Go-Kustom TV @ Rebel Riot 2012

We went out to the second annual Rebel Riot in Tacoma, Washington bright and early yesterday. This is the show put on by Pin-Up Model and Burlesque Performer, Lulu Bell, that has replaced the Hot Rod-A-Rama as Tacoma's Kustom Kulture summer event.  We set up our vendor area in the Frontier Room, which is the center for the show. The street to the side of the Frontier is closed to traffic and open for car show car parking, as well as the lot across that street and two more lots adjacent. This year was twice the size of last year, with more cars, more vendors and more pin-ups. The bands this year included Banzai Surf, putting in a brilliant set with surfy covers of such classics as Henry Mancini's Shot In The Dark, the infectious twang of the Roy Kay Trio and the harder edged Rockabilly of Billy Dwayne and the Creepers. In the middle of the afternoon was the big Pin-Up Contest hosted by Miss Kitty Baby. Unlike many car shows that have a few gals from the audience participate in a contest, this was a full blown center attraction with the finalist getting pictures taken by renowned photographer Chris Gomez after the judging, I mean like right in front of the stage with cars and audience looking on! Cool idea. I was able to film more cars than I could mention here...look for this Season 5 episode soon on Go-Kustom TV. 

Mention In Ol' Skool Rodz...So Nice!

This came in our P.O. Box this morning...the latest issue of Ol' Skool Rodz Magazine with a full page of DVD and film recommendations entitled the Ol' Skool Library. Included on the list were my last feature, Rat Rod Rockers! (misprinted as Hot Rod Rockers!) and Go-Kustom TV Archives: Car Shows & Fabricators. It's always nice to get unexpected national press! 

American Thrill Ride - The Movie

Finished the cover art layouts for Chris Darland's new film American Thrill Ride - The Movie. I did not take the pictures nor place the American flag behind the 1955 Chev Gasser, but did front and back layouts (including text and smaller font choices). I met Chris during the filming of Hot Rod Girls Saves The World. He choreographed the fight scenes in the middle section and starred as Freddy, leader of the Dahmer Gang. Chris is also building my 1966 Charger Gasser in his shop called Chris' Hot Rod Garage. Chris asked if I could help him with the layouts and I said "Certainly!' Took around five hours to do. The pic on the right doesn't show the back cover which has film synopsis and additional movie stills. We will carry American Thrill Ride later this year in our Go-Kustom online catalog. I also interviewed Chris about his shop and film in my new documentary Rats & Gassers: Kustom Kulture Takes A Ride, which should be out early 2013.

New Camera- Why D.A.?!?!?

So after much internal debate- I decided to purchase a DSLR camera, a Canon EOS D7 to be exact. I had the credit and after talking with a friend about shooting her wedding, thought I needed more options for both video and regular photos. The D7 shoots amazing HD video and combined with my recently acquired Canon HF-G10, two Go-Pro HDs and my older Panasonic AG-DVX100, I should be ready for any filming situation. I really wanted to do the shallow depth of field shots that DSLR cameras are so good at, especially with video. I still need a more powerful audio recorder for my rig and tripods upgrades etc. Nothing like seeing a $3,000 camera wobbling around on a $50 tripod. Audio wise I am looking at the Zoom H4n for field recording and movie production. This will take the load off my Panasonic AG-DVX100, which has amazing sound of it's own (with powered XLR inputs etc.) but records to DV tape. I shot my last two features on the Panasonic and love the image quality, but times are changing and HD is the way to go. I was reluctant until the prices came down for all the cameras, and lets face it DVD is Standard Definition anyway. BluRay is still not selling like the manufacturers hoped, but do look better for projection houses and screening.