I need to see this. Somehow I will.

This the official trailer for SIGN PAINTERS a documentary by Faythe Levine & Sam Macon. For information regarding screenings, and other news please visit signpaintermovie.com

About the project… There was a time, as recently as the 1980s, when storefronts, murals, banners, barn signs, billboards, and even street signs were all hand-lettered with brush and paint. But, like many skilled trades, the sign industry has been overrun by the techno-fueled promise of quicker and cheaper. The resulting proliferation of computer-designed, die-cut vinyl lettering and inkjet printers has ushered a creeping sameness into our landscape. Fortunately, there is a growing trend to seek out traditional sign painters and a renaissance in the trade.

Sound City is a documentary film directed by Dave Grohl about the history of Los Angeles recording studio Sound City Studios.

The little known recording studio housed a unique recording console and a reputation for recording drums. Seminal bands and artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Rick Springfield, Tom Petty, Metallica and Nirvana came out to record their music at the studio. The studio was eventually closed and the magical recording console was bought by Grohl and installed in his own studio where it is still used today to record music.

Using Sound City’s legendary analog console…. artists continue to create musical miracles in a digital world.

See… another example where unique craftsmanship (the board was put together by hand by one magical man - Rupert Neve) is something folks still seek out and revere.

There is also a cool soundtrack / record that was recorded on the board to go along with the movie with several amazing musicians. And there will be live shows too with these musicians. Overall it is a huge project that you can check out at the Sound City website - http://buy.soundcitymovie.com/

Above is the trailer for The Bitter Buddha - a documendary about the comedian Edddie Pepitone. I was able to see a screening of it (FINALLY) when I was back in NYC for a few days last month.

I am a big fan of comedy and have seen Pepitone live in NYC a few times. Like there are artist’s artists and musician’s musicians - there are also comic’s comics. Pepitone is one of those comedians.

Frankly, I have a fascination with this sort of a relationship. Successful people do not usually look up to other successful people - they look up to great people. It reminds me of that old saying (is it really old?…or just made up) : It’s nice to be important, but more important to be nice.

To watch The Bitter Buddha on your computer or see if it screening in your area - visit the film’s website here.

SODA is an animated fable about how the cycle of life is run by a trifecta of magical spirit animals.

The animation is inspired by visual folklore that different cultures (Spanish Day of the Dead paper cuttings, mythical shadow plays from Southeast Asia) have used for hundred of years to illustrate the why & how of our own mortality.

The animated short features the use of animated cut out paper shadow puppetry, projected silhouettes, plus traditional and stop-motion animation. Please visit the official website at soda.crankbunny.com for more information about the film.