Saturday, September 26, 2009

Last day of principal photography.








Today we'll finish Urban Harmony. What an amazing project. I think this week really topped it off for me. We recorded audio with Wab Kinew. Wab is a very successful Aboriginal Rapper. And it really hit home for me what I'm trying to achieve with Urban Harmony. I wanted to express my belief in the positives of different people from different cultures making up the fabric of our city. Winnipeg has had some particularly difficult times of late in the media - there has been some ugly violence taking place and it has shone a very disturbing light on us. But I know, that each and every day, solid, honest citizens go about their business - many working hard to make things better. The vast majority of people DO get along and DO contribute and display random acts of kindness and DO live harmoniously. Wab mentioned in his Twitter that he made me cry during the audio session. And it's true. Especially when he tributed Olaf and wished him well. Because that's where this all started.

Wab raps about a respect for varying cultures and a commitment to peace and harmony. Who better to be a part of this project.

We'll be taking to the streets this morning to shoot Wab for the music video and to do a quick interview for his UH profile.

We'll also collect some video of Alexander West who lends his musical talents in a violin riff to the chorus. And, Vina will join us for her interview and to capture a little more video of this 9 year old singing sensation.

Antiphony, Ben Wytinck and Elyon were completed last week.

In other news, working on the new credit union brand for a merger taking place between two credit unions in Saskatchewan, new Edwards School of Business profiles nearing completion as well as the documentary of the project, an H1N1 campaign developed for the Northwest Company and Paradigm Consulting and Amanda's been working steadily on the Victoria Hospital newsletter and calendar.

Next week we jump into Christmas with Grant Park Shopping Centre.

With luck, an approval to move forward with a new Just Slow Down campaign and we keep hoping we can look ahead with our Leaders and Healers project.

All in all, things are certainly looking promising.

Monday, September 14, 2009

2009B_1982


2009B_1982
Originally uploaded by BlindPhotog

2009B_2000


2009B_2000
Originally uploaded by BlindPhotog
Antiphony in the Exchange.

2009B_1999


2009B_1999
Originally uploaded by BlindPhotog
Filming Antiphony for Urban Harmony early Sunday morning the 13th of September.

Lots more Urban Harmony



We recorded the audio for Amanda's group Antiphony Thursday evening. Then we dragged these cheerful singers out to Old Market Square at 8 am Sunday morning. The weather truly cooperated (although the City was socked in with fog when we first woke up). Antiphony did a phenomenal job and Winnipeg's Exchange District looked amazing in the early light.



Then we raced off to Assiniboine Park where Vina was performing with her cultural group at the Lyric Theatre. We captured that and then filmed Vina in the Zoo. We waged a mighty battle with the mosquitoes and tributes must be paid to Vina,her mom Paige, sister Julia for their patience. Also to intrepid crew Keith, John and Clark who braved the heat and the killer bugs. Things are so coming together on this exciting project.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Early September update.

Paul, the audio engineer at daCapo has been masterfully directing the sessions for Urban Harmony, our broadcast project for MTS Video on Demand. Last Friday we recorded Vina Dimayuga and on Tuesday evening Ben Wytinck impressed everyone with his soulful and smooth rendition of the title song Urban Harmony, finishing off with a Cajon box - a drum originating in Brazil.

Tomorrow evening our own Amanda Buhse's vocal group Antiphony will be so fun. I can't wait. Paul looks at each of these sessions as a new creative challenge .....don't ya Paul?

Clark is dutifully recording behind-the-scenes action and capturing the production skills.

In the meantime, we've been doing our best to manage at the Picanteria without Shaun who is enjoying a well deserved holiday in Egypt!! ....And, we're preparing for Kath's departure on a romantic 3 week 25th Anniversary trip with her husband Doug to Italy and France.

I myself got away to...................Minneapolis for the Labour Day weekend and Amanda enjoyed the weekend at ..............her cottage at the lake. Don't worry Manda. Our time will come I'm sure.

Kath and I had a great meeting this afternoon with the Boys in Blue - the amazing Winnipeg Police Service. Mark, Steve, Randy and Ray were so welcoming and so open to our suggestions and proposals...have I mentioned how much I love working for those guys? More on this later.

Amanda has been working hard on redesigning the Bothwell Cheese cheddar labels. Jason is such a pleasure to work with and I think she's really captured their vision....the new Gouda label is a favourite - so much fun to search for just the right photo and then know it's going to grace all that CHEESE! Thanks Ivan and Jason for the privilege.

Our hard-working Art Director has also been working on the new Victoria Hospital Foundation 2010 Calendar and fall newsletter. Not to mention a super-quick Golf Tourney quiz - my brainchild for Paradigm Pharmacy.

We have rebranding projects for credit unions in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan on the go and we're still keeping Adam and Denise from Elemental Motion Media busy with the Edwards School of Business Role Models project.

More Urban Harmony tomorrow and a bigger shoot on Sunday. We'll be filming in the Exchange and at the Zoo.

I love my job.

And, as always, we're thinking about our friend Olaf Pyttlik (daCapo) and his incredible wife Angela as they fight Olaf's cancer together. Sending you all our love each and every day.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Elyon


Last eve we began the first audio recording session for Urban Harmony with a band called Elyon. I asked Paul Bell for a band like Coldplay and he recommended these guys - and was he ever right. The band consists of guitar player and lead singer Jeremy Dell, Jeremy Shurby on bass and Adam Klassen on drums. They had created 2 unique versions of Urban Harmony and we recorded both. Unbelievable. Everything I had hoped for, and more.




This morning we record 9 year old Filipina sensation Vina Dimayuga. She knocked me dead at Folklorama this year and I knew I wanted to include her on Urban Harmony.