Admit One Productions

THE GGN JOURNALS -The New Year Hustle

2011-12-29T06:37:00.000-08:00

December 22nd, 2011

As I make another "X" to the calendar and get one day closer to Christmas, I have finally found some relief from the anxiety that filled me throughout the fall. This year has been one of much self-discovery; including ending chapters with people and projects, and beginning a new direction and journey for 2012. I’m approaching the five-year mark with the evolution of GGN; it’s funny how things can challenge you along the way but somehow work out and be for the best. When I wrote last it was August and things were looking great. I had hired a new editor, we had a rough cut of the film finished and ready for a polish, and I had booked the film’s first screening date in January 2012 at the TIFF BellLightbox. Sponsors had come on board and the much needed support was there… I was on top of the world and felt closer then ever to the light at the end of the tunnel. Everything seemed on track and then the days and weeks went by and the editing team fell apart and by the time I realized it wasn’t going to work with these individuals that I trusted I had lost 8 weeks.

My trust and roll of the dice with the momentum I was feeling up to this point was gone with one simple sentence... ‘I don’t think I have time to work on this anymore… I didn’t realize how big the project was?’ All I could think and say was; "Are you kidding me?" instead, I said… How could you not understand the scope of the project and why didn’t you tell me this month’s ago? I had a screening date but not a finished movie. Let me tell you honestly, the panic started to sink in… it was like quicksand… you can be on top of the world one moment and then sinking fast the next. I was going to be 36 in two weeks and I didn’t know what to do or whom I could turn to with such short notice to make that screening date. With careful consideration I knew I had to postpone the date because the time required to finalize the film could not be met. It can be quite embarrassing; at least that’s how I felt, mixed with frustration and anger. The journey for me with this film has always had it’s bumps along the way and for one moment I was hoping to get a break… but such is life… it’s a challenge day in and day out.

As with every challenge sometimes you find the oddest places for solutions. Since filming began, I’ve been in the restaurant and bar industry waiting on tables, bartending parties, managing pubs, and providing service and chit-chat to the Toronto downtown public. It’s an industry I’ve known for 20 years and it’s helped to support me and made it possible for me to go after my dreams of being a filmmaker. The restaurant that I currently work at, Café California, was about to give back to me by helping me figure out my editing problem. It’s good to find people when you least expect it that believe in you. This happened to me a week before my birthday. Over the years I had served these guys who always had been pleasant, tipped well, and were easy going. We got along and they kept tabs on my project. I would always fill them in when they came to the restaurant. The chitchat was fun, simple, never too long but always nice and I knew they were into theatre and drama; the reality was that I was their server and the relationship ended there. So this time when they came in I was in a venting type mood… my crisis was in full bloom with no answers and they saw it in my face and my mood. After filling them in after asking about the screening, Andrew told me he felt for me and what I was going through; before I knew it he was on his blackberry making calls on my behalf and before they left he set up a meeting for me with an editor. This editor has ended up being a godsend and someone you wish you could have taken the whole project journey with… This crisis was diverted!

It’s funny how life can change on a dime and help can come in the strangest ways. With this new guy in place and with us already trimming and polishing the final cut, I know the film will be done at the end of January. Now you can’t get everything… my mistake of setting the save the date before really understanding how people work was something I had to pay for in terms of self embarrassment. I don’t like to set things up and not follow through; because the film has been a five -year production people begin to doubt that it will ever be finished. Not understanding the work required for a documentary experience, especially the kind I’ve put together, as well as wearing so many hats because of finances, time goes by quickly and the project can feel like it will never end. Reaching this finish line as 2012 begins is something I’m proud of… I can’t wait to share it with YOU, the audience!

In the meantime I will keep you updated on the screening date, which will be most likely in the spring after the cold weather. Check us out on our networks! More sneak peeks of the film will be happening in the New Year on our YOUTUBE channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/GLOBALGROOVENETWORK?feature=guide

Also check us out on SOUNDCLOUD for Podcasts, mixes, remixes and more:

http://soundcloud.com/groovetheglobe

Until the New Year when the hustle starts and the screenings begin…

ARE YOU LISTENING?

THE END IS NEAR... A FILM MAKER'S JOURNEY

2011-09-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

September 1st, 2011

The year is 2011… I’ve made it to the end of August and I have dreamt of this moment for a long time. I never knew how it would feel but I had a notion; I knew that this feeling would make me emotional. When I finished the last chapter for the film and put all 8 of them together this week it was the first time in a long time that I truly saw something that I knew existed in all that tape I shot. The finished rough cut for the film clocked in at 2 hours and 5 minutes. It will have some trimming and tweaking done to it but this is a complete film. This is a complete journey for me in a sense; I can’t help but cry tears of joy. I know I have a lot more to accomplish but I succeeded. Life is about surviving and giving your life meaning; this film experience has given me that.

It was a little over five years ago I decided to make this documentary. The d-jay culture and community became something of my focus and drove me to explore and give my perspective. Music had always been a big part of my life and gave me a true sense of identity when I was younger. When I got exposed to dance music in the nineties it became a communal thing through the friendships I made and in the end shaped a part of my personality and outlook on life. This culture was so important to me at an age when music affects you. I always kept that inside even when I focused on getting my life a little more serious and on track in my twenties. Ten years later… five filmmaking years under my belt… dance music has given me back that feeling inside I once had.

When you get wrapped up in a long process you start to go a little crazy. Every waking moment of the day you think about your project. It had it’s a good times which gave you hope and inspiration but those are the times you don’t remember as well until the end. Usually the feelings that became the constant were the ones that brought stress. Financing this project on my own and having to wear a lot of hats because money dictated limitations, became the main issue. No one was going to care about the project more then I and even though I did get help and was fortunate to have some good people involved periodically, I never had absolute control. Money usually can dictate schedules and being able to do things on your clock. Money helps motivate people especially when it’s not their project. When you’re an independent filmmaker with credit cards with limits, favors become your currency. I gave a lot pitches and what I thought were inspirational moments on why they should help make this film. I hoped they would understand, which they did from time to time, but money still was the ultimate scheduling tool. Five years later I finally got a rough cut done and have good people involved to help finalize and bring it over the finish line. I’m thankful for that. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Dreams are something that is important and something I reflect on when I write this journal entry. I had moments along the way where I doubted myself and got frustrated because I felt no one believed in me. Along the way I realized that the journey is almost more important then the finished product; what I got out of the five years of trying to make this film and GGN brand was truly special. I still have more to give with GGN.
I turn 36 in the fall and I feel that I’ve accomplished a milestone in my own life. As I continue the final edits I look to the New Year to roll out the film in festivals and screen it at universities for students who are at the age that music affected me in a big way. I feel this important for the film to be seen by the age range that inspired it. Music has been a special inspiration for me on this journey. It has been something that has driven me the last 5 years and shaped what I feel this film’s message is all about.

What I’m hoping to ask of YOU if your reading this is I want you to ask yourself a question. How has music affected you? I’m looking to encourage people submit BLOG’s and give us your story. GGN is a community… a movement… a place where music shapes identity.

Feel free to reach me at courtney@admitone.ca I truly would love to hear your story.

Until we meet again. ARE YOU LISTENING?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT A RECORD LOOKS LIKE?

2011-06-20T06:55:00.000-07:00

June 20th, 2011

This journal entry is one that comes from a new sense of discovery. Over the last two weeks I happened to visit friends that keep the spirit of record collections alive and well. Both were buddies that I hadn’t seen in awhile but we always could find that place where we left off last… these friendships are easy and always entertaining; I couldn’t wait to plug in for the afternoon and talk music. The record collection for both is something to marvel at. It consists of a full wall of vinyl in their man caves, a single turntable, and a huge sound system to enjoy the music. One is a neat freak the other not so much; both people are very different but when I check out their walls, the records you find are very similar. The common ground in musical tastes is something of a phenomenon because the personalities do not match. I found myself examining the same factors of why our friendships worked and it all came back to music. I’m in the final stages of editing with a real finish line presentation date in October. The documentary and the message it’s trying to give have been on the brain 24/7. I’m at that stage now where the music that I’ve been choosing for the film has purpose. I feel extra sensitive to the music I listen to and the experiences it reflects. It’s intense in every sense of the word because the film is close to being done and this music selection process brings it all together.

When I ask the question of what does a record look like I think it comes from the experience music created for me recently with my buddies. When we pulled records like Led Zeppelin, Queen, AC/DC, Saturday Night Fever, Thriller, Motley Crue, RUN-DMC, De La Soul, I was floored at the random memories that came to mind. It didn’t just start with the music playing; it started from the search. We would be talking and one of us would think of a song and we had to find it on the wall. Sometimes your eye caught it right away and other times you would be caught up in other memory recall moments from the cool artwork on all the vinyl covers. This was the search process… this was the beginning of where a record got its identity. It’s like checking people out and being attracted or repulsed by the simple appearance. You look for that instant grab. Who doesn’t remember Michael Jackson on that Thriller album with the fold out of him with a tiger… chillin’. That moment sums up the 80s in one cheesy visual and brought me back to when I was nine years old lovin’ that record!

After the record was picked and put on the player, the next real thing that caught my eye and gave another layer of a vinyl’s identity was that crackle. I always found that some records always stayed in good condition while others just didn’t do as well. The crackle over the speakers would be such a trigger for me, especially when I was younger. I knew how to identify certain artists and songs in my collection by that noise a vinyl crackle could make. I loved that sound and once the music began it was like beginning a relationship with someone or something. I felt emotional listening with my friends and reliving some music I hadn’t listened to in awhile. It was really cool to see more than just my buddies in the flesh but also having that chance to spend some time with the wax.

To me, what a record looks like is something that has a lot of character, loyalty, and a friend that comforts you when needed…
What does your record look like?
The countdown is on…

Global Groove Network (GGN) premieres this October in Toronto!

Check out http://www.groovetheglobe.com/ for more information.

WHENS THE LAST TIME YOU WROTE A LETTER?

2011-05-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

May 13, 2011

I woke up this morning after a late night in the editing room and didn’t think much of the next several hours that awaited me; it was my day off… the only plan that I truly had was to take up space on my couch and to catch up on some recorded TV. It’s May, and all of the current shows are wrapping up, so it was a big day of plot twists, reality TV finalists, kitchen nightmares, and who really is Carmen San Diego? I was all set up, prepped the way you need to be when it comes to a day of doing nothing (candy, chips, my cell for calling take-out, and weed.) I wasn’t winning any health awards today… I planned to gorge my senses with tasty and brainless chaos. Then I saw it… a card.

There, amongst the flyers and monthly bills, was a card; A thank you card. Now as you all must find the only thing that you really get nowadays are statements from your bills, take out menus, real estate listings, political flyers, census forms, and cheesy advertisements for life coaches named Chazz… or is that just me? Getting a thank card today was a pleasant surprise and something that made me think… which in the end reluctantly put a pause on my couch potato moment. The words, the way this person expressed themselves to my wife and I put a smile on my face. It was truly thoughtful when the last thing we expected for helping a friend was a thank you beyond the one we got that day. It got me thinking about what I was working on in the editing room this week….....

The focus in the editing room this week was the beginning of the present state of the d-jay culture as it relates to the social media evolution that we’ve gone through so fast over the past 10 years. In such a short period of time the art of communication has changed with all of the technology advances. Coming from the generation that I grew up in I’ve embraced it and loathed it at the same time. How could something like the internet, specifically twitter and facebook, have connected us globally in such a way but disconnected us at the same time with so much overload? As I got to know more d-jays, producers, and promoters, I have been able to get their perspective on the digital age. Each perspective was unique but everyone was on the fence about the technological progress. Nothing could be taken away from the resource of this evolution but the connection sometimes would not be as deep to the way this scene represented itself in the past. I was fortunate to get to experience this culture during an organic time when the electronic scene was booming in the nineties… the internet didn’t play a part yet and it took real word of mouth to find out what was going on in your city. People spoke on the phone, one on one, they met at record shops to listen to music and check out flyers, and the social aspect amongst friends was personal. Texting and writing messages on one another’s facebook was done verbally. I’m amazed on a daily basis on how we’ve put up these walls up in order to communicate. When’s the last time someone left a voice mail for you instead of just hanging up (missed call shown on cell)? Who hasn’t had a 5- minute conversation through texting (specifically chosen words… hopefully)? How many email messages do you get or send that read like they just changed the name of the recipient? When’s the last time you wrote a letter or sent a card to someone through the mail? Now I know people do send cards or Hallmark wouldn’t have great stock options but does a holiday have to be the only day? I like the idea of getting these types of moments randomly like we did… it reminds me of another aspect of how we can connect on a more personal level with the people.

As I get closer to finishing this film I can’t help but have these types of questions and observations on the brain. Getting back to basics is something that can ground you and having a moment with what this simple thank you card brought to this particular day’s perspective. Going through a long journey like this involves patience and focus; something that I’ve grown to learn over time. Not letting the everyday set backs get to you over the years and understanding that the connections I’ve made through this production has shaped the person I’ve become.

This summer, 2011, is the finish line for the film and I can’t wait to share this with an audience… This will be my ultimate letter to friends, Toronto, and this music culture that has given so much back to me.

Until we meet again – ARE YOU LISTENING?

www.groovetheglobe.com
www.facebook.com/groovetheglobe

DAY 1825 …

2011-03-25T08:05:00.000-07:00

Friday March 25th 2011

The week has come to a close and I’m finally at a point in the editing experience where I’m happy. Everyday we tend to be waste deep in content but as we organize it more and more it’s taking shape in a great way! The end of June looks good for our rough-cut finish but I don’t want to jinx it. Throughout the postproduction process I’ve had highs and lows with the people who have come and gone with me in the editing room. I’ve been fortunate enough that everyone who has contributed to GGN’s look and style have been amazing; we’ve grown together and we’ve learned how to present what GGN represents as a film, television show, and web presence. GGN has all of the components to make it run but the one thing that is the driver, the reason I started this so many years ago; it’s all about the music. The reason GGN began was because of how music affected me and I was looking to relive and experience it again. The d-jay culture in the nineties was something that felt like a music revolution with its youth. My memories that I’ve translated into this film have strong emotion attached to them. This is where I found myself at a critical time in my life when I needed guidance. Music was a buddy so to speak and helped me find a group of friends that helped to mold me in to the person I’ve become. Dance music is something that I listen to daily but that’s just the tip of my music catalogue choices. All genres, strong powerful voices, and great melodies are something I look for universally in my daily soundtrack. Music is on everyday in my house in the background and I feel I can’t think clearly unless I have something playing. It’s a drug when it wants to be. When I need a smile or a motivational push in the gym I know what tracks to reach for on my I-pod. As I write this very BLOG I’m tuned into the site listening to a great PODCAST from Cam Maxwell. Check it out in our download section (www.groovetheglobe.com ) along with hours of great mixes and talent from around the world… that will be my only shameless plug for my site in this journal entry… I promise.

MUSIC DOES MAKE A MOMENT…

It’s day 100 in the editing room and I’ve come to one of my favorite moments in the edit process, the music selection (who would of thought that?) Over the course of the last couple of months I’ve been going through my old collection of CDS that I bought like a mad man back in the nineties and early 2000. I-pods were the future and with a minor d-jay career as one of excuses to buy music, I went crazy at the stores and collected quite a bit of music that spanned a lot of genres. Clubs I worked at had a wide array of people to cater to so I had it all. The beauty of this fact is along the way during our partying days I bought a lot of classic house and great dance beats that were coming out at the time. I had a great place to start from.

As I went through the music and prepped for the next step in the editing room I was surprised at how many tracks indirectly over the years were moments of inspiration through this process. Creatively tackling a big project like this I’ve had a constant flow of moments that just happen out of things you don’t plan or think of until you have a trigger. Music is the constant trigger for me when it comes to this film… I don’t think one scene in this film has not evolved out of a moment from my mind and music library coordinating in some sort of way. Take for instance today… BIG LOVE by Pete Heller was the driving force to write this BLOG. I had no intention of adding a journal entry but as I did my daily scan of you tube for music I remembered a memory at LIMELIGHT night club in Toronto where Wednesday nights were the ultimate house music party. The third floor hosted an old school house party that the East Side gang would attend regularly as a part of our rotation of club outings. For whatever reason BIG LOVE came to mind and here we are.

TAKE A MOMENT…

I highly recommend you take this moment for yourself and maybe reflect on a 6 pack of songs from your past that bring you fond memories. The workday, the family responsibilities, anything that is affecting you in an overwhelming way; take a breath… load up www.youtube.com … and find a song that brings you what you need in that moment.

As I continue my edit today I’ve pulled a solid 6 pack to review with the footage I’m working with… I’ve created a CLASSIC TRACK OF THE DAY for our fan page that reflects music that has inspired the film. If you have a dance track you would like to share I’m always looking for some memory recall.

Please post something at – www.facebook.com/groovetheglobe .

Until we meet again… Are you listening?

Have you ever had one of those nights?

2011-02-02T16:10:00.000-08:00

ONE NIGHT IN BRANTFORD…

The New Year is upon us and I’ve been editing furiously on the documentary. We are closing in on the finish line. This five year journey has been a crazy experience so far; getting all of this captured content put into narrative form and making sure I’ve told the story I wanted to tell. The interviews and stories that have been shared with me have taken up 300 hours of film. Lots of passion and party footage from around the globe has been captured and I just want it to feel right on the screen. This is more then just my story… it’s a perspective with many voices. Reflecting on this the last month has been overwhelming at times but you keep telling yourself that it will be worth it in the end…

Today I couldn’t help but remind myself of a night last fall that brought an unexpected smile to my face. It involved a night of dancing, friends, and a reminder of the power of music. Have you ever had an evening that was unexpected fun? Has it ever happened in a town that would never seem like a place to go? This was the case when I was invited to my friend Eric’s work party in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Eric is a very special friend to me and someone who has a critical role within the film. Since re-connecting through the film; after my reunion party, Eric has joined my wife and i along with others to random party events in Toronto over the last year and a half. Eric lives in Brantford running a dance studio (Eryx Studio)which just had its two year anniversary in October. Eric was always the trooper coming to Toronto to join us and with his anniversary party coming up we were due to come down and celebrate and support our friend. Brantford is a small town with more of an older retirement community and not much of a nightlife other then a few pubs and roadhouse type bars that cater to a more classic rock/country type patron. This city would not normally be something that would pop up on the radar as a place where you could have a night out to remember… I was about to get a shock of a life time when I found out this wasn’t true.

When my wife, Jessie our good friend, and I showed up to Eric’s studio for the party we got what we expected. We met an incredibly nice group of random individuals who participated at the studio, and supported Eric. The party was masquerade which we realized last minute but thankfully I carried an afro wig which made me blend in… kind of. The party consisted of pole dancing exhibitions, cocktails, snacks, and music that took me back to the 90s. It was fun but typical for a dance studio like this. People were having fun, including us, but the highlight of the evening awaited me next door. Eric’s studio is located in a strip mall with salons, bars and stores which is typical for new businesses in Brantford; it was there we got out first introduction to the bar experience known as JACKHAMMERS. This roadhouse style bar had many aspects of your typical club in small towns; for example - pool tables, hockey and football games on TVs, wood floor interior, and lots of booze behind the many bars inside. I grew up in a small town and the décor and vibe took me back. I wasn’t sure at first and thought the cheese factor might come into play but that wasn’t the case at all…

JACKHAMMERS nightclub, with DJ VIBE, on Saturdays in Brantford is something I can truly say is an experience that will surprise you, especially for someone like me who is now in his mid-thirties. As I stood by the bar and ordered my first beer, afro wig and all, the tunes from my past started to play… and play frequently in the mix. Tune after tune brought me back to my college days with current top 40 in all genres of danceable music coming from the d-jay. It was mixed well and was such a unique blend of music from my past and the present radio station play that I couldn’t help but want to dance. I don’t know if it was the afro, the beer, my sexy wife and hot friend shaking booty, but I needed to hit that dance floor 911! DJ VIBE had done something which can take a lot sometimes if the mood doesn’t hit me, dance. I love my house music but the people on the dance floor were happy and connecting with the music and one another was what really drew me in. We lasted 3 hours on the dance floor dancing to classics and remixes of dance, pop, rock and even country. My afro was officially stuck to my head from all that sweat I built up dancing but it was something I felt I earned and loved for that moment in time. I was reminded of the power of a dance floor this fateful night. This fond memory will stick with me for a long time.

One Night in Branford was a success and as I write this last sentence all I can say is…

JACKHAMMERS… DJ Vibe… Eric, Jen, & Jess… Afro… I thank you.

Until we meet again Branford… I salute you!

Check out some of the PICS from our wild night - www.facebook.com/groovetheglobe

The Burning Man Experience...

2010-09-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

September 14, 2010

When the idea was proposed to me by this new person in my life I didn’t really know what to say. The stories were intense and almost too good to be true in terms of getting away from the norm. The passion he spoke about how this community, the Roots Society, and the 7 day event affected him; it was just something I couldn’t shake. After a couple bottles of wine and more discussion about filming and experiencing this community I knew this was something that needed to be included in my journey and the film’s story. I was convinced that both my wife and I needed to go. It was fate.

This guy I speak of has become someone in my life now that I have the utmost respect for. I see an individual who carries himself with passion, happiness, and a love for his family and friends around him. His name is Robb G and I thank him for giving me an invitation to this experience in the desert. With the cameras rolling at random times throughout the trip to Burning Man I was able to capture an amazing chapter for the film and truly understand how the world around you can get affected by the pure love and selfless state of minds that people were transported to for this entire experience. Robb G … great to know you; I’m a better person for it.

THE JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN…

We began our journey to the burn from LA… With a rented car and trunk full of film equipment we set to the interstate and traveled into an environment that was beautiful yet frightening in its desolate ‘HILLS HAVE EYES’ sort of way. The road trip was roughly 10 hours as we went through the mountains of Mammoth in Northern California into the desert of Nevada. It was an interesting drive for me because of one distinct aspect; the music soundtrack that played on our drive into the desert was transporting us into a time warp of retro good times. We had Sirius Satellite in our rental and we happened to lock on to the 90s channel. Songs that I hadn’t heard in years blared from this channel for the whole journey and for my wife Jen and our friend Amy who came as well, the music signified youth for us. This was our sweet spot during our teens and early twenties; the music transported us to a place mentally that was a place I was examining in this film. The past to present affect on identity through music was on my brain the entire time and we were about to be a part of this massive sensory overload experience. Music was a big thing in my life back in my late teens and early twenties. I d-jayed for 7 years; I was a top 40 d-jay, playing tunes that I had somewhere collecting dust in a crate at my house. I always liked the underground sound but when I started doing weddings and small clubs in my late teens I got exposed to a lot of great music. I keep an open mind when it comes to music because there are so many great unique sounds and songs to fill up on. Hearing this all again was amazing and the right mind placement for me. To me to participate at Burning Man was something that was about reflecting. As we drove closer I began to really listen to the music and I started getting butterflies of excitement and a relaxation with life that had been not there for awhile. Work and life throughout the summer was hectic and even though this was a crazy intense thing we were about to experience I was more relaxed then ever before. Mentally I was ready to just take it in…

We arrived as the sun began to set on the Thursday. People had been here since Monday and the place was fully inhabited with chaos and 60,000 individuals enjoying themselves. We got in quite quickly which we were lucky; we had heard from other attendees that they had waited in line for 6 hours to get in. 20 minutes was our wait and it looked like the GODS were looking out. The site was enormous and took up a huge chunk of desert. The camps were built on a clock style formation with the Burning Man in the center in all its 8 story glory. It was unique camps with a creative off the wall taste to them which ranged from conservative RVs all the way to small built wood houses with yards and white picket fences. Bizarre and practical became descriptions to most of what I saw on the desert terrain while weather elements would change constantly and keep you on your toes. Dust storms, hot sun, wind, dust, dirt, and cold nights were the main things people had to put up with but no one cared. It was people not showering for days but everyone just not being self conscious about it. Along with the dirt outfits were something that became something of a statement out in the desert. If you thought ZOOLANDER had some crazy outlandishly dressed friends within the modeling world, we got a new sense of ‘the runway’ with the Burning Man dress norm. The outfits were outlandish and always gave any given moment a photo album highlight for anybody who had a camera. I loved it and contributed with wearing my Target’ bought ‘HOT DOG’ costume on the dance floor and while I was shooting footage… ‘Hot Diggity’ is something that made sense at this event and that was an amazing feeling of freedom. Successful people from all walks of life were the conversations being had from the moment we landed and it was a great feeling… some of those interactions happened as ‘Hot Diggity”!!

As the days became a moment in my mind I couldn’t help reflect on what the place we were camping at meant to me by invitation and the individuals who had been doing it for the past 7 years. I got exposed to so much but what truly affected me were the regular characters that inhabited the ROOT SOCIETY where I was stationed. It was a massive mix of random individuals from around the world that had met the founder, Jeff Taylor, a person I will speak about soon, who invited them to his community. Jeff was the ring leader; a person who really cared about the people he surrounded himself with. When I got a chance to see how his team revolved around him and a mutual respect was the glue between them, I knew I had landed by chance in to something that was truly special.

Jeff Taylor… lets begin by saying I was someone who was skeptical of what was told to me by Robb G about this individual. How could someone like this exist in terms of just wanting to give back to something he truly believed in? Having the resources through his success in founding Monster.com he was someone who saw beyond the bottom line and someone who actually cared. His invitation into his last year doing ROOT SOCIETY was something special and a moment in the film that I didn’t completely understand until I went through it. I got a wonderful story on film and I look forward to sharing with the world what compassion can be through what I learned from meeting Jeff. Philanthropy is something that can’t always be done by us all due to our circumstances. When you get to see it up close through what Jeff has done for all these people within the community, it’s truly special. Thank you Jeff.

The place and sanctuary that stuck with me and a memorable footage moment was Oscars. Oscars was the community bar and dining area as well as the place everyone spent at least part of their day. It was run by a special guy by the name of Oscar. Oscar was this larger then life nice guy who made his place feel like CHEERS… where everyone knows your name. The vibe was warm with 50s, 60s, and 70s music playing. It was the getaway from the chaos of outside events and loud house beats hitting you from every direction. It was just a relaxed environment and a great place to talk to different people constantly from all these unique walks of life. I found the afternoon became the biggest time to chat with people… the sun was high in the sky and it was crazy hot. You needed the shade of Oscars dome as well as a place where a cold beer and bottle of water were very close. I got a chance to interview some cool people during that time of the day as well as just meet interesting folks. I would like to say a big thank you to Oscar and the energy and vibe you brought to that place… a great getaway and another cool experience. I got some great footage that I can’t wait to use for the film. Oscar is someone whom every one should meet.

