Last week my many fans around the world lucked out when my friends Alan and Ken came to visit. They had promised to take a lot of photos during their trip to Puglia and Basilicata, and then do a show with me. They delivered big time when Ken spent about 25 minutes explaining in great detail a boatload of towns all over that area. I took that interview and created my first production in almost two months, Alan's Italy Show # 143: Puglia. Building on the interview weaving together their many photographs plus my usual search on the Internet for fill ins, I came up with a 31 minute show that focuses on the 9 towns in the Region of Puglia and the 1 town in neighboring Basilicata.
I can't say that everything went smoothly. There was a lot of editing to do both of my intro and outro, and Ken's presentation. I wanted to make it perfect, of course, so edited out most of the times he indicated to Laura, who was advancing the photos for him a few feet in front of the two chairs in which we sat during the presentation, "next photo." I also edited the few times I hesitated or repeated something in my beginning and ending. I found that although my speaking was not the usual "polished work" I usually do, the two month hiatus did not diminish my editing skills as I feared it might. Although I was just not in the mood to produce a show, I was afraid that I would forget stuff, but that didn't happen. After several creations of the finished product, I went back and forth with editing, but finally have what I think is pretty good.
What you will see is quite a wonderful tour of the Southeast Italian peninsula, the "heel of the boot" mostly. Ken has an art background and also has been to many, many places around the world in Asia and Europe mostly so has a world of experience to draw from. He will describe in great detail what there is to see with special emphasis on the churches and Cathedrals. Also he included tips for travelers to this region and advice on how in retrospect he and Alan could have enhanced their trip. Join us for a great show.
Meanwhile I will attempt to sustain some momentum and come up with something new. I have been toying with the idea of a tour of the Medici Chapel in Florence since anyone who loves Michelangelo will get a feast at this amazing museum of history and sculpture. Although I have been there probably 3 or 4 times, I have never studied the actual technique and meaning as an art expert would. I have some research to do obviously. Will do my best.
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Dragging Myself Through A Production
Show # 142 was the most difficult experience of my "career" in video production. The logical thing to say here would be, "Gee, Alan, you have met and overcome so many challenges over the past almost 6 years, how can this be so." If you watch the last show, you may have noticed some things that make me believe this one was among my worst productions. There was a very poor transition from image to image that a few weeks ago would have made me make the change no matter how much time it took. This time I just said, "what the heck," and let it go. I almost always start the show with a video of me sitting in a chair, be in the studio or in my house introducing what will come and then an ending saying goodbye "in person". This time I was so lazy that I just did a voice over with some photos. There is very little detail about each place I covered. I could have spoken more about Capri some interesting Roman ruins, and the fact that the island, in Ancient times, was the retreat away from Rome for Emperor Tiberius. I could have spoken more about what there is to see in Sorrento, or the advantages of taking a boat into Positano to see the remarkable view from the sea angle as opposed to the land entrance into the town. And on and on that in retrospect do not even make me want to do the show over.
So the question on your minds, if you are a steady follower and reader of these blogs, should be, "What is going on?" Several things have occurred lately which have clearly spilled over into my video productions. I will be candid, as I usually am, and mention a few. First, and probably foremost, we cancelled our trip to Italy. During that trip I would have come home with new material which would have produced at least 10 - 12 new shows. In all likelihood I would have scrapped the Bay of Naples Show in favor of one of those things which would have provided me with much greater enthusiasm. For this show I had almost no enthusiasm and very little motivation. The disappointment I sustained had a deleterious effect on my level of motivation to continue Alan's Italy, not simply for psychological reasons, but also simply because I am running out of material. When I return from a trip to Italy, not only do I return with a treasure trove of new things, but the level of excitement to get them into a show is almost overwhelming. So that was absent. Although over the course of 25 years of Italian travel with 27 trips actually planned, I have only cancelled three of them due to various causes, and not since 2012 when I began Alan's Italy. I cancelled in 2000 when I chickened out of my first attempt at a solo trip overseas, and in 2011 when I was recovering from physical illness and frankly felt it more important to prepare for my stepdaughter's wedding in Missouri.
Second, there is such a thing as being too bored to produce a show. This, to someone who is totally healthy psychologically is unfathomable. That person would think the opposite, "You're too bored, so there you have it, the time to produce at your heart's content." Wrong. Boredom can cause one to become so low, that the motivation part of the brain freezes up. That was part of the reason I struggled with show # 142. I finished my love of teaching math at the college on May 23 and not beginning again until August 29. More than three months off; what a lucky guy I am! Yes, I am definitely very lucky in many, many respects. I had a job lined up for the summer which, although would have filled up my entire month of July, would also have probably caused a breakdown because although there was three hours a day of teaching involved, at the time of day I would have been traveling into the city, I would have travelled back and forth for 6 1/2 to 7 hrs a day for four days a week!!!! That is too much even for me. The extremes of working and filling up at least a month of activity or doing nothing of note - those were my choices; neither of which came close to my idea of fulfillment. Thus I have fallen into somewhat of a depression. Of course, I am no stranger to anxiety and depression and am using all the techniques I have garnered over my lifetime to fill in the space. I am at the YMCA 5 days a weeks and having fun. I am reading again TG and that is very good for me. I am trying to come up with shows to produce. Those three major things should sustain me, but three months of no teaching is getting me down. I am both lucky and unlucky. There are worse things in life!!!!
Getting back to 142. So what you get are inferior productions. I apologize, especially if you actually liked the last show. Not sure where I go from here. My old producer from my studio days invited me back to the studio to try it again or just do another, occasionally, to break it up. I have some ideas like the one I indicate at the end of 142, which is the Medici Chapel show which could be very interesting both to do the research and to put together. I could go from museum to museum; the possibilities are really endless. Who knows? Will keep you informed.
