Monkeywhale Productions » harvey

Jill Andrews: The way it was (impromptu in Knoxville)

harvey — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:54:43 +0000

The final day of shooting for The Mirror music video, we cracked open a few beers while Jill and Josh played in her living room. I had been shooting non-stop for a couple of days so it seemed natural to record this.

I removed a snort about half way through the song, since one might suppose it was Jill snorting. Full disclosure, the snort was mine although the spilled bottle was not.

The Mirror album can be purchased here.

String of Peals: Rhiannon Giddens and Laurelyn Dossett

harvey — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:02:08 +0000

Returning from Maine we had the honor of helping Laurelyn with her Gathering Kickstarter campaign, editing material shot by Abigail Seymour during the recording process of the album. Following the edit we were invited to Laurelyn’s house to record a very informal version of String of Pearls, a lovely track on a beautiful album. Many thanks to Laurelyn, Rhiannon, and Nonesuch Records for the opportunity.

The album is available for purchase here.

Praise for The Gathering:

“It’s a fresh approach to wintry music, with mountain-music instrumentation and crystalline harmonies.”
4 1/2 stars
Andrew Dansby and Joey Guerra, San Antonio Express News

“Collections of Appalachian holiday tunes have come along before, but one of the finest is now ‘The Gathering,’ ”
4 1/2 stars
Thomas Conner, Chicago Sun-Times

stephaniesĭd: I like it (official video)

harvey — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:45:18 +0000

A beautiful track from their brand new album, Starfruit (released Oct. 18th, 2011). It was a delightful experience working with such a talented group of musicians. Here’s the exclusive official video.

You can purchase the album here.

Praise for Starfruit:

“This looks happy, but the music hits much deeper. Stephanie Morgan’s vocals [move] delicately between The Sugarcubes and The Sundays, but always with a childlike wink and skip…. Sometimes the band evinces a sadness that lives in the world, but there is always an answer of music and joy to bring light out of every possible shadow.” –Marcel Feldmar, The Big Takeover Magazine

“The songs move from intimate to anthemic… effortlessly poetic letters…acute insights … shimmering synth hooks and smoothly shifting melodic textures… difficult to classify but easy to love.” –Wayne Robins, Billboard Magazine

“This is world-class music, period. No labels necessary.” –Fred Mills, Blurt Magazine

Battle of the Uber-Cameras

harvey — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:40:55 +0000

Let the pissing contest begin. Simultaneous announcements from both Canon (C300) and Red (Scarlet) inaugurate the eve of a new paradigm. It’s long been my contention (and many others) that the natural evolution of video cameras would be a smaller form factor, a super-35mm chip, and either an eos or pl mount. If you live in a smaller market, such as Greensboro, I can’t imagine WHY you’d pick a PL mount option for your camera since all of your lens rentals would have to come from places such as Wilmington or Charlotte and many entry level cine-lens manufacturers are now offering those same lenses with an eos mount.

Vincent LaForet was thrown gobs of money to create a short film featuring the dynamism of the Canon C300 using Canon’s new line of cine lenses although the camera will not start shipping until early 2012 due to issues with manufacturing supply.

It appears that the RED Scarlet-X takes the cake on the first round of spec analysis although the companies reputation for being manufacturers of “vaporware” has alienated many potential clients: 5K at 12fps, 4K at 1-20fps, 2K, and 1k up to 120fps. It’s no epic but it has the exact same sensor as the 50K camera.

Scarlet-X comes standard with a Canon EF or PL mount, which can be swapped easily using Scarlet-X’s interchangeable lens mount system.Panavision, anamorphic, and Nikon lenses are also compatible with the camera. The addition of HDRx reaches up to 18 stops of dynamic range, bringing digital images closer than ever to the natural perception of the human eye.

Until Dec. 31, customers can order the Scarlet-X, which ships with the Brain, Side SSD and the newly designed aluminum Canon mount for $9,750. After that, the price for Scarlet will be $9,700 for the Brain only. The camera will begin shipping Nov. 17 with an optional a Ti PL mount (for an additional $1,500). Scarlet-X with an aluminum Canon mount will begin shipping Dec. 1.

I’d really like to see how both of these cameras stack up against the Arri and F3. Can’t wait for another Zacuto Shootout.

Harvey’s Kitchen: Episode 152. Stephen Murray (Come Tomorrow)

harvey — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:05:27 +0000

Stephen Murray, frontman for Holy Ghost Tent Revival popped by the other day ostensibly to hang around the fire and drink a few beers. Seemed like a good time to do something interesting. Perhaps I’m imagining the reasons why he came over.

Regardless, here he is, several times, performing himself performing a song we recorded him performing in the hallway in which we didn’t include the actual live visual performance.

Rumor has it this was inspired by a song written by Emily Hope Price of Pearl and the Beard. This is also my response to a Carter meta-film starring James Franco we watched a few weeks ago at the Weatherspoon Art Museum.

Harvey’s Kitchen: Episode 151. Hope For a Golden Summer (Daniel Bloom)

harvey — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:29:30 +0000

The Athens, GA based sisters first came to our kitchen a couple of years ago while they were touring with their most current album, “Ariadne Thread.” If you haven’t heard the captivating mythic yarn yet … well, there’s something missing in your life.

Awaiting the release (early 2012) of their new album, “Life Within The Body” Claire and Page agreed to join us again and perform a new song.

Daniel Bloom.

The fire trucks arrived on our street to put out the beginnings of a blaze in a neighbor’s house. Thankfully it was caught early and nobody was injured.

If you like monkeywhale on facebook you’re entered to win one of three autographed Hope for a Golden Summer albums.