tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77444120263383800752024-03-13T10:35:10.569-07:00Ali Taylor-Music Videos & ArtVideos at http://www.academyfilms.comAli Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-74989783667755922812011-01-16T02:56:00.000-08:002011-01-16T03:02:18.999-08:00BUSY LADY- LAZY BLOGGERI've been a terrible, terrible blogger in the past 8 months. But real life has been busy, busy, busy. <div>I'm working with New York comedy duo AZAM on a bunch of exciting projects soon to be released on their website azam.tv</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-32315567977835671032010-05-26T05:24:00.000-07:002010-05-26T05:28:21.155-07:00"Find Me Out" for Rose Elinor DougalThis is my second video for Rose Elinor Dougal, an artist with great integrity who I have high hopes for. <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre; "><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jmPhKXqBElY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jmPhKXqBElY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></div>Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-79674459066995127512010-05-26T04:35:00.000-07:002010-05-26T05:24:12.526-07:00New Magic Numbers Video "The Pulse"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLubf6jK-psHnkhsiD8RZ_Npu0uiyrovP58LDCFoWnhRr77inIsxsR2_Qv-7N-s6wEG0xuuAHJcE2hUJq1p9GLdEVS6OTyE678ZBuZQjRh6nay2HPNA3JKE3PVLbuMBvcG_fBPnBe_A0U/s1600/Picture+3.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLubf6jK-psHnkhsiD8RZ_Npu0uiyrovP58LDCFoWnhRr77inIsxsR2_Qv-7N-s6wEG0xuuAHJcE2hUJq1p9GLdEVS6OTyE678ZBuZQjRh6nay2HPNA3JKE3PVLbuMBvcG_fBPnBe_A0U/s400/Picture+3.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475544583018549154" /></a><br /><br />I've just completed this video for The Magic Numbers track "Pulse". Unashamedly inspired by singer Romeo Stoddart's love of " Man on A Wire", it takes the idea to an otherworldly place. We shot this at Barking and Dagenham Town Hall believe it or not.<br /><br /><div>Here's a link to the video on Chillibean. I'll get it up here as soon as I can. </div><div><br />http://chillibean.net/sohosoho/newsletter/036/featured/Academy.html</div>Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-87277467980490624362010-04-05T04:55:00.000-07:002010-04-06T14:07:18.766-07:00Coat of Arms- Work in Progress<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW22otaabDcLBFC-tZ-NKLhqOc_IfYi78noZH6TtaybtEj7ZUotdE8c15_DOAh6-W_n6oIvVXK8jQEVfJdyyVFQfeKyt0Yq_d5T0GF2nFT9wFiWNipRr-X9ag8Noc3o6p8F_QxDkdVrD4/s1600/Photo+85.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW22otaabDcLBFC-tZ-NKLhqOc_IfYi78noZH6TtaybtEj7ZUotdE8c15_DOAh6-W_n6oIvVXK8jQEVfJdyyVFQfeKyt0Yq_d5T0GF2nFT9wFiWNipRr-X9ag8Noc3o6p8F_QxDkdVrD4/s200/Photo+85.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456623470300742770" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW22otaabDcLBFC-tZ-NKLhqOc_IfYi78noZH6TtaybtEj7ZUotdE8c15_DOAh6-W_n6oIvVXK8jQEVfJdyyVFQfeKyt0Yq_d5T0GF2nFT9wFiWNipRr-X9ag8Noc3o6p8F_QxDkdVrD4/s1600/Photo+85.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW22otaabDcLBFC-tZ-NKLhqOc_IfYi78noZH6TtaybtEj7ZUotdE8c15_DOAh6-W_n6oIvVXK8jQEVfJdyyVFQfeKyt0Yq_d5T0GF2nFT9wFiWNipRr-X9ag8Noc3o6p8F_QxDkdVrD4/s200/Photo+85.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456623470300742770" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW22otaabDcLBFC-tZ-NKLhqOc_IfYi78noZH6TtaybtEj7ZUotdE8c15_DOAh6-W_n6oIvVXK8jQEVfJdyyVFQfeKyt0Yq_d5T0GF2nFT9wFiWNipRr-X9ag8Noc3o6p8F_QxDkdVrD4/s1600/Photo+85.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW22otaabDcLBFC-tZ-NKLhqOc_IfYi78noZH6TtaybtEj7ZUotdE8c15_DOAh6-W_n6oIvVXK8jQEVfJdyyVFQfeKyt0Yq_d5T0GF2nFT9wFiWNipRr-X9ag8Noc3o6p8F_QxDkdVrD4/s200/Photo+85.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456623470300742770" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW22otaabDcLBFC-tZ-NKLhqOc_IfYi78noZH6TtaybtEj7ZUotdE8c15_DOAh6-W_n6oIvVXK8jQEVfJdyyVFQfeKyt0Yq_d5T0GF2nFT9wFiWNipRr-X9ag8Noc3o6p8F_QxDkdVrD4/s1600/Photo+85.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW22otaabDcLBFC-tZ-NKLhqOc_IfYi78noZH6TtaybtEj7ZUotdE8c15_DOAh6-W_n6oIvVXK8jQEVfJdyyVFQfeKyt0Yq_d5T0GF2nFT9wFiWNipRr-X9ag8Noc3o6p8F_QxDkdVrD4/s200/Photo+85.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456623470300742770" /></a> <br /><br />I'm entering a new phase. This is my coat of arms as work in progress. I think my motto will be "Anarchy and Order" or maybe "Revenge! Revenge!" ....Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-64500228213366725232010-04-02T10:41:00.000-07:002010-04-02T10:45:06.983-07:00If I were the Queen of Sheba<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsAcfSa7dO26NNOu1zzA2YSm5ZSmhxB_OvqBv6eNUuoN2vqGKMFLZp7xHxStZ9-B7U-yzrDAENuwFqbF7qF_6IxK0q0t1l9w3NlPCAwYZzZ0yIZrbygMyCqLrYA-PD3mjEmEpqiAaZyU/s1600/ALI_0386.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsAcfSa7dO26NNOu1zzA2YSm5ZSmhxB_OvqBv6eNUuoN2vqGKMFLZp7xHxStZ9-B7U-yzrDAENuwFqbF7qF_6IxK0q0t1l9w3NlPCAwYZzZ0yIZrbygMyCqLrYA-PD3mjEmEpqiAaZyU/s400/ALI_0386.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455597060525829138" /></a><br /><br />I might grow very fat and have footmen carry me around.Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-33733082254716622402010-04-01T09:24:00.000-07:002010-04-01T10:09:33.999-07:00Back to my Roots- Drawing!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRF9Hu7I6l1ipcaCWPiMUtYylfJ-_sWlPhub76Iab0GP3GcIeP7e1PQg0V-gM1Q0jVoARPmsgDs3voAjpYaFjIcq_27NKfOIvfu984Oi5bd9R2mqhuknaJLEWbeUjBfr7aEsWFyhFHEcY/s1600/ALI_0492.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRF9Hu7I6l1ipcaCWPiMUtYylfJ-_sWlPhub76Iab0GP3GcIeP7e1PQg0V-gM1Q0jVoARPmsgDs3voAjpYaFjIcq_27NKfOIvfu984Oi5bd9R2mqhuknaJLEWbeUjBfr7aEsWFyhFHEcY/s400/ALI_0492.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455209178009366562" /></a><br />I'm currently working on a couple of drawing projects, getting back to my art roots. There are a two illustrated books on the go and a little fashion project that I'll be telling you more about soon. One of the book projects is in collaboration with Emiliana Torrini, the brilliant singer who I've worked with a number of times. It's really satisfying to be doing some hands on artwork.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-57306256453789922482010-03-08T04:52:00.000-08:002010-03-08T09:30:50.854-08:00"Heard It All Before" Wins Best Music Video at Northern Wave Iceland<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNOzTQfmJQRl0fLeb4pxmkqJC0oaYSpuwKYJbBYubjRM8Xy77_SOXzObfmF6aZwpjuprqNvBve7DNY1LjehLKQM1y5fGYmUCiISkq9UAfKlPGAB1uH_88yhBg42dPpzT3RMd3rLjX8uA/s1600-h/web_ep6_mermaids.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNOzTQfmJQRl0fLeb4pxmkqJC0oaYSpuwKYJbBYubjRM8Xy77_SOXzObfmF6aZwpjuprqNvBve7DNY1LjehLKQM1y5fGYmUCiISkq9UAfKlPGAB1uH_88yhBg42dPpzT3RMd3rLjX8uA/s400/web_ep6_mermaids.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446250957039863218" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Heard It All Before", a film I directed for The Weird Girls Project, with Emiliana Torrini's music, just won Best Music Video at </span></span><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="text-indent: 0in !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Northern Wave International Film Festival Iceland, beating Gus Gus's "Add This Song" and Roots Manuver's "C.R.U.F.F" This is my second award in Iceland, where my mum jokes that I am internationally famous.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The film is based around Emiliana Torrini's track "Heard it All Before" from her album "Me and Armini" and features The Weird Girls as gorgeous glittering mermaids. It was shot on a shoestring outside Reykjavik and makes up Episode 6 of the wonderful Weird Girls series masterminded by Kitty Von Sometime. Although the film takes a music video style format, it had none of the budget or industry backing of a music video, but was created totally independently, with Emiliana and Rough Trade's permission, but without their intervention. It was purely a labour of love. It was edited by the fantastic Julia Knight, using the facilities at Trim Editing. Back in October 2008, I documented the Weird Girls shoot on this blog.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My first Icelandic award in 2006 was for "Sunnyroad", also for Emiliana, which won The Icelandic Music Awards beating Sigur Ros. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This is the Weird Girls Site, run by Kitty:</span></span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0in !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://www.theweirdgirlsproject.com/</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;"><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JeOMXyxTcgA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JeOMXyxTcgA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sunnyroad- Winner of Icelandic Music Awards, Best Video 2006</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;"><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MyuL1z2tejs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MyuL1z2tejs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></span></div></span>Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-57660501141695627322010-03-08T02:13:00.002-08:002010-03-08T08:37:06.969-08:00Cultural Capital, my recession currency.<div><br /></div><div>There's nothing better than a museum crammed with artistic treasures to fire up the creative furnace. In a city that continues to thrive on consumerism, recession or not, it's great that there are still so many havens of brilliance and beauty available to anyone who takes the time to look. And London's museums, while being some of the best in the world, don't cost the earth every time we visit them (financially or environmentally.) In fact, a great many of them are free. </div><div><br /></div><div>Most importantly though, I believe we all need some inspiration, whether we are artists or not. Trying to create without having feasted our eyes on some of the most brilliant art in history is a bit like trying to make a delicious meal when you've never tasted one. You have no point of reference. We all need to create; from choosing a wallpaper, to bringing up our children; life presents us with a constant creative challenge. We need an armory. Trying to make sense of the world, and developing the ability to screen out the mundane (gas bills, house prices, Ant and Dec, Piers Morgan, health gurus, people who talk about their shares in public etc), is harder without cultural capital. Art isn't reserved for the upper and middle classes anymore, it's available to everyone. At the very least it makes us feel better. </div><div><br /></div><div>Having a young baby means I spend a lot of time walking around, pram pointed in the direction of adventure. Inexpensive adventure. After a while pounding the streets becomes monotonous, not to mention dirty. My baby is too young to care whether or not we are attending "Monkey Music" or "Tactile Soft Play" down the community centre. ( And I certainly lack the sweet tempered patience to tag along and nibble biscuits in a drab collective bound together only be reproductive success. I'll save that until she goes to school.) So for now she might as well babble and coo from her pram, gnawing on a museum guide, while her mother hones her artistic noggin, a heritage she will one day inherit. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Some of My Favourite London Museums and Galleries</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Free </b></div><div>The British Museum- http://www.britishmuseum.org/ </div><div>Geffrey Museum- http://www.geffrye-museum.org.uk/</div><div>The National Gallery- http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/</div><div>The Wallace Collection- http://www.wallacecollection.org/</div>Sir John Soane's Museum- http://www.soane.org/<div>V& A- http://www.vam.ac.uk/</div><div>Whitechapel Gallery- http://www.whitechapelgallery.org/</div><div>(Most of the collections are free in all of the above, with special temporary exhibitions requiring tickets.)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Paying </b></div><div>Design Museum- (£8.50/ 6.50 concessions/ 5 students ) http://designmuseum.org/</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Aimé-Jules Dalou- </span></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Peasant Woman Nursing a Baby 1873- V&A Museum</span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3miypZw3m3VjrGJ7Hxg5J-iB3jHxObaJSiqpBc9eY9mRvaoY1W-slx8N9q-VHJ8rylItnlLkFBokvOF2t8sqs9d4_ebUawL0jMFkA9P2Q9nLKmSGOc8aeWOUcnRANRIUNorWoSo5NeJM/s1600-h/Image182.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3miypZw3m3VjrGJ7Hxg5J-iB3jHxObaJSiqpBc9eY9mRvaoY1W-slx8N9q-VHJ8rylItnlLkFBokvOF2t8sqs9d4_ebUawL0jMFkA9P2Q9nLKmSGOc8aeWOUcnRANRIUNorWoSo5NeJM/s400/Image182.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446231254570639442" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6pIf4n_SNpLnH6upZXKC9fmg0-VQFgS-4ZP8qVqxCuHWfXrxe7G4mKvQD1YU7_2RXiDiw5syb-cHTljPSGzYmESDZG7b6jOPs9P0OmIjLH7HxTH03wsIX6ZBmIt6pCuoAnnRr_BnI2Q/s1600-h/Image176.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6pIf4n_SNpLnH6upZXKC9fmg0-VQFgS-4ZP8qVqxCuHWfXrxe7G4mKvQD1YU7_2RXiDiw5syb-cHTljPSGzYmESDZG7b6jOPs9P0OmIjLH7HxTH03wsIX6ZBmIt6pCuoAnnRr_BnI2Q/s400/Image176.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446231515133740354" /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Iris's reaction to above sculpture. </span></div>Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-87949130736787252602010-02-16T12:13:00.000-08:002010-03-08T08:15:14.089-08:00Smoking Tart<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQz_G2R1RXBeUfk2L97w5PNbcCd4DeeQ9XCkx-oG8EZNiOgEHiLEBHfPOSpVBk3zhukRsSJr-pAol3IT3M3g3P6bnSnjofXFybQWFA4pn13FHLlaowD2hsZmayooWsqpfcrQ-F9cUb5HA/s1600-h/ALI_0388.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQz_G2R1RXBeUfk2L97w5PNbcCd4DeeQ9XCkx-oG8EZNiOgEHiLEBHfPOSpVBk3zhukRsSJr-pAol3IT3M3g3P6bnSnjofXFybQWFA4pn13FHLlaowD2hsZmayooWsqpfcrQ-F9cUb5HA/s400/ALI_0388.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438938730229911234" /></a>Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-85682722469934116912010-02-16T10:43:00.000-08:002010-02-16T11:05:54.893-08:00Out and AboutI love finding a good drawing spot when I'm out and about. It has to be somewhere I can ensconce for an hour or so with my sketchbook and my daughter. People watching is an inspiration, and a long slow coffee oils the imagination.<div><br /> <div> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8Rp4rLf-7ydf8bKjzcjphyphenhyphenfVIhoZeUSUa960u2du4k1mZ1nL1qO_Yo5iTNPO5MW2VSPqES9HegyB4fynokjSU7NznW43Sq3I0G-g-J5ckTy22wzMbKHuFpes_QRy5muNewEK3DNSZb0/s1600-h/ALI_0384.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8Rp4rLf-7ydf8bKjzcjphyphenhyphenfVIhoZeUSUa960u2du4k1mZ1nL1qO_Yo5iTNPO5MW2VSPqES9HegyB4fynokjSU7NznW43Sq3I0G-g-J5ckTy22wzMbKHuFpes_QRy5muNewEK3DNSZb0/s400/ALI_0384.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438914966237284642" /></a> <div><br /></div><div>It also helps to have a bit of privacy. I once had a tour group stop behind me in the National Gallery and start taking pictures of the sketch. That doesn't help much at all. </div><div><br /></div></div></div>Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-62057548283605646212010-02-13T05:48:00.000-08:002010-03-08T08:14:42.446-08:00DOES MISERY MAKE BETTER ART?<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZsyfpxSu0CJW3joe2GPr_wEAKLbiUP78OdLpH6ZQ7jJg8goo59S12ItBwF1Z0I6SZrXO3BKHWSul5-FmXYF6KnuUiDHG42DKligei2hf41s4Y2EUPj5JWUpcxC0byffP8O7RPymQ230/s1600-h/ALI_0373.jpg"></a><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-O0DB0vGEhsY5MKXEwYrTFPP8rnedrPJNNBgZ2EcctVHBHB2EB-up_Skmj0Hy1-5Grr7YigYFuipAgPnRI4Dm1PWruzh6br8usq1nkx3kWDn8bKKv5gOZsF64HPfjlotKP0ek_1qYDw/s1600-h/5620_114203426546_577511546_2374466_6366762_n.jpg"></a></b></span></span><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-O0DB0vGEhsY5MKXEwYrTFPP8rnedrPJNNBgZ2EcctVHBHB2EB-up_Skmj0Hy1-5Grr7YigYFuipAgPnRI4Dm1PWruzh6br8usq1nkx3kWDn8bKKv5gOZsF64HPfjlotKP0ek_1qYDw/s1600-h/5620_114203426546_577511546_2374466_6366762_n.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-O0DB0vGEhsY5MKXEwYrTFPP8rnedrPJNNBgZ2EcctVHBHB2EB-up_Skmj0Hy1-5Grr7YigYFuipAgPnRI4Dm1PWruzh6br8usq1nkx3kWDn8bKKv5gOZsF64HPfjlotKP0ek_1qYDw/s400/5620_114203426546_577511546_2374466_6366762_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437724622153765986" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">'ve just bought a secondhand drawing board. I'm delighted, inspired and content. But is this a good thing? One of the old cliches of art is that the artist should be unhappy. Lautrec, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Blake, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bacon, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hopper, all miserable, all great artists. And there are countless others. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So will all this happiness get in the way of my art? </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj793jwVY__vpYXoHufP58eFHrWfdBgoVqzXWw1mezYynQhyphenhyphen3KRplqjfb_JGYH3Ah9FLs54iL3maU8Ye_D_UUwAaXkS8qIQIYUjUkjHbxw9x9sTbzoZ_87h6ZgS6K6YD5qTAYB8Ul9wDAU/s1600-h/ALI_0375.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj793jwVY__vpYXoHufP58eFHrWfdBgoVqzXWw1mezYynQhyphenhyphen3KRplqjfb_JGYH3Ah9FLs54iL3maU8Ye_D_UUwAaXkS8qIQIYUjUkjHbxw9x9sTbzoZ_87h6ZgS6K6YD5qTAYB8Ul9wDAU/s400/ALI_0375.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437849635798100130" /></a></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>Happy or sad?</i></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDfkvMXBntZ-pUEn2sG2s6u370NPJz09dWiu32ocsBugjDVD7qY9enkJRiDlmyoSTqjbFQl0TNOyb-0JnAVTJVeB5WcOHRhXNlwQE3yxCvmep66UuAe1ruteYKU7xiRSj2bdiLLHExyM/s1600-h/ALI_0382.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDfkvMXBntZ-pUEn2sG2s6u370NPJz09dWiu32ocsBugjDVD7qY9enkJRiDlmyoSTqjbFQl0TNOyb-0JnAVTJVeB5WcOHRhXNlwQE3yxCvmep66UuAe1ruteYKU7xiRSj2bdiLLHExyM/s400/ALI_0382.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437851414667271794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px; " /></a></div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A friend recently poo pooed happinesss altogether when, in response to her stuggle with a Januray diet, I fobbed her off with the common platitude "Well as long as your happy..." Happiness is bullshit," she said "Read </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Barbara Ehrenreich." I didn't, and I'm still feeling fine.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Happiness aside, I need somewhere to work. Virginia Woolf famously wrote that "a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction." Acquiring the drawing board is my equivalent. The territory isn't just physical, it's mind space amidst washing up and unfinished jobs, soul room away from to-do-lists, a space I can escape into. It's also somewhere slopey where nobody can put their laptop, car keys or cup of tea down. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZsyfpxSu0CJW3joe2GPr_wEAKLbiUP78OdLpH6ZQ7jJg8goo59S12ItBwF1Z0I6SZrXO3BKHWSul5-FmXYF6KnuUiDHG42DKligei2hf41s4Y2EUPj5JWUpcxC0byffP8O7RPymQ230/s400/ALI_0373.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437854837257815586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What if misery does make better art? Does happy have to care</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">?</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-58940045894377067302010-02-05T10:56:00.000-08:002010-02-05T14:59:55.720-08:00In the Shower with a Cabbage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglphBPpisTg_qO-bTeYH8GxkAFVcZILMBrbP8_Gm3-Bake9N0Vh8au6xamKZgRpw4pKv3py3IfuGLETjullvlH78gBAy5qgrRHbx5kT8mI2xBiiTiwfs8gGdo8KXIv5S0rrn3v1IHjO1E/s1600-h/Photo+45.