mikeambs

Re: http://kateoplis.tumblr.com/post/17442879337

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:43:00 GMT

these are stunning :)

Re: Teaser – Vimeo Video School: Do more with your DSLR

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:16:00 GMT

love this :) !!

Re: http://www.barrettgarese.com/post/17221296440

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:40:00 GMT

*nods* snap.

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/15733283165

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:10:00 GMT

let me know if you've learned any tricks in using X these last few months :) I'm trying to get myself as fast with the shortcuts as I am with 7 :P I have a ways to go...

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/15733283165

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:05:00 GMT

a symlink workaround seems to hold up until restart, the moment between the server connecting and the symlink searching for the original file seem to cause issues with connecting later. not always. but I found myself having to restart the machine several times trying to get media to reconnect. not to mention, if iMovie breaks a connection between clips, there's no way to reconnect it later :( which is frustrating. a symlink workflow might work great with FCP X, so far I've just been manually moving my footage into my event.

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/15733283165

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:02:00 GMT

agreed. I'm slow to the party - but still, I'm quickly learning to love it.

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/16287924346

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:07:00 GMT

Oh, I didn't know it was the theme song for Portlandia - I haven't seen that show except for a few YouTube clips. But yes :) I definitely see a heavy-on-the-lens-flare beach movie when I hear this song.

Re: http://blog.ftomfilm.com/post/16269804005

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:20:00 GMT

I'm nervous to say how to soon :) but yes, that would be great. I'm on the hunt for someone to help me with sound design, which is going to be quite a bit of work! It's getting there though - seems like it's moving much quicker these days!

Re: http://blog.ftomfilm.com/post/16269804005

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:19:00 GMT

Thanks so much for hanging in there, Robert - I know I haven't been the fastest at wrapping the film up for release. I do appreciate very much people's patience with the project :)

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/15733283165

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:50:00 GMT

Hey Eric - yea, I would abandon the aliasing approach, although iMovie does generate thumbnails for all the alias files as though they were the original movie file, it acts up when adding keywords.

But!, Hazel can easily be used for an offline workflow within iMovie, for example, at work: when I put an SD card in the computer from the 60d that I shoot on, it immediately starts moving files one by one off the card, then renaming those files with the date-cam-project-original filename-sequential clip # ; then those renamed files get opened with a compressor droplet which saves the files to an exports folder, and then Hazel spots the finished exports and moves them to our server, organizing them by subfolders based off date-created.

So, you could easily have Hazel send the files to both a full-res Compressor droplet as well as a offline-res file that gets auto-exported to an iMovie folder. Hope all that made sense! Let me know if you have questions, I still need to follow up on this post.

Re: http://ericahampton.tumblr.com/post/15751004481

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:32:00 GMT

I was still in bed this morning when I read this - it made me tear up too... so then I rolled over in bed to kiss Erica and to let her know post was really sweet :) and she was all crazy-haired and open-mouthed and spread out with Maeby... it was funny. I still gave her a kiss though.

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/15733283165

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:26:00 GMT

Hey Eric :) well, the bad news is the keywords don't like the aliases after-all... which was sad to find. But!, I am testing another way that seems to be working so far, I'll write about it soon. It requires copying the files around, but I just restructured the way I backup all the media for the doc', the folder structures don't match between the network drive and the external drive, but I'm okay with that for now.

Re: http://365daysinsweden.tumblr.com/post/15688845703

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:33:00 GMT

*hug*

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/15577402660

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:14:00 GMT

nightmare-dog has just become my nickname for maeby :P it's begrudgingly affectionate on my part.

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/15056116751

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:21:00 GMT

*sigh* don't laugh :P you're just encouraging her bad habits.

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/14822251551

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:24:00 GMT

ha, it *is* still a bit over my head :P but interesting to read about all the same. have a good new year, wayne!

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/14041986348

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:39:00 GMT

Ha, I like that idea :) I can't stop listening to this song.

Re: http://blog.ericahampton.com/post/13785697849

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:14:00 GMT

he he :) he is so missing his front teeth.

