Thursday December 15, 2011
I spent a bit of the day with my father, post surgery, at Greenwich Hospital. All I can is it will be an interesting road to recovery. As I sit and listened to a Doctor talk, I am posting manipulated images to my instagram.

I assure the nurse that I am listening.., I am just a byproduct of the obsessive mobile generation.
Welcome to Pancity!
Panman Mixtape no 79 by Panman
I am hit with a wave of motivation to round out the year on a strong note. List upon list, I create my end of the year objectives. The road ahead will be filled with new adventures and challenges. Tech projects on the Horizon; the transformation of underutilized spaces; Better business operations and relationships; I know I must live my life to it’s fullest.

I need to learn to listen, follow, lead and always strive to innovate.

I want to thank everyone I have worked with in 2011. I’m happy to be bringing new excitement to the Roger Smith Hotel in 2012 operating as their Director of Digital Marketing.

Panman Productions is not dead but will be focused on very specific projects. In 2012 I look to release my documentary on earth healing. It is a project that I have been working on since 2007 and it is long over due.  I am also going to be introducing a new app and will be driving the social initiatives at the Roger Smith Hotel. You will see new pop-ups and witness the next level of collaborative efforts. There will be an increased mobile integration surrounding everything that I am apart of and mark my words, 2012 is my year to shine.

Panman mixtapes have been a great creative initiative for me over the last couple of years. They have served as a testing platform for experimental video and artistic expression.  I have created 80+ mixtapes and am embarking on new artistic collaborations with top New York artist and playwrights as a result. The efforts of live video mixing as an art form have inspired the creative collaborations with Aleks Degtyarev, Abianne Prince, John Birdsong, Lisa Paul Strietfeld,  Daniel Rothbart, Mark Wiener, James Knowles, Jasminka Baney, Melissa Gonzalez, Kate Griffler, Molly Barnes, Daniel Terstad, Fleur Keyes and others…

With new relationships being built I imagine the list of artistic collaborators will grow and become more  sophisticated.

It is also important to note the emergence of the new artistic space at 125 East 47th street and the developing program of artists collaborations in our space in 2012. The current sculpture piece by Harlan Mack stands strong in New York City’s newest Gallery installation window. I will be working with Molly Barnes as well as the Vermont studio center to fill the program for 2012. Be sure to follow the 125 window gallery tumblr for latest updates and news.

So at this point I want to thank a couple specific people with made huge difference in my year and recognize their good work. Starting with the RS pop-up shop, I tip my hat to Melissa Gonzalez and Lionesque media. Together, inspired from an idea of transforming an under utilized space Melissa has gone far and beyond my levels of expectation. She has pushed me to be much more accountable and taught me how to succeed in business in New York City. She sets the pace, and has a compass for the next developments of our industries. We have become friends, disagreed with each other routinely to eventually agree and as a result have created a unique and desirable product known as RS Pop. I look forward to continuing our growing business and personal relationship.

I also need to thank and recognize John Birdsong. At this point John has been the longest working colleague of mine in the field of production, social media and marketing. We worked together at Plum TV, then at Panman  Productions and now with the Roger Smith Hotel. We absolutely disagreed on creative decisions but find clarity when discussing strategy and the vision ahead. A project in John’s hands will always take shape and inspire different levels of conversation. I’m not going to lie, he can be a pain in the ass but he’s always reliable and has continually had my back. Thanks John for the years of continued support.

The third acknowledgment that I feel is necessary to mention is my family. From my father who is always been my number one fan and audience member, to my mother who always believes in me and Phoebe who is continually trying to help me be my best. My family is the best support team that I can imagine and I am truly lucky to have them in my corner. They are the reason for the opportunities that I have in front of me and they are continually trying to keep me on my toes. I thank Allie and Jeremy and James and Maureen for providing a brilliant next generation.

I believe in that one can accomplish their greatest desires in life and I strive to live by that expectation. With hard work, support from others, and a dedication to seeing it through, I believe we will experience our biggest achievement in the new year. So my advice is, dare to dream and believe in your own success.  I look forward to making it happen in 2012.

