GGN JOURNALS - NEW DIRECTIONS!

The year is 2015 and I feel like I just hit a milestone this past weekend. It’s one of those moments in your life when you remember the date 30 years from now when it’s time to reflect. The milestone I speak of was a special screening of my new GGN concert doc - Life is but a Dream. I got to showcase it on the big screen at the Royal Cinema in Toronto w/ an audience of 200 friends and colleagues. I feel like it’s just sinking in what happened… what a night! I’m turning 40 in 2 weeks and I wanted to revisit my journal of 10 years and remind myself of what I’ve accomplished. When I began writing this BLOG it was an outlet for me to document my adventures in making this Global Groove Network film come to life. For those of you who are just catching up or discovering my ramblings for the first time, I decided to write this journal as an experiment of dedication. I wanted to try and log all of my thoughts, feelings, and experiences over the years so I could look back at the making of this passion project, and remember all of the highs and lows I went through. It’s a great exercise as a filmmaker and I highly recommend it. I’m a creative soul who has loved music and movies all his life. I began my filmmaking career in my mid twenties and started this GGN passion project when I rediscovered dance music through a girlfriend breakup and a crate of vinyl I found moving out. I was 30 years of age when this happened… the break up was hard because of the 8 year, common law marriage situation. I was looking for positivity, new directions, and this crate of records reminded me of a time in my life when I was feeling the same way as I was now. Rave culture of the 90s was a place where I grew as an individual when I discovered it at 19. My parents at the time had divorced when I left for university. I was a competitive swimmer on the national level who was forced to quit because of an injury… Swimming had defined a lot of who I had become, my identity; I was part of a team. Losing both of my families killed my mental state, and when you’re that young, it makes you feel like your life is over. I felt lost, unwanted, not sure of how to move forward. I’m not going to lie; I was a depressed kid going through some serious shit. Looking back on it now, I think back on how amazing it is that we can change so much and so quickly as we go through things that are mentally and emotionally challenging. I didn’t realize how much it affected me until a year later as I continued to push the envelope in all aspects of my party lifestyle. School took a backseat and I’m glad that I had enough sense to come out the other end by graduating and making smarter choices with my life. A big reason for this change had to do with the friends and family I met through the dance music scene at the time, and taking dance music’s message of PLUR to heart. This was truly a life changing moment and I’m so excited I got to make a love letter film about some of these experiences more then once. Here we are now, in the present. I’ve just screened my second film under the Global Groove Network banner called ‘LIFE IS BUT A DREAM’. It’s a story about the EDM Digital Dreams Festival experience and the people who helped create and facilitate this massive event – Ryan Kruger and Gavin Bryan. Toronto has a lot of history when it comes to dance music culture dating back to the late ‘80s. The DJ talent that performs in Toronto is truly global because they love coming here. We, as a city seriously love this type of music, have amazing homegrown talent, and have supported the culture in a big way since the ‘90s. The Digital Dreams festival is a culmination of that ‘90s essence with the people who created it. The two individuals that you will meet in the DOC have been involved with throwing raves, parties, and establishing legendary clubs in Toronto since the ‘90s. This festival was a dream back then that became a reality 4 years ago. Digital Dreams draws about 80 thousand people over the course of its weekend festivities and has become the largest music festival held in downtown Toronto. One of the exciting things about GGN for me has been the archiving. I began doing this with the first film and to be able to put together another cool chapter in Toronto’s dance music history has been very rewarding. It took about a year to get it done and a lot’s changed with the festival and it’s business partners. What makes this even more special is I’m not sure if I would have got the same access if I didn’t decide to make this DOC when I did… It’s amazing when something just naturally falls together. I can’t help but feel like it’s the end of a chapter in my life. This DOC represents the end of an era for myself as a filmmaker covering dance music. My goal moving forward with the Global Groove Network, the new mission statement of music shaping identity is to explore NEW music cultures. I love dance music but I LOVE all kinds of music as well. I feel like there are so many stories out there about people’s soundtracks that I just feel like its time to go in a new direction. I would like to thank the Toronto and Global dance music community for allowing me to get up close and personal these past 10 years. The GGN journey made it to film festivals, network broadcasters, and managed to build a following on social media that have been extremely supportive. It’s been a great time on the dance floor and I feel blessed. I’m really excited for what lies ahead. Connect with us at: www.groovetheglobe.com Until next time … Cheers to new directions!

GGN JOURNALS - THE JOURNEY CONTINUES...

