Most of you know that I've been working at a music house. It started as an internship in January and is in the process of transitioning to a full-time job (the hours are certainly full-time). We produce music and sound design for commercials, theme park rides and sometimes film. I really love the work and the people here. My job is "composer in residence." That means I have a studio on site where I compose on as many projects that come through the door as is humanly possible, usually between 2-5 commercials a week. When I do this I compete against the company's roster of freelancers, and the competition is steep because some of these guys have been doing this for over a decade.
In the past few weeks I finally won my first two spots. One, a commercial for University of Michigan, will go into production in the fall and run during all U of M football games (probably for years to come). The other was a segment on a web campaign for the new Ford Taurus. That Taurus spot went live today online.
The Taurus spot was unusual work for me because it was longer - 80 seconds, compared to the usual 30 seconds - and was more of a score-to-picture assignment. My job was not as much to create a memorable song as to underscore the action happening in the demonstration.
Things to look for are the transitions (are they seamless, or do they draw attention to themselves?) and whether or not the different musical ideas accent the changes in energy throughout. Also, the sound design was done in house as well by a guy named Jeff, who is amazing at what he does and has become a good friend. He also played the electric guitar on my spot.
Here is the link. My spot is to the right, called "The Sophomores."
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Zen Hammocks
I've always hated selling myself, my creations, my body (though that one has been especially lucrative). But there comes a time when you just have to suck it up and say, buy this now!
Kirsten and I are going into business together with our first joint creation. It's called a Zen Hammock. Like the popular Zen Gardens, which are scaled so small they calm you by giving you the feeling of god-like largeness, Zen Hammocks are miniature versions of something that was built for relaxing in the first place. So double relaxing occurs!
But unlike Zen Gardens, these actually serve a purpose. Kind of. Well, yeah, totally. Pretty much.
You can keep your phones, or iPods, or iPhones, or keys, or whatever in them at your desk at work. If you're co-workers have sticky fingers, then this is really just a big target saying, Swipe Me. But at home, or in an office with prominent security cameras, you'll enjoy the pleasure of always knowing where those crucial items are: chilling in a hand-knit hammock.
Oh, right. They're hand-knitted by Kirsten (I'm more of the marketing and key global strategies guy). So they represent the fruit of someone's labor. Which is holistic in a sense. I've been told. But also, they are a truly unique idea because, as far as we know, nobody else has thought of this ridiculous concept.
Seriously, what's not to love:
You can pick the color, or combination of colors (stripes) you want as well as the color of frame. At the moment we have red, black, silver and white, but if you have a better idea, it'd be a good excuse for us to pick up more paint.
If none of the above pitch worked on you, let me put it this way. These Zen Hammocks are going to pay for Claire's orthodontics and college education. If you care about that sort of thing. Uncle Scott sure does. He was Kirsten's first customer. Go and do likewise.
Check them out here.
Kirsten and I are going into business together with our first joint creation. It's called a Zen Hammock. Like the popular Zen Gardens, which are scaled so small they calm you by giving you the feeling of god-like largeness, Zen Hammocks are miniature versions of something that was built for relaxing in the first place. So double relaxing occurs!
But unlike Zen Gardens, these actually serve a purpose. Kind of. Well, yeah, totally. Pretty much.
You can keep your phones, or iPods, or iPhones, or keys, or whatever in them at your desk at work. If you're co-workers have sticky fingers, then this is really just a big target saying, Swipe Me. But at home, or in an office with prominent security cameras, you'll enjoy the pleasure of always knowing where those crucial items are: chilling in a hand-knit hammock.
Oh, right. They're hand-knitted by Kirsten (I'm more of the marketing and key global strategies guy). So they represent the fruit of someone's labor. Which is holistic in a sense. I've been told. But also, they are a truly unique idea because, as far as we know, nobody else has thought of this ridiculous concept.
Seriously, what's not to love:
You can pick the color, or combination of colors (stripes) you want as well as the color of frame. At the moment we have red, black, silver and white, but if you have a better idea, it'd be a good excuse for us to pick up more paint.
If none of the above pitch worked on you, let me put it this way. These Zen Hammocks are going to pay for Claire's orthodontics and college education. If you care about that sort of thing. Uncle Scott sure does. He was Kirsten's first customer. Go and do likewise.
Check them out here.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Update on: YAY!!!
Scratch that. Someone just stole my car.
It's still light outside. My neighbors across the street were sitting on their porch watching the whole thing go down. After someone peeled off in my car, they flagged down a cop and the police chased my car all the way to 6 mile and Van Dyke where they lost the jeep. But apparently the car started smoking at some point during the pursuit (not really fixed after all?) and they were able to locate the vehicle based on smell. Seriously. They sniffed it out.
It's still light outside. My neighbors across the street were sitting on their porch watching the whole thing go down. After someone peeled off in my car, they flagged down a cop and the police chased my car all the way to 6 mile and Van Dyke where they lost the jeep. But apparently the car started smoking at some point during the pursuit (not really fixed after all?) and they were able to locate the vehicle based on smell. Seriously. They sniffed it out.
YAY!!!
