Adventures of a curious American

Play Ball

2011-10-06T13:08:00.001-07:00

Play Ball, originally uploaded by Andrew Shapter.

Below the surface of Navajo Nation

2011-05-27T21:48:00.001-07:00

Below the surface of Navajo Nation, originally uploaded by Andrew Shapter.

That Girl

2011-05-27T21:46:00.003-07:00

That Girl, originally uploaded by Andrew Shapter.

Ephraim in White

2011-05-27T21:46:00.001-07:00

Ephraim in White, originally uploaded by Andrew Shapter.

At Night in Girona

2011-03-21T06:24:00.001-07:00

AtNightinGirona, originally uploaded by Andrew Shapter.

India!

2011-01-11T11:47:00.001-08:00

India!, originally uploaded by Andrew Shapter.

Some images taken in Chennai India while scouting locations for my latest film.

The Teller

2010-12-03T19:54:00.001-08:00

Teller, originally uploaded by Andrew Shapter.

The Roots "Now or Never" Video

2010-11-11T05:36:00.001-08:00

The following post is an open letter to members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.I'm not a musician, music expert, or member of any music label. I'm just a music fan who has joined with other fans to send you a simple video blog message.
It's time for The Roots crew to be on top. It's Now or Never.

The Roots, 'Now or Never' from Roadwings on Vimeo.

It's been nearly two decades since Ahmir Thompson (aka ?uestlove), Tariq Trotter (aka Black Thought) and a host of some of the finest musicians past and present, came together to form The Roots. Starting From The Ground Up to this year's collaboration with John Legend on Wake Up, and their current "day job" as Jimmy Fallon's house band, they've evolved, paid their dues, and have undoubtably proven that they are America's band. Clocking in at 42 minutes, their latest album, How I Got Over, should be considered the best album of 2010. It's a visionary work of hope and reflection recorded at a time when this country's unemployment rate is high, and its economic struggle is real. Musically and politically the album is this generation's "What's Going On". It's today's "Innervisions." With tracks that seamlessly morph one genre into another, it is the roots of American music created by a quintessential, collective, American voice. It is a record of Jazz, Soul, Rock, Folk and Hip Hop living together in harmony that lyrically speaks to how important it is to hold your head high, even when you're just getting by.Despite it's recent attempts to incorporate a more wide-reaching set of criteria by which to categorize recording artists, NARAS has continued to make it clear that chart-topping, solo acts are destined to garner the most Grammy nominations. And this year, with the help of deep pockets and giant PR machines, the results won't be any different (Taylor Swift, Eminem, Lady Gaga) unless you take notice and do the right thing. The Grammy Awards of 2011 take place on February 13 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. That will be the time and place to put The Roots' latest and greatest album, "How I Got Over" where it belongs...at the top.Video Credits - Director, Andrew Shapter
Editor, John Aldrich
Producer, Tanner Ferguson
1st A.D., Russ Mezikofsky
Camera, Jim Bruno, Chistopher Morse, Tanner Ferguson, Andrew Shapter, Russ Mezikofsky, Kyle Kirchhoff
Performers, Joey Vanas, Pamela Stainthorpe, Hanna Mezikofsky, John Seward, Michael Perella, Benita Dewing, Suchi Pandey, Joseph Allicon, Taylor Hannah, Katy Dunlap, Russell Gustave Ochoa, Christina Fernadez Shapter, Faron Shapter, Brandon Ligon, Michelle Guzman, Cliff Stringfellow, Troy Campbell, Gidon, BZA, T-FLY, JREDD, J-Marie, Kann, Theresa Alvarez, Kiko Salazar, Kristian Svenningsen, Vanessa Peters, Stinne Frederiksen Niels Christian and Linde Simmelsgaard.
Production Assistants, Pamela Stainthorpe, Jaime Vives and Andrea Barber

Words from a torn letter (circa 1974)

2010-10-01T13:25:00.001-07:00

Words from a torn letter (circa 1974), originally uploaded by Andrew Shapter.

Hard to know what the letter was meant to say. The two words "you must" stand out to me...

You must....what?

The Teller

2010-09-22T12:33:00.001-07:00

The Teller, originally uploaded by Andrew Shapter.

Her name is Francis. She was a teller from a small bank in Central Texas and she is the subject of one of my uncle's most memorable portraits. It hung on his studio wall for years. I lost count of how many times he told me her story.

He photographed thousands of people over three decades but said he'll never forget the girl with the curly hair and hazel eyes. "She was always energetic in front of the camera but on this day, something was very unusual. She sat motionless and quiet as if she was somewhere else. It wasn't the Francis I knew" he said.

I asked why she would allow him to take this photo when she was clearly upset. He replied "I don't know why she was upset. I asked her if she wanted me to stop but she said 'no no keep going' so I did. That's when I took this shot. I had no idea it would be her last photo... but maybe she knew."

What was she thinking?

Just a week before this photo was taken, Francis was taken hostage during a robbery at the bank. She was eventually rescued when the someone shot the theif as he tried to escape with her. The wounded young man got away with thousands of dollars and was never seen again. The incident only lasted a few minutes and Francis was unharmed, so it's hard to say if she was traumatized by it or not.

Just one week after my uncle took this portrait and just two weeks after the bank robbery, she disappeared and was never seen again.

According to police reports, she was last seen leaving her job at the bank on December 30th, 1974. There was no sign of foul play. No goodbye note. No evidence or remains were ever found.

Still to this day, there are so many unanswered questions surrounding her disappearance.

Why The Roots May Have The Best Album Of 2010

2010-07-28T11:38:00.001-07:00

"Hip hop is Dead". -Nas I know how he feels.Generally speaking, with the exception of some truly stellar standouts, popular hip hop has become pretty homogenized over the past decade. The contrast of Public Enemy's "Fear Of A Black Planet" with virtually anything on the charts today is staggering. Maybe it's a sign of a lack of respect for the past...or a loss of a sense of history? Maybe it's a thirst for fame via the dollar? Or maybe it's simply that when they sing about money, cars, women and power, today's popular hip hop artists have more in common with young pop divas than they do with Grandmaster Flash or RUN D.M.C.? My point is that it just feels like there's no depth to it.

But don't give up.Give me The Roots How I Got Over.

From the band who has consciously or otherwise taken on the job of "rescuing" hip hop's inner monologue for the past decade, comes their latest effort that is not only broad in it's lyrical scope, but monstrous in it's sound. With How I Got Over, The Roots prove once again that they are indeed the progressive saviors of hip hop and it's soul.

