Sunday 28 July 2013

Relationship Forum & Chat Room Promotional Video - PeoplesProblems.org



Peoples Problems: Introducing www.peoplesproblems.org

An online community dedicated to supporting those with personal problems across a diverse range of topics. This advertising feature sets the theme of the site, and we'd really really appreciate it if you could 'like' this video, so that we can gain further support for those experiencing difficulties - every little helps!

(This is my brother's website - Please do check it out and share, thanks.)


Video Editing: PeoplesProblems.org
Music by: Jon Brooks

PEOPLES PROBLEMS:

Our Vision:
To be the leading relationship forum and free of charge self-help internet resource, facilitating the exchange of advice in an anonymous and welcoming environment.

Site Overview:
You can discuss your relationship problems in our confidential discussion forum, or read and relate to other peoples problems. Our visitors often seem unsure whether to consult with a relationship counsellor or not, so we'd like to think that our forum is the first port of call for any problem, but not necessarily a substitute for professional help.

If you have a Twitter account, please follow us. You'll be featured in our Twitter universe (below), and we'll automatically hyperlink back to your Twitter account to help give you some exposure too!

Miles Franklin said "someone to tell it to is one of the fundamental needs of human beings" - and we like to think that our site facilitates this basic requirement. Therefore, if you just listen to people's problems, you're actually helping them to overcome them to a certain extent.

As mentioned above, the main feature of the Peoples Problems website is the advice forum, so why not share your problems, and see whether our visitors can offer their support.

In addition to the community based problem forum, we have an evolving business directory, so if your company is dedicated to helping people with problems (especially relationship advice), then don't just rely on Yahoo and Google to drive referrals - we'd be delighted to host more information about your business for free! Click here for details

In fact, there's quite a lot going on here, so you might like to bookmark us so you can keep up to date with all the new content being contributed by our users every week.

If you're not here to look for help, or to read other peoples problems, then you might like to take part in our on-line poll, or create your own poll for others to vote on. Another popular feature you may be interested in is our survey which enables you to compare your profile against other people who have already taken part.

If you would like to post your own topic and get advice about a problem or even create a new poll question, you can register for free. On our site, the main problems that people encounter, are to do with their relationships, emotions and sex.

Once registered, you can post your problem or poll question, and then it will be available for others to view and offer advice (using the alias name you provide, as your e-mail address is not displayed). Other people with problems are also looking for guidance, so please assist wherever you can to help build up this community resource.

We reckon it is best to be as open as possible when it comes to discussing relationship problems, as lack of communication is the root cause of many a problem. We hope that you are able to support this site by contributing to the discussion topics - particularly those which haven't yet received a response.

Peoples Problems: www.peoplesproblems.org

Feel free to check out my website too: www.jonbrooks.co.uk
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/jonbrookscomposer

Saturday 8 June 2013

Coca Cola




I wrote this music for a Coca Cola TV advert supporting Visa and the Beijing Olympics 2008. It features Yew Tuck Seng and I on vocals. Doo do doo do do... It was a fun one to work on. Wow, how time has flown! :-)

Official Website: www.jonbrooks.co.uk

A can of Coke (12 fl ounces/355 ml) has 39 grams of carbohydrates (all from sugar, approximately 10 teaspoons), 50 mg of sodium, 0 grams fat, 0 grams potassium, and 140 calories.

The exact formula of Coca Cola's natural flavorings (but not its other ingredients, which are listed on the side of the bottle or can) is a trade secret. The original copy of the formula was held in SunTrust Bank's main vault in Atlanta for 86 years. Its predecessor, the Trust Company, was the underwriter for the Coca-Cola Company's initial public offering in 1919. On December 8, 2011, the original secret formula was moved from the vault at SunTrust Banks to a new vault containing the formula which will be on display for visitors to its World of Coca Cola museum in downtown Atlanta.

A popular myth states that only two executives have access to the formula, with each executive having only half the formula. The truth is that while Coca Cola does have a rule restricting access to only two executives, each knows the entire formula and others, in addition to the prescribed duo, have known the formulation process. On February 11, 2011, Ira Glass revealed on his PRI radio show, This American Life, that the secret formula to Coca-Cola had been uncovered in a 1979 newspaper. The formula found basically matched the formula found in Pemberton's diary.

