Embarque (Collaboration with the itzu jitzu label and Video Glitch)

The following conversations were between itsu jitsu and Zilch Records. It shall be deemed 'proto-embarque'.

ZilchRecords wrote:
February 2011
Well, I sure do hope our labels can collaborate in the future. I am seeing a double album. One that your label features and the other that our label features. In time hopefully. Cause I know we are all very busy people.


itsujitsu wrote:
February 2011
Yup...sounds good to me! Nothing to stop us firming up an idea for the album even if we don't work on it until later in the year :)

tsujitsu
29 Mar 2011, 14:45


possible collaboration

Hey, I am just going to be dropping some ideas your way about our 'hopeful' record collaboration.

Years ago I was into comic books and I thought of this idea yesterday. You know how in the past there have been company crossovers i.e. DC comics doing a crossover with Marvel. They did an Xmen Teen Titans once.
Anyway, this is my idea. We do some type of super hero theme. Then we actually set it up so that someone from your label collaborates in a piece from someone from our label i.e.
Derek Lotek vs awaycaboose, Zilch Spacecasting Network vs SilverlagE. We could even add in villains.

Just an idea. Something to chew on

itsujitsu
29 Mar 2011, 15:03


Collab

I also have had people suggest an album on the Egypt subject matter and of course Libya.

Hey Jason! So, I am sitting here thinking about all the people I want to collaborate with and finally I figure if our labels collaborate together then it will knock out some of the collaborations with some other artists considering there are so many friends and collaboration promises that are on both of our labels.
This is my idea. We come up with a concept. Your label features part I of the concept and mine features part II or whatever. From that concept we have everyone submit the music. Then we have two to three people commit to mixing all the songs into one seamless big track, similar to what a dj would do, however, this will be a whole lot more interesting than your normal dj mix. We actually come up with one artist name, a new name that you and I or everyone agrees on (it would probably be a lot easier if you and I come up with that but whatever). Each artist will get their recognition as being a part of the project.
Does this make sense?
Here is an example of a similar idea. http://www.last.fm/music/Argyle+Park

Album name = Misguided
Band name = Argyle Park
This was a collaboration of about 15 or so different artists. The cool thing about this is that we are collaborating between labels which isn't done too often due to legalities.
Let me know your thoughts.
Argyle Park
www.last.fm
Top tracks from Argyle Park: Headscrew, Scarred for Life & more. Argyle Park was an industrial band that released one album, Misguided, on REX Records in 1994. While shrouded in mystery for some time after their album release, it is now known that the band members Dred and Deathwish were aliases for...
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Jason Kavanagh
August 12
Jason Kavanagh

Hi,

That's a fantastic idea and one which is perfect for the itsu bitsu (http://itsujitsu.wordpress.com/itsu-bitsu/) section of itsu jitsu.

There's been a lot going on with itsu and I have had to step away from it for a while. You can read about it at the link I've attached.

I'd be more than happy to embark (Side note everybody...This is where I came up with Embarque...Thank you Jason) upon this project with you though.

Because of current commitments it would probably be good for me if Part 1 was on Zilch and Part 2 was on itsu, would that be okay?

Have you had any thoughts on a theme?

Cheers,

Jason
itsu bitsu
itsujitsu.wordpress.com
This is a place for collaborative side projects from itsu jitsu artists. Any collaborative project can be considered for inclusion here; photography, videography, music, prose, sound art, poetry, ...
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Jason Kavanagh
August 12
Jason Kavanagh

Sorry, here's the link which I mentioned about the changes.

Still not used to how the new messaging system works! :)
Some changes at itsu jitsu
itsujitsu.wordpress.com
A wee message from Jason Kavanagh (beneficent Overlord of itsu jistu): Due to my current life commitments itsu jitsu is going to be undergoing a few changes as of the 1st of September. Between n...
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Artist Silverlage
September 9
Artist Silverlage

Sorry I haven't gotten back. I love what I have been reading about your label. So far I have been recruiting 'possible' artists for the compilation/collaboration. My guess is that I am as busy as you are as busy as I am, so, I understand that this will most likely be a lengthy process. I have some curious artists that are asking me more about what we are planning. Honestly I haven't shared too much information because I am thinking that we share our ideas in there basic form and let it grow and transform based on artists participation. That way it lessens the stress for us. We just make it clear that this is open for lots of creativity. As long as we present the shell/structure to everyone I believe it will grow with interest and the participation of others.
What I am thinking at this point is that we start a thread or whatever it is called within lastfm to get the discussion going at least. We could even blend it over to facebook somehow.
Are you ready for something like that?

