I'm Your Turbo Lover

Remember MTV when they showed amazingly cool music videos all the time? Remember when videos were more than just a montage of live shots and completely inane shots of the band? Videos in the 80s meant cheesy computer effects, animation, strange creatures, puppets and amazingly bizarre storylines. Yea, this is why I loved this video so much when I was younger. And for what it represents, It actually holds up. Sure, It's ridiculous. But so were the 80s. and I think we've lost that in terms of modern music video and film production. There are a few exceptions here and there. Anyway, I'll just let you enjoy the video. More to come on classic 80s music videos.

1000 Journals

Andrea Kreuzhage has created a doc about the 1000 Journals project, in which, yep, you guessed it, 1000 art journals traverse the globe to be filled in the creative meanderings of artists, writers, makers and other types.
Check out the doc's site here, including a trailer and lots more about the film.
Last year I created a similar, albeit much smaller scale, project with journals traveling around the world. They were all lost. Perhaps they will one day return to me.
For a little more inspiration, check this out.

Now, let's go and make a movie.

Get Swedin'!!

Want to Swede a movie but don't know the first thing about filmmaking?

I don't know about you but I can't wait to Swede Footloose!  Oh, wait... I don't own a camera.  I don't know the first thing about filmmaking  -- just a lot of experience watching them.  Well, I guess there was one "movie" that I made, but I don't think my parents want to know about it.  

(<---- Mary)

A good friend of mine, and documentary filmmaker, Mary Arbuckle has agreed to host a weekend intensive workshop this spring or summer for those interested in video production.  I've been trying to coordinate times with her to learn editing and production 101 skills for months now.   Just think, if enough people Swede a movie of their own, we can have a SMN Swede fest!?  What'd'ya think Will?

 She has taught at Burlington College and recently Middlebury college, and also runs a local community access television station, which means access to equipment!  Mary's very flexible to other people's schedules and depending on the level of interest and initial success willing to host more than one.  If anyone is interested raise your hands, send a flair, show up at the next movie night and we can discuss the details.  

Getting Excited About SMN 2.0

Despite how busy I've been over the past few months and how little time I've really had to devote to planning a new Secret Movie Night, I'm getting quite excited about tomorrow night's program. Those familiar with the usual SMN format won't be disappointed. But I hope to introduce a stockpile of brand new material over the next few months. And I'd like to consider changing the format a bit - perhaps with the addition of a few well-selected longer works. And a bit more serious fare that I find particularly inspiring, technically ingenious and worth exposing to the SMN fans.

As the blog continues to warm up (and add new contributors) I'll start to reveal some of my favorite all-time works, both feature-length and short, animation and live-action.

Top 10 Fan-Made Sweded Films

David Chen at Always Watching has compiled a fantastic Top 10 Fan-Made Sweded Films, inspired by Michel Gondry's Be Kind Rewind.

Just a little something to amuse you until the next Secret Movie Night. Enjoy!

Be Kind Rewind Sweded Trailer

Now we just need to swede secret movie night. who's up for it? SMN returns March 18. in the meantime, go and see Be Kind Rewind. discussion to follow

So much for that idea

OK, so that was a huge waste of my time. I guess VH1 decided to air a completely different and unimaginably inane episode of the Salt N Pepa Show. what an amazingly horrible show. so it's back to my regularly scheduled attempt at setting up a MySQL database. so far I've figured out how to create the database. but no idea how to access it.

I should probably just stick with creating graphics. this whole design, database, php mess just frustrates me.

SALT N PEPA Learn To Snowboard

Anyone who knows me is aware of my disinterest of (no, more like disdain for) reality television. If I want reality, I'll watch sports.
Or Jeopardy. But this one particular episode I just have to see. Two of my friends and fellow snowboard instructors have taught Salt N Pepa to ride.
The episode airs tonight at 10pm on VH1.
Feel free to join me. Then we can watch some real snowboard videos to justify our time spent in front of the televison.

Our Winter Vacation

You may have wondered what we've been up to during the SMN winter break. Since I love to make lists, here are a few things we've been doing:
+Snowboarding
+Sledding
+Spending time with family and friends
+Drinking Coffee
+Watching Movies
+Riding my bike in the snow and ice
+making lists
+planning future Secret Movie Nights

If You Love It, Swede It!

Saw BE KIND REWIND the other day, the latest from the rather unique mind of Michel Gondry. Fantastically fun film. What can I say? I won't get into the details of the film. But I'll just say that I plan on "Sweding" a few movies of my own. To be screened at future Secret Movie Nights I hope.

Return of the Living Movie Night

It's now official. Secret Movie Night will return on Tuesday, March 18.
12 North St :: 8pm :: from there I hope to host screenings each first and third Tuesday of the month. Now I just have to get a program together. Can't wait