In January I shot a documentary that I have been thinking about for a while. It weaves Gandhian philosophy with First Nations history with contemporary urban textiles spinning and weaving all into a compelling story.
I am immersed in the post production process and I am happy to say that I am deeply inspired by this project and that it is truly a labour of love. It’s amazing how passion for your work makes it not like work at all, transcendence of the mundane. I can’t wait to share this project this Spring.
I was successful in slowing down over the winter holidays and I feel that I caught up on sleep and family bonding. Immediately after my two weeks off I was spun right back into my frenetic schedule by commencing production on a short film that I was Assistant Director for. The production was tightly scheduled with many locations so it was a demanding role and I found that I had boundless energy to dedicate to the production. I have another shoot coming up and am in pre-production for my upcoming documentary trailer as Vancouver is enveloped in snow.
pulling focus
Setting the intention for downtime was the kindest thing I could have done for myself and my family not to mention the productions I am working on. It was shocking that I found myself feeling anti-social at times and in need of complete relaxation and quietude. And the personal reward was delicious and insightful dreams that allowed me to connect to my subconscious and re-evaluate my trajectory. I enjoyed that deep and profound communication with myself which revealed new insights and inspiration.
Last winter I was in India enjoying slowness for 6 weeks. I didn’t have that luxury this year though I am grateful for the two weeks with family and friends. I see a bright year ahead with big changes. Wishing you the ability to actualize your dreams and infinite bliss, there is no time like the present.
***
I have watched many movies in the past month and Lars Von Trier’s “Melancholia” stood out on many levels. After Von Trier’s antics at Cannes this year I was curious to see his new film. I admire his originality and how he covers complex human issues. In his beautifully shot intro he gives the ending away so that there is no suspense and you are forced to delve into the captivating story. I would go so far as to say that this film is mindgasmic. At the very least you will enjoy Kirsten Dunst’s performance.
I am currently working on a documentary on slow clothes and have been in contemplation on how hand made items can deeply enrich our lives, how it is a necessity for us to make more of our own goods with 7 billion people cohabiting on the planet with a limited amount of natural resources. It is a fact that the majority of people in our society have no connection to the items they possess other than selecting them at a store.
During the winter holidays, when daylight is scarce and our schedules are full, it can be hard to maintain our bliss. I am coming out of a very busy spell with a schedule that kept me at school working on projects until 1-2 AM several days a week, and sometimes at school 7 days a week. Now that I have a few weeks off my first instinct is to sleep. My second instinct is to spend as little time as possible shopping for obligatory gifts and to spend quality time with friends and family, the people who fuel me. Taking the time for the subtle joys.
bright
The first thing I did with my free time was to buy materials in which I can create with. For the next few weeks, aside from quality time with loved ones, I am developing skills pertaining to hand crafted textiles. I am slowing down this season and that does not mean that I will be hibernating. Aside from catching up on sleep I am going to be less spread thin and more intentional with my time. As the winter solstice envelopes us with darkness I find my equilibrium, I engage in activities that recharge and inspire rather than distract and deplete. Moving forward with clarity and focus on what the holidays really represent and not so caught up in the superficial aspects of the winter holidays in North America.
drop spindle
I hope to create more of what we normally consume, always contemplating how to reduce my footprint. I look at all of the stores selling stuff and I wonder how much of it ends up in a land fill within a few years, barely making a lasting impact on the person who acquires it. I dream of a society that spends more time with peers creating rather than shopping for useless distractions that are depleting our Earth’s resources. I dream of people learning more traditional skills and combining them with our modern technology and wisdom to truly innovate and revolutionize how we be.
I slow down this holiday season and my mind feels anything but slow. I feel sharp and inspired. My heart is full and ready to give.
Truly sustainable textiles consider the land that grows the materials spun then woven into cloth. It is a human art deeply connected to the Earth.
This year during Summer Solstice I was immersed in a week of filming short films. That week was a culmination of projects and busyness that climaxed with the production of the short film that I wrote and directed. I am editing it now, can’t wait to show it to you, it was a lot of fun to produce. I had to rely on my inner light and a lot of matcha to get through that intense week that started at the end of another intense and busy week. ‘Bend‘ starring Cassandra Sanders, Micky Overman, and Jennie Graham.
My favorite film from the past month was Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris‘. I am amazed at his ability to express the truth that ‘life is suffering’ with such humor. Owen Wilson and Woody Allen are a great combination. Check it out, in all of it’s absurdity that only Allen could pull off so coherently.
I have to give an honorable mention to Terrence Malick’s new film ‘Tree of Life‘ that was produced and starred in by Brad Pitt. This film is more of an experimental piece rather than your typical Hollywood flick with a focus on exploring our inner world delving into spiritual exploration again covering topics from the 4 Noble Truths that ‘life is suffering’ and ‘the origin of suffering is attachment’. I am not sure this one will do so well at the box office though I think it deserves recognition.
My schedule is a little less busy for the next week or two, only slightly so. In my spare moments you will find me skating in the sun or on a yoga mat recalibrating my frequencies to calm focused bliss.
