Back in the Fall of 2011, I was invited to a dinner that I thought was just going to be me and the person who invited me. Shortly before I arrived I received a text message. Something like 'we are at the such and such a place by Burger King' popped up on my phone. I had never been to this restaurant, and wondered how many people were already there.
That was the night I met Ross.
Even as dinner came to a close I hadn't spoken much to him. I found out at one point that he was about to be a published author for the first time. I told him I was interested in capturing that sort of thing in my documentary movies. Outside the restaurant while he clutched his skateboard, we exchanged numbers and parted ways.
I had no idea at the time what he had really accomplished, or how his peers around Seoul look up to him.
And instead of an explanation here about who he is or what he's accomplished, I think it's just enough to say that the man inspires me. So much so that I did eventually call him, and we did finally meet for a interview on camera.
Below is the trailer to the Ross Gardiner Documentary Movie that will be released shortly on KRTV.tv
Keep the faith.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Anything for some Publicity
I saw this video just now and had to post. A small chain of restaurants named 'Sticky Rice' launched sushi into space in the hope of gaining national attention. It's certainly grabbed mine.
RVA TV and Bark Marketing partnered with the small sushi chanin, and were responsible for executing the stunt.
Sticky Rice's Sushi in Space from RVA TV on Vimeo.
RVA TV and Bark Marketing partnered with the small sushi chanin, and were responsible for executing the stunt.
Monday, January 9, 2012
The 'Arts'
...'Martial' Arts I mean.
The first real sports filming I've ever done is now on display at www.krtv.tv. Here's a look at the characters who'll be competing later on in the movie:
The website has seen increased traffic since the release of 'Kyokushin Karate - Part 1', and I found a website to share the movie that's geared specifically towards those interested in this type of martial art.
The first real sports filming I've ever done is now on display at www.krtv.tv. Here's a look at the characters who'll be competing later on in the movie:
The website has seen increased traffic since the release of 'Kyokushin Karate - Part 1', and I found a website to share the movie that's geared specifically towards those interested in this type of martial art.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Election 2012
I saw this video and, because I'm an independent living in Asia, felt compelled to share it.
As an American itt certainly feels real, especially from an Asian viewpoint. Maybe that's why it's been banned.
Keep the faith.
As an American itt certainly feels real, especially from an Asian viewpoint. Maybe that's why it's been banned.
Keep the faith.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
What we learn in school
Conservative is to education what apple pie is to America: inseparable. Though I still feel I shouldn't have been so naive in the beginning, I learned this my very first year while teaching in New York.
Of course this was not my first year of teaching.
Anyone who has taught children of any age in public school knows you should probably keep your mouth shut if you would like to not ever lose your job. I'm referring to mostly what you say in front of other teachers (or administration) at the workplace. The students, of course, usually don't mind so much if a teacher has something to say. At least that's what I've experienced in classrooms back home.
Korea is quite different, though this should be no surprise. In offices and hallways here, no one is complaining about anyone else, and there are virtually no problems with students. In middle and high schools, students become accustomed to not having any responsibility whatsoever participating in class. Years go by, students get used to listening, and before you know it they've been taught not to challenge anyone. And thus the cycle of falling in line and permanent good behavior begins. One might even go so far to call it indoctrination perhaps.
Students here, however, want to learn in a way that's better than the way they are now. The system here in Korea is (mostly) the result of a largely populated country following what it believes is the fairest way for the younger population to have a fair crack at getting into what most believe is the best university possible: Seoul National. Unfortunately in making things fair, the country has severely hindered its creativity potential.
I'm not saying the situation in other countries is any better. Some of the inner cities districts in the U.S. are no better off than they were 20 years ago. But they have an excuse. And I suppose, so does Korea. Because the truth is, education can never really be changed, until the development and evolution of technology forces us to make it happen.
Keep the faith.
Of course this was not my first year of teaching.
Anyone who has taught children of any age in public school knows you should probably keep your mouth shut if you would like to not ever lose your job. I'm referring to mostly what you say in front of other teachers (or administration) at the workplace. The students, of course, usually don't mind so much if a teacher has something to say. At least that's what I've experienced in classrooms back home.
