on the road 2 the pacific coast

After the Berlin GO-BAMA screening during World Cup July 2010.

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:35:55 +0200

After the Berlin GO-BAMA screening during World Cup July 2010.

Seattle is all about sea food

Sat, 22 May 2010 17:51:16 +0200

Seattle is all about sea food

Early bird ride with valley geeks

Sat, 22 May 2010 17:31:00 +0200

I left my base after a nervous wait for my cab which was 10 min late. For a German like me, who is used to have taxis arrive 10 min early, it was a bit of a challenge. Especially, since I didn’t know how thick Oakland morning rush hour was. It was quite a fast freeway ride to the Amtrak station. The driver was in a jolly good mood and I arrived on time at 6. a.m. Jack London Square.

Along with me were countless geeks boarding the train. Their flash bikes and casual clothes couldn’t conceal the grouchiness and tired look on their commute to some Silicon Valley corporation. Some guys look better in suits. Most sipped on their morning coffee or took a nap on the one hour journey to San Jose. It is quite a scenic drive as the train crosses plains under early sunlight. I had my last breakfast burrito in the little cafeteria at the airport and boarded at 9.00 am.

I had a magnificent view over the Silicon valley after we took off and the pilot circled to reach height. Unfortunately, he took the inland route and we didn’t cross San Francisco and the coast up North on our way to Seattle. Nevertheless, I was fascinated as we landed in Seattle. A scenic bay area with lakes and harbor graced by the snow caps of spectacular Mount Rainier. This was unexpected beauty and made me curious to visit this city that has a lot surrounding forests and mountains.

The flight from Seattle to Paris was strenuous. I feel every time the leg space is getting smaller. At least this time I had a personal video screen with a great selection of films. I watched “Precious” directed by Lee Daniels after the novel by Sapphire. A heart breaking abuse story set in NYC. Its simply told from the perspective of the main protagonist Claireece Jones, who was abused and beaten by her own family. She made her way out of the ghetto through education. The director used some poetic devices to show the characters ambitions and dreams, but the subject matter of incest and brutality was overshadowing the style of the film. The end was abrupt as one expects the kind of feel good resolution. She simply walks off, taking charge of her two children. Great acting, including Mariah Carey, who actually can act and looks so strange without make up.

I just didn’t understand why the white lady who sat next to me for 12 hours and spoke very friendly first and then suddenly dried up without saying goodbye. She must have seen disturbing parts of the film and entered a world that she probably would never want to enter. I guess it disturbed her romantic feelings as she watched a Meryl Streep movie. Well, I thought she was a bit funny, cause she had wiped her seat with disinfectant before she sat down. But can you disinfect your life by punishing your fellow man for watching an indie movie?

From Oakland 2 Silicon Valley

Sat, 22 May 2010 16:53:54 +0200

From Oakland 2 Silicon Valley

Soulfood & Dorothy's Juke Joint

Wed, 19 May 2010 09:00:00 +0200

Met up with Annemarie who picked me up. We drove downtown to Jack London Square. Straight into the Soul-food HQ of Everett & Jones. The owner Dorothy was there and served me a pint of tasty beer with some finger licking barbecue chicken, brown beans and sweet yam on the side. Oh, my lord that sauce was thick and creamy. Still got that flavor on my taste buds after 5 hours.

We chilled and chatted. I heard about the legendary November election night where the road was blocked till midnight. They had concerts and the place was so packed that Dorothy couldn’t get back inside her own bar. First she was a strong Obama fan, but she fell out with Obama’s policy, shortly after his move to bail out the Wall street bankers and car manufacturers. You can sense her frustration by looking at the huge banner that she posted outside her place. A sentiment that is shared by many independents and liberals that voted Obama into power. Can you dig?

Annemarie was more enthusiastic about what is happening in the country and plans to continue her work with the campaign. We organized a family screening for Dorothy and her (adult) kids in the back room of the restaurant. It was fun to see them discuss and remember things as we watched GO-BAMA together. I had a little extra sight seeing tour through Oakland, before we said farewell and promised to organize a public screening next time.

Soulfood

Wed, 19 May 2010 08:41:00 +0200

Oakland Freeway

Annemarie @ Everett & Jones, Oakland

GO-BAMA screening @ Everett & Jones

Downtown Oakland

Obama campaign Oakland HQ

Legendary venue, downtown Oakland

Oakland Freeway

Soulfood

The bay is grey

Tue, 18 May 2010 08:22:39 +0200

After a politicized Sunday afternoon with the rebels and anarchists, it was time to say good bye to Santa Cruz. I sold my last 2 copies at a business breakfast in my friends house on Monday.

Fired up, ready 2 go. A last drive on the beach. A last farewell lunch and ready to hit Oakland. It was a curvy ride through the Lexington hills. I admired the bus driver who had all the coolness in the world as we drove down some steep hills.

Rain swept over the bay and the lush green hills are gone now. Urban jungle. Rat racing.

Transit on Greyhound

Tue, 18 May 2010 07:55:00 +0200

from Santa to Oakland

from Santa to Oakland

from Santa to Oakland

Greyhounding

Transit on Greyhound

Hiking with crowds

Sun, 16 May 2010 02:46:00 +0200

We went hiking with countless others inside Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. The tallest tree in the park is about 285 feet tall, and about 16 feet wide. The oldest trees in the park are about 1400 to 1800 years old. It feels like some ancient spirit is swallowing up our human ego and splashes it up in those branches and streams. The self-importance that I normally carry in every conversation has to subside and I have to shut up…I was listening in awe to what those elves were bubbling…

As I trailed along the path where Zayante Indians once lived, and where they found shelter, water and game; I could hear a whisper that reminded me: I am on this planet for a blink of an eye.

