Shaq Attack on Twitter

Wow!! it is official. Shaq Attack on Twitter. It's always nice to see talent step out of the box and join the rest of the world. I am sure if this would of happened 10 years ago it would be a different story with people sending 'autograph please' messages and totally forgetting that Shaq is actually a real person just like us.

Since the recent growth of internet social networks there has been a surge of talent joining cyberspace and I think this is a good thing. It lets the fans know that even the biggest of stars can interact with regular people and enjoy the WWW without being hassled. (I hope) Read full article here: Twitter Blog: His Tweets Are Shaqalicious

GOING TO KOREA

I am going to Korea tomorrow to promote Discovery's sample CD collection and meet some musicians about recording a new sample CD with Ethnic Korean sounds and music. I have been getting a bunch of requests lately for traditional Korean sounds and have not had the chance to give a specific date, but I can tell you it is in the near future.

Part 2 of the trip will be talking about promoting recording artists from Korea over here in Japan. The relations between Japan and Korea have been getting better and better when you think that less than eight years ago Japanese culture wasn't allowed in Korea. What better time than now to increase relations even more.

Lastly, I am also going to promote the Japanese music Documentary "Same Old Story" (Korean Version) with hopes that it will show at the PIFAN in 2009 along with the EBS documentary film festival.

Of course all work and no play is not fun, so I will be taking lots of pictures and post updates when I get back to Japan. Talk to you all then.

"Same Old Story" Movie Soundtrack

The soundtrack for "Same Old Story" the documentary film that won Best International Music Documentary at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival has been released for sale by Discovery Firm and can be purchased through the Discovery Sound website using Paypal and of course Amazon.

The album includes the title song "Same Old Story" and an instrumental track called "Overlook" both written and performed by Cheep Hiroishi the musician whom the film was about.

Sales are limited to 10,000 copies till the end of 2008. If you haven't already bought the album, I recommend you take advantage of the first release.

For a measly $10 you are getting an original album by a highly acclaimed Japanese artist.

Another Music Sampling Powerhouse

When you sign up for an account on Facebook anything can happen so it appears. I was contacted by Zenhiser asking to added as a friend, but was surprised when I took a look at the site and seen it was another sound sampling sight filled with loops, samplers, one-shots, and more. Since I also run a similar site I thought why not spread the word.

Zenhiser has a massive library of sounds that can be downloaded for royalty free use in your own productions. The site itself is very well done with a clean and easy too use interface layout. You will find just about anything you are looking for. If you are a fellow producer like myself, then can also do a link exchange with Zenhiser to get your site a little more PR. You can find the link at the bottom of the site. It is really simple. Just link to Zenhiser and they link back to you.

All in all I give the site a big two thumbs up for design, quality, and originality.

"Same Old Story" Wins Best International Music Documentary

It's final. The Japanese Documentary "Same Old Story" has won Best International Music Documentary at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival September 2008.

This was a very unexpected surprise as this was a first time film and of course independently produced and directed. Since the news of our film winning an award from such a large film festival, it has opened the doors to future festivals.

2009 is going to be a very big year for our movie as it is going to be shown at 6 more festivals throughout the world.
I really hope this film will touch peoples hearts and give them insight on their own life and history.

I know this poster is in Japanese and I am working the English translation hoping to get it online by the end of the week. I just couldn't wait to share it will all of my readers.

If you are in the area and have a chance to see the film please do. You can check our movie page here for festival updates.

Independent Music at its Best

Well we all know that there are very many talented musicians in the world that go unseen and unheard by the mass public, and sometimes that is the way those musicians want it to be. Then there are those who's dream is to share their music with the whole world. Since the release of Youtube this has become an easy task. The other side of the story is that may be as far as the dream goes.

As an independent music producer you are always taking a risk. But that is the beauty of the business is it not? I was browsing Youtube about 6 months to see who was the latest artist trying to make their "big break" hoping that someone would see them, believe in them, and help them break through that iron curtain, "The Music Business".

Well I found someone who was just singing to be heard. That someone is Shanna Gilfix. Over 500,000 viewers have heard her song, "It Took Losin You" on Youtube and other web channels. I just couldn't sit back and do nothing. So I started emailing like crazy. Even made my own Youtube account just to contact her. I am glad that I did.

She has a natural talent for music and poetry. She has an awsome guitarist, Richard Adoradio by her side who also believed in her and brought her to the next level. At least in my opinion. I hoping to produce her over here in Japan and at the same time believing it is going to open the doors for her in the United States. Without further adue, here is the video that broke the ground in cyber space.

Please watch it, comment on it and cheer her on. Afterall, in the end it's all about the listeners.

Recruiting Sound Designers!

Discovery Sound is recruiting sound designers! If you think you have what it takes to work with some of the best sound designers in the world then read on. I have listed below the prerequisites, but be forewarned; you will be in a completely different country.


Application:

• Please send an application, complete with photo and your original demo production. If you could show all of them online, they could be acceptable through email. (Only English is acceptable.)

An original demo production

Recording media:

• A mini-disc / CD-R (audio, Wav, AIF, or MP3 file format). An explanation of theme and your views on sampling music must be included. In the case of an applicant belonging to an agency or production team, we will not hire a person who has conflicts over the rights to their music.

Address:

• Please send all materials to the following address: Discovery Firm, Inc % Stephen Hunter 6-16 Maruyama-Nishimachi 8, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Japan 064-0944

Screening:

• Producers will review applications as they arrive. Desirable applicants will be contacted by our company. We will accept questions about your application only through e-mail. Applications will not be returned once we receive them.

There is no set deadline for applications. Desired applicants will be contacted by our company and informed of the details of the job.