MJ's Blog

FINALLY

2008-08-13T23:39:00.000-07:00

I begin production on my new feature film THE MOUNTAIN CRUMBLES tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM at the corner of Thurman and NW 26th street here in Portland Oregon.

Made it through the setbacks, and now finally we begin.

The film stars Graham Parslow, Natalie Buller (DANCE PARTY USA), and Zach Sanchez (WORLD'S GREATEST DAD).

It is being photographed by Samuel Kuhn.

I am very excited!

THE RAINY STATES

2008-08-03T02:13:00.001-07:00

The Rainy States play at a rooftop party in downtown Portland.

OISHII

2008-08-02T00:43:00.000-07:00

I've started a new blog called OISHII.

It's basically a photo journal of my eating adventures.

Check it out, bookmark it!

http://www.oishiieat.blogspot.com

GRAVES

2008-08-01T13:52:00.001-07:00

Tokyo Police Club.

PS:

Hello August.

ROADBLOCK

2008-07-28T23:13:00.000-07:00

Encountered a serious roadblock today in getting my new film made.

Details will be left unspecified, but wish me luck. All may not be lost just yet.

SHE GAVE ME WATER

2008-07-26T23:27:00.001-07:00

Nick Chakwin, a classmate of mine back at SVA, finished his new film SHE GAVE ME WATER.

I admire his work a lot and look forward to checking it out. DVDs are available through his blog - nicholaschakwin.com

Also, check out his short MARINA - shot by my buddy Real Sprague.

http://s8.video.blip.tv/1240001937095/HeyChaki-Marina949.mp4

A.P.C FALL 09

2008-07-24T19:22:00.001-07:00

A.P.C has been one of my favorite brands for years, yet ironically I have yet to own a single piece of their clothing. My relationship with A.P.C has been one of a loving yet distant admiration, frequently stopping in their SOHO boutique and following their seasonal lines. The simple, clean cut nature of Jean Touitou's designs speak to me even more as I get older and find myself gravitating toward minimalism.

Anyway, here is a look at their 2009 Fall collection which is now available at their online shop. As usual, the collection has a very modern European look and includes everything from tight jeans to plaid scarfs to weekend bags.

JUN WATANABE x VANS

2008-07-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

Junya Watanabe is one of my father's favorite fashion designers, and growing up visiting Comme Des Garcon in Tokyo, he successfully passed on the appreciation to me.

Here's a pair of boots that Watanabe recently collaborated with Vans on. I love the roughed up quality of the brown leather, the beige laces and the intricate details of the wingtips and particularly the side zippers.

CRIMSON GOLD

2008-07-24T01:05:00.000-07:00

I unfortunately haven't seen too much Iranian cinema besides Kiarostami, but I checked out (and loved) Jafar Panahi's CRIMSON GOLD tonight at the recommendation of a Jim Jarmusch interview.

Jafar Panahi's Crimson Gold is a subtle tragedy about class conflict in Iran. Hussein (Hossain Emadeddin) is a lumbering veteran swollen by cortisone (for war-induced pain) and reduced to delivering pizzas at night. (He is frequently lost in a mental semi-fog during the days.) Witness to the rewards and vanities of the wealthy, insulted when a jewelry shop owner won't allow him in his store, and under pressure to get married, Hussein awkwardly aspires for higher ground but is more familiar with a life of marginal importance. When an eccentric socialite gives him a taste of luxury, something desperate is unleashed. Panahi brings his feel for and vision of the expansive ordinary, for the near-invisible forces churning within characters in seemingly throwaway circumstances. A haunting film.

Hmm... wow I just found out CRIMSON GOLD was actually written by Kiarostami. So I guess I didn't stray too far after all. Anyhow...

APART FROM THAT

2008-07-20T19:24:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting to see this homegrown Northwest film for a long time and now it is finally playing at the Living Room Theatre here in Portland. Yippyyyy!

"The everyday mysteries of ordinary folk in a rural Washington State town form the substance of "Apart From That," an original and resonant feature debut by co-directors-writers-editors Randy Walker and Jennifer Shainin. The American theme of lives lived in quiet desperation is sensitively applied through each of the film's elegantly woven strands, all reaching a satisfying end without feeling neatly resolved. Euro and Asian fest dates should follow, but the real test will be if a Stateside distrib shows courage enough to handle this outstanding if demanding work."
- Variety

MORE LUKE AND BRIE

2008-07-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

Few months ago I wrote about Chad Hartigan's film "Luke and Brie are on a First Date"... they're still waiting on festivals, and I'm still waiting for my chance to finally check it out, but here's a new clip/trailer that features a taste of Keegan DeWitt's score...

THE DARK KNIGHT

2008-07-18T03:23:00.000-07:00

Literally just stepped in the door from the midnight showing of The Dark Knight.

I don't have to say anything, I'm sure all of you will see it soon if you did not go tonight.

But The Dark Knight was masterfully done, anchored by a performance from Heath Ledger that certainly lives up to its hype.

The movie was relentlessly dark, even more so than Batman Begins, with barely a moment of positivity in the near 3 hour run time. And in that regard, very un-Hollywood.

But I can't say enough about Heath Ledger's Joker. You just have to see it for yourself.

EVERYONE IS IN A BAND

2008-07-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

MTV showed some serious love to Portland with this little 9 minute MTV News piece about the city's music scene. They interview Menomena, Colin Meloy of the Decemberists, M.Ward and other prominent local artists... but I have to commend MTV for digging deeper and not only talking to bands who have broken out into national stardom. A lot of what is said in this video about the music scene are also statements about the flourishing artistic community here in general.

SURFACE TO AIR F/W 08

2008-07-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

I still really like Surface To Air. I think the Parisian collective has continued to do a pretty great job, and here is some samples of their Fall/Winter 2008 line.

AT MUSING'S END

2008-07-13T00:23:00.001-07:00

Do you know who Wong Fu Productions is? I don't really feel like explaining who they are if you don't, but anyhow, their new short film "At Musing's End" apparently got into Cannes... Ridiculoussssss!???!!?

Part 1

Part 2

http://www.wongfuproductions.com

MIRACLE AT ST.ANNA

2008-07-11T14:28:00.000-07:00

The new Spike Lee joint.

Not something from the looks of the trailer that I would run out and see, and I'm much less influenced by him at this point in my life, but as a kid Spike Lee was my hero. So I should see it.

Also, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of my favorite actors. He has really proven himself in his adult years with great work in some gritty independent films. If you haven't seen Gregg Araki's "Mysterious Skin", do so.

BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHT

2008-07-09T15:50:00.001-07:00

Last night me and my brother watched the new animated Batman film, "Batman: Gotham Knight".

It was pretty awesome, done as an anthology of short films that connect Chris Nolan's "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight", perhaps the most interesting thing is the fact that this is a Batman anime. Each short is animated by a different Japanese artist, including the people that created "Ghost In The Shell" and "Tekkon Kinkreet".

The result is a strikingly new, and experimental c take on Batman that is really dark and original. One of my favorite pieces was the first one...if the concept of an expressionistic Batman film makes any sort of sense, that is how I would explain it.

Another aspect I thought was great was how many of the films deal with Batman peripherally, focusing more on his affect on citizens of Gotham City.

Anyways, we caught it on On Demand, so if you got it check it out before you head to "The Dark Knight" midnight screening on the 17th.

WITH A BUZZ IN OUR EARS WE PLAY ENDLESSLY

2008-07-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

Sigur Ros' new record is my current album of the moment.

For this album they experiment with more traditional pop music song structures, while still maintaining that ethereal, otherworldly signature sound we know and love.

Brilliance, brilliance, brilliance.

JARMUSCH

2008-07-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

"It's not my job to know what my films mean. I just have to make them."
- Jim Jarmusch

LV x THE COPPOLAS

2008-07-06T20:08:00.000-07:00

Sofia Coppola & Francis Ford Coppola for Louis Vuitton.

Love it.

MAX SCHAFF VANS

2008-07-02T01:19:00.000-07:00

STRAP + GOLD LACE HOLE = AHHHH

I NEED THESE IN MY LIFE.

LAST DAY OF MAGIC

2008-06-30T23:33:00.000-07:00

My favorite song from "Midnight Boom".

LV x CDG

2008-06-29T19:43:00.001-07:00

??????

COMING IN SEPTEMBER APPARENTLY??

CASTING ON A GORGEOUS DAY

2008-06-28T16:46:00.000-07:00

Wow. It is so easy to fall in love with Portland all over again on days like this. It is breathtakingly gorgeous outside. The lush greenery around the city and outside my house is almost blinding in its magnificence.

I just got done with day 1 of 2 for auditions for my new film... I feel pretty good, I saw some people that could potentially bring really interesting things to the table. We'll see how tomorrow goes, but I'm pretty relieved this first day saw great results.

Thanks to Cameron for this little promo image:

JULIE & ETHAN REUNITED

2008-06-24T15:04:00.000-07:00

Not as Jesse and Celine, but never the less...

Julie Delpy's new film. Appears to be quite the departure from "2 Days In Paris"!