Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard isn't a grape growing winery owned by a cuddly old lady called Martha, it's a small island off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, inhabited by a fascinating mixture of artists, musician, hippies, fishermen, gardeners and celebrities. The geek in me notes that it's also one of the few places in the world that has a possessive apostrophe in it's name. Apparently there are only 5 places which do in the USA, and in the UK we have Bishop's Castle, Bishop's Stortford and King's Lynn according to Wikipedia. I can't think of any more. Anyway, the island is known as a summer colony, meaning that it's economy is mainly driven by the summer tourist trade, and winters are quiet.

You can find out more about the island here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha's_Vineyard

I spent 3 weeks there in springtime, before the tourist trade kicked off, and had an excellent time staying with friends Mara Carlyle and Sam Mason in Menemsha, a small fishing village to the North West. Sam is a native Vinyarder so I had the opportunity to see how life works on a day to day basis. It seems that the average long term resident is much poorer than the celebs and holiday makers that swamp the place in the summer. The young folk all seem to work as gardeners or baristas, as well as being in really brilliant bands, or creating art. In fact just about every person you meet is a talented musician; Sam is a great drummer, and often plays with his brother Willy Mason. Their friends Lexie Roth, Meredith Sheldon and Sofi Thanhauser are all incredible musicians in very different ways, not to mention visiting songstress Mara, who's talent on legs.

The island is a very inspiring place to write and relax, which was my intention when I went there to recharge the creative portion of my brain following hectic wedding plans and a busy patch of video making. Little did I know I'd end up rising to a bigger creative challenge set by Sam as he left for his gardening job one morning. "If you write a film script by the time I get back from work, we'll make a movie" he said. So that's what I did. "The Dangers of Damp" was written in a day and shot by Whit Lasker, Sam and I over the following week on Whit's Canon D5 digital SLR camera. It stars all of the aforementioned musicians (Willy Mason, Sofi Thannhauser et al) as various characters and will hopefully feature music some of their music too. Several pick-up shots were also filmed in June by Whit and Sam, with me directing from London. More to follow about that soon in another post.

In the meantime check out some of my favorite things about Marath's Vineyard.

Manemsha Fish Market- We ate lot of fish from here. The service is fantastic and the lobster is out of this world. You can even buy a baby Menemsha Fish Market T-shirt on their website, which has got to be a great thing. Right?
http://www.menemshafishmarket.net/


Sofi Thanhauser- A brilliant songwriter and performer. She has fantastic presence live and gives a great performance as Victoria Van Der Hope a leggless spinster in "The Dangers of Damp" which I'm currently editing.
http://www.myspace.com/sofithanhauser

The Dumptique- Dumptique doesn't have a website, but then it doesn't need one. This is a FREE thrift store at West Tisbury Dump, and it's the ultimate in recycling, cutting out the boredom and expense of ebay. You can bring stuff you don't want andtake anything you want. The qualiy of things here is surprisingly high, much better than the average British Charlity shop. This is probably because the turnaround is faster, well off residents regularly dump stuff and most people don't bring in crap. They accept- Clothing, clean and usable, shoes and boots, Books, Toys, Small household Items - NO furniture or appliances are accepted.

Che's Lounge- The place to hang out for music, culture and homemade magic. Just the posters for the gigs here are an artistic feat worth seeing. I've sent them a request to put them up on their facebook page, which they may be too busy to do....It's BYOB as the town is dry.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vineyard-Haven-MA/Ches-Lounge/23651653209

West Tisbury Farmers Market- The store to buy all your fresh friut and veg in. And they do really nice hummus, olives and decent bread. Actually that's one of my only winges about America, it's often hard to get nice bread. But that's not a problem here, and it's actually cheaper that Cronigs (big supermarket chain) for a lot of stuff.
http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farmersmarkets_details.php?market=158

YO MAJESTY VIDEO

It's been a while since I've blogged! But I have been busy, honest!

Here's my latest video for the MAGNIFICENT American band Yo Majesty and their dancy number "Don't Let Go."

VIDEO LINK ( click on the video to make it bigger)
http://www.academyfilms.com/flash/#/academy/music_videos/ali_taylor/yo_majesty_dont_let_go

Dubbed one of the 25 most exciting bands in America by the NME 2008, Yo Maj, as the crew and I like to affectionately call them, are a force to be reckoned with. A lesbian, Christian rap band from Florida, I like them because they do what they love, and they don't give a Goddamn what anyone else thinks about it.
This is their myspace page for those in doubt: http://www.myspace.com/yomajesty4life

The video was shot, without the band, in various locations around London using an all female cast and crew, and focuses on real people out on a Saturday afternoon. We filmed in places where ordinary women typically go: nail bars, hairdressers, a yoga class, a wedding shop and a women's art class. Although it was made on a shoes-string budget, it's been the video most representative of me as a director so far. It allowed me to shoot loads of things I've been dying to do for ages; nudity, latex, big bums, women having a laugh, Hackney streets, and for vanity's sake, a director cameo role. It's sort of rude in an innocent way.

