Herbert Midgley's Blog

It is the Year 2012!

2012-01-01T23:43:00.002-06:00

It is the Year 2012!

2012. The year is finally 2012. As the world all knows the Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012. Many have predicted what will happen in 2012.

So what will happen, know one knows for sure, however it is another year to live your life, enjoy what you have and try to better yourself. If this was the last year of humanity, did you do what you wanted to do?

2012 may be the same as every other year. Remember Y2K? Well all I can say is go out there and make this the best year you can. May you live in interesting times, well you do. And where is my Robot and Flying car?!

Looking towards 2012!

Here are some videos for you to watch!

It is The Year 2012!

The Year 2012 Predictions with Herbert Midgley

Who would You Rather Be King Henry VIII (1491-1547) or Yourself?

How To Be a Model with Herbert Midgley

Rockin' out of 2011 to 2012!!!

Five Million Views on YouTube

2011-12-22T10:31:00.002-06:00

Five Million Views on YouTube

I know I am not the first person on YouTube to get Five Million Views, however I am still proud that someone in deep East Texas could get that many views. Think about, I'm in a town with a population with about 30,000 people, not Hollywood, not New York City, I'm in Deep East Texas!

Years ago before streaming media sites like YouTube, I hosted a few short videos on my web site, www.herbertmidgley.com. Now almost no one has a web site and everyone can post videos online. Amazing how fast technology changes.

At first I used Google Video and Stupid Videos. On Stupid Videos, my song, "I'm a Nerd" got my first million views, this was my first brush with internet fame on the web. Then I heard about YouTube on a podcast, remember when podcast were popular? I tried YouTube for the first time within six months of it going live, it was fast and worked well even if I thought the name was stupid at the time. Well it is still a dumb name when you think about it, we are just used to hearing it everyday when someone has a stupid video for us to view.

Back then I believe the upload limit was 100 megs, and you could have videos as long as you wanted. So I could post hour lectures of me teaching. Sadly people were bootlegging TV shows ans movies and YouTube reduce the limit of videos down to ten minutes pretty quick. For me, since I do some long educational videos this was a downer, however most of my work was under ten minutes, so I stayed with the YouTube.

YouTube realized that there are people like me that could create all of their own content, and they started the Director Account. I applied, showed them my educational videos as well as my short films and I got a Director's Account, so now I was one of the few that could upload videos longer than ten minutes. Sadly the Director's Account is gone, I'm grandfathered in, you have to become a Partner to post videos longer than 15 minutes today.

A few years back I was challenged by a friend if I could post a video on YouTube everyday for a year, I looked at my friend and thought about it and said I could. I don't think my friend believed that anyone could do that, so about three years later I am still at it, I post a video everyday to the YouTube.

YouTube always had the notice when you uploaded a video that you had permission and own all of the copyright to every video you submitted. I took this every seriously, I guess most did not. If I didn't have 100% copyright ownership, I would not upload that video. I may not have the most videos on the web, however I bet I have the most videos that I hold 100% of the copyrights to. As of today, I have 1,761 videos on YouTube. Another one is coming later today.

So will I stop posting a videos everyday once I hit 2,000 videos? I'm not sure. It has been an interesting ride so far to see what I can do. A challenge to figure out something cool to watch with out repeating myself, which I am sure I have done.

Since I can make a short film so fast, write a song quickly too or talk about something since I'm a teacher, I can always make a video to post on the YouTube. Perhaps I should take a day off once I get over five million views and have 2,000 videos on YouTube. You can count on the Ironman of YouTube, Herbert Midgley, the Internet Legend, to always Take Out the Trash!

Here is looking towards another five million views, thank you for watching and helping me create a new art form, the Internet Video. Andy Warhol was right about the 15 minutes of fame, now it's not just the minutes of fame, on the web your fame could last as long as the there is an internet. I'm proud to be The Internet Legend!

Here are a few of my favorite videos so far:
"I Am A Robot" Music Video
How to Pump Gas
How to Make a Quarter Worth More
"I'm a Nerd" - Where Buddy Holly Recorded at
"Buddy and Herb" Documentary
"I'm a Nerd" Live at Nacstock 11-8-2008
Taking Out The Trash Part 16 - Slow Motion
Hippie Chick Girl (Music Video)
"Your Crime, My Crime" 400th Music Video
4:40 - (Avant-garde Art Film)
Wicked Cool Super Fast Bike Stop by the Internet Legend
Things That Control Us (Art Movie) Black & White Version
How to Eat an Apple
Cooking With Herb (Peanut Butter - Cereal - Kool-Aid Meal Episode)
How to Speak Klingon - Qapla' - Success
The Timetorians (Final Cut)
Prank Call
Thief

Art Movements in Silent Horror Films

2011-12-20T00:32:00.003-06:00

Click here to see the paper with photos.
http://herbertmidgley.com/ArtMovtinSilentHorror.html

Art Movements in Silent Horror Films
Herbert Midgley
Stephen F. Austin State University

Abstract
Silent horror films were made by filmmakers that were influenced by previous and contemporary art movements. Many of the filmmakers hired artists to help design sets as well as used lighting techniques that can be directly traced back to the old master painters. Since silent horror films were made concurrently with many modern art movements, both had influences on each other. Cross-pollination of style and techniques can be witness as the silent horror film genre developed. German Expressionism, Dadaism and Surrealism are art movements that helped silent films take their audiences to places they had never been before outside of their fears and nightmares.

Art Movements in Silent Horror Films

Think back to the first time you saw a horror film. Then think back to the first time you saw a silent horror film. Was it Nosferatu, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Hands of Orlac, The Cabinet of Caligari, The Phantom of the Opera or Metropolis? Did these films have a greater effect on you? Was it because there was a better story? Could it be that even though modern films have fancy special effects, Computer-generated imagery (CGI), and millions of dollars that major Hollywood films use today, these modern films can not compare to art masterpiece films like Metropolis, The Cabinet of Caligari, The Phantom of the Opera and Nosferatu, made in the 1910’s and 1920’s.
Why is that? What is it about these films that are special as compared to modern horror films? Could it be that visually you are drawn into them because they relate to previous art movements? Cinematography combined all of the arts: writing, acting, music, and visual arts. All of the arts work together to make a film a total artwork. What is it about horror that makes this genre popular in many creative endeavors?
Horror has always been honourable coinage in the currency of the arts. In literature its presence is obvious. It also has its place in painting, from the infernos of Hieronymous Bosch to Fuseli’s nightmares, the silent-screaming faces of Munch, and the terrifying figures depicted and dissected by Francis Bacon. (Butler, 1970, p.8)

Edvard Munch’s The Scream (1893)
Visual art, literature, music as well as film all have works that use horror and mystery which help audiences relate to the events outside of reality. In many ways, horror can take the viewer out of reality. Silent horror films took the audience even more out of the real world since you had to read the dialogue instead of just hearing it like you world in reality.
Silent horror films were more dreamlike, because the audience could see people talk and you did not hear them speak. You only see the actors mouthing words. The audience would have to read the intertitles to understand what there were saying. Reality was burred with the surreal images projected on the silver screen. Silent horror films were full of surrealism, mystery and horror, which the audience would clearly understand a difference between the dream like images they saw on the screen and after the film was over, what was real.
They argue that because of these characteristics silent film has an uncanny, dreamlike quality. Its representations are ghostly, an uncomfortable reminder of human mortality, and carry with them a kind of psychological shock. (Kalinak, 1992, p. 44-45)
Silent films were visually two-dimensional, mostly black and white, at times with some tinting and toning, moving pictures. Since this was still a relatively new visual medium, audiences looked to what they knew and could relate to, dreams. Horror was something that most audiences would not want to experience in the real world, however watching these images on the silver screen was an escape from some of the horror that they may have encountered in their day to day lives.
Since film has been around for over hundred years, are the films today better then those of the past? With the high definition cameras and computer graphics, which can make any character come to life, are these film too realistic? Does 3D make a film better or is it just a fad?
Perhaps today modern films lack the art, creativity and even the emotion of these early films. Making a modern film almost always goes back to making a profit. Early filmmakers obviously wanted to make money as well, however when they are viewed today, there appears to be another agenda, making art. This is especially true in many of the European films. Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Caligari relied heavily on the art style of Germany Expressionism.
German expressionist painters used distorted color as well as scale and space to convey their feelings about what they saw. The Great War, World War I, scarred many of these artists for good. After World War I, German expressionism also became a protest movement as well as a style of art, which influenced Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Caligari. (Collins, 2011)

Frame from Robert Wiene’s Hands of Orlac
In The Hands of Orlac, the lost of hands is symbolic for the lost of limbs as well as life in World War I, German expressionism is used in an antiwar statement through out the film as well as the use of lighting and shadows that adds to this dark story. In The Cabinet of Caligari, the use of lighting, shadows and sets captures the visual elements of the German expressionism.
The Dada movement had an influence in silent horror films since it was a reaction to and a protest against the barbarism and horror of World War I. Art is now anti-art. Le Retour A La Raison (1923) by Man Ray as well as Rhythmus 21 (1921-1924) by Hans Richter are some examples of Dadaism in film.
Surrealism is used in early silent horrors films. Entr'acte (1924) by René Clair and Un Chien Andalou (1929) by the Spanish director Luis Buñuel and artist Salvador Dalí show elements of surrealism that will be used in silent horror films.
If you go back to the beginnings of films, magicians used this new technology in their stage acts. One of the earliest silent horror films is Georges Méliès Le Manoir Du diable (The Manor of the Devil) made in 1896. Magicians have always found uses for new technology to improve their magic routines. Since mystery is a major part of magic, it would make sense that the first magic films had horror elements.
The history of special effects begins even before the invention of the camera itself. During the 1700s, magicians utilized many techniques to perform optical illusions and astound their audiences. These techniques formed the foundations of special effects. One of the most used effects in magic shows during this period was the summoning of the dead - spiritism. A small box with a light source and a semi-transparent slide was used to project images of historical figures onto columns of smoke or billowing cloth. This gave a ghostly motion to the image, frightening audiences to the point that several magicians were jailed for their satanic work. (Carrera, 2003)
Since many of these early magicians’ films dealt with many horror themes, magicians use art techniques, which follow some of the major art movements. Surrealism and magic share the same spirit in many ways. Mystery and juxtaposition of objects are common in any magic show as it is in Surrealism art.
Once the film genre became popular, no expense would be spared to encourage movie audiences to purchase a ticket. Movies and the movie theaters and palaces they were shown at grew larger and larger and grander and grander to aid the film’s escapism. This would lead to Hollywood’s golden era.
In the golden days of Hollywood, movie theaters were nothing short of grand palaces. Attending a movie was a chance for audiences to escape dreary reality, nestled in the luxury of velvet seats and tapestries, ornate walls, and soaring ceilings.
"To go to a movie in those days is really like an event," says Bruce Carwood, who owns Metropolitan Theaters in Los Angeles. "It was a Saturday night out. And you would go out for dinner. And you would go to this big glorious cathedral. (Hattori, 1998)
Surrealism art was an escape from the realism that many art movements embraced. Looking at art that was not based on reality was a change of pace for audiences. When films, especially silent horror films came to the silver screen across towns all over the world, the viewer could step away from their world for a few minutes to enter their nightmares.
It is difficult to define Surrealism. Surrealism is a style of art and literature developed in the early twentieth century, focusing on the subconscious and non-rational significance of imagery using automatism, chance effects with unexpected juxtapositions. Breton wrote the Surrealist Manifesto in 1924, he defined Surrealism as:
SURREALISM, n. Psychic automatism in its pure state, by which one proposes to express -- verbally, by means of the written word, or in any other manner -- the actual functioning of thought. Dictated by the thought, in the absence of any control exercised by reason, exempt from any aesthetic or moral concern.
ENCYCLOPEDIA. Philosophy. Surrealism is based on the belief in the superior reality of certain forms of previously neglected associations, in the omnipotence of dream, in the disinterested play of thought. It tends to ruin once and for all all other psychic mechanisms and to substitute itself for them in solving all the principal problems of life. The following have performed acts of ABSOLUTE SURREALISM: Messrs. Aragon, Baron, Boiffard, Breton, Carrive, Crevel, Delteil, Desnos, Eluard, Gérard, Limbour, Malkine, Morise, Naville, Noll, Péret, Picon, Soupault, Vitrac. (Breton, 1924)
André Breton’s Surrealist Manifesto defines Surrealism. Surrealism and dreamlike images are natural in horror and mystery cinema. Other artist, writers and filmmakers adopted Surrealism and Surrealism techniques in their own art.
The manifesto quickly acquired the status of an independent text, delineating the goals and challenges of surrealism, even if its insistence on the supremacy of the poetic image was due to its originally intended application. (Durozoi, 2002)
Silent horror films are filled with dreamlike, fantasy, unexpected juxtaposed images as well as bizarre visuals since the first films were made. Going back to Thomas Edison’s Frankenstein (1910) to even earlier with the Georges Méliès Le Manoir Du diable (1896), audiences saw images that they had only previously saw in dreams and the occasional nightmare.
The revolt against realism can take an opposite direction, that of surrealism, and that surrealism and retinal or sensory art are indeed opposite directions was clear even in the twenties; surrealism was never friendly to purely abstract or nonrepresentational painting. That the familiar and prefabricated perceptual reality is not the final horizon in which men must live can be shown best not by removing the conditions for all genuine perception, and thereby plunging the spirit into pure sensation…. (Earle, 1987, p. 35)
In Georges Méliès Le Manoir Du diable (1896) there are surreal images of the devil. Up to that point in history, audiences would have had to look at some macabre painting or print, like the work of Francisco Goya, to see these grim images.

Frame from Georges Méliès Le Manoir Du diable (1896)

The frame from Georges Méliès Le Manoir Du diable (1896), there is Mephistopheles on the screen. This image is not on a flat piece of paper, it is moving on a screen. The first audiences that saw these short films by Méliès must have been hunted by the moving images and seeing Mephistopheles doing magical motions. Going from never seeing a motion picture to witnessing the Mephistopheles behaving in demonic manner surely was breath taking back in 1896!

Frame from Thomas Edison’s Frankenstein (1910)

Thomas Edison’s Frankenstein (1910) is one of the first Silent Horror films to have a monster. The sight of Edison’s Frankenstein, was disturbing American audiences. Perhaps some images are better left to the minds eye while reading a novel for the American public in 1910. Horror would have to foster in Europe before American audiences grew to accept horror on the silver screen.
Dadaism is the next part of experimental films that lead to the path of to silent horror films. The Dada movement that began in Zurich, Switzerland, grew from the horrors of World War I. Death, disfigurement, fighting in mud holes over small patches of land and the terrifying use of mustard gas, led artists to question what was art and the meaning of art. The Dada movement concentrated its anti-war politics through a rejection of the previous art movements by creating anti-art. Nothing makes any sense so art should not make any sense as well. The Dada artist wanted to ridicule the notion of what art is to show the worthlessness of the modern day. Here is the first part of the Hugo Ball’s Dada Manifesto, which defines Dada:
Dada is a new tendency in art. One can tell this from the fact that until now nobody knew anything about it, and tomorrow everyone in Zurich will be talking about it. Dada comes from the dictionary. It is terribly simple. In French it means "hobby horse". In German it means "good-bye", "Get off my back", "Be seeing you sometime". In Romanian: "Yes, indeed, you are right, that's it. But of course, yes, definitely, right". And so forth. (Ball, 1916)
Dada was art without art. Events that were going on effected Dadaism. “Dada world war without end, dada revolution without beginning, dada, you friends and also-poets, esteemed sirs, manufacturers, and evangelists.” (Ball, 1916) Question everything and everyone. The world was falling apart, so should art.

Frame from Man Ray’s Le Retour A La Raison (1923)

Man Ray’s Le Retour A La Raison (1923), a short Dada film, uses animated textures, Rayographs and a nude female torso shown at random times, without a narrative story. How does this Dada film relate to silent horror films? It goes back to the political statement of the horror of war. In war there are no monsters, save the human ones that are against you. The enemy could be clear or hidden. Maybe no enemy at all would come, perhaps it would strike you down when you fell asleep in a trench breathing in mustard gas. Life and horror are unknown, random like this Dada film.

Frame from Hans Richter’s Rhythmus 21 (1921-1924)
Hans Richter’s Rhythmus 21(1921-1924) is a short Dada film that uses geometric shapes appearing in and out of frame. This film is very abstract. Like what the terror in the mind’s eye sees when thinking about some monster about to chase you into a corner.

Frame from Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí’s Un Chien Andalou (1929)

Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí’s Un Chien Andalou (1929) is a Surrealist short film. Un Chien Andalou has one of the most horrific scenes captured on film, in the film you see a man using a razor blade to slice on a female’s eyeball. Happily it was only a goat’s or lamb’s eye, and not a human eye, however with the power of editing, it looks real. This film has horror elements that are still shocking to this day to view.
From the frame of Un Chien Andalou, there is a hand with ants coming out the skin. Surely these images have only appeared in the dreams and nightmares of the Parisian audiences that saw this film in 1929. Horror in a visceral form materializes on the silver screen.

Frame from René Clair’s Entr'acte (1924)
René Clair’s Entr'acte (1924) is a short twenty-minute Surrealist film. Unrelated images in a dream like manner, using imagery that is both fascinating and disturbing. Inanimate objects spring to life as well as images of a ballerina from the feet up are surreal from beginning to end. These Surreal films remove you from reality, as does the terror in the minds of the silent horror film audiences.
The frame of Entr'acte, we see upside down eyes juxtapose with another image. Mystery and the unknown are paramount to silent horror films. Silent horror films that used elements of surrealism could increase the horror that audience saw on screen.
Hollywood films that had horror elements tended to be based more on theatrical works or literature. They also were more likely to have comedic elements as well. By using mystery and comedy together, audiences would not get too terrified and they could sell more movie tickets.
European horror films could be more shocking. World War I and all of the horrors that are associated with any war, influenced the Dada and Surrealism art movements. Since Germany was affected more than other European countries, it makes sense that expressionism would come from this war torn country.
More than any other national movement in the history of film, German Expressionism was an answer to the grim reality of daily life. But it was not so much a direct relay of life to art. Rather, it was more of a filter; a way of assembling the clutter of post-war Germany to coherence on the screen. It was a way to represent and bring across the reality few could imagine. Sex murders, depression, veterans ghoulishly mangled in the war, the loss of innocence and complete rejection of the past were the things the German people dealt with during the post-war years of 1919 – 1929 (commonly called the Weimar Period in film history). The films produced in Germany during those years captured the cry of a broken nation and a people horrified by the every-day. (Kolar, 2011)
Germany Expressionism was part of a larger Expressionist movement in north and central European culture. Germany was poor and had to face an unstable government and economy. Since filmmakers did not have large sums of money, they used symbolic metaphors and lighting techniques in their films.
The first Expressionist films ‘Kammerspielfilm’ were created between the wars. Films like The Golem (1920), Destiny (1921), and The Last Laugh (1924), were highly symbolic and deliberately surrealistic portrayals of filmed stories. The first Expressionist films made up for a lack of lavish budgets by using set designs with wildly non-realistic, geometrically absurd sets, along with designs painted on walls and floors to represent lights, shadows, and objects. The plots and stories often dealt with madness, insanity, betrayal, and other "intellectual" topics. Later films like Metropolis (1927) and M (1931), by Fritz Lang films, are often categorized as part of the brief history of German Expressionist. (Rampage, 2007)

Frame from F. W. Murnau’s Nosferatu
F. W. Murnau’s Nosferatu uses the shadows and lighting techniques that classic Germany Expressionism films are known for today. From the frame of Nosferatu, there is a monster creeping in the shadows in silhouette. Instead of seeing the regular image of Nosferatu, the choice of showing the vampire in shadow is so much more frightening.

Frame from Robert Wiene’s Hands of Orlac

Robert Wiene’s Hands of Orlac uses many Germany Expressionism techniques. From the frame of Hands of Orlac, there are ominous and shadowy interiors and exteriors. The low-key lighting and the use of shadows show visual elements of Germany Expressionism.
The story deals with madness, supernatural, dream sequence as well as the disfigurement of protagonist leading to his insanity. Having a killer’s hand sewed on and not being in control of one’s body relates to the how the Germany Expressionist art form developed. Life was full of madness, insanity, and betrayal, put that into art.

