Movie Review: Born Into Brothels

Born into prostitution and poverty, the kids of the Red Light District, India, are forced to work and serve for poor parents working as prostitutes and drug dealers. The young girls of Calcutta are already told that they will soon be working the line of prostitution, and the young boys don't see a bright light ahead of them.

Film maker Zana Briski went to Calcutta at first to photograph the brothels.Meeting the kids of the Red Light was one of her first experiences. Quickly buildng a relationship with them she began to teach them photography. Seeing and living in the horrible living conditions and seeing no good future for the kids, Zana Briski goes completely out of her way to try to get the kids enrolled into a boarding school and out of the brothels.

Despite all the problems and dilemmas, the kids take you into their lives. A beautiful story is told of trying to overcome the struggles of poverty. Happiness and joy comes out of the kids when they are taking pictures and learning. They show how much they want to go to school.

Being a very strong documentary, taking kids to watch this movie should be double thought for its strong imagery. The truth of the Red Light District is revealed and the lives being lived and destroyed are learned.

You are transported into the brothels and see what it's like to live in a 3rd world country.Born into Brothels makes you not want to take things for granted.

Letter To Byron Hurt

Dear Mr. Hurt

After watching your Beyond Beats & Rhymes documentary in my video journalism class, there were a lot of topics that you came across that created a good, strong, and critical thinking discussion in our class. The movie was very informational and I feel that it got a lot of people to look at hip-hop through a critical lens. We picked up a lot of what I think you tried to inform us about by all the great sources and interviews you were able to get into the movie. We talked about hip-hip being "dead". But we also discussed how it evolved into what it is now. How the industry and businesses are a big part of what being put out and the kind of rap that most people are listening to now, which is mostly drugs,sex,and violence. I feel that hip-hop has unfortunately entered a spiral where the only thing being listened to is such degrading topics that you spoke about. I definitely look and listen to hip-hop differently after watching Beyond Beats & Rhymes. I was never a big fan of mainstream hip-hop that most people listen to now because I never felt that there was a deep meaning in the music being played on the radio other than entertainment. I learned a lot from your video and I hope that other people got the same out of it that I did and hopfully hip-hop will go back to its roots and will turn to more positive raps and rhymes.


Sincerely,

Miguel Ojeda

Review: Beyond Beats & Rhymes

Beyond Beats & Rhymes, a doucmentary about hip-hop and its cons by Byron Hurt is powerful on showing the truth behind hip-hop. This film is important for the youth of this generation to see. Not a lot of people, especially the youth analyze the lyrics that rap puts out to the public. I'm not gonna sit here and lie and act like I don't listen to some of the ignorant misogynistic music that a lot of people do. What people don't realize is that these lyrics are being heard by all genders and ethnicities and that some words like" bitch, hoe, slut, fag, pussy , nigga etc." are degrading. IN the film the said hip-hop was stuck in a box. I feel like this a lightweight true because radio stations and music channel are not playing the good rap music. They are not playing Immortal Technique or Zion-I and artist that rap about social issues. In the film a guy said Hip Hop is all about drugs and hoes. I strongly disagree with this. As far as my understanding hip-hop is MC'n, Dj'n, graffiti, and breakdancing. May be unfortunately drugs and hoes is what hip hop is all about in the mainstream industry . Getting a lot of different points of views from different faces of hip-hop made the film a lot stronger for Hurt.

RAP 2 ROCK?!?!?!

So we all know who Lil Wayne is now a days. Young money, Yung Mula, Weezy F. BABY,all the same guy we know as the " Greatest Rapper Alive", as he titled himself. His rap career has been a long one. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that he exploded to what he has become. He is something far form normal with out a doubt. He's a monster, a beast, and a martion. Constantly envading our ipods and earsdrums with crazy metaphorical raps. You won't understand Lil Wayne if you've never listened to him.Lil Wayne took a turn in is career and now is doing rock!! He already has a single out of his new album on the way " The Rebirth". I personally have listened to a couple of his rock songs, and I'm not gonna lie but they lightweight slap. Different from what I would normally expect form this hip-hop legend but I'm not mad at him. But will every one else like it? Will everyone else still support him? His fan bases do vary a lot from all different ethnicities, but a lot are also deep hip-hop fans, strictly hip-hop, will they merge to rock? I guess we'll have to wait to see whats in stores for us. I can't say if he is going to stay a rocker and drop the rapping but Lil Wayne said, “The rock s**t just comes from what my life is now. I’ve grown into this person. I just got - I’m not going to say ’so good’ at what I was doing, but it became such a regularity for me that I got tired of it. And then I said, ‘You know what? I’m not going to rap on this one."

SHAKE THE WORLD!

THIS IS HELLA COOL!! I cam across this video on vimeo.com. A documentary is being made by stwpictures called Shake The World. On April 11, 2009 at 4 pm pacific time people all over the world will take their camera's out and record whatever they are doing and interesting at that time for a minute. Creativity is the key. All millions of clips from normal people all over the world will put put in the documentary. A giant collaboration of the world. Everyone always wonders what everyone else is doing. This is what we are going to be doing on April 11th.



Shake The World from Shake The World on Vimeo.

This seems hella interesting and I think I might just do it. I mean imagine, millions of people all over the world recording all at the same time exactly what they are doing. A film is going to be made out of this to tell a story of everyone's life at that time. It really is a giant collaboration film, filmed by everyone who participates.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT STWPICTURES

SXSW '09 BAY AREA CYPHER FREESTYLE

SXSW 2009 Freestyle Cypher MySpace HipHop taking over 6th Street

APRIL FOOLS

HAHAHAH!!! It seems that every year I end up forgetting about good old April Fools day!! But not this year. I did almost forget but I ended up remembering and came through with two good pranks.I told two of my friends that the police was looking for them for some things they did and they believed me. They got scared and didn't know what to do . I mean i thought they would have caught on because it was april fools day but they didn't . Eventually I just told them.

