Jingle Bell Rocks! doc

2011-12-15T04:11:00.000-08:00

Hey gang !

Some fab news by way of The Big Apple: Hot on the heels of the publication of his hugely successful epic tome on the history of Def Jam Records label, our esteemed Christmas music collector, Mr. Bill Adler, has upped the ante yet again this year with an extra special edition of "Christmas Jollies". The 2011 compilation is being hosted by the good folks over at Complex Magaine !!! Replete with amazing visuals and astute commentary, its an absolute MUST SEE & HEAR this Christmas season:

http://www.complex.com/music/2011/12/bill-adlers-christmas-jollies-32-songs-to-beat-the-holiday-blues/

In his missive on the opportunity to collaborate with Complex Magaine, Bill had this to say:

"The good people at Complex magazine are now streaming all of "Xmas Jollies 2011" -- my annual CD compilation of holiday tunes -- on their website. I'd be over the moon in any case, but they've enhanced my presentation by giving every song its own page, featuring a wonderful photo of the performer and "liner notes" by yours truly. A thousand thanks to Complex's Rob Kenner and his crew. As far as I'm concerned, Christmas came today".

Clarence Clemmons Christmas Tresures Discovered !!!

2011-12-08T12:52:00.001-08:00

Some incredible news...We lost The Big Man in June of this year...But waaay back before then, during his pesak early 80s (1981 to be exact) Clarence recorded TWO Christmas tunes which have not seen the light of day until this week.

Two Christmas songs that he recorded back in 1981 have been located and released through iTunes, Amazon and other download sites by Oceangate Records.

The release includes Clemons' take on There's Still Christmas, written by Dennis Bourke and the late Stevie Betts, along with the classic Christmas Song (Chestnuts).

You can grab these two nuggets courtesy of Oceangate Records via Amazon or iTunes and a few other select music sites !!!

Read more: http://theseconddisc.com/2011/12/08/christmas-other-big-man-unreleased-clarence-clemons-holiday-recordings-discovered/

"jingle Bells" & the final frontier....

2010-12-16T09:34:00.000-08:00

A friend reminded me of the fact that "jingle Bells" was the FIRST song to ever be played in space...
boing boing wrote a great piece about it here !

John Lennon / Rest In Peace

2010-12-08T12:25:00.000-08:00

RIP

October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980

Coldplay release NEW Xmas Song...

2010-12-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

Brit rockstars Coldplay have released a somber Christmas song for all those with broken or soon to be broken hearts this season...listen and weep

The Xmas mp3 onslaught has begun !!!

2010-11-29T10:17:00.000-08:00

Over the next several weeks I'll connect you to some of the merriest music being shared on the world wide web...The first, and one of the best (esp. if you dig classic country and western and rockabilly) is Big Rock Candy Mountain. In addition to a slew of rare singles, the good folks over... there are posting full mixes every weekend !!!

This is Hilarious !!! SAVE THXGIVING !!!

2010-11-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, at least a dozen radio stations in the USA went to an 24 hour / ALL-CHRISTMAS Music format as of the stroke of midnite on ALL HALLOWS EVE...and the local Kansas City Jack FM affiliate has taken issue with this EARLY arrival of Christmas music into peoples lives...and started a protest !

Click HERE for the news report !

!!! meeting QUINCY JONES !!!

2009-12-18T10:01:00.000-08:00

So, our trip from Los Angeles to New York was blessed with some magical inspiration from Mr. QUINCY JONES who I met after I ended up seated in the EXIT ROW next to Quincy's personal assistant JOE RIVERA...and incredibly sweet man who took immediately to the documentary - in particular the focus on Bob Dorough & Miles Davis's 1962 collaboration "Blue Xmas (To Whom It May concern)...and after discussing music and Miles and his influence and a little bit about Bob's career (bob worked for a time back in the 50s as the musical director for boxing great boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, who had temporarily left boxing and was putting together a song and dance revue and it was during this time that bob actually met Quincy Jones who himself had been touring with Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra)...anyhow, Joe Rivera graciously offered me several minutes with Mr. Jones once we touched down at JFK.

You can view the video clip here QUINCY JONES ...

Its difficult to hear the audio but the jest of the conversation was one of Quincy telling me how the youth of today (especially in America) don't know their history...and how glad he was that someone from Canada was telling HIS story, Miles Davis's stroy, and Quincy seemed particularly taken with my summary of my chapter on race and christmas music and how _ and why - a song like "Santa Claus Was A Black Man" figures into the documentary.

Man, what a moment, what a priveledge, what an honour to have met him!

!!! An Xmas Visit with the Good Doctor !!!!

2009-12-17T06:53:00.001-08:00

So, we've spent the past THREE DAYS with legendary LA disc jockey and musicologist, Barry Hansen aka Doctor Demento !!! I must say that to have unencumbered access to his musical lair and to the nearly 300,000 + archive of LPs, 45s, 78rpms, cassettes and various other sundry seasonal items has been pure heaven for me.

Though Dr. Demento is best known as the KING of novelty tunes, his encyclopedic knowledge - and passion for - all genres of music is unsurpassed!

You can explore his entire career here at HIS DEMENTED WEBSITE...and we'll be posting a few more clips from the extraordinary time we've spent with the good doctor! Here's the first:

!!! SANTACON INVADES Bootie Xmas 2009 !!!

2009-12-14T10:31:00.000-08:00

So, this year's Bootie Xmas was the official "AFTER PARTY" for the annual Santacon Parade (imagine about 500 merry misfits all dressed up like Ol' Saint Nick and slamming down their first drink at 1pm) so by 9pm when the doors of DNA Lounge swung open, they were all in fine form!

We encountered this couple on our way back to the hotel after lunch...they somehow new I was a SANTA too ! And they made a Santarchy sandwich out of me, Kirk & Jeff...I told them about the film and asked them to come by the club afterwards, but trying to find them in a crowd of ONE THOUSAND later on in the evening wasn't in the cards ; -P

Kep your eyes & ears on this blog...I'll be posting a TON of more updates later tonite !!

We are now in Los Angeles on our way to meet the good DoCtOr DeMenTo !!!

YEEE-HAAAW !!! San Franciskeee !!! BOOTIE XMAS 2009

2009-12-12T12:10:00.000-08:00

TONITE at DNA Lounge in San Francisco...Smash-Up Derby with Adrian & Mysterious D...BOOTIE XMAS 2009 !!! I CANNOT WAIT !!!

Some SERIOUS XMAS MASH is going to be piled high on VINYL PLATTERS along with an unbelievably funky-fried LIVE set from SMASH-UP DERBY...

BOOTIE (San Francisco) Launched in 2003 in San Francisco by DJs Adrian & the Mysterious D, Bootie was the first club night in the United States dedicated solely to the burgeoning artform of the bootleg mashup -- and is now the biggest mashup event in the world, with monthly parties in eight cities on three continents. Mixing and matching every conceivable musical genre, era, and style into one big dance party where everyone feels welcome, Bootie provides the soundtrack for the A.D.D. generation -- with free mashup CDs given away like candy!

Bootie has released two Christmas mashup albums, "A Very Bootie Christmas" 1 and 2, featuring the best holiday mashups from producers around the globe, hand-picked by Adrian & the Mysterious D. These CDs are not only given out by the hundreds at the parties, but also available as free downloads, becoming internet sensations. Bootie is also known for throwing epic holiday parties each year, with live mashup rock band Smash-Up Derby performing Christmas songs mashed-up with popular rock and pop songs, DJs spinning holiday mashups for the dance floor, and Christmas-themed performances ranging from drag to burlesque.

MSN.ca sings Jingle Bell Rocks!...

2009-12-09T17:10:00.000-08:00

I met the journalist - SANTEZ ! - LAST Night and did an interview with him. He's is one of El Vez & The Straitjackets BIGGEST fans...he's also incredibly articulate about why the music they make matters...and how it will hopefully resonate with more folks who get to see the show as it continues its sleigh ride across the good ol' U.S. of A!

http://blogs.music.msn.ca/2009/12/merry-mexmas-and-jingle-bell-rocks.html

merry merry
m

!!! EL VEZ & LOS STRAITJACKETS !!! TORONTO !!!

2009-12-08T15:15:00.000-08:00

I am OFF to the fabulous LEE's PALACE for tonites punk rock Merry Mex-Mass with the MExican elvis, EL VEZ and the insane antics of LOS STRAITJACKETS...

CLIPS to follow...they forecast for tonite is for A SNOW STORM !!!

LAST TRAIN HOME in World Doc Comnpetition...

2009-12-02T13:47:00.000-08:00

We interrupt this Xmas Season with an announcement from the prestigious SUNDANCE Film Festival:

Click here for PRESS RELEASE !

Last Train Home just WON BEST feature doc in competition at IDFA Film Fest in Amsterdam...now its on its way to Park City !!! Congrats to Daniel Cross, Mila Aung-Thwin, Bob Moore, Halima Ouardiri, Daniela Flori and the rest of the EyeSteelFilm team in Montreal!

Amsterdam Day Four...

2009-11-25T17:52:00.000-08:00

Its the last day here at The Forum and the morning started with a visit from Sinter Klaas (I had my picture taken with him but MY M.O. and image is still being scrutinized and processed by Black Peter...so stay tuned !!!

!!! Amsterdam Day Three !!!

2009-11-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

So its been a whirlwind here at IDFA where I am putting the final pieces of the puzzle together for the film...my co-producing masterminds at EyeSteelFilm are causing a sensation here with two new films: TAQWACORE: The Birth of Punk Islam directed by Omar Majeed and LAST TRAIN HOME by Lixin Fan...packed screenings and fabulous after parties.

I'm keeping my eyes peeled for SINTER KLAAS !!!

Bob Dylan's "MUST BE SANTA" video !!! Hurray !!!

2009-11-18T10:39:00.000-08:00

Bob Dylan's

MUST BE SANTA

Directed by Nash Edgerton, the song comes from Dylan's most recent release, Christmas In The Heart, and is the first time Dylan has appeared in a music video promoting his own album since 1997's "Not Dark Yet" from Time Out Of Mind.

The Agony & The Ecstasy of Phil Spector...

2009-10-14T11:27:00.000-07:00

Was a very odd, but exceptional film. Odd in that Spector himself is an extreme megalomaniac (in the film he compares himself to Bach, Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and even Galileo), but Phil's narcissism aside, the film was constructed very simply, utilizing three distinct, yet seemingly disparate, elements to tell its story: 1) the exceptionally intimate interview with Spector (inside his mansion, captured over several months of visits), 2) Excerpts from the court room proceedings of the FIRST trial and 3) a treasure-trove of archival clips featuring performances of almost all of Phil Spector's biggest hits -- and sometimes, the performances (which were LIVE concerts from the day) were played unedited, in their entirety. and over all of this was the additional layer of TEXT from a noted music critic whose name escapes me unfortunately. This last device was interesting but a little difficult to follow when it collided with interview snippets, especially if their was music playing over it as well.

But, that's my only beef with it. Oh, and there are a few very humorous bits from Spector, especially when director Vikram Jayanti asks Phil to explain "The Afro" !!!

There is another screening TOMORROW, so I urge you all to check it out!

Pitching for MY LIFE today !!!

2009-10-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

Alongside the inaugural STORYVILLE pitch day are many other formal pitch sessions, including the Telefilm Canada International Tête-à-tête Meetings happening less than an hour from now, OMG!

I'm scheduled to meet with Claire Aguilar, (VP of Programming, ITVS); Axel Arnö, (Commissioning Editor, SVT); Hans Robert Eisenhauer, (Head of Thema, ZDF/ARTE), and the formidable, but lovely, Nick Fraser, (Commissioning Editor, Storyville, BBC)...I didn't land Mette Hoffman-Meyer from Danish Public Broadcasting's TV2, but I'm hopeful I can catch her at some point later in the morning.

Unlike the past three years when I've been successfully pitching this project, I am armed for the first time with an actual DEMO to show them. I have a hunch it'll make a difference ; )

BBC's Nick Fraser dares to speak his mind...

2009-10-01T23:21:00.000-07:00

I'm attending a number of VIFF Forum panels, including one from this morning titled DOC CHAMPIONS which featured a who's who of commissioning editors from across the pond.

The always eloquent and articulate, no-holes-barred BBC chief Nick Fraser lambasted the crowd with this opinion on the fragile state of the FEATURE DOCUMENTARY.

It's well worth a look & listen.

The Agony & The Ecstasy of Phil Spector at VIFF

2009-09-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

There are a slew of great music docs coming to VIFF (Vancouver International Film Festival) this year, but none that I'm looking forward to more than the BBC made doc, The Agony & The Ecstacy of Phil Spector. Directed by Vikram Jayanti - I Am a Sex Addict (93), James Ellroy's Feast of Death (01), Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine (03), Lincoln (06)

Here's a fascinating excerpt from the film. And more info about the screenings:

"Homeless Nation" wins WORLD SUMMIT AWARD 09

2009-09-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

The producers of my film have just been honoured with the United Nation's World Summit Award for best e-content!

Their website, HomelessNation.org, allows voices from the street to engage in peer-to-peer dialogues, learn skills, build self-esteem and share their lived experiences. HomelessNation.org competed against 20, 000 projects from 157 countries participating in the United Nations based WSA e-content awards/ conference in Mexico City.

The WSA is a flagship partner in the UN's Global Alliance for ICT and Development and works in close collaboration with UNESCO, UNIDO, and ISOC. WSA was started as an initiative in the framework of the United Nations World Summit on Information Society in 2003. The WSA hosts the world's leading contest for excellence and creativity in e- content production and is dedicated to bridging the digital divide.

But despite four major awards over the past year, HomelessNation.org desperately needs support to stay operational. There is a very easy way to donate small amounts to the project. Just click homelessnation

At the moment, until we find a new source of funding, we are 100% donation and volunteer-based. So any donation helps.

"This award honors the hundreds of thousands of homeless Canadians whose voices are building this diverse website and in the process strengthening their communities, educating Canadians and breaking down stereotypes. Today let us celebrate the accomplishments of the members of HomelessNation.org. Hopefully this recognition will help the project secure the funding it urgently needs to stay active " Daniel Cross, President/Founder

Homeless Street Archive (HSA) is a not-for profit organization based in Montreal, Canada. In order to bridge the digital divide, documentary filmmaker Daniel Cross founded HSA and created www.HomelessNation.org in 2003. HomelessNation.org gives people on the street the opportunity to control their own voice and engage the public in a safe and supportive forum. Outreach workers with lived experience on the street, teach computer and media skills to facilitate self-expression, build self-esteem and strengthen community involvement. HSA helps individuals access resources, find housing and employment opportunities, re-connect with family and make healthier life choices to transition off the street. The website has 5000 members and has been growing quickly during these hard economic times.

www.homelessnation.org
Homeless Street Archive | 4475 Boulevard St-Laurent #202 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2W 1Z8
Tel (514) 315-8695| Fax (514) 313-7383 | email: contactus@homelessnation.org

Ellie Greenwich RIP

2009-08-27T19:30:00.000-07:00

Man Oh Man...this hurts. Ellie Greenwich died yesterday, of a heart attack after succumbing to pneumonia.

Pitchfork has an excellent tribute to her here and NPR has re-posted a fabulous interview from 1986.

Ellie was a brilliant songwriter whose credits included such all-time classics as Be My Baby, Chapel of Love, And Then He Kissed Me, Leader of the Pack and River Deep Mountain High...among many, many others (the songs were co-written with her then husband Jeff Barry and produced by Phil Spector).

Ellie also wrote one of the most iconic rock n' roll Christmas songs ever: "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", here performed by the woman who made it famous, Darlene Love from 1981.

This is a little aside, but when I heard the news of Ellie's passing I immediately thought of how no filmmaker understood the value of Ellie's music more than Martin Scorcese. For those of you who HAVEN'T SEEN the famous scene in Goodfellas when Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) escorts his wife Karen (played by the sumptuous and insanely sexy Lorraine Braco) into the Copacobana supper Club, well its one of the most magnificent marriages of POP SONG to CELLULOID.

I'd hoped to interview Ellie Greenwich for this documentary but sadly, it is not to be.

LA Times music blog POP & HISS on Dylan's upcoming Xmas LP...

2009-08-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

Looks like our very own King of Jing-A-Ling has found himself FEATURED in the L.A. Times music blog Pop & Hiss, written by Todd Martens.

What Christmas song should bob Dylan sing? One experts opinion.

For more info on the fascinating story of Alfred Burt but be sure to MUTE before you do so, or be forever scarred by the god awful Julie Andrews music sample.

REST-IN-PEACE Les Paul 1915—2009

2009-08-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

Imagine what would have become of rock n' roll WITHOUT Les Paul...NO electric guitars, NO multi-track recordings, NO vocal over-dubbing and NO 8-track tapes !!!...and we almost lost him in a near tragic auto accident in the winter of 1948: The car he was driving with then wife, Mary Ford, hit a patch of ice on a lonely strip of highway along Route 66 in Oklahoma, ripped thru a guardrail and plunged into icy waters 20 feet below. Mary suffered a broken pelvis and Les had his right arm shattered. Doctors said amputation was the only option, but — as befits his legendary status — Les persuaded the doctors to reset his the bones at a 90 degree angle so as to allow him the "perfect" angle to resume strummin', pickin' and plowin' on his famed Gibson guitar.

Funny coincidence, just last week — at Rooky Recardos' Records on Filmore St in San Francisco — I found a still sealed original Capitol 45rpm of Les Paul & Mary Ford covering "Jingle Bells" (a-side) & "Silent Night" (b-side)...and thought, shit, how great would it be to feature Les in my movie. Sadly, that'll never happen.

Here's a link to Les's ALTERNATE version Jungle Bells !!!

As one would expect there are hundreds of fab clips of Les on youtube...but here's the only XMAS related clip I could find...a partial LIVE performance from 2008.

And, to get a sense of Les’s inspiring and infectious spirit, check this out!

Lastly, if you haven't seen it, I suggest checking out the PBS American Masters documentary, Chasing Sound. A wonderfully intimate look at this amazing man and his music.

Dylan recording first Christmas album...

2009-08-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

Big news about town...

While I was away word leaked out that Bob Dylan is in the midst of recording a full-length Xmas LP due for release later this year. As first reported on Isis Magazine (devoted to all things Dylan) the record features original compositions & classics both sacred and secular: Must Be Santa, Here Comes Santa Claus, I'll Be Home for Christmas, and O Little Town of Bethlehem have been recorded so far.

Here's a link to Dylan biographer Scott Marshall discussing Dylan's motivations for this early xmas treat.

You may recall that in 2006 Dylan recorded a beautiful version of Twas the Night Before Christmas for his Theme Time Radio Hour Christmas Special which is produced by the inimitable Eddie G. You can hear it sampled at Cowbell FM.

!!! Sonic Youth !!!

2009-07-26T13:59:00.000-07:00

Elaine and I are off to Virgin Festival. As spectacular as last night's thunderstorms and lightning showers were, fingers crossed we don't get rained out tonite !!!

Today's line up also includes: DE LA SOUL, BEN HARPER & RELENTLESS7, GOMEZ, METRIC, THE THERMALS,
FUTURE OF THE LEFT, and a few local bands...

And, if you've never heard Sonic Youth's brilliant cover of Martin Mull's 70s gem "Santa Doesn't Cop Out On Dope" I suggest you seek it out pronto, before we see the end of Christmas in July !

Allan King RIP

2009-06-16T06:55:00.000-07:00

Received some SAD news...Canada lost one of its legendary documentary pioneers, yesterday. Allan King, 79, died peacefully at home surrounded by family.

At the time of his death Allan King was working on his final film, Endings".'

(the still image is from the movie poster of King's landmark doc, "A Married Couple")

A very sad day for all parties involved...

2009-05-30T14:06:00.000-07:00

From the Hollywood Reporter:

Phil Spector was sentenced Friday to 19 years to life in prison for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, who was shot through the mouth in the music producer's home six years ago.

Spector, 69, looked straight forward and showed no emotion as Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler ordered a term of 15 years to life for second-degree murder plus four years for personal use of a gun.

Clarkson's mother, Donna, made a brief statement before sentencing, speaking of her daughter's fine qualities, sense of humor, intelligence and dedication to her craft of acting.

"I'm very proud of Lana, proud to be her mother," Donna Clarkson said. She added, "No one should suffer the loss of a child."

The judge also ordered Spector to pay $16,811 in funeral expenses, $9,740 to a state victims' restitution fund and other fees.

Spector, dressed in his customary dark, pinstripe suit with a red silk tie, was led away immediately. His attorney asked that he be transferred immediately from county jail to a state prison. It was not known to which prison Spector would be assigned to.

Spector gained fame decades ago for what became known as the "Wall of Sound" recording technique that changed rock music.

Clarkson was most famous as the star of Roger Corman's 1985 cult film classic "Barbarian Queen." She was 40 when she died.

* Jingle Bell Rocks in Amsterdam *

2009-05-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

Fantastic news !!! I just received word from the lovely Anne Vierhout (Coordinator of the IDFA Documentary Forum and Producer of the IDFAcademy/Summer School) who informed me that yours truly will be representing Canada at this summer's documentary lab intensive where I'll be mentored by some of the best in the biz.

Jingle Bell Rocks! is one of 16 projects selected for the prestigious IDFAcademy Summer School. The International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) is the grande dame of documentary film fests. The film fest takes place in late November, and throughout the rest of the year IDFA staff are involved in all sorts of excpetional prograsmmes and inititatives in support of the best documentary filmmaking in the world.

I am tremndously honoured to have been chosen. And I'll post more info about the filmmakers soon!

HOWDY from Hot Docs ya all !!!

2009-05-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

Well, Ive been here only a few days and already we've secured some buzz on the film. I'm pictured here with a "trophy" I absconded from the desk of Astral Media pres, John Galway. I told him that I'd give it back as soon as we received the money that his Harold Greenberg Documentary fund program has so graciously awarded us.

Saw a couple of films, including "Vinyl" director Alan Zweig's great new flick A HARD NAME...

Off to Hot Docs....

2009-05-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

A quick announcement that I'm in Hogtown for the annual Hot Docs Film Festival...one of the coolest documentary showcases in North America...This year featuring the pop culture king Ron Mann in a fabulous retrospective...I can't wait to see Poetry In Motion on the big screen! They are also honouring the outstanding work of Alanis Obomsawin whose career began with the 1967 feature Christmas At Moose Factory.

Check out the Facebook page for more updates over the coming days !!!

what did you buy during RECORD STORE DAY ?

2009-04-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

A RECORD STORE ROUNDTABLE with music critics Jim DeRogatis & Greg Kot...An excellent discussion with the owners of three of America's coolest INDEPENDENT RECORD SHOPS: Reckless Records in Chicago, Amoeba Music in Los Angeles Waterloo Records in Austin.

Astral Media The Harold Greenberg Fund joins Jingle Bell Rocks!

2009-04-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to report that our film has received generous support from Astral Media's recently announced DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM.

“We are extremely excited to be involved in this latest group of projects,” said John Galway, English-Language President of The Harold Greenberg Fund. “Although The Fund has primarily been involved in dramatic feature films, we are ultimately dedicated to supporting quality Canadian storytelling. Documentary filmmaking, with its unique challenges and methodology, represents another facet of this skilled tradition, so this program affords us the opportunity to support our Canadian storytellers in a whole new way.”
Click here for the full press release:
http://www.astralmedia.com/en/media/press/news1581.idigit

A sad end to a legacy...Phil Spector found guilty...

2009-04-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

Infamous wall-of-sound uber-producer PHIL SPECTOR was found guilty of murdering actress Lana Clarkson...a very sad end to a legacy as one of the most innovative producers of the 20th century. Rolling Stone reports.

The Wall Of Sound explained...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRmRBrnQq8o

!!! Genie Award for BEST Documentary !!!

2009-04-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

Well this is certainly the icing on the cake !!! Up The Yangtze took home Canada's highest film honour this past Saturday night.

Produced by Montreal's EyeSteelFilm, Up The Yangtze beat out cult film auteur Guy Maddin's much ballyhooed "doc" My Winnipeg and Quebec filmmaker Jean-Claude Labrecque's Infiniment Québec.

Here's yet another piece, in the Globe and Mail, comparing our humble little Oscar equivalent of an awards show...with a note about Canada's film "stars" embarking a handful of tour buses — for the awards show dinner — rather than the fleet of requisite stretch limos. (but isn't having diesel-fuelled tour buses idling for hours much worse?)

Up The Yangtze snags TWO Cinema Eye Honours !!!

2009-03-30T08:42:00.000-07:00

My producing partners at EyeSteelFilm have collected yet more awards for their much-deserving documentary Up The Yangtze...an intimate and epic journey with the Yu family (and a million other Chinese) who've been uprooted in the staggering aftermath of the Three Gorges Dam hydro project.

...you can read more about the awards show with co-founder AJ Schnack's excellent DOC blog All These Wonderful Things !!!

The film won 2 Cinema Eye Honors in New York City this past weekend: Best First Feature for director Yung Chang, and the Audience Choice Award, notable in part as they were nominated along with such great films such as Academy Award and BAFTA winner Man on Wire (which took home 3 awards), and Werner Herzog's Encounters at the End of the World (which won for best cinematography). If you live in Canada, please tune-in to this year's Genie Awards, broadcast live on Global TV to see if the team wins Canada's top film prize for Best Documentary. Up the Yangtze will air soon (in Canada) on CBC Newsworld, Sunday May 3 at 10 pm ET/PT on The Passionate Eye.

snowy? Austin, Texas

2009-03-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

Hey Gang,

I am at America's coolest indie film/interactive/music festival, South By Southwest where the temperature has plummeted to an unseasonably 3 degrees. I feel like I never left Vancouver except for the hundreds of industry folk lined up for accreditation.

This is the place to be for music docs and I'll be pitching jbrx to a whack of people over the next four days.

...and, my producing partners at EyeSteelFilm are premiering RIP: A REMIX MANIFESTO here on Sunday night.

Look for RIP in theatres across Canada now and in the US this summer!

CBC television Xmas station IDs (1980s x 3)

2009-02-27T12:35:00.000-08:00

Our venerable public broadcaster is in serious financial turmoil...again. Reading about it online I came across some of their beatuful logos from more prosperous times The top one is lovingly referred to as the "EXPLODING PIZZA"....of course this then led me this then lead me directly to to a few Xmas station ID's that I thought I'd share with you — even though it's almost March.

season's greetings 1985 late night bumper Xmas programming 1988

Eartha Kitt RIP (Jan 17, 1927 - Dec 25, 2008)

2008-12-25T15:48:00.000-08:00

Sad news...sultry, seductive, songstress and SANTA BABY icon, Eartha Kitt died earlier today at the age of 81 after a long battle with colon cancer. Here's the link to a NY Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/26/arts/26kitt.html

Though Santa Baby, was her most famous xmas tune, hitting number 4 on the charts in December of 1953, few know or have heard her follow-up track This Year's Santa Baby, which bombed, putting an abrupt end to her hit Christmas song aspirations.

Here's a great dissection of Eartha's original version from Mark Steyn:

http://www.steynonline.com/content/view/1595/

!!! Jon Solomon's Xmas Music marathon !!!

2008-12-24T08:50:00.000-08:00

Hey gang,

It has been a busy week, plus we've had an unseasonably SNOWY series of dumps. It is beautiful and all but has wreaked havoc with the city and made it impossible to get around.

I'd be remiss if I didn't let you know about Jon Solomon's amazing Xmas show. this is his 21 st year...we were there LAST YEAR to film the entire 24 hours, and I'm going to miss him.

click here to listen and/or make a request. The more obscure the better:

Jon Solomon's 24 hr Christmas Music Marathon

HomelessNation.org needs YOUR help !

2008-12-16T11:36:00.000-08:00

Five years ago, my producing partners at EyeSteelFilm created an interactive website www.HomelessNation.org to empower the homeless citizens living on the streets across Canada.

Last month they were honored with the prestigious Canadian New Media Award for their work. Late last week, they launched their first ever funding drive, to raise money and awareness, for thier extremely worthy cause. And they are offering some very cool swag (see bottom of this post) in exchange for donations of $50 or more (that's only $35 American dollars!) *** DONATIONS can be made here:

http://www.givemeaning.com/project/homelessnation

Some background from the filmmaking team behind the project:

HomelessNation.org was founded 5 years ago with funding from the Canadian government, but sadly our pilot program has run out and we are starting a drive to become self-sustainable. That means we need donations to survive! What HomelessNation.org provides:

-training and access to the Internet in shelters and drop-ins. Increasingly, Internet access has become necessary for access to jobs, healthcare, basic information... things you need getting off the street. Few places provide this service for free. We want to help provide access to help break the cycle of poverty.

-a forum to share information, stories and advice about survival and growth. We have thousands of hours of user-generated video of stories from the street on the site. Unique testimonials and experiences.

-training in web and computer literacy skills, as well as video and editing skills. We now have over 3700 members, and would like to continue growing and providing this service. We are trying to raise $5000 dollars this holiday season to keep alive. YOUR DONATION WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Any donation is helpful. All the money raised goes to this website and services. Most of HomelessNation.org's staff are people from the street community. Office space is donated. Administration is volunteered. We are a not-for-profit. We make do on a very small budget. Here's what you get for your donation:

If you would like to give this as a gift donation, please specify and we will send you a gift card certificate in the person's name. Documentary film company EyeSteelFilm currently donates office space and time to HomelessNation.org.

For this funding drive, we are also giving away T-SHIRTS and award-winning DVDs to donors: Donations over $50: A choice of any hand-made Silk-Screened T-Shirt (please specify Men's or Women's, S/M/L/XL) Available Shirts: -HomelessNation.org - EyeSteelFilm - Up the Yangtze - Mouse Liberation Front - Rip: A Remix Manifesto

Donations over $100: Any available DVD by EyeSteelFilm (NTSC) - SIGNED by the director. Please specify: The Street: a film with the Homeless; SPIT: Squeegee Punks in Traffic; UP THE YANGTZE; Chairman George; BONE; PUNK THE VOTE or RoachTrip

!!! The honorable REVEREND FROST returns !!!

2008-12-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

Christmas has come early folks! The righteous Rev. Frost has resurfaced just in time for the holidaze. And in these tryin' times, there is no better badass xmas music to soothe your weary soul than that which the Reverend procures. So once you've grabbed THE GRINCH, search the archives in Nov/Dec 2005 & Dec 2006 for some amazing Christmas goodies.

The immortal Betty Page RIP 1923— 2008

2008-12-12T18:53:00.000-08:00

50s Pin-up Queen Bettie Page died earlier today...

!!! Happy 85th Bob !!!

2008-12-12T16:14:00.000-08:00

TODAY, is Bob Dorough's 85th birthday...and man, the cat is still swingin'. As I write this he's playing a scorchin' set at the legendary DEER HEAD INN, in bucolic Delaware Water Gap, and I've got a crew filming it all go down...

My best to you Bob...wish I could be there tonight!

Blue Xmas...when you're blue at Christmas time, you see right through, all the sham, all the waste, all the haste, and plain ol' BAD taste !

Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern) written by Bob Dorough / vocal performance by Bob Dorough with Miles Davis 1962

!!! Off to Whistler Film Fest !!!

2008-12-05T09:35:00.000-08:00

Hey gang,

I'm off to the Whistler Film Fest to catch a few flicks like RIP: A REMIXER's MANIFESTO and take a few meetings about this Xmess mess I've gotten myself into.

Hope you all have a rockin' good weekend....here's a tune that I hope put you in the Christmas spirit!

*** click on the song title: Johnny Preston "(I Want A) Rock and Roll Guitar"

!!! Santastic 4 from DJBC !!!

2008-12-02T00:15:00.000-08:00

He's gone and done it again. My good friend Bob Cronin, aka DJBC has put together another stellar mix of xmas mashups featuring some of the wildest work from a who's who of twisted turntablist's and digital demons.

And while you're there check out the past three years mixes as well. Your office Christmas party will NEVER be the same...

*** Santastic 4 comin' at ya ***

Andy visits NYC & WFMU record swap

2008-12-01T23:52:00.000-08:00

Howdy gang!

It has been a busy fall…and I’ve been remiss in updating my blog on the comings & goings as far as the movie is concerned but I have good news: It’s December 1st so we’re BOTH allowed to indulge in XMESS music to our hearts content !!!!

There are SO many festive folks posting incredible music that I don’t see the point in doing the same here, except of course for the odd little obscurity here and there…but do check back often or ADD me to your RSS feed as I’ll be posting links to some incredible xmas tunes over the next four weeks.

Meantime, here’s a pic from our shoot back at the end of October when Andy was in NYC to dig for xmas gems at the infamous WFMU record swap & sale.

As the cameras rolled Andy ran into his old buddy Tom “Grover” Biery (of Warner Records) who is a HUGE xmas music nut. If you ever see Grover’s Holiday Hoedown — another much anticipated homemade CD compilation that he puts together — snap it up!

Also, ending up on camera were Miriam & Billy of venerable indie label Norton Records, who’ve been releasing some of the most amazing Xmas sounds around for over twenty years. It’s been a tough Autumn season for them as they’ve lost two of their greats…Rudy Ray Moore & more recently Nathaniel Mayer. God bless them both…and god bless Norton for keeping the heart & soul of xmas music alive and well !!!

MORE pics from the JINGLE BELL ROCKS! edit session...

2008-08-02T01:49:00.000-07:00

A few more shots I discussed in the previous post...

Jingle Bell Rocks! DEMO on the way...

2008-08-02T01:02:00.000-07:00

Hey gang!

Great news to share with you all...we've been cutting the demo for the film for the past three weeks. It's coming together beautifully and we'll have it completed by mid-August.

We finished the first full cut late last night...Below is a pic of editor (and Final Cut master mixer) Alec MacNeill Richardson along with a few screen shots (featuring Andy Cirzan).

I'm considering posted an EXCERPT if there is enough expressed interest from you all out there. I know I've been away for some time, but drop me a line if you're reading this.

I want to send hearty shout outs to stubbysfears aka Martin Johns; captainOT aka Rob Martinez, and The King of Jingaling aka Brad Ross-MacLeod for their incredible support in the way of album scans and other amazing Xmas archive images that they furnished to me. Like this amazing picture sleeve from AKIM whose son (pictured) we're hoping to track down for the movie...

Jimmy McGriff 1936 — 2008 RIP

2008-05-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

Damn ! We lost another one. With both JIMMY's now gone, the world of Xmas organ music will never be the same. My sincerest condolences to Mr. McGriff's widow Margaret.

Merry Christmas Baby ! Rest In Peace forever more.

Dorough on Miles..

2008-04-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

Hey gang,

Sorry for the extended absence. I was finishing up another project and had to leave Xmas music behind for a short while. We ALL need a break from it from time to time don't we?

I'm back now, prepping for markets & meetings in Toronto (for Hot Docs April 17-27th) and the Canadian Rockies (Banff World Television Festival June 8-11th).

So, in the spirit of giving (and sharing) I offer you this little tidbit from a much longer interview I conducted with the legendary bebopper BOB DOROUGH. In the first of several clips I'll be posting soon, Bob talks about his landmark collaboration with MILES DAVIS on the stellar "Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)" a song written (and vocalized) by Bob in 1962 for the Columbia records holiday jazz compilation JINGLE BELL JAZZ.

Best Wishes for 2008...

2007-12-31T21:18:00.000-08:00

I'll be posting some images (and maybe a few clips) from the past four weeks of the Jingle Bell Rocks! doc tour soon. It has been an amazing month and I want to thank all of you who have subscribed to the blog, made donations, and offered support in many other ways. I am looking forward to what lies ahead for the project and will continue to update on a weekly basis. In the meantime, to kick off 2008, I offer you this gem from legendary Canadian Stompin' Tom Connors. Happy New Year one and all !

FOX rocks the WPRB studios...

2007-12-29T14:45:00.000-08:00

In the midst of hour 16, Gerald Kolpan (from FOX NEWS out of Philly) arrived to deliver this surprisingly heartwarming story about Jon Solomon and his annual Xmas audio adventure. Afterward, I conducted my own interview with Gerald — and his reasons for being there — which I hope will end up in the finished film.

Liz jumps on the bandwagon...

2007-12-28T20:27:00.000-08:00

Her Royal Heiness posted her 50th annual Xmas address to the Commonwealth on YouTube...sadly, there was no evidence of her & Philip gettin' down to a favorite Christmas song.

The legend lives on...Oscar Peterson RIP 1925-2007

2007-12-27T13:36:00.000-08:00

I learned of Oscar Peterson's death on Christmas Eve morning...but wasn't able to find anywhere to post a rememberance. During his Xmas marathon, Jon Solomon, paid tribute with two Christmas songs by the legendary Mr. Peterson. The giant will be missed...GOODBYE Oscar.

It's over...Merry Christmas to all...

2007-12-25T15:40:00.000-08:00

Well, that's it. Flying back home tomorrow. My stocking is overflowing and I'll have much to share upon my return. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

My true love gave to me...

2007-12-25T14:03:00.000-08:00

If you've been listening to the WPRB stream you would have heard Jon Solomon kick off the FINAL hour of the show with the Hoser classic TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS from Bob & Doug MacKenzie...yes, that's right, we are into our final hour...in fact, as of the writing of this blog we have a mere 51 minutes to go until the close of Solomon's 24 hour Christmas music marathon. I hope you are tuned in!

...11 hours to go!

2007-12-25T03:46:00.001-08:00

So, we've made it past the 12 hour mark. In fact, we have ONLY 11 more hours to go here at WPRB. Jon's stamina is nothing short of a miracle. Hope you're tuning in and making those requests. I'm anticipating a call from my sweetheart in about 4 hours. And the Philadelphia FOX affiliate is coming at 9am to see what kind of insanity we are up to...

Jon Solomon's 24 Xmas Music Marathon

2007-12-24T14:34:00.000-08:00

We are 30 minutes away from the start of Jon's show:

You can listen to the stream here: WPRB's 24 Hour Xmess Music Marathon

Anc CALL IN to the LIVE REQUEST LINE: 609.258.1033

Listen, eat, drink & be merry !!!!

Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)

2007-12-22T20:31:00.000-08:00

After a nightmare of delays & a cancelled flight, etc. I caught the last sleigh out of Chicago's O'Hare to La Guardia, rented a car, then drove to Mount Bethel, home of bebop legend Bob Dorough. Bob & I spent the day together (along with DOP, Stephen Hopkins) exploring the history of "Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)"...a song that Bob wrote for Miles Davis, back in August of 1962. It was an incredible moment for me to finally meet Bob. His compostion is as vital today as it was 45 years ago, when it was immortalized on the Columbia Records compilation, Jingle Bell Jazz!

It is proving tricky here in the Pochanos, to find internet access but I am hoping to post some images, from the session with Bob, in the next day or two. If you can, stay tuned! Thanks!

He's almost here!....

2007-12-20T10:36:00.000-08:00

Join Chicago Public Radio hosts Jim DeRogatis & Greg Kot (The "Siskel & Ebert" of Rock n' Roll radio) tomorrow, Dec 21st, when they feature holiday music savant Andy Cirzan for an entire show dedicated to this season's coolest and weirdest tunes.

click here to visit with Santa: The Andy Cirzan Xmas Spectacular

Christmas comes early...

2007-12-19T11:43:00.001-08:00

I've been away from home for a few days (long story) but when I checked my mailbox this morning I had a whack of Christmas music comps and assorted mail from other Xmas music maniacs out there who were kind enough to send me some tunes. Beginning with an amazing R&B collection from the venerable ACE records label, called Rhythm & Blues Christmas, from my friend, and fellow collector, from the Netherlands (of SILENT NIGHT songs exclusively) Reinier Thiesen. I'll share one of the choice cuts, from the late Bobby Nunn, at the end of this post. The second stack was from Sean at DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS out of Bellingham, WA. They have a fab roster of rockabilly, psyche, garage & surf xmas originals. You can download directly from his site, so it's not too late to score a few gems for your own Xmas party! Last series I rec'd was from Bob Cronin (aka djBC) who sent me the last four years of his merry mashups series. Groovy stuff. So, here's Bobby Nunn lamenting the loss of his lady at xmas time...I'm grateful to still have my baby with me this Christmas! p.s. Don't know how the Wiser's snuck into the frame.

Jingle bells rock the New York Times...

2007-12-17T10:09:00.000-08:00

Tammy La Gorce, from The New York Times, wrote a feature on Jon Solomon, one of the key characters in my film, in Sunday's edition...

Trough Half Full...

2007-12-17T10:06:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy week...Apparently I have something called an RSS Feed. I'll try to keep it at least half full over the next few days as I prepare for the second and third legs of my Xmess tour...hoping to upload a clip or two as well.

with Andy...

2007-12-10T14:04:00.000-08:00

...back from the Christmas Cosmos!

2007-12-10T13:23:00.001-08:00

I arrived back in Vancouver friday afternoon, had an hour to chill with Elaine, then caught the Canned Hamm Christmas Show, which was a blast, except for the outrageous cost of a Kokanee (at $6.50 a bottle). When I confronted the manager about it, she just shrugged her shoulders and pretended not to hear my query. Let's hope Ol' Santa delivers an appropriate comeuppance for such Xmas greed.

But I digress. It has taken me the entire weekend to touch down from the two days I spent with one ANDY CIZAN (pictured above), who launched me into a Christmas music netherworld that blew my mind. It was a place I've been hoping to visit for over a year now. and let me tell you, it was worth the effort. As Andy puts it on his new holiday CD, THE SANTA SET, it "...is a place populated by various and sundry holiday-themed characters, whose members run the gamut from the Great Kringle and his heroic sidekick Rudolph, to the disturbing visage of the troublesome Krampus as well as legions of delinquent elves, gnomes, and mythical creatures (The IMP!) who do what they can to try to mess things up". Fortunately, I had Andy there to keep these evil spirits at bay, and the shoot was spared any unseemly holiday madness. Though I did get pretty whacked after we wrapped, when Andy treated me to beers at this amazing chicago haunt The Map Room.

In tribute to my first visit to Chicago and beyond, I offer you this rocker from Bluesman RUFUS THOMAS!

Post-show with Andy Cirzan, Jim DeRogatis & Greg Kot

2007-12-06T12:49:00.000-08:00

Andy Cirzan's Sound Opinions Xmas Spectacular

2007-12-06T11:40:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday was a blast. The show unfolded without a hitch, and we captured it all. Andy also brought in a selection of 30 of his coolest, weirdest LP covers and his impromptu show n' tell set the tone for the remainder of the day. This amazing album art will be posted along with the podcast of this year's show very soon. A simple search of Sound Opinions will take you there. You'll also find the free download of Andy's 2007 compilation, THE SANTA SET.

Want to send a shout out to Jim & Greg, Jason, Robin and the rest of the crew for being so supportive and accomodating. I love NPR!

I'll have a cool share for you this Sunday. From The snowy, Windy, City!

I'm off to the Windy City

2007-12-03T22:56:00.000-08:00

Departing Vancouver in a few hours...

I hope to update you with some pics from Wednesday's taping of the Andy Cirzan Xmas Spectacular with Sound Opinions hosts Jim DeRogatis & Greg Kot. Here's my last share, from Ferlin Husky, before I depart. Enjoy!

Santastic III in 3-D

2007-12-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

djBC has released the third installment from his Santastic Xmas mashup series...in 3-D to boot! Featuring exclusive mixes from the likes of Mark Vidler, DJ Flack, Elvis and ATOM, the collection contains TWENTY-ONE feverishly festive tracks to fortify your holiday soul.

djBC is one of several merry mashup maestros who’ll be profiled in my film.

You can preview, download and read more here Santastic III in 3-D

Welcome Christmas

2007-12-01T00:55:00.000-08:00

Season's greetings! And thanks for checking out my docblog...over the next few weeks I'll be posting my comings and goings as I embark on an xmess music excursion across the East Coast.

I'll also be sharing the odd festive tune or two...maybe even three.

Let's kick things off with a little gem from bebopper Babs Gonzales...