#goldenapplesofthesun

[christophermoonlightproductions]

#Charlestonsc #SciFi, #fantasy, #theatre & #RayBradbury book fans - join us @thresholdrepertory May 28-31 for a night of #hope, #love, and #imagination in @raybradburyliveforever at @piccolo_spoleto! It's an East Coast Premiere for the show. Tix: PiccoloSpoleto.com Starring @billoberstjr with #VisualEffects by yours truly. #RayBradburyLiveForever #OffBroadway #Theater #BillOberstJr #ScienceFiction #Fahrenheit451 #TheMartianChronicles #TheIllustratedMan #RIsForRocket #GoldenApplesOfTheSun #FromTheDustReturned #TheHalloweenTree #DarkTheyWereAndGoldenEyed #ASoundofThunder #TheOctoberCountry #somethingwickedthiswaycomes https://www.instagram.com/p/BxlVVbQFCnX/?igshid=82ua6e7um37p

[missyjayyy]

The Great Wide World Over There #raybradbury #goldenapplesofthesun #summer #vibe #vans

[thedollarcrate]

Golden Apples of the Sun by Judy Collins

To say 2016 was rough would be like calling Michael Jordan a good basketball player – it wouldn’t be wrong but might be slightly misrepresenting reality. If elections at home and abroad, the Zika virus, domestic and international acts of violence, and war atrocities across the globe weren’t bad enough, we lost too many music icons, including David Bowie and Prince. Like most, these are two of my favorite artists. While I finally got into each a little late in my life, both have been near constants on my turntable the past few years and made lasting impressions on me. I’ll never forget the first time hearing Low or how I felt when I saw Prince walk out on a stage for the first time.  

After a year during which nothing seemed right and one bad news story followed another, it was refreshing – almost cleansing – to put on an album like Golden Apples of the Sun. Over the course of its 12 song run, Judy Collins’ album only grows in beauty and elegance, reminding us that the world may not always be as bad as it seems. It’s an album containing only Judy Collins’ interpretations of traditional folksongs - there’s no original material. But she makes each song sound unique, and somehow all come across both incredibly simple and stunningly complicated.

Most songs only feature Judy and a single guitar, but a couple, like “Christ Child Lullaby” and “Lark in the Morning,” are a cappella gems. “Christ Child Lullaby,” especially, is an excellent example of the power of an unaccompanied voice, and Judy uses hers to its fullest effect as she sings from Mary’s perspective the story of the first Christmas to her baby, Jesus. Her voice rings throughout and fully conveys the awe of being the mother of Jesus when she sings, “The cause of talk and tale am I/The cause of greatest fame am I/The cause of proudest care on high/To have for mine, the king of all.”

This isn’t the only religious themed song on the album. On “Twelve Gates to the City,” Judy starts the song in an almost defiant, authoritative tone that leads into a joyous, gospel-like tune about the twelve gates of New Jerusalem. It’s not hard to imagine a congregation singing and clapping along on a Sunday afternoon to the words “Rich and the poor welcome to the city/Young and the old welcome to the city/Weak and the strong welcome to the city/There are twelve gates to the city Hallelujah.”

The title track that opens the album, though, is what really sets the tone for the rest of the album. Its soothing, gentle guitar strums complements perfectly Judy’s elegantly smooth voice. Here, these two instruments work together to convey the song’s poetic story about discovering the majesty of nature. The storytelling continues, and the pace quickens, on the follow-up “Bonnie Ship the Diamond.” It’s a nice, celebratory song – essentially a chantey – that tells the story of whale men out at sea and the joy that will come to them when they return home.  

“Fannerio” is another lively song on the back half of the album, only this time we’re treated to a story about a soldier falling in love with “a lady like a dove,” but the galloping pace leads us to an ending where we learn that the soldier “Sweet William is dead and he died for a maid.” And another album highlight, “Tell Me Who I’ll Marry,” encapsulates all of Judy’s and the record’s best qualities. It’s a song that twists and turns with shifting melodies and tones, major and minor chord progressions, and bright and dark sounds. Again, it sounds so challenging but Judy makes it sound so simple.  

The end of one year and the beginning of a new one always bring with them moments of reflection and thoughts toward the future. Golden Apples of the Sun is an album made for these moments, and it serves as a nice reminder that even during tumultuous times there are reasons to be hopeful. And yes, things of beauty can still be found in this world. It’s a gloriously peaceful album, and it might just be what we all need as a year like 2016 ends and as we start afresh in 2017.