Hey there Journal – It’s been awhile. It felt like it was a good time to revisit you. We are officially a month into the New Year and a lot has happened since we last spoke. It’s been almost 10 years since starting this relationship with you; examining my journey through the written word while making my passion project – The Global Groove Network (GGN). You’ve never judged me journal; and are always willing to listen. Every time I decide to sit down and share with you I make sure I read the first entry I ever wrote back in 2006 as well as my last entry to get some context. A year can go fast and this past one was no exception. Looking back on it now I see a lot of interesting changes and evolutions to who I’m becoming. The people around me have changed with new faces coming in and out of my life and offering fresh insight to my perspective on the human condition. Things have been positive and negative but all in all, it’s been an amazing experience with great individuals. The year is 2015 and it’s been officially 12 months since my film got picked up by the CBC network in Canada and distributed globally on DVD and Digital. Was it everything I expected? Not exactly… Am I happy how my film was handled from a distribution and release perspective? Not really but some success has happened… Do you feel the GGN journey is wrapped up now that you made it to a network and distributor? Not at all… This to me is where we truly begin. With the success of selling something, it’s allowing me to find new doors to open. What’s also meaningful is I’ve started a film archive of a music scene that’s changed me and that I love. I look forward to more people discovering these documentaries I’m making for years to come. These passion projects will always be available until the day I die and what I think will be really cool is people 25 years from now renting it, buying it, or finding it on a digital service like Netflix. I feel like a historian in a way and all these hours I put into it making web videos, films, and writing journals, I get a real sense of fulfillment showcasing the dance music scene in the city I love – Toronto. Along with my city, it’s exciting to travel the global, find other relatable topics, and discover new voices and talents in the EDM and House Music scene. The new topics I have planned to film will take the audience in new directions as we tackle topics like drugs, gay icons, global history, and the future of EDM. Stay tuned… For the past year I’ve been taking in the electronic music community from many different angles. Having to be hands on, hustle, research, and post all your own social media to hopefully get individuals to rent or buy your film, is a tough process as an independent artist without PR cash flow. You don’t simply click a button and the people start coming to you. The marketplace is so saturated with content that it truly becomes an abyss. You question whether your message is really reaching your target market because of people’s habits and the restrictions that are in place to encourage people to spend money on ads. When Hollywood studios are spending more money on PR then actual production budgets, you begin to wonder on how can you compete? Independent films need the most PR of all and posting a FB message is only the beginning. Another hurdle that you have to deal with in our day in age is access. Everyone expects everything for free because of how we are growing as a society. Piracy is something that will only get worse and to off set the costs is almost impossible. Along with Piracy being an issue you are also now dealing with the A.D.D AFFECT. People have a hard time focusing because of the borage of content they get from all these digital outlets, that to actually sit down and absorb a story in a long format can be challenging – especially for the younger generation which I cater to with GGN. To me – this is the year where I truly understood this at its core. Am I fan of this new approach to viewing? I would say ‘not really’ but you deal with it… I feel we are becoming a society that is starting to forget to take a pause and smell the roses once in awhile. We are always looking for the next thing without taking a moment to enjoy what we have right in front of us. I’m turning 40 later this year so maybe it’s just a generation issue but I’m beginning to notice the same habits in the people that are the same age. One thing that people are not realizing by taking this approach to their life is they are missing out on the things that could potentially matter. I’m all about taking in the world and what it has to offer but I equate this scenario to working smarter – not harder. To truly find that ZEN in our own lives we need to pull back a little and get back to basics. Less is more… Along with this life lesson I’ve managed to keep creative and am excited at what GGN has on the horizon. This past summer I had a chance to film the third installment of the Digital Dreams festival in Toronto and I must say it’s an amazing evolution of the Global Groove Network experience on film! What started as a simple ten-minute webisode has turned into a spectacular forty two-minute concert film that examines the festival experience through the promoter’s eyes. The documentary looks at what it takes to put on a big EDM FESTIVAL and the footage we managed to shoot and have access to of past Digital Dreams festivals, makes this film truly an eye opening journey into the power of dance music. It’s looking like it should be wrapped up in April and I aim to do a special screening in Toronto in May and look at film festival options next year. It’s very exciting and I can’t wait to share this documentary with you soon… Stay up to date by following us on Twitter or Liking us on Facebook for your chance for free tickets to the screening. Thanks for making the time to read this and stay up to date with my journeys. I hope I’m able to give you a little perspective of what goes on in the mind of a filmmaker and creative consciousness. I enjoy the reflection… It’s good for the soul. Until next time ... Shoot for the stars and never get frustrated if all you can only hit are the clouds. It’s all about the journey that makes you evolve. Take care.