The hiking trail at Felton, Northern California

Sun, 16 May 2010 02:38:29 +0200

Redwoods Park

Redwoods Park

Redwoods Park

Redwoods Park

Redwoods Park

The hiking trail at Felton, Northern California

Hangin @ Next Space doin my thing

Sat, 15 May 2010 09:05:13 +0200

Mornin coffee by Lulu cafeteria. Wireless by Nextspace. Thinkin by me. I bonded with numerous freelancers at NextSpace on Cooper Street until the afternoon. Funny, that I was introduced as the German, cause that would not cross over much in Germany, where everyone always asks: where you from? The buzz in the lounge area was positive and its exactly that what will make freelancers and entrepreneurs succeed in tough economic times: vision and positivity.

I was guest of Awake Media, a company that specialises in new media and new consciousness for the planet. http://awakemedia.com/aboutnar.html

I had a mellow and fruitful afternoon, made some skype calls to L.A. and found out about the chances for a new docu competition that opens up next month. I wonder what IDA www.documentary.org has in store for the next season of festivals and promotion.

In the evening we were hangin out for a birthday jam with Michael, an old friend of Lakshmi. The little tea house proofed to be a time capsule, and had nothing to do with the tea partys, it felt rather that some of our conversations were straight up ‘68, when the hippies revolted against the system and wanted to change the world. Of course an entire generation impacted the world from this coast, but got also fried by drugs. If time is a loop, then this time the revolution will be streamlined on your ipad - without the mushroom trippin on your cloud. The semantic web speaks yogish. Lets see where we compute from here.

Hangin loose at Awake Media

Sat, 15 May 2010 08:28:00 +0200

ipleasures, Allan & Sun @ Awake Media

Lakshmi @ Awake Media

Pacific Avenue (South)

Tea Garden Namaste

Pacific Avenue (North)

Tea Garden Namaste

Nada @ Awake Media

Hangin loose at Awake Media

Early Morning strolls

Fri, 14 May 2010 07:35:14 +0200

Early morning breakfast with the bike freaks in town. Good conversations with home-made cookies and fresh fruits. I decided to pay a visit to Inner Light ministry and catch up with one of the protagonists in my docu: Rev. Johnson. I had a bicycle that only had one (slow) gear and decided to take it on the public city bus. Good idea, cause I encountered the most friendly and happy bus driver in the world. I couldn’t believe it because the driver personally greeted every passenger and said farewell to each leaving the bus. It was such a difference in energy, he was happy about his job and make everyone feel like special. Most of the people did not respond or were shy to be greeted so friendly. Amazing!

I touched base with Inner Light Ministry and helped people package food for the people in need before having a 20 min intensive conversation about the film and the change in this country. It was a wonderful morning and as I came back to town on Soquel Avenue the sun came out and lit up the place.

Strolling down town

Fri, 14 May 2010 07:17:00 +0200

Rev. D. Johnson, Inner Light Ministry

Downtown, Santa Cruz

UCSC Talk

UCSC Erica Williams

Strolling down town

Going organic algae shopping

Wed, 12 May 2010 10:35:13 +0200

Hanging out with Taale, a veteran activist and filmmaker who lives here. He told me about the blue green algae, local politics and his films in Burkina Faso. He works on a docu about Alpha Blondy and has tons of footage at home (shot on 16mm). He has an old movieola editing suite in his guest room. I have never seen one and it feels like work from another time when everything was analogue and the pace of life was slower. We drove around and walked on the beach, talking about music and politics. He had an amazing life, spending 12 years in Burkina Faso and documenting music and culture there. I met him after the screening as he was asking, if I submit my film to FESPACO and Tangier film festival. I will sure do and organize subtitles in French.

On the beach and cruisin through Santa Cruz

Wed, 12 May 2010 10:20:00 +0200

On the beach and cruisin through Santa Cruz

Santa Cruisin

Wed, 12 May 2010 10:17:11 +0200

Santa Cruisin

"Where do you go from here? What is next, darling?"

Sun, 09 May 2010 20:19:24 +0200

“Where do you go from here? What is next, darling?”

- (99 year old granny on Mothers day)

Dream on in the Dream Inn

Sun, 09 May 2010 20:17:05 +0200

Havin breakfast in the beach hotel called Dream Inn couldn’t be a better set up for my screening at 5.p.m. As I entered and sat down at my table, they played “Road to Zion” from the Abyssinians - a classic reaggae formation from the Seventies. I felt this is a good start of the day as I waited for my scramble egg with goat cheese and spinach. As I turned around and saw this lovely elderly couple having breakfast (see photos). They were almost shouting to each other since I guess they had bad hearing. I thought not a bad place to grow old with eachother…After a while I overheard the old lady with the waitress saying that it is her 99th birthday. She asked the waitress: “and what’s next for you darling, what do you gonna do with your life, where do gonna go from here? “. I pondered a moment and thought: what a good question! Where do we go from here after this is done and over. Its such a nice place to hang out and spend more time. Well, I got no answer but shall enjoy my day of dreaming.

Photo

Sun, 09 May 2010 19:53:57 +0200