Re: http://blog.ftomfilm.com/post/13716055771

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:11:00 GMT

Hey Hedge! Yea, I've seen Brian's request tool used on several sites, and I think it's a great resource for people. I guess one of the worries I have is it requires redundancy from the user, if I think Iron Sky is cool and want to see it, I can like it on Facebook, but then I would really need to go to the demand page and fill in my name and zip, and also, if I want to take a look at the film's sneak peak, I need to create a user account. Now, that's not the worst thing in the world, but compare their 78,414 Facebook likes vs their 38,462 film requests, less than half. I think it would be great if more of that was tied into one action.

The Kickstarter idea is interesting, it would have to be a time-crunch thing since the max limit on a campaign is 60 or 90 days, I can't remember which, but I do love using Kickstarter for things like that. I'll have to keep thinking about that. Thanks for the feedback!

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/13706416767

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:43:00 GMT

Yea, the other night when I screened the recent cut for Amanda, a few shots needed a bit of touching-up to look less video'ish, at least I thought so. Something like a simple grain overlay might go a long ways. I was taking a look at the CGC you linked to, that *is* a much cheaper option, and especially since, all I'm mainly interested in is the grain overlays.

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/13624886803

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:55:00 GMT

Agreed - very groundbreaking for it's time :)

Re: http://blog.ftomfilm.com/post/13448610247

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:55:00 GMT

Hey Romain - thanks for the comment :) I'm excited to share both the film and 64 Days as soon as possible!

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/13366997856

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:02:00 GMT

Wow, ha - 4.7 seconds :) that's amazing. I'll have to build my relationship with Sammy's Camera until they trust me enough to rent such an expensive piece of equipment without having matching funds in my account. I can dream... I can dream.

Re: http://blog.mikeambs.com/post/13366997856

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:48:00 GMT

Hey Wayne :) Yea, I'm not sure actually - like you, I would be very surprised if the camera had any internal storage - although, I do remember seeing something about 3 GB, 9 GB, etc options for the camera, but again, I need to look into it more. Not that I can afford the camera!, ha, I guess just for the purposes of rampant curiosity.

Re: http://blog.ftomfilm.com/post/13448610247

no_email@example.com (Mike Ambs) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:45:00 GMT

Answer ;) yes. A lot of that is already written and has just been waiting for the film. I don't know when, but I know the plan has been to release 64 Days and the film at the same time. Still so much to do!

photo by colerise via instagram @kaylavarley + long exposure in...

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

photo by colerise via instagram

@kaylavarley + long exposure in a completely dark room (slow shutter app) + a hand held flash (Canon 580EX II) + a lens flare app for the camera + Photoforge2 for the colors + 2 hours of free time at the airport… and a partridge in a pear tree.

jtotheizzoe: NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this...

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:30:00 GMT

jtotheizzoe:

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this video of swirling plasma on the surface of the sun.

It’s a tornado perhaps the size of the Earth itself, spinning at speeds a thousand times greater than Earth’s strongest storms. (via NPR)

Photo

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:31:00 GMT

via ftom film: This is Larry. This is somewhere between point A...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

via ftom film:

This is Larry. This is somewhere between point A and point B. Where ever it is… I miss it. I miss kneeling on-top of the van, working the crane, watching Larry push through the wind. Knowing that every mile meant something to him… something people wouldn’t see passing by in their cars…

"You can always find problems with any decision, but you can’t let that stop you. ...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:30:00 GMT

“You can always find problems with any decision, but you can’t let that stop you.”

- Ted Mosby (via ilikeslam)

via my sticky love : Don’t die before I do * I just found out...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:30:00 GMT

via my sticky love : Don’t die before I do *

I just found out today that this sticky note had 130 notes - I have never posted anything that’s come anywhere near that number of likes and reblogs; just thought that was worth noting.

Erica wrote this for me last year, fingers crossed that it still applies *

via moviebarcode - 20000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) This just...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

via moviebarcode - 20000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)

This just became my favorite barcode yet. Filed under: films I grew up on.

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the ...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:30:00 GMT

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms.”

