Monday, July 31, 2006

from the "drive by shooting" dept.

One of the cool things about having a media pass to the Calgary Folk Festival was the ability to get rides from one side of the venue to the other. This is a short video of driving past the mainstage.


Leroy "The Grandmaster" Young on CKUA

A little video of Grandmaster in the spotlight at the Calgary Folk Fest.

from the "taxing taxes" dept.


High
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Arrived home from Calgary this morning after a whirlwind of a weekend. I don't know if I managed more than 10 hours sleep since Friday morning.

Lots of highlights and tons of new music I never new existed. Like Stew. Like "That One Guy". And others.

The shoot went well. Brent got some good moments. We were able to spend lots of time with Grandmaster and Ivan as well as many of the musicians on Ivan's Stonetree label. As previously mentioned, Aurelio Martinez was unreal!!

Kudos to Dave Fraser for picking up my drunken ass at 1am Sunday. It's a true friend that will drive cross town to scoop a visiting buddy too cheap to take a cab. In retrospect, I should have.

Sunday was a good day for the most part. We started around 10am... and both the weather and music were hot.

We stayed away from the beer garden, however.

Around 4pm Brent and I decided to take a break before heading to to the Westin to shoot some more interviews.

We walked in the hot sun to a nearby brew pub. We sat inside to escape the heat. Shortly after ordering, the winds picked up and the temperature dropped 10 degrees. Everyone who had been outside ran inside.

After we ate, we headed back to the folk festival site. It was cold and people were leaving. We heard that a tree branch had fallen on a pram, but the baby was unharmed.

We shot an interview with the festival director and then just as we grabbed the last of the b-roll, rain began to fall.

We grabbed a shuttle back to the hotel to interview Grandmaster about his experiences. During the interview the skies opened up and the rain came pouring down. Poor bastards at the mainstage.

After wrapping up the interview with GM, we went for a beer in the hotel. Brent's pal Dixie joined us and we told all sorts of drunk idiot stories. Quite funny.

Ivan joined us for a while... and we had a great gab fest.

And then it was time to go. An early flight out meant no late night. As it was, I didn't get to Dave's place (where I was staying) until 11 or so.

Monday morning I rose at 5:45, met Brent and we were at the airport by 7:30 or so.

The flight was uneventful, though I feel like I've been away for a long time. I think it's more due to the lack of sleep in the past 7 days.

Today is a day off, but actually I am finishing my GST which is due. I hope to snag a good nights sleep tonight... in preparation for 7 more days of work. At least I don't work until 10:30am Tuesday.

THANK GOD!

Cheers!

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Grandmaster on stage


Grandmaster on stage
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Having a blast at the Calgary Folk Festival.

I'm here shooting more material for Brent's documentary about Leroy "Grandmaster" Young.

Lots to tales to follow... but now it's off to day 2.

Cheers!

from the "Aurelio Martinez" dept.



The afterparty Saturday night at the Calgary Folk Fest. Yeah!

Saturday, July 29, 2006

from the "oil patch" dept.


Hula Girl - Calgary
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

I'm happy to report that Hula Girl and I have touched down in Calgary. Fresh photos to come... this is an old one from last year.

We're off to shoot Grandmaster at the Calgary Folk Festival today.

Last night, Dave F. and I enjoyed a screening of The Aristocrats, pizza and beer. Not in that order.

Unfortunately, the lack of sleep continues. I think I managed 6 hours last night. Looking forward to that first sleep in on Aug 8.

More to come!

Cheers!

Friday, July 28, 2006

from the "off again" dept.


Ciao
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Off to Calgary for the weekend to work on the Grandmaster Doc. Returning early Monday morning to a wonderful day off!!

Details and photos soon!

Cheers!

Thursday, July 27, 2006

from the "weekend away" dept.

Heading to Calgary tomorrow to film more stuff with Brent and Grandmaster.

Here's the trailer:



Cheers!

from the "Mess O'potamia" dept.

Once again, Jon Stewart shows why The Daily Show is required viewing:

Monday, July 24, 2006

Gotta light


Otto
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Life goes on. Busy still. Early shifts. Preparing for Calgary. Managed a good day of loafage on Saturday. Pix to come.

Slep beckons!

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Artholstery


Artholstery
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Wednesday was a great day: no work, no taxes, no nuttin'! Just a roadtrip to Harrison Hot Springs. It was actually quite boring -- the grey skies didn't help. But it was nice to be free for the day.

Not much to photograph either. Although I did discover an odd business. And was not surprised that it failed.

Cheers!

