ONOFFON

[onoffon]

Well...First of all, the movie, "The Band's Visit", is really very good. It's a quirky little film - light hearted - poignant.But, I can't tell you how I felt to hear (and see in subtitles) my father's name. Brought tears to my eyes. Obviously, the writer did his homework. I have to say, our family name is classically misspelled and mispronounced - I have many articles about my dad that spells "Babasin" - Babison, Babbison, Babasian... maybe that's one of the reasons as to why he slipped through the cracks...To hear the leader of the band speak his name so clearly and correctly, and see the name spelled right in the subtitles, and to have it mentioned in such a respected context... well, it's almost overwhelming.I'm getting in touch with the production company and the director about licensing the clip and to just say 'thank you'...It's beautiful...

[onoffon]

I was exchanging emails with my new friend, Dr. William Thomson, Professor Emeritus, retired Dean of the College of Music at the University of Southern California, about The Band's Visit. I wanted to share an interesting response with you -Me - "A character in the film says that Chet Baker's first recording was 'with the Harry Babasin Octet'."Dr. Thomson - "THE IRONY IS THAT YOUR FATHER WAS A FAR GREATER MUSICIAN THAN MR. BAKER. THE LATTER CULTIVATED A 'STYLE,' AND 'STYLE' GOES ONLY SO FAR IN THE LONG RUN. I USE A BIT OF A RECORDING MADE BY HIM AND GERRY MULLIGAN IN MY JAZZ IN L.A. TALK, AND IT IS GREAT LISTENING, BUT HIS IMAGINATION AND RANGE (BAKER'S) AND TECHNIQUE WERE SORELY LIMITED."I think 'style' can be equated with 'image', still so important in today's music industry...BTW - my dad had style - as I will bring to light in his documentary...

[onoffon]

I gotta tell you...With all the talk of "The Secret" and how you create your own destiny -I have all the passion and determination and dedication and drive and positivity and altruism and creativity and innovation and intensity and desire and excitement and devotion and resolution and love and admiration and confidence and belief and faith and a thousand other feelings and emotions to get this movie made, not to mention the legacy and history that is what my father left to this world... This last eight months has been the most difficult of my life...I've poured every ounce of my being into this and I've still been held at bay... I've visualized the outcome - accepted the Oscar for Best Documentary - honoring my father on the level which he so richly deserves...At what price...

[davewalton]

Aug 7, 2008, 1:01pm, onoffon wrote:I gotta tell you...With all the talk of "The Secret" and how you create your own destiny -I have all the passion and determination and dedication and drive and positivity and altruism and creativity and innovation and intensity and desire and excitement and devotion and resolution and love and admiration and confidence and belief and faith and a thousand other feelings and emotions to get this movie made, not to mention the legacy and history that is what my father left to this world... This last eight months has been the most difficult of my life...I've poured every ounce of my being into this and I've still been held at bay... I've visualized the outcome - accepted the Oscar for Best Documentary - honoring my father on the level which he so richly deserves...At what price... I don't know about the price but I'm sure you don't want to be the guy that swam halfway across the river... and then decided he couldn't make it so he swam back. For all you "non-math" folks... see, he swam halfway across and then swam back, the same as swimming all the way... ophff, never mind.

[onoffon]

Dave, Dave, Dave.... I know what you're trying to say here but you don't understand. First, I'm way beyond halfway. I'm so close to the other side, it's almost stupid. Yet, the current is threatening to suck me down the rapids and bash my body on the rocks. There are circumstances beyond my control that are trying to thwart me at every turn.I try very hard to remain steadfast and to keep on task and ignore the dangers lurking around the bend.A perfect example is this picture a jazz historian friend found and emailed to me. It was at, of all places, the photo collection at the L.A. Public Library and didn't even have my father identified in it - I had never seen it before but now I have a physical copy and I'm negotiating the cost of licensing it for the film -It was taken in April, 1947, at the Club Morocco in Hollywood, and has Benny Carter on sax and Barney Kessel on guitar. We're still not sure who is on piano (looks like a young Liberace but we really don't know yet). I have a companion photo from the same night that was published in a copy of "The Capitol News from Hollywood", a promotional publication produced by Capitol Records to promote artists on their label and connected with them...I've come too far...

