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Nik Software HDR Efex Pro Video

For more information on transcenDANCE, check out www.tDArts.org
Before this project, it had been awhile since I’ve done anything I felt connected to.

I had forgotten how to dance.

In so many ways, I’ve identified with these students, these young people:

I’ve felt like an outsider.

I’ve wanted to leave.

I’ve been fed up.

I’ve not been well in my soul.

But…

They’ve inspired me to not be afraid.

to live.

to take risks.

to love myself.

So, while I never got the hang of hip-hop, or mastered the ballet, I feel like leaping and pop-locking to the music of life.

Recently, a dear friend gave me a sign that I will forever cherish. It said:

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass,
but about dancing in the rain.

I am so glad to be doing my dance, with transcenDANCE, with the rest of the fab five at emota, and, of course, with the extraordinary Jonathan Huffman who did just about everything here. No lie.

OH WAIT! DON’T FORGET TO GO SEE:

Uncommon Cents

A dance theatre production that explores money and values and celebrates the ABUNDANCE that lives within all of us.
Friday, July 9  &  Saturday, July 10 @ 8:00 p.m. Lyceum Theaters at Horton Plaza, Downtown San Diego. Complimentary parking in Horton Plaza Parking Structure.

Call Lyceum Box Office to purchase advanced tickets 619-544-1000
Buy online at www.LyceumEvents.org , or at door one hour before curtain
$15 General Admission at the door
$10 students/seniors/groups/ALL advanced tickets

Uncommon Cents is generously funded in part by San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture, Horton Plaza Theaters Foundation, San Diego County  Office of Education, and Danah Fayman.

And if you haven’t seen the other videos you can see them here.

Be sure to watch the video.

I have always been a good student.
I have always been good at sports.
I have always been good at most things.

It was expected.
There were no alternatives.
My father drove me hard.

But, no matter how well I performed,
I was led to believe it was never good enough.

My father – a 300 lb., former marine, systems analyst for NASA – thought he was teaching me the value of a good education, the value of learning, or the value of teamwork – but what was drilled into me was one thing: the value of performing.

Performance without failure of any kind was valued most of all.

The worst was that I believed my performance was actually connected to my goodness.

Once I remember crying so hard after receiving a C on a test in elementary school that I actually had to leave the classroom to hide my shame.

Yes. I was that kid.

That kid is still alive and well inside me, as is the voice of my father with his constant undermining scrutiny and subtle humiliation. Sometimes it seems impossible to shake the constant drumming:

“Why do I say the wrong thing?”
“Why do I make the wrong decisions?”
“Why do I eat too much?”
“Why don’t I make more money?”
“Why do I fail?”

I understand that these questions are not bad to ask. They are important to explore.

However, if you lived in my mind, experienced the barrage, and heard the same amount of judgment, one might wonder how I am even able to function.

Add on top of that messages I receive from advertising and marketing, and, I feel as though I might collapse under the weight.

It wasn’t until I turned 30 that I began to understand the value of failure, especially as a part of the creative process – whether creating art, or creating a business.

More importantly, I finally heard the advice: Be gentle with yourself.

With those simple words, I realized that my fear of failure had kept me from living, had kept me from dancing, had kept me from my dreams.

And now, I have begun to realize that I am able to embark on whatever journey my heart desires.  And if I fail, I will not only be okay, I will still be good.

I am so excited that Cat Corral, Executive Director of transcenDANCE, has seen that this message is important to teach.

I am inspired that she has acted on it by teaching it through dance.

I am hopeful that her and the transcenDANCE program will continue to create brave artists and community-minded citizens willing to take risks.

Thank you for the inspiration Cat!

Be sure to get your tickets for the upcoming transcenDANCE performance, more information at tDArts.org

Watch other episodes at creatorparish.com

Hi All,

So it has been two weeks since I began this journey with this amazing group. My participation has dredged up a lot of my past. Here is one story I would like to share:

When I was a freshman in high school, I was attending a pep rally – you know, one of those high school events that most  really enjoyed becuase we got out of class, went outside or played most of the day. Part of the activities was to compete against the other classes in particular sports events. One of them was volleyball.

So, there, I was. On the volleyball court of our gym. A DJ was paying my favorite song. And I was dancing.

Completely unselfconsciously, I was dancing… because I was happy, because my body felt like moving. I wasn’t thinking about whether or not I looked cool. I wasn’t thinking about anything.

Then, I was abruptly called out of my blissful state by the sound of my name.

“Terry!!” I heard shouted. “Terry!!” I could barely hear because the sound system was so loud. Finally I heard them: Two girl friends from the top of the bleachers: “Terry!!”

I turned around, smiling broadly, wondering why they wanted my attention. I looked up to see Shelley and Christina. They had a look of panic or total mortification, I’m not sure which. In either case, they looked as though they had seen something closely resembling the end of the world. I inquisitively shrugged my shoulders to ask “what?”

In unison, they both made the international gesture for “kill it,” a slicing motion across their necks while emphatically mouthing the words, “DON’T DANCE.”

I stopped.

Fear set in. Why? Was I was being made fun of?

For years, when I reflect on this, I have felt shame, embarrassment. I wondered if I looked like an idiot. Why hadn’t I been accepted as I was?

After meeting these kids, I wish I had had a place to go to call home, a place where I would be accepted just as I am, a place like transcenDANCE.

T~!

Her Morning Elegance by Oren Lavie, what an amazing example of an engaging music video. With stop motion and creative set placement, no matter how many times I watch this video I find something new. Great use of simple props timed to a beautiful musical track. I’d love to see the behind the scenes making of this video.

Anyone have any music videos they love? Please share with us!

Last night we had our first Cinema Scenes night. We all brought 1-3 of our favorite move scenes and shared why they were our favorite. Above is a sample of one of the movies viewed.

Here’s a quick recap of the movies shared:

• The Right Stuff
• The Big Lebowski
• Marx Brothers, A Night In Casablanca
• Bourne Ultimatum
• Monsters Inc
• 300
• Step Up 2
• Animal House
• Old School
• The Black Stallion
• The Red Balloon
• V for Vendetta
• Sunshine
• Shaun Of The Dead

As you look at the list you can see the amazing diversity in the film selections, truly representing the diversity of the group. We learned a tremendous amount about one another, simply by watching a scene, peering into that person’s connection to it and by them revealing why they were moved by it. We’re looking forward to our next Cinema Scenes night and getting to know our team and other creatives better. Let us know if you’d like to be at the next one.

D8 conference interview with Paul Jacobs and Walt Mossberg.

One of our clients mirasol Displays was featured at the All Things Digital D8 Conference yesterday. Qualcomm Chairman and CEO, Paul Jacobs, discussed the exciting new aspects of mirasol Displays as well as Qualcomm’s up and coming chip technology.

Hi All – Thanks for taking the time to check this out.

Over the next month, I will be documenting my participation with a local, San Diego-based, non-profit, transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project (tDArts.org), as they prepare for their July 2010 performance at the Lyceum Theater.

For the next month, follow me as I take classes alongside this inspiring group of dancers. Watch as I learn different styles, from hip-hop to ballet.

Plus, if I was a betting man, I would say that I’ll be learning a lot more than dance.

After all….

“tDArts believes that being a creative person fosters self-awareness, connection to humanity, the ability to explore possibilities, think critically, and transcend self-imposed limits.”

As one of the students, Dante – a 6’3” tall and slender force to be reckoned with – tells me, when he breaks down the word, to him, transcenDANCE means:

Change…
that brings you up…
through dance.

I can’t wait to find out if it’s true.

I look forward to sharing my findings and hearing back from you. So, please let me know what you want to know.

Background on transcenDANCE: Based in City Heights, a San Diego community, transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project uses the Performing Arts to empower culturally-diverse, neighborhood youth and to mobilize them for social change through the development of leadership skills.

About four months ago, Frito Lay partnered up with Vimeo in creating their new web ad. The incorporation of video in web ads is not a new concept, but doing it right, and doing it well is. The use of the website elements in the break out of the video sets the tone just right. I really enjoyed how they composed the piece. Another company doing this type of ad right now is Newcastle Brown Ale, but they are not incorporating elements of the page as well as Frito Lay is here. I would embed the video but all is lost if the video is taken out of context, but you can go view it here.

Here’s a link to the presentation our producer Bekah Christie and Felena Hanson did at the La Jolla Film Fashion Festival (April, 24). The session focused on basics of branding and telling your brand story via film/video.