THE GGN JOURNALS - A Mid-Day & Night Summer’s DREAM …

It’s been a few weeks since my colorful dream of electronic sounds, fashion forward thinkers, and killer beats from all the EDM genres past and present. This sunny backdrop set the emotional stage for my first electronic music event of the summer… Digital Dreams. I was blown away by this year’s event, the way it was run, the line up, the mood of everyone, it was truly a definition of the word PLUR. I’m excited I got a chance to bring my film crew and capture some moments, which I plan to showcase in an upcoming webisode of GGN presents - ‘Life is but a Dream’. Digital Dreams is going into its third year and I felt this was a great time to examine the festival and make a doc-episode about it. Knowing that most of the coverage would be about the DJs I thought it might be a lot more interesting if we went behind the scenes. I wanted to get the festival perspective from the people who actually bring this event to life. 80,000 people attend this each year and it continues to grow. The people I focused on were some of the Toronto scene party facilitators such as Ryan Kruger, Mark Russell, Gavin Gerbz, and Brent Hayward to name a few… What does it take to be the person who is able to wrangle the talent, the space, and the people to attend something like this? I’ve thrown parties in the past and I must say I hated it. I was always stressed about it – Will people show up? Will this be something noteworthy? Is all the work that you’re putting into this worth it??? The amount of bullshit that you usually have to go through to throw a party is mind-boggling. I always ask myself that question because it honestly leads to some of the worst anxiety I’ve ever faced… Watching it done on the level that Digital Dreams is done – as well as seeing how they have extended their creativity to bring a great event to it’s participants – is certainly a university degree achievement in my books. I’m excited to introduce the audience Electronic Nation Canada’s staff and some of the other worker bees behind Digital Dreams… This is truly a team effort. Being someone who has been witnessing and documenting the EDM scene in Toronto and around the world for the last decade for my film, I’m excited that I’ve been able to be one of the lucky one’s to witness a real evolution of what electronic music’s power can represent. Since my time in the WOMB to NOW - the grown adult I’ve become (closing in on his 40th birthday) - I’ve realized music has been a guide and history indicator in my life. I’m a lover of all music but the last 8 years I’ve been really focused on the electronic music scene and have watched from the sidelines, recording my thoughts for the film and future web episodes, and getting familiar with what seems to connect with people musically. I pride myself on understanding the power of music based on my hours dedicated to it for my work but in reality I never really think of it as work. I’m a creative person who thrives on what his environment can provide for inspiration. I’m always listening … Every task in my daily routine usually has me plugged into some sort of dance beat in the background and as I get older, it’s really starting to tie in with the memories I’m creating with my everyday life. Digital Dreams was one of those moments and I’m excited I got to capture in the way I like to be creative. As a filmmaker we thrive on the idea of telling a story or giving our audience an informal education through imagery accompanied by sound. I like to inform people with video through music and visuals … I try to be someone who doesn’t hit its audience over the head. I’m one piece to the big puzzle of information that is out there. As I get older I feel I have more to say and I’m grateful that people have made the time to watch and listen. I think we all have a voice and I’m always excited to hear those around me and learn. As I sign off I think of when I started this BLOG 8 years ago… I don’t really know who reads it but I still get inspired to keep writing it. I recently looked back at some of my past entries and I couldn’t help but feel warm and fuzzy inside. It’s nice to witness a change in my own life. I’m happily married – I still love House Music – and I’m still passionate about the path I’ve chosen in the film industry. Life can be tough but what doesn’t kill us – makes us stronger. I borrowed that … when someone has it right; Someone has it right! Until next time … Be Happy!

The GGN Journals - When You Wish Upon a Star!

The beginning to the New Year has been exciting in many ways for the Global Groove Network. A film journey that has taken 8 years to bring to a global audience has finally started to become a reality. I’m excited to announce that my DOC – a passion project about music and the soundtrack to our lives - has found a broadcaster in Canada – THE CBC. We have a scheduled release of the documentary happening this May on Canada’s national television network before it hits all the major ON DEMAND services like ITUNES come June 2014. What excites me beyond the accomplishment of actually making a DOC like this is that I’ve managed to put together a film with many incarnations. The CBC version of the movie is a shorter broadcast version while the directors cut will hit ITUNES and ON DEMAND soon after. Having the opportunity to tell such a personal story on so many levels, have the themes reflect the power of music that I’m passionate about, and be available to a global audience to rent and buy this year, has been truly a rewarding end goal experience as a filmmaker. I get really excited when I have the chance to tell a story to an audience – no matter the size. The inner burn I get from creating a journey from reflection is truly inspiring to someone like myself who needs to be expressive. This passion that burns 24/7 inside me is something I don’t quite understand but I’ve grown to love and hate as a storyteller. I’m finally getting some conviction as a growing artist, I’m beginning to believe on my end in my abilities, and when you finally get recognition from your peers through a sale and finally your own self understanding of the accomplishment – it’s truly a magical feeling. I was starting to wonder if what I had to say had any importance? I think every director, writer, or producer wants to affect its audience with the stories they choose to tell. The real excitement for a filmmaker like myself comes from the pipe dream of actually making a film from scratch – no interference from an outside source - that a broadcaster or theater deems worthy of support and financial compensation. It’s not about the price tag but more about the validation. My attempts to make a career since I knew I wanted to devote my life to the film and television industry has been a dream blinded by waiting tables, selling weed, odd jobs, set work from the bottom of the ladder, and working my way to understand how to succeed in this crazy industry. Doing whatever it took to make my dream a reality has been an important factor to my resilience and success. I was never sure if I could attain this dream on any level but I chose not to give up and deal with the consequences later… This might be something that never truly happens to an artist because of the way the industry is set up. You can’t give up… The stories are true when it comes to success and fulfillment – If you build it, they will come! I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to find my wish and make it come true. I was 10 – watching ‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’ at my local theatre in 1985 with my dad, absorbing the Marty McFly magic that Michael J Fox brought to the screen. This movie made me truly understand the power of big story ideas and my passion for making films was heightened to a sense that still consumes me. I turned 38 years old this year and I feel like I’m 10 all over again thanks to my 8 year GGN experience around the globe… This moment for me has become something that I was reminded of when I saw a selfless act of charity and magic created this holiday season for a boy with a dream. I was blown away when I first saw this and for whatever reason given the memory recall of what a dream can mean. I really related to this story on many different levels and just wanted to share the idea of a dream and perseverance. Mind you this tale I’m about to highlight certainly means a hell of a lot more then my tiny dream as a 10 year old. The ‘MAKE A WISH’ BATBOY story was something I found inspiring and wanted to share. The idea of dreams in general are all about finding the things in your life that keep you moving forward. When I heard about this dream and a city that embraced making it come true for a young cancer victim – I couldn’t help but be reminded by what the human spirit represents. Here is the story in a nutshell - A young leukemia patient realized his dream to become Batman for a day as an army of volunteers transformed part of San Francisco into ‘Gotham City’ for a day. 5-year-old Miles Scott from Siskiyou County traversed the city in November 2013, maneuvering through huge throngs of admirers, as a superhero named “Batkid,” fighting crime with the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Volunteers, businesses, the San Francisco Giants, and even the city’s mayor and police department all pitched in to make the adventure as realistic as possible. Miles has become an Internet sensation as the project took on a life of its own through social media. The 5-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 20 months old and ended chemotherapy treatment this past June, with his cancer now in remission. The Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area executive director Patricia Wilson said - “He already battled a villain in real life. He fought cancer and won!” I wanted to share and acknowledge a story like this because I feel the way we express ourselves in this day and age can sometimes not have meaning based on the way we are forced to deal with day too day activities. The world, the people who live in mine, and the organizations that inspire me to want to be a better person, have truly made me want to inspire the globe through my artistic work. I know I have only a short time to share my perspectives and as I grow as a filmmaker and make personal films and fun generic stuff too – I hope I can bring inspiration to someone the same way MAKE A WISH did it for Miles. The Global Groove Network (GGN) as a brand – I look to showcase and expose the power of music through electronic music. My hopes are that I can create future ideas and messages that reflect a change to the listeners and viewers that happen to experience us. My plan is to ‘MAKE A WISH’ come true for the people who come into my life that need it. The awareness of this organization is a goal I’ve chosen for the Global Groove Network. I want to affect people through music and try to use my resources I’ve garnered through this experience to give back. 2014 is a special year in my life and I plan on sharing this feeling in a bigger way… Until we chat again … Lets turn that dial to #LoveLife … LIKE US on FB and FOLLOW US on Twitter to stay up to date with the network - @groovetheglobe

