Expect a tear jerker...

A MOMENT OF LIGHT
Documentary
Sat. May 28th 7:30pm
at The Trunk Space

WHO: A Moment of Light by Perry Allen
WHAT: Examining a year in the life of a family with 2 children, one dying from Cancer.
WHERE: The Trunk Space, 1506 NW Grand Ave. 602-256-6006.
WHEN: Sat. May 28th. $6 per person.
WHY: In an exploration of life, thru tragedy.



Synopsis:
Cally's older brother is dying and her ninth birthday is in April. Only three years old when Killian was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Cally does not remember a life without her brother's illness. Moment of Light balances between a projection of the film maker's own childhood sibling loss and that of the subject. For one year, we are invited into Cally's world; a place where imagination and expression challenge loss, and the bonds of family and community allow laughter in the face of tragedy.


Director’s Statement:
Since I was a child it was expected that everything I produce should explore my grief, which was necessary for my development in dealing with the death of my brother's death. Unfortunately, however, due to this expectation, I was never able to produce anything true. There was such an emphasis on how my brother’s death was intertwined in all my work that the work itself was always left half-realized.
If I have done anything with "Moment of Light," it has been an attempt at dissecting my personality, constitution, and identity to use my art honestly. For two years I have studied child psychology, sibling development, death in society, and artifacts from my own brother’s illness. I have interviewed historians, doctors, cemetery caretakers, and other bereaved siblings, trying to understand how this particular form of grief affects the individual. But now I don’t know if I am any wiser. I may have more questions than I started with.
The main component of this undertaking was to a film a documentary about childhood sibling bereavement. In the fall of 2008, a New York based charity agreed to help organize a way for me to incorporate a camera into the lives of a suffering family. We ultimately agreed that I would follow expressive arts therapist Rebekah Near on her rounds of in-home therapies. The following two years were vastly different than I expected and all my pre-conceived notions of art, family, and self ultimately had to be reevaluated.
I ended up filming mainly with one family, for a total of one year. The Mansfield family is Barbara and Phil, their son Killian and daughter Cally. Cally was three years old when her brother was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Now eight years old, she has few memories of living without a terribly sick older brother. From behind my lens, I began a connection with Cally. Though I did see myself in her, I was not ready for the heartache that comes when watching a young girl’s innocence fade. In August
2009, after six months of filming, Killian died.

Moment of Light:
Though the family initially betrayed all preconceived notions on how a family grieves, no story can be too sweet. As winter rolled in, I videotaped as Cally started to realize the finality of death and its effect on her family. The bitterness of the freeze did not make any of it easier.
I feel sometimes this project has been difficult on my physical and emotional stability. In analyzing this family, I have questioned much about myself and must have learned something. But what? In January 2010, I attended my fourth funeral – that of a fellow student. I had never been to the funeral of a peer and have been troubled since with how to comprehend his suicide. It has been trials like these that have made this project a total experience.
The greatest challenge in filming Moment of Light was my role in Cally’s life. I was privileged enough to be allowed into the home of a grieving family – there is an intrinsic moral question there. When constantly guarded by a video camera it is easy to remain unattached. You do not completely feel present in the situation because you are just documenting it. I feared getting to know Cally outside of the lens. Even now, I am always unsure what to say to her because our relationship has been defined by the presence of the camera. This detachment allowed me to justify the main ethical issues of my piece: the boundaries of exploitation, the nature of consent, and a child’s right to privacy. There is no denial that my presence altered Cally’s therapies and her grieving. Though it is impossible to say whether the effect was negative or positive, I am horrified to picture an aerial view of her therapy sessions – a complete stranger across the room with a trained video camera in his hands. I have spoken with the Mansfield family directly about this, but even their undying support does not always quell these thoughts.
Have I fulfilled my initial goal to strip down pretense and create something true? Not nearly…but it’s better than all my previous attempts. To think I have completed a project that rings completely true would mean I have nothing more to learn and explore. Only in a few years will I be able to see the making of Moment of Light with some perspective.
I am incredibly grateful to the Mansfield family because, selfishly, existing in their world helped to make more sense of my own. There have also been so many people who have kept me sane and helped foster my ideas into an hour-long film. It would not have been possible for me to do it alone. With their help, I have experienced how the act of creating can shake one to the core. I can only hope that as a viewer, we can share in that experience.

A MOMENT OF LIGHT is scheduled to screen Saturday May 28th at 8pm at The Trunk Space. Tickets are $6 per person, and profits will go to a family who need financial support taking their child to NYC for doctor consultations.

If you're into this sort of thing....

"THE X FACTOR" LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER
AUDITION MYSTUDIOS ACROSS AMERICA

Hopefuls Can Record and Submit Video Auditions
at MyStudio Locations Nationwide

First Audition Studios Open Friday, April 8, in Honolulu and Phoenix;
Followed by Studios in Nashville, Anchorage, Kansas City and Denver

Visit www.fox.com/theXfactor or www.mystudio.net/xfactor for the Latest
THE X FACTOR News and Information

THE X FACTOR, the highly anticipated singing competition series debuting this fall on FOX, extends its auditions further across the country with unprecedented and specially built high-definition recording studios opening Friday, April 8 in Honolulu, HI; and Phoenix, AZ. Additional studios will open in Nashville, TN, on Saturday, April 9; Anchorage, AK, on Tuesday, April 12; Kansas City, KS, on Friday, April 15; and Denver, CO, on Saturday, April 16. The audition studios will remain open until Saturday, April 30.

Throughout the month of April, anyone 12 years old or over - both solo artists and vocal groups - will have the opportunity to use the state-of-the-art studios to audio- and video-record their a cappella audition and state why they think they have what it takes to be a global superstar.

The unprecedented audition studios allow hopefuls the chance to audition for THE X FACTOR if they aren't able to make it to the open auditions. THE X FACTOR is the first singing competition show to utilize these state-of-the-art recording studios, giving more people the chance to become a global superstar and win a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music.

The hopefuls who recorded in MyStudios that are selected by producers to move forward in the competition will advance to the next round of callbacks and will be offered the opportunity to continue their audition, in person, in Dallas or another audition city as determined by the producers.

"These studios were brought to my attention some months ago, and we think they are brilliant way to audition for those people who haven't been able to make it to the cities," said Simon Cowell. "MyStudio has kindly let us use these high-tech studios for THE X FACTOR auditions, which record studio-quality sound and video to make the audition tape, and I'm very excited for anyone who decides to use these to audition."

Visit www.fox.com/theXfactor or call toll-free 855-345-5678 for eligibility requirements, the latest news on the audition studios and to sign up to receive audition information. All auditioners should go online to confirm eligibility and review THE X FACTOR / MyStudio Audition Video Submission Terms and Conditions.

THE X FACTOR MyStudio audition booths opening dates and locations are as follows:

CITY OPENING DATE LOCATION
Honolulu, HI Friday, April 8 Pearlridge Center Uptown
98-1005 Moanalua Rd.
Aiea, HI 96701
*Located near See's Candies
Mon-Sat: 10:00 AM-9:00 PM
Sun: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM

Phoenix, AZ Friday, April 8 Arizona Mills
5000 S. Arizona Mills Cir.
Tempe, AZ 85282
*Located near GameWorks
Mon-Sat: 10:00 AM-9:00 PM
Sun: 11:00 AM-6:00 PM

Nashville, TN Saturday, April 9 Coolsprings Galleria
1800 Galleria Blvd.
Franklin, TN 37067
*Located near Dillard's
Mon-Sat: 10:00 AM-9:00 PM
Sun: 12:00 PM-6:00 PM

Anchorage, AK Tuesday, April 12 Dimond Center
800 E. Dimond Blvd.
Anchorage, AK 99515
*Located near Zumiez
Mon-Sat: 10:00 AM-9:00 PM
Sun: 11:00 AM-6:00 PM

Kansas City, KS Friday, April 15 Oak Park Mall
11149 W. 95th St.
Overland Park, KS 66214
*Located near Macy's
Mon-Sat: 10:00 AM-9:00 PM
Sun: 11:00 AM-6:00 PM

Denver, CO Saturday, April 16 Colorado Mills
14500 W. Colfax Ave.
Lakewood, CO 80401
*Located near AMC Theatres
Mon-Sat: 10:00 AM-9:00 PM
Sun: 11:00 AM-6:00 PM

In a departure from other singing competition series, the first time a contestant auditions for THE X FACTOR judges, he/she will do so in front of an audience of thousands - raising the stakes and increasing the pressure to impress not only the judges, but also a potential legion of fans. This will be the ultimate test to prove they have the vocal ability, charisma and stage presence that it takes to become a global superstar and win an unprecedented $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music.