So the question on your minds, if you are a steady follower and reader of these blogs, should be, "What is going on?" Several things have occurred lately which have clearly spilled over into my video productions. I will be candid, as I usually am, and mention a few. First, and probably foremost, we cancelled our trip to Italy. During that trip I would have come home with new material which would have produced at least 10 - 12 new shows. In all likelihood I would have scrapped the Bay of Naples Show in favor of one of those things which would have provided me with much greater enthusiasm. For this show I had almost no enthusiasm and very little motivation. The disappointment I sustained had a deleterious effect on my level of motivation to continue Alan's Italy, not simply for psychological reasons, but also simply because I am running out of material. When I return from a trip to Italy, not only do I return with a treasure trove of new things, but the level of excitement to get them into a show is almost overwhelming. So that was absent. Although over the course of 25 years of Italian travel with 27 trips actually planned, I have only cancelled three of them due to various causes, and not since 2012 when I began Alan's Italy. I cancelled in 2000 when I chickened out of my first attempt at a solo trip overseas, and in 2011 when I was recovering from physical illness and frankly felt it more important to prepare for my stepdaughter's wedding in Missouri.
Second, there is such a thing as being too bored to produce a show. This, to someone who is totally healthy psychologically is unfathomable. That person would think the opposite, "You're too bored, so there you have it, the time to produce at your heart's content." Wrong. Boredom can cause one to become so low, that the motivation part of the brain freezes up. That was part of the reason I struggled with show # 142. I finished my love of teaching math at the college on May 23 and not beginning again until August 29. More than three months off; what a lucky guy I am! Yes, I am definitely very lucky in many, many respects. I had a job lined up for the summer which, although would have filled up my entire month of July, would also have probably caused a breakdown because although there was three hours a day of teaching involved, at the time of day I would have been traveling into the city, I would have travelled back and forth for 6 1/2 to 7 hrs a day for four days a week!!!! That is too much even for me. The extremes of working and filling up at least a month of activity or doing nothing of note - those were my choices; neither of which came close to my idea of fulfillment. Thus I have fallen into somewhat of a depression. Of course, I am no stranger to anxiety and depression and am using all the techniques I have garnered over my lifetime to fill in the space. I am at the YMCA 5 days a weeks and having fun. I am reading again TG and that is very good for me. I am trying to come up with shows to produce. Those three major things should sustain me, but three months of no teaching is getting me down. I am both lucky and unlucky. There are worse things in life!!!!
Getting back to 142. So what you get are inferior productions. I apologize, especially if you actually liked the last show. Not sure where I go from here. My old producer from my studio days invited me back to the studio to try it again or just do another, occasionally, to break it up. I have some ideas like the one I indicate at the end of 142, which is the Medici Chapel show which could be very interesting both to do the research and to put together. I could go from museum to museum; the possibilities are really endless. Who knows? Will keep you informed.
Monday, May 29, 2017
Trip Postponed
Our trip has been postponed due to illness. We will try again for January 2018. I will attempt to put together a show about the Amalfi Coast, Show # 142: A Week on the Bay of Naples. I haven't had the heart since the postponement due to my disappointment. It was quite a let down after so much planning, but we have something really special in the hopper for next January. More on that later. This is intended to update my readers that I am not in Italy at this time, and will try to continue the show.
Monday, May 22, 2017
Sorry, couldn't do it.
Just could not get myself to put together a show even though I had most of it at the tip of my fingers. Producing one of theses shows just took takes too much out of me. We are getting ready for our trip and there was just not much time. My fans will have to do with the 141 for now.
Meanwhile the subscribers keep increasing in numbers. More people are reading these blogs, and of course the number of views on Youtube steadily approaches 50,000, a great milestone for me.
I will try to bring back more shows, although the thought of just relaxing with our friends in great places like Florence, Venice, and Rome appeals to me very much, but I am am a Youtube Video Producer with responsibilities. I would like to bring back videos of performance pieces at the Venice Biennale. That is one sure fire thing. I would also like to photograph and video some more unique Tuscan locations another fair certainty. While in Florence I would like to do some of my own narration on video of places around town, perhaps go to a museum I haven't been to yet (if I can find one), perhaps photograph the inside of one of the most unique stores in Florence, the Alinari Bookstore, occupying the former Alinari Worshop during the 19th century. We will also be staying at a new hotel in a newish area Trastevere. That alone should be a treasure trove of new material. I would also like to video interview with people in Italy, but not sure how much aggressiveness I will have over there; that's hard to predict. It takes a lot of guts to walk up strangers and even and especially friends and ask for an interview on video. Perhaps 10 more shows total is possible and would satisfy me.
I will see you soon. In the meantime, keep reading and keep watching!! Thanks to my loyal fans.
Meanwhile the subscribers keep increasing in numbers. More people are reading these blogs, and of course the number of views on Youtube steadily approaches 50,000, a great milestone for me.
I will try to bring back more shows, although the thought of just relaxing with our friends in great places like Florence, Venice, and Rome appeals to me very much, but I am am a Youtube Video Producer with responsibilities. I would like to bring back videos of performance pieces at the Venice Biennale. That is one sure fire thing. I would also like to photograph and video some more unique Tuscan locations another fair certainty. While in Florence I would like to do some of my own narration on video of places around town, perhaps go to a museum I haven't been to yet (if I can find one), perhaps photograph the inside of one of the most unique stores in Florence, the Alinari Bookstore, occupying the former Alinari Worshop during the 19th century. We will also be staying at a new hotel in a newish area Trastevere. That alone should be a treasure trove of new material. I would also like to video interview with people in Italy, but not sure how much aggressiveness I will have over there; that's hard to predict. It takes a lot of guts to walk up strangers and even and especially friends and ask for an interview on video. Perhaps 10 more shows total is possible and would satisfy me.
I will see you soon. In the meantime, keep reading and keep watching!! Thanks to my loyal fans.