Artist Silverlageposted toJason Kavanagh
Hey Jason. Give me a holler and let me know if you are ready to attempt to start the collab.
Like · · Unfollow Post · See Friendship · September 28 at 10:15pm · Privacy:

Jason Kavanagh likes this.
Jason Kavanagh Sorry man! Totally forgot to get back to you. Need to be better organized! I'll look over our messages again and get back to you today :)
September 29 at 4:19am · Unlike · 1 person
Artist Silverlage Listen. I am way unorganized. Don't sweat it. The way I see it isssss....we set up the discussions and we let the artists work out the form. It will be minimal on our end. Trust me on that. All we have to do is figure out where we want to start the discussion of the project on last.fm. Honestly, I am so busy right now. I don't have the time or energy to devote a lot of time to this. I will keep it simple.
September 29 at 9:33pm · Like · 1 person
Artist Silverlage Just tell me this. Do you have any idea how we should start the collab discussion between both groups?
September 29 at 9:34pm · Like
Jason Kavanagh How about your Zilch Records group? Seems perfect for it given it's already set up.
September 30 at 4:19am · Like

I appreciate the interest and PM's so far. We really need to start laying down some concepts. Here is the start of an idea.

"There is an old woman that sees everything in this small island town. She is one you would not expect her to be so close to the pulse of this area of the world."

Please feel free to give us any ideas for concepts. Give us your stream of consciousness.

Sorry if this is maybe a bit dull but perhaps it would pay off to outline a basic idea and keep it simple for this initial collaboration. I know that having a concept which is strongly outlined and easy to work inside would help get more of the people whom I have spoken to interested and it would make my life a whole lot easier as I am about to become very busy out in the real world and won't have time to monitor discussion threads, etc.

We have musicians, writers, videographers, photographers and artists amongst us (even if some of those are the same person/people) so how about we start with something along the lines of:

"Embarque" - an abstract short film and Original Soundtrack.

In terms of a concept, some synonyms for the word "embark" are "commence", "set out" and "plunge into".

So, we start with the video, the theme being: motion/movement (arrived at from commencing, setting out upon and plunging into).

If we can get 10 people who are prepared to submit 2 minutes of video footage then that gives us a 20 minute short film.

When we have all of the footage it would only take 10 musicians to write a 2 minute track in order to score the film.

The writers/poets could submit their writing/poetry to be overlaid on the video footage and packaged with the OST as a pdf booklet.

Photographers/artists could submit their pictures to be overlaid on the video, to be used as artwork for the OST and included with the text in a pdf booklet.

And before you know it...et voila! We have a finished work!

Here then is what I reckon will work:

1. We go with the idea which I've proposed or fairly quickly hash out a similar, easily graspable, easy to work with concept.
2. We find enough people to take part to cover the numbers outlined above.
3. Once we have the participants, four 'group leaders' are nominated.
4. It is up to the leader of each group to collate and keep an eye on that groups work. The groups are 1. Video, 2. Audio, 3. Text, 4. Artwork.
5. A file format should be agreed upon for all four media formats. Something like MP4 for video, 320Kbps MP3 for audio, .txt for text and JPEG for artwork.
6. As the video and audio files will be at most 2 minutes in length, the file sizes won't be huge and will be easy to manage for the group leaders.
7. We use Dropbox as the means of sharing all parts of the work and an agreed upon folder structure to maintain order and make each group easy to manage for the group leader. For example:

Photographers/Artists folder hierarchy

Pictures
|
|_Unused Photographs
...|_Jasons Unused Photographs
|
|_Unused Artwork
...|_Jasons Unused Artwork
|
|_Used Photographs
...|_Used by SilverlagE
|
|_Used Artwork
...|_Used by SilverlagE

All of the Photographers/Artists dump their work into the relevant folder (Unused Photographs/Unused Artwork), along comes SilverlagE who needs some pictures to overlay on his video. He finds two pictures which he wants to use in "Jasons Unused Photographs" so he moves them from their original folder to the "Used Photographs" - "Used by SilverlagE" folder. Those are then 'used' and can't be used by anyone else. That stops the same images from potentially cropping up here, there and everywhere.

