Sandy Blows Away The East Coast: Aftermath

Some have called it the "Perfect Storm," but the damage resulting from this storm has been anything from perfect.

Last week Monday, a Hurricane named Sandy hit the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and left a path of destruction and loss. Last year, a similar storm, Irene, visited the East coast and did some damage, but some people felt that Sandy wasn't going to be a "serious" as Irene was; but some people would end up being sadly mistaken. Strong winds, massive flooding, property damage and burned homes are a few of the travesties Sandy left in its path. Even when officials called a mandatory evacuation of specific coastline areas, homeowners refused to leave and decided to "wait it out." A majority of these people now have nothing left.

Right now, as I write this post, there are neighborhoods in New Jersey who have had no power since last Monday (10/29/12). My girlfriend was in one of those areas and her brother and I had to drive to New Jersey to get her and bring her back to New York so she can be safe. Driving in New Jersey was like entering a ghost town; whole neighborhoods and streets in complete darkness and people congregating at the local diner, charging their phones just to communicate with others about their status. For me, in Brooklyn, the most damage I've seen were fallen trees and a few places without power. Here is a small vlog I did when I first stepped out my house after the storm:



Another effect of the storm was a shortage of gas at stations for vehicles, which resulted in long lines at gas stations, where some people waited for hours just to get some gallons in their cars. Looking around me and seeing the damage of the storms on news reports, this storm created the perfect ingredients for a modern day apocalypse; people shooting and threatening each other for gas, now a precious commodity, power outages leading residents to scavenge for resources for their families, transportation halted due to flood water and police enforcement increased for potential looters in certain affected areas. It reminded me of the atmosphere on the show "Revolution" (NBC).

For those still affected by the storm, it is important to remember that we'll all have to be patient. The damage made by the storm has be immense and it will take time for authorities to access and fix all of the problems people are going through. I hope and pray that NY and NJ gets back on their feet soon, especially for those who lost more than others, and show Sandy and the rest of Mother Nature that we are stronger than this.

-Video Vix[o]n

Frame x Frame: Barclays in Brooklyn

The opening of the Barclays Center has dawned upon Brooklyn for about 2 years now. Finally, it is done and standing in all its glory. All of Brooklyn has been anticipating the stadium, and I must say, it's a beautiful structure indeed and the feedback from most of the public has been positive. While shooting my latest Internet show in front of the center, I got into a conversation with some local Brooklynites (all more experienced than me) about the changes in Brooklyn, from the past to the present. It was nice hearing their stories and relating to these people about the borough, and ultimately, the city we love. However, this new stadium has brought together people in more ways than one.

I knew about the stadium's arrival back in 2008 when I had to write a journalism report about the upcoming changes in the Downtown Brooklyn community. When I first heard of the stadium, I didn't know how to feel about it. I knew it was a big project and a lot of the community members weren't alright with the project going underway and changing the community for the worst. Concerns were higher property values and lack of affordable housing, not to mention that the stadium was the catalyst for other smaller businesses around the area closing down and being replaced by more "mainstream" establishments. The time I spent around the Downtown area, collecting the story of people and places in the area made me appreciate Brooklyn more. There's a spirit to the place that doesn't like to be altered, and all of the changes happening down there is turning that part of Brooklyn into "Little Manhattan," with the stadium being the final nail in the developmental coffin.

There are some people who are still protesting the failures of the development company in charge of the Barclays Center (Forest City Developers) by not fulfilling their promises of affordable housing, jobs or paying workers their compensation when it comes to the project. Nevertheless, the stadium is here to stay and it has become the beacon for what I like to call the New Brooklyn. Will I ever get a chance to go inside and have an experience there? Who knows, but for those who will be going to see Jay-Z perform there soon, the stadium does have the capacity to hold many memories of Brooklyn to come.

-Video Vix[o]n

Production Vlog "D" - #VideoDictionary

-Video Vix[o]n

"Red Hook Summer" Off the Hook

When I first saw this trailer, I thought "... oh boy, here comes another over exaggerated 'Spike Lee Joint' again." But as they say, you should never judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a movie by its trailer.

After watching "Red Hook Summer," I can safely say that I enjoyed it. It was a bright mix of comedy, realism and just deep enough that you can tell only Spike can write it. I don't know whether you can classify it as a "coming of age" film or an overall tale of different characters who lived in this Brooklyn neighborhood during the height of summer. All in all, there were a lot of truths spoken in the film, especially with the strong motifs of religious faith, hiding one's demons and looking beyond the bad things to find the good. The main character, Flik, captured all of this through his trusty iPad 2 and it helped him to understand and adjust to the new environment he was dropped into; coming from Atlanta to New York for a summer vacation.

I don't want to give too much of this movie away, for those within the NYC area who wish to watch it (though I believe the movie will stop showing soon), but if anyone does get the opportunity to see it, it is worth every laugh, thought and nod of agreement with the dialogue that is raised in this latest Spike Lee Joint.

-Video Vix[o]n

(Video) Resume Building

In my journey to finding a job in the corporate world, I've ran into dead end after dead end from not receiving any responses for job offers. This has lead to me being discouraged and a bit depressed (which is a reason for my lack in blogging, on top of laziness). I was reaching the end of my desperation when I realized that I have the tools necessary to give myself a creative and competitive edge in the job application process; a video resume. Here's what I came up with:



I realized that when applying for jobs, I was just another sheet of paper on the heap of  resume one poor soul must sift through in order to find the right candidate. With this visual representation of myself, employers know exactly what they're getting; a young man with enough experience and drive to work hard and become an asset to one's company. If they do choose to watch it, then it's up to them to decide if I have the right look and attitude for their business, something they couldn't do by just reading my name and previous work experience.

I don't know why I didn't come up with the idea before. I guess I never considered that my professional and personal realms can collide. From the interviews I've had in the past, I've always avoided mentioning my interest in video production to not alert potential employers that I have a deeper involvement in something else besides their business. It's sad that I have to through my passion under the bus in order to seem more invested in another person's vision. But, for me, the most important thing is to secure a position and work hard for a paycheck, which in these hard economic times, I'm okay with. There is always going to be a way to either incorporate or fit in my video work outside of work hours.

Ideally, if I had a choice, I wouldn't dismiss trying to finding a "9 to 5" and continue to be a starving artist, reaching for my goal, but I have to be realistic about my current situation and find a way to support my desires monetarily, while not sacrificing my dreams to the corporate realm. It all comes down to balance. If this video resume gives me the advantage to tip the scales, then consider me employed sooner then you think.

-Video Vix[o]n

A Dark "Night" in Aurora, Colorado

You're sitting in a movie theater at the midnight screening of the highly anticipated film, "The Dark Knight Rises." The movie starts and about 20 minutes in, a man bursts through one of the exit doors, dressed in all black. You're think they've found a way to make the premiere more interesting by having someone become a part of the action. Suddenly, the man throws a canister into the crowd and it explodes, spreading gas all over the theater and then you hear gunshots, people screaming and others running for their lives.

For moviegoers in Aurora, Colorado, this was real life and it was not apart of the show. 59 people were injured and 12 people killed after a guns man, James Holmes, entered the rural theater and shot the patrons trying to enjoy the movie.

I woke up to this news as I was preparing to view an early morning screening of the same movie hours later in New York; another timezone. As far away as this incident was, entering the theater, I was immediately cautious of what was happening around me; surveying the exit doors as I watched the film. The news predicted that there may be copycats who would attempt to do the same thing at another and I didn't want to take that chance. After the movie ended (and it was a great movie, by the way) and I exited the theater, it was hard to accept that other people didn't receive the same experience I did, vice versa.

It made me think of the shooter, James Holmes, and how he robbed people of this experience and their lives in the process. Reports say Holmes' hair was dyed red, resembling The Joker, as he was quoted saying he was The Joker.

 

James Holmes, BATSHIT CRAZY

It's disturbing to know that someone took a piece of a fictional world, applied it to real life and tricked people who was trying to submerge themselves into this universe, through the movie, to harm people. This is one reason why I wish superheroes existed; to stop tragedies like this from happening. Why couldn't Holmes be inspired by Batman and burst through the door in a Dark Knight costume, rather than be inspired by evil and kill people? I would never understand what was going through Holmes' head or experience what those people in Aurora, Colorado went through, but my thoughts go out to the families affected by this tragedy and I hope them a genuine recovery.

In the movie, Gotham City experienced their darkest hour and eventually overcame. I hope Aurora  can do the same.

-Video Vix[o]n

Life on the Little Screen

Recently, I found about a couple of short film screeners which I was excited to attend and watch the works of some local filmmakers. I haven't been to a screener in a long time, probably due to me being involved with the inter-webs all the time. Sometimes, I forget that there are other people in NYC, beside myself, who are creating films as their passion. I also met some cool new filmmakers who showed off their pieces, and I have to say, the talent that I saw left something to be admired. Here are a few of the pieces I've seen.

JULIA DRAINS


WHITE SUGAR IN A BLACK POT

Click Title To Watch Trailer

TIED UP

As I continue my quest to create more films and earn my self-titled name of "Filmmaker," I realize that at some point down the line, I should step into the realm of screeners and "shopping" my films to film festivals and reach out to a different audience outside of Youtube. Creating online content is fun, but it's nothing compared to seeing the looks on people's faces watching your work and commending you for your good work. I don't feel like I'm at that point yet, but I'm getting there slowly. In the meanwhile, I'll continue to find out about more screeners and discover new filmmakers and their projects. Don't be surprised if you see my work at a film festival soon. 

-Video Vix[o]n

Production Vlog "C" - #VideoDictionary

The third prod vlog for the latest installment to the #VideoDictionary series.





