Invisible Circus

thereal_p46_47

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:58:34 PST

The Real Napolean Dynamite, originally uploaded by lennon818.

thereal_p46_472, originally uploaded by lennon818.

thereal_p46_472

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:47:21 PST

thereal_p46_472, originally uploaded by lennon818.

efren ramirez

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:46:36 PST

efren ramirez, originally uploaded by lennon818.

efren ramirez2

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:45:43 PST

efren ramirez2, originally uploaded by lennon818.

IKAR Grey Area (Trembling Before G-d)

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 13:58:46 PST

Flash Slideshow

UPDATE!!

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:08 PST

Yes its been a long time since I last wrote something. When you are a freelance writer you sort of lose track of time, actually you lose track of reality but that is something different altogether.

Anyhow here is a quick update on what is going on and what you can expect:

1) AFI FILM FEST
Yes it is once again time for AFI so I should be posting frequently. They have an open bar so that might change .

2) Election Time
Just wrote this article about the CA Election, let me know what you think.

3) Gestalt Magazine
Working on something big for this magazine. I will keep you updated.

I think that's it. Thanks for those of you who are actually reading this.

'till I complain again

Golden Star Shorts Fest

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:07 PST

I attended the Golden Star Shorts Fest preview party last night. It is a rather interesting idea; a quarterly shorts film fest. As usually the films were hit and miss. Two where rather awful while one, The Day of the Grackle, was funny and innovative.

The review will be published in Gestalt magazine and when it is finalized here as well.

I might also might post the Q & A onto my podcast.

As for future plans, I have no idea; I am sure something will come up.

'till I complain again

The Real Viper Room

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:07 PST

The Myths of Hollywood

With the echoes of the amplifier still ringing in your head, your eyes bleary from that appalling movie, where do you go to escape the vicissitudes of modernity; to find your island of stillness? Ironically, The Viper Room on a Sunday night is the place of respite.
LA is a town of myths; nothing is really what it seems to be. The Viper Room is a perfect example of this. For many it is synonymous with sex, drugs, and rock n roll; it is, after all, the place where River Phoenix died. Once you get pass the velvet ropes you are faced with Frost’s dilemma. Head up the stairs to the den of iniquity or go off the beaten path and stroll into their secret bar. While many head up the stairs to the main showroom, you are far better off following Frost’s advice and taking the road less traveled. Bravely pass the stairs and head into the secluded bar in front of you.
Instantly you are transformed to . . ., (feel free to pick your decade) For me it is 1940’s Hollywood. The mahogany walls and low ceiling radiate warmness; the plush booths beg you to sit down and fade away. I have no idea what a speak-easy was like but I’m sure it was something like this place. Stroll over to the bar and in your best James Bond impersonation order a martini or some other libation. Find a corner booth and melt into it. If you happen to have a girl with you, put your arm around her and stare in her eyes, looking for the day when you first feel in love.
If you are lucky enough to be there during an acoustic set, let minor cords wash over you and be reminded of the warmth and comfort of mom tucking you in at night. Regardless of why you came you will be glad you did.

The Viper Room
8852 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA.

Acoustic sets Sunday Nights 7ish.

Our Roots

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:07 PST

Our Roots
There are myths in Rock n Roll. There are myths about 24 hour sets. There are myths about jam bands that started a jam sometime in the mid sixties and are still playing that same song. There are myths about musicians selling their souls to the devil. There are myths about lead singers being possessed, live on stage, by the spirit of Robert Johnson, James Brown, and Prince. There are myths about bass players playing their bass with a cordless drill. At least I thought these were myths; for I now know some of these to be true.
These are just some of the things, some of the others are not fit for print, I witnessed when I saw The Toledo Show at Harvelle’s. We children of the digital age have sacrificed a lot; vinyl records and b-sides are just two examples. Perhaps our greatest sacrifice has been the live show. Sure, Bruce Springsteen still has a great show and when Prince feels like it he parties till the wee hours of the dawn, but when was the last time you saw an unknown act that knew how to jam.
When was the last time you saw something new and unexpected? Heard a lead singer sing in a way that you never knew existed? Saw a man possessed by the ghosts of the blues, jazz, soul, and rock n roll? Saw the bassists cast a spell like a voodoo priest, bewitching the entire audience. Heard the echoes of Jimmy on the guitar and Louis on the trumpet? Before we called it jazz, soul, blues, or Rock n Roll, there was MUSIC. Ancient rhythms used to cast away evil spirits, to usher the dead to the other side, or to celebrate life. The Toledo Show returns us to our roots.
Their music makes you want to dance. Makes you want to grab the first girl you see and engage in ancient rituals banned by the Church. Their music makes you stop thinking and start feeling.
It reminds us that we are young. It reminds us that beautiful dancers moving in front of us can simply be dancers. It remind us of a time when we were able to just have fun without psychoanalyzing every thing we saw and heard. It reminds us that the professed reason we drop bombs on Afghanistan and Iraq, the reason we treasure our freedom, is so we can go out, lose ourselves in the music, get drunk, and well . . .

The Toledo Show
Harvelle’s Sunday’s at 9:30 pm

Hollywoodland vs. Citizen Kane

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:07 PST

Moving Pictures

In this post-modern world of ours it is easy to get lost. With no past to cling to we are often lured by the siren song of the future. Hollywoodland reminds us of our film past. It takes us back to a world before digital technology and special effects ran amok; before George Lucas threw up on everything.
Hollywoodland is a filmmaker’s film. Every shot is exquisitely framed and lighted; every shot captures the beauty of light and the harshness of shadow. It reminds us of the need for harshness and contrast; a quality digital film fails to capture.
I’ll let you in on a little secret. When I watch a movie, in my critical capacity, I have two tests:
First, I will randomly pause a film and treat the image like a still photograph. I will look at how it is framed; how it is lit. Many people fail to realize that a movie is simply a string of photographs linked together. Needless to stay a vast majority of films fail this test.
Second, I like to turn off the sound. This might seem weird at first, but you have to remember that you are watching a film and not attending the theater. In theater the images are superfluous, it is all about the dialogue. In film, however, the dialogue is not the key component, the images are. A truly brilliant film will captivate and enthrall you with the simple use of images. It will convey its meaning without the use of a single word. In fact, sometimes the words get in the way.
Many believe that Citizen Kane is the greatest film ever made; many also find it to be extremely boring. How can this be? One can only answer this by watching it with the sound turned off. Once the mind is freed from concentrating on the words it can truly appreciate the beauty of light and the revolutionary camera angles employed in this movie.
I found the plot of Hollywoodland to be superfluous as well. The plot is simply a vehicle to heighten the cinematography. Think about it. If this film focused on our modern era would the cinematography have been the same? The softness of the light, for example, would seem a little ridiculous. If this film was not a detective-noir film would such extensive use of shadows been permissible?
One of the main debates in film today is about the small screen versus the big; the theater versus the home-theater. Many believe that with the creation of home theaters attending a movie theater has been rendered unnecessary, and while for many films I would agree with this, nothing could be further from the truth in regards to this film. Ironically, a detective noir film set in the late 50’s might be the saving grace of film studios.

UPDATE

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:07 PST

Long time no blog. Things have been crazy on my end so I apologize. Also, I am not as young as I remember; I am dead tired after only two nights of going out. There will be a lot of posts in the near future so please come back often.

Here is what has been happening and what will be happening.

Last Saturday I was at the Soul Cafe to catch Chelsea Williams. She is one of the last coffee house singer/songwriter and she is great. She actually is a street performer on 3rd street. Trying to set up an interview and write an article on her.

Last night, Sunday I think, I was at the Viper Room. Hollywood is a funny place. There are these great myths surrounding places like the Viper Room, the place where River Phoenix died, but when you actually go there things are 180 degrees different. I am working on an article trying to articulate all of this and work in two great acoustic acts I saw.
Oh and for any new bands out there who want a music critic to fall in love with you two words of advice: minor cords.

