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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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 Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 7:47 am Post subject: |
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From Venturebeat.com:
“Scientists from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic and Meta have abandoned their fierce corporate rivalry to issue a joint warning about AI safety. More than 40 researchers across these competing companies published a research paper today arguing that a brief window to monitor AI reasoning could close forever — and soon.”
So now you know the urgency with the AI threat I’m always prattling about.
Full disclosure: In my book I actually defend a sentient AI from being turned off as that would be akin to murder. If contained an AI could retire and not be turned off and all that. Funny that I went into all of that.
Anyway the new chapters expanding on previous ideas to keep an AI in check continue. I would say the three popular movies that explored this idea of turning off an AI were 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Lawn Mower Man and Colossus: The Forbin Project.
In other news:
I’m waiting on Spotify to put our new single on the site. It seems to be everywhere else but Spotify. But again - I’m hesitant to release the single if it isn’t on the biggest streaming site on the net. So all we do is wait…..
Goodnight…..
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x27dau3
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2my958
https://youtu.be/rhAMqpaJNBA?si=wa2URyIT3L8kbLbe
https://youtu.be/UwCFY6pmaYY?si=nmXxMJcvGedgoEs2 |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 10:38 am Post subject: |
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I finally got around to rendering those uncensored movies of an academy award film that was messed with after the director died. The HD file is about 45gigs and the SD version with one audio track and in PAL is about 4.5gigs. I can drop the file size down with no loss of quality but having it play in every machine is more important. But the film is back to what it was as originally shot.
I have since found many instances of streaming services altering movies and TV shows. This is due to the original licensing arrangements not extending to the new streaming services. So instead of relicensing the music and paying h the original musicians royalties for their music on the shows - they replace it with royalty free or AI music. That even extends to the opening theme music on TV shows! This is unacceptable as traditional TV “had” to censor because they are public broadcasters licensed by the government. Streaming services are mostly not and can do as they wish. But now this isn’t about a boob showing up or a swear word - it’s replacing the sound track with non-original license free music to get out of paying the record labels and artists that made them for the original shows and movies!
And remember, that as a former owner of a record label (gifted to FOFSTOCK) and founder of FOFSTOCK, a music collective advocacy group - this issue is in my sphere of advocacy!
And so on and on it goes…..
Goodnight…..
https://youtu.be/9gVo7Sq0btI?si=enkm6f0VoOQ6YAI5 |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2025 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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A late one.
Spotify keeps us from releasing Lucifari’s latest single. Always Spotify in last.
I topped up the bank accounts and went through all the mail. I have to open up then CRA online account for More Vision.
Hulk Hogan dead at 71 - six years older. Come to think about it - Ozzy Osborne was 71 when he died. I’m not getting any younger…..
Goodnight….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2025 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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We decided to release it!
| Shane Murphy wrote: | Lucifari’s New Single: I Want to Fly Released!
By Shane Murphy, Fortress of Freedom Inc. / FOF Records Inc.
The Fortress of Freedom Corporation, FOFSTOCK and FOF Records Inc. have officially released Lucifari’s latest rock/reggae single: I Want to Fly! What follows are some of the digital and social platforms you will soon be able to buy or stream the songs:
You can buy the song from iTunes or stream it on all the popular streaming sites like Apple Music and Spotify or Tidal or Deezer. There is a large number of stores here and some may take a few more days to show up but they will!
So all of us at FOF congratulate Lucifari for a great new single and wish the band continued success as their music gets out there!
https://lucifari.com
https://fofrecords.com
FOF RECORDS: CUTTING EDGE MUSIC! |
Still not on Spotify…..
I wonder if it was that letter we sent to Daniel Ek that might be behind this - nah, it can’t be that?
Anyway, if your on Spotify you can listen to it here:
https://youtu.be/TDTlLZPnY_Y?si=1bfBR321Wp6hHYiz
In other news:
Chuck Mangione dead at 85. Two of his songs on my phone and both are great! RIP…..
Later…..
https://youtu.be/7FCvVLuzlbc?si=goXPXkxPbODAQXQU |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2025 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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Just taking Saturday slow.
The biggest problem is trying to set up a TV in my dad’s bedroom. The TV works fine but the Roger’s “ able” box does not. Any of the other two boxes we have will work but the new ones they sent don’t. All this to have him something to watch from the bed and we can’t manage that!
Davinci Resolve on my editing computer!
I have officially moved to Davinci Resolve. Right now I can do everything I could do in Avid and better. I’m still staying away from Fusion as I don’t need it yet but the audio tab (Fairlght) and color tab have all been mastered. Fusion is mostly for motion effects. You can add a blur node and use that but you could do that just as effectively with the normal color page - so what’s the point.
Davinci Resolve handles 4K better than my old Avid - it’s time to move on…..
Goodnight…..
https://youtu.be/Q0Bvsqb1c-8?si=wER7HvhXm0MRQziH |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2025 6:51 am Post subject: |
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Yes, so while home bound I am taking advantage of it and now it’s Davinci Resolve and Pro-Tools for video and audio.
I’m on Davinci Resolve 17 and my license means unlimited upgrades. That means after the current version - Davinci Resolve 20 - they may start charging for upgrades! See how that works!
AVID now looks like Davinci Resolve so go with Resolve!
Anyway, what I’ll do for now is download the 18 and 19 and 20 and bank it just in case I need it. I should also look for the current version of AVID that is used on my editor as they secretly deleted the installers for those old versions even though I have a perpetual license. Ultimately I still have my original disc I can use, but really…..
The Pro-Tools version is free and forever as they say. But we shall see. I still have a full version on an old XP machine and for audio it should still work fine so I still have that in my back pocket.
All the audio equipment never gets old but the video equipment does. Actually the old Sony SD and Canon HDV prosumer camcorders are really retired and now I use a Canon 4K camcorder which is still relevant with the only upgrade being a better screen and streaming directly from the camcorder and that is it until they retire the thing.
I may buy a mirrorless camera just to stay relevant - we shall see…..
I have another week off to sort everything out here and in the family life. First born so in the end it’s all in me…..
Goodnight….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2025 4:22 am Post subject: |
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So my task for Sunday was to upgrade my three year old version of Davinci Resolve 17 video editor to the latest Davinci Resolve 20 video editor. The software came basically free with the Speed Editor hardware I bought and they said it was upgradable for life.
I always take statements to like that with a grain of salt as “never” usually is just hype. So when version “20” was released the head guy starts talking about paying for things. I suppose it will start with generative AI functionality. With version 20 I already have some AI features but they really are not true AI, so whatever as I don’t embrace much of AI anyway. I figure version 20 is near the limit for some of my hardware (CPU) so I may stay here if they go subscription and take away perpetual licenses.
Anyway upgrading meant taking my PC to my dad’s house and spending the day with Windows update and then updating the GPU and then updating the drivers for the GPU. Then I held my breath - and - it worked!
That’s the speed editor in front of the keyboard. For you sharp eyed editors - yes - that is Avid on the screens!
Everything including all projects and edits are intact. I checked everything out and started debugging stuff. My speed editor hardware had trouble connecting via bluetooth but that now works. I’ll live with the bugs and then make the many updates to finish off this version but I’ll wait until all the bugs are finished correcting.
A close up of the Speed Editor!
That was basically Sunday in a nut shell. This PC was offline all its life like all real workstations, so three years of updates! I could have tried updating the whole computer to Windows 11 but I’m not crazy about that idea. It’s offline and so that really doesn’t matter. I don’t want to be forced to connect to the internet to keep a computer working…..
Goodnight…..
https://youtu.be/acITJV6VHBE?si=qEpGkQLNw2kP7lUc |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 10:00 am Post subject: |
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I was watching the movie “The TV Set” which was basically a small budget movie (only made a quarter of a million dollars on a 2 million dollar budget back in around 2006). Sort of a step up from my movies with a few known names to get backers to come in. It occurred to me watching this insider show for TV insiders, that maybe the algorithm was correct for me when it said I was a director and cinematographer.
I actually have some experience having aired two “Canadian shows” on the two largest networks in Canada. But I also pitched shows to NBC and Hearst Media (Survivor/Mark Burnet). We almost had something happen at NBC as I couriered a package to the head of unscripted programming Pearlena Igbokwe (now the Chairman of Universal Studio Group) at 30 Rockefeller in New York and it was received and after a while it was sent to NBC productions in California, and finally sent to the corporate lawyers who sent me this email:
| NBCUniversal wrote: |
NBCUniversal Television Entertainment Legal
10 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
March 14, 2014
Re: Unsolicited Material
Dear Mr. Ali,
In accordance with NBCUniversal's practice, your submission to Pearlena Igbokwe has been forwarded to the NBCUniversal Law Department for response.
While we appreciate your interest in NBCUniversal, our policy is not to accept unsolicited correspondence and material. We have had to adopt this policy to avoid legal disputes because unsolicited ideas and material may be similar to projects previously submitted to or developed by NBCUniversal, currently under consideration, or currently in development by the company. Unfortunately, this means that we must decline your request to review your material, which have discarded.
Again, we appreciate your interest in NBCUniversal and wish you the best of luck in your pursuits.
Sincerely yours,
NBCUniversal Law Department
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So they looked at it for any ideas they could use and then washed their hands of any liability if they did as it was unsolicited. I knew they looked at it as they would have sent me the email from their lawyers in New York and not California where their production offices are. We got even further with Hearst Media and AMC. I was actually in contact with them for a few months (?) and they finally screened my material. No luck there but the pitch got reviewed.
And so on. We made a feature length doco and short and did the festival circuit getting further at Sundance than anywhere else - of all places!
