What are you listening to now ?

Gord.T said:
@Greymog. Hehe, yeah. I can't quite (I'll try) explain why the fact that your from Lebanon interests me other than maybe growing up as a Canadian since, say 1959, it's been in the news a few times as I grew up. Born and raised in Ontario. Spent some time in Alberta and Mexico. That's it though. Back home in Ontario again.

It interests me I suppose because I've never met anyone from there before.
I know nothing about it other than the political/war stuff that's happened in the past.
And you know that's always biased.

So being able to talk to someone first hand kind of blows me away. 10 or 20 years ago that was unheard of. And to meet you here on dvxuser is even better.

Maybe your doing films or something that we can watch. I'd love to get some better insight into your country and everyday life and lifestyle.

Beruit used to always be in the news here. So it's really cool to meet someone that I can talk to and learn more about what it's like there.
From a real person living there. Not from a politician, haha. Right?
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You hit the nail on the head my man. I am indeed from these parts, but born in the 80's. We're those kids that went to american schools. It's strange, before I turned 18 I knew US history but nothing about here.

I'd like to think I'm a real person, definitely not a politician, it's something I don't really keep up with these days. The rage now is the flotilla incident. I mean, I just think it's decent to keep that stuff, convictions and opinions and all to myself. I don't credit myself or anyone really knowing much about politics and what goes on internally, I just don't believe people are getting the facts.

I see a lot of people here try to change the world off their macs and all. Beirut is full of NGO's, but it ain't my thing. Growing up with two upbringings (half each, school and house) I am not always accepted when it comes to being from somewhere. I'm a weirdo here, and a weirdo there.

This is unfortunately an age of 'you are where you're from' and I don't like it.

I studied fine arts (started with fashion design believe it or not) at Parsons. Did the paris program, and then NY, fell in love with NY, cause it was really the only place I feel at home. Left there about 7 years ago, things didn't pan out, and now I'm doing everything I can to go back, but I have terms.

It's off-putting when someone says 'get married and go' I can't bring myself to that. I don't wanna be one of those guys. If anything'll take me back I'd like it to be a film I make.

I grew up drawing, and in recording studios since I was 9 (learned the audio to tape, then CD's could be burned in 95 or something, I was still using a mac classic for MIDI running Opcode Systems Vision, Akai tape deck) And kept on going with the audio and music for years.

Vocalists kinda ruined it for me, everyone was taking it way too seriously till it wasn't fun anymore. I moved on to wanting to write music to something other than a poet. A picture came to mind, so I got into animation for a few years, hand-drawn. Took too long. I wanted someone to walk, it took a week. I began to wonder if there was any device out there that could maybe print consecutive frames of that image and play em back. So I tried a camcorder, and learned about interlacing. Didn't have money, and wanted a progressive solution. I didn't know that existed, thought digital was interlaced only, and film was progressive. So I picked up super 8 and Martin Baumgarten was my hero for a year. I'm glad I know how to develop reversal, there's nothing like it.

Shot a film for a friend, his graduation project, but that didn't go well, as I did about 80% of the work, and when the film went on to win an award and screen at the short film corner in Cannes, I wasn't given any credit. Also during that time I was having residence issues and couldn't really leave my house for three years. This was in Lebanon.

Enter Nikon D90, and now, I'd like to think I know a bit about it. Working on a movie, this is the fourth time I will shoot in a year and a half, it's fun script, been writing and tweaking for a year and a half, always happier with it down the line. I've got about 20 out of 31 scenes down, looking forward to finishing it this year, if I can.

I can go on for ages, but to sum up after a lengthy bio, I don't like making movies that showcase where I'm from. I mean, of course films will be set in Beirut, or Jordan, or Egypt, etc. but literally almost EVERYTHING that comes out here is a comment on the dismal situation. Which isn't so dismal for anyone who can afford to think about filmmaking, so I don't think it's up my alley.

I've done a lot, and once it gets pretentious it's no longer fun. I would much rather blow up a car, or have some guy jump from building to building, or do a superhero movie than have a kid cry and grow up real fast afterwards. I don't think it helps, I don't want to foreign film shelf, I want the blockbuster shelf.

I'm shooting an action movie now, I would totally share the script, It's cost me 600 bucks so far, I wanna keep it under a thousand. It's called 'BYE BYE CHARLIE!' and it's about a missing artifact in lebanon. The bad guy is based on Bob Munden, but he's a criminal in Beirut, from New Orleans :) the 'Americans' in the movie or the 'cavalry' are Jordan, and the setting is beirut, sold like brazil. I'd like to see beirut for once as corrupt and badass, not corrupt and in pain.

Gunslingers in Beirut. It is quote lawless, and personal codes run the show right?