Tonight there is a big party at Cinespace, so if I survive I will no doubt have something sarcastic to say about the whole thing.

Thursday I am going to a preview of Hollywood Land at the Arclight.

I am also working on a grant application.

Also I might be joining some new magazines.

That's it for now.

'till I complain again

Gestalt/TOMS Shoe party at Maude Carrin

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:07 PST

Michael Schmidt Photography-
Gestalt/TOMS Shoe party at Maude Carrin

Originally uploaded by lennon818.

Hey look I'm famous, or at least cool. I thought it was about time this blog got some class and sophistication so here is a glossy, professional photo by a great photographer Michael Schmidt. I strive to bring only the best to my faithful twenty readers. Speaking of cool people, hi Ellen Rosner Feig.
Ellen is the editor in chief of this great new magazine I will be writing for called Gestalt.
Here I am at the Gestalt, TOMS Shoe party at Maude Carrin. I have always found these events to be very funny. They are filled with beautiful people staring at modern art. What, you might ask, is funny about this? What is funny is the point of modern art is to make fun of these people. Modern art is ugly. Only through sheer hubris has it become art and thus thought of as beautiful. So the next time you are at one of these events do the following:
stand next to a pretty young thing, wait for the inevitable moment when she will utter, "isn't it beautiful?", nod your head, leave the room, and proceed to giggle.

'till I complain again

I didnt know I Loved You Till I Saw You Rock n Roll

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:07 PST

BECKY, The Lead Singer

Originally uploaded by lennon818.
I didn’t know I loved you till I saw you Rock n Roll

My first love has always been rock n roll. When I first became a writer I dreamed of writing for Rolling Stone. In order for my dream to come to fruition I decided to write for any magazine that would have me as a music critic.
After my second show I knew I could never be a music critic; I simply did not have the patience for it. It seems like in LA everyone has a band and 90% of them are horrible, 9% are tolerable, and 1% are great. At that rate I would have to sit through 100 performances I did not care for, to have the chance of finding one great band.
Even though she broke my heart she still is my first love, so every now and then I write a music review.

The history of women in Rock n Roll is a strange and very ironic one. In my opinion women have better voices yet there are very few female rockers. Ironically the ones who make it are not the ones with the best voice, e.g. Janis Joplin. Why this is so probably requires a twenty-page essay on feminism. So what to make of a female rocker who has an amazing voice?
There she was on stage, all five feet of her, well if you include her hair doo and her shoes you can add a good six inches to that. This stature belies an amazing voice. She is Michigan J. Frog minus the green skin (He is the singing WB Frog, who only sings when nobody is there and when he sings he sounds like Pavarotti) Unlike the fembots who dominate music today this pixie has an operatic voice, she is actually a trained opera singer. What this means is she has perfect pitch and an amazing tone to her voice.
She is Becky Jensen, the lead singer of a new band called Hotwired. I would like to describe their sound but we got into a fight over this at the local diner so there is no definitive answer. It is a mix of punk meets heavy metal; think lots of power cords.
While the clash of the guitar and her voice create an interesting dynamic, old people like me don’t care too much for dissonance. If it were up to me she would be up there with an acoustic guitar. Don’t get me wrong I love punk rock but the problem with punk is most people don’t get it.
Here is a bit of advice for a new punk band: you don’t have to kill the melody. Yes, you might technically be called new wave instead of punk but hey its still rock n roll. I think what was missing most from this band is the melody. I know that it exists in her voice but her voice was drowned out by the guitar. If you are in a three-piece band you can’t just abandon the rhythm guitar and just play lead and power cords. The bassist also has to pick up the slack and play a more melodic bass, not an easy thing to do.
This is why there are so few three-instrument bands, very few people can pull it off. So while I think this band needs some good soul searching and rummaging through the discount bin at Amoeba for garage punk it has potential. Becky Jensen just might be the next great rock diva and she has the shoes to match.