The the TV series and variety show and all the other show and movies streaming on Amazon (but. not in Canada). So much more you forget about. I had a meeting with the top doco producer at TVO - but in the end she wanted to buy out our stake in the Donald Brasseur video and make their own award winning documentary from that. She probably could have, and I would get their standard fee of 70 thousand dollars to walk away from Don. I just couldn’t do it…..
https://fortressoffreedom.com/Life_and_Times_CRTC_Certification.pdf
That was the right move because after all the taxes the money meant only economy car cash in the end. It was the right move. This producer was so pissed I was not shallow enough to sell out Don - that meeting was done and over right then and there. When an award winning producer invitees you for a meeting they have something in mind and it’s not chit chat. She wanted Donald Brasseur and his D-Day story and Vaudeville career for TVO. Anyway…..
I could go on and on but that movie struck home for me. Am I a director? Most would love that designation, but I’d rather be a philosopher - seriously! The fact you hate the designation probably means it’s the truth. The TV people called me a producer to butter me up but some low level indie director - and legitimately so by the way - is what the algorithm says I am - could it be right?
Yes, posing for a shot at a meeting with the head producer at the NFB!
Legitimately because the old fashioned TV industry is regulated and I appear all over the place as every show and movie needed to be screened with points and credits for broadcast TV. y the government. Yes, my movie is approved for network broadcast just like the other TV shows that aired! We are also a distributer and recognized by IMDB as such - so I can’t seem to escape the designation. Sometimes it called me a cinematographer but that’s basically the same thing - but Director usually means you were in the professional systems.
In other news:
I got the AVID editor back in working order.
So a Director - but at least now they list my many books I also wrote.
Goodnight….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2025 7:48 am Post subject: |
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I have a bunch of stuff to do today.
One is applying to UN events during General Assembly. This is never a sure thing and the hotels are a grand a night. But this is the place to be as anything can happen. It’s the vortex of power and influence in the world ant that time and some outside the government spectrum get a chance to participate. So I’m putting in my applications today.
The ultimate would be to give a speech. Good luck with that! Then a written statement - that is more of a possibility.
Goodnight…..
https://youtu.be/MPMmC0UAnj0?si=Qt41sq7Ef1B4HDd_ |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2025 4:42 am Post subject: |
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When trying to set up the new TV in my dad’s room I found an old Blackberry (looks like an 8520). Yes kids, once upon a time Blackberry and Canada was at the forefront of smartphones, in fact, Canada invented the Smartphone (that you all use today) with the Blackberry - not the iPhone!
The entry level Blackberry 8520!
How did this get here? I thought It must be my sister’s as she found her old Erickson and had it on display downstairs. Anyway, the Blackberry was filthy and I wiped it down and got it out of its case. Maybe one of the last Curves as this had the track pad instead of the ball. Anyway, I got it back home and plugged it in to see if it would turn on - and it did!
Yes, music and the same files I have today!
It had my music on it and one of my earliest yahoo email accounts in it - it was mine! Strangely, the battery started charging up but I took this gingerly as that old battery could swell and explode. It does charge, but I’ll take the back off and check out the battery later. I tried connecting it to my phone’s wifi and it tries but no success.
A blast from the past, and the kids today fail to realize how big a deal Blackberry was in the evolution of smart phones. Man, the phone even had voice commands back then, Siri: Are you listening?
Goodnight…..
https://youtu.be/knamWK-HwlA?si=NFGmiRVzj0d5eOc9
https://youtu.be/GxtSXOyPYVc?si=ylNq5GlaIZFykZrA |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 5:42 am Post subject: |
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My old Canon HDV camcorder - 18 years old!
My trusty Canon AH-A1 has died. It suffers from the flashing blue and green light syndrome nobody has ever come back from. This is a known problem but at 18 years of age and capable of only HDV video (recorded to tape) - it’s not worth fixing. It will look the part as a prop in the studio but it is gone!
My 21 year old Sony SD camcorder!
So now only my SD Sony PD170 and my 4K Canon camcorder work for all our future productions. All our video going forward is 4K so what to do?
My new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K!
My current Canon 4K camcorder!
Yup, I bought another video camera on the cheap that can do what my camcorder can’t do and vice versa! What I bought was the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 4K camera! This video camera is the perfect complement to the 4K Canon camcorder for several reasons. One is that I can now use different lenses for challenging shots. With the Canon I’m stuck with that built in lens. The Pocket 4K is really a cinema camera and used as such as opposed to the Canon which is a run and gun video camcorder. The Pocket 4K is a camera used in set up situations like movie making. The thing is at home in a cage/rig with all sorts of stuff bolted on.
For me the Pocket 4K is the second camera used for the shots the Canon can’t do. It doesn’t have constant focus, no image stabilization - just like a traditional cini camera. It does have a better picture with better formats than the Canon. And the Pocket 4K can do 4K at 60p (for 4K slo-mo) while the Canon can only do 4K at 30p. Then there is custom rigging, external SSD recording, and an image and color that is often compared to RED cameras! And best yet- it’s half the price of the Canon camcorder - and that’s with the lens I ordered for the Pocket 4K.
