Ode’min Giizis Festival (30 sec. 2010) Directed, shot, and edited by Lester Alfonso for a local TV broadcast combining footage and music that they provided.
How to bide my time? Workout, eat healthily, read books, write, and organize. Just do it, as Nike would say. How to Stay Happy in Prison? Dance, learn more songs on the ukulele. Make a list of songs you want to learn. Make a setlist. Practice your setlist. The days are getting longer, I noticed. I gotta measure the time somehow to keep track; log my days — Day 45!
Call me Thursday. It’s Throwback Thursday around here every day. Let’s see what we have coming up next. Ooooh! Wolfman-Jack-style. “This next one is from 2010 for the annual Ode’min Giizis indigenous arts festival in Peterborough, Ontario. I was tasked to edit a 30 sec. spot with video and pictures to music that they had provided.
I believe it was Patti Shaughnessy who first approached me about creating this TV spot. The commercial aired on the local Peterborough station CHEX TV twice every hour for a couple of weeks. This was probably the most seen video I’ve ever handcrafted at the time. Later, I would have the opportunity to create a three-minute YouTube ad for the festival.
At our meeting, Patti had handed me a stack of CDs and said that I could pick the music for the ad. I was immediately drawn to the A Tribe Called Red CD she gave me. It was an easy decision. One did not hear this kind of sound on mainstream television at the time.
In support of all indigenous artists, their families, and ancestors, I wish all the oppressed around the world fighting for their basic human rights all the strength, courage, and hope they need. Peace!
More soon! — LA
P.S. If you’re liking these daily posts, perhaps you can consider becoming a monthly donor for a year or making a one-time contribution. It would seriously help a lot. Your money goes directly into supporting an artist committed to continually become the best version of himself. Thank you so much! Much love, LA