chumpchampion

The always quirky Coen brothers help spread the truth on the output of “clean” coal in their signature style with this spot for the Reality campaign. Can’t wait to smell that coaly freshness!

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Sorry for the late post today, I was a bit busy rejoining the human race again. The last few days have just about been the hardest I’ve ever pushed myself finishing a film, and I’d def do it all over again. Working with the dedicated members of our Corita film crew in finishing the edit, finalizing the animations, listening to the sound mix, coloring the film, and conforming the entire thing to be ready for last night’s Flux screening tallied me a new personal work record: work-90 hours, sleep-6, from Sunday up until the show on Wednesday. But with a drive to finish fueled by the work of Sister Corita and with the payoff of how well our film was received, I have to say it was all so worth it. Big thanks to Jonathan and Meg Wells for organizing another fun Flux screening and to all who came out and checked out our film, Become a Microscope-90 Statements on Sister Corita! Many more screenings to come soon!

On top of our film showing alongside a multitude of amazing music videos and short films, the LA Ladies Choir headed by Becky Stark performed as well. The lovelies were captivating with their two songs in this their second performance.

The Ladies Choir pt. 1 from chumpchampion on Vimeo.

The Ladies Choir pt. 2 from chumpchampion on Vimeo.

And here’s another film that screened last night, a supremely crafted short directed by Ace Norton and his new ’stache that left me sonically blown away:

Soundscapes - by Ace Norton from IE HAGY on Vimeo.

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Whoa…another sleepless day/night/day as we put the finishing touches on our film, Become A Microscope-90 Statments on Sister Corita. Making it’s Los Angeles premiere at the Hammer Museum as part of Flux’s first show of the year, the day has finally come to let friend, family, and strangers take a look at just what has been keeping us all so busy and inspired (also special encore musical performance by Becky Stark and the Ladies Choir!)

So tonight, I hope you all…

and…

as our film will leave your eyes, ears, and brains…

with…

lenny

Become A Microscope - 90 Statements on Sister Corita

A film by Aaron Rose

Produced by Jon Barlow, Edited by Lenny Mesina, Original Score by Money Mark and Becky Stark.

Flux Screening Series
February 25, 2008
8:00 pm screening, 10:00 pm after-party

Hammer Museum
Billy Wilder Theater
10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310.443.7000

And don’t forget to RSVP!

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Missed the Oscars last night but I keep hearing about the awkward Japanese fellow who gave an awesome acceptance speech. Which made me think of Takashi Murakami’s young loveable loser. Enjoy Inochi fun!

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Clear your schedule for this Wednesday cause the year’s first Flux Screening Series at the Hammer is coming and our Sister Corita film will be making it’s Los Angeles premiere! If you missed the CSUN screening and art opening (a must see!), this is your chance to check out what we’ve been giving our all to. Also part of 2009’s inaugral program will be two new music video from the N.A.S.A. crew, this time featuring Kanye West, Santogold, Lykee Li, Sizzla, Amanda Blank, with art by The Date Farmers, directed by Logan and Three Legged Legs. The short film project PSST! 3 and a new short by homey Ace Norton will also be included in the program.

Make sure to RSVP and arrive early as the two theaters are always over flowing and people are unfortunately turned away once filled. But if you can’t get in, there’s always the courtyard reception primed for drinks, djs, and drinks.

Become A Microscope
90 Statements on Sister Corita

A Film by Aaron Rose

Produced by Jon Barlow, Edited by Lenny Mesina, Original Score by Money Mark and Becky Stark.

Synopsis:

Sister Corita (1918-1986) was a teacher, political activist and possibly one of the most innovative and unusual pop artists of the 1960’s. She was also a Catholic nun. Become A Microscope is a 20-minute art/documentary film celebrating the life, work, and teachings of this incredible artist. The film was shot on location on the campus of Immaculate Heart in Los Angeles, the same place where most of the film’s story happened. It serves as a living, breathing document of the inspiration she spread to so many people throughout her life…and as the title suggests, the importance of looking at the world “small pieces at a time”. Through the use of interviews with those who knew her, we tell Corita’s story in an abstract way. Using archival images from the Corita archive along with visual effects created specifically for the project by some of the most talented animators working today, we have created a colorful visual montage. The film reveals itself as a living, moving, graphic and musical artwork.

Become A Microscope is produced by Blacklake Productions, in conjunction with The Directors Bureau, with special cooperation from The Corita Art Center and the Art/Film Departments of Cal State University Northridge.

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Don’t forget! KAWS will be making his Los Angeles solo show debut this Saturday at the Honor Fraser Gallery, but first he’ll be guest curating a group show at Culver City’s Royal/T gallery. For detailed info on KAWS’ “The Long Way Home”, click here or on any of the show’s exclusive preview pics below via Jamie O’Shea’s super site Supertouch:

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This is what it looks like when hundreds of Mac desktop folders turn to the dark side and attack your rebel hard drive. Which reminds me, my laptop is STILL out of commission because apparently Apple’s “Applecare” service is just a euphemism for “we’ll fix your computer if we want to”. (click photo for detail)

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By now you full well know I’ve been backing my boys from N.A.S.A. and taking any chance I get to help spread the good word of their collaborative venture and debut album, “The Spirit of Apollo”. And with a whole slate of music videos created for the album and accompanying film which features the work of some of today’s biggest names in the art world, all under the watchful eye of the man known as Syd Garon (Qbert’s legendary “Wave Twisters”), you know you’ll be seeing much more in the near future. Here’s a couple of N.A.S.A.’s latest AV offerings:

• “The People Tree” featuring David Byrne, Chali 2na, Gift Of Gab & Z-Trip with art by Marcel Dzama

• “Hip Hop” featuring KRS-One, Fatlip, & Slim Kid Tre directed by Splunny
  

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This Saturday February 21st, marks KAWS‘ long awaited Los Angeles solo show debut with “The Long Way Home” at the Honor Fraser Gallery on La Cienega. This opening will without a doubt be the biggest LA art show of the year so make sure to mark you calendars, grab a Companion, and be prepared to wait a while to get in. Click here for more on the ever so humble and quiet KAWS from the gallery’s press release.

Also, here’s Brian last year as he taught kids in New York the basics of character design as part for our Make Something!! web series we created in conjunction with Beautiful Losers and Nike Sportswear last year.

And finally, here’s a bit more of the street art icon in NY at an opening, giving a tour of his studio, and going legit for a day.

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UPDATE: An up close and personal look at the 5 different album covers included in your 1 CD.

I’ve written about the music, cut the film’s trailer (above), presented the album’s covers, and even showed you the “Money”. And now the time has come for N.A.S.A. to officially launch as the duos debut album, “The Spirit of the Apollo” hits outer space today!

More info coming soon about Squeak E. Clean and DJ Zegon’s accompanying documentary film and the fine artists involved whose work inspired the music videos (more of which to be released at next week’s Flux screening at the Hammer) To refresh your memory, here’s the SPIN interview with the boys as well as the album’s track listing and musicians:

01. Intro
02. The People Tree (feat. David Byrne, Chali 2na, Gift of Gab, & Z-Trip)
03. Money (feat. David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge, & Z-Trip)
04. NASA Music (feat. Method Man, E-40, & DJ Swamp)
05. Way Down (feat. RZA, Barbie Hatch, & John Frusciante)
06. Hip Hop (feat. KRS-One, Fatlip, & Slim Kid Tre)
07. Four Rooms, Earth View
08. Strange Enough (feat. Karen O, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, & Fatlip)
09. Spacious Thoughts (feat. Tom Waits & Kool Keith)
10. Gifted (feat. Kanye West, Santogold, & Lykke Li)
11. A Volta (feat. Sizzla, Amanda Blank, & Lovefoxxx)
12. There’s a Party (feat. George Clinton & Chali 2na)
13. Whachadoin? (feat. Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold, & Nick Zinner)
14. O Pato (feat. Kool Kojak & DJ Babão)
15. Samba Soul (feat. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien & DJ Qbert)
16. The Mayor (feat. The Cool Kids, Ghostface Killah, DJ AM, & Scarface)
17. N.A.S.A. Anthem

For all your N.A.S.A. related needs, head to:

http://www.squeakecleanblog.com/nasa-music/
http://www.myspace.com/nasa
http://www.myspace.com/squeakeclean
http://www.myspace.com/djzegon

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