[davewalton]

Aug 7, 2008, 2:49pm, onoffon wrote:Dave, Dave, Dave.... I know what you're trying to say here but you don't understand. First, I'm way beyond halfway. I'm so close to the other side, it's almost stupid. I'm definitely out of my element here experience-wise. I've not been involved with anything near to what you're doing. I've never met my dad, for example... don't even know what he looks like. For most, having to make due with a few photographs and a handed-down story or two, that's a good as it'll get as far as memories go. I think that you're really blessed to have the kind of history and "reminders" at practically every turn, things that reinforce who he was and what he meant to you and other people. And how many of those things are yet to be discovered? Maybe focusing on the continuing journey of discovery will help with the frustrations of the elusive end result.I'll have to say that you were the most fun guy at the Rally. Anne, I think, described you as being like "Tigger"... bouncing into the room with a big smile and lighting everything up. I continue to see you like that mentally and so through the forum post, I don't think I picked up on your real feelings on this post... until now. Sorry about the "flip" reply... it wasn't meant like that.As much as anyone I hope that the journey can continue to be meaningful and that the end result exceeds your dreams.

[onoffon]

Thanks for all your kind words, Dave. I didn't take offense to what you said, I'm just going through some extremely tough times right now.When does passion and dedication cross over into obsession and compulsion? Aren't we as artists supposed to have that drive and determination to never quit?I don't question the fact that I will eventually make this movie - but will I lose everything in the process... that final outcome has yet to play out...I've been telling my father's story now for almost two decades, though the NYFA sponsorship for the film has only been about 2 1/2 years. Still, it's supremely frustrating to see the kinds of projects that do get funded in our culturally corrupt entertainment industry and I just try to rise above it and continue on.I can't help but feel that if I was making Jackass 4, shooting bottle rockets out my b*tt, I would have ten million dollars by now and be in full production... BTW - the very bass that you see my father playing in that picture stands in a corner of my living room...

[nomiyah]

Aug 8, 2008, 8:21am, onoffon wrote:Thanks for all your kind words, Dave. I didn't take offense to what you said, I'm just going through some extremely tough times right now.When does passion and dedication cross over into obsession and compulsion? Aren't we as artists supposed to have that drive and determination to never quit?I don't question the fact that I will eventually make this movie - but will I lose everything in the process... that final outcome has yet to play out...I've been telling my father's story now for almost two decades, though the NYFA sponsorship for the film has only been about 2 1/2 years. Still, it's supremely frustrating to see the kinds of projects that do get funded in our culturally corrupt entertainment industry and I just try to rise above it and continue on.I can't help but feel that if I was making Jackass 4, shooting bottle rockets out my b*tt, I would have ten million dollars by now and be in full production... BTW - the very bass that you see my father playing in that picture stands in a corner of my living room... At least you still laugh. You've heard the term "life work"? Having a legacy like your dad's in your hands is a gift and a burden. My stepfather's book finally came out, years after he passed away. It was a Herculean effort.http://www.newvillagepress.net/books/bu ... l-linn.php

[onoffon]

Congratulations on the release of your stepfather's book, Nomi!Well... I can't believe I'm posting something like this... as you know, I play in a cover band - we're called Killer Chihuahua. I got a call from an event organizer I know and he wanted to book ONOFFON for a prestigious event to benefit Heal the Bay. Except Dave Goode is in the middle of a tour with Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush so I had to turn him down. Well, he really wants me to play so he offered the gig to my cover band... here's the announcement on the Heal the Bay website -http://www.healthebay.org/events/specia ... 1_GIG.aspI have been told that there will be MAJOR celebrities there since it’s a Red Carpet event, and cameras will be there with the sponsors such as Patron, Ford, etc.Confirmed celebs are ... oops - I'm not supposed to reveal who is coming...V.I.P. Party and Silent Auction from 6:30-9:30, then we're playing two sets - 9:30-10:15 and 11:00-11:45.Should be a wild time!!!!

[onoffon]

I recently received this message over at my FaceBook page -"I am an Egyptian journalist who writes for one of the largest entertainment magazines in the Middle East - El Kawakeb Magazine. I would like to do an interview with you for the magazine. Would that be okay? Let me know. Thanks - Mai"Well, you can imagine my answer - I said I'd be honored. I'm in the process of finishing the interview now.I'd like to thank Mai for the opportunity to receive some much needed international press for this culturally important film...Oh... BTW - I forgot to mention the benefit. It was fantastic! Unfortunately, no real celebs showed (not surprised). The silent auction raised some significant dollars for Heal the Bay and the food was great! Then, we got to play - the place was packed and we sounded better than we ever have. The first set was a little rocky... a lot of "wannabes" and "photo-opp" people who didn't really care to see a cover band in a setting like that weeded out. No surprise there either. But, by the second set, the place re-packed with people who wanted to party and rock out and we kicked *ss!!! Had the dance floor rockin' - people were hootin' and hollerin' and hangin' from the rafters... well, you get the idea.The host who booked us called the next day and said everyone raved and they're still buzzed about how good we were...