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SUBPOP
Yesterday the Fleet Foxes doubled-down on Helplessness Blues action with a new video release for a new song off their upcoming album (which drops May 3 via Sub Pop–like you didn’t already know). The video, for the track “Grown Ocean,” features lush Pacific NW scenery as well as some bearded behind-the-scenes banter with the Seattle folk rockers. Have a look and listen below.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
TheFilmSchool
The final installment of TheFilmSchool’s Spring 2011 3-Week-Intensive Speaker Series is this Saturday, April 2, featuring special guest and Freaks and Geeks creator Paul Feig. Following a screening of some of his work, Feig will sit down with moderator Warren Etheridge to discuss his experiences in TV land, which include turns at directing acclaimed favorites like The Office, 30 Rock, Arrested Development Mad Men and more. Hosted by Cornish College in the Notion Building from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, this event is free and open to the public-but seating is extremely limited, so be sure to arrive early. RSVP to jenni@thefilmschool.com or connect to TheFilmSchool’s Facebook event page via the link above.
Filed under: Film | Tags: Brown Paper Tickets, Fine Totally Fine, northwest film forum, Support Japan GAMBARE relief fund, Yosuke Fujita
Brown Paper Tickets
The Seattle Premiere of Fine Totally Fine, directed by Yosuke Fujita, will screen at Northwest Film Forum on Saturday, April 2 at 4:30 p.m. with all proceeds benefiting relief efforts in Japan. Director Fujita’s feel-good indie comedy revolves around Teruo, a tree trimmer whose mission in life is to make the scariest haunted house in Japan. Presented by Brown Paper Tickets and Northwest Film Forum, 100% the screening’s box office take will go to the Support Japan GAMBARE relief fund set up by Pictures Dept. president Yuko Shiomkaki. These donations will be distributed by Japanese aid organization JustGiving to those fighting to put their lives back together. Follow the link above to get tickets to the film and support Japan relief efforts.
Filed under: Film, Music | Tags: ArtZone with Nancy Guppy, lynn shelton, seattle channel
Seattle Channel
Lynn Shelton imparts some of her sage filmmaking insight in the latest episode of ArtZone with Nancy Guppy, which premieres this Friday, April 1, on Seattle Channel. The renowned Seattle director will sit down with show host Nancy Guppy to discuss her body of work and, particularly, how she gets creatively “unstuck.” Also featured in this week’s episode: Lyric Light Opera’s production of the classic musical Camelot; singer-songwriter Heather Duby, who will chat about her newest record Latency; and Vermillion Gallery & Bar’s “Frances Farmer Organ Karaoke,” the second annual event for people who can’t sing. Up-and-coming local band Joseph Giant will visit the ArtZone studio to play a few tunes as well. ArtZone airs every Friday on Seattle Channel (Channel 21) at 8:00 pm, and is also streaming and podcasting. For more information, visit the above link.
Filed under: Film, Music | Tags: chris walla, matt daniels, the lonely forest
The Stranger
Hailing from coastal Anacortes, The Lonely Forest is experiencing a wave of success with their newly released album Arrows. Busy as bees on a beaver, they represented Washington rock down at SXSW, and upon returning from Austin premiered a music video for their single “We Sing in Time.” The video was directed by Seattle’s own Matt Daniels and features local coniferous settings, reminiscent of the band’s name. Check it out below. You can also sneak preview their new album (produced by Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla) right about here.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Film Racing: Seattle
Seattle will be one of the participating cities in this year’s “24-Hour Film Race,” a full-throttle filmmaking competition that challenges production teams from around the world to create a four-minute short in just one day. Since 2002, Film Racing has not only fueled some seriously creative competition, it has also helped churn out over 2,000 dynamic and innovative works, many of which have gone on to receive significant online and industry exposure. The independent Seattle leg of the “Race” kicks off next month, April 29-30, and will feature a premiere screening event for competing filmmakers at the Harvard Exit Theater. Seattle film “racers” also have a chance to win thousands in cash and prizes. Space is limited so make sure to register your filmmaking team early. Sign up this week to receive a discounted entrance fee (Use discount code “FILMRACER24”)!
Filed under: Film, Music | Tags: ask the mayor, mayor mcginn, seattle channel
Seattle Channel
“Ask the Mayor” gives Seattle residents a chance to speak directly to our mayor, Mike McGinn, live on Seattle Channel 21. The next show airs tonight, March 30, at 7 pm. This is a great opportunity to ask the mayor questions of interest to musicians and filmmakers! To join in on the conversation, call 684-8821 or email askthemayor@seattle.gov. For more information or to submit your questions ahead of time, follow the link.
Filed under: Film, Music | Tags: death cab for cutie, DVD, kenny g, mudhoney, quincy jones, Sir Mix-A-Lot, soundgarden, Wheedle's Groove
Wheedle’s Groove, the award-winning film chronicling Seattle’s forgotten soul/funk scene of the 60s and 70s, is now available on DVD! With narration by the incomparable Sir Mix-A-Lot, interviews with the stars of Seattle Soul, and commentary from local music icons like Quincy Jones, Kenny G, Soundgarden, Death Cab for Cutie and Mudhoney, the film shines a powerful light on a vibrant and prolific musical movement that “grooved” Seattle decades before the grunge wave that put us on the map. The new DVD—which you can pick up via iTunes, Netflix, Hulu and a host of national retailers– also includes deleted scenes, concert footage, a What’s a Wheedle featurette and more. Also included the DVD special features is the film’s theatrical trailer, which you can peep below in case you just can’t wait until you pick up your own copy of the Groove.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Phil Smart Film
Avid blog readers have been itching to hear the results of the 1st Annual Smart Spot Contest previously mentioned. The votes are in and “Nice Car” by local filmmaker Mike McCoy of Shoreline Community College is the grand prize winner. The contest was open to all aspiring amateur filmmakers and required them to create a 30-60 second commercial for Phil Smart using only original footage and music. Click on the link above to learn more about the annual Smart Spot Contest. Keep an eye out for the new Phil Smart “Nice Car” commericial that will be airing soon and watch it below. Congrats Mike!
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Filed under: Music | Tags: 1987 Spring Rapfest, Historylink.org, Peter Blecha, Sir Mix-A-Lot
Historylink
Last week Historylink.org, a free online encyclopedia of Washington State history, posted an article chronicling the epoch of Seattle hip-hop and its tumultuous beginnings. The retrospective vignette by Peter Blecha highlights the 1987 Spring Rapfest held at the Paramount in and the events surrounding the concert. With the advent of rappers such as Sir Mix-A-Lot entering the scene it was an exciting time for Seattle hip-hop, but also a turbulent one as Blecha points out in the dissertation. With chaotic clashes and between police, fans and media, Blecha writes, “It was a scene probably not seen in Seattle again until the WTO protests of 1999.” While these events created quite the controversy at the time, they heralded the sheer energy of the Seattle hip-hop era yet to come. To read the Seattle rap culture infused exposition follow the Historylink above and get ready for some old school hip-hop community history.
Seattle Office of Film + Music 