The Blog Formerly Known as Project 300

Project 300 - One Year Anniversary

2009-03-06T14:37:00.000-08:00

I just noticed today that it's the first anniversary of the end of Project 300. After the agony of Mackris v. O'Reilly, I was determined to keep things light, breezy and short. The whole gist of the project was to write a new piece for brass ensemble every day until I hit 300. Why 300? Well, let's just say I had a lot of time on my hands. I started in mid-April 2007 and finished in early March 2008. Yeah, it really did burn me out, but I wrote a ton of very nice music, and I think the final time count is over 13 hours. That's a lot of music. Like with Mackris v. O'Reilly, I thought this project would lead somewhere. And like Mackris v. O'Reilly it didn't. But it served as a wonderful technical exercise that proved that I could write good music very quickly. And to this day, I'm proud of the massive effort I put forth to complete it. I'm not sure where the will to get it done came from.

A year has passed, and what a difficult year it's been. I put Project 300 behind me, moved on to other things and seldom revisit it. Heck, after my music hosting site went TU, I didn't even bother to find another one and repost, so all the links are dead. But just today I gave a listen to a few tunes - some of which I don't even remember writing - and I still feel that same satisfaction in my work. You know, I've recently been experiencing this extreme crisis of confidence in nearly everything I do. It's led to a kind of creative paralysis. I have ideas, but I can't realize them because I encounter this wall of hopelessness. I think about all the ways that the piece won't succeed. Where the hell has my optimism gone?

I guess the only way to write music again is to force myself. And to convince myself that the only way to go is to write another large piece. Listening to selections from Project 300 is inspiring, but it's like listening to somebody else's music. That's how far I've gone away from last year's friggin' glory. But if I was able to do it then, I can do it again. I've always said that in order to write music, you have to induce some form of mental illness. I think my current problem is that everything looks so bleak that the last thing I need to be at the moment is slightly crazy. Yes, I suppose insanity is the key.

Well, once again, happy first anniversary, Project 300! I hope that your second anniversary finds me in a much more conducive frame of mind.

18 Seconds of Not Much RIP

2009-03-06T13:44:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure whether anybody reads this blog or not, but by the frequency of postings over the last few months, you can probably tell that my zeal for 18 Seconds of Not Much has waned. Boy, has it ever. When I first started the series, it was fantastic; I needed only to look out my window and I had a subject. I used to go out for walks and come back with 6-10 new little films. Matching it up with music was really fun. There were always so many choices I could make! I could either set the grainy visuals literally or completely independent to the action taking place or a hybrid of those two. From May to July, everything breezed along nicely. The way things were going, I expected the final total of the series to number in the thousands.

In mid-July, I got a job in Pioneer Square. You can tell that because the subjects shift from mostly around Belltown to the Pioneer/Occidental Square area. For a while, once again, this was very fertile ground for footage. It was summer and lots of things were going on. But then I found myself seeing the same things over and over again; pigeons - check, traffic - check, ships on Elliott Bay - check, rain - check, random street scenes - check, construction - check, dogs - check, etc. If I could have come up with additional visuals, I'd still be working on this project, but alas, I just simply grew tired of doing the same thing again and again. Don't get me wrong - I really do love this project and I feel like I've done some very good work here. But I feel that I've taken it as far as it can go. I find myself finally yearning to do bigger projects. And yes, I remember that my one huge undertaking, Mackris v. O'Reilly, just about killed me. But that fact is no longer a deterrent. Although by that way lies madness, at least it will probably be a familiar madness.

So let's bid a fond farewell to 18 Seconds of Not Much.

18 Seconds of Not Much 115

2009-02-25T16:08:00.000-08:00

Cypress swamp 2, Houma, Louisiana.

18 Seconds of Not Much 114

2008-12-29T16:48:00.000-08:00

More Seattle snow, 2nd & Blanchard.

18 Seconds of Not Much 113

2008-12-22T21:05:00.000-08:00

Seattle snow, 1st & Virginia, looking down at Western Ave.

18 Seconds of Not Much 112

2008-11-10T21:48:00.000-08:00

Rain, Western & Elliott.

18 Seconds of Not Much 111

2008-10-18T17:04:00.000-07:00

Waterfront trail, along Alaskan Way.

18 Seconds of Not Much 110

2008-10-09T22:36:00.000-07:00

Seagulls, waterfront.

18 Seconds of Not Much 109

2008-10-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

Waterfront container crane in the fog.

18 Seconds of Not Much 108

2008-10-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

Police horse and pedestrian on Occidental Ave.

18 Seconds of Not Much 107

2008-09-30T21:47:00.000-07:00

Self-portrait, Olympic Sculpture Park.

18 Seconds of Not Much 106

2008-09-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

The arrival of the monorail, Seattle Center.

18 Seconds of Not Much 105

2008-09-27T12:39:00.000-07:00

On and off ramps from the Alaskan Way Viaduct, from Alaskan Way.

18 Seconds of Not Much 104

2008-09-25T20:40:00.000-07:00

Seals, Seattle Aquarium.