Sunday, May 7, 2017
A Day and a Half in Milan
After two weeks of back and forth deciding whether to create a show based on Milan or the Amalfi Coast, I suddenly gave in to my initial desire to do Milan and thus show # 141 was born. Taking only a few days to put together, here is a 30 minute retrospective of the tour I planned for myself aboard a train to Milan during one of my between marriages solo trips to Italy. This occurred in 2002 and wound up spontaneously being the result of an imminent rail stroke which threatened to mess up my travel plans. In one of my very few impromptu decisions traveling around Italy, I scrapped a night in Venice and a side trip to Verona in favor of a lot of extra time in Milan. Since I had very little knowledge of Milan, I kept my itinerary simple and contained to one small area of Milan and had an amazing tour of some of the greatest sights in Milan including the Ambrosiana Pinacoteca, Leonardo's Last Supper, Castello Sforzesco for the amazing final sculpture created by Michelangelo just before his death in 1564, the Brera Museum, the unheralded but spectacular Palazzo Poldi Pezzoli, La Scala, arguably the most famous opera house in the world, the Cathedral of Milan, Galleria Emanuele, one of the oldest indoor shopping areas in the world, and Piazza del Duomo one of the most exciting places in Italy. I served the dual purpose of describing some outstanding sights to see in Milan and also reliving one of my favorite times in Italy during my 7th trip total and last solo trip to Italy in the summer of 2002. I interspersed photos Laura and I had taken during subsequent visits to Milan and internet material to enhance the presentation.
I found the production of this show to be very concisely organized and executed. It swiftly moves from topic to topic in a very efficient manner, in many ways more hurried than any show I have produced recently. When I watched it at the conclusion of the process, I was surprised at how efficient it turned out to be and also how short it was, just under 30 minutes, again one of the shortest of my recent creations since I have been doing the work at home using IMovie. However, I was very satisfied. I am not generally given to brevity, as you well know, but somehow felt compelled to be that way once to see how it went. You can be the judge of that, but in the final analysis I was quite content to view the finished product.
Now that I have completed that and am in the process of uploading to Youtube as I type, I will begin the show on the Amalfi Coast. Speaking of spectacular things to see, this region of Italy is chock full of amazing things to see and do, all within a small area of the region known as Campania. I have three weeks before I embark upon my 25th trip Italy. This is a well planned trip which I will not discuss (sticking to tradition of not discussing a trip before I take it), and will talk about more in June. For now I hope I can complete the Amalfi show # 142 before I leave.
I found the production of this show to be very concisely organized and executed. It swiftly moves from topic to topic in a very efficient manner, in many ways more hurried than any show I have produced recently. When I watched it at the conclusion of the process, I was surprised at how efficient it turned out to be and also how short it was, just under 30 minutes, again one of the shortest of my recent creations since I have been doing the work at home using IMovie. However, I was very satisfied. I am not generally given to brevity, as you well know, but somehow felt compelled to be that way once to see how it went. You can be the judge of that, but in the final analysis I was quite content to view the finished product.
Now that I have completed that and am in the process of uploading to Youtube as I type, I will begin the show on the Amalfi Coast. Speaking of spectacular things to see, this region of Italy is chock full of amazing things to see and do, all within a small area of the region known as Campania. I have three weeks before I embark upon my 25th trip Italy. This is a well planned trip which I will not discuss (sticking to tradition of not discussing a trip before I take it), and will talk about more in June. For now I hope I can complete the Amalfi show # 142 before I leave.
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Venice: Take Two
I didn't like the first version, so redid many of the aspects and what you now see will be more perfect than the first time around. Several people have already viewed the show, and you may go back and get a better glimpse of the majesty of Venice. I just didn't feel right letting such imperfection leak into what was intended as the "perfect" tour of Venice.
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Perfect? Well, I am not so sure
One month to the day after I published show # 139, I posted show # 140: the "Perfect" Tour of Venice. It was not easy, but then again, it never is and probably never will be. These shows are never easy for any number of reasons that I have written of to a great extent in these blogs. This one just "got in the way" of many other things I was doing. Certainly when I am working, it is much more difficult to find the significant amount of time necessary to put these shows together. I suppose that the challenge is part of the lure to begin with. I sure do enjoy a challenge. When I first returned to teaching college after my three year hiatus, I told people I liked the challenge of returning to a job that I had just about given up on. Despite my almost continuous states of anxiety, apparently there is a part of me that enjoys a great challenge; I think the challenge might be what has gotten me through these many, many years of living with my levels of anxiety.
Nonetheless, using all my knowledge of Venice, I created a show that throughout the process never for a minute assumed I was producing a "perfect" tour. That might just be impossible. As I have said many times perfect for one person is not so perfect for another. Therefore, using the word is just a goof to begin with. I was creating a tour. Period. It includes some good stuff; don't me wrong. If you have never been to Venice or haven't spent that much time there, then you will find this helpful. I have produced many Venice shows on a wide variety of topics, the most recent the Sevan Melikyan show about the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Really those shows are my Venice legacy to my fans. All of those previous have been very esoteric and very narrow in the construct. This is a shotgun of information on the things a person needs to go to Venice for a few days and have a great trip. I talk about my favorite hotels, restaurants, methods of arrival, travel, and what to do when you get there. It is, as all my shows, very, very personal - Alan's Italy. I have tried to explain that many times. I hope you enjoy it!
My next endeavor will probably be Ric's show on the Ancient Roman site (that apparently not too many people know about) of Carsulae. I was supposed to have met with him today, but he couldn't make it. I sent him the photos that he had given me years ago (with the expectation that we would a show on this topic), and he will now get it together. When he is ready, which I assume will be soon, then we will shoot the videos, probably in the same manner as Sevan and I did the Peggy Guggenheim. Otherwise, I have no specific idea for a show, but am leaning towards one of those perfect shows on Milan, completing the major cities that I have been to extensively.
That's it for now. Thanks for reading and watching.
Nonetheless, using all my knowledge of Venice, I created a show that throughout the process never for a minute assumed I was producing a "perfect" tour. That might just be impossible. As I have said many times perfect for one person is not so perfect for another. Therefore, using the word is just a goof to begin with. I was creating a tour. Period. It includes some good stuff; don't me wrong. If you have never been to Venice or haven't spent that much time there, then you will find this helpful. I have produced many Venice shows on a wide variety of topics, the most recent the Sevan Melikyan show about the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Really those shows are my Venice legacy to my fans. All of those previous have been very esoteric and very narrow in the construct. This is a shotgun of information on the things a person needs to go to Venice for a few days and have a great trip. I talk about my favorite hotels, restaurants, methods of arrival, travel, and what to do when you get there. It is, as all my shows, very, very personal - Alan's Italy. I have tried to explain that many times. I hope you enjoy it!