Credits
Producer- Liz Kessler
Production Company- Academy Films
DOP- Cathrine Derry
Editor- Darren Baldwin
Starring- Connee D as Latex LAdy


While shooting Yo Maj's video I also came across Bastard Batty Bass. It's rather good if you like that sort of thing. And I do.
http://www.battybass.com/

I'm off to Martha's Vineyard next week to write and ponder the meaning of the ukele, trees and the sea. While I'm gone check out Mara Carlyle: http://www.maracarlyle.com/

I hope Mr Dan decides to come too.

BANG ON TREND?

I'm bored of reading about what's going to be "bang on trend" in 2009. As if that means anything anyway. It strikes me that if a fashion, style, colour, religion, diet, hat, lipstick, car etc is "bang on trend" today it's likely to be bang off trend tomorrow. Which leads me to the conclusion that the phrase is nothing more than transparent corporate clap trap meaning "buy more stuff today, throw it away tomorrow".

So here are some things to be celebrated that are in no way bang on trend, and can't be bought anyway.

An old man's tattoo. I like this. I think it's the best tattoo I've ever seen.


Lilja Hrönn Helgadóttir's face. Lilja is not a movie star or a supermodel. She's a woman in Iceland. She doesn't have an album out or a line in Topshop, and she's not a "celebrity". She just has a great face.


Gustave Doré's "London" engravings might have been bang on trend in 1876. You can buy a book of them if you like. But I imagine the originals are too expensive to be a viable trend.



That's all.

How to Be a HAPPY New Music Video Director

There's no right way to be a music video director. But in my first year and a half of doing this crazy thing I've learned to be a happy one. Like this....


GO EASY ON YOURSELF
Despite the gaps between jobs and the incredible perk of being master of your own time, you work extremely hard when a job is on. You pour your heart, soul, and often your fee, into every job you do. You've managed to carve out your little corner in a dog-eat-dog industry. Give yourself a high five and a little sweetie for being fabulous.



BE HUMBLE
I know what I just said..but..you aren't saving lives. And nobody wants to hear about the famous person you met the other day or your agent in LA. When someone asks what you've been up to, don't say "Hangin with Dizzee in Shoreditch House” or "Living it up Groucho-side with Robbie", just say "Oh you know, writing, thinking, shooting, the usual."

TAKE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM (BUT DON'T ALWAYS BELIEVE IT)
One of the hardest things about your job will be deciding who to take criticism from, who to ignore, and who to mentally note as weirdo. As a general rule stick to what you know to be good about your work. Listen to advice from those you respect or people who've got a lot of experience. But remember, it's up to you what you do with that advice; you don't have to actually TAKE it. Learn to be a diplomat.

TRUST IS THE KEY
Trust the artist/ band/ comissioner, and earn their trust back. They probably know who they are and what they want. They may need a bit of guidance and some spandex to really shine though.

DON'T LET NEGATIVE COMMENTS GET YOU DOWN
For every 100 people who like a video you've made, a handful will hate it, with a passion, and they will be the most vocal. If someone makes a negative comment on Youtube about your work DO NOT PANIC! Especially if it looks something like this "Bruv dis vid is lame. wot da fuk is dat abot man?" or "Fail'. Under no circumstances should you ever post your own work on the website Antville. This is where the has-beens and never-weres of the promo fringe spend their hours i-winging and e-moaning. Emo at best, misanthropic at worst, these squawkers use jargon like "nice defoc shot but generally weak cut and concept" or "I would have dispensed with the slow mo and...bla bla". Don’t go there. I used to look at it and get wound up but I've seen the light. There are WAY better places to look at vids or upload your stuff, minus Cyber Meldrew.

WATCH STUFF
Some ace sites, with a less poisonous rantings are:
NOT FAT CLIPS- Which is great for animation, music videos and shorts.
http://dekku.blogspot.com/

YOUTUBE- Obviously as long as you ignore 'wot da fuk " man.
http://www.youtube.com/

PROMO NEWS- Some Antville gumpsters do go on here, but generally it's a nicer feel.
http://www.promonews.tv/
I particularly like Sarah Chatfield's (or Chatters) x-mas video Mixtape. Sarah ( at Colonel Blimp)is one of the many directors who manages to be lovely and very good at what she does. Big up her.
http://www.promonews.tv/2008/12/19/video-mixtape-by-sarah-chatfield/

Keep looking on people’s blogs where a lot of fun stuff turns up. Company websites are good for up to date video news: Colonel Blimp, Bikini, Academy, Partizan, Factory Films, Blink, and Independent. Mr and Mrs Smith, Studio AKA and Annex Films for animation. Get Googling.

HAVE A SECOND INCOME WHEN YOU START
This could be in the form of a Sugar-Daddy (Not really) , work in commercials, a job in the pub, a double life as a ship's doctor (I know people with most of the above, even the doctor), or a contract as a spy (I made this one up). In any case, it will raise your bank balance, feed your self esteem and enable you to have more time off, getting inspired, doing vanity projects for your mate's band and hanging out with Dizzee in Shoreditch House.

GO TO THE AWARDS
But don't be gutted if you don't win. If you are really gutted do it in STYLE. Storm out shouting "I've been robbed!!"

DEVELOP PITCH BOUNCEBACKABILITY
Don't be too upset when you don't win a pitch. It's so competitive that there's probably 10 other directors pitching too. Also don't sit around waiting for an answer. It's better to get on with something else. Often commissioners and producers get so busy once a job is confirmed that they simply don't have the time to ring up all people who didn't get the job. Having said that, there's a little handful of lovely commissioners who DO call up. May their bottoms be gilded in gold and their cockles be warmed in perpetuity.


BUILD A GREAT TEAM
And cherish them. Sounds cheesy but I wouldn't be able to do what I do without the lovely people I work with. DOP's like Stuart Bentley and Ben Moulden have been great. Trim Editing and Academy films make a lot of things possible for me.

DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY
...In the words of Bobby Mcferrin form the 80s.

I leave you with this strange thing...

FUNNY FRANZ FERDINAND VIDEO

Sadly this video wasn't shot by me. It was made by Mr Dan's daughter Sadie. Very funny and cute.




If that didn't make you smile then bah humbug.

A CHILD OF THE JAGO

I'm forever banging on about how good this shop below my studio on Great Eastern Street is, and here I go now on my blog. A Child of The Jago is the brainchild of Joe Corre of Agent Provocateur and Barnzley Armitage of..a lot of fashion moments. It's a modern take on Turn of The Century mens clothing, inspired by, and centered around Hogarth's "Gin Lane", which glares out at you in neon colours from the back wall.

(To the lady who took the photo above, I took the liberty of using it. As I'm IN it talking to Dave.)




The reason I like this shop has nothing to do with who came up with the idea or how supposedly cool it all is. What I love about this place is the fact that it invites you into a world. It's an open invitation to another time, a parallel dimension where punks, pirates, gin hags and teddy boys coexist in a post apocalyptic dream world. Nowt wrong with that. What I also like about this shop, apart from the great decor, which I had a little bit of a hand in by the way, is the fact that the staff are so bloody brilliant. Forget about that snotty fashionista attitude crap you get in some places were you can't touch anything, let alone afford it. These guys are sitting in London's craziest dressing up box and they WANT you to get involved. They don't really give a shit if you aren't buying it, they are passionate about clobber. There's an inspired mix of vintage stuff and new designs ranging from hoodies to frock coats and original "Let It Rock" ties from Vivienne Westwood's original pre- Sex shop. And what's more I have to say that most of this stuff looks just as great on women as it does on men. When my website launches soon (www.alitaylor.tv) you'll be able to see some of their hats and ties on my models in my "director's lookbook". I certainly intend to use some of this stuff in a music video or two.

Here's a drawing inspired by the hats.


They are having a late night shopping and gin party on Thursday 11th Dec. So I suggest you get in there, get involved and dress the hell up. The new magazine "The Daily Terror" is also being launched.

WEBSITE: The website has a great jukebox thing on it.

http://www.achildofthejago.com/

ART BY SAM ARTHUR

Check out Sam Arthur' s Prints. They'd make good Christmas presents.
http://nobrow-prints.blogspot.com/

Heard it All Before- Emiliana Torrini - CLIP

This is for you Emiliana. Thank you for the music. Have fun in Iceland. When you get back you can have a proper DVD. xx Ali

Video:
Director - Ali Taylor
Editor and 1st AD - Julia Knight
Producer and Head of Weird Girls: Kitty Von Sometime
Cameraman - Kristjan Zaklynsky
Actress taking off makeup- Sophie Woolley
Makeup - Helga Sjöfn Kjartansdóttir
Lighting - Asgrimur Gudbjartsson
Head Runner - Fríða Einarsdóttir
Catering - Sigríður Elva Vilhjálmsdóttir


