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Tag: music

Tidewater Arts Outreach Helps Elders with Singing & Dancing

Written by Jon Abrahams on . Posted in Advertising, Event, Feature, Film & Video, Other, Photography.

Art is more than a culture and a manifestation of expression, for Tidewater Arts Outreach, it’s a beacon of hope for the elderly with dementia. Last month, TAO held workshops for caregivers and the elderly to demonstrate how music, movement and singing can improve mood, core strength, emotional wellness – and the sessions were inspiring to say the least.

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Licensed Physical Therapist/Dancer, Michele Martin Nielsen gives presentation to caregivers on best practices for developing and delivering live high-quality performing arts programming.

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After the workshop, caregivers joined their patients in some fun singing and dancing activities. It was fun to see how a simple song could instantly change the mood of an elder person. Before we knew it, feet were tapping and hands were clapping along.

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MaryAnn Toboz, Founder and Executive Director of Tidewater Arts Outreach talked about the organization’s core service components, which are training, advocacy and outreach and the impact the arts has on dementia and its need in healthcare.

Music & Movement teaches communication strategies for working with individuals who have dementia, ways to inspire participation in movement activities, functional techniques for adapting to a range of abilities and methods to increase potential of music and movement for elder participants.
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Singing for Elder Health & Wellness teaches communication tips to engage elders in active music making and singing, and core strength through diaphragmatic breathing and increased breath support. Check out the warm-up exercise below! IMG_6805
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Survey results show that TAO programs are highly valued for their content, quality and health and wellness benefits. Check out the videos for Music & Movement for Elders with Dementia and Singing for Elder Health and Wellness!

 

Behind the Scenes at Jpixx – K’Bana, Elizabeth River Project, and FOHTA

Written by Jon Abrahams on . Posted in Advertising, Event, Feature, Music, Other.

Jpixx is back, and busier than ever! We’ve packed away our suitcases from SERVIR and moved right into hot new projects. Just this week, we’ve been on shoots with artist K’Bana, the non-profit Elizabeth River Project, and Pharrel’s very own “From One Hand to anOther”.

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K’Bana

K’Bana invited us out to shoot a promo for his upcoming live performance of his latest album, the musical stage play “Chronicles of BlaqMagie”. Jon, Jessa, Josiah, and Chelsea were on the scene.

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We worked with show choreographer Calan Bryant to capture the look of the show through dance.

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Jessa and Jon filming a moment between K’Bana and dancers Casey and Trent.

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Do you believe in magic? Check out K’Bana’s live show on August 14th at 8PM at Downing Gross Cultural Art Center! Watch the tantalizing trailer below!

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Elizabeth River Project – Film Workshop

The Elizabeth River Project strives to make the Elizabeth River and its surrounding locales a cleaner, safer place for residents to enjoy. As part of our coordination with the Elizabeth River Project, Jpixx held a film workshop for local students along the Elizabeth River.

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Each student got one-on-one training with Jon, Jessa, and April about how to creatively capture photography and video.

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Jessa shows student Chloe how to properly clean a lens.

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Dale receives one-on-one tips from Jon on how to use a telephoto lens.

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The students were tasked with capturing scenes of nature. James framed Dale in the action as well!

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We had a blast working with these students and can’t wait to see more from them! Our video with the Elizabeth River Project will debut at RiverFest on September 12th.

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From One Hand to anOther

FOHTA is a charity created by Pharrell Williams, a Virginia Beach native. This non-profit is dedicated to giving children in at-risk communities the tools they need to succeed in education. Jpixx covered FOHTA’s latest program graduation. The star-studded list of attendees included Virginia Beach Mayor William Sessoms, the superintendents of Virginia Beach and Norfolk, and Pharrell himself (via Skype)!

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The ceremony featured FOHTA executive director Louisa Strayhorn as a speaker.

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Pharrell even delivered an address virtually!

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The students were so happy to receive their diplomas.

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We are really excited for these students and congratulate them on their success.

The Tide Skye Zentz

Wrapping Up Sea Level

Written by Jon Abrahams on . Posted in Blog, Feature, Publicity.

What an incredible weekend at the 8th Annual Sea Level Singer-Songwriter Festival! We kicked it off at the Roper Center with Sarah Jarosz, and Jon even got a picture with her afterward.

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The next day, we were back in Downtown Norfolk for the kickoff to First Fridays. Hundreds of people gathered for hours of fun from local merchants including balloons, face painting and balloon animals.

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The next day was a big day for us! Finally, the moment we’d all been waiting for – the launch of the music video for Skye Zentz’ song “The Tide.” Jon spent many long hours editing the video down to the wire and we couldn’t have been happier about the response.

The launch party at O’Connor’s Brewing Co. was a major success thanks to all the awesome vendors and artists who helped out. We had a booth from Kitsch,  DJP and MrT, Shara Wertz (on face paint), 757 Makerspace, The Scene and a giant art area with Amanda Page Stephens. Skye even took part in the face painting fun!

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We also had great performances from Little Pants and Ian Randall Thornton!

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Finally, we closed off the night with the Emerging Artist Contest. The event showcased some truly amazing talent, right here in Hampton Roads!

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If you weren’t able to make it out this year, be sure to follow us on Facebook for updates on next year’s event and videos from 2015!

Special thanks to:

  • Sea Level Festival and Tidewater Arts Outreach
  • Skye Zentz
  • Bobby Hollywood – our AMAZING MC
  • Downtown Norfolk Council
  • Reed and Associates (who sponsored our VIP section in a major way)
  • And last but not least, the people who keep us on track, the amazing Jpixx crew

A Transformative Experience at the IOA Celebration

Written by Jon Abrahams on . Posted in Advertising, Blog, Photography, Publicity.