THE DANCE BEAT IN ALL ITS GLORY

One thing about this event that I felt was one of the most intense forces in that desert environment was the all mighty bass beat. I’ve never heard or seen in my life so many portable wattage music machines pumping more bass along with some dirty rhythm as they circled the desert. The machines were art cars. These automobiles had been created by people who were focused on making some of the most creative and unique vehicle/sound systems that could drive the desert. Some of these cars were built big, themed as ships, and carry a dance floor filled with people and a d-jay across the terrain. I got a chance to follow Robb G onto one of these mad parties on a double-decker bus; the roof top was such a cool perspective to film and experience. Along with these cool cars, the communities throughout Burning Man had these massive stages as well as small unique places to dance and get in touch with your tribal roots. The house beats were loud and different at each of these places. You could literally find a new spot to dance and mingle within 50 yards of where you were staying. ROOTS SOCIETY, where we stayed, had 3 tremendous options to listen to great d-jays and dance. With 2 massive domes that had a completely different vibe as well as an out door LCD screen that was 5 stories high and had the d-jay perch right in the center of the screen, it was the biggest place to party at the Burn. Crystal Method guest d-jayed on Friday night and 8000 people showed up at our community to party. Jeff Taylor was someone who appreciated the d-jay event coming from a past of d-jaying in Boston. He had been someone who was working as a d-jay where he learned what makes a great event have that memorable moment type feel. Burning Man was a moment for him to give back what he knew. I was blown away by the vibe and musical energy that was given back to Burning man by the ROOT SOCIETY community. All the talent played for free, everyone who built this huge camp was working out of love for the mantra of this community and Jeff, and it was just really a grass roots type of place. The music was loud most of the time but you had time to get away from it at Oscars or on a wander. The tribal beat that I heard through out my stay was a reminder… this is a powerful thing you’re feeling.

WHEN YOU TRULY ARE AFFECTED…

As we made our final walk back from one of the most amazing moments of Burning Man, the sand began to swell and we were in the biggest sand storm you can imagine. I had forgotten my mask and with my camera bag over one arm and my wife on the other, I got hit with feelings and hard high powered sand spray. Jen and I had just filmed and experienced the breathtaking Burning Man Burn along with Amy, Robb G and his wife Monica. It was truly amazing and what I was able to capture in terms of filming was something small compared how it made me realize so many internal things. This experience put me in a new place emotionally with my wife, my life, my passions, and beliefs.

When we begin cutting this piece of the film this fall I’m excited to reveal and give the audience a snapshot of our experience at the Burn as it pertains and means to the bigger picture of GGN. This was the last major shoot for me and the film and I’m excited to get in to the editing room and put this massive 4 year journey together. I will keep you posted on the progress with future BLOGS and updates. Check out the some of the PICTURES, MUSIC, and SNEAK PEEKS on our site over the coming months… Stay tuned!

www.groovetheglobe.com

ARE YOU LISTENING?

My trip to London... One step closer to the editing room

2010-08-10T07:45:00.001-07:00

AUGUST 9, 2010

The summer of 2010 has been nothing but sunshine and heat. With smiles on peoples faces as they walk around outside, enjoying what the sunshine can bring, I can’t help but reflect on what a change this year has been. As with every year, I like to find times throughout, where I can step back for a moment and take in what has happened beyond the daily grind. Life can go so fast and there is never enough time in the day; I’m sometimes overwhelmed with what can’t be accomplished due to commitments to financial stability and relationships. Balance is important and necessary for true happiness and sometimes the things you want to do have to take the backburner. Last year I felt that we, as a society had to do the backburner thing with the recession and the whacky weather and climate we were in. For me it was a battle on all levels with work, my dream, our bills, and finding inspiration in moments of despair; I feel I wasn’t alone out there but these moments were felt and dealt with on my own. As I look at this year with the upswing in the economy, the weather being very agreeable, more smiles on faces in my city, and just a productive sense of time used this summer for the things that are important to me; I’m in a unique head space.

It’s August; and an important chapter in my life is getting closer to the finish line. Last week I got back from a wonderful trip to London, England and saw the reality of my documentary project coming to the finish line. Since the beginning of this year I was entering my fourth year on this documentary process. I was in a grey area of how I wanted this film to end but I pushed to find it. I had collected all these amazing interviews, stories, experiments, and moments over the years and I wasn’t completely convinced I had what I needed. A lot of these moments are trial by error because you can’t gage the power of interviews. Patience is essential for a good story in the documentary genre because some interviews or ideas can lead to something by chance that can be a better direction for the film. Up to this point I felt I had 70 percent of the story but I needed the right moments to close this passion project. After some chance meetings over the course of the last year and some new friendships that came out of mutual associates, I’ve been given the opportunity to tell the story I want to tell. Everything finally was making sense in my head.

LONDON…

2 years ago in Miami when I was filming the pilot for the television show spin off with DJ Dan I met a d-jay from London named Chris Aidy. To be fair to Chris the meeting was something that I don’t remember as well as I should. It was the last night of the Pilot shoot and we were done, enjoying a night with DJ Dan behind the decks. It was my first chance to let loose and through this party state of mind I met Chris. The one thing that Chris made sure he gave me in the chance meeting was a CD of his mix and after a week or so of being back in Toronto I found it packed with my camera gear. Not thinking much of it because it was one of many, I brought it with me on a drive to work and I was blown away! The set was tight and the track selection was something I really felt and enjoyed. Right away I took the email address down and emailed him the next day… It’s funny sometimes when you meet people and you click immediately. Both Chris and I were both at a level in this career chosen process that was pushing to go to the next level. With moderate success and awaiting that next break in your chosen profession, strength comes from the people you surround yourself with. Chris had become one of these people for me as did I for him. We both supported one another and throughout the last 2 years have stayed in touch. With a trip planned to London for the film at the end of July, Chris opened up the door and I had a chance to meet his wonderful wife, kid and get to know London from someone who worked within the scene there.

Chris became a great make shift film crew member and liaison for me getting around the city. I had an ambitious trip with some great interviews lined up with editors from MIXMAG, two authors of a book I read a year ago on the history of the d-jay, and a chance to experience Ministry of Sound and some of the club life in London. London is a whole other world compared to my city of Toronto. The culture and the history of the world really sit with you when you tour around London for the first time. Also the importance of dance culture to the people of the UK and Europe is completely different. North America is very much underground still in the way it’s perceived amongst people while it really is a big deal overseas still. People really love their dance beats, d-jays, parties, real radio and pirate radio dance channels and d-jay magazine publications here. Raves I thought were pretty much extinct due to laws and regulations and then the next thing I know on my last night in the city I’m at a warehouse event featuring Eric Prydz…

The event was held in an abandoned cement factory type building that was old brick and sweaty walls that dripped on you as you danced in this long narrow hallway with a thousand people. The stage is on scaffolding and the sound system could be heard all the way in Ireland. The people were banging to the beats and the vibe was a happy one… It was truly a sight to see.

The film and the message I’m trying to create had a chance to collect some amazing footage and perspective on this adventure. Understanding the history of the scene through real life perspective as well as finding opinion on the future from people you respect was the objectives of the trip; it all came together better then expected.

Along with this event I also got to take in the Ministry of Sound experience with Nic Fanciulli at the helm of their weekly global underground event. The club was packed and the dance beats that Nic was dropping gave such an intense and amazing vibe for the party maniacs in Ministry. The night had this electricity to it. Watching those faces from the d-jay perch succumb to the dirty beats was all caught on my camera for the film… it looked so euphoric under the lights and smoke machine affects that were used to bring the mood together. The history of Ministry of Sound was an important element for the film for me because it has such a history. To get a chance to see it from such a great perspective in the d-jay perch you get a sense of the story the d-jay is trying to create for the people who have come to listen and dance. Connection through music, d-jay, and community on the dance floor was the real moment for me that I took away from the trip. Half way across the world people felt what I felt when I got on the dance floor in Toronto and rocked it out to the same music… that was truly special.

Along with Nic Fanciulli at Ministry of Sound I got a chance to hit a smaller and more intimate venue with one of my favorite names from my past dance club days Darren Emerson. When I was really hitting my stride back in the day I always made a point to check out Darren Emerson who would come to Industry a couple of times a year back in the nineties. His producing when he was part of the electronic group Underworld gave me songs to my own soundtrack that define important moments in my life during my twenties. Getting a chance to revisit his mixing on a dance floor at East Village in London as well as get to chat with him again was another highlight to this great shoot in London.

Life is all about experience and London and the memories and friendships and contacts I made were something I cherish most from this trip. Chris was a gracious host and great person to get to know. If you have a chance to check out some of his PODCASTS in our download section on the site you should! With some amazing produced tracks that he is setting to release in the fall I see an artist who is growing and evolving into the talent he has the potential to become. With a daughter, wife, and the responsibilities that come with that, Chris has managed to become a great man that is inspired to be creative in his chosen passion. I admire that and feel lucky to have met him 2 years ago in Miami.

With only a few film shoots left the editing room has become something of the Holy Grail for me. I look at this as a quest to go there, take all this footage, cut it together, and finish the meaning of MY life at this particular moment in time. I’m excited to move on as I countdown my final planned trips for the documentary. The journals of this long filming experience have been fun to revisit and read since I first started writing them four years ago. Remembering the websites first beginnings, the interviews that started it all and the journey I’ve taken personally; it’s truly amazing.

I vow to increase my writing coverage as we get closer to the finish line. Sharing my thoughts helps my process and I hope that the people who read it will be inspired to follow their own dreams. My next adventure takes me to Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert… Love and tribal unity is the theme for this trip and I think the story I’ve managed to find will be the essence of what love means to people. Only time will tell because the story is only half written; the other half awaits me in the middle of nowhere in Nevada. Stay tuned!!

ARE YOU LISTENING?

www.groovetheglobe.com

Another year... and I finally can see the finish line!

2009-12-01T14:43:00.000-08:00

November 24, 2009

I woke this morning and felt the cold breeze drift through our bedroom as I got ready to go workout. The clock read 5.30am and the sun was still asleep; I thought to myself thank god for my wife and her dedication to the human sweat shop known as the gym. I just turned 34 last weekend and sometimes it’s a tough haul to get out of bed at 530 at this age. Extra sleep is valued, especially as you get older. The gym can be secondary in terms of priorities but we know we need to make it first sometimes. Thank you to my sexy wife and her kick me in the ass drive to keep me going! Xo; Thinking about age and the way time flies by can be very over whelming but we have to keep pushing to achieve what we want in life.

This film is approaching its fourth year in production and as the finish line comes into focus, I can’t help but see hope! Don’t get me wrong we still have well over a year before it’s complete but finally the story has become clear and the checklist makes complete sense. The documentary is a passion piece and I wanted to make sure the message made sense. With over 60 interviews thus far, 250 hours of footage, and an aggressive shooting schedule awaiting me in 2010 I’ve really cleared my mind and have become focused once again. The film has taken its toll with all its positive and negative experiences. Disappointments have happened more often then not and unforeseen delays and trying to keep ahead of the debt has been a mental mind game for me to beat. This is an expression of me; this is a chapter in my life; this is my love letter to a community that has given me so much. I know it will be worth it.

The year is coming to an end and as I thought about our seasonal update to the site, the interviews that I had just lined up as well as shot, it made me feel a passion that had been missing. The daily grind can take a lot out of you and as we start to forget what makes us feel alive we need to revisit that fire that burns inside all of us. The art of film making, story telling, and giving people a snap shot reality experience that affects them emotionally is truly remarkable. This is my passion and I love this part of my life and how it makes me feel. As 2010 rolls into town so to speak, I have prepared for the end. This is the year that I want to figure out how to pull this film over the finish line and get it out to the public. Grant submissions are in the works yet again as well as new options for the TV series have made themselves available to pitch. The recession hit everywhere and as our industry loses money through piracy and PVR, the networks are taking less-risks on programming. The pitch process, especially for a NICH type program like GGN, has an up hill battle. I know my approach to the d-jay has general appeal but figuring out the right fit and network is still in play. If you haven’t checked out our pilot please feel free to go to the site and check it out in the downloads section. The link: www.groovetheglobe.com

Along with this pilot we have added a lot of additional mixes, interviews, and our newest section, THE SPOTLIGHT. One spot in particular in the spotlight section is our new community perspective page. The idea of the community perspective page is to give the global community a chance to get their thoughts on the scene out to our network. With 5000 members and counting your voice will be heard to the people who truly appreciate comments on this culture. Great stories, great perspective, and suggestions of what to check out on line and in the club is what were looking for. We want you to be heard!!

You never know who reads these blog’s but you hope that the few people who do will understand why we write opinion, go after dreams, and talk to the faceless community that exists on line. We are connected more then ever through the internet and the written word has a place to be appreciated. The process of life and going after your dreams is something we all go through. My hopes with some of these thoughts are that you know you’re not alone if you’re having a bad run of luck with your process. If today happens to be a bad one as you read this you need only do one thing; Get into that music collection, select that mix that puts the smile back on your face, and give yourself an hour of bliss and recovery. It’s always good to recharge and as we all know the power of music is something not to be missed.

until next time…

ARE YOU LISTENING?

www.groovetheglobe.com

peaks and valleys

2009-07-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

July 6th 2009

Looking back at these journal entries its funny how much time adds up in such a short amount of words and description. Memories are shuffled away and rekindled with a sentence that brings us back to a moment from the past. This journal / blog have been a roller coaster ride of memories that have been both positive and negative. I’ve reached that valley once again with an upswing that I hope to begin right away as we continue into the summer. Let me get you up to speed of the last few months first…

Since my last entry I mentioned that I was on my way once again to WMC in Miami to enjoy some of the sun and fun as well as have a light workload of footage gathering for the film. This did take place and I truly did have a great time with my wife and two of our close friends who came down and met up with us for a few days. I met a new list of contacts, got some great interviews, and added to the site in terms of the talent roster. The trip was a success and this was a very positive experience. The site was just updated for our summer edition and I’m happy to say you’ll find some great new mixes and talent that we managed to meet while we were in South Beach. The NYC scene became the featured sound this month with d-jays such as Cevin Fisher, Lenny Fontana, and Hector Romero as they added some pod cast material for you the network. These contagious beats became a great addition to my I-pod and hopefully you’ll take advantage and make them part of yours!

