Set your fashion, friend, skate, surf photos — anything you can think of — to music on video. I tried Animoto with some travel photos.
If you have a handful of photos, no video editing skills whatsoever and about an hour, Animoto.com can create an instant video clip for you. Tried the service yesterday as soon as I read about it in the Sunday NY Times. Sounded like something fun and easy.
I uploaded 30 photos of a trip I took to Vancouver, B.C., Canada in 2006, which took some time because I had to downsize them to upload quickly. As it happens, instead of shuffling them around, Animoto simply uses them in the order that you enter the photos. After you upload them, you can shuffle them around yourself.
Being something of a control freak, it was difficult for me to accept what they do, and I wanted it to end on a particular photo. You never know exactly how many photos are going to be used, but for a 30-second free video clip, it’s about 6 or 8. (Thirty seconds is really short, but afterward, you have to start paying somehow.) I ended up mashing it up about 10 times, and I don’t 100 percent love the final result, but it’s certainly easier than doing all that work of setting your photos to music (you choose from a handful of their clips), provided you even have all the video-editing tools available to these guys.
Afterward, it’s easy to post to YouTube or FaceBook, which are linked to Animoto.
Try it now that you have a day off to play. Use my referral code — ejqnplmd — to get $5 off an all-access pass and help me get free access :)!
U.K.’s Daily Mail is reporting that Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld wants Frances Bean Cobain to appear in his next ad campaign.
Given that Cobain pulled more of her mom Courtney Love’s genes, she’s an unlikely choice, though anything the girl ends up doing is bound to make news.
I really loved, loved her dad Kurt Cobain, what he stood for and his music. After he died I went to Seattle to be at Ground Zero, found his house, shot video, all the usual stalkerazzi stuff. I somehow hoped Frances would grow up to be a rock star and pick up where Kurt left off. I miss all the music he didn’t get to make.
Nadine Kam photos Bianca Bennett models a raglan-sleeve dress designed by UH senior Courtnee Lee outside of Michael Hoyt’s Norae Shanty. Sitting outside is Jeff Nisbet.
Was on the University of Hawaii campus yesterday to do a story on the senior fashion show, “Absolute Fashion: All Bottled Up,” taking place April 27 at the Sheraton Waikiki. Tickets are $40 for the 11:30 luncheon fashion show, and those unable to attend can get a sneak preview at noon April 19 at Kahala Mall.
Anyone who knows me knows I’m easily distracted, so I couldn’t help but take a timout and step into Norae Shanty, located right between the APDM department at Miller Hall and the Art Building, where photos were being taken of the fashion.The shanty is the work of visiting Minnesota-based, Asian-American artist Michael Hoyt, who creates work to “build bridges within and beyond community.”
Inside, he was there with a laptap programmed with karaoke music in his version of the Korean norae bang. The bangs are isolated retreats that provide a more intimate experience than larger karaoke bars, which can possess a more competitive and embarrassing spirit, according to Hoyt.
The shanty was built here with materials donated by www.reusehawaii.org.
Inside, Brian Laura, Jeff Nisbet, Young-Joo (June) Lee, Kelli Mercado and Sarah Breiby were singing up a storm, and I have to say, not all that well. (You can see for yourself in the accompanying video.) But it truly was a welcoming, inhibition-lowering experience. They tried to scare me by forcing me to sing and blocking the entrance out, but they didn’t know that I spent about 5 years singing in bands, so it’s no big deal to me. I have to say, most people pick the deadliest songs in karaoke. Like, they wanted me to sing “Losing My Religion,” one of the longest, dullest songs in the world in karaoke time. I considered doing Incubus’ “Drive,” but went with the short, sweet “Closer to Free” by the Bodeans, something they could join in on with relatively little pain.
Nadine Kam video
I asked Hoyt, who’s set up Norae Shantys in Minnesota and Chicago, if he ever gets tired listening to the bad karaoke, and he said, “Not at all. I love it; it’s crazy!”
I arrived on campus at about 2:15 p.m. and Mercado was already in the shanty. When I asked her when I was about to leave if she had to be in class, she said, “I came here after my class ended at 1:30 and I’m still here!” It was 4:30 p.m. and by then she and Breiby were dancing around outside the shanty. “I’m not even drunk and I’m having fun!” Breiby said.
The Norae Shanty made its debut April 4 at First Friday, and will also be open 1 to 2 p.m. April 17, and 5 to 8 p.m. April 18. There is a possibility of extending hours by calling 956-5253.
Nadine Kam photo Brandon Boyd asks the audience, “Are You In?” Friday night at the Waikiki Shell. Click on the photo to see the video, which is a few seconds shy of the end of the song. Sorry. I ran out of memory at a most inopportune moment.
