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Star Licker

The creamy, gooey treats in the cool evening air on Hollywood Blvd., courtesy the cute boys of Kool Haus Ice Cream Truck, brought a much needed, messy cool down from the warm buzz-y opening night of A Few Zines : Dispatches From the Edge of Architectural Production show at the LA Forum curated by Mimi Zeiger.

Hammer Pants | Corporate-Flashmob Meme | FAKE

Sadly, here is yet another meme neutered via hostile corporate takeover. This is a corporate commercial posing as flashmob and it signals the death knell for Flashmobs. Hammer Pants is a weak promotion for the A&E's Hammertime reality show. I did my own investigation and found out the dancers were hired, costumed, and directed. The Live! On Sunset store was rented for the shoot back in early May. The shoppers are all actors.

Such a lame ending for a form with it's historical roots in actual activism.

the Big Fat Gay Anti-Hate Collaborate

You have to take 3 minutes to catch the latest in youth culture response to all the hate on the internet. This one is created by the ever-colorful, irrepressible StevieBeeBishop. Sometimes a little online disinhibition effect is a good thing. And a note for my Mom, I know it's an F-bomb attack, but just try to roll-with-it and laugh it off.

STREET BATTLE

I am quite excited to share the just completed webvid 'STREET BATTLE' created for Susan Feniger's STREET - her new restaurant features street food from around the world. Watch as Susan Feniger goes head to head against Rob Tsai and Chuck Maa from the Instant Noodles Crew in this most incongruent of battles.

We shot this back in December, while the restaurant was in the middle of construction. Despite the the cold temperatures and occasional rain, we had a great shoot.

Here are PIX from the shoot

Directed by Bryan Jackson

Cinematography by Quyen Tran

Music is by Eiji Yoshizawa

Brian Baugh, Assistant Editor

Michael Hofeldt, Art Director

Akiko Matsumoto, Key Make-Up Artist

Julie Kirkwood, Gaffer

Yu Karitani, Key Grip

Thabo Wolfaardt, 2nd AC

Production Assistants:

Gina Chun

Amadeo Moreno Del Castillo

Cast:

Susan Feniger, Chef

Kasja Alger, Chef

Rob Tsai, Dancer

Chuck Maa, Dancer

Brian Crano, Mr. Bluehead

Bye-Bye Blossom Dearie

Today, as the Sakura are just starting to bloom in LA, there is sad news in the New York Times of the death of jazz pixie, Blossom Dearie. Over the years her wonderful interpretations have kept me company through the ebb and flow of lovers and friends. This Winter has seen the end of so many things, I am ready for an unconscionably sublime Spring.

STREET Scene-ry

On Sunday we shot the video for Susan Feniger's new restaurant STREET. The shoot went very well (despite the cold) and I cant' wait to get started on the editing. 

Above is a work-in-progress pic of the backdrops we painted for the shoot.

Fundamentalism Seizes Control of California

And most of you just let it happen.

To say I am angry would be an epic understatement. I don't even want to talk to any of you who didn't actively join in the fight against Prop 8 by making donations, by going door-to-door, by phone banking, or by working the polls on election day. Is that really so much to ask? And by-the-way, for all of you who said you would donate, I will be checking for your donations to show up on reporting from the California Secretary of State.

See, if discrimination against any of you was going to be written into the state constitution I would absolutely be in the streets by your side. But Gay & Lesbian people are so completely used to being second-class citizens they are really walking around shell shocked all the time. Despite the clever humor and wry wit wielded by many of us second classers, we are damaged goods so used to being beaten down we don't even realize when we need to fight back. We are so used to being beaten down everyday that we don't directly challenge our friends and family to take a stand with us. And when you don't join us we don't call you on it. There are no consequences for you. We don't want to embarrass any of you any more than we are already embarrassed ourselves, standing there somehow guilty of loving (something you do so casually and openly) and unable to fully protect ourselves on our own. But I am saying today, if you didn't stand with us and actually do something to fight this change in the constitution then the onus is on you. YOU need to do something now that it is too late to do something about this, this time. I will be looking to see what you are willing to do and see if that is enough to remain your friend. Because that is what it has come down to. We have to decide who are our friends. Who is willing to hit the streets and take up arms to protect and defend us from the fundamentalists seizing control of the state? And who among us are siding with the enemy. Because that is what is at stake here.

And for those of you who voted yes on Proposition 8, we are going to be coming for you. I demand the IRS investigate churches, synagogues, and mosques that funneled money from the pulpit into the Yes coffers. That is not what the tax exempt status you received was given for. As Californians, we must demand a stop to the out-of-state money that turned a state-wide challenge into a national referendum on the rights of a minority. We must directly target the leaders and followers of the moment that has eroded the constitution and smeared hate across the state. And if the early reports are correct, people of color have some serious soul-searching to do - is that what all these years of struggle have been about? To then turn around and shit on the people below you?

If you voted yes, you are no longer allowed to say you are friends with Gay people. It's like saying oh yeah, I like black people, I have black friends, whilst you wield a firehose spraying them down. You are talking nice to my face while you stab us in the back. That IS what this is.

For Gay & Lesbian people, remember life is too short, and love is in such a short supply, don't let either slip by so casually. 

Japan Sojourn Comes to an End

A final post as I head back to Los Angeles, and a link to pix from the trip. I don't know what to say, or how to answer my friends here when they ask when I will come back again. For now, I prefer not to answer.

TOKYO PIX 2008

ATE

There is a great new place near my house in Ni-Shi Shinjuku called ATE - (sounds like Ah-Tey.) Which from what I understand means a kind of shelter away from home. So fitting, right?

The owner, Nick san - above right, has created a hip, comfortable spot to grab a plate of food and hit the bottle, or glass as it were. The music is always good, and forever changing. Yuki san, above left, is a charming waiter who never fails to be in a good mood.

I have quickly become a regular, hanging out well after they have closed. I am currently ranked #2 best customer, just after Yohei san. I have to be ok with that, cause there is no catching up with Yohei!

ATE PIX HERE!

ATE SITE

My Juicy Posse: Sex and the City

 

Finally I have posted some pix from the Juicy event. Crack open some fresh mascara and get ready to blush! And below is the brilliant flyer for the Juicy event.

Living Together (live vol. 6)

Sunday night was a fun but emotional evening at the live performance of Living Together Vol. 6. The peformances are a mix of readings of personal stories from the Living Together publication, relating to HIV/Aids. Each author reads their published story, gives a commentary after, and then sings a Japanese Pop song Karaoke style. The mix made it moving, funny, and ultimately an uplifting community event.

When you pay your donation at the door, you get a drink token in the shape of a tiny glass. Sadly you have to give up this little glass when you get your drink. The left pic is of the bartendar waiting for me to decide which I wanted more.

On the right is the evening's organizer and MC, the lovely Madame Bonjour Johny J, who we wildly adore! The outreach event is produced by the Community Center Akta.

(Gimme) Shelter Gig

Eiji plays in a gig at Shelter (a cozy, rockin' basement spot in Shimokitazawa) with the irrepressible Machida Naotaka. It was great to see them play again, as I still had their 'Bye-Bye Bye-Bye-Disneylando' in my head from last summer. The band seems to have as much fun as the audience, and the evening was easily the best I have had all year. My apologies to the band that it has taken me too so long to post these pix.

Shelter Gig Photo Album.

Abu Fabu

Eiji relaxes between rehearsal and the gig, looking AbuFabu in my LA Eyeworks frames.

Yohei Nakamura Gig!

My first weekend here I met up with Maroon-chan at PLUG in Shibuya to see the up-and-coming Yohei Nakamura. Maroon chan designed the case for his new release "Proto type" and shot a new video with him. It was a great nite. The pix are shot hanging out after the gig - and the funny Yohei never stops acting up for the camera!