PROFILE/INTERVIEW: Karen Nielsen, 2006 Aha! Blogolicious! Media Award Winner (Innovation) for film, Perceptions

Profile/Interview with 2006 Aha! Blogolicious! Media Award Winner Karen Nielsen (Perceptions, the movie)

Interview with Karen Nielsen, writer/director/producer of Innovation Winner, a short film using dance melded with narrative, Perceptions

This week, as promised, I profile another of the Aha! Blogolicious! Media Award winners. Karen Nielsen of Blue Finn Productions wrote, directed and produced the short film Perceptions, an intense, dramatic narrative about drug abuse and its terrifying consequences but seen through the tragic, double vision of the woman at the center of the conflict—she exists in two worlds. One is her real but very harsh existence where she cannot escape the misery or the consequences of her drug addiction. The other illusionary world is idyllic and passionate, as seen through the cloud of drug intoxication. One world is mundane and ugly; the other is lyrical and portrayed through imaginative dance and sensual dancers. In showing the drug victim’s perceptions in this manner, it makes it easier for all of us to understand the deadly pull of drug use. Drugs are used to escape reality, but the high is only imaginary and the consequences ultimately dire.

This is Karen Nielsen’s second major film offering as a director. The first, Infinite Moments, another short film about a woman dealing with the night she was raped, has also received rave reviews and acclaim. She has done several other shorts as well as a PSA promoting reading and education in Canada as well as a comedy called HULA. Her work though, seems more typically dramatic in nature and more and more seems to be taking on social issues within the context of her narratives.

Karen was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Canada and attended the Vancouver Film School. She graduated with a Certificate of Recommendation from the Foundation Film Program I n1996. From there, she worked as an Associate Producer at the Toronto International Film Festival for the show REEL TO REAL and spent three years in Toronto working for Warner Bros., Twentieth Century Fox and Alliance Atlantis. Karen began her career as a producer and then as a writer/producer. Infinite Moments was Karen’s directorial debut.

[Question] What do you feel your movie is about? (both at the surface, deeper and even personally...)

[Karen] Perceptions is about a woman who is thrust into an alternative reality during a drug induced high where she is dancing in a world of her own. The woman’s perceptions are shaken as her two realities collide. As the intensity heightens and her confusion escalates, she is forced to choose between her two loves.

Perceptions addresses how we can sometimes see ourselves, compared to how we are perceived by those around us. Where the drug addicted woman sees herself as a beautiful dancer when she is high, her drug dealer as a sexy bad boy and her boyfriend as a knight in shining armor. Nothing is black and white, she is not just a strung out crazy drug-addicted woman, she is a person with issues, who is living in an alternative reality to get by. Sometimes people can get through with the support of those that love them and sometimes they don’t. The important thing is not to give up on someone because you perceive them a certain way, if the boyfriend had given up on her she would have died alone with a heartless drug dealer. The dance works in creating the alternative reality, showing how she is seeing everything and really feeling her emotion instead of being distracted by her drug-addicted appearance and only seeing that. I wanted to include the narrative to help the audience understand the journey and be aware of the judgments and perceptions that are made.

[Question] Where do you want to go as an artist? If you just want to be successful and buy matching mansions for you and your mum, that's ok. It's just that most artists I've met usually also have other, deeper goals for what they want to do with their work and what effects they have on the world.

[Karen] I think the world is endless for where I want to go as an artist. Yes I want to make narrative films that make a statement and get in peoples face. Subtlety has never been my style. Film is a wonderful way to reach huge audiences and make an awareness and hopeful change on many issues. One of the most satisfying things for me as a filmmaker is when I am approached by someone that connected with my film, and were moved by it. Just to let someone know that there are other people out there that understand or at least want to understand is so important. Too many people in this world feel that they are all alone.

I am also excited to just go out and have a little fun directing a romantic comedy or a thriller. I think all of my films will always have an underlying message, but sometimes you just need to turn your brain off and have a little fun

[Question] How did you get started? Did you always know that this was what you wanted to do?

