Urban Testing Ground

Joel Kuwahara

See life on the other side. Mini documentaries about the people, places, events and lifestyles of the urban underground.

  • Pillow Fight
    On Saturday I was either going to A) Get an iPad or B) Get hit in the face with a pillow. What was I thinking?!

    I swallowed a lot of feathers to get this shot. Hope you enjoy it.

    Pillow Fight from Joel Kuwahara on Vimeo.

    5 April 2010, 11:54 am
  • Cole's - Downtown Los Angeles
    It's been a long, long time since I shot a video for my blog. Part of the reason was work. That's all I've been doing. I set up my own company in 2008, got married and any free time I thought I had quickly evaporated. Well, things have changed. I ditched my DVX100 for a Canon 7D and I'm looking forward to capturing beautiful images of life. Life really is beautiful.

    Enjoy my first piece on my 7D.

    Cole's from Joel Kuwahara on Vimeo.

    23 March 2010, 6:08 am
  • 3D Projection - Amazing!
    Wow, it's been a long time since I last posted anything. Unfortunately, I've been distracted by side projects.

    I came across this video today that just inspired me. I wish I came up with idea.

    555 KUBIK_ extended version from urbanscreen on Vimeo.

    26 August 2009, 11:33 pm
  • It's OK
    Chicago artist, Sighn, figures it will take about 60 years to hand cut a million of these pieces. And that's exactly what he's set out to do. The first 500 will be sold in 2007 and only 71 are available for $2o a pop.

    He made a video of the painstaking process. I think I might pick one up.

    Check it out here!
    12 December 2007, 3:08 am
  • H+R - Happy Birthday!
    Spent Saturday night celebrating Hit + Run's 2 year anniversary at the Crash Mansion. It's amazing to see how big it's grown. The place was packed and they had two screen printing machines in action to handle the two large lines that went from the stage to the back of the dance floor. As a thank you, partners Mike C. and Brandy Flowers passed out free blank tees to anyone who wore a H+R shirt. There were dozens of custom screens by artists such as Toks, Kutmah, the Gaslamp Killer, Kofie, Haycock and more. I sported Mike C.'s. There are more H+R events to come. So if you've never been or you need to fill out your t-shirt collection with a one-of-a-kind print, go check them out.









    (Some of the designs)









    (Brandy, Joel, Mike C.)
    19 November 2007, 7:47 am
  • Little Radio - Summer Block Party
    So I'm back, sorry for the super long break. My editing chops feel a bit rusty, but I hope you don't notice.

    Dave Conway owns and operates "LittleRadio.com" it started out as a small pirate radio station and has now grown into a major multimedia enterprise. During the summer, Dave opens up his studio to the public and hosts summer block parties and free concerts. On this Sunday afternoon, "Hello Astronaut, Goodbye Television" and "Future Pigeon" performed. What a perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.

    Watch the video here! [1:38 / 9.5MB QT]

    Thanks to Brandy Flowers & Mike C. of "Hit & Run" and Dave Conway.
    5 July 2006, 7:05 am
  • ManOne @ The Crewest Gallery
    Last weekend I stopped by the Crewest Gallery, LA's first art gallery dedicated to graffiti artists and met with it's owner ManOne. He was working on a mural for the Washington Post and I brought my camera along to document the process.

    Check out the video here!
    [2:48 /16.5 MB QT]

    Thanks to Sticky Rick and ManOne!
    12 April 2006, 7:50 am
  • Hit & Run @ Mountain Bar
    LA artists Brandy Flower and Mike C. brought their live t-shirt screening event to Geoff Oki's 4th annual T-shirt party this past Thursday. Curious fans as well as devoted T wearers packed the Mountain Bar in Chinatown to get a one-of-a-kind t-shirt made. Screen designs were provided by various LA designers including Brandy, Mike C and Oki.

    Check out the video here! [3:11 / 17MB QT]

    Thanks to Brandy, Mike and the rest of the HR crew. Also thanks to Geoff Oki.
    3 April 2006, 3:51 pm
  • Buried Under Work
    This week's been a crazy one and I haven't had much time to shoot. But I am in the process of setting up some new interviews. So until then, it may be a little slow on my site. My apologies in advance. But I hope to bring you some new and exciting pieces in the near future.

    I'll leave you with this fun little video from JP Tarver who e-mailed me about the "Meeting Of Styles" piece I did last year.

    Thanks JP.

    Watch the video here! [WMV /:30]
    20 March 2006, 8:24 am
  • Michael Turner - Photographer
    It was around 3AM when I got the call. Emerging LA photographer, Michael Turner, was having a late night photo shoot and I was asked to document it.

    Enjoy....

    Watch the video here! [1:27 / 9 MB QT]
    13 March 2006, 7:24 am
  • Dancing Graffiti
    I don't normally post other people's videos, but this one is too good to be missed. It's a music video by Mark Ronson covering Radiohead's "Just" and it features some awesome effects of graffiti coming to life.

    Check out the video here! [3:21 / 14.57MB]
    10 March 2006, 7:07 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App
© MoonFM 2024. All rights reserved.