radio silence....

It's been a busy time, but also, one in which a certain amount of recalibration and silence was needed. I am back on this space, and intend to update more frequently.

Hope you're having the time of your life.

am

"Unleash Your Inner Beast" Supercar Commercial

ANIMALS Media Labs (my startup development/commercial house) delivered ahead of schedule our first major broadcast spot for American Supercar Maker, Rezvani Motors.

We present, THE BEAST supercar.

Credits:

Produced by Nima Rezai, ANIMALS, Merge Productions
Directed by Amir Motlagh
DP: John Honore
First AC: Alex Lim
Key Grip: Marty Anthony
Steadycam Op: Tim Dolan
Art Direction: Ali Sabet
Written by Charles Borg & Amir Motlagh
Voice: Amen-Ra Palacio
Sound Design: Ojan Missaghi, Mike Moeding @ STEMSPOST 
Score: Randin Graves
Color: Kelly Reese @ DELUXE
Grooming: Mikal Sky

Recent stuff....

Why have I not been updating consistently? I guess you will see soon enough friends. Ok, not to be cryptic, but yes, projects have been consuming of late. My development house ANIMALS  has had a couple commercial projects due, and I helmed one of them. 

And between that, and the film I currently have in post, its a nice balancing act that I enjoy, but I have to subtract somewhere.

This is the subtraction, but only for a brief time. 

Also, THINGS WITH AMIR MOTLAGH is going to continue, regardless of how you feel about it.

Cheers,
am

Things w/ Amir Motlagh Ep08

Hello friends, and an apology for my radio silence. In a bit of progressive irony, this very episode is the reason for my quiet, in that, what has kept me away from updating, has been the thing which takes precedent in my very own MATRIX.

So, without further ado, and since this video is above the text which means you might have pressed play before reading, and thus echoing the same sentiments, I proudly bring you episode #8 of THINGS W/ ME!!!

I mostly talk about one thing (Wait But Why blog) but make reference to another thing. Here below, are these things.

"Procrastination Matrix" on WAIT BUT WHY:
 http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/03/procrastination-matrix.html

7 Habits of Highly Effective People:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seven_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People

Things w/ Amir Motlagh Ep07

In this episode, I talk about some of the gear we used in an upcoming music video/movie trailer hybrid(MIRS + THREE WORLDS) , a great blog post I read about the Fermi Paradox, and the most recent book I ingested. Also, coffee.

Things w/ Amir Motlagh Ep06

Finally figured out what I'm going to do with this particular series of videos by calling it, "Things  w/ Amir Motlagh", an apt titled explaining the content embedded in this fuzzy, broken codec.

So, I'm set on keeping this template & execution so that I can actually deliver the goods. I'll simply, recommend stuff that I use ("use" is a broad category of noun) and give a quick update of various things happening from last video, to the latest.

Yes, it's not groundbreaking, but NOT everything has to be, correct? 

With that said, hope you enjoy, and please subscribe if you haven't!

Things discussed in this episode for you to peruse:

Hollywood Shot Designer:
http://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com/sd_index.html

Moleskine:
http://www.moleskine.com/us/

Process

As I sit here with responsibilities mounting, time slipping, and enthusiasm temporarily dipping, the last thing I should be technically doing is writing in this white space ahead of me. But, I've committed. A few lines is all we ever need.

Love,
Process

Quote of the Day

I've run across this quote often, but tonight, I felt the need to really spend time with it. It's such a simple idea, but incredibly profound. That's what makes it such an effective message. Who owns the future, as Jaron Lanier asks critically? I do. 

This Weeks "Things w/ Amir Motlagh" Ep 05

Before I get to the item at hand, I will admit that this beard is in desperate need of attention. Apologies.

Now for the things discussed in this episode or you to peruse:

1) First things first: Add me on snapchat @ amirmotlagh

2) My article on DIY Film in the Digital Age, a part of the Mastering Film Series published by Focal Press can be found here:
http://masteringfilm.com/big-brain-%E2%80%93-small-budget-amir-motlagh-still-lover-khoobi-35-year-old-man/

3) My favorite book purchase this week is Cool Tools by Kevin Kelly. I absolutely love having this thing on the coffee table:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cool-tools-kevin-kelly/1116999473?ean=9781940689005

As always, please subscribe to the Youtube Channel and come say hello.

And so I Wrote Something to be Read

Not only do you get a 2D cartoon representation of me, you also get some quotable gems I've probably (wisely) moved away from.

Cartoon Amir.

In all honestly, this is a cool film series published by FOCAL PRESS with some interesting, and talented(this word is meaningless in many ways, but not always) filmmakers.

I however, did not reread this after it was sent 6 months ago to be published, because, what is the point of revising archived opinion?

With that said, can it possible be the best thing I've ever written? Not sure. 

Enjoy, share and let me know your thoughts.

BIG BRAINS - SMALL BUDGETS: DIY FILMMAKING ADVICE

Quote of the Day: "Specialization is for...."

This is a quote from science fiction GRAND MASTER, Robert Heinlein, possibly & ironically most famous for in recent pop culture, as the original source of the Hollywood dud, STARSHIP TROOPERS, a book he penned in 1959. (this is also one hell of a dud sentence, but it's my fucking website, so kindly deal with it)

Most people react to the last sentence in Heinlein's quote, which forgoes context. Given at face value, its a cry against our Western ideal of mastery, and an endorsement of the "Jake of All Trades" pejorative . But in context, both as a quote and in the world we are living in, I think it's a very critical thought. Specialization is an industrial desire, and in our idea centric world, a sure way to be locked into a pivot-less occupation, when the world is accelerating exponentially.

I am a propionate of mastery. But, mastery in it, and only of itself is akin to obsessive compulsiveness. It's a limit of human potential, and of living an interesting and fulfilling life. We should all master one thing, but we should all carry that curiosity and drive into other things that are deserving of our attention. This well rounded pursuit is not to be at the top 5%, or 1% best at all things, but to be capable human beings well suited for adaption. Human beings with ability, empathy, & drive. 

So, learn how to code, play an instrument, build a table, or pick up a chemistry book because it is through these other things that you can become indispensable on a higher level at the one thing that really gets your blood boiling. Ultimately, learning is the great human gift. 

Jonas Mekas, Death of Underground, Vinyl, etc -This Weeks Video Rant w/ Amir Motlagh

Here we are again, another week, another shoddily manifested video. But, a commitment is just that, and my word is bond.

This week's subjects and links are here below for you to peruse.

MIRS DAYZ Music Video:
http://youtu.be/wJaqYO9cQfU

Jonas Mekas 365:
http://jonasmekas.com/365/month.php?month=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Mekas

Drops in the Stream:
http://www.amirmotlagh.com/drops-in-the-stream/

Record Sales:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/reggieugwu/who-buys-music-anymore-a-statistical-inquiry#.nyY9q9Lq6

MIRS - Dayz Music Video is Live Now

My guaranteed offer to you if you peruse this:
Headphones + Phone Notifications Turned Off + A Nice Place to Sit + 10minutes = A Meditative State Infused with a Skewed Conception of Time.

This is the first video & probably the only one to accompany the MEAT ON YOUR LONELY BONEZ EP. 

The footage is the first reconceptualization of the DROPS IN YOUR STREAM single channel video experiment I ran from Oct-Dec 2014, sans one day. The goal is to have it show up in a few different media.

If you enjoy this video, please comment and subscribe to the all the MIRS Youtube Channel. We are working on a new track at the moment, which will go live with a video as well.

Onwards, upwards & forwards friends,
am