You walk through a set of doors to find people lounging on beds, servers carting around cheese and prosecco, and a kilted host anxious to make your acquaintance. No, it’s not the plot to our new Roman/Scot film. It’s the 6th Annual Instruments of Art (IOA) Celebration & Auction, and we were front and center to capture it all.

Instruments of Art

The IOA Celebration was hosted by Tidewater Arts Outreach (TAO), a local nonprofit dedicated to sharing the joy and healing power of the arts with people who have special needs and are isolated from society. Proceeds from the event benefitted TAO and their 8th Annual Sea Level Singer /Songwriter Festival, coming in April 2015.

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Live jazz music tickled our ears as we maneuvered through the stunning instruments that lined the tables, transformed into each artist’s unique vision.

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After a silent auction of the pieces, it was time for the real fun to begin with a live auction!

TAO Live Auction

By the end of the night, the event had raised thousands of dollars, thanks in large part to our hosts at Decorum Furniture.

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For more updates on the world of Jpixx, follow us on LinkedIn!

 

Norfolk Music Video

Written by Jon Abrahams on . Posted in Advertising, Blog, Film & Video, Music, Other.

Jpixx is teaming up with singer/songwriter Skye Zentz of Norfolk to film a music video for her catchy song, “The Tide”, an anthem to Norfolk, Virginia.  Listen to it here.

The music video will feature iconic sights, businesses, groups, organizations, and the people of Norfolk.  Skye’s song has already been featured on WHRO and has been endorsed by the city.  Skye is a pleasure to be around and we’ve had a blast on the first two days of shooting for the music video so be sure to stick around to see the final project!

The grand finale shoot is happening July 18th and you won’t want to miss that, I promise!  You can stay up to date and find more information about the open shoots around Norfolk by following her Facebook page and at #TheTideNFK.  If you’re interested in being a part of the music video or know of a company, group or organization that should be, it’s not too late to contact Skye and the crew at TheTideNFK@gmail.com.

Tidewater Arts Outreach – Instruments of Art Gala

Written by Jon Abrahams on . Posted in Advertising, Blog, Music, Other, Photography.

Jpixx attended Tidewater Arts Outreach (TAO) Instruments of Art Gala on Saturday evening and captured images from the event.  The 5th Annual Instruments of Art Gala brought the best in music and arts together to transform old/retired/broken musical instruments into creative works of art that are auctioned off as a fundraiser. The event, held at the Selden Arcade in Norfolk, included some lively jazz music, raffles, and both a silent and live auction of the art work. Check out some of these creative pieces:

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Click here to see more photos from the event.

The Gala is a popular opening event for the upcoming Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival, a competition where local, new, and emerging singer/songwriters battle it out for the opportunity to boost their music careers. Jpixx is a sponsor of this event so look out for more information about the Sea Level festival as the event nears.

D*Nik “Day & Night” Music Video premieres

Written by Jon Abrahams on . Posted in Blog, Film & Video, Music, Photography.

Amidst a packed house at the Palace on Plume, Jpixx’s newest music video for D*Nik’s “Day & Night” premiered to a live performance by the band. Immediately following, D*Nik kept the buzz going with encore performances of other singles off their debut album “Rockz & Slingshotz.”

Last year D*Nik frontrunners Duane and Nakia (also married btw) approached Jpixx with an offer to collaborate on their first music video. After months of concepting and preparation, the shoot unfolded over the course of two days at TurboWash Laundromat in Norfolk, the Mansion in Portsmouth, and in downtown Newport News.

Since the release of the video, D*Nik has gotten some nice press, notably from Afropunk, which you can check out here:

Check out the actual music video below or check out some of the production shots from the shoot.

“Alcoholic” Royksopp Music Vid premiers at BFI

Written by Jon Abrahams on . Posted in Blog, Film & Video.

Being a puppet to alcoholism is no laughing matter… or is it?

A finalist on the Genero.tv website – “The Alcoholic” is a video set to the tune of a Royksopp song with the same name. Here we follow a man who finds himself a puppet to alcoholism. Intended to have the look of a comedy and the feel of a tragedy – this video juxtaposes the two with a combination of puppetry and live action. Think “Avenue Q” meets “Requiem for A Dream”

Although the film was selected as a Runner Up to the overall competition on Genero.TV – it was honorarily selected to premier at a special BUG event during London’s BFI (British Film Institute) screening. A special writeup can be found here.

Credits:
Jpixx Films
Director / Editor / DOP – Jon Abrahams
Starring: Cory Evans (puppeteer), Robyn Meislohn, Cheryl Cochran, Ethan Marten
Written by Jon Abrahams and Jim McCullough
Special Thanks: Teviya Abrahams, Fareine Suarez, Eran Rubinstein, Havaca Johnson, Dustin & Faye Weant, Chris Curl, Al Gainey, Demece Williams, Judy Sharlow, Heather, Jean, Tango’s Tavern, First Landing State Park

Filmed in Virginia Beach, VA – USA

Leo Lee is in “The Pursuit of Happiness”

Written by Jon Abrahams on . Posted in Blog, Film & Video, Personal.

The Lee family got together in Orlando for the holiday season to celebrate the most highly anticipated family reunion EVER! Traveling from Switzerland, Ecuador, China and Canada.. not to mention Virginia, Louisiana, DC, Houston and Kansas City – we had to make a video to commemorate the event. What better person to lead us than our very own gangsta cousin, Leo Lee. Unfortunately, we only actually filmed a few minutes of dedicated footage for this video…. so there’s a lot of random clips in there… but Leo hams it up pretty good… AND the song is pretty awesome. Thanks KiD CuDi