A Pivotal Speech in the Idea War

Brett Gaylor's documentary 'RiP! A Remix Manifesto' is a profound declaration in our Conceptual Era's "Idea War."

http://www.hulu.com/watch/88782/rip-a-remix-manifesto

MOOZ-lum

I'm working on this film now.
(I forget that I have this "blog" often.)

Here're's some links about the film:
http://iamnotamoozlum.com/Home_Page.html
http://www.facebook.com/pages/MOOZ-lum-The-Movie/80227858126
http://twitter.com/Moozlumthemovie
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1450328/

Thoughts of this production design occupies me even in my sleep,
moreso than the inevitable extinction of my individual financial stability.

I eat big words for breakfast...
and regurgitate them here... for you to swallow again... ...

Whoa. I'm getting serious or something.Re: Arts Funding

From: joeyostrander@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Economic Recovery Package Must Include Arts
Date: March 27, 2009 4:59:08 PM GMT-04:00
To: senator@stabenow.senate.gov

Really!?!

Thanks, for the cookie cutter response. It makes me feel like you really care. No response at all could have made me feel less neglected.

I fail to see how any of your attached email relates to continued annual loss of support for Art.

American Culture and Art are dying, Senator Stabenow, particularly in Michigan. The only self-sustaining visual art form in our country any longer is filmmaking. We cannot rely solely on a consumer public, nor especially on a capitalist economy to revive us. Sustenance for Art has always needed support from government.

Today is little different from days when men painted Roman chapels, or carved the physiques of great leaders from stone, from days when photographers documented for and future playwrights were employed by Roosevelt's WPA. Grecian sculptors, Michaelangelo, Dorothea Lange, Arthur Miller, each were supported and funded by their governments. Without such state-sponsored efforts, these historic artists could not have achieved such historic works.

American government has begun to decreasingly offer financial aid toward our Art education, production, and appreciation. The NEA has grown progressively weaker, more overlooked, and grossly underfunded relative to the evolution of the rest of our economy. A continued neglect of Art in America's future will foster the bankruptcy of our culture, and likewise the morale of our society.

This is not an argument. This is a warning, of inevitability.

Joey Ostrander
Photographer & Filmmaker
SE Michigan



On Mar 27, 2009, at 1:27 PM, Senator Debbie Stabenow wrote:

Joseph Ostrander
413 Ballard St, Apartment 1
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Thank you ...

... for contacting me to express your concerns about the economic recovery plan recently passed by Congress. I supported this legislation because ... (click for full letter) ...

... ... [ blah , blah , senate intern , or computer drone , sent this ] ... ...

... Thank you again for contacting me. As always, please continue to keep me informed about issues of concern to you and your family.

Sincerely,
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator

Look What We Have Created

i made this short for PlayGallery.org and U-M's Arts on Earth.
this is Malcolm Tulip's clown class from the University of Michigan.
they don't know what they are doing.
but we are making fun.

funding for the arts is under-estimated

The senate adopted an amendment to the current stimulus bill that effectively restricts any stimulus money for the arts, most specifically $50 million for the NEA.

"This amendment would mandate that no stimulus funding be used for 'any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, art center, and highway beautification project'”
(senatus.wordpress.com)

but Toby Ziegler and I, feel differently about availability of funding for the arts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA1hCogpHnk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy1DClkECF4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZHr1o0Mnn0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gE-XqsGpP0

Li'l Brudda

My little brother - entrepreneur he is - is starting his own corporate design company.
Or perhaps, it is two? One new (Chair Image Consulting), inside another existing (Core Design Group.) [Not sure. . Anyway.]



He is quite creative.
and here I am, supporting.

Did I mention I made (shot/edited) this?

A video of interviews and images reflecting on the difference that the students of Michigan both experience at the University and make in the world.



These people are each very happy with their trajectories, and appreciative of their education.
I like all of them.
And they are nice.

"PUSHING DAISIES"

that is, Pushing Daisies, the television series.
mm. yes, good.

http://abc.go.com/primetime/pushingdaisies/
http://www.youtube.com/user/47alias47?ob=4




ps.
oh yeah, did i mention: PUSHING DAISIES!

Is there a song about you?

Songs of a Person's Name
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3060867

This collection seems pretty extensive.
Apparently there are at least three songs titled "Joey"

Santa Monica Pier Blue Linescape

... mmm...

Down Comforter.

Ooops.
I forgot there's a blog under here.

It's almost Thanksgiving.!

I can never figure out how much of which half of the mushroom to eat.

*sigh*

Fever!

Michigan Film Tax Incentive Endangered

Over the past couple days I've drafted a statement opposing a Michigan Senate Bill 1535 that would put a constricting cap on Michigan's current film tax incentive.

The cap would limit the state's support of the film/arts industry, turn away production companies from outside Michigan, and eliminate jobs.

I've attached the statement here
-- http://JoeyOstrander.googlepages.com/StAgFilmIncentCap.pdf --

Please feel free (i.e. compelled) to read, and call your Senator to tell them to vote against SB 1535.

"Will Experiment End World?" report from NBC

... but we are still here... for now.

i feel good about helping

tonight an old woman almost passed out on my front steps trying to carry a box of penny banks half way across downtown Ypsi to a coffee shop.

i helped her carry that change - it was heavy - and we had a nice little discussion about our optimism on our country turning around after the upcoming election. (Go Blue)

i dropped her and her change off at the coffee shop where the late night waitress graciously began to count here pennies for her, and serve her a fresh tasty cup o' ... joe.

hurray, Robin Hood.
*cheerful sigh*

Art Truck; Truck Art :: phase one ¡!

with plenty more to come...

'Paint My Truck' Day

Yeehau! ***Completely Uncensored***

Today, August 12th, is 'Paint My Truck' Day.

Once upon a time long ago there was a 'Paint My Buick' Week, but the Buick has since been dead and buried, mourned and... and Now there is a 'Paint My Truck' Day.

Come to participate with so many others on a crazy adventure for all ages. Contribute to this passionate and driven art.

From 12 Noon til Dusk and beyond, my gorgeous matte black canvas of a truck will be at the Black Elk Co-op at 902 Baldwin, Ann Arbor, MI.

Join. Paint. Be merry, and see Joey, who will not be censoring any of the painting. Paint whatever you like.
just do it.

I love you,
Joey

... and this is what i'm doing now...

Art House
http://www.savearthouse.com/

also, i made those website photos.

this is what i'm doing right now

art direction
for local independent feature
Starlight & Superfish
http://thetriumvirate.com/starlight/

Earth v. The Earth

Often we call our planet "The Earth" as if it is an object, much like we may refer to the man, or the clock, or the home, creating some personal detachment from it.

But sometimes we call our planet "Earth" giving her a name, like an artwork, or a beloved ship, or a pet, or a friend, creating a relationship between ourselves and Earth.

Semantics? Perhaps.
But it is not the way we say it that concerns me, rather the way we think about our planet...
as a place, as a home, as a rock, as a friend... ???

The EFEX Project on the radio

Here is a Michigan Public Radio news story about one filmmaking project I have been involved in in the past. You can listen to an .mp3 of the radio broadcast which aired June 3rd, 2008.

Clearly it, and we filmmakers, are gaining some recognition for the hard work we are doing in this state.


((( I hope the very few people who actually see this post will be interested in listening. It's a well composed news story. Thanks to Jennifer Guerra, et al.)))