[Karen] I started out volunteering at a local cable channel, doing some camera work and assisting the directors. When I started to think that this may fit for me I went to the Vancouver Film School. After film school, I thought I knew what I wanted to do, be an editor but that didn’t fit as nicely as I thought it would. Then I realized, I know what industry I want to be in but I am not sure where I fit in it. So over the years I tried numerous areas of the industry from production, marketing and publicity, post production and producing. Then when I was trying to figure out who should direct a short I had written, I couldn’t think of anyone that knew the story and what I wanted to say with it as much as I did. With the encouragement of my peers I decided to direct my first film ‘Infinite Moments’. For the first time in my life things began to fit and I realized I had found exactly where I was supposed to be in this industry, a director. I haven’t looked back since.

[Question] What is your inspiration for your work? How do you stay inspired in such a tough business?

[Karen] The people around me inspire me for stories and keep me inspired. From family & friends who support me and believe in me to complete strangers who see my films and are moved by them. I truly believe that everyone deserves to find happiness, and part of my happiness comes from making films and I would never let anyone stop me from following my dreams to being happy, no matter what the obstacle. As they always say, nothing in life worth having is ever easy.

[Question] Your movie has a deep social meaning to it (drug use) but you use dance as a way of telling that story. That is very innovative. Why dance? How did you come up with the idea? Is dance being used as more than a story telling mechanism here? Is it also being used as a metaphor?

[Karen] I chose to do a dance film as I wanted the challenge of being able to capture emotion through movement and not words. The music by Kubilay Uner inspired me for the story, as the music came before anything else. I had wanted to do a film revolving around the perceptions that we have of ourselves and that of others, as they are always different. I hate how society in general likes to shoebox everyone into a category. A Drug addict is disgusting and could stop if they really wanted to be clean, they are just throwing away their lives. The statement may be true, but it is not that simple and not that black and white. At the end of the day people are human and have vulnerabilities and insecurities, some more than others. Some are stronger to overcome obstacles and some are not, but that does not mean that they are less of a person because of it. I wanted the lead character in Perceptions to be seen as the strung out junkie who did want to make a change and come clean and have a wonderful future with this great supportive guy (her prince charming). That’s how I presented her, but the dance realm shows her how she sees herself. She needs the drugs to feel strong and beautiful, without them she feels insecure and disgusting, how we see her in the narrative. The dance in the film is her high, and when we are in the narrative we see her reality that she keeps slipping back to. When you see the two worlds, who wouldn’t want to stay in the dance euphoria.

The choreography by Josh Beamish really translated everything from the script along with the performances of the dancers. I learned a lot about the power of movement and expression to convey emotion and story.

[Question] What are you planning next? More dance or other arts being melded with film work? Or more traditional film storytelling?

[Karen] I am planning to do another dance film with ‘Perceptions’ choreographer Josh Beamish in which we are currently applying for funding for entitled ‘The Ballerina’ written by Dennis Goldberg and I am scheduled to shoot a short comedy in April. I am currently working on developing two feature film scripts, one drama and a comedy. I love doing a mixture of genre’s and formats of story telling. I really let the story and/or characters drive my imagination.

[Question] Anything you want to say to your fans about anything, this award, your work, anything?

[Karen] I love that people have embraced ‘Perceptions’, showing that dance is still an entertaining and powerful form of expression that people want to watch. I love pushing boundaries, and having this film represent being an innovator is very exciting and inspiring to continue telling the stories that excite me and allow myself to move outside of my comfort zone and push not only my own boundaries but push everything around me to bring my films to the world.

Thank you, Karen. It was great getting your perceptions!

For more information about Karen, her production company or her movies, including upcoming screenings, please see the information and links below:

Upcoming Screenings:
INFINITE MOMENTS
Okanagan Film Festival March 28 ­ Apr 1, 2007 (Kelowna, BC)
Rebel Planet Short Film Festival Apr 20 ­ 22, 2007 (Los Angeles, CA)
DeReel Independent Film Festival May 3 ­ 13, 2007 (Melbourne, AUS)
Swansea Bay Film Festival Tues June 5 @ Dylan Thomas Centre (Swansea Bay,
Old South Wales ­ UK)

PERCEPTIONS
Swansea Bay Film Festival Wed June 6 @ Dylan Thomas Centre (Swansea Bay,
Old South Wales ­ UK)

For more information on screenings please visit the Blue Finn Productions
website at http://www.bluefinnproductions.com

My Spaces
http://www.myspace.com/perceptionsthemovie
http://www.myspace.com/bluefinnproductions.com
http://www.myspace.com/janitorsoffice
http://www.myspace.com/infinitemomentsmovie


CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious!

Please do NOT copy or redistribute this interview (or pictures) without my express permission. This is because any interviews involve other people and their proprietary work, hard work, I might add—so it is a courtesy to them to treat their hard work with respect. Thank you.

Interview with PROJECT Dance of Michigan (Part TWO)

Innovation and Dance are Alive and Well in Michigan!

PART TWO of my Interview with Kathy King and company of PROJECT Dance of Michigan

Link to PART ONE of Interview

This is part two of my interview with Kathy King and her crew of PROJECT Dance of Michigan, an innovative, new dance company that is seeking to expand the senses and cultural experiences of Michigan through dance, including dance classes, amazing performances, and charity and other social outreach efforts. For them, it’s not about money. It’s about dance, creativity and offering up a delectable cultural feast for their community as well as giving young dancers hope for the future and the opportunity to succeed.

This interview has been presented in two parts. This is part two. All photos in both parts, courtesy of Kathy King, were taken by photographer George Petersmarck (www.georgepetersmarck.com). Please do not copy them or this article without my AND Kathy King's express permission.

I was very impressed with this group, and not just because of the images I was seeing of their performances, especially Art Kinetic. I was impressed by their community outreach efforts, their sincerity in trying to bring more dance opportunities and exposure to Michigan and their current level of achievement in so short a period of time.

I was also surprised.

First, by the fact that PROJECT Dance is a non-profit organization (remember, I’m a neophyte in many things “dance”) and second, by the relatively young age of the founder and director, Kathy King. It takes a great deal of determination and drive to create any company, dance related or not, much less make it a success. It’s unusual to find that in a person who hasn’t graduated college yet—not unheard of, but still…unusual…and perhaps more so, since we aren’t talking about a business student out to start their own dot com, or a computer geek/genius putting together the next great technology wave in their dorm room or their parents’ garage. I’ve met many of those types.

No, instead we are talking about a dance company and a non-profit one to boot. This is my first experience with a company and a founder like that! (But then, I fully acknowledge my neophyte status and my own inner stereotypes that I continually struggle to dissolve so that I might see the world more clearly.)

[Question] PROJECT Dance is a non-profit organization? Why go that route (versus say, the dance company/sponsored route)?

[Kathy] Actually, you’d be surprised to see how many dance companies operate as non-profits. I decided to go this route with PDM because I knew that it would be easier for the community to open their arms to a non-profit as opposed to just another person out there trying to make money. I’m not in this to make money, I’m in this to make art and share that art with the community.

[Question] Tell me about some of the things you've done that you are most proud of.

[Kathy] Well, starting this company has been a huge milestone in my life. I’m young, only 21 years old, and this has been my dream, so I guess this would be my proudest moment. Teaching dance also gives me a great sense of pride. When parents come to me and tell me that their children cannot stop talking about “Miss Kathy” at home, I know that I’m doing something right with my life. I love passing my enthusiasm for art on to my students.

[Tiffany] I am proud of Kathy because I have lived with her since she got the idea to start her company. So I have seen everything that she has put in this company and how dedicated she is. Without Kathy, we would be nowhere.

[Question] What are some of the biggest hurdles or setbacks that you've experienced?

[Kathy] We’ve had awesome luck getting the company up and running, but of course, life isn’t perfect. Being young has certainly made people skeptical of my abilities to develop and run a professional dance company. Also, because we are still so new, we don’t have much funding yet. We only get to rehearse and have company classes on weekends because I don’t have the money to pay my dancers to be there every day of the week. That certainly hinders my ability to train the dancers as I wish or work on choreography as often as I would like.

[Question] You seem to be heavily involved in not only groundbreaking and a higher level of performance, but also teaching and charity work. Can you tell me a little about that and what you've done, what you want to do still and what you've gained from those experiences?

[Kathy] I absolutely love teaching people of all ages about dance. I think that if this company is on a mission to creating a stronger dance community in Michigan, we must get out there and work with as many people as possible. We have been opening our company classes to the public so that advance level dancers in the area have an option to take a professional level class at a low cost. We have gone into public schools and taught dance to children who otherwise would never get to experience a dance class. Recently, we held a small benefit concert to raise money for the local food bank. It was a huge success and helped bring the community together, even if just for one night. I want PROJECT Dance to always be remembered as a company that not only put on a great show, but also helped the community in so many ways.