18 Seconds of Not Much 103

2008-09-22T21:54:00.000-07:00

Elliott Ave., from the Olympic Sculpture Garden.

18 Seconds of Not Much 102

2008-09-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

Sara and Jill at the poker table, Rivoli Apartments.

18 Seconds of Not Much 101

2008-09-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Military funeral, Pocatello, Idaho.

18 Seconds of Not Much 100

2008-09-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

Apartment sign and balloons, Westlake & Virginia.

18 Seconds of Not Much 99

2008-09-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

Seaweed, waterfront.

18 Seconds of Not Much 98

2008-09-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

Freight train going through King Street Station, from 4th Ave. S.

18 Seconds of Not Much 97

2008-09-11T20:56:00.000-07:00

Sand shark, New Orleans Aquarium.

18 Seconds of Not Much 96

2008-09-08T21:57:00.000-07:00

Boise, Idaho, from I-84.

18 Seconds of Not Much 95

2008-09-08T21:55:00.000-07:00

Horse carriage, Occidental between Jackson & Main.

18 Seconds of Not Much 94

2008-09-02T22:26:00.000-07:00

Traffic, 2nd Ave. S & Jackson.

18 Seconds of Not Much 93

2008-08-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

Flamingos, Woodland Park Zoo.

18 Seconds of Not Much 92

2008-08-30T16:33:00.000-07:00

Drinking giraffe, San Francisco Zoo.

18 Seconds of Not Much 91

2008-08-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

Sailboat, waterfront.

18 Seconds of Not Much 90

2008-08-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

Waterfall Garden Park, 2nd Ave S & Main.

18 Seconds of Not Much 89

2008-08-26T21:53:00.000-07:00

Unseasonable weather on Occidental Ave., part 2.

18 Seconds of Not Much 88

2008-08-24T17:17:00.001-07:00

A trip over 5th Ave. on the monorail.

Note: Just a few short hours after I filmed this, the monorail broke down at Lenora St. They had firetrucks and the blue Monorail all helping out. I'm thinking that would have made a really cool grainy little movie.

18 Seconds of Not Much 87

2008-08-23T17:34:00.000-07:00

Fun Forest ferris wheel, Seattle Center.

18 Seconds of Not Much 86

2008-08-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

Crane removal, 4th Ave., between Virginia & Stewart.

18 Seconds of Not Much 85

2008-08-21T20:30:00.000-07:00

Unseasonable fall-like weather, Occidental Avenue.

18 Seconds of Not Much 84

2008-08-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

Copy machine, Pioneer Square.

18 Seconds of Not Much 83

2008-08-17T14:25:00.000-07:00

The wave tank, Seattle Aquarium.

18 Seconds of Not Much 82

2008-08-15T20:38:00.000-07:00

Tipsy puffin, Seattle Aquarium.

18 Seconds of Not Much 81

2008-08-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Salmon fry, Seattle Aquarium.

18 Seconds of Not Much 80

2008-08-11T16:39:00.000-07:00

West Seattle Bowl, 39th Ave SW & Oregon.

18 Seconds of Not Much 79

2008-08-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

The alley between Occidental Square & 2nd Ave. S.

18 Seconds of Not Much 78

2008-08-08T20:21:00.000-07:00

Pigeons, 1st & Pike.

18 Seconds of Not Much 77

2008-08-06T20:58:00.000-07:00

Stoic goats, Woodland Park Zoo.

18 Seconds of Not Much 76

2008-08-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

A busy Sunday at the Pike Place Market.

18 Seconds of Not Much 75

2008-08-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

The fountain at Fisher Plaza, 5th & Denny.

18 Seconds of Not Much 74

2008-08-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

TV show in between takes, Occidental, between Main & Jackson.

18 Seconds of Not Much 73

2008-07-31T19:26:00.000-07:00

Horse cops, on Occidental, between Main & Jackson.

18 Seconds of Not Much 72

2008-07-30T22:28:00.000-07:00

Dog playing fetch, Occidental, between Main & Jackson.

18 Seconds of Not Much 71

2008-07-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

John and Josh during a break at the Wednesday night Rivoli poker tournament.

18 Seconds of Not Much 70

2008-07-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

Crows, 1st Ave. N & Harrison.

18 Seconds of Not Much 69

2008-07-27T15:58:00.000-07:00

Chinese dragon, Seafair Torchlight Parade, 4th & Virginia.

18 Seconds of Not Much 68

2008-07-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

Sleeping bum, on Blanchard between 1st & 2nd.

18 Seconds of Not Much 67

2008-07-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

Gay Pride parade, 4th & Blanchard.

18 Seconds of Not Much 66

2008-07-22T23:16:00.000-07:00

Donkey, Woodland Park Zoo.

18 Seconds of Not Much 65

2008-07-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

Fynn, Rex and Antonio in their tank.

18 Seconds of Not Much 64

2008-07-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

Pioneer Square traffic, from Occidental & Jackson.

18 Seconds of Not Much 63

2008-07-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

Daisies, Ballard.

18 Seconds of Not Much 62

2008-07-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

Freight train 2, Olympic Sculpture Park.

18 Seconds of Not Much 61

2008-07-15T21:14:00.001-07:00

Freight train, Olympic Sculpture Park.

18 Seconds of Not Much 60

2008-07-14T23:00:00.000-07:00

Jesus shouter, 5th & Pine.

18 Seconds of Not Much 59

2008-07-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

The beach at Myrtle Edwards Park.

18 Seconds of Not Much 58

2008-07-10T23:22:00.000-07:00

Dancing women, Occidental Square.

18 Seconds of Not Much 57

2008-07-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

The Belltown running of the bull, 2nd & Blanchard.

18 Seconds of Not Much 56

2008-07-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

The Space Needle, from Myrtle Edwards Park.

18 Seconds of Not Much 55

2008-07-05T13:21:00.000-07:00

More 4th of July fireworks from Myrtle Edwards Park.

18 Seconds of Not Much 54

2008-07-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

Elliott Bay 4th of July fireworks from Myrtle Edwards Park.

18 Seconds of Not Much 53

2008-07-04T15:45:00.000-07:00

Toyota dealer, 8th & Blanchard.

18 Seconds of Not Much 52

2008-07-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

A Greek freighter being loaded at the Elliott Bay Grain Terminal.

18 Seconds of Not Much 51

2008-07-02T12:34:00.000-07:00

Roasting weenies, Ballard.

18 Seconds of Not Much 50

2008-07-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

I-5 Southbound, from the Denny overpass.

18 Seconds of Not Much 49

2008-07-01T16:44:00.000-07:00

I-5 Northbound, from the Denny overpass.

18 Seconds of Not Much 48

2008-06-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

Reilly the dog, Snohomish.

18 Seconds of Not Much 47

2008-06-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

Neon sign, Pike Place Market.

18 Seconds of Not Much 46

2008-06-29T01:22:00.000-07:00

Newspaper boxes, 2nd & Blanchard.

18 Seconds of Not Much 45

2008-06-27T17:11:00.000-07:00

Another set of escalators at Pacific Place.

18 Seconds of Not Much 44

2008-06-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

Jeaux the kitten, West Seattle.

18 Seconds of Not Much 43

2008-06-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

Approaching downtown from the south on 99.

18 Seconds of Not Much 42

2008-06-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

The reverse side of the Pike Place Market sign.

18 Seconds of Not Much 41

2008-06-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

18 Seconds of Not Much 40

2008-06-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

Cypress swamp, Houma, Louisiana.

18 Seconds of Not Much 39

2008-06-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

Belltown garbage detail, 2nd & Blanchard.

18 Seconds of Not Much 38

2008-06-19T18:58:00.000-07:00

Storm drain, 3rd & Lenora.

18 Seconds of Not Much 37

2008-06-19T18:51:00.000-07:00

The big, new building at 2nd & Pike, from the waterfront.

18 Seconds of Not Much 36

2008-06-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

Ferry boat, from the Western Ave. sky bridge.

18 Seconds of Not Much 35

2008-06-17T17:24:00.000-07:00

Window washer, Westlake & Virginia.

18 Seconds of Not Much 34

2008-06-16T16:55:00.000-07:00

The incredibly lame fountain part of the Chief Sealth statue, 5th & Denny.

18 Seconds of Not Much 33

2008-06-15T18:43:00.000-07:00

More Belltown wind, from my living room window, 2nd & Blanchard.

18 Seconds of Not Much 32

2008-06-15T18:37:00.000-07:00

One of my crazy neighbors from the El Rey, 2nd & Blanchard.

18 Seconds of Not Much 31

2008-06-13T16:38:00.000-07:00

The talapia tank at Uwajimaya.

18 Seconds of Not Much 30

2008-06-12T17:14:00.000-07:00

Caution tape in front of a pile of bricks, Myrtle Edwards Park.

18 Seconds of Not Much 29

2008-06-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

The atrium at Pacific Place from the 3rd floor.

18 Seconds of Not Much 28

2008-06-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

Flags on the Bell Street Pier, Waterfront.

18 Seconds of Not Much 27

2008-06-08T12:55:00.000-07:00

Fun Forest kiddie ride, Seattle Center.

18 Seconds of Not Much 26

2008-06-07T17:19:00.000-07:00

Geese and pigeons, South Lake Union.

18 Seconds of Not Much 25

2008-06-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

Wind blowing a tarp, Vine Street, between 1st & 2nd.

18 Seconds of Not Much 24

2008-06-05T16:34:00.000-07:00

South Lake Union Marina, Westlake & Broad.

18 Seconds of Not Much 23

2008-06-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

An escalator at Pacific Place.

18 Seconds of Not Much 22

2008-06-04T13:08:00.000-07:00

A neighborhood crow, at 4th & Denny.

18 Seconds of Not Much 21

2008-06-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

Basement poker game, the Rivoli Apartments.

18 Seconds of Not Much 20

2008-06-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

The beach at Myrtle Edwards Park.

18 Seconds of Not Much 19

2008-06-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

Manhole cover, Waterfront.

18 Seconds of Not Much 18

2008-06-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

The prawn tank at Uwajimaya.