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglphBPpisTg_qO-bTeYH8GxkAFVcZILMBrbP8_Gm3-Bake9N0Vh8au6xamKZgRpw4pKv3py3IfuGLETjullvlH78gBAy5qgrRHbx5kT8mI2xBiiTiwfs8gGdo8KXIv5S0rrn3v1IHjO1E/s400/Photo+45.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434897217843099330" /></a><br /><br /><br />It sounds like a surreal game of Cluedo, but it's actually more fun than that. <br /><br />I've lined the shower with cardboard boxes, blankets and duvets, and I'm sitting in the dark with a cabbage, a biscuit tin, a feather duster, two bottles of lemonade, a pair of gloves, a wet newspaper and some gravel. And I haven't just become desperate for cheap Friday night entertainment; I'm recording Foley for my new short film.<br /><br />The art of recording natural and incidental sound for film is named after Jack Foley who was instrumental in developing the art in the 1920s. Well known Foley techniques include using coconut shells to create the sound of horses hooves, wet newspaper to make squishy sounds, and crinkling cellophane to make the sound of fire. In practice you just have to experiment with numerous things until you find sounds that fit your film, which may or may not have horses in it. <br /><br />More info on Foley here:<br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foley_artist<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifM2qhEzzMmWVEfCatN5w5ugwZWyFQ9JIdrqLB5YyskeAhvAWJMsD_KYoNL3B3oyPe8nQJxP2121upS0UDyRDBjFdlDhXcT3jdm88hM1fsyqapq8E41q-6H-NilZdFPdQi7dn3Z8uS2fc/s1600-h/Photo+46.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifM2qhEzzMmWVEfCatN5w5ugwZWyFQ9JIdrqLB5YyskeAhvAWJMsD_KYoNL3B3oyPe8nQJxP2121upS0UDyRDBjFdlDhXcT3jdm88hM1fsyqapq8E41q-6H-NilZdFPdQi7dn3Z8uS2fc/s400/Photo+46.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434897331460572962" /></a>Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-14928199070410460822010-02-01T02:27:00.000-08:002010-02-01T03:58:07.005-08:00NEW FILM IN POST PRODUCTION<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsvzq8sZ-2BBN0WtTT50z37W7A4n5DtZVuhxeb45K8S5fdWCDyrRoh3eM63rtwZt6DGJhXJfDCBAILeS6KNbN9SFr0sbU7HVtvJJtpfN_C1KVGLsMRaMzMpytWW99rVg6YlNkZGV5R08/s1600-h/Picture+10.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsvzq8sZ-2BBN0WtTT50z37W7A4n5DtZVuhxeb45K8S5fdWCDyrRoh3eM63rtwZt6DGJhXJfDCBAILeS6KNbN9SFr0sbU7HVtvJJtpfN_C1KVGLsMRaMzMpytWW99rVg6YlNkZGV5R08/s400/Picture+10.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433242825299922322" /></a><br /><br /><br />My new film, working titled The Dangers of Damp, is now in post production. I'm extremely excited to have lined up the gifted Owen Oppenheimer as editor. Check out Owen's work here. He's a real talent. <br />http://www.owenopedits.com<br /><br />Shot in Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts last summer, the film was temporarily on hold while I had baby Iris. (I'm hoping to sneak her a cameo role though.) <br /><br />Interesting fact of the day is that Marthat's vineyard used to have a large deaf community in the 18th and 19th centuries, due to prevalent hereditary deafness traceable back to an English bloodline. It even boasted it's own widely spoken language, Martha's Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL). More info on that here:<br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha%27s_Vineyard_Sign_Language<br /><br />I intend to have a subtitled version of the film as a tribute to the Vineyard's history, and so that all English speaking deaf people can enjoy the film.Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-26933702554620770942010-01-29T08:31:00.000-08:002010-01-29T09:41:58.870-08:00TODAY I LOVE SHOREDITCH<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjKfbAKVQ-XUOh8GcMzDLGTUGqWgNWSUumLXyOEA2-EJ0nKF_Dic8zPdCnz-dCkuZ-mHGUpzesgeCXraiT8xcFLchsKFtnhqLcgmWkGrcw06T79DyEpm6BhOWZ14ScXpj1OnNsakD9LU/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjKfbAKVQ-XUOh8GcMzDLGTUGqWgNWSUumLXyOEA2-EJ0nKF_Dic8zPdCnz-dCkuZ-mHGUpzesgeCXraiT8xcFLchsKFtnhqLcgmWkGrcw06T79DyEpm6BhOWZ14ScXpj1OnNsakD9LU/s400/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432216692796607970" /></a><br /><br /><br />All it took was a fresh bagel, a cycling granny in a purple hat, a grown man in shorts at Spitalfields city farm, a sunny day, and a swift dash down Brick Lane warning buskers about the oncoming fuzz, and I was in love again. <br /><br />Shoreditch I'm sorry. I didn't mean those terrible things I said. <br /><br /><br />If you want to get to know Shoreditch you could start here. <br />http://www.shoreditchmap.co.uk/968.htmlAli Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-58108626965680747312010-01-19T05:49:00.000-08:002010-01-30T06:23:04.052-08:00TODAY I HATE SHOREDITCH<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ka__ZUTd-y2TpBLoxZhzRlbcB3v8Id3f9DCs9jG7bEjLXzecN3ZniiaufhBttnKH94cHDOaMiIPTaLIk1O1gEDexkoZLoIWzwTQkX-Ra0jloIm2W2geGNkuh-wJr_UkyV_2RKUYs8j8/s1600-h/MyPicture.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ka__ZUTd-y2TpBLoxZhzRlbcB3v8Id3f9DCs9jG7bEjLXzecN3ZniiaufhBttnKH94cHDOaMiIPTaLIk1O1gEDexkoZLoIWzwTQkX-Ra0jloIm2W2geGNkuh-wJr_UkyV_2RKUYs8j8/s400/MyPicture.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428448912072647490" /></a><br /><br /><br />Today is lacklustre, dotted in sick puddles and bereft. Just bereft. Yesterday was the official most depressing day of the year. Shoreditch is hungover, and it hasn't slept since Saturday. Last night's broken car windows have lost their diamond shimmer. Queen Victoria sits on a policeman's face in Hackney Road committed to canvas by last decade's next big thing.<br /><br />The asymmetric fashion clones cling to Shoreditch High Street like maudlin limpets with heavy fringes. They are knock-off pirate boots and mock depression, each trying to anti-fashion the others to shame. Faux-Westwood ideologies swathed in black- on-black layers. They haven't slept since Saturday, and they wish, they really wished they were anywhere else. They wish they understood Huxley. But photographing stranger's outfits for an anti-fashion blog with have to do. The pretty one is golden-bored, she makes the others puke inside, hating their own gaudy joie-de vive. They try to match her sublime ennui but Bethnal Green Road sneers back. It is useless.<br /><br />Shoreditch High Street is shit for prams. No make-up, bad hair-day. E1mum is stressed out and sweaty. One of the clones snorts a half-laugh at her Ugg Boots. Fuck them. LO hasn't slept for days and HD is sleeping in the other room. Probably the change of routine has messed DD up. Does anyone have the answer? FYI Not slept since saturday LOL. It's a mare. <br /><br />Doodle-Bug Boy thinks it's nineteen forty -fucking-five. He is tweed, is spats, is high waisted ebay trousers and a leather satchel. Wavering down Charlotte street in a ribbon of contrived fluidity he fancies he's being louche. A dirty-stop-out on a Tuesday morning. He hasn't slept since Saturday. How decadent! At the crossing E1 mum catches him looking at his i-phone. His Blitz cover is momentarily blown. He replaces it, pocket-watch-smart, in the breast of his original British Army Despatch Riders Coat. He'll be spinning shellac tonight in Hoxton Square. Ducky. <br /><br />Fashion man is long-gone-forty, and ketamin is keeping him alive. He once invented some really hot trainers for Nike, but now he's flying solo. Clingers and waddya-dos hang to the outside of his shop pretending they can afford stuff, pretending they can help out at the next runway show. He taxes fags off them, and then breaks eye contact . He talks to Boy George on the phone until they piss off looking neutered. He hasn't slept since Saturday, it's the only fucking way to work. <br /><br />There's a vase of water in reception at the design agency. It's all about going back to basics. Reception girl clatters back to her desk in important heels. She hasn't slept since Saturday. Who says there's a law saying you have to have flowers in a vase? You've got to think outside the box. It's all about reinventing perception.