- Henry David Thoreau, via hope and force

photo by Mike Ambs - building lego aliens with xander to go...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:30:00 GMT

photo by Mike Ambs - building lego aliens with xander to go along with our massive two foot long robotic space-exploring machine!

yvynyl: Julia Holter - In The Same Room mojo magazine: In the...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:31:00 GMT

yvynyl:

Julia Holter - In The Same Room

mojo magazine:

In the new issue of the magazine, Sonny Baker writes: “[Julia Holter’s Ekstasis] brings to mind out-of body experiences and intense euphoria using disco beats, plucked strings, multi-layered vocals, Middle Eastern drones and, at times, free jazz.”

photos by erica somewhere between Detroit and Burbank *

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

photos by erica somewhere between Detroit and Burbank *

"Every fall into love involves [to adapt Oscar Wilde] the triumph of hope over ...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:30:00 GMT

“Every fall into love involves [to adapt Oscar Wilde] the triumph of hope over self-knowledge. We fall in love hoping that we will not find in the other what we know is in ourselves – all the cowardice, weakness, laziness, dishonesty, compromise and brute stupidity. We throw a cordon of love around the chosen one, and decide that everything that lies within it will somehow be free of our faults and hence lovable. We locate inside another a perfection that eludes us within ourselves, and through union with the beloved, hope somehow to maintain [against evidence of all self-knowledge] a precarious faith in the species.”

- - Alain de Botton

photo by Mike Ambs - we were on the lookout today for a 42 foot...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:01:00 GMT

photo by Mike Ambs - we were on the lookout today for a 42 foot tall + 9 foot round joshua tree… which is the largest joshua tree in the national park; this is not *that* tree, but it’s pretty none the less.

"Well, it was forwarded to [WikiLeaks] - and god knows what happens now - hopefully ...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:31:00 GMT

“Well, it was forwarded to [WikiLeaks] - and god knows what happens now - hopefully worldwide discussion, debates, and reforms - if not, than [sic] we’re doomed - as a species - i will officially give up on the society we have if nothing happens - the reaction to the [Baghdad Apache attack] video gave me immense hope; CNN’s iReport was overwhelmed; Twitter exploded - people who saw, knew there was something wrong… Washington Post sat on the video… David Finkel acquired a copy while embedded out here… - i want people to see the truth… regardless of who they are… because without information, you cannot make informed decisions as a public.”

- - Bradley Manning (via wreck and salvage)

via Glenn Greenwald : Manning could face death: For what? - WikiLeaks

As a reminder: Manning — convicted of nothing — continues to be held in 23-hour/day, highly repressive solitary confinement; despite protests from Amnesty International, a formal investigation by the U.N.’s top torture official, and the replacement of the brig commander, Manning has been held that way for ten straight months, with no change in sight.

Filed under: still relevant.

photo by Mike Ambs - our very lovely view from site #55 at...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:01:00 GMT

photo by Mike Ambs - our very lovely view from site #55 at #jumborocks campgrounds in #joshuatree :) also, sound advice, if you have a sleeping bag rated for 40 degrees and the forecast says 36 degrees, it turns out that bringing a few extra blankets isn’t going to cut it. all of us froze the *entire* night :P cc @erica_hampton

photo by Mike Ambs - our view from the first mini-climb inside...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

photo by Mike Ambs - our view from the first mini-climb inside #joshuatree national park- xander helped guide @erica_hampton and me up to the “best lookout” :) we took some photos, found some rabbit droppings, squeezed through a few caves, and then hurried to make it to our campsite before the sun set.

photo by Mike Ambs - pulled over last night for firewood, or...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:01:00 GMT

photo by Mike Ambs - pulled over last night for firewood, or “cheap firewood” as was advertised, and instead found a sign leading to the “enchanted bookstore” :) #joshuatree

via paul-stine: The Dust Brothers - This Is Your Life, Feat....

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

via paul-stine:

The Dust Brothers - This Is Your Life, Feat. Tyler Durden

Vocal groups… they just don’t make ‘em like...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:30:00 GMT

Vocal groups… they just don’t make ‘em like they used to *sigh*

"Our story is the story of the universe. ...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:31:00 GMT

“Our story is the story of the universe. Every piece of everyone, of everything you love and everything you hate, of the thing you hold most precious, was assembled by the forces of nature in the first few minutes of the life of the universe, transformed in the hearts of the stars or created in their fiery deaths.And when you die, those pieces will be returned to the universe in the endless cycle of death and rebirth. What a wonderful thing it is to be part of that universe. And what a story, what a majestic story.”

