Posts tagged Mike Ambs
It has been incredibly exciting to announce that the film’s original score is by Matthew Cooper, better known as Eluvium. I remember how nervous Mike was when he wrote to Matthew in November of last year. In his wildest dreams he never imaged Eluvium, often thought of as the music-titan of ambient music, would or could agree to do the film’s score. When you create a film mostly on your own, sometimes you lose sight that it is very much worthy of other people’s talents. Most of the place holder music in the score was by Eluvium, and his music had been such a huge part in the development of the edits.
Mike shared a post a week or so before we were able to make the announcement that explains his excitement;
“…Eventually, this specific song did make its way into the opening of the film, and it stayed there for the following two years that I spent editing. There was no other piece of music that ever came close to replacing it; until just 11 days ago.
The person who created this one song I listened to so often, was always my dream-choice for a composer, there was no one else I had in mind. And on November 25th, I asked them if they would create music for the film, and they said yes. 11 days ago, this person sent a piece of music that easily, without the slightest bit of hesitation or nostalgia on my part, replaced the opening music in the film.”
Every email, every new bit or piece of works in progress are just strikingly perfect. I remember sitting in the desk chair listening while Mike played a piece for the opening of the film, and thinking out loud, “I wonder if musicians ever just stop and cry while they are working on things; I wonder if their work ever just hits them like it does the rest of us.” The sounds he creates evoke just the right mood, that perfect thing that draws you into the scene and makes you feel what the imagery can’t do alone. Suffice it to say the soundtrack is going to be beautiful, poetic and inspiring…..just like For Thousands of Miles.
We are excited to announce that there are 100 advanced digital albums of the original score available for our Kickstarter campaign. Along with the full film score you also get a fancy t-shirt, premiere only poster, dvd as well as digital download of the film and a visual script and the knowledge that you’ve helped an independent film stay independent. If you haven’t yet, you can pre-order the film along with the original score here.
photo credit N.Javier
untitled on Flickr.
Polar Bears are …… terrifying! The exhibit in San Diego provides only a sheet of glass between the viewer and the giant bear that could easily snap your head off.
This photo was taken on Mike’s 30th birthday road trip last November :)
7 x 7 Week of December 25- 31, 2011
1) A sweet little funny seal playing with the kids at Aquarium of the Pacific.
2) Mike trying to do a pull up with Xander attached :P
3) Xander playing after I took his portrait with my 4x5s
4) Xander reading Captain Underpants under the bed
5) Xander picking up Maeby during a visit to Griffith Park
6) Xander likes to write gibberish and then have Mike and I read it. He giggles and giggles!
7) New Years confetti!
7 x 7 Week of NOvember 6-12, 2011
1) Mike harassing Maeby because, you know, he hates her :P
2) Mike complaining about no jets in the hotel tub. There were jets in the other bathroom :P
3) Wolf playing with a guy at the San Diego Zoo.
4) giraffes!
5) snoring bear
6) Mike running in a field somewhere between San Diego and Julien.
7) model train museum in San Diego
7 x7 for the week of September 18-25, 2011
1) Maeby and Vu are reunited after being apart…for hours!
2) Lan slices and dices a water bottle.
3) Mike working on stuff, listening to the Drive soundtrack.
4) Driving around…
5) Driving around listening to the Drive soundtrack.
6) Angeline showing us the fire escape at National Headquarters.
7) Maeby is exhausted from sleeping all day.
“I, with a deeper instinct, choose a man who compels my strength, who makes enormous demands on me, who does not doubt my courage or my toughness, who does not believe me naive or innocent, who has the courage to treat me like a woman.”
~ Anais Nin
Mike took this photo of Maeby and myself on my birthday. Yes, we have matching scarves. Judge me and you’ll get a raspberry.
My birthdays are generally uneventful. I’ve never really liked my birthday. My 18th was pretty alright, but other than that I don’t get too excited. I do enjoy seeing my brother, sister and step-dad for dinner. I missed doing that this year. Xander is in Michigan, but he drew me a picture with unicorns and told me I should paint the house like my favorite imaginary place. I thought that was the best idea ever and have plans to do just that - I just need some paint brushes. And paint.
Mike hand made my 3rd addition to my birthday book series. It’s pretty amazing, having a story written about you, for you, every year for your birthday. I am most certainly spoiled.
I also was given my lost locket on my birthday. Several days before I had lost my very sentimental locket with Xander’s photo inside. It’s indescribable, not seeing him everyday. The locket is symbolic of my love for Xander and reminds me of why I’m here and I lost it. I was a little depressed. Apparently Mike found it the same day but decided to keep it and give it to me later, because he’s a punk.
In the end it was a quiet day spent being quiet with my boom-anime-maebs (Maeby) and Mike.
If you wished me a happy birthday, thank you bunches *hug*
Maeby and I - 33rd Birthday (by ericarhiannon)
The other evening I had a D7000 and a set of Elinchrom rangers at my disposal. The Elinchrom’s are so nice, compact and brilliant! I wanted to shoot with the D7000 so I could do a 4 word review. Mike reluctantly agreed to model, in my Dad’s vintage 70’s shirt no less.
Thanks for posting this Jon! You beat me to it :) Here’s the description, just updated, I wrote on Vimeo:
I’m over a week late writing a description for this video. In all honesty I never expected it to get so much attention! This was my first time at SXSW and my first time shooting video with my 60D. I’ve never shot video other than clips on my iPhone so it was a good learning experience.
Mike and I took 3 days to drive to Austin and 2 days driving back (thanks to Vu for being our driver on the way back!) Road trips are the devil, but I could possibly be talked into another one if I was promised the same awesomeness that is SXSW.
I feel special (and thankful) to be a part of the Vimeo/CNN project and to tag along and hold the boom while Mike and Zadi filmed for I Heart the Web. I wish we could have stayed for all the music, next time that has to happen.
Thanks for all the lovely and kind comments. I’m happy you all have enjoyed the video!
That is all…
#sxsw Wrap up video by @funshine. Great music, great presentation. ;)
Portrait by Mike Ambs, taken on our photo adventure at the Old Los Angeles Zoo.