[Heather] We would love to be able to travel more to teach and perform. It has been a great experience teaching these children. It is always fulfilling to share what you do with others. We have taught from the dancer that has never set foot in a dance class to the advanced dancer.

[Question] Tell me about ART KINETIC. It looks like it was an amazing show. What prompted it? What inspired it? What is the basic theme or themes that run throughout it?

[Kathy] Art Kinetic was our very first full-length show as a company. It was an amazing weekend and that good energy will stick with me forever. The title “Art Kinetic” came from the fact that our show was so diverse and full of life, and those two words seemed to capture best what the show offered. Each piece was completely different. We had modern, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, break dancers, improvisational dancing, and musicians. Our guiding theme was “let’s create something for everyone”.

[Question] You have some still photographs on your MySpace site and your main site of Art Kinetic, and some video clips of practice sessions. Will you have any video clips of Art Kinetic up soon?

[Kathy] Yes! I am getting our show tapes transferred to DVD and will be putting together a little sampling of Art Kinetic to share with all of our Internet friends.

[Question] Where do you want to go with Art Kinetic? Was it just a one time deal—a one time performance, or is it meant to grow into something more (or an annual/semi-annual/etc event)?

[Kathy] At first, the show was planned as just a one time deal. However, I would love to make Art Kinetic our annual winter concert series. I love that title too much to let it be used only once!

[Question] How has the Michigan community responded so far?

[Kathy] I have been very pleased with the way the community has responded thus far. It is funny because people around here honestly don’t understand what we’re doing or the concept of a dance company, but they are so excited about all of our little projects. It has surprised me because there are a few other great professional companies around Michigan, and they have been around for 25+ years, but then here comes this new company and the general public acts as though they’ve never even heard of a professional company. We’re slowly but surely educating the public about what we do, and they are more than willing to listen.

[Heather] The Michigan community has responded with enthusiasm and a great amount of support. We have received many compliments and encouragement for MORE. The community has taken great interest and seems very excited about the new company.

[Question] So? What's next? What does the future hold for PROJECT Dance? For all of you? Where do you want to go? Who do you want to be? What do you want your legacy to be? When it's all said and done, "who are you really?" and "what do you want?"

[Kathy] My number one goal is to get PDM off the ground and into the public eye. I want PDM to become a nationally known company. As for myself, I will always continue to choreograph… it is just what I do. I am so excited to be supporting the arts right now, and I hope that I can be known as someone who always takes the time to help others achieve their goals. There are so many talented dancers in Michigan, but they go unknown because there is nowhere for them to go. I want to be the person they can go to… I want PDM to become a backbone for dance in Michigan.

[Heather] I plan to stay with PROJECT Dance as long as I'm able to. I can't stay in Michigan forever, as I have a husband going through school and what not. I will stay here and support PROJECT Dance as long as life allows me. If I have to leave, I plan to come back, choreograph, and support in any way I can. PROJECT Dance is a cause I believe in and that I am positive will continue to grow and prosper in the future.
As far as my legacy and who I am… I am someone who wants to change the world of dance by giving dancers that opportunity to get the job for the right reasons... To give more opportunities for dancers that won't be demoralizing or degrading... Exploring all forms of movement and choreography.... And to be remembered for putting on a GREAT SHOW!

Many thanks to all of you for taking the time to answer my questions. For more information about PROJECT Dance of Michigan, please go to either their MySpace site or their main website.

MySpace site:

www.myspace.com/projectdanceofmichigan
Main Web Site: http://www.projectdanceofmichigan.org/

Next week, more great stuff...the primary of which will be an interview/profile of another of the Aha! Blogolicious! Media Award winners, namely, Karen Nielsen, the writer/director of Perceptions, a short film that merges dance, drama and social commentary.

Stay tuned!

CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious! Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events and Canada…

The 2006-2007 Janus Media Review

The 2006-2007 Janus Media Review
A Look Back To Get a Look Forward

January was named after the god, Janus, who was often depicted with two heads. This was so that Janus could always look into the past (hindsight) while simultaneously looking forward into the future (foresight.)

It’s fitting then to take stock of the past year during the beginning of the next, so that in looking back, we can get an idea of what the future may bring.

