HITS

HITS (formerly Jump into the Gospel), 5/11/2012, The Knitting Factory

Let me preface this by saying, this isn't obvious (but my friends are completely aware and now you will too), since I haven't posted on my blog in months, but since September 2011, I've been in love with a band called Jump into the Gospel. I mentioned this in the Tergiversate: Music Mix of 2011 post last December - I had fallen in love with some amazing music. I was going through a period of no new music and I was getting bored of my usual go to bands and songs. But out of nowhere, I discovered Jump into the Gospel and I became so inspired. One of the best things about following a band is discovering other bands. This happened when I was following We Are The Physics! I discovered so many other awesome bands because of them and I loved it. So I'm completely ecstatic about this band. As of last month, they go by a new name - HITS. I'm really excited about their new music and sound and I can't wait for their EP, which comes out on June 26th!

Check out their new single Madness here!

I just saw them tonight with my friend Sasha at Glasslands Gallery. I personally had an incredible time, since everyone was dancing like they didn't give a damn. Sometimes I just want to bust out some dance moves and really not care at all! Who cares what people think? I think it's the most liberating thing to do... and getting a haircut, tattoo and skydiving and screaming at the top of a cliff or mountain or any high altitude. Sometimes I wish my life was a musical and I could bust into a song and dance number and it would be completely normal and appropriate for the situation. Once in a while, I'd indulge in a little Disney soundtracks and I'd want to sing Belle or I Just Can't Wait To Be King on the street! Why isn't this normal?! Why can't life be a musical? And then we'd learn a great lesson at the end and we'd all sing an epic final song! Applause!

I was in San Francisco last week to visit my friends for their graduation. I was introduced to a few bands or rather I was reacquainted with some bands and now I'm listening to some awesome songs. Summer 2012 Music Mix, anyone? I'm a little bummed, because at the end of last year, I had every intention of creating a monthly music mix, but obviously I got lazy and/or distracted. But I need to be more proactive and I need this creative outlet for myself on a regular basis, I need to get back into the flow of things. In 2010 for a period, I blogged every single day and had new material daily... It was a pretty obsessive, addictive, almost religious time period when I wanted to write every single day, because it fed my creative appetite. I'm feeling the same inspirational liberation and creativity... I can't wait for Summer 2012 to be incredibly creative and intellectually stimulating. I'm so ready! I feel the words flowing through my mind and I feel so excited!

I really hope this is the year... I don't want to put too much pressure on myself, but I feel like I could make 2012 the most amazing year ever... in terms of my career and self growth and education. During the months of January, February and March, I was going through some self inflicted existential crisis - completely unjustified and completely inexplicable. It just hit me out of nowhere. I felt so uninspired, distracted, absentminded... but it's gone and I couldn't be more thankful! So here's to being alive and loving and accepting yourself for who you are. I may not be conventional in some senses, I'm a such a dork, but I completely love who I am and I feel so lucky to be here, in New York, living my dream, feeling inspired... ecstatic... exhilarated... ready!

I'm going to do a Summer 2012 Music Mix! Few favorite songs: Veins by HITS (New EP), Lights Out, Words Gone by Bombay Bicycle Club, Three Trees by Tanlines, Breathe by Télépopmusik, Feel It All Around by Washed Out, Uh by Fujiya and Miyagi. More to come! Stay tuned!

Lights Out, Words Gone

San Francisco May 2012. Thanks for all the memories. Be back soon. All my love. ∞

More later...

Breathe

I promise I'll be back. 2012 is getting interesting.

Shyness - Indiegogo Campaign

"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.” ― Georgia O'Keeffe

About Shyness

Shyness is about chance meeting. Everyday we encounter lots of people. We walk by them. We sit next to them, but that doesn't necessarily mean we make eye contact or talk to them. Loneliness is part of the human condition, but we are eager to communicate and better understand our surroundings. What happens when you see someone that makes you want to make eye contact? Striking up a conversation with a complete stranger actually takes guts and courage, it's not as easy as you may think. And the reason we don't have courage is because of fear. Fear of rejection, fear of the unknown.