The track "Heard it All Before' comes from Emiliana Torrini's new album "Me and Armini" and was written by Emiliana and Dan Carey. The film was made in Iceland using ordinary girls from Kitty Von- Sometime's Weird Girls Project as the mermaids. None of them knew what they would be doing on the day. Actress Sophie Woolley features on the left, shot in the UK. It's been a lot of fun for me as I've worked with Emiliana's music before on the Sunnyroad video. This time it was a totally different process, more of an art film and involving a lot more people.
(Anyone who hasn't seen Sunnyroad can view it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyuL1z2tejs )


If you'd like to see the Weird Girls web page and another version of the movie, AND their amazing photos, follow this link to Kitty Von-Sometime's brilliant page : http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Weird-Girls-Project/25236661638?ref=ts

Nevio Pellicci- clip

A short clip of a much loved man at work. I was always amazed at how humble Mr Pellicci was about the cafe considering it's history and success.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFUVWGHdWZs

Nevio Pellicci 1925-2008

I'm very sad to say that a good friend has passed away. Nevio Pellicci, owner of E Pellicci, or "Pellicci's Caf" in Bethnal Green, was a dear friend to me and countless others. Nevio, Neville or Nev Snr. to regulars, was one of the warmest, most dignified people I have ever met and owner of one of the East end's finest family businesses. He was one of those ageless people who's energy and joie de vivre transcended his years. Right now it sounds so odd talking about him in the past tense because he’s always been such a big part of my every day life and my positive outlook on the area I live in. I’ll really miss Nevio and I know many others will too.

I hope a little bit of his sparkle continues to live on through the cafe and his wonderful family who will no doubt keep it going. I wish them a lot of love.

MIXTAPE- Portable DJ Mixer

Urban Outfitters in the US are selling a portable cross fader IN THE SHAPE OF A MIX TAPE!!!!

Although I'm not usually a gadget person, and I don't like using my blog to advertise stuff, (apart from me) I think this is ace. Unfortunately it only seems to be available online, and postage to the UK at $51 seems excessive for something that only costs $30. Urban Outfitters UK are really missing a trick because I'm sure this would be REALLY popular at Christmas.

I might get in touch with New York friends though...Perhaps I could use this as a tool in my project with Mr Dan. (Dan and I are swapping roles with him doing visuals and me doing music on a strange music video, or should that be a video-music? )

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?navAction=jump&isProduct=true&id=15633324

INSPIRED

I'm feeling quite inspired by all the art I've been looking at recently and am about to start working towards an exhibition of my own. Here are a few pieces I've done in the past.  I call these "Tarts". They were inspired by Hogarth's visions of London and my own imaginary London, which sinks slowly into the encroaching Thames like a dystopian Venice. I'm hoping to develop the theme further and to bring some of my own experiences into the mix for an exhibition next year.

I was really touched by Adam Neate's gesture of sharing his art with London for free. I'm disappointed by people selling it on Ebay though. 

If you are interested in art AND tarts, have a look at ART TART. The tartiest artiest tart around. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXfGR4A7310

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7kLRzJWPV8&feature=related

SHUBY- STREET ART

If you live in or around Shoreditch you might have noticed the work of Shuby on Commerial Street.





She's also just designed this album cover for Rough Trade Records. I think she's rather good. And I know a seceret about Shuby too...

http://www.shuby.co.uk

RCA SECRET- WHICH ONES? WHICH ONES?

Being dedicated, but not too dedicated (like the campers who've been there since wednesday, and scare me frankly), I started queuing early for my secret RCA cards. By 5:30am the queue already stretched right around the RCA building, down the side of the Albert Hall, into the small mews behind the college, round the courtyard, down a dead end alley and back out into the courtyard. People were armed with hot flasks and high spirits. It was good fun. Watch out for my queue-film coming to youtube near you.

I had a shortlist of about 90 of the 2, 700, that I genuinely liked. Narrowing that down even further, there were 20 that I especially liked. I'm happy to say that all the ones I got were in my top 10. Here they are.












..So I'm pretty happy with that. They'll look great framed as a set. Perhaps I'll go every year and build up a collection...

And who are they by? Well, that's a secret.

SECRET ROYAL COLLAGE OF ART SECRET THING

Tomorrow 2,700 postcard sized works of art go on sale at the RCA. The idea is that for £40 you could buy a Tracy Emin, Paula Rago or unknown RCA student. It's quite democratic really. There's also a raffle to win a place as one of the first 50 to take their pick. The exhibition has been open all week but there may be 100 other people who fancy the same piece as you, and it's first come first served tomorrow morning, It's limited to 4 pieces per person.

Here's some of my favorites as well as a picture of the tents that have been here since Wednesday. Spitefully I wish these tent people no luck because I suspect they are after the Emins and are missing the point somewhat. Maybe that's mean but I reckon this is about questioning the relationship between art and commerce, not being a slave to it.

I'll be down there tomorrow hoping to get a few that I like.

http://www.rca.ac.uk/secret