138: "Tanabata", a machinima by Joseph Nussbaum

I was chatting with Joseph Nussbaum the other night and he gave me advance notice that he had been working hard on a new machinima and would be releasing it soon. He just dropped it tonight and, my oh my, is it beautiful.

You can find it here. I'm not technologically equipped to give you stills (other than one I swiped from Joe's Facebook feed), but I can tell you a little bit about the story. It's from an ancient Japanese folk tale that is still told today. (And pardon me, Joe and readers, if I have the details wrong. This story has been told a number of different ways over the years, but I think I understood what was going on.) Brave young Hikoboshi falls in love with the beautiful weaver Orihime, daughter of Tentei, a powerful lord. They are blissfully happy and get married. However, Hikoboshi and Orihime neglect their duties, preferring to spend their days making love, and Tentei becomes upset. Finally he separates the lovers with a magical river and they may only meet once a year -- after the ravens build them a magical bridge.

That's the story, more or less. What it doesn't tell you is that Joe has done wonderfully well at making the limitations of machinima into stylistic flourishes. If animations are not perfectly smooth, that becomes a kind of theme -- the actions are stylized and have a kind of elegant stutter about them that perfectly suits the mood. I also really liked the idea that although this was a Japanese myth with Japanese costumes, neither the music (by Tom DePlonty) or the dancing were especially Japanese to me. The whole piece has a kind of hallucinogenic quality that transcends time; the story is slight but it's there, like an old, old story, and there are associated emotions that are delicate and smart.

Orihime was played by Bianca Xavorin, who also did the costumes; Walter Gedenspire played Hikoboshi; Joseph Nussbaum himself played Tentei; and Boris Twist played the priest. Dance by Tim Risher; poses by Diesel, dances by Abranimations. And it was filmed at Harvest Town and Tempura. These talented people did various other things, and you should check the credits to see who's responsible for what (I know Bianca Xavorin did the costumes). I don't know who's responsible for the tumbling leaf-patterned cows ;-)

Obviously this is a labour of love; I don't know what machinima competitions there might be in SL, but this should be winning a bunch of them. A beautiful job, everyone!

106: Avi Choice Awards nominees

Recently I was urging my friends to look into nominating their favourites in a couple of awards categories of the 2015 Avi Choice Awards. I wish I'd been a little more forceful, or perhaps done an encouraging blog post, because I didn't quite realize that three nominations were necessary to get onto the ballot. I sent in a fairly full slate of nominations myself, but most of them don't seem to have made it through the screening process.

Cupric Router

     But now that the nominations are out, I encourage everyone to go and vote here. And in a shameless attempt to influence your vote ;-), I'll tell you that the names below are friends of mine, people I think are doing a good job -- and for some of whom I was one of the nominators. I've interviewed some of these folks and I'll link to what I can give you from their names below.

Holtwaye Gallery (Tea Party, Oct. 2014)

Favourite SL Radio Station: Radio Mosaic -- Cupric Router
Favourite Machinima Production: The Shorter Path -- Edward Nussbaum
Favourite SL Videographer: Boris Twist
Favourite Female Performer:  Samm Qendra (Okay, if you read my blog, you know I just heard her for the first time

Boris Twist

last weekend. But she's really good, and she's my favourite so far!)
Favourite DJ: Cupric Router (There are 56 nominees in this category!)
Favourite Art Gallery: Holtwaye Gallery (WayneNZ Resident and Holter Resident)
Favourite Photographer/Studio: Kellalily Resident

So, go to this link and vote for whomever you think deserves it.

Kella Lily

It has certainly occurred to me that someone like me who is interested in new and interesting experiences in SL could do worse than see if I could experience the efforts of these Residents in the next year. Frankly, I'm not absolutely sure what a "Particle artist/Performer" does, but I think I'd like to find out, because there are at least eight good ones whose work I can go

Samm Qendra

and experience. It would probably be worthwhile to go and see what these 56 DJs have to offer -- and all the experiences in SL like jazz clubs and dance performances that I've never sought out.

Joe Nussbaum [Edward Nussbaum]

102: Joseph Nussbaum sits on my deck

I finally managed to connect with Joseph Nussbaum for an interview. Joe's been a neighbour of mine for quite a while, and I've always seen him as one of the reasons why my home sim, 3Bears, has such a big presence in the artistic community. Yes, 3Bears has nightclubs and shopping, but it also has a sculpture garden and galleries and lots of public art.

     So I've been pestering Joe for quite a while to sit down for an interview and this morning it all came together. I know he's been away from SL, pretty much, for a few months now and I'm happy to say that I think this interview signals his resting period is over for the moment.  We're lucky!

[10:21] Rusty Redfield: okay, let me 

*click* punch this button -- there.

[10:22] Rusty Redfield: Okay! I'm here with my friend and neighbour Joseph Nussbaum.

[10:22] Rusty Redfield: Welcome Joe!

[10:22] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): hey Rusty!

[10:22] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): Nice to be here

[10:22] Rusty Redfield: I've known Joe 

for AGES and admired his artwork, so I've asked him for an interview and we finally connected.

[10:23] Rusty Redfield: So -- Joe, I know you've been in SL for six or seven years ...

[10:23] Rusty Redfield: 1.  Why do you stay in Second Life?  What keeps you here?

[10:23] Joseph Nussbaum 

(edward.nussbaum): I've been here certainly for a long time - I joined actually many years ago, when I was living in Europe, but left, and then returned several years later

[10:24] Rusty Redfield: I had two accounts before this one, so I'm secretly an old hand myself LOL

[10:24] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I got involved in 

the arts here when I saw what people were actually doing!

[10:24] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): hehe - I still have my original account too

[10:24] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): which is over 8 years old :-)

[10:24] Rusty Redfield: wow

[10:24] Rusty Redfield: I suspect mine 

would be, if I could remember the password ROFL

[10:25] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): but I started my artistic endevours by creating music for scultpures

[10:25] Rusty Redfield: I should say, for those who don't know, that Joe is involved with the artistic side of the sim where I live, 3Bears

[10:25] Rusty Redfield: not only as an art producer but as a curator, is that right?

[10:26] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): Yeah - I was out of SL for a few months and have only returned inthe last few days - I needed a rest

[10:26] Rusty Redfield: I was going to ask you about that.  It's something I've heard of before, taking a break; I think 

it's healthy and I gather you agree

[10:27] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): yeah - I was working at the Ursa Gallery at 3Bears, and also running some shows and whatnot here

[10:27] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I work now mainly with photography and video

[10:27] Rusty Redfield: yes indeed

[10:27] Rusty Redfield: well, give me a minute, we'll circle back to that

[10:27] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): ok :-)

[10:27] Rusty Redfield: right now, my OCD wants to ask the questions in order <laughing>

[10:27] Rusty Redfield: 2. What are the qualities that attract you to people in Second Life?

[10:28] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): but I started by working in music, which is my major in RL

[10:28] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): aha ok

[10:28] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): The people in SL are much freer to create here

[10:28] Rusty Redfield: yes indeed

[10:29] Rusty Redfield: It's amazing how many pathways you can follow here

[10:29] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): Everybody comes into SL with a purpose - to meet people, to create, to do all kinds of things

[10:29] Rusty Redfield: those are the two main headings, for most people I know here

[10:30] Joseph Nussbaum 

(edward.nussbaum): yeah, and my time that I have been here has been enriching; I don't just come in here to take pictures, I have become friends with people from all over the world

[10:31] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): but in the art field, I enjoy creating structures and designs that take advantage of all the technical qualities available here in SL

[10:31] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): full stop.

[10:32] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): :-)

[10:32] Rusty Redfield: well, that brings me to #3, which is where you let loose LOL

[10:32] Rusty Redfield: go ahead, tell me ...

[10:32] Rusty Redfield: 3. What are you working on, as a form of artistic expression or in order to earn money, or both?

[10:32] Rusty Redfield: more videos?  (If you give me a link, I'll add it here for people to see your work)

[10:33] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I do it as an outlet for artistic expression, but I don't mind making money as well

[10:33] Rusty Redfield: heh heh I know, right?

[10:34] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I have made a lot of videos using pop music as a basis, but also my own music, too.