- Professor Brian Cox, Wonders of the Universe

Moby-Dick: mike1630

Conquest of New Spain: mike1630

The Poetic Edda: mike1630

Gargantua and Pantagruel: mike1630

The Warren Commission Report: mike1630

there's a story behind these gloves. but it seems more entertaining to leave it open for ...

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 02:40:00 GMT

mike ambs posted a photo:

decided to cover each of our hanging fence-garden baskets with potato sacks to make them a bit ...

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:54:00 GMT

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7x7 : Week of January 16th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:08:00 GMT

1) I might not love the way it smells in the morning, but I do love watching the swirls of coffee steam in the sunlight. 2) While Erica and I were walking Willie around the block, a guy 40 feet away yelled out from behind an SUV; I asked if he was ok and he replied yes - but as Erica and I started to slowly walk away he yelled "cunt" at the driver and started punching the SUV. I went back over to help him up and he said everything was fine and that the driver was his friend... still can't make sense of that. 3) Driving across the 4th st bridge with Paul Dateh. 4) Getting a brain-freeze at Menchies - where we had just seen Beth Grant, aka, Kitty Farmer from Donnie Darko. It was exciting. 5) I just woke up and rolled over in bed - Erica was in the kitchen making us that toast with the cut-out area for eggs, when out of no where Breaker poked her head into frame. 6) At cafe' Marie et Cie with Amanda going over FToM just before I headed back home to re-recorded a current narration track. 7) Helping Erica carry back in the 2x4s and plants she picked up at the hardware store - she saw her favorite neighborhood dog walking while parking and hit her head looking at him pass by :) *

mikeambs.com/7x7

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton, paul dateh and amanda walker

7x7 : Week of January 9th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 06:15:00 GMT

1) I attempted to trim Erica's slip, attempted being the key word, I need to work on my straight-line scissors skills. 2) Sometimes, when I'm in the bathroom I notice Breaker sticking her paws under the door to get my attention - I find it adorable. I'm not sure if she really wants to be near me, or just me to let her drink out of the sink while I brush my teeth. 3) Waiting for Erica to arrive at the Universal City Metro station - watching a stranger rehearse dance moves. 4) Watching CES interviews with Lan, Bonny and Erica. 5) At Blip HQs with Steve and Rick - had a great conversation with the both of them about FToM and just moving forward in general. 6) At Denny's near Santa Monica. Erica reading a rather hilarious twitter from loonachic - it made her laugh so hard she kinda' spit, it happens. 7) Erica post morning grocery shopping, asleep mid-coffee on the couch.

Cast: mike ambs, Steve Woolf, Rick Rey , erica hampton, Lan Bui, Bonny Pierzina and loonachic

7x7 : Week of January 2nd

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:29:00 GMT

1) Amanda and I writing out thank you letters and packing up the FToMfilm.com Kickstarter t-shirts. 2) Helping Eric and Melanie move their newly purchased fridge into their newly rented Burbank apartment. 3) Picking up Erica early in San Bernardino so she wouldn't have to ride the Greyhound the last 2 hours into LA. She saw me waiting and tried to sneak up behind me. 4) On our way to Las Vegas for CES with Vu, Lan and Erica - stopped along the side of the road somewhere before Barstow to have a snwoball fight. Vu posted a really fun edit of our fight here cl.ly/3wzw 5) Taking photos and video of the Welcome to Vegas sign - it was Erica's first time in Vegas. 6) Watching the amazing fountain show in front of the Bellagio - Erica's smile kept lighting up like she was young again. I have to say, the fountain show made me feel very happy. 7) Erica gambling in Vegas for the first time while Vu records for his yet-to-be-named podcast. She didn't win, as you can hear from everyone's collective "aww".

Cast: mike ambs, Lan Bui, Vu Bui, amanda walker and erica hampton

Lady Gaga + Bob Sager reveal new Polaroid Grey Technology / Products

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 01:34:00 GMT

The *entire* Polaroid booth at CES is designed around their classic 3x4 film dimensions, the main stage supports a backdrop projection-screen with the classic white border, the Made in Polaroid icon that animated every so often across their displays were again their classic frame design. Everything seemed to suggest Polaroid was going to launch something new that tied back into the nostalgic film and frame so many people miss. But, that was not the case.

I have to say, Erica and I were both disappointed to find that their newly revealed “Polaroid of the 21st century” lineup is nothing more than a digital camera that prints on plain paper. Oh, also, their wireless bluetooth enabled Polaroid printer doesn’t support iPhone, which I’m sure isn’t a very important camera to support seeing as it is so rare to see anyone using an iPhone these days. What are your thoughts?

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton, Lan Bui and Vu Bui

7x7 : Week of December 26th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 21:52:00 GMT

1) Driving through the Back to the Future tunnel on our way to the Griffith Park Observatory - Xander is asking Erica if she knew that "there is treasure in the past". 2) Watching a beautiful sunset over Runyon Canyon Park and Hollywood. 3) At the North Hollywood post office, mailing out a few FToM t-shirt packages. 4) Spent the day at the beach by "the rocks" north of Malibu - it's official, Xander loves the ocean. 5) Watching the fountain at the Grove while it fake snows - we were waiting to take Xander to watch TRON. 6) Having a nerf war in the house - I mounted my SGblade quick release plate to the top of my gun and recorded our fire-fight. It was awesome. 7) Dropping off Xander and Erica at LAX this morning for their 7 o'clock flight back to Michigan. Erica is taking the Greyhound back to LA, I'm worried about the trip being awful. Keeping my fingers crossed.

mikeambs.com/7x7

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton

7x7 : Week of December 19th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 08:14:00 GMT

1) Watching out the front windows as it downpours for the 4th straight day in Los Angeles, I have never seen anything like it in the 6 years I've lived here. 2) Going over 64 Days parts 5 - 8 with Amanda. 3) Testing out the giant, giant loop train-track that Xander and I made. 4) Watching the wave-tank at the Long Beach Aquarium. 5) On a hike with Erica and Xander at Runyon Canyon Park - Xander is talking about why and how much he wants to be an armadillo. 6) At the Santa Monica pier just after the sunset - Xander getting his feet wet in the Pacific Ocean for the first time in his life. He loved it. 7) Vu, after waiting an entire 5 weeks, finally taste-testing Erica's competitive banana pudding. She is determined to beat the banana pudding sold at Baby Blues in Venice. Vu's reaction to this was great.

7x7 project : mikeambs.com/7x7

Cast: mike ambs, amanda walker, Vu Bui and erica hampton

7x7 : Week of December 12th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 04:15:00 GMT

1) Driving back home from Pasadena after meeting Casey for lunch at Love Birds. Which, by the way, makes an amazing BLT. 2) Erica taking an afternoon nap with Willie on our $5 yard-sale kitchen rug. 3) Testing out my newly arrived Glif! 4) Helping Erica make banana pudding - she is determined to one-up the banana pudding from Baby Blues in Venice. 5) Watching the dolphins jump in and out of the waves just before sunset. 6) With a group of friends at the TRON mid-night showing in Downtown! Despite hearing a lot of bad reviews before the movie - Erica and I really enjoyed the film. Even the 3D! And we are grumpy old people when it comes to 3D, it always annoys us. But it worked really well in TRON. 7) Driving through tunnels makes my happy.

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton

7x7 : Week of December 5th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 02:12:00 GMT

1) Stumbling across a pretty over-the-top Christmas decorated yard off Magnolia Blvd. I can't imagine how expensive it is to store all this stuff the other 11 months of the year. 2) Hanging our newly re-painted chalkboard in the kitchen. 3) Breaker likes to do this thing where she somehow works herself under several layers of blankets and comforters, where she somehow manages to sleep without passing out from lack of oxygen. 4) Near the North Hollywood Redline and post-office - rumor has it all the cops and bystanders and helicopters was due to a bomb threat. 5) Erica laughing in response to an email I wrote to Lan about us being old and not liking 3D movies. 6) The next day, Erica calling me a jerk for recording her when she was tired from our hike :P which, in my defense, was a pretty exhausting hike. I just thought she was cute in my old track-shorties. 7) Barrett showing me what in the world Minecraft is... and then giving me grief about recording him. Insert evil laugh here.