A long time coming, but worth the wait. Shout outs to Imperial Moving And Storage as well as Sticky's Finger Joint for the support. Can't wait for the next one. 


-Video Vix[o]n

Keeping Busy (As Can Be)

I know I haven't blogged in a bit, but that is only due to real world issues getting in the way, such as me applying to become a PCT (Police Communications Technician). Ironically, I made a video a while back poking fun at being a PCT, which became pretty popular.



Seeing that I will be working for the NYPD, they need to do a thorough investigation of my background and records, which will mean if I even sneeze close to an officer, they would know all about me, which I don't feel too comfortable with, but the job does supply benefits, so my complaining can only go so far.

Meanwhile, I've been trying to keep busy with other video related work, such as working close with the R&B artist Tanya T6 during a recent music video shoot, where I shot some behind the scenes action.



Keeping up the relationship with this artist has been good because she makes sure to compensate me for my time, as well as I can hook her up with great looking footage and content; a win-win relationship which I know will last until I possibly start working. Other than that, there is nothing too much to report other than working on the "Video Dictionary" series, which is coming along slowly, but surely. I may not be producing as much content as I use to, but I'm proud of what I've done and what I will do in the near future. Until then, I will continue to work hard and find inspiration around me, like these images I saw at a museum recently.

-Video Vix[o]n

5 Reasons "The Avengers" Was Incredible

This weekend, I had the delightful pleasure of seeing "The Avengers" in theaters; no 3D, no IMAX, just a regular movie experience. Here are my 5 reasons this movie was amazing...

1) There was 6 MAJOR superheroes, ALL on one screen.

You have Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk all one one screen together, and they all worked well together. The story line of the movie made each character have their shine (though it wasn't equal, it was enough for one character not to be out-shined by the other). Even Hawkeye and Black Widow were integral parts to the team, not just extra characters who filled up screen space.  

2) The story and action/fighting scenes were great.

Whether it was between Iron Man versus Thor, or Thor versus The Hulk, the fighting scenes in the movie were choreographed well. Probably the best fight to me was Thor vs. The Hulk, which was actually made into an animated film. The plot of the movie wasn't bad as well. I'm sure most die hard comic nerds would have wanted a more deeper villian, but Loki did well, to me. 

3) The HULK. Period.

Now, I didn't agree with the actor change of The Hulk from Edward Norton to Matt Ruffalo at first, but he did a good job as Bruce Banner, and this movie reinforced the fact that The Hulk is the sh*t!. He owned everything in his path and was unstoppable. 

4) The "After Credit" Goodies

I recently saw a picture meme which stated, "One doesn't simply leave a Marvel movie before the end of the credits." For those who did leave before the end (which I don't know why, but for some, "the credits" mean the end of the movie"), they missed out on some cool Avenger 2 hints.

5) The movie made you FEEL good.

The fact that this movie was playing out in front of your eyes made me extremely happy. This is my main reason for liking superheroes in general; the feeling of overcoming the odds is what we, as a society, need i order to survive these dark times that we seem to be living in sometimes. The Avengers leaves you with the feeling that we can all become heroes and succeed. 

If I had to give some critique about this movie, I would say that I would have liked to see Red Skull make an appearance or at least some mention of Ant Man (Dr Pym) or another known Avenger that would have raised some eyebrows. Nonetheless, this movie did a great job of delivering an all out cast of super-powered beings on one screen (X-Men did the same, but not to this caliber). 

On the technical end, as of now, The Avengers pulled in over $200M at the box offices this weekend in the U.S. alone, not to include the overseas sales, which grossed over $400M. Marvel does a great job of branding their movies, not to mention that Disney is behind Marvel, which always gives them a boost in reputability. I would love to see this movie over and over again, plus I can't wait for it to come out on DVD, so I can add it to my superhero movie collection. 

-Video Vix[o]n

Frame x Frame: Constructing A Scene

As I continue on with my short film series, #VideoDictionary, I come across many challenges and learn some things about being a director. For my next short film, I've come across the challenge of making a space look like something completely different; to some, this is known as set design. 

For my next short film, I require an apartment setting. The problem is that I don't have access to an actual apartment. I've asked some friends if they know of some places to keep in mind, when I was suggested that I should use my own house to create the scene. Now, I've used areas in my house for many of my previous videos, and worked with what I had, but for this particular situation, my home doesn't exactly resemble a one bedroom space. I decided that the only way to know for sure would be to experiment and do some furniture moving to try and create a believable apartment scene.

First, I moved the main couch from the shot, just to free up some space...

Then, looking at the wall, I didn't like the decor, so I removed everything within the shot.

With the empty space available, I needed to include the main focus of the scene, a laptop on a table. I also played around with the furniture again to see what would make more sense.

Noticing the moved furniture in the background, I needed to find a way to dismiss it, considering it couldn't move anywhere else. Solution: change angle of shot.

After some more changes and shooting from another angle, I think I managed to design something not perfect, but reasonable.

