All posts in: Vancouver

05 Dec 2011

In 2009, I was just about ready to give up on my MTV and throw in the towel for good. Frustrated by a successful season of guidos and guiedettes, I had lost any hope that I had in the network to bring in shows that would speak to my generation. What I wanted to see was real people sparking motivation and inspiration among young adults my age. As a sophomore in college back then, I felt comfortable in my routine of going to class, going to my job, and writing for this blog, but is that all that makes up a life? That’s not all I wanted to make up MY life. Life is too short. It’s too short to do the things you hate because you have to. It’s too short to not take the risks on things that you want to do. Are we using our time wisely? That is essentially what The Buried Life is all about.

The four guys from Victoria, BC made up their list of 100 things they wanted to do before they died and after doing so, I imagine that they just shrugged their shoulders and asked, “Why not?” The guys have crossed off 75% of their list and have added more items expanding their list past 100. I have to also note that their list includes things like: “Crash a party at the Playboy mansion,” “Play basketball with President Obama,” and Deliver a baby” among other things. And guess what? They’ve done it. They have traveled through Canada and America in a purple bus named Penelope crossing things off their list, but their project isn’t just for them. Every time they achieve something from their list, they help another person cross something off of theirs.

Having the opportunity to interview The Buried Life guys was something that I have wanted for Yow Yow! even before the show had aired. I was blown away by their project and have a great deal respect for them and what their doing. Spending the day with them when they were here at Seattle University is an experience that I will never forget. They are the type of guys that you would want as your friends and they are exactly the same in real life as they are on their television series. Below is the transcribed interview that I had with Buried Life cast members Ben Nemtin and Duncan Penn, which originally started as just audio using my FlipCam until the guys decided that they wanted to film each other back and forth answering the questions. If you’re wondering why the camera’s so jerky and the footage is so raw – that’s why! It’s cause it wasn’t planned. From the interview you’ll learn who is the messiest to live with, what the guys would be doing if they weren’t pursuing The Buried Life and what is in store for them next.

courtesy: MTV

Q: First off, I’d like to welcome you to our campus and thank you guys so much for being here!

Ben: Thank you.

Duncan: Thanks for having us.

Q: It’s been almost two years since we were first introduced to you by MTV and the project has definitely been going on for much longer than that. What did this journey look like before you guys had the television series in terms of funding, transportation and support from your family and friends?

Ben: I would say that it’s changed in terms of exposure, but we try to keep it as close to how we started as humanely possible. We made a commitment to each other when we started the show that we were going to do our best not to change anything and so we’ve had to keep each other in check, but we have the same crew. We’re in control of the show. We edit it and we choose the music and we hire everybody. We’re really lucky to be able to do all of that. Our mantra is that we make stuff that we think our friends would like and that’s what we’ve always done and so that’s what we try to stick to.

Q: You guys are obviously pretty close friends, but close friends or best friends don’t always make the best roommates. Was it tough to be on the road for so long? Did you guys ever get on each other’s nerves?

Duncan: Well, Jonnie and I are brothers, but we’re all like brothers and we fight like brothers. It’s actually unbelievable how well we do get along, I would say considering we lived in the back of a bus for so long. Dave’s really messy – as you can imagine, but we get along very well. That’s the thing – you know – we weren’t best friends coming into this. We met very serendipitously and have become very close and have been through a lot of big ups and huge downs together… in the trenches.

Q: I imagine sometimes this journey has to be difficult. I mean you’re meeting strangers along the way and everyone has a story to tell and sometimes those stories are really difficult to grasp and there are so many backgrounds – some emotional, like Sam. At the end of the day, what makes it all worth it for you?

Ben: I think what makes it worth it is just seeing the response and the impact it has on people that we’ll never meet – random emails from someone saying things like, “I was suicidal and I saw the show and now I’m not.” You get one of those and that makes it all sort of worth it. Also, we’re doing everything we’ve ever wanted to do. This kind of project has turned into our lives and that’s something that’s just really really cool.

Q: You guys obviously have great taste in music –

Duncan: Obviously.

Q: You were at Capitol Hill Block Party and you choose your own music for your show. Are there any up and coming bands that you would recommend for Quadstock?

Duncan: Yeah, Tupac. It’s just this up and coming band – a lot of urban stuff.

Ben: I really like The Tallest Man on Earth? He sounds exactly like Bob Dylan.