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton and Lan Bui

my pummelvision

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:20:00 GMT

Made at pummelvision.com

Cast: mike ambs, Larry McKurtis, amanda walker, erica hampton, Mandy Ambs, Nick Ambs, Tim Ambs, Deborah Mommers, Bonnie Gale, Justin Adams, Angela Sauceda, Zadi Diaz, Bonny Pierzina, Lan Bui, Vu Bui, mikehedge, annie tsai, Terren Lin, Mickipedia, paul dateh, Steve Woolf, the black sheep, tim shey, Mollye Knox, Arin Crumley, jami carlson, Karen Abad loves Dinosaurs. and Timothy DuBuc

7x7 : Week of November 28th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 10:40:00 GMT

1) Watching the large jets pass overhead near the LAX arrival onramp - I was on my way to pick up Amanda and Sam from their trip to Ypsi. 2) Krissi and her friend visiting Willie. 3) Riding the Redline to meet Erica near Union Station. 4) Me trying to talk Erica into taking a short-cut straight down the side of a steep drop-off in Runyon. And yes, we did end up taking the short-cut ;) and no, no one was seriously injured. 5) At the NoHo Ralph's... being harassed. 6) Willie seems to be going through an eye-licking phase lately. 7) Watching the birds fly in circles outside of Original Thai.

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton

7x7 : Week of November 21st

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:39:00 GMT

1) Doing a few large loads of laundry before Erica heads to Kentucky. 2) Several hours later, after a late-night two-hour nap, at LAX. 3) Filming Sam filming Amanda before taking them to LAX the next day - yes, I've been doing a lot of driving to and from LAX lately. 4) On the 101 in traffic with the sky looking very, very dark and overcast. 5) Nick sword fighting with Paul before Thanksgiving. 6) Everyone singing along to "Oh Ho Ho It's Magic". 7) Myself, Willie and Charlie getting ready to go on a walk around the block.

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton, samproof and amanda walker

7x7 : Week of November 14th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 18:19:00 GMT

1) Spraying down the truck - this was the first time we washed the inside or outside since our drive from MI to CA, it was very much overdue. 2) Everyone's last day at ControlTV. 3) Lunch with Ayz, Erica, Stephen, Ruairi, Judd and James at Vienna Cafe'. 4) Driving past Hollywood Blvd. 5) Napping next to Breaker. 6) Erica giving Willie his usual dose of belly-rubs and kisses while Breaker and I watch jealously from afar. 7) Picking up four rolls of 120 film that Erica took with her Brownie at the North Hollywood Camera Craft.

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton, Stephen L Sullivan, Ayz Waraich and Ruairi Robinson

7x7 : Week of November 7th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 02:09:00 GMT

1) Finally meeting Ayz face-to-face :) the four of us - Erica, Ayz, Ruairi and myself - had dinner at Buddha's Belly and sat there talking till the place closed. We looked up and realized we were literally the last people in there. 2) Erica was very, very, very excited by the Lionel Richie water-fountain show at the Grove... ok, I'll admit it, I might have enjoyed it as well. 3) Giving Willie some love. 4) Writing 64 Days on my new lovely typewriter. 5) Erica lighting the candles on my 29th birthday cake. 6) Taking the redline to the Civic Center. 7) Spending my friday night with some of my favorite peoples at Baby Blues in Venice - super amazing ribs, super amazing mac & cheese, and super amazing banana-pudding.

Cast: mike ambs, Ayz Waraich, Ruairi Robinson, erica hampton, Angela Sauceda, Zadi Diaz, amanda walker, Steve Woolf, Lan Bui, Vu Bui, Bonny Pierzina and samproof

7x7 : Week of October 31st

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 05:55:00 GMT

1) Erica modeling her Unicorn hat while trying on different dresses for Steve & Zadi's Halloween party. 2) Re-spooling half a ribbon into a newly purchased West-Germany Triumph typewriter that writes in cursive! 3) Brushing our teeth before bed 4) I missed the most amazing part of this young-guy skateboarding down Magnolia Blvd - but I had to record him all the same - two cars ahead of us he pulled a Marty McFly and ducked down low as he held the bumper of a car. For the win. 5) Feeding the birds fried-rice from Panda Express at the Burbank mall with Erica. 6) Breaker curling up between us for the night. 7) Moments after Erica placed a stove-top-safe Pyrex measuring-cup on the stove that turned out not to be stove-top-safe. Egg and glass *everywhere*. We are still stepping on sand-sized pieces of pyrex :P

