I realized that I was seeing things that should be shared, and when I found myself learning how to do that properly, and feeling like I was good at it, I never stopped. -Jacob Klensin Through his detailed and emotive work, Jacob Klensin allows us all a deeper peak into the world of Muay Thai and MMA. The photographer, filmmaker and writer took time out of his busy schedule in Philadelphia to let us in on his work and his world. You're a photographer, a filmmaker and a writer...what drives you? I studied history in college and was always fascinated by the creation of the material that will one day define how the future remembers the … [Read more...]
Behind The Scenes Of ‘At My Door’ By Glenn Love. A Video That I Was In.
Shooting Canadian industrial / dark electronic artist Glenn Love's At My Door video was an interesting exercise in creativity. The idea was Dyno Mike's of Mikey Brand Productions. He proposed that we work together to create a music video based in surrealism. We weren't certain what Glenn's lyrics meant but the two of us would team up to manifest a dream-like moment in time based on them. I've dreamt this Many times before. You've come again Standing at my door. I hate you - The original intent was to surprise Glenn with the video but that was eventually partially scrapped as I had completely forgotten and mentioned something to him about shooting … [Read more...]
Devil’s Night – An Indie Film That I Was In
The document I began after playing the lead in Devils Night, a five minute horror film by Mikey Brand reads: The morning after acting in Mikey Brand's submission for the 48 Hour Horror Film Challenge....I'm left with red and swollen toes from wearing 8 inch (plus?) stilettos for hours on end, my right hand is bruised from beating a dingy basement door and one of my lower teeth is now left jagged and slightly chipped from swigging Cuban rum from the bottle...suffering for art can be a lot of fun! Ha! Looking forward to the final product. Stayed tuned people, the raw footage is indeed that, raw. Let me take it to the beginning. Sometime in October … [Read more...]
I’m Still Here
A number of you have sent messages inquiring about my whereabouts. What have I been doing? Am I okay? Is the blog still active? I want to thank you all, including those who remain silent but continue to check in for new content. I never would have expected to deviate from posting twice weekly on MBSB but the reason for it all has been rooted in the positive. I've been living in the present. I've gotten lost. In June I returned to Toronto, a city I previously lived in after an approximate four and a half year hiatus. I spent an estimated ten years of my life here and this is the first time I've been able to experience it in the way I truly desire. The … [Read more...]
Things To Do In Windsor – A Guide For People Who Hate Malls
I grew up in the city of Windsor, Ontario, Canada and from the time I was somewhere between twelve and fourteen years old I was intent on getting out. Windsor was a dusty, grey hole - its only redeeming factor was that it bordered Detroit, Michigan, USA. That says a lot, as at that time in history I believe Detroit was the murder capital of the U.S. Back then, I thought, "Well, at least Detroit's interesting. And has great bands". Windsor had air that tasted like fertilizer and various Tim Horton's littered throughout the city. It took a decade or two for me to realize the incredible in Windsor. I grasped this mostly while away. For a city of a little over … [Read more...]
Photo Series: Wolf Eyes + CCMC At MOCAD, Detroit
Detroit's Wolf Eyes and Toronto's Canadian Creative Music Collective (CCMC) played the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) on May 21 to launch the 19th annual Media City Film Festival across the border in Windsor. The night also served as a launch party for the limited edition vinyl reissue of the 1978 CCMC Volume Three, a lost recording made available as a limited edition pressing of 500 copies after 35 years. In attendance performing as CCMC were Al Mattes, John Oswald and Michael Snow. From Media City's Film Festival Guide: CCMC (Canadian Creative Music Collective) formed in 1974 as "a composing ensemble united by a desire to play music that is fluid, spontaneous, and … [Read more...]
Upcoming Documentary With Pornsane Sitmonchai And Yodkhunpon Sitmonchai
The existence of MBSB is in part due to the support of Michael Galvin of Muay Thai Training Camps. It was Michael who introduced me to the specifics of creating a website, both educating me of the technical side and giving me resources to make it happen. In addition, answering my panicked texts while I was trying to build this baby on a slow net connection. Over the course of the past year, I've watched Michael's video production skills flourish. Currently Michael is in the process of creating his first full length documentary following Pornsaneh Sitmonchai in preparation for his first international fight in the Netherlands at Slamm VII. … [Read more...]
I Still Have a Soul – the Boxing Trainer as Protagonist
I recently came wise to the following piece from HBO and it guts me every time I view it. The strength of will and the perceived humility of the protagonist, the boxer, whom many may view this piece is about. I see that, but what hits me just as hard, is this man's trainer. His belief in what and in this case, whom others may view as obsolete, a waste of time and effort. The trainer could have taken the other man's money, patronized him, led him to believe he had his back when he didn't, but he chose not to. Check the neighbourhood the gym is in. He could have assumed the would be boxer to be a junkie, a hustler and chased him out of the gym, but he chose not to. As much as … [Read more...]
DON’T KNOW WHERE I’M GOING, only know where i’ve been
By the time you're reading this, I'll be somewhere I have yet to know of while writing this. I'm taking off for at about a month. Two countries, including this one. But I'm up for surprises. I've got loads of content set up for you already. But I'll get more. You'll get notes from me along my way. In the meantime... Enjoy....................................... Shabazz Palaces - Belhaven Meridian from WHAT MATTERS MOST on Vimeo. For notes from this trip, Thailand hotel reviews, travel information and tips, check out Backpacking Thailand, my free Thailand … [Read more...]