This Is Not A Nice Sport

Wow.  Well, it's been about 2 years since we initially shot and edited this short documentary about an amateur boxer named Cesar Rocha.  Unfortunately I ran into a bit of a problem releasing this for public consumption over the last year or so.  It's too bad, because I thought this was a pretty nice story on a young man that I've grown to know so well over the past 3 or 4 years. 

When I look back on this piece now it feels dated and old.  Mostly because my abilities have progressed over the past few years.  I wish I would've been able to feel comfortable putting this out in the world earlier.  Yet, that's the way it goes sometimes. 

Either way, I hope you enjoy this piece I did just for the passion of story telling.  We didn't make any money on this, in fact, I submitted it to about 10 film festivals, and it only got into one.  Plus I had to pay for the usage of the gym.  So, this is all about the passion for story telling. 

Hope you enjoy.

Patches On Swiss Army Blankets

Here's a little fatherhood post for you that may have been missing that from me over the past, oh I dunno.  Year maybe?

A while back I picked up these replica Swiss Army Blankets from Amazon.  I liked the wool vibe and gave the room a bit of an outdoorsy feel.  The best part is these were not super expensive.  Which isn't always the case when talking about wool blankets.

Over the past few years our family has been collecting these iron-on-patches from different trips, friends or occasions.  We hadn't really come up with a great idea for how to display them or in a way in which we'd have the opportunity to enjoy them for years and years.

I'd come up with the idea of putting them on the wool blankets.  Naturally my wife wasn't super sold on the idea, so I had to take matters into my own hands and iron them on myself.  
I liked the offset vibe of the patches giving it a bit of an off-center vibe and channeling a militaristic or Boy Scout style aesthetic.

Now here's to hoping they don't rip off during the night. 

2017: Year In Review

This year started and ended with a bang. Like any year previous, two thousand and seventeen wasn’t without it’s inevitable disappointments.  Personally and professionally I experienced incredible triumphs and dealt with catastrophes.  Yet, the year in a whole was nothing short of large strides forward.  We traveled more this year than in the previous two or three.  We  had the chance to completely remodel our entire backyard from scratch.  We spent a lot of time outside enjoying adventures in the world that surrounds us. Elliot started preschool and we have begun the exhaustive search for Kindergarten. We have let go of the weight that has been dragging us down and tried our best to attach ourselves to situations, places and people that  make us feel good.  There is much more to take care of in the coming years, and two thousand seventeen has set us on the correct path forward. I was able to accomplish many of the creative project’s I had wanted to do this year and I want to thank those of you who have been following along on my professional and personal journey.  Although I am still trying to figure out the best way for my “Jenkins Family Stories” series to exist in the world.  I appreciate those of you who have kept up with us throughout those changes and adjustments.  I look forward to many more mutually meaningful conversations with you in the new year. 

In another post I’ll write and two establish some goals for 2018, but for now let’s look back and laugh at the last three hundred and sixty five days. 

Thank you for another year

John Jenkins and The Jenkins Family

Babylon LA & Trash Talk

A Letter To Old Friends,

I'm mind blown.  I'm beyond impressed.  I'm so unbelievably proud to have known you for many years, and watch what you've done creatively.  I know so much time has passed by since we were close.  You may not take much stock in what this old father of two children has to say.  My opinion may mean very little.  Yet, I've always watched the moves you guys have made and the directions you've taken all of your creative endeavors.  I'm proud.  And I will forever be impressed.  

Love,
John Jenkins (eightclip)

Cognoscenti Coffee

I've been to Cognoscenti Coffee probably a hundred times.  I had always thought of them as a coffee curation café.  They find some different, new, desirable bean.  Then they serve it to their customers as a taster of what that coffee roaster has to offer.  It's a fun way to enjoy different beans from around the world.  However, apparently over the past year or so, they've started to roast their own bean right here in Los Angeles.  

Typically, I bought a bag just to try it out.  It's a light roast, and it sits right on top of your tongue. It reminds me a lot of a Ritual Coffee roast, which isn't necessarily my favorite, but it'd do the trick.  I'm just glad to have another Los Angeles coffee roaster.  Take Flight, Cognoscenti Coffee, and a few others.  I'm going to do my best to seek out more Los Angeles local coffee roasters.

Cognoscenti Coffee
6114 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232

"The Fear Of Weeding Out" by Ross Farrar

I'd met Ross over a decade ago.  We were both from the San Francisco Bay Area.  He in the far North Bay, and I out East. 

At the time he had started singing for what I considered a half joke band called Hammertime.  They had an energy that was pretty palpable.  It was hard to deny the fact that Ross exuded something that hardcore punk kids could latch onto. 

Soon after he and a few other of my buddies started the Hardcore/Punk/Indie powerhouse band Ceremony.  They were incredible, and they haven't slowed since their inception.  They're incredible, and if you're reading this, you probably know or have known someone in the band of heard of the band.  If you haven't, do yourself a favor get to YouTube.