Life is fiction, competition and contradiction
Petty perceptions, window dressing for misdirection
Love is a lotto, I know I know you know what I know
Hope is so hollow, that's why winos follow the bottle
And people pressure, make death a hidden treasure
A girly pleasure, lonely language inside a letter
It's now or never, move it, move it, love it or lose it
'Fore it's recruited, then included inside the stupid
It's things of nature, paid a player and say your prayers
Naysayers, the haters, the major players, the beggars
You 'bout it, 'bout it, don't allow it to pow without it
Then those who doubt it, do or die to death are cowards
The world is yours, and the world we can't afford
So ignore the law; start a fire, then start a war
If you're sick and tired of your access denied
Free will died long before Glydes and iPod - Radio Daze

In 2001, with the release of Jay-Z's "Unplugged" album, The Roots were anointed hip hop's unofficial "house band". Almost ten years and five albums later, as they reprise that role on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, they have translated the day-in-day-out rehearsal atmosphere of a late night TV show into a record that showcases an already tight ensemble. One that is as comfortable with itself as it is with accompanying it's many, musically-diverse guests. As usual, ringleader ?uestlove makes sure that everything is driven by hip hop's dominant instrument: the drum. But unlike many current hip hop records, melody is always front and center. Whether it's John Legend crooning on "Doin' It Again", the sampling of Joanna Newsom's inimitable "The Book of Right On" on "Right On", or Black Thought simply singing, "I feel different today, I don't know what else to say" on "Now Or Never", I double-dare you to listen to this record, and not find something that you're humming later. The confidence of this music comes from the ultimate assurance of their craft. The Roots are modern masters, to be sure. Despite being based in New York, beholden to their current gig with Fallon, the Roots remain a Philly band, and that's important, because it brings to the table a different vibe. Suffering the same constant comparisons to NYC that other major American cities often receive, Philly tends to be a little more aware than most of even the smallest slights. It's famously passionate (and loveably obnoxious) sports fans take their city as seriously as a heart attack brought on by a Geno's (or Pat's) 'wit whiz.' So to, underestimating the city's influence on The Roots (and vice versa) is to discount their musicianship, the latest example of which is indeed their greatest. Clocking in at 42 minutes of near perfect hip hop, How I Got Over, is this generation's "What's Going On", or today's "Innervisons". The Grammy Awards of 2011 will take place on February 13th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. That will be the time and place to put The Roots latest and greatest where it belongs: at the top. That's right, it's that good.

Listen now via their MySpace stream
Additional material provided by Russell Gustave Ochoa from Everybody Gets 15 Minutes

Glenn Beck and Jon Stewart Debate

2010-03-22T05:20:00.001-07:00

This is an open invitation for Glenn Beck and Jon Stewart to come together on a neutral stage in New York City to debate about the future of America and it's politics.

Imagine: A live debate between two of the most well-known political commentators on television today. All in the name of charity. On one side sits FOX News host Glenn Beck; and on the other, comedian and Daily Show host Jon Stewart.
Crazy idea? Not at all. In 1969, William F. Buckley debated Gore Vidal, and more recently, Bill Maher debated Ann Coulter in the 2009 Speaker Series.

A debate between Beck and Stewart could prove to be the most exciting ideological battles we've seen in years.

Glenn Beck, an American conservative radio and television host, political commentator, author and host of the FOX News "The Glenn Beck Program." As an author, Beck has gained success with five #1 New York Times Best Sellers. Beck has become a well-known and polarizing public figure whose provocative views have afforded him media recognition and popularity, along with controversy and criticism. His supporters see him as a patriotic stalwart defending traditional American values from the destruction of progressivism.

Stewart has also gained significant acclaim as an acerbic satirical critic of personality-driven media shows, in particular, Glenn Beck's show. Critics say Stewart benefits from a double standard: he critiques other news shows from the safe, removed position of his "fake news" desk. Stewart agrees, countering that neither his show nor his channel purports to be anything other than satire and comedy. In spite of its self-professed entertainment mandate, The Daily Show has been nominated for a number of news and journalism awards.

Fifty percent of the event proceeds can be donated to one of Beck's favorite causes: Special Operation Warrior Foundation (SOWF). SOWF provides full scholarship grants and educational and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations personnel who die in operational or training missions along with immediate financial assistance to severely wounded special operations personnel and their families.

The other fifty percent can be donated to a cause that Stewart believes in, such as Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatment and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of the disorder.

By accepting an invitation to debate, Stewart and Beck can defend their ideology while supporting causes they believe in. Please join me in supporting the higher calling to bring these two men together for a passionate debate on the future of our nation.

Date and Time - To be determined
Location - To be determined
Host - To be determined
Sponsors - To be determined
Benefiting - Autism Speaks and SOWF
To follow the progress of this event, visit the official Beck vs. Stewart Debate website -

Despite Economy, Not-Only-For-Profit Business Is Thriving

2010-03-09T19:15:00.000-08:00

Any way you slice it, to say that the past two years has been economically "unkind" to businesses both large and small would be an understatement. From giant corporations dealing with cutbacks and layoffs, to local Mom & Pop's shutting their doors for good, the American dream has collectively taken a hit that is both real and palpable. Facing an unemployment rate that is hovering around 10%, with some experts predicting 11% by the end of 2010, most CEOs across the United States are having to make tough decisions on an almost daily basis.

But despite these hard times, a few companies who have chosen to swim against the current by actually giving back some of what they earn are recording record profits. But these aren't the corporate donations carefully orchestrated by a clever PR department looking to bolster the company image.

This seldom-used business model, referred to as "Not-Only-For-Profit", sets aside a percentage of a company's sales that automatically go to the charities and causes that need them the most. Instead of the inconsistency of giving money when it's convenient, or funds that never find their way into the hands of the hardest hit individuals, these companies have preemptively committed themselves to helping out. And their methods, while unorthodox in the business community, have produced some surprising results.

KIND Snacks, a healthy snack company based in NYC has seen nothing but growth in the last 2 years. KIND was conceived in 2003 by Daniel Lubetzky, a social entrepreneur that TIME Magazine recognized in 2009 among "25 Responsibility Pioneers" and BusinessWeek named among "America's Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs."

"The path to KIND began 15 years ago when I started PeaceWorks, Inc., a 'not-only-for-profit' company that fosters economic cooperation among neighbors striving to co-exist in conflict regions worldwide. After launching several successful food products with PeaceWorks, I still found myself in search of a snack that was wholesome, tasty and healthy - all at the same time. So in 2003 I conceived KIND as a brand of snacks that are 'KIND to your body, your taste buds, & the world,'" Lubetzky claims.

"What we like to do is to build models where business and social interests are totally aligned and reinforce one another. It is not easy to do," Lubetzky says. "A lot of the area of 'corporate social responsibility' is structured around perceived sacrifices to the bottom line in order to address other important societal objectives. The fun stuff comes when you are able to innovate through ventures whose financial and social objectives reinforce one another."

Another shining example is Stubbs BBQ out of Austin Texas. Stubbs is making headlines around the U.S. with it's "Feed the World" tour. Instead of setting up tents and trailers in shopping centers and town squares, Stubbs CEO Kurt Koegler instead chose to set up shop in homeless shelters. He explains, "It's significantly improved morale by providing an authentic purpose that all of our employees have identified with. It's also provided a way to differentiate Stubbs from the competition in a real and authentic way...primarily because of who Stubbs was and his love of people and love of feeding them". At first, the tour idea didn't resonate with all of Stubbs' board members. According to Koegler, "The majority of the Board did not support a project that they viewed as a reduction of profits with no business purpose, however that soon changed when consumers responded with it all over the country with the result being record levels of revenue month after month."

According to the American Association of Fundraising Counsel (AAFRC), the sum of gifts by individuals and charitable bequests in 2008 was $251.94 billion, a full 82% of the total philanthropic giving in 2008. "The sobering reality is that corporate America contributes only 5% of total giving annually to non-profits," says non-profit consultant and organizer Michael Clearman. "What that says about the heart of corporations is, in my opinion, a question that only their leaders can answer. In my years as a professional fundraising consultant, I have learned that the greatest source of philanthropic resources is the individual human heart."

Wall Street, are you listening?

On The Road Again (soon)

2010-02-04T19:48:00.000-08:00

The Fall and Rise of Independent Film

2010-01-17T19:40:00.000-08:00

Historically, the month of January takes its name from the Roman god Janus, the "god of the doorway," and every year, for a whole new crop of independent films and filmmakers looking for an opening, this couldn't ring more true. It marks an opportunity for these artists to vie for that cache of emergence on the quintessential independent stage known as the Sundance Film Festival. It's a time when Hollywood's movers, shakers and soon-to-be dealmakers pack their skis and their check books and make their annual mass exodus from Los Angeles to the mountains of Utah to discover and deliver the next big thing. In the past, it has been billed as the perfect storm where art and commerce coexist, and talented obscure auteurs are made into household names overnight; however, these days, the reality is that there are no guarantees. After the snow melts and the buzz is reduced to a hum, the same films that garner acclaim by festival jurists often struggle to find a real-world audience to fill a theater, much less one willing to spend their hard-earned cash on a download or a DVD. Gone are the days of a film's success at prominent festivals translating directly into a lucrative theatrical distribution deal. (Napoleon Dynamite, Super Size Me) In fact since 2007, the disappearance of a number of distribution companies combined with an over-reliance on technology in filmmaking and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression has created the framework for the conundrum in which independent film community finds itself today...How to promote its films on a shoestring budget.But a handful of filmmakers have found success by thinking outside of the box and adopting a method not dissimilar from that of indie rock bands. Although not for the faint of heart, and decidedly less glamorous than red carpets and posh hotel suites, this "Road Warrior," one-town-at-a-time model has proven effective by tapping into the millions of movie lovers who don't read the Sundance blogs, much less follow what's hot and what's not at film festivals, by bringing the films to them. And according to Matt Dentler, Head of Programming at Cinetic Rights Management, knowing your audience is key. "The good news is that viewers for video-on-demand content -- whether it's cable VOD or broadband -- are growing each year. So filmmakers can feel comfortable that audiences are still looking for good movies. It's just more important than ever to know how those audiences would like to see your film. Theaters were once the only choice. Then it was theaters and television, and then theaters and television and video. Now you have all of these options, plus more. It's all about identifying the platform that suits your film and I think that's a very empowering and exciting position to be in for filmmakers."Not unlike politicians running for office, these independent filmmakers get out and go "door-to-door" making connections online and in person in order to create their own buzz without the dollars. They cannot rely solely on a good showing at film festivals. Every ticket or DVD sale has to be earned because they know that audiences can't be taken for granted, and won't be taken for a ride. Each genuine attempt to make a connection with fans is one step closer to building the kind of grass roots loyalty that helps fuel a successful, independent screening tour. But in order for this formula to work there must be a bargain. There must be a non-verbal understanding on the audience's behalf that if they support the film, and want to enable the filmmaker to continue to bring them quality work, they must show that support any way they can, whether it be through the purchasing of merchandise related to the film, or simply by promoting the film by word-of-mouth. These filmmakers know that without the audience, they wouldn't have a film, but it's also important for the audience to realize that as well. For your consideration, some notable Road Warriors that are carving the new path:The Guatemalan Handshake - Filmmaker Todd Rohal was one of the pioneers of all this kind of indie self-distribution. After premiering at the alternative Slamdance Festival in early '05, Rohal immediately went on the road with it for 2 years non-stop, traversing the U.S. and even overseas, basically by looking for people and theaters that wanted to show it. Some of his actors and even the musician who did the score and soundtrack showed up to promote the film. This method helped build a kind of cult following for the film.Before the Music Dies - In 2006, an Austin Texas start up company called bside Entertainment, developed a one-of-a-kind "Host Your Own" screening program allowing fans, radio stations and local clubs to host their own screenings totaling 300 screenings in 250 markets. According to bside founder Chris Hyams, "The dark-room theatrical experience is still far and away the best way for a movie to connect with an audience, and the best way to create awareness and demand for DVD, digital and television -- which is where all films ultimately make their money. What we've discovered is that if you are willing to give theatrical revenue away, you can have a successful theatrical release without spending any money. Movie ClipBox Elder - Minneapolis based Writer and Director Todd Sklar began taking Box Elder to college campuses and universities and after 200-plus screenings, the film gained a cult following that still holds strong today. He says, "As a filmmaker, the idea of not being pro-active in the release of my film just didn't make sense," Sklar told me. "Why would I wait for someone else to tell me what I could or couldn't do. Why not just go figure it out. That's how my movie got made in the first place. I didn't go to film school or have a mentor or anything, so why should the release be any different? The best part of all this is that it all carries over for the next film, and the film after that. It's like we're building a brand and an audience, and doing it organically, rather than just trying to quickly market a product. Happiness Is - When a film about happiness comes out during a deep recession, it's not very difficult to find an audience. By taking the film on a screening tour around the country, Happiness Is serves those in need by allowing support nonprofit charities in need of help to use the film to to inspire more people to give. Since the first public screening, Happiness Is has played to standing room only crowds while raising thousands of dollars for local charities nationwide. In return, the Happiness Is DVD has been selling out at venues across the U.S. The Happiness Is tour will continue through 2012.

My Interview with a REAL Santa

2009-12-22T19:32:00.000-08:00

Posing with Santa Claus at Christmas is one of those great American traditions that we hold dear. Each year, every kid, smiling or crying, from one to 92 lines up in malls and shopping centers across the country to have their photo snapped with the jolliest, most famous, red-suited, white-bearded philanthropist on the planet. It's a magical time when kids are encouraged to dream as big as they can, and for families to have a keepsake that they can cherish for generations to come. But when all of the photos have been taken, and all of the wish lists have been heard and guaranteed on a "naughty or nice" basis, most families go back to their homes for a long winter's nap, and most "Santas" pack up the suit, take off the beard, and call it a day until next December. But for one Santa in Austin, Texas, every day is Christmas. His real name is Alan Graham, and for the past 11 years, as co-founder of Mobile Loaves and Fishes he has taken his role to heart. Today, armed with a fleet of 13 trucks, an uncanny resemblance to St. Nick and an unconditional love for his fellow man, Graham is one of the toughest soldiers leading the fight to end homelessness in America, and his mission to serve this country's less fortunate is as unwavering as his dedication to a higher calling. Catching up with Alan and his team of volunteers on the eve of a holiday season that will see a significant increase in the number of homeless families in need of food and shelter, I asked him to share his thoughts on the concept of Christmas 365 days a year and how we as Americans can change the state of homelessness in this country by not only facing our fears, but by changing our attitudes about the homeless. How many times have you been Santa Claus for the holidays? (or when did you get your start?)Funny you should ask. I actually began playing Santa when I was 15 years old back in Alvin, Texas. I was hired to play Santa at an old Gibson's department store. The next year they actually flew me in on a helicopter. I gained a reputation and started to play Santa for some of the mentally challenged folks who lived in my town.What did you do before Mobile Loaves & Fishes?I was in the real estate development business. Particularly towards the end of this part of my life I was focused on developing air cargo facilities on airports around the U.S.When did Mobile Loaves & Fishes get its start?The idea germinated in the Spring/Summer of 1998. My wife Tricia and I were having coffee with a friend of ours who was telling us about a ministry in Corpus Christi where multiple churches would come together on cold winter nights to distribute resources to the brothers and sisters who lived on the streets. It was at this moment that the idea of a catering truck as a distribution vehicle entered my conscious mind.What did it take to get started?Acting on the idea. That simple really. Once I began to share the idea with others the concept just took off.Do you remember your first day?First, we had to prove that this was something we could do. So on October 13th, 1998 six of us loaded up 75 sack meals into the back of my buddy's green mini-van and hit the streets of Austin. Our first stop we ran into a homeless couple who lost their friend the night before to an accident. They were awash in grieving and there we were at this most appropriate time in their lives and ours. We have never looked back since.Do you have any prior experience dealing with the homeless? Does it require training?None really. Unless you recall the time in about 1981 when my then girlfriend, now wife, Tricia was accosted and panhandled by a homeless man in downtown Austin as being experience. I was incensed and berated this poor fellow telling him to get a job and lift himself out of his pathetic situation. I thought I was being righteous but realized later I was being an ass. No training required. It is on-the-job training. Just care about other people.What are some of the biggest misconceptions about the homeless?I would say that the biggest misconception is that they are lazy, drug addicts and choose to be this way. Nothing can be further from the truth. I tell people that in all the years I have been doing this I have never and I mean NEVER come across anyone who chooses homelessness as a lifestyle choice. Accepting, yes. Choice, no. In terms of being lazy I can tell you that it is quite the opposite. Having spent many, many nights on the streets I have found that the homeless are quite resilient and resourceful and the opposite of lazy. I often half seriously joke that if Armageddon hits we all need to leave the comforts of home and find the homeless population; you will survive there. Drug addicts? This particular segment of our population is infected with this disease too. The U.S. Conference of Mayors study on homelessness found that 25 percent of the homeless population battles issues of addictions. That also means that 75 percent don't battle this disease.People have told me that they are often conflicted about what they should do when they encounter a homeless person. There is often suspicion about what the homeless person is really up to. Some question if the homeless person is being honest about what they really need. How do you know when to help and when not to?Just saw a three panel cartoon the other day. Homeless person holding a sign that says "Being honest and I just need a drink". Next panel shows a fellow handing over some money and saying that they appreciate the honesty then in the third panel the homeless person is at the local fast food joint getting a bite to eat with the recently "dishonestly" acquired funds. We send out mixed signals and like Madison Avenue they play to that. Kind of like GM implying that if we buy that new red Corvette that the blonde babe will come along too.Say that your generosity is between you and your God. We pray that our generosity will be used for positive purposes but we really can never control that. And frankly the person may have a wife and child just out of our sight and they need formula and diapers but if I only focus on the negative -- that they will buy drugs, alcohol or tobacco -- then I miss the opportunity to help really fill the need. I say, let them carry the burden of how they use our generosity. I don't want to be oppressed by the fear of being "scammed" out of my dollar.Help when your heart says to help and leave it at that.Most of the homeless population in the U.S. are concentrated in urban areas, so if you could address all the city mayors at once, what would you tell them?If you want to understand homelessness you MUST first understand what H-O-M-E is! In the ground breaking book "Beyond Homeless" the authors talk about the phenomenology of home and that there are eight characteristics of home. Home is a place of permanence. Home is a dwelling place. Home is a storied place. Home is a place of hospitality. Home is a safe resting place. Home is a place of orientation. Home is a place of embodied inhabitation. And Home is a place of affiliation and belonging.Our political leaders do not have a clue what HOME really is, and so will never be able to address the real causes of homelessness. They must come to grips with this. Go to mlfnow.org/HOW to learn more about what HOME means. How has your experience working with Mobile Loaves & Fishes changed you?Profoundly! Really hard to articulate this but the past 11 years have been transforming in many ways.Your story appears in my new documentary called Happiness Is, so does serving the homeless actually make you happy?I often say that if there were a Fortune 500 for the happiest people on the planet I would have to be in consideration for the top spot. Happy? More than I have ever been. Serving PERIOD makes you happy. Serving is the happy drug. Take some and get hooked!If someone wants to help the homeless but they are not sure what to do or where to go, what advice do you have for them?Begin big by rolling down your tinted windows and saying hello. Start there and repeat as often as possible and then see where that leads. It is that simple yet profound.Alan Graham appears in my latest film Happiness Is. Watch him in action.To learn more about how you can be involved in his fight to end homlessness, visit MLFNOW.Org More on the film Happiness Is here.