As we shift from Winter to Spring in the Pacific North West I am now established into a year long intensive film production program at Vancouver Film School. After coming back from India in February I started to have a strong urge to cultivate more skill and refine my craft. I have immensely enjoyed editing video the past four years and the collaborative process has definitely been rewarding.
I am glad I listened to my gut as the past three weeks have been amazing in that I have learned, laughed and pushed myself to go beyond my comfort zone. I am definitely feeling that I have made the right choice. Last night in my dream I was breaking down a script and then directing it. I have always considered myself as a visionary and a story teller and have finally put myself into an environment in which to hone these skills. By being in an intensive you can really live and breathe what you are doing and the process absorbs into your subconscious quickly!
As this is an intensive program, I am often in class for 11 hours in one day and am taking 10 courses this term, I am not spending as much time with my friends or going to as many events as I did before. I appreciate the support that I have been getting from my community and friends, I truly am blessed. To everyone supporting me in whatever way, I appreciate it more than you know.
Lucky me, I got to do a promo video for Buckman Coe for his upcoming album being released this spring. When I first heard one of the tracks that I used in the video I became super excited about this album, it’s magic.
Last Sunday the mighty Vancouver Public Library hosted the ‘Word on the Street’ festival which was ridiculous fun. I was asked to direct and edit the video of a flashmob featuring Vancouver’s ‘The Carnival Band’ and dancers which included my son Solen. The flashmob started on Thurlow and Robson and made its way down Robson to the VPL on Robson on Homer.
I loved coordinating 7 cameras plus audio, then editing it all together. I loved seeing Solen so excited to partake in such an event. And mostly, I love what it represented, the celebration of BOOKS! Yes, we came home with many new books, magazines, zines and even a CD & DVD. Vancouver is promoting literacy with a ‘One Book One Vancouver’ campaign and ‘The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy’ was just announced as the book of the year. What a perfect book for everyone to read, I fell in love with the trilogy when I was 16. This will explain why in the video Solen is wearing a bathrobe (read the book to find the significance) and the dancers are holding the book!
Today is Independence Day. Here is an independent music video I did for Buckman Coe.
The live footage was shot at the Railway Club in Vancouver, I didn’t use a tripod so it has that live show feel to it. We shot the rest of the footage around Gastown.
He’s a very sweet human so I interviewed him so you can all get to know him…
Can you tell me a little about the story behind your new single, Not So Far Fetched?
The journey that our two lovers take is a metaphor for being as unburdened as possible so that two souls can meet purely without our baggage getting in the way. Personally, I suppose this story came about after contemplating my experiences of romance over the years and realizing that along with timing and circumstances beyond our control, for love to flourish we need to have dealt with the clutter of our past. Maybe we just have some carry-on luggage at that point, and we can simply enjoy the other person and the places we visit together.
You are currently working on an EP. What is the focus of these new recordings?
The focus of this ep is to take what I’ve learned from recording Latest Waking and from performing a whole bunch since it’s release, and take my music to another level. I want to one-up myself and make the songs more dynamic, more moving, and more soulful. I am feeling way more expressive in my playing and singing, and want to convey this stage in my evolution. I will also be stepping out of my home studio and going into Profile studios in Vancouver to make use of worldclass equipment so that the sound of this ep will be simply luscious!
I notice you have an array of new instruments, what is turning your crank these days?
Oh yeah, I’ve been playing a ton of banjo and accordion these days. I love the emotional range of these two instruments tremendously. A few weeks back I spent half the night playing banjo in my apartment’s underground parking after a show, and got so into it I managed to lock myself out of my building and had to wander the rest of the night plucking about my neighborhood. Both these instruments will feature on the new ep, too.
You have incorporated storytelling into your live performances. How does this change your live performance?
It has made performing more interesting and freeing for me. As though I am stepping into my role in this world more completely. Traditionally musicians are often the guardians of our stories and myths. And these bards had an important role in relating these to their zeitgeist – the ‘spirit of the time’. There is also an element of theatre that I am reintroducing into my life this way, and I love the way it allows me to really stretch out as a performer.
What do you feel is the connection between music and dreams?
Both take reality and imagination and mix it up into something greater. When I compose or perform, I often enter into something akin to a dreamstate. I close my eyes so I can touch into that state, and then when I do open my eyes and look into the audience I can offer a bridge between the dream of the song and the reality of someone’s life. Or maybe I just look a little sleepy!
It is not so far fetched that we switch to more sustainable transportation methods and stop abusing oil based methods, that we fight wars with our hearts, and have a whole lot of ecstatic fun doing so… I wish that the US and all nations stopped focusing on their independence and started focusing on their interdependence, this would be cause for fireworks.
There is one thing that inspires me above everything else and that is when I see people spreading positive heart centered energy around our rambunctious planet. Even on a bad day, you can perform a simple gesture that spreads the love around. Don’t be afraid to let your heart shine in unpredictable circumstances.
