I'm huge on twitter

Twestival HK was a success, raising over $30,000HKD for charity. Enjoy these photos and my facebook album of the event. You can also follow these and other images on my twitter account @michalgarcia which is the main reason I stopped blogging for a month. I was still blogging, just micro-blogging.

Be a part of Rock History.

After reading a well-written and inspiring Denton Record Chronicle article by Lucinda Breeding I put a few bucks to the Oso Closo Second Album Fund Drive. This Denton band makes awesome, creative music that must be spread to the ear drums of many nations. Oso Closo's website is also very cool and extremely functional. Double Kudos for hosting an epic concert on my birthday at Hailey's in conjunction and MyDentonMusic is streaming it live on the internet - that's great news because I'm in Hong Kong and quite geographically challenged.


Denton Record Chronicle article suggested by music enthusiast Sarah Crisman via her twitter feed.

Fair Dinkum on CNN

For the last 3 months, I've had the pleasure of being part of an amazing dragonboat team in Hong Kong called "Fair Dinkum." At the Stanley races, CNN featured our team at the beginning of their report on the races. I don't appear but all my friends do.
Gimme a hoo-ha!

My Snarky Puppy photography and interview in Pegasus News

When I was last in Texas, I did an interview of Snarky Puppy that has now been featured in the Pegasus News in alliance with My Denton Music. Check it out HERE. Pegasus included the audio interview.

Snarky Puppy in Canada

Check out the Zimp's great review of Snarky Puppy in Montreal, with special guest online-media specialist Sarah Crisman. Illustration courtesy of the Zimp :-)

The Van Ho Ba hits Tay Ho!

This is what's hip this Saturday: The Van Ho Ba and Dhoopstick. Dhoopstick. That's a funny name. I guess so is the Van Ho Ba, but it all gets lost in translation in Hanoi, so who cares! The VHB refers to themselves as such: "The Van Ho Ba can be described as an unstoppable groove machine." I'd agree, and I'm itching to play trumpet (and Euphonium) with them again next time I visit Vietnam.

Mike League interview

MyDentonMusic.com featured this interview of Mike League a few weeks back - I'm continuing music journalist and arts promoter endeavors with the last few interviews I've done: Mike League of Snarky Puppy, Eric Pulido of Midlake, and Filipino Reggae celebrity Budoy Marabiles of Junior Kilat (recorded one week ago).

I'm constantly impressed by the musicality and high-caliber collaborations of Mike League and his band, and even more impressed by the humility with which they approach their audience and music. That is why, when at the beginning of this year I was invited to join the creative team that would bring Snarky Puppy to uncharted territory, I was immediately in. That uncharted territory is the US West Coast, Europe, and Asia. First things first - the Pup is currently on tour in the Southeast United States, and making their way up through New York and on to Canada.

You may download the interview by right clicking (or apple + click) and saving the file here. Note: Tony Spiro on percussion on the last track "When the Saints go Marching in"

Where next?

Here's a challenge for my next employer - hire this player of character to help your organization grow into a much greater entity. Empowerment and high fives for all. I'm your man. Put me in coach, I'm ready to play!

With that in mind, here are some of the top places I'm looking at now and for future projects:

1. Hong Kong
2. Bangkok
3. Los Angeles
4. Austin
5. New York
6. Sydney
7. Toronto
8. Chicago
9. London
10. Brussels
11. Reykyavik - this place gets an "11"

Important to note are that India and Nigeria boast the world's 1st and 3rd largest film industries, respectively, Reykyavik is a very desirable place but not now (LA too), and Asia has a booming economy. I can also see myself working some time in Saigon, but Hanoi does not have extensive work in photography and film. Hitting Toronto means being near the New York scene, and staying in Dallas/Fort Worth means growing with the amazing Denton scene. I'd love to work in Mexican cinema, but am a little more occupied with Asia at the moment. This list doesn't necessarily include the cities I'm most likely to work in, just the ones I'm most intrigued with - though I've just sent a few resumes to Hong Kong...

The Van Ho Ba strikes back

The Van Ho Ba is still out on the loose in Ha Noi, Viet Nam even after my leaving last year. Ok, ok...I'm just a trumpet player, but it's great to see something I kinda helped start continuing on. Recently, they had a few of my photos from a few months ago published in______________ as they've been playing the usual Ha Noi festivals and gigs after taking on a few more personnel. Hey guys, pop on some robes and announce the Viet Nam leg of a Polyphonic Spree tour! That'll get us some more gigs. he he he, I kid I kid!

Masters

Photography by participants of my Photography Masterclass.


