“A Winter’s Trek” by Karima Hoisan and Natascha Randt

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Karima Hoisan

Well… we never thought we would ever do a movie like this one…and it is our lucky 13th collaboration too!!
The Challenge was sent out: Make a 60- 90 sec video using one of the MadPea Pea avatars and send it trekking! This will be our entry to their contest this year.
I admit I talked Nat into it. I did a little arm twisting but in the end, off she went to get her avatar at a”gacha” kiosk (you get what you get….no choosing) and guess what she got? A big toothy Santa Clause!!!…Sooo this is the timely tale we told. I want to give a special thanks to our friend Luna Branwen for being so ready to “steal the show” as the Blue Imp. Nat waddles and treks her little legs off as The Santa Pea, and thanks to Celestial Elf for inviting me to this great Toad avatar (Toadoid Avi) from Grendel’s, when he made his own movie,
See:Elf’s “The Faerie Trees”
Comments are welcome here or on YouTube
HO HO HO Merry Christmas from Randt & Hoisan Productions!! ENJOY!!

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9 Lives

Posted on November 30, 2013 by Karima Hoisan
I had

I had 9 lives but 8 were taken away

9 Lives

I had 9 lives but 8 were taken away.

The first I lost beneath a speeding bus.
With years of balancing on the curb
one day I just  slipped off.
Maybe I used up my grace
or a push upon my back
helped to send me under.
In any case that life was done
I was run over.

But then reborn
I played my favorite role, the alley fool.
I dressed in matted coats
and stood on garbage cans with hope.
I believed the whispered words
until I saw the writing.
Even a fool can see the writing
and that is when I toppled off
and another life went down.

 A few more became a pudding
just a smoothie of the past
Sweetened by forgetfulness
I let myself repeat the parts,
and always there were lies.
Some I fabricated and some
were placed upon my back
then I became a pack-cat of deceit.
way too overburdened…
my feet went out from under me.

Right now I’m limping out from number eight
with injuries and strings of rats
but when I think I’ve lost it all
is when I have no fear.
Now looking back I see how
I did land upon my feet,
those clouds of judgment coming clear.
A loss of eight I wager and concede
to be well worth it in the final count
to get to live my 9th life out,
Ahh, bowls of cream and wisdom.
 
 
I had 9 lives but 8 were taken away

and it was over
over…it was over
over and over and over
not over ’til the last one’s over

Karima Hoisan
November 30th 2013
Costa Rica

*Footnote: I woke up one morning seeing this cat in my mind so clearly walking towards me saying, “I had nine lives but eight were taken away”….over and over and over:)

This image I used as an illustration is a composite of a painting entitled “9Lives” by Leslie Revels Andrews and can be found here in its original form at http://www.fineartamerica.com

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See Frog Run

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Karima Hoisan
"Was he still really a frog after so many changes....?"

“Was he still really a frog after so many changes….?”  (Photo taken in a pool on Beyond  Sebgram X-99 Kitely)

See Frog Run

The frog ran away from the insanity.
He clenched his hands tight as he leaped over
wheat-fields and  freeways,
like a dog running off with a leg of lamb.
We are what we eat ,
so he grew lamb-shanks for limbs,
which really was not so surprising…
Ahh, but that he made his escape from calamity,
was in the end what did surprise him.
 
Someone with no humor set him on fire
but the flames did become him
and melted to mold him
Now he was a gold medal Olympic runner,
an ultra- marathon stunner
a broadband broad- jumper.
the frog who changed his destiny .
He threw off those tired horses in midstream
then turned a nightmare into a dream,
agile, and fleet in grace and  esteem
because everyone who knew him rejoiced he got away.

There were flares and night terrors and blood soaked mud layers
he leaped lakes, full of poisonous snakes.
He never stopped running and still is to this date,
tears trickle down the cheeks of his face
just remembering…just remembering…
the wind fanning so many burning memories.

The frog made a leap back to life and he knew
 he could never stop running; jet -propelled now
streaking high in the air like a burning comet he flew
over cities and patchworks of farmlands,
the wind whistling deep in his ears.
His body changing from raw meat into particles
he flew over  the earth he once hopped.
Was he still really a frog after so many changes
after a lifetime of fleeing with no stop?

