SEEING (May Your Pen Grace The Page) >> Luka Lesson >> video: Wang Di
In anticipation of Luka Lesson’s 2012 visit to Beijing, a short film competition asking participants to use the message of his poem ‘May Your Pen Grace The Page’ was established. This film is the result of that competition. It is underground filmmaker Wang Di’s portrayal of blind lawyer Chen Guangcheng’s struggle for freedom and the recognition of human rights in China and abroad.
Made with no budget, the film uses local actors, media footage banned in China and Luka Lesson’s recording of ‘May Your Pen Grace The Page’ to bring light to this important issue. It is now the only ‘Official’ video made for the inspirational poem ‘May Your Pen Grace The Page’ in existence.
For the full poem go to
http://lesson.bandcamp.com/track/may-your-pen-grace-the-page.
For more by this artist, check out:
http://www.lukalesson.org
http://www.facebook.com/lukalesson
http://www.twitter.com/lukalesson
SHE COTTON SUMMER DRESSES > ALIA GABRES
A powerful, yet intimate vision of war, beauty and life in refuge by Melbourne spoken word artist Alia Gabres.
Produced by Shuttermain
Abe Ape > Made In Australia (Youthful Truth)
A hard hitting spoken word by Abe Ape condemning police violence against African youth in Australia.
The Great Displaced > Omar Musa
Poem by Omar Musa
Website: http://obmmusic.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/omarmusaqbn
Twitter: @obmmusic https://twitter.com/#!/obmmusic
Shot and edited by Rush
Website: http://therush.com.au/
Twitter: @rushphotos http://www.twitter.com/rushphotos
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rushphotographer
Instagram: @rushphotos
Just Before You Died > Eleanor Jackson
Just Before You Died from noknowthing films on Vimeo.
Winner of the 2012 Queensland Poetry Festival Filmmakers Challenge.
“Eleanor Jackson’s hush illuminates pre-apocalypse in “Just Before You Died,” directed by Doubting Thomas. Intimacy is constructed through continuous shot twinned with compelling narrative — both focused with care on the poem’s human subject. Voyage simulates relationship, swollen in its tender final woo and woe. Him is you, him we love, and all the more as we move into this gift of a poetry film.”
-a.rawlings : Arts Queensland Poet in Residence, 2012.
Noknowthing Films presents : Just Before You Died.
A Film by doubting thomas
Directed & Produced by doubting thomas
Poetry by Eleanor Jackson
A Postcard From Hell In October > Andrew McMillan
A Postcard from Hell in October > poem Andrew McMillan > video by Annaaliese Ciel Walker from slam tv on Vimeo.
“Going troppo” has never been so well explained as in this poem by legendary Northern Territory writer and poet Andrew McMillan. The film invites us into the mind of a gonzo evening underneath the ceiling fan, drenched in sweat and whiskey as the writer (played by an actor) explores the sultry depths of the infamous tropical build up before the first rains of the wet season each year in Darwin, Australia.
RIP Andrew McMillan 1957-2012
Director/Cinematographer/Editor: Annaliese Ciel Walker
Starring Peter McVean as The Writer
Sound: Colin Simpson
More work by this filmmaker:
http://annaliesecielwalker.com
Please Resist Me > Luka Lesson
Written and spoken by Luka Lesson
Produced by Icon Kinesis
In collaboration with The Centre for Poetics and Justice
Follow on Twitter: @lukalesson
http://www.facebook.com/lukaislesson
Purchase the PLEASE RESIST ME Album at http://www.lesson.bandcamp.com
www.lukalesson.com
Lyrics:
Please resist me
Colonise me, compromise me, conflict me
Please don’t risk me
If you see me at the airport
please come and frisk me
Please resist me
Colonise me, compromise me and conflict me
Please don’t risk me
Please call me stupid
Because your resistance brings our evolution
Please resist me
Call me a ‘wog’
It’s brought us so close together I could call me a squad
Please resist me
Lock me in solitary confinement
I’ll close my eyes and admire the quality of the silence
I’ll write rhymes in my mind honestly and define them
Solidly redefine and memorise them
Until like a diamond
when I come out
I’ll be better than when I arrived in
Please resist me
Keep me under the thumb
Keep me down trodden
Keep me under the gun
Keep me working harder under thunder and sun
Son, haven’t you heard? I’m becoming a gun
Please resist me
Because resistance brings evolution
and you’ve resisted me consistently I thank you for your contribution
I’m a happy man
Your stupidity has made me strong
I’ve developed wings, a thick skin and this here opposable thumb
It holds my pen which loads my explodable tongue
So without loading a gun I’m killing high quotas of unemotional…
punks
Sorry – you also taught me to speak French
I learnt it when you kept keeping me at arms-length
And then I learnt Italian just to expand my head
And Greek to learn from where my ancestors had fled
And then I learnt some Yanyuwa just to show the people of this land some respect
You see it’s been your example that has led me to leave you for dead
So don’t trust me
I’m risky
Insurmountable, unaccountable
I’m an undeniable, unreliable, maniacal liability
I fire soliloquies and my liturgies literally leave a literary litany
You see
When I was little
They told me I was illegitimate, illiterate and limited
Little did they know that in a minute I’d be killing it
I’m vivid like in cinemas so my synonym is vividness
I stick it like I’m cinnamon and kill it like a militant
I live it like a citizen – you live a life like imprisonment
Besides Indigenous
immigrant might be the most legitimate of citizens
So it’s better to live a life like us…
Isn’t it?
