I’m trying to make this list of all the galleries here in Kuwait, I’m not sure If I covered them all here but that’s why I’m doing this. I want to check If I missed anything. So here goes the list:

• Karizma, Sharq, right behind al amiri hospital.
• Bu shehri gallery, Salmya near Swenson’s.
• El Adwani …, tha7yat Abdullah al salem.
• bait lothan, salmya in front of marina mall.
• Illusion, Sun City in Shuwaikh.
• Funoon Jameelah, Salmya in galleria 2000.
• Dar il Funoon, the old houses behind the church.
• Modern Art Museum, in the wide open area facing souq sharq.
• grass?, in fanar (not sure about it)
• Kuwait Art Association , In Hawalli near the ‘ma3had il tijari’.
• Deeva, near karizma
• Sedra, near karizma

Please let me know If I missed anything.

Also, I would love to know about places where activities take place on regular basis like dar al athaar lectures and the Kuwait cinema club screenings and courses.

P.S: Sorry about the sketchy-ness of this post, might edit it tommorow.

I was watching the show reel of this amazing Swedish design studio and I couldn’t resist playing the whole thing again and again. The graphics were all fine and everything but it’s the soundtrack that caught my ear, so I looked ‘good vibrations’ up and got some results from my trusty eMule.

The Beach Boys, Money Mark and Brian Wilson (which was really down the list). So I downloaded the beach boys’ track first and I gave it a listen. It was the same song but a different recording and obviously old arrangements. So I though ‘okaaay, the track I’m after is a cover done by money mark for the beach boys’ well, I discovered that it’s not. It’s a totally different track, totally not the money mark I know. So without even downloading the Brian Wilson track, which sounded familiar, I checked Amazon and YES. It’s a rerecording of the original, end of the story.

You have to listen to it, you have to.

And btw I have an additional copy of money mark’s album ‘push the button’ (which happens to be a really cool and funky album) I will be more than happy to give it away for anyone who’s interested. First come, First served.

No wait, let me add a twist to this, Try to give me a good reason why I should give you this CD. The best one will get this CD.

You know the feeling you get after watching a kung-fu flick? When you feel like kicking some ass? Ok, I have a similar feeling after watching ‘Shall we Dance?’ not really kicking someone’s ass but actually dancing, ballroom dancing to be more specific. I think I already know the answer but let me give it a shot, Do you know of any dance schools here in Kuwait? I think I heard of people teaching dancing and stuff privately but they only accept women (as far as I know).

Earlier today and upon the recommendation of one monkified girl I went to see baraka. Click on that link if you need to know about the film because I’m not going to say any thing about it. However I will write about the things bothered me the most while the film was playing, Like how they stupidly censored the film by actually blocking the projector while it was playing, so we were left to the soundtrack and a black screen. I didn’t really get it the first time, I thought it’s some kind of a technical problem but when it happened again (longer) I kinda knew what was happening and my blood was boiling like hell. I was this close of saying something stupid or maybe throwing a shoe at that fat guy in front of the projector. I might write them some hate mail or something like that.

Another thing was the very smart ass who sat next to me (almost next to me, the corridor was between us) he was the only one who had a problem shutting his mouth while the film was playing. There was a scene showing some skulls and he was like ‘جماجم’ … another scene featuring holy Mecca and people around it and he was like ‘حج’. I don’t have to mention the fingers cracking and loud rude yawns and the totally useless and unnecessary comments. I seriously considered shaking his hands and thanking him for his precious information he’s sharing with us.

Listening to: John Mayall – Ain’t no Brakeman (on this Train)
Drinking: Tea (my 3rd cup so far)
Feeling: Warm, farty and bad cuz I missed today’s lecture, I over-slept but It was totally worth it.
Wearing: long sleeved white undershirt and a white O’zaar.

I have a request for everybody, I used to have this habit of asking people (who know me) what they liked about me and what they don’t … It gives you the chance to see things you have never seen about yourself and it’s also good for self improvement and stuff. So whether you know me in real life, you met me once or you know me only from the blog or msn, tell me the things you love and the things you hate about me. I promise I won’t be offended and if you know me really well, you would know that I won’t.

Anonymous Comments are more than welcome as long as they are constructive.

You guys gotta listen to Suzanne Vega’s “Caramel”, There’s something ‘fairouz-ian’ about this song that makes me listen to it all day on repeat. It’s on right now and it was on when I jumped the pavement. Also it was on while we fixed the car.

Yes, I had a car accident few days ago … I was sms-ing “somebody” while I was driving at 120 km/h. That’s when I heard that strange sound, when I looked up I saw a very unusual sight … The butter: I got off the pavement but I notice the weird way the car was moving. I parked the car on the right and I got off the car to see what happened, Three tires were totally torn and the rings were damaged too. Ok, that’s it … I don’t feel like talking about this anymore.

