Film 101: Indie Film's Ancestors

I started my purse and pulse blog talking about The Bicycle Thief (1948 directed by Vittorio de Sica) which is part of the Italian neo-realism post-war movement. Italian neo-realism began when people like Vittorio de Sica and Roberto Rossellini (director of Rome Open City in 1945) started shooting on location with portable cameras, cheap film stocks and unknown actors outside of any kind of working studio system. This was essentially a movement created out of necessity—no access to sound stages, little funding for sets or quality cameras and no star system, etc…sound familiar? That’s also how TRUE independent cinema began in the USA. Be back next time with more on Italian neo-realism and the USA’s indie film pioneer …Who do you think it is?

Design: DISSIZIT!

a serious slice of dopeness. from graff to graphic design and beyond,this dude get's it IN. there's soo much i could say about his work....but like the shirt says,fuck what you heard...SEE FOR YOURSELF. check some of his work in the features section as well as his merch in his store. illy for really.

http://dissizit.com

Design: dopesauce

i've been blessed to cross paths with alot of dope people,places and things.things,people and places that have inspired me,helped me to gain a new perspective on life,or allowed me to reconnect to something thought to be lost forever. allow me to share some of what inspires me with you :)

big ups to my dude ewok. i came up with dude,met him when he was still in high school..as he was just transitioning out of the house scene and getting more into hip hop. dude had and ill swagger from day one...and his pen game was SERIOUS. his talent was only overshadowed by his character,i feel like this guy was a comedian in another lifetime or sumtnin. i met him through my homie sean (throwback shout out to sean's phat stitches ) he had a hip hop shop in kingston. when i met dude it seemed like we had known eachother forever. we exchanged books and ended up kickin it whenever we were in eachother's neck of the woods,we ultimately ended up damn near being fam...no scratch that. we ended up BEING fam. that's my man 50 grand. i watched dude transform from boy to man and i'm glad i was there to take part in that transformation. SERIOUS shout out and massive respect to one of the illest in the game....the infamous EWOK 5MH.

http://mr-ewokone.com/

Film 101: Irvin Kershner (1923-2010)

My favorite installment in the Star Wars saga is The Empire Strikes Back. This is the one when Han Solo ends up frozen in a carbonite cylinder. Considered Part Two when I was a kid, the film was directed by Irvin Kershner, who died last week after a battle with lung cancer. He also directed the James Bond film Never Say Never Again and Robocop 2. Seems Irv was a sort of go-to-guy for sequels. God Bless.

Fashion: Nous sommes

Nous sommes

Film: Dune (1984)

Movie Trailer

Made for 40million and receiving harsh criticism, Dune was bittersweet for auteur David Lynch. a prime example why I would never Direct any project that I didn't have Final Cut. Despite the bad reviews and the restraint on creative direction (David's compromise with producers), I still enjoyed the film a great deal. choose your reaction below

Film 101: The Bicycle Thief (1948)

When you first begin studying film (formally) you will find yourself watching hours of foreign films. If you don’t like “subtitles” STOP HERE and pick another major or interest of study because MOST of the best films are not from the USA--they are from Europe and Asia. And you NEED to see these films. Why?...because these filmmakers know how to tell a story and more specifically, a cinematic story. One of the first films you will see in Film 101 is Vittorio de Sica’s THE BICYCLE THIEF (1948). This film is a must and it is included in most critic’s top ten films of all time. See it today and see why. You will thank me. Here’s the TRAILER of the 1972 re-release.

Music : The Big Bounce

These guys are amazing! The Big Bounce (Brendan O'Hara and Komakozie). This is the act to look out for in 2011!!! If you wanna book them for a show, contact their management at TheBigBounceMusic@Yahoo.com

Film : Influencers

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell has been one of my favorite reads. This short film explores a similar concept with some insightful commentary by respected creatives.

Film : Windows Phone Ad. Really?!

The social digital revolution (everyone is either txt'n, tweet'n or on FB) so eloquently summed up in a one minute Ad. Our disconnect (ironic, cause we're supposedly more "connected") and our addiction to technology, keenly pointed out, in one word, by the perspective of the few who still appreciate being present in life's moments. Really?!