It has been too long coming, but we hope well worth the wait. Canned Culture has been hard at work partnering up with the Emmy Award Winning: Current TV.
You have heard mention of Current TV before with our We Create Doc. We Create Again continues to climb the charts and has been bouncing in the top five for the past week or so. This is indeed exciting news as our plans to embark on a larger We Create themed event begin to take shape.
However, the great secret we have been waiting to unveil is finally ready:
Current TV has purchased our latest project: Doll Life.
About two months ago Current TV called us up asking if we would be interested in doing a story on Chicago artists Amber Hawk Swanson and her partner, a life-size real doll made in her own likeness.
With the help of camera men Exal Iraheta (We Create Again) and Ian Sklarsky (both shot and edited Doll Life) we filmed the wedding reception of Amber Hawk Swanson & Amber Doll at their lovely home in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood.
A couple of follow up interviews later, plenty of hours of editing, and a wealth of fascinating dialogue on Swanson's artistic intentions and Current TV was ready to purchase a finished product.
We are in prep mode with some wonderful and very helpful folk over at Current TV to get this on air as soon as possible to run concurrently with the opening date of similarly themed: Lars And the Real Girl.
We invite everyone to check out the video seen here on Current TV's website and keep your eyes peeled on Current TV for our mini doc: Doll Life
Also, if you live in the Chicago-land area then you are surely aware that the Chicago International Film Festival is currently going on. Below is a list of time and dates for the Lars and the Real Girl premiers with Amber Hawk Swanson attending and an anticipated appearance by Amber Doll.
I had a great deal to talk about in this blog. However, one item has taken a large presendence and I feel I may have missed the boat on this one, so lets swim like hell and catch up because we sure do not want to be left behind. First eat up this sampling of the Sudanese Situation as covered by VBS TV Vice Co-Founder, Shane Smith:
VBS TV
I have often spoken about Current TV, its incredible diversity of stories and its mind boggling Vanguard Journalism that still vastly outweighs the type of news service the mass media counterparts do. Now there is something new. I was recently trying to gain insight on pop culture in Africa. I thought it would be a thrilling study of cultural goings on that hit the map for the continent. This did not work very well. I decided to narrow my search to a country, this also wielded little success.
Ultimately, I found myself investigating American Pop Culture, specifically how we define it and how it rises to rank. Upon doing so I was told by former roommate Toby, of the famed Joby's Place Ukrainian Village, Chicago, to check out a blog called Pop Candy. It appeared this blog hit all things major indie (so defined as independent everything) pop culture. Definitely worth a once a day look-see.
Leading to the final connection, VBS TV. It could be that the fact that they were discussing a segment called "Spike Jonez spends a Saturday With" or because this episode was with blow my mind (previously mentioned) Sri Lankan hip-hop, indie, rap, beauty M.I.A., but I have spent that last several hours rampaging the site, devouring as much footage as possible.
Why? Who are they? What do they do? Why not read for yourself, even for a generation with minimal attention spans, if you can get this wee bit absorbed you'll realize how vital its worth is. Say no more:
VBS is an online broadcast network. We stream original content, free of charge and 24 hours a day. We carry a mix of domestic and international news, pop and underground culture coverage, and the best music in the world. People have used words like eclectic, smart, funny, shocking, and revolutionary to describe VBS, but we kind of just snapped our fingers in their faces and went, “Whatever. Tell us something we don’t know.”
With Academy Award-nominated director Spike Jonze (Adaptation, Being John Malkovich) as our creative director, original content from a veritable United Nations of contributors, and bureaus in 20 countries, VBS has hit the planet in a manner not unlike a massive global plague. Streaming on VBS’s signature “in-room” widescreen and remote, content will be available all the time, on-demand.
Basically, VBS will exploit every utopian vision the internet has thus far failed to live up to. Thanks for watching.
With tag lines like: "Saving your eyes from the blinding pain of television" and "Rescuing you from television's death like grip" how could I say no.
So the blog with all the R. Kelly Trapped In the Closet and the Amber Hawk Swanson tale of an artist marrying a sex doll made to look identical to her, and the Dolly Party, Burt Reynolds Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Pancakes, etc. will have to wait a little bit longer. Not that it is not worth it.
But the message should ring loud and clear, subscribe immediately to VBS TV. I challenge all of you to visit and NOT find one thing there that interests you.
And if you do find something great, share it here in our comments or email us at cannedculture@gmail.com.
Between sleepless nights and droning days of work I have been wrestling with seedlings of new projects and ideas. Sifting through them to see if the residuals were worth cultivating I have come across various ideas, events, and people. Perhaps one of you might have a suggestion at how to link them.
So lets get back to basics. While I find the raunchiest stripper joint in Chicago for Melissa's bachelorette party you all enjoy this and we will be back before you know it.
The current ABC's are:
- Amy Winehouse Concert - September 29th, Aragon Ballroom Chicago, IL
Can I say that I'm shockingly thrilled about this? While Amy has exploded in Europe as the new gay icon, she is slowly creeping her way forward in the states. Even though Joss Stone rose quickly behind Winehouse on the charts, I believe she will endure much longer. Plus the Brit, cynical, Courtney-Love-during-Hole look is gotten a big thumbs up from me.
