Fellow Artists, Singers, Songwriters, Bands, Filmmakers, and every other creative Artist whose only goal is to make a difference in the world by making people think and offering different perceptions/perspectives on viewing the world around us, I thank you, I applaud you, I’m with you doing the same thing, and I “see” so many of you carrying the (correct) torch into the whirlpool of music and art by conveying positive and emotionally/physically healthy messages and images into society at large.
As I’ve focused on throughout the years, witnessing the distasteful and, in some cases, dangerous messages being brought forth to society (most alarmingly, children and teenagers), I have always been teaching the message that good songwriting and musicianship (and art and film in general) should lead a person to a place of peace and beauty, and not degradation and destruction. (We can leave that last part to some of the documentary films, some with images that are unfortunately necessary but are not for all eyes).
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I’ve been songwriting my whole life, and by the time I graduated college, it occurred to me that I was always offering advice and wisdom through my music, because so many of the messages out in the media seemed so destructive. I’ve taught songwriting before to adolescents and teenagers with serious problems expressing themselves in socially appropriate ways. No, I am NOT a hyper-civilized person and I’m certainly prone to use foul language and vent my anger in environments (WHEN appropriate) but, over all, I am BIG on self-discipline because I knew so little about the importance of it when growing up. Nobody had ever taught me about it. I had to learn it myself, and that’s when the teacher emerged.
I also taught many years in a classroom, got a solid background in counseling, and have pursued online education as well in order to reach out to a larger audience. This all (personally) fits in with me like a SYMPHONY because all of these ways that I utilize my empathy and strong interpersonal skills blend beautifully into music, teaching, counseling, philanthropy, and anything else I can think of; they are all “one.”
I’ve gotten many, many emails and comments over these months, and have responded to as many as I can (spammers aside). I am most pleased to announce that, after a full year of planning my first short musical film about the sociological (and often fatal) condition of loneliness and its effects on people across our country, it is finally completed and is ready to be ingested to many film festivals. By the way, it’s also a romantic story about love.
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Since moving from Los Angeles to Florida for my family, I have lobbied for the film community here (given the breathtaking scenery) and made requests for “go to” facilities for filmmakers, and have done this directly in government offices (specifically DeLand when “Walt Before Mickey” was filming here). All of our requests (including from the son of a Florida politician who was also a prolific documentary filmmaker) were denied, but we are not giving up. My film is completed, it contains a never-before-released single, it is ANYTHING but a music video (not that I don’t love them; it’s just not the type of production that should be showcased as a short commercial presentation). I am showcasing the historic district of St. Augustine as well as Flagler County. Yes, there are some scenes and photos shot in New York and Los Angeles, but the STORY LINE takes place entirely in Florida.
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I want everyone here to take a quick visual test of your own doing (you’re an Artist and I’m not giving you instructions), though I will say that you should be taking a visual image of your music or a musical image of your visual work. I want you to expand your artistic horizons. You are Renaissance people. I want you to TRULY emerge as Counselors and Teachers through your work. I also want you to have more opportunities of getting a more diversified portfolio of material out there so you can make a living through your craft.
More to come.
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