– Luka Lesson
Our Future > Gina Rinehart
Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart has found inspiration in the form of poetry to impart her philosophy of prosperity and mining. The piece, titled “Our Future”, was engraved on a 30-tonne iron ore boulder and discusses the benefits of the resources industry.
Below, The Chaser’s, Craig Reucassel performs the poem on Q&A. Watch the full episode here: http://bit.ly/zYH7N7
The Wanderer Returns > Stefan Raabe
An interesting mixture of poetry and fashion in this short film created by Stefan Raabe for Aurelia Boutique
Crew Credits:
Executive Producer – Karen Madhavan
Director / Editor / Colour – Stefan Raabe (stefanraabe.com)
DOP – William Horne (williamhornes.blogspot.com.au)
Camera Assistant – Luke Jones
Stylist / Location Scout – Melanie Sakkeus
Sound Design – Nick Venn (bangbangstudios.com.au)
Talent – Jaimee Gooley
Voice – Marcella Russo
Music credits:
Track 1 – “Sluice” by Sawako (troncolon.com)
Track 2 – Accoustic track by Uncle Signmund (freesound.org/people/UncleSigmund/sounds/30266/)
Equipment and specs:
Camera – Sony F3, and FS100
Lenses – Sony kit lenses 35mm, 50mm, 85mm
+ Canon 100mm Macro 2.8 L & 24mm L. Most shots were captured using a Cambo Jib.
Star time lapse – shot over 7hours on Canon 7D, 11-16mm Tokina lens, TC-80N3 remote, battery grip with 2 x LPE6 batteries. Capture Settings: BULB, aperture 2.8, 300ISO, 30 second exposures at 5 second intervals – processed in QuicktimePro 7.
Editing – FCP studio 7 and colour grading finished with Color. Cinema tools used for conforming footage for slow motion effect. Sound design created in Pro Tools.
My Confessions (pt 1-4) > Joel McKerrow
“My Confessions” by Joel McKerrow is an epic poem series that explores the taboos of being white male Christian dominance and the guilt that comes with being the most privileged ‘minority’ in a globalised world.
It is a heartfelt, honest and exposing piece of work that deserves to be seen in it’s entirety so SLAM TV presents all four poems and the epilogue here:
My Confessions pt 1 – The White Part of Me
My Confessions pt 2- The Rich Part of Me
My Confessions pt 3 – The Christian Part of Me
My Confessions pt 4 – The masculine part + The Epilogue
For more work by this poet go to: www.joelmckerrow.com
Chuggers > Doubting Thomas
Inspired by the writings and thought of Oscar Wilde and Slavoj Zizek; and the relentless antics of charity muggers across the world. Warning: contains satire.
Doubting Thomas urges you to do one of the things humans do best – create shit.
My Apology > Abe Ape
“We can only decalre ourselves free when we’re both out of the same cage, physically and mentally. Aware of your trouble, I should see through no rest till your freedom and your rights are the same as mine”
-Indigenous Empowerment
A to Z > Luka Lesson
A to Z’ from the Album ‘The Confluence’ by Luka Lesson.
Filmed by Jeremy Beasley
jeremybeasley.com.au
HEART REMAINS > JOELISTICS
Heart Remains > Joelistics from Verb Studios on Vimeo.
The HEART REMAINS OPEN PROJECT invited people from across Australia to contribute video content in response to the track HEART REMAINS by the hip hop artists Joelistics (ELEFANT TRAKS). The final video is a tapestry of place, culture, people and landscape that paints a portrait of Australia in the 21st Century.
Words and music: Joel Ma (Joelistics)
Produced, Directed and Edited by Timothy Parish – Verb Studios
Footage Contributors:
Cris Broadhurst
Jasper Smith
Grant VK58GR
Gini Lee
Sundry Productions
San-A
Jenny Grinlington
Michael Fletcher
Kym Fielke
Aime Lou
ABC Open Wide Bay
Darcy Travers
Doecke
Barry Schrapel
Norm Ofstead
Injected Ideas
James Russell
Geoff Oliver
Dave Dwyer
Tracey Lundgren
Pierpaolo Baricchio
Sharon Greenaway
Nicky Forster
Stephanie Riddel
Ty Swanson
Bjorn Rust
Mike Riley
Pasramos
Paul Sellen
Alasdair Shurman
AP_OZ
Ashley Perry
Martin Whipp
Documentary Shop
Will Horne
Liam Monkhouse
Tim Parish
Many thanks to:
Will Tinapple
Sam Hussey
Miles Merrill
Anthea Varigos
Bill Wade
Hamish McDonald
Eric Fassbender
Richard Tamplenizza
Creative Commons
This Is A Warning > Omar Musa
The Australian Poetry Slam Champion Omar Musa gave Spader Clothing an exclusive performance before he went on tour to Asia in 2009.
LISTEN > Pataphysics
Mixed and Produced by Pataphysics.
Mastered by Joe @ Crystal Mastering.
Video by Project NRt
Web by Justin Schmidt
%100 of the money from this song goes CASA House.
http://vibedeck.com/listen
CASA House provides 24 hour support to victims/survivors of sexual assault. CASA are committed to ensuring that the silence which surrounds sexual assault continues to be broken and that victim/survivors are provided with necessary support.
Fade To White > E’eda
Enlightening spoken word piece on color consciousness by Ee’da.
Please support Sisters for Sisters. http://youtu.be/O-_di9JYsvc
Live Fearless > Tariro Mavondo
Tariro Mavondo at the National Slam Poetry Finals 2010 at the Sydney Theatre Company’s main-stage.
I Am By Virtue > Joel Ma Joelistics
Joel Ma AKA Joelistics, reads his spoken word piece ‘I Am By Virtue’ for an ABC Arts Program.
TWO MEN > Dominic Allen
‘TWO MEN’ is an award winning Australian short film directed by Dominic Allen and shot in the Kimberly town of Fitzroy Crossing by Joel Betts, features a robust and dynamic cast of indigenous Australian non actors. With an original soundtrack by Melbourne artist Felix Riebl and based on Franz Kafka‘s short story, Two Men Running, Allen’s short film has been screened internationally at film festivals including New York, Prague, London, Melbourne and Sydney and in 2009 was a Dendy Australian Short Film of the Year finalist.
The film was instrumental in supporting director Dominic Allen’s Emerging Australian Filmmaker Award at the Melbourne International Film Festival and the 2009 Inside Film Rising Talent Award.
2009 MIFF Jury member Deb Verhoeven remarked “Two Men proves that the simplest scenario can provide the perfect premise for conveying the most profound insights. But (Allen’s) key achievement is to understand that even the largest ideas are best told with brevity and the most serious with humour.”
Two Men was made with the support of Yiriman, a community initiated and community driven project supported by the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre which aims to build stories, strength and resilience in the Kimberley’s youth.
FIAT LUX > Hugo
Epic conscious rap and video which follows the beginning of the universe from big bang to evolution of life and the creative instinct that sparks eternal.
FIAT LUX is an ode to the creative muses and the evolution of consciousness performed by HUGO (lyricist behind the RAP NEWS), with beat by TREATS (musicfromspeakers.com) and video collage by filmmaker TIM PARISH aka VERB STUDIOS as an Undergrowth Magazine collaborative project in samplology.
FIAT LUX is from the album ‘The Enlightenment Age’ available online through Reverb Nation here:
http://www.reverbnation.com/hugo1
This video is dedicated to the brilliant artists and creative minds that have inspired and evolved the human experience into manifesting a visionary society.
We want to also respectfully acknowledge the work of the filmmakers and painters whose work has been sampled in this video essay of evolution.
FILMMAKERS:
Stanley Kubrick (2001:Space Odyssey)
Jan Kounen (Blueberry/Renegade)
Frank Reggio (Naqoyqaatsi)
Ron Fricke (Baraka)
David Attenborough (LIFE)
Darren Oronofsky (The Fountain)
Alex Grey (TOOL: Lateralus)
Flight 404
MUSIC MAKERS:
Electric Light Orchestra – Tightrope
Telephon Tel Aviv – Sound In A Dark Room
Sebastian – H.A.L.
The Black Ghosts – Any Way You Choose To Give It (Boy 8-Bit Dub)
2562 – Kameleon
Rhianna ft. Jay-Z – Umbrella
Rage Against The Machine – Township Rebellion
VISIONARY PAINTERS:
Aboriginal Australian, Mayan, Huichol, Native American and Egyptian Artists, Michaelangelo, Botticelli, Brueghel, Pablo Picasso, Vassily Kandinsky, Salvador Dali, MC Escher, Amanda Sage, Alex Grey, Martina Hoffmann, Robert Venosa, Pablo Amaringo and many more…
{ ART IS MAGIC }
Here is another version of the same poem, recited by Hugo live to fellow poet Si in an anonymous cafe. The riddle of life immersed in the mundane…
God, Rid Me Of God > Joel McKerrow
Spoken word recorded at Abbotsford Convent, Victoria, at the beginning of 2011.
Words by Joel McKerrow
SLAM TV 