Q: This isn’t your first college tour, but I want to know what motivated you guys to have this college tour in the first place?

Duncan: You know what? We’ve been speaking at schools and universities from the very beginning. Ben and I – when we were first starting out – used to go speak to ESL classes at the local university for 40 bucks just to make some money and to talk about the project. But for us, the speaking part is really rewarding because it’s a chance to kind of talk…television is a very one-sided conversation – and going and meeting the people and actually asking the question, “What do you want to do before you die?” is a way to have a conversation and meet the people who are watching the show and are interested in the project. It’s been really rewarding to make those connections.

Q: Before you guys started this project, you were all students and you all had jobs, but if you weren’t doing The Buried Life, what would you be doing?

Ben: Oh that’s a good question! If we weren’t doing The Buried Life…

Duncan: I’d be an astronaut. Maybe an astronaut cowboy.

Q: Can you describe what that is?

Duncan: Yeah, it’s basically an astronaut. You seen cowboy movies?

Q: Uh…a couple.

Duncan: It’s basically like cowboys on the moon, but you’re an astronaut and you’re mostly just doing lassos in zero gravity. Full time.

Ben: And I would be something like nuclear physicist or a brain surgeon, uh something that uses a portion of my abilities, you know?

Duncan: A rocket sociologist.

Ben: A rocket scientist

Duncan: You’d be into rocket scientry.

Ben: Rocket surgery and stuff like that – and such.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKkq30uu1aQ]

Q: I noticed that the most recent item checked off your list was #116 Design a Shoe. It looks like you guys are expanding pass 100 so what does this mean? Have you already completed your 100 things off your list? Are you guys going to 200 now?

Duncan: That’s a good question; I’ve had a lot of people ask. The thing about the list is that it’s not necessarily about the 100 things. Things drop off the list; we add things to the list. It’s always been about going after the things that you’re truly passionate about so we’re always adding things to the list. Design a shoe was very exciting for us and that idea spawned from seeing the little kids walking around in their LA Gear’s that light up and being like, ‘Why can’t adults have sick light up shoes?’ and that is why we made those.

Q: In what ways has this experience affected the way you look at life today?

Ben: How is th- you mean The Buried Life?

Q: Yeah.

Ben: I think it’s totally changed our perspective. I mean – it’s change my perspective. The fact that you can just do whatever it is you want to do. There’s really nothing that you can’t do. If you work hard enough and you want it bad enough, you make it happen.

Q: I learned yesterday some kind of disappointing news that MTV would not be renewing your third season. What were your reactions to that and what plans do you have for The Buried Life in the future with or without MTV?

Ben: Good question. Well, we’ve been talking with MTV about it for awhile and we didn’t really want to make the same show again. And so we actually just signed a deal today with them to develop a new series so that’s why Dave and Jonnie are in Vancouver right now – they’re filming. Basically that happened today and we’re working with them to kind of reformat it and play with some stuff. So I mean, yeah, we’re not going anywhere. But it’s good because The Buried Life has always been stepping it up and going the next level so that’s what it is for us – it’s like what’s the next level for the show and that’s what we’re working on right now.

Q: Great, I’m glad to hear it. I have no doubt in your guys’ success and I think you guys are going to continue to do great things and inspire people all over the world.

Ben and Duncan: Thank you

Q: Are you still in contact with the people you’ve helped along your way?

Duncan: We’ve actually made some really close friends over the whole thing and it’s been a privilege to be a part of a lot of those stories – talking about Sam and Laban tonight. After the episode was finished, we had the privilege of watching their relationship as it kind of fostered. It’s funny, we just did four speaking engagements and we had somebody that was in the episode in each one of them – somebody that we had helped so we’re always seeing them and it’s pretty cool. And Ben’s really close with Lexi – who he helped in –

Ben: Minnesota

Duncan: Minnesota. Rochester, Minnesota.

Q: What was that one about again?

Ben: She wanted to make it okay for it to talk about depression in her hometown. And I met this rock and I helped the rock and we still – I’m in contact with it all the time.

Duncan: Yeah, the rock really wanted to rock and roll and so Ben uh –

Ben: …gave it a little nudge

Duncan: …gave it a little roll. It’s a true story.

*****

Thank you so much Ben and Duncan! We can’t wait to see what you guys do next and we hope to see you very soon!

