So I finally realized one of my short-term goals, which was to attend a Jonathan Coulton concert. I was extremely lucky that he decided to come to Raleigh, he said the last time he'd had a show in the area was four years ago.
As for the show, it kicked all manner of ass. Paul and Storm, his perpetual opening act, were a riot. They set the tone very well and the audience absolutely loved them. They even came out during Coulton's show and helped him out with some of his songs. I was familiar with Paul and Storm before, but I'd never heard any of their music. I am happy to say that it was as good as I had hoped it would be.
The best moment of the whole show (for me) was the song Mr. Fancy Pants. It's a straightforward, if ridiculous song. Coulton cranked the craziness up to 11 billion by playing the song on a device called a Zendrum. It's basically about the size of a guitar body and has big buttons all over it, which play custom sounds or samples like drum beats when you touch them. It started out normal, then he played around with it. When he started throwing in Beyonce samples and the Super Mario Bros. theme, I was crying and fighting to breathe through the laughter.
Maybe you have to have been there.
Needless to say, if he plays within a hundred miles of my location anytime in the foreseeable future, I'll be there in spades. Such a nice guy, too.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The Fightwood Chronicles
When I got home last night, my neck, back, legs, arms, and feet were sore. I had a wide scratch on my right temple, a dozen mosquito bites, and my beard was matted with fake blood. I'd been gallivanting in the woods in the same shirt for two days and in the same jeans for three. Despite the heat, I was frequently wearing a heavy trench coat and boots. Perhaps the others would like to correct me, but the only injury to someone else that I witnessed occurred when Dan hurt his hand punching me in the face.
I don't mean to make it sound like I carried the crux of the misfortune, we were all going through the same thing out there. Alyssa's coat, for example, was way heavier, hotter, and more uncomfortable than mine. It was hard to remain positive sometimes, and everyone else did a much better job staying optimistic than I did.
Please don't let me be misunderstood. I had an excellent time. I really can't wait to do it again. Maybe not in the woods, in the heat, in the coat... but I'm ready to make more movies. I hope that, after I join the Navy, I'll finally have the money to make some more of my own. It sucks, though, because I probably won't have the time. I either have time or money, but never both.
Things I learned over the three days that were Fightwood:
1. Mixing some cocoa powder into fake blood is a great idea, especially if it's going into somebody's mouth.
2. Movies are expensive. Even with tiny little low-budget deals, at least a few hundred dollars should be set aside for expenses that could not possibly be foreseen.
3. When you spend three days with the same people, and you're never alone for more than a few minutes, you feel really lonely on the long drive home.
4. There are, believe it or not, still people out there who are nicer than they have to be. Like property owners.
5. Ruby Tuesday makes one hell of a burger. They'll even give you an extra half-pound patty, and cook 'em both rare for you. If you're into that. Not as good as Fuddrucker's, but very close.
6. Dolly shots are a pain in the ass if you don't have a dolly track. Flat boards are just not the same.
7. Ginseng pills and Gatorade are not an effective meal replacement.
That's all I can think of right now. I'll provide a link to the edited video as soon as R.J. gives his approval.
I would certainly like to thank R.J. Spaulding, Dan Merz, Alyssa Spaulding, and Agustin Lopez for making the experience as memorable and enjoyable as it was. I would work again with any or all of these people in an instant. I can only hope we'll all meet back up for Fightwood 2: We Got a Budget This Time.
UPDATE: Here's the teaser trailer!
Fightwood Teaser Trailer
RJ | MySpace Video
I don't mean to make it sound like I carried the crux of the misfortune, we were all going through the same thing out there. Alyssa's coat, for example, was way heavier, hotter, and more uncomfortable than mine. It was hard to remain positive sometimes, and everyone else did a much better job staying optimistic than I did.
Please don't let me be misunderstood. I had an excellent time. I really can't wait to do it again. Maybe not in the woods, in the heat, in the coat... but I'm ready to make more movies. I hope that, after I join the Navy, I'll finally have the money to make some more of my own. It sucks, though, because I probably won't have the time. I either have time or money, but never both.
Things I learned over the three days that were Fightwood:
1. Mixing some cocoa powder into fake blood is a great idea, especially if it's going into somebody's mouth.
2. Movies are expensive. Even with tiny little low-budget deals, at least a few hundred dollars should be set aside for expenses that could not possibly be foreseen.
3. When you spend three days with the same people, and you're never alone for more than a few minutes, you feel really lonely on the long drive home.
4. There are, believe it or not, still people out there who are nicer than they have to be. Like property owners.
5. Ruby Tuesday makes one hell of a burger. They'll even give you an extra half-pound patty, and cook 'em both rare for you. If you're into that. Not as good as Fuddrucker's, but very close.
6. Dolly shots are a pain in the ass if you don't have a dolly track. Flat boards are just not the same.
7. Ginseng pills and Gatorade are not an effective meal replacement.
That's all I can think of right now. I'll provide a link to the edited video as soon as R.J. gives his approval.
I would certainly like to thank R.J. Spaulding, Dan Merz, Alyssa Spaulding, and Agustin Lopez for making the experience as memorable and enjoyable as it was. I would work again with any or all of these people in an instant. I can only hope we'll all meet back up for Fightwood 2: We Got a Budget This Time.
UPDATE: Here's the teaser trailer!
Fightwood Teaser Trailer
RJ | MySpace Video
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