40 Day Dream...♥

Okay - and here is Part III.  What do you think so far? 

You are not only hearing the great songs from the awesome debut album but watching a movie unfold through a series of music clips.  Besides great marketing, this is a most excellent way to be entertained.  You want nothing more to reach in like watching your favourite serial on tele to find the next instalment through song. (I'm not even sure what I just wrote made sense) but I think you get where I'm coming from...

This song in particular is one of my most absolute favourite on the album.  It seriously rox and I never get sick of it.  Here is some background to this clip:

40 Day Dream finds Edward and Brother hiding out in the desert after their violent jail-break. Jade, having received a telepathic message from Brother, brings them to meet the rest of the Magnetic Zeros. Edward is welcomed by his new family and his troubles are briefly lifted by a healing vision of togetherness. After a night of revelry, Edward is awakened by Angel.

 Click here to listen or the video below.  You must turn this one up and dance :)



Midnight rambler looking forward to Part 1V and sharing it with you when it turns up on Edward Sharpe's video channel :)

To view Part I - click here
To view Part II - click here

Going down the rabbit hole...

'The Rabbit Hole is a three-day, 30-hour writing frenzy where participants aim to write 30,000 words OR the words 'The End' - whichever comes first!'

And it starts tomorrow.  I had planned to be a part of this worthwhile event.  Since this was announced I have moved, been sleep deprived and commenced full time work, not to mention I can barely make my way to my desk to write.  Clearly, this is no excuse to not be a part of The Rabbit Hole event.

I will write.  Absolutely, I will -  but rather than aim for the above as I would have given better circumstances - instead I will dip in and out over the weekend.  Check in on the facebook page and see what's happening.  Go here for more info and maybe you might like to sign up.  What a great way to spend a weekend.  Allowing yourself the freedom of expression without interruption, or chores, or distractions.  So watch the facebook, the tweets but don't get caught up or procrastinate.

This is your opportunity to dig on down the 'rabbit hole' and actually put some words on the page.  Go Queensland Writers Centre for bringing this together! Let's make it a productive weekend of getting in touch with your creativity and enjoying the wild abandon of writing in a frenzy.

Have fun to all you participants and even I expect to achieve some words this weekend.

Midnight rambler preparing for some disconnection from the mess and chaos that surrounds me :)

Story telling + Musical Genius = Part II 'Kisses over Babylon'

So what did you think of Part I?

Here is the second instalment of this 12 part musical/music video from Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros (aka) Alexander Ebert. 

The story continues in the desert wasteland, ravaged by drought. Edward is arrested for the murder of his father and after reuniting with his brother they plan a prison break. 

Let me know what you think?  How do you like to tell stories?  What are your thoughts on making music videos from an album that tell a complete story as opposed to straight music videos of individual songs?

Click here to listen or click video below.



 CAST:
Edward Sharpe: Alex Ebert, Minors: David Strathairn & Stephen Mendillo, Warden: Dermot Mulroney
Brother: Orpheo McCord, Clerk: Sandy Martin, Guard: Tay Stratharin

CREW:
Director Isaiah Seret, Co-Director Alex Ebert, Editors / Writers Alex Ebert & Isaiah Seret, Cinematographer Eric Maclver, Executive Producer Bryan Ling, Executive Producer Sara Cline, Producer Michael Schifflett, Visual Effect Benjamin Kutsko, Supervising Sound Editor Peter Aaron Fineberg, Location Manager Caleb Duffy, Production Designer Katie Byron, Art Director Ishi Glinsky, Camera Operator Tristan Bear, DIT Alexandra Pelly, Sound Recordist Jake Viator, Wardrobe Stylist Eliot Hazel & Diana Contreras, Make-up Sarai Fiszel, Opening Score composed by Miguel Atwood Ferguson, Kisses Over Babylon by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Production Company The Masses (http://www.wearethemasses.com) & Community Records

Album at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/up-from-below-bonus-track-version/id321407360

To view Part 1 (Desert Song) click here:

Midnight rambler contemplating the musical genius of Alex Ebert...

