Spring 2013 Video Work!

This last semester was a crazy busy one and I made new video projects for you to check out in this post! I took Videography with Mary Catherine Pancake, Digital Animation with LeAnn Erickson and Marketing with Erika Hovland. Here are the videos I’ve done… Keep in mind that I know that they are not perfect yet and welcome feedback! (Click on the Video Title Links for more information on that video.)

My favorite video is “What in the Kale is going on?” (3min)

My second favorite is the “Vegetable Fruit Fiber and Blending” (13min)

Then there is “Magical Ginger Tea” ! (2.5min)

Then there is “The Luck of Birds and Ladybugs” (1min)

And finally, “Ash Wednesday” (4min) which was not the best short narrative production but it was a great experience as a group where I learned what it takes to be a producer and make it all happen…

Let me know what you think!

Warm regards,
Michelle Saul-Yamasaki

Videos by Me for You! Fall 2012

Happy New Years to you! I wish you the very best for 2013. In this post I wanted to share all of the videos I shot and edited or just edited this fall of 2012. I had fun doing all five videos, put a lot of care and dedication into them and I would love for you to see them and tell me what you think!

My first and biggest project was “Deep Roots II – Days and Nights on the Farm“. This 25 minute documentary is about the art installation by Meei Ling Ng and farm festival that took place at one of Weavers Way’s farms and it focuses on the use of art on farms to spread the message of the importance of local urban farming and being conscious of how to support your community through collaboration…

Here is the short 5 minute version… or below you can watch the full awesome 25 minute video! For more about this, click here.

The following three projects I edited were done for my work study job with Temple Contemporary, the art gallery in the Tyler School of Art at Temple University. The first one was “Pittsburgh’s Greatest Living Artist: Jon Rubin“. Jon Rubin is not your ordinary artist and I truly enjoyed learning about his work which ranged from Cinematography to political theater to a Waffle Shop with a talk show, unheard of… https://vimeo.com/53122861

The second video I edited for them was “Candy Class with Franklin Fountain“. This was a very cool event where you learned how to make old fashion candy, with antique molds and more. There was also a fun musical introduction by spoon player Mark Alexander. https://vimeo.com/55114619

And the final video I edited for Temple Contemporary was “Mass Incarceration in America“. This 13 minute video squeezed the best snippets of nationally renowned scholar speakers of a day long event that lasted from early in the morning to about six in the afternoon. Believe me, they say very good and important things about the current carceral state and its eroding effects on urban communities, the economy and democracy. https://vimeo.com/55699650

And finally… just in time for Christmas Eve, I finished the new music video for the brand new song Jeremy Dean Harrison wrote called “Light“. Here is a quote from a blog post that talks about this song and video: “The imagery that Michelle presents throughout the video is both appropriate and thought provoking. Jeremy’s lyrics are deep and meaningful, once again calling for people to make a change in this world by BEING the change.” See the full blog post here.

… I put a lot of care, time and effort into these videos and it means a lot to me when people take the time to see them. It also means a lot to me when someone takes the time to tell me what they thought in a comment below the video or a “like”… or if you share it, it is so greatly appreciated.

And because the work I do is special to me, it is important for me to take the time to share with people who I feel would appreciate it… people who would be excited to see my progress… people who I not only want to share my work with, but people who I also want to hear from. I may not get the chance to ask you personally how you are or what you are up to, but please feel free to share with how you are and any of your work! I am also excited to see what is special to you and see you progress and would love to support you. It is all about connecting the dots…

Carpe Diem! (like Miss Holly Bliss says)

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Let there be Light

Just in time for the holiday season Gladhappylove, consisting of Jeremy Dean Harrison and Michelle Saul-Yamasaki, has created a warm and tender yet demanding song and video for you to listen, watch and enjoy. This dynamic duo once again has created an artistic and intellectual video and song filled with creativity and stimulation of the senses. Michelle Saul-Yamasaki’s video begins the song as beautiful geometric fibonacci spirals work themselves through the video, a simple and delicate yet complex challenge to understand life in the most inconspicuous of times. This is a gentle reminder that one can find beauty in life all throughout the day, anywhere one might be. One little candle introduces Jeremy Harrison’s lyrics, “There is something warm about the light,” a metaphorical imperative that plays into his philosophical roots and background. The imagery that Michelle presents throughout the video is both appropriate and thought provoking. Jeremy’s lyrics are deep and meaningful, once again calling for people to make a change in this world by BEING the change.