17 Sep 2011

Live the Language

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know someone in college that wasn’t studying abroad. People choose where they go to college for a number of reasons and though it wasn’t mine, a huge deciding factor is study abroad opportunities. Not only are there plenty of opportunities to work abroad from the U.S, there are plenty of cultural exchange students in the U.S that come from abroad, while working as something like a Cultural Care Au Pair. Being an au pair allows students to work while they study abroad, and if you are planning of travelling to America to study, working as an au pair may be a great way to make some money while also meeting new people. I never studied abroad while in college and sometimes I kind of wish I had. Traveling, new experiences, meeting new people aren’t exactly things that scare me, but it wasn’t meant to be for me to go abroad while in school so I’m going to save some time for it when I finish…going abroad that is sans the studying.

This week, I came across a program called Education First. The program has been promoting themselves with a series of “Live the Language” short films that follow study abroad students as they embark on their travels in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Barcelona, Paris and a few other cities. The videos highlight some of the things a study abroad student might go through such as having a class, trying new food and experiencing the culture of the city.

My favorite below is Los Angeles.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/28786270]

Check out more videos and learn more about the program here.

16 Jun 2011

Make Love, Not War

Vancouver…really now?

And I’m not talking about what’s going on in the streets, but the fact that this rioting is over sports. Sports.

Source

12 Mar 2011

In the News…

– Gwen Stefani will be donating her custom-made John Galliano wedding gown to the Victoria and Albert Design Museum in London. [Source]

– Emmanuel Alt has debuted her first cover for Paris Vogue featuring Gisele Bundchen. [Source]

– Lady Gaga has designed a bracelet to support the relief efforts in Japan. [Source]

– David and Victoria Beckham are expecting a little girl! Finally! [Source]

– Olivia Wilde has filed for divorce from her husband Tao Ruspoli. The couple separated last month. [Source]

– The cast of Breaking Dawn have evacuated from their production set in Vancouver due to the tsunami warning. [Source]

– Lauryn Hill announces spring tour. [Source]

– Canadian actors Jay Baruchel and Allison Pill are now engaged. [Source]

– Ashlee Simpson was seen rebounding with soon-to-be ex-husband Pete Wentz’s friend. Sucha fail. [Source]

– Friends will be joining Nick at Nite’s lineup. [Source]

– Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel have broken up. I thought this would never happen. Justin and Mila please! [Source]

– Isla Fischer and Sascha Baron Cohen have finally revealed the name of their second daughter born last August: Elula Lottie Miriam Cohen. [Source]

– Greek actress Spencer Grammer is pregnant. Also, can we note that her father Kelsey Grammer’s new wife is just two years older than his daughter? Gross. [Source]

– A Mexican man has tattooed 82 images of Julia Roberts’ face onto his body. [Source]

– Bath & Body Works have created a new line of lotions, shower gels, and and other products dedicated to the Twilight franchise. I swear, I have a lotion that looks exactly like the one above, but I promise it’s not called Twilight Woods. Dumb. [1 2]

– Inspired by Charlie Sheen…the Tiger Blood energy drink. [Source]

– Ashley Olson and Justin Bartha have split. [Source]

– American Apparel CEO Dov Charney has been slapped with a $260 million lawsuit. [Source]

– Lilith Fair ends its run. [Source]

– 14-year old actress Chloe Moretz has admitted that she will probably have plastic surgery done someday by her plastic surgeon father. [Source]

– Billy Ray Cyrus will appear on The View on March 18th against daughter Miley’s wishes. [Source]

26 Dec 2010

Meat & Bread

This Vancouver eatery doesn’t beat around the bush. Meat & Bread is a sandwich shop located in the Gastown district on 370 Cambie Street at Victory Square serving up a selection of specialty sandwiches, brew, and a dessert that goes by the name of Bacon Maple Ice Cream Sandwich. YUM!

To check out more pictures of the restaurant, click here and to visit the official website: here.

21 Dec 2010

Meet: Euna Kho – Bearbot

She’s a design student by day and spinning turntables by night. At 21, Euna Kho is pretty much living the dream in New York City and making a name for herself. I’ve been in contact with her for nearly a year trying to get this interview with her, but let’s face it, the girl is busy. Euna has accomplished a great deal for her age having worked with Epiphany Media, Nylon Magazine, the Molecule, and now with her musical career taking off, it looks like she’ll never get a break (not like she would want one anyways.) Her life is fast-paced, but her achievements are impressive for a college junior. I can’t help but constantly wonder how she does it all. Euna is no local DJ. Last year, she performed at a celebration for the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver and at UCSD in San Diego in front of a crowd of 10,000 college students. Where she’ll be tomorrow, next week, or next month, who knows? Keep your ears open though because you won’t want to miss her.

