Essential March

Essential viewing:
- "Blindness" is the second English speaking feature from Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles. Like his previous films "City of God" and "The Constant Gardener", the focus is still on people in extreme surroundings. It's an interesting thriller with an apocalyptic feel fitting for the director. It may turn out a little over ambitious, but should still be appreciated for trying to be different.
- Director John Patrick Shanley is hard to figure out. His first outing was the extremely dark comedy "Joe Versus The Volcano" nearly twenty years ago and now he is back with the award friendly "Doubt". It may still be better served in its original stage play format, but this is still engaging stuff with top notch performances. And more proof that Meryl Streep is still the finest actress of her generation.
- After the breakout of cable television a few years ago, featuring shows like "The Sopranos" and "Sex In The City" it is refreshing to see there is still room for long time running network shows like "24". Now in its seventh season, it may have lost some of its original impact, but with Kiefer Sutherland still breathing fire in his now sure to be signature role, this is still great fun and exilarating television.

Essential listening:
- "Kicks" is the title of Scottish band 1990s second album. After their wonderfully welcome debut "Cookies" in 2007, one might label this as simply more of the same. But with cracking tunes, terrific lyrics and songs that are just dying to be performed live, its the kind that makes you want to dance around your living room while shouting to your neighbours; "Don't you just love pop music!" Completely irresistible.
- The Gaslight Anthem is a group of New Jersey rockers kickin' it old school. Their second full lenght album "The '59 Sound" is a joy from start to finish. Clearly inspired by heroes such as Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty, this is rock music in its purest form. Not pretending to be anything they're not, simply trying to make you feel good!
- Washington is a norwegian band that has been floating below the radar for several years. With more success outside the borders of their own country than within, they are still a secret to many. Now with the release of their third album "Rouge/Noir", (three usually being the maximum number of albums a band is allowed to release before being labeled a flop or a hit) it is impossible to imagine they will remain a secret for much longer. A bit more edgy and instrumental than their previous records, this is still musical melancholy that should be cherished by anyone with a heartbeat. Their third, and arguably finest album to date.

Broken Angel

Last year I received a wonderful gift from someone in my family. It was a decorative glass angel, complete with wings and holding a star. I placed it on my window sill, thinking it would be a perfectly safe place for it to stand. However, the first time I opened my window, the wind blew it over and broke off one of its wings. I was upset, but still thought the thing looked nice so I kept it, but placed it more in the corner, away from the wind and in safe surroundings. But the other day I managed to knock the poor thing over myself, breaking its last and only wing. Now the thing is surely destroyed and ready for its final resting place in the garbage can, but I think it looks even cooler now. There is something poetic about having an angel without wings standing in my window.

Heia TIL!

Last weekend the top norwegian football league, Tippeligaen, started its season. And as always, my heart and soul roots for the team of my hometown Tromsø. We've kept all our players from last year, have a new manager and by some act of miracle we have signed Mark Dempsey as the new manager of talent development. Dempsey was in charge of educating and managing the young talents in Manchester United, and is now gonna help out in the northernmost club in a top football league. How did that happen? Who cares, it's bliss! Although we kicked off the season with a modest 1-1 draw away against Aalesund, I still believe this could be one of the best seasons in the club's history. And with our smashing third place from last year, we'll even get a stab at the UEFA cup this season!

Here we go! Heia TIL!

Shock Value

Last week in Winnenden, Germany there was a shooting at a local school. A seventeen year old boy shot and killed fifteen people before taking his own life. It was a horrible tragedy and it was featured in every news show for the following days. Now, with the high number of news websites and TV networks, news from the event travelled the world rapidly. Details on the city, the school, the victims and most of all the shooter were being distributed through various channels quickly. Sadly, events like these happen quite often and there is never a lack of information coming from the news. But over the course of the weekend something else appeared on all major news websites.
After the shooting, the gunman was followed and surrouned by police at a nearby parking lot. He fired off several rounds, before turning the gun on himself. This was filmed by a bystander with a mobile phone camera, and is now featured on most news websites. By clicking on headlines such as "The Gunman's Final Shot", "His Last Moments" and "This Is Where It Ended", the audience can watch the final minutes of this persons life. In my opinion this is both obscene and wrong.
By reading the articles and seeing the photographs there is more than enough information for the reader or audience to understand what has occurred. You get nothing more from seeing what actually happened, through the lense of a grainy mobile phone camera. It was a tragedy that struck the victims, their families, the community of the city and the whole nation of Germany. And in the end, it was also a personal tragedy for the boy responsible. To show video footage of a person taking his own life can never be classified as "news". It is morally irresponsible and disrespectful, not just for those involved in the event but also towards the audience. There is no reason for such a thing to be shown for anything other than shock value.

There is a new term that is being used frequently in several English speaking news channels like CNN, BBC and Sky News. Before or after a major event, such as a top politician's speech, a televised public demonstration or the marking of a national or global occasion, the reporter might say something like "This will certainly be a big YouTube moment" or "There were plenty of YouTube moments". This website, where all videos imaginable are availbe at your fingertips has become an institution. If there is something you want to see, or something you want to see again and again you can always find it.
But there are still certainly things that do not need to be seen.

"A Possible Song"

this sight is worth a million words
it grinds you down it sinks like a stone
streetlights and covered tracks
every name is another possibility

a little less every night
it fills you up and beats them down
the best has gone away this time
this next corner could be the one

get the car hit the gas
the road is crowded with strangers
over this hilltop you know this place
speed up i think i heard a sound

these words could be for you tonight
a misplaced poem or a possible song
never show it to anyone
swear tonight this time

this time this time

Bloopers

Last year I made a short film called "A Helping Hand". My friend Anders, the photographer and editor on the film, has put together a nice little blooper reel from the shoot, which took place over a few days last summer. It features the actors, Kenneth and Kristina, our sound recordist Ane, myself and the voice of Anders struggling behind the camera.
This gives you a good idea of the small size of the production and how it was really just a group of friends having some fun.

"Pretenders and Clowns"

a cry or a question
is there a reason to believe
does it matter where you come from
a life alone is still a life

pitch black midnight
the radio keeps saying
everything is going to be alright
a light will get lost in here

pretenders and clowns fall together
letting go will be the easy part
speak up my quiet friend
this pain will never be real