I am writing you tonight from Phoenix, Arizona. It is around 11pm and I am sitting on the back deck of a family friend’s house.There is a strong breeze blowing across the trees and for the most part it’s rather quiet, aside from the wind and a stray car. My companion this late June evening is a giant dog named Wallace. He continues to run in the yard chasing the wind for about 30 seconds then returns to my side to lather my leg with spit and make sure that I know he is still there. I have been blessed tonight with one of my favourite things about the valley, the smell of desert rain. There is nothing like it. It is a sweet mixture; 1 part dirty earthiness 2 parts freshness. They say we will be getting a downpour at some point this evening. Which tickles me a bit. After 6 full days here experiencing 110 degree plus temperatures every day. I finally may get to experience desert rain again just hours before I leave. It’s a bit like my life really. Years of dry hot desert air before a beautiful thunderstorm and an onslaught of rain. I’ve yet to experience a refreshing rainstorm in my life. But I know it’s somewhere out there (beneath the pale moonlight). Knowing that reaping what I sow will eventually arrive is what keeps me going; keeps me giving all of my pursuits one hundred percent (or 110% if you are overly –enthusiastic). That and staying around for my family is what keeps me breathing. Continue reading ‘Music, Love & Loss.’
I couldn’t of asked for a more beautiful day weather wise. It has been splendid out and continues to be so. I just got back to my place from a morning/afternoon writing session for the album. I believe I finally have the final two pieces written for ‘Conversations on Internal Bleeding’. One is tentatively titled Firefly[Reason] and strips down the thoughts of a present friendship combined with the haunting need I have to make everything right for those I care deeply about.
Two weeks ago I picked up a keyboard/piano and decided that I was sick of talking about wanting to learn the piano and began teaching myself. Three days into my self-teaching I wrote my first piece. Myself and J-Cain (co-producer on this final effort to finish the album) believe it is strong enough for the album and while it sounds great ‘acoustically’ we will produce it with a heavy band feel which will tie nicely with the rest of the project. I can’t even begin to tell you how much anticipation I have for releasing this album into the wild-blue sky for you all to hear. Continue reading ‘Painting-Writing / Painting-Packing’
Foremost, my apologies for the lack in O-Blog-Dee as of late. Things have been a little nuts around here. But today starts a new work week and I’m doing my best to finish up a few projects today and make some major progress on another. This post is to inform you that portions of a film I made will be featured in a theatre near you tonight.
Back in October/November of last year I was asked to create a documentary on tobyMac start to finish. So of course I said yes and took on the project. I had to watch over 60 hours of mostly monotonous footage of a camera rolling backstage. I then pieced together ideas that I thought would make a great storyline to follow and wrote a script that was approved. Next I composed pages of questions that I would use to shoot interviews of the band and Toby himself. As to not bore you with the details… I spent over 5 months doing this entire thing myself, many many sleepless nights… followed by many more… The DVD was released on May 27th in stores and I was able to pick up a copy when I returned from my trip. And to my chagrin after watching the credits I had to go outside for some much needed air. I do not ever feel the need to gloat or tell the world what I’ve done… but there is a fine line that should be drawn as to giving credit where credit is due. And it’s just not right… at all. And that’s the last I’ll say about it. And no, the blame for stealing credit has nothing to do with Toby. He has been incredibly grateful to me and expressed this on many occasions.
Back to happy thoughts… There was a private premiere showing on Thursday in Franklin that I attended. Thanks to Dan for the heads up on that. It was very satisfying to see my work up on the big screen. I must have had the goofiest grin on my face. I was flattered that they decided to show pieces of the documentary throughout the live concert. It was pieced together beautifully. If you have the chance to catch it in theaters tonight it will be shown nationwide. Hit up this site to check times and locations. The Big Picture.
I truly had a great time working on this project, aside from the politics, I was able to make the movie trailer for theaters and another trailer that was used at the beginning of every concert and on the web. As well as having a major hand in the design of the album cover/fonting etc. And I am VERY grateful for the opportunity that was given to me to create this.
I will be headed to the Thoroughbred 20 in Franklin to catch it again tonight with some friends at 7:45pm. Feel free to join us or say hello if you are there. I don’t get points on the album, but still pick up a copy to support Toby and check out my skills.
This morning my old school John Wayne alarm clock woke me with a startle, no matter how many times I hear that thing go off I still can’t get used to it. It affects my dreams drastically and I awake thinking there is a fire. But no, it’s just my John Wayne alarm clock. Silly me. I arrived at church a quarter to 10. I must say that I have not experienced a worship service like that in some time. It was much needed and very refreshing for my soul. To put it bluntly there weren’t any people getting in the way or distracting me from connecting completely with God. (I know that I have a lot of viewers on my blog that are not Christians or do not view God as do. That is perfectly fine. I’m not here to cram anything down anyone’s throat. I’m just sharing what life is like from my point of view so please view it as such and do not take offense. If at anytime you feel the need to ask questions regarding my faith please do so. I am an open book on the subject and will remain so until death.) I’d go deeper, but I feel that is fine for now. It was, to repeat, so refreshing. I felt that I had purpose again, outside of the box we live in here. Most days I feel that my Christianity is so far different than any one else’s that I see. Which is fine. To each his own.