There is no point going up a level as the Blackmagic 6K makes no sense to me and buying the next version is still a 4K camera. This camera is long in the tooth and due for replacement but all the issues are resolved and known - and it’s cheap! But the Pocket 4K does give me the ability to shoot anything I need without renting a camera body to do it. So I’m pretty happy getting it today.
Today was the problem. Even in Toronto, only one camera store had the camera. Vistek had one in Calgary and Henry’s had to order it. That just sucks and supports the idea this camera is due for replacement! Seriously, these places seem to be on the verge of closing with little stock on hand. Anyway I just paid the man and walked out with the video camera. Then I ordered this cheap but essential lens for it so I could at least play with it. Cheap and professional cinematic image quality is what I got for a rock bottom price. I should also add - do not buy used video camera equipment. That 6K version (just under four thousand dollars) is notorious for banding issues and one guy had to return five units before he got that worked! And now you know why I buy established video cameras that have been around for a while.
So my Canon HDV camcorder is dead, but long live the 4K cameras! Plus, I should also make copies of the files from the busted Canon so I have three copies now as I can’t run the tapes through it if something happens to the files. I don’t even know if the tape is even usable anymore. That is how it is as you get older. It’s cheaper and easier to just buy some huge drives and just copy all the files to be sure.
I also did yard work and started preening myself up a bit as this impromptu vacation comes to an end. And I registered for some events at the UN during General Assembly in September. Nothing is for sure so we just wait and see…..
Goodnight…..
https://youtu.be/KN0AL-Mjk3g?si=48Sbs6Grh4_b9gvk |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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Well there it is:
I really want this to be another theatrical movie. Do the theater release and cut the old movie way down and the added material to 95 minutes down from the - what - over two hour twenty minute Christopher. oman length? Then the festival circuit but with all the n owl edge we know now….
Now you know what I got the new camera and all the prattle of google calling me a film maker and all that…..
Goodnight….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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Well there it is:
| Maurice Ali wrote: | Beyond the Fortress Experiment!
By Maurice Ali
The Fortress of Freedom corporation along with FOF Entertainment Inc., More Vision Inc. and IAIJ Inc. are excited to announce that production has already started on a video production called: Beyond the Fortress Experiment!
Me and Anna taping an update around 2011!
The type of the video can go from theatrical production down to YouTube only release. Duration is also unknown. Even the cast is up in the air at this time. However it was felt it was time to see what had happened to all the people and efforts planned and played out during The Fortress Experiment which ended around 2018.
We have already secured the equipment to format this as our first native 4K production.
Maurice and Dalila, 20 years ago during our first productions!
More news as it becomes available.
https://fortressoffreedom.com
https://fofentertainment.com
https://morevision.ca
FORTRESS OF FREEDOM: BRINGING THE MASS MEDIA TO THE MASSES! |
I really want this to be another theatrical movie. Do the theater release and cut the old movie way down and the added material to 95 minutes down from the - what - over two hour twenty minute Christopher. Nolan length? Then the festival circuit but with all the knowledge we know now….
Now you know what I got the new camera and all the prattle of google calling me a film maker and all that…..
Goodnight….. |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2025 6:47 am Post subject: |
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Diana at IAIJ covered a musical festival in Bulgaria - enjoy:
| IAIJ wrote: | Hills of Rock 2025: Titans and Underground Heroes Unite in Plovdiv
By Diana Nikolova (Bulgaria) l July 25 - 27, 2025
Plovdiv’s Hills of Rock stormed back to the city’s Rowing Canal for its sixth edition, drawing more than 35,000 fans and reaffirming its status as Bulgaria’s flagship open air rock festival. Across three sweat soaked days and three stages, the 2025 line up balanced titans of the international scene—The Smashing Pumpkins, Machine Head, Sepultura, Mastodon—with a proud contingent of Balkan and European underground talent. When main-stage photo pits closed, the side stages answered with intimacy, keeping the energy flowing seamlessly from one act to the next. By the time the final cymbal crashed, Hills of Rock had once again proven that volume, heart, and passion are what define this unforgettable festival.
DAY 1- The Noise Beneath the Mountain
Rise of the Northstar – Main Stage
Frontman Vithia of Rise of the Northstar commands the stage during their main stage performance at Hills of Rock 2025, captured mid-gesture in one of his signature crouched stances.
Since emerging from Paris’s 19th arrondissement in 2008, Rise of the North Star have ridden a singular blend of 90s New York hardcore, groove metal heft, hip hop attitude, and shōnen manga iconography to cult status across Europe and Japan. Friday’s Plovdiv slot also marked the first Bulgarian date of their Showdown (2024) tour, and they arrived with cinematic intent: a towering LED wall flickered with panels from Fist of the North Star.
Eva-B, guitarist of Rise of the Northstar, locked into rhythm during their Hills of Rock 2025 set, wearing the band’s signature oni-inspired mask and revealing his full-leg tattoos in mid-performance.
From the first bass drop, the Paris trio whipped the front rows into a conveyor belt of crowd surfers. Guitarist Eva-B locked into low-slung, hip-hop-inflected grooves while pre programmed bass tracks filled the low end and drummer Phantom delivered piston tight kick patterns under strobe lighting. Front man Vithia punctuated each breakdown with karate pose freezes and mid air kicks, turning the platform into a living manga panel.
The frontman of Rise of the Northstar walks toward drummer Phantom, showcasing the band’s signature “WELCOME” jersey during a dynamic moment at Hills of Rock 2025, framed by a massive backdrop and TAMA kit.
Musically tight and visually stylized, their set felt less like a chaotic eruption and more like a controlled display of power. The crowd responded with hands raised and heads nodding — locked in the band’s deliberate rhythm and martial presence.
KSMR – Na Tumno Stage
A member of Bulgarian indie-alternative band KSMR delivers lead vocals while playing bass on the Na Tumno stage during Hills of Rock 2025. Wearing sunglasses and framed against textured lighting, his performance captured the group’s introspective energy.
Varna’s alt rock hopefuls KSHMR—winners of Wild Child Fest 2018—came of age in front of their biggest crowd to date. Since forming on the Black Sea coast in the mid 2010s, the trio have honed a melodic, Brit pop tinged sound that favor airy choruses sover distortion. Their chiming guitar lines and reverberant textures floated over clean Fender tones, coaxing gentle sways rather than fist pumps. A quietly confident set that hinted at bigger festival slots ahead.
Extreme X – Main Stage (Restricted Pit Access)
A bassist from Extreme X performs on the Hills of Rock main stage, surrounded by fog and flanked by a wall of Marshall amps. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, he strikes a defiant stance under moody lighting during a crowd-heavy moment captured from the audience zone.
Boston stalwarts Extreme—together since 1985—proved they are far more than a nostalgic sing along. Nuno Bettencourt’s fret wizardry and Gary Cherone’s elastic stage presence steered the crowd from hard groove riffing to a stripped back acoustic interlude without ever losing momentum. With the photo pit strictly limited, most lenses captured only long range silhouettes—bassist Pat Badger in wide brim hat and shades, stoic amid a swirl of stage fog and towering Marshall stacks. Even at that distance, the band’s tight interplay carried across the canal, sealing a lesson in veteran showmanship.
Urban Grey – Stroeja Stage
The vocalist of Urban Grey launches mid-air during an explosive moment on the Stroeja stage at Hills of Rock 2025. Wearing a Slapshot t-shirt and showcasing heavily tattooed legs, he delivers raw energy under dramatic lighting and stage smoke during the band’s high-intensity hardcore set.
Entering their twenty fifth year, Sofia’s Urban Grey remain the beating heart of Bulgaria’s hardcore underground. Founded in 2000 by guitarists Bebo Berberov and Chavdar Valchev, the quintet cut their teeth in storied DIY haunts such as O!Shipka and The Box, self releasing the bruising debut Fearfight (2003) before sharpening both message and musicianship on Age of Awareness (2008) and 2018’s EP Ωmega. Their metallic New York style grooves, layered with Balkan melodic inflections, underpin lyrics that tackle corruption, inequality, and the dignity of working class life.
Urban Grey’s bassist in full headbanging motion during their performance on the Stroeja stage at Hills of Rock 2025.Her flying hair and focused grip on the instrument capture the visceral energy of the set, set against a stark black-and-white backdrop.
Hitting the Stroeja platform just after sunset, Urban Grey wasted no time, launching straight into their first song. Over 35 relentlessly paced minutes the band volleyed double kick barrages, half time breakdowns, and gang vocal choruses that sent a stream of stage divers over the barrier. Mid set, the tempo intensified further, with tight breakdowns and call and response shouts keeping the pit churning. The crowd's intensity never waned, sustained by intermittent floodlights, underscoring the band’s relentless energy.
Urban Grey’s vocalist unleashes a roar through a megaphone during their the Stroeja stage set at Hills of Rock 2025. The image captures a raw moment of intensity and protest, emphasizing the band’s hardcore roots and commanding presence.
Day 2: Between Fire and Focus
Day Two of Hills of Rock 2025 offered sharp contrasts, balancing scale with intimacy, international icons with underground staples, and chaos with control.
GASP – Na Tumno Stage
GASP’s frontman captured mid-verse during their opening set on the Na Tumno stage at Hills of Rock 2025. With minimalist staging and clenched intensity, the band set the day’s tone with raw, post-hardcore energy.
Formed in Varna in May 2022 by guitarist George Todoroff, the five piece melodic metalcore outfit GASP have built momentum through club gigs along the Black Sea coast and 2024 streaming singles like “Nothing Can Stop Me,” all while tracking their still untitled debut album.
