Saturday, July 11, 2015

LIFE In Film Form (revisited & updated)


I have another blog page where I post videos & sometimes a little explanation of why I filmed it. The majority of them are live music clips. I decided to compile a couple of playlists (which are embedded & linked at the bottom of this post) of the footage I shot over the years in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, & Mansfield before that. There is some "vintage" footage from an old analog tape camera when I lived in Mount Vernon, Ohio, Meadville, PA, & the beginning years in Mansfield, Ohio. There is a Chicago playlist of the shared life w/ Elphie in the making as well for these new clips I've been making.

I realize that my life hasn't quite turned out to be the typical life, at least by the average American standards. I never set out for that, but it's turned out quite differently in some aspects than I thought it would when I began moving into adulthood. I went to college studying religion & got a degree then set out to work in ministry. Though I have had my opportunities to do that, & believe that others will come as well, I felt a call toward something different than what I've experienced most to believe ministry to be. That's not to say it was entirely a failure. I have met some great people along the way. Some have encouraged me to continue pursuing my dream & others have walked the line alongside me. Those who haven't, well they also served a purpose.

I never cared for the idea of a 9-5 office job & I've not really stuck with the same job let alone the in same place for too long...at least so far. I guess I took on a philosophy that if I'm not enjoying it, it's not worth living it. That's not to say that I don't see value in work. I absolutely do and I work for what I believe to be important. Besides, sometimes "work" can be enjoyable. Also, I know that pain & suffering is unfortunately a part of life & there are necessities we all seemingly must endure day to day that are typically not quite so enjoyable but nonetheless they are necessary to one's survival & well being. In such times, I pursue to overcome these obstacles & find joy in all circumstances. I try to keep a positive outlook as much as possible though it's hard at times. Overall, I feel I have accomplished this. I can look back over the years with the choices that I've made & say that though there were hard times, I've enjoyed life most of the time. I live one day at a time & try to go with the flow of wherever life takes me or where the LORD leads. This is the mindset I have & it's brought me this far. It's brought me to this place. It's an adventure. I depend on the LORD to guide me forward...especially when I can't see the next step.

What is to come? I have no clue but these videos highlight in part where I've been...at least since I started filming & fiddling around with a camera. I started editing & posting videos to YouTube in 2007 after acquiring a MacBook with Final Cut Express installed on it. I started though using iMovie but grew frustrated by its limitations so I explored the Final Cut world. I later purchased a Mac Mini & Final Cut Pro. I am continually learning new things & hopefully improving my craft.

Some folks blog a lot detailing their life through words. Others tell the story of their life with photographs. Though I also do both those to some degree (and I feel that I'm better at the words than the photography), I have come to enjoy trying to tell a story even MY story with video. I don't believe I am that great at this as much as it is a passion of mine but I am trying to learn the craft. I don't expect folks to drop everything to watch the videos I create…I just don't see that my stuff is that important to demand anyone's time or that interesting for that matter. I do hope there are some out there that do enjoy these videos I make from time to time & maybe one day something will be special enough to reach someone in a profound way or some doors will be opened through what I do with a camera...who knows?!

I purchased a video from The Chariot in 2005 which documented their first tour. I found it interesting & quite funny. I decided it would be fun to do similar things when I went to music festivals & took it into the rest of life if something interesting was going on. Other bands followed in this trend too but first thanks goes to The Chariot for the inspiration!
In the meantime, here is what I got as far as "Life" videos that show a little bit of the life I get to live for those who care to see it.

Chicago: A Shared Life (2014 - ?)
Life in Chicago started at the end of 2014. There are a few other clips in here highlighting important events shared with Elphie from the Pittsburgh years as well.

Joel & Elphie's Wedding - 06.13.15
This playlist has both the live footage from the concert the night before, the live stream of the wedding ceremony, the recut & edited wedding ceremony, & other footage surrounding the celebration

LIFE (2012 - 2014) Pittsburgh Years
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh9ZwEF2QQpOQPjCzkcQyutLuHWccdlG6
It was a much shorter chapter than I expected when I first moved to Pittsburgh. Though I met Elphie while in Cincinnati, our relationship developed more quickly shortly after I arrived in Pittsburgh & for it to continue to the place we are now meant leaving Pittsburgh. I was blessed with the opportunity to live with good friends while in Pittsburgh & reconnect with old friends. I was able to hunt once again which is an activity I enjoy. I also watched my favorite sports teams (ALL PITTSBURGH!) quite a lot. Going to shows decreased significantly but I suppose that's ok. Though the time was short, it was good.

LIFE (2007 - 2012) Cincinnati Years
My time in Cincinnati centered a lot in the music scene. I was able to try my hand in booking & promotion & was part of the start of a venue - The 86. I worked my own venue first at Covenant then did house shows when my living arrangements allowed. My most significant learning in video work (though the learning will continue of course) was during this time & I utilized it as much as I could in other areas such as w/ Covenant & The 86.

The 86

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3792130DE43225EB


https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL989C6CA43C9C1471


https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFAFC727468ADA1C8


https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh9ZwEF2QQpMyD89RvF1mF043egmBALRG
These clips highlight the shows as well as "shenanigans" of those of us who spent a lot of our time at The 86.

LIFE @ Covenant (2007 - 2012) - these clips fall into the Cincinnati era

The first few years I spent in Cincinnati I worked with Covenant - a Nazarene church in Northside. I tried to share what was going on in the ministry through my video work. I also had the opportunity to book & promote shows there prior to my leaving & moving on to do my own thing.
LIFE (2005 - 2007) Mansfield Years
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh9ZwEF2QQpOiON2bafS9UB0-4tpJ6dEB
These are some of the first videos I shot & edited. They aren't so great but shows a little bit of my life at that time. I got interested in doing this after watching the tour video put out by The Chariot (and other artists who followed suit) so there may be a few references to things I saw in that.

LIFE (2004 & 2005) "Vintage" TigerRAWk footage - encompasses life in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Meadville, PA, & Mansfield, Ohio

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL44954C551FCE56C9
Prior to retiring the analog video camera, I took all the footage I shot at Cornerstone & a few places I lived to show whatever was of life in those places. This isn't good footage really but it was life then.