Spiral 2 The End

EDEN IN SAC.

Doing this audio slide show was a lot different from the video we previously made. With making an audio slide show, I think it involved a lot more work. Mostly because there is a lot more audio and a lot more editing involved. Also because you have to insert pictures that might not directly go with what the audio is saying all the time but still captures the point of the story and draws viewers and keeps them watching. I feel that our audio slide show succeeds because it tells a good story and keeps people watching. Me and my partner worked good together and shared the work equally. We both have the same skills so it worked out good. My favorite part of the slide show is towards the end when it starts showing feelings and emotions. I hope my viewers walk away with information about the the program and interest with the program.

BARKLEY DOES TIME FOR DUI CHARGES

Former NBA star Charles Barkley began serving a three-day jail sentence Saturday for a drunken driving charges. Barkley is being held in his own tent. He is close enough to other inmates and is signing autographs for them. He was given work release on Sunday from 8 AM on Sunday and had to be back in his tent by 8 Pm. Today he was given work release from 8 AM. That's a total of 36 hours in jail for the NBA star. Barkley pleaded guilty last month to two misdemeanor DUI charges after leaving a nightclub and failing sobriety test.The Hall of Fame player also must pay more than $2,000 in fines and install an ignition-interlock device on his vehicles.Barkley played 16 seasons for the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets, and played on the USA Olympic “Dream Team” in 1992 and 1996. He was an 11-time All-Star and league MVP in 1993.




Charles Barkley!!!, Man this guy is a NBA legend. He does play a big role in young athletes lives now a days. Him getting arrested for DUIs doesn't make him look good. He could of been a lot more responsible but hey SHIT HAPPENS.

I Am The Media " Youth Radio"

So I know that many of you who know me have heard me talk about youth radio at least once. I talk about it a lot because I love it. I was introduced to youth radio by CMMA after taking a field trip their. After that day it pretty much just snow balled from there, in a good way. I applied for youth radio and a couple of months I started Core class. Youth Radio is a outlet of media by the youth. We do just about everything that media consist of. News, commentaries, videos, music. We learn journalism skills and how to write as well to talk on the radio, we have a show ever friday day night on itunes radio. I've learned so much here and met so much people. I plan to continue here and pursue my career. Things can only get better from here.






Check out Youth Radio Core Class On Youtube

Also Check Out Youth Radio Overall
on Youtube

WE HAVE A BLOG AS WELL!!!

LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST THO!!!

Is It Senioritis?

SO basically I'm tired of high school. I just want to graduate already. I been stuck in high school for the past four years, of course. It's like everyday i go to school i just want to get the day over with. If anything the only reason i feel like going is just because I'm bored at home so chillin at school is alright. I mean all my classes are boring as hell. I don't ever feel like doing any work. I mean i guess it's Seniorits. I looked up the definition just cuz I was bored.

Wikipedia says "Senioritis, from the word senior plus the suffix -itis (which refers to inflammation but in colloquial speech is assumed to mean an illness), is a colloquial term used in the United States to describe the decreased motivation toward studies displayed by students who are nearing the end of their high school or college careers.[1


I can say I the way I feel about school around this time falls under the definition. I guess my motivation has decreased but I do have motivation to go to college. I don't know if I want to say I'm ready for the real world but I mean i have to start sooner or later and right now i wish it just comes sooner. CAN"T WAIT TO GRADUATE!!

I'M READY FOR COLLEGE!!!

Day and Night!?!?

If you thought Kanye West was the only one with weird videos, you were worng. This right here is Kid Cudi with Day and Night of his debut album, Man On The Moon. This song and video are amazing. Hella feeling the beat and the mood his song is about. A little something new to the hip-hop game. If you guyz didn"t notice, Welcome to HeartBreak was featuring Kid Cudi. He has a lot of talent and hopefully keeps making solid good songs.

Police Brutality Continues Now With A 15 Year Old Girl

For me, the case of police brutality hasn't been a personal issue or one that has directly affected me. When Oscar Grant was shot and murdered by B.A.R.T police at the Fruitvale station in Oakland, that's when I started paying more attention to police brutality. I actually went to a protest after Oscar Grant's murder. Now seeing this video of eight-year veteran Paul Schene beat up a 15 year old girl in a holding cell is upsetting. After kicking her shoe at the officer, he attacks her. He slams her against the wall and then while on the floor hits her twice on the head. After hitting her he picks her up by her hair. I don't think that kicking a shoe, not to hard, and may be verbally assualting the officer is enough to justify his actions. He went to far and did to much. I hope this officer is punished.

M.O. INTRO

So I'm not new to blogging but I'm a introduce myself. My name is Miguel a.k.a. Simply M.O. I was born and raised in San Francisco and lived on Daly City until I was 15. Moved to Hayward and now attend Tennyson High as a Senior. I listen to a lot of music, mainly hip-hop but I know a good variety and listen to many different kinds of music. I'm an inspired journalist, music producer, and starting to get into directing videos. I also work at Youth Radio in Oakland. I'm learning a lot there mainly about media. Music production, radio, jounalism, DJ, video production, and networking Other than all that I'm just a regular 17 year old trying to make it in life. I play sports, go to parties, and just like chillin with friends. Trying to graduate high school and go to college. That pretty much summarizes who I am.


Check me out on myspace:

myspace.com/nicoya_finest

Check my other blog:

simplymo1.wordpress.com