My next endeavor will probably be Ric's show on the Ancient Roman site (that apparently not too many people know about) of Carsulae. I was supposed to have met with him today, but he couldn't make it. I sent him the photos that he had given me years ago (with the expectation that we would a show on this topic), and he will now get it together. When he is ready, which I assume will be soon, then we will shoot the videos, probably in the same manner as Sevan and I did the Peggy Guggenheim. Otherwise, I have no specific idea for a show, but am leaning towards one of those perfect shows on Milan, completing the major cities that I have been to extensively.
That's it for now. Thanks for reading and watching.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
An Update on Show # 140 - Time Has Not Been on My Side
Busy, busy, busy with a thousand things which have prevented me from doing any show since the Botticelli Show # 139. With my college teaching the largest factor preventing me from doing any extensive work on the next show taken together with a variety of other things, I have tried to plod through a show on a Venice Tour, but have yet to finish. When I first selected Venice as the theme for show # 140, I thought it would be the easiest of the "tour shows" which have already included Rome, Florence, and Tuscany, but that has not happened and to be honest, that type of show is the most difficult to put together. To be exact and thorough a lot of work goers into those productions and it takes a very long time to get everything accomplished, especially when I am so busy. I did a lot of things today, and when I finally sat down to attempt to record and do all the myriad things that go into a presentation, I was not focusing the way I should, and so I stopped. Perhaps tomorrow, but then Tuesday through Thursday we will be away so that will prolong the final creation as well. I will do my best, but it may take quite a while.
In the meantime on Friday, April 14 Ric Hirst and I will begin work on show # 141 which will focus on the long forgotten Ancient Roman town of Carsulae in Umbria, a place I never even heard of until Ric told me about it. He has some fascinating photos, and I am looking forward to working on that. I would have liked to finish Venice before working on that, but it may not happen quite that way.
In the meantime on Friday, April 14 Ric Hirst and I will begin work on show # 141 which will focus on the long forgotten Ancient Roman town of Carsulae in Umbria, a place I never even heard of until Ric told me about it. He has some fascinating photos, and I am looking forward to working on that. I would have liked to finish Venice before working on that, but it may not happen quite that way.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
On The Trail of A Great Master
Having experienced the thrill of analyzing the work of a great artist of the Florentine Renaissance during my research for Raphael, I ventured a bit further by trying to do the same for Botticelli. His work was overwhelming in numbers and although my initial inclination was to abandon the idea, I stayed with it, did a tremendous amount of research and still came to the conclusion that this was too much to accomplish. I tried to narrow the scope to just the work in the Uffizi, but that great museum had a tremendous number of Botticelli paintings. Then it struck me. Although most people who visit the Botticelli Rooms in the Uffizi gawk over the Birth of Venus and Primavera and rightly so, I have always been taken by the painting just to the right of Primavera, the Adoration of the Magi. In addition to its being a beautiful work, the historical significance of containing in it some of the great Florentines of the 15th century was overwhelming. After all no fewer than six Medicis were depicted, plus the donor, the humanists who created the Medici Academy, and none other than Botticelli himself. The latter being the only self portrait he did, and indeed the only existing "realistic" likeness of the great master himself. I therefore decided to first talk about the difficulty in creating a show around this theme, summarize the prodigious number of paintings that existed throughout the world, focus on my inability to visit a museum without finding a Botticelli quite by accident, give a biographical sketch of Botticelli, analyze a few of his work, and then finally to do an in-depth analysis of the Adoration and my own "theories" of who's who in this great work. What at first seemed impossible began to flow quickly once the plan was set in my mind.
The editing process held no great moments as I have become adept at correcting mistakes by cutting and pasting fresh voice-overs. Other than that nothing special occurred. My friend Ric suggested a desire to do a show soon about an obscure Ancient Roman site in Central Tuscany named Carsulae, which we will do soon. The advent of a ferocious snow storm with two feet of snow keeping everyone indoors helped to give me the time to get the show accomplished quickly. My next show will focus on the "perfect" tour of Venice, LOL, and that's that.
The editing process held no great moments as I have become adept at correcting mistakes by cutting and pasting fresh voice-overs. Other than that nothing special occurred. My friend Ric suggested a desire to do a show soon about an obscure Ancient Roman site in Central Tuscany named Carsulae, which we will do soon. The advent of a ferocious snow storm with two feet of snow keeping everyone indoors helped to give me the time to get the show accomplished quickly. My next show will focus on the "perfect" tour of Venice, LOL, and that's that.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Driving in Italy Confidential: The True Story
Well, laboring through Ed's death, my own time constraints, and unending editing, I finally finished this show that I have been desiring to do since I started Alan's Italy back in 2011. Not wanting to focus too much on the traumas I experienced during driving, I spent about 1/3 of the show talking about my wonderful experiences traveling through Tuscany, Umbria, the Dolomites, Cinque Terre, and Lake Como. The show was so effective in helping me to remember the extraordinary moments Laura and I shared during some of these amazing car rides, that I am actually thinking seriously about renting a car and doing it all again!!!! OMG! I must be crazy; well, I know that's true anyway. The show focuses on three aspects of driving, some basics that everyone who will drive in Italy should be aware of, my own great moments, and a list of some of the strange and awful things that occurred. That's the gist of it.
I was slightly displeased with the final product. I videotaped several different segments, and apparently kept changing the camera angles, causing different visual perspectives, and changes in lighting. The latter was probably more caused by the fact that the taping took place over several hours during which time the lighting kept changing. Even during one segment the sun kept fading in and out, thus the disadvantages of not doing the show in a studio which is completely windowless and always the same camera angle. There is no happy medium, and I cannot have it both ways - either I do the show at home in my living room or in the studio. One way to solve the lighting difficulties would be to do all the videotaping at night when there would be no sun issues. Of course I have most of my time to do these shows in the afternoon; I would have to change that. I also was a little less than pleased with my manner of speaking. I liked the relaxed and easy manner of presenting in that chair for the 40 minutes total, but there is something I wish not to indicate because probably most people wouldn't pick up the problem unless I pointed it out; or perhaps they would.