His mutton legged nightcap whipping him on
The rain clouds grew comforting, as he was reborn
Like Lola he ran through the eye of the storm
a dark ember remained glowing inside him.
No hurdle too high now, no pain was too raw,
no crazy thought  path was left  to experiment
He sailed over and out of the comfort of atmosphere
He went to the void and reached towards the stars
He needed no gulp- breaths, no frog pond, no love- mate
spiraling, he ran in circles going faster and faster.
Is he now that red star that circles the heavens?
Is he the meteorite we watch fall on horizons?
Did he expand into his own  fiery galaxy?
Really It doesn’t matter at all.
What will stay in the history books of future days
will only be that
everyone who knew this frog from before
all rejoiced that he got away.

Karima Hoisan
Re-posted from 2011

* Note: I had forgotten about this poem..Just wanted to share it again and maybe do it in one of my next readings.

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“The Faerie Trees”…and a new look for Nat and me ;)

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Karima Hoisan

Celestial Elf is one of my favorite machinina makers. From telling Druid tales, or maybe the day of the dead, to saving all trees, his style, voice, choice of music and machininma magic is so easy to recognize and love. I fall bewitched into film after film. Sooooooooo…
when I logged into Second Life (according to me for a few minutes) I was swept up by an invitation from Elf that I couldn’t refuse, “Hi Karima I’m just finishing a film and Natascha said she can drop over to help……” That is how minutes later I found myself face to face in a stand-off with Nat..a very new look for both of us (winks)

That Henkie Troll on the left is Nat and I am "Toad Man"

That Henkie Troll on the left is Nat and I am “The Toadman”

And here is the finished film. Thank you Elf for including me in your very important tale.
As he explains,
“Britain’s trees are under unprecedented threat from new pests and diseases. We are asking people to help us identify trees that might have problems – particularly ash, oak, horse chestnut, pine or spruce trees – so we can find out more or take appropriate action. ( http://bit.ly/HEnNAE )”
Read more about it on YouTube (also see our names in the credits:)
Leaps up and down and claps wildly pointing below to the Video..Enjoy!!

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Regaining Freedom: The Opening

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Karima Hoisan

Natascha and I were invited to participate in this very important event held at “Galerie Artemis” in Second Life on Tuesday November 19th.

Nat wearing a T-shirt that was given at the event

Nat wearing a T-shirt that was given at the event

 

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Many illustrious gatherers were present

2Lei_011

There comes a time when you have to leave…

“Window on a Train” in its Spanish version“Ventana en un Tren“ was chosen as one of the machinimas shown in this artistic event dedicated to Stopping Violence against Women.
It was very well-attended, and I counted almost 60 avatars present, which also made it a little hard to get some pictures. I will include some taken there by Natascha and a few of mine and of the hard-working Duna Grant, one of the organizers, who invited us to show our film.

2Lei_0062Lei_001

I will include the official description of  this event and some of the artists involved.
“Kicca Igaly Elros Tuominen ( Antonio Alza ) Gregory Kappler HOLALA Alter ( Julio Juste Ocaña ) Karima Hoisan & Natascha Randt  LeMelonrouge Francesc Mary Wickentower Noke Yuitza Yesikita Coppola

The lost freedom of battered women is the theme proposed to different artists, that develop it, each one of them giving a very personal vision of what it suggests to them.
Kicca Igaly has built an installation that will serve as a hall for the presentation of the machinimas that speak in images, in some cases also with voice, about the main topic for this year.
Kicca Igaly also presents an explanatory text, which complements her work:

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a poignant scene from Ventana en un Tren

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kicca igaly ..Nat and I in the background

Libera… finally libera!
Di decidere di non subire più la sopraffazione di un uomo violento…
Di decidere e gestire la propria vita…
E per mano a suo figlio, abbandona quella casa-prigione, lasciando un uomo sconfitto, che lancia un ultimo gesto di vano richiamo.
Free … free at last!
Deciding not to suffer more the oppression of a violent man …
Deciding and manage his own life …
And holding the hand of her son, leave the house-prison, leaving a defeated man,
that launches a last gesture compartment of recall.
The machinimas, mostly made for this event and therefore unpublished, belong to artists from different countries, Spain, France, Luxembourg, United States, Peru, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica & Germany, in an attempt to, on my part, transform this important world problem in an international act too.
Not only women are sensitive to this social scourge. Many men also want to denounce it. Hence, besides being international, my call to them and their positive reception, has resulted finally in the exhibition that Galerie Artemis will present.
abuse1785660196_675488512_npost065486621_nI want to thank once again, all who organized and participated in this very vital and timely event.
Let’s learn to love and leave the violence behind us!!