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton

7x7 : Week of October 24th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:12:00 GMT

1) Playing a new Peter Gabriel LP on Erica's Grandmother's old record player... while we un-pack boxes and clear-up out new apartment. 2) Me doing my best impersonation as a handy-man. 3) The tail-end of me reading through an awesome poster that Brian Van Peski mailed to Amanda and I. 4) Erica and I recording a tour of the new place for our families back in KY and MI. 5) Enjoying the petting-zoo under the giant pumpkin-tent behind the flower shop on Cahuenga. 6) Coming off the redline - I was happy when the birds flew by overhead :) I'm always sad when birds are flying around and I miss it on camera. 7) Erica and I laughing till we both had tears all over our faces at a picture of a cat... it's what we do.

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton, amanda walker and samproof

7x7 : Week of October 17th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:19:00 GMT

1) Our first view of the Grand Canyon! Erica sat on that ledge looking out at the mile-deep drop-off for several minutes. So glad we stopped there - can't wait to go back. 2) Somewhere near the Arizona / California border, me joking about being "found with my knee-caps busted in the desert days from now" because I spilled redbull on the passenger seat. 3) Looking through the kitchen drawers of our new place before we knew it was going to be our place. 4) Days later, filling out our lease. 5) Driving down Magnolia Blvd. 6) Perusing the city-wide Santa Monica yard-sale that we heard of through neighborgoods.com . 7) Driving through the tunnels on the 5 north - on our way to pick up a Craig's List fridge for only $50! *high five*

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton

7x7 : Week of October 10th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 04:35:00 GMT

1) Dylan, Izzy and Xander (carrying his new friend, Toothless) on a hay-ride at the Apple Orchard outside of Brooklyn, MI. They are all laughing maniacally because they just finished covering my sister, Mandy, in hay. 2) Pulling away from the Ann Arbor uHaul with our trailer. 3) Xander giving Erica a huge hug and kiss before we leave for KY - it wasn't easy to say goodbye that morning, we would have to wait till near Thanksgiving to see X again. 4) Ralph Waldo slips through the shed door and then escapes around to the front of the house. 5) Cleaning and packing the truck for the big 2,300 mile drive from KY to CA. 6) A large painting in Erica's Grandmother's house that I always liked... 7) Somewhere in Texas - Erica taking video and photographs of a group of horses.

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton

7x7 : Week of October 3rd

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 11:12:00 GMT

1) Working at the college library in Danville / replying to emails / uploading files. 2) Helping clean-up around Erica's Grandmother's house while she makes her Dad birthday cookies. 3) Filming at Summers-Knoll while they prepare for the music section of their Renaissance Festival. 4) Xander crossing the bars - he used to have a hard time making it all the way by himself. 5) Izzy telling Erica a secret message that ends with "beep, beep, bye". 6) Xander teaching Nicole how to play a game on the iPhone - I'm pretty sure X had a bit of a crush on Nicole. 7) My Grandparents on the left of frame dancing during my Dad's wedding reception - my Dad and his new wife, Monica, are on the right of frame.

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton and Tim Ambs

three days and two-thousand miles between cincinnati and los angeles.

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 14:03:00 GMT

When I first traveled from Los Angeles to Ypsi (about 16 months ago), I made a very slow but very personal video vimeo.com/4789189 , writing in its description,

"I know this is very long, and I'm sure only a small number of people will sit through it. But it's mostly for me, to be honest... still, I hope other people like it."

The same can be said for this video, it was a long, slow, strange three days on the Amtrak train between Cincinnati and Los Angeles, if anything it left me time to think about the last year of my life with Erica, and the next year of our life together in LA.

A lot has happened since this was filmed, and I've been slow in editing it together and posting it because of a last-minute flight, a very hard funeral, a wedding, a week of filming and visiting and packing and saying goodbye. In just several hours Erica and I will pile into a Ranger pulling a uHaul trailer full of what's still left from our Ypsi apartment (that we said bye to almost three months ago) and we will drive west till we hit LA.