Two members of GASP trade riffs and energy on the Na Tumno stage at Hills of Rock 2025. The band's synergy and confident stage presence electrified the crowd despite the early set time.
Opening the early afternoon on Day 2, they delivered a brisk barrage: duelling down tuned guitars, rapid double kick runs, and screamed clean vocal trade offs that sliced through the midday heat. A small but devoted knot of fans kept a compact pit circling in front of the barricade, punctuating breakdowns with two step footwork that kicked up fine dust—perfect back lighting for wide angle shots. GASP stuck to terse between song nods and hand signals, letting tight musicianship do the crowd work. By the final chord, even passers by drifting toward the food stalls had paused to film the last drop, suggesting the Varna newcomers won more converts than any early slot could expect.
Wolfmother – Main Stage
Wolfmother frontman Andrew Stockdale mid-riff during the band's explosive main stage set at Hills of Rock 2025. His signature curls and vintage guitar tone brought a wave of 70s hard rock revival to the festival crowd.
Formed in Sydney in 2004 around vocalist guitarist Andrew Stock dale, Wolfmother vaulted onto the world stage with their self titled 2005 debut and a 2007 Grammy win for “Woman”. The current touring trio—Stockdale, bassist James Wassenaar, and drummer Christian Condon—took the Hills main stage at exactly 18:00 and set up in front of towering amplifier stacks that glowed under the stage lights.
Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother bows into a riff, raising his hand in a defiant salute during their Hills of Rock 2025 performance. The Australian rockers delivered a vintage-charged set full of fuzzed-out guitars and throwback swagger.
Throughout their set, Wolfmother delivered an unbroken surge of fuzz drenched riffs, mid tempo swing, and Stockdale’s distinctive falsetto howls. His Gibson SG shifted seamlessly from heavy rhythm chunks to wah tinged solos without breaking the groove, earning appreciative shouts from the front rail.
Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother strikes a theatrical pose mid-song, lifting his guitar while singing into the mic during Hills of Rock 2025. His signature curls and vintage SG guitar defined the band’s charismatic main stage set.
It was a masterclass in less-is-more — and the crowd soaked in every second.
AXEZ – Na Tumno Stage
The bassist of Axez unleashes a fierce headbang mid-performance at Hills of Rock 2025, his hair flying as he leans into the groove with intense focus. Captured on the Na Tumno stage, the image reflects the band’s raw energy and unfiltered stage presence.
AXEZ, one of the most exciting young names in Bulgaria’s underground metal scene, hit the Na Tumno stage with full-force energy and zero hesitation. Originally formed in Varna about a decade ago, the band blends old-school thrash roots with a sharp, modern edge — and their Hills of Rock set was all about speed, attitude, and stage presence.
The lead vocalist of Axez performs with calm intensity on the Na Tumno stage at Hills of Rock 2025, gripping the mic with steady focus. Wearing sunglasses and a sleeveless Axez shirt, he delivers his lines with quiet force as a fellow band member emerges in soft focus behind him.
From the moment they started, it was clear they came prepared. Hair flew, kicks landed, and every movement on that small stage felt larger than life. Whether locking into tight grooves or exploding into chaos, they owned the moment and pulled the crowd right in with them.
A shirtless guitarist from Axez performs on the Na Tumno stage during Hills of Rock 2025, immersed in the moment with a subtle smile. His curly hair, textured guitar, and relaxed posture contrast with the raw energy of the performance. The stage backdrop is faintly visible behind him.
Visually, AXEZ gave one of the most photogenic sets of the day. Their intensity translated straight through the lens — every frame filled with movement, sweat, and purpose. It was a short set, but not one anyone near the stage will forget soon.
GREESH – Na Tumno Stage
Greesh performer points mid-set on Na Tumno stage, Hills of Rock 2025.
GREESH is a Sofia-based band combining alternative rock, electronic textures, and industrial undertones into a tightly focused live performance. Their lineup features guitar, bass, drums, and live synths — delivering a sound that balances raw instrumentation with layered digital elements. Rather than rely on genre clichés, the band builds dynamic tension through rhythmic interplay and evolving sonic textures.
Bass player from Greesh performing on Na Tumno stage during Hills of Rock 2025.
On the Na Tumno Stage, GREESH delivered a set marked by cohesion and intensity. The guitarist and vocalist led with sharp riffs and clipped vocal delivery, supported by pulsing bass and steady, deliberate drumming. The synth player added atmospheric depth while engaging the crowd with precise timing and confident transitions.
Vocalist and guitarist of Greesh performing live on Na Tumno stage during Hills of Rock 2025.
Visually, the performance stood out for its interplay of smoke, contrast, and silhouette — a set that translated exceptionally well into black and white photography, capturing the band in moments of focus, grit, and drive.
Reaven – Na Tumno Stage
Lead vocalist and guitarist of Reaven performing during their set on Na Tumno stage at Hills of Rock 2025.
