It was the combination of Polynesian-Kiwi boy band, Nesian Mystik(who have a Hawaii friendly pop-sound, authentically created from the hood of Grey Lyn, Auckland), combined with Sonny Bill Williams of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby football team that gave these lads the 35th most voted spot on our Top 50 list of stars this year.
Well done! When Nesian Mystik performs in Hawaii, Tropical USA goes wild!
Nesian Mytsik lads are about building communities at grass roots level. Just like the minor leagues of rugby football in Kiwi communities are too each week. They don’t forget a collective of the little people. Together, they flow strong like this.Cool aye?!
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 25.11.11~
1 bilion people in the world don’t have access to clean drinking water. Yet we are made up of 63% H2O as people. I think true celebrity is about whose moving water flows in the world. It’s as simple as something like that.
Nicole Richie is one of the brightest stars that does all year round. She’s our girl. Click on pic to learn more about what we can do through initiatives like Global Water.
To make clean water flow in dry places where it needs to be the most, let’s do it. Thanks. Love you all.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.23.10~
Artists of the world, will always respond to an auteur. The Arts are always created when we cross cultures, to the center and push back in creative response. In this moment, we are the center of the world’s pop culture creation too as artists. We are creating the future by speaking back in response to the present in expression with our unique worldviews and artistic reo (voices) and vision too. Let’s go Maori and Polynesian filmmakers, musicians, artists and entertainers – Horiwood
What: Hip Hop Art House Cinema as a new genre of filmmaking.
Title Work: Runaway, a short film
Duration: 34 mins, 32 secs aprox.
Starring: Selita EBanks and Kanye West
Key Themes: A commentary on America’s nationhood, in Kanye’s lifetime. The rise and fall and what is the rise back up again of the USA. Decadence fused with decay of empire.
The Michael Jacksondeath of the King of Pop reference, is both respectful and a little spooky in the form of a military like national guard parade, and a blown up head of MJ. The golden phoenix references are powerful. Selita Ebanks is pure art in this role. Naive, beautiful, out of place, learning of a new world–a metaphor of a nation rebuilding, and representing a younger generation in it–as also reflected in a gaggle of strong, youthful ballet-swans, depicted as youthful potential turned statues with their economic? wings ripped off by resulting circumstances of unwise political/ banking leaders of the past. Selita plays the role, of someone being introduced to America now as shown by Kanye, an auteur. She asks: how is it possible to be authentic and survive in your world, when most are cast in stone of economics/ current politics?
Perhaps indicating, patriarchal culture, Kanye’s response is: just stay with me anyway and make love to me. An interesting political commentary, when no one really has an answer to this question Selita posits.
Anyway, it’s a little weird for me, but I love the fact that Kanye has created the Hip Hop Musical, Art House short film genre of cinema. Not enough can be written about that. It’s revolutionary in African-American cinema that he’s done this. Creative plus!!!
Enjoy. And in honor of Taika Cohen‘s artistic filmmaking abilities – who could do the same, for Maori down under, I post this Korowai cloak, as a challenge (or take in Maori) to pick up in future years and do the same as an artist. Maori Art House Cinema, let’s go, thinking outside of commercial, Hollywood narrative structures too – into more artistic expression of Maori cinematic arts. Artists should always respond across cultures to other artists. It’s cultural manners and is also what true artists are about if we hail from centuries-old traditions of artists – which we do as Maori. Any culture with authentic artist will respond from their nation as global artists.
As Maori we are not passive. American culture is boring if it’s monologue. What we need is dialogue for US culture to even be relevant in our Maori mix at all. We don’t just consume from America, we speak back like mature adults, and put our own spin on our own future – as teachers (not children) of America too. So, where’s our film texts (musicals on cinema, please).
Who in New Zealand wants to respond to this, in cinema? I ask. Taika is a good start, with Awanui Reader writing the film’s score and starring in the lead. Ainsley Gardiner, an award winning film producer and Oscar nominated producer, as producer of such a project, showing the strength of good female leadership from New Zealand – would be hot.
But let’s get back to Kanye West’s brilliance and budget spend here. His interweaving on a sound sonic-scape with international accents (German and European) as well as importing the class of Rihanna‘s hip hop and r n’b proven sound globally via Barbados of the Commonwealth (UK tributes and associations) show’s an American artist seeking cross-cultural ties and connections with a place for Americans in the world. Amidst the American ego–that his nation expects in their pop culture to fuel their own sense of identity, Kanye shows humility too for other nations cultures he’s learned and gleaned from as one of the 30% of Americans who have traveled outside of US borders and dared to be an American minority in another nation’s cultural life–and position himself as a student of the world. I like it that he has and it reflects in this film, from what he’s borrowed and interwoven into his art.
In particular, Kanye uses the elements a lot, of the sky. Perhaps indicating a future where, manipulating the earth’s elements (whether in visual depiction via news footage) or for real, will be common. An oil spill, was the last example of this we witnessed by a multi-national corporation in Mexico’s gulf for example. Oil from depth in the earth’s crust became vapor that filled the sky like a column of smoke. The world had never seen that before, as elements burned from the sea.
Kanye’s film is a version of a vision of America today. Powerful as art and social commentary. He raises the bar of hip hop artists and most music artists too, with this contribution. It’s his version, of “I am King” of pop culture and the arts eg: Muhammad Ali via cinema. Or, his version of “Presidential vision” or “if I was President” in that The Thompson Twins80′s kinda statement way. Smile America. It does get better, is what West says here. :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.24.10~
Heading in to the Grey Lnn festival 2010, this one’s for US.
All men are created equal – Abraham Lincoln
Because we are equal, isn’t it time for Maori, Polynesian, Asian-Kiwi’s turn to lead with an expression unique for US all–Horiwood*
Picture - Sonny Bill Williamsof the New Zealand All Blacks rugby football team, shouting out to New York City, USA.
Quote on making the prestigious football squad – “Making this squad is the first step, but I still have to prove myself.”
Brotha! You are Hollywood, California approved. Sports needs entertainers.
Let’s go NYC! NZ! Cali! Action sports commerce stars are US.
Zoo York poetic politics today & Music by Nesian Mystik,
Poetic vibe: We sing of overcoming injustice, we sing of sharing, we sing of community, we sing of faith, we sing of never forgetting our roots of our Polynesian ghetto fairy tales and all we learned in these times. Our parents lying awake afraid at early Dawn light in Otara and Porirua, for the knock of the police on front and back doors. Or Aunties assembled in community of make-shift marae at Bastion Point, standing like noble warriors in our once ‘criminalness’ on our own land … For the longest time we have been cast kind of like Robin Hood heroesreally, when you look at world politics and history.
Maybe our white brothers, saved us up to mull like fine Maori and Polynesia, vitner’s wine belonging to beautiful Aotearoa/ New Zealand. If so, their foresight was good. Their infrastructure needed. Now, we are required to be poured like the best wine, in this decade and the one’s beyond for all of our people. Not one excluded.
Colorful bouquet, nuanced cultures so rich, we are fine wine, a healing balm for the world. We have awoken to discover that the world has rapidly changed, suddenly – like Sonny Bill, switching codes and coming out on top last week, we find ourselves too at the world’s center, not by anything we did. But we are ready. Thanks Sonny Bill and coach Graham Henry for an important paradigm shift, an inspiring message of change, with one new team selection – and recognizing this global trend and what Maori and Polynesia have to offer the world forward.
*I think of “olive” as a color to ponder, like Ata Te Kanawa wrote about, being the future face of New Zealand. I think of olive’s (the food) eaten in the Middle East and Mediterranean alike. May this metaphor of peace, an “olive” be the pride and dignity of a teamwork spirit of equally shared mana, that defines the Kiwi spirit, vision, ability to serve, and our humor that can entertain, like few can. May what we have, be a healing balm in the Middle East too – like an olive branch we always extend. May the same attractant to heal and entertain also be commercially sought after from New York and California alike. Zoo York Nesian-Kiwis, let’s go. New wine time. From California, I feel your Kiwi spirit.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.24.10~
HIP HOP ART HOUSE CINEMA by KANYE WEST, AUTEUR and SELITA EBANKS with RUNAWAY
Artists of the world, will always respond to an auteur. The Arts are always created when we cross cultures, to the center and push back in creative response. In this moment, we are the center of the world’s pop culture creation too as artists. We are creating the future by speaking back in response to the present in expression with our unique worldviews and artistic reo (voices) and vision too. Let’s go Maori and Polynesian filmmakers, musicians, artists and entertainers – Horiwood
Who: Kanye West
What: Hip Hop Art House Cinema as a new genre of filmmaking.
Title Work: Runaway, a short film
Duration: 34 mins, 32 secs aprox.
Starring: Selita EBanks and Kanye West
Key Themes: A commentary on America’s nationhood, in Kanye’s lifetime. The rise and fall and what is the rise back up again of the USA. Decadence fused with decay of empire.