These reviews on this blog have always emphasized the positive. There’s a reason for that and I’ve said it before, but it needs to be said again. There are enough people out there in your life and mine that are bound to look for the negative, for a reason to put you down, to make you feel bad about yourself and sometimes just because that’s the only way they can feel better about themselves.

Unfortunately, just as there are too many of those type of people around, including ourselves from time to time but hopefully not constantly, there is also human nature—the tendency to pay more attention to the negative and ignore the positive. Everyone’s had a situation where they get complimented nine times out of ten, but what do you pay the most attention to? Yep, the negative, the singular time that something mean or critical was said. We focus on that and if we’re not careful, we obsess over it and begin to believe it.

That’s why I don’t do negative reviews. If you get reviewed here, it means, at least in my opinion, that you are special and I see something special and significant about you. I want you to focus on the positive, to remember those nine times and not the one. I want you to remember that only you dictate your worth and your future—that belief in yourself is the most critical element to success and happiness—and it always will be. Every time you have a setback or a failure, remember that the most successful people in the world had dozens more than you—they didn’t give up. Each failure was a learning experience, a necessary step that brought them closer to that ultimate success—a true success, by their standards rather than dictated by the whims and fears of others.

That’s why I’m so critical of degrading reality shows and critics like Simon Cowell. I don’t hate them personally, but I hate what they are doing and the kind of world they are creating. Like ripples in a pond, the damage they do extends far beyond their own borders or expectations.

Believe in yourself. Have a life with no regrets. Take risks. Failure isn’t to be feared. Being afraid to take the risk and living a life of regrets is your real enemy, your mortal enemy.

That’s what the Janus Media Review is all about.
That’s also what the Aha! Blogolicious! Media Awards are about.
The awards actually started because of a spoof article that I wrote some long months back, but within each spoof is always the kernel of truth and this particular article had much more than a kernel. When I discovered that some of the fans of this person thought the award was real and were disappointed to learn it was a spoof, it got me to thinking—and I thought about it a lot. I thought about all the great musicians and artists and dancers and writers and actors and filmmakers that I’d reviewed and sometimes met.

It suddenly occurred to me that being reviewed was not enough, even a blog dedicated to the positive only. People need recognition and something tangible to remind them that they are special. They need something, sometimes, to give them that extra push to keep going, to fighting the good fight, to pick themselves up and try again. They need to know that they aren’t alone and that what they do, the effort itself, matters more than they can ever imagine.

Just like the damaging effects, the positive affects they make are also like ripples in a pond—and sometimes that pond becomes an ocean.

***

Background on the Aha! Blogolicious! Media Awards...
The awards may not be the big awards, but then again, they aren’t full of politics, intrigue, controversy either. They also aren’t about recognizing the already successful big timers.
These awards are about recognizing those who are doing great work but even more importantly are showing the potential to do so much more—to make those big ripples in their industry. That potential to really make a difference in the world, to change it for the better, within their genre perhaps but knowing that those ripples will extend far beyond those expected borders—that’s what the awards seek to encourage. That’s also what these reviews seek. The awards are just to give those that already are showing that success and yet are still showing the potential for so much more, to give them something tangible to look at and hold.

I wish I could give awards to everyone that I’ve reviewed, but I don’t have unlimited resources. So I’ll try to pick out the ones that I see having the greatest potential to change their industry and make those all important ripples, some of those waves I hope will become tsunamis. Again, it’s only my opinion and just being reviewed means that I believe in you and see things in you that even you may not appreciate yet.

The awards may not be big or important like an Emmy or a Grammy, but they are heartfelt and sincere. They are also actual trophies—I believe people should have something tangible to hold, not just a pat on the back. No, not the silly metal cup trophy, more like the acrylic engraved block on a standard base. So, no, they aren’t vaporware, they aren’t a cheesy printed certificate, they are actual engraved awards. If the winners meet the deadline for getting back to me, that is…

The award recipients are the award recipients, but I only want to make sure that those that actually care about getting an actual trophy are the ones that get a real trophy.

Anyone who has been the subject of a review and is currently on My Friends list with a still valid and existing MySpace page is eligible (with one notable award exception.) You also stay eligible forever. So just because someone didn’t get the nod this year, doesn’t mean that they won’t in a subsequent year. Sometimes, I need to see progression since the awards are about innovation and potential for success, rather than current success.

So the winners must message my MySpace account on or before February 15, 2007 in order to receive an actual trophy. For those that don’t care, that only want the big awards, they won’t bother with the validation requirements. Oh yes, there will be a few simple hoops to jump through in order for me to be sure that the people contacting me are the actual people who won. No reps allowed, no fakes allowed. Everyone who has won has a MySpace account and I know what they look like—so the first step will be for them to use that account to send me a message (to my MySpace Account Only!) with a valid return Non-MySpace email address (since I can’t reply via MySpace still) and then I’ll give them the details.

This is the internet and I’m all too aware of how easy it is to pretend to be someone else—so I’m trying to take precautions. And the deadline is there so that the winners won’t have to wait too long while I order the custom awards. So the deadline is firm and obviously the winners would have to read this review in order to find out that they’ve won.

This review is the only notification they will receive. (Again, if they don’t care about an online review and this medium, then perhaps I’m wrong about their potential to change their industry—perhaps they’ve already bought into the politics and will go with whatever the moneymen say.)

The only exception to this is the award that started it all—the Lifetime Achievement MediaMaker award. Call it guilt if you like, since the award nominee was the subject of a spoof (and each year another nominee will be selected and subjected to a spoof), but that individual will be notified by other means—usually their agent, if I can determine their agent. In the case of the 2006 nominee winner, I have a fair idea of who his agent is.

***

It’s Been an Interesting Year
For the arts, it’s been a year of triumphs and tragedies. Dance began to come into the limelight after some warming up years where the TV world began to see that dance could be center stage rather than simply backup dancers in a music video. Music saw the domination and possible overexposure of rap, maybe signaling its demise from coolness and decent into bland and egocentric commerciality. Rock and alternative began to see a reemergence, hopefully making young fans realize that Rock is timeless—liking it doesn’t mean you are the same as your parents. Liking it means that the Age of Rock you see is unique to your generation, just as the now classic rock ages of old, were unique to their generations. Music still fills a basic need in the human soul, and driving beats and emotionally wrenching lyrics are driven not by genre but by generation. (Beethoven was a rock star of his time and his music just as controversial. We consider it tame now…but they didn’t then. Beethoven rocks…and he did rock back then, just as Blue October or Panic at the Disco! rock now. They’ll be the Beethovens of our time, as seen in the future…a little unsettling to think about, but true. No matter how cool you think you are now, the generations after will think you’re completely out of touch and ‘un’. Get used to it.)

Why do I think Rap may have peaked? Well, when it seems like 90% of the music you hear on the radio is rap, that’s not a good sign, especially when most of it is only by a few well-established names and then played ad nauseam. That means the recording companies are pushing it too hard and the raps themselves are too often trivial and pointless. When it seems like every other recording star is dressing and acting like a rapper, and even trying to do raps themselves whether it suits them or not, then perhaps you’ve got something that’s gone too commercial -- and dilution and boredom are the only result.

The rap I’m hearing on the radio isn’t striking me as cool anymore, or even inventive that much—it’s trite and egocentric and ultimately meaningless. No ripples, at least not good ones here. Some are in there trying to improve it, trying to fuse it with their own styles, though so far I haven’t seen any of the popular artists really hit that mark yet. I applaud the effort, even though I usually cringe at the result—I don’t think that the big time artists may be able to put their egos away long enough to really get the fusion right. It’s still too much about them and not anyway near enough about the music.

On the other hand, rock (the contemporary version of today that evolved by being fused or affected by all the other forms) may resurge once more, giving the ever popular ‘pop’ a run for its money. In turn, Pop may turn away from Rap, as will Hip Hop, and both be more influenced by rock, alternative, fusion, techno and other forms more commonly seen in Europe, as well as the continuing influence of African, Asian and especially, Indian music.)

We should continue to see an evolving, entertaining and interesting mix result in all forms of music, including those that practice Rap but seek to say something with their work, rather than simply be another Pop Rap or Macho I’m a Gangsta Rap. Then again, if the recording companies have their way, meaning only push the established winners no matter what they come up with or rip off, we may be subjected to a lot more of the same, regardless of quality.

It may sound like I’m down on rap, and yes, I am, but only because of the reasons already stated. When rap is done well, it’s amazing and progressive. In fact, I could say the same about all forms of music, dance, art and media. It’s ok to be entertaining, in fact, the best examples almost always are, but the best also are inventive and push us, the listener/watcher, into new territory as well. The best make ripples. The best of the best, make tsunamis.

