The first 3D CRC Avatar was done by a talented PAH-FEST contestant from Slovenia. Just so everyone knows, BikerCHEF is very proud of the hair on his chest. He earned it. He would rather drive a motorized tricycle naked on the 405 in the fast lane than plucking out even one white chest hair. Seb, you and I need to have a little chat.


Seb Phelan.

Barrett Fox, continued.




FOR BRAINSTORMER UPDATES CLICK BELOW:
brainstormer blog

APPLE PHOTO BOOTH FUN

Revver:

In the Internet viral video market there are literally millions of videos out there, and while it is great that everyone now has a voice, how do you sift though them all? If you create a video and send it out virally there is a good chance that it will get lost in the ether of The Daily Show or American Idol clips and never get scene. Revver has a different approach to viral video, one they do not show copyrighted material, and two they pay the creator money for their content. How does this work? You as a creator upload your content to Revver, once approved your content is paired with targeted advertisement, once someone watches your creative you and Revver split the ad revenue 50/50. Another unique feature is that if someone enjoys what you have created they can embed the code on their site and Revver is able to track your video though out the web. While embedding other peoples videos is not unique, the unique feature is that the person who embeds the video gets 20 percent of the ad revenue while the creator and Revver split the remaining 50/50. It is worth 20 percent to have someone else help you get your video out there.

About Advertisement:

First you have to understand that if you upload your video to youTube, they get all the sponsorship money and you just supply them with free content. While some would say that it is "selling out" to have advertisements before or after your video, there is a middle ground. In Hollywood you have certain criteria for product placement and in traditional marketing for Television you may have to make creative sacrifices to appease your sponsors. With Revver your video is assigned a 15 second ad that you do not have to cater to anyone, and the success of your video is purely due to the content you provide and how hard you work to get it scene. Remember, there are hundreds of ways to get your video out there and someone is making money off of it, so it should be you.

ALSO, REVVER AND EARSXXI ARE IN DISCUSSIONS FOR A SPECIAL COLLABORATION ON THE UP AND COMING CRC:THE NEVERENDING MOVIE PROJECT. SO STAY TUNED!

Composers should write tunes that chauffeurs and errand boys can whistle.
--Sir Thomas Beecham

A little German style potato salad.

Barrett Fox is the creator/director of the Brainstormer Project, an interactive cyber thinktank space. Brainstormer is kind of like "Second Life", but instead of the 'anything goes' format it's a forum for idea sharing and creativity. If you want to have a meeting with 6 likeminded individuals from all around the world you can all meet together with Brainstormer and discuss your ideas. People can also explore what it's like to be in your personal 'head' space - e.g.: with CRC's avatar you can go inside my head and see the world through 'CRC Vision.'

Barrett was telling me how fortunate he feels, that he is working on his dream project, and how he could be working somewhere designing extreme sports video games or the like, but that here, with the Brainstormer project, he gets to be inventive, educational, progressive, altruistic and meet great people all at the same time. Barrett is one of the nicest individuals I have ever met. He is incredibly modest about his abilities, but he is a force who is and will continue to make positive change in our world via the Digital Arena. I am devoting two parts to Mr. Fox. One as scientist artist, the other as artist scientist.

MR. FOX, THE SCIENTIST ARTIST PT. 1



Below are links to get more info on the Brainstormer project:

brainstormer project

brainstormer blog

I hope to have some very annoying technical problems fixed soon. Please stay tuned.

This is one of the projects my son did during his day camp Maya sessions that INGI was holding.

Apple Photo Booth Fun. CRC with Joaquin Alvarado, a Bay Area DigiGuru who runs the Institute for Next Generation Internet (INGI) with some MAYA learning day camp attendees including BIC.

INGI has a very impressive group of professional digital media experts from software writers, MAYA specialists, game designers and educators. INGI has a phenomenal high powered digital lab with the fastest broadband I have ever seen. They managed to send a 4k uncompressed version of Lucas's latest Star Wars epic to his Skywalker screening room in real time via this ultra high speed broadband fiber. There were no hiccups. Only worldwide universities, research labs, and government agencies are tapped into this fiber right now, but that's gonna change with the help of INGI and other groups like it. Fiber optics is definitely the future of digital distribution my friends, not satellite or traditional film.

Joaquin shared his story of working with at-risk youth in Oakland, California. They were set up on an exchange program to share their stories via the internet with kids in New Dehli using a new program INGI has been developing called Brainstormer. The inner city Oakland kids were reluctant at first to tell the New Dehli kids about the stuff they had to deal with: drugs, prostitution, violence. They thought that the kids must be pretty straight in New Dehli. When the New Dehli kids came back with their own stories about dealing with being in the Untouchable caste, or being kidnapped and forced into slavery, or having to work 4 hours a day pulling a rickshaw before they could even attend their school, the Oakland kids saw how they had more in common than they thought. And the fact they were able to discuss their problems in a fun virtual setting like Brainstormer gave them a sense of hope because anything is possible in the Digital Arena. Joaquin and his team are using the new media and digital technology to accomplish what PAH strives to do; sharing our stories to bring people together...taking a ride on that Everybody Boat.

INGI and EARSXXI are planning to bring PAH-FEST to the bay area next year. Both Joaquin and I thought having it around Valentine's day would be appropriate, considering "I left my heart in San Francisco" and "If you are going to San Francisco, be sure to wear a flower in your hair."

Asked why it was dishonorable to return without a shield and not without a helmet, the Spartan king, Demaratos (510 - 491) is said to have replied: "Because the latter they put on for their own protection, but the shield for the common good of all." (Plutarch, Mor.220)

Bill Klein. He's a video game designer with an acute mind and a big heart. His modus operandi is to find ways in which his video/mobile/cyber/ARG game design not only entertains, but revitalizes a sense of discovery in us all. Many games play on our primal instincts like the thrill of violence or sexual conquest. I believe his concepts are in league with my own--new media designs which steer us towards personal empowerment (knowing one's self and creative potential) as well as community building/strengthening.

Check out his company webpage: www.extremeai.com




The DigiPostle finishes the interview with Mr. Bill Klein.

I was fortunate to grow up in an environment where one had to respect great art, literature, music and film. My father made sure of it. And I am glad he did. But, I also think the culture of the 60's and 70's embraced the masters of creative expression more readily than we do today. Now, remember I have a healthy appetite and affection for what one might call "pop culture" art from C drive-in movies, Gilligan's Island to "pet rocks" and Wham-o products, but I feel a little stunned by how we lost two filmmaking giants last week and it barely made a blip of news whereas the woes of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie seem to remain news worthy. It's a little sad.

Below are two quotes by these two "Old School" masters of human expression.

Film as dream, film as music. No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls.
--Ingmar Bergman

All the characters in my films are fighting these problems, needing freedom, trying to find a way to cut themselves loose, but failing to rid themselves of conscience, a sense of sin, the whole bag of tricks.
--Michelangelo Antonioni

Apple Photo Booth Fun.

I'm always amazed how quickly the modern youth picks up on digital technology. It takes me a few times to get the hand of each digital gizmo and specialized software I come across. Often, I apply my own voodoo methodology to get results from the technology...a sharp desk slap, an annoyed cough or a finger flick tap on the mouse does wonders when I get in over my head. I was dreading having to explain to the DigiSquire how to use the Final Vinyl set up I have. You see, I just figure things out through trail and error, so trying to explain how it works the way it supposed to work could be difficult for me. If you saw this weeks EARSXXI OFFICE BUFFA Opus 41, you might have noticed that I barely gave the DigiSquire a detailed explanation of how to use Final Vinyl. I even asked him if he was following me, thinking he couldn't possibly be because I was hardly following myself. HE DIDN'T EVEN TAKE NOTES. The DigiSquire calmly said, "Yes." Now, he has already digitized 4 albums out the 5000 he has yet to do. Being that he is from the DigiBaby generation, he will have no problem at all. And this what the DigiVangelist loves about the Digital Arena. I am able to mix old school with new school. While the DigiSquire is helping me by digitizing all 5000 albums, he is learning more about the history of music and art than he can imagine. That's the way I like it.


Unplugging from the World Wide Web and plugging into the world:

Damian the DigiPostle took a much needed break from life in the cyber world and took a trip to Mesa Verde in Colorado. With no Internet and no cell phone service I was in somewhat of a panic, but after a nice hike to the cliff dwellings everything was put into perspective. Everyone should take a little time to enjoy the beauty that nature has to offer and unplug for a while. The DigiPostle is learning well.

Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.
--Charles Mingus

Jesse DeNatale. Poet/musician/experimentalist extraordinaire

I met Mr. DeNatale at a party in the bay area. We talked about using the stories of our own lives and the lives of people near us in our art. I mentioned Josh White Jr. and how he tells the story of his father learning the blues as a shoeless boy by being the eyes for blind street musicians back in the day. He knew Mr. White Jr. very well. We talked about PAH and how PAH is dedicated to helping people of all walks of life share their stories and how I was in the process of getting a PAH FEST set up in the bay area for early next year. He gave me his latest CD "Soul Parade" which I listend to over and over during the rest of my stay in Frisco. He sings a touching song about his uncle the boxer called THE BELL. I responded to it. It's a sad story, but it made me feel the need to persevere no matter what., never give up. Actually, all of his songs resonated with me. They get in there like good poetry should...letting the little moments, the less is more moments, breath and resonate, gently tickling us like a nursery rhyme. When I got back to LA, I was fortunate to be able to see him sing live at the Largo on Fairfax Blvd with Adrienne. He's a wonderful story teller on the stage. I'm a fan.

Below is his song THE BELL.




You can read up on Jesse DeNatale, follow his live play dates and buy his CD's at his webpage- www.jessedenatale.com. Our mutual friend Tom Waits says this about Mr. DeNatale, "Now it seems that all of the best ones have been driven underground. If there is a leak in the boiler room, it is the music of Jesse DeNatale, a unique and original American voice.
- Tom Waits

APPLE PHOTO BOOTH FUN.

Final Cut Studio 2: Using multiple file formats

At PAH Fest Motown we took on the challenge of documenting the festival. The challenge was that most resources were used by the Mobi-Flick teams, and in order for us to document the festival we were forced to use any other digital device. Madonna University was gracious enough to provide Cannon camcorders to each assistant coach on the Mobi-Flick team and Panasonic camcorders to the documentary team. Meanwhile the PAH Posse uses MPEG 4 camcorders that shoot in standard def and in 720p HD. The multiple formats used to be a logistical nightmare for whomever was going to edit the footage because of rendering and the different aspect ratios. The new Final Cut Studio 2 solved this major headache; in this new version you are able to put as many different file formats as you need into one timeline without rendering. We had footage in HDV, mini dv footage in 720 x 480, mini dv in anamorphic widescreen, Hi8, HD 720p, and MPEG 4 footage. The PAH team prides itself on making anything digital work and it is a nice relief when the software you count on makes your life just a tad easier.

Remember, while it is nice that the software you use makes life easier, it is your challenge to create a story that moves people. It does not matter if you edit tape to tape or use fancy software...it is all about the story. Portions of the documentary will soon be posted at www.pahnation.com, so stay tuned.

When we blindly adopt a religion, a political system, a literary dogma, we become automatons. We cease to grow.
--Anais Nin

Back from Frisco...

Kathleen Thompson.

Ms. Thompson was kind enough to volunteer to be the PAH-FEST:Motown photographer. She also gave a talk about finding one's true voice and unleashing the CREATIVE PROCESS within. She is definitely a kindred spirit to PAH. Below are some of her collages she made depicting the PAH-FEST event.





Here's some more info about the class she teaches:


CLASS TITLE - WHERE SOUL & IMAGINATION RESIDE
Creating/living from your authentic self


Description - This empowering workshop will help you tune into your authentic voice.
You will gain powerful tools to self knowledge which will help you
recognize and release creative blocks in order to create the life
you've imagined living! This is an experiential class geared to
exploring the art of "being" creative - The ability to play and have
fun is a prerequisite. Bring a journal and an open mind.


Facilitator - Kathleen Thompson, award-winning photographer, author of the children's
book entitled "Sometimes I Am A Kite," And creator of "BeCause Cards,"
an interactive box of cards geared to inspire conscious
Living and Creating - will hit the marketplace in July 2007. Kathleen
spends her free time thinking of ways to think out of the box, studying
metaphysical principles, and learning Native American rituals.


WEBSITES:

www.KathleenPhotographs.com
www.ConsciousBeing.net
www.BellaWeddingPhotography.com