French Connection

J

Jon Oskar

Well-known member
"The prostitutes in my boulevard are gone, dam, this whole EU thing is really kicking in, hopefully they wont turn the whole continent in to a clean social conscious state like Switzerland"

Being a video/film maker in Europe, particularly in France is very different than being one in the States, and although the solutions and answers offered on this forum are grate, i sometimes feel that they don't quite apply to European situations.

Without wanting to exclude anyone, it would be nice to connect with some fellow French filmmakers, as i think we might have similar problems to deal with and it could be nice to exchange information, specific to video/film making in this country and Europe.

I don't know if there is any interest for this, but if there is. Please fell free to join this thread. Maybe we can just start by getting a man count going, find out how many if any of you are out there.

:beer: Jon
 
I worked in NYC in the early 90's on the west side in the meatpacking district for a "party design" firm, which means we set up parties ,did flowers for parties, and I mean million dollar parties. But what made me want to respond to your post was "The prostitutes in my boulevard are gone..." The meat packing district at the time I was there was where the transvestite prostitutes worked - they owned that area and we were in the heart of it. I grew up in Ohio, the midwest, and so to land in this part of NYC was incredible. I loved it. I loved the filth, the hookers, the drugies, the homeless. It was everything I had ever expected NYC to be and it was never boring. There was one bar that opened on the corner and the owner was stabbed the first week he was open. It eventually became very popular and in fact the entire meat packing district was eventually turned into Soho. But when I was there it was everything you not only expected but everything you wanted even though you might not have known it at the time. Those are the memories that stay with you and influence you as an artist. Check out my first short film, Kumquat, at www.oneaspenfilms.com I hope France keeps some dirt under her fingernails.
 
wbfish said:
I loved it. I loved the filth, the hookers, the drugies, the homeless. It was everything I had ever expected NYC to be and it was never boring. There was one bar that opened on the corner and the owner was stabbed the first week he was open. It eventually became very popular and in fact the entire meat packing district was eventually turned into Soho. But when I was there it was everything you not only expected but everything you wanted even though you might not have known it at the time.
Click to expand...

Here I go being the f*%king preachy guy, but I hate this slum-voyeur mentality. Hey that's great, a bar owner was stabbed! People are homeless! Addicted to drugs! Hooray! You're not in Ohio anymore, this must be the real city! WTF?? Life isn't a Tarantino flick, man. These are real people. Yeah, it sucks that Chelsea is totally gentrified, but I hate the romanticizing of violence and desperation especially by those who grew up in safe, sheltered areas (but, hey, maybe you grew up in a rough neighborhood in Cleveland - doesn't sound like it from your post, though. And I would still find this attitude abhorrent).

Sorry to keep your thread off topic, Jon Oskar.
 
I don't hate the romanticizing of violence, I enjoy it and if you like Tarantino and Scorsese you do too. You ARE the preachy guy. For me the best films that exist are the ones that make you think, that force you react. The world will never change and people will never change. There will always be the gutter and those of us who watch it and are entranced by it. For better or worse. It will always be there. You are a giant weenie. Grow up preachy pie.
 
No need for personal attacks, eh wbfish?

I lived in the gaslamp (Downtown San Diego) for more-or-less the last half of the 90's in the 10th & E Street Loft Area (before the ballpark was built, although I voted for it) and there is a certain 'romanticism' of living in the urban environment; I used to skateboard to my art lessons (with Lela Hartley of the Robson Gallery) as well as to the liqour store for beer and smokes.

I think the "I loved the filth, the hookers, the druggies, the homeless" take maybe set dustino off? Perhaps even rightfully so? As much as I hold a fondness for that environment (Whenever I return to that or my last summers trip staying in downtown San Francisco for example) I feel right at home; but maybe a second choice of words may help this thread?
 
You're right, personal attacks are not necessary. (Or are they?) But I loved my time/memories/experiences of New York City and Los Angeles and Ohio and Arizona and Alaska and Illinois and Colorado. The guy from France was sorry to see his home town being purified/Disneyfied/homogenized and I can understand that no matter where you're from. My strongest, most vivid memories are from NYC. I love that city and I try to go back there once a year. I still have friends there. It is the most alive place I have ever lived and I would be very sorry to see it turned into a midwest arena because the midwest is the midwest and the Big Apple is the Big Apple and will always be the Big Apple. I make no apologies.
 
Preachy pie? Weenie? NYC has truly hardened you, wbfish.

It's true that most, especially americans, have a fascination with violence. Human nature, I suppose. And you are right, Scorsese and Tarantino glorify violence and I do enjoy their films. But they are films and I love their artistry. I enjoy a sophisticated exploration of a lifestyle foreign to me and (somewhat) culturally taboo.