The Michael Jackson death of the King of Pop reference, is both respectful and a little spooky in the form of a military like national guard parade, and a blown up head of MJ. The golden phoenix references are powerful. Selita Ebanks is pure art in this role. Naive, beautiful, out of place, learning of a new world–a metaphor of a nation rebuilding, and representing a younger generation in it–as also reflected in a gaggle of strong, youthful ballet-swans, depicted as youthful potential turned statues with their economic? wings ripped off by resulting circumstances of unwise political/ banking leaders of the past. Selita plays the role, of someone being introduced to America now as shown by Kanye, an auteur. She asks: how is it possible to be authentic and survive in your world, when most are cast in stone of economics/ current politics?
Perhaps indicating, patriarchal culture, Kanye’s response is: just stay with me anyway and make love to me. An interesting political commentary, when no one really has an answer to this question Selita posits.
Anyway, it’s a little weird for me, but I love the fact that Kanye has created the Hip Hop Musical, Art House short film genre of cinema. Not enough can be written about that. It’s revolutionary in African-American cinema that he’s done this. Creative plus!!!
Enjoy. And in honor of Taika Cohen‘s artistic filmmaking abilities – who could do the same, for Maori down under, I post this Korowai cloak, as a challenge (or take in Maori) to pick up in future years and do the same as an artist. Maori Art House Cinema, let’s go, thinking outside of commercial, Hollywood narrative structures too – into more artistic expression of Maori cinematic arts. Artists should always respond across cultures to other artists. It’s cultural manners and is also what true artists are about if we hail from centuries-old traditions of artists – which we do as Maori. Any culture with authentic artist will respond from their nation as global artists.
As Maori we are not passive. American culture is boring if it’s monologue. What we need is dialogue for US culture to even be relevant in our Maori mix at all. We don’t just consume from America, we speak back like mature adults, and put our own spin on our own future – as teachers (not children) of America too. So, where’s our film texts (musicals on cinema, please).
Who in New Zealand wants to respond to this, in cinema? I ask. Taika is a good start, with Awanui Reader writing the film’s score and starring in the lead. Ainsley Gardiner, an award winning film producer and Oscar nominated producer, as producer of such a project, showing the strength of good female leadership from New Zealand – would be hot.
But let’s get back to Kanye West’s brilliance and budget spend here. His interweaving on a sound sonic-scape with international accents (German and European) as well as importing the class of Rihanna ‘s hip hop and r n’b proven sound globally via Barbados of the Commonwealth (UK tributes and associations) show’s an American artist seeking cross-cultural ties and connections with a place for Americans in the world. Amidst the American ego–that his nation expects in their pop culture to fuel their own sense of identity, Kanye shows humility too for other nations cultures he’s learned and gleaned from as one of the 30% of Americans who have traveled outside of US borders and dared to be an American minority in another nation’s cultural life–and position himself as a student of the world. I like it that he has and it reflects in this film, from what he’s borrowed and interwoven into his art.
In particular, Kanye uses the elements a lot, of the sky. Perhaps indicating a future where, manipulating the earth’s elements (whether in visual depiction via news footage) or for real, will be common. An oil spill, was the last example of this we witnessed by a multi-national corporation in Mexico’s gulf for example. Oil from depth in the earth’s crust became vapor that filled the sky like a column of smoke. The world had never seen that before, as elements burned from the sea.
Kanye’s film is a version of a vision of America today. Powerful as art and social commentary. He raises the bar of hip hop artists and most music artists too, with this contribution. It’s his version, of “I am King” of pop culture and the arts eg: Muhammad Ali via cinema. Or, his version of “Presidential vision” or “if I was President” in that The Thompson Twins 80′s kinda statement way. Smile America. It does get better, is what West says here. :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.24.10~
October 25, 2010 | Categories: America, Art, artist, Awanui Reader, Barbados, Directors, Entertainment Celebrity News, Germany, Hip Hop Community, Hollywood Entertainment News, Hot Chocolate, Kanye West, Leadership, Maori, New Zealand, Oscars, Polynesian, Producers, Rihanna, UK, Women | Tags: Ainsley Gardiner, America, Art, Art Galleries, artist, Auteurs, Awanui Reader, Ballet, Barbados, Commonwealth, Cross-cultural Narratives, Directors, Enoch, Entertainment Distribution, Germany, Hip Hop Art House Cinema, Hip Hop Community, Hollywood Entertainment News, Hollywood Maori Kings, Hollywood Today, Hot Chocloate: African American News on Horiwood.Com, Hot Chocolate, Kanye West, Leadership, Maori, Maori Art House Cinema, Maori Filmmaking, Maori Television, Maori Television Service Hollywood, Muhammad Ali, New Zealand, Oscars, Polynesian, Pop Culture Commentary, Producers, Projects, Rihanna, Selita Ebanks, Swans, Taika Cohen, Taika Waititi, The Thompson Twins, UK, Women | 3 Comments »