Korea is quite different, though this should be no surprise. In offices and hallways here, no one is complaining about anyone else, and there are virtually no problems with students. In middle and high schools, students become accustomed to not having any responsibility whatsoever participating in class. Years go by, students get used to listening, and before you know it they've been taught not to challenge anyone. And thus the cycle of falling in line and permanent good behavior begins. One might even go so far to call it indoctrination perhaps.
Students here, however, want to learn in a way that's better than the way they are now. The system here in Korea is (mostly) the result of a largely populated country following what it believes is the fairest way for the younger population to have a fair crack at getting into what most believe is the best university possible: Seoul National. Unfortunately in making things fair, the country has severely hindered its creativity potential.
I'm not saying the situation in other countries is any better. Some of the inner cities districts in the U.S. are no better off than they were 20 years ago. But they have an excuse. And I suppose, so does Korea. Because the truth is, education can never really be changed, until the development and evolution of technology forces us to make it happen.
Keep the faith.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Chad Kirton
I originally met Chad in Busan around March of 2011 when I was filming another project at a club in Seo-Myeon, Busan. He approached me in the club and introduced himself. I distinctly remember how friendly he came across that first encounter. I got his cell phone number in case I was ever down in Busan again, so I could easily contact him.
A few months later I found myself in the city of Gyeong-ju covering the International Taekwondo Championships on a Thursday, with the weekend ahead of me off. That Thurs. evening I was planning to pick Steph up at the train station there because it was our 2 year anniversary that day, and we were planning to see a bit of Korea with our shared 3 day weekend free. On a whim, and before Steph had arrived, I rang Chad.
Since I had only met him that one time, I re-introduced myself and asked him how he was doing. I told him I was interested in filming a bit of his life at the Busan EFM 90.5 radio station where he worked. The catch was that I wanted to go there and capture it the following day! Low and behold he welcomed the idea, but politely warned me that Friday was the only day we could do it. I must admit, I like this type of spontaneity.
After a nice romantic evening spent in a hotel overlooking the East Sea, with a jacuzzi sauna the size of Nebraska, Steph and I made our way down to Busan. We were a bit pressed for time since we only had that evening to cover Chad at the station. We arrived in Centum City, Busan in the late afternoon, and spent a single evening observing proper English language radio (right here in Korea!) materialize out of thin air. We also spent the evening getting to know Chad. A very enlightening experience for me indeed.
The following is Part 1 of DJ Chad on KRTV.tv. I sure hope you enjoy it, because I know we sure enjoyed making it.
Keep the faith.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Dr. Ami Angell
It's been some time since we filmed the 'Inside Terrorism' piece with Dr. Ami Angell. Steph and I were in Singapore on a 'working' holiday so to speak when we met up with Dr. Angell to go over the details, and eventually shoot the piece now airing on KRTV.tv.
I met Dr. Angell through my friend long time friend Paul Hunt. He and I are from the same home town, and, at the time, he and Ami were living together in Singapore.
Stephanie and Ami together after the shoot.
Leading up to our trip there, Paul had been busting my chops about working on some projects together. He's seen some of my previous work, and has been one of my biggest supporters. Paul ended up operating the second camera we used in the piece, an invaluable asset to have as a director.
cameraman Paul and I
It was great to experience Singapore, and to work with a professional like Dr. Ami Angell. The insight she provided into what really happens on the front lines in Iraq is information every American should know about. Thank you Dr. Angell.
Keep the faith.
I met Dr. Angell through my friend long time friend Paul Hunt. He and I are from the same home town, and, at the time, he and Ami were living together in Singapore.
Leading up to our trip there, Paul had been busting my chops about working on some projects together. He's seen some of my previous work, and has been one of my biggest supporters. Paul ended up operating the second camera we used in the piece, an invaluable asset to have as a director.
It was great to experience Singapore, and to work with a professional like Dr. Ami Angell. The insight she provided into what really happens on the front lines in Iraq is information every American should know about. Thank you Dr. Angell.
Keep the faith.
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