Slower More Calculated

Hey I'm back and I have a lot of news to catch you guys up on.

First of all, I'd like to apologize for not writing in so long. I've had a lot going on so shortage of news is definitely not the problem. But for some reason I lost the spark and motivation to write. But I'm back and with some good stories too.

On October 22nd, I had the unique opportunity to have a personal guitar lesson from the lead guitarist of The Kooks, Hugh. For those of you who might not know who they are, The Kooks are a four piece rock band from Brighton, UK who play a style of pop rock that is both new and exciting and also reminiscent of the 60's. The lesson was held at the classic Crystal Ballroom and we played outside on the balcony overlooking Burnside and the rest of the city below. It was truly a one of a kind experience. After learning a couple of their songs, the lady from 94.7fm, the radio station I won the contest through, asked us to play while they filmed it for their website. I didn't handle too well under the pressure, but it turned out alright and you can watch it here:

Get Schooled with The Kooks

After the lesson, Hugh gave me four tickets to the concert that night, and I got to take my brother Ryan and a few friends. It felt good to treat them, because I was lucky my friends got to have fun too. (Also it was my fault Ryan didn't get to see The Kooks last time they were in town so I was happy I get to take him)

My Buddy and I, are getting ready to enter a competition called the Insomniac Film Festival. The contest, put on by Apple, starts 9:00 AM on Saturday Nov. 15th and the participants, then have 24 hours to write, direct, act in , shoot, edit, score, and submit their 3 minute long short film. The catch is that there is a list of specifications that we must pick three of to include in our movie. This makes things difficult because we can't really do much at all to prepare. We are now talking about a few vague ideas, but we won't be able to write a concrete script at all. We are asking our film class for actors and a few more people who may know some about lighting and things like that. If we are the selected winners in one of the three categories: Celebrity Judge's Choice, Creative Award, and Best Film, our team of up to five will win MacBook Pros and copies of the FinalCut Studio 2 and Logic Studio editing programs. I'm really excited about this and I can't wait for it in just a couple weeks.

In Other News, I broke my collar bone last week on Thursday. Biking home from work I actually hit a parked car, and flew over my handlebars and landed on my shoulder. I went to Student Health Services the next day and found out I actually fractured my clavicle. Good news is collar bones heal really well and often are stronger after being broken. I just have to deal with it for 4-6 weeks.

Well I'm glad I got to catch you up on the on-goings of my life as of late, and hopefully next time I write we'll have Obama as our new president.

Anyone Can Play Guitar

Hello again, I have a few cool things to talk about.

First off, I learned to play a few new songs last night by one of my favorite new artists Vampire Weekend. The songs: "A-Punk" and "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" are two of those songs that as soon as you hear them you'll only want to listen to them more. Which is why I suggest you listen to them now.

A-Punk

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

I think I am going to actually start doing some covers of some of my favorite songs, recording them, and making a little CD for my close friends and family. The biggest reason for doing this is just because its fun, but this also gives me an opportunity to get some practice with some audio recording and editing software. I don't know if this is something any of you guys are interested, but if you want you should comment on this post with some ideas of songs you think would be fun for me to learn and you'd like to hear me play. It doesn't matter if you don't know if I'd like the song or if it's too hard; I'll be the judge of that, you just make suggestions.

Concerning My Future in Media, I researched a little more about borrowing equipment like cameras and lights and I found out its really easy to do through Student Multimedia Services a floor below me in the library. Also editing software is on the computers in the Milne Computing Lab across the quad and I'll be able to use that too. I'm planning on starting some projects soon with my partner in crime (and by crime I mean film) Brian and we might even be able to do a TV show for KBVR.
KBVR is the university radio and TV station and I talked to the head student worker at the station today and he explained that it's really easy to join the team. I am going to a meeting tomorrow to learn about becoming a DJ, which is something I've wanted to do for a long time now.

Ta ta for now!
Kevin

Eating Well (No More Microwave Dinners and Saturated Fats)

Hey guys, not too much new to talk about but I thought I'd put up a little something.

At the Library I got an interesting project to work on. I am working on finding recipes from Farmers' Bulletins from the 1910's and 20's for people to make for an event that the Archives are sponsoring. If someone wants they can come up to the archives or look online for a recipe to make for the event. Then there will be a big pot luck where people can try the food and get the recipe to take home. Sounds like a ton of tasty fun.
The articles I've found recipes in have been interesting too. Everything from 'Cheese and Its Economical Uses in the Diet' to 'School Lunches.' I even found a few gluten conscious recipes in an article titled 'Use of Wheat-Flour Substitutes in Baking.' I also got a recipe for myself for Taro Chips. I'm really excited to try and make them.

At My New House a few friends and I have been playing a lot of music together lately. I've either been playing guitar or tambourine and other random percussion things with the guys. Our sound is a little reminiscent of a few bands I listen to but I doubt many of you will recognize The Shaky Hands, Minus the Bear, The Shins and some of the heavier stuff like The Island by The Decemberists.

Speaking of The Shaky Hands I was fortunate enough to go to the CD release party for the new album Lunglight from one of my favorite new and upcoming Portland bands, and frankly one of my favorite bands period. I got to meet the band talk to them for a while about their new dynamic. Their old drummer Colin Anderson actually decided to go back to school and study Urban Planning at PSU. But their crazy percussion and slide guitar man Nathan Delffs have valiently taken his place and they sound better than ever. They didn't play much from their old cd at either of the last two shows I've seen them but although it was a little disappointing they suprised everyone (but me because I saw the setlist before the show) by playing a cover of a Neil Young song.

So long folks,
Kevin

Everything in its right place

Hey guys just thought I'd start off this bad boy with a whole heap of good news:

School is exciting - This is by far going to be my best term so far here at OSU. I am getting closer to finally setting my official major as I am now taking classes in the New Media Communications department. With this and other English and Art classes I will be forming my own major to match my skills, interests, and possible future careers. Granted all of this will only happen if I decide not to transfer somewhere else for "Real" Film School. If I do move than it will be a lot simpler since I wouldn't have to design my own major, just a lot more money. But I don't have a lot more money and the idea of no one else telling me what classes I have to take sounds pretty good. (As far as transferring goes, I haven't even begun to tackle the questions of where, when, and how, so please don't ask me that one quite yet.)
Some of you may be excited for me (which you all should be) but some of you might be wary to say that I am responsible enough to design a major and plan my own course load and still come out of college with the skills I need to succeed in the working world. But fortunately this is one of the best parts about the New Media Communications program. The skills I will learn through this degree will be ones that will help me not only survive but even influence this ever evolving world of media.

I am starting to build my portfolio - I have had a few ideas as far as making some films or shorts that I am hopefully, through the university, going to have the resources to actually start working on. I have e-mailed a very influential independent, or "indie", band called The Decemberists about possibly working with them on a project. I also had a lengthy conversation with the owner of the local art theater The Darkside last night about filmmaking and some of the in's and out's. He gave me a lot of tips and strongly encouraged me to get together with some buddies and just mess around with a camera. He told me get a camera, find a scene from a movie that I really like and do my best to recreate it. He said all the things you need to know about film you can teach yourself and I am really excited to get a camera in my hands and start shooting.

I got a job - I heard about a position on the 3rd floor of the Valley Library here at OSU and through a series of e-mails successfully landed my first job in Corvallis (It only took me two and a half months, but all's well that ends well right?). The job I'm doing here is working at the reference desk for University Archives and Maps. I help people find photos, maps, microfilm, etc., for use in their research. It's pretty slow but a lot of the things I find up here are really cool and I kinda get to be a librarian like Grandma Schnorenberg and Grandma Donna.


The Beavers beat USC!!! - I know this is probably old news, but I still thought I'd take my opportunity to boast about our football team. I went to the game (along with 43,000 other people) and saw the Beavers shut down the #1 USC Trojans. The last football game I went to was Civil War in Eugene last year. I went down to Track Town USA and saw the Beavers end the home team winning streak of the past 11 years. I don't know how many of you are sports fans but I think rushing the field at two consequtive victories of this magnitude is something any sports fan would be jealous of.

My house is great - I'm living in a four bedroom house about ten blocks form campus with three other friends and we've been getting along great (and paying our bills on time). Our landlord actually is paying us to do some work around the house, so we've had some incentive to really make this place our home for this year and possibly more to come.

That pretty much wraps up all my good news. I am super excited about this new year and the new opportunities and experiences to come.

Thanks for reading and I'll post again soon!