Old 2.0

So two Sunday's ago a read this article in the City Weekly section of the Boston Globe and got all heated and wrote a letter. They quickly called and asked permission to use my letter, but then they didn't print it.

Because I hate effort with little or no reward, here's the letter I wrote.

I've found that my editorial judgement varies greatly from the folks at the Globe... meaning I'll print any stupid thing that any nutcase will write.
------------

I'm not embarrassed for Boston. I'm embarrassed for the old people of Boston. The Boston Police Department pride themselves on having the oldest police force in the United States. With this successful marketing incident, they may have proven that ‘oldest’ doesn't only mean longest running.

Although I think the BostonPD responded well to an unknown situation, the same can not be said for Boston’s second ‘oldest’ institution, its aging mass media. The best of user generated web content (Web 2.0) consists of several audiences informing each other. It can be a platform for people with ideas to get them out to people who are interested in ideas. This seems opposed to the more senior form of media (Globe/Herald/4/5/7) that often seems intent on promoting fear, condemning imaginary evildoers, and terrorizing its audience.

Like the people who weren’t clued in to the Orson Welles’ "War of the Worlds" broadcast, a group of people with large soapboxes ran around like chickens with their heads cut off. Unfortunately for them, being headless makes it very difficult to save face. So cutting off the heads of a couple of young artists will have to do.

Although I’m bordering on old, I’m not embarrassed for Boston. This event shows my town as the home of artists that can bring a city to a standstill. It’s the home of “plugged in” comedians that can poke fun at a media/police/mayoral circus. It’s the home of new media producers that will now have plenty of material for those slow news days when Apple doesn’t have a new iPod coming out.

It is also the home of the most entertaining press conference of all time. That is unless there is some footage on the internet somewhere of artist and rabble-rouser Paul Revere, after being captured on his famous ride, meeting ye olde British Press, refusing to take any questions that weren't about powdered wigs.

John Coyne
Dorchester
themudthebloodthebeer.com

Do we have the energy for another one?

I don't know if I can muster the energy for this but maybe you can.

http://www.filmracing.com/Cities/boston.htm

via Cinematical

Great Flick

Although it's probably too late to muster any troops for tonight's showing...

There's a great flick playing at the Coolidge Corner Theater tonight.




Hopefully you've heard of it. Any synopsis or review of the film that I write would be in adequate.

Okay, so I'll try anyway.

Four Eyed Monsters is a film about two people falling in love in a very unconventional and inspirationally creative way. During the early part of their courtship they decide to only communicate through creative endeavors (writing/painting/filmmaking) and not through speaking. The film is an extension of these creative endeavors that stretchs the boundaries of what you can do with off the shelf editing software and store bought video cameras. Don't believe me? Well, their self financed film was nominated for a couple of Independent Spirit Awards this weekend.

I saw it in the fall. It's great and it lived up to it's own hype.

Check out their site for better info including video podcasts, a synopsis, reviews and tutorials about how they did it and more importantly how you could do it too.

URL Change

Tired of all that typing when you need a fix of mud, blood and/or beer. Well the staff here at themudthebloodthebeer.blogspot.com are happy to announce a URL change. Now instead of having to type themudthebloodthebeer.blogspot.com you can just type themudthebloodthebeer.com.

I know, it's still too damn long, but all the good short names are taken.

You know, if you're not a fan of the whole brevity thing, you can still reach us themudthebloodthebeer.blogspot.com.

Also, please contact me if you have any problems with the new URL.

JohnMart

One stop shopping!

A new section of stuff, that's readily dowloadable, that I had some part in making?

More than a lot

Today I got an email from Ted Cormey. He directed Aerodynamics, a cool short film that I gaffed. He has submitted a five-minute excerpt of the film to The Lot, the upcoming reality show produced by Speilberg and the Survivor guy.

I love telling people about this movie because I think it helps me gauge the limits of their imagination. The one-line synopsis, probably not the official one-line synopsis, goes something like this:

Aerodynamics is the story of the first black ventriloquist dummy in space.

Are you still with me? You should be.

I loved working on this film. It was one of those projects that revitalized me. It reminded me what I like about filmmaking and why I like being on a film set. Just about everybody believed in the project and just about everybody gave their best effort. I have worked on many sets before and since and I know how rare that dedication can be, even (if not especially) from me.

I haven't seen much more than what you can see here. (You can register at the site and vote for it or post a comment).

I personally can't wait until the premiere of the completed film and I wish Ted good luck.

Cool your jets.

I've gotten a recent complaint that too often I am just putting links and videos on my blog instead of the biting commentary and subversive humor that has inspired both my readers rarely come here to read.

Well, Barry, I'm sorry.

Look, I'm just trying to show the world stuff I found cool/weird/interesting and think they might also find cool/weird/interesting. I'm sorry that every damn post can't be as clever as yours. But hey, at least I update regularly. I anticipate your next update some time after your next haircut, but before the next Festivus. But I'm not holding my breath.

Speaking of the end of the world, I found this funny video on the web. It has two of my favorite things, the apocalypse and hipsters.

Marsinites!

Hey, remember the last time fictional aliens scared the hell out of people who weren't in on the joke?

Well, you can relive it now, thanks to the web. These cool cats over at Vintage TuneCast are broadcasting old radio shows, including but not limited to Superman, Sherlock Holmes and the riveting Fireside Chats by FDR.

But please, do not get freaked out. If you are going to listen to Orson Welles' radio broadcast of War of the Worlds on your computer and/or iPod, please do not be afraid. Do non blame Muslim extremists, "kids today", Ted Turner's former wife or Major League Baseball.

More importantly do not call the authorities. They will only try to blow them up your computer and/or iPod with water cannons.

Blank Page

Just start typing.

Well, what am I going to type?

Something clever.

Something like what?

I don't know. If you had an idea, you'd be typing that.

Well, I don't.

I know.

I know you know.

-Silence-

-Staring-

How about I rip off something?

Like what?

Like a quote from a movie?

Well, then that would be a cop out.

You mean from a cop movie?

No, I mean you'd be taking the easy way out.

But I like movies.

I know... we all know. Almost as much as you like...

Like what?

Dot, dot, dot, you know ellipses.

Oh, is that what their called? How do you spell that?

I don't know, spell check just fixed it for me.

I can't just keep typing.

Why not?

It's not natural.

Not natural? Look, you just came up with a complete, possibly too long blog post, and you didn't even have an idea.

Hey, look at that, I did.

You did?

We did.

You're damn right, we did.

Where I'll be Saturday at 2pm

This weekend (2/17&18) the new ICA in Boston will be showing The General by Buster Keaton.

Not only will you be able to see this silent classic - in my opinion Keaton's "Stairway" – but also the outstanding Alloy Orchestra will score the film live.

I was lucky enough to see Alloy Orchestra accompany Vertov's Man with a Movie Camera at the Coolidge Corner Theater several years ago. The Alloy Orchestra is a raucous combination of classic virtuoso instrumentation and people banging on shit. The experience of watching Vertov's film about the burgeoning industrial revolution in early Communist Russia was mesmerizing. The film itself – in my opinion Vertov’s “Sgt. Pepper“ – is a visual delight that not only stars the people and places of a bygone Russia, but also the daring camera man who
will go anywhere for a great shot. Inspiring.



Add to that, watching the film with live musicians and a receptive audience takes the experience to a more visceral level. I’ve actually tried to watch the film on DVD since, but with its more authentic score it’s not the same film.

I have seen the General several times. It’s an epic film about a lowly engineer who must recapture his stolen train during the civil war. Keaton himself executes some of the most daring/hilarious stunts ever captured on film. The film could probably play with out any score, but I can’t wait to see it with fresh eyes, and ears.

If you can't make it or you want to see the film for free, although without the Alloy Orchestra accompaniment, you can check it out here at archive.org.

Haiku Movie Review: "Idiocracy"

just barely released!
corporate conspiracy?
or merely bad film?!

Shhh, listen, you smell something?

Where have you been all my life?

May I suggest the talkier works of the Coen Brothers.

"It really tied the room together."

I don't know if your Michael Bay type action flicks would translate.

via cinematical

Cool Idea 2.0

Go to the site.

Watch the video.

Listen to the music.

What are you still doing here?

Toast - Pan and Scan Version

I co-wrote this: