Dock Ellis and the LSD No-No by James Blagden – SUNDANCE BOUND!
James’ short film “Dock Ellis & The LSD No-No” has been officially selected to screen at the Sundance Film Festival this January!! In the whirlwind of response since he released it 3 weeks ago, Sundance asked that he submit the film, and it was accepted as part of their US Documentary Shorts program. Overall, 70 short films were selected from over 6,000 submissions. It’s huge – and we’re psyched!
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From Bodega Fam and my brother James ‘Jimmy Blags’ Blagden.
Many of you may not know James but he is the BHF Art Director and one of the founders of BrooklynBodega.com. He has designed all the visuals for the BHF since day one.
For years he was the creative force behind the Bodega. He is an acclaimed illustrator, designer, and now animator.
This joint is dope. Support it.
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Today marks the online launching of DOCK ELLIS & THE LSD NO-NO, a short animated film I made recently in partnership with NO MAS. In June of 1970, Dock Phillip Ellis Jr., a major league pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, threw a no-hitter while high on acid and Benzedrine. Featuring a narration by Dock himself, “THE LSD NO-NO” is the telling of this legendary tale, straight from the horse’s mouth.
After originally working in collaboration with NO MAS on a story entitled An Illustrated History of Drugs In Sports, an idea developed to produce some sort of animated content around our most favorite tales of stoned-out athletics. Naturally, the underground hero and counter-culture legend Dock Ellis was our first choice. During our research, we came across a radio piece produced by Neille Ilel and Donnell Alexander for American Public Media. It was perfect, so we stole it (I am happy to report that both Neille and Donnell have since given our elaboration their blessing, and will not be suing us.)
The animation process was new for me. Using the original radio piece, I created rough story boards that I then drew by hand the old school way; pen & ink on paper. Next, all of the animating was done in photoshop, in a tedious process that probably took me way longer than would have a professional animator. Finally, I exported the crude segments into iMovie, edited them all in accordance to Dock’s narration, and added loads of wacky sound effects… probably the most fun of all. BOOOOING!
On behalf of myself and my friends at NO MAS, we are very excited to be sharing the finished results with you all today, and hope you will enjoy. Please do feel free to pass along to your friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, dealers, parole officers, or anyone else you think may appreciate it, as we hope to spread the remarkable tale of ‘THE LSD NO-NO’ far and wide.
BHF ‘09 pics from James Blagden, Frank Franklin II and Robert Adam Mayer
June 23, 2009 by Swift Rock Ski
Filed under Uncategorized
Just a few jammies from James B and Frank
More to come
BHF Photo Exhibit
June 4, 2009 by Swift Rock Ski
Filed under Uncategorized
Date: Thursday, June 18th
Time: Exhibit;7pm – 9pm After-Party; 9pm – 12am
Place: Galapagos Art Space 16 Main Street (corner of Main and Water streets), Brooklyn
What: Come out to celebrate the 5th birthday of the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival! This Photo Exhibit is a retrospective look at powerful images of hip-hop fans, performers, volunteers and festivalgoers.
The event is curated by veteran photographer, Frank Franklin II of the New York Bureau of Associated Press Wire Service, and features the work of photographers James Blagden, Frank Franklin II and Robert Mayer, this collection of photos brilliantly expresses the feelings, thoughts and effect that the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival has created in the hip-hop community.
Price: $10 but for $15 we will include your first drink on the house!!
The After-Party: A good time will be had by all at the after-party as renowned
DJ Qool Marv
brings it to us with his eclectic mix of neo-soul, afro beats and underground hip hop and break beats. A regular staple at Apt in Manhattan, don’t miss a chance to see Qool Marv live in action right here in Brooklyn as a member of The Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival family!
Jamesblagden.com
January 6, 2009 by Swift Rock Ski
Filed under Opinion
From our homey and brother Jimmy Blags, the creative director of The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival and the main who built this site from scraps.
Some don’t realize that James is an accomplished illustrator whose work has appeared in funky fresh magazines including King, Wax Poetics and a slew of others.
He has designed all the BHF posters and flyers since 2005. Bottom line, he is stupid nice.