After service myself and a manager friend here in Nashville went to lunch. We were both being indecisive morons and drove around for decades trying to decide. He mentioned bar-b-q, which I shot down because I didn’t think it would sit well in my stomach. Then I mentioned Macaroni Grill, which he shot down because he had a bad experience at the one in Franklin… Continue reading ‘Get Lost.’
My apologies in advance for such a length-less blog. But I am exhausted. I have been running around since 7am doing a shoot on my own at Vanderbilt University. It was fun for a while; I enjoy the challenge of capturing unique shots for B-roll footage and setting up interview locations that bring a different feel to the viewer. But being on my feet all day long is a bit taxing. That’s what she said. (Seriously, I can’t stop saying that, I need to stop watching The Office for a bit.) I got in around 9:45pm had a very humorous chat with my buddy Carrel out in A-town. He said the funniest thing I’ve ever heard him say. But too bad I’m not going to tell you. I was thinking about putting in a movie and having a glass of Cab before bed. But my movie choices are ‘Rescue Dawn’ and ‘E.T.’ Both which I want to view in their entirety and will probably fall asleep at the beginning. So I think I will either read a book, waking up still holding it, or pop in Seinfeld - always good to fall asleep to.
I’m going to check out a church I’ve never been to tomorrow. And then have a little meeting afterwords about music or ties to the mafia in 1938, not sure which it’s about. I didn’t call the meeting. Well that’s enough out of my ridiculously delirious mouth tonight.
Night all,
When people ask me why I don’t like Myspace I can now point them to this video. Myspace is nothing but tons of spam mail and hoops to jump through just to leave someone a comment. And not to mention the pages are stuffed to the edges with ads galore. And the “people who aren’t real” asking to be my friend 80 times a day. Wait that’s what this video is for, to help you see the light. :)
This is a very funny outlook on social media. The Second Life avatar flying cracks me up, it reminds me of The Office episode where Dwight Schrute has a Second Life account and flies.
“If you had the hug me application you could start hugging people!” That’s probably my favourite part. Initially I wasn’t going to post this because I thought Tom said a bad word (And I like to keep this site PG because I know children read it). But he doesn’t, he says pictures. And skank is a funny word, it’s like skunk but with an A instead of a U (See, my blog is also educational). Thanks SuperNews for the great little animation.
Oh man…I’m sitting here watching one of my favourite shows that I had set to tivo because I was at the studio today prepping for a shoot that I have on Saturday (That was a strange and long sentence, but I’m not changing it because it was very informative). Wow, this show is so funny. Speaking of tivo. I think a tiny comedian lives inside of mine. And thought it would be funny to erase EVERYTHING that I had on it. All of it was gone. This is a life lesson boys and girls. Everything we have could be gone in an instant, so know where you are headed. Anyway… it was totally frustrating because I had to go through and reset all the shows that I normally record. And of course I lost a bunch of ‘LOST’ episodes that I have yet to see. Also gone were the episodes of ‘Cities of the Underground’ (AWESOME SHOW!!!) and… ‘Deal or No Deal’… ‘The Office’… a couple nerdy ‘Discovery Health’ shows about the human body, brain, etc. And a bunch of ‘The Twilight Zone’s’ (Which I like to stare at late at night and say, “What the heck?”) So what else is new… Continue reading ‘That’s What She Said.’
Yes, I really am going to steal a post just to put up a video of a car driving around. Why? Because I can. I was lucky enough to grow up with a Dad who loves muscle cars. And in turn over the years have had it fully rub off on me. There is nothing better than being behind the wheel of an amazing american muscle car. My father and uncles are major enthusiasts so I have had the privilege of growing up around them. My very first car was a 1987 Pontiac Firebird. It was a huge blessing; and a wonderful car to get into trouble with. V6 fuel injected, t-tops… and fast. As Mom and Dad read this post they will shake their head, but will of course realize that it’s just the gene pool, and not my fault. I couldn’t wait until church on wednesday and sunday nights so that afterwords I could terrorize the south parking lot with my 360 spins and power slides. I was often saved by grace when I tried to see how fast I could get her to go, as Mike Bass held onto the dash for dear life and turned three shades whiter than clear. And yes, I was that dork that installed a car alarm that talked… I was also at the time searching for a Knight Rider style tracer light to put on the front. But unfortunately all I was armed with was the Yellow Pages; as Al Gore hadn’t yet finished his invention of the internet (Sorry for ripping on you if you googled yourself and are reading this Al). Years later I owned a 1994 Mustang that did an incredible job of falling apart on cue (I do not endorse Fords, bleh).
