The Free Box

There's a Portland-based web comedy show that's dangerously close to being discontinued by it's very talented cast and crew for the simple reason that it's not profitable to give away great comedy for free. "The Free Box" has been entertaining denizens of the World Wide Web since Drew Hicks and Jon Meyer started the show a few years back. Since then the show has grown considerably in scope and the laughs have grown proportionally. Fans have been clamoring for more new episodes, but are you actually willing to support the show with your greenbacks? If you are, you are in for a treat. "The Free Box" has set up a "pledge" system through kickstarter.com in order to raise funds to continue the show. In addition to the great feeling you get supporting young people with boundless talent and potential, "The Free Box" is offering prizes as well. A 5$ pledge will get you a bumper sticker of the show's most memorable catch-phrase: "We ran out of dish soap". Larger pledges mean more and larger prizes, up to whole seasons of the show on DVD. Big-money pledgers (500$-1000$) get the cast and crew of the show to write and perform a song commissioned by you and to make it into either a music CD or a music video DVD. It's an all-or-nothing pledge system, meaning that if the boys and girls from "The Free Box" don't reach their 5000$ pledge goal, those who have pledged aren't charged. But the real tragedy would be if we allowed this great show to die. Money is the "magic dust" that makes great TV and movies possible, so please sprinkle some of that magic dust on "The Free Box"!


The season 1 DVD includes hilarious commercials from the creators of the show (including the "Junk in the Box" short that became the show's logo). "What'd you expect?" This set and each of the smaller prizes are awarded for kickstarter.com pledges of 50$ or more. 100$ pledges get the as-yet unreleased season 2 DVD as well as all the smaller prizes.

"Song" by Little j

I am pleased to announce my first Music Review on Mike's Movie Reviews Blog! My first featured album comes from "Little j", a very talented friend of mine who has contributed several tracks to my own independent film efforts, most notably "Spark of Life". The following is a slightly-revised version of the review I wrote for Little j's album "SONG" on lulu.com: 

"SONG is all folked up!"
This album is amazing! Little j pulls out all the stops on this hay-ride of neo-folk goodness. Little j's throaty singing and raw, solo guitar work become the vehicle for his enlightened lyrics, which range from childlike and primal (as in "10 Stars" and the "EY" shorts) to complex, mournful social criticisms (as in the haunting, yet hopeful track "Oxygen"). For me, the brightest gem in this crowning achievement of an album is a Ween cover entitled "Flutes of the Chi". The always-excellent guitar work shines brightest here, evoking the ballads of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. The vocals are equally authentic and well-developed, like a modern Jim Morrison with a country twang. Listen to "SONG" alone with a glass of wine, or make it the backdrop for your next chill session. An invigoratingly fresh slice of modern folk!

Listen to Little j tracks using the media player in the sidebar----->

Shop for "SONG" by Little j

Check out Little j's website: NowHereLove.com

Check out songs by Little j and others: "Spark of Life" Soundtrack

If you like Little j's music, I also recommend:

Spark of Life (2007)

Directed and Written by Mike Bazanele

"Spark of Life" is a low-budget zombie short I made a couple of years ago. Alas, I am not quite presumptuous enough to rate my own movie, but since I went to the trouble of making it, I feel I should include it on my review website. Here's what it says on the back of the box:

Asa Downing stars as himself in this darkly comedic horror short which chronicles the rise of an alcoholic energy drink so intense that it can turn people into zombies. Asa can't seem to catch a break. After losing his prized puppet in an encounter with a "shirtless, bleeding guy" in Eugene's sketchy downtown strip, Asa returns home to find that all is not well. Scared, alone and increasingly desperate, will Asa sacrifice that which is dearest to him to stay alive? Featuring a fresh young cast of non-actors and a killer soundtrack by Eugene locals The Arithmetic Danger Club, Ondamos and J, this epic of sex, drugs and rock and roll is no-budget film making in its purest form. DVD also contains award-winning bonus shorts by Mike Bazanele and Asa Downing.

This is my most successful project to date (although I have a really good one in the works). If you haven't seen it yet, watch a few scenes in the player below:

If you like it, get the unrated version on DVD. If you still can't get enough, download some of our Amazon.com MP3 downloads from the Spark of Life Soundtrack. And for the true fans, become the proud owners of the "Spark of Life" soundtrack CD, which features Eugene locals little j and the Arithmetic Danger Club. Thanks for supporting my film.

 

I also recommend: