"each day and everyway" auction...

i just released this piece of digital art called “each day and everyway” on the platform FOUNDATION minted from my own contract.

the work is set for auction and it has received its first bid, meaning, if you are interested, you can go here and place your bid before the timer runs out.

each day and everyway
edition 1/1
2022

farah and the girls bar (and other updates)

july, j u l y , JULY….

some tings…
- The feature film young ali: those where the days is in post-production. Sound is being handled by a studio in our sister prod-house city, Chicago. Like all long-form filmmaking, it is a process of attrition toward the finish point, gratifying & without a doubt, anachronistic.
- Working slowly on a secret project for some time…. I have a window to dive in deep. This is something I’ve always wanted to do, thus, it’ll be done.
- Reach out to your friends who need an ear & undivided attention. You can sense this every time, trust it.

______

other ting…

This piece below, which I’ve reluctantly put up on the market (fondness has set in) is looking for a collectooooor; one with vision, patience & virtue. You might just be the one….

farah & the girls bar
2022
edition 1/1

Available to Own @:
Foundation Art
Also viewable at:
OpenSea
Rarible
LooksRare
Coinbase NFT

This piece is avail to purchase at Foundation with a reserve bid of .24E.
If you want to purchase OTC, please reach out through contact but it’s prob just better to put in a bid.

Backstories run deep here.

View fullsize

farah & the girls bar
2022
edition 1/1
amir motlagh

return to sender

return to sender
edition 1/1
5Ξ

This is my latest work to present itself as an NFT. I want to build some context as I move forward in this space and in general about how our world is transforming right before our very eyes.

We often miss the macro transitional moments in life, as these changes are gradual and thus, invisible. When we look back, life seems to never have existed without the iPhone nor YouTube, and as a whole, the internet itself. Monumental changes like these felt mostly discreet. There has been a toylike weirdness to some of the world-changing tech of the last couple of decades leading to a generally benign stance, maybe even a general optimism at their initial emergence into the consumer fold.

Occasionally, we witness the transition in a non-discrete way. To me, crypto and NFTs have never felt invisible nor have they had a grace period leading to the water cooler. Like much of everything else in modern society, polemics have formed around these emergent technologies and markets. There are strict, cult-like adherents & equally strict, dogmatic opposers. We witness this right before our eyes & ears. Social media is where these culture wars are fought day in and out. The invisibility of this transition, if there ever were to be one, was made completely visible by its timing with the ongoing two-year pandemic, which contributed second-order effects that propelled these technologies to the forefront of everyday life. One can argue that crypto itself has had years to mature in the shadows, however, just looking at modern UI & ease of use, it is still very much underdeveloped in relation to its outsized influence.

While artists must have a fearlessness and moral backbone, it makes no sense to hold dogmatic positions on things that are nearly impossible to comprehend where we currently stand. We are in this stage, a fork in the road, both leading to nowhere, everywhere, and most likely, as it relates to human nature, the same exact place. Time will reveal the truth, but for now, connect where you can is a simple heuristic the artist might follow. They may also feel dissonance at this tech, and they have every right to not engage. I don’t need to convince anyone of the merits, a bit of tinkering did it for me.

This brings me to my own work and justifications for bringing it into the digital. Art is an experience, communication & connection medium. In its origin point, the value lay as a descriptor of the experience of life itself. This is a priceless act and one that is without utility. We could not create trees themselves, thus we did the next best thing. This ideal still lives in the heart of most creators & outside of purely creating, human connection is tantamount.

My aim is simple, connect with those that want to connect wherever their preference may be; physical, digital, even the metaphysical. I don’t want to arbitrate this position, instead, I’m content as a human using my hands to draw beasts in a dark, enigmatic cave.

So, my pledge is simple….to keep creating new work. To work in the mediums that inspire, to never be afraid of the creative act & to reevaluate at any moment.

Now, here is “return to sender”. This is one of my favorite pieces. It tells the story of life as a mirror. It is a 1/1.

Wishing you health in 2020 and a message to support your artists.

Not much to add to the current discussions except to wish you & your family health and well-being.

As most artists are currently not working & client load is zero, please consider buying directly from artists if possible.

Some sites to consider for more direct purchasing include Vimeo On Demand for films, Bandcamp for music, and of course, personal websites, yours included.

Wishing you well and talk soon.

As a further note, if for example, I cannot process an order immediately (photo or art print), I will get it to you as soon as possible, and appreciate the patience.

Wishing you well, and enjoy some photos from a new series below (any avail to purchase, just let me know. haven’t yet decided the print number or size yet, but they will be limited prints).

Hollywood Movies; a commodity?...and other sidetracked thoughts...

The distinction of movies as art, commerce or technology is not an easy one to make, once you extinguish the emotional commitment to one or a combination of the others. The filmic language is probably easier to differentiate itself from photography, whose had a historically more contentious relationship with itself as art work (see here for just a glimpse and one sided take on the subject) . Films just have more moving parts.

But the other argument to make is that most filmmaking, most of the time in it's largest scale is really closer to being a commodity than it is an art. Hollywood churns out a product, a seemingly efficient one, although still messy that resembles a factory process. Now, we all know that this is not true in the same way you produce a cereal product, but, it's main goals is too redo whats worked as sound business practice. However, we all know that repeating a historic process doesn't guarantee a future. And that is precisely where we are now.

My biggest question on the matter of the filmic language is whether or not the form itself demands a need for universality. The means of production and execution have historically been massive. One Hollywood blockbuster could get at at least 100 hundred startups up and running. But that's not the point. To make the money back, you basically need not offend a large group of people, but at the same time, give them a very mediocre experience that's worked in the past. That's top down, middle of the road commoditization. That's what you get at the grocery store. And since, at that huge level of production costs, Hollywood thrives as a monopoly, minimizing risk is the top priority. But, as we all know, a monopoly who doesn't innovate, implodes eventually. 

The real issue is whether movies in the way they are created and marketed could continue to sustain itself in the longer run in a world where media elsewhere keeps downsizing and splitting of into smaller, but more dedicated niches. Even in entrepreneurship, the shift is too micro.

But micro was historically never intended for narrative movies, which had for years depended on a large segment of a population, mildly agreeing with it's storytelling because of habit, to recoup the large costs of production. Of course, Hollywood also created some(a large percentage) of the most memorable movies in the history of the media. 

I believe for now, that the move to niche is only possible, if niches for these new stories exist. And even if they do, is it economically viable for creators to keep producing, or, are we not doing the work necessary, to create another language with similar tools? Or do need to spend the energy on new tools and platforms?

Because supply is everywhere you look. The other part of the equation is undoubtably lessening.

what kind of sleep is this pumkin....

Two or three times a year I am burdened by insomnia.  Actually, I'm not quite sure I can call it that because in my most natural state, I am of the species of animal that thrives in the night.  But, adulthood makes that a difficult condition.

All through my teens and college years I had a habit of staying awake almost right before the sun came through the horizon.  I always schedule my classes at UCLA to occur afternoon, and when I couldn't, those classes were hardly attended.  I learned to pass classes with technique instead of attendance.  

In high school, my senior year marine biology class attendance was under 20 days total that semester, because of the unbearable 8am start time. Most of those days where quiz or test days. The teacher whom I won't name lead the class with a round of applause everyday I would show up (terrible social reinforcement). At the time, I thought it was funny what I was able to get away with, but I can't imagine how any of this was helpful instruction. To my benefit, I did receive an A in class with the usage of my survival "technique".  This was also when I figured out that the educational system that I was receiving in the public schools was a sham.  This gut feeling, even though I continued through a similar system for many years afterwards, persisted.

As a first generation immigrant, schooling was a necessity, not a choice. It is almost impossible to describe what this feels like, but I can assure you, other immigrants of certain cultures understand this very well.

insomnia, can't quite shake this lovely feeling, oh baby.....

the never ending story....

Sometimes creative projects take a very long time to finish.  Especially in these modern times, when you can control the flow with new tools and without the same financial pressures of previous times.  Storage is cheap. Film stock and processing is not.

But, process changes with technology.  The context of creation is the factor.  Creativity is not an internal force exerted unto the outer realm.  It is a reaction to the outer realm.  This is our rebellion against the ambiguous rules set force, by unforeseen energy, into human order.  

We try to mimic nature, or in our esteem, to conquer its beauties in words and visuals, to make sense of the chaos.  But this chaos is our flame.  This chaos is our master.  

Tokyo Godfathers - holy shit

The last few days had me rewatching, and in some cases discovering for the first time Satoshi Kon's masterwork animeography in full. 

I was absolutely floored by his 2003 work TOKYO GODFATHERS, one of only two of his works I had not seen previously. The superb characterization and the hauntingly realistic and desolate city landscapes make this an absolute treat. Choosing to focus on detail instead of the usual spectacle, the city becomes all too tangible.  

Tokyo is almost always historically realized as a packed, bright wonder full of flashing lights and bustle, recalling Western interpretations like LOST IN TRANSLATION.  It is fetishized in Western movies.  And that is absolutely part of its identity.

Kon chooses instead, the everyday sights that people who actually inhabit that environment experience; the alley ways, the crevices, corners, the not so wondrous cityscapes and mundane, grey skylines punctuated by the cold, wet snow.  Instead of the Shibuya crossing for example, we get a small corner store, and a drunk asshole who can't stand bums.  

The scenes are rendered in wonderment by their sure realism.  One of my favorite moments was a three shot master through an everyday, ordinary road safety mirror. This is detail; this is knowing the world in which you create.  Maybe I just haven't seen enough anime, but I can't recall many people making this type of choice.  It harkens too a moment in Miyazaki's KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE, in which Kiki stays in bed, stretching, pondering a thought.  I had the same feeling at that moment as well, although one was a shot selection, and the other a characterization.  But Kon does both here, and does it damn well.   

This was also one of a few anime films in which a live action remake could easily be achieved. However, this would be a grave mistake because you won't get better performances or a more fantastic ambience then what was achieved here.  The characterization is totally alive.  The tone is spot on.  It goes every which way, and this is not hyperbole.

i could go on and on, but I'll leave it here.  If you haven't seen it, go find it.  Be ready to experience that sense of wonder that appears when form fits perfectly in its container.  But, I'm not a reviewer, and this is the farthest thing from that.  It's just a personal recommendation. But if you didn't like it after being influenced to see it based on this written journal, you just haven't developed the goods yet.  Seriously.  Peace.  

A beautiful example of a master shot that creates the experience.

This is not the Tokyo we are familiar with in modern movies. (at least not me)

flow

Flonase on the best days.  

arthouse.  (circa 05)

Relevancy When Clocks Go Wild

The question of relevancy is always an important one when the arts, cinema or any cultural element is discussed, thought about, and perused towards some end.

We can always put our heads down and slog through the terrain, to do what we love without ever needing to be self aware of our place, or our goals, both collectively and individually.  But, that's a simple pursuit.  Valid as any, but, shallow in scope. 

Instead, and often, we think deep and long about our place in the world.  And, as the world changes in rapid succession, in a culture that Alan Moore deemed "The Culture of Steam", when discussing the immediate future, certain trends emerge.  And to clarify, I believe Moore was discussing the ungraspable future culture, as predetermined by technology and its interplay with our old world evolution.

This is the time of the instant update.  And, you can look no further than the emerging talent of today to really understand what this means.  In music, the perpetual mixtape was the start, but the further you push that along, the more you get to the current state.  Just like instagram, music has also morphed into the weekly song/video style most prominent in hip hop.  I like to use hip-hop as the example, because it's elements are very immediate.  It's production, usually fast, and wordplay doesn't necessarily need to be written.   

Acts like Lil B and Riff Raff elude to a changing landscape where they are always on the cycle of relevance, because, they mimic the culture of the internet itself.  They are both shrewd, entertaining and showman promoters.  They are a new species of music artist.  Self aware, skilled, entrepreneurial, shameless and momentum oriented.  And regardless of what you think of them, they continue turning critics into fans, by sheer willingness to be out there, to take the brunt of "haters".  

In an alternative way, if Riff Raff put out a few videos, and waited for something to happen, nothing ever would.  This is a critical difference between the old and the new.  The closest example in the film world would be someone like Joe Swanberg.  But perhaps, there are countless other "video" artist who are better examples whom I just don't know.  Tim and Eric immediately came to mind as the television version, but the metaphor is not as clear.  Adult Swim nurtures these changes, and was willing to take those risks years ago.  In the world of books/blogging, look no further then Seth Godin.

In a disposable age, perfectionism isn’t valued because we just don’t have time for it.  By the time it’s perfect, the world moved 10 steps ahead.  I know, your ol school idealism doesn’t want to deal with it.  Whatever. 

The question is, in this new landscape, what if you turned it off.  What if your video didn't come out on that Wednesday, or that you stopped your twitter'ing and vine'ing and facebook.  What if you get sick?  What if you don’t make three films a year?  And what if, you weren’t birthed into a career before this all happened?  You know, in the old timey days (pre 2005) when things work different? 

The constant hustle and digital sharecropping reminds me of Jaron Lanier's critique of the internet and the middle class.  You can hustle on that street corner all you want, but, when you get sick, well, you're fucked.  But, at least you’re relevant.   :) (smiley face)

Meta-Burban

I've been in the Judge Dredd editing booth trying to wrap a cut of something, before I have to turn it in to someone else, who has to do something to it, whom then has to pass it on.  

And beside writing a million fucking death defying scripts, I just haven't had time to be consistent with updates.

So, with that said, here is a piece I did a million years ago. It's sell able.

Goons forever,
am

pop + trash + culture + memories.

Low culture, sometimes deemed "trash culture" is where we are.  Escapism, transfusion plus fetishizing  is the state. Pop lives in this space mostly, but, it's always had the ability to move between cultural hierarchies.  At present, it loves trash, the audience devours it, and the appetite grows because priorities have changed. 

But, can we truly call anything pop anymore?  Exceptions exist, but when history is perpetually the present, it's difficult to have a true pop culture.  Pop relies on memories.  It happens, and it was that thing, but then it goes away.  It was silly, and we loved the novelty of it.    

However,  thing's don't really go away anymore, they get continued, rebooted, or dressed in a new shiny shell.  And we don't have the options to forget.  We only have options to filter.  And boy oh boy, that net is polluted.