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This Makes Me Proud To Be In Second Life

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Karima Hoisan

Barbie Alchemi and her mother Fran Seranade are featured in this amazing “Drax File” machinima episode, showcasing special stories of Second Life. They are the life force of an inspiring sim that has done so much for so many suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. This movie moves me deeply. If you know nothing about Second Life, or what is possible here, I think you will be amazed, and if you already, create, live and are part of our community, you will feel proud to form part.
I gave a poetry reading there in January and was very happy to contribute my words to the vision. See Reading at Creations for Parkinson’s. Nat made a great film of DB Bailey’s instalation there too a while back. DB has Parkinson’s and creates the most engaging and artful spaces on their sim. See: Advice To A Flower
Thank you all for making this! I say no more. Just watch it!

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Rivers From The Window

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Karima Hoisan
Train Pop Art in Motion - © 2011 Christopher Martin

Train Pop Art in Motion – © 2011 Christopher Martin

You can send me a message from the train,
that carries you past rivers from the window,
a car filled with people saying nothing,
where low whispers draw out the frowns,
and a laugh is charged with capital punishment
as no one should speak to strangers,
or they will be stared down
by the dead people who go into the city.

I will not embarrass your daily role
that packs you into moving dioramas,
where you sit in silence, silence being the golden token
and go missing in the back streets of your memory.
Getting lost in private thoughts that as yet do not offend them,
 you watch those graffiti-spiced retaining walls go by…go by…go by.
You are on both sides of the glass, the curator and the curated,
so it might be o.k. to message me, on your way to the chocolate factory.

Karima Hoisan
November 11th, 2013
Costa Rica

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“Drink Me With Your Eyes” A Randt & Hoisan Production

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Karima Hoisan
Are horses Sensual? You bet they are....

Are horses sensual? You bet they are….

(Ask any woman who remembers having contact with horses when she was growing up. A horse can be a girl’s first love!.)

As I said in my past post, this video marks a perfect dozen for Natascha Randt and I.
I think once again, and at the point when we are almost done, but not quite, those small details seem very important, and yet somehow we miraculously agree so easily on the changes. It’s not easy for Natascha to “render it all again one more time, 10 more times! Yet, there are moments I feel we are looking out of the same eyes. It’s such an odd sensation and Nat says, “Ha! I knew you would say that.” She knew because she was thinking it too, and I always marvel at this post-pro stage, where it just comes together as a truly finished product, how easy it is for us to agree. I give so much of the credit to her, as I know that normally machinima filmmakers are total loners, who rarely would allow someone else to give their opinion , especially at that last stage.
We have people to thank too:)
No matter how weird the task we give to RAG Randt our Blender Sculptor in residence, he comes through. He confided to me he has been called this before (less euphemistically) but had never made one, when we asked him to make us a nice “horse rear” (like in rear-end not rear-up)

Thank you RAG for our horse - hindquarters

Thank you RAG for our horse – hindquarters & Dale for getting that tail to flick just right

Then Dale Innis, our scripter in residence, took it up to his secret lab and fooled around a few nights on getting a tail to move to the same rhythm as a boot.
We called upon our magic screen couple, Shesa Quandry & Gamma Infinity  who demonstrated a high level of on-screen chemistry, to play dual roles in both two-legged and four-legged parts. Dale tended bar in her elegant style and also galloped like the wind. All I had to do was sit on a bar stool and swing my boot, and then rear up and lead the herd, but Natascha..oh my, Natascha had the tricky multi-tasking role of totally transforming herself into the exotic dancer and a black wild stallion who held a Space Navigator to film it all while she ran. We hope you will like the finished product of this collaborative wave of creativity.We give you our latest passion,
“Drink Me With Your Eyes.”
“Our eyes are the window of desire; so powerful they can make horses grow restless in the night. When all is sublime innuendo, it can spark a spontaneous stampede.”

I'm a horse!!!

 

Please watch in HD and Fullscreen for the full experience and as always comments are very welcome here or on YouTube..or…both Enjoy!

