With the 2008 election hot on our tails, we thought it would be the perfect time to dig into our archives and "take a look back to take a look forward." In 2004, Pearl Jam was one of seventeen musicians who took part in the Vote for Change tour - caravanning through battle ground states to Get Out The Vote. An indie film crew made up of Jeff Ament's filmmaker/ skater friends (see sixstair.com) documented the experience. They captured portions of each of concerts, the crowds, on-the-street interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage leading up to Election Day 2004 - all in 8mm film. Pearl Jam: Vote for Change? 2004 by Rick Charnoski and Coan Nichols will be released digitally and free of charge on the Pearl Jam website in the days leading up to the November 4th election. Keep checking back here for the latest. A film synopsis by directors Rick Charnoski and Coan Nichols In April of 2004 we were deep in the San Bernadino, CA skating a few of the dozens of pools left empty by the fires that swept through the area a few months earlier. Jeff Ament, bass player for Pearl Jam, had come along to take advantage of this opportunity. Jeff has been a fan of our skate films (Fruit of the Vine, Northwest, Tent City, etc.) for a few years and asked if we would be interested in doing something with Pearl Jam. He mentioned that they were planning a "Vote For Change" tour right before the election and maybe we could come along and make a film. We worked it out and ended up in Seattle in the beginning of October 2004 in time to shoot some rehearsals and meet the other band members. We didn't really have much of a plan and we hadn't shot much live music before, but we figured we'd just wing it and see what we got. We brought a few Super 8 movie cameras, a video camera and loads of film and just started shooting. We flew from Seattle to New York, then followed the tour in a van to Reading PA, Toledo OH, Grand Rapids MI, St Louis MO, Asheville NC and ended up in Kissimee FL. Along the way we met with and spoke to hundreds of fans and just ordinary people about voting, democracy and politics in general. We cut the interviews into the live performances from each city, along with a few exclusive interviews with each band member. It is the first rock and roll tour film that WE know of shot entirely in super 8mm film with an amazing sound track recorded live and mixed by Brett Eliason. We got home and cut the film, but never showed it to anyone. The enthusiasm for the project dwindled due to the outcome of the election. Ironically, we feel like Bush's reelection may have made the film even more important/ valid and we think now is a great time to dig it out and remind people why it is so important to vote. We love this film, it's like nothing we have ever done before and we are stoked to finally have the chance to show it. Coan Nichols/ Rick Charnoski- Six Stair September 2008

• published: 01 Nov 2008
• views: 2718

With the 2008 election hot on our tails, we thought it would be the perfect time to dig into our archives and "take a look back to take a look forward." In 2004, Pearl Jam was one of seventeen musicians who took part in the Vote for Change tour - caravanning through battle ground states to Get Out The Vote. An indie film crew made up of Jeff Ament's filmmaker/ skater friends (see sixstair.com) documented the experience. They captured portions of each of concerts, the crowds, on-the-street interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage leading up to Election Day 2004 - all in 8mm film. Pearl Jam: Vote for Change? 2004 by Rick Charnoski and Coan Nichols will be released digitally and free of charge on the Pearl Jam website in the days leading up to the November 4th election. Keep checking back here for the latest. A film synopsis by directors Rick Charnoski and Coan Nichols In April of 2004 we were deep in the San Bernadino, CA skating a few of the dozens of pools left empty by the fires that swept through the area a few months earlier. Jeff Ament, bass player for Pearl Jam, had come along to take advantage of this opportunity. Jeff has been a fan of our skate films (Fruit of the Vine, Northwest, Tent City, etc.) for a few years and asked if we would be interested in doing something with Pearl Jam. He mentioned that they were planning a "Vote For Change" tour right before the election and maybe we could come along and make a film. We worked it out and ended up in Seattle in the beginning of October 2004 in time to shoot some rehearsals and meet the other band members. We didn't really have much of a plan and we hadn't shot much live music before, but we figured we'd just wing it and see what we got. We brought a few Super 8 movie cameras, a video camera and loads of film and just started shooting. We flew from Seattle to New York, then followed the tour in a van to Reading PA, Toledo OH, Grand Rapids MI, St Louis MO, Asheville NC and ended up in Kissimee FL. Along the way we met with and spoke to hundreds of fans and just ordinary people about voting, democracy and politics in general. We cut the interviews into the live performances from each city, along with a few exclusive interviews with each band member. It is the first rock and roll tour film that WE know of shot entirely in super 8mm film with an amazing sound track recorded live and mixed by Brett Eliason. We got home and cut the film, but never showed it to anyone. The enthusiasm for the project dwindled due to the outcome of the election. Ironically, we feel like Bush's reelection may have made the film even more important/ valid and we think now is a great time to dig it out and remind people why it is so important to vote. We love this film, it's like nothing we have ever done before and we are stoked to finally have the chance to show it. Coan Nichols/ Rick Charnoski- Six Stair September 2008

