Indulge in reminiscence – The Crispin Glover Experience
Posted: April 2, 2016 Filed under: art, comedy, culture, film | Tags: art, Brandon Hardesty, Crispin Glover, Crispin Hellion Glover’s Big Slide Show, film, Helsinki, It is fine! EVERYTHING IS FINE, Night Visions, No Small Parts, The Crispin Glover Experience, What is it? Leave a comment
In 2009, as part of Night Visions Film Festival in Helsinki, I went to see what was titled as The Crispin Glover Experience. It consisted of
– Crispin Hellion Glover’s Big Slide Show
It was essentially a very intense hour of Crispin Glover discussing his art and life. I have very litte memory of what was said, but it was intense.
– A screening of What is it?
I think he was originally supposed to show It is fine! EVERYTHING IS FINE. but it was changed for some reason that I can’t recall. I remember watching the trailers for both films before the show and thinking “Well, I’ve seen avant-garde films and pretty weird stuff before, at least it’ll be interesting.” I was not prepared for what ensued.
– A Q&A session
I think this went on for an hour or maybe two. It certainly felt like forever. Glover is very good at directing the conversation to where he wants it to go, so people asked their questions and Glover steamrolled to what ever aspect of his life or art he felt like discussing further. In a very polite manner, of course.
– Book signing/ meet & greet
I did not stay for this, I wanted to, but I was physically and mentally spent at this point. The line was insane and four hours of the experience was enough for me.
The details of the event escape me, but I will never forget it nor will I ever forget what Crispin Glover was like in person. I’m really glad that I went, it was a unique experience. It was also one the most exhausting things that I’ve ever experienced in my life and I would never do it again. That being said, if you have a chance to see one his shows, go & see it. It is, after all, your density.
In the meanwhile, I suggest you watch episode #15 of No Small Parts featuring Crispin Glover. It is as entertaining as it is educational, another fine episode in the series.
Imagine Waking Up Tomorrow and Your Favourite Band Has Disappeared
Posted: February 13, 2016 Filed under: art, film, music | Tags: art, Bill Drummond, documentary, film, Imagine Waking Up Tomorrow and All Music Has Disappeared, Jimmy Cauty, music, Stefan Schwietert, The KLF, The17, Watch The K Foundation Burn a Million Quid Leave a comment
I straight up love Bill Drummond. Hands down. Or up, which ever way you prefer. My love for him dates back to the days of The KLF. Obviously my understanding of what he and Jimmy Cauty were trying to do was pretty limited at the time as I was in my early teens but I read every interview I could get my hands on and bought the music. This was still pretty early days for internet, as you might or might not remember and I lived on the outskirts of an outskirts country.
However, I have a strong recollection that even then, at least on some level, I realised Bill and Jimmy were doing something very different. Same in some ways as some other bands but different in a very fundamental way. Their meta level of recognising what they were doing and how they were doing it was mindblowing for my teenage brain. And I loved their music and all the mythology they had wrapped around it. And then, of course, they burned the million pounds and pretty much called it quits. Look it up or watch the film. I was devastated.
Recently I had the chance to see Imagine Waking Up Tomorrow and All Music Has Disappeared. The documentary follows Bill Drummond as he travels around for his latest project, The17. I might not completely share Bill’s views on how the accessibility of music destroys the value we place on the experience of listening to music, but I get it. I get what you’re getting at, Bill.
If you haven’t seen the film, go and see it now. Or at least listen to some KLF.
I love you, Bill.
For the love of Miami Vice #28
Posted: September 28, 2015 Filed under: For the love of Miami Vice, television | Tags: don johnson, fishing, mental health, Miami Vice, philip michael thomas, rico tubbs, sonny crockett, television Leave a comment
Sunday Classic of Love
Posted: September 27, 2015 Filed under: film, music, Sunday Classic of Love | Tags: buffalo '66, christina ricci, film, king crimson, soundtrack, tap dancing, vincent gallo Leave a commentA weekly appreciation of classic film and television soundtracks.
Christina Ricci as Layla tap dancing to “Moonchild” by King Crimson in Buffalo ’66. Don’t forget to look at the sky tonight!
Cover of Love
Posted: September 25, 2015 Filed under: music | Tags: cover, Duran Duran, eagles of death metal, jesse hughes, josh homme, music, zipper down Leave a comment
The only criteria for Cover of Love here at Funnel of Love is and has always been that the cover gets something new out the original song while being consistent with the musical stylings of the cover maker.
This is certainly true for the haunting cover version of Duran Duran‘s “Save A Prayer” by Eagles of Death Metal. Taken from their new album Zipper Down out on October 2, it captures the pop sensibility of the original song and mixes it with the magical musical innuendo that is EODM. While “Save A Prayer” is about a one-night stand, this cover will leave you wanting more.
Listen to it here.
Colour In Storytelling
Posted: September 25, 2015 Filed under: art, film | Tags: art, colour grading, criswell, film, supercut Leave a comment
Check out Channel Criswell for more of his video essays on film.
Total Eclipse of the Harvest Moon
Posted: September 25, 2015 Filed under: nature, science | Tags: eclipse, harvest moon, NASA, science, space, supermoon, URSA Leave a comment
According to folklore, the Harvest Moon is the full Moon that falls closest to the autumnal equinox, the hectic beginning of northern autumn. In 2015, the Moon is full on Sept. 28th, less than a week after the equinox of Sept. 23rd. The coincidence sets the stage for a nice display of harvest moonlight.
But wait. This year’s Harvest Moon is not like the others. It’s going to be eclipsed.
On the night of Sept. 27 and into the early hours of Sept. 28, the full Moon will glide through the shadow of Earth, turning the Harvest Moon a golden-red color akin to autumn leaves.
The action begins at 9:07 PM Eastern Time on the evening of Sept 27th when the edge of the Moon first enters the amber core of Earth’s shadow. For the next three hours and 18 minutes, Earth’s shadow will move across the lunar disk.
Totality begins at 10:11 PM Eastern Time. That’s when the Moon is completely enveloped by the shadow of our planet. Totality lasts for an hour and 12 minutes so there is plenty of time to soak up the suddenly-red moonlight.
The reason the Moon turns red may be found on the surface of the Moon itself. Using your imagination, fly to the Moon and stand inside a dusty lunar crater. Look up. Overhead hangs Earth, nightside facing you, completely hiding the sun behind it. The eclipse is underway.You might suppose that the Earth overhead would be completely dark. After all, you’re looking at the nightside of our planet. Instead, something amazing happens. When the sun is located directly behind Earth, the rim of the planet seems to catch fire! The darkened terrestrial disk is ringed by every sunrise and every sunset in the world, all at once. This light filters into the heart of Earth’s shadow, suffusing it with a coppery glow.
Back on Earth, the shadowed Moon becomes a great red orb.
One more thing: The full Moon of Sept. 28th occurs near the perigee of the Moon’s orbit—that is, the point closest to Earth. This makes the Harvest Moon a “supermoon.”
The super Harvest Moon eclipse will be visible from the Americas, Europe, and Africa. It brings an end to a remarkable series of four consecutive total lunar eclipses visible from North America—a so-called “tetrad.” Perhaps the heavens have saved the best for last.
If you live in the eclipse zone, mark your calendar for Sept. 27-28, and enjoy the show.
via NASA
If you happen to live in Finland, check out the detailed super Harvest Moon eclipse schedule courtesy of Ursa Astronomical Association.
In The Fridge
Posted: July 3, 2015 Filed under: film | Tags: film, fridge, montage, pov, roman holiday, supercut Leave a commentPersonal favourite: Ghostbusters POV shot. You can watch the entire scene below.
No Small Parts – highlighting the character actor
Posted: March 24, 2015 Filed under: film, television | Tags: Brandon Hardesty, character actor, Dean Norris, documentary, film, No Small Parts, Once upon a time in Polizzi, Vincent Schiavelli Leave a comment
No Small Parts is a documentary web-series about character actors in the entertainment industry. It is the labour of love of Brandon Hardesty, a self-proclaimed character actor himself. Each episode serves as a comprehensive biography for one particular actor. In addition to the longer biographical episodes, there are also short episodes focusing on more specific topics, like cop roles played by Dean Norris.
The second episode in the series features one of my favourite character actors, Vincent Schiavelli. For over 40 years Vincent pretty much acted on every television series ever and numerous films. He is the archetypal ‘that guy’ or character actor – an actor who everyone recognises but hardly anyone remembers by name. His real passion in life, however, was the town of Polizzi and his Italian heritage. The documentary mentioned within the documentary, “Once upon a time in Polizzi“, is every bit as good as Brandon says it is and well worth a watch.
You can support Brandon and his amazing series here.
