Lost Voices: Boston Hustle

07/17/09  Print This Post Print This Post    12 Comments   Popular   Written by Austin Chu
    Share

The Recess Ends-mobile. Photo: Austin Chu

“Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons. You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body.” -Oliver Wendell Holmes

When I got laid off from my job this past December, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. I had no money, no job, and nothing to tie me down.

As soon as the New Year turned, something inside me turned as well. I told my brother I wanted to drive through all fifty states and film a documentary of the stories and voices from the economy collapse. Two weeks later, my brother quit his job, and we embarked on this journey called “The Recess Ends”

We’ve interviewed and captured hundreds of hours of footage. Many of the stories presented themselves as stand alone, individual pieces. The following clip below is titled: Boston Hustle.

Boston Hustle from B-Rilla on Vimeo.

We saw Paulo at the Havard stop on the Boston Underground. His music followed us outside as we departed the subway building. We returned to record some of this music, but left the station with something more than just his songs.

For Paulo, performing in the subway was more than just selling CDs. It became an addiction for people’s smiles and for him to fulfill his deepest desires: expressing and sharing his emotions through his cello.

To all you street performers, Thank you.

Follow our journey and film: The Recess Ends


    Share

About the Author

Austin Chu

Austin Chu was laid off in December 2008. He has a deep obsession with breakfast burritos and backpacks. He doesn't know why. He just drove through fifty states filming a documentary on the economy and the recession. Follow his project on http://www.therecessends.com

More By This Author

12 Comments... join the discussion!

  • Tim Patterson replied on July 17, 2009

    Awesome. Can’t wait to see more video from this inspiring project.

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • Rory replied on July 17, 2009

    Nice work. I miss being unemployed and homeless, er, I mean traveling.

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • joshywashington replied on July 17, 2009

    Austin! you are my hero! what an amazing video, the way you captured and edited that piece was incredible.

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • Flaming Nomad replied on July 18, 2009

    That is awesome. Kudos to you for traveling after being laid off.

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • chris. replied on July 24, 2009

    very very cool. looking forward to checking out your other videos on your site

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • Tim Patterson replied on July 26, 2009

    My Dad only has a couple of life rules. One is to never eat yellow snow. The other is to always stop and listen to street musicians.

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • The_Man replied on July 26, 2009

    Wow just left Bean town.. never really got to go into boston.. but now I wish i had… will look out for this and him the next time I visit.

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • Mariana replied on August 2, 2009

    I think I saw that guy when I visited Boston. (:

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • bikes replied on September 15, 2009

    Marriage: A Team To Play On When Ready | Quarterlives.com
    Jun 4, 2008

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • Sammccormick replied on November 18, 2009

    Sick video! There are always musicians hanging out at the T stops around here. Most recently I saw a guy sitting behind a keyboard nodding his head to one of those beats that come pre-programmed on the piano. Pretty terrible. But once in awhile you stumble upon people with actual talent.

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply

Leave a Comment

Get Matador in your inbox and around the web.

Sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter.


View full list of RSS feeds

Jump To Category:



Explore the Community



Popular Stories on Matador

How-To Live In Your Car

Everything you need to know from the Fourth Amendment t... 

Climbing the Brooklyn Bridge (Sort Of)

A climbing gym with good hours, its own line of skatebo... 

13 Classic Japanese Junk Foods

Think of a long and perfectly cylindrical Cheeto, with ... 

5 Matadorians to Meet Right Now: The Couples Edition

Two for the road!... 

9 Ways To Customize Your Backpack

For slow travelers, it's very likely that you and your ... 

5 Travel Memoirs by Women

The air is getting chilly and the rainy season has begu... 

How to Make Someone's Day

Sometimes all it takes is a small gesture to turn someo... 

The Ten Ugliest Cars Being Made Right Now

If there is a nuclear apocalypse that wipes out all civ... 

Why Would Anyone Ever Want To Leave America?!?

I’d love this country if it weren’t populated with ... 

Brand Obama: Organizing T-Shirts for America

Barack Obama may have Health Care Reform Bill t-shirts,... 



Focus





Editor Blogs