Chief

Today as I was driving my daughter to the arboretum for a walk the trees we drove under looked extraordinary. If only I had my Flip camera (and I wasn't driving) then I could have made a nice little autumn-esque video for Flip'n Friday. Unfortunately, I only had my still camera, but I'm planning on giving it a try this weekend when I can enlist my husband to drive.

Tonight as I was absentmindedly looking at videos on youtube, I decided to check out an old fave. Years ago I kept coming across Patty Griffin's video for Chief and, thus, began my love affair with her music. She has an amazing ability to create characters and stories in a manner of minutes. And the music is wonderful as well. A number of years ago I saw her at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC, she was too "big" to be playing the venue, but apparently she insisted to her manager that he make it happen. At one point she forgot the lyrics to Rain and the entire crowd sang louder until she could catch up with us. It was one the best concert moments I have ever experienced.

Thoughts on Music Down by the River

Yesterday around dinner time we were listening to our Avett Brothers Channel on Pandora. If you haven't listened to Pandora before it's an interesting take on a radio station where you put in a favorite band/artist and the program chooses similar music for you. By the end when I was cleaning up and it was just me and my daughter dancing (my husband cooked so he was relaxing) we rocked out first to The Band's The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and then to Bob Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone. I suddenly realized I could have been a kid in the kitchen with my mom because the music hadn't changed. Just maybe my attitude.

When I was young I defiantly hated Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead. I remember admitting that Dylan's songs were good, but his voice was unbearable. "Mom, he can't sing," I would say. She would shrug, in a that's not what really matters kind of way. I'm not sure about the Dead, the songs were probably too long or something. I don't think it was my mom that won me over, but more than likely D.A. Pennebaker; having watched Don't Look Back so often I finally had to learn to love appreciate the voice of the reluctant prophet. And so I dance in the kitchen.

Thinking about downtown Wilmington, the Cape Fear River, and the Grateful Dead reminded me of a few months I spent years ago grading standardized tests. We had this very dry, very boring grading scale. The only "essay" that I remember is one where the student had written down all the lyrics perfectly (I sang it in my head to check) to Friend of the Devil. I had to give that student a zero, but I often think I wish that I knew who he/she was because I think there was a spark there. The student could have left the essay area blank, but didn't. This is why teachers need to grade their own tests.

Some of the music my parents listened to I didn't object to so much, in fact it was mostly those two, I needed to rebel against something. My parents also listen to John Prine on a fairly regular basis and when he played with Patty Griffin (a personal fave) a few years back my husband and I had to go. You can check out a clip from the show here, though it's not the whole song it's still enjoyable. Be prepared to sing the song all day long, it's that good. Though I do have to say if I had a nickel for every time either of my parents has said, "Jesus...the missing years." I'd be fairly well off.

And, yes, mom I know you're smiling right now. Enjoy it.

Flip'n Friday: When I Grow Up

When I Grow Up from Chelsea Wayant on Vimeo.

UPDATE: SOME PARTICIPANTS IN THIS FILM WOULD NOT LIKE TO HAVE IT SHOWN PUBLICLY. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE. PLEASE VISIT MY OTHER VIDEOS HERE.

This weeks Flip'n Friday was shot during a barbecue last weekend. There was a wide range of ages at the event and it was interesting to compare the career goals that we all have as children. As I have been thinking about and editing this piece I have been singing this song by Kasey Chambers. It is very appropriate for the topic this week.

For those of you that are new to this blog every Friday I post a video for the week. Normally, I shoot the pieces with a simple Flip Camera, but every now and then I will use my Canon or edit footage from one of my films into a trailer or whatnot. It just depends on the week. You can see all the Flip'n Friday here (or just check out this and this, two of my favorites).

The Cool Down

We have finally had some rain, which cooled down our high 90s weather. Thank goodness. Today I am hoping to make it downtown to visit one of my students art exhibits. My daughter is fast asleep so we will leave whenever she wakes up.

It gives me the time to listen to some of Tift Merritt's radio show The Spark (check out the archive, pretty impressive roster). She has a great interview with Darren Jessee, whom is a wonderful musician and person. He has great comments on the creative process. I met him once, years ago, when I was working at a coffee shop in Chapel Hill. He came in a lot and I never saw him only heard about from the other barista. It was a hot day when he came in and I had the door open and I had my back to the door. I turned around and he was just standing there, at the register, and I almost lost my balance and sputtered out, "Darren Jessee..." He smiled and I gave him his coffee. I was so embarrassed, but he was nice about it.

My film Drowning Slowly is named after a Ben Folds Five Song and it closes with a Hotel Lights song. Darren Jessee was the most famous person we approached about using a song and he was the most awesome about it and didn't try to fleece us for money (that we did not have, we made the movie for $3000). So check out the interview and his two albums: Hotel Lights and Firecracker People.