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gmo
Aloha
USA
2 Posts |
 Posted - 08/25/2007 : 08:20:45 AM
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Aloha everyone!
I just want to introduce myself to the folks here. My name is Gary San Angel and I’m a filmmaker and theater artist currently living in Philly and I have been doing oral history / personal story telling projects for over ten years primarily focusing on stories in the Asian American communities of Los Angeles, New York City, and Philadelphia. I feel it's important to tell our stories to document where we came from in order to remind us who we are.
On the side, I'm a singer/song writer and most recently switched in the last couple years from playing the guitar to the ukulele and have had an immense love and appreciation for the instrument and the craft and patience to make one. I was lucky enough to get a personal tour of KoAloha Ukulele this past January and met Alvin Okami and many of his great family who work together there including Pat, Paul, and Alan who were all wonderful and very funny to talk story with. Hearing them talk story about how they first got started, growing up, and their family made me realize that more people need to understand not only the beauty of the ukulele but the stories behind the people who make it and the amazing craftsmanship behind every instrument.
I was very inspired by that visit and decided to self-produce a documentary film focusing on ukulele players and makers looking at the music and the stories behind the music. I think because my work involves gathering community stories and basically finding new ways to present oral history forms that this film project would be a unique addition to the ukulele videos or movies that currently exist. And since I'm also a musician, there is an added layer of respect, understanding, and musicianship that will be integrated into the film as well.
I’m just beginning on this journey and so I’m doing a test run trying to capture a few stories this year so that I could put together a short film that I could use to get funding for this larger oral history film project and to get more established and famous folks interested in participating and sharing their story too. Although for me what I love about this project is that it is focused on everybody and anybody who loves the ukulele not just those who we admire from a far.
Currently, I’m looking for players and makers who would be interested in telling their story. I’ll be in Kauai visiting family in the next few weeks from Sep. 2nd – 7th and wanted to bring my camera and sound gear to start to capture a few stories. If you or you know anyone in Kauai who would be interested in talking story and playing their ukulele please let me know.
I’m looking at getting a few stories in Hawaii since I visit family once or twice a year there. I’m also hoping to capture ukulele stories in Southern California since I also visit and see my family often there too. So you see how I’m currently funding this! I also live in the City of Brotherly love (Philadelphia) and can easily connect with folks in the northeast.
So please spread the word! I would love to meet folks here at the Taropatch network and always visit here from time to time and come away smiling and filled with more things to love and learn. And lastly, if there are any folks that might be useful for me to talk to who are players, makers, run Ukulele festivals, camps or workshops who are interested in participating in this film please let me know.
Mahalo! 
Gary
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2007 : 08:29:27 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by gmo
Aloha everyone!
I just want to introduce myself to the folks here. My name is Gary San Angel and I’m a filmmaker and theater artist currently living in Philly and I have been doing oral history / personal story telling projects for over ten years primarily focusing on stories in the Asian American communities of Los Angeles, New York City, and Philadelphia. I feel it's important to tell our stories to document where we came from in order to remind us who we are.
On the side, I'm a singer/song writer and most recently switched in the last couple years from playing the guitar to the ukulele and have had an immense love and appreciation for the instrument and the craft and patience to make one. I was lucky enough to get a personal tour of KoAloha Ukulele this past January and met Alvin Okami and many of his great family who work together there including Pat, Paul, and Alan who were all wonderful and very funny to talk story with. Hearing them talk story about how they first got started, growing up, and their family made me realize that more people need to understand not only the beauty of the ukulele but the stories behind the people who make it and the amazing craftsmanship behind every instrument.
I was very inspired by that visit and decided to self-produce a documentary film focusing on ukulele players and makers looking at the music and the stories behind the music. I think because my work involves gathering community stories and basically finding new ways to present oral history forms that this film project would be a unique addition to the ukulele videos or movies that currently exist. And since I'm also a musician, there is an added layer of respect, understanding, and musicianship that will be integrated into the film as well.
I’m just beginning on this journey and so I’m doing a test run trying to capture a few stories this year so that I could put together a short film that I could use to get funding for this larger oral history film project and to get more established and famous folks interested in participating and sharing their story too. Although for me what I love about this project is that it is focused on everybody and anybody who loves the ukulele not just those who we admire from a far.
Currently, I’m looking for players and makers who would be interested in telling their story. I’ll be in Kauai visiting family in the next few weeks from Sep. 2nd – 7th and wanted to bring my camera and sound gear to start to capture a few stories. If you or you know anyone in Kauai who would be interested in talking story and playing their ukulele please let me know.
I’m looking at getting a few stories in Hawaii since I visit family once or twice a year there. I’m also hoping to capture ukulele stories in Southern California since I also visit and see my family often there too. So you see how I’m currently funding this! I also live in the City of Brotherly love (Philadelphia) and can easily connect with folks in the northeast.
So please spread the word! I would love to meet folks here at the Taropatch network and always visit here from time to time and come away smiling and filled with more things to love and learn. And lastly, if there are any folks that might be useful for me to talk to who are players, makers, run Ukulele festivals, camps or workshops who are interested in participating in this film please let me know.