I appreciate the continued support. Thanks for following the tangent

Please leave a comment and let me know what you are looking forward to in 2012.
Much love,
Panman
Aka John Knowles

I came across this in list in one of my notebooks and think it is worth sharing with you. Anything is possible in your future! Here is a guide to making it happen.

Have a great week!

Panman

1. Believe you can.

2. Create the environment.

3. Have the right associations.

4. Expose yourself to whats new!

5. Plan for the day.

6. Become Valuable.

7. Have the answers your prospects and customers need.

8. Recognize opportunity.

9. Take advantage of opportunity.

10. Take responsibility.

11. Take action.

12. Make mistakes.

13. Be willing to take risks.

14. Keep your eyes on the prize.

15. Balance yourself.

16. Invest, don’t spend!

17. Stick with it until you win!

18. Develop and maintain a positive attitude.

19. Help your friends.

20. Share and start again!

Good morning on this grey Friday. The word of the day and persistence. I’m standing outside of the 125.
with a beautiful new window.
I am accompanied with Javier, who poses the question, what are you going to do with this space?

Well Javier, with a fresh coat of paint, and a bit of innovation, we will be creating a woolly bugger of sorts.

Matt Semler says “it’s a beautiful window. It looks great! congratulations”

Thanks Matt, I like it too…

So, what to do?

Number one, put a fresh coat of black paint on the exterior.
Number two, paint the interior white.
Number three, conspire with Javier as to what will go in this window for next weeks blog world NYC Expo.
Javier- that is easy, a QR code definitely.
John- okay, where will it direct you…
You’ll have to come and see…

Progress is made and we are happy in midtown! signing off.
Panman

Hosted by Panman, with collaborative installments by Freakcast, Nicholas Shifrin, and fashion designs by Jensen Martin.  The event is the merging of creative talents with an experimental vibe. Expect to be surprised, wowed, and inspired.

Art enthusiasts, friends & family and those who might be cosmically drawn are invited to mingle and participate a night of mixology.

When – Thursday, March 31 · 6:00pm – 10:00pm

Where – The Roger Smith Hotel Solarium (16th floor) and Henrys rooftop bar

501 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017

This event is brought to you by RS Pop, Panman, Lionesque, and the Roger Smith Hotel.

What to expect? Check out the video play-list below…

A marketing nugget is a trueism about best practice in marketing. It is a bit of information encouraged to be shared and contemplated by the masses. While at South by South West 2011, we @RShotel, asked top marketing minds to share their valuable insight in to the world of digital and offline marketing.

Thanks to all who participated.

Please share, comment and engage…
Enjoy

Marketing Nuggets #SXSW 2011

Carl Smith Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Matt Johnston Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Sarah Prevette Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Jon Schmidt Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

David Meerman Scott Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Renee Alexander Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

John Jantsch Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Aliza Sherman Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Ronald Waters Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Jon Edwards Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Khayyam Wakil Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Jeff Pulver Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Thomas Edwards Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Kosha Dillz Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Richard Propper Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

John Knowles Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Jim Caruso Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Jon Lazar Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Jamie Scheu Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Daniel Delaney Marketing Nugget SXSW 2011

Mark Horvath Marketing Nugget #SXSW 2011

There was a moment when a mixtape was gestures of friendship… well, probably more than friendship. In fact it was a gift predominantly made from a male to a female or vice versa, that indicated a common interest in music and style. You sought to impress through your taste in song selection, sequence and novelty. Past mix tapes read like a chronology of ones past experiences.

In the classic compilation, “We both know why you are here” mix, my brother James crafted an arrangement of sexy songs with objective of setting the perfect mood. The mix was designed to start off innocent enough… only to progress so that at the perfect moment for both parties would happen to a great soundtrack.

Speaking of my brother’s influence, I want to introduce DJ Jimbo to the scene. Undoubtedly the product of some grimy beats this kid is destined for music genius. With practice and guidance from uncle Panman, this kid will be creating hot tracks before his second birthday.

My objective is to sort through this collection of tapes and sample the best moments into a new compilation.  With a sense of the history of the music and the people who listened to it, I will dive into it with style and grace. To keep the listener intrigued and excited with anticipation for each consecutive track is an objective.

Who gave you your first mix tape? What did it mean to you? What was on it? I am interested in hearing about you past music experiences.  Please comment, share and engage.