After Miami I got back with a plan for the film and with the help of my beautiful wife and my editing team, the plan was set in motion to lock down a completion grant to pull this project over the finish line. Several dates were coming up for grants but the one we had our eye on was at the end of May. It was a lot of work in a short period of time but we felt that if we pushed it we could make it happen. Everything began with delay, as it always tends to do when you’re in a rush, but we got through the paperwork and waited on letters and material from others to fill out the package. These grants can be an unbelievable process of crazy government forms, budgets that have to be thought out to the penny, and loads of writing and visual material to support an idea you feel you’re the only one who truly believes in. This process is something I don’t wish upon anybody. I mean it can be something that almost crushes your dreams in a sense. All this work, all this material, could mean nothing to a board who decides the fate of your project. They don’t care that I’ve mortgaged my life and my wife’s on a passion that at this point in the process has become more of a nightmare. My wallet is empty along with my bank account… I work to live and finish a passion project that hasn’t gotten financial support yet. I still have a big hill to climb but something keeps telling me to go. This grant would be the life line I need and a group of people I never get to meet in person get to decide my future… What’s not to love!

As the date approached for the grant we were in rough shape. The new trailer that was planned was way behind and it didn’t look good in terms of the deadline. The real nail in the coffin happened just after when we found out that they changed some of the stipulations two weeks before the deadline. The marketing partners component changed we were dead in the water because we needed more time to fix this problem. Set back number 1005 had happened but hey fuck it, I’m not quitting. New dates, new goals, most of the work is already done for the proposal, it’s only a matter of time we have all our ducks in a row. In the meantime I have stuff to work on with this project in order to move it forward. The lack of a team creates roadblocks but it’s learning curve they I get taught everyday. It’s very frustrating but it comes with the territory when you’re trying to achieve any dream you set for yourself. I will win the war!!

Beyond our grant troubles I feel I’ve been making the best of the situation and been able to push our GGN brand forward by planning some events. Our first big party is coming up in a couple of weeks in the shape of a boat cruise! I’ve always wanted to throw this kind of party and I think we should have a good one if all goes well! We’ve booked Fred Everything, Hatiras, and Cam Maxwell for a past to present retrospect of house music for the masses. Along with my partners on this event, Partypm.com, I’ve put a lot of effort in to securing some great promoters and getting involved with some great people in order to have a successful event. It’s not about the money on this one… as long as we break even and execute a great event I’m relaxed. This is about getting the GGN name out there to my home town crowd. I want to throw maybe 3 events a year but make them unique and memorable. The cruise will be deep and dirty with some nostalgia to boot in the music being blasted! I can’t wait!! I plan on recording the mixes and making them into pod casts so stay tuned!!!

For more details on the event please check out: http://houseboatretrospect.blogspot.com/

The summer continues and that means you need some new music! The new update has been done and we have lots of great new mixes from some amazing d-jays from all over the world!!! Load up your I-pod, take a peak at some of our new videos, and hopefully if your in the Toronto area you might be able to find some time to join us on the high seas in July!

Until the next update! Are you listening?

http://www.groovetheglobe.com/

Is creativity seasonal?

2009-02-20T09:42:00.000-08:00

February 18th 2009

The snow is coming down like cats and dogs as I sit by the window watching this winter wonderland come to life. It’s a new year with new goals and nothing inspires me more then a cold blanket of snow filling the streets below. Most people say that the cold is something that blinds creativity. The shorter days, the lack of interest in going outside and of course the gloom that people express emotionally in the winter tends to be a downer. This to me is not the case. I seem to play the game in reverse due to the fact that I find the sun and patio sessions the easiest distraction to get away from a computer screen. The winter I embrace, especially the months that follow the Christmas holidays. I find my creativity goes in cycles and this particular time between now and May is some of my best moments for giving birth to new and improved ideas. I think my reasoning behind my brain storming is I always feel like I’m beginning again with the new year and I can focus. I’ve usually made a conscious decision to change something in my life and I always aim to get a deadline on track. This year I decided to quit smoking which has been easier then I thought and I’m finally in the editing room with the 100’s of hours of footage in front of me ready to make a documentary. The only other time of year that gives me this kick start is September which I think is because of that school year mentality that we were programmed with. January and February tend be longer bursts of creativity for me then these particular months but it’s always nice to know where your head is at. Everyone is different I guess but one things is true for me, I’m truly embracing this moment.

So let me take you through my winter thus far and give you some thoughts and stories on what I’m up to with the world known as GGN. This has been a long process as I stated in my various entries and I’m finally coming up on the 3 year mark which will fall on March 24th. This date was my first visit to the Winter Music Conference in South Beach Miami when I decided to take a chance on an idea for a documentary. I remember it like yesterday and as I prepare myself for another adventure in a months time, I can’t believe I’ve managed to put together what I’ve done. Thanks to credit card money, bartending tips, film jobs, and random pick up work that most people would cringe at, this project is alive and well. This documentary has been financed by no big studio, no big bank, no private investor, and has a lot of blood sweat and tears put into it by myself as well as others who have been generous with their time when they can. My debt is in the 6 figures and it still has more to go to take it over the finish line in post production. I’m applying for a grant which comes up in May but there are no guarantees; it’s always a crap shoot. The only thing I can have faith in with this grant proposal is that we have put extra care into creating the GGN brand. The site has truly evolved over this 3 year time period and with what we have to offer in terms of content, style, and approach on the site, this will certainly give us a greater chance for consideration. The film will move forward nonetheless and as each image and storyline comes to life in the studio, I can’t help but be proud of what is coming together. The story has made such an evolution in its original concept. Beyond the sociology topics were examining, a history and examination in the progression of this scene as related to the world around us has come to life. This film is becoming more then just about electronic music; it’s a time capsule.

The internet has been a fascination of mine since we began this journey years ago. It has always given back in terms of allowing global communication through email and as we try and give back to the public with our site, we have been evolving our presentation. We want to be connected with our public and the Global Groove Network is just that, a network. Our main goal is to become a partner with several brands that have the same mission statement as us and help one another create awareness for this scene through unique avenues of broadcasting on line. Thus far, January has proven to be a great step in this direction and we have numerous people we are in talks with to create a stronger presence to our audience as well as just pool our resources to give back to a community we love. I feel when the film is done and we are ready to hit the film festival circuit, we will have a great opportunity to get the word out about this underground pleasure known as electronic music.

As for our television show we have currently switched sales agents in order to reach some new contacts in the television world. As the year was ending and the news from our original production partners was vague, we believed that maybe someone else might be a great approach. Thus far we feel it has been a good fit and VH1 finally is taking a look at our pilot and package with intent. My only concerns in this day and age have been what the audience wants which is not necessarily a show I’m looking to do… at least this is what some of the networks have been saying. Overall they think the pilot looks and feel’s great but because the demand for reality TV requires the STAKES element (think competition type shows) the public might not want to watch. I would like to think that some audiences out there have a brain but our culture seems to like to ingest the safe, mindless, emotionally charged type programming in this particular genre of television. I have a few ideas that I’m playing with when we meet with VH1 again next month but hopefully this avenue doesn’t need to be pursued. I like what we’ve done but as in life compromise sometimes becomes the only answer to achieve the objective. This will be quite an interesting couple of months.

Well a new update has been done to the site and I’m proud to say we have some great new content which includes an interview with Jon Rundell, Carl Cox’s prodigy, as well as some amazing mixes from both international d-jays like Andy Caldwell and Colette, along with some rising stars on the scene from Spain and Canada. I highly recommend you download the LIVE and DIRECT pod cast from DJ Jedi and Lenny Ibizarre. These mixes are a lot of fun and great to listen to at the gym, in the car, or a make shift dance party in your house.

Winter Music Conference is next and with a scheduled interview line with some great new d-jays and producers, the content will only continue to get better on the site as well as provide some exciting new extras for the documentary. Until we meet again… ARE YOU LISTENING?

www.groovetheglobe.com

Reflection vs Progress

2008-12-11T05:43:00.000-08:00

December 9th

The holidays are fast approaching and as I step back to take a breath and reflect on the year that has just past, I’m trying to figure out where my head is at. We have had lots of ups and downs with this Global Groove Network adventure and I’m just having one of those days of question. I was trying to figure out what I should talk about in this particular entry. Reflection came to mind but I almost don’t want to put myself in that head space right now. Progress seems like the better topic to chat about but again, my head is all over the map today trying to tell myself, where am I exactly?

Reflection and Progress… two states of mind that have their own unique differences and parallels. I have come to know this as the two driving forces in my life right now that keep my mind on a constant see-saw of emotion. How is it as humans that we feel so much? Sometimes I wish I could turn my brain off and not think about this project but I’m consumed with it. The passion is good, don’t get me wrong, but it really starts to eat away at you as every roadblock or new challenge that presents itself amplifies the continual frustration of making a project like this come to life. I love what I’m doing but it takes a little away from me each day because of the amount of stress required to fulfill a dream.

I just turned 33 on November 19th and as we approach the New Year, this will mark 3 years in the making. I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished and what is available on our site. I really feel we’ve captured the essence of the electronic scene with GGN. The d-jays, the promoters, the club goers, as well as new scenes that I’ve been exposed to as I’ve traveled the world are life experiences. I get stressed and writing my thoughts out and sharing with the general public helps me control my see-saw that I continually ride… I’m looking forward to writing my next entry come the New Year, with hopefully some more insightful thoughts on the projects progress. Sometimes just spitting out thoughts randomly like I have helps me think clearly… for now I have to keep those ideas to myself but I promise I will share in the near future.

Until the next time… my suggestion is to check out the site and take a peak at the amazing content that is available, including our newest segment on my adventures in Ibiza. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Are you listening?
www.groovetheglobe.com

Ibiza becomes a reality...

2008-10-17T06:20:00.000-07:00

October 15th, 2008

We just past the half way point of the month I always look forward to, October. The reason for my passion for October is because it has been bookmarked for life as a special time within my existence. The two biggest passions in my life right now, my wife and this documentary project, both found their beginnings during this time. My wife and I met at a DJ Dan event at This Is London on October 6th two years ago and the year prior to that date, I decided to mortgage my life on the Global Groove Network idea. This year has been no different in its big puzzle pieces known as my life and since my last entry a lot has changed and progress has been the theme.

As the summer was winding down I had been in a stale mate position with playing the waiting game for television pilot pitching and working a second job to pay down debt while the documentary editing was just puttering along. I hadn’t had an opportunity to go out an interview people and get more of my ducks in order due to the fact I was working 50 hours a week, with a lot of nights in that mix, and also waiting patiently about Europe and financially planning my next step. As the last weeks of August sped up, as time always seems to do, I just made a pact with myself to stop waiting and get back to it. September is always that great time to focus once again. My mind always had that time remembered as the beginning of my school year and I wanted to be active mentally. The hard work of September would always pay off and give October a big moment in some way. This year was no different…

September involved interviews with Lee Burridge, Honey Dijon, reshoots, and the biggest score of them all… the green light for IBIZA. This trip was the icing on the cake and an experience I was able to capture on film and am truly excited about putting together and highlighting within the film as well as showcase on the site.

Ibiza involved several components which were a lot to accomplish for one person but I was up for the challenge. With only a week to plan and enough money to send just me, I had a lot of hats to wear and a long voyage overseas which lasted 24 hours, 2 planes, 2 buses, 7 hour lay-overs, rental cars with shitty maps, and 7 hour time differences that was just wonderful on my body. When I actually arrived on the island, stress was my first emotional moment I got to deal with. It took me a moment to adjust but finally after a hot shower, some cool Scottish folk’s hospitality, and a mini club in my hotel with great staff and cold beer, I was back on track…

The trip was a whirlwind lasting 4 days on the island which included the DJ Awards, up close and personal with Sander Klienenberg at Café Mambo and PACHA, a sunset at Café Del Mar, interviews with Richie Hawtan, Adam Beyer, Lenny Ibizarre, along with just culture intake and the most rejuvenating moment finishing the trip, the journey to the rocks of Atlantis. The experience was intense, eye opening, and a great chapter to this journey I’ve been on to accomplish this narrative chapter in my life.

As I began to look at the footage a week later after I got back, it just began to sink in that I got to do this. It’s hard to describe these kind of moments in your life because the stress of succeeding and accomplishing your goals. These goals are not really clear when you go to a strange land because of the element of chance creates a sense of doubt in your mind. Most of my moments were last minute green lights and the rest was just stories told to you of where to go. Would it be worth it? Would the gods help you out? I had a day where it rained and some how I still pulled out a sunset on film even though that was a day that might have been lost and a sunset might have not been in the cards. The gods gave that to me… at some point you start feeling fate is having a hand in this process.

The fall will be an interesting transition as October always seems to begin the cycle. With last minute interviews in place with big names like Carl Cox and an editing schedule that is picking up pace to wrap this project up; this will be an amazing close to 2008.

ARE YOU LISTENING? www.groovetheglobe.com

Why we do what we do?

2008-08-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

August 5, 2008

The summer has reached its midway point and as you lay out game plans you begin to understand that you can’t always get what you want. June had its ups and downs since that last entry with Donald Glaude ending up being a flake and constant roadblocks to go through to keep the documentary on track for wrap up at the end of this year. Time goes by so fast and sometimes I feel I can’t keep these goals in tact. This is life; this is reality; I’m dealing with it… as we all do.

I’ve decided to take a break from the interviewing until September while I focus this month on the editing of the gathered material thus far. My editor and I were going through tapes to put out a new trailer and its funny how you can see a significant chapter of your life with this gathered footage. I’ve been working on this project for over two years now and by the time were done it will be at the three year mark with potential for many more years to come with the TV show. I have a deep love for this music and scene but the drain sometimes gets to me. Passion can be chaos but I believe it’s for a greater good. I plan on delivering to the public something that means a lot to me and I hope it will mean something to the participants and to the fans and newcomers to the culture who watch this when were done. In the meantime this new trailer will give you a taste of how this project has evolved and started to take shape. Take a peak if you have an opportunity… it’s just a click away at : http://www.groovetheglobe.com/

This particular entry is a short one as I wait on confirmations for Europe in September, dates on studio time with talent, and follow up interviews with some professors and promoters. The plan is to get all this done before the end of August which time will only tell; This chapter is one of many… until we open the book again; are you listening?

The summer begins...

2008-06-17T06:30:00.001-07:00

June 15st, 2008

A couple of months have gone by since my last entry and life has certainly changed and evolved with time… I’ve always longed for change throughout my life, I feel it keeps me sharp and aware of the life I’m leading and wake’s me up when you begin to stall with routine. As of late I’ve felt that stalling and monotonous routine that plagues everyone at some point. The waiting game for the television show pitches, the reality of running low on funds to film, and having to work my ass off nightly in a bar to keep the cash flow coming to support my dream. Along with this my wife and I have had to endure a stalker who intermittently hides behind an email address and talks about fucking my wife, and living out their twisted fantasy of trying to cause havoc in our life. It’s truly sad because the cops can’t do anything because of the ease of hiding within the internet community and using your computer as a weapon… my wife and I laugh at it as that is all we can do but you really have to wonder about people in this day in age. Who the hell has the time to sit at home and stew in their own craziness and think of ways to write dialogue that is truly a joke when you come to think of it. This person is sure not Hemmingway in their comment structure and sometimes I believe that school is failing our youth when it comes to the English language. Its ‘good’ not ‘gooder’. My teaching ends here you freak…

On a better note, we just moved and the reboot to the system with a new locale, new interviews and events for GGN, a finalized production deal, and being that much closer to finishing the documentary, life is back on track!

I want to give you the line up for this last couple of months in the life of GGN. The network had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with some incredible talents in their own genre within the electronic scene, Benny Benassi and Christopher Lawrence. Both these talents are veterans within the scene and have been producing music and traveling the world playing for millions of people of all race and religion. The sit down with these two was a great piece to add to the GGN web pages and give you the fan some insight on what the message we keep pushing is, connection. Both Benny and Christopher opened up and really enlightened the message GGN represents through their experiences and time within the community. Both these artists are at the top their game and are among the elite who get to live the dream of touching a crowd country to country and continent to continent. The interviews we have done will be available soon on the site but in the meantime you can visit and grab some killer mixes and new posted material that focuses on the lives of Nic Fanciulli and Terry Mullan. Both these artists I’ve talked about in past entries and to present you, the fan, with some new videos for your viewing pleasure are always a treat!

As we move into the summer and the touring really starts to pick up, my plan is to give you the network some great material for FREE on the site. I have interviews lined up with Donald Glaude and more to come. Along with this month of madness we will be doing some great intimate events throughout the summer that will give members a chance to have a personal moment with some great global talent. The pitches will be in full swing and the editing of our documentary will take us into the fall as I gear up for a trip to Europe in September. The money is being set aside and the final component of the doc is waiting for me in the UK and Ibiza… this will truly be a life changing moment for both me and the viewer.

Until we chat again… ARE YOU LISTENING?

VISIT: www.groovetheglobe.com

A New Year Has Begun ...

2008-03-25T11:11:00.000-07:00

March 25th, 2008

March Madness is the title I’ve given this period of time in my annual calendar and no I’m not referring to college basketball. It seems that every year around this time a lot ends up on the plate and it becomes the beginning of the fiscal year for GGN due to its original birth date. It’s been officially two years since we began and as per usual, the grand plans for this network has evolved and figuring out its strategy for reaching the masses keeps shifting. Now usually this journal entry would involve stories of WMC, which begins this week in South Beach Miami, but due to our financial commitments GGN has to sit this one out. It was a touch decision but with the TV show beginning its pitch rounds in the coming month and full tilt editing with the documentary, I had to make a choice. Now I’m very excited about these developments and the process of getting things to the big and small screen but to miss out on sun and great beats still sucks… next year!

Nic Faniculli… I just wanted to start with this name because I was blown away by this UK artist. Last month I mentioned I was going to interview him at the Guvernment in Toronto and let me say that his set was something that really blew me away. It was my first time seeing this d-jay live and he lived up to his mixed taped sets that I had heard up to that point. On top of this great mix, he ended up being a hell of a guy! We chatted for about 30 minutes and he really opened up and had a lot of insightful things to say on the scene of both past and present. This is someone you should look out for… he really has the goods behind the decks as well as just a genuine soul. The interview will be posted soon so make sure you look out for it!

Lee Burridge… I don’t have a lot to say yet on this guy due to a family emergency. I had to cancel my interview but I do promise he will get in front of the cameras soon when he’s back in Toronto. I’m a huge fan and even though I haven’t had the personal moment to gage a proper opinion I can tell you this… the boy knows how to mix! In the meantime I will have to just keep listening to the MP3’s I have available and again if you have some time to download some of his sets or buy his music you won’t be disappointed! Stay in tune with this beat master; he has a sound that is distinct and full of emotion.

Now in terms of filming this month my adventures were a little thin. I found this month was more devoted to editing and footage review for the documentary. The one thing that I did do that is certainly note worthy was visit Ithaca College in New York State. Now the reason for my trip was to film an anthropology class where I arranged with the professor an open forum type discussion class that talked about the tribal tendencies and affects of music on connectivity between people. The class consisted of 20 students and discussion questions were provided prior along with a viewing of the TV pilot in order to achieve some real thought from this generation of students on what this type of music in general provides as a connection and communication tool to the individuals who embrace this culture. The class was a big hit and we got a lot of interesting feedback on the scene as well as just general references of other types of musical festivals and events that create these environments for people to connect. I’m really excited to incorporate this with my other anthropology angles which include the POW WOW, my rainforest experience, the drum circle, as well as the upcoming interviews with some anthropologists. Theories that come to life through film is something that really intrigues me because of my visual sensibilities. I look forward to presenting it to all of you in the near future.

Well that’s it for now… I have some great interviews lined up which include Benny Benassi and Christopher Lawrence which I look forward to shooting and presenting to you the network. In the meantime the show must go on and we need to find a home for our show. If you enjoy reading these notes I have a treat for you that will not be offered anywhere else…

How would you like to check out the pilot for the TV show? This is the only place where you’ll get the link so pay attention. Just go to:

http://www.groovetheglobe.com/tvPilot/tvPilot.htm

User: guest Password: groove5

I would love to get your thoughts on this…

Feel free to email me at Courtney@admitone.ca and let me know what you think!

Until next time, ARE YOU LISTENING?

Pregnancy vs Electronic Music

2008-02-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

February 7, 2008

The alarm went off early today for me… I have had trouble sleeping over the past several weeks and finally I’m beginning to get back on track. The reason for my troubles seems to center around my regular routine of January shut down of my industry in Toronto. Film and television productions in the city is very seasonal when it comes to Hollywood North and when December starts to wind down and holidays are just around the corner, my work opportunities dry up and the bank account is left in a holding pattern of new dollar deposits. Of course the routine of withdrawal doesn’t change from my existing bill providers which leaves me in a dilemma… this dilemma has been my routine throughout my entire twenties and newly visited thirties but it’s now something that has evolved into a new type of mind games. These mind games are self inflicted of course and involve a word everyone is oh so familiar with, STRESS. My stress has reached an all time high as of late due to the fact that I’ve mortgaged both my wife and I on a vision that we both feel strongly about, but still have steps to go to reach that pot of gold. Our bank accounts are nearly empty, debt is in the six figures, my wife and I have a few jobs on the go and it’s still barely enough to keep a float and still move forward… but we still push on with confidence in what we want to bring to the masses. I can’t tell you how much I love my wife and how much I appreciate the support she has provided me up to this point… the basket case that she has to deal with in my moments of stress and crisis can be a pain in the ass but she always calms me down before I become a facilitator of mayhem in my own mind. I thank you for that… xoxo.

With all that being said, I do have good news on top of all the stress which revolves around the television spin off series. The show is just about ready for presentation and I have a few parties interested in getting involved. With these opportunities on the horizon I’m still plugging away at editing the documentary and updating the website as we get closer to the end result so it can’t be all bad? The journey has decided to go the way it needs to go and my happiness shines brighter then my inflicted mental chaos even if it knocks me around a little.

Taking this perspective and stepping back from the stress that has been building over the last couple of months really came to fruition this past weekend when I got back from a film expedition in South Carolina. Columbia SC was the setting for my chapter involving the OBGYN and my theories of connection and communication between mother and baby during its term in the womb. I truly believe that the rhythm and beat of the heart has an affect on how the child connects to the mother. With my camera and questions ready, under the guidance of the doctor and ultra stenographer, I captured 3 stages of pregnancy and was happy and surprised in a surreal manner as my theories had some real basis. My best way to describe this to the mothers out there as well as people who genuinely find human connection interesting is picture the womb as a dance club while the heartbeat becomes the d-jay for the growing life that inhabits this environment. The sounds, the rhythms, the tempo, and the overall connection it creates is undeniable in its pre-linguistic type communication between the two. Of course this is all theory but to experience and witness it makes you feel something inside that can’t be described in words but can be categorized as ‘The Big Picture’. This truly changed me overnight and allowed me to find a sense of bliss in this financial turmoil that has been stressing me out. The ‘Big’ picture is truly something I want to live by when creating my art which is film and television as well as how I want to perceive on going situations that present themselves in my life. This is truly an experience…

This is all I got for you this month but I have a lot more of the sociology aspects of my mission statement to film this coming month as well as a few more d-jays including Lee Burridge and Nic Faniculli… The Global Groove Network is alive and well people!

ARE YOU LISTENING?
www.groovetheglobe.com

The new year has begun...

2008-01-10T07:35:00.000-08:00

January 9th

This is the beginning of a new chapter in my life… as always this seems to be the title of my story every time January comes around. Why is it that we always need that official starting point in order to keep our lives in check and with purpose? I’ve always wondered why it has to be defined in the starter month to a new year. Shouldn’t we look at everyday as that starting point? That is the philosophy I want to uphold this year… each day has it’s own adventure and after a relaxing holiday and a crazy couple of months to end my 2007, it’s time to maximize the year that will truly define my dreams realizing their full fruition.

Let me recap for you the chaos that is my life and the passion that I’ve given birth to, GGN. With every dream you have to dissect it into many levels and challenges. I’m approaching the two year mark in March on the original execution of conception of my documentary and the ride has been nothing but amazing, stressful, enlightening, heart-breaking, and eventful. Everything you can imagine of pursuing a dream in full gear has happened on this journey of discovery for me, including the highlight last year, meeting my soul mate and marrying her. The electronic music culture has opened its doors to me and allowed me to capture the message of family and connection we feel when we let music speak to us. The excitement that I’ve witnessed and have been fortunate enough to create with my reunion and parties has had an affect on me. You carry around an idea that you hope will connect with people and as 2007 wound down I could honestly say that message has begun reaching the masses. With the use of the internet, support from friends, the artists, and participants within the scene, GGN is becoming a new staple in the global electronic community. I thank you for this on going support and please spread the word… this is more then a brand, it’s a movement. www.groovetheglobe.com

Now to get you up to speed of the closing months of 2007 let me start off by saying this was the most exciting of the shoot thus far. The reunion of my old crew had had many false starts throughout the year and a couple of moments I had my doubts that we would be able to pull this off. My friends were scattered throughout Canada and the United States and by some miracle I was able to track down and run into each one of them through fate and pure coincidence. The date was set November 30th at This Is London in Toronto with one of the talents that defined our dance floor antics, DJ Dan. The stage was set for everyone to meet at my place for dinner and drinks for the first time at 7pm that day and as I woke up in the morning to go pick up DJ Dan from the airport, it all began to sink in with anticipation. This reunion was two years in the making and like any dream; it never feels real until the day of. I was excited, nervous, and impatient for the night to begin. Would everyone get along still? Would the spirit of this separated family find its home again? The answers were only hours away from being addressed…

The clock struck 7pm and the doorbell starting ringing… The group: Mike, Chad, Grant, Eric, Sol, and Richie strolled in through out the first hour as I prepared dinner and all I can say is it was business as usual! Without missing a step this group of individuals gelled together like the old days with a little more life experience and wisdom guiding each one of their lighthouses. As the night carried on, the group reconnected and as we sat I just took in the moment. It was truly amazing and memorable… for now it’s my memory and that’s all I want to share. I have several more months to keep this personal which I’m excited about. When I’m ready to share more with you on this you will be the first to know… the film is winding down with the shooting and now were pushing forward in the editing department. This is the next phase in my journey with other minor chapters to capture for the story… I can’t help but get misty eyed as this gets closer.

I promise more frequent updates and thoughts as the winter month’s move forward. That new chapter I’ve started demands it! In the meantime hit the site www.groovetheglobe.com and experience the journey and spirit of this movement in a more intimate and revealing setting… I promise it has that power to change you through it’s music and message if you let it.

Until we meet again… GGN is on the air! Are you listening?

