Flashback Winter 2003 ~ it was all a dream… Josh and I had been talking about working together for quite sometime. We had an idea about a film project that would bridge the gap between our worlds using music, art, and culture. At that point, all we had was the base idea and name; we wanted to call it 4REAL but we did not know what it was or when we could start.
In February 2003 the stars aligned and we took the opportunity by the horns. Josh was due back in Brazil to finish working on the YAWA documentary in the Amazon and I was riding the wave of flush pockets from 6 months of intense work with Ms. Lauryn Hill. We decided to meet in Brazil, spend a month tripping around, hang out in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, do the Carnaval thang and try to figure out what this project would look and feel like.
We landed in Rio, and in classic Hip Hop fashion made a quick phone call to a local DJ named Pachu - within minutes we were at his house. I had packed some records to give him, he started pulling out records from my crew the Rascalz and the Hip Hop connection was made!
A couple days later, we rolled to a concert that Pachu was putting on featuring an MC from "The City of God" named MV Bill (Mensageiro da Verdad – Messenger of Truth). As soon as MV Bill stepped on stage it was obvious that he was a powerful performer and all around bad man. We enjoyed the show and left without meeting MV Bill but in learning more about him and his work. We hoped to one day meet him and work with him.
For the next week or so we tripped around Rio, hung out with Pachu and had long conversations at the beach and in the tops of trees about how we could do a project that would bridge the gap between our worlds. But how would we make it unique, compelling, entertaining and fly without the "cornball" factor that diffuses so many well-intended initiatives bridging entertainment and socially relevant work?
Next we headed north to the state of Bahia and found a little piece of Paradise called Arambebepe. It was on this beach, eating fish and chilling in the legendary Hippie Village that we really started to clarify our vision.
One night we were up late and waded into the ocean, we did a makeshift ceremony as only two hippie kids form BC could. We truly asked the universe to work through us and guide this basic concept so that we could produce really cool art and media that would reflect the power to effect change - something that would topple power dynamics as they relate to celebrities, class, charity and all the norms.
We also knew it had to be sexy and entertaining. It was on that evening that 4REAL – our project found its place in our hearts and minds.
Next we headed to Salvador, for 6 days of the craziest party on the planet – Brazilian Carnival. This is a non-stop party with a steady stream of semi's pulling trailers loaded with concert sound systems and stages on top featuring Brazil's best musical talent. Our favorite was Brazilian musical legend Gilberto Gil (whom president Lula made the Minister of Culture). There was all kinds stuff going on in the old city and all over town - it's unbelievable - literally millions of people GOING OFF 24/7!
As quickly as we had arrived it was time to jet. Josh trekked back into the Rainforest of North Western Brazil for a few months of editing with the Yawanawa and I went back to Rio chilled with Pachu for a couple days and reluctantly returned to Toronto.
Now 4REAL comes full circle in Brazil - we are doing a show with MV Bill. It's AMAZING to think about how it's come back around like this... and we're just getting started!