The Tao of Mister Rogers

2009-12-18T05:42:00.000-08:00

from HUFFINGTON POST by Andrew Shapter

When I was just six years old, I came home from school alone while my parents were away working long hours. Every afternoon, like so many children still do, I turned on the TV and got lost for three hours a day. It was my virtual babysitter. I watched re-runs of sitcom classics like Good Times and Three's Company, although hardly shows that a 6 year-old kid could relate to.

But within those few hours of television, I also watched a kind man from Pittsburgh--a guy named Fred McFeely Rogers. This man taught me some core values that are still with me today. Ever heard of him? Maybe you know him better as "Mister Rogers" from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

To some, he was just a kid's show host whose pure innocence was easily parodied by comedians such as Eddie Murphy and Robin Williams. But for millions of young Americans like me, he was literally a daily mentor. Not only that, he was a friend.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood ran weekdays on PBS from 1968 - 2001 to an estimated 28 million viewers a day. But Fred Rogers was not only a television mentor, he was also a minister, an accomplished musician, songwriter and a teacher who earned more than 40 honorary degrees.

In an interview conducted by CNN a few years before his death, Rogers stated, "I went into television because I hated it so, and I thought there was some way of using this fabulous instrument to be of nurture to those who would watch and listen." And on he went for over 33 years, inspiring young minds from Harlem to Fort Worth.

Look up the definition of the word "mentor" and you'll find a very simple definition:

"A wise and trusted counselor or teacher."

Now more than ever, parents are working long hours just to make ends meet, and children are paying the price. Growing up in a tough economic climate can be a great character builder, but it also makes it harder for kids to get the guidance they need. Children are in desperate need of wise mentors.

According to the National Institute on Media and the Family, television is still a strong focal point when it comes to children's media entertainment. The Institute reports that up to 99% of American families have TV sets, but that only 1 in 8 of children's educational television programs meet high quality standards. At the same time, 60% of kids report that their parents do not know what they are watching on television.

Here are just a few examples of the wisdom of Mister Rogers, and what he could teach a new generation of children:

Self-esteem: "If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person."
Life's choices: "You rarely have time for everything you want in this life, so you need to make choices. And hopefully your choices can come from a deep sense of who you are."
Achievment: "It's not the honors and the prizes and the fancy outsides of life which ultimately nourish our souls. It's the knowing that we can be trusted, that we never have to fear the truth, that the bedrock of our very being is good stuff."
Parenting: "When we treat children's play as seriously as it deserves, we are helping them feel the joy that's to be found in the creative spirit. It's the things we play with and the people who help us play that make a great difference in our lives."
Responsibility: "We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say 'It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.' Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes"
Mentoring: "Anything that's human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone."
Imperfection: "Some days, doing the best we can do may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn't perfect on any front, and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else. "
Peace: "What really matters is whether the alphabet is used for the declaration of war or for the description of a sunrise."
Love and Trust: "Love and trust, in the space between what's said and what's heard in our life, can make all the difference in the world."

Over the 33 years of his broadcast, there have been so many children in need of mentors who had no one but Mister Rogers to turn to. Maybe (chances are) you also grew up watching Mister Rogers. Sadly, since his death, there have been fewer and fewer PBS affiliates airing the show. But there is hope: If your local PBS affiliate is no longer airing Mister Rogers Neighborhood, I encourage you to let them know how you feel about their decision to remove the show from their syndicated weekday lineup.

In telling PBS how important you feel the Neighborhood program is, you might want to relay a personal story of how Mister Rogers touched your life, or the life of a child you know. You can send an email to PBS Headquarters at the following address:

Linda Simensky, Senior Director, Children's Programming
Public Broadcasting Service
2100 Crystal Drive
Arlington, VA 22202

You can also contact PBS via their website PBS Feedback Or you can contact your local PBS member station here PBS | Station Finder.

In the event that your PBS station has continued to make the Neighborhood program available each weekday, you may want to consider sending an expression of gratitude, and making a monetary contribution. It's important to remember that public television is substantially underfunded, and that your local station needs your support. Join the Save Mister Rogers organization on facebook and join their efforts to bring one of America's greatest mentors back to television!

My first post on Huffington Post

2009-12-09T13:31:00.000-08:00

Giving and the Pursuit of Happiness

"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is perhaps the most important phrase in the ourDeclaration of Independence. Commonly referred to as the "unalienable rights" of Americans, it is ingrained in our collective psyche.

"Life?" Sure, we all have a right to live.

"Liberty?" Got it.

But, "the pursuit of happiness?"

Is happiness something that we can really pursue?

If so, how would we define what happiness is, and when would we know if or when we've got it?

These were the central questions I asked myself and random Americans as I traveled coast-to-coast. The result is the film "Happiness Is."

First, looking specifically at the phrase "the pursuit of happiness," I asked philanthropists, scholars, the occasional celebrity (including John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson), spiritual leaders (including the Dalai Lama who was visiting the U.S at the time), and a wide range of Americans rich and poor, what their definition of happiness was. Luckily, I didn't find too many pat answers. Instead, I found thoughtful insights and some surprisingly common ground. I found that the process was even helping to guide me through my own personal journey towards the elusive (but obtainable) goal of contentment.

I guess you could even say that "Happiness Is" serves as my own personal roadmap to happiness. Allow me to share just a few of the many things I discovered in making this film.

1. Money can buy happiness. That's right. The fact is, if you don't have all of your basic needs met, you can buy things that will make you happier...like all the things that serve our basic needs as humans: food, shelter, safety, clean water and so on. If all of those needs are not met, life can be miserable, and even dangerous. So a person can definitely find an underlying baseline of happiness (albeit, one that may be taken for granted) by meeting these basic requirements. However! For someone like me (and many of us) who has all of these basics needs met, nothing I can buy will make me truly happier. Nope, not even that new Canon 7D camera with high definition video.

