A few days ago I took my son up to college to help him with a film project. While we were sitting on a bench waiting for someone to arrive, I couldn't help listening to the music blaring from the nearby college radio station. I felt like sticking my fingers in my ears, to tell you the truth. I'm no fan of rap music.
Which got me thinking about the music I do like. The other day as I flipped the TV channels I caught a piece of song, a beautiful song sung by what sounded like James Taylor. The only lyrics I caught were "our town", so I immediately googled the words and found a Youtube video from the Pixar animated film Cars with James Taylor singing.
Good lyrics and a beautiful melody. I was impressed. I miss songs like that. I grew up in a time when there were some great songwriters. Some of them are still around today. But some of today's songwriters could learn a thing or two from the masters.
I don't buy many CDs or download many songs these days. Yes, I turn to the classics and my old favorites most of the time.
Good God, I think maybe I'm turning into my mother!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Hooray for the Arts!
Hi everybody!
I took a short break in September, but more posts will be forthcoming in October.
I was job-hunting and dealing with other issues during the past few weeks. I also participated in a short film for my son's Filmmaking class in college. He needed someone to play the monster. My daughter stepped in to play the cop after another actor dropped out. The whole filmmaking process was quite interesting, but very time-consuming. I understand much better now what is involved in setting up the shots. Actors need to very patient while the director is working on the lighting, camera angles, and other factors such as cars and people not wanted in the scene. It's not easy to get everything right. The first evening we ran into technical difficulties, it got dark in the park, and the park rangers told us we had to leave. Oh well. We returned the following evening to finish up.
I thought my son did a great job for his first short film. Three minutes goes by fast, but not when you're filming. Lots of footage got cut, but that's what film editing is all about. He dubbed in some sound effects and scary music which helped create a scary atmosphere.
All of my three kids are pursuing their passions--film directing, music directing, and coincidentally writing and art, my two interests. I wouldn't have it any other way. When skeptics and naysayers argue: "Oh, those aren't good fields to go into for jobs", I blow them a mental raspberries. Life is short. My parents were stuck in jobs they hated for most of their lives and it wasn't until they were retired that they actually, finally fulfilled their lifelong passions.
I fully support my children's interests as I happen to be a strong supporter of the arts. The world would be a dull place indeed without music, art, films and literature.
I took a short break in September, but more posts will be forthcoming in October.
I was job-hunting and dealing with other issues during the past few weeks. I also participated in a short film for my son's Filmmaking class in college. He needed someone to play the monster. My daughter stepped in to play the cop after another actor dropped out. The whole filmmaking process was quite interesting, but very time-consuming. I understand much better now what is involved in setting up the shots. Actors need to very patient while the director is working on the lighting, camera angles, and other factors such as cars and people not wanted in the scene. It's not easy to get everything right. The first evening we ran into technical difficulties, it got dark in the park, and the park rangers told us we had to leave. Oh well. We returned the following evening to finish up.
I thought my son did a great job for his first short film. Three minutes goes by fast, but not when you're filming. Lots of footage got cut, but that's what film editing is all about. He dubbed in some sound effects and scary music which helped create a scary atmosphere.
All of my three kids are pursuing their passions--film directing, music directing, and coincidentally writing and art, my two interests. I wouldn't have it any other way. When skeptics and naysayers argue: "Oh, those aren't good fields to go into for jobs", I blow them a mental raspberries. Life is short. My parents were stuck in jobs they hated for most of their lives and it wasn't until they were retired that they actually, finally fulfilled their lifelong passions.
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