So what am I listening to now in terms of the big names?... other than what I’m listening to and reviewing on MySpace?

Here’s some of what I’m listening to, off the top of my head:
Blue October “Hate Me”
Panic! at the Disco “I Write Sins Not Tragedies”
Nickelback “Far Away”
Fall Out Boy “Dance, Dance”
Cartel “Honestly”
The Fray “How To Save A Life”
Shakira “Hips Don’t Lie”
K.T.Tunstall (or Tunsdell?) “Suddenly I see…”
Justin Timberlake “SexyBack” (the cute masochistic version on the CD, not the creepy, sadistic version he’s been singing lately, like at the MTV Music Awards and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show…in fact, I’m almost off that song now because of those performances…maybe he and girlfriend Cameron really are having problems…)

The world of dance has seen an expansion of its audience as shows that focus on dance gain popularity, like ABC’s Dancing With the Stars and Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance. The effects of that growing popularity are harder to predict. This goes for the world of visual arts as well. Neither area is as pervasive or as broad as music, but we’ve seen (and so have media producers) a good start—and proof that dance can bring in an audience, and therefore dance shows can be profitable. Without that profit potential, you won’t get the television shows or films—that’s just how things work. Media can’t flourish without an audience. If you don’t support it, you won’t see it. It really is entirely up to you—the good and the bad of it.

Visual arts haven’t really surged into the public mind beyond where they’ve been for a long time now and I don’t really see that changing any time soon. Too many people still think of art as something for other people, not them. Still, as more artists from other fields (music, dance, TV/film, writing) are affected by the visual arts, then we’ll continue to see subtle effects in those other works. Perhaps occasionally someone major, someone famous and influential, will not do the ‘little art film’, a tokenization that is automatically categorized as something ‘less’, but will rather incorporate art into something very big, very commercial and very noticeable—not an ‘art’ film, but a film that stylistically breaks all boundaries and makes us look beyond the stereotypes. The same goes for music or dance, but likely, it will take a visual medium to really spotlight the visual arts. It's done it before. Likewise, while TV/film and books are widespread and range from experimental to ultra commercial, hopefully, the practice of copycatting will decrease and innovative, fresh works will become more appreciated. Hopefully, reality shows will fall from favor, too, since they just train the viewers to expect so little and train the moneymen in charge of production to go for the cheap rather than going for and investing in quality.

Still, in terms of what I’m seeing on the ‘Net, and especially MySpace, I’m excited about 2007. With over 100,000 bands on MySpace alone, and a growing number of artists, dance groups and filmmakers on MySpace (and YouTube), there’s a lot of innovation and potential out there. Yes, there is also a lot of crap, but why should the ‘Net be any different than the offline world of media?

The Aha! Blogolicious! Media Award Winners
To win any of these awards, you must have been a subject of either a REVIEW or (in the case of the first award) the subject of a spoof—namely a spoof of you as a nominee winner of the MediaMaker award, which only happens to one individual a year (at best.) If no candidates are considered worthy, then no awards will be given. So not all awards are guaranteed to be awarded every year, it will vary with the selection of review candidates.

The Aha! Blogolicious! MediaMaker Lifetime Achievement Nominee Award – this award goes to someone who has already achieved success in at least one media field or subfield and is showing some success in another field or subfield as well. This award is about being an up and coming multi-mediaist with the potential to achieve and rock their industry. It started as a spoof, with there only being nominees, not actual award winners, for this Lifetime Achievement Award, since the award itself can only finally be decided between the nominees post-humorously. That being the only true way to evaluate a life’s work, you see. Future nominee winners will also be the subject of a spoof specifically about this award.