It wasn't easy, but I may just use my house for the apartment scene yet, but just in case my space isn't available (due to sound issues and the fact that may parents would be moving around the house), I'm still keeping my friends in mind to have an eye out for potential apartment spaces. I also considered an office-like space instead to use in the story just to have a "Plan B." I just wanted to share my video making process with you all and hopefully, I can get started with shooting soon.

-Video Vix[o]n

Production Vlog "B" - #VideoDictionary

The second prod vlog for the second installment to the #VideoDictionary series.



It was cool seeing the footage in reverse. I can't wait to produce the next one.

-Video Vix[o]n

Before After Effects; My Story of Motion Graphics

During my beginnings in video production, I've always had the urge to play around with special effects. The ideas that I would come up with in my mind for super-powered action scenes were endless. Watching special effect heavy movies didn't subside my urge any more. In college, I tried experimenting with some, but Windows Movie Maker wasn't made for special FX back then (or ever). Nonetheless, I was still determined to create something mind-blowing for my young audience. That's when I learned about the powerful special effects/motion graphics program, ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS.

At first, I thought that it would be easy just to get the program, learn how to use it and I would be flying and running at super speed in no time. But when I actually looked at the interface of the program for the first time, it was absolutely overwhelming; multiple windows, numerous buttons and a whole bunch of functions I was not familiar with. From then, I decided that it would be better to leave it to the pros to create the surreal effects that I've always dreamed of including in my videos. 

Years after, as I got more involved with making videos, I rediscovered the passion to play around with special FX/motion graphics. Though I was still avoiding After Effects, I felt that I had enough skills in my arsenal to pull off something realistic with what I had to work with. Finally, last year, after gathering some motion graphic elements from the Internet and applying my home-grown production knowledge, I made my first special FX/motion graphic video, Fast Forward. 

Though I felt like I did a good job with what I had, I knew in the back of my mind that if I really wanted to be serious about this, I would have to tackle the beast which was After Effects. After getting the program, I finally had the courage to open AE and start playing around with it. Thanks to sites such as Video CoPilot and Youtube, I was able to create a new intro sequence for my vlogs and create an idea for a new "Video Reborn" intro sequence. After watching multiple basic AE videos and taking in all the motion graphic knowledge, I once again made an idea into a reality. 

It's not long, but it's exactly what I wanted it to be. Of course, there is much more for me to learn, but I can say that I did that; I accomplished something that I never thought I would be able to all those years ago. The moral of this story is with determination and persistence, anyone can overcome a challenge that they may see as difficult. I had to learn this after the fact. 

-Video Vix[o]n

Frame x Frame: New York Creatives

Yesterday, for me, felt to be a good day to be a creative in New York City.

I linked up with a creative by the name of Dimz, who I met from a project a while ago. We also met up with an aspiring actress, Tiffany, who was interested in getting into the creative sphere. We first did some monologue reading, just to get her comfortable, then we started taking some pictures in the great weather.



Afterwards, Dimz's friend, Fresh, came through to hang out, he decided that he wanted to shoot an improv short dialogue with Tiffany and me, so I pulled out my "Denzel" and helped her release her inner actress. It was fun getting into a character and seeing her try to become dramatic and believable all at once. For me, acting doesn't have to be an over-the-top, soap opera exercise; being yourself and coming off real makes acting more authentic. It was a good day just to be outside and enjoy what the city had to offer.

Throughout the course of the day, I saw a performer flip over a group of people, met up with another creative who sells vintage clothes, accidentally bumped into another actress and her friend, and finally linked up with Joshen to record and watch an improv sketch show. It was amazing seeing and meeting all these creative people in the city I live in and hear their stories of trying to make it their respective industries. Whether you're trying to become an actress, actor, photographer, videographer, music artist or anybody who creates, the consensus is that the creative market is saturated and everyone is struggling to get by. For some, it's a deterring factor, which leaves some creatives feeling hopeless. For me, interacting with all these people gave me some hope; hope that there are people out there that want to do something dope and amazing and I want to be a part of that.

I'm not giving up on the New York scene just yet. I just have to get out there in the streets and just do it.

-Video Vix[o]n

Production Vlog "A" - #VideoDictionary

In an attempt to jump start my creativity, I started a new short film series called #VideoDictionary. All the details will be in the production vlog below.



*Sidenote: The premise of the short film was based off the NBC show "Awake," which, ironically, starts with the letter "A." 

Stay tuned to my blog to see the upcoming production vlogs as this series continues.

-Video Vix[o]n

Trayvon Martin: The Hoodie Worn 'Round The World

I like hoodies. I like how the hood keeps my comfortable and warm when I need it to. It's a functional and versatile part of my wardrobe.

Earlier this week, on March 21st, 2012, hundreds of people flooded Union Square, Manhattan in hoodies; not because it was cold, but to symbolize the innocent death of Trayvon Martin. The story of the young boy who was shot in "self defense" in Florida by armed neighborhood watchman, George Zimmerman, has caused national outrage and people have taken the streets to demand Zimmerman's arrest.

