NYC pt2

The owner / hoarder (pictured) of the 'record store' assured me at least five times in the three minutes I was in there, that he was coming in "tomorrow to clean up and organise everything...". Definitely the strangest record store I have ever been in.

MURUNDAK, SONGS OF FREEDOM

My friends Rhys and Tash over at Daybreak Films have recently released their latest feature documentary 'Murundak'. The film tells the story of the 'Black Arm Band' a super-group of legendary Aboriginal musicians from the past and present.  In showcasing the talents of the individuals the film charts the history of the Aboriginal protest movement and it's unique and very defined relationship to music.

I really didnt know what to expect from the film, I have no special interest in Aboriginal protest music nor is it something I would actively seek out. But Rhys and Tash have created a film that is so rich with the spirit of 'music' in general and not just a particular genre that I was soon swept away into a world I knew nothing of, but was really keen to explore and learn much more about.

The surprising thing for me and I'm sure for others, is even though I know very little about Aboriginal protest music, I have actually been quite happily exposed to it through far more popular music over the years. For example, I knew some of what the song Solid Rock was about. As a kid growing up in the 80's I loved it, but the film showed me the song in a new and very different light. It's way more than a forgotten mega hit of the 80's. It's relevance and power is just as significant now, perhaps even more so. The live version of that song that is performed in the film will stay with me for some time. Another song I'm quite familiar with is 'From Little Things Big Things Grow' which forms one of the centre pieces of the film, again I really like that song, and who doesn't, but never knew of it's history and it's significance to Aboriginal people. I like how these songs and more, exist in the mainstream and yet are very powerful political messages. I can't imagine a song like Solid Rock making it to the top 10 these days.

Having followed the making of the film from afar over the years it took to make, I know the guys really struggled in particular with the editing of the film. I think Rhys nd Tash were stuck in the edit suite for over a year (!) Trying to find the right balance of performance, interviews, historical footage, the history etc. And perhaps most importantly trying to shape a film which welcomes you in a way so you want to learn more (as apposed to a lot of films which become just advocacy for an 'issue') But watching it I could see no evidence of this creative struggle, in fact to their credit the film feels effortless in the way it flows. In this way the film actually feels like one whole piece of music.And making something so hard, look so easy is part of the filmmaking process these guys have nailed.

Murundak is currently in cinemas, check here to see if it's playing near you.

WAR OF THE ROSES

Brunswick vs Venice Beach.

But who will win?

NYC pt1

I've just returned from twelve fun filled days in New York City. Man, I love that place so much. The impetus to head there this time, not that I need much encouragement, was Last Ride played at MoMA as part of  Adelaide Produces, a programme curated of films that have been produced with the assistance of the Adelaide Film Festival. I've been lucky enough to accompany the film to many great places around the world over the last year and half but this screening was very special indeed. Last Ride is unapologetically an 'art house' film, and MoMA is arguably one of THE greatest of art houses! Here, the audiences were really appreciative, their questions and comments afterwards were encouraging and insightful. It was a great experience all round. I think NY is the one city in the world other than Melbourne, where I feel at 'home'. When I'm there I feel as though every moment, on every street, holds the potential for something amazing to happen. A good friend described New York as 'Disneyland for Adults'. It's such an apt description. I love the way how you can have no real plan but just set off in a direction and you will soon stumble upon something great. Whether it be some incredible architectural, retail or gastronomic experience, strange and wonderful people or being drawn to the details and the incidental moments of beauty that spontaneously jump out while strolling block after glorious block.

LA pt 3 ' The Lookout'

Griffith Observatory. Cool place to watch the big light fade down and all the little lights fade up.

LA pt 2 'The Cars that ate venice'

I'm not really into cars, but somewhere along the line I got hooked on taking photos of all the cool old cars in and around Venice. I had to stop myself from doing it though because you could spend your whole life taking photos of cool cars in L.A.

LA LA pt 1

Currently in L.A. on route to New York where Last Ride is screening at The Museum of Modern Art! More on that later... Also I've recently signed to SKUNK here in L.A for commercial representation in the U.S, so it has been a good opportunity to meet the team face to face and not via skype. SKUNK has a great roster of directors, including fellow aussie John Hillcoat (The Road, The Proposition) and one of my favorite Belgian directors Koen Mortier who made a great film Ex Drummer a couple of years back (Such a freaky film, so wrong but so right. Watch the first 5 minutes here.).

I've only been to L.A a few times, but each time it creeps a little more under my skin. I can see why some people love it and some people hate it. Even though I find it a pretty tricky place at times, I'm really starting to like the place and all the possibility it holds.

Nat (below) is travelling with me and this is the first time we have been 'child free' for a long while. It's a good time. Of course we are missing the kids, but it's so good to spending  some quality time together!

Love In Hi-Def

Shot with the new Arri Alexa for the first time last week... I think I'm in love.

The Red is dead.

Adalita

I want to send a shout out to my friend Adalita who is currently touring for her debut solo release simply titled 'Adalita'. Both Adalita and her former band Magic Dirt have been a huge inspiration to me over the years, and I'm very excited about her taking the very brave step forward and releasing music as a solo artist. Adalita has created a very special album. Intimate, raw, powerful and deeply personal as the record explores some of the emotional territory she has traversed since the sad death of her former band mate and best friend Dean Turner.

I was really blown away when I first heard the music. Adalita came over for dinner and afterwards we sat in the lounge and listened to an un-mastered copy of the album. I respect Ad for being so open and direct in the way she has made this record. It's such an honest and sincere document both sonically and in it's content.

I took the photographed above of Adalita (click for larger version) late last year. As it's her voice that features so predominately on the album, I really wanted to take a photo of her 'throat', as well as try and show some of the turbulence of her life over the past 12 months. The whole album is pretty much just Ad's voice mixed above her trademark dirty distorted guitar (like it was originally a full tilt rock album, but the rest of the band has been turned down and you are just left with Adalita's tracks), I'm moved by the simplicity of the arrangements, which are almost minimalist at times, and yet they constantly reveal ideas far more complex.

Check out Adalita here on iTunes.

Here endith the raving.

The weekend

Spent the weekend camping in Gembrook, Victoria. So lush amongst the trees and sleeping under the 'supermoon'...

Heart Worn

I've had this clip of Townes Van Zandt singing Waiting Around To Die parked in the Hoaxville cue for far to long. Last night I was driving home from a recce in country Victoria with DOP Jeremy Rouse and he clicked on the CD player in the car and this very track came on. This clip is one of the most perfect examples of what a music video could be as apposed to what most are. Purely performance based the film mkaers captured something very spontaneous, raw and touching. It's an excerpt  from the film Heartworn Highway, which I have on DVD and it's currently one of the 1500.

So, so beautiful.

And I dream about the red of his guitar and the blue his shirt.

LAST WEEK

YOUTHVILLE

I saw this a week or so ago and it's really stayed with me.  The film feels like you have tapped into someones 'memories' or you have tapped into the way we remember memories. It's not a collection of momentous, epic events, but rather a sequence of regular moments that when cut together create a real sense of the time these kids spent together, just hanging out, 'spanning time' (insert link to Photo Booth Scene from Buffalo 66, which sadly doesn't seem to be on the YouTubes). Sure these kids are good looking hipsters and there are skateboards, but I'm sure if any kid with a bunch of friends shot and cut enough footage and synched a moving track underneath you could get something similar. I guess thats whats cool about the film, it's not what they are doing, it's the fact someone did it! Very cool.

If I find out that this is actually 'branded content' for a Nokia camera phone, Sony HD thingy or a pair of shoes, I'll be super disappointed!

(R)ADELAIDE pt2

While in Adelaide I saw the premiere of four upcoming Australian features, all of them worthwhile in their own unique way. Mrs Clareys Concert, Here I Am by Bec Cole (couldn't find a web link), Snowtown by Justin Kurzel (more on this later perhaps) and Hail a film by my friend Amiel Courtin-Wilson. I was lucky to be on set a few times taking photographs and I really loved seeing the way Amiel worked with a very small crew in an intimate and inspiring way. Despite the fact the film was shown as a 'work in progress', with some work still to do, it was still an amazingly pure piece of cinema. On this night it was such a pleasure to watch Amiel and crew celebrate what has been a difficult and all consuming process for them all. As we all clambered into the wee small hours it reminded me of the extreme sense of accomplishment that comes from just completing a film. Well before and regardless of the real world markers of box office, reviews, festivals and awards. Just getting it 'finished', with credits tacked on the front and back and flickering on a big screen in the dark is enough and worth celebrating in itself.

Congrats Amiel!

(r)ADELAIDE pt1

Have just returned from a week in Adelaide where I was invited to be part of The Hive, which is a bit like a creative think tank encouraging the 'cross pollination' of ideas amongst artists from different creative disciplines. For five days I was in the 'lab' with a bunch of really inspiring people. Film directors, theatre directors, choreographers, artists, actors and musicians. I felt very lucky to part of the talent pool but perhaps the greatest thing was the time that we were given to just talk about ideas, with no real quantative outcome in mind. To see how for example choregrpahers Meryl Tankard or Gideon Obarzenak would approach a story idea or just ideas in general. It was a great amount of time very well spent. I went in with a film idea and came out with an idea for exhibition, one that I had been thinking about for a while but it was only half an idea, now I have a full idea and I'm very keen to develop it further. It was so nice to be in a development based workshop that was about 'ideas' and not funding or structure or distribution strategies.

It was held in conjunction with the Adelaide Film Festival, which has fast become the best and most progressive film festivals in Australia. We launched Last Ride there two years ago this week. Festival Director Katrina Sedgwick is one of the coolest people I know. I saw her introduce world premieres, launch programmes and funding initiatives, drive guests around and hug the caterers. Katrina has a the very special quality that I have tried to implement in my own life where when she is talking with you, it feels as though you are the most important thing at that time, regardless of the room full of people around her, or the hundred other things that might be taking up her headspace. She is very present in this way and I find it a most generous quality in her and in people in general.

Beautiful light in Adelaide at this time of year...