2006 nominee winner – Gordon Michael Woolvett, actor/director/writer/filmmaker link to spoof article that started it all

2006 Aha! Blogolicious! Overall Media Innovator Winner – this award goes to a individual or group that I feel has the potential to not only succeed but to reinvigorate their entire genre as well as the entire industry itself. To win this award is tough and I’ll only award it if I find an individual or group that I think can really impact their ENTIRE industry. This year, I was lucky, one group was an obvious choice, because they left me wanting more when I heard them, though some of the other winners almost beat them out in the end. That group, a band, is

Summit Avenue (Alternative/Pop) related review & their myspace site is summitavenue

2006 Aha! Blogolicious! Media Innovator Winners -- this award goes to any individual or group that I feel can not only succeed but innovate their genre, bringing a fresh new perspective and new twists to their music, art, film, dance, etc., regardless of their particular genre. Any individual or group that I find that meets these requirements will win, since it isn’t about a category of media, but more about what they bring to the world of media. If I don’t find a particular type of media genre winner, then I don’t try to force it by giving it to a group in that genre. This is about innovation and potential to make an impact—not filling a slot. Some that would have been winners either dropped their sites or changed their page removing the (typically musical) innovations that attracted me in the first place, with the replacements not nearly so exciting, so they aren’t listed unfortunately, so abstract rap, a fun group with a silly prehistoric name, some experimental/electronica and a metal group that disappeared aren’t in mix this year.

There are still several winners this year, they are, in no particular order:

Three Second Delay (Alternative/Rock) related review & their myspace site is 3secdelay

Marianas Trench (Rock/Pop Punk) related review & their myspace site is marianastrench

Westcott & Rodway (Acoustic/Classical/Jazz) related review & their myspace site is westcottandrodway

Perceptions (short 5 minute online film) related review & their myspace site is perceptionsthemovie

There are no visual artists this year. I looked at some wonderful work from a few that I found, but I didn’t feel they were necessarily going to shake up the art world. I could be wrong and I hope they prove me wrong, just as I hope anyone I review goes on to great things. So the fault lies with me, but nonetheless, no visual artists this year are in the final mix. This award is about making a visual impact on the art world, as presented on the Internet. If you’re work isn’t on the ‘Net, I won’t see it. It does not mean you have to do your work electronically, just present some form of it here. Visual artists have been tougher for me to find on MySpace and the leads from readers have been few, so obviously, musicians dominate this years Aha! Blogolicious! Media Awards, but that may change in future years.

As for dance, the focus is on dance, but that doesn’t imply automatically a dancer or dance company. Since we are dealing with media on the ‘Net, it’s about presenting dance in an innovative way, and about showing the potential to make an even greater impact on the genre in the future. The focus is on dance and dancing, but the presentation is via media that can translate well on the ‘Net, whether it be film clips, photographic stills, or something else.

And if you’re wondering why I didn’t choose a TV show or a magazine, well, let’s just say the jury is still out on some of the other dance related areas. Remember, innovation and potential to really impact the industry is a prime requirement. Also remember, that these awards go, not to the already big and successful who probably don’t care about a piddling little award that isn’t controlled by Hollywood or New York, but to the up and comers that are still battling to make it big. So a TV show may already be seen as successful – not always, but in this case (dance), yes. Individual dancers might be chosen, but again, it’s about their presentation on the ‘Net of their innovation and talents, so if I didn’t find enough to convince me, well, then that’s my excuse here. Send me pointers to evidence if you want to see someone considered as a future review candidate and therefore become eligible as a potential 2007 winner.

Remember, I’m looking for potential to not only succeed but to change their entire genre or industry in some significant way—to really evoke change and innovation. I’m looking for the next Blue October, or JibJab or Harlem Dance. To do that is difficult and some of the most successful artists of our time wouldn’t make the cut—they may be financially successful with large followings, but they may not really make any significant contribution that will last beyond their own lifetime or even their own fifteen minutes of fame.

Then again, as always, remember, these awards are based on subjective opinion and opinions can always be wrong, I know that. So don’t be too cross if you’re favorite isn’t here. I may have missed some important clue that you picked up on, or they may still get an award in the coming years, as I see the impact of their work and their potential come more to the fore. At least, you and I are in there trying to spot the gems now—rather than letting the moneymen decide for us. If you’re reviewed at all on this blog, at any time, then it means I believe in you and your potential. These particular awards though, are limited, so I have to try to find and pick the ones I think will go the distance and make those eventual tsunamis.

Congratulations to all the 2006 year winners.

Remember, the deadline is February 15, 2007 from the winner’s MySpace account, their MySpace account that is already on my friend list only, messaged privately via message (not comment—comments will not count) to my inbox including a valid email account for return regular email messages. The return email message will detail the validation process next steps. NO EXCEPTIONS, SORRY! (This is to ensure that the award trophy goes to the legitimate winners only.) If you miss the deadline, all you’ll get is a cheesy printed certificate.

CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious!

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