GGN - Evolution and Update

2007-11-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

September to November 2007

The chapter you’re about to read is one that will have many layers… we are well into the fall counting down the days to winter and I have left a big gap between my last entry. The reason for this has been because I’ve been busy…

Let’s get you up to speed… August… this month was a ‘work’ month for me. I was able to do some filming with the back story of my project and capture some intimate interviews with some of my friends that are part of the reunion sub-plot of the documentary. ‘Work’ though was referring more to cash flow for the dream. Primarily I work on film and television sets to pay the bills and for the passion known as GGN but this summer due to marriage, a new place, and the always unforeseen expenses I dawned the apron one more time for tips. I worked at this patio driven Italian restaurant in Toronto known as The Standard. This place certainly set a STANDARD… let me tell you… but I don’t think it’s going to be winning any awards this season. In all my years serving and bartending I’ve never worked at such a fucked up place where the staff steps in then steps out all in one breath and the intoxicated cooks and bartenders set a new level of excellence on speed and quality. We should have been shut down so many times on our lack of health regulation quotas but for some odd reason in the summer this place was crazy busy… The clientele was certainly a mixture of middle to low class and I guess the place had a little charm but when you’re there for as many days as I was clocking in during August the charm runs thin. Life is all about doing what you need to do to survive and achieve a greater sense of self-worth and satisfaction so this was my step towards that. August wrapped, more bills were paid, and as the Labor Day weekend approached I got excited! I was planning on filming the big event at the Guvernment and get interviews with Armin Van Buuren and Sander Van Doorn which was purely an accident of sorts due to the fact that I’m not a huge Trance music guy. This accident ended up being one of the highlight surprises of my journey thus far…

It was Sunday… Labor Day weekend… and thanks to Cyrus, a great supporter within the Guvernment family, he arranged getting these talented artists to agree to some interviews. I was dead tired from the shift at the restaurant the night before but when I woke that Sunday afternoon I was energized for a late night of killer beats and great insight from these artists. Armin has been ranked in the top 5 in the world for many years and this year actually made it all the way to number one which was well deserved for his style of music within the electronic genre. Sander cracked the top 20 and is a new comer of sorts but his music and presentation behind the decks is something that will surprise any skeptic… especially someone like me, who is only now growing an appreciation for Trance music. The night was all about spectacle… The Guvernment rolled out the red carpet for it’s patrons with Brazilian type dancers shaking ass outside for the lined up crowd, trampoline acrobats showing their skills, and outside d-jays entertaining the anxious crowd waiting to get inside. I really admire the Guvernment for trying to give as much bang for their buck to the crowd… it’s a highly competitive industry and it’s nice when you see the peeps who have coin actually show you that they will not spare any expense to give the crowd an experience. I’m certainly a fan of the simplicity’s but you need both to create a balance within the community and culture. It’s about the celebration of music and this was certainly that…

The interviews went amazing with Armin and Sander and if you get a chance take a peak on the site you’ll get a taste of it. I have a newfound respect for these two artists and actually plan on getting more in depth into their crazy worlds when I travel to Europe in the New Year.

Another highlight within the Guvernment family interviews was my chance to speak with the resident d-jay for the past 11 years Mark Oliver. This guy is truly an interesting character with a genuine heart and passion for the music he plays. Throughout the years that I partied hard during the late nineties I would pop up at events where Mark was the maestro and it was always a highlight of the party. Mark is one of those rare talents that have such an amazing catalogue of music choices that he can sustain a party for 9 hours behind the decks. The crowd will never be bored when he’s in control and he is one of the few d-jays today that still incorporates vinyl into his set. The conversations we had were very insightful in the back story of the Toronto scene back in the nineties as well as just his own inspirations as an artist. Along with interviews from other major players during the old school Toronto days, you, the audience, are in for a treat of what the SCENE use to be here in the city. His sneak peek will be available later this month so make sure you check out the site…

The month of September flew by and with many hours put down in the editing room to catch up on all the footage we had shot, the process of putting a project like this together really came into scope. You have an original vision about things and as you start the process it changes and evolves in your head. Along with these changes you have to deal with the limitations of finance, scheduling, and the unknown… it really has taken its toll on the mind so to speak. Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t be more pleased with the progress of the film, the brand, and the vision of what GGN is becoming but I’m continually being drained. I have an amazing team of camera peeps, editors, and business affiliates that have jumped on board to help the cause but sometimes the time lines that we try to meet are trying and unrealistic on paper. I have to say though this is been truly a test in patience and determination and it’s still several months away from me putting to bed… but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger… and certainly I’m a different person for the better because of it.

October… let’s start with a word to describe it… EVOLUTION.

When I say evolution it refers to my original ideas being shaped by the environment around me. As I stated on numerous occasions you sometimes become a product of your environment. You have to roll with the punches and sometimes the path that you think you’re choosing ends up choosing you. This couldn’t be anymore true when it comes to how my reunion has shaped up for execution at the end of November. Originally I had a grand concept of throwing a big party at the Guvernment with a huge line up of d-jays that I’ve been interviewing and play out the reunion on camera in this setting. Due to some financial setbacks we had to change the plan but in its own weird way it kind of changed and evolved for the better. The party now is happening at the end of November at This Is London in Toronto and the headliner is the one and only DJ Dan. This couldn’t have played out any better then I could have imagined due to the fact that Dan was the first d-jay that we as a group really connected to and over the course of this shoot I’ve gotten to know Dan and his peeps on such a greater level of friendship. Connection, family, and tribal tendencies that are the core messages addressed in the film will have a true home and event to be the back drop for. I can’t wait until the 30th when all the familiar faces get together for One Night Only. A big party will happen sometime in the future for the brand GGN but for now this is the path that chose me…

The rest of the month has involved a lot of amazing things but instead of highlighting more and more stuff for you I think this would be a great opportunity to take a peak at the site… we have updated it with mixes, sneak peeks, bios, links, and so much more… to truly experience what were trying to do as a movement you need to do some viewing… check out www.groovetheglobe.com and join our network of electronic music lovers…

Stay tuned… highlights of the reunion; interviews with Steve Angelo, Blank and Jones, Satoshi Tomei, and Hector Romero are just around the corner!!

June and July - LIFE MOVES PRETTY FAST!

2007-08-10T15:15:00.000-07:00

June to July 2007

I’ve been neglecting the write ups as of late due to the fact that my life has been incredibly busy and I do apologize… I’ve wanted to give you the reader and future viewer of my adventures a chance to really get a behind the scenes look at what I’m trying to accomplish with this passion project of mine. As you can see there is a bit of a gap in time but as you’ll see as I write my ups and downs for this particular time span there is plenty to catch you up on!

Let’s start form the beginning of June where the chaos and pressure started to mount as our deadlines to finalize deals for the party reached the critical stage… The talks with the venue had been going on for relatively two months up to this point and everything was always on a positive note but the word ‘stall’ truly found it’s meaning in our dealings. Our promoters had been in an ongoing conversation that said essentially said ‘yes’ to the party but due to the way things are handled at the venue it required a few people to sit in the same room and do the necessary hand shakes to agree on the terms. Stress was mounting on my end due to the fact that as much as my promoters were filling me in on the events it’s never the same as actually being there to comment on all the conversation that is going on in the moment. I had put complete faith in my promoter which is needed but due to the fact it’s my money on the line I was beginning to feel the strain of the unknown. The loan from the bank was hanging by a thread due to the mystery of the final deal we would strike up with the venue and are timeline to book the talent was running out… it was truly pressure cooker time and the end result pushed through June which made new choices having to be made. The dream of Film Festival execution had slipped from our grasp and a new date seemed to be the only solution… After discussing options with my partners and the bank we decided to move it to the beginning of March during Fashion Week in Toronto in order to give us the necessary time to book the talent we wanted and coincide with an event week in my hometown. I guess snow will potentially be our back drop instead of sun but the reality of heat and good times will still be evident on the dance floor come that fateful night in 2008.

Now if that was not enough in the stress department the countdown was on for the official ceremony for the biggest day of my life to date… the date I speak of involved one beautiful lady, 50 of my closest friends, one dad, a pair of new surrogate parents, and an island off the coast of California known as Catalina. This was my wedding… this was the day that was truly going to change my life… and this is one of those amazing times of stress that you embrace but in terms of timing sometimes can add a lot to an already full plate of responsibility. I’ve been fortunate that I have decided to marry a woman who deserves a cape and secret identity in the organization department which gave me some relief but to watch her bog herself down with her overwhelming schedule added some spice to some of our conversations over the course of June. As well as I thought I knew time management, there is no way to compare my skills to hers due to the fact that mine match a 2 year old learning to walk compared to my sexy and intelligent lady. In case I haven’t thanked her enough here is a little shout out to the lady of the hour Jennifer… you are an angel of organization that keeps me on the straight and narrow… I LOVE you for it and am at your disposal for anything you need… especially sexual… did I say that out loud? Oh yes I did!

With all this going on I managed to still keep work moving forward by journeying back to Cleveland on a short notice trip to interview ATB and Kenneth Thomas. If you’re curious why Cleveland has become a repeat destination my only answer to that I felt this would be my only opportunity in this journey to add some thoughts from these two talented d-jays to the film. Both d-jays are more of a trance sound in their expression and to truly give a perspective of understanding to this culture I felt it important to expand from my haven of HOUSE music to other genres of dance. ATB and Kenneth were an absolute pleasure to interview and gave two very different voices to the themes I was covering. ATB is from Germany while Kenneth is from Detroit… Europe vs. North America… the sounds and message comes from the same place but the way it is expressed is truly different. The crowd wasn’t disappointed and neither was I…

With all this going on during the month of June, the time flew by and as most people experience there never seems to be enough time in the day. I was behind in my editing due to scheduling conflicts with my editors, the wedding was closing in, the party had to be pushed, and due to these set backs more adjusting to business plans had to be done to appease the bank that was now causing us issues due to our date changes. The stress was mounting, my debt was at an all time high and the light at the end of the tunnel was starting to seem further and further away. Did I mention I moved as well? Let me give you some advice… if you feel the world is closing in with pressure, don’t move. It’s simple advice… advice I couldn’t really take myself due to my living arrangements… but advice nonetheless I will take to heart in any other future bogged down monthly schedules. I could keep explaining and describing the process as how it happened to me but I think MOVE is all I need to say.

With the wedding right around the corner and the editing behind schedule I looked forward to unplugging for the big event and regrouping when I got back. It was a 10 day adventure with my friends and wife to be and I couldn’t ask for a better moment for this to happen. With all the stress that had mounted it all just melted away like the first days of spring. It was a special day and a special week with the people I care about. The reflection of why I’m doing this film for me came out in all its glory as FAMILY became my muse for getting back on the horse and recharging the battery for the journey that lies ahead.

The journey and its journals will start once more as the month of July comes to an end and the back story to my Toronto days is focused on through the month of August. New segments, mixes, and interviews will be exposed to YOU the public! Just remember…

ARE YOU LISTENING?

Max Graham ... The travelling minstrel

2007-08-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

I left you last with comments about my financial situation… has it changed? Rocky roads have been the trail as of late but this is the week I find out if everything will work out… that’s right… within the next couple of weeks I’m hoping to lock down the loan. The new people that I’ve partnered up with have been amazing and feel confident that they can make the magic happen for my bank account. As I board the plane to head to Panama to film Max Graham the dream feels like it still has life… but more on that later… for now the focus becomes on what really needs to be talked about… Max!

For the last 10 years there has been a presence in my evolution within the house scene. This presence has shaped me with his skills behind the deck and as a producer in general. I’ve been fortunate enough to be exposed to a lot of great talented d-jays being from Toronto and with many of these skillful maestros coming from different countries from around the world it was nice to finally have a talent from my country reach a global audience with his sound. This statement doesn’t put down the local talent because we certainly have some of the best in the world but when an individual can reach out of his own kitchen and start cooking for a larger population that appreciates what he cooks then you should take notice and understand why… Max Graham is this chef I speak of and to experience a set and voyage through his eyes it is truly an amazing moment to any electronic music fan.

Panama was scorching hot with record temperatures and the kind of dirty heat that you appreciated but questioned as parts of your body sizzled with delight. Central America had opened its doors and with Max on tap to interview in the evening my crew and I decided to visit the city and find out where the borders began and the similarities blend. Panama is a city of both wealth and poverty. No middle ground seems to exist and even though the areas we traveled to have issues of just complete rundown economic stature, the people seemed to deal with it with a sense of happiness. One thing I did notice that was quite interesting in these moments of examination was that music seemed to be playing… it was in Spanish… varied in genres… but the soundtrack and message it gave to the people listening was quite noticeable and uplifting to the surroundings around. Music does that to people, be it from whatever genre, and it’s nice to feel that universal synchronicity 1000’s of miles away from your home. The power of rhythm and beat is a special thing to listen to and control… it only helped build excitement as the day flew by and we approached our interview time with Max.

The interview with Max happened and for me to go into detail at this moment would be wrong due to the fact that the cameras were rolling… you the electronic listener will get your full experience soon enough… until then just know that this well spoken individual didn’t hold back and gave us one of our finest interviews which I can say makes me proud to be Canadian as well as gives me that sense that this project through hell or high water needs to make it to the finish line.

Normally my entries wrap up there thoughts on my final notes on the artist but we were fortunate to experience another chapter in the Panama files… oh yes… this is where the eyes really opened up as a visual artist whom I categorize myself as. I’m not one in the traditional sense but as a film maker you take the world and create a canvas through your lens, scenery, story, characters, and choices of putting it all together. Today… the day after Max took care of business at this beautiful oasis known as PLAY… was my first time tackling the rainforest and interacting with genuine Central America tribesman. The adventure was a last minute edition to the trip and with cameras in hand we went a couple of hours south into the heart of the rainforest to experience a tribe showcase it’s lifestyle and how music brings them together as one. The similarities to the bang of their hollowed out turtle shell drums, bird bone xylophones, and carved out flutes timed to the unison of a tribe chanting and dancing was amazing. The rhythm of the beat and the synchronized timing of their dance moves communicated to each other along with the visitors that had been welcomed into their world. I’ve never felt such calmness in my inner soul knowing that people like them have such common threads to my tribe’s power and meaning… The BEAT must go on…

More answers to my problems and adventures will be posted soon enough… I hope as you read this you get a chance to reflect on your life for a moment. The reason I say this is as much as the joy and pain do become unbearable sometimes we as human beings need this to help be complete in our existence. My adventure is far from over and I’m grateful…

Look at yourself for a moment and ask that question… Are you grateful? Until we talk again…

ATB … here I come!