First hearing about the story, I thought to myself, "Here we go again with another innocent Black youth killed by a clearly racist white man." The shooting of Martin is so common, sadly I've become desensitized about it; not because I don't care, but because it's so rampant in our society. Wearing a hoodie now represents us being Trayvon, following the "I Am (insert innocently killed African American male here)" template of injustice. Similar to Troy Davis and Sean Bell, which I'm sure some people may have forgotten about already or may be bringing back up, Trayvon Martin represents the blatant racism that is still present in our society. I wonder if Trayvon Martin was a white boy that had been shot, would we be treating the case in the same fashion of protest and rallying? It's a good question to pose, considering Martin could have been anyone.

Though I didn't know about the rally in Union Square, from the video and stories I've been reading about, Skittles definitely seem to be winning in the sense of product placement. It's clear that Martin was carrying some Skittles and a drink on him, but I feel the symbolism of the hoodie was enough to get the point across. He wasn't shot because of the candy in his pocket; he was shot because he appeared threatening to an insecure White male who doesn't know better to differentiate a normal youth from someone who could have possibly posed a hazard to his neighborhood. Was Zimmerman wrong for trying to defend his neighborhood? No. Was he wrong to profile a young Black man as automatically threatening and shoot him? Yes. Many people get shocked when these incidents happen because they expect people in our society to know better; to be better. People like Zimmerman represent the percentage of dormant racist bigots who don't verbally express their racial anxieties, but act out upon it through violence and behaviors. It's something that we can't stop, which is why I feel people march in protest.

Unfortunately, Trayvon Martin has been added to the long list of the victims of injustice in this country. Of course I am upset about it. I'm angry that people like Zimmerman aren't automatically arrested and trailed for their crimes. I'm upset that it takes people to march in the streets and get angry for stories like this to get attention. I'm also upset that the stories similar to Martin are happening everyday and are never bought to light. But what can I do? Stop wearing my favorite piece of clothing just to feel safe?

-Video Vix[o]n

Stop (and Think) Kony 2012: Revisited

Last week, in a rush of emotionally charged passion, I posted my emotions all over my social platforms about my sentiments towards the now infamous Invisible Children documentary, "Kony 2012." From what I saw, I had to tell people that we had to band together to stop the evil monster who was Joseph Kony. I went from not knowing who this man was to 30 minutes later, cursing his name and recruiting my imaginary troops to do something about putting him down. During my state of fiery passion, I used my creative juices and thought to compile a mash-up of something popular in pop culture with this issue to spread more awareness. This was my result; Avengers x Kony 2012:



But, throughout my rally cries for the global community and myself to assemble and put a stop to Mr. L.R.A., I didn't stop and think about what this documentary was telling me and how it was affecting my emotions.

As I stated in my last post, this documentary was well shot and did a good job at conveying its message; too good of a job. Throughout the video, it uses different audio and visual messages that pulled at one's heart strings; showing African children in pain, the innocence of a young boy trying to understand what evil is and the ultimate message of standing up and finally doing something about it. What I failed to realize is that the ending was the drive home for the organization's mission; to donate. They advertised their merchandise that, through a donation, you can receive an "Action Kit," that would contain fliers, T-shirt, bracelets, etc.; all aimed at spreading awareness about Kony. I did get pulled in by "action kit" and immediately pulled out my credit card to donate. But, if my logical senses kicked in instead of the emotional, I would have realized buying a T-shirt and posters was not going to stop a world-class criminal. Each view on this documentary wasn't going to get us one step closer in the African jungles to catching him. I'm sure there are people who have jumped on the "Stop Kony" train that have come to this revelation by now too.

Was it wrong for me to feel strong about putting a stop to a bad man? No. Was I wrong for wanting to spread more awareness about the issue? No. Was I wrong for not taking the time to do more research about the issue before leading to any conclusions? Yes. Joseph Kony actually helped me to learn the importance of educating oneself about any issue before taking action, no matter how dire the situation may seem. After doing more research about Kony and Invisible Children, I discovered that everything is not what it may seem; outside of the anti-Kony 2012 rhetoric I was hearing all over the web. It's safe to do research about a topic to get all the facts straight; deeply analyze any pressing issue that I watch/read on the Internet and come to a well-balanced opinion. That not only makes me a smarter consumer of information, but a more cautious one. I'll remember to research first, react later.

Invisible Children, I see what you did there.

-Video Vix[o]n

Stop Kony 2012: I Can't Stop

Last night, I had the pleasure and disdain of watching a very important documentary on Youtube that shaped the way I see the world and my responsibility as a global citizen.



For those who have been in the dark about this issue, like I have, there is a man in Africa by the name of Joseph Kony. Kony leads a group of rebels called the L.R.A. (Lord's Resistance Army). This "army" is comprised of children that his henchmen and him have captured, raped, killed and forced to join his group and kill others with guns as child rebel soldiers. Seeing that these children are taken away and forgotten about, they're referred to as the "Invisible Children." These children have been suffering at the hands of LRA for years.

The documentary is well shot and convincingly gets its message across. The director and main narrator, Jason Russell, explains his experiences working with the Invisible Children organization and spreading the word about the mistreatment of these children in Africa and fighting to put an end to Kony and his tyranny. There was something inside me that was building a fire as I watch every moment and learn every fact about the Stop Kony movement. I was aware that evil existed in the world, but not to this magnitude. This is something different; something bigger than myself or anyone else that I can imagine. We're talking about a world criminal; the most dangerous man in the world. Ironically, the U.S. had sought out to find Bin Laden and stop Gaddafi, but the efforts to put an end to Kony has never been emphasized (of course, this is due to underlying U.S. interests and not the concept of world justice).

Ultimately, the question comes down to what am I going to do about it? After college, the fire I had in me to create change fizzled out; I got caught up in my own world and creating a difference for me. But now, there is a global threat on our hands that has been occurring for more than 20 years; before I was born, and I have the ability to stop it. I'm afraid that if I don't keep this story in my mind's eye, then I will forget and go back to my complacent ways. I can't allow that to happen. For some, this may be a bandwagon trend that'll go away in a couple of days; for others, this is something that needs to be addressed and acted on.

If anyone reading this wants to do something inherently good and take action to spread the word about Joseph Kony to stop him, then do your research and get active. If not, then I could understand; it's not easy to feel empowered to create change. It can be scary and not much people know how to handle it, much less make it a priority. Either way, I am a strong believer in stopping villainy and as all of us can be the heroes we need to put an end to this tyrant.

-Video Vix[o]n

Fall for Fashion [M.B. Fashion Week Recap]

This year was my first experience outside and within the Fashion Week world. I am nowhere near knowledgeable of the fashion world like my girlfriend, Janelle, but it was a good opportunity to attend my first official fashion show in NYC.

Earlier in the week, I went out with Janelle and Joshen to take some street photos of the participants coming out of the fashion shows. Seeing that I prepped for this moment, I had camera in hand and took pictures of the most fashionable to the best of my ability. Here are the results...

I feel I did a decent job, seeing these people actually posed for these photos, unlike most of the subjects I shot before who would walk out of the way of a picture. After our photo session, we decided to keep it moving and hopped in a free cab downtown.

Outside of photography, I recently completed a gig off of Craigslist, working with international pop singer, Heather Schmid; who is an extremely nice person. My main job was to cover the fashion shows she was attending and be her main cameraman, following her to each event and getting footage of her interacting with the press and being fabulous. She was nice enough to invite my girlfriend to one of the shows, which she appreciated. Here is a quick video I made capturing the essence of Fashion Week.

Overall, I had a great time being in the ambiance of Fashion Week. Though I wasn't the subject of the photos and video, being in the atmosphere makes you feel important, especially when you have the access to go backstage and see the models and the looks that nobody else has the chance to see. I hope I have the opportunity to do this again and relive the creative rush that is the fashion world.

-Video Vix[o]n

On Top Of Things

In my filmmaking endeavors, I have encountered few people who share my passion for video production as much as I have. In college, I knew people who wanted to come together and make some content, resulting in some end products that I were and weren't proud of. Today, I reconnected with one of those people and she reminded me of why I got into video production in the first place.

Standing on that rooftop made me realize that there is more to life out there that what I'm familiar with. For the most part, I know a few people, in my field, who have the same passion and drive to work on and accomplish their goals. Most of the residents in Bushwick, Brooklyn display the ideal of the "aspiring artist;" a person who just wants to leave their creative footprint in the cement of our culture. For that one moment, I looked out to the amazing sunset before me and realized I'm not alone in this journey.

Meeting people is one of the perks I enjoy when pursuing this passion of filmmaking. Hearing the thoughts of like-minded who think of the impossible becoming possible and the most strange becoming the most real is refreshing. In the world of video production, people's thoughts are able to come to life, and working together with others who understand the possibility of that happening are the people to keep close as you travel on that journey. I can't say that re-connecting with a friend means I'll be creating films left and right, like a production house, but it does replenish my hopes that there are others out there, like me, who believe in creating the possible through film. 

As I continue to meet others who are willing to create something amazing through the lens of a camera, I hope I can take something from these newfound contacts and apply them to my ultimate goal to create something awesome and be noticed by others who will feel the motivation to do something awesome themselves.

-Video Vix[o]n

Frame x Frame: Shots in the Street

*Before I continue this post, I will disclaim that I am NOT a photographer, but a man with a nice camera who likes to take pictures. There is a difference. 

