Until Next Time, We'll See Ya!
It’s Sunday, September 28th as I type this. The final episode has at long last rolled off the Avid onto a master air copy. I still have to create a digital master and DVD master but those are formalities.
The final show is done. The series is done.
And after five months or producing, scanning and digitizing footage, writing, shooting, and editing the whole mess into a 12-hour story, it feels kind of strange to not have another show to immediately begin working on. It feels awesome and freeing to know that I can switch over to another creative channel. But I had a blast these past few months and I’ll think of them fondly forever.
There were so many amazing things that people did, and forces that conspired to make this final lap so creatively and personally satisfying: The principal of my old high school giving us carte blanche to shoot wherever and whenever we wanted; the former hosts who jumped at the chance to come back, and their nice thoughts; the professionalism and willingness of our crew of directors, shooters and post-production effect artists to achieve our vision (even down to re-framing shots in post).
In particular, Wayne Hess (and the weight of his Star 66 Video production company) for single-handedly supervising and directing many of the shows; Cathie Abogado for her amazing “final episode” cake and finally accepting the invitation to become a host (it only took twenty-five years but was worth the wait!), LaWonda Eastwood for her warmth and intelligence, Steve Maggioncalda for reminding us why he’s so cool, Steven Kirk for contributing his vision once again on and off screen (and future blackmail material); and Joe McCaffrey and Carla Bozzini for offering their amazing home for our final location. It was also great to welcome back familiar faces LaWonda Eastwood, Jeff Gracia, Moira Szasz, Jason DiLorenzo, Suzanne St. John-Crane and Jennifer Stanonis.
Huge props also go out to Amy Vassar, Church, my brother Steve Willis, Marty Anaya, Jason Castro, Scott Hansford, Belinda Yeung and award-winning director James Kerwin, who took time from being one of the winningest young directors in indie filmland to shoot our Los Angeles segments. My wife Sarah tolerated Soundwaves taking over our home for five months and served as my unofficial focus group. If a segment made her laugh or cry, I knew it was a hit!
Not everything went swimmingly. There were production issues that crept up, some frustrating playback issues and a power play from a former host who dragged her heels over a simple on-camera shout-out until the last possible moment -- and then announced she’d rather spend time with her boyfriend than appear on the final show. Sheesh, a simple “no” would have been fine!
But those minor bumps aside, I really can’t think of another season in all this time that was filled with such good energy, nostalgia and so many people who came together to make these twelve hours something special.
And that finale with me, Steven and Joey? Those aren’t hosts with scripted lines. Those are the most unguarded and genuine moments in the history of the show. Yes, we can drink and curse like champs. But when it came down to telling each other what it meant to do this thing for so many years together, there were a few choked tears. The theme repeated throughout the show was that of family, and I am proud to say (and restate) that I would climb the highest mountain with these guys. The finale of Field of Dreams has nothing on Soundwaves 500!
Soundwaves may not be coming back next week, but we’ll be around. This website will continue in support of this community we are building and the stations that will carry the final season. We will also continue uploading rare clips and footage from the past 25 years! Also, watch this space for special live SW events and promotions.
Mark your calendar: Our 19th annual Soundwaves Christmas Party fundraiser will air December 6th, live on this site and on Pacifica Community Television. Mr. Kirk and I are already working on the live show, which will raise food, clothing, toys and awareness for some vital community charities during the holiday season. We hope to see you there!
When we put the show on the air, the ringing of the phones told us how many people were watching, but after so long, the show became this living, breathing entity that could be funny and raucous one minute, informative and brilliant the next. When it was time to get serious, Soundwaves could do that too.
But the show was also immature and wore its heart on its sleeve. Hosts were encouraged to be spontaneous and experiment, to live in the moment. A few people have told me recently that it was that immediacy that either kept them involved or taught them something about themselves. I can’t even tell you how proud a papa that makes me.
People have been quick to shower me with praise but I can’t take all the credit. Heck, I can’t even take half the credit. It might have been my dogged approach that kept the show going for so many years but the truth is that you can throw a party that nobody shows up to. And even though certain seasons were leaner than others when it came to the involvement of others, I attribute that to the natural ebb and flow of anything that lives. As much as this was my party, it was only as fun as the party-goers who made it memorable.
So, I share any and all credit with anyone who ever made a contribution. Every tiny participation, every major commitment. Soundwaves was a community that thrived on the involvement of others.
We were the show. The show was us. What you see in the segments of this final episode is what you would see at one of our gatherings. Like all families, we mess with each other and we love each other. We keep each other real.
I’m not sure what kind of footprint Soundwaves will leave. I can’t imagine the history of the music video pausing to include anything we had to offer, even twenty-five year’s worth. But if audiences have responded to anything we have done, we’re grateful. And yeah, you’ll probably see us again in near future because, frankly, it’s just too damn much fun to completely walk away from. So, as I’ve said hundreds of times…
Until next time, we’ll see ya!
The final show is done. The series is done.
And after five months or producing, scanning and digitizing footage, writing, shooting, and editing the whole mess into a 12-hour story, it feels kind of strange to not have another show to immediately begin working on. It feels awesome and freeing to know that I can switch over to another creative channel. But I had a blast these past few months and I’ll think of them fondly forever.
There were so many amazing things that people did, and forces that conspired to make this final lap so creatively and personally satisfying: The principal of my old high school giving us carte blanche to shoot wherever and whenever we wanted; the former hosts who jumped at the chance to come back, and their nice thoughts; the professionalism and willingness of our crew of directors, shooters and post-production effect artists to achieve our vision (even down to re-framing shots in post).
In particular, Wayne Hess (and the weight of his Star 66 Video production company) for single-handedly supervising and directing many of the shows; Cathie Abogado for her amazing “final episode” cake and finally accepting the invitation to become a host (it only took twenty-five years but was worth the wait!), LaWonda Eastwood for her warmth and intelligence, Steve Maggioncalda for reminding us why he’s so cool, Steven Kirk for contributing his vision once again on and off screen (and future blackmail material); and Joe McCaffrey and Carla Bozzini for offering their amazing home for our final location. It was also great to welcome back familiar faces LaWonda Eastwood, Jeff Gracia, Moira Szasz, Jason DiLorenzo, Suzanne St. John-Crane and Jennifer Stanonis.
Huge props also go out to Amy Vassar, Church, my brother Steve Willis, Marty Anaya, Jason Castro, Scott Hansford, Belinda Yeung and award-winning director James Kerwin, who took time from being one of the winningest young directors in indie filmland to shoot our Los Angeles segments. My wife Sarah tolerated Soundwaves taking over our home for five months and served as my unofficial focus group. If a segment made her laugh or cry, I knew it was a hit!
Not everything went swimmingly. There were production issues that crept up, some frustrating playback issues and a power play from a former host who dragged her heels over a simple on-camera shout-out until the last possible moment -- and then announced she’d rather spend time with her boyfriend than appear on the final show. Sheesh, a simple “no” would have been fine!
But those minor bumps aside, I really can’t think of another season in all this time that was filled with such good energy, nostalgia and so many people who came together to make these twelve hours something special.
And that finale with me, Steven and Joey? Those aren’t hosts with scripted lines. Those are the most unguarded and genuine moments in the history of the show. Yes, we can drink and curse like champs. But when it came down to telling each other what it meant to do this thing for so many years together, there were a few choked tears. The theme repeated throughout the show was that of family, and I am proud to say (and restate) that I would climb the highest mountain with these guys. The finale of Field of Dreams has nothing on Soundwaves 500!
Soundwaves may not be coming back next week, but we’ll be around. This website will continue in support of this community we are building and the stations that will carry the final season. We will also continue uploading rare clips and footage from the past 25 years! Also, watch this space for special live SW events and promotions.
Mark your calendar: Our 19th annual Soundwaves Christmas Party fundraiser will air December 6th, live on this site and on Pacifica Community Television. Mr. Kirk and I are already working on the live show, which will raise food, clothing, toys and awareness for some vital community charities during the holiday season. We hope to see you there!
When we put the show on the air, the ringing of the phones told us how many people were watching, but after so long, the show became this living, breathing entity that could be funny and raucous one minute, informative and brilliant the next. When it was time to get serious, Soundwaves could do that too.
But the show was also immature and wore its heart on its sleeve. Hosts were encouraged to be spontaneous and experiment, to live in the moment. A few people have told me recently that it was that immediacy that either kept them involved or taught them something about themselves. I can’t even tell you how proud a papa that makes me.
People have been quick to shower me with praise but I can’t take all the credit. Heck, I can’t even take half the credit. It might have been my dogged approach that kept the show going for so many years but the truth is that you can throw a party that nobody shows up to. And even though certain seasons were leaner than others when it came to the involvement of others, I attribute that to the natural ebb and flow of anything that lives. As much as this was my party, it was only as fun as the party-goers who made it memorable.
So, I share any and all credit with anyone who ever made a contribution. Every tiny participation, every major commitment. Soundwaves was a community that thrived on the involvement of others.
We were the show. The show was us. What you see in the segments of this final episode is what you would see at one of our gatherings. Like all families, we mess with each other and we love each other. We keep each other real.
I’m not sure what kind of footprint Soundwaves will leave. I can’t imagine the history of the music video pausing to include anything we had to offer, even twenty-five year’s worth. But if audiences have responded to anything we have done, we’re grateful. And yeah, you’ll probably see us again in near future because, frankly, it’s just too damn much fun to completely walk away from. So, as I’ve said hundreds of times…
Until next time, we’ll see ya!
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