Frame from Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Caligari

Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Caligari uses painted sets, harsh lighting, shadows and non-standard camera angles. The sets were painted in a way that only one camera angle could be used to captured the long shadows. The Cabinet of Caligari was an experimental film that used Germany Expressionism techniques to help tell the story in a unique way.
The Cabinet of Caligari influenced films and filmmaking all over the world. Not only in the technical manner also in the non-linear story. Visually The Cabinet of Caligari is groundbreaking, however the cleaver manner in which the story is told and the ambiguous ending, help make this film a masterpiece using Germany Expressionism techniques.
A Page of Madness directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa (1926) is one of the rare silent horror films to survive from Japan. The Kanto earthquake 1923, the Pacific War bombing raids of Tokyo during World War II, and the humidity of Japan on the inflammable and unstable nitrate film, most of Japan’s 7000 silent films have been lost. (Sharp and Arnold, 2002)

Frame from Teinosuke Kinugasa’s A Page of Madness (1926)
A Page of Madness is compared to The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, due to the surrealistic, expressionistic and avant-garde nature of the films. Kinugasa mentions seeing The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and being influenced by this German Expressionism film. Both films deal with mental illness and staged in a mental facility and are non-linear. In the frame of A Page of Madness, the use of lighting and sets are reminiscent of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. It is interesting that a German Expressionism film could cross over and be appreciated in another culture as far away as Japan. Perhaps horror themes are universal whether in Japan or Germany.

Frame from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis

Fritz Lang’s Metropolis is a masterpiece of cinema whether in Science fiction or any other genre. In Metropolis there are many different forms of art in addition to German Expressionism. Futurism, Modernism, Art Deco as well as elements of the Weimar Republic are all used in Metropolis.
In the frame from Metropolis elements of German Expressionism used are shadows and the use of light to give a depth to the Maschinenmensch. The frame also has a stark set. The Maschinenmensch is the robot that influenced many other robot films in future sci-fi films from around the world, especially in Japan.
German Expressionism masterpieces like Metropolis and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari influence Hollywood films. Many German Expressionist directors immigrate to America once the Nazi party takes control of Germany. These directors brought German Expressionism techniques to the films they made in the USA. This style would later influence the Film noir and other film genres.
The story lines of German expressionist films matched the visuals in terms of darkness and disillusionment. Often sombre in mood and featuring characters from a corrupt underworld of crime, the films’ dramatic effects produced motifs of claustrophobia and paranoia. The same words could be used to describe 1940’s Hollywood film noir, a genre hugely influenced by German expressionism. Film noir is typified by Bogart and Bacall in films such as The Big Sleep. Fritz Lang himself also went on to make notable film noirs such as Fury and You Only Live Once. (Kolar, 2011)

Frame from Wallace Worsley’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame

In the frame from Wallace Worsley’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, there are elements of German Expressionism. The large looming hallway, the use of shadows and the ominous shadowy interiors and exteriors all are part of the style of German Expressionism. Even through this was a Hollywood film, which did quite well in the box office, the visuals of German Expressionism are there. This film helps make Lon Chaney a star.

Frame from Rupert Julian’s The Phantom of the Opera

In the frame from Rupert Julian’s The Phantom of the Opera, there are elements that are similar to Nosferatu. Lon Chaney once again shows how he is a man of a thousands faces, and with the use of some lighting techniques from of German Expressionism as well as shadows, helps makes Erik frightening. It would be hard to imagine the look and feel of The Phantom of the Opera if Nosferatu was never made.
In conclusion silent horror films were influence by various art movements. Surrealism, Dadaism and German Expressionism all were important to the birth of this genre as well as some early magicians’ films. Experimental films from Surrealism, Dadaism and German Expressionism helped give silent horror films a language that could frighten and haunt their audiences. Once Silent Horror films started to gain popularity, these films would influence other films and genres around the world. This would lead viewers of silent horror films to face images, which before movies, were only in their nightmares.

Reference
A Page of Madness. (2009, December 15). Retrieved from
http://forgottenclassicsofyesteryear.blogspot.com/2009/12/page-of-madness.html

A Page Of Madness – Discussion (2011, March). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVBbCfTah2w

Ball, Hugo. Dada Manifesto (1916)

Balmain, Colette. (2008). Introduction to Japanese horror film. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, Ltd.

Breton, André. Surrealist Manifesto. (1924)

Butler, Ivan. (1970). Horror in the Cinema. New York: The Tantity Press.

Carrera, Luis. (2003) The Revolution of Special Effects in Movies. Retrieved from http://utminers.utep.edu/lacarrera/history.htm

Collins, Neil. German Expressionism. (2011) Retrieved from
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/german-expressionism.htm

Durozoi, Gérard. History of the Surrealist Movement (2002) Retrieved from http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/174115.html

Earle, William. (1987). A Surrealism Of The Movies. Chicago: Precedent Publishing, Inc.

Hattori, James. (1998, July 10) Movie Theater Technology Catching up with Special Effects Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9807/10/ultimate.theater/

Kalinak, Kathryn. (1992). Settling the Score: Music and the Classical Hollywood Film. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press.

Kolar. German Expressionism: The World of Light and Shadow. (2011) Retrieved from http://mubi.com/lists/german-expressionism-the-world-of-light-and-shadow

Rampage, John (Editor). German Expressionism ‘Insolent mockery of the Divine under centrist rule’. (2007) Retrieved from http://www.trashface.com/germanexpressionism.html

Sharp, Jasper and Arnold, Mike. (2002, July 17), Forgotten Fragment: An Introduction To Japanese Silent Cinema. Retrieved from http://www.midnighteye.com/features/silentfilm_pt2.shtml

Sipos, Thomas M. (2010). Horror Film Aesthetics: Creating The Visual Language of Fear. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company.

Waldberg, Patrick. (1971). Surrealism.
New York: McGraw-Hill. 66-75.

Art Films

2011-11-30T23:04:00.002-06:00

Art Films

Art film. What is an art film? A film that doesn't follow a narrative and is closer to a piece of art, like a painting or drawing.

It is fun making art films. They are a challenge to make, however the rewards are large.

Here is one of my latest art films. Enjoy!

Tree Stump and A Nerd Cowboy - Advant Garde Time Lapse Short Art Film

Rock on!

I believe

Proof of Aliens!

Rock and Roll!

"Turkey Eating Blues" - Music Video

I can fly when I rock out!

"Happy Turkey Day!" - Music Video

Lighting is everything!

Shadow - Advant Garde short art film

Herbert Midgley - Creative Human Being

2011-11-02T19:09:00.002-05:00

Herbert Midgley - Creative Human Being

If you are in Nacogdoches on 11-9-2011, come on over and watch a concert of my music, art and creativity. The concert will contain :
Songs,
Solos,
Avant-garde Music,
Musique concrète,
Electronic Music, and Videos.

It may change your life, forever!!!! :)

Here is a preview....

Suit Robot Time - Advant Garde Art Film

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T13:22:00.002-05:00

Happy Halloween

It was so much fun to go trick or treating back in the day. I loved to dress up as something cool and get a lot of candy. Today it's just fun to dress as something different.

We all would have loved to be someone else or have had the chance to try something we had dreams of in our youth. Halloween is that time of the year to dress and play the part of someone else.

So have a happy Halloween! Have fun and don't be afraid of dressing up as something out of the your dreams. Fun times for sure! :)

Cowboy

Stormtrooper

Dude on the street

Tire Salesman

Tough Guy

Herb Tarlek

"Happy Halloween!" - Music Video

Sound in Silent Horror Films

2011-10-27T23:27:00.002-05:00

Sound in Silent Horror Films
a paper by
Herbert Midgley

Abstract
The term silent film would lead many to believe that these films had no sound. However, silent films around the world were rarely silent. Silent horror films used sound to help make the film experience a complete artwork. The use of narration, benshi, music and sound effects all led to the aural experience of silent horror films. With either original music or found music from the classical repertoire, silent horror films used music to add a great depth to these films to complete the dreamlike experience of the silent horror film.

Sound in Silent Horror Films
Sound. Right now you are hearing sound. We are surrounded with sound whether in an urban or rural area. There may be music being played. Perhaps birds are singing birdsong. Maybe you hear the ambient sound of an air condition or heater in your living room. Or are there children playing off in the distance at a playground?
Hearing is one of senses. Even if we are watching a movie with the sound off, the sound is still there. Many might think that watching a film would only be a visual experience. However the movie viewer is uses all of their senses while viewing a film.
Take any popular film of today. Then watch it without the sound turned on. It is a different film. Perhaps it would be better to say that it is a different experience. Music, foley and ambient sounds help lift any film. Sound adds to the emotion of the moment on screen. Without sound in a film, it would be like exploring the world with ear muffles on while wearing a plastic suit with gloves. Sure you can see every thing, however you are missing everything else from the wind on your skin to the sounds in the air.
My first degrees were in music theory and composition. As an undergraduate and graduate student studying music composition, I had dreams of scoring films. Film music had a major impact on my life and in many ways was the reason I studied music composition as my major.
Over the years composing music from a symphony, large scale band music as well as hundreds of small chamber and solo compositions, I realized that all of the arts combined together. So I studied playwriting, screenplay writing, dance, acting, and then started work on an MFA in cinematography.
While on my quest for the complete artwork, I found that cinematography combined all of the arts. Music in many ways was the glue that held all of these arts together. Because of my former training in music, I could see the connections to all of the arts in a unique way. In films, I could combine all of the different arts I have been working on to become the total creative person that I survive to become. Now I compose more short film soundtracks since I have been working with other filmmakers on my quest of creativity. My understanding of music composition with the skill of filmmaking, makes scoring a film a fun and unique challenge. How sound and music works in films is well, very interesting indeed.
Films have been made for over hundred years now and in many ways the silent film is still the high art of filmmaking. Even with the Computer-generated imagery (CGI), and millions of dollars that major Hollywood films use today, can not compare to art masterpiece films like Metropolis, The Cabinet of Caligari, The Phantom of the Opera and Nosferatu, made in the 1910’s and 1920’s. Films made hundred years later many times look worst than a film made in 1923 due to so much CGI garbage on the screen. Many modern films have so much clutter on the screen, you can not even tell what is going on.
Movies are visual. Silent films didn't have a lot of boring talking, you had to see what they are doing to understand the story. If you cannot watch a film with the sound turned on and understand what is going on, you have a play with moving pictures. In fact the early talkies were so bad, many audiences wished the films would go back to silent. All talk and no story makes for a bad film.
Of course silent films had great sounds that would also move an audience. Full orchestras would play music for the house as the film was projected. The Roxy Theatre in New York City had 110-member symphony orchestra in its prime. Film, music and a few intertitles were all that where needed to have a great film during the silent film era. Movies that would change your life after watching and with sound, experiencing them.
In some ways it was like going to an opera, save that the singers on stage were replaced with a projection on a screen. Images of light bouncing off the silver screen was an experience that at the dawn of the early cinema, was like something from another world, perhaps even the dimension where dreams and fantasy come. Silent films were more dream like, because the audience could see people talk and have to read what there were saying. Reality was burred with the surreal images projected not only on the silver screen, but as well as the sounds the audience heard. Silent horror films were full of surrealism, which the audience would clearly understand a difference between the dream like images they saw on the screen and after the film was over, what was real.
They argue that because of these characteristics silent film has an uncanny, dreamlike quality. Its representations are ghostly, an uncomfortable reminder of human mortality, and carry with them a kind of psychological shock. Music exorcises these negative effects, smoothing over the gap between the experiential world and the world of the film. (Kalinak, 1992, p. 44-45)
Perhaps this is why music is such an important part of silent films, the dreamlike features of a silent film that helps the viewer step out of reality. Silent films were visually two-dimensional, mostly black and white, at times with some tinting and toning, moving pictures. Since this was still a relatively new visual medium, audience fell to what they knew and could relate to, dreams.
Silent films were not a play, an opera, a vaudeville show or anything else they have ever seen before. Having music that was not part of the story would fit just right into a dream. Having music that was not part of the reality in a silent film worked and in many ways was needed to complete the film experience.
Before we go on, we need to define the term diegetic music. Diegetic music is music that apparently comes from a source within the narrative film. (Gorbman, 1987, p. 22) So the music we hear mainly in a silent film is not from the narrative. In The Phantom of the Opera we have an example of diegetic music, when the Phantom plays the organ or when the cast is singing in the opera. However the rest of the film, the music is nondiegetic.
Nondiegetic music does not emanate from or occur within the world posited by the film. (Kalinak, 1992, p. xiv) Most of the music we hear in a silent film or any other type of film is nondiegetic. This is music that helps with the escapists dreamlike nature of silent films. When we hear music in The Phantom of the Opera other than music that is being played on the organ or preformed on stage for the opera, that is nondiegetic music. The music by Gustav Hinrichs used both original as well as found music for The Phantom of the Opera for both the diegetic and nondiegetic music used in the film.
When The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari had the American premiere, music chosen was “calculated to heighten its exotic character, to underline its fantastic aspects.” (Hickman, 2006, p. 93) The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari original score composed by Giuseppe Becce was not used in the American premiere, instead excerpts of works by Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Debussy, Prokofiev, and Richard Strauss was used. (Hickman, 2006, p. 93) This film help bring modern music into the American cinema, which influence other serious composers to score for films. The use of Schoenberg and Stravinsky in a film score would have been out of placed only a few years before this movie premiere. However since The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, was a dreamlike vision of insanity, the works of Schoenberg and Stravinsky fit the film’s sprit.
Unfortunately Giuseppe Becce's score for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari has been lost. In the liner notes of the CD Cabinet of Dr Caligari: Music to 1920 Silent Film "Virtually nothing is known about Becce's score, which is lost." The music constructed for this CD used "Becce's authenticated short pieces for the silent cinema were taken as a starting point and focus and were then combined with other film music by the same composer in the interests of stylistic authenticity." (Beece , 2005, Linear Notes)
Looking at some of the cues that Giuseppe Becce had for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari , cues like: The mysterious night, Mysterious observations, and The secret of the book, all fit well with the dreamlike music that is nondiegetic for this German Expressionistic film. If The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari used music that was pretty and standard, the film and music would have not worked together. The audiences might have been even more confused with a normal soundtrack.
Apparently during the American premiere of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari at Rothapfel’s Capitol Cinema in New York, the use of another sound technique was used. A narrator was used “both before and after the show, mirroring the frame within the film itself.” (Hickman, 2006, p. 94) At the end of the film, the “narrator assured the audience that Francis was now cured, happily married, and working as a jeweler in Hostenwall.” (Hickman, 2006, p. 94)
This brings us to the use of benshi in silent films. Benshi was used primary in Japan.
Actors would read and act out the titles for the characters in the silent film and even played multiple characters and make a performance out of this. The traditions of kabuki and Noh theaters help influence the benshi. (Standish, 2005, p.22)
Benshi formed a central part of the “silent movie” experience in Japan by explaining what the motion picture was about, either before, during, or after the show. While one can find examples of similar motion picture narration elsewhere in the world, Japan is the only place where narrators proved to be an influential and integral part of silent cinema.
During the initial decade of motion pictures, benshi typically appeared prior to the films, giving audiences rather detailed introductory remarks (maesetsu) about the content of the movies about to be shown. Since most of the motion pictures were foreign imports, benshi primarily spent their time explaining Western exotica, customs, and places contained in the film. As movies became more narrative, benshi began summarizing film plots and characters in their introductory remarks. (Dym, 2008)
The use of benshi makes sense since most of the Japanese cinema audiences would see many foreign films and understanding the tradition of kabuki. Going to the film with the use of benshi, allowed the audience to understand the cinema experience, it was kind of like going to a play, an opera or the kabuki. “The vocabulary used in Japanese discourse clearly distinguishes the role of the film narrator in films derived from kabuki as providing literally the shadow dialogue and the narrator’s role as mediator of imported films.” (Standish, 2005, p.22)
Metropolis premiered in Japan during March 3, 1929. Apparently Metropolis was presented with traditional Japanese music and was seen during its initial release with narration. (Organ, 2011) The benshi was able to help the Japanese audience understand what was being seen in this German expressionist film. No doubt that the Japanese viewer had never seen the world of Metropolis before and the use of a benshi helped the audience member understand what was going on. Every since Metropolis appeared in Japan, many Japanese has had a fascination with robots. (Makela, 2008, p.91) One could speculate that without the use of some creative benshi, some of the neat gadgets that have came from Japan may not have ever been produce.
A Page of Madness directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa made in 1926 is one of the rare silent horror films made in Japan. Sadly due to the Kanto earthquake 1923, the Pacific War bombing raids of Tokyo during World War II, and the humidity of Japan on the inflammable and unstable nitrate film, most of Japan’s 7000 silent films have been lost. (Sharp and Arnold, 2002) A Page of Madness is compared to The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, due to the surrealistic, expressionistic and avant-garde nature of the films. Both films deal with mental illness and staged in a mental facility and are non-linear. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari was popular in Japan. (Sharp and Arnold, 2002) This German expressionistic film could cross over and be appreciated in another culture, with the use of benshi and music.
Surely there was music performed when A Page of Madness was shown in the movie theater, however the original music has been lost to time.
I have not found any information about the original musical accompaniment. Cinema orchestras in Japan usually combined Western and Japanese instruments, and the solo piano so frequently used in Europe and the USA seems to have been much rarer. (Sharp and Arnold, 2002)
It is interesting that both Western and Japanese instruments were used in the Japanese orchestras in movie theaters during the silent film era. The use of tradition Japanese instruments, which have their own tuning and scale systems, with Western instruments that have their own European tunings and scales, must have made for some unique music to accompany the silent film. Also with the use of benshi, the combination of Western and Japanese music would be an additional part of this silent film experience.
Benshi was used when A Page of Madness was screened. A Page of Madness does not use any intertitles. The use of benshi was important for the audience to understand what was going on in the film. Since A Page of Madness is non-linear, avant-garde silent film, it would have been difficult for any audience at the time to understand what was going on without the benshi to lead them with their narration. A Page of Madness, without the use of the benshi, would have been confusing and an important part of this avant-garde silent film would have been lost to confusion. “In general, silent films in Japan were visual props of a live performer. This is true for any film shown at the time in Japan, either Western or Japanese.” (Sharp and Arnold, 2002)
In many ways the benshi is a guide to the silent films in Japan. Japanese audiences understood it was not kabuki, however they could relate to the paradigm of a narrator in the use of cinema. “Unlike their Western counterparts, Japanese filmmakers, due to the benshi, were freed from the restrictions of intertitles for character exposition.” (Standish, 2005, p.87) Japanese filmmakers did not have to stop the action to insert an intertitle to explain what is about to happen or what happened. However there was a down side for filmmakers to rely on the use of benshi.
In the West, filmmakers had devised numerous cinematic techniques, such as editing and framing, which allowed them to tell a story visually. Yes, intertitles were used to help the audience follow along, but Western filmmakers tried to keep them to a minimum. In part because of benshi, Japanese filmmakers were slow to adopt and develop cinematic storytelling techniques. Japanese filmmakers knew that whatever they could not convey visually would be explained aurally by the benshi. (Dym, 2008)
There is no doubt that a form of benshi was used in other countries. In the United States of America, where the illiteracy rate was10.7 percent in 1900, 7.7 percent. in 1910, 6.0 percent in1920 and in 4.3 percent in 1930. (Bureau of the Census, 1992) At the time of silent films, about ten percent of the US population was illiterate. Surely many of them went to movie theaters and had someone read the intertitles aloud to them. Also the blind and visually impaired as well as those that may have needed corrective glasses also had the intertitles read aloud or at least told the jest of what was going on.
In Japanese cinema music was an important part of the film experience. The benshi needed to be heard over the music, since the benshi was crucial for the Japanese audience to understand the silent film. However music worked with the benshi in a way that was unique.
In Japan, music also accompanied the film, but was used in a symbiotic relationship with the benshi. If music was playing, then the audience would not be able to hear the benshi. Thus, the orchestra had to coordinate with the benshi when to play, when to play quietly, and when to remain silent. (Dym, 2008)
With the use of benshi in Japan, music was there. However music was not as critical to understand the story, so if it was a choice between hearing music or the benshi, the benshi always won out. This is a contrast to the Western cinema where you could read the intertiles and hear music, in America and Europe you could hear music and understand the story. The music in Japanese silent films was performed live, much like in the Western world’s cinema.
In some ways the benshi became the stars. “Famous benshi were well known for embellishing narratives and thus transforming their meanings.” (Balmain, 2008, p.20) In many ways the benshi could transform a film from a bad film to a good film or vice versa. A music score can do the same thing to a film in the Western films of the time.
Audiences in Japan may have gone for the film however they would go where their favorite benshi was performing. Choosing the theater with the best or more famous benshi was what most Japanese audiences would chose. In the Western cinema world, the choice of going to the better theaters that had the best piano and organ musicians was an easy choice as well.
To many “silent” cinema fans in Japan, benshi were a major attraction. It was usually the film that drew people to the theater, but it was often the benshi which determined which theater a person would attend. Benshi were huge cultural stars of the time, with benshi earning as much, if not more, than many actors. Benshi had huge fan followings, particularly among women, and were often both fashion and vernacular trend setters. (Dym, 2008)
One of major reasons to go to a certain theater in Japan was to go hear the benshi. “The benshi became so powerful that Japan was later than other countries in introducing sound to film.” (Balmain, 2008, p. 35) As time went on, the benshi tradition slowly faded away due to the stars on the silver screen. Actors wanted to gain their own fame in thus get paid for what they were worth. The star system challenged and coexisted with the benshi tradition. Little by little, the actors or “stars increasingly gained control over their image and how it was projected onto the screen.” (Standish, 2005, p.34) Over time, the cost and how the movie industry changed in Japan, signal the end of the silent film era in Japan.
The end of silent film in the West and in Japan was imposed by the industry and the market, not by any inner need or natural evolution. To put it clearly, there is no progress in pleasure and no progress in art - there are only different ways of doing things. Silent cinema was a highly pleasurable and fully mature form. It didn't lack anything, least in Japan, where there was always the human voice doing the dialogues and the commentary. Sound films were not better, just more economical. As a cinema owner you didn't have to pay the wages of musicians and benshi any more. And a good benshi was a star demanding star payment. (Sharp and Arnold, 2002)
Perhaps if America developed the use of a benshi or narrator, talking films and the soundtrack as we know it may not have happen. Sound is an important choice for the silent movie going audience. The more expensive the organ or gifted a pianist a theater had in the Western world, the more likely an audience would attend that cinema over a less financed cinema. One magazine reported in 1910 that one theatre manager doubled his attendance when he hired a competent pianist. (Hofmann, 1970, p. 6)
The silent film and sound worked together to help the audience escape from reality. Plays, novels, operas, vaudeville, and carnivals are all entrainment. Silent cinema provided the same outlet. However with the use of the narrative, music and other sound techniques, silent films were the Gesamtkunstwerk, German for total art work, of the time.
Richard Wagner developed the use of the leitmotif for use in his operas. The Wagnerian opera, such as the Der Ring des Nibelungen, uses leitmotifs to signal a character or an idea. Leitmotifs works so well in large scale operas that when film composers were drawing on material to use in their film scores, the technique of the leitmotif worked so well.
Given the affinity so often cited between Wagnerian opera and silent film, it is hardly surprising that Wagner’s concept of the leitmotif became the musical glue which joined the disparate musical selections comprising the silent film score. The leitmotif or leading theme is a musical phrase, either as complex as a melody or as simple as a few notes, which, through repetition, becomes identified with a character, situation, or idea. The notion that the silent film score should be a structurally integral discourse with a unity separate from that imposed by the narrative is derived from Wagner’s model in which leitmotifs served to unify lengthy and often convoluted material. The concept of unified form (as opposed to a series of random selections) was integral to the development of the silent film score, and the adoption of the principle of the leitmotif coincides historically with the industry’s earliest efforts at standardization. (Kalinak, 1992, p. 63-64)
One of the earliest silent horror films that have survived is Thomas Edison’s Frankenstein released in 1910. The Edison Company sent out a musical suggestion sheet for Frankenstein to help the pianist have an idea what to play. (Hofmann, 1970, p. 14-15) In many ways these cues are like leitmotifs. The pianist could use the cues to trigger an emotion or support an idea or feeling in the film.
The cues from that the Edison Company sent out had suggestions for the pianist:
At opening – Andante – “Then You’ll Remember Me”
Till Frankenstein’s laboratory – Moderato – “Melody in F”
Till monster is forming – Increasing agitato
Till monster appears over bed – Dramatic music from “Der Freischütz”
Till father and girl in sitting room – Moderato
Till Frankenstein returns home – Andante – “Annie Laurie”
Till monster enters Frankenstein’s sitting room – Dramatic - “Der Freischütz”
Till girl enters with teapot – Andante – “Annie Laurie”
Till monster comes from behind curtain – Dramatic - “Der Freischütz”
Till wedding guests are leaving – Bridal Chorus from “Lohengrin”
Till monster appears - Dramatic - “Der Freischütz”
Till Frankenstein enters – Agitato
Till monster appears - Dramatic - “Der Freischütz”
Till monster vanishes in mirror - Diminishing Agitato (Hofmann, 1970, p. 14-15)
The cue sheet and the suggestions would give any musician an idea what to play and when. Information on how long to play a particular cue was given ‘till’ something or someone did something. This was good for a rough idea of the timing to play each selection or cue.
Music compositions suggested from the cue sheet consist of Der Freischütz an opera by Carl Maria von Weber, Lohengrin an opera by Richard Wagner, “Then You’ll Remember Me” is a song from The Bohemian Girl an opera by Michael William Balfe, Anton Rubinstein Melody in F Opus 3 Number 1 for piano, and “Annie Laurie” an old Scottish folk tune. The range of musical selections in Frankenstein range from grand opera to a simple folk tune, the pianist would have to jump from an arrangement of an opera to perhaps a single melody of an old Scottish folk tune.
What are interesting are terms like “increasing agitato” or “diminishing agitato”. That is so vague that any pianist could play about anything for that whole cue. “Increasing agitato” would mean in music to increasingly play agitated. “Diminishing agitato” is a bit more unclear for a musician. The “diminishing” part could mean reducing the playing, however the term “diminish” is used for a chord made of minor thirds which sounds dissonant or the diminish scale, which also sounds dissonant. Perhaps the pianist could play less with a diminish chord or scale while agitated?
Even when the opera was cited the pianist would read “Dramatic music from “Der Freischütz””, which of the dramatic music from this opera was used? The Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin is easier to figure out, however do you start the beginning, middle or end of the work? Do repeat the music once it was played and the cue was not over? Also depending on the skill of the pianist, will the arrangement be full or just the melody? There are many questions even when the musician knew what piece of music was to be played or suggested.
Even though some of these terms are open to interpretation, the musician could use them as a guide to what the musical director wanted. With Frankenstein, it is safe to say that no two movie houses played the same music. Most of the time if you saw the film more than once, each time you saw the film, the music would be altered, even in the same movie theater.
However even thought the music is vague and would be different each time the film was projected, the fact that a music cue sheet was sent out shows how important music was to early silent films. Since the 1910 Edison version of Frankenstein, is one of the earliest silent horror films, it is interesting that music was so important to the film that some specific musical selections and timings were given to make sure the film would be enjoyed, or horrified by the movie audience. With Frankenstein the visuals where shocking, now add “dramatic music from ‘Der Freischütz’ ” and the movie audience will have an experience they will never forget.
Some movie theatres had full orchestras to accompany silent films. However most movie theatres had either a piano or organ to accompany films. Some had other instruments to accompany films, such as a solo instrument. Other theatres that could not find a competent musician to perform could buy a mechanical and electrical player piano or organs the held two rolls so that the music never had to stop. This quote is from an ad for the Marquette’s Cremona Theatre Orchestra-Organ: “Any girl or man, after simple instructions, can operate the Cremona with the most enchanting results.” (Kalinak, 1992, p. 50) This is sort of what a deejay does today in a dance club or event.
Later silent films would have a piano reduction sent out with the film. Also there were books written on how to play for silent films. Music books were also published that had music for different emotions that a silent film pianist could use to make their own soundtrack if none were provided.
In one of the books on how to play for silent films, they express that popular music of the day was to be avoided. Instead of popular music, they were to use music that was composed from the master composers of the past. Even in the early part of movie music, there were musical snobs trying to make all musicians sound similar.
Since the prime of the silent film age coincides with the prime of the jazz and ragtime eras, many skilled ragtime and jazz musicians could make an additional income playing piano or organ in a movie theatre. The backbone to jazz was improvisation, so these jazz pianists had a lot of experience making music on the spot. Surely this helped the jazz pianist play for silent films. They could watch the silver screen and let the music flow from their fingers.
Fats Waller played theater organ for silent movies and stage shows at Harlem’s Lincoln Theater. Count Basie and Sam Allen are some other jazz pianist that played in theaters for silent films.
Many of the films shown could use sound effects to enhance the movie experience. The percussion instrument called the slapstick has been used in comedies when someone got hit since the beginning of silent comedy films. Coconuts striking on wood sounds like horses galloping used in cowboy silent films. Some movie theatres had some instruments that could be played as sound effects. In the bigger movie house there were often a second musician that played these sound effects instruments. The pianist, in the small movie houses, may have to double and play a percussion instrument while playing piano. Some of the movie houses that had more expensive organs had stops that had a variety of instruments for the musician to use while playing a soundtrack for the silent film.
Robert Hope-Jones developed this versatile instrument as called it the ‘Unit Orchestra.’ It could do anything with its thousands of pipes, a battery of drums, marimbas, pianos, glockenspiels, xylophones. It could imitate banjos, harpsichords and mandolins. There were sets of bells, cymbals, castanets, tambourines, tom-toms and gongs. The versatility of the organist brought out any effects inspired by the pictures on the screen. (Hofmann, 1970, p. 37)
If your movie theatre had this ‘Unit Orchestra’, the musician could mimic a full orchestra. Of course there were many organs that silent movie theatres could buy. “The Fotoplayer Style 50, made by the American Photo Player Company, was twenty–one feet long and capable of a wide variety of effects, including the lowing of cattle, street traffic noises, crackling flames, and the sound of machine guns and cannons.” (Hickman, 2006, p. 67) With the addition of percussion instruments and string instruments, the musician could use different tone colors or timbres to create the feeling and emotion that was need in the score. The choice of many different instruments would allow the musician to match the feeling of what they were watching to the music they were playing. This would help the musician to add to the surreal, dreamlike feeling of these silent horror films. In the case of ‘The Fotoplayer Style 50’, the musician could also become a sound effects performer.
Sound added to the complete experience of the silent horror film. Whether it was music, narration or the use of sound effects, all helped make silent horror films increase the emotion of what was shown visually. The use of nondiegetic music with diegetic music took these films out of reality. In Japan, the use of benshi helped the Japanese audiences understand the Western silent horror films they saw as well as the ones made in Japan.
Without sound, a silent horror film is only half a movie. Sound, added to the escapist impact of these silent horror films. Recently I had a chance to watch The Phantom of the Opera twice, one with a looped soundtrack that didn’t match the film at all, then with the score that worked to enhance the film. Needless to say, the matched soundtrack the film was better. It was like watching two different films, one that was an escape from reality and the other one you could not wait to escape the film.
Music, narration and sound effect all crossed over in the sound film era. Today, if you watch a film without the sound on, you may not have any idea what is going on. What is more important is the experience would be different. The reasons we watch horror films are varied, however for most they are viewed to escape to another place, another time or another dimension. Horror films break from reality so that you can question who and what you are as a human being. Sound is a very important part of any horror film, without sound you are only partly fleeing from reality.
References

A Page of Madness. (2009, December 15). Retrieved from
http://forgottenclassicsofyesteryear.blogspot.com/2009/12/page-of-madness.html
A Page of Madness. (2010 Dec 26). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdCzYwPWA9o
A Page Of Madness – Discussion (2011, March). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVBbCfTah2w
Balmain, Colette. (2008). Introduction to Japanese horror film. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, Ltd.
Bar-Sagi, Aitam. (2010, June 11). The Film Music Museum “Metropolis” around the World. Retrieved from http://fimumu.com/metropolis-atw.html
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Dym, Jeffrey. (2008, 30 January). A Brief History of Benshi (Silent Film Narrators). Retrieved from http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/content.cfm/a_brief_history_of_benshi
Gorbman, Claudia. (1987). Unheard Melodies. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Hickman, Roger. (2006). Reel Music: Exploring 100 Years of Film Music. New York: W. W. Norton.
Hoffmann, Charles. (1970). Sounds for Silents. New York: DBS Publications.
Interview with benshi Midori Sawato. (2010, May 14). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iwqWHerdLE
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http://www.silentmovie-music.com/curriculums/wilfriedkaets/praxis.html
Kalinak, Kathryn. (1992). Settling the Score: Music and the Classical Hollywood Film. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press.
Makela, Lee. (2008). From Metropolis to Metoroporisu: The changing role of the robot in Japanese and western cinema, in Mark W. MacWilliams (ed.), Japanese Visual Culture. Explorations in the World of Manga and Anime, Armonk, NY, 2008.
Organ, Michael. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.uow.edu.au/~morgan/Metroj.htm
OTOWAZA and Benshi narration in Japanese silent film. (2010, November 8). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-SBXG4xY_M Silent Cinema. (2010, October). Retrieved from http://www.offscreen.com/index.php/pages/1432/
Sipos, Thomas M. (2010). Horror Film Aesthetics: Creating The Visual Language of Fear. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company.
Sharp, Jasper and Arnold, Mike. (2002, July 17), Forgotten Fragment: An Introduction To Japanese Silent Cinema. Retrieved from http://www.midnighteye.com/features/silentfilm_pt2.shtml
Standish, Isolde. (2005). A New History of Japanese Cinema: A Century of Narrative Film. New York: Continuum.
The Music of the Theatre Organ. (2007, January12 ). Retrieved from http://www.theatreorgans.com/southerncross/Music.htm
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970; and Current Population Reports, Series P-23, Ancestry and Language in the United States: November 1979. (This table was prepared in September 1992.) Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/naal/lit_history.asp

Mustache Herb

2011-09-30T18:36:00.002-05:00

Mustache Herb

In my youth I never thought that I could grow a mustache. If you remember seeing photos of Lieutenant Colonel Custer, he had a cool mustache. I saw generals with beards, and the lower officers have mustaches. The higher in rank you got, the more facial hair you could have. If you had no rank, no facial hair for you ensign!

Today not many wear a mustache. Perhaps they are out of fashion. Maybe razors are better today. Or maybe goatees are cooler.

Well it is fun wearing a mustache. I can grow on pretty fast now. A beard or a mustache is the only facial hair I'll wear, you can keep the goatees. Mustaches are cool enough for me! If is was cool enough for Charles Bronson, mustaches are awesome enough for me.

Keepin' It Real!

Rockin' Out!

Here are some cool songs to rock out to!

"I've Got a Mustache!" - Punk Rock Song

"'I've Got a Beard!" - Punk Rock Song

"Why Go Outside?" Music Video

"Silver Cloud Pillows" - Music Video

"Flowing Over...." - Solo Piano

Nice Shadow!

Here is a cool short film!

Studying Art History - Time Lapse

Nice Sunset!

Two Score Ago

2011-08-18T02:20:00.003-05:00

Two Score Ago

Time. Time is the fire in which we burn reminding us to live each day as if it were your last. Is time your friend that accompanies you on your five year mission? Or is time a beast that stalks you in the dark night shadows as prey?

No matter what happens, time will catch up to you. You can run from time for a while, and pat yourself on the back for doing so, in the end, one day you will have to face all that you have done. The good and the bad.

For most of us, hopefully the good out ways the bad. However no matter what has happened in your life, you can always make a change. A change for the better.

Robots are awesome, sadly their computer programing restricts their future. 100100110001100 will always be 100100110001100. Humanity has the ability to learn and grow from the past. Successes and failures. Just because you walk into a wall a million times doesn't mean that you can't open the door the next time.

Well I still love robots and hope that in the next two score of life I will finally have a robot to clean my house and drive me in my super cool flying car that will run on fission or fusion or dilithium or whatever the gas stations in the future sell.

Until then, I'll be rockin'it out to eleven! Look for me to make a lot more videos and whatever new from of entertainment there is in the future, I bet it will have something to do with 100100110001100.

Smile everyone, because in three billion years, who will even care? Perhaps the Doctor. Time to go break dancing once I get the DeLorean working. Hope I get it up to 88 once again!

Time to rock out!

Do You Believe - Music Video

"Boogie Woogie in F" - Piano Solo

Taking Out The Trash - Hipster Version

How to Fix A Clicking Refrigerator

2011-07-24T22:54:00.002-05:00

How to Fix A Clicking Refrigerator

Sitting playing guitar I hear a clicking noise come from the kitchen. I didn't pay it any mind. The next day I go to get some cool drink mix drink and it's lukewarm. So I opened up the freezer and it's a bit cool.

Well my refrigerator is broken. Ok, so do I go and by a new one? No! I use the power of the internet to figure out the problem! After doing a quick search I figured out it was the Start Relay and it was a easy fix for a can do guy like myself.

The first thing I had to do was take off the Start Relay. Well the back of your refrigerator is like changing spark plugs in a modern car, you can see them, but getting to them is another thing.

After a while I was able to get the Start Relay off to see if was broken. After shaking it, and it rattled, I knew this was the problem. Got back on the internet and ordered the part since you can't by these parts locally.

A few days later I got the part in the mail. Took apart the refrigerator and put in the Start Relay. Closed it all back up and opened the door. It was blowing cold! Success!

Now I can rock out and drink some cool drink mix refrigerated in a refrigerator I fixed. Life is rockin'! Rock and Roll forever!

How to Fix A Clicking Refrigerator - Start Relay & Overload

Hanging with a Squirrel

Walking Towards The Sun - Advant Garde Art Film

"Dirt Pile!" - Rock Music Video

Hot Summer!

2011-07-01T17:38:00.000-05:00

Hot Summer!

It's hard to be a cowboy when it's hot outside! However the cowboy hat makes it a bit cooler out and about. Fun times being a cowboy walking under the shade.

Well since it's so hot out, you either deal with it or sweat. Sweat is fine if you drink a lot of water. Back in the cowboy days a man didn't have any air condition, all you had was the wind to your back and perhaps a shade from time to time under the trees.

The good news is that in a few months it will cool down a spell. Until then, keep on your cowboy hat and your boots. And if you are a bit like me, ride into the sunset from time to time.

Enjoy these cool videos!

"Dancing Cowboy!" - Music Video

"Summer Solstice" - Music Video

"Falling Out of Luck"- Music Video -Guitar in C Tuning

Rockin' To Freedom

2011-05-31T20:48:00.002-05:00

Rockin' To Freedom

Freedom. What is freedom? Is it a ride on your bike with the wind on your face? A song that rocks harder than ever? Walking a path to find yourself? It could be anything. In my case, it could be a song or film I made. A great metal guitar solo?

Do you have freedom? Does anyone truly have freedom or is it a state of mind? Can you be happy anywhere, then perhaps you have freedom no matter where you are. Is there joy in your heart to rock out and smile? Is that freedom? What's your freedom?

Maybe freedom is being able to walk into a place and wish everyone a good day with a big smile and truly feel it! Freedom can equal happiness. Does happiness equal freedom?

I'm not for sure however all I can say is life is a better ride with a smile in your heart and face. Smiles work better than anything else. You pass that smile on to someone that is sad, they'll pass it on too.

Keepin' It Real with a Smile in my Heart!

Go out there and be free! Enjoy this world, it's the only one you have. And in the end does anything really matter? Three billion years from now, will anyone even care what you did or where you have been? I would say not.

So rock on, enjoy the freedom of the world you live in! We are all lucky to be here, to enjoy this crazy thing called life! Live it with all the happiness in the world! Smiles for the world! :)

Rockin Out

Here a song to rock out to!
"Number One!" - Punk Rock Music Video

This is a Social Commentary art film.
How to Make 5 Bucks an Hour for 12 hours Straight

Art Film
Leaves Falling - In Slow Motion

1500 Videos on YouTube by The Internet Legend

2011-04-30T22:47:00.003-05:00

1500 Videos on YouTube by The Internet Legend

The man with the most copyright free content on YouTube, Herbert Midgley, the Internet Legend!

Well I guess I am the man with the most copyright free content on YouTube. 1500 plus videos are now on YouTube as of this month. It's been amazing to see what I can do using the internet to further my craft and creativity. The internet is a great tool to create art!

Here are a few videos to celebrate this phenomenal event.
How To Make 1500 Videos (for YouTube)

Old Timely Fun - Avant-garde Short Film

The Internet Legend in a Tux

Some may ask, why make so many videos? It's a new art form. Short YouTube videos are the new Pop Art. What I do in my art is: make a commentary on life, art, being a human and how to live your life free.

Rockin' Out!

Here are a few songs to rock out with!
"Sad Panda" - Punk Rock Music Video

"Time Loop" Music Video

I took this during a thunder storm!

Enjoy this great tribute to Dada!

Da Da!

Rock and Roll!

Let's all be cool! :)

Wish of Happiness!

2011-03-31T22:45:00.003-05:00

Wish of Happiness!

Happiness. We all want to be happy. How can we be happy? Are you born with it? Can you find happiness?

Well try to smile! Smile and make the world a better place! Try it! It will change the world!

Rocking out as always!

Here is my first cartoon! Enjoy!
The Biggest Nerd

This is how a Stormtrooper makes a Peanut butter and Jelly Sandwich!
Cooking With a Stormtrooper - Peanut butter and Jelly Sandwich

Another great song!
"I Never Meant" - Music Video - Piano

I shaved my mustache off!
Fast Shave

Silent Horror Film

2011-02-28T22:20:00.003-06:00

Silent Horror Film

I made a silent horror film this month. It was a lot of fun to make. Films have been made for over hundred years now and in many ways the silent film is still the high art of film making.

Films are visual. Silent films didn't have a lot of boring talking, you had to see what they are doing and understand the story. If you can't watch a film with the sound turned on and understand what is going on, you have a play with moving pictures.

Of course silent films had a great soundtrack that would also move an audience. Full orchestras would move the house as the film was projected. Film, music and a few intertitles were all that where needed to have a great film.

The hardest part of making the silent horror film was composing the soundtrack. Filming and acting are easy compared with composing a score that helps the film. Well I hope you like the film, sit back and pretend you are in 1911 watching this great silent horror film.

Be My Valentine - Silent Horror Film

I make some other cool music this month! Enjoy! :)
"Robot" - Music Video Synth Version

"Only A Joy or Two" - Music Video

"Jamin' Out!" - Music Video

Come see some of my short films in the 2010-2011 MA/MFA Graduate Exhibition at the Griffith Gallery at SFASU from 2-28-11 to 3-11-11.

Why I Love Nacogdoches

2011-01-30T15:59:00.003-06:00

Why I Love Nacogdoches

Nacogdoches has been good to me over the last few years. Before living in East Texas, I came from Northern California and it was quite different. It took a little while, however I have been so happy living here.

Whenever you go or move anywhere you can either hate it or love it. Remember it's the same dance just a different tune. No matter where you are at you can find the gems of that town.

The reasons that I love Nacogdoches are:

1. The People
2. The Culture
3. Catfish
4. No Traffic!

The people in Nac are great! Everyone is so friendly and helpful. It is a true community! When I go somewhere in Nac, most of the time I run into someone that knows me, or of me. This is great!

I have folks tell me that I need to move to Austin, New York or LA for the arts. There is so much to do here in Nac, I can't go to everything here! Concerts, art, theatre are over Nac! We have some of the best artists, actors and musicians in the world here in Nac!

When I am driving to get me some catfish or chicken fried chicken, there isn't any traffic. In larger cities I can't even get across the street in less the twenty minutes. Nac has no traffic, so I can get my catfish in minutes!! That makes me happy!

Well I love this town, if you ever visit look me up and say howdy!

Here is a short documentary I made about love Nacogdoches!
Why I Love Nacogdoches - Short Documentary

Here I am rocking out in Nacogdoches!

"A Hard Road" - Music Video

Goodbye 2010!

2010-12-31T16:42:00.002-06:00

Goodbye 2010!

It has been a great year. I got to rock out, act, make films, run, bike and swing dance! Can't wait for 2011!

2011 Predictions

Long Hair

All good things must come to and end so my long hair and mustache had to go. It was fun having long hair again, I got a few acting gigs with it. It was fun to rock out with long hair!

Short Hair

Watch me cut my long hair!

Herb Gets a Shave and a Haircut

From Hip to Legit

It is cool to be back to normal. However the mustache can come back at anytime! Rock and Roll!

Here is my first film after my hair cut!

Water - Avant-garde Art Film

And as always, rock and roll!
What's in a Name? - Music Video

Throw in the Hat!

2010-11-30T18:48:00.002-06:00

Throw in the Hat!

It has been great making some Avant-garde Art Films the past semester. The art class I have been taking has been a great eye opener about being an artist. I'm still not sure that any thing I do is really 'art', however I enjoy it and I have a lot folks that watch my short art films. That makes me happy. :)

Cowboy Faces - Avant-garde Art Film

Cowboy Hat - Avant-garde Art Film!

Love the 'stache!

Taking classes helps keep me current as a teacher and allows me to grow as a human being. Every year I try to better myself as a person, taking classes helps with this. Can't wait to make so more art films!!!!!!

Green Screen!

Enjoy a lot of photos of me and the green screen! Too much fun making art!!!!

The Green In Me - Avant-garde Art Film

Doodle of me

And as always, Rock and Roll!!

"Rockin' Out" Guitar Solo

Also I have completed another full length screenplay. Look for it soon....

Fire in the Air

2010-10-31T15:28:00.004-05:00

Fire in the Air

Another great month of fun times and creating art. Been working on many film projects, art films, making music, writing a screenplay, acting and putting on a recital. Rock and Roll.

Fireworks!

I believe if you are a creative person, it's not only in one of the fine arts. All of the fine arts are connected together. Music helps my films, writing helps my acting, art films help my narrative films and so on and so on. In my world, you can't have one fine art without the rest.

Alley

So if you are writer, go out there and write! You make films, you better work on the craft everyday. Acting, musician, dancer, artist, you need to produce every single day of your creative life. If not, you are not a creative human being.

Herbert Midgley "Creative Human Being" Recital

Here is the link to my latest concert.

Herbert Midgley "Creative Human Being" Recital

In this recital, I wanted to show all of the different fine arts that I am connecting together. So you will hear traditional music, some Avant-garde electronic music and films and a screaming rock guitar solo. Music, film, acting, writing and other fine arts all in one recital! Enjoy the total art work!

Make your own Chance Music with me!
https://sites.google.com/site/chancemusicfun/
I have twenty different sounds, you can play them in any order, replay are jump to a point at anytime. Have fun and enjoy making your chance music with me!

Rockin' Out

Here is a song to rock out to!
"Far Far Away" Music Video

Now you see Cowboy Herb

Now You Don't!

Art Film!

I have been having fun making these art films. Enjoy!
White House - Time Lapse Avant-garde Art Film

Solo Time!

2010-09-30T19:13:00.002-05:00

Solo Time!

I have wanted to play a screaming rockin' guitar solo since I picked up an electric guitar. Finger tapping and a million mile per hour solo is a dream that has come true. Over the last two years, I have been wood shedding on the electric guitar and I finally recorded my best guitar solo! Hope you like! Rock and Roll!

"Rock It Out of the Park" Guitar Solo

Here is a song for you to rock out to!
"It's Not Bad" Music Video

Smile!

Yeah! The 'Stache is Back!

Life is good.

Add One More Year To The List :)

2010-08-18T21:58:00.002-05:00

Add One More Year To The List :)

I'm not getting older, I'm getting cooler!

Time is flying by! It has been great so far, many things happen during the past year. Some I would have never guessed, others I knew were going to happen. Such is life....

Over the last few years, on the day of my birth, I have taken a photo with the same clothes on in the same spot. It's kind of cool. Glad I can wear the same clothes as I did back last year! All of that running helps.

2007

2008

2009

2010

Thanks to all of my friends and family that have wished me a happy birthday. You all rock! Can't believe how many people know me.

To all of the folks out there that watch my short films, listen to my songs and watch my other videos, many thanks. I do them for you all. It gives me a smile to know that you are all out there rockin' out with me. Rock and Roll!

"It's a Rockin' Birthday!" Music Video

Starfleet for life, you know that!

At some point you stop worrying about getting older and worrying about living a good life. Everyday you can either rock out or be sad. I choose to rock out! You should do the same! Rock and Roll!!!!!!!!!!

Got me some catfish too! Now that's super cool! Rock and Roll!

The Flower With A Brain - A Children's Story

I saw Herbert Midgley

Songs that I love from the last 60 years.

2010-08-12T04:03:00.002-05:00

I Love Rockin'

I someone ask me for a list of my favorite songs the other day. At first I was only going to list my top twenty, well that idea was gone in a few minutes. So a few hours later, a lot of thinking and soul searching, here you go.

I put down my favorite jams of all time. Some of the choices may be odd, metal and disco, country and pop, well if it is a good song, it made my list no matter who wrote it or performed it. Enjoy the list. Rock and Roll!

Songs that I love from the last 60 years.

I'm Walking the Floor Over You - Ernest Tubbs
Move It On Over - Hank Williams Sr.
Get That Hump In Your Back - Hank Ballard
Blue Moon of Kentucky - Bill Monroe
That Will Be The Day - Buddy Holly
Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly
Maybe Baby - Buddy Holly
Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley
Tutti Futti - Little Richard
Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
Suspicious Mind - Elvis Presley
Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry
I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
Do You Want To Know A Secret - The Beatles
Twist and Shout - The Beatles
For Know One - The Beatles
Hey Jude - The Beatles
The Long and Winding Road - The Beatles
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
Mother's Little Helper - The Rolling Stones
Baba O'riley - The Who
Louie Louie - The Kingsmen
My Girl - The Temptations
Reach Out I´ll Be There - The Four Tops
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Daydream Believer - The Monkees
I Got You Babe - Sonny and Cher
Whole Lotta Lovin' - Led Zepplin
Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
Paranoid - Black Sabbath
Velvet Underground - Sweet Jane
Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
53rd & 3rd - The Ramones
Do You Want to Dance - The Ramones
Psycho Killer - The Talking Heads
Kick Out The Jams - MC5
Anarchy in the U.K. - The Sex Pistols
God Save the Queen - The Sex Pistols
X - Johnny Hit And Run Paulene
Rock the Casbah - The Clash
Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie
Alison - Elvis Costello
Summer Nights - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
Call Me - Blondie
Heart Of Glass - Blondie
Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
More Than A Woman - Bee Gees
If I Can't Have You - Bee Gees
How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees
Is She Really Going Out With Him - Joe Jackson
My Sharona - The Knack
Good Girls Don't - The Knack
That's What The Little Girls Do - The Knack
Rock and Roll all Nite - Kiss
Baby, I love your way - Peter Frampton
Jungle Boogie - Kool and The Gang
Get Down On - Kool and The Gang
Brass in Pocket - The Pretenders
I'll stand by you - The Pretenders
Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Down On The Corner - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
Break On Through - The Doors
Piece of my Heart - Janis Joplin
I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton
Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson
Hello Darlin' - Conway Twitty
Stand By Your Man - Tammy Wynette
Country Roads - John Denver
The Closer You Get - Alabama
Forever and Ever Amen - Randy Travis
Sound Of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
Mrs. Robinson - Simon & Garfunkel
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
The Long Run - The Eagles
The Joker - Steve Miller
Fly Like An Eagle - Steve Miller
The Brain Police - Frank Zappa
Don't Pull Your Love Out - Hamilton, Joe Frank, & Reynolds
Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann
Crocodile Rock - Elton John
Dream On - Aerosmith
Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
Saturday In The Park - Chicago
25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago
Your The Inspiration - Chicago
Mahna Mahna - Muppet Show
The Rainbow Connection - Kermit the Frog
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
Dancing Queen - ABBA
I Know What Boys Like - The Waitresses
Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel
Uptown Girl - Billy Joel
I Want You To Want Me - Cheap Trick
Brass Monkey - The Beastie Boys
Peter Piper - Run DMC
Don't Stand So Close to Me - The Police
Every Breathe You Take - The Police
Head Over Heels - Go-Go's
Take On Me - Ah Ha
Do You Believe In Love - Huey Lewis & The News
Somebody's Baby - Jackson Browne
Running on Empty - Jackson Browne
Don't Stop Believing - Journey
Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
Love is a Battlefield - Pat Benatar
Shadows Of The Night - Pat Benatar
Best Friends' Girl - The Cars
Just What You Needed - The Cars
Sara Smiles - Hall and Oates
Private Eyes - Hall and Oates
Hungry Like The Wolf - Duran Duran
Do You Really Want To Hurt Me - Culture Club
Every Time You Go Away - Paul Young
Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
Holiday - Madonna
Lucky Star - Madonna
Live to Tell - Madonna
1999 - Prince
Keep Your Hands To Yourself - Georgia Satellites
More Than Words - Extreme
Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
Goodbye To Romance - Ozzy Osbourne
Dee - Randy Rhoads
Always With Me, Always With You - Joe Satriani
Seek and Destroy - Metallica
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Basket Case - Green Day
When I Come Around - Green Day
Come By Me - Harry Connick Jr.
Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms
Breakfast At Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something
Island in the Sun - Weezer
Buddy Holly - Weezer
Say It Ain't So - Weezer
Undone -- The Sweater Song - Weezer
El Scorcho - Weezer
Fantasy - Mariah Carey
There She Goes - Sixpence None The Richer
Absolutely (Story of a Girl) - Nine Days
Wherever You Will Go - The Calling
My Way - Usher
Thank You - Dido
Hey Ya - OutKast
Get The Party Started - P!nk
Rock Your Body - Justin Timberlake
Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne
Sweater Girl - Herbert Midgley
Your Crime, My Crime - Herbert Midgley
Party In The USA - Miley Cyrus

Here I am rockin' out
"The Only One" Music Video

Rockin' Out! 2012 Style!

2010-07-31T22:43:00.003-05:00

Rockin' Out! 2012 Style!

I love to rock out. Back in my youth, I had dreams of being a rock star. Well, with YouTube, I sorta am.

When I first started to play guitar, I wanted to play like Randy Rhoads and Eddie VanHalen. Make my guitar scream with the heavy metal sounds that only a true rocker could do. Rock and Roll for ever!

Over the last few years I have been working on my heavy metal guitar chops. Playing my guitar with a lot of dirt with blues and chromatic scales is great. I don't have a ton of speed like some other guitarists, however my heart is pure Rock and Roll!

So follow your dreams, make them come true. I will play guitar solos that sound like they were straight out of the 1980's before I am done. Time can make anything happen! By 2012 for sure. :)

Here are some rockin' guitar solos for you!

"Happy Face" Heavy Metal Guitar Solo

"Keeping It Cool!" Guitar Solo

Life in a Day

Here is a song for you to rock out to!
"Today is a Great Day" Music Video

Blueberry Fest 2010

2010-06-30T01:41:00.003-05:00

Blueberry Fest 2010

Once again another great time picking blueberries during the Blueberry Fest. It is fun to see all the folks from all over enjoying blueberries. Can't wait until next year to get some more blueberries!

Here is a video of the Blueberry Fest.
Blueberry Fest 2010

Rockin' Out

Here I am rockin' out with another great song!
"One Day" Music Video

Here I am rockin' out with a guitar solo! Rock and Roll!
"UPM" Rocking Guitar Solo

Midgley 2010 - Rules for Filmmakers

2010-05-25T20:49:00.004-05:00

Midgley 2010 rules for filmmakers.

Here is my latest film, Prank Call.

Over the last few years of making films, I have come up with a list of rules to make the filmmaking process more creative.

Rules restrict an artist. So why in 2010 does any artist need to be restricted? During the Classical period, Mozart had a set of strict rules for composition that he had to follow. We know Mozart today because of his genius. How he was able to take these rules and bend them to make his own special music that touches each person that hears it to this day. This was his gift to the world, to grow as a composer in spite of the rules.

By having a list of rules to follow, a filmmaker can focus on how to make the best film they can. The rules on the list, some were borrowed from Italian neorealism, French New Wave and Dogme 95 lists, help make filmmakers more creative.

Some rules are completely new, all I feel will make the next generation of independent filmmakers focus on the craft of film. With all the technology we have, something is lost. A bunch of CGI, fast cut, slick films that do nothing for an audience. It is time to get back to the story, entertainment and emotionalism that films can do better than any other art.

Here is my list.

Midgley 2010 rules for filmmakers.

Rule 1
Use as few as possible for everything in your film.

As few actors can get in the way of the film, use them only to help move the story and for a reason.
As few pages of a script. Tell your story as pithy as you can.
As few lines of dialogue, get to the point.
As few lights and technology equipment as possible. The more equipment you have, the more it gets in the way of filmmaking. Use as technology sparingly.
As few crew, using only the basic crew will make your filmmaking more efficient.
As few props, special effects, art direction, etc.
Less is always more.

Rule 2
Show it, don't say it.

Have the actors only speak when needed. Show us the story with sound and pictures. If you can't watch the film with the dialogue turned off and tell what's going on, it's not a film, it's a play.

Rule 3
Only real locations.

Building a set takes way from the realism of the film, use locations as you find them with as little art direction as possible. Locations should breathe life into a film. If the story is good, all you need is blank room. Any location that is right will enhance the film. Any location that is wrong should not be used or cheated to make it work.

Rule 4
Filmmaking is the gesamtkunstwerk, total artwork of the day.

It combines the best of all the arts and should use the best of the arts as possible in films. Acting, writing, music, dance, photography and art are all important in a film. Any weak area will lead to a weak film.

Rule 5
The Director is the Author of the film.

The Director, or the Author of the film, has the vision of the film, from the first thought of the idea to the last second of editing. The Filmmaker needs to have the inspiration of the way the film looks, to the framing of the picture, writing the script, editing, composing the music and acting in the film.

The Director/Author must take and use feedback from anyone involved in the film, from a PA, Cook, DP to the Actors, etc. Get the most creative people and focus on the best they have to offer. Use the best forget the rest.

However in the end, the Filmmaker is final voice in the vision of the film. The Filmmaker has to see the film in their head before anyone can see it on film.
An Author writes a book.
A Filmmaker makes a film.

Rule 6
Story, story, story!

If there is no story, all you have are a bunch of pictures. Say something, make someone feel an emotion, change the world, have a moral, etc.

If films were made correctly, one would never have to go to church on Sunday mornings.

Rule 7
Shoot, shoot, shoot!

A filmmaker makes films. No matter what equipment you have, you make a film. If you have no actors, act in it yourself. If you have a crummy camera, shoot. If you have no story, shoot. You work during the week, you make films when you are off. Shoot films with no excuses. Practice your craft daily.

The length of the film, whether it is five hours or five seconds, is not important as long as it is a film.

If you can not say what you have done in a day to better yourself as a filmmaker, you are not a filmmaker.

Filmmakers make films, period! If you don't make films, you are not a filmmaker.

Rule 8
Forget the Money.

Films are art, they can change the world. If you are only seeking a large paycheck, do something else.

Make your film as cheap or free as possible. Being hungry is where creativity flourishes. Money makes it too easy to forget who you are, a filmmaker. The lack of funds can make your film better than if you have millions.

Can you really put a price on a piece of art?

These are my eight rules for making films in 2010. Can you bend some rules, sure if it helps the film. These rules are not written in stone. I wrote these rules to help spur imagination, to foster creativity and to hopefully make better films. Thinking outside the box should help some of the filmmakers caught in a rut.

If you make films, perhaps you should write your own rules. Follow your heart, your passion and films will flow out of you like rain.

In Prank Call, I used these rules. I love this film and hope you do too. Let me know what you think. Also a special thanks to all crew and talent that helped make this dream come true. You all rock!

The Crew and Talent for Prank Call

Look for more of these films in the future....

Warning! Do to the subject matter this Short Film this is rated PG.
You see worst stuff on TV, however this isn't the G rated content I usually post.
To insure the artist integrity of this story, I have left the film unaltered.
Some films are for Adults, this is one....and there is a moral......

Herbert Midgley, The Internet Legend, presents you a psychological thriller for your entertainment pleasure. Herb shows why he is the best film actor in East Texas in this Oscar worthy short film!

One cowboy, one girl and one cell phone equals one prank call you will never forget!

Herbert Midgley stars in his most ambitious films to date. Herbert Midgley along with Kat Goins, give an Academy Award level performance in this ground breaking short film. This film will change how you look at your cell phone and how you use it.

In the world there are nerds, geeks and dweebs. Then there are the popular people, the ones that get everything they want because they are the beautiful people. One day all of that 'dissing' catches up to you all within one phone call. Can you survive the Prank Call?

Prank Call

Actors:
Kat Goins - Girl
Herbert Midgley - Cowboy

Crew:
Herbert Midgley - Director, Screenplay, Editor & Music
Chris Bookman - Director of Photography
Tommy Cockerell - Gaffer/Color Correction
Dylan Walker - Sound
Thomas Simpson - Newspaper Graphic

Copyright © 2010
by Herbert Midgley
All Rights Reserved

www.prankcallfilm.com

Prank Call - Short Film - Psychological Thriller

Prank Call - Short Film - Psychological Thriller - Director's Commentary

Prank Call - Short Film - Psychological Thriller - Film Noir Verison

Rock and Roll!

"Tom Dooley" with Cowboy Herbert Midgley

Ask Yourself These Questions

2010-04-30T11:09:00.002-05:00

Ask Yourself These Questions

As time goes on, you see things, sometimes the same thing in a different light. What mattered years ago, doesn't now. Awesome how time resolves what we perceive as problems.

There's the Light.

Is the glass half full or half empty? Is that grass really greener on the other side? Do we really want the things that we long for, or is it the struggle that makes us long for them?

Keepin' It Real

In my maturity, I now realize what is truly important. Live your life and let others do what they need to. In the end, does it really matter what others believe? About you? About life? About themselves? About the grand questions of life?

We all have to make decisions, some for the good, some not. Be an adult and let them go, allow them to flow through you like rain. Then you can smile and so can the rest of the world. :)

Ask Yourself These Questions

Rockin' Out!

"I'm Just A Guy You Met Passing Through Nacogdoches Texas" Music Video

"Sleeping In" Music Video

First Full Length Movie on YouTube

2010-03-07T01:18:00.002-06:00

First Full Length Movie on YouTube

Day of Herb - Feature Film

Having made over 1000 plus videos that I have posted on YouTube over the last five years or so, I learned many things. One thing you have to be able to do is take chances, push the envelope. This year I wanted to make a full length feature film, a film over 70 minutes long, to post on YouTube.

Day of Herb - Feature Film

I had the idea, however I needed help to make this dream come to life. Asking around, I founded a camera man with a steady cam, and bingo that was it! 75 minutes of the life of Herb, caught on tape in one continuous shot! This is not as easy as it sounds. Making any film that you can watch is hard enough, doing this film in one shot would take all of my knowledge of film making and acting.

Day of Herb - Feature Film

After the two hour film shoot, I when home and uploaded the footage. Then I composed some music, added some titles and started to compress the film. This took most of the night. Got up and uploaded the film to YouTube. So under 24 hours, I had a full length feature on YouTube to share with the world.

Day of Herb - Feature Film

I hope you like this experiment in film making. Is it perfect, no. Well life ain't either.

Day of Herb - Feature Film

Here are the liner notes:

Herbert Midgley, the Internet Legend, presents his first full length Feature Film on Youtube!

Day of Herb, is a film about an average man that seeks to live his life by creating art. Music, composing classical compositions, playing the piano, guitar and recorder and taking photos, helps this man deal with the mundanity that is life. Follow Herb on his incredible journey though out his life! This film will change the way you look at the world and yourself.

Day of Herb, was shot with one continuous take using a steady cam. It was shot under two hours, started at 2:20 pm and ending at 4:20 pm, edited, music added, compressed and posted on Youtube all within 24 hours. Using today's technology, a talented filmmaker can make a full length feature in one day.

Herbert Midgley, an amazing actor, pulls off the life of an every man in the vain of a James Stewart, Gene Hackman, or Robin Williams, in real time. Watching this film, you forget that your are watching a film. The acting is so natural, the pacing is just like real life. This is the best 75 minutes you'll ever spend watching a feature. This slice of life film will go down in history as an important commentary on life in 2010. It will help you explore your inner thoughts of being a human being.

Day of Herb
a Herbert Midgley film

Written, Directed, Edited, Music and Starring
Herbert Midgley

Director of Photography and Steady Cam
Michael Tubbs

Copyright © 2010
All Rights Reserved

http://www.herbertmidgley.com
http://www.theinternetlegend.com
http://www.rockhistorytube.com

Day of Herb - Feature Film

Snow in East Texas

2010-02-28T00:41:00.002-06:00

Snow In East Texas

It has been a long time since it has really snowed in East Texas. I wasn't here when East Texas had a snow on the ground, it was in 1988 or 1981, I got two dates from two different people, well it was in the 80's for sure! The last few years we have a little snow flake down for a few minutes and melt as it touch the ground, this was real snow!

I got a phone call at 7 am in the morning. Slowly I made it to the phone and answered it. A computer voice informed me that school was canceled do to the snow. So I looked outside to a winter wonderland I haven't seen in a long time.

Snow was everywhere

For a moment I thought about going back to sleep. Any other day, I would've done this. I knew it was going to melt fast, so I grab my camera and took footage of the snow in East Texas. Got a lot of great shots and even made a short film in the snow.

Instead of sleeping on my day off, I walked the snow for about six hours. It was melting fast, so those first few minutes looked great. My feet got cold and wet really fast, it was great to get out of the snow in various places I stopped at. I forgot how hard it was to live and work in snow, that's why I live in East Texas!

Snowmen!

Along the way, I saw many snowman. Also many snowball fights were going on as I walked the streets. On a few hills, you could see folks sledding in the snow.

As cool as it was to have the white stuff on the ground, I am happy it rarely snows here. Did you know that snow melts to water? Then everything with snow on it gets wet.

Looking Cool in the Snow

I can handle snow in East Texas every twenty years. So look out 2030! Oh yeah, 2012......... Guess this is the last snow we'll see. :(

Rockin' Out in the Snow

Here are a few videos I made in the snow.

Sledding in the Snow

Snow Angel

Man Falling Down In Snow

How to Make a Snowball

Snowing in Nac

1000 Videos on Youtube

2010-01-18T04:02:00.002-06:00

1000 Videos on Youtube
Yeah, I really do.

About five years ago, I started to post my videos on the web. First was Google Video, then I heard about this new site called YouTube. So I upload my first video on YouTube. I'm a Nerd (Star Wars Version) was upload on January 08, 2006, 11:07 AM.

Four years later, I now have over 1000 videos. Wow. Man I still can't believe that I have that much content online.

In 2008, I had a challenge or a dare, to post a video on YouTube everyday for a year. I thought for a moment and said, "yeah I could do that." Boy it sure was a learning experience!

Ok, now that I was going to make and post a video on YouTube everyday for one year, I had to change the way I post. See my creativity comes in spurts, sometimes I make five plus videos in a day. I used to post them as soon as I made them, now I had to wait to post so that I would not run out of content.

This creative experiment has helped me a lot. I had to 'think way outside the box' everyday. So the "how to" videos came out, videos like "how to eat an apple" or "how to make a sandwich" were born.

I want to thank all of you that watched the videos I have posted. Some of you have watched every single video I have posted last year! Wow!

After this month, I will end this creative experiment. I will still post videos, however not every day! Probably three or four a week.

This year, look for a full length 70 minute film. Not sure what it will be, however it will be definitely something you could watch for 70 minutes! It should rock!

Here is my 1000th video on YouTube posted January 17, 2010, 12:06 AM.
"The Internet Legend" Short Film
A man slowly finds out that he is "The Internet Legend".

Nerd Trying to Fly
I think I can fly! I really can if I run fast enough!

Smile Everyone! - PSA
Sometimes you just have to smile! It makes you feel better! It really does!

Rock and Roll!
"Who Has a 1000 Videos on Youtube?" Music Video

Rock and Roll!

Dumpster Dancing
Dance like no one is watching you. Yeah, you'll feel better about life.

Now for a Montage

The Walk - Short Film made only with Photos
A film made the old fashion way, one photo at a time.

8 Months and One Year Ago

2009-12-24T17:41:00.002-06:00

8 Months and One Year

Merry Christmas!

Eight months ago today I started to run three miles. So for each day since then, I ran three miles each day, rain or shine, hot or like today cold! I still can't believe it!

8 Months of Running Everyday

This year I had a dream come true, I got to rock out in the same studio that Buddy Holly used to record his big hits. Since August, I have worked on editing the documentary and I now I am done! All can see this magical trip. Man I say 'wow' a lot!

"Buddy and Herb" Documentary

Also, today is the one anniversary of posting a video every day for one year. I was given this challenge last year and wasn't sure that I could make it. Well one year later, I did!

I learned a lot about myself making this videos. Everything from short films, to educational films, how to videos and of course music videos. It was great challenge. Man I still can't believe that I pulled that one off!

Rockin' Out!
"Sunny Day" Guitar Solo

I'm a Punk Rocker!
Real Life: Punk Rocker - Herbert Midgley - Documentary

Merry Christmas Everybody! :)

Quest

2009-11-30T00:19:00.004-06:00

Quest

The time it takes to make something good or positive happen can come easy or not. Seven months ago I started a quest to run three miles every day. So far I am winning that quest.

Fortunately I haven't gotten ill, my legs and feet are weathering the workout well and I have had the time to run everyday. So far it hasn't been too cold or freezing rain out when I have to run outside.

I've had to sacrifice to make it happen, running in strange towns when I have traveled, when I was dead tired from making feature film this summer and days that it would have been easier sitting on my couch watching Star Trek then going out and run. I chose to run and make it so.

I am still amazed that I have been able to run this much. One more month of running every day should be possible. Let's see what happens. Time will only tell....

Seven Months in a Row of Running Three Miles Everyday!

Running 3 Miles Every Day for 7 Months
The Perfect Exercise to Lose Weight

I run even when it is cold outside!

Fun while having my oil changed!

The Biggest Pink Pig I've ever seen!

Big Pink Pig

Avant Garde Art Film time!

Answers in Books - Avant Garde Art Film
Answers in Books - Avant Garde Art Film - Director's Commentary

Rockin' Out!

"Life in the USA" Music Video
"Internet Cyborg" Music Video
How to Write Songs

Believe

2009-11-08T19:50:00.004-06:00

Believe

What do you believe in? Do others agree? Does it matter? Do your beliefs help you in life? Do they hold you back?

What is a belief? Over the last few years I have been studying how beliefs effect humanity. Some for the good of humanity, others not so good for humanity.

This brick wall was the last part of Crossroads, a place many famous musicians played in Nac, Stevie Ray Vaughan used to play there back in the 80's, now it has been covered up with cement because it was believed to look better. Now nothing remains of this former venue.

Here is what looks better.

I believe that Star Trek is the best show ever on TV. All TV shows lead up to Star Trek and all TV shows lead away from Star Trek. This belief is so strong in me I cut my hair and sideburns like they would have them in Starfleet.

Does my belief alone make me right? What about Battlestar Galactica? Dr. Who? Red Dwarf?

For me to understand why others would believe that other Sci-Fi shows are the best, I would have to suspend my belief in Star Trek and watch the other shows with an open mind. If I watch them with a close mind, nothing would happen.

I still believe in eating food.

For any change to happen, I would have to go in with the thought that my belief could be wrong. That I was in error. This is hard for all of us to do. We all think we are right and everyone else is foolish in their weird beliefs.

I believe in bike riding.

To change the world for the better we would have to respect others beliefs even if we don't agree with them. If the beliefs aren't hurting anyone else or being forced on anyone else, I can live with the thought that someone thinks another show is better than Star Trek.

I believe in keeping it real!

Some people like believing in things you could never understand. That's fine, we have different points of view. Someone could even think that Two and Half Men is better than Star Trek! Can you image that!? No, I can't either.

I believe in Rock and Roll!

Here is a link to an hour recital of my songs. Rock and roll!
Songs Of Herbert Midgley 2009

Here I am rocking out at Nacstock 2009!
"Sweater Girl" at Nacstock 2009

Rock and Roll

Here is a video of me talking about beliefs.
Beliefs

Miami Vice Look Out!

Of course I believe that I'm the best film actor in East Texas, that goes without saying.

Rock and Roll!

Mom and Dad, When I was a kid I Jumped over a Snake while Riding my Bike

2009-10-10T21:43:00.003-05:00

Mom and Dad, When I was a kid I Jumped over a Snake while Riding my Bike.

Cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, Email, Web Surfing, Blogs, Youtube, Wikipedia, etc., have helped make humanity a bit less human. We think on the surface we are so much more connected to others, in reality those ones and zeros push us further away from who we are.

Back when I was kid, I went out to play. I love to bike ride, as I do now, everywhere. On the street, ride down fast on hills, go cross country and into the woods. And I had no cell phone, no way of communicating with anyone save if one of my friends were with me.

Me not in front of the computer

I can see mothers today freaking out! You mean your mom let you go out and play without her knowing exactly where you were. Well she know I was on Earth, that was about it most of the time during the day.

No snakes to jump today.

Guess what, I survived. I'm the person that I am today because my folks let me live life. I told them about my day, most of what I did. And one day while bike riding in the woods I saw a snake about four feet in front of me, so I jumped it. I knew I didn't have time to brake or the space of ride around it and I was biking fast so I had no choice but to jump.

No surprise, I live to tell about it. My heart was pumping and I felt like Evel Knievel! And all of my friends knew that I was the man for doing so. Another Herb legend came from this story. But I never told my folks about it.

I'm sure there's a story behind this

There was no Facebook or Twitter to brag about it. No blogs to post my incredible story for the world to know. No YouTube for me to sing a song about this awesome feat.

I told my friends at school on Monday and I was super cool for a few days. Rock and roll! I think that two foot snake grew to a twenty foot monster snake by the end of the week. I was truly the man!

Did I ever tell you the time I ate some fish?

Today I'm afraid that kids don't live life. Sitting in front of a computer for twelve plus hours a day ain't no way to live life! To be a great human being you had better live a great life full of stories to change the world! Getting perfect on Guitar Hero doesn't matter as much as having a human experience to share with your friends and family.

I love life!

So go out there and live life! The internet will be there when get back, so will the Internet Legend. And the next time you have post what you are doing on the Facebook or Twitter, go over to a friend and tell them in person. Cutting out the middle man is always better.

Rock and Roll!

Man I love the piano

Another great song!
"Rockin' the World" Music Video

Here is a great Avant-garde Art Film!
"Desk" Avant-garde Art Film

9 9 9 = Avant-garde Art Film Music Video

2009-09-09T19:46:00.002-05:00

9 9 9 = Avant-garde Art Film Music Video

You all know that I love the Avant-garde. Composing Avant-garde music is so much fun, free and I have a great chance to experiment. Since today was 9-9-09, why not make a cool piece of work?

Usually I use a lot of chance to make my Avant-garde work, however I decided to write this one out. Here is the score. You can see the photo diagrams and the nine tracks of audio with three sets of nine seconds for the duration.

Here is the Autograph Score for "9 9 9"

"9 9 9" Avant-garde Art Film Music Video

Here is the Autograph Score for my daily chorale. I have composed one of this everyday since 1991. Now I can do them in my sleep. I have composed these all over the world.

Me on 9-9-09.

Here is a more artsy photo on 9-9-09.

And with eyes closed on 9-9-09.

Rock and Roll!

"In Any Case" Music Video

Add Another Year to the List

2009-08-18T18:28:00.001-05:00

Add Another Year to the List
Clouds at my Back!

Time flies when you are having fun! The years are flowing out like wind into an empty bag. You have better stop and smile before the wind is all gone.

Let's take a look at me over the last few years.

2007

There I am with a new CD of my Songs.

2008

I had a beard from the film I was in last year.

2009

This is me now. Perhaps I should get a hair cut. Well at least I have my hair.

I am just glad that I can wear the same clothes I wore three years ago! If I keep running as much as I do, they should fit next year too!

To everyone out there that reads my blog and watches my YouTube videos, thank you. You all are the reason I create so much, if no one was following my content, I guess it would stop. Every time I see that a group of folks have watched one of my videos, it makes me happy! Thanks again.

It was time I wrote a Birthday song for you all to rock out to on your Birthdays! So here you go! Rock and Roll!

What a cool smile!

"Happy Happy Happy Birthday" Music Video

Wow, it is great to see my friends and family during this special day. I'm sure that I'll go run my three miles, eat some catfish and rock out! That's rock and roll!

Rockin' Out!

"Herb is the Word" Music Video

"How to Be Cheap!" Music Video

"Brush That Shoulder" Music Video

May the next year be as cool as this year. As long as I have the Sun in the sky, a guitar in my hand and a bike to ride, it will be. Happiness to all. And smile too, it is a great time to be alive!

What a Great Time to be Here!

Help Herb Win a KFC Contest!

2009-08-02T22:45:00.000-05:00

Help Herb Win a KFC Contest!

Friends, I am one of three contestants picked for the KFC Grill Chicken "Search For the Colonel Contest"!

What a great honor to be one of three contestants from the thousands and thousands of entries. All the years of making videos and being in front of the camera is paying off. Wow!

I'm the third one down if you want to vote for me! You have to log into MySpace to vote. If you don't have a MySpace account, you can make one in a few minutes. You have until August 16th to vote.

If you vote, you have a chance to win a free month's supply of free chicken from KFC! Tell you're friends too. Feel free to forward or cut and paste this post to any of your friends. Also if there is someone that isn't friends with me on a social website, let them know too! Tell everyone that is cool! Tell the world!

And I shot it all on my Kodak camera on movie mode in fifteen minutes without a tripod. It just goes to show that it's not the camera, it's the product that matters. You can tell I used the 5 o'clock lighting, however.

Thank you all for being a great friend. The support you all have given me over the years makes me smile so much. You all are the best in the world! Rock and roll!!!

KFC Grill Chicken "Search For the Colonel Contest"

http://creative.myspacecdn.com/Client/YumBrands/KFC/Tech/aug09_voting.html?42694341

800 Videos and 2 Million Hits

2009-07-31T04:16:00.002-05:00

800 Videos and 2 Million Hits
Wow that's a lot!

Amazing. That's the only word I can say for all the videos I have made and all the views I've had off of YouTube. Wow! Wow!! 2 Millions hits of my videos on YouTube! WOW!!!!

I'm very thankful of all the folks that watch my videos. As you know this year I have a goal of posting one video every single day. So far so good, however there are days when you can tell I am reaching to make a video. And funny, some of them are the most popular!

Thinking back twenty years ago, I could have never imagine that I would have people all over the world hear my music. Or that people across the planet learn how to play guitar or piano from me. Also that I am an actor and make my own films. Truly amazing! Twenty years all of this would have been impossible, today anyone with the drive, tenacity and creativity can do this too!

I would like to encourage all of you to post and make videos too. Every person has an unique set of skills and gifts. With the power of YouTube, you can share them with the world if you want to.

My quest for 'Gesamtkunstwerk' or total artwork has really flourished over the last few years. I knew that once I could combine music with acting, writing and film making, that my creativity would grow exponentially. And it has.

Thank you all for watching my supporting my work on YouTube. I love to create and now I have a medium to share my work with the world. You all make me smile every time you watch one of my videos. Thanks!

Smiling is great!

Here are some YouTube vids.

Rockin' Out!

"I Got 800 Videos on YouTube!" - Music Video

800 Videos on YouTube! - Thank You

Auto Tune In GarageBand

How to Eat With Chopsticks

Photos!
Looking Up!

Rock Climbing!

Wheelie Time!

Oh yeah, check out Who will be the ULTIMATE Kentucky Grilled Chicken Fan? on August 1st. Could it be me, if you vote for my video, YES!!!

Believe and You Can Achieve!

2009-07-04T13:49:00.002-05:00

Believe and You Can Achieve!

For years I have wanted to rock climb. A few weeks ago one of my friends offered to help me climb. I work out so much, I thought physically it shouldn't be a problem. And it wasn't. It was looking down twelve feet hanging on the wall thinking it's time to get my feet on the ground.

Starting the quest.

So the first time I got up fifteen feet. It sure was fun, however I was glad to be on the ground. I had a decision, I could say that I rock climbed and never climb again. Or face the challenge and go try again.

The next day I climbed again, I got up to about the same height, then came back down. The next time I learned how to belay, that's the person that pulls the rope up as the climber climbs. That made me feel better about falling. All you have is a harness, a rope, a knot and the belay to save you if you fall. You have to trust it!

Getting over the fear of falling.

Once I gained the trust in the rope and falling, I knew I could get to the top. So I started to climb. Don't look down, don't think about how high you are, trust in the rope and the belay. I fall back to gain a bit more trust in the rope and the belay. Then one hand and one foot at a time, climbed up to the top in and rang the bell. A great feeling. Coming down was great.

Believe and you can achieve!

Then I climbed again on another side. How awesome! I could feel my legs, forearms and biceps burning. As I walked away, it was great. Facing the fear of heights, falling and learning to believe in yourself.

If you can believe you can achieve!

Go out there and achieve!

Herb Rock Climbs To The Top

Watch it 600% faster than normal!

Rock and Roll!

Fame has a Heavy Penance

2009-06-28T14:35:00.002-05:00

Fame has a Heavy Penance

Fame has a heavy penance, be careful for what you wish for because you may get it. Why do so many people want and crave fame? What makes many of us do whatever we have to get into the spotlight? And once there, then what?

Since I make films, music and have a strong internet presence, I meet people all of the time that want to be a star. They want fame. What they don't realize is that fame comes with a price. Sometimes a real heavy price.

Once someone tells me that they want to be famous, I ask them why? Most tell me it is because of the money. Others because they only feel alive in the spotlight. Some because they want to reach the pinnacle of their craft. A few because they have to create no matter the cost.

Those that are in for the money, won't make it. They don't have patience for all of the lean times. Chasing the dollar takes up all of your time, no time to create.

The ones that only feel alive in front of an audience have a better chance. However to reach your full potential you must be alive off the stage. To be a great human being on stage you had better be an incredible one off stage.

Reaching the pinnacle of your craft is great feeling. Like climbing that mountain that no one has ever done before. These ones are the ones that are driven.

Now the ones that create no matter the cost. These are the pure artist, they make something out of nothing. No regard to making a living achieving their craft. Don't care if anyone acknowledges their work. They create because they have to create.

These are ones that change the world whether you know them or not. Some become famous. Most meek of a small living doing what they have to do. In either case, it doesn't matter.

As you all know I create to create. Whether I ever get paycheck or fame, that's not the point. I am happy that I have way to distribute my work for free on YouTube and the web.

Personally I do not create work to sit on my shelve for twenty years. I'll play for two people or two million, for me it doesn't matter. I'll go out and jam on the street with no one around. Or make a film solo because I can't find anyone with my drive to go out every day and create.

Do I have fame, yes. I have the freedom to create and way to share it with the world. So not only am I famous I am the riches person you have ever met, not in dollars, rather in smiles from around the world.

Now that Rock and Roll!

More Internet Fame:
"1970's Dude" Music Video
"E Blues Jam" Music Video
Jedi Herb
Herb Goes Indoor Rock Climbing
How to Eat Rice

Working Together Making Films

2009-06-23T17:13:00.003-05:00

Working Together Making Films

With the right lighting and talent you can make any film.

For the last few weeks I have been once again the Unit Production Manager, UPM for the SFA Summer Feature Film. Sadly no one knows what a UPM is. It is part sales man, politician, accountant, scrounger, salvage man, caterer, scheduler, foreman, wheeler and dealer and film maker all in one. The job that no one wants to do, however to make a film, someone has to do it.

Since I was UPM last summer, this year is smoother for me since I kind of know what I need to do. Having a small budget and a small staff leads for many interesting stories. I am always looking for a cheaper way to do the same thing better. At times I can do the impossible, other times we have to compromise.

I have talked, emailed, called more people than I have had to ever do before. When the film needs a classic car tomorrow and it is 4 pm, you don't have time to waste. Now try getting a parking lot full of classic cars while figuring out what to feed the crew and getting ready for the next day, finding a location, arranging lodging and travel for talent, while smiling and making people feel good.

This year I got to act in the film with a one line acting role. I knew that if I didn't cut my beard or hair, I would look like I was from 1970 and I could get a small roll in the film. Yeah that is how far I'll go to act.

As you all know, I love to act. It is great challenge for me. No matter the part, I go in there being off book and have some type of character analysis. Your job as an actor is to make the words come alive. Really if you are the person that you are, it should be a good performance.

Acting for film means you say the same line and do the same actions over and over again. People don't realize how hard it is to just stand still in front of a crew and the camera. Now add a speaking part. Then make your acting so it looks second nature and have the words flow out of your mouth as if you thought and said them. It's still tough to do no matter how great of an actor you are. To act well, you have to know who you are as a person and have other person care about you and your character.

Here is a video about how to in a feature film.
How To Act in a Feature Film

Here is a 100% fun song to rock out to!
"Things I Like" Music Video

Watch me be the stunt man and act in this short film.
The Bike Accident - Short Film

Running 93 Miles in the Month of May

2009-06-01T00:49:00.002-05:00

Running 93 Miles in the Month of May

On April 25, 2009 I started to run three miles every day. I kept it up the first week in May and thought, could I run three miles every day during May. Never did this much running before, however I thought why not try.

So over the 31 days of May, no matter where I was, whether it rained or how hot it got, I ran three miles. Some days I ran faster miles than others, however that didn't matter, the goal was to run three miles every day.

Over the month, those three miles seemed easier. It is great to have my running legs back. Also I feel great!

Will I keep this up, I'm not sure. I plan to run as much as I can now that I am able to run so much.

Here is a challenge for you, go out there and exercise every day for a month and see how you feel. Start off slow, it too me about six months to get back where I was two years ago. Walk for ten minutes each day, do some push ups and sit ups, anything to make yourself healthier! I think you'll enjoy life a bit more in a month if you do.

93 Miles in May

After running 93 miles in May!
Welcome to the Gun Show!!!

It Don't Matter

2009-05-31T03:20:00.002-05:00

It Don't Matter

To be honest, it has been a while since I have written a great song. My wonderful life is the primary source of my songs, as well as the rest of my creative outlets, plays, screenplays, novel, compositions, filmmaking and acting. Some see that as a weakness, I see it was a strength, that I live life to the fullest, doing what I want to be free and pursue happiness. At times I feel that those that don't understand what I do aren't happy or free in their lives.

As the years go by, I have reflected on many things about what has made me the person that I am. All of the people I have met, some friends, some were once friends now lost in time, and a very small percentage of folks that just 'don't get the Internet Legend'.

When you live your life standing out in a crowd, this is bound to happen. What a great world this would be if people would let you live and enjoy your life the way that you want to. I suggest this to everyone, if somebody doesn't dig your life, walk away with a smile on your face and let them have their happiness.

Because it don't matter what others think about you, the only thing that matters is what you think of your life. If it rocks, then Rock and Roll!

I choose to live my life as "The Internet Legend". Every day I change people's lives with my songs, films, educational videos, classical music and every time I talk to someone. And guess what, so do you in your own way.

So get out there and dig life! Live every day and make each moment matter to you! I only hope you watch a few of my Youtube videos every day too. Rock and Roll!

Here is the Music Video:
"It Don't Matter" Music Video

Here are the Lyics if you want to rock out to it:

It Don’t Matter
5-28-09
Herbert Midgley
© 2009
by Herbert Midgley

Verse
G
Brought up long ago,
D
Fearing to do the right.
G
All grown up now,
D
Doing good only feels right.

Verse
G
Fell in love,
D
Too many times.
G
Never the right moment,
D
To take that short walk.

Chorus
G Em
It don’t matter
Am D
Who you are.
G Em
It don’t matter
Am D
Where you’re from.

G Em
It don’t matter
Am D
Why you’re alone.
G Em
All you can do
Am D
Is try.

Verse
G
If there was a plan,
D
Never did see it.
G
Only had the dreams,
D
To keep me company.

Verse
G
So many years later,
D
What was it all for?
G
In the end,
D
It didn’t matter.

Chorus
G Em
It don’t matter
Am D
Who you are.
G Em
It don’t matter
Am D
Where you’re from.

G Em
It don’t matter
Am D
Why you’re alone.
G Em
All you can do
Am D
Is try.

Don't Call Me and Please Don't Text Message Me/ Email is fine :)

2009-05-26T04:43:00.002-05:00

Don't Call Me and Please Don't Text Message Me/ Email is fine :)

I Don't like the phone and I don't know what this is :(

My entire life I hated calling up people on the phone. I'm sure they are busy doing something so I only called if I had something to say. In Klingon you start every conversation with 'nuqneH' which means 'what do you want?'

This was all before cell phones. It was a big deal when I got a land line in my room as a kid. Then the cordless phone meant that I could talk outside my room. Today with the cell phone, I can be anywhere in the Earth and talk about nothing.

About ten years ago is when cell phones started to get cheap enough for regular folks to get them. I can still remember someone carrying a bag phone and thinking man that is cool. Ten years later, all I can think is what a mistake cell phone were.

It is a great thing to get away from everything. Alone with your thoughts as you run or bike ride in to the sun set. Thinking about the puzzles of life and how to make the world a better place.

Today, all I hear are people talking on their cells about nothing. I have never heard anyone talk about the mysterious of life on their cells. Never heard anyone debate Shakespeare. Never heard anyone talk about how can I help make humanity a better place on their cells.

I have heard plenty of drama and gossiping however. Is this what the part of humanity that has technology come to, talking about nothing and not having time to live a real life? Mindless talking about nothing on a little plastic box?

Seeing the cyborgs walking around tied to their cell phones texting like mindless sheep makes me wonder what has happen to all of the creativity of the past? Surely there has to be something else you could do instead of texting your buddy about 'where do you want to go eat.'

Back in the day you called someone up on a land line and asked to go out to eat at a certain time. You both agreed. And you had to show up because you couldn't call them on the road that you had change your mind and now you wanted BBQ instead of catfish.

And back in my day we had something called email. You could write as much as you want on a typewriter keyboard and all is great in the world. Before that we had letters. Before that we had walking over to someone and talking to them. The world was a happier place.

Perhaps I should give up my cell phone, I don't really need it. Most of the time I only get a phone call if someone needs me to fix a computer, something else or ask me to help them do something. I only have five people that ever call me to say hello and four of them it's only once or twice a year. Most of the time I talk or video chat with them on the computer, that way I can see the person I'm talking to.

I had to change my voice mail message saying that I never check my voice mail so email me if you have something important to say and that it cost me 20 cents every time you text me so do it if it is worth me paying 20 cents for 160 characters of information.

Only in America could cell phone companies get away at charging me 20 cents to receive a text message. That means they may make 40 cents for each text sent. Man if you got something to say to me in text, email me or call me up and read it to me.

People get mad if you don't call them back once they leave a voice message. I figure if it is important, they'll call back. Back in the day I had an answering machine connected to my land line. It was a great day when I decided to unplug it. Maybe that's an answer to this problem.

As of late, I have been leaving the cell phone at home more and more. I enjoy my runs and biking more. Siting and watching the clouds drift by as I am composing is great with a cell on you. Life is good when you can think for yourself. Now if I could only not hear other people's conversations while I eat my catfish that would rock! Also if you are hanging out with me, if the person calling you is more paramount then talking to me face to face, I'll go and run a few more miles, you can email me when you are done.

I am easy to get of hold of. If you need to talk to me call me. If I don't pick up email me. If it is super important call me again. Then email me again. I'm sure I'll be back from living my life at some point to reply. If not, look for me in the stars, the second star to the right straight on until morning :)

Here are some cool videos I have made:

Herbert Midgley, International World Explorer

How to Chew Gum

How to Brush Your Teeth

What is This Item?

"Don't Talk" Music Video

"Nerd Blues" Music Video

La Carreta Mexican Cafe 30 Second Commercial 2

Photos

I Am A Robot

2009-05-11T03:00:00.002-05:00

I Am A Robot

Today I have decided to let the world know that I am a Robot. That's right, I am a Robot. And I am a Robot that loves to dance. So I am a Dancing Robot. Now everything computes....

"I Am A Robot" Music Video

In 2012, all of the Robots are coming to Earth to a big dance party. It is going to be massive. Now that computes too.....

2012 The Rise of The Robots! - Movie Trailer -

Also when I am not a Robot, I rock out the open mike nights. Here I am rocking the world with some great songs from the past. Rock and Roll. Now that always computes....

Open Mike Night 5-10-09

When I am not a Robot, this is how I look.

Now time to go and calculate PI........
3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164062862089986280348253421170679
8214808651328230664709384460955058223172535940812848111745028410270193852110555964462294895493038196
4428810975665933446128475648233786783165271201909145648566923460348610454326648213393607260249141273
724587006606315588174881520920962829254091715364367892590360011330530548820466521384146951941511609...

What is a Cool Super Power?

2009-04-23T14:50:00.002-05:00

Lazer Eyes

What would be a cool super power? Flying? Running fast? Being super strong?

How about having Lazer eyes? Man that would be super cool. Sadly no one can have lazer eyes, but if yo could, it would change the world.

You could measure exactly how far the moon is from the earth. Having your own special effects lazer show would be cool too. Reading CDs and DVDs without a player would be nice. How about shaving without a razor? Too cool, huh?

If I could only have lazer eyes....

Well the dream of having lazer eyes is only a dream that we can only dream about. Maybe in the year 5000? Perhaps.

And I know that laser is spelled l-a-s-e-r, however I am eXtreme and want to have laZer eyes!

Having lazer eyes makes you look cooler.

Here is a film about if I had lazer eyes:
Lazer Eyes Herb

April Fools' Day

2009-04-01T00:24:00.002-05:00

I am a bad actor.
April Fools! I'm the Gene Hackman of East Texas!

Since this is April Fools' Day I could start off and say that I have an audition for Sci-Fi's "Caprica" this weekend in Vancouver! Finally I'll show you that I'm the Best Actor in East Texas!

And for a slight moment your mind is open to possibilities that you have never imagined. What if that was true for me? What if one of your dreams came true? What if....

That is a fun thing about April Fools' Day, you can play a trick or joke and have it be something that you have always wanted to say or do. And since it is April Fools' Day, it is ok.

I think it is believable that I could get an audition for a show on the Sci-Fi Channel. I have been in over 600 videos and I can learn lines quick. And do I look like a 'heavy' and I could always play lovable 'nerd' as well.

In this photo I am the Heavy Lovable Nerd.

Today watch out for all the crazy news stories! If it sounds to good to be true, it most likely is. Still is fun to imagine for a moment what if....

Here I am fighting the Ant Martians in my new film.
That's the Martians' Space Ship I am looking at.

"2012 Plan 2" Film

"2012 Plan 2" Film - Director's Commentary

And Rock and Roll!

Riding into the Sunset

2009-03-22T02:59:00.003-05:00

Riding into the Sunset

This has a been a hard and long Spring Break for most of my friends. This Spring Break I have been reflecting on life and how we perceive reality while bike riding around Nac. Saying goodbye is a hard thing to do. It helps one think about what really matters.

I can tell you this, a billion years from now, no one is going to care one bit about any of your drama. A billion years from now, no one will know your name or anything about anyone you knew, any thought you have ever had in your brain or any sign that you were ever here. So what is the point?

Thinking about life.

Live for the now, love life. It is so precious and a wonderful gift you were given. Please don't waste it on petty matters. If you have joy and happiness in something you have or do, it is a full just life.

This week I watched the last episode of Battlestar Galactica. As with all great Science Fiction, it makes you think what you would have done in their place. I would have not ended it that way, I am a bit too much like James T. Kirk when it comes to making the hard decisions. Riding alone into the Sunset is what I do best.

I am not a Cyclon!

So what if 2012 is it. I know it's not, however let's pretend it is. December 21th 2012 the Earth is over. What would you do before it came? Would you be a different person? Would everything that makes you who you are remain the same if all you had were three years left?

Humanity in my mind always makes the correct choices. The future is going to be brighter. Ask your parents how life was before computers or the internet. Your grandkids will ask you how you lived before whatever you can't live without in the future. And I bet it still amaze you a bit when you think back.

I still think at how much my life is like Star Trek now. Cellphones, mobile computers, the internet were in episodes of Star Trek back in 1966. Then it was fantasy, today it is reality! Back in high school if you would have told me that I would have all of this stuff I would've laughed then asked if I had a flying car in 2009. One day....

Racquetball was new at one point.

Since so many of my friends are still sad, I wanted to make something funny for them to watch. So for a few minutes the only thing on their minds would be laughter. Am I a good enough filmmaker and actor to do this?

What happened was the hardest one man film projects I have ever made! Hope you like "Tex and His Buddy Blade" and watch the Director's Commentary if you want to learn about how I made this film in one day. That's why I'm the Internet Legend, I have to do this impossible from time to time to make sure I am still worthy of the title. If you can do a film like this by yourself in one day, you rock!

Tex and His Buddy Blade

"Tex and His Buddy Blade" TV Pilot

"Tex and His Buddy Blade" TV Pilot - Director's Commentary

Rockin' Out

Is the glass half empty or half full? You look for the bad and you'll find it. However if you look for the good, you'll find that. I always look for the good.....

Pax

The First Million is Always the Hardest....

2009-03-10T21:48:00.002-05:00

The First Million is Always the Hardest....
Today One Million Views on YouTube.

March 10, 2009 is a day that I will always remember. This is the day I got over million views on YouTube. On YouTube, I am competing with the world for views. Amazing.

The million views on YouTube didn't come easy. I have shot, edited, directed, composed music and made over 644 videos to uploaded on YouTube. All I can say is wow!

The next million views should come faster. I have a fan base and this year I am making and posting a new video everyday! 365 plus videos this year.

Thank you all for watching my fun videos on YouTube. You are the reason I make these videos. Look for a lot more over the next year.

Looking cool in uniform.

Taking Out the Trash - Part 6

"Substitute Math Teacher" Music Video

"His Shadow" - Avant-garde Art Film.

The YouTube Millionaire (Views) and no Gum on my Shoe!

Raiders of the Lost Trash

2009-02-25T01:43:00.004-06:00

Raiders of the Lost Trash
Texas Herbert Saves the Day

It is hard to be an action hero. You have to make the hard decisions that others can't or don't want to make. Sometimes you have to save the day by taking out the trash.

Here are a few videos of such a hero.

Taking Out the Trash - Part 5

Walking Up and Down the Stairs

The Jobless Stormtrooper

Go to listen to the greatest podcast ever Return of Whatever!

600 YouTube Videos Today

2009-02-09T00:30:00.000-06:00

I Create therefore I'm the Internet Legend

Today another milestone in my quest as The Internet Legend. 600 videos on YouTube. Think about it, 600 videos that I have a part in making. I star in almost all of them. I filmed most of them. I also edited almost of them too. Amazing!

Why am I able to make this many videos? What drives me? Why do I create?

Last week I got to attend the Creativity Summit at SFA. This was the best Education Summit I have ever attended. I am so happy that so many other educators realize how important creativity is to the profession. As I sat and watched master teachers talk about how they use creativity, I felt validated at all that I do.

I still get the questions, do you ever get embarrassed, why would you do that, why do you make so many videos, how do you have enough time do that? And most would end their questions with 'I could never do what you do'.

Yes you could. The reason that I am The Internet Legend is that I do instead of wishing that I would. I can't tell you how many times people tell me if they only had this equipment or that they would make something. No you wouldn't, because if you are waiting for equipment, a crew, actors or whatever, you always will.

One of the major threads from the Creativity Summit at SFA is that jobs that we have today will not be here in the future. The top jobs in ten years are unknown today! So we can know longer teach to a specific job in a field, because it doesn't exist today!

So we have to teach how to think, how to work in groups and how to create. The last one is so important. Five years ago there wasn't a YouTube. Today it has changed the world! Four billion queries a month on Google, where did people find this information before the internet?

I feel that for us to make the world a better place, we are going to have to develop the creativity muscle in our brains as much as we developed the old ways of learning. Some are afraid of change. Like me not wanting cell phones out in class. Right now students comply, in five years, it will be impossible for them, at least in their minds. So I am going to have to adapt and figure out a way to reach and inspire those that come to learn.

You do this by being an interesting person. Living life instead of watching it go by. Instead of of yelling at the kids to stay off the lawn, be one of the kids standing on the lawn! I like the lawn!

So as you watch my 600 videos on YouTube, you can understand why I do what I do. Everything that I do makes me a better writer, actor, filmmaker, musician, teacher and human being. Don't question me, instead become a Legend yourself. I have the Internet, you can have the rest of the world! :)

However please don't text message me because it I can't type punching numbers! And did you know that you can text message an email? Instead of typing in the phone number, type in the email address! Send me as many text messages to my email as you want! Regular email is cool too. Or you can send me snail mail also. A Telegram. Smoke signals. Yell out your window. Etc.....

YouTube

SFA Creativity Summit

The Last of The Time Lords

2009-01-29T00:27:00.002-06:00

The Last of The Time Lords
I'm the Last of the Time Lords.

The year is 2009, I have been in East Texas for many years. During my time in East Texas I have met a lot of cool and famous people and done so many cool things. People outside of East Texas are amazed at what I have done and the people I have met during my life and during this time.

I ran into a fan of my YouTube videos the other day and he told me he had a theory about me. He believes that I am from the future and I have came back to this time frame and this place to do all of the cool things I heard about in the future.

Ok. Let's see if he has a point. Here are things I have been able to do in East Texas in this time line.

1. I make films and a ton of short videos for YouTube.
2. I wrote a song that had over a million downloads.
3. I rocked out at all of the Open Mike Nights in East Texas.
4. I met one of five people in the world that can make Stormtrooper Armor and he helped me build a suit.
5. The Nerd Song got me on G4TechTV's Unscrewed.
6. I have written three full length screenplays, one length plays, a lot of one act plays and a novel.
7. I have composed over 450 songs.
8. I have composed a lot of Avant-garde music, (that no one wants to hear).
9. I have made a lot of Avant-garde films, (that no one wants to see).
10. I run, bike and dance all over East Texas.
11. Co-host the greatest television show ever, Whatever.
12. Co-host the greatest podcast ever, The Return of Whatever.
13. I became "The Internet Legend" here in East Texas,
14. About 6000 people a day view my work on YouTube.
15. And I teach all the cool classes at SFA, Rock History, Jazz History, Guitar, Electronic Music.

WOW!

Here are the famous people I have met because I was in East Texas during this Time frame.

1. Willie Nelson
2. Harry Connick Jr.
3. Tone-Loc
4. Vanilla Ice
5. O.J. Simspon
6. Alien Ant Farm
7. Saw Hall and Oates in concert.
8. The Temptations
9. All of the Talent at G4 TechTv
10. William Shatner and a lot of other Star Trek folks.
11. All of my Great Friends, Best Friends, colleagues and teachers I have met here, you are the real talent I have found, the people who I respect. I may be "The Internet Legend", however you are all the real legends in my life.

So one plus one does equal two! I am from the future! This must be some type of dream all inclusive vacation in the past, live the life that you have always wanted and meet all of your favorite stars from the past!

I like the sound of that. And perhaps there is a statue of me here in East Texas a few thousand of years from now. I like the sound of that too. We can only hope that I have my hand pointing towards the future and no pigeons migrate to East Texas by then.

Rockin' Out!

Kung-Fu!

The Greatest Screenplay ever written in East Texas!

Taking out the Trash!

Looking back toward the past.

Snake Eyes from G.I. Joe

2009-01-09T04:26:00.002-06:00

Snake Eyes from G.I. Joe

One time I was in the toy department looking at some toys with my grandpa. I pointed out a few G.I. Joe toys that my friends had. At the time I didn't think anything about it.

A few months later I got a package for my birthday. I got a G.I. Joe VAMP, it's a jeep with the action figure 'Clutch', and I got the one action figure I pointed to in the store 'Snake-Eyes'.

Since I had a few toys, I picked up a few G.I. Joe comics. I got in the first year them came out, I missed a few issues, so I ordered a few or bought them from my friends.

G.I. Joe the comic, was great. It still is some of the best story telling I have read. And in many ways, G.I. Joe the comic and action figures changed my life.

The reason that Snake-Eyes was so cool, not that he was a ninja, at the time almost no one knew what a ninja was. It was that Snake-Eyes didn't talk! Snake-Eyes was mysterious and legend because of this. Man I wished I could be as cool as Snake-Eyes back then.

Fast forward many years and a few days ago I thought that I should make a short trailer
starring my childhood hero. So I put together a Snake-Eyes suit, found my old Snake-Eyes props, or toys, then put on the suit of Snake-Eyes!

I am so proud of this short trailer. If it was possible to go back in time and show this to me back then, I would have flipped out!

Making so many films helped me make this look so cool with no budget. And I'm glad that I run and I can bench 190 pounds, so that I can look a bit like Snake-Eyes would.

Here is 30 seconds of a big kid living a dream. Make sure to watch it in HD!

G.I. Joe Movie Teaser

And Yo Joe!

Rockin' In The New Year!

2009-01-01T20:13:00.002-06:00

Rockin' In The New Year!

2009 is here. That's only three years until 2012! How fast time moves by.

A new year means new beginnings for a lot of people. For some that means resolutions. So here are mine.

New year resolutions for 2009.
1. Run and bicycle more
2. Play more open mike nights and solo concerts
3. Write a great screenplay
4. Get 5 lines as an actor in a Major Motion Picture
5. Make a lot more YouTube Videos!

We all know that 1,2 and 5 will happen for sure. Especially number 5! Right now I am working hard on number 3. And if I get enough people to see me act this year on YouTube, number 4 will happen!

If you all ever wanted to learn how to rock out in front of a crowd, here you go.

How To Rock Out in Front of a Crowd

If you all ever wanted to watch an Avant-garde short film about walking, here you go.

The Walk (Avant-garde Short Film)

It's going to be a great year!

I wish you all a very Happy New Year! May all your hopes and dreams come true this year! And Rock and Roll!

Last Day, Last Post

2008-12-31T21:19:00.003-06:00

Last Day, Last Post

This year came and went fast. I got to do some many cool things and created a lot art. What a great year!

Here is my last short film of 2008. I really like this one a lot. Hope you do to. Give me some feedback!

Hood

Hood (Short Film)

When you put on the Hood, things begin to happen. Will the Hood touch your life.....

School went great. I got to teach the Jazz History class for the first time. We all learned a lot and had a great time in all of my classes.

Here are the photos of my classes this semester. Can you pick me out?

Rock History Class

Jazz History Class

Midi Class, it's blurry but I still look cool.

Guitar Class

And if you don't know how to make a sandwich, here you go.

Goodbye 2008!

Dramp

2008-12-28T04:58:00.002-06:00

I am Dramp!

It's not every day that someone coins a new word. It was a wet and gloomy day as I went out to practice my hobby of photography. This did make for some great photos with the overcast and water on the ground.

I decided to make a photo music video. So I edited the footage, rock out a cool melody on the strat, and now I had to name this work. Dramp came out of my fingers as I typed the title.

'Dram' means a small amount and 'Damp' means slightly wet. Combine them together and you get 'Dramp'. So 'Dramp' means a small amount of slightly wet. We can use that word all of the time in East Texas!

This is what Dramp looks like.

"Dramp" (Instrumental Music Video)

Use Dramp in a sentence.

Sir, you sure are looking dramp today.

The last time I coined a word was back in 1990, Timetorians.

Dramp does sound cool too.

Have a Jingle Jangle Rockin' Christmas!

2008-12-25T01:55:00.003-06:00

Have a Jingle Jangle Rockin' Christmas!

Christmas was such an important holiday to my Granny. She was raised during the Depression and didn't have much on Christmas. Well, she made sure that her grandkids had a great holiday with food, sweets and presents.

As I have grown older, I realize that material things don't matter much. I am just thankful to see my family and friends. And if I get a turkey meal, that is great too, because I love to eat!

Happy to see all of my family this holiday.

Here is a twenty minute Christmas concert I recorded as a gift to all of you. I had a cold, however the show must go on. Enjoy!

Christmas Songs Sung by Herbert Midgley

I also wrote a couple of original Christmas songs. One a traditional carol the other a punk rock Christmas song. Hope you enjoy them!

"On Christmas Day" Music Video Traditional Carol

"Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas to You" Music Video Punk Rock Christmas Song

Rock and Roll!

I went to a pawn shop, not looking to get anything, and a guitar said 'take me home'. So I traded another guitar for it and it plays great! Here is the first recording I made on this guitar. Rock and Roll!

Jingle Jangle Rock (Music Video)

Making content for YouTube.

I have been busy creating videos and music to put on YouTube as you all know. Thank you all for all of your support over the last year. You all rock!

Merry Christmas on YouTube from Herb

And if you still do not have a gift to give a love one, why not send a Video Christmas Card. They will love it.

Merry Christmas to all!

Anything is Better than Nuclear Fallout!

2008-12-23T23:27:00.003-06:00

Earth is better without Fall Out.

Today is great. You may say prove it. We don't have fall out from an Atom bomb to deal with. Here is the math: no fall out = a great day.

Day after day I see folks that wish that things were better. Well, things are great right now. We have food to eat, we have running water, we have heat and air condition in our homes, we have houses, we have cars and bikes, we have computers and the internet. I have YouTube. Well I can go on and on. You have other things you love too.

Wanting more and more means you will never be happy. However if you got up each day and thought, 'there is no fall out today', it would be a wonderful day!

Here is an Avant Garde Art Film about how I think it would be to deal with fall out. Noises, boredom and uncertainly surely would follow.

"Fall Out" Avant Garde Art Film

Here is a link to show you the aftermath if a nuke hit your town. Put in your town, then start off with an atom bomb then work your way up to a major nuke. I think your day will be better after you realize what never happened.

Ground Zero Map

Here are a few links to a 1950's to Today videos on the dangers of fall out.
By watching this information I have learned that if you can last three days in a well built fall out shelter, most of the harmful radiation would be gone. In two weeks, you could go out almost like normal.

1950's Civil Defense Film - Survival Under Atomic Attack
Protect and Survive (Make Your Fall-Out Room And Refuge Now)
About Nuclear Fallout 1955
Nuclear Radioactive Fallout Survival Techniques.
Surviving nuclear fallout/dirty bombs/radiation leaks
Basement Core Shelter

Rock and Rollin' on a great cloudy day!

Here is a Video Christmas Card to send your friends.
Video Christmas Card

So be happy and go rock out! It is a beautiful day! Send a card to all those friends and family!

See, everyday is a great day. Go out there and enjoy your life! And rock and roll until you put your amp on eleven!

Video Christmas Card

2008-12-23T04:58:00.002-06:00

Give the gift of Herb's singing this year.

It is hard to find the right gift for some people. And a regular Christmas Card is so 20th century. So why not give that special person something they have all ways wished for, however could never have, until now!

A personalize Video Christmas Card from Herb! And best of all, in this tight economy, it's free to email to all of your friends, family and love ones!

Show that hard to buy for person that you want them to "rock out" this Christmas with Herb on his classical guitar. It's the gift that keep on giving! And they can regift it without a problem.

So get out there and send this Video Christmas Card to everyone you know! They will thank you. And so do I.

Merry Christmas Everyone!
Herb

Video Christmas Card

The Will of Life

2008-12-19T01:23:00.002-06:00

I'm a filmmaker.

The last few months I have been busy being a flimmaker. Last time I made "Truth", a sci-fi film, that I love and have submitted to SXSW. Only those that understand sci-fi, got that film, however I love it and can watch it over and over again.

"The Will of Life" is a different film. In sci-fi you can hide what you are trying to say with aliens and UFOs. In this film, I wanted to have a message without being preachy.

One topic I have been fascinated with is how a boy and girl decide to become a couple. Perhaps since I spend so much time on a university campus, I see a lot of mealiness relationships and witness how crush they are for a few days and then the next time I see them, they are either back together or with two other people. Fascinating!

What is the divorce rate in the US? 40 percent? 50 percent? 60 percent? Why?
How does this happen? Two people are in love and a few years later they, for a lack of a better word, ain't.

Well what if I told you a German philosopher's named Arthur Schopenhauer had a theory to explain this. So instead of boring you with a dissertation about it, you can watch "The Will of Life".

I really love this film. It has a story, it looks good, it is fun to watch and the most important thing, it has a message. This film, hopefully if I did my job, will make you think about your perspective about relationship and love. If you strongly disagree, that's great! And perhaps if you have had your heart broken, it will give you solace to know why and that it was nothing personal. It wasn't your fault, it was the will of life.

This is my first major film work without me as an actor, and I have to say, it's a lot easier to focus on the film when you don't have to act. Being only the director on set is great! I want to thank all of my crew and actors, you all are the best!

I'm sure I will act in more of my own films, mainly because I just don't get parts that give me a challenge as an actor from other filmmakers, yet. Once they realize that I'm a Gene Hackman of East Texas, I'll never stop working.

I am happy to write, direct, edit and compose music for a film I believe in. Enjoy "The Will of Life". In my heart, I feel it may change your life, perhaps for the better.

The Will of Life
Hit the HD button to see high quality video.

The Will of Life ( Director's Commentary)

I'm a bum.

Here is a three minute version of the film I shot last summer. It's not done, however I love the look of this film so far. And I am in every shot. I love that too.

Bum - Promotional Film

Call someone and tell them to go watch my movies!

Rockin' out is my life!

A Lot to be Thankful This Year!

2008-11-27T18:04:00.003-06:00

A Lot to be Thankful This Year!
I Like Turkey!

Another Thanksgiving and as all ways, I have a lot to be thankful about. My family and friends are great. Teaching is great gig, can't believe how much I am still learning from all the students. And I get to create a lot of music, films and writings, as well as act from time to time.

During the year, I all ways remember how great we have it. Riding my bike around town, I see so much good in the world. This makes me smile on the inside and outside.

Rocking Out on Thanksgiving Day!

Here is a song about how much I love turkey. I made this song up on the spot. That's why it rocks!

"I Like Turkey" Music Video

Making Avant-garde Art Films!

Like I have said, I have a lot to be thankful for in this great world. This year I have one more thing to be thankful about, I posted my 501st video on YouTube today. Wow! How many will I post next year. Let's see if I can post 200 in one year!

In this film, I tried to see if I could emulate the Super 8mm film cameras from the 60's-70's! Hope you like it. Remember, those cameras only had three minutes of film and no sound. And most would edit, on the camera. That means, you had to shoot it the way you wanted it edited!

I made this while I was waiting for my the food to get ready. The soundtrack is Musique concrète with 90% of it my human voice. If you can't handle the music, turn it off and watch the film like you would've back in the 70's! Rock and roll!

"Thanks for the Day After" Avant-garde Art Film

And I wish all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

The American Dream

2008-11-24T19:47:00.003-06:00

Here is my New Screenplay

Every day for the last ten weeks I have been working on my latest screenplay.
After ten weeks of writing every day, I have a 97 page screenplay that I am proud to have anyone read. Eight drafts so far! Can't wait to see it made into a movie at some point.

Today, I had a few people ask, 'how can you write something that long?'. Well, you work on it everyday until it's done.

Don't feel like writing, write. Tired. Write. Sleepy. Write. Hungry. Write.

After a while you start to dream about the story and the characters. Then when you are writing their dialogue, you can hear their voices as you write. The story and characters start to take a life of it's own.

It is awesome to have three full length screenplays to my credit. Over the holiday, perhaps another one. Maybe one about a dude and his guitar making the world a better place for humanity.

If you can't wait for the movie to come out, email me and I'll let you read it!

I am a screenwriter.

And I also want to thank my proofreaders! You are the best in the world! I'm sure the folks that have to read my screenplay would thank them too!

I live the American Dream

Here are a few short videos I made this week. Enjoy!

2012 (Movie Trailer 3)

The Truth about 2012

Rock and Roll!

The Insomnia Film Festival was Postponed, so I made a short film anyways.

2008-11-16T16:15:00.004-06:00

The Insomnia Film Festival was Postponed, so I made a short film anyways.

The Burden, the work.

Apple's 2008 24 Hour Insomnia Film Festival was postponed because of technical issues on their part. To be honest, I wasn't going to film anything after it was canceled.

A few great filmmaker friends and I were going to compete and it was going to be a blast to make a great three minute film in 24 hours. However it wasn't meant to be. The Insomnia Film Festival will be up in a few months, I'm sure we'll compete.

It was a beautiful day on Saturday, so I thought about fixing some of my bike tires. When I was done, the bright 5 o'clock lighting shined on my bikes. Then it hit me, I have to film this!

So I ran in and got a camera, and start filming a short movie. Came up with a story on the spot and how to tell the story through images. I knew I wanted to make an Avant-garde Art film.

It took about an hour to shoot. I dumped the footage as I went on a bike ride and played a great game of chess. Came back home and cut the footage in about an hour. Then composed some theme music in about twenty minutes.

Then compress it and put it on the YouTube. So this is a four hour movie fest. If you make a movie in less than four hours, let me know! It would be great to see!

Hope you enjoy "The Burden".

"The Burden", one man faces a burden we all must face one day.....

Will the burden take over his life or will he learn how to face the truth.

"The Burden" Avant-garde Art Film

Photos:

The Burden, the truth.

The Burden, the realization.

The Burden, facing the problem.

The Burden, the thinking.

The Burden, living your life.

Nacstock 2008

2008-11-09T18:41:00.002-06:00

Nacstock 2008

At noon on November 8, 2008, on a clear beautiful East Texas day without a cloud in the sky, I took the stage at Nacstock. The next twenty-four hours would be full of music, friendship, family, community, compassion, sharing, peace and love. I have never had a more peaceful, relaxing, kick back time at a live music event!

What a Great Day!

Everybody that performed did great! All of the music fans enjoyed the live entertainment and the great community spirit of peace and happiness. It appeared that everyone there was there for the same reason, to rock out and enjoy life on a great day!

Trees and more trees!

In many ways, this was my Woodstock. Live music, music fans camping out, a can do attitude, friends sharing with one another and group of people that seemed more like a family than a group of strangers. Great music, food, people and a beautiful Fall day all equaled the perfect music festival!

That's a big smile!

What a great job all of the organizers did! All of the staff, families and volunteers all worked so hard to make Nacstock happen! You all did a great job. The bands and solo artist, thank you for rocking us out! A job well done by all! Can't wait for next year!

Bonfire when it got cold.

It was cold out, rock and roll and fire kept us warm!

My last view of Nacstock in the wee hours of the morning.

Burnin' up the Guitar!

Herb Lighting his Guitar On Fire at Nacstock!

Rockin' Out!

"I'm a Nerd" Live at Nacstock 11-8-2008

Rock and Roll!

Herb Live at Nacstock 2008

Stormtroopers, Zombies and a Blanket Monster!

2008-10-31T00:59:00.003-05:00

Stormtroopers, Zombies and a Blanket Monster!
A Stormtrooper on Break.

Halloween is here again, and that means that I can drag the Stormtrooper suit out and troop in East Texas. It was great fun to go to the Square on the Square as a Stormtrooper. We all took a lot of photos with the Trick-or-Treaters.

People have asked me how I put it on. Not quite as bad as Knight Armor, and I am pretty fast when I need to get it on quick. Here is a short video showing how to put trooper armor on.

How to Put on Stormtrooper Armor

Troopers at the Scare on the Square

I felt like making a few Halloween short films this week. Might as well put my film making skills to use. I shot "Dude and the Blanket Monster in 2012" in less than an hour. Took about four hours to edit it. And another hour to compose the music. Hope you like it!
Dude and the Blanket Monster in 2012

The Blanket Monster

The Dude

Some members of the G.A.M.E. club walked around as zombies, and I had my camera so I made another movie. Finally a zombie movie that has a happy ending! You all know there are no zombies!

Zombies and Me

There Are No Zombies!

Happy Halloween!

Time Goes By

2008-10-26T15:13:00.003-05:00

Time Goes By

As I am getting older, time appears to go by faster and faster. The other day, it seems, it was the summer. Two days ago it was the beginning of the year. Three days ago, I was a young whipper snapper rockin' out to a song I wrote.

Perhaps when you get older you have more things you have to do. When you're young, you can focus on you. As you get older, others look at you to help them in life.

Thinking

Creativy is very important to me. Currently I as editing two movies, writing a full length screenplay, have an idea for a play, writing songs, working on my acting, practicing my lead guitar soloing technique as well as making quick fun videos for the internet.

To me, creating something out of nothing is important. It's what drives me. What can I do to push my creativity to the next level?

And if I stop, will it all fade away like a vivid dream as you slowly wake up. If I stop working on my craft, will it be there when I fill the need to create art? I don't know and hopefully I won't stop trying to improve myself.

To all of those that are unhappy in this life, that do things to bring down your spirit instead of lifting it, I have pity for your sadness. I choose to look at the world as half full instead of half empty. And I wish all of you the best from this crazy thing called life.

Here is a Song for you.
"That's Life For You" Music Video

Here is something fun to do.
Herb Buys Every Thing on BK's Dollar Menu

Photos:
Fire

Bonfire

Looking

Standing

Rockin' out

Cooler

Concert and Filming

2008-10-13T19:04:00.004-05:00

That's a lot of guitars to play at one time!

Songs of Herbert Midgley went great! The audience was awesome and responded well to the variety of music I played. And I had a great time rocking out!.

Rock and Roll!

Songs of Herbert Midgley 10-4-08

Here I am Directing!

This weekend, I had a group of great people help me shoot my next short film. The crew was incredible and the actors took the words I wrote on the page to another level. Viewing the rushes, I am very pleased with the footage. Only a few pick-up shots to complete the film.

On this short film, I will not act. This is the first time I can watch every thing and not worry or think about me having to perform. It is a lot easier to only direct than to act and direct. However I do love acting, so look for me acting in other films! I have one in the can staring me, that with amaze you, I hope.

It is great to experience making a film only behind the scenes. I Learned a lot on this shoot, as I do on every shoot. Pre-production makes everyone's life easier. The actors, crew and myself were so happy that we worked the whole time and knew what we were doing. Lighting and camera movement was done quickly and efficiently. Thanks again to the great crew.

I designed this room.

This time I got to art direct too, which was a fun challenge. Two hours before was an empty room, then you look around and you designed a room to capture the spirit of the film.

This short film, I hope, will make you think about technology in a different manner. I love writing a screenplays. The full length screen play that I'm working on right now is going to knock your socks off, eighty two pages so far. Can't wait to get it done and work on the first rewrite so I can get it out to folks to read.

And as always, Rock and Roll!

Here I am looking like a Director.

Photos:
Looking cool in uniform.

Rockin' Out!

Love this rock for some reason.

Songs Of Herbert Midgley

2008-10-02T14:43:00.002-05:00

Songs of Herbert Midgley

On Saturday at 7:30 pm in the Recital Hall in the Music building, I am having a recital. I am playing songs I wrote since my last recital as well as crowd favorites.
It should be a great time, hope you all can come out and rock out with me.

I'll video tape it and put it on YouTube for those that can't attend. It's a busy weekend. Hope you all can come and rock out with me. The recital will be about an hour long.

Poster for Songs of Herbert Midgley

Rock and Roll!

Balloons!

2008-09-25T22:32:00.002-05:00

Look I'm Flying!

Sometimes life knocks you down. You can give up or work harder. So when someone gave me a bunch of balloons, I made a short movie to make the world a better place.

It's hard to be down when someone gives you a balloon. And I gave the balloons all away after the movie. Everyone that got a balloon had a smile on their face.

"Balloons" Short Film

Always keep on rockin'

"Things Aint That Bad" Music Video

Have a great day....brother.

Balloon Photos:

Ike

2008-09-15T23:08:00.002-05:00

The Free Speech Area After Ike

Ike came and went through East Texas quickly leaving 100,000 folks without electricity and many trees blown down. The only positive thing is that the weather is a lot cooler than three years ago with Rita, so living with out air conditioning it's not near as bad. However it is going to take a while to clean up all those trees and wind damage. We were lucky to not have any flooding.

Right before Ike hit us, I ran out and recorded this song. CNN called up and ask if they could use it on aire. Not sure if they will use it or not, however it's still cool to have them hear about it. By the way, I was making this up on the spot trying to beat the heavy rain and the power outage.
"Ike the Hurricane" Music Video

Some more trees broken in the wind of Ike.

I caught a large gust of wind during Ike on tape.
The Power of Hurricane Ike

Here is the La Nana Creek Trail the day after, at the end you will see the big trees.
La Nana Creek Trail - the Day After Ike

Photos:
Happily sandbags that weren't need this time.

The wind power of Ike, look at how tall those roots are!

Rocking out in front of some wind damage.

Posing with the cut up trees two days later.

Barely made it in to this shot!

CNN calling me about the Ike Song I wrote.

Line at Walmart two days after Ike.

Remembering Seven Years Ago

2008-09-11T17:48:00.003-05:00

Remembering Seven Years Ago
Remembering....

Seven years ago I was teaching Music Theory at 8am and I found out about the terror attacks in New York as the next class came in. Didn't believe it. Still don't.

The next month I composed a composition on the 11th of each month for one year after September 11, 2001. It was a way to put what I was thinking and feeling that words couldn't do. Here all twelve compositions linked together.

A Year Later

Living Life to it's fullest each day.

Remember that each day is precious. Go out there and live life. I'm going to rock out, write songs, make films, ride my bike and enjoy each day. Yeah, that's the right thing to do.