[10:34] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I am currently working with other artists in SL to make some more linear-type films

[10:34] Rusty Redfield: I think my long-time readers will remember a piece from last summer -- I got onto it when you showed up with five friends at a Pride dance, all in little frog avatars

[10:34] Rusty Redfield: "I Want to Marry a Lighthouse Keeper"

[10:35] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): oh yes that video was fun :-)

[10:35] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I have video sites around the web - I will try to get the addresses here, one of them is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgtQSpSGmeGUrGfzl6FyW0g/videos

[10:36] Rusty Redfield: there you go, thanks! That saves me a lot of detective work!

[10:36] Rusty Redfield: who are you working with on the more linear-type films these days?

[10:36] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): http://www.dailymotion.com/bmstudios

[10:37] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): this is my Dailymotion website

[10:37] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): aha - I am working with a poet - his name is Colin Bell

[10:37] Rusty Redfield: I'm not sure how to express this -- is Dailymotion for one kind of video, and Youtube for another?

[10:37] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I am working with him and Boris Twist, another great film maker in SL

[10:38] Rusty Redfield: Yes, I know Boris, I've definitely seen his work

[10:38] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): We will be creating some videos together. You can see one on YouTube - "Haiku" - let me get the address

[10:38] Rusty Redfield: <grin> this is the one I liked on Facebook, right?

[10:38] Rusty Redfield: beautiful soundscape

[10:38] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_0TzHGBK3k

[10:39] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): yeah that was it :-)

[10:39] Rusty Redfield: from a Gertrude Stein poem

[10:39] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I also create advertisements (video and photos) for profile shots, commercials etc

[10:39] Rusty Redfield: you surely do!

[10:40] Rusty Redfield: You've done a few pictures for me, which I loved -- not showing anyone except the BF though <laughing>

[10:40] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I made a few films for Sabor Skytower and Buck Mischief for some of his products for sale in SL

[10:40] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): lol!

[10:40] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I also did a photography magazine called  "Angle Works", which I might start up again

[10:41] Rusty Redfield: Are you currently showing your print work, or curating any shows here in SL?

[10:41] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): not at the moment, no. I had a show at 3Bears up until I left last year, but that's closed now. I might set up a new show this year, maybe open a little gallery on my own, but thatr remains to be seen

[10:42] Rusty Redfield: the possibilities are endless!

[10:42] Rusty Redfield: but definitely, folks, check out the video.

[10:42] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I like to use the context of SL to create works to be shown in RL, I haven't done a lot of shows in SL, I have to admit

[10:42] Rusty Redfield: So here's a question that I always ask for the benefit of new residents in SL ...

[10:42] Rusty Redfield: 4. If you could give advice to your earlier self in the first month that you spent in Second Life, what would you say?

[10:43] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): "Stop being so quiet - get out there and make noise!"

[10:43] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): :-)

[10:43] Rusty Redfield: hahaha!

[10:43] Rusty Redfield: good one!

[10:44] Rusty Redfield: but "walk the fine line between self-expression and griefing" LOL

[10:44] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): yes! no Griefing!

[10:44] Rusty Redfield: just a couple more questions.

[10:44] Rusty Redfield: for the fashionistas and fashionistos among us --

[10:44] Rusty Redfield: 5. What do you like most about the way that your avatar looks?

[10:46] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I've really worked hard on my avatar to try to balance the look all over - I like the way the proportions fit. I of course have had help with it - a shout out to Buck Mischief for his eye for that!

[10:46] Rusty Redfield: well, that's pretty crucial, isn't it? everyone here has had help with their av, I think

[10:47] Rusty Redfield: I've heard from many people that mentoring is an important concept here

[10:47] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I think so too - I keep tweaking at mine, improving it bit by bit - it is a slow process to get that correct proportion

[10:47] Rusty Redfield: ohh yes

[10:47] Rusty Redfield: tweaking is a constant process

[10:48] Rusty Redfield: balancing out different measurements

[10:48] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): yep - I also have a mesh body, so I have clothing for regular avi and mesh avi

[10:48] Rusty Redfield: me too -- we were talking about that before the recorder went on

[10:48] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): and different shapes to go with each

[10:49] Rusty Redfield: I love the mesh bodies, just tough to find certain clothing "looks" to go with, say, l'Uomo

[10:49] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): yeah - it's a constant search to find new stuff all the time, but I work at it

[10:50] Rusty Redfield: <grin> it's not shopping if it's work LOL

[10:50] Rusty Redfield: so, one last question

[10:50] Rusty Redfield: 6. What’s your favourite place to spend time in Second Life?