Their song and video “Light” is inspired by the goodness that they see in this world. Despite the fact that there are opponents in life, they feel the need to share the love that they have with people who will listen, in hope of creating synergy away from imperfection and towards the actualization of the human potential. Please enjoy their video and song.

Lyrics for “Light”
(Intro)
There is something warm about the light
There is something spiritual about the fight
There is nothing easy about the change
There is nothing blind about the sight
(Mid intro)
There is something cool about the plan
There is something magical in our hands
There is no such thing as too much
There are words of wisdom when you understand
(Pre chorus)
You can never find a low in a high
You can never touch the top of a fall
You can tell a lie but I don’t know why
You would ever want to waste your breathe at all
(Chorus)
There is something so much better than what we have got
I am not going to stop until I reach the top
There is something so much brighter than we can see
You have to plant a seed to grow a crop
You have to walk to water to fill your cup
I am not afraid of my connection to infinity

Words and music by Jeremy Dean Harrison

“Deep Roots II” – Film by Michelle Saul-Yamasaki

(Thanks to Meei Ling for designing this wonderful poster.)

The Holiday Pop-Up Art Show is a three day event filled with local art to shop for the holidays, food, live music performances by various artists and a local documentary being screened!

And I cordially invite you! The documentary being screened is of “DEEP ROOTS II  – Days and Nights on the Farm” that I, Michelle Saul-Yamasaki,  shot and edited. It will be screened December 1st at 6:30PM at The Bainbridge Club on 15th and Bainbridge! Come to as much of this entire event as you can, but I would love for you to come see this video that I shot and edited in collaboration with Meei-Ling Ng of her art installation Deep Roots II…

For full schedule of performances and participating artists, go to South of South Neighborhood Association (SOSNA) or go to the Facebook Invitation which you can join and share!

About the documentary of Deep Roots II
“Deep Roots II – Days and Nights on the Farm“ took place on October 6th and 7th and it was amazing. (See Deep Roots I here.) Deep Roots II was a multi-media art installation by Meei Ling in collaboration with Weavers Way’s Mort Brooks Memorial Farm and their Farm Festival and in conjunction with the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) and lighting designer Jackson Kay. The key messages of this event were to raise awareness and appreciation for the farmer and for the gifts of nature and the danger that they’re in, such as bees. Also a key theme was collaboration.

See you there!
Michelle Saul-Yamasaki, your classmate, neighbor and friend.
A Temple University Film and Media Arts student.

Like Michelle’s Ponder Tree’s Facebook Page or follow her blog by adding your email on her www.pondertree.com site.

“Deep Roots II” Screening Dec. 1st!

SAVE THE DATE! The documentary of “DEEP ROOTS 2  – Days and Nights on the Farm” that I, Michelle Saul-Yamasaki, shot and edited will be screened December 1st at 6:30PM at the Bainbridge Club on 15th and Bainbridge! This is a three day event and it is all great if you can come to all of it… But I would love for you to come to the screening night (Dec 1st) of this video that I shot and edited in collaboration with Meei-Ling Ng of her art installation Deep Roots II… Join and share the Facebook event!

“Deep Roots II – Days and Nights on the Farm” took place on October 6th and 7th and it was amazing. (See “Deep Roots I” here.)”Deep Roots II” was a multi-media art installation by Meei Ling in collaboration with Weavers Way’s Mort Brooks Memorial Farm and their Farm Festival and in conjunction with the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) and lighting designer Jackson Kay. The key messages of this event were to raise awareness and appreciation for the farmer and for the gifts of nature and the danger that they’re in, such as bees. Also a key theme was collaboration.

