February 2012
19 posts
THEATER: The ORIGINAL 3D film, son.
There is a stigma in LA about “theater people.” As I get deeper into the film world I am mentioning less and less frequently my background in the performing arts. If I was an aspiring actor, this background would be essential to conversation, along with appropriate screen credits to display my ability to deliver on camera. But for those who direct theater, it seems that the...
“One thing is certain, and must be emphasized from the outset: namely, that if...”
– William Archer, Play-making, A Manual Of Craftsmanship (via keithcalder)
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"FALL BACK" - MEAN ONES MIXTAPE
Take a listen to this track FALL BACK from The MEAN ONES mixtape. click the image to listen, of HERE. The whole MEAN ONES project is FREE @ getrafael.com
“Storytelling is the knack of swiftly seizing the imagination of the audience and...”
– Alexander Mackendrick in On Film-Making (via keithcalder)
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BALL SO HARD
In rap nowadays, there tends to be 2 main approaches to songwriting. There are rappers who talk about how hard it is, and rappers who talk about how hard it isn’t (Pause?). On the mainstream level, that winds up as rich people talking about the struggle, and rich people talking about the rich life. On the underground level, that means poor people rappin about being poor, and poor people...
MATCH UP: EX GIRLFRIEND x MEAN ONES
Sometimes when I make a beat, I hear a few different songs over it. It evokes 2 different emotions, and 2 different ways of expressing that. With this beat, I decided to actually release both versions about a year apart - one about an x-girlfriend who seemed to enjoy that recurring role more than anything, and the second about the circumstances of stagnant young folks in the Bay Area, and my...
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ON SET: "OCCUPY" PSA
Got called in last-minute to help on another shoot today, this time for a PSA for the Occupy protesters. We shot a collection of soundbites and testimonials from 99 percenters and their opinions on educational funding, healthcare, business start-ups, and the American dream. A room of well-intentioned folks trying to create a piece of media that would inspire participation and growth of an idea. I...
“I will not live life in fear of death. I will not let a looming death force me...”
– Today
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UCLA PANEL DISCUSSION: THE DIGITALIZATION OF HIP...
The other day I was invited to be on a panel about the digitalization of Hip Hop at UCLA. Among the Panelists where Domino from renowned music collective Hieroglyphics, 106 KMEL’s DJ Amen, the creators of music blog CSNoWheaties.com, an A&R from Columbia records, and myself. This question is one of my most popular among music folks -Producers, artists, promoters, etc. - “what ...
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VIDEO DEBUT - DEAN RISKO "TROUBLE" DIR. by Rafael...
This is the newest video I directed, and had a BLAST doing. S/O to the great team listed below that helped me make it happen. If you go back a few posts you will see the production stills, and if you are interested in Dean Risko, check his EP out on his BANDCAMP
Video Directed/Edited by Rafael Casal (www.getrafael.com)
Song written by Dean Risko & produced by Wes Thompson and Cooper...
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60 is the new 20
Growing up, I was always comparing myself to the youngest artist I could think of, and what they were doing at my age. “By 19, I want to have a major record out like Outkast” I would say naively to myself at 15, not fully understanding the complexity of such a goal. I knew little about the quickly changing terrain of the music industry, the compromise of musical integrity, the gap...
RUNWAY
Click Image to listen
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DIRECTING "TROUBLE" FOR RECORDING ARTIST DEAN...
For those who follow me on twitter, you know I was on set directing again the other day. This time it was for Utah-turned-LA recording artist Dean Risko, gearing up to drop his first few singles this week. We decided to rent out Los Angeles nightclub BOULEVARD 3 and do a day shoot with a small group of folks - Lighting, hair & makeup, a few PA’s, a leading lady and of course starring...
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“When you say… a movie, for example, is bad, and then someone goes to see...”
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FREE DOWNLOAD - The MEAN ONES LP
I’m just gonna keep making artwork for this thing…
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THE MEAN ONES LP
Yes, the project formally known as WHOVILLE is here. The reasons for the name change are complicated, let’s just say it had to go down. Mean ones, also a Suess reference, to keep you in the same headspace. I’ll write more on this after I sleep a bit, and put up the real artwork, but for the die hards, here you are.
Be sure to tell me what you think!!! Click the IMAGE to download,...