Mahalo!
Gary
How about Seattle? There are a lot of Asian Americans up here and a vibrant Hawaiian scene. Check out the Seattle Ukulele Player's Association (SUPA) website. |
keaka |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2007 : 09:36:10 AM
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You may want to visit the web site of the Garden Island Arts Council in preparation for your visit to Kaua`i.
http://www.gardenislandarts.org/
Also you may want to contact Auntie Maria at www.mele.com. If anyone knows music on Kaua`i it is Auntie Maria. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2007 : 1:53:16 PM
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While on Kauai sure to include Cindy Combs of Hanapepe and Patrick Cockett, who lives in Lihue. Cindy is one of the finest slack key stylists around, and a bangup `ukulele player. Patrick is part of the legendary group Na Pali and a sometime member of Taj Mahal's Hula Blues Band.
Both are very findable...
(Hint-- see previous post).
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2007 : 2:40:01 PM
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I second Mark's suggestion of Pat (my kumu, along with Kaliko), but DO NOT limit yourself to one Island or place (especially Cal.). You will be missing a lot.
You want "Human Interest"? Or do you want pro snappy performances? You can have both.
Sheldon Brown is one of the semi-unknown virtuosi of the `ukulele. He is on Maui and can be reached through this forum by his brother Kevin - Ohanabrown. You have never heard the music that Sheldon can make. You miss him, you miss the range of the `uke. Your loss - and the World's.
At the Waihe`e, Maui, jam there is, occasionally, a kid named Jarrod. His friends (most every kid is a `uke player at some point) won't play with him because he plays too fast for them. He works in a meat packing plant and his fingers are frozen and damaged, but he rips. Ask the Browns about him. Get him. He epitomises what the `uke means to kids out there - he knows how to express it, too - he taught me.
Do a search here and find Uncle Dave. He is on Youtube, Look at his fingers. Maybe he will talk to you if you are lucky.
Search here and search here. Then search some more.
...Reid
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GUke
Lokahi
188 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2007 : 08:37:39 AM
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Aloha Gary,
Also check out north of the border, Canada. James Hill aside from being a fantastic player is in a project which he employs the ukulele as a means to introduce music. He's got a great story on how the circle has come around with Canada and his involvement with the ukulele.
Guke |
Genaro
Should I? Itʻs only $, and where Iʻm going itʻll burn or melt. |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2007 : 08:59:36 AM
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Yes, what Mark said.
If you come up to New York city, drop me a line. I am in New Jersey about 1hr 45 mins from you. There are `ukulele players in the NYC area too. |
Andy |
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gmo
Aloha
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2007 : 04:20:05 AM
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Wow! Thank you all so much for your support of this project and for all your generous suggestions. Since I'm just starting, I'm still working within the familiar resources and communities of Hawaii, SoCal and the North East but I definitely plan to start to get the ball rolling on building relationships with folks in other places too like in Seattle and Canada as suggested. Hopefully, with a bit of grant funding I can move beyond just where I visit family.
In the ideal world, I hope to capture both life stories from the heart as well as soulful playing and unique musicianship. I hope to also find a diversity of voices including ethnicity, gender, multi-generational, from the famous and up and coming to the unknown and forgotten, and of course finding players with a unique voice and style. So keep your suggestions coming!!
Quality wise, the sound and picture will all be very professional. I'll be recording using Sound Devices gear and pro-mics for sound and for picture I'll be shooting with a Panasonic High Definition camera. Anyone who volunteers their time to share their stories and their music will get their own copy of their personal interview on a DVD as well as a DVD of the final film when finished.
So please spread the word or post suggestions. As I start to progress, I'll keep folks up to date and will hopefully create a website that archive these interviews so that for folks here and on the web can see and hear these stories too.
Mucho Mahalo!
Gary
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2007 : 08:43:52 AM
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Well, one more suggestion:
If you do decide to be comprehensive and cover more geography, by all means head out to LA and look up Uncle Henry Kamae. Not only is he part of an historic Hawaiian musical family, but he has dedicated his life to touching people's lives through the `ukulele. He believes music will save the world, and he has gone a long way to prove that it is true.
A truly wonderful man. Oh, and he was one of Elvis' side kicks in "Blue Hawaii." Now that's a story!
Good luck to you.
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dr. cookie
Lokahi
USA
299 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2007 : 10:33:27 AM
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Let's not forget the living legend Eddie Kamae (on Oahu) . . . in addition to being a great subject for your work, in him you would undoubtedly gain a new friend/colleague because of his own excellent documentary work. (www.hawaiianlegacy.com)
Don |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2007 : 12:59:53 PM
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| Go back and have Pops Okami @ KoAloha talk story about the "SCEPTRE". It will blow you away. I had the pleasure of helping out in the shop in May and listening to Alvin talk story. This is one you will want to include. Ask to play the original prototype -- awesome. |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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