Back in 2014 when I first started this project as a Producer at Channel Austin Television (now Austin Public television owned by the City of Austin and operated with the Austin Film Society) I had a BA in Mass Communication Radio/TV from Abilene Christian University and I had taken scriptwriting at the University of Texas and Storytelling in Film from the University of Florida and a bunch of other training. However, I was still familiarizing myself with the actual studios at Channel Austin, the cameras, the stages, the editing, the process itself.
I already knew Gabe from my 12 years in Orlando, where he lives. I needed Gabe because I sing soft and sweet, acoustic, songs I write myself, and always about God. I'm describing a project to film professional local musicians in Austin, Texas, the "Live Music Capital of the World." Gabe tours Europe with his Death Metal bands and South America, 17 countries I've counted, I think there's more, oh, Mexico too. He is a professional and not only that he is really, really, really good. He has also played the main stage in Daytona Beach for Bike Week every year I've known him back to the early 2000s. So you know he's good, you can see the picture. He plays Classic Rock as an independent, in Central Florida, wherever. So Gabe has the independent spirit I'm describing, as well.
Part of the approval process at Channel Austin had been for me to tell them what my idea was. I pretty much wanted to be able to do whatever I felt like, I'm just like that, but I narrowed it down to a show to film Austin, Texas restaurants, events, food, interesting people, places, history, Day-trips (see how I narrowed it down there?) I knew Austin was the "Live Music Capital of the World" and I already had a lifetime background as an independent Contemporary Christian Singer/Songwriter. I'd turned down opportunities for decades to make that a full time career (see my book and website stories). I pretty much wanted to be able to do whatever I felt like, I'm just like that (just playing with what I said already, lol, but so true).
So I had a lot of experience with local music in Orlando and intended to do the same before I even moved to Austin. I've always done that wherever I was. So I put down "filming local professional Austin musicians" as part of my project description. That's why you see my primary focus on the music. However, I have tons of all the other ideas filmed as well, so much so that I pretty soon figured out how to be even more independent than I already was and purchased my own equipment so I wouldn't have to go by Channel Austin's rules. I became independent but kept access to being able to use their studios and equipment, if I wanted to. I could also use their distribution, if I wanted to. So that worked really well for me.
Almost everything you see, of my work, is just me doing what I do. I've kept it up for 10 years. It looks like a lot but it is just because I'm slow but steady. I'm also cherry-picking the best of the best of the past decade.
Oh, and I also broadened the concept of filming Austin, Texas to Central Texas, where the primary viewing audience is of the station. Still too limiting. So I thought up "Texas Tales from a Lone Star: Afar." NOW. That was better. Now I could do anything.
So I have Nashville stories, and have filmed the Civil War Cemetery outside Atlanta, I have Galveston, Dallas, San Antonio, Orlando, Chapelgate, and I already had permission from "The Brando" in the French Pacific to use their in-house photos of Tetiaroa if I wanted to. My novelette, "Island," is based on Tetiaroa and Bora Bora. I tie everything together. Robin, my late husband, taught me that. Robin: "My Drilling Data Center is COMPLETELY integrated. That means...." See. He trained me. See my main book, "Chapelgate, a Spiritual Memoir," and the books and stories on my website. My stories and videos are completely integrated. Like that. Oh, and now I have Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and the Dreamer's Cruise stories. I like to be free.
Oh, now I remember what I came here to say. I have a way of turning things into stories. This can be my story for today. I've been doing that since 1985 and I have several books now because of it, see my website. Anyway... Very early on I approached Gabe with the idea to help me and he agreed. Then Gabe started getting his own ideas and said, "Hey, Angel! Would you like to interview my friend Mike Owings?" Before I do anything I look it up. I didn't know his friend, Mike. But when I looked it up I became terrified. I wasn't good enough yet to film HIM. I talked to him on the phone, with Gabe, and I slowed Gabe down from his ideas of Mike flying out here from Jacksonville, Florida. Gabe had been driving up from Orlando to Jacksonville to perform with Mike and a whole host of famous Southern Rock legends, um, superstars, um, what's the right word, um, ICONS. Terrified. "NO GABE, STOP!" I was in no way ready for that level. I pictured Mike and Gabe flying to Austin and my taking them to my studios and then my not having a clue which buttons to push. The technology alone, in the studio, even with my BA and training, was still way too hard. So I missed out on filming this legend. That's why. I do, however, now have this story.
PS Oh, you don't know who Mike (Michael) Owings is, either? Yes, you do. Google it. Try: Michael Owings, Jacksonville, Florida Southern Rock.
Here: "From Jacksonville, Florida, Michael Owings is a lead, rhythm and slide guitarist who has played with MCA recording artist The Allen Collins Band (as in Lynyrd Skynyrd), CBH/SPV recording artist Molly Hatchet and with outlaw country legend David Allan Coe. Michael currently plays guitar in two of Jacksonville's top southern rock bands: SECOND SHOT & SHANYTOWN. Also plays in TROUTMOUTH, THE INBREDNECKS and JACKSONVILLE SLIM & EXPRESS TRAIN and plays out doing solo acoustic delta blues. Owner of VOCALION-US RECORDS and ORANGE SUNSHINE MUSIC CORP. music publishing company."
Copyright 2024 Angel Isaacs All Rights Reserved
Written October 25, 2024 at 12:13 pm
Resurrection "Rain of Ashes" Gabe on drums: HERE
Main stage Daytona Beach Bike Week, Gabe on drums: