Raymond Mendoza

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  Raymond Mendoza 12:21 pm on February 23, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: bazaar, dance, performance (2), video (5)   

  Are you sick of Ice dancing and want to see floor dancing? Bazaar dance showcase tonight (video) 

  We won’t be covering the one tonight.  The showcase should be entertaining as always.

  It’s hosted by Mariano (Bag of Trix). Addy Chan, from Gadlfly, is performing as well.

  Additional details (source):

  THE BAZAAR – 9:30PM

  Description:	ABA Entertainment Presents…THE BAZAAR…A night filled with showcases by some of Canada’s best dancers and choreographers. Come and enjoy this display of art in motion. Dance as it was meant to be! Doors 9:30pm 19+ Advance $15 at OIP dance studios/190 Richmond Street East 2nd floor
  Date:	Tuesday, February 23, 2010
  Created by:	Default Administrator
  Updated:	Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:19am

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  Raymond Mendoza 1:06 pm on February 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: film, gail (2), joel (3), raymond, video (5), wedding   

  Wed in 60 seconds (Just in case you missed it) 

  Don’t you love 60 second videos? Mine was 2 hours!

  This is the 60 second version of a wedding we did last year for Jeanna and Jeffrey.

  The bride and groom look great so there’s not much we needed to do. It’s a tear jerker when Jeanna cries

  Joel and I were on the cameras. Gail handled the same day edit. I edited this 60 second version.

   
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  Raymond Mendoza 8:07 pm on February 15, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  The lighter side of winter sports 

  Despite tragedy and malfunctions, here’s something that might make take your mind off of that.

  Just in case you missed it.

  Dan is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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    Dan 8:55 pm on February 15, 2010 Permalink

    That’s pretty funny!

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  Raymond Mendoza 10:37 am on February 14, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: baptism, christening, david, jason, melissa, nathaniel, smith   

  Nathaniel baptized on Valentines Day 2010 

  

  Nathaniel Baptism

  Nathaniel was baptized on February 14 2010.

  Nathaniel David Smith was named after his late uncle, David Paek, who died an untimely and tragic death last March 19th. His death has been a profound personal loss for his close family and friends and continues to be a daily struggle for those closest to him, especially his wife, Eileen and his parents that he left behind.

  As we celebrate the birth of Nathaniel’s initiation into Christian life, we remember David and the happiness and love that he brought into our lives. Although Nathaniel never got the chance to meet David in person, we hope to instil what we think are some of David’s most distinguishing qualities in Nathaniel: strength, patience, initiative, self-respect, loyalty, and a sense of humour. As Godparents of his only son, Brendan, we promise to be there for him whenever he needs us and help Eileen raise him the way he intended.

  David: It has been almost 1 year since we saw you alive & full of life. We miss and love you and wish you were here celebrating with us. You will forever be in our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers. Now and Always.

  Love: Jason and Melissa

   
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  Raymond Mendoza 10:58 pm on February 12, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  Speaking of Green screens. 

  This is how green screens work:

  This what it looks like after applying the worm holes.

  This is how we created the worm holes.
  
  
  

   
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  Raymond Mendoza 9:44 am on February 10, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  The Best Man Job Ever: He made you laugh, cry, and pee in your pants 

  

  It’s not very often you see a masterful speech. Yes Obama speaks well, but he speaks like royalty. He speaks as if he’s said his speech a thousand times.

  The best man at Joel’s wedding, Manny, delivered a different style of speech. It was a sincere speech given directly to Gail and Joel and 200 people just happened to be there. He had complete command of the audience and his message. It’s ironic because when I asked him about his speech before the wedding he said that his speech was serious and “not that funny”. He was half wrong. He took everyone through a slew of emotions.

  
  

  Some particularly funny moments (paraphrased) which might not make sense to you if you weren’t there:

  • This is the best man job ever….(after realization) ewww!
  • Gail’s minions
  • That skinny, skinny body
  • Gail just appeared
  • Joel is easy to please. Shave his head and buy him new clothes and he’s happy.
  • No one will have me (pulls down his sunglasses as he looks for any takers).

  

  In any case, whatever I write here or even if you watch the speech below, it won’t do any justice to witnessing the speech live.

  On top of that, he had to follow a pretty good video.

  

  -mlv is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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    -mlv 10:59 am on February 10, 2010 Permalink

    Guy . . .

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  Raymond Mendoza 6:45 am on February 9, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

  The Longest Time: Billy Joel would be proud 

  We wanted to do something extra special for Gail + Joel’s wedding. As Manny, the best man, put it, we wanted to do something “worthy of Joel’. There were rumblings of a music video, but I initially didn’t want any part of that. There’s just too much work and time was ticking. I originally wanted to do “auditions for a wedding DJ”. How do you find a DJ for the wedding of a DJ? To me this seemed achievable and effective at the same time.

  During a late night discussion, “The Longest Time” by Billy Joel was brought up. We used that song for our warm ups from our breakdancing and beatbox performing days. It was a staple in 5th Element’s pre-performance rituals. We never saw the video before, but once we did, we were sold. I was sold.

  We used the same basic concept and took the favorite elements and put our own twist on it.

  I felt it was important we make sure this is a video for gail + joel and not just a music video that glorifies the people involved. That’s why there’s a recurring theme of Joel as an inspiration and Gail as wonderful and essential.

  Shooting at Vanier was also essential for the emotional effect. We thought that we may be able to sweet talk the principal into letting us film, but he was initially very wary of it. He thought it was a strange request and it was. He suggested we get a permit and so we did. So much for alumni hook ups, but at least we were not bothered during shooting.

  Of course, our main goal was to show how much we appreciate Gail + Joel. In other words our main goal was Goel (GailJOEL). We happened to have fun at the same time.

  
  
  
  

   
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  Raymond Mendoza 12:45 pm on January 7, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: abalos, art, byron, culture, factory studio theatre, gail (2), j4j, jeffrey, joel (3), justice for jeffrey, live, performance (2), play, police, reodica, shooting, st. jerome, the making of st. jerome, theatre, toronto, video (5)   

  So you saw Avatar, now you should see “The Making of St. Jerome” 

  It’s true that the Navi people from Avatar are sexy in a gigantor type of way, but it’s not based on a true story.

  Avatar also isn’t based on someone you probably know personally.

  “The Making of St. Jerome” is based Jeffrey Reodica’s death by police officer. In 2004, Jeffrey was shot in the back three times by a plain clothes police officer. “The Making of St. Jerome” centers around Jeff’s brother and my good friend, Joel, and how he deals with it. Joel rallied hundreds of people in the “Justice for Jeffrey” campaign to help uncover the truth and remove the inappropriate labels associated with Jeffrey.

  For several years, the campaign and incident were covered in the news and on this blog. I even recall someone from The Toronto Star trying to contact me for information while I was in Seattle.

  The production quality and performance of the actors surprised me in a good way. It was also very emotional sitting beside Joel and Gail while the actors masterfully re-enacted tragic memories.

  Please show your support for this tragic, but inspiring story. Enjoy the culture and talent of Toronto.

  From opening night last night:

  THE NEXT STAGE THEATRE FESTIVAL & eastBOUNDtheatre present…

  (original source)

  The Making of St. Jerome By Marie Beath Badian

  Directed by Nina Lee Aquino / Lighting design by Aaron Kelly / Sound design by Romeo Candido / Set and costume design by Jackie Chau / Choreography by Clare Preuss/ Stage Managed by Kat Chin

  Featuring Byron Abalos, Keith Barker, Aura Carcueva, Audrey Dwyer, Christian Feliciano

  THE PLAY:

  After Jerome’s violent death, his older brother Jason embarks on a quest to bring the police officer that shot him to justice. Jason’s pursuit uncovers uncomfortable facts and plants a growing seed of doubt about Jerome’s innocence. Inspired by the 2004 fatal shooting of a Filipino-Canadian teenager by a plain-clothes police officer, The Making of St. Jerome is an exploration of guilt, grief, and brotherly love, set against the backdrop of a Coroner’s Inquest into the untimely death of a Toronto schoolboy.

  Multiple-award winning director Nina Lee Aquino directs this powerful and haunting piece written by fu-GEN Theatre’s 2008-2009 Playwright-in-Residence Marie Beath Badian.

  Factory Studio / 75 Minutes /
  Drama / General Audience / Strong Language / Gunshots

  SHOW TIMES:

  Wednesday January 6th – 9:00PM

  Thursday January 7th – 7:15PM

  Friday January 8th – 9:15PM

  Saturday January 9th – 9:00PM

  Sunday January 10th – 7:15PM

  Wednesday January 13th – 8:30PM

  Thursday January 14th – 5:30PM

  Saturday January 16th – 7:15PM

  Sunday January 17th – 3:30PM

  TICKET PRICES:

  $15 – Evening Performances (7pm and after start time)

  $12 – Afternoon Performance (6:59pm or before start time)

  HOW TO PURCHASE:
  By phone: 416-966-1062
  Toll Free:1-866-515-7799

  Nov 17 – Dec 22, 10am – 4pm, Monday – Friday

  Dec 29 – Jan 5, 10am – 4pm, Monday – Friday

  Jan 6 – 17, 10am – 5pm, daily

  Online: Visa & Mastercard only

  http://www.fringetoronto.com/nstf/nstf_tickets.html

  In Person
  Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst St.

  Jan 6 – 17, 2010: Mon – Wed 5:30pm – 9:30pm / Thurs & Fri 4pm – 10pm/ Sat & Sun 2pm – 10pm

  Cash, Visa & Mastercard (NO Debit or AmEx)

  All shows start on time
  No latecomers will be admitted and no-readmittance
  General seating for all performances
  No refunds or exchanges

  joel reodica is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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    joel reodica 6:34 pm on January 7, 2010 Permalink

    this is awesome ray…. thanks!

    buy your tickets early!!

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  Raymond Mendoza 8:41 am on December 31, 2009 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: airport, naked, naked scanner, scanner, security, travel, tsa   

  Naked Scanner is harmless: My first hand experience 

  

  I had to go through the “Naked scanner” recently for one of my trips. There’s nothing to worry about.

  The operator showed me how it works. No one can see the screen except the operator. It has a convenient touch screen interface. There’s an auto-crop feature if you press the “share wtih facebook” or “share with twittter” button.

  I can see where the $200K went.

  No need to fear fellow travelers.

  L is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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    L 9:32 am on December 31, 2009 Permalink

    Lol awesome. I can’t wait to step through one of those

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  Raymond Mendoza 11:36 am on December 28, 2009 Permalink | Reply  

  Popcorn and Nachos with Bullets: Just another day in Scarborough 

  The soundproofing at Cineplex Odeon Theatre at Eglinton Town is fantastic.

  I heard none of the 6 or so gunshots that happened less than a 100 feet away from the theatre I was sitting in.

  There’s a good chance the gunman was in this picture I took at 6:24pm last night. The shooting happened around 7:30pm after someone called the police reporting they’d seen someone with a gun.

  With that many people and a lot of frustration about sold out shows, it’s not that surprising someone would lose his mind enough to show his gun. But why go to a theatre with a gun? It reminds me of the joke told better by Chris Rock at 58 seconds (NSFW).

  

  After theatre staff said that “due to certain circumstances, you cannot use the main exit”, everyone wondered what happened.

  I asked another staff member and he said there was a “shooting”. I was a bit surprised they let us finish the movie when we were so close to the event. I guess the Police felt that there would be more of a threat from movie watchers who were stopped in the middle of the Blue Man Group documentary.

  Regardless, we were all safe. We just needed to check our cars for stray bullet holes. Just another day in Scarborough.