February 28, 2006

Rex's Farewell Party

I first met Rex at one of Nora Paul's new media soirées, where I blabbered on about this blog documentary I was making. Rex introduced himself and said, somewhat bemused, "I have a blog. It's called Fimoculous." Never heard of it. I had much to learn.

I'm going to resist the temptation to write an exhaustive biography about Rex. Suffice to say, the guy is a genius. He has inspired and influenced lots of people, including me. And his parties? The stuff of legend. Now that Rex is moving on, it's only fitting that he leave ear-to-ear Minneapolis smiles in his wake. (Get your mind out of the gutter!) Raise a glass, and taste the Kenwood. We'll miss you too, brother.

MUSIC: "Good Night Goodbye" by Mark Mallman (with permission)

PHOTOS: Matt Porath [Rex party gallery]

VIDEO FOOTAGE: WCCO and Rocketboom

ALSO STARRING: Ciaran from The Idle Hands

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:33 AM | Comments (9)

February 27, 2006

Trails and Shadows

Today's video comes to us from Deborah Vajda, shot while riding her recumbent bicycle on the Gateway Trail in St. Paul. She says it's "kind of a slice of life on the trails. Many of the shots I used were the ones most sensible people would toss in the trim bin . . . just to give the viewer a taste of how fun it is to zip along on a crazy bicycle--steering with one hand while shooting video with the other."

MUSIC: "Plastique" by Keston & Westdal

COMING THIS WEEK ON MINNESOTA STORIES
Rex's party, Lit6 @ Creative Electric, Kubb on Ice, and Mondo JuggleFest.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:57 AM | Comments (15)

February 24, 2006

Post Office V2

Michael McIntee, personal historian and filmmaker behind the amazing "Family" video, brings us more first-hand Minnesota history:

It's a story about how my Grandfather, Nat B. Fish, came up with the crazy idea of dragging the post office down the main street to save it from demolition in the middle of the depression. The relocated building was then used as City Hall until it was sadly torn down in the 80's. This is a short segment from a half hour documentary I did on my mother's family.

CONTRIBUTOR: Michael McIntee, Inside Minnesota Politics podcast

RELATED: Do you have stories or memorabilia from relatives that grew up during the Depression? Check out the Minnesota Historical Society's Minnesota's Greatest Generation web site to learn about preserving your family's history. Have a personal history video? Drop a note to story@mnstories.com... whether you grew up in the 1930's or the 1980's.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:19 AM | Comments (3)

February 23, 2006

Climbing

From Barrett Chase:
A man, against all odds and wearing loose shoes, rises to a new perspective. See that man. See him now, right here.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:02 AM | Comments (4)

February 22, 2006

Happy (Belated) Presidents Day

I know, this is two days late. But don't you think zombies and kittens are more important?

Here is George W. Bush's campaign bus trip to Minnesota in 2004 (source). His folksiness is on overdrive in this campaign video. I can almost see why Minnesota likes him more than any other blue state.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:09 AM | Comments (5)

February 21, 2006

Mooki's Kleenex Box

This has been a long time coming. Our beloved Bengal kitten, Mooki, now has his own vlog: MookiTV.com. Cat vlogging is clearly the wave of the future! Check out Josh Leo's excellent Vlog Cats and David's Sphynx videos for more proof.

One of Mooki's many funny little talents is jumping through kleenex boxes. He also enjoys scooting around in long skinny Mountain Dew boxes, and of course bags of all shapes and sizes. We'll sure keep you updated on his tiny trials and tribulations, on a sporadic basis. This video was a collaboration with Lorika. She's learning to edit in Final Cut and taking the creative reigns for MookiTV - applause!

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:17 AM | Comments (5)

February 20, 2006

Zombies on Ice

Last fall, Zombie Pub Crawl took this town by storm. Was it the end? Are we safe??? Hell no! Our favorite frozen blood-encrusted zombie troupe took to the ice this time, Medicine Lake to be exact, as part of Art Shanty Projects. Those of you not brave enough to face the undead (or the cold) can enjoy this spectacle from the comfort of your living room. Just don't think, for a second, that you're safe. You never know where zombies are gonna show up next.

In their waking life, the zombies-in-chief are part of a local theater troupe called Live Action Set. Their interview at the end of this video was for a mini-documentary being produced about the zombies by filmmaker Jeremy Wilker.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 04:12 AM | Comments (1)

February 16, 2006

Cable Fable

Videoblogging? It's just the new cable access. Okay, it's more complicated than that, but this language of citizens taking back the media has been around way before anybody coughed up the word "blog." Just ask the author of this video, our mediavangelist friend "Media Mike" Hazard:

CABLE FABLES is a media relic from the salad days of vidiots and newvicon tube cameras. Widely known as the godfather of public access to cable television, George Stoney last came to the Twin Cities in 1980 to conduct workshops with citizens on how to develop good franchise agreements with cable companies and cities. Bloomington had cable, so he went to visit. As you watch, think “internet” when you hear “cable” and “television”. The issues sync, then and now.

Stoney returns to our neighborhood for four days packed with classes, screenings and the Alliance for Community Media conference. Tonight he kicks things off at Macalester College with a screening of his new film,Getting Out. For the full tilt, zoom to thecie.org.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:32 AM | Comments (4)

February 15, 2006

Simon's Dream

No, this isnt a lost episode of Chasing Windmills. This is a short film (real honest-to-gosh 16mm film!) I made several years ago. It holds a special place in my heart. This is dedicated to anyone who didn't have a date last night.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 04:21 AM | Comments (4)

February 14, 2006

Shaker Revival

Hello lovers. Today's video isn't V-day-themed, but it does offer you cheap V-day entertainment. This is another video from our top Minnesota Stories correspondent in Northfield, Karina. She says:

After playing a few successful gigs in the cities, the Carleton College band, Shaker Revival, is trying to decide if they are going to stay with the band after graduation or pursue other endeavors.

