Global Gonzo

I am a student at Oxford Brookes University studying English and Film, at undergraduate level. It is my intention to one day become a film writer-director. On this blog I will post short stories, travel journals, film reviews, music articles, short films I have made, sport (mainly football) articles, various other miscellaneous articles I have written (related to different fields from the aforementioned), and other musings I have come across which engage me, and I think will engage you.

Wednesday 24 July 2013

Kanye West HBO Pilot Test Footage

Did anyone see the test footage which emerged recently for the 2008 unaired Kanye West HBO pilot (which was rejected by them, hence why it's never aired)? Fear not if the answer is no as the footage is embedded on this site in all its glory. It was taken down on various other sites.
The pilot was heavily inspired by Curb Your Enthusiasm. It was even directed by one of Curb's roster of directors Larry Charles.

The full pilot was screened last night at a Wyatt Cenac comedy gig in Brooklyn - the reason Cenac has a copy is because he was one of the show's main characters!

Monday 8 July 2013

Yasiin Bay Force Feeding Experience: Guantanamo Bay Standard Procedure

It's time I posted something on this blog having not posted here in almost a year!

Check out this fascinating video of Yasiin Bay (AKA Mos Def, US actor and rapper) experiencing the force feeding treatment that happens in Guantanamo Bay. Warning to sensitive viewers: footage is of a graphic nature. Click the link for more info and to see the video.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2013/jul/08/mos-def-force-fed-guantanamo-bay-video

Wednesday 15 August 2012

ARCTIC MONKEYS - THINKING CAP

Some of your deepest thoughts appear during alcoholic escapades? Is this (below) your thinking cap?

“I took the batteries out my mysticism and put ‘em in my thinking cap.”

The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala - Arctic Monkeys (2011)

THE CATCHER IN THE RYE - TELEPHONE VOICE

One thing I have always wanted to do on this blog is to post images along with accompanying quotes (from song lyrics, novels etc). The first quote I am going to use is from the fantastic coming-of-age novel 'Catcher in the Rye'. An attractive lady sits next to Holden (protagonist/antagonist - however you view him) on a train which is otherwise empty. She is the mother of a boy from his school, and she strikes up a conversation with him. He describes her as having a 'nice telephone voice', likening her to the many female telephone operators around at the time of writing. The image I found is not that of a female telephone operator, but a model with a telephone on her head.

“She had a nice voice. A nice telephone voice mostly. She should’ve carried a goddam telephone around with her.”

The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger (1951)

Wednesday 4 July 2012

In Honour of LeBron

1st post since I got back from Cali! Nas ft. Amy Winehouse – Cherry Wine

This is my first post in months! I have not posted on this blog for a LONNGG time, as I was living in Sacramento, California for the past 5 months (the final month was a road trip across the US) where I was studying on exchange. I had little time to blog, but I really wish I had done as some real crazy stuff happened over there! I got some great pics, some of which will be posted on this blog in the future. For now enjoy this fantastic collab by Nas and Amy Winehouse! (Thanks to nahright.com)

Nas ft. Amy Winehouse – Cherry Wine

Wednesday 4 January 2012

DJ Krush - Meiso (feat. The Roots) REMIX by DJ Shadow

Absolute gem! I just stumbled across this remix by DJ Shadow (who I saw last live month in Oxford - and met!). A must for any fan of the underground scene.

Micro Review: Mission Impossible 4

A fun film with some great action set pieces. Convoluted though. Suitable for family viewing. 3.5
Enjoy the trailer below!

Monday 2 January 2012

Bob Dylan - Folsom Prison Blues: "I shot a man in Reno/just to watch him die"

A couple of weeks ago I saw the musical Million Dollar Quartet in London's Noël Coward Theatre. The play dramatizes a 1956 recording session made in Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The musicians involved in this recording formed what is widely considered to be the first supergroup; Million Dollar Quartet. It consisted of the musicians Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash. My personal favourite of these musicians is Johnny Cash. His track Folsom Prison Blues which is part of the musical soundtrack is a zeitgeist country song; he takes the viewpoint of a jailed man who recalls his crimes, singing ever so casually callous the line "I shot a man in Reno/just to watch him die".
I posted a black and white photograph of Bob Dylan on this blog some time ago, which is one of the top five viewed items on the blog. I have in turn decided to post a very rare Bob Dylan cover of the song, recorded in 1967 on The Basement Tapes.

Dauwd - Whats There

Due to being very busy with uni and various other things, this is my first blog post in months! Check out this transcendent piece of music by Dauwd. Absolutely beautiful. An artist to watch out for in 2012!

Thursday 18 August 2011

Happy Birthday Robert De Niro and Sean Penn!

Today is the 68th birthday of one of my all time favourite actors - Robert De Niro (if not my favourite). He has collaborated eight times with my all time favourite director Martin Scorsese (I have still not seen 'Mean Streets', 'New York, New York' or 'Cape Fear'). 'Casino' was a masterpiece, but three of the pair's films, in my opinion, top 'Casino' - they are some of the greatest films ever - 'Taxi Driver', 'Raging Bull' and 'Goodfellas'. I have studied all of these films in depth, particularly 'Taxi Driver', which is my favourite film of all time. Plus I have also had a screenwriting masterclass from the writer of 'Taxi Driver' and 'Raging Bull', Paul Schrader. I intend to one day post in depth articles about some, if not all, of these three films.

Above: De Niro in 'Taxi Driver' (1976) (top) and 'Raging Bull' (1980); he won an Oscar for his performance in Raging Bull.

It is also the 51st birthday of two time Academy Award winner Sean Penn (he won the awards for 'Mystic River' (2003) and 'Milk' (2008)).

Above: Sean Penn in 'Mystic River' (top) and 'Milk', both of which I am yet to see.

Industrial Football

This season in football, just like (a major part of) the industrial revolution, it’s all about Manchester! And for City, it really has been three years of revolution, with billionaire investment resulting in them winning their first major trophy in 35 years last season. After Sunday's 4-0 crushing of Premiership newcomers Swansea, which included a brace and an assist from new £35 million signing Sergio Aguero, City look incredibly strong (although having said that, Swansea are one of the league’s weaker teams, due to being newly promoted – still, City showed no mercy). As a United fan, I am confident that we will retain the tile; City are my biggest concern though. Forget Chelsea. Forget Arsenal. This season the title race is between two teams – and they are both in Manchester! United have looked good in pre-season, and although they didn’t have the best of starts against West Brom, a win is a win. With United’s new signings (Ashley Young in particular looks very promising), and having beaten City recently in the Community Shield with a very late injury time winner, I believe that with our strength in squad depth and stamina, we will probably just pip the title this season. City will probably boost their squad with more signings in January though, so it will be a very tough race for the title.

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Wale - The Eleven One Eleven Theory

Check out this fresh new mixtape by Wale (which I have yet to listen to). It dropped online just a few hours ago! Below is the download link and the cover and tracklisting. Enjoy!