THE GGN JOURNALS - An END of an ERA.. The START of something NEW. Thank you Footwork & Hatiras!

It’s been quite some time since my last entry. The summer of 2013 has come and gone and I’ve been quite busy with life in general. I was working long hours over the course of the summer in the film and television industry in Toronto and managed to find some time to decompress and figure out some things. You forget how fast time can fly by and it’s usually big moments that wake you up and remind yourself how far you’ve come. My moment happened this fall when I heard about the closing of a dance music institution that I was quite fond of, Footwork Nightclub. As a film maker and party patron, I had the opportunity to get to know the people who ran this special venue and was able to capture moments of magic for my DOC from inside it’s walls. This underground hot spot showcased some of the biggest names in the EDM scene today, put the spotlight on the rising stars of tomorrow, give a place for Toronto’s own home grown EDM talent to blossom, and still manage to keep its underground status of unique dance beat bookings, which people always seemed to appreciate. The club was intimate, family like with its regulars, and provided the city of TO with almost 10 years of memories for its patrons as well as a stellar global reputation for it’s international travelers. Footwork has officially closed its doors as of last week and I can’t help but be thankful I got to be a part of its club history. I wanted to write this journal entry with a big Thank you in mind to the Footwork family, specifically Joel and Stephan, for all of their support and contributions to the Global Groove Network and its evolution the last 7 years. I feel as they evolve and move on to new endeavors in club culture, I’m gearing up for a similar evolution in the Global Groove Network experience. The countdown is officially on for the Global Groove Network’s release to the public in January on ITUNES. Along with the release of the DOC we have some exciting colloborations planned with artists from the film. Our first project will involve Canada’s own Juno winning EDM producer Hatiras and his latest concept album releasing in the New Year. The album was conceived in the spirit of evolution, emotional change, and growing as an artist. When I first listened to the album it surprised me in a great way. I feel like it’s something original in nature, something of influence from the 70s era of concept albums. It almost feels like Pink Floyd with an electronic flare. The album explores the 80s much like Depeche Mode and New Order did with its electronic synths. You could also say it’s reminiscent of other EDM conceptual pieces like HOMEWORK by Daft Punk or FatBoy Slim’s BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY in the 90s. To see this producer evolve and get to be part of the visual side of things is an exciting new direction for myself, and the Global Groove Network experience. I cannot wait to show you what we’re up to in the coming months! I’m also planning on doing some upcoming DOC episodes next year on the web with other big international talents from the film and new people I’m always discovering from the emails that are sent to me on a daily basis. The Global Groove Network is about how music shapes our identity and as we all build that soundtrack to our lives, my goal as a filmmaker is to showcase the visual side and inner workings of EDM culture in 2014; as well as give you something to add to your play list. As someone who loves EDM I also hope to share a passion for the power of music in general. I’m fuelled on a daily basis by music of all genres. Dance music and the culture that goes along with it shaped me at key moments in my life and as I continue to evolve with age the appreciation of a good DJ set, well produced track, a killer venue that houses it’s followers for a night of dancing, will always affect me in a unique way. It’s time to build new memories, moments, and experiences with the Global Groove Network in 2014. I plan on visiting my journals on a more regular basis as we gear up for our film release so stay tuned! A big thank you to all the people who continue to support us as this journey to the masses continues. For all the new people that discover us as we expand and become available to experience on ITUNES in the new year - I hope to give back to a feeling that we all experience in some way with music and the medium of visual storytelling. Welcome to the Network; the Global Groove Network. Find us on the web, Facebook, Twitter, and Soundcloud at - @groovetheglobe – and stay up to date with our upcoming content and news! www.groovetheglobe.com