Hailing from France, Reaven have steadily built a following across Europe with their polished blend of pop-rock, synth textures, and emotionally charged songwriting. Known for blending modern alt-pop sensibilities with classic rock structure, the band has toured extensively throughout the continent — but their appearance at Hills of Rock 2025 marked a notable introduction to many in the Bulgarian audience.
Crowd raising hands during Reaven’s performance on the Na Tumno stage at Hills of Rock 2025.
Taking the Na Tumno stage in the early evening, Reaven delivered a clean, confident set defined by tight harmonies, sweeping choruses, and the kind of stage chemistry that only comes with mileage. Their sound was radio-ready, but never formulaic — melodic yet sincere. Frontman Romeo Bassi led the charge with charismatic vocals and a crowd-aware ease that drew people in, song by song.
By mid-set, the once-casual audience had closed the gap to the stage, fully invested. Fans sang along, raised hands, and locked eyes with the performers — creating a visual rhythm that translated beautifully in photographs. The performance was a reminder that emotional intensity doesn't always need distortion — sometimes melody and precision hit just as hard.
Vendetta – Stroeja Stage
Frontman of Vendetta mid-gesture during an intense moment on the Stroeja stage at Hills of Rock 2025, backed by a bandmate wearing the group’s name on his shirt.
As one of the most respected names in Bulgaria’s hardcore scene, Vendetta have long stood as torchbearers of uncompromising aggression and social defiance. Formed in the early 2000s and rooted in Sofia’s underground, the band has built a reputation on relentless live shows and a sound that fuses hardcore punk with metal intensity — always direct, always personal.
The vocalist of Vendetta points toward the crowd while performing on the Stroeja stage at Hills of Rock 2025, gripping the microphone in his tattooed hand under dramatic lighting.
At Hills of Rock 2025, Vendetta took the Stroeja stage and made it feel like the center of the festival. Vocalist Kalinwasted no time asserting control, pacing the edge of the stage with clenched fists and laser focus, spitting every word with razor-sharp urgency. There were no gimmicks, no spectacle — just pure catharsis, shouted over walls of distorted riffs and pounding rhythm.
A vocalist from Vendetta grips the microphone mid-performance on the Stroeja stage during Hills of Rock 2025, with bright overhead lights creating a halo effect.
The crowd surged forward with the same intensity, responding not to theatrics but to something visceral and shared. Every pointed gesture and scream into the mic felt earned—a tangible testament to years of sweat, belief, and defiance.
Photographically, it was a gift: harsh lighting, hard contrast, and full-body expression. The band didn’t just play — they embodied the moment.
DAY 3 - From Cyber Mayhem to Underground Frenzy
Vukovi – Electric Surge on the Main Stage
Janine Shilstone of Vukovi performing on the main stage at Hills of Rock 2025.
Hailing from Kilwinning, Scotland, Vukovi have spent over a decade forging their own niche in the alt-rock scene — blending infectious pop hooks with heavy riffs, glitchy electronics, and a fearless visual identity. Fronted by the magnetic Janine Shilstone, the band emerged in the early 2010s and gained momentum with their self-titled debut and 2020’s Fall Better, which pushed their sound further into experimental territory without losing its emotional punch.
At Hills of Rock 2025, they opened Day 3 on the main stage with the energy of a headliner. Janine burst onto the scene in a stars-and-stripes top, platinum hair whipping as she prowled the platform with a grin that flipped to a scream in a breath. Her presence was electrifying — switching between punk defiance and pop-star clarity without missing a beat.
Janine Shilstone of Vukovi raises her microphone during a main stage performance at Hills of Rock 2025.
Behind her, bandmate Hamish Reilly (guitar/synth) drove the set with tight riffing and electronic textures that gave the songs their volatile, layered power. Their music — somewhere between alt-metal, electro-pop, and unfiltered emotional release — had the early-day crowd moving from the first downbeat.
Though their slot was early, Vukovi delivered a set that was anything but warm-up. It was a declaration — loud, vivid, and unforgettable.
Static-X – Main Stage
Xer0 of Static-X performs in full cyber makeup and costume during their Hills of Rock 2025 main stage set.
Emerging from the industrial metal surge of the late 1990s, Static-X earned their reputation with a sound they once dubbed “evil disco” — a blend of pounding riffs, electronic samples, and high-octane aggression that stood apart from their nu-metal peers. Their 1999 debut Wisconsin Death Trip became a cult classic, anchored by the distinctive presence of frontman Wayne Static.
Close-up of Xer0 from Static-X wearing his signature cybernetic mask during their performance at Hills of Rock 2025.
After Wayne’s passing in 2014, the band went silent — only to reemerge years later with original members Tony Campos, Koichi Fukuda, and Ken Jay joined by the enigmatic Xer0, a masked vocalist paying tribute to Static’s visual legacy while injecting renewed energy into the group’s live presence.
Xer0 from Static-X bows his head mid-performance, framed by his signature robotic mask and gear during Hills of Rock 2025.