So that's me. I can go on for ages, been an emotional month. I have no idea what to do with this film when it's done, but I know the minute I start thinking about that before it's done I fall into the trap.

On that note, living in Beirut aside from politics (which is tough to avoid) is quite fun. The food is great, it's a beach town, I live in the AUB area, good herb (if that's your thing) gorgeous and tough women, and one can walk everywhere. Driving is pointless.

I guess my biggest problem in life these days is that I would like to live in a real life DVX. I am setting up a course at the American Community School to teach DSLR filming. They have a robotics class, so we're gonna go for some camera movement.

Write me back man, it's nice to meet you.

... and, to keep the track on topic, I am listening to Calexico. :)

Sorry for the long post. Lonesome days. Filled with blocking and ptools and bullwhips.
 
Listening to Presence, Led Zeppelin.

Picked up that Japanese complete all-the-albums all-remastered comes-in-a-black-box with all the replicated jacket art etc collection. Very nice.
 
I find the longevity of this thread amusing. And the comments that lead to its random re-surfacing is almost like a tweet. This thread is like the twitter of DVXuser. It will get buried for months than randomly will show up at the top of the Cafe because someone felt the need to tell us what they were up to at that particular moment, "I'm listening to Brian Eno, 'Before & After Science. Track 8."
 
@ greymog:

That's a great bio.
It sounds like your really well rounded.

I played keyboards for quite a while also.I assume that's what you played. I didn't get into the midi end of it much though.
I tried to keep my sounds to 3 basic sound groups; piano, organ and strings.
I played in a band full time throughout my 30's ending it when I turned 40, like most people I think.
I got into 3D graphics about 4 years ago from helping out my brother in a short.
I'm still playing around with 3D and played with VFX for awhile.
I'm still trying to nail down a direction with it but it's fun. A lot of work too though.

I wish I had some Fine Arts training myself. That would be handy right now.
As it is I'm learning some of the basics as well as human anatomy and I'll have to have a peek at animal anatomy at some point.
It's never too late to learn I guess.

...when the film went on to win an award and screen at the short film corner in Cannes,...
Click to expand...
Wow, the short film corner in Cannes is a big deal so congrats on the award and screening.

...but literally almost EVERYTHING that comes out here is a comment on the dismal situation. Which isn't so dismal for anyone who can afford to think about filmmaking, so I don't think it's up my alley.
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hehe. I can understand you wanting to do something different.

On that note, living in Beirut aside from politics (which is tough to avoid) is quite fun. The food is great, it's a beach town, I live in the AUB area, good herb (if that's your thing) gorgeous and tough women, and one can walk everywhere. Driving is pointless.
Click to expand...
Beach towns are good. I'm not really into the herb these days. Although I wonder sometimes if it might be better than beer.
I was tempted to jokingly ask you about the famous 'Lebanese Hash' that was so popular in this area years ago.
But I kind of laughed and thought, 'No, I'd better not' haha.

I guess my biggest problem in life these days is that I would like to live in a real life DVX. I am setting up a course at the American Community School to teach DSLR filming. They have a robotics class, so we're gonna go for some camera movement.
Click to expand...
That sounds really intersting.That area interests me also.
Unfortunatly I didn't finish my Computer Engineering program so I'd have to brush up on my own a bit if I were to attempt anything like that.
Luckily I still have those college books though and I do have my Electronics Technician diploma from way back so, maybe one of these days I'll play around with it too.
There's too much to do anymore.

We'll have to keep in touch. I'm always around here somewhere. It is great meeting you.

Getting back on a music topic a bit, I googled Lebanon for awhile trying to get a little more insight into the area.
The beaches in Beruit look pretty nice. The water looks clear like in Mexico.
In Canada the Great Lakes are really dark and murky. I can seldom see down one foot into the water, ha.

I stumbled across a page about the music scene there and had a listen to
some of the rock songs. They sound about the same as would come from here.
That kind of surprised me. Someday I'd like to do a 3D or 2D animated music video for someone else's music.
That's always been on my mind anyways.

But here's a few of those links I was mentioning...
(For some reason the last 2 links don't want to work for me right now. But there's a link to them in the first page link also.)

http://www.tadamon.ca/post/3159

http://www.lebaneseunderground.com/music/music.asp?gid=5

http://www.lebaneseunderground.com/music/artist.asp?aid=32
 
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@ Gord

LOL! Yeah man, I don't have it in me to drink, intoxication became an occasional novelty a few years ago. I dunno how kosher it is to mention it on DVX, but the lebanese red is famous, and it is really fantastic. I get my buzz these days off the set though, so as long as it ain't an escape I'll partake. I likes me reefer, when appropriate.

The music scene in Beirut is small, there is a lot of hip hop going on, some acts but not much I can get into, there are a few musicians in Beirut I hold to really really high regard. I will try and find some stuff for you, but as I'm in Jordan, I can't get in touch till I get back on tuesday. I'll hit you up.

The water is good in Leb, it's getting better now, the air strikes in 2006 really messed it up for a while though. The amount of bombs dropped had about 90 percent of the beaches close for a year. It was harsh, lots of people got sick.

Keys was the first, guitar and drums came next. I'm taking guitar again from scratch and learning some flamenco, I love it, Bulerias being my favorite.

The Cannes deal. Damn, it stings every time I think of it, would've loved to be a part of that. If it happened once, it could happen again. Let's see if I can pull it off. I'd love for some work to hit the states though, in Leb people go for Europe.

It is great to meet you, I would pass you my blog address, but I am a bit embarrassed to share it. It has 'some' work on there, but it's mostly me ranting, or being ecstatic.

I changed the address cause I just wanted to keep my vents to myself, but I will come across as super negative. I'd love to share stuff on there, but if you'd like me to. It's been a rough patch, getting better by the week, but still not in the clear. Outside? in the clear. Internally? My head heart and soul? completely lost.

Also, I have this self-imposed rule, I'll stop being ashamed of my thoughts and stands once I finish something.

Read your MJ post, it's strange, I just discovered Billy Preston for the first time a few hours ago.

Alas, I cannot sleep, sweating balls.

Ennio Morricone is playing. To keep thread on topic. I'm leaning more towards score than bands, and getting away from a constant tempo.

I did like the midi thing, but end of the day it's always, 'pick up something and play'. I believe soon, it'll once again be the only way for a musician to make money. I mean, CD's are barely selling, you almost HAVE to gig if you wanna put music out, and it's all online now.

The craft always wins huh. Thank god for discipline.

Great to meet you Gord. Needed this. It's good to talk.
 
Screw it man. here it is. davidrusch.blogspot.com

pseudonym, if i were to pick a name that owuld be it.

Listening to Billy Preston
 
I'm listening to the rattle and hum of my hard drives as they render my movie that will be bigger/better than Avatar.

ok I'm really listening to one hand clapping.
 
@greymog:

Yeah, I wouldn't sweat the blogs, especially if your under another name.
You seem pretty normal to me. The only difference may be is that you post your thoughts whereas other don't.

I tried my hand at bass and guitar but couldn't really pick it up for some reason.
And drums are out of the question because I'm not a percussive player.
I was more of the classical style of playing as opposed to the funky stuff.
I love percussive styles, I just can't do it. But people liked what I did for the most part so, ya know, whatever works, lol.

As far as being too self critical of your posts and/or work, well, I had a chat here recently about getting older and how as you do, those things become less of an issue.
It's cool to be very critical of your own work, in fact I would prefer people do that, but as for putting it out there and letting others comment, I think that's where you have to let it go and accept it for what it is. I mean, there's really nothing else you can do at that point. You create something and then share it. The rest is whatever it is.

Oh,hahaha. Hash. I wanted to mention back in the day I had a few friends that were more into it than I was. One friend had bought an ounce of blonde morrocan I think it was. (I forget all the terms now.)
It was the sandy stone texture and not the greasy black stuff.
Anyways, he carved a hash pipe out of it. Lol. Just to be a dick. A hash pipe made out of hash. lol. I still laugh.

I also had a friend who used to buy cannon balls. That was black hash I think. The big 5 inch balls. He used to have a jam room in his basement where every Friday night people and musicians would drop in and jam and drink and smoke and party out. That was a while ago but I miss those days. Some people still do it. I was at one last year. They had weed though. I smoked a bit and then had to go home shortly afterwards. :):):) WoWWWWWW.

lol. Still some good times out there.:beer:

Yeah, send me some links to the underground music scene when you get the chance. I see one of the bands play in Montreal quite a bit.

Cool man. :beer:
 
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Oh yeah, just a thought. Maybe we should just make this thread a sticky and rename it to 'The Music Room' or something?

Just a thought. :)
 
@ greymog

I'm listening to Calexico, thanks to you turning me on to them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t46dvudrp8

Wiki calls them Desert Noir, among other things, maybe that's why they sound good in the Mideast? haha, they sound good in tropical Miami, too.

greymog, thanks for sharing the other stuff, too. It's interesting that you don't feel compelled to make a typical "Beirut film." I remember seeing several of those at festivals in the 80's, during and after the war- the blown out shells of buildings always costarring.

Oh, and I listen to myself on guitar, but that just gets me to put on something better...
 
Right now, I am listening to Q99 FM radio, Disco Saturday Night. That's right, I said it, "Disco". Ya got a problem wit' dat?
 
I have some catching up listening to do in this thread. Mañana man. For now....

Wings: Jet.

Brings back memories for me anyways. Gotta love music. :beer:

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