Whimsical Brooklyn brother-sister act Fiery Furnaces released the distinctly sitcom-y "The End Is Near" in June, as a prelude to their eighth album, I'm Going Away, due out in a couple of Tuesdays. The song contains the couplet "Woe is me/Etc.: Lonely. See...," something we know for a fact (down to the punctuation!) because the lyrics are posted over at WNYC's Soundcheck blog, as an aid to a video contest the site is holding--YOU make a video for the song, etc. etc. Hilariously, this contest will be judged by Rik Cordero, probably the most wacky, flashy rap music video director this side of Hype Williams. He, the Fiery Furnaces, and YOU will converge on Soundcheck, the radio version, come September, should your film win. Anyway, above is the video WNYC's posted to get you started, in which Matthew Friedberger assays both a Bob Dylan impression and a bit of philosophy: "Our lives, they're not feature films anymore--big feature film spectaculars. They're just tiny, little, maybe sad TV shows." I dunno, Matthew. Have you seen a little thing called "Deeper than Rap"?
"Wacky, flashy rap music video director this side of Hype Williams?" Sorry Zach, wacky yes, flashy no. Hype still works with six figure budgets while I come from the DIY renegade school of shooting which is why they chose me for the contest in the first place. Implying that I'm not qualified to judge because I'm just another one of those wacky "rap music video directors" shows that you're completely missing the point of the contest. It's about making the best video with whatever resources you have.
I received word from Rik Cordero, a former student of mine at DIY Renegade School of Shooting, that you have misrepresented his background in one of your website articles.
There seems to be some question as to whether Rik actually attended the Renegade School of Shooting. From there, confusion has come about with respect to Rik's ability--or any graduate of DIY, for that matter--to serve as a judge for WNYC's Soundcheck weblog contest.
Let me set the record straight. Rik Cordero graduated from the DIY Renegade School of Shooting. He was also a respected leader of DIY's Freshman Outdoors Program, and from what I understand, spent a summer abroad in Italy to study hospitality management with one of our DIY Renegade sister schools. As far as I am concerned, the burden of proof is on you, Zach, to prove that Rik *didn't* attend DIY.
Needless to say, I believe Rik will make an excellent judge of the "DIY" content currently being solicited by the Soundcheck weblog. Let the best man win!
George Ramos
Dean, DIY Renegade School of Shooting