The British tabloids certainly loved her, as is seen: "An article about manic depression quotes Winehouse as stating that she is a clinically diagnosed manic depressive who refuses to take medication." - The Independent
"Winehouse admitted to have previously been affected by eating disorders. "A little bit of anorexia, a little bit of bulimia. I'm not totally OK now but I don't think any woman is." - The Independent
"Winehouse made multiple appearances in the British tabloids over alleged alcohol-induced behaviour including heckling U2 frontman Bono." -The Charlotte Church Show
"I have a really good time some nights, but then I push it over the edge and ruin my boyfriend's night. I’m an ugly dickhead drunk, I really am." - The Times
"They’re tryin to make me go to rehab, I said no, no, no."
- Casting Calls -
For those looking to find fame, fortune and Showtime network television show appearances in their summer plans, this is your month. Without the best of details, word has trickled down the grapevine that the hit series (and personal pet show) Weeds, starring the amazingly versatile and always amusing Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin, is doing open casting calls in all major cities to acquire some new faces as guest starts on the 3rd season.
"I'm not a dealer, I'm a mother who happens to distribute illegal products through a sham bakery set up by my ethically questionable CPA and his crooked lawyer friend." - Nancy Botwin, Weeds, Season One
Keep your ears and eyes peeled...Details to follow...
- ChaCha.com -
Introduced by a friend to this delightfully user friendly beta search engine, I was instantly addicted. Plus it's free! Instructions: 1. Type Search Term 2. Get too many unrelated results 3. Activate a one click button giving you access to a 24/7 guide who you can chat with over real time to screen the search items for specifically what your searching for. Kind of like having your own personal assistant for research.
I recommend giving it a shot while it is still fresh, new, and doesn't require payment.
- Couchsurfing -
The best way to travel. Sleeping With Locals as Nick Vivion puts it, check out what it is like to stay for free using the tens of thousands of participants on CouchSurfing.com all over the world.
On my brief skip through Europe I purchased some higher end H&M fashion from a place with hip top fashion called Top Man. While this is a subsidiary of Kate Moss' Top Shop. It is definitely worth the overseas shipping costs for a $40 (£80) suit jacket or a swanky button down at $6 (£12). They seem to be primarily dominated by a regurgitated 80's fashion trend (which I have subsequently begun to fund minor appreciations for). Additionally, all students internationally receive a 10% discount. Their sales always wield some interesting nab that everyone will be asking about, so why not show a little Euro flare.
A much better alternative for those wanting to stay with national independent clothing designers is KarmaLoop.com. Everything from higher end folk such as Paul Frank, Penguin, and Triple Five, to much less known, but superb The Imaginary Foundation, Fuct, and Garbege. The samples below can speak for themselves. Worth the dollar to sport some gear that no one in your 50 mile radius would ever bump into, guaranteed.
That should be all for now, but Im certainly sitting on many more things to tell you all about. I am near busting, but Melissa says to hold off until the next show. So while I fly to NYC to gather some additionally yummy footage you all hold tight.
A bit of feedback wouldn't hurt either. How is the ABC search filling in? Should I keep logging this to you folk? Blimey, I think its time to hit the hay. Give us love.
Also, the We Create Again video's Current TV stats are as follows:
Out of 20,000 docs we are ranked.... 15, with near 600 points, 91 votes and near 1000 views. This is good news for us, slow and steady, aye! Thanks for all the support friends.
Trust me on this one folks. If your a fan of pushing the boundaries on film and interested to see something truly original this is for you.
My own personal comparison would put this film akin to the terrifying stark reality of Harmony Korine's Gummo with the erie edge of something David Lynch might dream up, but with a sincerity and sense of wonder almost comic in its insanity such as Todd Solondz's Palindromes.
Look for more info on Palidromes next show.
Current TV
I can do nothing more then direct you to their site with a link Current TV
well maybe a bit more: About Current TV:
Current is a national cable and satellite channel dedicated to bringing your voice to television.
Current is about what's going on: stories from the real world, told by you.
We slice our schedule into short segments that we call "pods" -- each just a few minutes long. You'll see profiles of interesting people on the rise, intelligence on trends as they spring up around us, and international news from new perspectives.
And much of it comes straight from you.
We call it viewer-created content, or VC2. Right now, VC2 makes up about a third of our channel -- and that share is growing.
It works like this:
Anyone who wants to contribute can upload a video. Then, everyone in the Current online community votes for what should be on TV. You can join in at either stage -- watch & vote or make video. (We've also got online training to help you get the skills you need to make TV!)
This is definitely not a traditional TV network. Watching Current, you'll see more, on more topics, from more points of view.
But if we're going to succeed, we need you to do more than watch; we need you to jump in and participate.
Regina Spektor
Typically I might direct you to the artists official site, but to be honest her site is lacking the personal flavor that her (now dont roll your eyes) myspace does.
Chew on that kiddies. By the way if you get enough of a taste that you cannot stop listening for several hours and you feel the day is not complete unless you've heard this miraculous voice here is what to do
Step 1: learn lyrics and sing to yourself Step 2: learn lyrics and sing to others Step 3: create music videos in your head Step 4: buy a fricken ticket to her show at Park West on October 15th @ 7:30PM
What...thats not enough for you? Check back real soon for some highly useful need-to-know-net links. Promise to be up real soon.
Current TV has purchased our latest project: Doll Life.