I've been without wheels for three weeks because I didn't have the bread to get my car fixed. Then I got some bread and paid to get it fixed and got it back yesterday! Then I realized it wasn't fixed and dropped it back off. Then they fixed it for real today and I got it back again and now I have wheels!
Yay!!!
Yay!!!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Computer Perfection
So, if nobody else is going to say it (and I know we're all thinking it), then I will!
Are we going to pretend to not notice that Mary just made the same baby again? C'mon! Lincoln is a carbon copy of Titus, only he's red.
I know that Mary's robot-like perfection has been called into question before, but this time she's really gone to far. Yeah, she makes mothering look effortless, and we all admire her for it. But not even bothering to make a new model? Simply cloning the last one? That goes too far in my book. It's as if she's coasting on her talents now, not even trying to push the boundaries of baby-making possibilities. She's saying, "Oh yeah, that baby making thing. I got this."
Clone 1, after the red wore off.
Clone 2:
My mom thought that Titus looked sad in the delivery room because he had been bumped from baby to middle-child status. How wrong you are, mom! That look on Titus face is this: What. The. Heck. Is. Going. On? I've been duplicated!
Are we going to pretend to not notice that Mary just made the same baby again? C'mon! Lincoln is a carbon copy of Titus, only he's red.
I know that Mary's robot-like perfection has been called into question before, but this time she's really gone to far. Yeah, she makes mothering look effortless, and we all admire her for it. But not even bothering to make a new model? Simply cloning the last one? That goes too far in my book. It's as if she's coasting on her talents now, not even trying to push the boundaries of baby-making possibilities. She's saying, "Oh yeah, that baby making thing. I got this."
Clone 1, after the red wore off.
Clone 2:
My mom thought that Titus looked sad in the delivery room because he had been bumped from baby to middle-child status. How wrong you are, mom! That look on Titus face is this: What. The. Heck. Is. Going. On? I've been duplicated!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Baseball
I finally got some footage and more pictures of Sepporah hitting in her baseball games. She is starting to take it a little more serious and that gets me excited.
I told her to get her game face on and this is what I got. I am scared just looking at her.
Check it out Matt. Even Sepporah can hit the ball to the outfield.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Ton of Pictures of Lincoln
Sorry for the ton of pictures. I wish I knew another way to post them that wouldn't take you scrolling for an hour. These pictures are in lower quality so they are not too big.
For some reason, the way they load is actually backwards with being the first ones I loaded at the end. As a result, these are in opposite chronological order.
I hope you enjoy our new boy!
(If you missed it, make sure to check out Uncle Scott's post below this one.)
For some reason, the way they load is actually backwards with being the first ones I loaded at the end. As a result, these are in opposite chronological order.
I hope you enjoy our new boy!
(If you missed it, make sure to check out Uncle Scott's post below this one.)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TWO SPECIAL PEOPLE!!
I know that there isn't a lot of activity on the blog on the weekend but just so I don't get in trouble with you know who, I am wishing Titus and Jessica a happy birthday now. Titus has a birthday Saturday (forgive me Matthew if I am jumping ahead) and Jessica's birthday is Sunday (forgive me Christopher). I love you both and hope you have a wonderful birthday.
A Great Experiment! Results Just In.
Since becoming part of the great mass of unemployed, I decided it was time to conduct an experiment. Never again will I be able to do this.
For a lifetime I have suffered from dirty hair. I had to wash it every day or it would look like a grease pit. So, I determined to re-train my physiology by simply refusing to wash my hair at all. How far could it go. After one month, I'm proud to say, my hair follicles have ceased producing the grime that forced me to wash it daily. I now have the freedom to go days without a wash, and I pass for a stylish, "hair product" kind of guy. I beat my own body.Ha!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Baby Alert
Now THIS is why I created the blog.
Matt told me last week that whenever Mary goes in for her checkup around her due date it has always induced labor. In other words, he pretty much told me she'd have the baby today, the day of her next appointment.
And sure enough, my mom just emailed me to say she's on her way to the hospital right now, cause the baby's coming.
Details at 11.
D
Matt told me last week that whenever Mary goes in for her checkup around her due date it has always induced labor. In other words, he pretty much told me she'd have the baby today, the day of her next appointment.
And sure enough, my mom just emailed me to say she's on her way to the hospital right now, cause the baby's coming.
Details at 11.
D
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Go figure...this guy made the dean's list again...
At U of I Engineering School--4th ranked in the nation. And with no clout payments (for those of you who keep up on the news). Hard to believe this guy stays in school let alone makes good grades. But we're accepting parents and are proud of him regardless of his lifestyle. I just hope he shows up to class with his camo hat on.
Actually he's a hard worker and has overcome a lot to achieve. He's doing research work in nanotechnology now and recently hit me up that he wants to do grad school in nano. I have no idea why he's interested in a career developing iPod's nano but, again, we're accepting parents. And yes, he will take donations as I am about tapped.
Seriously proud of Nathan. Seriously.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Miscellaneous
Sepporah Signing her name at her graduation.
Painting a picture of her favoriate thing....pop.
We are so proud of her.
Video of Sepporahs Graduation.
After winning a medal for gymnastics.
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