Flip Book, Flip a Table

After two hours of doodling a little stick figure, my original idea of a character discovering the ability to fly turned into a Harry Potter esque smokey smog effect.

I have no idea what's going on, but I'm about to flip a table rather than flip a flippin' flip book.

The Phonograph

The Phonograph ORIGINAL:

The Phonograph that we know:

Original Phonograph Recording: News Guy.

 

Broadway!

Cinderella - 67th Tony Awards

During this performance a quick change is used. This is a piece of technology that may not be considered anything very advanced, but the tailor that made this was quite an artist. Through the layering of fabric a dress is transformed into a completely different one!

The dress may be a bit hot, but hey.. it's for Broadway.


Pippin - 67th Tony Awards

There's so many things in this one clip that could be considered technology from the costumes to the lighting to even the acrobatics going on, but there's a part that sticks out to me -- though it's not entirely too exciting. When the "barker"(I think) comes out, the gray sheet-like curtain parts and reveals the amazing stage filled with many more technologies. Of course, it's likely a simple frame with velcro at the top or something similar, but it's such a great effect!

Billy Elliot - Expressin' Yourself

This number is particularly close to my heart as I had the pleasure to see this show as it traveled through St. Petersburg last year. This number, for sure, was my favorite and it involved so many interesting parts to it. There were about 3 or 4 shimmery curtains that continued to change through the tap portion. The boys also had numerous costume changes, but the timing and speed that the curtains were able to change was amazing. An entirely different stage came to life during that number and it's something I'll hardly forget!

Book of Mormon - Turn it Off (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waVf9W8pyA8)

This musical is easily one of the most offensive things to hit the Broadway stage in the history of Broadway. In this number, there's another quick costume change that will always make me wonder how. During the tap break of "Turn It Off" the lights go dark in a sequence. For the first black out, you only hear the tap noises, and for the second -- BAM BRIGHT PINK SEQUIN VESTS. Spectacular, and impressive! The things that these costume designers come up with have to be really intricate.

The Little Mermaid - Under the Sea on Good Morning America

Life under is the sea is better than anything we've got up here. Though the costumes are wonders themselves, the big thing I'd like to focus on is something that lasts through the entire musical. In order for the "mermaids" to show the illusion of swimming, the cast wore wheelies custom made. They had to dance and "swim" in these shoes that had little wheels in their heels. The best example of this would be when Flounder comes out. You can really see them rollin' in the deep.

The Little Mermaid - Poor Unfortunate Souls

As one of my all time favorite Disney Characters puts it gently, she pities the poor unfortunate souls while flaunting her many tentacles that trail behind her as she hovers across the stage. As described in a video that I watched in the past, each of the tentacles had thick wiring in them to allow for the "hooding" action she does nearing the end of the song. After Ariel signs away her voice, she goes into the giant orb where she's fitted into a harness and her stage tail is taken off. The next time we see her she's "swimming" through the air with a slightly transparent tail. She sheds the tail and legs are born as she swims to the surface, and the magic of broadway melts your heart. A chance at true love, what a leap of faith. Seems fishy to me.

Spiderman - Rise Above

In this newer musical, technology was required for this show to even make it to the stage. With the heavy wiring and harnesses in this musical, many actors and actresses got hurt. In this short clip, you can see that they're using large digital screens instead of intricate sets. You can see that the screens are showing the webs, and the legs of the large spider-woman/thing are also twitching on the screen as well. They're probably easier to use than the traditional large and clunky sets. In this case, they can tuck the screens away a lot easier and they offer a variety of options for any set.

A Chorus of Praise, Ave Maria, and Lux Aurumque

In 2010, I had the great honor of being selected for Sound of America. This is a National Honor Choir that selects singers from highly known events like State Honor Choirs, ACDA, and Choir Conventions all over the United States to pick the best in that year to go travel to Europe and perform a circuit of concerts through many countries.

In my experience, I had the extreme pleasure to travel to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, and Luxembourg. Each of which I would gladly travel back to, either to live or to visit -- I don't care! Europe is the most beautiful place physically, culturally, and the people weren't too bad either.

This is a recording of the 2010 National Honor Choir singing A Chorus of Praise, Ave Maria, and Lux Aurumque.

It was a true honor to participate in this choir, and I would do anything to do it again. 

Libera - Sanctus

On the topic of the castrati, I figured I would share this with everybody.

There's definitely a reason that a young boy's voice is cherished, and this song is a prime example of that. For those who believe that a boy's voice isn't beautiful -- This is definitely a trying argument.

But was it really worth it for the boys that had to go through castration to retain such a voice? It's true that their voices are amazing and quite impressive, but I don't believe that a person should lose their ability to reproduce and their manhood in order to retain such a voice. 

Minecraft -- Is it only a video game?

This is something that I stumbled on a while back.

I'm not an extreme gamer, but I do know of the game Minecraft and what the possibilities are. From my understanding it's a game that you have the ability to do nearly whatever you want in. People have gone as far as creating games inside of this game for others to enjoy. Though it's extremely advanced with its abilities, it's graphics are sub par. Until you see what people have learned to do with them.

In Minecraft, it's all about pixels. Everything is pixelated -- it's just the style of the game.
There are two different modes to this game: survival and creative.

I'm going to focus on the creative side, as many people have made this a true and probably unappreciated art.

These are just four images from an entire album of photographs of this miraculous city. Through what looks like a simple game this beautiful work of art was born.

The creators of the city, dubbed "High Rossferry City", had this to say about it: "We've been working on it of and on for 19 months now. With just 2 people. We're inspired by great artists. From Van Gogh to Mondriaan. And architects like Mies van der Rohe and Rietveld. There are many references to art, science, music and movies, all over the city."

While many will only use this game for fun on the side, these two people chose to take it in a different route and create a city that anybody would dream to live in.

You can find the entire city here.