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Sunday, July 16, 2006

5 butts


5 butts
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Love this picture -- taken on the day of the World Cup Final before Italy won.

Stuck in the basement


Light Sabre
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Yeppers... the sun is shining on a glorious Sunday in Vancouver and I have a tale of woe. Stuck in the basement, I am, slowly finishing my accounting work. Ugh.

And, at 2, I go into work! Yeah!

There is a ray of light: I am off tomorrow (save the medical adventure) and should have the accounting wrapped up. Which means that Tuesday could be a day for me!

We'll see...

Cheers!

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Banner Day


Banner Day
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Copenhagen Skies.

Beached


Beached
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Digging through some old(ish) pics...

Archive: Poster for a 1995 party


Archive: Poster for a 1995 party
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Boy, time she sure does fly! I present the following evidence: a poster from a party back in 1995. Nearly 11 years ago. 11!

Good God.

Speaking of parties, I attended one last night. A fine time -- and pictures are to come.

Cheers!

Friday, July 14, 2006

Laughing all the way


Garifuna Women
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

A reminder of how lucky I've been to travel so much. Yep, trying to be less blue! Can you hear their laughter?

Thursday, July 13, 2006

from the "blue" dept.


Bloo
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Life goes on in point form:

- More craziness with my taxes.
- One of the supposed big gigs that I had been hoping would make a big change in life fizzled and died.
- Health concerns have moved to the forefront. Off to get poked and prodded Monday to see if something has gone wrong with my innards.

And so it goes...

Sunday, July 09, 2006

See you in 2010


Brave Face
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Well, another World Cup is in the history books. Bravo Italy... and congratulations France.

This was my third World Cup in Vancouver -- amazing. I should dig up some of the 1998 shots -- when we were all young and beautiful.

The best photo I've found so far (I've got 100+ from today) is this one of not-so-happy French fans. More to come. And more if you navagate over to my flickr site (see link to right).

Cheers!

Friday, July 07, 2006

from the "time travel" dept.

An excellent use of timelapse and the internet:

Check out this video of driving from L.A. to NYC in just a few minutes.

Cheers!

Decisions, decisions


Save yourself
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Over the past decade, there is one decision that I truly regret and to this day continues to haunt me.

In the spring of 1997 I had just quit my job at a television station in Winnipeg in order to travel to Bonsia on a little project.

I knew money would be tight when I returned, so I was trying to be frugal.

At the same time, I was approached by a friend of mine who wanted to start a visual effects company -- primarily for television and film.

He handed me a proposal, which I still have, that would effectively give me an share (1/3 I believe) in Frantic Films.

The idea was great, the timing terrible and my judgment clouded.

I said no.

In the years since, Frantic has grown into a healthy company and I am nothing but happy for them in their success. It was a long, hard road.

I was part of the original sales team (well, THE sales team) when I came back from Bosnia. Instead of asking for a part of the company in return for my time (another error from which I have learned) I worked on a strait commission. I made squat.

Today I came across the news that Frantic Films is the 31st fastest growing company in Canada.

And that's all fine too. But that kills me is their 2005 revenue is just under $10 million and they now employ 80 people.

I know you can't turn back time and you have to accept things. But, sheesh, I mean... what are the odds?

Cheers!

Sunday, July 02, 2006

from the "Canada in the EU" dept.

I've often thought that it would be a wonderful thing if Canada were to join the EU. Imagine being able to work and live here or anywhere from Ireland to Estonia.

Timothy Garton Ash thinks it's a good idea too -- except for that pesky thing called geography.

"In fact, why doesn't the European Union invite Canada to join at once? In most respects it would be a much easier fit than Ukraine, let alone Turkey. It effortlessly meets the EU's so-called Copenhagen criteria for membership, including democratic government, the rule of law, a well-regulated market economy and respect for minority rights (Canada's a world-leader on that). Canada is rich, so would be a much-needed net contributor to the European budget at a time when the EU has been taking in lots of poorer states. One of Europe's besetting weaknesses is disagreement between the British and the French, but on this the two historic rivals would instantly agree. English-speaking Canada would strengthen the Anglophone group in the EU, Quebec the Francophone."

Read the full article in The Guardian.

Cheers!

Relief


Relief
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).

Things are a little clearer this Sunday morning.

Canada Day ended with a really inspirational photo safari around South Granville. For more images, click on the hydrant and surf around the photostream.

It's another amazing day -- but I have to work on business and tax paperwork. Deadlines loom!

If I manage to make some headway early, I'll treat myself to another photo safari. There are lots of lanes and alleys to explore in the area where I am house sitting.

Cheers!