I am passionate about all of these messages but collaboration, I feel, was what made this event so amazing. Meei Ling collaborated with many people… from light designer Jackson Kay to Farmer Rick, farm educators to high school students, Anna the director of POST to photographer Sang Cun and myself, the videographer. This amazing collaboration resulted in a great turn out of people, an amazing art installation that everyone enjoyed and learned from, many became interested about becoming a part of Weavers Way Co-op and we met new friends while eating and enjoying music. It would have been impossible if it wasn’t for everyone collaborating in the name of something they believe in…
Watch “Deep Roots 1” here.

Also Here is the full description of the three day event:

Holiday Pop-Art Show
Shop local art from local artists, crafters and designers and enjoy live music and performing art during this holiday season!
The Bainbridge Club
1523 Bainbridge St., Philadelphia, PA, 19146
(215) 985-1122 http://bainbridgeclub.yolasite.com/

See Google map: https://maps.google.com/?q=1523+Bainbridge+Street%2C+Philadelphia%2C+PA%2C+19146%2C+us

Schedule of performances and participating artists:
(We will be adding more artists till the day of opening, please check back!)

November 30, Friday, 6 pm – 10pm, Opening Reception
6.00 pm, Opening Reception, meet and greet, refreshment
6.30 pm, Guest speaker, Michael Jones, owner of Bainbridge Club
6.40pm, Artists introduction
7.00pm, Andrew Dalzell from SOSNA, performing music, singing
7.30pm, Mrs. Fumiyo Kobayashi Batta, singer, Japanese Songs
8.00pm, Kyle Connor, poet – poetry reading
8.30pm, Madoka Nishimura, pianist – playing piano
9.00pm, Sam Borrello and Scott Ziegler – Jazz music
More food and drinks sell at the club throughout the event
Club tour is available throughout the event

December 1, Saturday, Noon – 9pm, Open Gallery
All day, art exhibit and sales
Screening Night:
6.30pm, Meet and greet, refreshment
7.00pm, screening Deep Roots II – “DAYS AND NIGHTS AT THE FARM”. Featuring local videographer/producer Michelle Saul Yamasaki, and local artist Meei-Ling Ng.
More food and drinks sell at the club throughout the event
Club tour is available throughout the event

December 2, Sunday, Noon – 9pm, Open Gallery
All day, art exhibit and sales
6.30pm, closing reception
Food and drinks sell at the club throughout the event
Club tour is available throughout the event

Participating Visual Artists:
Meei Ling Ng- painting, sculpture
Kevin Board – painting
Keith Breitfeller – painting
Brian David Dennis – photographer
Amy Ragsdale – Jewelry design
Michelle Saul Yamasaki – videographer/producer
Adam Adoom Cusack – illustrator
Siang Siang Kwa (Jeanny) – painting
Jeremy Burger – photographer
Alex Stadler – Printmaker

Participating Performing Artists:
Andrew Dalzell – performing music/singer
Madoka Nishimura – performing piano
Mrs. Fumiyo Kobayashi Batta – singer, Japanese Songs
Kyle Connor, poet – poetry reading
Sam Borrello and Scott Ziegler – Jazz music

This event is hosted and collaborated with The Bainbridge Club http://bainbridgeclub.yolasite.com/ in conjunction with two South of South neighborhood artists, Kevin Broad http://www.kevinbroad.com/  and Meei Ling Ng http://www.meeiling.com/, in partnership with South of South Neighborhood Association (SOSNA)http://southofsouth.org/

Deep Roots II Video coming along!

Deep Roots II video editing is coming along!!! Had an awesome meeting with Meei-Ling going over what has been edited! We’ve got exciting media and news for you, so stay tuned…

Check out the Photo Album “Documenting Deep Roots II” that took place on October 6th and 7th here.

And Check out my blog post about the event here. (See “Deep Roots I” here.)