Ich Habe Keine Zeit

2008-09-08T22:18:00.002-05:00

"Ich Habe Keine Zeit"

"Ich Habe Keine Zeit" is German for "I have no time". I have heard this, in English of course, so many times during the last year. Why do so many people now, "Ich Habe Keine Zeit"? I don't remember so many people saying this a few years ago.

Could it be that we have too many distractions, from the internet to text messaging on the cell phones? Is it because we are in a 'microwave society', wanting everything in an instant? Are we working too much at work or school? Or is it really that we don't have as much time as we used to?

Well no one is as busy as I am creating art out of nothing. I write songs, turn them into recordings and music videos, I write plays and screenplays, I compose classical music, I act and I make films.

On top of that, I work out, go to plays and concerts and bike as much as I can. I teach full time and I am taking a film class. I practice guitar and piano. I read books. And I still don't consider myself as having no time.

Perhaps because I have something to show for all of my hard work. Maybe that's the difference, making something out of nothing is worth my time.

Thinking.

Here is a song for you to rock out to.
"Everything is Great" Music Video

Here is the song.
"Everything is Great" mp3

Before I was a Bum.

Here is my latest "Bum" photo montage.
"Bum" 'Photo Montage' Teaser 2

Labor Day and Gustav

2008-09-01T22:18:00.002-05:00

Not Blown Away Yet....

Since hurricane Gustav was getting closer the coast and us, it was quiet day this Labor Day. Drove around town, and it looked like most stores were half empty, guess most were at home or getting ready for a rain and wind coming our way.

About three years ago we had hurricane Rita hit us. We had time to prepare and many were without electricity for a few long hot days. Gustav looks like we will mainly have some wind and rain, and hopefully minimum electricity outages. And this time all the stores have plenty of water and food for all.

In Starfleet, we don't have any hurricanes only away missions.

Had a chance to make a quick Star Trek episode before the hurricane. I shot it within thirty minutes, edited the footage, wrote a soundtrack and added foley within an hour. So within two hours I had a cool short Star Trek Away Mission on the web.

Back when Star Trek TNG was on the air, I would have been amazed to be in something that looks like this. Now I can make it myself on my laptop. Wow! Hope you like it.

Star Trek -Away Mission "The Metal Item".

Photos:
Looking

Thinking

Kneeling

Standing

Rockin'!

Out With the Old....

2008-08-26T23:01:00.002-05:00

One Shave and A Haircut and I'm a Different Man.

The Summer is over and the Fall semester is here! It is great to be back at school with all of the energy of all the students and faculty. Wow, what a great time to be at SFA.

I was shooting some last shots for my "Bum" movie and thought about making one last music video with my beard. So I wrote a song on the spot about how much I love SFA. I used a tune that I wrote a few years back, "I Love Sundays". Hope you like it. I love SFA and so do you!

"I Love SFA!" (Music Video)

One Man Movie Making Machine

It was great finishing my first full length movie. I have over sixteen hours of footage of me as a homeless bum. This summer I worked over eighty hours on this film. You are not going to believe some of the shots that I got!

Nacogdoches looks great and I can't wait to edit it. Most likely I won't be able to edit it until the Christmas Holiday. I still hope to release it before next May. It is going to be great!

Photos:
Summer II Music for Children Class

Summer II Rock History Class

The Last Photo with my Beard

Mustache and Me

Shave and a Haircut

String Quartet in G Major

2008-08-19T23:53:00.003-05:00

I love Classical Music.

Today I checked my box and I found an mysterious DVD with the words "String Quartet" written on it. So I put in the DVD player and it was a String Quartet playing a string composition I composed back in 1996. And it sounded great!

What a great surprise! It was so great to hear this, I had to post it on YouTube for all to hear. Hope you like it! Enjoy!

String Quartet in G Major

You all know me as a rock and roller, however during my youth I composed a lot of classical music. I composed hundreds of compositions for most instruments and ensembles. Perhaps I'll compose a few more 'Classical' compositions this year. Yeah, I will.

If you have a String Quartet and would like to play it, here is the sheet music.
Score PDF
Violin-1 PDF
Violin-2 PDF
Viola PDF
Cello PDF

Here is an mp3 if you want to download it and share it with your friends.
String Quartet in G mp3

Another Year and a Beard

2008-08-18T20:31:00.003-05:00

Jumpin' in another year!

Another year and I have learned so much about life and being a better human being. Each year you have a choice, to get better or get worst. During my life, I have tried my hardest to improve every year.

It was the best of times....

The biggest change this year is that I am working on a film degree. Still can't believe that I am learning how to be filmmaker. You all know how many videos and films I have made over the years. It's a lot of work.

And I love every long, hard, draining minute of it! There is so much energy and electricity making films. Making films is so hard, however when I can get over 6000 people to watch one of my movies, that is awesome!

Last year.

This year, there is something different.

To be honest, I wrote so many songs, I don't even know how many I wrote this year. I do know that I recorded a lot of songs and made a lot of music videos to go along with them. Look for a new CD in the next month or so.

By writing, making films, my songwriting has grown and grown. Being creative is so important to me. Having the ability to make something out of nothing is a great feeling. I am so lucky and blessed to have this talent, that's one reason I work so hard to make so much art.

The Happiest Place in Lufkin, Sound Tech.

The guitar store was screaming for me to come buy this guitar, so I did. Here is a quick jam showing how it sounds. It is fun to play a new, albeit, economical guitar. And it looks cool too!

Here is the Squier Bullet rockin' out!
"Skiffle Along" Music Video

Here is the last song I wrote before my birthday.
"Rocking Out" Music Video

Here is the first song I wrote after my birthday.
"There's a Girl" Music Video

Here I am rocking out with my biggest hit, this time with a beard!
"I'm a Nerd" Music Video with a beard

This is a big Pancake!

Had a great day visiting friends and family. Thanks to all that have wished me cheer and joy. Hope you all will continue to read this blog, listen to my songs and watch my movies. This year I will strive to improve as a human being, as I will for the rest of my life.

Having too much fun today!

I am so lucky being here in best place in the world, East Texas doing what I love doing. Having so many great friends in music, film, school, work and all of those that yell my name out as I am recording a video on the streets of East Texas, thank you all for being my friend. You all rock!

I got some soap as a present.
Perhaps I should've received
a razor instead.

Beard

2008-08-14T01:29:00.003-05:00

Three Months without Shaving

Three months ago,that's twelve weeks ago, I stop shaving to prepare for the role of acting as a homeless man. At the time I had no idea how my beard would look since the longest time I have gone without shaving was about a month. Looking at my beard, I am still shocked at how full it has grown.

Living with a beard isn't easy. Eating is one problem, food and drink gets caught in the beard. Since I haven't trimmed the beard, I have bitten some mustache hair on more than one occasion. Also I have use a napkin a lot more, especially while eating BBQ.

Also people treat you differently with a lot of facial hair. I guess people assume that you are a bum. Until I start talking, many look at you like you have no right to be there. However most people treat me the same when I have my suit and tie on. A suit and tie can make a bum look like a million bucks, I guess.

Beard and a Suit

I got to go on a quick holiday in South Texas. Made a short movie while I was down there with all of the psalm trees. Down there I picked up a used GPS Device and made a movie about Geocaching. Hope you enjoy it!

The Beard and Me on Holiday

"Geocaching" Short Film

Rockin' Out While Jumpin'

I went to a few pawn shops down in the valley and found a cheap used electric guitar. It plays great for the price. Here I am rocking out on it, this proves you can do a lot with a fifty dollar guitar. Amazing!

"Stranger Meeting" Music Video

"Stranger Meeting" mp3

Beard and Palm Trees

For some reason I love this Water Tower

Some of the damage after the hurricane.

Rock and Roll!

8-8-08

2008-08-08T14:56:00.002-05:00

Having a Lucky Jumping Day!

Today is suppose to be a really lucky day. Back in 8-8-88 they said the same thing. Could 8-8-08 be even more luckier? I believe so!

So to help everyone have a happy lucky day, I made an Electronic Avant Garde Composition for you and the world to listen to! I am already feeling even more lucky today just by listening to this Avant Garde Compostion! Wow!

Hope it brings you great luck on this lucky day! Today Eight is the magic word. Eight.

Rockin' Out on a Rock!

"8-8-08" Electronic Avant Garde Composition

8-8-08 mp3

8-8-08 only percussion mp3

Guitar Study in G

2008-08-05T02:56:00.002-05:00

Playing Classical Guitar

Since January of 2000, I have composed a guitar study on the first day of each month. I have a lot of them, and at some point I plan to publish them as book.

Well I have a lot of friends that play guitar, however many don't read standard notation that well. So I made this study into TAB for them.

For all of those that don't play guitar, TAB is short for tablature. This is a system of notation that shows the string and frets to be played. In some ways it's a bit easier than reading standard notation for guitar. And tablature has been around longer than our modern system of music notation, and if you have non-standard string tunings, it is almost a necessity.

I look forward each month to compose one of this studies. Playing classical guitar is fun and in many ways, these studies are some of my best music that I compose. For those that don't like my singing and still want to here my music, this is the best way.

If you play guitar, here is a classical guitar study in tablature. Enjoy and I hope you'll enjoy it!

Here is the sheet music:

Sheet Music and TAB of the Study in G Major for guitar

Here is the MP3 of me performing this study.
Study in G Major

And here is the Video.
Study in G Major - Classical Guitar Study

Jumping in Nac!

2008-08-02T02:20:00.002-05:00

Jumpin' All Over Nac!

Ten weeks have passed since I have shaved. Without a doubt the longest time I have gone without shaving. It is amazing to think back to how I looked ten weeks ago as compared today. After the BUM film, it will be weird to not have my beard anymore.

Rockin' and Jumpin'!

Just for fun, I decided to try some jumping guitar shots. It takes a few times to judge the right time to jump. A few photos have turned out great! Wonder how high I can jump!

New Olympic Event, The Guitar High Jump!

A New Record!

Made a few music videos this week. I felt really creative this week. During this week I composed a composition for classical guitar, a free tonally piano composition, an electronic Musique concrète composition, some mix percussion and of course, a song.

It is great that I can share all of this music with the world. One of my old composition teachers told me one time that he didn't write music to sit on the shelf. Neither do I, and with YouTube I can easily share my creative work with the world. Hope you enjoy them all!

Study in G Major - Classical Guitar Study

"727" Musique concrète Electronic Avant Garde Composition

"Clock Pulse" in Free Tonality for solo piano

"Rockin' Out Rug Time" Mix Percussion

"Hello Baby" Music Video

Lookin' Sharp!

Good news, there is another Herb Report up. Had a lot to talk about since the last one. I talk about making the BUM film and also about creativity.

The Herb Report (8-1-08)

Stills from the BUM film:

Here is a teaser for the BUM film. Enjoy.

"Bum" 'Walking' Teaser

Funny, it still looks like me.

Dumpster Diving, 70 Cents and Saving Humanity

2008-07-25T01:24:00.004-05:00

Dumpster Diving proves Humanity is worth saving.

While filming a Dumpster Diving scene for the BUM film, a person coming out of the gas station after I guess buying a soda, thought that I was a real bum and gave me his change.

I stayed in character until out of frame and gave him his money back after telling him that I was only acting in a movie. The guy said, "you looked like a homeless guy...."

That's how you know that you are a great actor, you can't tell if the actor acting or being real. This is my first time this has happen to me while I was filming.

Someone giving me money while I was acting as a bum.

I asked them if they would like to be in the movie, and I re-shot the scene in a master shot. It was pretty close to the real scene a few minutes earlier.

This is great for the movie, however so much more awesome in real life. One reason why I write, compose music, act and make films, is to get in touch with the human spirit and emotion.

People are the reason why every creative person makes something out of nothing. When that guy gave me his change because he thought that I needed it more than he did, it touched me more than I can put into words. It made me smile so big on the inside and I know now that all of the hard work that I have put into this movie was worth it just for that one moment.

Thank you for helping me believe in the good of people.

There are times when people don't think humanity is worth saving. In that moment, humanity proved that we all deserve to be on this planet. And I have hope for humanity growing out of its' infancy one day. Thank you.

The day before I had people staring at me while I was walking.
They didn't offer their change, instead they acted like they never
saw anyone 'act' before.

Here is the real take.
"Bum" 'Dumpster Diving Giving 70 Cents' Teaser

Here is the real take with the master shot.
"Bum" - 'Dumpster Diving' Teaser

Here is a song that I wrote on the piano. Enjoy.
"Miss Sad Eyes" Music Video

Rockin' Out!

Here is a song that rocks out!
"Can't Keep My Eyes Off Of You" Music Video

Why Go to the Midnight Show if you have to Text Message?

2008-07-18T05:08:00.003-05:00

Why go to Movies if you don't pay attention?

Back in 2005, I went to the midnight showing of "Batman Begins". Well I thought it was going to be a mad house. It was if you think that under twenty patrons a mad house. I was shocked! It was a Batman movie and no one was there! However I had plenty room and it was quite.

Ok, fast forward to 2008, I went to "The Dark Knight" midnight showing. They sold out four theaters here in Nac. I don't think that ever happened before.

So I was in one theater that didn't have anyone in it. Then the sea of people came in and filled it up because something was wrong in one theater. My row went from one person in it, me, to it being full.

People were talking and text messaging during the previews, ok, that's cool. Then the movie started, and they were still doing it! Come on, you paid $7.50 for a midnight showing of Batman! You must be a fan, surely that text message about 'where r u?' could wait!

Me after two plus hours of text messaging and the movie.

The couple in front of me had their cell phones out, and I could see them blink. Ok that's a bit distracting, well I can live with it. Then they started to read and text back, so I kick the back of the chair every time they open their cell phone and I could see the cell light. That didn't phase them. So I blocked the light with my foot.

Fortunately for me the folks at my side only used their cellphone about ten times during the movie. At that point, I just gave up and watched the movie, which was good.

Also, I saw just about everyone I knew in Nac there! Walking out at 3am and you see a sea of folks you know doesn't happen often here. That just shows what a hyped up movie that is good can do in the box office.

So for all of the folks out there, if you can't go two hours without checking your cell phone, wait for the DVD so that I can enjoy the movie without distractions. Thanks in advance.

Me 'acting'

And I am jealous of the Joker, hope to act as well in one of my movies one day. I feel I have it in me, just need the right part and a great script. Will out a doubt, I could be the best heavy ever! One day....

Rockin' out!

Here is a punk song for you. Yeah!
"Our Love is Something to Write About" Music Video

Searching for the Truth

2008-07-11T03:44:00.003-05:00

Searching for the Truth.

Summer I is over an Summer II has started. Summer I went great and so far so has Summer II. It is great to teach in the summer, you can focus on one class for over a month and this year we only go to class four days a week. So that means that I have more time on the weekends to make films! Look for some more quick Art Films!

The Music For Children Class Summer I '08

The Old Game Club Gang.

I had a chance to hang out with the old G.A.M.E. club gang for a few hours the other day. It's great to talk about shop, mainly computers and technology with the old gang. And we had some great grilled food too! A great time had by all and I got to rock out while fireworks flew through the air.

Also I got the idea of making a few games for the Facebook. They are not great, I am not a programmer, however I can make a mean web 1.0 webpage! Enjoy and add them in the Facebook if you want.

Herb's Guess Number Game

Hangman Herb!

Rockin' Out!

Lately I have wrote a few songs for my next film. I start filming in the next few days, that's why I have a beard, so I made a video with me coasting down a parking garage. It was fun and it looks a lot faster on my camera's video then in reality. I am coasting about three miles an hour. Enjoy!

"So Lost, That Life" Music Video

Kickin' It on a Bench.

Life is good. It's great to kick it here in East Texas. Yeah the best place in the world!

The 4th and Being an American

2008-07-04T19:38:00.003-05:00

I painted this on the 4th!

As I got up today, I realized what a wonder it is to live in the greatest place on Earth, East Texas. The clouds looked great was I went on a bike ride, shooting footage for another Art film.

Many flags were up today, it makes me happy to see others love the USA as much as I do. Today we are all Americans. I like that.

This is what I did on the 4th of July.

I love this country, so I made this video and recited The Pledge of Allegiance. You may ask yourself why you love this country and is it worth working hard to make it better.

Is the USA perfect, no, however Americans try to do their best and help as many others as we can. And we gave the world Rock and Roll!!! Yeah, it's a great country!

The Pledge of Allegiance

Making music videos!

And because I live in a great country like the USA, I can make music videos like this! It's great to have the freedom to create art like this. Only in America and East Texas can I make a video like this one.

"I Love Dancing" Music Video

Photos
Close up of my new painting.

There is a truck.

Rockin' Out!

Looking.

Having Fun this Summer

2008-06-30T00:31:00.003-05:00

Calling on the Phone

Having a lot of fun teaching, making movies, running and riding my bike. Recorded another Herb Report since it had been a while since the last one. And I am working on a few "Art films".

In an Art film, there isn't a standard narrative structure, it is fun to try and tell a story without words. A lot of hard work in post, making the soundtrack and editing the film.

The more films I make, the more I know that editing, or cutting a film is the most important part. All of the film commentaries and podcast I have been listening to make this point time and time again. One frame here, take out two frames there and you have a great film instead of a bad one. Once I am done with the Art Films, I'll post them for the world to see.

Rocking out!

Here is the latest Herb Report.
The Herb Report (6-27-08)

A Music Video I made to show how I make a quick video.
"The Circle Man Look"

How to be a one man band with percussion instruments.
"Walking Around Zone" Mix Percussion

Having fun bike riding.

The Texas Blueberry Festival in Nacogdoches Texas 2008

2008-06-15T19:44:00.003-05:00

Picking Blueberries at the Blueberry Festival.

This is the third year in a row that I went out and picked blueberries at the Blueberry Festival in Nacogdoches. It was great to pick fresh blueberries, it really puts things into perspective how all of the food we eat, had to be harvested by someone. Maybe we all would have a more peaceful life if we lived a more simple life. Also those berries off the branch taste great!

Downtown Nacogdoches during the fest.

This year, I thought it would be cool to video tape how to pick blueberries and show some scenes from the Blueberry Festival. It was cool in the morning, then it rained, later the sun came out and everyone was happy.

Also it was good thing I got there early because they sold out of blueberries by noon. After about an hour of picking, I had eight and half pounds. I'll have a lot of blueberries for a while!

A cool car!

Here is the short video of me at the Blueberry Festival. Hope you like it and if you are in Nac next year come out and pick some blueberries with me!

The Texas Blueberry Festival in Nacogdoches Texas 2008

Rockin'out!

Friday the 13th = Catfish Day!

2008-06-13T15:23:00.002-05:00

Friday the 13th means I eat Catfish!

I love catfish, so since today is Friday the 13th, it meant that I had to go get some catfish! It was great! Can't wait until the next Friday the 13th, more catfish for me!

Here is a cool techno music video I made. Hope you like it! Rock and Roll!

"The Jam Band Camp Class" Music Video

Rock and Roll!

Truth has 5000 Plus Views in one Month!

2008-06-08T22:13:00.002-05:00

The Truth is out and people are watching it!

It has been about one month since I posted "Truth" on YouTube and I have over 5000 views in less than a month! Wow!

Honestly I thought it would have taking about a year to get this many views. It makes me happy that so many people all over the world have seen a great short Sci-Fi film. The truth is truly coming out, all thanks to the internet.

I got an email last week from an English teacher teaching at the American International School of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He is using my one act plays as part of their finals for his 9th grade English class. What an honor, my plays being studied all over the world. Wow! Again without the internet no one would have ever read them.

I'm looking for two droids, please no pictures!

Some of the summer film crew wanted to see me in my Stormtrooper armor, so I dug it out and put it on for them. Since I had it out, why not take a few photos and make a few short funny skits? Enjoy!

A Nice Stormtrooper

Don't Get Pulled Over by a Stormtrooper!

Donuts any one?

Rockin' out!

Trooping!

Summer I- Movie, Acting, Rockin' and Teaching

2008-06-05T01:03:00.003-05:00

Teacher and UPM at the same time.

It has been a great Summer I so far. I have some great classes and I am the Unit Production Manager for the SFA Summer Feature. Wow!

Being the Unit Production Manager for a few days has already been a great learning experience. Organizing many things at the same time is a great challenge. Surprisingly it is kinda fun after you get the hang of it.

This is why I am growing my beard, to play this part.

Of course I haven't stop making movies. Here is a teaser of the feature film I am going to shoot next month. Hope you like it.
"Billion Dollar Bum" Teaser With Voice Over

Rock and Roll!

Rockin' out as always. Here are a couple of older songs that I felt like recording again. And I hope you enjoy the classical guitar piece too.

"I Love Sundays" Music Video

"In the Room" Music Video

Study in B Major - Classical Guitar Study by Herbert Midgley

UPMin' Photos

This train is going 2 miles an hour.

Man this house sure is blue.

Do-nuts anyone?

Thinking about who to call next.