I led a Photography Masterclass at Bigfoot Entertainment and the participants took some outstanding pictures in the process. I'm proud, yay! The photographer's names are placed below each of the photographs except for the first, which was taken at the Shangri-La by Konstanze Pelargus. I picked it as the first because it is reminiscent of Brigadoon, a very cool old school drama. For more of their work, visit bigfootphotoclass on flickr.

Self-portrait by Fiona Cross, she says:
"trying to get my reflection in the glasses, and have my pictures and family in the back ground.
I chose the sunglasses as a reflection for various reasons: because you are what the other see, because you wear sunglasses to hide yourself from others and because i just love those sunglasses"

Macbook abstraction by Tascha Eipe

Filipino boats by Nathalie Heugas

The sun at noon (yes, it's the sun) by Tascha Eipe

Melinda with a hoodie, by Nathalie Heugas

Cowrie's Cove by Konstanze Pelargus. Konstanze says:
"These water photos are inspired by Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir. Her photographs make water and other landscapes look otherworldly and mystical. I am transported into another world when I look at her photographs. They look magical to me and I wish I was there and even that this particular world really exists."

Sunset, sea, and the Hilton by Charles Lastierre

Sarah Palin visits the Philippines

As senators Barack Obama and John McCain spent their weekend campaigning in the battleground states, an unprecedented decision was made by the Republican National Committee to rally votes from the largely democrat expatriated American community in Asia. In that last-minute effort to appeal to critical overseas absentee voters, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin gave a brief interview Saturday at Bigfoot Entertainment in Cebu, Philippines. Our London correspondent Richard Hearsey served as interviewer for the evening and gave his commentary on this pivotal time in the race to the White House.
The latest Gallup polls show John McCain trailing by an average of 9 percentage points, though his television appearances on Saturday Night Live and the QVC shopping network have increased McCain-Palin ticket's popularity by an average of 2 points in the last 3 days. Hearsey investigated the details of the McCain-Palin presidency's plan of action should they be elected today, election day. If you're still reading you must think this is actually fo' shizzle.






Thanks to Denise for dressing up as Palin and giving a spot-on interview with Richard!
*No Caribou or Moose were harmed in the making of this blog post

DILIM

Here's a nice tid-bit for Halloween! I worked on a narrative short-film about cannibals a few weeks ago called DILIM. It was directed by Chino of the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT) and starring James Farrel. I was James' buddy-buddy from the military and they pretty much turn me into dinner. Pass the sausages please!


This is the scene where James unconvers the plot, and proceeds to freak out and sneak around the house.



Here's a cheesy Halloween shot.

I had to stare at this doll for two days. It was one of our props, and had the most terrifying eyes. Why? Because they're painted on and appear to be staring you down at every angle. Creepy!


Dead people need makeup too! The fake blood used on the set is sickly sweet and attract many ants. The last shot is of the house we filmed the production at.


photography by Joel Gana and michalgarcia.com

The end of an era

A few days ago marked the end of an era. Until I lived in Australia, I never wore flip-flops. Since then, I rarely wore a pair that lasted more than a few months let alone traveling with them across the globe. The flip flops pictured above were on my feet in Colorado, Texas, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Japan, New York and the Philippines. The real transition is that they have bridged my university and professional career. And so, my dear chanclas were given their last walk in the monte on my way home in Cebu, Philippines and I paused for a brief emotional moment. It was the second time (perhaps the first was graduating from UNT) I've told myself "This is the first day of the rest of your life..."

Below are a few shots of the magical summer with the UNT jazz repertory ensemble in Crested Butte Colorado:


I'm pretty much jumping off a cliff in this shot. Not endorsed by the University of North Texas.


Portrait of Blackwell and self-portrait all at once.


Whiffleball rocks! (but not everyone rocks at whiffleball)


We're so excited!


Hiking. Oh yeah.

CPDRC inmates of Cebu

The CPDRC inmates rock out their prison and Cebu! Famous for their clips on youtube and international press coverage, the inmates represent a unique case in criminal justice. When I first saw them on the news I was skeptical about the dancing - was it a human rights violation, or an expression from the soul? After viewing the (2-hour!!) performance and meeting a few of the inmates myself, I was convinced of the latter. The Philippines loves its Karoake, and they love to dance. Within this culture, this is one of the greatest things that has ever happened for prisoners. I'm proud to say it was turned around by the powerful García family of Cebu (No relation, I think).



Samim poses in a break-dancing position with the inmates


These are the happiest prisoners I've ever seen.


A prisoner acts the part of a zombie for his part in Michael Jackson's "Thriller"


The girlfriend in "Thriller" is captured by the zombies and transformed into one.


Inmates pray as they begin their routine to a few songs from "Sister Act"

This prison looks uninviting from the outside, but it very fun on the inside.
I would love to see more forward-thinking prisons like this one.