Editing the ‘Making of J2K Score’

When is that, you ask?  Still on track for that target date of April 30th!  There will be one last bit of scoring to be cut into the opening and closing of the film.  Essentially, the film is picture locked.  We’re just awaiting that final piece of music, then a full sound mix and color grading will be done, and then it’ll be finished.  Even after three and a half years of this, it’s still going to be somewhat strange to think that ‘Journey to Kathmandu‘ will be a completed film!

So. Two weeks from my self-imposed deadline.  Together with the help of my intern, Peter, we’ve been working up a film festival strategy as well as a potential distribution plan.  The former has some upcoming application deadlines that should serve as even more motivation to get the film done by the end of this month (like I need any more motivation).

In the meantime, enjoy this short ‘Making of’ doc that I made during the scoring sessions by clicking on the link below!

Making of ‘J2K’ Score

And for anyone who was wondering about the style of singing that Sam is using, it is known as Tuvan throat singing.  This particular way of singing is an variant of overtone singing and it comes from the people of the Tuva region in Sibera. You might remember the indie hit Academy Award nominee documentary, Genghis Blues, which essentially followed an American blind musician to Tuva where he would learn how to sing in this style.

‘Journey to Kathmandu’ friend, and internationally reknowned throat singer, Enrique Ugalde (aka Soriah), was Sam Ross’ personal instructor.

You are not Werner Herzog

It is with this ‘great reason and purpose’, that I have now turned to (resigned myself?) the convention of narration.  This week the narration was written, recorded, and inserted into the entire timeline.  I think people will be happy with this choice.  I’m actually even coming around to it.  Quite frankly, it was necessary; helped fill in some glaring gaps!

So.

The film is really coming together nicely, as all of the elements are finally (!) starting to mesh into a coherent piece.  The next big phase to be tackled will be the score.

The music is actually going to be a critical element of this film, setting up both the atmosphere and emotional tone to evoke that sense of wonder and awe of the Nepalese culture. That being said, I’ll be working with Portland musicians Sam Ross and Jared Jensen (of “Bombs Into You”) to get the score into place. Other than that, it’s a matter of a sound mix and color grade in order to have a finished film. The target date for the film is April 30th.

Me writing up narration for ‘Journey to Kathmandu’

I received some great suggestions concerning pacing and narrative structure. Finishing this project has certainly been a challenge, but I feel as though it is really coming together—especially after the screening.

With all of the feedback in mind, I was able to advance through another huge stage of the editing process and polish a considerable amount of material. I actually worked on a final cut of the film through most of October. Right now, I am currently looking for a score that will tie in nicely with the footage.

I cannot wait to show everyone the story of this remarkable festive tradition. That being said, everyone can anticipate a final cut in spring 2013!

I had spent nearly two years throwing various kinds of fundraisers, written a zillion grant proposals, gotten myself into physical condition for trekking, sold a chunk of my worldly possessions (including some of my LP collection!), talked with everyone under the sun about my “nepal film”, etc.  So when I’d finally actually raised enough funds to secure all of the needed gear, flown myself to Nepal, hired a crew and started filming… well, now you might imagine what a dreadful feeling I experienced when my camera – my most basic, but essential and critical of all filmmaking tools – just died on me, only a few days into filming.  (See ‘Trying Not to Hit Panic Button‘ for gorier details!)

The video – still painful for me to watch even now, two years later – gives a glimpse into the perils of the independent documentary filmmaker.  It’s a glimpse that many an independent filmmaker can surely appreciate!

Until then, enjoy a recent interview that I did with my good friend, Amit Aryal, who is the author of the All Things Nepal blog:

Chatterview With a Filmmaker: Chris Parkhurst

It’s moving along.

Okay, more specifically, an opening has now been cut.  Actually, it’s been re-cut.  Was headed in multiple story and format directions over the past few months, but thanks to the kind feedback and direction of fellow doc makers, Byrd McDonald and Heather Harlow, I am quite back on track.  Well, a single story/format track.  Thankfully.

I am so very tempted to upload and share with everyone… believe me, I am… and I may still do so… but not quite yet.  Need to really think about!  I mean, I wouldn’t want to spoil anything, right?  However, I also want to re-spark everyone’s interest in the project.  Hmm, let me think on this.

That’s an update.  More later.  Really.  But for now, I am headed to Cambodia for the next three weeks to work on a couple of commercial gigs through Barang Films.

Cheers.  Soksabai.  Namaste.  You catch my drift.

http://vimeo.com/11560239

Let me give you an overview of my daily rituals.  I wake up at 6:30 a.m. and down water that has been sitting overnight in a copper-made cup.  I then evacuate.  This has become my new favorite way of saying poop.  I evacuate.  Say it out loud right now.  It’s gotta nice ring to it, no?  Anyhow, my good panchakarma consultant, M. Nielsen, suggests that I evacuate immediately after downing said cup of H2O.  This is generally not difficult for me as it’s already part of what I like to call my “morning routine.”

However, things have changed a bit.  I’m actually not really evacuating a whole heckuva lot.  In fact, it’s taking a little time to even get things going.  Is this, I wonder, how my girlfriend feels whenever we go camping or take an extended trip in unfamiliar areas and she can’t, um, evacuate for days?  Hmm, bit uncomfortable.

Anyhow, by Day Four, I am a little more regular (but, man, it sure doesn’t look very regular!).