[littlegoldboat]

Sunburst hangs like ripe/fruit, too bright to pick. Burning/eucalyptus crowns. #sunburst #trees #haiku #fire #mylagunabeach #goldenapplesofthesun #wbyeats #poetsofinstagram (at Top Of The World Elementary)

[zuko]

im very emotional... about that korra video.... oh good god

i don’t think i ever fully realized how dark LOK has been?!? not even just this season but the preceding ones too. i think as a fan i was swept up in comparing it to a:tla to full recognize its potential as its own series, but i digress.

each of the red lotus deaths was so brutal omg p’li’s death scene still haunts me 

[christophermoonlightproductions]

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A post shared by Christopher Cooksey (@christophermoonlight)

A few words of progress on @thequantumterror and @raybradburyliveforever with @billoberstjr. #HPLovecraft #RayBradbury #HorrorMovie #horror #lovecraftian #TheQuantumTerror #quantumterrormovie #QuantumTerror #indiefilm #quantumphysics #quantummechanics #QuantumTerror #indiefilm #quantumphysics #PracticalEffects #specialeffects #filmmaking #ASoundOfThunder #TheIllustratedMan #RIsForRocket #GoldenApplesOfTheSun #FromTheDustReturned #TheHalloweenTree #Fahrenheit451 #TheMartianChronicles #ScienceFiction #scifi #weirdtales https://www.instagram.com/p/BxQjqkil1Rj/?igshid=aqlqntun73ha

[christophermoonlightproductions]

#RayBradbury on the importance of #sciencefiction. Be sure to follow us at @raybradburyliveforever starring @billoberstjr for the next dates on this #theatrical #literary tour. #RayBradburyLiveForever #OffBroadway #Theater #BillOberstJr #scifi #ScienceFiction #fantasy #TheOctoberCountry #somethingwickedthiswaycomes #asoundofthunder #TheVeldt #TheIllustratedMan #RIsForRocket #GoldenApplesOfTheSun #FromTheDustReturned #TheHalloweenTree #Fahrenheit451 #TheMartianChronicles https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvedas0FejW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kwnxciglewbl

[christophermoonlightproductions]

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A post shared by Christopher Cooksey (@christophermoonlight)

The first minute of my showreel for @raybradburyliveforever which uses a combination of #PracticalEffects #miniature pieces, #illustration, and #VFX #animation. #RayBradburyLiveForever #RayBradbury #BillOberstJr #SciFi #ScienceFiction #fantasy #TheOctoberCountry #somethingwickedthiswaycomes #asoundofthunder #TheIllustratedMan #RIsForRocket #GoldenApplesOfTheSun #FromTheDustReturned #TheHalloweenTree #Fahrenheit451 #TheMartianChronicles https://www.instagram.com/p/BvPhI7VFizQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13zf2ys0zr0ak

[christophermoonlightproductions]

The first minute of my showreel for @raybradburyliveforever which uses a combination of #PracticalEffects #miniature pieces, #illustration, and #VFX #animation. #RayBradburyLiveForever #RayBradbury #BillOberstJr #SciFi #ScienceFiction #fantasy #TheOctoberCountry #somethingwickedthiswaycomes #asoundofthunder #TheIllustratedMan #RIsForRocket #GoldenApplesOfTheSun #FromTheDustReturned #TheHalloweenTree #Fahrenheit451 #TheMartianChronicles https://www.instagram.com/p/BvPgOM2FneB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1plhdssnz30tj

[christophermoonlightproductions]

I can't believe it's been a year since I started work on @BillOberstJr.'s epic theatrical production of @RayBradburyLIVEforever. It was the chance of a lifetime to bring #RayBradbury's #imagination to life on projected backdrops. Here's one of the first things I created. We called him Timey. He was inspired by the #butterfly in #ASoundOfThunder but for this play he was a kind of spirit guide/mascot who took you through the evening's #narrative. #Theater #OffBroadway #OneManShow #BillOberstJr #TheOctoberCountry #somethingwickedthiswaycomes #ThereWillComeSoftRains #Fahrenheit451 #TheMartianChronicles #TheIllustratedMan #DarkTheyWereAndGoldenEyed #TheOctoberCountry #Halloween #TheHalloweenTree #RIsForRocket #GoldenApplesOfTheSun #FromTheDustReturned https://www.instagram.com/p/B3CNPq8FC3B/?igshid=bu7atg4nbb6d

[christophermoonlightproductions]

