Uncontacted

Every now and then, I come across a piece from my peers that just resonates with me long after it's over. This short film on an uncontacted Amazon tribe not only pays tribute to the power that film can have in maintaining their livelihood, but it just reminds us how precious life actually is. Enjoy.

Picture Behind the Story...

It helps having a wonderfully talented wife who takes time out to glance over and shoot a still for me every now and then.

This shot was from the video I posted in my last post.

ONWARD[ART] - EXPLORING THE WORLD OF THOSE WHO CREATE

ELEMENTAL ART FORMS takes a look at various outdoor art sculptures and museums and how they exist among the natural elements and ultimately transform over time.

Noah Purifoy
A brief look into the art sculptures and philosophies of Assemblage Artist Noah Purifoy, who unfortunately died in 2004. But his work--what he considers to be his greatest masterpiece--still stands in the arid desert of Joahsua Tree weathering with the elements.

ASSEMBLAGE ARTIST NOAH PURIFOY from onward films on Vimeo.

Elmer's Factory [currently riding the festival circuit]:
Elmer's Factory (2010) is a portrait of bottle tree artist Elmer Long, whose colorful Bottle Tree Ranch along Route 66 has attracted visitors from all across the world. But Elmer Long is just as mesmerizing as his ranch, always welcoming guests and willing to strike up a conversation.

ELMER'S FACTORY (DOCUMENTARY TRAILER) from onward films on Vimeo.

Desert Christ Park
A historical landmark and world peace shrine in Yucca Valley, California, featuring more than 40 snow-white statues.

Due By Dinner

Ryder and I have been real busy lately. This past week--with the help of a few Lego Star Wars bribes-- he helped me create the following video for a really cool contest, which I hope we win! If not, I still had a really cool time with my number one dude!

Due by Dinner | Philip Bloom - Kessler Crane Competition from onward films on Vimeo.

Brother Love

Just for fun... (and to show his sister how much he loves her)

BROTHER LOVE from onward films on Vimeo.

In a Canon 7D Galaxy Far Away...

RYDER STRIKES BACK (7D SLOW MOTION TEST) from onward films on Vimeo.

I just kicked down the dough today for the Canon 7D, which has amazing HD video quality and a ton of other cool features. One feature I played around with was slow motion, using 60p and then converting it to 24p in Cinema Tools, which gave it a real nice look.

My little dude and I had fun with this one-shot, one take and since he is into Star Wars right now (and I am too), I added a few sound effects. Enjoy.

Next stop with my new toy: tilt shift action and beyond....

Camp Good Grief Update

I have received several emails lately about the documentary that I am working on, and I have good news. This morning I met with San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos at the Fox Coffee Shop in Redlands about the upcoming statewide and national release of the Camp Good Grief SVP documentary.

All is moving along as planned and I am hopeful that the film will serve as a nice compliment to the work that is already taking place. From a filmmaking standpoint, it certainly points to the role of the documentary and how it has the ability to not only convey information and highlight topics, but also inspire others.

DA Mike Ramos is 100% set on the notion of taking this camp (which is the only one of its kind in the nation) and sharing the concept with ALL other district attorneys across the nation.

In January, I will be presenting the documentary to the California District Attorney's Association and in April we will travel to Capitol Hill and share it as well. This is exciting and I am proud to be a part of such a powerful endeavor.

Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House Walk For Kids 2010

Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House Walk For Kids 2010 from onward films on Vimeo.

I just can't say enough about how amazing the people are at the Ronald McDonald House in Loma Linda. If you are ever looking for a way to volunteer a little bit of your time, please head on over and ask for Gwen Terry. She is rocks! When you walk into the building you can just SEE all the great stuff going on and FEEL such a positive vibe in the air. It was a honor to be a part of such an amazing event.

Out for a Walk

Trailer for 'Walk', a documentary film by Gabe Van Lelyveld from Gabe Van Lelyveld on Vimeo.