[10:50] Rusty Redfield: (I always love to hear these because it guides me to new things to see and do)

[10:51] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): Well, I've been gone for a while, but when I was here, I stayed at 3Bears (of course); but it had great relaxed parties and quiet times between

[10:51] Rusty Redfield: that's why I've lived here for quite a while

[10:51] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I also enjoy checking out the LEA Sims to see what people are doing in the art world

[10:51] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): the "Linden Endowmwnt for the Arts" sims

[10:52] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): that is :-)

[10:52] Rusty Redfield: ahh good

[10:52] Rusty Redfield: thanks for that, I wasn't sure what LEA was

[10:52] Rusty Redfield: but yes, I've been there and it's pretty amazing stuff

[10:53] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): yeah - of course I enjoy some of the art galleries in SL , but Im not sure if they are still around since I left lol

[10:53] Rusty Redfield: <grin> I'll give you some recommendations after we shut off the recorder

[10:53] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): cool!

[10:53] Rusty Redfield: so, Joe, I do appreciate your sitting down with me today

[10:53] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): thanks for the time, Mr Rusty

[10:53] Rusty Redfield: I always ask if there's anything you want to get off your chest, or anything I forgot to ask

[10:53] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): I have enjoyed it

[10:53] Rusty Redfield: go ahead, philosophize

[10:55] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): not sure - I think that SL offers us the ability to do much more than just one kind of thing here in SL - there are many places to hear popular forms of music, for example, and I go to them myself, and enjoy it! But there are som many other things going on that are wild and crazy , and they deserve attention as well

[10:55] Rusty Redfield: <smiling> or as I put it, it's not all dancing, shopping, and fucking

[10:55] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): lots of unusual avant'garde concerts, ambient muci, cool new builds to see

[10:55] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): exactly!

[10:55] Rusty Redfield: so MUCH out there -- dig in!

[10:56] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): that's right! go for other things!

[10:56] Rusty Redfield: well, thanks again ... I'm delighted to know you're back inworld more often now

[10:56] Joseph Nussbaum (edward.nussbaum): thanks Rusty! I am happy to be back

[10:57] Rusty Redfield: okay, now, let me find the off button here *click*

Joe's a busy guy and I was happy to get a little of his time. Check out those videos and his other work; Joe always has something going on and it's always worth seeing. 

040: Walking around ... 3Bears Resort

The idea that I can just go somewhere in Second Life and walk around and take pictures and think about what I'm seeing is not revolutionary. It's not even very organized, frankly. I envy my fellow SL bloggers with more experience; somehow they seem to be more organized than I am. The "walking around" method is what I'm stuck with, so I thought I'd see if I could learn how to do it better by -- doing it. I think it's a good way to find things in SL landscapes, or to experience it in a way that it was probably designed for, rather than being told what to think in advance. So to inaugurate my "Walking around ..." series, I thought I'd start close to home.

My home is on a group of sims called 3Bears Resort (Terra Ursa Major), run by a group of hunky gay men. The 3Bears themselves are Galileo Michalski, Duir Mayne, and Stefan Box, and although I don't know all the details, I know my friend and neighbour Joseph Nussbaum arranges things to do with art exhibitions. 3Bears is focused on being a place for gay bears: there's places to live, shop, relax, a nice beach, a couple of nice residential neighbourhoods. It was recommended to me maybe 18 months ago as being a nice place to live; I came and looked around and, by golly, it was. I found a nice lot with a little waterfront and I've been there ever since. (I'm not sure I should have to mention this, but what the heck -- they're not paying me to say any of this. No one ever has, and I don't expect anyone ever will; if they do, I'll say so.)