2. Try downward comparison for a change. This one was introduced to me by one of our cast members, Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project. Gretchen suggested that I escape the habit of comparing my life to people that have more than I do. This might explain why so many happiness studies suggest that people in poorer countries report higher levels of happiness that Americans do. It's because they are comparing their lives to the people around them. So, their level of happiness is relative to the poor people around them. What we Americans often take for granted, such as air-conditioning or a basic grocery store visit, can bring great satisfaction to a poor family living in Somalia. Ok, so the next time I get jealous of the surround-sound home theater system at my friend Bob Fonseca's house, all I have to do is think of the millions of people who are too poor to own a TV and voila!, it no longer bothers me. I'm just lucky to have a TV (or two).

http://www.demoreel.us/HI/GL.mov

3) Giving brings contentment. Wrapping up the long journey of making this film, I returned home to Austin, Texas with 100+ hours of film footage, but there was still had no 'ending' in sight. It was frustrating not having a way to tie the many concepts of happiness together. Then one morning, I took the advice of our producer Tracy Marino and met up with Alan Graham. I had heard his name before but I wasn't sure where. All I knew about him was what that he was the founder of Mobile Loaves and Fishes, an organization that provides food, clothing, and "dignity" for the homeless in cities across the U.S.

Alan invited us to join him as he ventured out to feed some very hungry people. I wouldn't describe Alan as someone who appears happy on the outside, but I could see that he was very happy on the inside. He had a level of contentment that became more and more apparent to me as I spent time with him. And as the day came to an end, I realized that I learned more about happiness in that one day than I did in the two years of traveling the back-roads of America.

http://www.demoreel.us/HI/

Now that we're releasing the film, we know exactly what we needed to do. We've decided to support non-profit charities in need of help. By taking the film on a screening tour around the country, we can serve those in need by using the film as a tool to inspire more people to find their own personal contentment through the act of giving. Since our first public screening, "Happiness Is" has raised thousands of dollars for local charities nationwide. Now, more and more non-profit organizations are turning to the film for help.

Today, we're working to get to as many places as possible, including our next stops in Iowa, Michigan and Chicago where the film will be hosting a benefit screening for The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless on December 10th.

To learn more about the film, the non-profit screening tour and our team who made it all possible, visit us at HAPPINESS IS - HOME and to learn more about volunteering in your own community, visit the Huffington Posts own Impact Page Impact News and Opinion.

Books By Andrew Shapter

HAPPINESS IS on HUFFINGTON POST

2009-11-12T09:33:00.000-08:00

"Happiness Is" Film Says Giving Is The Way To Contentment

In 2006, documentary filmmaker Andrew Shapter was on a tour promoting his first film, "Before the Music Dies" when someone asked him what he planned to do next.

Shapter laughed. He had quit his 20-year fashion photography career to look for more meaning in his life, and this film and subsequent tour had taken over all of his time.

"The next subject I do for a movie, I'll have to live with it the rest of my life, so it better make me happy," Shapter had joked.

But then Shapter got to thinking. Had anyone really done a documentary on what makes people happy? He knew there were movies that showed people overcoming obstacles or instructional videos on how to change your life to be happier. But had anyone investigated how Americans choose to find happiness in their own lives?

The Declaration of Independence has endowed us with "certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

But Shapter wanted to know what that last bit, "the pursuit of Happiness" really means in America today. How are people pursuing happiness in their own lives? Is happiness really something, as humans, we can actively pursue? So he and a small crew piled into an RV, and over the course of the next three years, drove across America to find out.

"I asked people, 'what is it that makes you happy, what is your pursuit of happiness and how do you achieve it?' I looked for people that are really satisfied with what they are doing in their lives," Shapter said.

"The more I went around and had these soul-searching conversations, I realized the people who were happiest were those who tried to make their community better. Those were the happiest people around."

Shapter's new movie "Happiness Is" documents his journey and the people he found along the way who believe they have found a way to pursue happiness. Shapter also interviews celebrities and leaders -- the Dalai Lama and Willie Nelson both make brief appearances in the movie.

But most of the documentary is dedicated to happenstance; recorded moments where the filmmaker and his crew stumble upon scenes where people are celebrating the act of giving back.

Making this movie, Shapter said, has affected his life in significant ways. "I don't have an agenda, there are no political issues. It's about a common bond to help people out -- there's no call to government action, just a call to stop what you're doing, get off your butt and help somebody. You'll have a better day. My life is a lot happier now that we're touring this film and motivating people to get up and help in their own neighborhood."

Like the film, the screening tour is a bit unconventional: Shapter plans screenings across the country at venues provided by nonprofits in need. Then, he donates all the ticket proceeds to benefit the charity that hosts the screening. Production and tour costs are paid for through the purchase of DVDs and downloads, available at the screenings and on the film's online store HERE

At the very first screening, "Happiness Is" raised $10,000 for CapCityKids in Austin, Texas.

"I plan on touring this film as long as people need it, as long as benefits need to happen," Shapter said. "I don't see an end to this. I hope that nonprofits that are hurting will get a venue and bring people together to raise awareness and money. It's a long journey."

"Happiness Is" has screenings scheduled all around the country. You can find one near you on their interactive map.

You can also visit the site to learn more about hosting a screening and the nonprofits the tour already supports.

National Youth Homelessness Awareness Month

2009-11-03T19:50:00.000-08:00

From Causecast.org.

This month is National Youth Homelessness Awareness Month, and it has come not a moment too soon. Teen homelessness rates have soared in the U.S., with fewer jobs available for teens to help their family financially and more stresses pushing more kids to leave their homes and live on the streets. With more than three-quarters of these cases going unreported by parents and caretakers, many times there is no one even looking for these kids, and too often, they aren't trusting of the help that occasionally is offered to them.

Children make up 27% -- the fastest growing segment -- of the U.S. homeless population, and there's no end in sight; the recession has forced many families out of their homes, making these youth just another group on the long list of victims, moving from couch to couch, shelter to shelter. But for many, economic stresses are just another ingredient in dysfunctional home lives, leading many to run away. They escape their home only to find new dangers and challenges; as many have pointed out, it's not that these youth are living on the streets -- they're surviving, at best. And while Obama's economic stimulus plan has funneled $1.5 billion to fight homelessness, virtually all of that money goes to homeless families, not unaccompanied youth.