Coca-Cola is the most popular and biggest-selling soft drink in history, as well as the best-known product in the world.

Created in Atlanta, Georgia, by Dr. John S. Pemberton, Coca-Cola was first offered as a fountain beverage by mixing Coca-Cola syrup with carbonated water. Coca-Cola was introduced in 1886, patented in 1887, registered as a trademark in 1893 and by 1895 it was being sold in every state and territory in the United States. In 1899, The Coca-Cola Company began franchised bottling operations in the United States.

Coca Cola might owe its origins to the United States, but its popularity has made it truly universal. Today, you can find Coca-Cola in virtually every part of the world.

Global Brands Include: Coca Cola, Coca-Cola Light, Coca Cola Zero, Diet Coke, Fanta, Minute Maid, POWERADE, Sprite, and vitaminwater.

Thursday 25 April 2013

Uncle Bill - Funny Music Animation


"Uncle Bill" - Quirky and Catchy Song
Music and Lyrics: Jon Brooks
Animation: Octavio Oseguera
Editing: Jon Brooks

Both Ted and Uncle Bill live in Antarctica. Ted is a cheeky, cocky little penguin who repeatedly tells Uncle Bill his name is NOT Fred.  Uncle Bill has always called his nephew "Fred" - but that is not his name!  Uncle Bill is a big, old, perverted, smelly, scruffy, simple minded yet wealthy and extroverted penguin. Ted is unable to get the message through to him and is frustrated by his Uncle's ignorance.  Hope you enjoy this quirky and catchy song!  Let me know in the comment section below what you think.

Official Website www.jonbrooks.co.uk

Some of my musical influences include: Hans Zimmer, Gustav Mahler, John Williams, Bon Jovi, Patrick Doyle, Jerry Goldsmith, Danny Elfman, Wishbone Ash, James Horner, Brian Tyler, James Newton-Howard.

PENGUINS
A penguin is a flightless marine bird, and an iconic figure in the avian world, despite the fact that their range is restricted to the Southern Hemisphere. Many children learn to recognize the distinctive black and white coloration of the penguin at an early age, and the birds are popular attractions in zoos and aquatic parks all over the world. Many adults find the birds endearing because of their waddling walk and engaging faces, and the birds are also used to brand a number of products including the popular Penguin Classics books and the Linux operating system.

All penguins are in the family Spheniscidae, and the exact number of penguin species is a subject of dispute, with estimates ranging from 15-19 distinct species. The largest variety of penguin is the Antarctic Emperor Penguin, which stands an impressive four feet (120 centimeters) when fully grown, and the smallest is the Little Blue Penguin of Australia and New Zealand, topping out at 14 inches (35 centimeters). In all cases, penguins retain essentially the same coloration, with dark backs and pale bellies.

The coloration of the penguin assists it in hunting seafood such as fish and crustaceans, because the dark back camouflages the penguin from predators above while the white belly makes them less visible to prey from below. Penguins also have wings which resemble flippers, having evolved to value swimming over the ability to fly, and they have strong webbed feet to kick with while they swim. In addition, penguins have oily, stiff feathers to waterproof their bodies while swimming in cold water.

Penguins feed exclusively in the ocean, surviving on stored fat while on land incubating eggs. Most penguins share incubation duties, keeping the egg on top of the feet and crouching over it, insulating the egg with their bellies. One penguin will travel to the ocean to eat while the other incubates, and then the couple will switch off. Once the penguin chick hatches, both parents participate in the feeding and care until it becomes a juvenile and is able to fend for itself.

Oddly enough, the word "penguin" is Welsh, despite the fact that penguins have never been known to live in Wales. It is a compound of pen for head and for white, and it was originally used to refer to the great auk, a now extinct flightless bird which was native to the Northern Hemisphere. When explorers saw penguins during their Southern adventures, they associated them with the great auk, and began to refer to them as penguins as well. Although the great auk is gone due to human depredations, the penguin lives on.

