VJ book

[mikef]

Hello VJ central

We at D-Fuse are currently compiling information for a vj book. This book was originally going to be titled 'VJ Europe', a follow up release to 2 Japanese VJ books, which were released about 2-3 years ago - VJ Tokyo + VJ Japan. A year and half from starting this project the publishers have expanded the idea to be based around worldwide VJ's and it's culture, so we really need to know who people think the most interesting VJs are. Please can people post their favourite 6 Vjs (other than themselves) from each of the these categories and maybe mention why and with any contact links

Europe
North America
Latin America
Africa
Asia
USSR
Australasia

The book will focus on - VJ equipment, VJ Artists, VJ Events, How to VJ (step by Step techniques)
it will also include a dvd-rom and I know to some extent this book will not (due to time and budget)
cover every aspect of VJing, be to peoples taste (and may have a D-Fuse bias), but at least it's a starting point.


thanks for your help

Regards
Mike

[Rovastar]

Ummh so many views but no replies.

Let's try and shed some light on this.

Honestly although I was at the worlds largest gathering of VJ at AVIT last october I do not think I can name 6 Vj for you consideration that I think are most interesting. I don't think I know 6 VJ's sets let alone 6 favourite ones and then I will only be picking teh people that I know personally (well recognise there faces. :);)). So I do not think that is a fair justification for recommendation.

As for international VJ's well even in the posterts here I cannot think of any from Africa, very few from Asia (a coupel from teh middle east post here) in fact none at all from my know from Japan!? (Why is this??!??! Do they think they are better than us or can they not computer?...but taht is another thread. :)), LAtin AMerica very few - although into South America well venuzulla we have a few. So you my struggle to get activity from those areas.

Geez that sounds all so negative doesn't it. Sorry to sound like that at least you have not just gone after the big names. :);)

It does sound interesting book though. What sort of things in more detail are you going to cover we all know the score here. :)

[mikef]

thanks for setting the ball rolling Rovastar:-)
yes, i thought there would be some good responses, I guess unless we get some feedback we will have to the pick ourself!!..I don't mind but I sort wanted the book to be democratic.
also i have no clues about africa and latin america (although i know a cool label in mexico)

I am unsure what exactly we should include..as we have been told the publishers only care about the cover and how many pages.... 144!!

will keep you posted.... as it keeps changing.

mike

[Rovastar]

Originally posted by mikef
thanks for setting the ball rolling Rovastar:-)


No problem that was part of the plan to get more people involved to post. :)

HAve a look at

http://www.vjforums.com/showthread.php?&threadid=2231

where people have posted 'favorite' VJ or lack of them and why.:)

Also what where your other books about?

[vjrei]

Well, what can I say. To find a VJ is a bit complicate because it could be any body and no one at same time. Let me explain the situation here in Venezuela.

I live in Caracas (the capital) and from 3 years ago there was just 3 VJs.

Luis Poleo: have the bigest name but he is old school, just a pile of vhrs.
NTSC: Moved to spain a year ago and he wast a big deal.
MASA: A group of guys taht primaryly work in a post house, they use one Powerbook and one VCR only.

I mean, any of them take the job seriously except for Luis Poleo may be.

Now, there is me, I came out a year ago just because one day I saw NTSC and I said "I can do the same thing and better". So, not I do the same thing and long way better and in a year I participate more events than all of them togather.

So, my person and Luis Poleo may be 2 VJs from Venezuela at list, I'm new school and he is the old one. There are other VJs but just the fact of connecting a VCR or a laptop in a party doesn't make you a "VJ" with a name.

Any way, I can copilate the information is you need to, just send the questions.

I would say that if a VJ is not in this forum that is a sign that is not taking the job seriously enough.

[mikef]

that link was what got me started , alaso as our publisheler wanting a detailed brief today.
I didn't want to start talking about the book till I knew it was happening!

in regards to the other books look good
but in japanese

email ichiro
ichiro@agosto.com
and he might sell some on the vj forum

mike

[questionmark]

Hi mikef,

Just wondering : why have you chosen a book form? Veejay is such a flowing -or whatever- phenomenon, why put it in a book? Unless there?s also a theoretical part, which benefits from the linearity of books, I would only use a DVD for the VJ encyclopedia part.
btw If tere's a theoretical part, let me know cuz I'm interested in your texts!

and to answer your question: there's a website which contains loads of links to Dutch vj-sites.
http://www.visualsensations.nl
I can tell you some of my favorites, but perhaps you'd better see for yourself.

grtz
?

