It worked!

So...the last time I wrote, I told you all about my raising funds
through this cool site called Kickstarter. Well, it worked! At least
for some basic funds for producing a short film. This will be my first
25 minute film. Very exciting ..very captivating..very...hard to edit down
to that time length! And why , you might ask, am I limiting the running time?

It all began, 14 years ago when a couple friends and I began to talk about
my Tourette experience as an adventure and I began to think of it as a ..collaborative energy that strongly affects my artistic experience. Out of this rose the phrase 'SynapTIC Adventure'. I've earned the name 'Captain SynapTIC' just because I feel like I'm sailing a ship over 'twitch-erous' waters! And yet, seemingly effortlessly at times. I suppose once you know your "vehicle" you handle it better. For the most part.

Now , how all this relates to the film length is..I have alot to say. Or Por-tray...well...BOTH! SO...this twenty five minutes is just the beginning.
The story here is universal. How do we deal with urges, overwhelming desires, inordinate drives and ritualistic...uhm...inclinations? This is the subject matter I want to approach with this movie.


Listen, Im not just talikn' ticcy here! It's the human dimension of this experience that I'm compelled to belch..I mean.. broast..I-I mean to BROACH.(dam!)..
This movie (and book too!) will be about much more than the symptomology of a specific disorder.

As it is for me, it will be nerve-racking, fun, funny, curious, thought-provoking,
and a rather personal accounting of "A SynapTIC Adventure: Tourettes AND Beyond" !

the ULTIMATE SYNAPTIC ADVENTURE!!!....

This just may be the
ULTIMATE SYNAPTIC ADVENTURE BLOG to date!


I'm SO excited!!!!
Recently I decided to pitch the idea of a movie and soundtrack
to the web-based arts fundraising platform, kickstarter.com.
I have been thinking about this project for several years. Its tells an autobiographical, yet universal, story of growing up (and being) noticeably..."different". Sometimes that "difference" seems so close to "normal" that others don't know what to make of it.

The project has been "accepted" and is now 6 days into it's 45-day
into the campaign for funding! yea! It's called "A SynapTIC Adventure". In my case, the emphasis is on.. TIC. I've created a 5+ minute video that will give the viewer a reasonably good idea of what I'm planning to do: A movie/soundtrack with songs, tales, tangents, trials, triumphs and some kinda revelation ; ) Created: cause I GOTTA! ; ) Intended: to entertain, inform and inspire and have a hell of a lot of fun doing so!!

I have been thinking about this project for several years. 'A SynapTIC Adventure' tells an autobiographical, yet universal, story of adaptation, determination and collaboration: a story about growing up (and being) noticeably..."different".Sometimes that difference seems so close to "normal" that others don't know what to make of it. For me that "noticeable" difference is Tourettes Syndrome. I'm going to tell this story from an emotional/ experiential point of view. Fact and fantasy will be wrapped in a colorful, animated, real/surreal, musical, challenging and comedic journey. There are many talented people that I'm very excited to work with in the process

As the story "unfolds", plots thicken and cameras capture, I will
most certainly share steps along the way with you here on my SA blog. Here ya go....

Growing talent...

I had a great experience sharing my music at the Waldorf School of River Valley, Bucks County PA on Dec 11. It was WSRV's annual WINTERFAIR and there was featured some pretty fine young talent that day. Talent in music AND in food... At both the Schools (Bucks and Chester Co...Kimberton PA) there is clearly a knack for the preparation and presentation of ..dam great deserts! FORGET picking one and sticking with it in this place: there were just too many palette-pleasers to settle for such a limit!

I have to say that I don't remember ever experiencing such food at the schools I attended. I DO, however, identify with the support for talent, as I was fortunate enough to have lots in that department while in that formative time.

In High school I had access to a 9-foot Steinway Grand! Yes THAT was a good thing! That ALONE was inspiration enough to stay in school! In my senior year I had 15 study halls a week..ALL of which were spent playing that piano!!

And a Happy.... New ....Year...

And a Happy.... New ....Year...

How many times have you heard these words..and what do they mean ?
With each new year we resolve to make a change, a commitment, a move...
or... not. I mean we may NOT go for anything specific. We may actually avoid
the enter event and carry on as we always have.

I have done both, as I imagine many folks have. I now feel, personally, that each moment asks of me the same thing really. No matter what the current event, season or situation:
Am I happy or not? If I'm happy, why change? If I'm not, THAT's why! Of course this way of thinking can create many questions. I hope you all will post your thoughts on this. Happy Hollandaise and ..enjoy the view...see you on the "other" side : )

best wishes
Stephen DiJoseph

And So this is Christmas

.... A time of endings and beginnings for me.
My first European performance was Dec 2. My first time to Boston was Dec 5. Michael Hedges (my favorite acoustic guitarist) died Dec 5. John Lennon (my childhood inspiration) was murdered on Dec 8. My first record deal was Dec 12 (so was my last one...lol). My first instrument came on Dec 24.

This DEC 4 and 5, I had the privilege of showcasing my new CD at The Prallsville Mill Annual Holiday Craft Show in Stockton, NJ. In the video below, I'm going to feature just a few of the amazing artisans I got to know. They are true masters of their craft and inspire anyone who sees their work! They certainly inspired me to tell you about them! And... one of the high moments for me was: On Sunday the 5th in the AM there was a plumbing problem at my place so, I was detained from my arrival to the Fair. When I arrived, all the vendors told me how they were missing hearing my music. A great way to start my day for sure : )



Music from The Snow is Dancing and Urban Celtic

INFLUENCES...

INFLUENCES

My earliest musical recollection is that of a music box in my grandmother's house.
Seems like I spent hours... listening....absorbed in that... mysterious..forlorn...intriguing...captivating
sound-of-a-distant-land melody.

Twenty five years back, I began writing a composition that was eventually called.... RECOLLECTION.
I started writing it while learning (or immediately thereafter) Chopin's Preludes in Eminor and Bminor and, in my mind, I always made an association with those pieces as the primary influence of Recollection. AHHHH...not SO grasshopper!

I inherited that music box when my grandmom passed. Kept it around for years. It wouldn't work so it became
a visual reminder of an amazing woman and a special time. Last week, while blogging about influences, I decided to try and see if it might not ...sing to me again. To my amazement, it...awoke!
Its plaintive, bell-toned melody rang from it's underside and I was drawn right back to that ...feeling...and there is was right before my eyes: the TRUE inspiration of Recollection. Thus the final title .....I have no doubt.