Hotwired will be playing at the Viper Room on Sunday August 27th.

THE DERBY

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:06 PST

A new band, fronted by one of my favorite people, called Hotwired is playing tomorrow night at 10:30 at the Derby!!

The Derby is located at:
4500 Los Feliz Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90027

stay tuned for my review of the show and pictures

'till I complain again

MUSE Project

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:06 PST

The girls over at the Muse Project were kind enough to post my review on their site. So I thought I would recipicate by posting a link to their site.

Please visit their site to learn more about their unique show and when it is playing. I am actually going to be attending another showing tonight.

'till I complain again.

Another Crazy Japanese Video

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:06 PST

Japanese Video

The foreign trend continues. This time its not even in English; the entire video is in Japanese. This leads to the question of are only people who speak Japanese watching this video or for some crazy reason those who, like me, do not speak Japanese but like crazy videos watching this as well. I am pretty sure it is the later rather than the former because if it were not roughly 1% of the Japanese speaking world has seen this video.

Osama's Pussy

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:06 PST

Big Mouth Cat

Another foreign video in the top two? Or at least one that makes fun of foreigners, in this video the Cat has an Indian accent. What is going on?
While this video and the previous one hint at it, the answer is not revealed until one visits Gizmoz.com. What is at play are the twin factors of isolationism and diminution during the crisis of war.

Gizmoz.com is a site where one can pick a talking head, its background, and then either insert your own voice or use the text-voice feature. Among the choices for heads are two interesting choices: Osama bin Laden and George W. Bush.

In essence we are taking our enemy, depends where you find yourself on the political spectrum, and transforming him into a cartoon character or worse. This of course is nothing new.

As early as the beginnings of Christianity, when the new dominant religion shrunk the idols of paganism into fairies and trolls, we have been shrinking our enemies and dehumanizing them.

This website is simply the newest way to do this. While it might be fun for some it can also be dangerous. If we dehumanize our enemies then we also refuse to hear anything they have to say and dismiss them outright. While we would love to belief that Osama is simply insane, there does exist the possibility that while his ideas are improperly expressed and his tactics abhorrent, while he is on the fringe of his religion, we still must listen to the minority when the majority is over one billion people.

The Next Pokemon

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:06 PST

私のblogです Blog #2 (my pets & home)

One word: Japanese. I do not know what it is but if something is in Japanese and is all crazy and epileptic then it is cool and popular. It worked for Pokemon and Iron Chef.
In all reality there is probably a subliminal message embedded in this video somewhere so if we all start turning Japanese then we can blame this video.

YOUTUBE Critic

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:06 PST

Yes, I know its been a while since my last post. Yes, I know the secret to ever making this blog a success is to write everyday. Here is my conundrum. I am a post modern pop-culture critic so in order for me to write everyday I would have to attend some sort of event, movie, play, etc. every single day and then write about it. The reason for this is because I refuse to write about something that I have not personally seen or interacted with; I see no point in simply reposting stuff. This is entirely unfeasible. So have I given up on the notion of writing everday? No, being the genius that I am, I have come up with a brilliant solution. I will be the world's first YouTube critic. Everyday I will post at the very least the highest rated YouTube video for the day and more than likely a few more down the line. I will then write an explanation of why I think they became the most popular video(s) for that day. Wish me luck.

'till I complain again

Little Miss Sunshine

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:05 PST

The definition of brilliance is the creation of a concept or object that no one else could have fathomed. Little Miss Sunshine is brilliant.
Little Miss Sunshine is a post-modern adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath. A post- modern adaptation is not a literal adaptation but the transformation of a work to emphasize a post-modern theme or provide a new insight into reality. For those who might doubt the connection between these two works the following is a short list of their commonalities:

A poor family, as their mode of transportation attests to, who set of to California in search of the better life

An ineffectual and silent head of the household, who do to his inability to provide for the household, sinks in the background

A mother who tries at all costs to keep the family together

An uncle who is prone to depression and is very morose

The young daughter who is the sole source of optimism.

The reclusive son who is silent

The feisty grandfather who is forced to go on the journey, but dies along the way.

While any adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath would constitute brilliance the transformation of this somber and religious text into a dark comedy is beyond brilliance. It is very hard to describe why this is so to an individual who has not trudged through this epic work.
It is sufficed to say there is nothing funny about this book, yet the movie is hysterical. This raises the fundamental question of how this can be.
In order to understand this one must delve into the problems of the two families: the Joads (from Grapes of Wrath) and the Hoovers (from Little Miss Sunshine).
While the problems of both families have economic roots they are fundamentally different. The Joads have real problems. They are living in the dust bowl and just have been forcibly removed from their home. The entire world around them is suffering and there is no relief in site. In short their problems are real.
The problems of the Hoovers, on the other hand, are entirely in their minds. The father is a failure because he refuses to acknowledge the possibility of failing. The son is a failure because he refuses to interact with the outside world. The Uncle is a failure because he has reduced life to black and white. The world is not coming to an end, they have not been forced from their homes, and they still have a future. This is why this movie is so funny.
In order for us to create the illusion of despair and denial in our heads we must create ridiculous and far fetching philosophies about the world; our brains do not accept minute lies. While we cannot realize the absurdity of these lies, outsider can. In this power of laughter lies the most profound statement of this movie.
The most profound thing, and fundamentally different, notion of this movie is that the cure is given—laughter. Our post-modern world is nothing more than a ridiculous farce. We have two choices: drugs (whether legal or not) or laughter; escape or acceptance. Only once someone accepts the ridiculous nature of this post-modern acceptance does this world lose its power over you.

The Los Angeles Journal

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:05 PST

Recently two of my reviews have been published by the Los Angeles Journal. I encourage you to view them by clicking on the images below. The Los Angeles Journal is a new voice in LA and will appreciate as many new readers as possible.

TAKING THE JESUS PILL

I'm Back

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:05 PST

I must apologize to my faithful readers for the long absence; a lot has happened since I last wrote. First, and foremost, I got a real 9 to 5 job in PR. Thankfully, that lasted all of three days. Here is a warning to all serious writers: DO NOT GO INTO PR. PR is like prostitution, you have to be unnaturally happy. The problem with PR is everything you write has to be up-beat and happy, it has to pop. Well, any serious writer knows that in order to write you must be miserable. If one looks at all of the great writers they were all miserable. So, I am back to writing for my blog and freelance writing hoping to get paid along the way. If you would like to pay me to write for you, please email me, I would greatly appreciate it.

'Till I complain again

Learning Annex II

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:05 PST

Perez Hilton never showed. Now I have nothing to write about (if I don't have anything to write about then what am I writting about now?).
I was very dissapointed to say the least. I have very little human contact and getting to meet someone as cool as Perez Hilton would have been the cherry on top of my sunday.

It turns out it is not all Perez's fault; the learning annex stiffed him for his last class and thinking he was not going to get paid, he never showed up (That is at least what one source told me).
I have never been one to take sides so here the emails of the two principals:

To personally complain to Perez as to why he never showed up email him.

To complain to the learning Annex email Oliver W.

P.S. The Learning Annex is a great place to meet women.

Till I complain again.

The Muse Project

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:05 PST

This Wed. July 12, I will be attending a rather interesting cabaret show called THE MUSE PROJECT at the King King Club in Hollywood. Tickets are $15.00 at the door and doors open at 9:00 pm. Stay tuned for interview and pictures of me w/ hot chicks : - )

Learning Annex

noreply@blogger.com (Payam Emrani) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:03:05 PST

I shall be attending the Harvard of Hollywood, otherwise knows as the Learning Annex tonight. I shall be attending Perez Hilton's class on entertainment blogging. I have three main reasons for doing this:
1) Because I can always use a good laugh
2) To try and make some money, so I can laugh at people who work hard.
3) Attend parties so I can get a good laugh.

I will keep you informed on all of the shenanigans.