“Deep Roots II – Days and Nights on the Farm” was a multi-media art installation by Meei Ling in collaboration with Weavers Way’s Mort Brooks Memorial Farm and their Farm Festival and in conjunction with the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours(POST) and lighting designer Jackson Kay. The key messages of this event were to raise awareness and appreciation for the farmer and for the gifts of nature and the danger that they’re in, such as bees. Also a key theme was collaboration.

Quick Update!

Hello everyone! The past few weeks have been very busy and filled with great news. If you have been checking in to my Ponder Tree Facebook page, then you will be up to date with my news, so I encourage you to like it if you haven’t yet!

• Editing in progress: Deep Roots II – Days and Nights on the Farm (Meei Ling)
• Birthday gift from Jeremy by Miss Holly Bliss!
• Editing video for Temple Contemporary (Temple University’s Art Gallery)

First of all, “Deep Roots II – Days and Nights on the Farm” on October 6th and 7th were amazing. (See “Deep Roots I” here.)”Deep Roots II” was a multi-media art installation by Meei Ling in collaboration with Weavers Way’s Mort Brooks Memorial Farm and their Farm Festival and in conjunction with the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours(POST) and lighting designer Jackson Kay. The key messages of this event were to raise awareness and appreciation for the farmer and for the gifts of nature and the danger that they’re in, such as bees. Also a key theme was collaboration.

I am passionate about all of these messages but collaboration, I feel, was what made this event so amazing. Meei Ling collaborated with many people… from light designer Jackson Kay to Farmer Rick, farm educators to high school students, Anna the director of POST to photographer Sang Cun and myself, the videographer. This amazing collaboration resulted in a great turn out of people, an amazing art installation that everyone enjoyed and learned from, many became interested about becoming a part of Weavers Way Co-op

and we met new friends while eating and enjoying music. It would have been impossible if it wasn’t for everyone collaborating in the name of something they believe in…

Secondly, Jeremy got me one of the most amazing gifts ever… A portrait of me by Miss Holly Bliss! She did an absolutely amazing job and I will soon be sharing photos of it. It is a collage full of such meaningful things that Jeremy and I share. Thank you to the both of you…

…

And Finally, I have started working for Temple Contemporary (Temple University’s Art Gallery) editing the videos of their weekly events. So you’ll get to see what cool things take place there and you might even want to attend some of their events afterwards…

That is all for now, and following this post I’ll share some images of the news I have told you about! Thank you and stay tuned!

Students Harvesting Food! Weavers Way Farm

Here is a photo from the first video shoot of “Deep Roots II – Days and Nights on the Farm”!!! I will be collaborating with Meei Ling again this year for her new Deep Roots installation that will be taking place  at the “Weavers Way Co-Op Farm.” I am very excited for the art installation and farm festival!

Go here for more info on the event, which will be taking place Oct 6 and 7: http://www.meeiling.com/current2.html and Go here to see the video I did of “Deep Roots 1″ : https://pondertree.wordpress.com/portfolio/videos/deep-roots-video/

See full album of photos here.

Deep Roots 2 – October 6th and 7th

Here is a photo from the first video shoot of “Deep Roots II – Days and Nights on the Farm”!!! I will be collaborating with Meei Ling again this year for her new Deep Roots installation that will be taking place  at the “Weavers Way Co-Op Farm.” I am very excited for the art installation and farm festival!

Go here for more info on the event, which will be taking place Oct 6 and 7: http://www.meeiling.com/current2.html and Go here to see the video I did of “Deep Roots 1″ : https://pondertree.wordpress.com/portfolio/videos/deep-roots-video/

See full album of photos here.

Deep Roots 2 – Art, Sustainable Farming, Community!

Here is a photo from the first video shoot of “Deep Roots II – Days and Nights on the Farm”!!! I will be collaborating with Meei Ling again this year for her new Deep Roots installation that will be taking place  at the “Weavers Way Co-Op Farm.” I am very excited for the art installation and farm festival!

Go here for more info on the event, which will be taking place Oct 6 and 7: http://www.meeiling.com/current2.html and Go here to see the video I did of “Deep Roots 1″ : https://pondertree.wordpress.com/portfolio/videos/deep-roots-video/

See full album of photos here.