With their unique sound, talent, and charm, I think Shaker Revival could have a bright future. Do you? Go take your Valentine to see them tonight for free at the Uptown Bar and Cafe. Music starts at 9:30!

For more breaking vlog news and tales of Carleton campus courage, check out Journalized!

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 03:27 AM | Comments (2)

February 13, 2006

Walk Like An Egyptian

Is it a bat? Is it a bald monkey-rodent? No, these strange fledgling creatures comprise a fresh litter of Sphynx kittens. Tao of David has been posting some entertaining videos of them, but this one takes the cake. David's wife Lea breeds these exceptional felines at Sacred Sphynx. (Dare I admit? I want one.) Be sure to check out the other Sphynx videos on David's video page.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:48 AM | Comments (8)

February 10, 2006

Boxers

Bet you didn't know: The 2008 Olympic Committee just decided once again to not allow women's boxing into the Olympics. That's not going to stop 7 boxers from the female-owned Uppercut Gym in Northeast Minneapolis. They're on a journey to compete in an international competition. Filmmaker Joanna Kohler is documenting their journey. "The women boxers at Uppercut Boxing Gym are giving everyone a chance to remember what it means to take a risk for something you believe in."

This completes a perfect trifecta of trailers from Minnesota women making independent film. We're known for the music scene, but our film scene is a too-well-kept secret, especially when it comes to documentary. Break the silence, check out MN Docuclub and email me if you have a short film or work-in-progress you'd like to share.

. . .

(Psst... check out Art Shanty Projects on Medicine Lake this weekend. It's incredible. I'm still editing some footage of "Zombies on Ice" from last weekend, watch for that soon.)

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 11:30 AM | Comments (1)

February 09, 2006

The Beauty King

The Beauty King is the story of a grown man who competes with children in beauty pageants. That's really all you need to know, isn't it?

Okay, a little more. This is a short film by Juliah Rueckert, a Minnesota filmmaker now residing in California. It premieres this Saturday, Feb. 11 as part of the IFP Access Grant Screening and Exhibit beginning at 7:45 PM. Go check it out, along with other compelling short films and photography.

IFP Minnesota address: 2446 University Ave. West (near 280), St. Paul.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 12:10 AM | Comments (0)

February 08, 2006

The Red Tail

From redtailmovie.com:

The Red Tail is a feature-length documentary film that looks beyond the headlines of the historic struggle between Northwest Airlines and the workers whose loyalty and dedication built the company. From a three-plane company in 1926, Northwest Airlines has become the fourth largest airline in world.

Through a combination of personal stories of mechanics, flight attendants, pilots, ground workers, and union organizers, The Red Tail will explore this battle over money, power, and pride.

This is an important, much-anticipated story from Aquaries Media's Dawn Mikkelson, the award-winning director behind Green Green Water and THIS obedience. Help spread the word about this film - tell a friend.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:40 AM | Comments (5)

February 07, 2006

Toff the Carleton Cat

"Toff has two seasons. Students and no students." Apparently there is a long tradition of college campus kitties, an idea which agrees with me very much. The Carleton College campus is owned by one Mr. Toff, and this is his story.

This video comes to us from Karina Hill and Andrew Bartels, two sparks in the percolating mediasphere that is Carleton's Cinema & Media Studies program. Watch for more goodies from these folks in the future. I wouldn't be surprised if they're plotting to takover Minnesota Stories.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:17 AM | Comments (10)

February 06, 2006

Sears Building

That's right, another building video! Actually, it's more about people and community. This is the first part of a work-in-progress trailer for Building at a Crossroads, a documentary about the Chicago/Lake Sears building. You can watch the full trailer on his site, and see the finished documentary on TPT in early summer. Count on seeing more vloggy video goodies from the multi talented Scott, aka Awed Job here on Minnesota Stories.

Coming this week:
Video of "Zombies on Ice" from the Art Shanty Projects.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 03:48 AM | Comments (9)

February 03, 2006

The Whitney

The Standard Mill, better known as The Whitney Hotel, is undergoing another transformation: Posh riverfront condos neighboring the Mill City Museum and new Guthrie Theatre. The developer, Michael Roess from iMetroProperties.com, was kind enough to give Alex of Behind the Mortgage and me a tour of the renovation-in-progress. It's an amazing space full of both city history and, apparently, rock history.

If you're in the market, get a sneak peak at The Whitney Landmark Residences on March 25. Or just watch this video and dare to dream.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 07:26 AM | Comments (7)

February 02, 2006

Media Violence

From Duane at DigElogROCORI: Stephanie Stracke is a ROCORI Student Councilor and a member of the Project SERV staff, a special task force brought together following the shootings at ROCORI in 2003. In this story Stephanie, who has her own teenagers at home, talks about how the exposure to screen violence can cause increased aggression, fear and desensitization to real life violence.

This is a sticky issue. I happen to love the occasional Grand Theft Auto shooting spree, but then again I'm (supposedly) an adult. I spent much of my youth in front of a computer screen, but I also spent summers cruising around the backstreets of Fridley on my Huffy bike. Stephanie has good advice in this video to have a balance, and tell kids "I care and want you to be successful."

See also:
Game Revolution: The Truth About Violent Youth and Video Games
The Onion: TV Blamed For Rise In Formulaic Violence

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:05 AM | Comments (5)

February 01, 2006

SOTU Reaction

This year's State of the Union was actually fairly compelling. That didn't stop us from drinking and taking cheap shots. If you have a video rebuttal, email story@mnstories.com. Or just unleash in the comments, that's much easier.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 05:37 AM | Comments (20)