THE GGN JOURNALS - #LoveLife

I had finally had an amazing dream last night; amazing dreams only started to happen once we succeeded with Kickstarter and officially wrapped up the post-production for the DOC. Along with this accomplishment I found out this week that we got accepted to this years NXNE festival to premiere our film in June, in the city that it was inspired by; Toronto. Things are really looking up for this little passion project and the excitement continues to build as we prepare to begin this next part of the journey. Pursuing a dream can be bliss but also a nightmare. I find some irony to this fact but now that I’m finally having some happy thoughts on my mind, it helps make life a little more clear… It had been awhile. For the past few months my mind had been full of angst and stress on such a massive level that it started to dictate the story telling in my head, which would lead to some fucked up dreams and emotional exhaustion. The next time I get chased by a giant record rolling down a big hill towards me, like the epic scene in Raiders of the Lost ark with the boulder and Indy running for his life, will not be missed… Instead of making it to safety like Harrison Ford did, I would get sliced down the middle and wake up in a cold sweat. I was bringing my work to bed and it was affecting me in very vivid and weird moments during slumber. I understood why I was feeling this way but I felt like I didn’t have control over my mental situation other then staying positive; or at least hiding some of the stress behind some THC. Last night was that kind of dream that puts a smile on your face; that tropical vacation moment you get to share with your loved ones. Lets set the stage… The weather couldn’t be better; the sun is shining and the humidity suggests that this is going to be hot one! It’s only been a few hours since we landed in Miami and coming from an environment that has been cold, wet, and unpredictable for the past month; it takes a moment or two to wrap the brain and senses around that fact. Your skin begins to warm up, a light porn sweat hits your brow, that smell that cities have by the ocean fills your lungs, and the long sleeves, pants, and jacket seem out of place in a good way. This moment is something I always love to experience when I go on a vacation and this year it was bitter sweet. This memory stuck with me this year and this memory recall was clear and warm to the thought. Miami was the beginning of a journey I began 7 years ago and to have the chance to come back for this years Winter Music Conference without cameras, just as a participant knowing I had finished my film, and able to share the experience with the love of my life, a friend of ours that has been such a supportive force in both our lives, was so fulfilling. What also didn’t hurt was that my travel companions were SEXY, which added an extra sizzle to my swagger being the meat in a hot lady sandwich. This was my three’s company moment; I was an individual that if I died in some weird twist of fate… I had a pretty good story to tell in the after life. This memory has been a go to dream the past couple of weeks as I’ve gotten back to the daily grind… The reason I share this with you is I think it reminds me that we have control over how we can live our lives which I think gets lost sometimes because of the daily, weekly, monthly, and annual routines we all have to do to survive. I certainly have been lost at times in my life as I try moving forward on ‘ideas’ that I hope will succeed. These ideas tend to be big and have a lot of moving components that are usually beyond my financial capabilities. As a film maker – an artist who likes to tell stories for the big screen and TV – my passion to follow through on an idea like this documentary can defeat you at times mentally. This defeat turns into self-pity and leads to you losing sight of what’s truly important, LOVE and LIFE. Making films, writing stories, and executing productions can be very consuming because of the hours it demands to do it. Creativity is something that you can’t just call on as any artist will tell you and when it does come, you need to act on it and shut out the rest of your life to be successful. I LOVE this consumption of creativity but I can HATE it just as much… it’s something that has given a lot to my life lessons but I was forgetting about the other stuff – the other LOVE – the other moments that make up life. This is something that was realized in a big way when I stepped off the plane this year and I came up with my mantra for 2013 and beyond; #LoveLife. The meaning behind this mantra is pretty straight forward as you can see. The hashtag I feel is something that reflects the ‘NOW’ in the way we communicate with the world. The art of conversation has evolved and become something I have some reservations about but I get the idea of quick comment observations. Social commentary is something that has been able to grow in a bigger way globally through this simple expression (#). #LoveLife to me is the tag line for the next chapter in my world and as I get closer to 40, I’m appreciating the things around me a lot more. I encourage all of you to take a moment and smell the roses; it really does lead to positive things happening. Time will always tell… Until we speak again - #LoveLife

THE GGN JOURNALS - Blood, Tears, Sweat, & Songs..

