August 28, 2011

MOVE ON



In July 06', my then friend Long needed actors for his college photo project. He needed twins, so my brother and I being young and naive, volunteered. The results of the ill fated collaboration are the series of pictures seen in the video.

Despite destroying all I held dear and causing me to fall into a deep depression, Long gave me the photos as a gift after the exhibit. He says it was the least who could do since the car accident and at the time I took it as a sign of regret on his part and forgave him. It's good to have a chronicle of the bright times as well as the incredibly dark.

My twin brother was really into Pinback and although it was painful, I filmed the photographs to the Pinback song 3x0 in our old room in Mira Mesa as a tribute to him. The REAL him.

Still in grief and shock over the events that transpired, I filed the film away to be posted at a later date.

However, Long got wind of the video and, as if he hadn't done enough to me, stole back his photos and my laptop with the film and ran away to Mexico where he bootlegged copies of the film and became a prominent artist under the name Largo.

Last night, after five years of meticulous planning, I finally found Long hiding in Tijuana and executed my revenge. While burning all his possessions, I came across my old laptop.

It's time. I've moved on and can finally post the film to an American audience.

May it serve as a reminder to everyone to not involve oneself in things that they do not fully understand.









Note: The characters and incidents portrayed and the names used herein are fictitious and any resemblance to the names, character, or history of any person is coincidental and unintentional. That is to say, this is all made up!

August 27, 2011

DIRECTIONS IN DIALOGUE: Byron Q - Part 2 - BANG BANG

In Part 2 of my CAAM interview with Byron Q, we focus on his recent feature film "BANG BANG" and the process behind the scenes.

Byron also gives some great advice to other up and coming filmmakers.

Check it out!

July 22, 2011

DIRECTIONS IN DIALOGUE: Byron Q - Part 1


I got to talk with my home boy and fellow filmmaker Byron Q about his recent feature film “BANG BANG” and how his unpredictable life growing up influences his work.

72 Hour Film Shoot - A Look Behind the Scenes of "Gray Skies"

On set at "Gray Skies"


Here's some production stills from the 72 hour film shoot I wrote and acted in last weekend. It's titled "Gray Skies" (will follow up soon with film link).


Click here -> Photo Album


July 1, 2011

Blonde Redhead (w/Nosaj Thing)

Went to a Blonde Redhead concert last night at The New Parish in Oakland.

I was running late but was able to catch a few songs of the opening DJ act Nosaj Thing (Jason spelled backwards).

I'm usually not a huge fan of DJs. I always felt like they were just living off the music made by other people and exerting less creative power. However, while I was listening to Nosaj, I was really impressed with how he overlaid different rhythms and melodies and made me feel like a bigot.

What's the difference between a traditional musician, say a pianist, vs a DJ?

It's just the instrument. The pianist has the piano, with pre-tuned interior strings that are hammered to produce specific notes. The DJ has the turntables and records that are manipulated to create specific sounds. The DJ's instrument is music.

After a restless intermission, Blonde Redhead came out. They were really good. When Kazu Makino (the female lead singer) sings, she moves as if she's communing with the gods.

The twins (Simone and Amedeo Pace) were extremely on point w/ the guitar and drums.

Listening to them produce their wall of sound, it got me thinking, somehow this sound exists inside of them before they were able to express it externally.

Painters express themselves visually, a collage of images behind their eyes, waiting to be channeled to canvas. The musician is the same, except her palette consists of different tones of sound instead of color.

Blonde Redhead ended their show with a song where Kazu's voice was the main instrument. I found it very pretty.

Footnote 1: The concert itself is a great convergence of audio and visual art, being able to see the artists in the flesh, hear their music, and also maybe see some cool lighting.

May 18, 2011

China Blog

Past two weeks I've been M.I.A. due to a vacation to China and that country's blockage of blogger. However, while I was traveling, I was surprised to find that tumblr was not blocked. Thus here's a look at some of my exploits in the Big Red country on tumblr: http://jamesyshih.tumblr.com/

Not sure yet if I will make the move permanent, but I'll be sure to make a post about it.

April 24, 2011

The Best Parking Spot in the World

After easing into the spot, you step out of your car.

You can't believe it.

There's no red, green, yellow, none of it. Just a smooth gray curb.

It's the best parking spot in the world.

You look around and think to yourself, "Is this really happening to me?" Your reminded of the many cumulative hours spent in your life driving here and there just to find a spot. But now the spot you have, just a 30 second walk to where you need to go, leaves you breathless.

It doesn't make sense. You rack your brain, "Why this spot? Why is every other spot filled except this one?" You begin to doubt. You investigate the spot, wary of your own auspiciousness.

Was there a parking sign, a rule or regulation that you might've selectively not paid attention too?

You scan the area intensely...

No. This spot, the greatest parking spot in the whole world, is yours.

You almost cry with quiet joy. The other commuters walk past you and you feel their envious stares upon you.

"Haha, fuck you guys," you think to yourself.

You resist the urge to take a picture of this priceless moment. You look one last time at your car and then in a joyous mood, make your way to your destination.