ALMOST HOLDEN COLLECTIVE – diy since mmvii

 ALMOST HOLDEN COLLECTIVE is a young, cutting edge multimedia production group dedicated to innovating and streamlining independent film and music production by concentrating on efficient / sustainable workflow and collaboration between mediums. AHC is now dedicated to preserving the punk / DIY community they had built and been supported by through their record collective AHRECORDS.NET , a cohesive online  archive of the generation’s best underground music, AHCTV.NET , the AHC video archive and release platform, and AHCOLLECTION.NET which has an archive of all the shows and exhibitions that took place at the gallery.

This AHC MMX3-XXI4 was responsible for the creation and management of the Almost Holden Collection on Ocean Park.

@ALMOSTHOLDEN

b. 12/4/1990 Los Angeles, CA, Brentwood School ’09, NYU Tisch School of the Arts ’12 (BF in Film/TV/Documentary), Fundacion Ludwig – Havana, Cuba (2011)

Behr began Almost Holden as a multimedia project in 2007, established the Collective at NYU in 2009 as an independent production team made up of multimedia artists collaborating on group projects throughout the LES. His film portfolio includes AHC’s first feature film Where Are You?  (more video content available on AHCTV.NET). He releases studio music thru AHRECORDS.NET and built the AHC gallery show, American Hardcore I (5.10.14). He designed the websites — AHZINE , AHCOLLECTION, AHCTV, AHRECORDS and ALMOSTHOLDEN.COM — which make up the AHC online infrastructure, a self-enclosed network for the multimedia digital display of Almost Holden body of work. He took most joy designing, building and overseeing the successful evolution of the Almost Holden Collection in Santa Monica from Dec 2012 – Dec 2014.

5.10.XXI4 – American Hardcore I ; 5.10.2KXV – Fascista I-IV ; Debut Feature – Tequila Pigs [2KX7]

b. 3/1/1990 Durango, CO, Idylwild Arts Academy ’08, UNC Wilmington Jazz program (2008-10), NYU Steinhardt School of Music ’12

Zac is an original member of AHC in its official formation in NYC 2009. Zac designed and hand built a full recording/mixing studio in his small LES apartment on the East River. Now officially named Taste Sound Studios, the apartment acted as AHC headquarters and the main production office during the early college years. It was there he and Behr developed the idea of a “family space” , an intimate multimedia production lab dedicated to the coherent production and packaging of an individual project regardless of media. This vertically integrated model manifested itself physically in the creation of AHCollection in Santa Monica. In 2013, Zac took responsibility for the construction and soundproofing of the AHC Santa Monica live studio and control room as well as the founding and creation of Almost Holden Records, of which he maintains and oversees production of all content and releases.

b. 11/17/1990 New York, NY, Corona Del Mar HS ’09, Santa Monica College ’14

Long time friend and AHC collaborator, Austin Ford, joined the AHC team in 2013 for the construction of AHCollection Santa Monica. After independently recording the first Archie Love Jones studio album “Love Jones” in Long Beach, CA, the SoCal native began to build the DIY network which hugely makes up the west coast AHC community. Through audio production projects, workshop leadership and booking and managing the many music concerts and events at AHC, Austin established the core production teams and contacts which have provided a huge amount of the talent pool AHC regularly draws on for collaborators. Austin has been responsible for engineering many of the Almost Holden Records albums, performing on many as a musician and vocal artist, and he scored and sound designed AHC’s debut feature film, Where Are You?, in which he also plays a large character role as actor.

Newport Beach, CA, Chapman ’13

Sayer is a filmmaker who has collaborated with AHC since its conception in 2007. He is the leading role, co-director and writer of the feature film, Where Are You?. He photographs and produces video installations throughout California.

NYU Tisch School of the Arts – Atlantic Theatre Co, ’12

Diana Irvine has collaborated with AHC on many projects since its earliest experiments. She was the Blond Girl opposite Joe Baker in “Rabbit Holes. Rabbit Follows.” (mmx), Deathmask in “Medeafilm” (mmx) opposite Hailey Gates and she is the female lead as Summer Bates in the films “Good Grief, The Show” (mmxii), “Night of the Living Hemophobe” (mmxii), and “Where Are You?” (xxi4). You can currently find her in all projects on AHCTV.NET

SUNY Purchase – Acting ; NYU Gallatin – Performance / Writing ’13

J.C. Baker has been a close collaborator with Behr since kindergarten. Together they produced the earliest works that would later evolve into the Almost Holden portfolio. As an Actor, Joe was the supporting role in “Bears on the Road” (mmvii) opposite Matt McGuire and Hailey Gates. He later reprised his role as Joseph Elizabeth Smith as the lead of “Rabbit Holes. Rabbit Follows.” (mmx) and “Where Are You?” (xxi4). You can currently find him in all projects on AHCTV.NET