I do not however "love" seeing human tragedies first-hand. And believe me, I don't live in a nice neighborhood in Chicago. Prostitute found dead in the alley directly across the street from my apartment a few months ago. Not more than fifty yards from where I live. This summer, I was walking through the park about thirty paces from my doorstep and wondered what all the white crosses were doing in the ground. Thought it was related to soldiers in Iraq. Nope. Placed there by the boys and girls club as a memorial to all the murdered youth from our neighborhood in the last year. There were quite a few. I live in the intersection of Logan Square and Humbolt Park if you're familiar with Chicago. So, yeah, I see prostitutes, pimps, hustlers, gang-bangers and the like on a regular basis. But I don't think it's cool and I certainly don't "love" it. It's one thing to be fascinated and interested in something, it's another to totally divorce yourself from the reality of tragic lives.

I must now call you a fart-face, wbfish, as you have forced my hand.
 
Growing up I watched thousands of acres of Sonoran desert be bladed and covered with "natural desert communities". Safe, happy, clean burbs with Saguaro cactus placed "just so". Little howling coyote metal sculptures stuck in front yards. Lots of water pumped in to keep lawns LAWNS! green...

Makes me puke.
 
LOL hansk! You crazy.

I think for those that have lived and breathe the urban environment; it can only serve to help the artist in you (as wbfish illustrated). I'm not some ghetto dude; I lived in the Gaslamp in my mid to late 20's with my 'Now' wife. It was hip live the live/work loft.

We lived here:

library.gif
This one on RIGHT

and

This one which was an old church (we lived on Second floor; in second largest loft 1750 SQ FT)

church.gif


Good times. They're right NEXT to each other (The lofts)
 
I love fart face. It has a certain ... You are saying two completely different things my friend. Seeing personal tragedies first hand is the only way they are "SEEN". And because they are seen, they are digested and mulled over and discussed and eventually expressed artistically, either through painting(Francis Bacon), music(Amedeus), or film(Leone). I love the film art form. The "French Connection" was expressing his exasperation at losing his hometown flavor. My favorite films are those from the 70's. They don't hold back, they aren't afraid of hurting anyone and they have balls and that is why they work. They aren't afraid. They speak their minds. They do what they do. They have the Mojo. I love Mojo. And for dustino, I never said I '"loved" seeing human tragedies firsthand."' I said I loved my time there. It was raw and new and different and incredible. Besides seeing transvestite prostitutes work their Johns from Jersey I also saw Ginsberg read at the 2nd Ave. Church and Ray Charles perform at the Robin Hood Foundation, and Chris Farley work the dunk tank at the Pediatric Aids Foundation while Dustin Hoffman handed softballs to kids to try and sink him.And a lot more that had little to do with filth. You're missing th point. Perhaps I got carried away with the personal insults. Such is art.
 
When I lived in NYC I lived on East 3rd Street between First and Second. The Hells Angels were across the street(4th of July was a War Zone - FUN!) and my neighbor was Quinton Crisp who was the dandiest of the dandys and I don't think he would mind me saying so. I use to say hello to him at the corner diner on the weekends.
 
I feel I should convey my favorite memory from my time spent in NYC. I woke one morning convinced that I would see a showing of Shakespeare Theater in the Park that evening. Getting a ticket to Shakespeare in the Park is not easy. Under normal circumstances you have to wait in line in Central Park starting at about four in the morning. I woke up much later. I was walking down Broadway confident I was on my way to a viewing of Kevin Kline. First I came across Elliot Gould, who, wearing a tuxedo and sporting very large sunglasses and an even larger cigar nodded toward me as I said hello. I then came across a couple buying ice cream in the heart of the park who I soon realized was Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love and their baby in a stroller. I then came to the front of the Shakespeare Theater in the Park line which was so long I couldn't see the end. The second or third group of people to approach the ticket giver( all tickets were given out to the first member of a party once that person told the ticket giver how many people were in their party) stepped to the side of the line to distribute their tickets and realized they had one too many tickets. I overheard this, made myself known and walked into the theater. It is my fondest memory of a perfect NYC day. You never knew what was going to happen.
 
Haha!

Awesome story. My mom was born in Long Island (and this side of familia is from NEw York; Grandpa born in Brooklyn, Grandma from Queens) and we still have family there. Part of me getting back East will be going to see this part of my family I have never seen. (Other side is in Florida) We are the only ones in California (or anywhere for that matter)

Checking your film out now
 
You are a true New Yorker, not one of those temporary transplants like me. I will be back there this fall. I can't wait. Do you live there now? My favorite bar is the Holland on the west side close to the Holland Tunnel. The walls are(are were) covered with fifties wrestlers. Great karma.
 
No no no

I'm a native San Diegan (damn it man; read the last page of posts). mY Mom and her whole side of the family are Yankees.
 
Jon Oskar said:
I don't know if there is any interest for this, but if there is. Please fell free to join this thread. Maybe we can just start by getting a man count going, find out how many if any of you are out there.
Click to expand...

Maybe start something in the DVXUser Meetings forum...there are a few French members.

(Oh. I hate what the EU is doing to Europe, starting with the characterless money and going on from there. Although it will eventually make things easier for tourists...won't have to visit more than one country, since they'll all be the same.)
 
GenJerDan said:
Maybe start something in the DVXUser Meetings forum...there are a few French members.
Click to expand...

You're right GenJerDan, there is a french ghetto located inside DvxuserCity !!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top