March 10, 2013… All I could hear when I slept for the last three months were voices from the film. All of the people I met along the way filled my dreams with both positive and negative banter about their own experiences trying to succeed. I couldn’t shake them away; there was a constant battle of conversations in my head as everything was on the line to promote my final fundraiser. This inner torment was raising my stress levels through the roof. Campaigning on KICKSTARTER (a crowd funding site) to finish the film for my Canadian distributor has been one of the most eye opening experiences in my life. Asking people for money is the worst job in the world because it’s such an awkward conversation; I didn’t realize how awkward it could be until I was 30 days into the campaigning. It was my blood, sweat, and tears that had driven me this far and along with my wife we had been drained financially and emotionally. I would be ignored or dismissed politely when I asked some of the people I knew, all you can do is really smile because it’s not your place to tell people how to spend their money. Do you get surprised by people that you think would donate and don’t? – of course you do – but you don’t fault it; you just start re-evaluating relationships, which is the tough part. It’s hard not to go through this type of experience and not lose a friendship based on this weird test of support for one another. It’s not so much about the amount of money; it’s more about the actual support that you expect from certain friendships. We certainly had some highs and lows when it came to the support but I’m grateful to learn what I learned from this extraordinarily stressful and trying experience… With the campaign running 60 days and wrapping up this past February 21st something amazing happened. The support came in throughout the campaign but it was in the final hours that we noticed the ultimate difference. This dream became a reality as we crossed the 15k mark at midnight, a few hours before the deadline, and my wife – my partner – the love of my life - and I achieved our “must make” goal to keep the funds. It was a really satisfying moment, and finally all of the voices calmed and the dreams settled for the time being. All I can say is thank you; with so many things in this world to support, I feel blessed that people have responded and made this little independent passion project live to see another day. It feels like fate has something more in store for us… As we begin post production this month to finalize the music, the HD transfer, and digital clean up, this project about the power of music has hit the ‘7 years in the making’ mark this month. It was officially March 20th 2006 - my first Winter Music Conference in South Beach Miami - that I shot my first interview and put together a trailer to help encourage interest in the DOC. If you go to my first journal entry you can read and learn about the trials and tribulations of making a film from the beginning – It’s very fascinating as a filmmaker to read these early entries and see how the journey has played out. What’s crazy about the timeline with this journal entry is this is the same date 7 years later that I’m going to be going back to Winter Music Conference to do a private screening of this FINAL version of the film for EDM industry friends that helped me along the way. You don’t get a chance a lot of times in a year to get a group of faces together that know and respect each other and who have inspired this love letter to the EDM community and culture. The Global Groove Network is a story about finding your identity through music; specifically dance music. Having this energy of EDM personalities and doing the screening in an intimate art house surrounding – Everything feels like it’s coming full circle. The next steps of getting it out to a global audience as we move into the summer is where the journey is about to really begin but to share this moment with this kind of audience is fantastic! The BLOOD, TEARS, SWEAT, and SONGS have been something of a theme for this daily grind of getting people aware of a film about EDM culture and community. We have a large global community but support from the film and TV world is something that can be harder to find, especially when the culture still has an underground stamp on it even though the mainstream success and influence is very apparent in this day in age. We have a big hill to climb but this train continues down the boogie tracks, looking for its network members all over the world. With PR, film festivals, Blogger awareness, and word of mouth key to any successful film launch, money is something that becomes a huge factor. Not being able to afford PRESS and PR on a regular basis – I’m plugging us on social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, and Soundcloud, and putting in more hours on my off time to keep the Network out there; finding it’s audience. With our final post-production wrapping up in early April, the plan to bring the film to a theatre near you is in the works. Strategy is key so you don’t get lost in the shuffle and with so much time passing already – patience has become quite the virtue for myself in the GGN movie release. What I’m hoping to encourage people to do is spread the word about the film and it’s message. I’m going to continue this crusade to shape people’s identity in someway with showcasing great DJs from around the world, EDM culture both past and present, and turning up those killer beats that inspire a smile and potentially a booty shake on a local or global dance floor. If you’ve stumbled upon this network on line through my journals – the music and sneak peek videos we post for your consumption and enjoyment - and are curious about how you can see this documentary in 2013 then set this link to your favorites list on all your devices. I plan on updating my journals on a more regular basis, posting more music and podcasts available for free on my cloud, as we get closer to the release of the DOC. It’s an exciting time for the Global Groove Network (GGN) and as we continue to grow, I love the idea that this is something that will be a part of my life until I die. I love the music and appreciate in a new way as I age and participate on a dance floor here and there, all over the world. It’s not about going out every weekend; it hasn’t been about that in years… What seems to be my true bliss is working, exercising, walking the city with my I-POD on, and enjoying the producers and DJs I meet along the way when I do go out. This music inspires me on a daily basis and I’m glad I can share this adventure with you through my GGN JOURNALS and experiences. ‘Everyone is a DJ in their own Life’ … Thank you for letting me guide and expand your soundtrack through this mutual appreciation for music and EDM. Until we chat again... Put the needle on the record party peeps! Lots of Love – Courtney J www.groovetheglobe.com

THE GGN JOURNALS – KICKSTART MY HEART…

December 31st,2012.. a new beginning awaits. The summer & fall has come and gone and it’s been a hell of a ride. Have you ever just been picked up by life and carried around in it’s grip and you just have no idea where you’ll end up or what journey this will bring? Let me just begin this journal entry by saying that this question is the ride I’m still currently on with this film and it’s process to get it out to the general public. I’m rounding second on 6 plus years I’ve been working on this project but to tell you the truth I’m still passionate about it. This documentary is something I felt I needed to make and the people I’ve met along the way have touched me in some way and made my perception of the world a better one. Sure we have our ups and downs with these encounters but ultimately I’ve learned something that I can apply to other things in my life. It’s really fuckin’ hard making a movie on your own dime… I’m not going to lie. You put yourself in to debt, start working crazy odd hour jobs to make time to make the film; you need to find the ultimate patience because you are usually on favors and people’s kindness with putting in those extra free hours to get the movie done. In the end it’s all about that final result. Does your movie have that impact you were looking for? Do you feel good about it? Was it worth the 6 plus years of work? Of course it is; when you commit to something that your passionate about you have to follow through to build confidence in yourself and allow the people who helped you along the way know it was not for nothing. I highly recommend taking the seat belt off if you have dreams clawing away at your brain. You need to try at least… life is too short and that is the one thing I truly learnt this summer and fall as I went through some serious highs with finishing the film but hit some serious lows as well with certain relationships in my life ending. People you think your going to be friends forever suddenly are gone and it’s not necessarily a bad thing but it’s how random life can be as it can change so quickly. You appreciate that time you did spend with them… it was amazing. It was indeed an interesting year. As we head into the winter the hustle for awareness heats up. GGN heads into film festival season for 2013 as well as some special screenings at WMC and a few universities. We just signed a distribution deal and are so close to the finish line. The one thing that stands in my way is my final post session which has been on hold since are sneak peek back in May. I do have a private link of the film on vimeo which I'm willing to share with you if you take time to read this BLOG. The private LINK is - https://vimeo.com/42656103 / PASSWORD is ADMITONE - Feel free to check out the film and understand what has been created... which brings me to my question to YOU! I need your HELP! In the immediate we are trying to raise these final post-production costs through Kickstarter.com. Let me tell you about the campaign… We have 50 days left of the campaign to raise 15,000 dollars through the art fundraising site known as Kickstarter. This site is a unique place where people are actually raising some serious funds for their projects. The kickstarter.com community seems to embrace the talented underdog that can’t rely on the studio system. GGN fits this bill as a passion project documentary… not a Die Hard Dance floor blockbuster where Bruce Willis takers over the turn tables and kicks some German techno ass and saves the world from Deter domination. We don’t have those studio bucks and my credit cards have reached the max. With this campaign we hope to raise awareness of our quality project and give something back in the process to the people who support us. What this means is that we have an incentive plan built in to the donation system. This is what makes this particular site more user friendly. You not only get that good feeling when you help people we have some cool incentives which include an amazing WMC DJ experience at the top of the list all the way down to owning the movie with any donation you make. The trick with Kickstarter.com is that you need to reach your money goal or you get none of the cash you raise. You could be only hundreds of dollars away you need to make that goal. Our hope is we go beyond our goal… 20,000 would really help the cause but I have to be realistic and create a goal that’s hopefully more attainable. My hopes when you see our new video asking for support as well as just a look at the site, the other sneak peeks on our youtube channels, as well as the great music the global DJ community is giving to us for YOU the listener and party-goer! Check out are soundcloud page for that.. Everything can be found on in are ABOUT US section on are site - www.groovetheglobe.com Check out this KICKSTARTER LINK to get you on your way to helping the GGN cause – http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/59867650/the-global-groove-network Any donation you can provide would truly be appreciated. We don't have a lot of time so please pledge right away if it feels right. We need to create momentum with the campaign so the more backers immediately always helps. Again.. no donation is too small. It's the gesture and help that is truly appreciated! Thank you for your support and until next time…

GGN JOURNALS - MY SUMMER SOUNDTRACK

June 27th, 2012 As we approach the end of June and the summer has officially begun, I can’t help but start putting together some play lists for my summer soundtrack. Every year I like to reflect on the music and artists that I’ve been listening to over the course of my 35 years on this planet; it brings back memories and creates new ones, which always helps me creatively, as a writer and filmmaker. These play lists symbolize more then just genres of music but have become reflections of my collective inspiration and a journey into my perception of popular culture. This perception is something that is important to me as a filmmaker because I feel that if I want to tell a story to the world I need to understand what society is responding to. I know what I like when it comes to music but what I’ve been doing recently, is sharing with people, through the social media world to help deliver me more options. When I started this documentary process I had certain outlets to discover music. These were great outlets and still are, but as GGN has grown and I have met more people I have been introduced to many more outlets that has exposed me to some killer music. House music obviously became something of an ocean of possibilities because of the GGN brand but I started also getting exposed to a lot more stuff through people because of the message in the movie. What has been really cool, with the power of the internet and these new social media outlets, is that the art of sharing music has evolved in such a way that music has really became universal. Of course this also means garbage music can hit you in a bigger way but ultimately the positive meaningful stuff that makes it onto my I-POD is because of this stuff that is continually sent to me through GGN. This summer thus far has been particularly abundant since we finished the film in May… Dance Music in North America has blown up this year and the influence of the all mighty bass beat in pop music has been significant. I know this won’t last, because as with all cycles of musical genres, especially electronic music, it seems to implode from exposure and make its way back to the underground. I still can’t help but enjoy these moments though because right now seems like such a personal feeling of reflection because of the themes in my movie. Back in the late 90s Toronto was going through something similar with the Rave Explosion and popularity electronic music had for the generation x crowd. With big festivals like Digital Dreams and VELD being put together with big sponsorship dollars this summer, great ticket sale demand, and genuine interest in dance music from the youth of today, I feel like I’m in a time warp. The experience has evolved but it’s essentially the same. The Global Groove Network film feels incredibly relevant right now and I’m excited to screen it for audiences because I think it’s very relatable. Everyone has a soundtrack and after reading this I hope you’ll put some time in by creating your own 2012 summer soundtrack to reflect on your years down the road. What I thought might be interesting is to give you a list that I just recently created of tracks that reflect me and what I like to feel at this moment in my life. I have many play lists on my I-Pod to define my mood but what I thought would be good is to give you some tracks that are part of the soundtrack for my film. These tunes all have strong memories attached to them when I was making this documentary and if you like electronic music both chill and up beat there should be a tune or two that you’ll want for your future play lists. GGN SUMMER SOUNDTRACK – 1. Flowers – Armand Van Helden 2. Dream Machine – Mark Farina 3. Big Love – Pete Heller 4. Show me the Way – DJ Sneak 5. Bushes – Markus Nikolai 6. Riders on the Storm / Pink Solidism – Yonderboi 7. Under My Sensi – Boozoo Bajou – Satta 8. Feel Good Song – Rocket Empire 9. Cry (Just a little) – Bingo Players 10. So Much Love – Fedde Le Grand 11. Feel so Close – Calvin Harris 12. I Don’t Care – (DJ Dan re-edit) 13. We Live for the Music – Robbie Riveria 14. Back in the Wild – GreensKeepers I hope you enjoy the track selections… Everything is available on I Tunes. Support the music and the artists that make it by buying it and not pirating it. Check us out on SOUNDCLOUD for more great music and mixes from the DJs involved in the film that are available for FREE… LINK: http://soundcloud.com/groovetheglobe Until next time… ARE YOU LISTENING?