Movies combined with music brings great storytelling...

To follow on from my last post this video is what I was talking about.  Raise your hands if you're into music, movies and story telling.  Then this is for you.  Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros Album 'Up From Below' is told through a series of short films - how cool is that?  This is totally the best marketing tool I've seen especially if music is your thang and if you're visual like you me, you will so totally get this.

This is PART 1 of a 12-Part feature-length movie musical. The opening footage is of singer Alex Ebert's father chanting in Monument Valley - shot by his mother. Desert Song is about Alex's reckoning with the middle name his father secretly wrote on his birth certificate - a Native American name which means 'Devil' or 'Demon'. The debut album from Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, "Up From Below", is available from iTunes.  I will post Part II and Part III over the next few days or you can check them out yourself on their video channel :)

DIRECTED BY: Benjamin Kutsko and Cory Marrero
LABEL: Community Music/Fairfax Recordings - US : Rough Trade - UK
DP: David Myrick
EDITED BY: Alex Ebert and Brandon Driscoll-Luttringer
VFX: Benjamin Kutsko and Casey Allen
WARDROBE BY: Cassandra Kellogg and Amanny Ahmad
MAKEUP: Sarai Fiszel

Click here to listen or on video below.



Midnight rambler seriously wants to write short films...

The Sixites, French accents, eyeliner and big hair - what's there not to love...

Good Morning!  It's Sunday and what better time to get groovin'

Here's a great cover of France Gall's 'Laisse Tomber Les Filles' from 1964 to get you going. 


Hit the volume, and put your twisting shoes on and shake it baby :)

Click here to listen or click video below :)



Midnight rambler is twisting...

'My darkness is shining. Have faith in ourselves. Truth...'

I can't get enough of Alex Ebert aka Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros... 

This guy is beyond words.  I've seen him perform and man did he blow me away with his charisma, love, heart, and genuine beauty. Seriously, he beamed light across the audience and uplifted our hearts.  Everyone at the Hi-Fi Bar at West End had a smile on their face.  So much love in one room :) I could go on a total rant about how cool and groovee this guy really is and if you've ever seen him LIVE you will know exactly what I'm talking about.

He has a bucket load of talent.  He makes mini movies, a series of short films that tell a story of wild, and fantastical imaginings with love being at the heart of everything.  His magickal craft of story telling combined with awesome music makes Alexander Ebert a true legend.  Kick back, crank it up and lose yourself in the beauty of the music delivered with genuine love and most of all truth...

To listen click here or the video below.




Midnight rambler truly inspired my this amazing talent... ♥

Why can't I get this right?

This is a pic of the current state of my office/creative space.  What do I do?  Do I write? Do I blog, answer emails, connect with my online community, unpack?

Writing should be number one priority, right? I'm a writer! But of late my priority has been the day job (without that the bills don't get paid) packing and moving - without the boxes I live in limbo - great when travelling not so great when bogged down with responsibilities and financial commitments, and did I mention the constant interruption of tradies - repairs galore!

Needs some attention...

This time poor business is a constant juggle for me switching between the practical, creative, and business mind.  It would seem I don't manage my time well at all, yet in the work place - time management is one of my strong points - so what's that about? Am I just one of those crazy, creative people that constantly distract themselves with other things, like life, which leaves me in this constant flux of creative frustration!

How am I supposed to eat healthy food...

How do you manage your writing/creative time when big things take over your life?  All tips, thoughts, ideas are hugely appreciated.  Should I start by acknowledging what I do do with my time?  I've now blogged (tick), dealt with the oven technician except now I have no door so can't cook - so that's only half a tick, dishwasher repair (still working on that one) Air con service (tick) unpack a box or two, or three (tick) even God forbid a coffee break and relax over the latest edition of Writing Queensland? Not looking likely!

What am I doing wrong?  Maybe I should just get drunk and dance on the beach?  Thoughts...

Midnight rambler juggling too many balls...