Yesterday, while I was out in the street and had some time to kill, I would take a couple of pictures. I wasn't prepared to just snap at any random thing or object; I was going to shoot people walking by. In preparation for NYC's Fashion Week, happening in a couple of weeks, I wanted to practice taking some street-style photography, which is a popular art among most freelance and fashion photographers. My initial feelings were nervous and excited. There I was, standing in the middle of Downtown Brooklyn, with camera in hand, ready to capture the most fashionable people to my eye. 

(Click FULL ALBUM to see all the pictures)

At first, it was hard to take pictures of people because everyone was walking fast and I was afraid to get in a person's face with a camera, so most of the shots were taken from behind (a lot of people have this hidden fear of cameras, which I dub "camerophobia"). Most shots were also too far away, due to the limited focal length of my lens (in other words, I wasn't able to zoom in closer to take better shots). I learned that speed and precision is crucial when taking street photos. I almost felt like a street assassin; I had to stoop down for the shot, aim accurately and shoot my subject all before they either "dodged" the shot (moved out of the way), or walked off. Not prepared to chase someone down for a picture, there were some good opportunities that got away, but I stay determined to capture some good stills. Outside of speed and accuracy, courtesy was another tool that I didn't realize could come in handy. Most people, when asked if a picture can be taken of them by a random stranger, immediately raise their defenses with a load of questions and rejections. Aware of this, I experimented on two individuals by asking nicely if I can take their picture. After I explained it was for my blog, they politely and skeptically inclined and I took the shot, no bloodshed. 

After my shooting spree in the street, I reviewed my photos over a nice hot chocolate from Dunkin' Donuts. I noticed, throughout the day, I kept shooting women with red jackets on. After noticing this, I was determined to find more ladies with red jackets on, as to develop a theme. I think that inspiration came from the mind of Bill Cunningham (an extraordinary street-style photographer for the NY Times; his documentary was amazing). He would usually find a common trend to focus on and find people in the street with a similar style or look. Though not intentional, I did catch a few red-topped ladies, which in Cunningham fashion, I called the style trend "Cherry on Top." My favorite pictures were of people in motion, whether crossing the street (which is the best place and time to take pictures of people), running for some reason, or just standing around, waiting for something. Overall, it was also a challenge to find people who I considered fashionable, but I went about it by finding the people most well put together and unique in my taste.

After all this, I have something to show off and be proud of. I wish I had a better lens for street photos and some more experience capturing people in the moment, but as I said in the beginning, I'm just a man with a nice camera who likes to take pictures.

-Video Vix[o]n

Frame x Frame: Crooks and Cooks

With most of the free time I have had on my hands after my seasonal stunt at UPS, I found the time to become creative again, with my camera as well as in the kitchen.

My first project for the year was a music video that Joshen spearheaded with an artist named Sin. When Joshen first approached me about the video, it sounded like an opportunity to get my hands busy after a long creative hiatus (despite it being a paying gig, I was more than willing to help). When he told me the name of the song "Daddy was a Crook," at first thought, it didn't sound very positive or meaningful, but when he explained the concept of the video further, it translated differently into something I could understand. I haven't had the opportunity to work on much music videos except my own musical spoofs that I produced on my Youtube channel. Nonetheless, this gig would give me a better idea of how to pull off a music video step by step. What I took from the experience is it takes a lot of people to make a music video successful and dedication to complete the project in a proper time frame. Though the weather was blistering cold at some points and these were some gaps of time when nothing was happening, the video came out visually pleasing. Completing this video has inspired me to want to direct my own music video with an upcoming artist just to get the experience under my belt. Hopefully, I will find a willing participant who will want me to make their musical vision a reality.



While searching for my creativity in video, I've become more free to exploring my creative juices in cooking. With the help of my significant other, I have been creating different dishes that have been coming out pretty good. When I was younger, my step mom always wanted me to be in the kitchen to learn how to cook, but I was always more into eating the food than preparing it. I never had the confidence to cook due to my accident-prone behaviors. These days, I have more patience and confidence in finding a recipe, shopping for ingredients and making the things that I like to eat. This, by no means, makes me a culinary master. I still have a lot to learn and I'm sure all the things I have made thus far hasn't been the best. Cooking is similar to videography in they both take a lot of elements to work, in the sense of color, taste, getting the right look and preparation. Even referencing the process of rendering a video as "cooking" makes that correlation even more prominent. As one who enjoys food, I'll continue to make food dishes and perfect my craft as I do in video-making; the end result is that something comes out delicious.

The Internet Goes Black

*UPDATE: THE SOPA/PIPA BILL HAS BEEN POSTPONED FROM VOTE!!!
(Visit Sopa Countdown for more information)

The only time people look forward to countdowns are their birthdays, Christmas or vacation time off of work. The countdown above, however, is for none of these celebratory dates. 

The countdown represents the day after January 24th, 2012, when Senate will be voting to pass the SOPA bill. For those who aren't up to speed, the SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) or the PIPA (Protect IP Act) bill was introduced to House of Representatives as a means in preventing sites on the Internet from facilitating and hosting copyrighted materials on the web. The idea of this bill has good intentions; prevent sites from promoting the piracy of intellectual property by others and hold those sites accountable legally with jail time and fines. The main effects of the bill would be to fine pirate-affiliated sites, block search engines from directing to the site, ban online advertisements related to the pirate site and ultimately, forcing ISP (Internet Service Providers) to prevent any access to said sites. Though I agree with protecting one's intellectual property more than the next person, from my research, the ripple effects of this bill can cause greater issues than stopping a few Internet pirates; it can cause the censorship of the whole Internet.

Let's take Youtube, for example (considering I make Youtube videos and all). Let's say, under the SOPA bill, "Youtuber A" uploads a video that contains copyrighted materials, such as a clip from "Company B", as a way of sharing with their audience their views on a topic. "Company B" comes across "Youtuber A's" video and discovers their IP (intellectual property) has been used unfairly. Under the act, "Company B" can decide to take legal action and report "Youtuber A," which would lead to Youtube being reprimanded for hosting pirated property and eventually being blocked by internet searches, then... Armageddon, right on schedule.

For the sake of Youtube, and other sites out there that are threatened by this bill, I'm using January 18th, 2012, dubbed Internet Protest Day, to voice my opinion about this bill and stand up for the Internet. The Senate needs to understand the snowball effects this bill can have on the rest of the internet. Become a good Internet citizen and go to this site (after January 18th, 2012) and send a letter to your Senators, telling them NOT to pass SOPA. As Captain Planet would say "The Power is Yours!" Don't let the Internet become "All Black Everything."

-Video Vix[o]n

Sh!t Everyone Says

It all started with a short 1 minute video by creators Kyle Humphrey and Graydon Sheppard almost a month ago. Weeks later, it has become of the most popular and re-created videos on Youtube. The concept was so simple, but genius: A guy in a wig, mocking what girls would typically say or do on a regular basis. From this video, Billy Sorrells took the ball and rolled with it a few days later, creating the color counterpart called "Shit Black Girls Say," which also became a hit.




From that moment, other video makers on Youtube took it upon themselves to add to the snowball of this new viral meme of "Shit ___ Say" and, safe to say, a lot of people were going viral simultaneously. I've dubbed this Internet trend "Chain Viral." From the original link that became popular, other links were added that received the same stream of popularity as the first one. Though some links may be smaller or weaker than others, the chain itself became longer with each video made based and inspired by the original.

It's no surprise to see why these, and other "Shit, Say" videos are blowing up on Youtube. Everyday, we say things and do things that we don't notice to be comedic, but when they are brought to light, they become funny to us because they're familiar. Take for instance, when the two girlfriends met in each video, they screamed in excitement to see each other. In real life, it seems like a normal thing, but the video creators realized that it happens so often where most can relate to it and laugh at its accuracy. In essence, these videos help us to laugh at ourselves and realize we all are the same, whether a white girl or black girl (or any other type of person a video has been made for). Even my video partner, Joshen, jumped on the "Shit, Say" coaster and made a video about Shit Poor People Say, which came out pretty funny.

I'm just glad that I was able to witness a new Internet viral meme be born. Hopefully, one day, I can become the creator of a viral hit and have everyone saying shit about it. Until that day, you'll have to stay tuned.

-Video Vix[o]n

Frame x Frame: New Year; New Blog

"Happy New Year to everyone. They say 2012 is suppose to be the end, but we'll show 'em it's the beginning of something dope." 

I shared this status on all of my social media sites as the new year rang in. Most people have been associating 2012 with "The New Apocalypse" ever since people discovered the Mayans ran out of months on their calender. I think of it as if we survived Y2K, we can survive an expired record of time from an ancient civilization. From what I've learned from "Doctor Who," the human race is quite resilient.

I spent the Eve with most of my close friends, being productive and merry; no Time Square, no crowds, just watching Dick Clark once more on the tube with my significant other. On New Year's Day, we decided to hit the town and just live within the NYC streets and the aftermath of the New Year buzz. We mainly went shopping and got some food, all to enjoy the NYC weather and the fresh 2012 air (despite the rain the followed later on that evening).

The New Year also dawned some new aesthetic changes to the blog; including a new header, links to my social networks and a new "Rewards" tab that viewers can receive points for visiting the site, as well as sharing my posts. The most significant change I made was deleting the majority of my old posts. For some, that may come as a shocker, but I think the issue with my blog was some of the old content was weighing down the new content. Plus I didn't want to continue focusing on what my blog was more than what my blog can become. Outside of that, I felt deleting posts would have been more progressive than deleting the whole blog all together. With some of these changes, including the addition of my new picture posts ("Frame x Frame"), I'm getting a new found rejuvenation to blog again. 

I could call all of this a New Year's resolution, but I rather call it a new commitment for a new year (possibly the same thing, but I digress). Happy New Year everyone and here's to the new posts coming ahead. 

-Video Vix[o]n