admirable work of fiction, sure to entertain anyone with a proclivity towards clever writing. It took me back to my youth and taught me a lesson or two. Let's just leave it at that.
I am now the proud owner of Alissa Grosso's second novel "Ferocity Summer" - I confess I am avoiding all excerpts for this one and will instead wait to crack it open until I can devote the attention that I am certain it deserves. I'll let you know how it goes...
In the mean-time, you too should get to know this lovely, talented, multiple-hat donning, internet dweller and Awkward Author:
I have really been hoping to find something worthy of shining the BlogDogIt spotlight upon. Lately I have been doing good to visit my friend's websites not to mention exploring cyberspace looking for gold. As it happens, so often one thing leads to another and before you know it you find yourself on a website that threatens to steal the rest of your morning...
Giggling In The Gutter is exactly one of those sorts of discoveries. I want to share with you the following post regarding Max Planck, since it was the article that caught my attention. I invite you also to read About gigglinginthegutter. The website is a cornucopia of deep thinking and thoughtful expression - if you have ever pondered the meaning of life you are sure to discover a kindred spirit while gigglinginthegutter.
“As a man who has devoted his whole life to the most clear headed science, to the study of matter, I can tell you as a result of my research about atoms this much: There is no matter as such. All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter.”
Max Planck was the originator of Quantum Mechanics, and gives his name to the Planck Constant, relating energy to frequency and to the Planck Length – the smallest measure of length, below which nothing is knowable. He was a committed Lutheran; like many great scientists, one who questioned the nature of God’s knowability – but not God’s existence. “I am a deeply religious man, but that does not necessarily mean that I believe in a Christian God or even a personal God”.
He took issue with Pauli, Heisenberg and Bohr on their “Copenhagen Interpretation” of the results of quantum mechanical experiments – holding that eventually all matter would be found simply to be wave form. Odd, of course – given that it was his work that showed that photons behave as packets or quanta (it had much earlier been shown that light behaves as a wave). He eventually was proved wrong and the duality of existence at the fundamental level – both material and immaterial has now been proved.
He held that science was capable of answering only so much:
“Religion belongs to that realm that is inviolable before the law of causation and, therefore closed to science”.
And again:
“We might naturally assume that one of the achievements of science would have been to restrict belief in miracle. But it does not seem to do so.”
He most certainly would not have tolerated the current lazy assumption that in some way science and religion are incompatible or opposed to each other:
“There can never be any real opposition between religion and science; for one is the complement of the other. Every serious and reflective person realizes, I think, that the religious element in his nature must be recognized and cultivated if all the powers of the human soul are to act together in perfect balance and harmony. And indeed it was not by accident that the greatest thinkers of all ages were deeply religious souls”.
And:
“the movement of atheists, which declares religion to be just a deliberate illusion, … eagerly makes use of progressive scientific knowledge. It is the steady, ongoing, never-slackening fight against scepticism and dogmatism, which religion and science wage together . The directing watchword in this struggle runs from the remotest past to the distant future: ‘On to God’”.
So maybe he is not the funniest comedian you've seen all year. He may well be one of the funniest Autistic comics you will come across though. Watching him perform is a bit like walking around blindfolded in a minefield; you know they're out there... not sure where you're going... then BOOM! Comic Genius!
Brent "Tinfish" Warkentin maintains a Youtube channel [MegaTinfish] that is like none other. Visit him there and you will see what I mean (words would not do it justice.) I found this little gem among the collection and I think it is utterly priceless.
To continue your introduction to Tinfish
I recommend the following:
The BlogDogIt spotlight shines today into my own corner of the world. I have recently undertaken to update and manage the website of Mt. Zion General Baptist Church (my "church home" since the days of my youth.) It is a Wordpress website so I finally get a chance to see what all my cyber friends are always on about [smiley::D]
As anyone who has followed the BlogDogIt Spotlight Series will tell you - I would not draw your attention to a site that I did not think you would all enjoy. This one is no different.
The featured post encourages members to invite someone to Church - I would like to officially invite anyone in the world-wide audience of BlogDogIt.com to "Come to Church" (even if only virtually...)
So don't be shy; listen to the featured "podcast" - the very one that prompted me to create this post - or browse the sermon audio archives (linked below.) Get to know Pastor Mike - this guy is awesome! [smiley:thumbup]
Enlightening and Entertaining, Pastor Mike Stephens delivers insightful and edifying messages that motivate, educate and inspire on a variety of topics important to the Christian and Pre-Christian alike. [smiley:;)]
Have you ever invited someone you know to church? If not, why not? Did you know that most people, if asked, would go to church with you? Most likely, someone asked you, so why not “pay it forward” and ask someone else? Pastor Mike discusses this and many other ideas in this weeks sermon called,
A Podcast With A Purpose - Please browse our burgeoning Audio Archive featuring sermons preached by Pastor Michael Stephens, Pastor Billy Davidson and even the occasional guest speaker. Listen to one, listen to all. Free to download and share or enjoy with our handy on-site player! (Click Link on Right)
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that’s in the side that’s in goes out, and when he’s out he comes in and the next man goes in until he’s out. When they are all out, the side that’s out comes in and the side that’s been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.
When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay all out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. When both sides have been in and all the men have been out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!
(Update: Shortly after this review was originally posted we received an email from Insight Editions with a message from the book’s editor regarding the issue of Mal’s and Zoe’s rank in the Independent Army. Here’s the explanation we received: “In most of the flashback sequences and supplementary material, we know that Mal and Zoe were […]
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