The thing that really appealed to me about 3Bears was that the guys really have a big commitment to the arts, especially performance and visual arts. They have a very cool sculpture garden; as of what I could find this afternoon, they have two separate gallery spaces that are showing the work of three artists. Tomais Ashdene and Boris Twist are showing portraits of men, and Nikolai Warden is showing landscapes. There might even be more galleries, it's a big area.

The centrepiece of the public space is what's called the Lotus Dome, to the left. The scale is hard to judge, but I remember seeing at least a couple of large gatherings and parties in that space, it will definitely hold that sim-crashing 50 people. You could certainly do a large-scale concert there, or a big party, or a ceremony. Right now it has two smaller structures under the Dome, each displaying one of the portraitists I mentioned above.

The plaza with the circular design, in front of the Lotus Dome, leads to a nice gathering area and then a little grid of buildings; the ones that face the plaza on the other side include the other gallery space, currently showing Nikolai Warden's landscapes, and an interesting kind of gallery crossed with a meeting room, where you could attend a lecture and then have a look at the art on the walls more closely. To me this is not a commonplace kind of space in SL; people are fairly ready to offer you things to look at, to listen to, or to interact with, but they are strangely reluctant to offer you space where you can do what you want to do. I think offering this amenity shows a level of thought about what the SL community might want that is well above the others; part of the reason I like this place.

I have to warn you in advance, I didn't even manage to walk around 10% of what's there. There is so much more -- I've been to quite a bit of it already. I've seen the nude beach and the gym, and I've shopped in the stores (there's some useful stores if you happen to be a gay bear!). There have been some fun parties on the sim; I blogged about one a while back. There are various sizes of apartments available in the shopping district but, when I wandered a little further, I learned two things.

One is that there is a frickin' water-based monorail that I'd never experienced (it doesn't travel to my residential neighbourhood) -- it scared the hell out of me when it pulled up! The other is that within easy walking distance of the plaza, there are a couple of very attractive houses for rent dirt cheap. L$360 a week for 180 prims in a small house that you don't have to supply yourself is a really attractive solution for someone who doesn't want a big establishment, just a bachelor pad, a place to call Control-Shift-H. You know, a pose stand, some erotic art, a freebie sofa, and a bed that cost as much as it would to rent a sim for three months. (I'm kidding.) Actually I had a look at the empty one. It looked like an intelligently divided space that would let you have fun decorating the three interior rooms with your prim allowance, and the basic Cape Cod on pilings design will give you a design push if you're not decoratively inclined.

Overall, I think it's the way that I want to live in SL -- to be part of a community that has a space for public interaction where you would actually want to interact. I know of many, many residential sims that are lovely but fairly empty -- people TP in and out of their homes, and nobody walks around. 3Bears tries really hard to simultaneously support the artistic community, and give its residents a reason to leave their houses and go over to the "downtown" plaza and see what the gallery or the stores have that's new.

035: A ribbeting display!

In a spare moment, I thought I'd drop into Second Pride this afternoon. This particular two-hour stint was hosted by Manshots magazine and its CEO Angelik Lavecchia; I'm a fan of this magazine and have said so before (see post #03). Thanks Angelik!

I was at the main pavilion where all the dances are, just enjoying the music and bopping along, and chatting with Jak Calcott, who designed the place ... pervcamming all the handsome guys ...

But then my attention was ribbeted -- sorry! -- by these six cute little frogs, any of whom might have been as tall as my calf, who showed up off to one side of the dance floor, dancing as a synchronized unit. I have to say, this is the best group idea I've seen in a long time.  A long time. I roared with laughter and loved them all instantly.

My friend and neighbour Joseph Nussbaum was one of the frogs -- he said they'd been taking some pictures and decided to pop into Pride for some fun and to amuse the onlookers. The other five were Tomais Ashdene, Holter, Sabor Skytower, Bock McMillan, and Boris Twist ... thank you, froggies, you made my day!

Boris Twist also came to my attention this afternoon in a completely different context, the latest issue of Photography magazine, because the guy has a fierce eye! I'm sure he must have exhibited before, I simply haven't been in the right place at the right time, but -- a frog with a great camera eye? I think my readers have to find out more LOL.

Sorry the little skeeters were moving around too fast for me to make notes of which guy was which colour frog -- but I'm sure the sexy one is Joe!