As a result, nonprofits and private charities have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders in this upcoming year; it is estimated there will be a 10-20% increase in homelessness this year, many of them children. One organization working to change this trend is StandUp for Kids, working to get abused youth into shelters and away from their abusers through the Don't Run Away Program. They're also instrumental in helping street kids get their own apartments and teaching them the basic skills they need to live on their own.

They're not alone in the fight. This month marked the third year of the Virgin Mobile FreeFest, working to help end youth homelessness. The National Alliance to End Homelessness has initiated a new program to focus particularly on youth and get them the help they need through early intervention, long-term housing, and after-care services for youth coming from foster care and correctional settings. You too can help, particularly this month:

• Volunteer with StandUp for Kids. You can also donate $5 right now by texting STANDUP to 85944 on your mobile phone (don't forget to reply YES to the confirmation message).

• Participate in peer outreach and community-based outreach to prevent youth homelessness in the first place. If you think someone you know is considering running away or already has, call 1-800-RUNAWAY or contact theFamily and Youth Services Bureau to help find shelter for a homeless youth.

• Let your state representatives know that we need more affordable housing options for young adults.

• Stay up to date on upcoming opportunities with Causecast and Huffington Post Impact this month and get involved to help end youth homelessness.

Photo Credit : Tom Stone

This Rocks

2009-11-02T14:24:00.001-08:00

Middlewood Equilibrium Stack, originally uploaded by ...escher....

This photo represents more to me than just a stack of rocks...

The stack is a metaphor for artistic sucess. Whether it be a stack of rocks, a painting or a song, this kind of sucess doesn't come easy. It takes creativity, patience, concentration, will power and talent.

I am a big fan of land art that is situated in natural and urban settings. The most well-known land artist is Andy Goldworthy of Scotland. His patience and discipline is clear and his work ethic should be an inspiration for artists of all genres, especially musicians and filmmakers.

"The relationship between the public and the artist is complex and difficult to explain. There is a fine line between using this critical energy creatively and pandering to it".
Andy Goldsworthy

Goldworthy has inspired my own work as well as many many others such as Richard Shilling, who created the art you see above. See more of Richards work here : STACK

2009-10-30T12:40:00.001-07:00

2009-10-24T18:43:00.001-07:00

The Teller and the Truth

The Teller, originally uploaded by Andrew Shapter.

Her name is Francis. She was a teller from a small bank in North Texas and she is the subject of one of my uncle's most memorable portraits. It hung on his studio wall in Corsicana for years. I lost count of how many times he told me her story.

He photographed thousands of people over three decades but said he'll never forget the girl with the curly hair and hazel eyes. "She was always energetic in front of the camera but on this day, something was very unusual. She sat motionless and quiet as if she was somewhere else. It wasn't the Francis I knew" he said.

I asked why she would allow him to take this photo when she was clearly upset. He replied "I don't know why she was upset. I asked her if she wanted me to stop but she said 'no no keep going' so I did. That's when I took this shot. I had no idea it would be her last photo... but maybe she knew."

What was she thinking?

Just a week before the photo session, Francis was taken hostage during a robbery at the bank. She was eventually rescued when the security guard shot the theif as he tried to escape with her. The wounded young man got away with thousands of dollars and was never seen again. The incident only lasted a few minutes and Francis was unharmed, so it's doubtful she was traumatized by it.

Just one week after my uncle took her portrait and just two weeks after the bank robbery, she disappeared and was never seen again.

There was no sign of foul play. According to police reports, she was last seen leaving her job at the bank on January 12th, 1975. No goodbye note. No evidence or remains were ever found.

Still to this day, there are so many unanswered questions surrounding Francis.

Live music mapping.

2009-10-10T07:08:00.000-07:00

This website rocks! Literally. I stumbled upon it today on facebook. Click on a date and you can see all of the acts playing in Austin in one evening. Click on the colored icon to watch a YouTube video of each act.

Kudos to BillsMap!!

Internet powerhouse Pandora may just save the music industry

2009-09-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

LAST THURSDAY, Dominican University of California in San Rafael hosted a very different kind of town hall meeting. While no fundamentalists were apparent, a near-religious fervor pervaded the lecture hall for the latest Pandora "Get-Together," hosted by the popular Internet radio and music-discovery service.

"I'm the chief evangelist," founder Tim Westergren told the classroom with a laugh. No wonder, since Oakland-based Pandora is today's premier online radio service, boasting 35 million listeners across the United States, with 65,000 new registered listeners a day.

It's readily obvious by talking with the young-looking 43-year-old that he enjoys his job. Back in 2000, along with Will Glaser and Jon Kraft, the Stanford graduate began the ambitious Music Genome Project, a scientific examination of songs using vectors and algorithms that eventually led to the creation of Pandora, a music aggregate that dispenses songs in the form of "stations" that are completely unique for each listener.

First, a listener picks an artist or genre to create a "station." The user's tastes are determined each time he or she clicks "thumbs-up" or "thumbs-down" buttons indicating preference; the "skip" button is neutral. To ensure exposure to new music, no more than four songs from the same artist are played in a three-hour period on any given user's station.

"Every submission gets a listen," Westergren says of the 12,000 new songs that come in per month, "but it has to be good." To increase critical consistency, each of Pandora's 50 music analysts typically holds a four-year degree in music theory and undergoes a rigorous 100-hour training regimen.

Such an innovative approach to radio engenders interesting challenges, as with eclectic artists. "A station based on Frank Zappa doesn't work very well," Westergren says, "and Beck is a pain in the ass, musicologically speaking." The technology can sometimes be jarring, as in the case of a young man who was irate that a Celine Dion song played on his Sarah McLachlan station.

After Westergren verified that all the variables worked, nothing was left but the ugly truth. "His last email said, 'Oh my God, I like Celine Dion!'" Westergren laughs. "We don't put much stock in cultural prejudices."

Just as admirable is Pandora's bucking of major record labels. Westergren says that "77 percent of our artists are independent." As a touring musician himself for years—he played in a band called Yellowwood Junction—Westergren hasn't forgotten the musician's struggle to make a living. Through Pandora, he says, he can offer a new revenue stream for artists.

While Pandora makes money from ads on its site and commission from music sales through iTunes and Amazon, the company has never advertised, relying purely on word of mouth. When the Copyright Royalty Board ruling tripled its required royalty payments in 2007, Pandora was saved by its supporters, with 400,000 letters and faxes reaching Capitol Hill in three days—more than those protesting the Iraq war.