Q: Euna, how old are you and where are you from?

Euna: I just turned 21 and I’m from New York City! I was born in South Korea, lived there until I was about 7 and then moved straight to the big apple!

Q: You’re a design student by day is that correct? And then a DJ by night, how do you make it work? I imagine your schedule must be incredibly busy.

E: I don’t really sleep. I’ll sleep when I’m dead! Plus, I love everything I do… so I have fun doing it. My schedules insane, but I enjoy every second of it! Life is too short to do something you don’t love!

Q: How long have you been doing this for and how did you get started?

E: I started producing music when I was very little. I used to use old school tape machines to record samples and play with my keyboard to make loops. When I was a child, I didn’t have much so the only cheap and fun thing I could do was make music and art!

As for making remixes, I got my first laptop right before I went to college and started mixing around with Garage Band and Logic Pro. I eventually found out about DJing with Ableton Live (around 3 years ago) and that’s when I started making mixes and playing live shows!

Q: I noticed that you also work with Epihany Media, Nylon Magazine, and the Molecule. Can you tell us about some of the things you do with them?

A: I worked at Epiphany and Nylon Mag in high school. I did a lot of photography and graphic design work for them. I currently work at the Molecule. It’s an awesome post- production studio. We make awesome visual effects for TV shows, commercials and films (especially explosions!)

Q: What’s a typical day for Euna Kho?

E: Work hard then party hard.

Q: How exactly did you come up with the name BEARBOT?

E: My moms a bear and my dads a robot.

Q: If you were to someday be given the title as Euna Kho, the girl version of Gregg Gillis of Girl Talk, how would you feel about that?

E: Girl Talk is awesome! I think his genre is more pop based and mine is more electro/hip hop based which puts us into different categories, but he’s a great inspiration and it would be an honor to be compared to him!

Q: Designing and music appear to be your biggest passions. I even noticed some of your mash up in your design videos too, how did you develop these hobbies and would you ever incorporate the two into a longer-lasting career? If so, how would you go about doing that?

E: I’ve always wanted to be a VJ (Video DJ) so I would mix live music and live videos at the same time. I also have this goal: producing an epic film that tells an epic story that I can project and sync to the music I mix live…but that’s a whole load of work and I’ll need more time to make it happen. Maybe when I graduate, I can start that mission…we’ll see!

Q: What are your top five albums of 2010?

E: This is a really hard one…I really like the new albums by Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Ghostland Observatory, Deadmau5, Big Boi, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifah … I’m probably missing huge albums/mixtapes that I freaked out about, but these albums/mixtapes were real dope!

Q: Tell us about your latest album Evocation.

E: Evocation basically means creating something new or imaginative re-creation. I really wanted to re-create the sound and feel of the mixes into something really dirty/heavy/bass to the face. I also chose that name because I’m bringing the original samples into a whole new genre of music, re-shaping it, re-forming it and sculpting it so that it fits in a different world.

Q: Do you mostly DJ around New York or do you do some traveling as well?

E: I used to DJ a lot just in NYC when I had residency at Webster Hall and then I started traveling around a lot and fell in love! This year I toured in Canada and played a bunch of random shows in the states. I’d love to go over the seas and go to crazy places like Australia, Japan and Europe but I gotta wait until I graduate!

Q: Where did your favorite performance take place and why was it your favorite?

E: My favorite performance probably took place at UCSD in San Diego. I headlined a show down there and around 10,000 people showed up! Everybody was dancing and having a good time. It was an amazing feeling to make 10,000 people move to the same tune.

I also loved playing for this rave in Canada a couple months ago and also, this private party I DJed at last week for the website Grooveshark.com. I met amazing people and got an amazing response from the crowd. I can’t really pick a favorite…those are my top three choices but all my shows have been amazing!

Q: Do you want to come perform in Seattle? Can we make this happen?

E: Absolutely! Hook me up with a school or a promoter and I am there!

Q: If you could collaborate or work with anyone, who would it be?

E: Oh man… if I could pick someone that is dead it would be the Notorious B.I.G… alive, I’d pick Pretty Lights or Wolfgang Gartner. They’re fucking amazing!

Q: I’ve worked with several bands in the past and sometimes my favorite part about seeing the contracts are going over the riders to see what ridiculous items bands want in their green room. If you could put together a rider, what would those items be?

E: 2 giant blow up cats… so I can throw ’em into the audience during my performance.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsaVFlNhsbo]

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?

E: Either on tour, meeting amazing people and partying with them OR sitting at a computer at some production studio in California OR chillin in space!

Q: What are you listening to these days?

E: I’ve been listening to a lot of dub-step lately. I love bass. Also, when you drop a dub-step song when everybody is drunk on the dance floor, people go bat shit insane. The response is always great.

Q: Where can we expect to see you next Euna? What’s in store for you as a design student and for BEARBOT?

E: If we can set up a show in Seattle, I’d love to come out and play for you. I was on my way to Vancouver a couple months ago and stopped by Seattle. You guys have awesome coffee and the vibe is really great. I would love to go out there again and see what the nightlife is like! Otherwise, I’ll be playing around at random schools and venues around the states. Look out for info on my website – www.bearbotmusic.com or become a fan on facebook and you can find out info there!

16 Sep 2010

Vancouver Woman admits to attacking herself with acid.

As a child you learn several lessons that include not to lie, cheat, or steal.

When you’re a teenager or even a child and someone does one of the above you say “Oh they’re just doing it for attention.” I’m always the person that tries to give people the benefit of the doubt. You don’t know the story – I mean this person could actually be the victim.

Did you follow that?

The reason why that entire thing doesn’t make sense is probably because I am in shock after finding out that Vancouver, Washington woman, Bethany Storro, who had had acid thrown in her face on August 30 lied about the incident and actually inflicted the acid on herself! She went on further to describe the “possible suspect” as an athletic African American woman with a slick ponytail and caused police officers to press on with this case until she finally came clean today.

Granted, the woman was in a “fragile mind state,” but where does she get off on making up such a thing? Ridiculous. Bethany Storro is being further investigated and will most likely be charged for this.

Source

07 Sep 2010

Vancouver tests out new speed bumps

…that look like children!

“In what sounds like a terrifying experience, the girl’s elongated form appears to rise from the ground as cars approach, reaching 3D realism at around 100 feet, and then returning to 2D distortion once cars pass that ideal viewing distance. Its designers created the image to give drivers who travel at the street’s recommended 18 miles per hour (30 km per hour) enough time to stop before hitting Pavement Patty–acknowledging the spectacle before they continue to safely roll over her.”

Source

31 Aug 2010

AMC Crime drama set in Seatte – not filmed in Seattle

I don’t know why it is, but I get so pumped when I hear of television series or movies filming in Seattle. The idea of it is exciting to me! I’m sure that’s how most people feel when something big comes to their hometown – except for Hollywood. That is as likely as rain is in Seattle.

The same network that brought you Mad Men, AMC, is creating a new crime drama set in Seattle. “The yet-to-be-titled crime drama “is based on the wildly successful Danish television series ‘Forbrydelsen’ and tells the story of the murder of a young girl and the subsequent police investigation,”

The cast and title for the show have not yet been released, but the filming will begin in Vancouver this fall. The show is set to be released sometime in 2011.

Source

13 Jul 2010

(212)

Every time I’m in Vancouver, I always make sure I stop by my favorite Gas Town district – home to beautiful, eclectic, and sometimes secretive boutiques. Back in June, I created a My Seatte: Fave Local Hot Spots post based on my favorite eateries, shops, and things to do in the city and I hope to someday soon create one for a My Vancouver:

Today, I’d like to spotlight the boutique and label (212) run by Anthony Castro and Scott Walhovd. This post was inspired by their feature on Fashionista this morning and after I saw it, I felt I needed to make a post about them too! They first opened their boutique back in 2005, but it wasn’t until the Fall of 2009 that the duo decided to create their own private label. Although they are based in Vancouver, their clothes can be found at nearly 30 retailers in North America including Brooklyn’s Dear Fieldbinder and at their own boutique.

Castro and Walhovd will also be moving back to New York this fall, and that makes me a little bit sad because I absolutely adore their Vancouver store. Hopefully, they can find someone to run it when they’re gone.