As the production date for the filming of the What Is A Saint video grows near, life at the Michelle Mangione camp has begun to heat up at an ever-increasing pace. A boost in the numbers of phone calls, meetings, interviews and rehearsals have forced their way into the already busy schedules and numerous summer gigs of Mangione and her band.

Recently Flask and Pen was invited to a walk through/production meeting at a very cool and very gritty second hand store located a few miles south of Los Angeles.

To say that the location of the shoot has character would be to grossly understate the timeless yet historic feel the store's presence will emote in the video. One step in and you’re taken back to what a second hand store truly is. This place isn’t some wanna be cool retro shop on Melrose with items hanging from shiny racks, worn once or twice but are now, so last year.

Not at all, this shop is full of rows and isles of beat up old racks loaded down with clothes that have some miles on them. Stacks of old ‘70’s electronic equipment, vinyl records, old furniture, appliances your grandmother owned, poor lighting, a bad intercom system and everything else that you’d expect to experience in places like this.

We watched as the production crew, Mangione and members of the band walked throughout the location and discuss angles lighting and marks. We were able to meet and get to know some of the players involved with this project. One of the people we got to know was Peter Chang, one of the Directors of Photography.

F&P: What is your job on the video?

Chang: I am the co-DP along with Daniele Colombera.

F&P: How long have you been involved with this type of work?

Chang: I've been working in various aspects of film and television production for about 8 years, but I mostly work as a production coordinator and editor. As far as shooting, I also own a side business as a photographer and videographer, so I've got some experience in the field.

F&P: Is this your first music video?

Chang: I did a couple in college, but that's hardly anything to write home about.

F&P: How did you become attached to the What Is A Saint Project?

Chang: Lori (Cerasoli) had called asking if I knew anyone who would be interested in helping out, and as she described the project to me, I rattled off a few ideas, and she said "wow, do YOU want to shoot this?" It was flattering, but I didn't think I was ready for such an undertaking, so I offered support as a DP.

F&P: Anything you want to add?

Chang: Visually, I think this project is going to be pretty cool. Being able to shoot this project in HD at a fraction of what it would've cost even 2-3 years ago is amazing.

Chang, as well as everyone else we met, is truly a professional and dedicated to the What Is A Saint Project. With filming scheduled to occur on Labor Day weekend all of the final pieces are beginning to fall into place and the excitement throughout the team is very apparent.

Momentum for the song and video received a huge boost recently when Mangione was invited to join co-writer Grace Slick for what was a wonderful interview on legendary rock and roll DJ, Los Angeles icon Jim Ladd's radio show. Mangione and Slick covered a myriad of issues, which included exposing their varied taste in music, the history of their friendship, and the writing of What Is A Saint.

We will continue keep you informed as to the progress of the What Is A Saint Production.

Flask and Pen will be following the progress of the What Is A Saint video throughout the process until completion.

On a recent warm Sunday afternoon, the editors of Flask and Pen were invited to attend a pre-production meeting for the upcoming Michelle Mangione What Is A Saint video. We joined Mangione and crew at a coffeehouse in Santa Monica, California and listened as they began the initial stages of developing the video for the title cut of her recently released What Is A Saint CD.

While observing the process and listening to the discussion about the scripting of the video, the editors of F&P noted the realization of how important the lyrics of this beautiful song are as they relate to our world today.

Are you ready to be someone
To a stranger of less fortune
Would you offer up your smile just for the love of it
What is a saint to you?

But even more astounding to this writer is, this being the 40th anniversary of Woodstock and the ties this song has to that anniversary. We’ve all seen, read and heard many pundits reflecting on Woodstock and what importance it may have had on our society. The words and music of the time spoke of who we were as a nation. The events of our world and those who performed were our voices of change.

One of the prominent voices, performers and Woodstock Participants was Grace Slick.  Recently Slick has devoted most of her time to creating beautiful visual art, but she took some time away from her art to co-write What Is A Saint with Mangione. Together they’ve created a voice that speaks to all of us and how we view our world and those we encounter daily.

The song lends itself to the making of a powerful, yet entertaining video. Those involved seem to realize what a gem they have to work with and there seems to be a really good vibe associated with this group.

Quite a bit of pre-production necessities were locked in at this meeting. The shoot location was established. All positions such as Director and DP etc. were filled. Additional pre-production, rehearsal and shoot dates were set. The script is off to a good start and should incorporate some beautiful, yet subtle, random acts of kindness.

We will keep you informed as to the progress of what promises to be a very special video.

Flask and Pen will be following the progress of the What Is A Saint video throughout the process until completion.

by Ileana Dragutsa

The telephone rang and threatened not to stop until I picked up the receiver… Either that, or let it go to automatic voice mail pick-up.  “Hello , this is Ileana;  leave your name and number, your call will be returned soon.”  It is always soon; I may be shopping for groceries or a new pair of shoes.  I may be picking up the mail or on the telephone.  Then again, I may be outdoors admiring my balconyscape, or barbequing a leg of lamb.

Don’t you just hate it when the voice mail message carries on a complete one-sided conversation?

“Hello, you have reached number 555-5555,  I am really really sorry I missed your call. Ms Verboso is not here to respond personally just now, but please, please leave a brief message, including date and time you called, your name and telephone number, your availability,  and Ms Verboso will return your call As Soon As Possible….. if not sooner.” Continue reading »

by Renee King

Sean had fair skin, café au lait it was called, and green eyes. She, or the queen, (how she thought of herself) was an amalgam of races. Her mother could boast Irish, Native, and African American ancestry. Her father was unsure of the specifics, but knew he was Caribbean of African and European descent. Truth is, one only had to look at those blue-green eyes fighting against the wide nose and plush lips to know that someone had gone visiting amongst slave row long back. She realized one day as she stood in the mirror viewing her soft fair skin that, “With makeup, I can pass.”

When Sean stood outside she was conscious of the rules, even more conscious because now she had to learn to forget them. She had to be more like the other, to blend in, to hide so well that she did not even recognize herself. A chameleon. But doubts crept in, “They can tell by your hands,” they’d warned. “Your features are a bit hard,” a successfully passing ‘friend’ had sneered. Continue reading »