So bringing you up to date. I have been blessed enough to own a Dodge Charger these past 2 years and it has been nothing but flawless as Dodge makes incredible vehicles. I have driven her all over the country with zero problems (except the price of fuel). But come 2009 I am really, REALLY wanting to trade her in for the new Dodge Challenger which I have been waiting on for at least four years. The lines on this thing are absolutely amazing. And the interior is nothing less than stellar.
My speeding days are behind me as I am a responsible adult. But give me a closed course and it’s pedal to the floor, and yes I will most likely win. (Mom, Dad, that’s a challenge you just heard. )
Well, enough ranting about material possessions. And yes, I am well aware that in the whole scheme of things they do not matter and I can’t take them with me when I die. But it sure is fun to enjoy them while I am here.
And to add a disclaimer: In all seriousness you should never race anywhere but on a closed course or speedway. We have lost a cousin due to high speed driving and it is nothing to shrug off or take lightly.
I just want to quickly preface this article written by Charlie Peacock in what is the last issue to be printed of the age old CCM Magazine. I don’t personally know Charlie other than a few brief conversations back and forth via Facebook. But his thumbprint has been a part of my life since I was a young moron running around singing “In the Light” at the top of my lungs. Those of you who grew up sheltered in the realm of Christian music (myself included) may not know it but Charlie had a huge part of a majority of what influenced you as a kid growing up. From Audio Adrenaline to Amy Grant, dcTalk, Sarah Masen, Eric Champion, Out of the Gray, Margaret Becker and Switchfoot.
I will follow up this post at some point this week by sharing with you my perspective of it all from my days as a kid - til now, wondering where I fit into all of this. And will share a few encouraging words that Charlie gave me personally this week.
~Cory Basil
The following is Charlie’s article.
I’m a man with an opinion, and opinions are cheap. I’m riffing here—that’s what musicians do. Keep your eyes and ears open. See what comes true.
The music business aspect of Christian music (labels, radio, touring, etc.) will continue to follow the pattern of the world, especially as long as baby-boomers and Gen-X people are in charge. The pattern is an increasingly unsuccessful business model run by people trapped in a system intent on slow, incremental change in the face of monumental cultural shifts. The music business, Christian and otherwise, has been a wealth-creation mechanism for a small, elite group of executives, songwriters, producers and artists. Those days are over. Still, the old guard won’t go peaceably. They’ll fight for control to the end. When they finally exit, the new music business will be underway. Continue reading ‘Charlie Peacocks Industry Perspective’
So after displaying my first piece of cartoonery I felt it only appropriate to show you a music video that includes my animation. This is a video that I worked on for INPOP records and JonnygrandFilms. I was brought in to write the treatment (which is the script or storyline) and draw the storyboards for the music video. That progressed into working heavily on set and eventually editing the video as a whole. It was very fun to work on and eventually opened several other doors for me.
The band is Everyday Sunday check them out on myspace. They were a fun bunch of guys to work with. I ran into Trey at the GMA’s and we were able to catch up a bit. He’s getting married shortly so congrats are definitely in order.
At one of the showcases I attended at the GMA’s last week they showed this video on the big screen between acts. I got a kick out of seeing it up there all big and such. :) I’ll display more of my work as time progresses. Enjoy.
It was very satisfying to see my work up on the big screen. I must have had the goofiest grin on my face. I was flattered that they decided to show pieces of the documentary throughout the live concert. It was pieced together beautifully. If you have the chance to catch it in theaters tonight it will be shown nationwide. Hit up this site to check times and locations. 
I was lucky enough to grow up with a Dad who loves muscle cars. And in turn over the years have had it fully rub off on me. There is nothing better than being behind the wheel of an amazing american muscle car. My father and uncles are major enthusiasts so I have had the privilege of growing up around them. My very first car was a 1987 Pontiac Firebird. It was a huge blessing; and a wonderful car to get into trouble with. V6 fuel injected, t-tops… and fast. As Mom and Dad read this post they will shake their head, but will of course realize that it’s just the gene pool, and not my fault. I couldn’t wait until church on wednesday and sunday nights so that afterwords I could terrorize the south parking lot with my 360 spins and power slides. I was often saved by grace when I tried to see how fast I could get her to go, as Mike Bass held onto the dash for dear life and turned three shades whiter than clear. And yes, I was that dork that installed a car alarm that talked… I was also at the time searching for a Knight Rider style tracer light to put on the front. But unfortunately all I was armed with was the Yellow Pages; as Al Gore hadn’t yet finished his invention of the internet (Sorry for ripping on you if you googled yourself and are reading this Al). Years later I owned a 1994 Mustang that did an incredible job of falling apart on cue (I do not endorse Fords, bleh).