Although our lives have diverged quite over the last ten or so years, I've tried to keep an eye on what Ross, and Anthony from Ceremony have been doing on the side.  Ross recently has taken to studying literature, which I thought was just incredible and I secretly really wanted to start reading his work.  

Anthony started a new small run press company called First Letter Press.  The first two items published were works by Anthony and Ross respectively.  I bought both of the books because I had toyed with the idea of writing more, and doing something like this for myself and loved the concept completely. 

Both written pieces are incredible, and for many different reasons, but most specifically.  They both remind me of my old friends Anthony and Ross.  

I specifically want to point you towards the story called "Fear Of Weeding Out." by Ross Farrar. 
If only so you can enjoy an extremely well crafted retrospective on the idea of missing out on something.  Not just a night out with your friends, or an excellent outdoor desert music festival, but the concept of actually mis-understanding someone, something or some place.  

Although I'd beg to argue with Ross that maybe missing things is ok, because a person's unique interpretation of reality is exactly what makes us human.  The task for me personally is that I'd like to understand my interpretation of reality, and then try my best to understand other's perception's of reality.  Thus trying to comprehend reality from all view points.  Yes, this is exhausting, but to be completely honest.  I've tried to do this since I was very young.  I think that's why in college I gravitated towards sociological courses, and have found myself interested in non-fictional story telling and filmmaking.  These things fall right in line with my desire to want to hear an argument, hear a counter argument.  Hear a response to counter-arguments and then finally come to my own opinion on the subject.

So I don't necessarily worry about missing out, or weeding out because I know that we are all on different path's with different perceptions of reality.  I just try to live the best I can in that day.  Whether it be great, good, bad or terrible.   Or, maybe I missed the point entirely.   Either way, go and read Ross and Anthony's work and form your own opinion on it.

Saint Frank Coffee Roasters

I can’t remember where we were sitting, but from over my tiny cappuccino this giant “F” caught my eye.  On closer inspection I realized it was by a brand I’d heard of before called St. Frank.  In fact, I’m pretty sure this company is owned or run by someone I know personally, though honestly I’m not quite sure anymore.

The packaging is “Wow” and jumps off the shelf.  I was excited to brew a batch of St. Frank out of San Francisco at home.

A few things to note about the roast as realized from the label on the front.  This roast was called the “Las Nubes” from Honduras.  Even more intimate information tells me that it was grown by Alexi Moreno in El Cedral, Santa Barbara Honduras.  How awesome is that?  It truly brings a face to the farmer that created the first thing you drink in the morning.

This roast is “YEOWZA”.  A very light roast that almost hits you like a ton of bricks.   Usually I’m slightly offended by flavor like this, but for some reason in St. Frank’s capacity, it was wonderful.  Sure it had me bouncing off the walls making my 3 year old say “whats up with papa?”  But he wasn’t complaining when I was ready to play with him all day.

This thing is great, and hopefully some day I’d like to enjoy St. Frank in it’s natural habitat.  The city by the bay.

Saint Frank Coffee
2340 Polk Street,
San Francisco, CA 94109

The 2016 Holiday Greeting

I thought I'd do a little write up on my business Holiday Greeting card this year.  Otherwise, you know, all that work only gets seen by maybe forty people tops.  This is just another piece of creative that I made at the end of the year to say thank you to all of the client's I had the opportunity to work with over two thousand sixteen.

First off, a little business card pictured top.  Paired with a "thank you" note, a picture of some coffee.  I bag of Blue Bottle's Perfect Grind all placed into an envelope for delivery.

Excuse the wrinkled envelope.  My tiny boy Elliot got a hold of the card before I could take a picture of it.

The Blue Bottle perfect grind packets have worked well for me as far as gifts go. They're small, easy to ship, taste great, and are the perfect compliment to my personality (love of coffee, and need for caffeine).  

 

Inside the "Thank You" note was a list of very confidential thank you letters, and personal messages.  However, there was also a link to a fun little film I made specifically for my 2016 clients.  

Now being about four months removed, may as well show it off.  It's a bit of a rendition of my "Coffee for the Creative" film, but with a  yearly twist.  I linked to an unlisted URL which is below as well as a short film of "thanks."

http://www.johneightclip.com/thanks2016

49th Parallel

I picked up this 49th Parallel “just add creme” blend during my staycation out in the central/eastern side of Los Angeles at a Coffee spot called “Go Gett’em Tiger”.

I’d seen this brand around from time to time.  They’re based out of the Great White North in Vancouver B.C.

This specific blend was roasted exclusively for Go Gett’em Tiger, and a spot in the Los Angeles Grand Central Market called G&B.   While I’ve never been a HUGE fan of G&B for a variety of reasons.  Brewing this blend at home yielded excellent results.

It was a calm light roast that didn’t offend, and worked well with cream and agave which is my go-to right now.  The price tag isn’t terrible, but it’s on the high end.

Tasted great!

49th Parallel Coffee Roasters
2902 Main Street
Vancouver BC Canada V5T 3G3