Anyway, here it is, my total driving experience from 2003 until my last drive in 2014. I will now think seriously of renting once again and of course will keep you informed.
I was slightly displeased with the final product. I videotaped several different segments, and apparently kept changing the camera angles, causing different visual perspectives, and changes in lighting. The latter was probably more caused by the fact that the taping took place over several hours during which time the lighting kept changing. Even during one segment the sun kept fading in and out, thus the disadvantages of not doing the show in a studio which is completely windowless and always the same camera angle. There is no happy medium, and I cannot have it both ways - either I do the show at home in my living room or in the studio. One way to solve the lighting difficulties would be to do all the videotaping at night when there would be no sun issues. Of course I have most of my time to do these shows in the afternoon; I would have to change that. I also was a little less than pleased with my manner of speaking. I liked the relaxed and easy manner of presenting in that chair for the 40 minutes total, but there is something I wish not to indicate because probably most people wouldn't pick up the problem unless I pointed it out; or perhaps they would.
Anyway, here it is, my total driving experience from 2003 until my last drive in 2014. I will now think seriously of renting once again and of course will keep you informed.
Monday, February 20, 2017
Dedicated to Edwin Phillips - Alan's Italy Show # 138 - Driving in Italy: The Agony and the Ecstasy
This show is dedicated to my dear, sweet, wonderful friend Edwin Phillips who died last Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at the age of 73. He and I had planned to do this show together since he had two very disturbing driving experiences in Italy that he was going to talk about on the show live. I actually am fortunate to have the video clip from a previous show (# 40) which will serve that purpose instead.
That show will trace the anxiety disorder that I developed from many horrific driving experiences in Italy going back to my first trip of that type in 2003 through my final experience in 2014. I will talk about the many advantages of driving in Italy focusing on what happened to me during the several times I attempted to drive, but my chronic anxiety that I have lived with for my whole life intervened to make the experience miserable. I will sit in my favorite chair doing the narrative and show precious few photos if I am unable to find visual material to help illustrate. I will begin to take notes this afternoon; however, I am still grieving over the loss of Ed and that may be difficult.
I can only say that I would recommend grabbing life with both hands and shake as much out of it as you can while you can, because you do not know what lurks around the next corner.
I love you Ed and I am sorry I didn't give you as much time as I would have liked; I was just too busy and now it is too late.
That show will trace the anxiety disorder that I developed from many horrific driving experiences in Italy going back to my first trip of that type in 2003 through my final experience in 2014. I will talk about the many advantages of driving in Italy focusing on what happened to me during the several times I attempted to drive, but my chronic anxiety that I have lived with for my whole life intervened to make the experience miserable. I will sit in my favorite chair doing the narrative and show precious few photos if I am unable to find visual material to help illustrate. I will begin to take notes this afternoon; however, I am still grieving over the loss of Ed and that may be difficult.
I can only say that I would recommend grabbing life with both hands and shake as much out of it as you can while you can, because you do not know what lurks around the next corner.
I love you Ed and I am sorry I didn't give you as much time as I would have liked; I was just too busy and now it is too late.
Finally Finished Alan's Italy Show # 137: The "Perfect" Tour of Rome
I stayed with it, although it was with very great distress. Even as I neared the ending, I almost quit the project. Of course, I was suffering from the immense sadness from the loss of my dear friend, Ed Phillips. When I was uploading to Youtube, I checked my computer's storage and found that I had only 400 MB left!!!!!! I deleted all the accumulated videos I had taken over the past several weeks, and when the download was completed, I moved the video file of the show to my external hard drive and deleted the file from my computer. In a short time I regained, get this, 175 GB of storage!!!!! It was shocking that I had used that much storage space, but the show was longer than one hour so I suppose with all the videos and then the finished product, it would have been possible.
Anyway, the show is uploaded to Youtube and has already had 8 views in less than 24 hrs. You can find it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSPgnEvTktg
My friend Shawn already told me he liked it, so that's very good since Shawn knows Rome pretty well. I am happy it is over, and although I also have planned a show on the "Perfect" Tour of Venice and Milan, I am rethinking those projects. I will speak of the next show 138 in the following post.
Anyway, the show is uploaded to Youtube and has already had 8 views in less than 24 hrs. You can find it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSPgnEvTktg
My friend Shawn already told me he liked it, so that's very good since Shawn knows Rome pretty well. I am happy it is over, and although I also have planned a show on the "Perfect" Tour of Venice and Milan, I am rethinking those projects. I will speak of the next show 138 in the following post.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Hanging in There
I should call this episode of Alan's Italy the Show That Refused to Die. Here is the story. I told you already that my time is very limited due to my beginning my real job of teaching college. Nonetheless, as I indicated in the previous blog, I spent many hours putting together about half a show on a Tour of Rome. I then went back and hated it so much I deleted it and started over. I am currently into the second incarnation of that show, # 137, and about half way through. I am actually in Day 3 which I devoted to a tour of the Vatican and St. Peter's Cathedral. I sat in my den attempting to do this, tried about a half dozen times to record about a 5 - 10 minute segment, and just gave up for the day. Nada! It just wasn't happening. I might be too stressed right now to do anything, and will probably wait until the weekend to continue.
I am not sure why I am having trouble, but I do have several things on my mind which I would rather not get into - unless forced to do so, but since nobody ever responds to my requests for feedback, I am pretty much on my own. It will be a fine show if I ever finish it, and will try again in a few days. It even occurred to me to just go into a different topic, but methinks the result would be the same. Therefore, I am sticking with the Rome Tour theme for now.
I am not sure why I am having trouble, but I do have several things on my mind which I would rather not get into - unless forced to do so, but since nobody ever responds to my requests for feedback, I am pretty much on my own. It will be a fine show if I ever finish it, and will try again in a few days. It even occurred to me to just go into a different topic, but methinks the result would be the same. Therefore, I am sticking with the Rome Tour theme for now.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Show # 137 Half Done - The Inside Story
With school canceled because of the snow storm, I decided to put the Rome show together. I had spent about 2 hours previously getting the photos together. Laura gave me some additional photos from 11:30 AM until 12 noon. I then retired to my den and began the process using IMovie. Four hours later I had put together 18 minutes of the show. The first ten minutes of that show took over 2 hours!
I came to the conclusion that this ain't easy!!!! It IS easier when I have been working on several shows over a period of a couple of weeks; I apparently got used to the tedious process and work faster. Having not even touched IMovie for almost three weeks, I had to get back into the swing of things, and it was not easy. At this point I am not even satisfied that I have a finished product. I will definitely go back over this same ground and hone the project, so allow perhaps an hour or more time for that.
I did manage to display a map most of the time and show people where everything was located, but really focused on my choices over the years of where to choose a hotel. That constituted the first day of a trip to Rome, i.e. settling into the hotel and doing some local neighborhood strolling. I chose to focus on my three main areas during my trips to Rome, the neighborhoods near the train station (10 - 15 minute walk), behind the Colisseum, and just off the Piazza Navona. I also spoke about two areas in which I have never stayed, but wanted to talk about that since they are both wonderful areas, the Vatican/St Peter's region and Trastevere/Giancolo. When I finished that, I also put together my introduction to Day 2, named the tour of Ancient Rome. Although I again showed a map most of the time, I intend to now, when I begin again, to talk more about specific things to do like the Colisseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Campodoglio, Pantheon, Imperial Fora, etc.
I came to the conclusion that this ain't easy!!!! It IS easier when I have been working on several shows over a period of a couple of weeks; I apparently got used to the tedious process and work faster. Having not even touched IMovie for almost three weeks, I had to get back into the swing of things, and it was not easy. At this point I am not even satisfied that I have a finished product. I will definitely go back over this same ground and hone the project, so allow perhaps an hour or more time for that.
I did manage to display a map most of the time and show people where everything was located, but really focused on my choices over the years of where to choose a hotel. That constituted the first day of a trip to Rome, i.e. settling into the hotel and doing some local neighborhood strolling. I chose to focus on my three main areas during my trips to Rome, the neighborhoods near the train station (10 - 15 minute walk), behind the Colisseum, and just off the Piazza Navona. I also spoke about two areas in which I have never stayed, but wanted to talk about that since they are both wonderful areas, the Vatican/St Peter's region and Trastevere/Giancolo. When I finished that, I also put together my introduction to Day 2, named the tour of Ancient Rome. Although I again showed a map most of the time, I intend to now, when I begin again, to talk more about specific things to do like the Colisseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Campodoglio, Pantheon, Imperial Fora, etc.
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Update
I have returned to my college teaching so the amount of time I have available to me for Alan's Italy is now severely limited. Also very busy on weekends with family. Sorry to dedicated viewers and subscribers. I haven't forgotten about you!!! I am working on a new show, albeit very slowly for lack of time. The show is titled The "Perfect" Tour of Rome and will do to Rome pretty much what I did to Florence; i.e. a handy guide for first time travelers to Rome. I may be able to get some work done tomorrow, but, alas, they are predicting an ice storm for Tuesday morning so to get to my job in Manhattan, I will have to leave Monday night and stay over at a friend's house, thereby limiting my time tomorrow for the show. When NYC gets rain, we get ice, sleet, snow, wind, rain, fog, famine, locusts, etc.
I'll keep trying however, so don't lose hope. Many thanks to my new and current subscribers!!! You keep me going.
I'll keep trying however, so don't lose hope. Many thanks to my new and current subscribers!!! You keep me going.
Monday, January 23, 2017
Doing Justice to An Extraordinary Story - Living in Italy
I have spent the last few days working on a show dealing with the delicate details of each aspect to make certain that it is as perfect as I am capable. As you know I am the first to admit that I am one of the least "perfect" people in the world, and furthermore find myself incapable of perfection. Even the thing that I most pride myself on - being a great teacher - I am incapable of teaching the "perfect" lesson (if such a thing exists). Yet this weekend I tried so hard to get it all right. Here's the story.
Ric Hirst, my friend, role model, and fellow Italophile, agreed to a project that I wanted to do for some time; that is to tell the story of his and his wife Sharon's amazing experience of buying a house in Italy and living there for five months of every year. Now that I am doing shows at home, it seemed easier than ever, requiring him to simply sit in one of our really comfortable living room chairs and answer a few questions, letting that lead to wherever it went. We did that last week. His part, three
10 - 15 minute segments, form the basis of the biographical sketch, that, I believe, is a wonderful recounting of an incredible story. I then did the introduction and conclusion on my own, and putting it all together, I formed a 40 minute show that, I think, is one of my best.
The problem has been to put photos in place which appropriately convey the message Ric is trying to impart on the audience. It is not as if we conceived the idea and then took the photos. On the contrary we did the videotaping and then tried to find the images available to us, and subsequently the really hard part was putting them in a place that made sense. I spent four hours yesterday trying to do this, becoming so frustrated at times with just about everything. I re-taped the intro and outro several times continually running downstairs to the living room. My level of intensity is clearly documented on the camera's memory card in which there are 18 different segments, subtracting the three that Ric did, I worked through 15 different versions of my solo performances!
I think I am finished. What the viewer will see and hear is a passion for Italy and life that may motivate some people to actually purchase property in Italy. What is remarkable is that Ric's descriptions of the overall experience so eloquently expressed, almost poetically at times, beautifully captures a devotion to a project that occupied Sharon and Ric for a over a decade. Some of his stories about his neighbors and friends parallel my own experiences with our friends to a slightly lesser degree. Each reference to someone in his town of Roccalvecce reminded me of our own friends. The town of Roccalveeece comes to life with the excitement and love he generates is his discourse. What made my work so complicated and difficult was that I felt compelled to portray the story as close to the actual experience as possible. Throughout my experience of putting this together, I kept seeing Sharon's and Ric's faces and felt their passion. If nothing else, that provided my motivation. One of the advantages I did have was the fact that Laura and I had spent some time with them at their home in Roccalvecce, and travelled around that region of Italy. We saw up close the pure excitement they experienced.
Here is the link to the show. I hope you enjoy it.
https://youtu.be/ur8nEuApLf0
Ric Hirst, my friend, role model, and fellow Italophile, agreed to a project that I wanted to do for some time; that is to tell the story of his and his wife Sharon's amazing experience of buying a house in Italy and living there for five months of every year. Now that I am doing shows at home, it seemed easier than ever, requiring him to simply sit in one of our really comfortable living room chairs and answer a few questions, letting that lead to wherever it went. We did that last week. His part, three
10 - 15 minute segments, form the basis of the biographical sketch, that, I believe, is a wonderful recounting of an incredible story. I then did the introduction and conclusion on my own, and putting it all together, I formed a 40 minute show that, I think, is one of my best.
The problem has been to put photos in place which appropriately convey the message Ric is trying to impart on the audience. It is not as if we conceived the idea and then took the photos. On the contrary we did the videotaping and then tried to find the images available to us, and subsequently the really hard part was putting them in a place that made sense. I spent four hours yesterday trying to do this, becoming so frustrated at times with just about everything. I re-taped the intro and outro several times continually running downstairs to the living room. My level of intensity is clearly documented on the camera's memory card in which there are 18 different segments, subtracting the three that Ric did, I worked through 15 different versions of my solo performances!
I think I am finished. What the viewer will see and hear is a passion for Italy and life that may motivate some people to actually purchase property in Italy. What is remarkable is that Ric's descriptions of the overall experience so eloquently expressed, almost poetically at times, beautifully captures a devotion to a project that occupied Sharon and Ric for a over a decade. Some of his stories about his neighbors and friends parallel my own experiences with our friends to a slightly lesser degree. Each reference to someone in his town of Roccalvecce reminded me of our own friends. The town of Roccalveeece comes to life with the excitement and love he generates is his discourse. What made my work so complicated and difficult was that I felt compelled to portray the story as close to the actual experience as possible. Throughout my experience of putting this together, I kept seeing Sharon's and Ric's faces and felt their passion. If nothing else, that provided my motivation. One of the advantages I did have was the fact that Laura and I had spent some time with them at their home in Roccalvecce, and travelled around that region of Italy. We saw up close the pure excitement they experienced.
Here is the link to the show. I hope you enjoy it.
https://youtu.be/ur8nEuApLf0
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
New Territory - Feedback Requested
I know people don't like to write to me when I request feedback, but really this one time I would like to here what people think. The show that will soon to posted to Youtube was a difficult one to put together. I did many new things like focusing extra long on maps, showing photos without commentary attached, and moving fast from place to place. I would like to first explain why I did what I just described to you.
I want people to travel around Tuscany; that is the theme of the show. I seek to show people how to do that by train, bus, and car. Designating five major areas and then narrowing that down to a few places within those groups took a lot of planning and time. I know as well as anyone how difficult it is to focus on places with which a person is unfamiliar, and because of that I created detailed maps to facilitate that process. Therefore, there are times when I am narrating, that a map is on the screen for a long time, much longer than I ever did before. I don't want people to get bored, but I find that a necessary evil if people are serious about traveling around Tuscany.
Second, I talk about an area of Tuscany generally during the map/landscape phase, but when I actually show photos of the further landscape and towns, there are periods of no sound. I thought about that for a while that rather than just some trivial banal narration, I would let the images speak for themselves. Remember that all these areas have been spoken about extensively over the course of the five years of Alan's Italy.
Third, I move quickly. I am talking about quite a few towns and since I had covered most of those (if not all) in older shows, I did not dwell on places. If a viewer wishes more detail, then I suggest going back through older shows, finding the appropriate number, and spending more time with my narration.
So, there it is, and I would like to know how people, especially some of my viewers (and readers) who have come all this way with me feel about how this all looked. As I said, it was difficult to cover so much. The reason for the show to begin with had to do with the previous show, 134 on the Tour of Florence where I did not do justice to Tuscany, but simply placed it in that group of five things a first time (or second or third) tourist could do after the initial two days which I considered "mandatory."
The show will be up soon. Please have a look and send me a line either on Facebook or at Alansitaly@gmail.com. Thanks for your patience.
I want people to travel around Tuscany; that is the theme of the show. I seek to show people how to do that by train, bus, and car. Designating five major areas and then narrowing that down to a few places within those groups took a lot of planning and time. I know as well as anyone how difficult it is to focus on places with which a person is unfamiliar, and because of that I created detailed maps to facilitate that process. Therefore, there are times when I am narrating, that a map is on the screen for a long time, much longer than I ever did before. I don't want people to get bored, but I find that a necessary evil if people are serious about traveling around Tuscany.
Second, I talk about an area of Tuscany generally during the map/landscape phase, but when I actually show photos of the further landscape and towns, there are periods of no sound. I thought about that for a while that rather than just some trivial banal narration, I would let the images speak for themselves. Remember that all these areas have been spoken about extensively over the course of the five years of Alan's Italy.
Third, I move quickly. I am talking about quite a few towns and since I had covered most of those (if not all) in older shows, I did not dwell on places. If a viewer wishes more detail, then I suggest going back through older shows, finding the appropriate number, and spending more time with my narration.
So, there it is, and I would like to know how people, especially some of my viewers (and readers) who have come all this way with me feel about how this all looked. As I said, it was difficult to cover so much. The reason for the show to begin with had to do with the previous show, 134 on the Tour of Florence where I did not do justice to Tuscany, but simply placed it in that group of five things a first time (or second or third) tourist could do after the initial two days which I considered "mandatory."
The show will be up soon. Please have a look and send me a line either on Facebook or at Alansitaly@gmail.com. Thanks for your patience.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Die Hard Fans
For a brief period yesterday show # 134 was posted on Youtube. In the short time it had 6 views. I watched it on Youtube and realized that between the showing of 2 images, I could be seen at my computer, my current method of videotaping segments. Then I saw this again for another pair of frames. I removed the video from Youtube and tried to change the IMovie Project by fitting the frames better. I absolutely could not and then realized there was a flaw in one of the maps I was using. I switched maps, and the problem solved, I went through the 2 1/2 hour process of downloading this new version to my computer and then uploading to Youtube. Anyone who saw the original and then the replacement may have noticed. Indeed one of my fans, who watches as soon as the videos are uploaded, saw the error, but liked the presentation anyway. I then removed it and he said he would watch the new version; he indicated that he found the flaw. I then told him that there was still one uncorrected error and challenged him to find it. It was not necessary to watch the original to find the flaw in the current version. Anyone who finds it, gets a free trip to Florence with me escorting them on a four day tour. Only kidding!!! I should be sent to Florence for spending so much time on one show, one of the longest periods of all my shows proving once again that when I do not work, I can sit in my den creating more shows with greater regularity.