The first 3 minutes of how I created the #VFX for @raybradburyliveforever starring @billoberstjr. Swipe for all the parts and go to my YouTube channel (link in my Instagram bio) for the full 13 minute mini-#documentary. #scifi #RayBradbury #RayBradburyLiveForever #Fahrenheit451 #TheMartianChronicles #TheIllustratedMan #RIsForRocket #GoldenApplesOfTheSun #FromTheDustReturned #TheHalloweenTree #OffBroadway #Theater #BillOberstJr #forcedperspective #animation #PracticalEffects #miniature #onset #filmmaking https://www.instagram.com/p/ByMS1-WlH6g/?igshid=15bvnxzmnsxi

[christophermoonlightproductions]

Some great moments from the #OpeningNight of @raybradburyliveforever starring @billoberstjr. Extended #BTS #featurette coming soon to my YouTube channel. Link in my Instagram bio. #Theater #OffBroadway #OneManShow #BillOberstJr #TheOctoberCountry #somethingwickedthiswaycomes #asoundofthunder #TheVeldt #TheIllustratedMan #RIsForRocket #GoldenApplesOfTheSun #FromTheDustReturned #TheHalloweenTree #Fahrenheit451 #TheMartianChronicles #PracticalEffects #specialeffects #OpticalEffects #ScienceFiction #scifi #weirdtales #horror #fantasy #writing #books #library #literature https://www.instagram.com/p/BxwAZ3NlCvM/?igshid=1h1007mqx3yx6

[christophermoonlightproductions]

Today is the #Indianapolis debut of @raybradburyliveforever starring @billoberstjr and featuring projected #VisualEffects by yours truly. I'm so excited for this three night run in #celebration of #RayBradbury and hope that all local #theater lovers will be there. #OffBroadway #OneManShow #BillOberstJr #TheOctoberCountry #somethingwickedthiswaycomes #ASoundofTgunder #TheMartianChronicles #Fahrenheit451 #TheIllustratedMan #RIsForRocket #GoldenApplesOfTheSun #FromTheDustReturned #TheHalloweenTree #ScienceFiction #scifi #weirdtales #horror #fantasy #writing #writer #books #library #literature https://www.instagram.com/p/BxASLGNlcnI/?igshid=vo710kvndsy6

[christophermoonlightproductions]

Me, at the opening of @raybradburyliveforever starring @billoberstjr for which I created the animated backdrops for. I am so grateful to be a producer on this project. Next performance is May 3rd - 5th in Indianapolis at The District Theatre. Tix: indydistricttheatre.org #Theater #OffBroadway #OneManShow #BillOberstJr #TheOctoberCountry #somethingwickedthiswaycomes #asoundofthunder #TheVeldt #TheIllustratedMan #RIsForRocket #GoldenApplesOfTheSun #FromTheDustReturned #TheHalloweenTree #Fahrenheit451 #TheMartianChronicles #ScienceFiction #scifi #weirdtales #horror #fantasy #writing #writer #books #library #literature https://www.instagram.com/p/BwdybCuFv1D/?igshid=1sg3q8q4d4uss

[christophermoonlightproductions]

One month from today in beautiful #Indianapolis, Indiana: the first full run of @raybradburyliveforever - The Stage Show, starring @billoberstjr as #RayBradbury, opens at The District Theatre. Indy is home to IUPUI's Center for Ray Bradbury Studies, without which this show would not exist. Delighted to be opening there! Tix: indydistricttheatre.org #Theater #OffBroadway #OneManShow #BillOberstJr #TheOctoberCountry #somethingwickedthiswaycomes #asoundofthunder #TheVeldt #TheIllustratedMan #RIsForRocket #GoldenApplesOfTheSun #FromTheDustReturned #TheHalloweenTree #Fahrenheit451 #TheMartianChronicles #ScienceFiction #scifi #weirdtales #horror #fantasy #writing #writer #books #library #literature https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv760fdF0yU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10mbv10knzm9i

[christophermoonlightproductions]

One month from today in beautiful #Indianapolis, Indiana: the first full run of @raybradburyliveforever - The Stage Show, starring @billoberstjr as #RayBradbury, opens at The District Theatre. Indy is home to IUPUI's Center for Ray Bradbury Studies, without which this show would not exist. Delighted to be opening there! Tix: indydistricttheatre.org #Theater #OffBroadway #OneManShow #BillOberstJr #TheOctoberCountry #somethingwickedthiswaycomes #asoundofthunder #TheVeldt #TheIllustratedMan #RIsForRocket #GoldenApplesOfTheSun #FromTheDustReturned #TheHalloweenTree #Fahrenheit451 #TheMartianChronicles https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzvyhXllEk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1mpilzt7b12f9