Kick me when I'm down and I'll pick myself up! - GGN

2007-03-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

March 29th

This entry has so many highlights but It’s hard to reflect on the positive right away because I’m dealing with a severe blow that was dropped on me yesterday. The blow that I speak of comes from a financial sense and has caused stress for me and my wife for the last 24 hours. During this time that I’ve been shooting this film I’ve been financing this project with my credit cards and any other spare cash I can muster from the random jobs I’ve been working. A bank loan was discussed with several banks over the course of the last six months to finish the project and we had come up with a great business plan to clear the debt which revolved around the party I was planning on throwing and filming for the movie in Toronto. It looked like everything was falling into place and we found a co-signer for our loan and had all the elements set up with the venue and promoters for the event. Then the bomb was dropped; the bank we had discussions with had misread our proposal and realized they couldn’t help us. The small business loan terms we had proposed had us paying them back in September with interest payments taken care of in the meantime. The plan was fool proof due to the experience, the venue, and the talent we have connected with our party… but due to this non traditional way of how we planned on executing our proposal, the bank changed their mind when they registered the information for a second time. I think what really bugs me about this is that we approached them in November and they didn’t fill us in on this roadblock. We had wasted so much time working in one direction of getting a co-signer when in the end it ended up being all for nothing… now I’m under the pressure gun to at least raise 60k in a month for deposits and try and keep the schedule intact for the party in September. It’s truly a disaster in many senses of the word but I guess all you can do is get angry and cry for a day then get back on the horse and try to make things happen. Life is too short to just give up and for all the amazing footage I’ve managed to put together as well as the relationships I’ve made over this year with the electronic community, I refuse to give up! Kick me when I’m down… I can take it. I just need to find this money!

Any suggestions – cjexposed@hotmail.com

Now to the highlights: Before this bomb was dropped I had just got back from WMC in South Beach. Comparing last years trip which was the beginning of this journey to where I’ve come to this point it truly is amazing. Last year I was able to just get some random interviews with people through a magazine I came down with but it was truly just a fly by the seat of your pants kind of trip that didn’t have enough structure to my liking. A year later I had a tight precise schedule that had me able to interview a bunch of artists under the OM records label as well as follow DJ Dan around for two days for a pilot spin off show I want to do when the documentary is finished. The Thursday started with me interviewing Mark Farina, Chuck Love, Andy Caudwell and the OM records family as they introduced the public to some of their new releases and threw a crazy party which we filmed at Y Ultra Lounge in downtown Miami. The interviews were great additions to the project as well as the performance footage from all the artists were incredible. One person in particular, Chuck Love, brought the vibe to a new height with his combination of instruments, singing, and mixing that I hadn’t had a chance to ever experience. OM records and their stable of artists are truly pioneers in the electronic scene and have brought to the fore front some of the best talent and creativity I’ve seen. I was truly blessed that they let me share in this event and spectacle. I’m excited at the thoughts of bringing Mark Farina, Chuck Love, DJ Heather, DJ Colette, and Andy Caudwell to my party and exposing both the old and new fans of the scene to their music.

The other highlight on this journey is another chapter to my DJ Dan saga… oh yes… this was truly a unique moment in my life. Friday through Sunday I followed extensively Dan and his entourage as we got a true inside look into what it’s like to be a d-jay during one of the busiest times of their annual schedule. The parties included a Pete Tong essential mix, the world famous AM only party in Miami, a showing at the outdoor festival known as ULTRA, and finally one of the closing parties at SHINE in South Beach. The pace was fast and enlightening as Dan opened up and really gave the audience a sense of how things work for a big name d-jay as he travels from party to party over a 48 hour period.

With over 20 hours of footage from this day to day experience filming, I promise that the audience will get some true insight on this artist and how things truly work from a DJ perspective. My problems that I’ve mentioned financially at the beginning of this entry have set my stress levels to an all time high but reflecting on all these successes I can’t give up. Life is about challenge and for all the people who have helped me along the way to this point I owe them just as much as I owe myself… this project is to important.

Stay tuned… Max Graham is on deck!

Check out the extended network at www.groovetheglobe.com

The beat goes on - DJ Dan / Gabriel and Dresden

2007-03-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

March 8th

It’s funny when you look at the calendar and reflect back on a two month period since I last dropped some stories of my day to day activities. As I said in my last installment the next adventure was my favorite thus far… This dirty beat maestro that I’m covering has been with me since the beginning and is responsible for me meeting my wife… the man in question is a legend in my eyes… an underground rock star so to speak; Ladies and gentleman I’m about to give you my experiences with DJ Dan… oh yes… but don’t think I’m done there… oh no… I have more adventures for you! On top of this journey to Vegas I also went to Cleveland to interview Gabriel and Dresden, and traveled to LA as well to get down on tape some old memories with my long lost pal Mike and my dear friend Shauny B… these are good times indeed!

Lets start things off with a little Vegas recap… it was a crazy trip leaving Toronto; it was an early morning flight involving a connector and the custom agent decided to flex his muscles and give me a hassle about my camera. Now a hassle can be something of a moment that passes but this particular agent took it upon himself to be the prick we only stereotype about in the movies or on television. The delay became one that dragged out and within moments of coming to the conclusion that I couldn’t bring my camera, I was on the verge of missing my plane. It took me only a matter of moments to realize I needed to stash my camera in a locker, call my wife to pick it up, and make like the road runner and beep-beep through customs like a bat of hell. Sweat dripped and by the time I reached the plane with my belt and shoes in one hand and a ticket hanging from my mouth, I was a sweaty mess but fortunate for me they held the plane. Oh yeah, I was the asshole who held up the cause of getting everyone in the air and on time to their destination. I apologize but I can’t take all the blame. Fuck you custom GUY! Who ever you are! I solved the problem of a missing camera with a rental place in Vegas but this with a connecting flight drained the tank. I was tired but excited.

The night was like no other… Vegas, the city that never sleeps, ended up being the stage for my first meeting and introduction to my favorite DJ … Dan. JET nightclub was the setting and after some initial interview words from one of the icons within this culture, Dan took the house down with one of the best sets I’ve heard him play in years… it was truly an eye opening experience and the beginning of a fantastic relationship with one of my heroes.

The second adventure begins with a crazy snowstorm and a drive to Cleveland. My camera guy Dallas and I jumped into our rented car and made our way south of the border expecting a nice 5 hour drive to Cleveland but were greeted with 9 hours of super slow bumper to bumper driving as our legs lost feeling and we barely made it in time to interview our next subjects Gabriel and Dresden. This electronic music duo was a new introduction to me this year in terms of listening material and I have to say I was intrigued with their original beats and quiet demeanor. My friend Mike Mellon, who was the promoter for the event, suggested coming to check these guys out and get their thoughts on the culture. With really no background on their history except some exposure to their music, I was pleasantly surprised at what they had to offer in the comment department as well as what they brought to a live event. Club Sinergy was bursting at the seams as these two quiet guys blew away the crowd with their great beats and journey like control over their subjects. I gained a whole new respect for the duo and became excited at the prospect of having them come to the party I’m planning for September. I would recommend a night of booty shaking with these two anytime.

Now the last chapter on this particular adventure ends with my trip to Los Angeles. This was truly an exciting day for me when I got on the plane because I was excited at the prospect of spending some time with my old long lost friend Mike and his wife Monica. You become curious if things will be like they used to be and as I said before it seemed like we picked up where we left off when we met New Years Eve but this to me would be the true test. I was a little nervous but more excited then anything. This was one of my best friends during my East Side days and I just wanted it to be right. I could go on and on about our adventures over the two weeks I spent on the coast but you know what, those are memories I’m keeping to myself. Let’s just say it was two of the best weeks of my life and the two of them have been a missing piece of my life that I’m so happy and excited to have found once again. They’re truly great friends and people I have grown a strong attachment too. On top of that I got to connect with Shaun and the two of them helped me close another chapter of interviews for my documentary with their thoughts and reflections on our time back in the day at East Sides. It’s funny how individuals grow up and become respected adults but this is the point of this project. It’s about reflection and connection. Those days were our growing years as human beings and it’s nice to revisit and see that they have grown up to become amazing individuals. The more people I track down and the further this project pushes itself forward, the debt I’ve accumulated thus far and the vision I see this all becoming in it’s final presentation, makes it all worthwhile… thank you for being a part of my life… I owe you one.

For more news on the network check out www.groovetheglobe.com

GGN Journal #6 - The year ends with a bang!

2007-01-19T12:30:00.000-08:00

October to December 2006

It’s been a while since my last entry but bare with me… it’s all because of this amazing experience that I’ve come to know as my time capsule to myself and the many others out there who feel the music and how it relates to them.

Let me start from the beginning: It started on October 6th, a date that will sit in my mind for the rest of my life. The place was This Is London in Toronto where I attended my regular ritual of booty shaking when my favorite D-jay came to town, DJ Dan. It was a night that began like any other… Dan hit the turn tables and gave the crowd exactly what they called for… ‘The Dirt’! When I say dirt I refer to the musical assembly line of beats that come from that dirty place that makes every fan of the raw rhythm of house music shake it. Dan as always was on and the crowd loved it. If good music and company was enough I would agree with you but in this moment of tribal bliss I met someone. This someone was more then just anyone… she was a vision of beauty… a vision of strength… an individual that once you get past the hello’s you know you’re life is going to change forever. From that moment on I had found my Wonder woman… my soul mate… my best friend… my future wife. The date today is January 6th and as I type these words and get ready for my new year to begin, I have a date at City hall in a matter of hours. That’s right, I’m getting married! By the time I post this I will be officially hitched thanks to our love of DJ Dan and the bond that comes from this spiritual place that we, the house music followers, call our church. The wedding will come full circle when we do our true romantic adventure on Catalina Island in July with friends and family but for the meantime our love and respect for one another will be legally bound as we start our new year right… stay tuned for more details as 2007 continues.

Now that was the biggest of events that caught me by surprise as 2006 ended but it wasn’t the only adventure to happen with my journey. I got a chance to track down two of my old buddies from my early rave days that had been out of my life for many years. First was Chad. Chad was one of my closest friends during the old days and I was able to find him through our periodic contact throughout the years. Chad was a man of many talents and one of the best friends a guy could ask for. His life had had it’s up’s and downs like the rest of us but when I managed to catch up with him I’ve never seen him so happy. This happiness had truly blossomed from one place and one place alone… you see my brother in arms had become a daddy to a beautiful bundle of joy by the name of Lauren. His little lady was not even a year old and she was the one thing that single handedly put this guy on the fast track to becoming a man so to speak. Responsibility and goals were at it’s height in Chad’s life and I’ve never seen him more happy and with his shit together in a longtime. We got a chance to sit back and reminisce about the old days and the thoughts of getting the old crew together for a ‘One Night Only’ affair got us both excited and amused at where everyone was at this moment in their life.

Not to be outdone by that snapshot of the past and present, I had the biggest moment of fate other then meeting my wife that is hard to believe and can only be described as a miracle in my eyes. The miracle in question is my meeting with one of my closest buddies of my old era and East Side crew, Mike. I mentioned in a previous journal entry that I was tracking down Mike in the States because he had moved there years ago. The thing between Mike and I was very special and during the course of our early years we became like brothers. As do most brothers you have your ups and downs and this was no exception. Mike and I had reasons that we lost touch which I will leave to the film to answer but when it happened it shook both our foundations and caused a riff that made us lose contact for over 8 years. We both had always thought about one another but we never really took any steps to find each other because we didn’t know where to begin looking. When I decided to do this project I had no idea how to find Mike and was at a loss because he was so important to the assembling of my old group. He meant a lot to me and my time at East Side’s. Like a true moment of fate and a fairy tale type climax that I couldn’t predict any better my new year’s eve and 2006 gave me another gift. This gift came walking out of the crowd at an after hours party in Toronto… standing face to face, eye to eye, stood Mike in the flesh with his new bride by his side much like me and my lovely lady. This moment was truly poetic as we looked at one another and just let our jaws drop. It was like old times and we picked up right where we left off when the shock subsided. The rest of the evening and into the next day the four of us hung out and caught up. I spoke to him about the project and as the new-year continues I will be coming to meet and stay with him in Los Angeles and get the interview and hang out time that I hoped for. Its true folks… you’ve heard it hear from experience. Karma and fate go hand in hand. Be true to yourself and the people around you and life will take care of the rest.

Of course we expect the news to stop there for one entry but it’s not happening… The holidays were good to me and the 23rd is a date that stands out as an experience that truly made me a happy camper. You see, I had the pleasure of getting introduced through my wife a man that is just breaking the d-jay scene in a big way with his talents and personality behind the decks. His name is Anthony Attalla and he comes from south of the Canadian border in a dirty town by the name of Detroit. This wild man behind the wheels was someone I got to meet and greet at his set here in Toronto in October and I was just blown away at his energy and control of the crowd who both new him and were discovering him for the first time. It was undeniable and he became my next subject in my doc as I traveled down to Detroit to interview him and capture him in action at Bleu. The interview which you well get a chance to peak at on the site very soon was a very special moment as the man who I expected to wow me did with his passion and perspective on the culture and where he fit in during the present as well as the future. With that; a party at Bleu of 700 tribal members dancing their asses off was to follow as the Saturday became the event that would truly define a new year awaiting its arrival. I look forward to exposing him to you; the ever growing community that is known as the Global Groove Network.

The new-year has begun with a bang and I’m off to Vegas to film DJ Dan at JET nightclub in the Mirage. It’s his CD release party and it promises to be spectacular. What I truly look forward to do on this trip is meeting one of my idols behind the decks and the man who brought me bliss with the night I met the love of my life.

Stay tuned and be ready… DJ Dan is in the house soon!

Global Groove Network - Journal entry #5

2006-10-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

September 18th

This particular portion of the journey is something I’ve been looking forward to but at the same time avoiding in my mind. The first time experience of going to a ‘POW WOW’ at an Indian reservation is something I can’t wait to do… revisiting my home town… I’m avoiding it a little bit mentally. I haven’t been to my hometown in almost ten years and it’s been really put as a distant memory in my mind. It’s not to say I had a bad childhood but the tail end of my time before I left, my parents finally separated after 25 years. This experience was the last taste in my mouth before I went to university and it really was sour. My folks had what you could say a rocky break up. My dad was the support beam for me my whole life while my mom was like a storm always spreading strong negative energy all our ways. She wasn’t a bad person per say but she was really selfish and thoughtless sometimes on her decisions and emotional out bursts. It really took its toll on all of us. I couldn’t wait to leave and when I did I haven’t been back since… until now.

It’s the 16th… I’ve rented a car for me and my crew and we were off to Lakefield Ontario, my old hometown. The purpose of this piece is to give the viewer some background on why this story means what it means to me. The beats of choice for this trip are mixed tunes from The Greenskeepers, Theivery Corporation, Kruder and Dorfmeister, and so on… so if you know these bands you’re getting a sense of the mood. I’m relaxed and ready to absorb the moment; Nothing like a little highway driving in to cottage country to start the day right.

We arrive in Lakefield and some things have changed but there is certainly a lot that hasn’t. I see a skeletal of the past with the present popping through. It certainly would have been nice if McDonalds existed during my childhood days. Nothing beats the quarter pounder combo… oh yeah. As we ventured through the village the memories just came and went as we continued to the destination that was still to come. The school sign was freshly painted but the driveway to the campus was the same… as we drove in I was getting a real sense of déjà vu which was really cool. I grew up at a private school out in the middle of nowhere. Lakefield has a population of 2300 people and is smack dab in the middle of farms, woods, lakes, and anything else you might think of as country surroundings. My dad was a teacher at this rich kid school where we lived as a family. Our house had a living residence for students attached and my father would play surrogate dad for about 50 teenagers. To give you an idea of what kind of teenagers he had to deal with lets just say Prince Andrew was included in the mix. It was really weird as a middle class family living there having to share your dad with rich kids and growing up with an assortment of people who had traveled half way around the world to go to school here. It was truly a unique and eye opening experience with pros and cons.

As we set up the cameras and took a stroll around the campus I opened up about my early days and it ended up being really rewarding dealing with things I hadn’t thought about in a while. A new appreciation for my childhood came to the surface and even though not every memory was a positive one I feel it’s good to reflect on your up bringing. The themes covered in this project are about connection and family. As I track down my surrogate restaurant family from ten years ago it’s nice to understand and bring to the surface my blood relations in order to really appreciate the journey I’m going on. This trip meant a lot to me and it even gives me the courage to reconcile with my mom… soon. I won’t lie to you… I went to my old house and saw the car in the driveway but my mom and I are not there yet… but I feel after this project I will be able to tell her everything that I feel and I’m hoping this one time she listens.

The second day to the weekend involved a couple of things that I really looked forward to. First was the experience of a culture that I grew up around but didn’t appreciate at the time and the second was getting to see one of my biggest role models in my life, my dad. The POW WOW was in the middle of bush out by the Curve Lake reservation about 30 minutes outside my hometown. The Ojibwa people do an annual celebration of their culture which kind of culminates other Indian cultures into one 2 Day celebration. For the course of two full days, led only by the drums of the elders, the celebration flows to a rhythm of beats and chants that have been carried down from generation to generation. People from the surrounding areas come and watch and participate as the dances and beats of the drum continue from the early morning until it’s time for bed… then it begins all over again. The similarities to the dance culture in terms of the celebration of music within a community are very much the same. You could compare the different drummers and chanters that participated as the d-jays while the community that embraced and took part from a dancing and spiritual sense is where a lot of us feel when we go to a party. It’s about expression which dancing is… communication stems from this expression and even though you can be strangers with the people you participate with at first, it’s really easy to come together when you’re involved in something like this. The footage we got will really knock this point out of the park… I look forward to bringing this chapter of the story to the screen.

The second thing that really made this day special was seeing my dad again. He came out to the POW WOW to say hi and actually help in communicating the Native message and purpose to the viewers on film. You see my father is a retired professor who has his masters in Native studies. He actually was the first white guy to graduate Trent University with a Masters in this field and he was kind enough to share his thoughts to myself, the crew, and the audience. He really shed some light on the parallels of the two cultures and their connection to music and performer as a guide to its community. I’m really excited to share it with you the viewer and I promise a new perspective will come from listening and seeing it for yourself.

Overall another great success; the stars seem to be in alignment and I’m really looking forward to the editing room as well as ironing out the details for the next trip. I’m off to LA again and possibly Vegas pending on the d-jays schedules. I plan on reconnecting with Mike in LA, one of my old friends from the East Side days, also I plan on going and doing some studio time with the artist Rithma in order to show the audience what goes in to making the music we love to shake our asses too, but as for the profiles I’m doing next… it’s a surprise.

Let’s just say it’s a big one and I can’t wait!!!

Global Groove Network - Journal entry #4

2006-08-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

July 24th

On the road once again… it’s a beautiful day and as I drive from Toronto to Montreal I can’t help but get excited as each kilometer ticks away. I have about five hours before I reach my destination but to keep me company is the new compilation Heather and Colette have put together. This Chicago bred duo has put together I think their best set to date on CD and I’m ready to enjoy…

You know what’s interesting to me is somewhere in the world someone is probably going to be doing the same thing I’m about to do in terms of listening to these discs…

Connections… we all have them and today for me is a day of reflection before I meet and interview the ladies.

The interviews happen at midnight once the ladies settle in from there cross country trek from the west coast. My crew and I are anticipating some great conversation and performances tonight at Stereo in Montreal. I'm pumped...

The travel… It’s fun but it truly becomes tiring and I have to say this because the ladies are in full tour mode around the world and I have to give the gals props… just to give you a sense of what they are doing in the next 30 hours it’s quite amazing. They left Chicago, they leave Los Angeles, they arrive in Montreal to perform at 5am for a crowd of excited followers and newbie’s, and they leave in the afternoon as they continue on to Dallas and continue their tour throughout the world. The love of the music and the love of performing and uniting the global community is the gas that keeps these music machines going… I love it!

The sun has gone down and the streets are alive here in Montreal… I've always liked coming back to this city because it’s like experiencing European culture and lifestyle with a twist of Canadian. My mom’s side of the family originated from here when my grandmother moved with my grandfather from France after the war. I was born in Ontario but my Quebec and European roots mean something to me and this city always brings it to the surface. It’s a perfect setting and great energy to capture the ladies in action.

The midnight hour is upon us and the interviews are about to begin…

The set begins at 5am and it’s full house here at Stereo…

All I can say as I walk into the hotel at 8am is that I have just experienced another chapter of new perspective and connection to both my fellow community brothers and sisters and the two ladies I counted the days to see… Miss Colette and Heather you are truly unique ladies of knowledge and talent and I thank you for sharing your thoughts and performances.

I won’t say any more but all you need to know is that when you see the footage put together in the finished film you will agree…

The next month I plan to edit my footage to date but I’m on the road again in September and through the winter as I profile more great names and reunite with old friends. I go next to an Indian reservation to film and study the true tribal sensibilities of an ancient race of people. The people I speak of are the Ojibwa natives. They are unique subjects that reflect the underbelly of what our connections through music and community stem from… I will witness a POW WOW and get perspective and history on what music means to them.

So stay tuned and turn up the volume… I want to dance beeeeatch!!!

Global Groove Network - Journal entry #3

2006-07-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

June 26th

The festival has just ended and it was a hell of a weekend. To give you an idea of how big this thing is I’m going to throw you some numbers. They estimate the city of Toronto basically doubles in size during the 3 day weekend. About 2 million people from around the world come in to show off their pride and lets just say due to our Canadian ways we let the city be as loose as they want to be… don’t be surprised by the visuals lets leave it at that. The one thing that is really cool though about the festivities is how all cultures both hetero and homo come together and accept one another as who we are... people. There is no crimes, no issues, nothing; it really is nice to see and it really reflects the message of my film because the dance culture has such a big impact and use during the festival. There are several stages set up in parking lots along Church Street that feature d-jays from early day into the evening. Along with that there are several parties throughout the city that have guest d-jays and dance floors that stay alive until the next day with patrons. The tribal sensibilities are in full force and to see people of all nationalities and sexes dancing together and celebrating is truly an amazing thing to see.

What excited me the most during this weekend was the chance to get to know a d-jay I’ve admired and enjoyed watching over the past ten -years. His name is David Morales… he’s from Brooklyn New York originally, has a Grammy award under his belt, and has played all over the world for the past 20 years. He just recently opened a club called Sonic in Toronto and is trying to redefine the dance scene here in the city. From experience we have a great crowd of people who appreciate this medium of music but lately we have lost our way a bit… I look forward to the direction and venue he brings.

So the interview… Let’s just say it was an amazing 40 minutes and you’ll have to wait. He had so much to say and he was an interesting person to get to know… I look forward to highlighting it for you the audience along with the parties he plays.

Along with that interview I got to see Eric again. He’s just as I remembered him but grown up with responsibilities. One of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet and the first gay friend I ever had. What was cool about our crew at East Sides was the acceptance; we never judged and we embraced the differences that everyone had. The time at East Sides was a big deal to Eric because he still hadn’t come out to his parents. He moved from a small town to the city and it was the first time in his life where he felt he didn’t need to pretend. During the time he spent at East Sides he came out to his parents and we got the moment and story on tape… again to see it you’ll have to stay tuned but I can say one thing it is moving and I know people out there have had similar struggles… I always enjoyed going out to the clubs and dancing with Eric and the others… Eric’s energy was great and it really contributed to the family.

The weekend was a success… Montreal is next where were going to be featuring some female D-jays from the San Francisco label OM records. These two ladies DJ Heather and DJ Collette are an amazing powerhouse behind the wheels and the voice on Miss Collette as she does vocals over her mixes is to die for… these gals are sexy and stylish and know how to get a crowd going… should be fun.

Global Groove Network - Journal entry #2

2006-07-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

May 28th

I just got back from my weekend excursion from LA and it was successful from some points but it was a dead end from others. Knowing I was only going to be down for a few days on this particular trip I wanted my focus to be on tracking down a couple of particular people from my old days at East Side Mario’s. I knew I would be back later in the fall to do some interviews and studio and club time with some d-jays but it was more important that I find these people. The two individuals in question were Shaun and Mike…

Shaun is one of my best friends from those days and he has grown to be an accomplished actor over the years. With two series leads in Canada and a stint on General Hospital he has worked constantly in the film and television industry which is a major thing because it’s so hard to crack the barrier of wannabe and professional. We have been good friends from the beginning and even though we might not see one another as much as we like we are able to pick up where we left off every time… we had such good times at some of those parties as well as the work environment in the past… he also was one of the guys who introduced me to Drum and Bass which was a another fascinating genre of music within the community we belonged. I remember when he would freestyle vocals at people’s parties with another friend you’ll get to meet Robby… or as he likes to me known in that world DJ Wigs. He was the easy person to connect with… we had some good stories and I look forward to sharing them with all of you.

Now Mike is another story… we used to be super close until an incident happened that put a divider between us. The incident in question won’t be revealed yet… you’ll have to watch it when the film comes out. Mike and I used to do every thing together and I met him at East Sides. The raves and the parties were a big thing and we loved getting the group together and going out to dance the night away after work. I haven’t seen him in years and now he’s all grown up, married, and a chiropractor for the rich folk of Orange County. It doesn’t surprise me though… he’s a good guy and I’m sure the female clientele must be piling up due to his blond ken doll perfection.

Was I able to track him down? Not yet… My info wasn’t reliable so I have to go back to the drawing board… I have another source to find his number so it shouldn’t be to hard… I can’t wait until I see his face when I knock on that door… it will be interesting. I look forward to it.

Anyways journal… I will be in touch. The PRIDE festival in Toronto is next… one of my buddies Eric from the East Side crew I’m meeting with as well as David Morales. I’m filming a promotional video for one of the sponsors but this will truly be more then just that… the Morales interview and parties… this man has truly seen it all in the underground scene as well as commercial spectrum... I'm sure he has some great perspective on the community... I can’t wait!

Global Groove Network - Journal entry #1

2006-06-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

March 28th

It’s been a hell of ride down here in South Beach. The world music conference was amazing. It showcased some of the best talent in the world behind the decks but there was something more to see and experience. The music, the energy, the emotional high that people were on, and the multi-cultural community that made up this infectious crowd spoke to me… and sure enough we were able to capture some of it on film.

This journey so far which takes me to LA next then around the world has opened my eyes. Of course you have vision going into a project but the way a documentary plays out the unexpected is something I enjoy embracing as a piece of the story. I have certainly had some good experiences and bad experiences on this trip but overall it’s been a great chapter in my life. You find who you are and who other people can be and that’s what gives us sensibility in life and helps us grow.

As an independent film maker with credit cards and a dream I look forward to the next year of filming. This story and the people it involves is about to begin and I hope to do them justice.

So long for now journal … I will be talking to you soon.