• published: 03 Nov 2008
• views: 2571

Crew • Isis Stelmokas – Interviewee/Lighting Director To perform this role, I had to understand how the light behaves at the chosen location and set up the three-point lighting kit accordingly. One big challenge was to set up the lighting being the interviewee and the way we could solve this was to get someone else from the crew to take the interviewee spot. Also, we took several pictures to make an analysis of the lighting on my skin tone and hair. The crew was extremely competent in helping with the proper set up once she was also he interviewee. • Nick Georgescu – Interviewer/Camera operator My role was to oversee the camera angles and shots, as well as interview the interviewee. For the different shots we chose, I provided the team with several ideas on how to make the interview more interesting through different b-roll shots and cutaways. We decided on doing some pans of the different items Isis was showing, ranging from close ups to extreme close ups, with high levels of focus on the details of her memorabilia. Also, we thought of taking shots around the campus showing Isis in a nice setting, with a fall setting as a background. I provided my camera operating skills to cover a couple of pans of her walking across the courtyard. For the interviewing portion, I maintained a professional yet friendly and engaging demeanor to have her feel comfortable and natural during the interview. I did my best to make her smile, and kept focus with my vision on her so that she does not look into the camera. • Oanh Hoang – Editor/Camera operator This editing process was challenging because I had to build a story based on Isis’s answers. Because of the length of the video I had to leave some good things out in order to make an emotional connection with the audience. We used 2 cameras and I did audio synchronization for the second camera to be able to use the footage. As a videographer I was second camera to get some different point of views during the interview and give more movement to it on the editing process. • Wen Gu – Director/Camera operator In order to make a more professional interview video, we decided to access two cameras to capture multiple shooting angle. I was responsible for one of cameras which focused on front view with wide shot, medium shot, and close-up in first three interview questions, and I also tried to shoot Isis from her side which is a good try. I am glad that when we make sure all essential steps are correct, we also dare to try something we don’t try before. I believe aesthetics could be expressed in different ways which is as same as for shooting. Try to use different angles, you will see the beauty in another format. Questions asked in the interview 1. How and when did you get to know Pearl Jam? 2. Explain why do think you are a fan. 3. What is the direct relation of being a fan with your personal life? 4. Do you think music can change someone's life? 5. What does Pearl Jam mean to you? Describe your production process The production process for this interview had some interesting aspects and challenges. 1. The first challenge we had was to match our schedule with an interviewee schedule. We first decided to interview Ted Ambrose but unfortunately he was not fully available. So we decided to interview a member of the group had an interesting/different story to tell. One of the issues is that Isis, our interviewee lives in a very small apartment where is nearly impossible to film with the available lighting kit that Seneca provides. So we had to look for an alternative place to film that would match with the story theme. As we needed clear sound for the interview, we choose to film it at the TV studio at Seneca College and set up a stage with props to make up a home feeling environmental. B-roll was also filmed at Seneca facilities. 2. Before the shooting, we took a long time to set up and test all of equipment which is a good preparation; but we also need to face that we might use out the interviewee’s patients. So, I think if in our future career, we need to care about this detail for clients as professional and mature shooting. Fortunately, all four members are positive very much, we supported each other by joking, praise, and respect, which make crew did not feel very tired. 3. During shooting, about some operation areas, the lighting and audio are also very important. We adjust different angles for lighting which wanted to make the best lighting condition for shooting, and should be comfortable for interviewee as well. We check the audio volume and quality before the real shooting that guarantee we can have one take for shooting. That is very effective shooting in teamwork. 4. After shooting, we safely picked up all equipment and put back our prop to original places. We checked all of footages are good to be editable, and make sure the person who will edit video has all footages in SD card. 5. Editing using footage of 2 cameras is very challenging becaus

• published: 03 Nov 2016
• views: 152