Computer animation or CGI animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer-generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images.

Modern computer animation usually uses 3D computer graphics, although 2D computer graphics are still used for stylistic, low bandwidth, and faster real-time renderings. Sometimes the target of the animation is the computer itself, but sometimes the target is another medium, such as film.

Thursday 4 April 2013

The Shaman







This was one of the music demos I did in 2004 for my application to work at WASP Studios (Malaysia) where I held the position of Audio Consultant and In-House Composer for 6 years.  Below are the presentation notes I prepared for the interview of my thought processes and how I composed/produced the music to the visuals:

"The Shaman" Sony Vega

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
- Even though it's a commercial, it's portrayed like a film.
- Visuals contained a dramatic sense of mood so it felt like the commercial demanded a dramatic, evolving musical score to reinforce and enhance the drama.

RESEARCH:
- After researching Shamanism and Far East Asian modes, my intention was to implement the pentatonic scale into the thematic development.
- Subsequently, after incorporating this into the creative process, i then realised the drama required a much darker tonality.
- I then decided to flavour an epic soundtrack style approach with oriental and ethnic instrumentation/influences - such as Chinese violins, Chinese Harps, Japanese Taiko Drums, Vietnamese Bells and ethnic Flutes. (As noted in the handout).
- This was to give the commercial a sense of time and space along with multi-cultural value.

COMPOSITIONAL PROCESS:
- First I worked out an appropriate click track to ensure I could highlight significant hit points.
- I began by setting the scene and mood by means of sound design and a dark musical timbre.
- After a relatively peaceful introduction, the pace of the drama picks up; therefore the soundtrack imitates.
- I planned to portray the Shamen as mystical. My inspiration came from his facial expression and gestures.  A subtle scraping on the Tam Tam (as he lifts the lid from the pot) marks the introduction to the Shamen's mystical powers.
- Reverb was added to the ethnic flutes to create an atmospheric sound when we see the clouds and moon.  This then leads to a menacing and suspenseful section highlighting the foreboding presence of the warrior.
- The suspense is built up by use of ostinato rhythmic devices, diminished 5ths, rasping trombones and other chromatic features.

- Subconsciously, for the the audience, I paid attention to specific hit points in order to get the message across that Sony Vega produces clear and precise images and sound.
- To concluded the commercial I conveyed Sony and their product with positive vibes by an unexpected, happy major modulation.

INSTRUMENTATION:
(XV-5080 Sound Module was used unless otherwise stated)

- Orchestral Reeds
- Ethno Flute (eLAB)
- Voyager Brass
- Trumpets
- Trombones (Project Sam)
- Zheng Harp (Ethno World 2)
- Wuhan Tam Tam (Ethno World 2)
- Timpani
- Percussion (Cymbals, Snare)
- Japanese Taiko Drum
- Vietnam Bells (Ethno World 2)
- Chinese Cymbal (Wizoo)
- Tubular Bells
- Xylophone
- St. Choir
- Gaohu (Ethno World 2)
- Erhu (Ethno World 2)
- XV Strings
- Violin Section Trills (Wizoo Strings)
- SFX (Various Sources)


YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/jonbrookscomposer
Website: http://www.jonbrooks.co.uk

Friday 8 March 2013

Musical Machines - Cutting It



This music features recorded & sampled machines/equipment from my dad's factory that I captured in 2001. I edited & programmed the audio and added a few other instruments to create the music. It then became the musical corporate identity for the factory. Captured audio files included guillotines, compressors, sheeters, hammers, fork lift trucks, shutter doors, slitters etc.

G.B. Brooks Website: http://www.gbbrooks.co.uk
My YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/jonbrookscomposer

G.B. Brooks & Company was founded in 1973 by Mr. G.B. Brooks who is now retired. The company is now run by Mr. Clive Brooks and his highly-skilled team, who pride themselves in offering a reliable, quality cutting service. The company has expanded organically and offers a wide range of services. It has a reputation for its flexibility, dependability and ability to meet customer requirements, especially when it comes to adhering to agreed timescales. Continuous investment in machinery and equipment has led to increased efficiency and quality of work. We strive to maximise the yield from your material, and aim to recycle as much waste as possible, being conscious of our environmental responsibilities.

GUILLOTINING:
Depending upon the nature of the material, supplied sheets are guillotined to accurate dimensions and tolerances, with minimal variation in sheet sizes. Material supplied in lapped or roll form is pre-sheeted and if necessary allowed to naturalise. Products may be plain or printed and are packed suitably or as requested. We often sheet rolls of material into a stack (eg. PVC, paper) and then guillotine a small amount from each of the edges to ensure that a consistent size is achieved. In addition to cutting flexible materials, our large format machines are often used to guillotine printed display board to the specified size.

SHEETING/PANELLING:
Rolls of material are converted into sheets (to your specified length and width). For example, a roll of material may be sheeted to 1 metre lengths, and also cut in the width. We optimise the yield from your material by taking into account finished product dimensions, and the physical attributes of the supplied material (eg. elasticity, quality of winding). Unless requested otherwise, sheets are cut over-size and later guillotined.

INTERLEAVING:
Interleaving is the placing of a sheet of paper between two adjacent layers of material (usually plastics) to facilitate handling and to prevent sticking / blocking or scratching. In some cases, we would be unable to work with your material without interleaving it due to the tackiness of your product. We are able to provide paper for interleaving between the material you supply - this will usually be costed into your quotation.

SLITTING:
Some materials are slit and rewound simultaneously, as it may be inappropriate to use the log cutting method. There are a number of reasons why slitting and rewinding is sometimes the most appropriate alternative. The most common causes are damaged or wrong size cores, the material is wound too tightly, the roll has an uneven shape, and the cutting blade will bounce, the material is prone to excessive friction or heat build-up (causing welding).

COILING:
We use log cutting machines to cut through rolls of material whilst the roll remains in its fully-wound state. On occasions, we need to re-wind rolls onto a different size or type of core to that supplied to conform to the machines' specifications. If the core supplied is not capable of supporting the resulting coils, we may also need to rewind the material onto a stronger cardboard or polythene tube before it can be cut.

RE-REELING SERVICE:
Re-reeling involves the winding of a roll of material from one tube to another. The new core / tube could be of different size and/or type (cardboard, plastic). Materials are usually re-reeled so that they can be used by another machine that accepts a particular core size.

PUNCHING:
We are able to punch shapes out of various materials, and cutters are custom made to suit each job. The material you supply can be in roll form for us to sheet, or you can provide it ready sheeted for punching.

PACKING & DISPATCH:
Completed orders are packaged to meet your requirements, from individually wrapped to bulk packed on pallets. Depending on the product and dimensions of the finished goods, materials we commonly use as packaging include: Cardboard Boxes, Paper / Card, Adhesive tape, Cling Wrap / Shrink Wrap, Banding / Strapping, Banding Clips, Pallets, Wooden Battens, Corner Protectors. You can arrange for goods to be collected, or we can arrange for collection once the order has been completed. We have fork lift trucks to load and unload goods from vehicles.

Tuesday 12 February 2013

Valentine's Day Video Message - I Love You



A Valentine's Day Music Video Message to send to your loved one on 14th February 2013. Send this youtube video message to your husband, wife, partner, boyfriend or girlfriend to show them how much you love and care for them. Some people assume that if they love another person, the other person is simply going to know this. That is not always the case. Your loved ones need to be told and shown that you love them to know for certain that you really do.

Music by Jon Brooks: "Contact" (© 2004 Jon Brooks)
YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/jonbrookscomposer

Website: http://www.jonbrooks.co.uk

Valentine's Day is celebrated on 14th February. It is a festival of romantic love and many people give cards, letters, flowers or presents to their spouse or partner. They may also arrange a romantic meal in a restaurant or night in a hotel. Common symbols of Valentine's Day are hearts, red roses and Cupid.