***
Remember the fabrics I bought a month or so ago? One of them was lying around in my room when I was looking for some underwear to wear that’s when I got the idea of wrapping this cloth like a towel (O’zaar). I gotta tell you I never tried wearing one of these things before but dude … Very Comfortable stuff. Your things are dangling all the time and air can reach between your legs … makes you feel free and fresh (and sexy). The only thing bothering me about them is, I have to adjust and re-wrap it every 5 minutes.

So I was looking for the other fabric I bought with that one, and guess where I found it? I found it with mom and she was trying to mimic the cut of one of my t-shirts. Totally on her own, I didn’t even ask her to do anything (she’s into tailoring). Awww … Isn’t that just sweet? Isn’t that why moms rock in the first place? She made me two t-shirts (when I thought I can only make one with this much fabric) … although she didn’t like them I totally loved them, they have this ‘indie’ look to them and they are begging for my magic (designey) touch on them … they gotta wait though. I already started tracing a sketch I did a while ago on a t-shirt by actually stitching on the t-shirt. It will take time to be done (if it’s ever going to be done) It’s very tiring and boring but it really rocks.

***
So there were no chicks at all in that course, well, there’s one but she’s mu7ajabah and all freaked out of guys that she sits in the last row all the time just to avoid being close to any one of ‘them’. But hey who gives a fuck about chicks when we have some learning to do (me!) … It’s fun and the guy is very old and very experienced (in this game since ‘71) and although he talks in Arabic all the time and he use Arabic technical terms but it’s all ok with me because I studied in Arabic all my fucking life and from Egyptians ba3ad so it’s totally no problem. I already know all the things he told us so far (they don’t know what kind of a filmmaking geek I am) except the history stuff which was fun by the way. We begged for him to tell us the English translations of any technical terms he mentions in Arabic but obviously the guy have a problem in English (although he teaches in the American university of Cairo, would you please give me a fucking million exclamation marks here).
***
Hey you, why you didn’t tell me any ‘salamat’ or ‘ ‘7a6ak il su’ although I sent you a message right after I had that accident? Hey you, thank you for the inspiration … a red ‘shmagh’ looks really cool with some navy blue t-shirt. Hey you, don’t be lurking around my blog without letting me know … I know it’s fun for you but it’s not funny when I start talking about the things I did to your sister. So tell me about you know about my blog … منعاً للإحراج. Hey you, why do you seem to be ignoring me lately, I would love to know where did I fuck up. People learn from their mistakes, you know. Hey you, although you seem very addicted to my blog you don’t comment as often as you should, why? Do you find me boring? Then why you keep on coming back?

Today is the first day of a cinematography course which will be held at Kuwait cinema club. Saeed Shimi, the director of photography of many Egyptian films such as الإمبراطور, جحيم تحت الماء، الطريق إلى إيلات and many many more, Will be lecturing there.

It’s been a very cinematic month for me, really. I mean just check the last few posts, this cinematography thing and the job offer I got from … oh well, you got the idea. (no you didn’t, I know). I also made some quick deals with the cinema club manager to do some work for them. (wait for the website)

It will be fun meeting new people with similar interests, we will get the chance to do some shorts maybe. Somebody told me there will be lotsa chicks in there which is always a good thing. :p …. Wella 3ala golat Gigi :PpP”

Little Something for those who developed a cupcake fetish lately.

Goran Bregovic & Iggy pop - In the deathcar
From the soundtrack of Arizona Dream. Here’s your only chance to hear Iggy pop sing over some Arabic kanoon and gypsy brass music, he also do some ‘aaaahh’ in very Arabic/middle eastern way. This track was used as the Intro track for the movie. Another Version of this track was used as the outro, the title is “This is a film”. This lyrics of the outro are kinda funny but also wise and thoughtful, but you have to see the movie to get it. He doesn’t really sing, It’s almost rapping in a very slow way Actually the whole track have this weird hip-hopish feel to it, No snares involved though.

The Cardigans - Love Fool
I’m addicted to this track and I have to sing with it in a very high pitch every time I listen to it … In addition to some girlish hand moves and steady left/right/left/right body movement.

Tenacious D - Fuck Her Gently
Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks! Jack Black Rocks!

Duane Eddy- Rebel Rouser
Lately I’ve been trying to listen to as much surf rock as I can, I just love the sound of the guitar with the spring reverb cranked to the max. This track is a classic surf rock anthem, complete with a brass section. Very Tarantino if you know what I mean.

I will try to write a mini-review of ‘Black Cat, White Cat’, I’m not sure I will remember everything but let’s see.

Now almost familiar with the director’s style and his story telling tricks, I can safely say that “Black Cat, …” have the most realistic story of all emir’s film that I have seen.

You can totally find yourself there and you can see it happening in our daily life. It’s all about الزواج قسمة ونصيب and how it’s destined for people to be with specific people (hence the film title, Black Cat, White Cat) However, Emir doesn’t fall for the same old clichéd ways of telling this kind of stories (heavily used by our local and Egyptian TV directors).

