by Nicholas on June 30, 2009
Download Justin Hopkins & The Guilt – “Here Goes Nothing.”
Let’s talk rock – specifically, west coast rock. It’s not often that you hear the clean sounds of a piano in that genre anymore. In this track, “Here Goes Nothing,” Justin Hopkins, a California-based indie musician seems to have created a one-of-a-kind sound by basing his compositions on fat, solid piano chords.
I originally heard Justin on Rich Palmer’s “Audio Gumshoe” podcast, and instantly fell in love with his originality, clear lyrics, and ability to rock. Though this track certainly isn’t his heaviest, you can dig deeper, and will discover the grunge that I’m sure some of you crave.
by Nicholas on June 29, 2009
Last night, I had the opportunity to watch “The Illusionist” for the first time. It’s a film about a magician who knows a bit too much about the crowned prince’s plot to overthrow his father, and is continually dogged by law enforcement because of his insight. This is the plot. These details you can gather within the first 30 minutes of runtime, leaving 79 to fill. 79 wasted minutes of my life. You see, in what I suppose was an effort to improve the film’s authentic feel, each and every frame is vignetted, the color has been dramatically enhanced or it’s simply out of focus. I’m not a critic, but it would also seem that the writers can’t craft a plot at all, and yet – this film is a crowd favorite. Why? After discussing the matters above with one of the film’s proponents, he noted the film’s tasteful shooting style, confirming what I had thought since the first frame rolled across my screen.
As they say, the devil is in the details. While this film had plenty of potential, it was squashed by the overuse of effects, and the unwillingness of the directorate to drop so much as a tiny hint for the audience. The crucial details came together in the film’s last 60 seconds, leaving precious little time for the audience to piece is all together.
If you’re a communicator, you’re more of a filmmaker than you think. Sure, everything isn’t always captured on a visual medium, but you’re busy writing, editing, and releasing another chapter in your story. You could be a marketer, trying to build communities and brand loyalty, or an author striving to inspire those he meets: in either path, communication is just as important. While professionalism is a must, never allow it to get in the way. Stay away from flashy effects. Simply tell your story. Your audience will appreciate it.
