Back from the dead
I always tend to have these entries where I find myself with a mountain of updates to relate. It happens not just on LJ, but, really, everything I try to maintain (website, all the other non-online journals in the past, etc etc). I'm trying to be good about taking pictures, but not having a camera makes it hard these days.
I've been thinking a lot about LJ and what it does in the last little while - the coincidence of the end of university has me reeling from the sheer vastness of everything I've forgotten. Those that know me know that I have a memory span rivalling a goldfish. All the shows I've worked on, all the people I've talked to, long and random nights in the studio, the sprinklings of hanging out that no one gives a second thought to. All these things mean, well, a lot to me. The summation of, err, six years of university. I barely remember the living hell that was first year computer science at a campus that had me on the TTC 4 hours every single day. The smiling faces in September where some random people struck up a conversation with me - the same faces that became gaunt and haunted by April. (I'll say this: UTSC is much friendlier than the super competitive St. George campus (although, it maybe more of a program change than anything, but I doubt it)).
There's the music that's gone by, all sorts of music that evoke all sorts of responses. I'm sure others could be more eloquent and elaborate further, so that analysis haults whilst the examples continue. Somehow, the wonderful balance of fence-sitting between rock and classical has evolved into jazz and anime/japanese fare. They just don't make rock the way they used to (*examples omitted for fear of dating myself. AGAIN*) and classical has, for the most part, become dry to me. Jazz just has this life given through improvization that is unmatched; and Japanese music is so starkly different conceptually than western music one can not help but be drawn into the novelty. The old aim of being behind the wheel on Saturday evenings still remains - the Edge's Live to Air at the Phoenix is my nostalgic breath of fresh air.
Last night was my last show of my university career. Again. It was Scapin and I had the job of lighting operator. A more familiar duty. Actually, that's a lie, somehow everyone thinks I'm really into sound - lights are really more what I do. It was a good show. Got to hang out with Soo again - she's put me onto some Trans-Siberian Orchestra (essentially, some really cool Russians having their way with musical staples such as Carole of the Bells, but with Apocalyptica sensibilities (warning: music video is super cheesy - just watch for the cellists' technique). On to the pictures.
It's weird how everyone has their own preshow routine. I wash my hands, for instance. You can feel tension so palpable, it sends shivers down your spine.
The calm before the storm.
My stage manager (Jamie Mackrell, right) and the back stage runner leader (Jess Petro, left)
Rob practicing before our 6pm call.
Meg - the only other studio kid in the production
Jamie and Maria - gf and bf - stage manager and assistant stage manager - etc etc
(what camera was used to take that??)
On the TBS side of things, we have a few more clients. Kerry Stratton, world famous conductor, now has us maintaining his website for him. I hope he brings more rich well-spoken clients with him. Meeting this man was like meeting God - very humble, well versed, extremely nice, but you sensed that he could crush you like an insect if he chose. According to his prodigy (who passed on word of us to him) meeting great people is like that. We are in the process of putting everything on hold with clients until early April when the studio kids' hell-work is over.
My camera, is sold, never mentioned it publically yet (other than my msn nick), but yes, Ajoy has it now. I'm behind on posting pics on LJ, so it looks like everything's going in on this entry. Been borrowing Sandra's dad's d200 like a guilty whore with a mean addiction to crack - I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it. It's just so good: one more hit; one more snapshot.
Some pics from playing with my work's s5 at my manager's house
Note how the s5 makes everything look more godly than it really is.
Got first place at the Hart House art competition downtown for my Doubutsuen video (it's on my website, I haven't programmed link following into the javascript yet, so you'll have to search it for yourself) with the Second Skin photo-series getting in as well. At the UTSC juried show, I took home the 50$ book prize. For reference to those not in studio, it's the lowest prize on the ladder. "Lowest" is an incredulous way of putting it, but, well, it is - I am still very happy and humbled by it, though. It was for my Sandalphon piece of my Ubermenschlabor series of digital paintings. Risa won a lot too, and was my only company downtown during the "mingling" portion of the evening. She made an awkward dinner bearable, I don't do the mingling thing: I hang out with people I know and take random photos of strangers without their permission.
Random guy looking at Second Skin
Doubutsuen video and me
Risa and her bird Ja Ja.