"This is definitely disturbing, but it's fine for us," he says, and resulting negotiations enabled Pandora to stay afloat.

This devotion was fully visible at Dominican, with people of all ages thanking Westergren. "You nailed it," a middle-aged lady gushed. "I've had really strange taste my entire life, and now I've gotten into so much new music!" While one older gentleman found Pandora's classical offerings too limited, most were elated with the service.

According to Westergren, Pandora's biggest competitor is traditional radio. "Those are the listeners we want," he says. "Most of our listeners are in their 20s and 30s, but our fastest growth [is with listeners who are] far older. And they're no longer being served by the broadcast industry."

Pandora supports the controversial Performance Rights Act, which would require radio stations to pay royalties to musicians. Pandora already does this. "We think the performer should be paid for radio play," Westergren says simply.

While Pandora isn't profitable yet—Westergren hopes to be by year's end—its achievement remains a scintillating reminder of why music fans should run the music business. "You will never hear a song on Pandora because a record label told us to," Westergren told the group to rapturous applause.

That's an algorithm that deserves a huge thumbs-up.

Pandora can be found at www.pandora.com.

Once upon a Time in the West + Arcade Fire

2009-09-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

A music video for the song with edited clips from Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West" Arcade Fire "My body is a Cage"

A pop song with a punch.

2009-09-16T10:55:00.000-07:00

Why is it so many artists have covered "Crazy" by Gnarles Barkley? Yea, the hook is great no doubt, but I also think it's because the lyrics are so damn good. See for yourself.

Great site that lets fans control the destiny of indie music

2009-09-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

The Mission~

thesixtyone makes music culture more democratic: artists upload theirwork for review, but, rather than allow a stuffy suit in a boardroom todecide what's good, thousands of listeners do. The best musicautomagically bubbles up on our homepage where you can listen to themost popular songs for any genre. It's a quick way to find new musicfor your iPod powered by pure excitement as opposed to some contrivedmarketing budget.

Think you've got a good ear? Aside from customizing your experience, creating an accountallows you to earn reputation, level up your influence, and collectbadges for discovering and recommending good music that others mayenjoy. On thesixtyone, tastemaking becomes fun, competitive, andtrackable.

We're on a quest to help people fall in love with something new whilegiving deserving artists an efficient channel for finding theiraudiences. To learn more about how thesixtyone works, please see our FAQ.

The meaning behind thesixtyone

A road is a road, but sometimes it's more. Sometimes a road sings.

Drive down Highway 61 and you'll find music everywhere you turn.

Muddy Waters rode the 61. So did Bob Dylan, Ike Turner,and B.B. King. Elvis grew up in the housing projects along it.

Highway 61 was the road by which people left to find betteropportunities. And by leaving they took their music to the world.

Come join us on thesixtyone.

R.I.P. Music industry

2009-09-12T21:37:00.000-07:00

Taken outside the window of the Virgin Megastore in Times Sqaure NYC.

Photo: Anthony Savani ~ anthonysavini.com (link)

B4MD Premeire Concert!

2009-09-12T18:52:00.001-07:00

B4MD Premeire Concert!, originally uploaded by Andrew Shapter.
Featuring Edith Funker - Erykah Badu + Doyle Bramhall 2 + Questlove + Wendy and Lisa + Ephraim Owens + Mike Alizondo + DJ Jazzy Jeff + Blaze

ANDREW SHAPTER

The Librarian

2009-09-11T12:36:00.000-07:00

Great song....great lyrics.

walk across the courtyard, towards the library.
i can hear the insects buzz and the leaves 'neath my feet...

ramble up the stairwell, into the hall of books...

since we got the interweb these hardly get used.

duck into the men's room... combing thru my hair...

when god gave us mirrors he had no idea...

looking for a lesson in the periodicals...

there i spy you listening to the AM radio...

karen of the carpenters- singing in the rain...

another lovely victim of the mirror's evil way.

it's not like you're not trying, with a pencil in your hair

to defy the beauty the good lord put in there...

simple little bookworm- buried underneath...

is the sexiest librarian...take off those glasses and let down your hair for me.

so i watch you thru the bookcase- imaging a scene:
you and i at dinner, spending time, then to sleep.

and what then would i say to you- lying there in bed?
these words, with a kiss, i would plant in your head:

what is it inside our heads that makes us do the opposite?

makes us do the opposite of what's right for us?

cause everything'd be great...and everything'd be good...

if everybody gave...like everybody could.

sweetest little bookworm. hidden underneath...is the sexiest librarian...
take off those glasses and let your hair down for me.

take off those glasses and let your hair down for me.

simple little beauty- heaven in your breath.
the simplest of pleasures- the world at it's best.

Jim James - 2029 inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

2009-09-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

No way, I can't stop downloading music today. So many future masterpieces are being uploaded everyday...

My last post had a link to My Morning Jacket, a band that appeared in my first film. They were super cool to work with if only briefly There limited time on screen was in support of the music industry's "old model" (letting a band build it's audience over time). Their label ATO Records certainly did that the "tour tour tour" model of co-founder Dave Matthews did in the early ninties with the Dave Mathews Band.

Anyway, here I am just 4 years later completely blown away by the depth of talent I'm hearing. After downloading more My Morning Jacket, a stumbled upon a side project of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim James had just completed.

After hearing the first few tracks (along with the latest MMJ material) I'm visualizing this James (and his band) accepting an induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

You heard it here first. Call me in 2029 and tell me how right I am...

Listen to Jim James below and hear for yourself. He has a solid voice that reminds me of a cross between Neil Young and Marvin Gaye. The track is called "Dear God" and it's a preview of the upcoming Monsters of Folk CD.

Listen to a Jim James NPR interview

9-9-09

2009-09-09T08:15:00.000-07:00

It's 9-9-09, It's flooding outside (literally). iTunes is turned up loud because no one else is around. Today's track "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream" Part 1 and 2. My Morning Jacket- Evil Urges

Why is that some songs just move me so much? What is it about these songs that are making me grab my camera and start shooting images around the house? Why is this overdue blog being written now as opposed to when I had more time?

Maybe because music moves me. It triggers my mind to create, ponder, feel, hear, notice, wonder and smile (inside).

Yea, music can do that to me. It's that powerful and I suspect that it might move others (like you). It's why I made this film Before the Music Dies.

P.S. Happy Birthday to my Pops : John Douglas Shapter - Born on this day, 77 years ago in Ontario Canada. Cheers to you Pops!

Andrew Shapter