What if it's your only chance? Do you seize the moment? Or do you let it escape you forever? Chance is that moment when two or more events occur at one time, but if that moment is not seized, that moment becomes nothing. We need those something moments, because those moments can change your life. That single moment can become something permanent. This is what both characters are trying to figure out in their own lives. And this is also something I'm trying to incorporate into my own life. If there's something you want, you should go for it. This is the life philosophy that I want to live by. Shyness is my attempt to really participate in life.

Shyness tells a story of fear and courage. Fear is what stands between you and your dream and courage is what you need to make your dream become a reality. A story about two people who meet is quite ordinary, but a story about chemistry has the potential to be extraordinary. The story is set in the magical, romantic and gritty streets of New York City. Any place can be magical, because we make our experiences and memories. During this chance meeting, the two characters find themselves in the same place at the same time and they share an open dialogue about things that matter and things that don't matter.


The Impact

Shyness is essentially my love letter to life. My appreciation for life has brought me on this adventure, to express my inner thoughts and share them in the form of a (short) film - my very first short film.

"Life is a daring adventure of nothing" as Helen Keller once said. Life should be a daring adventure, which means risks have to be taken. This effort will be one of the riskiest things I will have done thus far. For years, I felt paralyzing and gripping fear of failure, but after writing and investing so much into the story and characters, it is time to conquer fear and go for it. Making this film will be my first step to living a daring and adventurous life.

Shyness is, to me, a life metaphor, an opportunity, my chance to grow, to learn, to change, to create and most of all, to have fun. This is my opportunity to enjoy life and every single emotion at the same time. This journey will be exciting, scary, fun, uncertain and stressful, but I'm ready. My story is about seizing every opportunity, despite your fears, doubts and shyness.

Life will always be an uncertain journey and fear may be a constant, but we can't let our fears stop us from doing the things we want to. This is what I want for myself, for my characters and for you. Drive and passion comes from within. We all have the potential to strive and fight for our goal.

This is my turn to fight for what I believe in and I will not compromise my integrity and morals. I think it's important to have a belief and the drive to pursue, but it is also important to keep our morals intact and not lose our soul in the process, because I kind of love my soul. I want to be ambitious, not competitive. I want to love my passion everyday, because life is too short to hate your passion.


What We Need & What You Get

Directing a film seems like such a wonderful experience. Picture a director's chair. Wait, what director's chair? This is going to be a low budget short film. Filmmaking isn't as glamorous as it seems. It's quite an arduous and exhausting process. I'm sure you've seen all those filmmaking What I Really Do Memes, so you already know. Making a film is a costly endeavor. The money that will be raised via IndieGoGo will go towards the cast and crew, equipment, meals, transportation, gas and parking and post production costs. The goal budget is actually much higher than $4000, but with your generous contribution, I hope to raise more than the proposed goal. Any donation, no small how small, helps!

To express my greatest and sincerest gratitude for your contribution, perks will be included with every donation. There will be postcards, posters, DVDs and tote bags, handmade and designed by me and my friend Inez Galvez.


Other Ways You Can Help

Any amount of support helps, because it gives me more courage and energy to keep going and fighting. Every dollar will help me closer to my goal. If you can't donate, please share this link with your friends and family. Getting the word out there. Let's make some noise! Sing it! Scream it! Please feel free to like my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter and spread the word. Good luck with everyone's endeavors!

Thank you for your attention and support! And a special thank you to IndieGoGo and Vimeo for giving me this platform to help me make my short film.

Email: avalonnehall@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shynessfilm
Twitter: http://twitter.com/avalonnehall


http://www.indiegogo.com/Shyness-Short-Film

Try a Little Tenderness

This really makes me weak in the knees.