Plenty UTSC Juried show pics on Flickr
Actually, I'm trying to make everything end up on flickr. Some pics go to facebook, some to LJ, but all are at home in flickr.
Must post more - too much to say and this post is already way too long.
I've been thinking a lot about LJ and what it does in the last little while - the coincidence of the end of university has me reeling from the sheer vastness of everything I've forgotten. Those that know me know that I have a memory span rivalling a goldfish. All the shows I've worked on, all the people I've talked to, long and random nights in the studio, the sprinklings of hanging out that no one gives a second thought to. All these things mean, well, a lot to me. The summation of, err, six years of university. I barely remember the living hell that was first year computer science at a campus that had me on the TTC 4 hours every single day. The smiling faces in September where some random people struck up a conversation with me - the same faces that became gaunt and haunted by April. (I'll say this: UTSC is much friendlier than the super competitive St. George campus (although, it maybe more of a program change than anything, but I doubt it)).
There's the music that's gone by, all sorts of music that evoke all sorts of responses. I'm sure others could be more eloquent and elaborate further, so that analysis haults whilst the examples continue. Somehow, the wonderful balance of fence-sitting between rock and classical has evolved into jazz and anime/japanese fare. They just don't make rock the way they used to (*examples omitted for fear of dating myself. AGAIN*) and classical has, for the most part, become dry to me. Jazz just has this life given through improvization that is unmatched; and Japanese music is so starkly different conceptually than western music one can not help but be drawn into the novelty. The old aim of being behind the wheel on Saturday evenings still remains - the Edge's Live to Air at the Phoenix is my nostalgic breath of fresh air.
Last night was my last show of my university career. Again. It was Scapin and I had the job of lighting operator. A more familiar duty. Actually, that's a lie, somehow everyone thinks I'm really into sound - lights are really more what I do. It was a good show. Got to hang out with Soo again - she's put me onto some Trans-Siberian Orchestra (essentially, some really cool Russians having their way with musical staples such as Carole of the Bells, but with Apocalyptica sensibilities (warning: music video is super cheesy - just watch for the cellists' technique). On to the pictures.
It's weird how everyone has their own preshow routine. I wash my hands, for instance. You can feel tension so palpable, it sends shivers down your spine.
The calm before the storm.
My stage manager (Jamie Mackrell, right) and the back stage runner leader (Jess Petro, left)
Rob practicing before our 6pm call.
Meg - the only other studio kid in the production
Jamie and Maria - gf and bf - stage manager and assistant stage manager - etc etc
(what camera was used to take that??)
On the TBS side of things, we have a few more clients. Kerry Stratton, world famous conductor, now has us maintaining his website for him. I hope he brings more rich well-spoken clients with him. Meeting this man was like meeting God - very humble, well versed, extremely nice, but you sensed that he could crush you like an insect if he chose. According to his prodigy (who passed on word of us to him) meeting great people is like that. We are in the process of putting everything on hold with clients until early April when the studio kids' hell-work is over.
My camera, is sold, never mentioned it publically yet (other than my msn nick), but yes, Ajoy has it now. I'm behind on posting pics on LJ, so it looks like everything's going in on this entry. Been borrowing Sandra's dad's d200 like a guilty whore with a mean addiction to crack - I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it. It's just so good: one more hit; one more snapshot.
Some pics from playing with my work's s5 at my manager's house
Note how the s5 makes everything look more godly than it really is.
Got first place at the Hart House art competition downtown for my Doubutsuen video (it's on my website, I haven't programmed link following into the javascript yet, so you'll have to search it for yourself) with the Second Skin photo-series getting in as well. At the UTSC juried show, I took home the 50$ book prize. For reference to those not in studio, it's the lowest prize on the ladder. "Lowest" is an incredulous way of putting it, but, well, it is - I am still very happy and humbled by it, though. It was for my Sandalphon piece of my Ubermenschlabor series of digital paintings. Risa won a lot too, and was my only company downtown during the "mingling" portion of the evening. She made an awkward dinner bearable, I don't do the mingling thing: I hang out with people I know and take random photos of strangers without their permission.
Random guy looking at Second Skin
Doubutsuen video and me
Risa and her bird Ja Ja.
Plenty UTSC Juried show pics on Flickr
Actually, I'm trying to make everything end up on flickr. Some pics go to facebook, some to LJ, but all are at home in flickr.
Must post more - too much to say and this post is already way too long.