Something tells me this move is an important moment for us *

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton

7x7 : Week of September 26th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 01:27:00 GMT

1) Driving back to the farm-house and watching a sunset that looked fake the colors were so bright. It was no double rainbow, but it was close. 2) Looking through an old 4H scrapbook with Erica... we turned to a page that was over-flowing with the ribbons that Erica's Grandmother won when she was just 16. Seeing all of it was a bit too much for Erica at the moment. 3) Playing Wii Fit karate at her Aunt Tammy's house. 4) Watching Erica do her "power walks" up Peyton's Well. 5) On our way back from the Stanford library. 6) Giving Peetie and Ralph Waldo some loving. 7) Sleeping-in despite having an insane amount of packing and photo-scanning to do before leaving on Monday.

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton

7x7 : Week of September 19th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:10:00 GMT

1) Cautiously approaching a herd of nervous-looking cows standing guard outside Bonnie's Castle. 2) Wandering around inside the abandoned hemp farm-house - and this time with permission from the owner, which is rare - it was a massive, beautiful home. 3) Erica and Jill choosing flowers to place in with Erica's Grandmother, Renita Hampton. She passed away on the 17th... I'm not sure how many friends and relatives approached Erica during the viewing to tell her that she looks *exactly* like her Grandmother... I lost count after around 25. 4) Erica and I find a puppy on the side of the road - said puppy pees on my leg from the excitement of being found. 5) Taking Ralph Waldo Emerson back to the farm-house. 6) Erica discovering a box in the back-upstair bedroom full of dresses from when she was as young as 1 year old. 7) Driving through a KY rain-storm on our way to pick-up Xander in Cincinnati.

Cast: mike ambs, erica hampton

Week of September 12th

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:22:00 GMT

1) Riding with Amanda and Charlie at excessive and frightening speeds, on our way to meet Vu and Kate for a 5 mile hike in Griffith Park. 2) Eric, aka: A Faulty Chromosome, giving Charlie some love after getting pie from Four'n 20. 3) Opening up the Final Cut project file for a sales-team sizzle reel. 4) Riding the Metro, on my way to blip.tv's new Los Angeles HQs to finish up the event highlight reel... their offices are squeaky-clean white. 5) Later that same night, Steve Woolf of Epic FU speaking at the office-warming event. 6) A group of us going back through the new blip.tv offices for a self-guided tour. 7) A few moments after hearing that Erica's Grandmother passed away... 8) Heading to LAX. 9) Seven hours of flight time between Los Angeles and Lexington with a layover in Memphis... the funeral is scheduled for Sept 21st... 10) Erica giving Peetie some much needed attention - also noticing how badly Peetie needs a good bath.

Cast: mike ambs, amanda walker, Vu Bui, Lan Bui, erica hampton, Clintus McGintus, paul dateh, Rudy Jahchan, Casey McKinnon, Zadi Diaz, Steve Woolf, Bonny Pierzina and Brigitte Dale

FToM * Video Update - Post Week 144

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:31:00 GMT

Last week Loonachic printed off some of our FToM flyers and posted them around Chicago - which was not only amazing in and of itself, but someone saw one of Michelle's flyers and left the following comment...

i'd never heard of the project until i saw the sign (above) in front of my building and again in my lobby. i immediately came upstairs and looked into....and here i am. spent the last half hour reading about your project. good work michelle....keep spreading the word. flyers (apparently) work :)

It's been such a long, long time since we've been able to reach out to new people in ways that haven't been 99% online, so I wanted to do a video update talking about how exciting this whole experience was!

Grab your own FToM flyers here: cl.ly/2M0u

Cast: mike ambs

Somewhere between Chicago and Los Angeles

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:13:00 GMT

I'm somewhere in Colorado - watching out the train windows with dry eyes, the sleepless nights and constant AC hasn't been treating me well, although the sunrise this morning was worth all the tossing and turning the last two nights...

Post continues here: cl.ly/2PAD

Cast: mike ambs

FToM * 11x17 Flyers

no_email@example.com (mike ambs) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 22:39:00 GMT

Amanda and I ran to the Van Nuys Kinko's yesterday to print off some of our 11x17 FToM flyers :)

If you want to print off your own flyers you can grab the PDFs here: cl.ly/2M0u

Cast: mike ambs, amanda walker