Antonio "L.A." Reid, former Chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group and one of the most influential names in music today, will join Simon Cowell on the THE X FACTOR judging panel. Pepsi will serve as an official sponsor of THE X FACTOR. The comprehensive sponsorship includes an extensive, multi-platform off-air marketing partnership; weekly in-show integrations and placements; and an immersive content experience online.

THE X FACTOR is produced by Syco Television and FremantleMedia North America. Simon Cowell, Rob Wade and Siobhan Greene are executive producers for Syco Television. Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Richard Holloway and Andrew Llinares serve as executive producers for FremantleMedia North America.

About MyStudio® HD Recording Studios
The award-winning MyStudio is the brain child of technology and entertainment entrepreneur Larry Ryckman. MyStudio is a self-contained, state-of-the-art, audio/video recording studio that offers true professional recording studio-quality audio and HD broadcast-quality video with an ease, economy and convenience never before available. MyStudio eliminates the high cost and technological and logistical barriers inherent in the creation of high-quality online video content thereby opening up a new world of opportunities for the creation of user-generated video content by amateurs and professionals alike.

MyStudio can be used to create videos for music, modeling, comedy, dating, job resumes, auditions, personal messages and greetings. A recording session for up to five minutes costs only $20. Using Hollywood-style green screen technology, MyStudio users can choose from over 1,000 HD virtual backgrounds for their videos or they can upload their own custom backgrounds. In addition, MyStudio offers thousands of licensed karaoke tracks from EMI Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing and others thereby allowing consumers to legally create music videos for public viewing on-line. Within minutes of recording, videos are automatically uploaded to the www.MyStudio.net website, which offers free member profile pages and video sharing in a social networking environment. At MyStudio.net, members can enter contests, receive free DVDs of their videos, download MP3 audio files, access embed codes.

MyStudio, Inc., is owned and operated by Studio One Media, Inc. ("Studio One") (OTC.BB:SOMD).

About "The X Factor"
Since its debut in 2004, "The X Factor" has remained the U.K.'s #1 program for the last seven years, peaking with an audience of 21 million with 65% audience share for its 2010 finale. The format swiftly broke similar records around the world, where local versions have consistently rated #1 in 15 territories, with a worldwide audience now well over 100 million. In Denmark, it has ranked #1 for the last four years, peaking with an 80% share of the audience. In Colombia, it has consistently ranked #1 with a 75% share of the audience. Additionally, "The X Factor" consistently delivers a 50% to 65% share of the viewing audiences in Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, France and Italy - with the highest percentage of these shares in A15-34. In some markets, "The X Factor" has increased the channel average demographic by up to 250%. The series has received numerous honors worldwide, including three BAFTA awards, numerous NTA awards and the coveted Rose d'Or. In the U.K., an unprecedented 1.5 million iTunes downloads were made from "The X Factor" contestant performances in 2010. Globally, more than 100 million records have been sold by artists launched through the series, including over 90 #1 singles and albums and 150 Top Ten records

This looks like probably the most exciting event in quite some time!!

DR. BOHR’S SECRET OF THE MIND
_______

An Evening of Science, Music, and Connection!

PHOENIX, Arizona— On April 16th, join Dr. Bohr at THE TRUNK SPACE to learn about the latest advances in connection science! You will witness live experiments, build a connect-o-matic accelerator, meet robots, enter another dimension, and encounter intergalactic law enforcement.
An interactive performance art / theatrical / dance / musical experience, Dr. Bohr’s Secret of the Mind is a wacky, pseudo-scientific documentation that shows and explores what it means to truly connect. Informed by Sociological and Psychological examinations of loneliness and separation, it seeks to address, briefly and humorously, loneliness and connection in the human experience.
Come experience the POWER OF SCIENCE!
But really!
Admission is only 6 dollars, with all profits supporting local community service initiatives.

APRIL 16th, 7:00 pm
The Trunk Space
1506 NW Grand Ave
Phoenix, AZ

Celebrate Day of The Dead Before The State Makes It Illegal

Calaca Cultural Center Presents:
Sixth Annual Dia de los Muertos Altar & Art Exhibition - “Cajitas & Nichos”
Part of Calaca Community Gallery Series

Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park,
1300 N. College, Tempe, AZ (College and Curry)

October 16th, 2010 to January 14th, 2011
Reception: Saturday November 6th 6pm to 10pm

Featuring: Visual artists, Altar makers, nicho, cajita and retablo makers, including Dia de los Muertos animation videos.

Including: “Viajes de los Muertos-Travels of the Dead” art featuring Arizona and California premier Day of the Dead artists.

Cajitas & Nichos
Every year Calaca’s Dia de los Muertos is brought to the public as a form of art. This year, we will feature the concepts of Cajitas, Nichos and Retablos.

Cajitas are a popular form of ofrendas, altars, and remembrances to a loved one. It is common in many parts of Latin America and parts of the U.S. to see decorative boxes called "nichos" set upon tables and pedestals displaying religious icons. These boxes may serve to mark a significant religious event or to honor a patron saint. Nichos or Retablos are made from mixed media and traditionally combine elements from Roman Catholicism, Mestizo spirituality, and popular culture.

“Calaca Dia de los Muertos Altar & Art Exhibition” was first developed in 2004 as part of continuing Calaca Community Gallery Series. From its initial development, this work has been community based and in character to basic principles with Dia de los Muertos.

Sponsors and Exhibition Partners:
Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park (gallery space), Teleguia en Espanol, Zopilote E-News, El Quinto Sol and others.

more information email info@calaca.com or visit our web site www.calaca.org

The Maine and friends in Tucson

So local boys The Maine will be playing a show on October 28th in Tempe at The Marquee Theatre before dissappearing into the overseas touring abyss. Here's a little taste of how they were when they played in Tucson recently...

It wan evening of band incest...

Do I have your attention?

Every act of the evening had members performing in the other acts of the night. It was like one large band with multiple personalities. The bad seed started first.

Fairline opened the evening with an acoustic set. Dressed like paperboys from the 1930s they played the usual, boring acoustic set that you can hear from most high school bands. They added the twist of providing high pitched whiney vocals to the mix. I think I've hated this band a 100 times before. They played their 3 songs and threatened to do it again, but electric. D

Then Austin Gibbs took the stage to a great excitement of the crowd. He performed a tight Jackie Greene like set (yes, I describe obscure artists with comparisons to obscure artists.) Drummers were switched. Fun was had. I enjoyed his set but was off put by his final and 5th song, which sounded far too Toby Keith for my liking. B

I was very wary of This Century. As a matter of fact I had already written them off as teeny bopper aural fodder. They won me over. Their show was a high energy, toe tapping delight led by their charismatic front man Joel Kanitz. He controlled the mesmerized, capacity crowd, entertaining and acting as if every audience member was a personal friend. "Salifier" turned up the pop with continued success. "No Way Out" begab a foray into a New Edition (yes, I am that old)sound to end the set. A

Then The Maine event began (yes, the pun was intentional.) The came on with a little more maturity than the previous act and a bit of swagger. Smooth vocals with a tone of fire filled the air. They segued into their song "Girls Do What They Like" and didn't have to sing a single word as the crowd provided every vocal. The evening continued in much of the same manner, high energy pop songs engaging the crowd, who responded with enthusiasm. Then a block of acoustic oriented songs ensued, including a matured, solid performance of "Daisy" and a brillant cover of Outkast's "Roses." "Whoever She Is" brought a return to the electric with a very Mathchbox 20 delivery, which I think continued to highlight the grown up direction of the young band. Then things got scary, as they proceded to play the Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go." I immediately pictured the pop band commiting great hubris to the punk deities. To my surprise they pulled off a decent, straight forward version of the tune. Then "123" was played and it raised the pop meter above my liking, but the young girls absorbed every ounce. "Everthing I Asked For" opened up a change of tone in the set as the songs became radio friendly songs but with some welcomed distortion and angst which prevented the feeling that the set was running to long. A

The Maine may be too poppy for most, but if you like having fun, I suggest you put the attitude away for a second, and let yourself enjoy!!