I will include the poem with its small translated parts below.
I am hoping Nat will also tell her side of the production.
Here is Nat’s blog post on it too in German: Drink Me With Your Eyes
This idea, the poem, and the music were born on a sublime musing about sensuality one night in Second Life. Our virtual world continues to inspire all kinds of musings that hopefully will translate into music, poetry, and with Nat’s help, machinima.

Drink Me With Your Eyes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A tiny Spanish feeling
A bolero and a glass
Un bolero y un vaso (a bolero and a glass)
A bolero and a glass
Cocktail of East and West
Poured into this dress
Gesticulating, swaying saying,
“Drink me with your eyes”
“Solo con tus ojos.” (only with your eyes)
“Drink me with your eyes”
“Solo con tus ojos.”  (only with your eyes)
“Drink me in.”

The horses tied up to the fence
Their tails flicking on the breeze
The horses tied up to the fence
Their tails flicking on the breeze
Las colas de los caballos (the tails of the horses…
Me recuerdan tanto de ti …remind me so much of you)
Las colas de los caballos (the tails of the horses…
Me recuerdan tanto de ti…remind me so much of you)
When you were in your dance
Bailaste solo por mi (you danced only for me)
Your dance was just for me
Bailaste solo por mi. (you danced only for me)


And the horses grew impatient
They wanted to be set free
And the horses grew impatient
They called to us to set them free.
And we freed them all that night
Against the crashing sea
And they galloped down the shoreline
Their tails dancing on the breeze
Las colas de los caballos (the tails of the horses…
Me recuerdan tanto de ti… remind me so much of you)
A tiny Spanish feeling
A bolero and a glass
Un bolero y un vaso ( a bolero and a glass)
Las colas de los caballos (the tails of the horses…
Me recuerdan tanto de ti… remind me so much of you)
“Drink me with your eyes”
“Solo con tus ojos.” (only with your eyes)
“Drink me with your eyes”
“Solo con tus ojos.” (only with your eyes)
“Drink me in.”
Karima Hoisan
June 29, 2013
LINC Island SL

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From Stone

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Karima Hoisan
From stone

It started out as stone…

From Stone

It started out as stone, with the Sculptor peering in the window
a stone- piece placed upon a board, a game of chess,  
and a bit of unsure give and take while waiting for a train.
It takes time for stones to smooth in waves or gifted hands;
it takes the patience of an Artist to carve a masterpiece,
from stone… from only stone.

Oh the chiseling had its painful parts along with aching joy,
skilled fingers leaving gashes, excess caution tossed away.
The slab was smaller now and it began to shine and then refine,
with just one blow so carefully placed, it broke right into two.
Two from one were fashioned, as the Artist’s vision grew,
and many angles tried and cast aside, to see the two align.

 Oh the thinning had its painful parts along with aching joy,
to place them on the edge would be to invite them both to fall.
So delicate, as if blown by breath, how quickly they would shatter.
There was nothing left of stone, just glass, transparent, and reflecting.
If one fell on top the other, it would be the end of both, so vulnerable and sheer,
and they became like precious jewels, when moonlight rose to hold them.

The Artist was their owner and he chose to put them far from harm.
He hid them in His chess game, with the board so firmly on the table.
Most people looking in would not even be aware that they were there.
Stable in the center of the table, they were outside the game that was being played,
hidden in plain sight, two crystal figurines that would cry and sing with just a finger
running down their middle.  How could it be, they were once made from stone?
from stone… from only stone.

Karima Hoisan
October 21st 2013
Costa Rica

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“Drink Me With Your Eyes”- The Teaser

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Karima Hoisan

Proud to tease you with this little appetizer to enjoy while you are waiting for the main course (in the next few days hopefully)
This video makes 12, a perfect dozen, collaborations that Randt & Hoisan have produced.

 

The Randt & Hoisan Team (L-R Hoisan & Randt)

The Randt & Hoisan Team
(L-R Hoisan & Randt)


Natascha and I are “The Team,” We are The Visualizer and the Vocalizer (Vi & Vo) and we love making videos together. We continue to do so, because we have a small but very loyal audience who believes in us, and watches them and seems to enjoy them.
We hope this teaser will wet your appetite…It is our first sensual and bi-lingual film….
Watch it here, and let us know....

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