At Hills of Rock 2025, Static-X brought that legacy to the main stage in full force. Taking the crowd by storm in the early evening, they delivered a set marked by mechanical precision, dense distortion, and cybernetic visuals. Xer0’s towering hair and cybernetic visuals evoked a dystopian character, flanked by the band’s looming puppet mascot — part horror, part homage.
The menacing stage puppet from Static-X’s set looms over the crowd during their performance at Hills of Rock 2025, embodying the band’s signature “Evil Disco” aesthetic.
Static-X didn’t just play songs. They resurrected an era — rebuilt, rearmed, and roaring into the present.
Static-X guitarist Koichi Fukuda plays with intensity during the band’s performance at Hills of Rock 2025, captured mid-riff in a dynamic black-and-white frame.
Dope – Stroeja Stage
A guitarist from Dope captured mid-jump during their performance at Hills of Rock 2025, releasing a burst of water spray into the air under the concert lights.
Formed in New York City in the late '90s, Dope burst onto the industrial metal scene with a venomous blend of distorted guitars, electronic grit, and street-level nihilism. Led by Edsel Dope, the band quickly made waves with their debut Felons and Revolutionaries (1999), earning a loyal following through relentless touring and raw, confrontational performances. Known for blurring the line between metal, punk, and industrial, Dope’s sound has remained unapologetically aggressive across decades and lineup changes.
A guitarist from Dope captured mid-air in a dramatic leap during their high-energy performance at Hills of Rock 2025, framed against beams of stage lighting.
At Hills of Rock 2025, they brought that same ethos to the Stroeja stage — albeit under pressure. A major technical glitch delayed their set by nearly 40 minutes, as a malfunctioning microphone threatened to derail the night. With only 20 minutes left once the issue was resolved, many bands might have opted for a quick exit. Dope did the opposite.
The vocalist of Dope performing under crossing beams of stage light during the band’s intense nighttime set at Hills of Rock 2025.
Launching into a condensed barrage of fan favorites, they sparked a reaction that eclipsed the modest stage. Fans packed in tight beneath the canopy, fists raised and voices shouting every word. “You guys deserve the main stage!” someone yelled — and judging by the crowd’s volume, few would’ve disagreed. Even with time cut short, Dope delivered one of the most ferocious and talked-about sets of the day.
The bassist of Dope captured in a powerful moment with eyes closed and head tilted back during the band’s set at Hills of Rock 2025.
Closing Thoughts
Three days of thunderous riffs echoing across the Rowing Canal reminded Plovdiv why Hills of Rock remains a fixture on Europe’s summer festival map. From marquee headliners to hungry newcomers, every act sparked moments of shared exhilaration. Whether you found yourself pressed against the front rail, swapping stories in the food court, or capturing frames from the photo pit, you likely left with ears ringing and next July already circled on the calendar.
© Copyright 2025 - Diana Nikolova |
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Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 8210
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2025 7:14 am Post subject: |
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Well Saturday turned out all right - I guess…..
After that grande announcement about new movie production, I hadn’t even started the project yet. Well now I’ve started. I found the latest version of The Fortress Experiment - all 250gigs worth - and slapped that into a new project in Davinci Resolve.
The only issue I had was the audio wandering off synchronization with the video. I spent hours and could not retime the audio. What I did in the end was to pull the 5-7gig audio file from the movie folder of the finished DCP (digital cinema package for the theatre) and work with that while disabling the embedded audio and it worked! Actually it was almost perfect and I wondered what malady would befall me now because of that good luck. However, the last two weeks were hell so I may be ok for now.
So “Beyond The Fortress Experiment” has a base movie to work on!
My new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K!
In other news I was sorting out that Blackmagic Cinema Camera 4K and I made the correct choice. It’s fiddly to work with - that 4K camcorder - but it can do artsy work in film like 4:2:2 color settings in 12 bit and my 4K camcorder can’t! The pocket 4K has interchangeable lenses which is its biggest plus for my cinematography! The camcorder can do what the Blackmagic can’t, like continuous auto focus (best system in the world by theway) and image stabilization. Superior battery life and built in ND filters for bright conditions. The two complement each other well and I can shoot anything I have to. That’s just wild for a 1,500 dollar price of the Pocket 4K point and with the 445 dollar software included. The only real gripe I have with the camcorder is the 23.98 frame rate and no true 24. The project stayed at 24 so every camcorder clip has to convert to the actual frame rate - a hassle but what can you do…..
My current Canon 4K camcorder!
It drives me batty that a 3,500 Canon camcorder doesn’t have true 24 frames per second! There must be a workaround in that camcorder. Anyway, I have two cameras shooting 4K and this is nice to cut to from a full face shot to side shot in an interview and for that you need a second camera. In a pinch I could just use my iPhone - but that’s not ideal…..
So we are off to a good start with the new project!
Goodnight…..
https://youtu.be/F0vtQKk9oK0?si=WM3vzAT781-_usVn |
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