NYU Tisch School of the Arts ’13

Yeun Byun is an extremely talented art director and production designer who is responsible for the look of all the AHC films since 2009. From the earliest projects, (she is responsible for the aesthetic of “Bleach Barbie” (mmx), “Medeafilm” (mmx), “Good Grief, The Show” (mmxii)) to the big finale, “Where Are You?” (xxi4), Yeun is a DIY master at carpentry, quick fixes, crafts and organization. She is also a close collaborator of the American Standard Film Co., AHC’s close New York friends. You can find all her work with the Almost Holden Collective on AHCTV.NET

b. 4/28/1989 Los Angeles, CA, South Pasadena HS ’08, NYU Gallatin ’11, Florence, Italy (2008-2009), Accra Ghana (2010), Fundacion Ludwig Havana, Cuba (Jan-May 2011), Julia Dean Photo Workshop (2012-13)

Semantha is responsible for the introduction of analog print and digital photography to the Almost Holden body of work. She was integral in AHCollection Santa Monica having a darkroom and print/design department and was responsible for the curations of two massively successful shows, the debut show HAVANA MVERTE (april 19 – may 19, 2013) and COAST2COAST (july 20 – aug 3, 2013) as well as a majority of the designs for the show and event posters in 2013. She has produced multiple independent zines and online design projects as well as off-site shows with various DIY and independent art production groups internationally.

b. 1/24/1991 Los Angeles, CA, Palisades HS ’09, UCSB ’13

West LA native Hunter Bertram officially joined AHC as a regular collaborator on T-shirt screen printing and design projects. Hunter is responsible for the first two AHC T-shirt lines and has expanded the clothing brand to independent surf retailers in Santa Barbara where he spends much of his time. During his time printing thru AHC his techniques evolved into the digital realm, how he produces most of his apparel designs now. Hunter is also a filmmaker who has been writing and shooting for AHC since 2013.

b. 2/15/1990 Sao Paulo, Brazil, Mellenium HS ’09, NYU Tisch ’13, London Writing Program (2012)

Francis is an original AHC member from the early college days. Together with Behr and Rylee Jean, they produced the first film projects which would begin the AHC archive. From his home in Manhattan he continues to write, direct and sound design.

b. 1990, San Francisco, CA, NYU ’12

Rin Johnson is a photo conceptual artist. She makes photographs and abstract works based on photographs. He is interested in the intersections of lived-space and memory. She has a BFA in photography and urban planning from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He has exhibited widely in exhibitions and fairs in Berlin, Germany; Brooklyn, New York; Los Angeles, California; New Haven, Connecticut; New York, New York; and San Francisco, California. Some notable fairs include, AIPAD, Paris Photo LA / Paris and SPRING/BREAK Art Show. She is originally from San Francisco; he lives in between Brooklyn and San Francisco. She was resident artist and manager at AHC from August-October 2014. He curated the David B. Anthony show, Through My Eyes, which was advertised on the front page of LAweekly’s art website.

b. 3/9/1989, Los Angeles, CA, Brentwood School ’07, USC Viterbi (Computer Science, Video Games) ’12, St. Petersburg, Russ (2011), Sony Playstation (2013-14), Guidebook app (2014-), Picflik app (2014-)

Abtin created the whole wireless and digital infrastructure at AHCollection Santa Monica. Thanks to his hand-built computer network and wiring, the whole studio and gallery can function off a smart phone. The theatre is affectionately known as the Abtin Gramian Screening Room. He is the head programer on the app, Picflik, with  fellow AHC collaborators, Behrad Gramian, Hunter Bertram and longtime AHC friend and supporter, Matthew J. Greenberg.

b. 9/4/1991 Los Angeles, CA, Brentwood School ’09, Bowdoin (2009-2011), Pomona College ’13

Lifelong friend and Brentwood School classmate, Alexis Sones, officially joined the AHC team in 2014 as the financial and business manager of AHCollection Santa Monica. As an independent artist she curated multiple music events and a personal art show displaying her paintings. Under Alexis’ management, AHC turned a profit each quarter.

b. 10/24/1990 Los Angeles, CA, Crossroads School ’09, NYU Tisch ’13, Prague 35mm Film Program (2012)

Rylee Jean is an original AHC member from the early college days. As a full time filmmaker, Rylee has found success in multiple commercial projects, a series of short film awards and as the head of film production at the LA-based app company, Snapchat. She is a very active presence in the LA/NY independent film community and regularly produces, shoots, writes and directs short films and music videos.

NYU ’13

Vishal was an early collaborator with Almost Holden thru his musical work as Milk Ghost (MG). He played at the gallery many times as Nirvanus, displayed art and released zines. He was involved with most of the curations in the gallery that occurred between Summer 2013 to 2014.

NYU Clive Davis School of Recording Music ’12

Sam Katz collaborated with Almost Holden since earliest days. He is a metal drummer and an electronic music producer. He collaborates often with acts like Cut Your Teeth, Cakes da Killa and Milo Mcbride. He spends most of his time in New York City.

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Zephyr Benson has been a regular collaborator with the collective from 2010 to 2014. He was the star of many of the early films as the character Ash Lander.