Letters
Lazy Sunday: David Shayne Double Feature
Dear Kay,
In the early days of our blog, we mercilessly featured our children doing winsome things like winding 8-pound balls of finger knitting, jumping on beds covered in king-sized knitted blankets, and sitting near fake holiday displays so as to spotlight our Christmas stocking pattern. We have shamelessly dressed girls in knitted dresses in vaguely bridesmaid-y settings. We don’t apologize for this; we kept the Toblerones flowing, so all was well.
It was a pretty sweet situation until our children outsmarted us and moved out of the house.
Still, I’m nothing if not relentless in using my children for content, so this morning I’d like to point you to two recent things my lad David has been working on. He’s working on documentary films and music videos, so settle in for a quick movie festival.
Film Number 1: Documentary
David edited The Paradise Next Door, a recent New York Times Op-Doc by the director Lance Oppenheim, who is a flat-out prodigy. It’s a quick trip to The Villages in central Florida, the world’s largest retirement community of 130,000 folks who have found the fountain of youth. Lance’s feature-length exploration of The Villages, Some Kind of Heaven, goes deeper into the lives of three Villages residents, and David worked on the editing of that as well.
Film Number 2: Music Video
Austin Weber is a singer-songwriter who lives in a technicolor world where love is always right over the next hill. A deep vein of pop runs in his soul—he’s definitely blood type Abba Positive. I love his songs, and his newest one is the sweetest vibe ever. If Burt Bacharach and Beck had a baby, it would be Austin Weber.
David directed the video for Austin’s new song, “When She Calls.” That’s it up top, shot in the California desert.
Love,
Ann
Both splendid, as always! You should be so proud!
Congratulations! Lance Oppenheim isn’t the only prodigy!
Wonderful diversions! You must be so proud!
So great, Ann.
Wonderful work by your talented son! Thanks for sharing.
Creative genes travel on to the next generation—I love seeing what out kids turn us into!
Perfect for Sunday morning. Thanks for sharing. Such a talented family!
If David is done with that yellow Mustang, I’d be happy to take it off his hands! Great vids!!
I had a similar thought!
Shameless promotion of one’s children is always allowed. LOVE the video!
Great stuff! So much talent in one family, you have much reason to be proud. Thanks for sharing!
I love it! More. Anytime.
Great way to start the day!
I laughed. I cried, (seriously). The video was perfect joy. Thank you for sharing your son’s whimsical, adorable genius with all of us!!
Terrific pieces! Congratulations to David!
Whew, creativity runs in the genepool. I can’t wait to see what he does in the future!
What a sweet, funny, uplifting video! Your lanky lad has a unique, creative vision. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Love it! I grew up in the California desert!
I had seen the piece on The Villages in The NY Times, great piece! Proud Mama! Kinda makes up for those teenage years, doesn’t it?
Thanks so much for sharing your son’s work!
Proud mother plugs are always fine! Great work, David M. Shayne! I never watch the op-docs in NYT, maybe I’ll have to start!
Beautiful work by your son, Ann! Love it to pieces.
I love this! It made me feel so light-hearted and cheerful (rare for these days). I sent the link to all my friends who loved it too. Thank you and well-done!