If you couldn’t be at the concert, below is an unedited clip of Incubus (and the audience) performing “Drive” March 21 at Waikiki Shell. My review is in Sunday’s paper:
Nadine Kam photo Brian Aubert comfortable on local stage for a reason.
The Silversun Pickups—Brian Aubert, Nikki Monninger, Christopher Guanlao and Joe Lester—presented an intimate concert in the Road Runner Music Hall in the Castle & Cooke Building at Dole Cannery March 19. I was one of the lucky 100 or so who got to see the band up close and in advance of the band’s Friday concert with Incubus at Waikiki Shell. I was there because a friend won a Road Runner contest and could bring one other person. Yay! Otherwise, I would have seen them at the Shell, but it’s always so much nicer when you can listen to music in a pleasant setting without getting jostled in a crowd.
I was shooting video, and there was one moment in my video where it got shaky because photographer Tina Lau tried to nicely move me while taking her seat in a nice plushy sofa.
Sorry to all who visited this site from the promo on our Today cover, but I was asked to remove it. (Not by the band in case you’re wondering, so please continue to consider them a friend to fans.)
Before the show, Brian was interviewed by DJ Maleko, who admitted on stage to some nervousness in talking to Brian, who seemed as if he might have had a future in comedy if music had not been his calling. Looking forward to seeing what they do on a bigger stage tomorrow!
Nadine Kam photo Check Nikki’s shoe. I liked her skull bass strap too, though you can’t see it in this photo.
Nadine Kam photos Allison Chu works on her hair prior to a rehearsal for “West Side Story” on Feb. 24. The musical’s public performances begin Feb. 29 with ’50s night at the KHS Auditorium.
Students from the Kaimuki Performing Arts Center bring back the look of the ’50s when “West Side Story” opens, and for a bunch of 21st century teens, it wasn’t easy to recreate the labor-intensive look that 1950s teens simply took for granted. It meant a whole lot of makeup, hair rollers, corsets for girls and tucked-in shirts and pants starting at the waist instead of the hips for boys.
Nadine Kam photos Students warm up before a dress rehearsal, with instruction from Broadway actor and dancer Ramon del Barrio and musical director Nanilisa Pascua on piano.
The boys were scolded for lapsing into 2008-style casual, but some enjoyed the ’50s formality, saying that it made them feel classy, even though they were playing street punks! (more…)
American Idol Jason Castro photographed looking much more polished than laidback as he did two nights ago during the men’s night of competition.
After a two-day marathon of watching the “American Idol” top 24, to me they could narrow the field to about 8 already. I hope Jason Castro stays a long time.
There’s been news stories run about the unfair advantage of some of the singers who have worked as pros, who have done tours and recordings, but I don’t think that will have any bearing on the final result. They didn’t make it “in the real world” the first time for the same reasons they won’t make it to the end on “AI,” whether it’s wrong material or sound or lack of charisma.
Top girls for me are Alexandrea Lushington and Syesha Mercado, but Jason’s a breath of fresh air, like Blake Lewis last season.
A lot of Jason’s fans are saying he looks like John Travolta. I don’t see it, unless they’re talking about his goofy wide smile.
Listen to audio from the show on the green player below:
Just back from the My Chemical Romance concert. Fun. Not one of my favorite bands but a couple of friends wanted to go so off we went. Turned out to be a great, high energy show before they go on Christmas break and head out to Vietnam in 2008.
Started on the floor for the openers Saves the Day, pretty much a yawn. When they announced they had two more songs to go, some guy next to me yelled, “Hurry up!”
My Chemical Romance came on quickly after that because their drum kit was set up and ready to go. I drum so I have to say drums are the worst when it comes to setting up. I really went to watch the drummer so moved up to the loge as close to the stage as security would allow. Always like to see if I can keep up. Just watching him play “The Black Parade” was worth going to the concert. He was awesome (the drummer from Thursday), but wasn’t the band’s drummer Bob, who, according to their Web site, developed a golf-ball size lump in his wrist and made it worse by continuing to play. He wised up after being unable to hold onto his sticks during a Bon Jovi concert and is now getting treatment.
Naturally, for a band with a hit song titled “The Black Parade,” there was black all around. Considered going against the crowd and wearing white or red, but decided to go with the flow and wore a black Theory jacket (needed pockets to get the illicit camera in) over silver sequin striped gray tank top from Wet Seat, and multi-tiered lace and knit skirt from Miss Sixty. Accessorized with black and silver Chanel bracelet, Me & Ro silver bracelet, and two vintage black glass necklaces.
Mikey’s two looks.
I really loved what bass player Michael, or Mikey, Way was wearing on stage, a fitted double-breasted tunic with a military braided trouser. Wish I had a photo but no photos was the band’s request. The funny thing was when he was sitting in front of me I didn’t notice what he was wearing. Was just studying his face and hair. Guitarist Ray Toro also has great stage hair that moves, like Corbin Bleu.Here’s what some fans wore:
Saw about a dozen of these jackets from Hot Topic.(more…)
Nadine Kam photo Michael Aston fronts Gene Loves Jezebel, delivering a laidback
opening performance during the “Lost ’80s Live” concert Sept. 22.
Debated for the longest time whether or not to go to the Lost ’80s Live concert Saturday night at Aloha Tower Marketplace, which, by the way, is a great venue for acts unlikely to start a riot. I wanted to see Gene Loves Jezebel, a band I missed when they came here about 20 years ago? Scary how time flies. Given a choice, I prefer to see bands in their prime and my one regret is not having gone to see Rage Against the Machine in their last concert here. I didn’t want to get stomped and now I’m kicking myself for not going!
Nadine Kam video Listen to Gene Loves Jezebel in concert.Anyway, Gene Loves Jezebel. So interesting because, of all bands, this one bears the distinction of being the only one whose album “Kiss of Life,” is in the collection of all my siblings, which is extremely weird because we all have very different tastes in music with virtually no crossover. I knew nothing about them except that Michael Aston is not exactly a great singer (his estranged brother Jay was the real wailer responsible for “Kiss of Life”), but definitely has one of the most intriguing voices on the planet which he uses to great effect through unusual vocal phrasing and scales. Maybe it’s his South Wales thing but I haven’t heard anything like it since. The band delivered a laidback performance and Aston’s bandmates compensated for notes he can no longer reach, admitting at one point that “your voice drops” as a person gets older.
Nadine Kam photos
Dressed for fun. Other ’80s getups spotted included
Madonna-esque frothy mini skirts and mesh gloves,
punk hair, and raglan-sleeve duotone KISS
baseball shirt. I don’t miss ’80s dress at all.
The idea of sitting through the other bands, Dramarama, When in Rome and Flock of Seagulls was daunting because ’80s music actually drove me away from chart/radio-friendly music. The ’80s, it seems to me, was about fantasy and over-the-top excess (in a bad way vs. today’s luxurious way), from clothes, to dry overblown permed hair, to the sound of fake instruments, especially synth drums. It drove me to playing music myself and the guitar god rock of Yngwie Malmsteen, Greg Howe, Vinnie Moore, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, eventually to bands like Metallica, Megadeth (whose guitarist at the time was from Hawaii and sent his drummer to my teacher Chuck James) and Anthrax, which put me in line to fall in love with the Seattle explosion of the late ’80s through early ’90s. Sigh. Those were the best of times.
At the concert, one of the ’80s fans told me how much he loved the music because “it was the last time music was happy.”
Nadine Kam photo When in Rome singer John Ceravolo gets s
upport from the crowd after climbing up
against the barrier between the stage
and the audience.
Nadine Kam video Dramarama performance of “Anything, Anything” in which I am up to my neck in sweaty armpits in the end.
Fair enough. The music was happy. The crowd was definitely happy. And I ended up staying for the whole show. The greatest thing about going to a concert surrounded by a bunch of old people is that they have other outlets for their energy so up close to the stage I didn’t have to worry about getting an elbow or combat boot in the face. Well, that is until Dramarama performed “Anything, Anything,” a song I’ve covered. At its finale, the singer John Easdale came over the barrier and the crowd surged forward to grab him — why they want to touch a sweaty stranger I’ll never know — but I got all these sweaty arms across the face without being mentally ready for it. Yuck! With any luck, I’ll be able to post my video for you.
Well, Fashion Week has ended, though events will continue through the week. But I promised the bf that once the shows end, the trip will be all about him. First order of biz was heading to SoHo and Nolita to find another of the Jimi Hendrix T-shirts he had bought there last spring. Unfortunately, there were none to be had. We kept seeing Che Guevara and Bob Marley shirts and the vendors kept trying to tell him they were just as nice, good, etc. Never mind that they’re different people who stand for different things. Traipsing around all day in a fruitless search is no fun, though, so by the end of the day I was coming around to their way of thinking. “You better switch to Bob Marley,” I told him. He wasn’t amused.
Alice Cooper is the current face for John Varvatos.
Along the way we also checked out the John Varvatos store. Beautiful men’s coats, jackets and rock ‘n’ roll influenced casual wear. Unfortunately, with winter styles starting to fill the stores, there’s not much suitable for Hawaii wear.
Anyway, if you happen to know where we can get this red Hendrix shirt, lemme know!
