((newstereo)) production notes...

A homemade movie by John Ebert

Yesterday was a big day for me. I awoke at 3 AM and ran microphones out the back door to the edge of the woods which lie behind the Schoolhouse. This is the time of night when there is only the occasional car which you hear long before it passes. I recorded about 12 minutes of night tone each hour thru 6 Am.

The first hour is deep night and you can hear sounds from the farthest away. These sounds include distant highways which though not audibly understood to be what they are lend a throbbing to the silence which I think will work well in the context of the film. The characters are trying to reach the outskirts of civilization under cover of night. The sounds around them should remind us that they are not quite there. While inside monitoring the recording my cat Irene who used to be quite the all night outside girl was glued to the area around the speakers. Her eyes were very wide and she was listening with ears at attention. Cats kill me.

The second hour brings rise to place. The characters have arrived. This is as far out as they will get. The sounds are wrapped tightly around us as they bounce off the water which is forming in the air. There is an intimacy to this environment which says you might just be able to get away with murder.

Hour three is the return to civilization represented by the rise in sound itself. Bird’s bugs and louder activity in the distance are waking up the world. The secrets of last night are exposed. This day is approaching and you are not the only one here as it seemed. Breaking daylight is visible thru the ears.

In the interim between the three tonal recordings I started the car, broke sticks, did a little singing and smashed three watermelons with a shovel. What fun!

Then it was off to work house building.

After work I had a letter from Anatoly in my inbox. He doubts his own capacity to achieve the type of sound John is after but did send an mp3 which I forwarded to John. It will take quite a leap of faith to go with Tolia for the music of this film. I still cannot help feeling that what he would ultimately bring to the picture would be worth it.

-b

((newstereo))

A homemade movie by John Ebert

I spoke to John yesterday about simple musical metaphors to convey to Anatoly and together we came up with these:

*White water rafting on a river of molasses.

*Cabaret music seeing itself in a fun house mirror.

*An airplane coming apart under stress in slow motion.

As I understand the discussion between my in-laws and Tolia went well. He expressed a real interest in the project despite the fact that there will be no money involved. (Tolia is not a money guy anyhow so I knew this would not be an issue.) I have written him an E-mail which will be translated into russian by my wife, Panchia, today and hopefully will be sent tonight.

I think that the language logistics will only be a real issue in this early stage of things. Once Anatoly has the film in front of him and the sought after instrumentation and feel he will be able to move along with his keen sensitivity as a guide.

((newstereo))

A homemade movie by John Ebert

There were Writing/Recording sessions this week. Three additional ideas for songs have come out of them.

The movie was shot on video which has a built in feeling of happening next door. The characters are from a small city and are fairly ordinary folk. I am trying to write the simple complexity of their thinking into these songs.

I am still bearing in mind that mine may not be the approach John has envisioned.

I think that would be fine with me because the sessions this week alone have already taught me a lot about how to work.

I am planning a late night SFX recording session in the next couple days to try and get the sound of the woods at night before spring wakes everything up. I figure 4 in the morning would be a good time to avoid the sound of cars. I will also be hitting a melon repeatedly with a shovel.

((newstereo))

A Man walks into a Bar - Track 1

Album 8 is an audio sketchbook for “Even Steven”.

Life Force will be our first official offering.

Song: “Life Force”
Release Date: 04/01/06

((newstereo))

A homemade movie by John Ebert

“Even Steven” is the title of the film I have been hinting at of late in these notes. I came on board as an actor and therefore decided that the project was something separate from ((newstereo)) and did not belong in these pages.

As noted above John Ebert is the Director and Writer of the film about a gynecologist who after a serious lapse of judgment becomes involved in a twisted triangle and a prisoner in his own home. John has impressed me time and again with his artistry behind the camera and his commitment to this film which can only be described as having a shoestring budget.

I really believe in this type of work. Making something from next to nothing is a great passion of mine. It is the reason I have taken my time with audio, adding a new piece of equipment from time to time, gaining knowledge and releasing songs I recorded along the way. I believe John’s requisition of video equipment and filmmaking knowledge has been a similar journey.

In movie making obtaining quality footage and quality audio are understandably two separate jobs. The skill sets and duties involved are simply too technical and time consuming for one person to handle. On our film it became evident early in shooting that a great deal of the audio would have to be left for or redone in post production. I hadn’t acted in nine years and had my hands full with that end of things but kept feeling like my experience with recording was a likely and natural asset to the completion of the film.

I approached John about wanting to help in this area and he accepted my offer. My duties will include the recording of sound effects and foley. Beyond this I gave John a copy of this month’s song “Remember me now”, which had been written with the characters of the film in mind, and copies of my collaborations with Anatoly Davydov. This has led to an interest in having Anatoly score the film and for Tolia and me to collaborate on songs.

As I write, my in-laws are in Visaginas Lithuania meeting with Anatoly and telling him about the project. I think the thematic nature of scoring a film is right up his alley and have my fingers crossed that he will be interested.

I am continually surprised at how effortlessly one thing can lead to another if only you let it.

I hope my computer holds out...

((newstereo))

Number System

Henceforth the links to new songs on the ((newstereo)) homepage will be designated by Song Number.

This takes some of the weight off of titles and provides for a more manageable main image.

Also if you know what number we left off at it will be easy for you to check the site and see we have advanced by one.

Releases are still currently happening once a month and on the first.

((newstereo))

Waddle and Daub - Track 5

Release: “Remember Me Now”

Scar said to Wound “Don’t worry someday you will be tough like me”. Wound let out a little laugh and then winced in pain. “How did I get here?” Wound wondered. It is as if all the moments share no connection.

My body lies over the ocean.

My body’s draped over the sea.

Remember the implants my body rejected

and bring back my moments to me.


((newstereo))