Many people celebrate their love for their partner by sending cards or letters, giving gifts or flowers and arranging meals in restaurants or romantic nights in hotels. People who would like to have a romantic relationship with somebody may use the occasion to make this known, often anonymously. Valentine's cards are often decorated with images of hearts, red roses or Cupid. Common Valentine's Day gifts are flowers chocolates, candy, lingerie and champagne or sparkling wine. However, some people use the occasion to present lavish gifts, such as jewelry. Many restaurants and hotels have special offers at this time. These can include romantic meals or weekend breaks.

The most common Valentine's Day symbols are the heart, particularly in reds and pinks, and pictures or models of Cupid. Cupid is usually portrayed as a small winged figure with a bow and arrow. In mythology, he uses his arrow to strike the hearts of people. People who have fallen in love are sometimes said to be 'struck by Cupid's arrow. Other symbols of Valentine's Day are couples in loving embraces and the gifts of flowers, chocolate, red roses and lingerie that couples often give each other.

Tell your loved ones that you love them often. So many people regret when their loved ones pass away and they cannot remember hearing or saying the words, "I love you," in recent years. Prevent this deep regret from happening in your relationships by specifically saying, "I love you," to the people you love.

Spend time with the people you love. Many people claim to love their friends, spouses or children but do not carve out time to spend with them. If you do not spend time with someone, you are communicating that they are not important to you. Loving someone means investing time in them.

Make your loved ones a priority in your life. If you love someone, then you will not shove that person to the bottom of your priority list. You will not cancel plans at the last minute to accommodate other priorities in your life or, worse, refuse to make plans because other parts of your life are always more important.

Invest in what someone you love cares about. For example, even if you have never had any interest in construction equipment, a parent who loves her son will take the time to learn about construction equipment because the child cares about it. If you want to show people how much you love them, then value what they value.

Make yourself vulnerable to the people you love. Part of loving another person involves opening up your heart and revealing who you really are. To show someone that you love him, you must be honest and open about who you are.

Accept your loved ones as they are. When you love someone, you do not try to change her. Instead, appreciate her for the unique and precious person she is.

Make sacrifices. Showing someone that you love him often comes with sacrifice. The needs of the person you love are more important than your wants. For example, a child's need to play outside with you overrides your desire to take a nap. In some cases, making painful decisions that are in the best interest of the one you love is the best way to show your love for him.

Commit to the people you love. Even when you do not feel loving toward someone, choose to stay invested. The feelings of love might ebb and flow, but your commitment is the glue that holds the relationship together and shows how much you love someone.

Saturday 9 February 2013

Chinese New Year - Happy and Prosperous New Year - Gong Xi Fa Cai



Wishing all my Chinese subscribers a Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year - Gong Xi Fa Cai 新年快樂.  I composed and produced this Chinese music in Logic Pro.

YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/jonbrookscomposer
Please comment, like, share and subscribe. Thank you for your support!

This music is subject to copyright and is provided for demonstration purposes only. © 2010 Jon Brooks.

For additional information or more music, please visit my website: http://www.jonbrooks.co.uk

(As cited on Wikipedia)
"Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. In China, it is known as "Spring Festival," the literal translation of the Chinese name 春節 (Pinyin: Chūnjié), since the spring season in Chinese calendar starts with lichun, the first solar term in a Chinese calendar year. It marks the end of the winter season, analogous to the Western Carnival. The festival begins on the first day of the first month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: Zhēngyuè) in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year's Eve, a day where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, is known as Chúxī (除夕) or "Eve of the Passing Year." Because the Chinese calendar is lunisolar, the Chinese New Year is often referred to as the "Lunar New Year".

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar. The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions. Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Philippines, Vietnam, and also in Chinatowns elsewhere. Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the lunar new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors.

Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese new year vary widely. People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly cleanse the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of "good fortune" or "happiness", "wealth", and "longevity". On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. Food will include such items as pigs, ducks, chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

Although the Chinese calendar traditionally does not use continuously numbered years, outside China its years are often numbered from the reign of the Yellow Emperor. But at least three different years numbered 1 are now used by various scholars, making the year beginning in 2012 CE the "Chinese Year" 4710, 4709, or 4649."

Chinese New Year 2013 CNY 2013 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015