Anyway 134 is now complete, even if ten flaws are found. The problem, incidentally, was that this was just a very complicated show to create and over an hour for the first time in a long time. In fact, the diehard fans could go back through all my videos and try to find the longest show. No prize, however, other than the intrinsic joy of it!
Anyway 134 is now complete, even if ten flaws are found. The problem, incidentally, was that this was just a very complicated show to create and over an hour for the first time in a long time. In fact, the diehard fans could go back through all my videos and try to find the longest show. No prize, however, other than the intrinsic joy of it!
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Monday, January 9, 2017
"The Tour of Florence" Drudgery Completed
After several days, about three dozen takes on perhaps a dozen videos, intense editing, and enough second guessing to last a lifetime, I finally downloaded the finished product of show 134 from IMovie to my desktop awaiting the "appropriate time" to upload to Youtube. It is the best I could do, although I am not and probably never will be totally satisfied with the finished product. It just kept going on and on and on. It's hard to take someone on a few days tour of a place to which I have traveled for 25 years. A friend suggested breaking it down into two parts, which I considered, but then decided that the whole thing needed to be one continuous video presentation. My organizational skills composing the show were working very well, thank Goodness, and yet no matter how many edits and switching around I did, I just was never truly satisfied. But what I now have, all one hour and change of it will be uploaded to Youtube soon.
The show breaks down the "perfect" tour into three parts. The first day introduction to Florence with high up views from the Piazzale Michelangelo and the rooftop lounge/bar of the Hotel Croce di Malta, and then low down views of the two most famous piazzas, della Signoria and Duomo topped off with dinner at my favorite restaurant, La Spada. Day 2 takes the viewer to the two most famous museums in Florence that are must sees even if a person hates museums, the Ufiizi and Accademia with lunch wedge in between, at Trattoria Alfredo and dessert at Vivoli, the world famous Gelateria. Then for the rest of the tour I give the viewer several choices drawn from shopping, strolling, museums, churches, and Tuscany side trips. By the time I reached the third part I had already consumed about 40 minutes of air time, so in the remaining 20, I managed to cover a lot of ground.
The finished product is, I think, an excellent summary of how to spend a first trip to Florence, rigid in some ways and very flexible in others. I hope it serves to help people plan a first sojourn to one of the world's great cities. It is honed from extensive experience and knowledge of my beloved second home. Again I indicate to anyone who needs help to email me with questions at Alansitaly@gmail.com for free advice.
Coming soon!
The show breaks down the "perfect" tour into three parts. The first day introduction to Florence with high up views from the Piazzale Michelangelo and the rooftop lounge/bar of the Hotel Croce di Malta, and then low down views of the two most famous piazzas, della Signoria and Duomo topped off with dinner at my favorite restaurant, La Spada. Day 2 takes the viewer to the two most famous museums in Florence that are must sees even if a person hates museums, the Ufiizi and Accademia with lunch wedge in between, at Trattoria Alfredo and dessert at Vivoli, the world famous Gelateria. Then for the rest of the tour I give the viewer several choices drawn from shopping, strolling, museums, churches, and Tuscany side trips. By the time I reached the third part I had already consumed about 40 minutes of air time, so in the remaining 20, I managed to cover a lot of ground.
The finished product is, I think, an excellent summary of how to spend a first trip to Florence, rigid in some ways and very flexible in others. I hope it serves to help people plan a first sojourn to one of the world's great cities. It is honed from extensive experience and knowledge of my beloved second home. Again I indicate to anyone who needs help to email me with questions at Alansitaly@gmail.com for free advice.
Coming soon!
Monday, January 2, 2017
Show # 133 is up and running
Please enjoy Alan's Italy Show # 133: The Peggy Guggenheim Museum with Sevan Melikyan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsD3KzQ_TVU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsD3KzQ_TVU
Sunday, January 1, 2017
The Waiting is the Hardest Part
I like Tom Petty, so the title of one of his best songs is the title for this blog. The show is finished. That's the good news. I sent it to Sevan for his approval; that will hopefully not be the bad news. I probably worked harder on this show than any other over the past five years. I estimated that perhaps ten hours were spent on all the various aspects of the show, from the original discussion with Sevan, the day we shot the videos at my house, the placement of the photos at his house, the editing of the photos, the editing of the IMovie presentation, the addition of the "flourishes," reworking the intro and outdo, some temper tantrums on my part, etc. The finished product is, I believe, very good. For anyone interested in knowing more about the life, times, and fabulous collection of Peggy Guggenheim, it is an hour of viewing well spent.
I now move on to my next project which will either be the beginning of the "Perfect Tour of ______" with my version of the best way to see several places in Italy including Florence, Venice, Rome, Milan, the Amalfi Coast, etc. or Alan's Discovery of Botticelli following in the footsteps of the shows I created on Michelangelo, Ghirlandaio, and Raphael. It will focus on the progression of the viewing of almost one hundred works of Botticelli by me over the past 25 years of my Italian experience ending in upstate NY where I recently saw a piece by the great late 15th century master. I will probably do Botticelli first since all the others are so closely related.
In the meantime look at my Youtube Channel for updates, and perhaps # 133 will appear soon.
I now move on to my next project which will either be the beginning of the "Perfect Tour of ______" with my version of the best way to see several places in Italy including Florence, Venice, Rome, Milan, the Amalfi Coast, etc. or Alan's Discovery of Botticelli following in the footsteps of the shows I created on Michelangelo, Ghirlandaio, and Raphael. It will focus on the progression of the viewing of almost one hundred works of Botticelli by me over the past 25 years of my Italian experience ending in upstate NY where I recently saw a piece by the great late 15th century master. I will probably do Botticelli first since all the others are so closely related.
In the meantime look at my Youtube Channel for updates, and perhaps # 133 will appear soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)