Thanks

Panman

About Roger Smith Shorts

The Roger Smith Shorts is a short narrative film series, that brings together emerging filmmakers to create original works all hosted at the Roger Smith Hotel in New York City. In August of 2009, 6 filmmakers were hosted at the Roger Smith Hotel to participate in the first biannual film festival workshop of its kind.

Roger Smith Shorts Film Festival 2009.

Fast forward to June 2010 for the second installment of the Roger Smith Shorts that were premiered in front of a sold out audience at the Brooklyn International Film Festival on June 11, 2010. All films were shot in and around the Roger Smith Hotel making it the backdrop for the entire series.

Roger Smith Shorts 2010

Stay tuned for a schedule of screenings for the Roger Smith Shorts.

When I had initially read the disturbing description for director and writer Tom Six’s The Human Centipede as, “a nutshell, it’s about a mad doctor who sews the mouths of living humans to the asses of others, in hopes of creating and sustaining a centipede-like monstrosity”, my first thoughts were, I have to see this. When I was done watching it at the IFC theater in NY City, my second thoughts quickly reverted to,  “Oh… I really wish I never saw that.”

Predictable, ridiculous, and uncomfortable, this movie was everything I didn’t think it was going to be.

I must say, I felt let down. How could a movie about mouths getting sewn to asses go wrong? I walked into the theater almost positive this was going to be it; the movie that I could finally walk away from bubbling over with enthusiasm, making others envious at my awe of how spectacular it was to witness the first human centipede…ever. Not.

First off, you have two stereotypical American girls, Jenny (Ashlynn Yennie) and Lindsay (Ashley C. Williams), who are traveling throughout Europe, but they just happen to not know how to follow directions or change a flat. You would think that they may possibly be more on the adventurous side, being that they are traveling alone throughout an entire continent. Instead, they happen to be complete inept airheads, who would typically be found gyrating with muscle heads in some Long Island club to the sounds of “Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me”?

So of course, they get a flat tire, in what seems to be in the middle of nowhere, while it is raining, in the dead of the night, and end up walking aimlessly through woods. With no houses in sight, they finally end up at the front door of the one house that they happen to stumble upon, which just so happens to be residence of a mad surgeon, Dr. Heiter (Dieter Laser).

In all honesty, I was able to look past the idiot girls and the predictability, cause heck, every horror movie, is known for its contradicting characters and predictable story line, so I still didn’t totally give up on the movie at this point. There was still hope, and my attention was still there, and I actually was finding all of this quite humorous and entertaining.

Then, to make matters worse, the doctor is the creepiest looking dude in existence. He offers the girls water, and but of course they accept, and who would of thought, but oh no, there’s GHB dissolved in it, the date rape drug!

So after Dr. Lunatic is successful at drugging the girls, he transports them to a bed, where they are consequently tied up, while connected to an IV.

Long story, short, Dr. Heiter is looking for three blood matches, so that he could connect the three together successfully. Previous to the girls, he had captured a chubby truck driver, who he found on the side of the road as he was performing “number two”, shooting him with a tranquilizer-filled dart gun, at his most vulnerable state of outdoor excretion. Fortunately for him, he is not a match with the two girls, and so the good doctor must go out and find the right third, who turns out to be Japanese character, Katsuro (Akihiro Kitamura).

Katsuro, Jenny, and Lindsay awake from their sedation, in Dr. Heiter’s cellar, alongside each other, in separate hospital beds. Dr. Heiter is not only kind enough to introduce himself and his background as a surgeon, specializing in separating Siamese twins, but he also takes the time out of his busy schedule, to present them with a visual presentation of how he is going to perform the mouth to ass surgery, on none other than, the three of them. He also elaborates on the digestion process, and how all three will be connected by one connective system of digestion, where the food will be eaten by the first, then passed through the anus, into the mouth of the second, upon which the same is repeated through the third, and finally, excreted. Understandably, they all freak out upon hearing this, especially Katsuro who rages in Japanese, screaming at how he is going to kick the doctor’s ass, but obviously unable to, due to the hand restraints.

We see Dr. Heiter performing parts of the surgery, but not all that much of it, and it may have been more visually appealing if they showed more of the actual cutting.

During the surgery, I kept thinking that if it were me that were one of the parts of the centipede, I would definitely prefer to be the first part, therefore my mouth would not have to be on anyone’s ass, and of course I would not have to ingest anyone’s feces.

Luckily for Katsuro, he gets to be the lead, and also have a girls mouth on his ass, so I don’t know why he keeps bitching throughout the movie. Not so lucky for the second segment, which is Lindsay, who literally has to take his shit. While Jenny’s mouth is connected to Lindsay’s rear, she is fortunate enough to escape the second passing, because there seems to be a god after all; Lindsay just happens to be constipated!

I had a problem with the way the centipede looked in its entirety. The connection between the mouths and asses were actually covered by bandages, so it didn’t really seem all that real. I also had an issue with the constant crying and moaning of the centipede. Not only did it feel like a strange porno, but it was annoying and distracting, and while I can handle any amount of gore, I think that too much of an unpleasant sound can become psychologically irritating.

Also, I didn’t really like the doctor’s relationship between him and the centipede, and how abusive and domineering he was toward it. Call me strange, but perhaps, if he was loving towards his Frankensteinian monstrosity, in a creepy sort of way, it would have been easier to watch.

At a Northern American premiere of The Human Centipede, when Tom Six was asked what his inspiration for the film was, he said, “It’s a really simple idea.” “I always made the joke to friends… if somebody was nasty or annoying…I said…to stitch his mouth to the ass of a fat truck driver…that’s horrible. That is really horrible and I thought that’s a great idea for a horror film,” he said.

Six explained to the audience that he actually went to a surgeon in Rome, who was also a movie lover and read the script. The surgeon ended up giving Six a detailed version of how such an operation would be performed, and also claimed that the procedure in the movie is  100% medically accurate and that if it were to be done in reality, the centipede could actually live a “really long time”.

After watching Six’s appearance at the premier, I came away with the impression that he has a good sense of humor and does not seem to take himself, or the idea too seriously. His lighthearted approach towards the film adds a different perspective towards it, and while I do think that the concept of the movie is fascinating, its execution was not, so much so.

It was an honor to introduce the Roger Smith Shorts at the venue in which they were created, to an audience of film creators and enthusiasts. In August 2009, 6 films were created as part of the Roger Smith Shorts FIlm Festival Workshop. The Roger Smith Hotel is a perfect venue to bring together creative individuals to explore the film-making process. The 2010 Roger Smith Shorts Directors and collaborators are; John Knowles, Aleks Degtyarev, John Birdsong, Abianne Prince and Melissa Gonzalez.

I think it is important to thank and recognize Paul Farkas and Sally Golan for putting together Social Cinema Week, better known as SoCin. It is a festival style gathering that will create platforms, networks and relationships that will help facilitate the convergence social media and cinema.

About SoCin
Social Media has changed the face of virtually every consumer-related industry. It is now a primary tool for marketing and distribution running the full range from webisodes, TV shows, networks, and major motion pictures alike. In socializing cinema, the very way audiences view and enjoy entertainment itself has changed as co-viewing evolves along new social platforms and added screen involvement. By situating cinema, programs and movies are moving outside beyond the theater and living room in real-time and becoming living media alongside our daily lives. Profound social good and edutainment increasingly results from the global connection and information provided by dramatically lower barriers of entry, user generated content, word or mouth and viralization.
SoCin recognizes the game-changing impact of Social Media and the web on the Film and TV industry. Its Social Cinema Week aims to provide balanced panels of leading experts from both Film and TV as well as those with social expertise. Importantly, SoCins new approach to industry networking parties provide intimate environments to take these conversations further, spark academic debate, and begin building Social Cinema best practices.

In the new world of the Social Internet it is a pleasure to be involved in its evolution. As a creator, an enthusiasts and a facilitator, I am thrilled to see the excitement and momentum happening in Midtown at the Roger Smith Hotel. We dare to follow our dreams and begin to believe that we should expect results. Destined and determined to achieve greatness we are humbled by the community and film-making process. What I have learned is that there is little time to sleep and all the time to dream.

Feedback is very important for our growth and community engagement. Be sure to follow our Roger Smith Short Tumblr account and reach out with comments.

http://therogersmithshorts.tumblr.com/

Thanks for your continued interest.

Panman