These are the types of stories that I have always enjoyed documenting, whether it was as a news reporter back in the day or as a documentary filmmaker now. Kudos to Gabe Van Lelyveld who directed "WALK." Here you have a young guy who made a decision to start walking for peace one day while carrying a sign that read: WALK 'TIL I DROP FOR PEACE.

I guess what appeals to me so much is the fact that in so many ways we all have our very own dreams and hopes and ambitions, and just like this young man, we have made our own vows to achieve whatever it is we want out of life--until we, too, drop. I can't imagine not resting until I achieve what it is I want out of life.

Whether it's peace we desire or flying a jet plane around the world or being the best mother or father to our children (which I believe to be the noblest of all ambitions in life), it's the essence of this young man's journey that draws me in, because I, too, hope and dream just like him. I guess you could say I'm along for my own ride. It's the challenge to see if I can make a lasting mark on my little spec of earth in the hopes of showing my children that life is about following your dreams.

Neuroplasticity and The Adventures of Al's Brain

This past weekend I went to the Orange County Super Fair. One of the attractions there was the The Adventures of Al's Brain (Weird Al Yankovic). The show is a 3-D journey through the human brain. One aspect of the show really captured my attention and that was the concept of NEUROPLASTICITY.



Plasticity, or neuroplasticity, is the lifelong ability of the brain to reorganize neural pathways based on new experiences. As we learn, we acquire new knowledge and skills through instruction or experience. In order to learn or memorize a fact or skill, there must be persistent functional changes in the brain that represent the new knowledge.



The ability of the brain to change with learning is what is known as neuroplasticity.

While it may seem obvious, I think the obvious lesson in this concept needs to be restated in the context of The Artist's World.



Let's face it: It's so easy to get into a nice and cozy comfortable little niche as an artist. If it's selling, it must be good. If people like it, it must be good. I made the cover of a magazine--I am the bomb. You know what I'm talking about: If it's broke, don't fix it, right?

Wrong.



Sure, it's necessary to reflect on lessons learned and to apply those same lessons to future success, but I think there needs to be a degree of willingness on the part of the artist to expand his or her path as an artist. Veer to the right or left every now and then. Heck, create an entirely different path when necessary.

The new adventures or paths we take will certainly expand our thought process (or rather, our neuronic pathways)--thoughts and knowledge that can never be taken away. As our knowledge and experience expands, so does our mind.

Both physically AND metaphysically.

I recently set out on a 5-day trip to San Francisco because I needed to "get away." I needed to take my camera and leave everything behind. I needed to wander around a city and just take it all in. It was a creative meditation of some sort that enabled me to not only take in new knowledge of a city I hold dear to my heart, but I was able to expand my understanding of myself as well.

(I recently posted this video, but here it is again, for anybody new to the blog)

PIER 7 AND BEYOND from onward films on Vimeo.

By no means do I even remotely think that I am qualified to offer self-help advice, but I would like to encourage each and every one of you to take stock of your life at this very moment. Are you where you want to be? Are you happier than you were one year ago? Two years ago? Ten years ago? Did life turn out the way you had planned? Did you even have a plan? If you had to define yourself in one sentence, what would that sentence look like? It shouldn't be that difficult if you really know who you are. Would that sentence reveal the "real" you or the way-you-want-to-be-perceived you?

Think about that for a moment, because there is a huge difference.

After you take stock of your life, go online and find a conference or a workshop that you want to attend. Maybe it's a trip you "need" to take. Maybe it's something you just NEED to do. What would help you expand those neurons, and in doing so, realize that it is an investment. Not a getaway or a vacation. You are investing in your future happiness and your future awareness of your craft and the world around you.

Put a jar aside in your house and start saving, if it's going to take money. Set out to expand your mind. Your neurons. Your knowledge. And in doing so, remember that the new knowledge you will gain can NEVER be taken away.

No take backs in the game of life and new knowledge--just a step closer to the realization of personal happiness and success.

Now go on and move ONWARD with your bad selves!

BUSHMAN | fisherman's wharf san francisco |

BUSHMAN | fisherman's wharf san francisco | from onward films on Vimeo.

David Johnson, also known as the World Famous Bushman, has been an entertainer along Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco since 1980.

Johnson hides motionless behind some eucalyptus branches and waits for unsuspecting people to wander by. When they approach, he jumps out and startles them.

Be sure to wait until the end--the last one is great!

I had so much fun watching David, and if you look closely at his face, he is having a blast doing what he does.

You haven't seen the last of BUSHMAN, so stay tuned for a bigger project in the works. This is just a sneak peek!

I spent nearly two hours on Tuesday at Fisherman's Wharf talking to David Johnson, who is also known as the World Famous Bushman. Johnson has been scaring passers-by along the Wharf since 1980. His act is simple: Johnson hides motionless behind some eucalyptus branches and waits for unsuspecting people to wander by. When they approach, he jumps out and startles them.



Johnson was kind enough to let me interview him as well. I look forward to sharing it with you in the upcoming weeks. Don't feel bad for him though (I guess you can if you want, depending on how you view his situation). According to tax records, Johnson earns $60,000 a year.



And then there was Hoseman (I love these names). I wanted to interview him as well, but there was a language barrier, so I just shot footage of this happy guy in action. He not only played the hose but he played tea cups and a yard blower contraption that looked like a saxophone, but played like a guitar. Talk to you later.

Day 2: Demonstration for Iran

By now, many of you already know about the attrocities taking place in Iran. I won't get into the politics of whose right or wrong (even though I do have an opinion), but what I will say is that I have always been a huge supporter of people having the right to freely speak their minds. It is one of the cornerstones of this great country of ours.



This evening I stumbled upon a demonstration taking place in Union Square and grabbed my cameras. Since so much of the Iranian protest has taken place via Twitter (providing the world with immediate details of the turmoil taking place in Iran) I stopped from time to time and provided images via my cell phone to the Twitter world, in the hopes of telling those in Iran that people on the other side of the world were speaking out.



Here are just a few of the images I captured. When I return to SoCal, I can't wait to edit the video footage.









Tomorrow, I will try to post my shots of Bush Man and Hose Man (both very friendly and talented men).

Day 1: Bucket Man

Within ten minutes of arriving to downtown San Francisco, I was in Union Square filming a short PSA with Larry "Bucketman" Hunt. You may remember him from Pursuit of Happyness" with Will Smith. What an amazing spirit.



How can I describe him? Well, picture a bunch of 5 gallon buckets turned upside down like a drum set. Throw in some drumsticks and happy spirit, and welcome to Bucketman's world outside Old Navy in Union Square (apparently, the city wants to shut him down.)

While he was playing, he took time to let children bang on the buckets as well, and that's when I stepped in and asked if I could take some shots and capture some footage. I had noticed that he was openly talking to the kids about staying in school and following their passions. That's when I asked Larry if I could interview him about a message he has for children.



It just seemed like the perfect fit for ONWARD FILMS. I can't wait to get back home and edit his short piece.

I also purchased his CD so I can't wait to share his music as well.

Here is a shot of another musician I spoke with:



But he wasn't as open as Bucketman. I think his sign said it all.



It may seem like their is a DOWN ON YOUR LUCK theme, but I saw beyond the struggling men on street corners and realized that they were just fellow artists, and I can appreciate it that without labels and such.



Off to the Mission Street Murals tomorrow.

On Location with Sophie Plum

SWEET SOPHIE PLUM... from onward films on Vimeo.

Gina and I headed out to Los Angeles the other day and had the chance to catch up with Sophie Plum and her amazing mom!

What a beautiful pair these two make. As I was shooting, I knew something special was transpiring, so that night I put everything else aside and went to work. In all essence, it's a simple concept, but I didn't want anything to really overshadow the love of mom and daughter.

One of the cool things about the editing process is just finding yourself transfixed by your subjects and that is exactly what happened on this project. I just couldn't stop smiling while I was editing.

I hope you do the same, and as always, I hope you are reminded of the beauty of childhood. Thank you Miss J and Sophie Plum for letting me step into your life for a day.