Sullivan - The Live Concert Shoot

I'm making a documentary for a class with a group of friends on a band called "Sullivan," which I find very appropriate... The premise is "So you got signed by a major record label...now what?"

On Friday we went to their house in Greensboro and set up for interviews with the band. As Ernie taped them in HD format, I asked the questions. Started out with the easy ones..."What is your name? and tell me about your music" and moved into the harder ones "When did you first discover this was your passion?" Each guy had pretty cool stories about when they first discovered their instruments and started playing. Many taught themselves and for some reason, grandparents seemed to be a common occurrence in the discovery of their talent. Jeremy's was the most romantic by far. He talked about how he started playing and immediately transitioned into the passion he has for the stage. He said "every time you're off, you are just waiting to get back on." I was taken aback - very unprofessional :-)

Then it was time to go to the venue to set up for the show. We taped them unloading their instruments and saying hi to fans who had already showed up. It was pretty amazing seeing how professional they all are and how focused they are on their performance. It's not all about partying and having fun...granted it's a fun experience...but they were very professional, especially to the fans. Once they walked through those doors, it was game time.

As it got closer to the performance and the other bands started performing, I went downstairs with the guys to tape their pre-show preparation. All the bands talk music with each other...I could hardly follow along...I never realized how intense the music and opinions could be. All the other bands seemed pretty cool. The guys looked more like bands I'm used to seeing...not the 6'5" skinny guys that Sullivan is made up of. But that is certainly the mainstream look. It reminds me of when I saw Maroon 5 before they were famous. I saw the lead singer dancing with some gorgeous girl, but at the time I didn't know it was him until he got on stage.

Sullivan definitely had a sense of superiority over the other bands, even if they didn't want it to seem like that. They didn't talk to many people they didn't know and kept to themselves. Gave the essence of mystery as well. I also think it's safe to say most of the guys aren't that talkative in the first place. Brooks is by far the most outgoing which makes a perfect front man for the group. Jeremy I guess would be second. I talked to him about his degree in architecture and it made me really miss the architecture in Germany. Tyson is hysterically honest once you get him talking. Zach doesn't seem to be around much unless it's a band meeting. He's the one who went to UNC. And Phil is almost silent. He had a lot to say in the interview, which was great, but other than that we didn't hear much from him. He has a girlfriend who actually lives with the guys in their house in Greensboro and he was hanging out with her for most of the time. When I asked all the guys about relationships, they all said their girlfriends were from everywhere across the country. Yes...they're all taken ladies :-) Phil said "we'll rarely see them and when we do, we're with them 24 hours a day. " Interesting life...being a Rockstar Girlfriend.

About 20 minutes before the show started, they all came together and prayed. I got to stick my camera in the middle of it all. Then I followed them upstairs where they set up their instruments for the final time and went to stage right for their intro. Unfortunately the lighting was terrible and you could only hear what I was taping. They all came together again, then the intro music started. Everyone but Brooks went running on stage. He stayed behind leaning his body against the wall...preparing himself. Then they were on.

The response from the crowd was amazing. These people truly loved Sullivan and screamed their heads off for them. I sat on the stage next to Tyson and taped a little bit, then stopped and simply watched. All the guys persona's completely changed once being on stage. It was amazing to see how alive they all became...all I could do was smile and sing along...because I know all the music. I even got a shout out from Brooks before they played my favorite song "Tell Me I'm Wrong." I danced like a crazy groupie and loved it.

I can't wait for next weekend when we make their music video. But as time goes on, excuses for me to see them will stop, unless of course I go see them in a show. I'll really miss all the guys once taping stops for the documentary. I felt like I really got to know the band Sullivan as I followed them with a camera.

Maybe I'll become an official groupie and can go on tour with them in the future. We'll see...

My Walk Home from Franklin

Most would say Chapel Hill is a safe campus. Granted, we have attacks every once in awhile, but what campus doesn't? My friends and I have complained repeatedly about the crack-heads wandering Franklin at all hours, but the police are always nearby.

Tonight was an interesting night.

I left Goodfella's at 12:15am because I felt tired and wanted to get home. Jenni had parked her car at my apartment so I could have waited until she wanted to leave so we could walk together. But she was having fun and doing the karaoke thing. It wouldn't be fair to her for me to stop that. So I left.

Now keep in mind, I have started taking a Self-Defense class. This class has made me more aware of my surroundings...or more paranoid. I haven't figured that part out yet. But I do look at situations differently. That's for sure.

Franklin Street has these random alley ways that take you to parking decks and underground restaurants. They are not fun once it gets dark, and I knew to walk quickly past them. As I walked by, a large man, who was as wide as he was tall, stepped toward me saying "What's a pretty girl like you doing out all alone?" Just then two men walked toward me and said "Yeah, it's a shame." The men left me about a foot of space to walk through them. It was not a fun moment, but from what I learned in class, you should walk with confidence and a purpose. So I did and laughed, and they didn't say another word.

Of course you get your occasional crack-head asking for a favor or if they can ask a question. I just say "no, sorry" and keep walking. One woman would not get out of my way on the sidewalk so I had to side-step to get out of her way. This in turn put me in harm's way of a moving vehicle. Once that was settled I sighed and practically screamed "Chapel Hill is so safe!"

Then came the short walk on Church Street, but it's still long enough.

I saw a man on a bike turn into the Chancellor's Square parking lot, the apartments next to my house. Little did I know he had actually turned into where the dumpster is so he could puke behind it. Just as I walked by he was scurring out towards me. My heart skipped a beat because this man was no student, or normal person for that matter. He was a skinny hairy man and I couldn't understand what he said to me at all. Maybe "sorry?"

Anyways at that point I ran home. Just as I was about to get on my doorstep I heard what sounded like another person in the bushes. I inched forward and a cat came leaping out. I yelled at it. Told it to stop scaring me and go home.

I pushed open the door and screamed to Brie how Chapel Hill is so freakin sketchy.

Her only response? "Why did you walk home alone?"

UGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!