GGN JOURNALS - TESTING, TESTING, 123...

March 18, 2012

Life can be such a rollercoaster sometimes. The unpredictable ups and downs, winding curves, and the speed of time that can put the weight of the world on ones shoulders like a G-Force tornado of stress. For myself, 2011 ended well but as 2012 began I have been on a rollercoaster ride that has almost made me sick from the constant tests that life has been throwing at me. In three short months I was beginning to lose faith in myself because of how many overwhelming challenges were being put in my path. As of today things have settled down but with our upcoming premiere of the film in May, I feel and hope I’ve survived the worst. Fingers crossed!

To get you up to speed on what it takes to finish a film you really need to understand commitment. Commitment is a scary word for most and as you get older it can become more of a challenge. You get into your routines, you have to schedule your life around paying bills, and if you have kids… kids is a realm of time consumption that is hard to dictate! Lucky enough I don’t have kids at the moment, I couldn’t afford the time needed, but to be honest I look at my film and the six year commitment that I’ve made to it as something like raising a child. You have to teach your film how to talk through story… you have to support it financially… cuddle it and give it love so that it can be the best movie it can be. Now being a documentary it becomes almost like a troubled child because the story isn’t as clear as it would be with something more scripted. You have to be patient… sometimes wait on the right relationships to happen with your baby to make it grow and become the adult you want it so much to be. This documentary experience is something I had no idea would take me six years to accomplish. I jumped in and didn’t think it through. Based on my past film making experience; I thought two years tops. The time went by in a blink of an eye…

The last few weeks especially have been very tiring and stressful even though this should be a time of celebration. On March 5th we had our first official TEST SCREENING. Even though my editor’s father passed away the week before he was able to deliver a cut for me and honor his commitment. My luck with my editing staff has been one of the biggest stresses for me over the years. I’ve had great editors work on it but commitments were always challenged because it wasn’t a huge paying job. Independent films are tough and the biggest reason for failure always comes down to money. Along with the test screening stresses the week before with my editor’s dad’s death I was downsized at the job I was doing, that was helping to pay the bills. You see I worked in a restaurant as a server for the last 4 years, a small restaurant. The owners duped me in to believing they respected me and instead didn’t have the balls to talk to me about it and served me a letter from a part time manager. It was so tacky and a true blindside. All this happened at the worst possible time because of the financial commitments we made with starting this film. My wife and I have been paying off six-figure debt for the last 5 years going after this filmmaking dream and because it was my initial dream, I feel over responsible. Along with these things happening, my wife’s mother fell very ill, our landlords are trying to rack up the rent on us and my wife was rear ended by someone texting which gave her whiplash. It was truly the weirdest chain of bad luck happening all at the same time… I was so stressed out that I couldn’t enjoy the test screening and my accomplishment because now I was faced to hustle and find a new job. I felt like I was getting a daily pop quiz that I didn’t have answers too.

As the month of March starts to wind down I can say that things are starting to get back on track. The comments were great at the test screening and with our final tweaks happening this month the sound mix is only two weeks away! The sound mix and color correction are always the last things done and always give a director some ease. The finish line is close; with a date in May booked for our premiere in Toronto before the film festival circuit, I’m starting to get excited. Along with the screening coming together I managed to only be out of work for 3 weeks, thank god! The cool thing too is I was ready to leave the last place in June 2011 after the owners disrespected my wife during a fundraiser event for women’s cancers at their restaurant. I was sticking around due to seniority and the bigger picture of time management to get the film done… I was sacrificing my sanity in a big way with these people. Now that it’s over and I’m working in a new place that is great, I reflect on it all as just being a TEST.

Tests are handed out daily to all of us. The one thing we always need to remember is that tests help us learn and make us stronger. Can they suck? Of course! But as I look back at some of my journal entries over the years I realize they had purpose. Don’t give up on your dreams and don’t let people bring you down. Life is a beautiful thing when you begin to understand it more and grow wiser as the years go by. Until the next entry… Stay cool party peeps!

If you would like to come to our Premiere on Friday May 11th in Toronto please feel free to email me at courtney@admitone.ca. The space is limited so let me know ASAP. For all the updates on what’s new with us…

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/GrooveTheGlobe

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groovetheglobe

PS.

And remember... The restaurant you should never go to is CAFÉ CALIFORNIA in Toronto. The food is inconsistent, the décor is from 1988, and the owners are FAKE as FUCK! There is too many great restaurants in TO that deserve your love! Cheers!!

THE GGN JOURNALS -The New Year Hustle

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

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?

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?

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 …

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?

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...

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

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

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!!

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www.groovetheglobe.com