blog.captivatethem.ca

Kickin’ with LMFAO, we’re hammering out a reality-style web series pilot for UMM Entertainment: promoters behind LMFAO’s ongoing North American Party Rock Tour.  This is only a TASTE.  The final edit of the episode will be about 15-20 minutes and will really put you through the paces of what it’s like to send badboys like Red Foo and Sky Blu on the road.

Our full image gallery and event feature will be up shortly.  Anybody who did not attend the parties, but still wants to blow me kisses, you can send them to the usual email.  Well…fine, maybe one photo.

Beautiful people, yesterday I caught up with an old friend, Maxim.  One of the most interesting and ecclectic personalities I’ve ever encountered, and a master of claw-hammer banjo, Max is also an extremely versatile model and actor.  Having just arrived back in Ottawa from a cross-Canada tour, he now spends a great deal of time entertaining blues, bluegrass and pyschobilly fans at the Rainbow Bistro and the Cajun Attic, both in the Byward Market.  Since he’s been on the road for the last seven months, he’s been hard to peg down, but now that his feet are planted in one spot, I thought it’d be a good time to introduce Maxim and some of the images we produced together.

Suit by Tristan, shirt by Armani, tie by Mexx.

Everyone should run over and check out Maxim’s excellent blog that documents his travels and adventures: Maxim’s Mind.  You should also check out his music, it’s a huge departure from convention and will bring you to simpler place and time.  Check Maxim Cossette on Myspace.

Here’s a preview of another multi-talented dude, Kemal.  We’ll be working with him on his musical and modelling projects in the future.  Stay tuned.

An incredibly versatile artist, fresh off a tour with Snoop, Ko takes the time to sit down with Remi L Roy to talk about rehab, the Trailer Park Boys, moving mountains and the experiences behind his inspiring sound.

Ko – Jammin with Captivate Creative Studios from Alexander Vlad on Vimeo.

Big Thanks: Ko, Mary Jelley, Chris Mangal, Warner Music Canada, Live Lounge, Christian Roblin, Trainwreck & Blueberry!

Songs: “Capable” & “Bourbon (Crack Song)” used with permission from artist.

The video was recorded entirely on the Canon EOS 7D w/ EF70-200mm f4L. Shot and edited by Alexander Vlad.  Check out more of Ko’s music at www.ko-nation.com

While my night consisted mainly most of playing assistant to Vlad and Alex Wolski – namely holding flashes, running back and forth from the car to the club for equipment and posing for light readings – I still had a blast. I guess it’s tough not to have a good time when you’re swimming through a crowd of models and beautiful women gathered at Lobby, Ottawa’s premiere VIP nightclub, for the unveiling of Bomba’s newest collection of luxury fashion. The show didn’t disappoint, as Bomba’s latest in a line of dresses and shirts, of course draped over a dozen sexy bodies, captured the attention of even the most detached bystander.

The three of us lapped it all up, and even managed to get a little work done. Vlad got a bunch of great shots, which we’ve posted for your viewing, and Wolski shot the fashion show and got some footage of the club scene that unfolded inside Lobby. I think he probably had a better night than either me or Vlad. It was priceless watching Wolski, camera in hand as always, mashed in between like 10 models, grinning ear to ear. Actually, come to think of it, I was grinning like a damn fool too. Hey, can you blame me? I’ve worked hundreds of assignments in exclusive environments, but have never been surrounded by so many models as I was on this night. Yeah, it was a damn good night. Anyways, that’s all I have to say about that (ala Forrest Gump) so check out the goods, watch the video, get jealous, whatever. We’ll be in touch soon. Take care.

RLR

Big Thanks: Bomba, Lobby and the models.

For all of the shots visit captivatethem.ca or click here

Die Mannequin is a bad influence. I picked up a copy of Fino + Bleed from the XPress office a month ago and it’s been on repeat in my stereo since. In that time, I was demoted at XPress for standing up the Trailer Park Boys, almost kicked out of my crib and hung out to dry by the girl I was seeing.  Not since I spent too much time listening to Motley last year or Buckcherry the year before has an album controlled my every action like Fino + Bleed this September. Call me a method writer, call me crazy, call me whatever the hell you want. I lost myself while preparing for this interview. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say it was messy.

By the time Vlad, Alex and I met up with Die Mannequin’s front-woman, Care Failure, and the matriarch of Ottawa’s Warner Music branch, Mary Jelley, it felt like the last day of a long tour – and in Ottawa on a Sunday to boot! I was sweating week-old liquor out of a month-old playoff beard, trying all the while to focus on my subject with eyes wide shut. It was destined to be a night that went down in my biography, or my obituary.

A bright sun beaming down on a late summer day, the three of us settled on shooting outside, where we set up in the shadows of Scotiabank Place and rolled on it. The interview went well, even though I looked and felt like total shit. I don’t get nervous during interviews, still, standing next to Care, it felt like my heart could, at any time, collapse and cave into my chest. After we finished the interview, Vlad took Care aside and managed to trap a dozen amazing pictures in just a few minutes. Though we went well over our allotted time limit, both Care and Mary were totally cool with the whole process. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: If all labels had a Mary Jelley, the world would be a better place.

A couple hours later, Die Mannequin blew the lid of Scotiabank. Watching Care rip it up, I knew that all the shit I’d gone through getting ready for the interview was well worth it. At that moment, I couldn’t care less if I was, as Care writes in Caroline Mescaline, “just another rock casualty.” Marilyn Manson closed the night out with a killer set, yet it didn’t seem to matter. This night was about Die Mannequin, not Manson; it was about Canada, not the U.S.; it was about tomorrow, not today.

RLR

Big Thanks: Die Mannequin, Mary Jelley, Mr. Butterscotch, Marilyn Manson, Live Nation, Warner Music Canada, Scotiabank Place

***To view the whole story, and our full gallery, head on over to Captivatethem.ca events or click here!