To follow up from the previous angst saturated post “What is it all for?” written by yours truly, here are some issues regarding the film industry currently.
The Film Industry today revolves primarily among massive blockbuster film distributors who produce films that will cater to large audiences in order to maintain a high profit circulation.
Due to the high competition for sales, not as many quality films are being made. Movies are being made to sell, and look attractive to buyers. For example, you want to make an experimental film? Your distributer probably wont do it unless you throw in some romantic interest, and maybe a few action scenes.
That’s what people are buying these days.
Yes, great movies can have both those things, but they are loosing creativity. Characters are becoming 3 dimensional on imax screen buts are becoming 1 dimensional in content.
Smaller production companies such as Fox Searchlight are doing a great job. They’re doing well and coming out with great movies by more independent directors who are sticking to their creative vision more so than someone working for another company.
Honestly, I don’t see how I’ve gone this long without doing some sort of blog about Jack White and Third Man Records, so let me just start it by stating (or understating) that Jack White is my hero, so just about everything he does is awesome.
Third Man Records is the label that Jack White started in Nashville as a way to basically bring back the blues into the modern era.
One of the things Third Man has in their store that is extremely awesome is the reissue of the anthology of Blind Willie Mctell (one of the greatest guitar players ever), Charlie Patton and the Mississippi Sheiks (one of the first rock n roll bands ever). This is an awesome way to make sure that Delta Blues stays in our culture forever. This is some of the best music ever recorded, I highly recommend you all go check it out.
One of the acts signed to TMR is the incredible and unique Seasick Steve. Seasick Steve…well…he knows what he’s doing. One of his guitars only has three strings, while another one, that he made out of a broom stick and pie pan, has only one. Check him out if you like slide.
Some other artists that are or have been signed to TMR are the Alabama Shakes, Reggie Watts, Beck and Pokey Lafarge (check him out he’s awesome). But above all else, just go look around the website here, and you’ll be opening a door to some amazing music.
We look back to Neolithic age and see how simple the concept of what life meant to our ancestors was. It was all about the basics. Just enough to survive.
No social expectations, or rules. No technology, or government.
That same society has evolved in perceiving that life is about more than that, and life must be done a certain way. You must be educated. You must behave this way. You must be “civil”.
Well, who defined what that is?
Most will say that the way of life is going to school, getting a job, having some kids then passing away gently in your sleep. We spend countless hours, memorizing and memorizing figures and representations we are told is our reality in order to achieve our goal of having an impressive alphabetical or numeric representation of our knowledge appear sufficient enough so we can attend school again.
And what is the purpose of the University?
Well, any dean will tell you it is to give students experience and knowlege so they can function in the real world, and do what they dream of doing. But when it comes down to it, what was the purpose of that dream? Was it to feel good at the end of the day, or did it all come down to achieving wealth?
Yes, starting from the day your parents nervously dropped you off at school for the first time as an eager child, the purpose of it all comes down to leading you on a path of financial success. Everything comes down to being about money. That is what we have evolved into.
I think reading J.D Salinger was a big mistake.
Tyranny persisted after the dark day.
It did not come from outsiders or attackers.
It came from the people with power.
Of course they talked about safety.
Safety from citizens, safety for citizens.
In a sense it is just another way for control.
The people protest nothing is done.
Security it seems often comes above safety.
Detainment and profiling is the norm.
It seems in a time of crisis democracy slides toward dictatorship.
There are some who wish to be secure and free.
It is they who allow basic freedoms to be restored.
The slide toward democracy begins.
Denim is an american Icon, from levi strauss to James Dean denim has evolved through many subcultures and styles.
Denim enthusiasts gather online to discuss the subtleties of a great pair of jeans. Often drooling over the japanese made pairs that were created on old shuttle looms. It isn’t washed treated, or soaked before you get it. It is simply raw.
I have a pair of jeans that I find to have molded to me. each fade and tear has a story. They still are quite dark, but after a few years of wear the denim looks amazing.
The fade on every pair is unique to the wearer and becomes a footprint of the person wearing them.
Here is another picture illustrating the huge difference a year can make.
Not only do they have to live in a state of complete dictatorship and just a pure totalitarian nightmare, but they think it’s a good idea to keep showing off their nuclear arsenal and taunting America and it’s allies.
This whole situation is so ridiculous.
Yes, I see that America is pretty close to last on the list of countries with good international relations *cough* Abu Ghraib! *cough*, but who in their right minds think that nuclear war is a good thing to get started?
Well, apparently this guy does.
Mr. Un, I’m sorry, but the US is capable and ruthless enough to convert your country to ash within about an hour. Yes, that’s pretty messed up, but that is a definite possibility if you take one more step in the direction of nuclear war again, it might be time to get out of Dodge.
Who is the man who rules the country?
The Tiger yellow and proud seems to be in control.
He roars and claws threatening his neighbors.
They do not believe his threats.
It would seem that he is not the one who is in control.
The Tiger’s uncle, the Lion is the true king of the land.
The Lion shatters the tiger’s claws and bites his tail.
He threatens the Tiger, the Tiger must obey his command.
The neighbors will not sit quietly they will invade.
When this happens the Tiger will be held responsible.
It is not his fault however for his gruesome crimes.
The Lion is the true king.
“Thanks for the adventure. Now go have a new one.”
– Ellie
I watched this movie three years ago, and I was moved by the exciting adventure of a flying house.
Then I watched the movie last year, and I was moved by the interactions between two generations.
Last night, I watched it again. And I discovered a part that I’ve ignored for a long time – the memory between Carl Fredricksen and his wife Ellie.
The film “centers on an elderly widower named Carl Fredricksen and an earnest young Wilderness Explorer named Russell. By tying thousands of balloons to his home, 78-year-old Carl sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America and to complete a promise made to his lifelong love.”
I did not realize that the memory was really playing a big role throughout Carl’s entire life.
There are no other words I feel comfortable putting in this title. I’m not going to show you guys the video or anything like that. This is mainly about how hard an athlete has to work to reach his goals. Kevin Ware is no different than anyone in the sense that he worked hard at what he loved. He loved basketball and because of what happened yesterday, he can probably never play again.
By now, just about everyone knows about the Kevin Ware incident. He jumped up to block a shot and while landing, his leg crumpled in a number of spots. According to reports, his tibia went through his skin and was exposed. This goes down as possibly one of the most gruesome injuries in the history of sports. It’s right up there with Joe Theismann.
I don’t want to talk about it too much. But what I do want to point out is something I saw on Facebook the other day. There was a picture by Adidas posted on their wall, asking the public “Is there anyone on YOUR team that brings out the best in you?”. I immediately started thinking about players I had competed with at any given time. I thought of a few, but after this moment in the game yesterday, I undoubtedly believe that Ware is one of the most inspirational players I’ve ever seen.
He spoke to his coach Rick Pitino and some of his teammates as he was being tied to the stretcher. “Just win the game” he said to his teammates.
A man who is laying on the ground with part of his bone out of his skin still tries to rally his teammates. And it worked.
Louisville won by 22 points and buried Duke. It was inspirational, and I wish Kevin Ware the very best.
OVS Journalism Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.