I then lather myself up with a bunch of coconut oil.  This stuff smells reeeally good and I’m not gonna lie, kinda feels sexy putting it on. After making love to my coconut oil, I begin making the day’s food, kichadi (see accompanying video).  This process generally takes about a little over an hour with prep time included.  During this time, I take a nice steamy, relaxing, hot shower.  And think Good (not necessarily steamy) Happy Affirming Thoughts.

After doing a couple of shots of ghee (clarified butter) – intended to oilate my innards and help with getting rid of the toxins -  I will then put a few things together for my day, drink some of my ginger and lemon tea, meditate for a bit, eat a bowl of the fresh kichadi, then head out for my day.

During the day, I am eating a bowl of the kichadi every two or so hours, drinking lots of the tea (as well as the once-mentioned water, cayenne and maple syrup concoction), and have periods of rest.  I also will log (no, not that kind of “log”) all of the things that I’m experiencing throughout the day.

Example of log:

5.5.10

@ 6:50 a.m. evacuated.  Very small portion, strong unfamilar scent.

@ 9:15 a.m., another evacuation.  Equally small, darker brown in color.

11:15 a.m. – starting to get pretty weak, quite headachey. Core temperature a bit colder.

3- 4:30 p.m. – took nap to rid myself of headache.  Before doing so, ate fourth bowl of kichadi.

Early evening I will take a 20 min walk.  I did this last night and felt pretty damn wiped out.  Mind you, I am a runner.  It’s killing me not to run.  In fact, yesterday was a gorgeous Portland day and I almost went for it.  So thankful that I did not.  Afterwards, when I told Miss Nielsen this, she nearly had a heart attack.  I was scolded for even thinking about it.  Apparently, all exercise and heavy lifting or any activity that uses muscles and makes one sweat… well, it’s a no-no during a penchakarma.  I’m supposed to be loosening all toxins up, from the deep tissues out, in preparation for Day Nine (i.e. The Great Evacuation).  Exercise compounds this issue and sometimes pushes the toxins deeper down.

I am such a rookie to this whole thing.

Anyhow, today, I am still feeling quite lethargic, but hopeful that soon my body will begin adjusting… and preparing for The Great Evacuation.

As some of you may know, when I first moved out to Portland, Oregon (over 13 years ago), my diet consisted mainly of McDonald’s, Burger King, and Taco Bell (though, thankfully, that has changed significantly!).  Sometimes I mixed it up with some pizza.

http://vimeo.com/11477183

Through the years, I have also taken in vast amounts of liquor, soda (pop!), candies, red meat, potato chips, carbon monoxide, gasoline fumes, recreational treats, etc.  Sometimes I have been known to throw in the occasional bag of pork rinds (come on, who doesn’t love a good fried pig skin??).

I’ve struggled with hypoglycemia since I can remember.  My friends and family (and myself, for that matter) have often been the poor victims of my emotional (un)well-being and just general crabbiness because I hadn’t eaten a cheeseburger, in, like two hours.

Well, I have decided that at 38 years of age, it is high time to give back to my body which I have relied upon for all these years.  Time to treat it a bit better.  Time to get a better grasp on how the mind and body operates and how they might both operate more efficiently.

And therefore it is time to give it the Cleanse that it so richly deserves.

So today, through the strict consultation of Melonie Nielsen, LMP, RYT, a professional who is trained in the classic school of Ayurveda, I am beginning a Panchakarma cleanse.

What’s a Panchakarma cleanse?

Taken from the Ayurvedic Institute:

Panchakarma (five actions) is a cleansing and rejuvenating program for the body, mind and consciousness. It is known for its beneficial effects on overall health, wellness and self-healing.

According to Ayurveda, our natural state is one of health, happiness and an inner sense of well-being. Health is defined as the body being clear of toxins, the mind is at peace, emotions are calm and happy, wastes are efficiently eliminated and organs are functioning normally. In a busy, stressful and toxic world, our physical and mental systems accumulate toxins causing deterioration in bodily functioning. This eventually weakens our systems, which opens the door for chronic, degenerative, and non-specific diseases to develop. These can evolve into serious specific diseases, ultimately damaging an individual’s health and wellness.

Panchakarma can help by reversing these negative effects of daily living. It can restore your natural state of health and wellness by cleansing your body of toxins, bringing balance into your system and improving bodily function. It can also help you sustain this process by making positive changes in lifestyle.

My program begins today (Day One, if you will) and will run for at least the next 11 or 12 days.  Oh, it’s gonna be an exciting time these next two weeks!  Watch me starve (that’s today!), eat nothing but some dish called kichadi for the entire time, drink some cool ginger, lemon and cayenne libation, down some castor oil (anyone remember that story sequence from Stand By Me?) and on Day Nine basically excrete my brains out for a 24-hour period.

It will be Great Fun.

And I’m going to share it with you in the form of videos, blog entries, links, information, etc.  Heck, maybe you’ll even want to do a little cleanse yourself!

So, Panchakarma, baby!!

‘All Things Goat’ is an ezine created by Naimhe Jeanne and Martha Ann, carnivores both who believe in the humane treatment of goats from birth through death, regardless of whether they are a pet or raised for milk, meat or fiber.

In its annual “Things to Look for In the New Year” list, Willamette Week has smartly picked up on what we’ve been saying for a while now… that The Goats are where it’s at, people!

First Goat at the Tibet/Nepal Border

It’s so nice to finally get some recognition around here.  And with all due respect to talented Portland filmmaker Andy Blubaugh, wouldn’t it have just made absolutely, perfectly, exquisite sense to have the ‘Journey to Kathmandu’ director as the Filmmaker to Watch For in 2010?

We’re just sayin’.