This obviously requires a level of trust on all of our parts and also a level of competence. Both of which we should hopefully have.

8. Once all of the files have been gathered we nominate three people. One to construct the final video, one to do the OST and one to make up the pdf booklet/artwork.
9. When the project is finished and ready to release, we help spread the word far and wide by releasing the project on both labels.

That's my suggestion and my apologies if I've come off as sounding like a bit of a hard ass but SilverlagE is absolutely right about this thing needing to be a collaboration to the point where it doesn't need a guiding hand every step of the way. Also like I said, both I and some other people whom I have approached are insanely busy and keeping things simple is definitely the way forward for us.

Obviously I'm happy to further refine/re-outline the concept if there is someone who is willing to come forward with a better/more interesting idea but the rest of it I think makes a great deal of sense.

Cheers,

Jason

I, Silverlage, have added comments to itsujitsu's comments to organize some of what he wrote and to make a mark as to where we are currently in the process.
Step 1 is complete for the most part

itsujitsu said:

1. We go with the idea which I've proposed or fairly quickly hash out a similar, easily graspable, easy to work with concept.

["Embarque" - an abstract short film and Original Soundtrack.

In terms of a concept, some synonyms for the word "embark" are "commence", "set out" and "plunge into".]

{I am completely down with your idea. Let's just keep an open mind to structured organized mutation along the way, however, we will worry about that when and if it comes. OK. If anyone else wants to throw out some synonyms for embark or embarque, feel free.

Commence - Set Out - Plunge Into = Concept}

Step 2. So far we have
a. Ethnotronic
b. GeorgeDrucsen
c. yalphaath
d. HealeyIsland
e. silverlage
f. BruecknerSound
g. volta1995
h. LOSTFREEQ
i. DEREK_LOTEK


2. We find enough people to take part to cover the numbers outlined above.

Still need more artists. The artists above have either submitted songs, told me they were definitely interested and/or have let me know they want to be involved somehow.

3. Once we have the participants, four 'group leaders' are nominated.

Need 4 volunteers to lead the four groups below.
4. It is up to the leader of each group to collate and keep an eye on that groups work. The groups are 1. Video, 2. Audio, 3. Text, 4. Artwork.

So, to recap...This is where we are so far

Need more artists to get involved.
Need 4 group leaders whether nominated or volunteered for
Video
Audio
Text
Artwork

Also, if you are willing to become a member of the zilch records group it will make it easier to get messages out to you regarding the project. Until then we will see you here.

SL

Everyone. I am trying to re-evaluate the project based on Jason's suggestions. Also, I have a bunch of PM's I need to send out to a bunch of people because at this point (and this is kinda funny) only Derek_Lotek and myself on my label is currently interested and Jason on his label. Everyone else that is interested (and I thank you so much) is not officially on either label. Sorry if you are and I forgot you. In the meantime let me throw this out. Get to know DropBox and start thinking about the needed leader positions. It won't be able to move much further until we get these volunteers.

1. Video
2. Audio
3. Text
4. Artwork
I mentioned a marketing specialist in the beginning and I still want a volunteer for this. This person will spend time on this project checking in with each leader and getting the word out on the internet. Everything my label does and I think Jason's to a certain extent is an experiment. I know that my label for sure is more focused on the process just as much as the final product (if there really ever is one). I am looking for someone to promote on last.fm, facebook google + anywhere on the internet in a very abstract way, using the work from each of the other artistic groups. If interested ask me more about it. And if you are involved currently please get the word out.
5. Marketing

Jason from itzu jitzu can not be a part of this project. The project is still moving forward at a snails pace:-] Let me know if you are interested.

The bottom line for this project.

I would like to see this project expand and cross-over into many types of artistic media.

Keeping the project free to all listeners I would also like to capitalize on so much of the current advantages that we have on the internet/web i.e. social media, blogs, word of mouth and so on.

All the while 'archiving' (for historical reasons) as much as we can as this is an experiment.

The experiment: To popularize this project as much as possible without ever losing artistic integrity. Offering this project as a free project to all will help us keep this integrity.

I would now like to open this thread up to a random stream of consciousness for ideas. I don't care how long this project takes to complete, I just care that it stays alive.

If anyone can tell me a better way to start this stream let me know. At this point I can only think about continuing to use this thread.