It’s about this guy and his failed investment and how he’s trying to compensate his investor’s loss by forcing his son, who’s in love with another girl, to marry the investor’s (short and supposedly ugly) sister who’s also against getting married with someone she doesn’t love.

The director did a really good job when it came to portraying the lifestyle of the gypsies of … (wherever). I also noticed something about the director’s approach to the soundtrack of his films, mostly music have to be actually played on the set in front of the camera, I don’t know but it just smells like dogme 95.

They are supposed to be watching ‘that singer who can pull a nail out of wood with her ass’. Crazy. That guy on the left is the director.

I should mention that after the screening of “black cat, …”. I “accidentally” met Shadyq80, really nice guy. We both had nothing to do so we went for coffee. So we were talking and getting to know each other and ‘ebgedrat gader’ I turned our first meeting into a brainstorming session for some project I’m working on. You can’t blame me, I mean we were talking about what we are doing and stuff that’s when I mentioned my idea and he was like ‘dude, this got potential’ and started voluntarily thinking for me and he came up with some good ideas too, smart guy indeed. BTW, Is Branka Katic hot or what?

Umm … what else?

I have some other misc shit, I will save it for one of those ‘ramblings’ posts.

Sorry, I was tired yesterday when I came home and I didn’t feel like writing anything. Now, After a healthy dose of sleep and chicken I feel like writing.

Underground, was indeed the shit, It’s about these two friends … their weird friendship, and the underground society which was founded by one of them .. the story is kinda complex and I sure need to watch again to fully understand it.

The music was pumping almost the whole time, Actually it was funny because it wasn’t a pre-recorded tracks or anything It was (supposedly) a live performance. Their was this band (I believe it’s the director’s band) that goes wherever (blacky) might go and they would always play for him whether it was a ride home, a wedding or even a fight “Play Louder and Faster” Goddamn funny. And there was this very cool actor (blacky’s friend) who looked a lot like (saleh el bawi) … he was funny as hell and his facial expressions were an added quality.

The movie can’t be categorized as comedy at all, although there were some light humorous scenes here and there but mainly it was a dramatic story revolving around blacky (an underground manufacture of weapons) and his friend Marko (politician) and Natalija (Actress and the wife of one of them or both of them … really complex shit).

I really appreciate the fact that nothing was censored, they have this nice rule ‘you have to be 18 or older to join the club’, fair enough.

Ok, so here’s a link to amazon where you can order the film on dvd, and when you do please tell me so I can borrow it from you and never return it back. Thanks.

BTW, Don’t you think saleh el bawi is one of the most under-rated Kuwaiti actors out there. You have to read his books to fully appreciate this person. I would kick any judgmental motherfucker in the face if he said “oh that guy is crazy, he’s nuts, cuckoo … ya know’. Just because he didn’t do ‘masterpieces’ like ‘gergai3an’ it doesn’t mean he’s crazy or boring.

Gergai3an my Ass.

It’s raining now, and it was raining when I left our camp 15 minutes ago … Goddamn beautiful. I just love it when it rains, especially at night … Sexxxxxxy In a cute way.
The soundtrack for a ride under the rain is as important as the water drops, The pretenders’ ‘One more time” worked out really well … actually she said something about walking down the rain, yeah. Glorious was the word to describe her voice in that track, Fucking glorious, especially when she goes ‘pleeeeeease’.

Ok, so I went today to the screening of Emir Kusturica’s Arizona Dream. The movie was fucking amazing, the soundtrack kicked major ass and for crying out loud Johnny depp was there as well as the wonder boy Vincent gallo and a slew of talented actors. Now we got that outta the way, When the film started I was the only person who came to watch the fucking movie .. imagine … THE ONLY ONE, well, beside the club manager and the control room guy.

One problem bugged the hell out of me was the sound, the bass was too high that I couldn’t make out what the actor was saying. I even stood up and went to the control room but there was nobody (fuck!) so I came back to my seat to avoid missing anything.

That’s when I noticed a girl in the row behind me. I turned to see her face as it kinda felt familiar, she was checking something on her phone. It was dark but the lighting of the phone was enough for me to see the details of her face, goddamn … she could be … yeah … she could be. I ignored her till the end of the movie that’s when I was totally sure it was her (the one I know) but she didn’t seem to notice me, So I waited outside and I leaned on a wall and I was waiting for her to pass by and I gave her ‘the look’ so she was chatting with her uncle who came with her or something and she was like really distracted but when we had an eye contact she was like ‘damn, what’s wrong with you dude? Why the hell are you …. .. huh … wait a minute … hey’. That’s when we both smiled and walked towards each other … we had a lil chat, we talked some more to chatch stuff up.

So it was really nice, new movie, amazing soundtrack, meeting old friends. Also I should mention that there was no censorship.

By the way Tomorrow they will screen Underground

And on Thursday they will screen Black Cat, White Cat

All screenings at 7 pm, at the ‘geblyah school’.

Hope to see you there, really it’s EMPTY in there.
C’mon it will be fun.