[mikef]

Hi Grtz
the reason a book is
A. We were approached to do one
and
B. People outside this field, still don't understand it and need access


A book is like a program to an event, it is also another avenue to promote this scene. I think everybody wants this exciting arena to expand and become established. But we need the main stream to appreciate and understand the basics....it seems to me no one in vjcentral can fully agree on it and I know this book will annoy many vjs, but I am really surprised that no one (apart from you) has helped contribute. ......maybe because that cannot recommend themselves :-0


anyway, thanks for the link .... will check out.
thanks
mike

BTW We will also include a cd or dvd..depending on time , clearances and budget (there is very low budget)

[vjrei]

VJing right now is just like early analog sinthesizers, I mean, go way behind when Wendy Carlos, Vangelis, mayyyyybe Kraftwerk.

The thing is that at list they had keyboards, we are mixing everything, this whole thing is so experimental and is working, it is in dipers as I say.

We have to make the first steps because VJing is getting a profession. VJing can derivate from video or enhance reality, depends of the VJ.

So, the early stpes are really important and a book is a way to stamp the VJ movment in to history before Roland or any other house create the firs real VJ console with internal hard drive and all that stuff. If there is a book and you send a copy to Apple, Roland, Korg, Nintendo, Sony and any ammount of production companies the field will be taking more seriously.

May be in 2 or 3 years we may see the results, may be in less time.

A DVD itself will be a waste of time to produce and is never as seriours as a abook.

[vjrei]

BTW,

For that kind of book I think the best way to approach it is to create a questionary asking technical and personal things. Those questions can be send to every VJ.

The point is that is not necessary to interview everybody.

Then the VJ will send the questions back (via web) with his/her resume and pictures or video clips.

Then, some one have to choose the material by world region. That selection may need a web site for people to vote. If there are 30 VJs in UK and only 2 in South America (just for example), booth south american can be in the book and may be the 5 top from the UK (or something like that). It is just to give a teaste to the final reader.

Now, the ones selected will pay an ammount for the publication of the book.

I asume it wont be that expensive. The $$$ produce by the book should go to the editors until the production is covered.

That it is just an idea to start with.

[vjsatellite]

Being a relative newcommer to the VJ scene and being a small player (4000 people is the biggest gig I have done) I'm alyways keen to check out VJs worldwide material. And any material I come across I collect for reference and inspiration.

You have called for nominations for top 6 VJs, I think this is a bit broad and perhaps you might want to break it down into styles that reflect the diverse dance music styles.

just a thought

[mikef]

just to let you know we have been working on this project for 1.5 years. we approached about 15 VJs in europe. time-wise this took a very long time to gather material - text and images. If we get another 15-20 involved, we will approach maybe 40 vjs and pick the most efficient 20 ie the ones who send everything with the minimum hassle. we don't have the resources to approach many more. this is why we wanted people recommendations

Also it is worth pointing out, that we budget is very low and we simply don't have time to muck around. I am amazed no has bothered with any VJ lists..... I think I will try one more thread.

mike

[questionmark]

Maybe everyone is reluctant to name his favorates because of the discussions it will bring...

These Dutch vj's are quite well known:
Eboman
Gerald v.d. Kaap
Micha Klein
Danielle Kwaaitaal

others (not that famous but certainly interesting)
Arno Coenen / PIMP
Bas van Koolwijk
Gnocci

I've kept it short, for others, like I wrote earlier

--> http://www.visualsensations.nl
I've noticed some foreign vj's on that list as well.

good luck

[Amukidi]

"I am amazed no has bothered with any VJ lists.....".

Me too, Mike, I've not been in this particular game for long enough to have a long list of VJs that have stunned me! "Hexstatic" are the only ones that spring to mind for me, "Eclectic Method" also made me laugh a lot ( Ihope that was their intention!!) and "Muffled Visions" are a class act, There's a lot of very "samey" stuff out here and at the risk of stirring up a hornets nest, Vjing as we know it is, in my humble opinion, at a watershed. If we are to achieve any sort of parity with DJs, a lot is going to have to change - not least the attitudes of promoters/venues. I wish I could help more, I think the book idea is a top one - this era of "clubbing" needs documenting, and you seem as well qualified for the job as anybody. Good luck.

[mondo]

mike
after our discussion last night, i think you are taking the wrong tack. its like asking who your favourite graphic artists are around the world!!

i think you should just sell your pages to the VJ CREWS WHO CAN GET THEMSELVES TOGETHER TO PROMOTE THEMSELVES oops caps
with you are final editor for layout text photos etc.

:-a

[holly]

...sort of a vanity press for VJs, Mondo?;)

[vjpixylight]

hey Mike,

since you are based in the UK, (and there are a gazillion VJ over there), why not make it a VJ-UK book? Seems that way you could have a better informed book. which would leave others to complile and create VJ books (for other places around the world)that might not be so tilted (by the sheer numbers of VJ's in the UK)

If you ask VJ's here at VJC, you are going to just get a popularity contest going, with again, UK VJ's getting the most votes...
Do you catch my drift??

Since that seem to work well in Japan, why not follow that model??

Peace
Pix

[holly]

Yes, yes. And America will be ready once you get to volume 7!;)

There are many VJs you have never heard of in New York. Many more you may have heard of in the MidWest (Minneapolis, Chicago), and many you have heard of in San Francisco.... We are like three countries, so make that volumes 7, 8, and 9!:p

[disassembler]

Or just have everyone interested in being included just submit their information and you decide. Then you could release the first book that includes the entire world. Doing it based on location. Cause if you only do U.K. I'm afraid Isreal, Iraq, Cuba, Brazil, Iceland, will NEVER be included. I'd rather see a world represented at a Set date rather than wait to see the U.S. volume 1 year after U.k. that looks like the 1 year older U.k. book. It's kind of like not showing all the world ringing in the New Year.

I'd rather see a retrospective of VJing around the world in 2003. It would be FAR more interesting and valuable. Not to mention it would make it so people who aren't known around the world become known. And for the best reason to. For BEING GOOD and not just promoted really well, live in a Big city, being buddies with the creator, or being the oldest. Having a DVD that comes with the book would make it invaluable and a collectors item. It would make it a historical document and not just a book.
:nod:

[EXP3]

hi... like everybody else here i do not know every single vj in the world......here's a list of ( mostly north american vj 's ) i respect.......


Canada Johnny Ranger ----www.mindroots.com

Canada Yan Breuleux ----- purfom.com epsilonlab

Canada Vj Hein? ( Guillaume Cardell )

Canada Laws Of robotics....( these guys are great....) www.Lawsofrobotics.com

Canada K-Project

( also canadian.....yours truly EXP3 )


from the U.S.

Johnny DeKam ( from New York )


from the U.K. ( as an act )

The Light Surgeons

from Sweden as an act

AVCENTRALEN

That's it for now......i have met or/and mix with these people......a few of them i have met recently in Helsinki for the Pixelachy 2003 festival....


I will try to think of more vj sets and visual artist....

[loboy]

US:

Madame Chao all the way.

http://www.madamechao.com

[BRK]

http://www.exceeda.co.uk

exceeda are exceedingly / exceptionally good. and of course hexstatic


...

eclectic method are rubbish

[hamageddon]

www.vlight.to , germany
safy sniper, king of the laserdiscs :) germany/israel

and maybe we should make a difference between
vjs and av krews here.

[vjpixylight]

if you do the book, I'll throw in the documentary about the US/UK/Euro VJ scene that we (me and the cru) are working on at space dub studio's...It is high time a docu comes out about VJ's and VJing right?? (after all, there are a number of docu/movies about the dance culture, but none about the VJ's and thier hard fought existence...)
okay, I guess there is 1 docu from stefan G, just out about the history, but none about the VJ scene as it were...

what do you say mike???
sound like a plan..

We have a number of VJ fests and visual escapeds on DV now, and will have AVit and the Lumens tour represented, does anyone what to collaborate on this...

'it would be interesting to get some Far east VJ info/footage of VJ's from Japan/korea/thailand ect..

same goes for down under...maybe we could make it a VJC documentary compilation...

BTW, the VJC Mix compilation is going good, but we need a few more pieces of original audio to complete... again email me if you are interested...

Peace:cool:

[mikef]

Hi VJ Pixylight
thanks.. very interested in the footage. originally this book was going to be only european vjs. this was going to be a follow to two other books VJ Tokyo + VJ japan.

Now it has changed it has got bigger format and has include worldwide VJs especially in the US (publishers choice).

We don't have much time and that's why we wanted recommendations.

Armand, if we got everybody to send work in.... think how long that would take view...and fairly! we have very low budget !!!!! and we simply don't have time

I do have one question, who would buy this and how many? is this interesting to the mainstream or is this underground.

Anyway we want to make this a good book (try keep everyone happy), but we have to produce this book very fast. So we will do our best, will keep you posted, I am on holiday for the next few weeks

Mike



If you ask VJ's here at VJC, you are going to just get a popularity contest going, with again, UK VJ's getting the most votes...
Do you catch my drift??


Can't we just have a popularity contest, but stick to separate continents
I want to hear about African vjs, there must be some in south Africa

[mondo]

mike
take it from me.......(and i risk getting flamed big style )here..........90% of vjs are into techno tubes and fractals.....kinda gets boring in a book...etc etc.......so...............i dont think it will take that long to get a view on them...just ask vjs to send in a 5 minute demo, a snapshot jpeg or three and 250 words on why they are the bees knees and hey presto.
easy werk for dfuse! (yes it is mike - easier than digging for gold and allowing you to research that elusive SA vj)

you cannot please everybody, but you can make mention of all the vjs who helped/submitted stuff for the book/could be bothered to TAKE THE SCENE FURTHER.

i capped that bit cos its really important for everyone to realise that if they want to continue being a vj they have to work hard at promoting:
a) themselves
b) the vj scene
...by any means possible.

so..........over to you
:-a