<br /><br />Shoreditch is hungover, and it hasn't slept since Saturday. Today I hate Shoreditch.Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-62491030557842923852010-01-04T02:05:00.000-08:002010-01-04T02:37:45.510-08:00Happy New Year!I'm finally resurfacing from the heap of mince pie tins, and it's already January the 4th! How did that happen? Happy New Year! Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-20489430487654988552009-11-27T09:57:00.000-08:002010-02-01T04:55:05.185-08:00EDITOR NEEDED<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBN8_FcMv_oGiYt25Zzzsc96BNMgA_MlNDgRFj9N9KSInSYOKZ_vfYcTHn4IAMW0VpXXzcH7fbxQNK63w49RKB70zabGDONphrA7zKj_04kSI9cmxaOTXUaFU5dab_EbBw_MT_Nej0QV8/s1600/Picture+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBN8_FcMv_oGiYt25Zzzsc96BNMgA_MlNDgRFj9N9KSInSYOKZ_vfYcTHn4IAMW0VpXXzcH7fbxQNK63w49RKB70zabGDONphrA7zKj_04kSI9cmxaOTXUaFU5dab_EbBw_MT_Nej0QV8/s400/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408844415867155618" /></a>My latest short (working titled The Dangers of Damp), stars Willy Mason, Sam Mason and Sofi Thanhauser. We are looking for an editor to help us complete the film. Please get in touch via ali.taylor@academyfilms.com if you can help! Thanks!<div><br /></div><div>Director/ Producer Ali Taylor, Production and Post Sam Mason, DOP Whitney Lasker.<br />Main Cast: Sam Mason, Willy Mason, Lexie Roth, Meredith Sheldon and Sofi Thanhauser </div>Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-5394147111918990752009-11-12T08:47:00.000-08:002009-11-24T13:28:14.514-08:00Baby I'm Back!<div>I haven't blogged for ages. A few people have been asking about the blog recently, which came as a surprise because you sometimes feel like you're just talking to thin air. I've been rather busy. This picture taken in September shows what all the full has been about.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEEwMe5eDYDx6bYWQbGCiyxdEiEsEtYxkrhI2LRydvxrG0vBLjkOmMFBLNGoLkeOt9hnSyTQxHnxdAHejjTDukAGd43lpz5pt0LheKjw7XwQyQSPitq4b-6_gJpOYEIaE74JoR0lz9cg/s1600-h/ALI_0438.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEEwMe5eDYDx6bYWQbGCiyxdEiEsEtYxkrhI2LRydvxrG0vBLjkOmMFBLNGoLkeOt9hnSyTQxHnxdAHejjTDukAGd43lpz5pt0LheKjw7XwQyQSPitq4b-6_gJpOYEIaE74JoR0lz9cg/s400/ALI_0438.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403568675906808802" /></a><br /><br /> She's called Iris, she's two months old now, and she's rather fantastic. Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-65968645307514090392009-07-05T02:30:00.000-07:002009-11-24T12:50:09.172-08:00Rose Elinor Dougall Video<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tHDYzPCfo-Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tHDYzPCfo-Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />Shot at Benacre beach near Lowerstoft, this video was a test of Rose and her band's mettle. Suffolk beaches in May are not renown for being warm, and it was to the band's credit that they actually went ahead with a script that had seemed like a good idea two weeks earlier in a Brick Lane pub. <br /><br />Rose, of former Pipettes fame, was gorgeous and sultry as ever, and DOP Lester De Havilland did an exquisite job on the cinematography. (Sadly almost entirely lost on Youtube.)<br /><br />I'm also grateful to Trim editing for doing such a lot of work on this. I'm really happy with it.Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-18909175000300736782009-04-24T08:21:00.001-07:002009-11-24T12:59:23.667-08:00Martha's VineyardMartha'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.<br /><br />You can find out more about the island here:<br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha's_Vineyard<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />In the meantime check out some of my favorite things about Marath's Vineyard.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Manemsha Fish Market-</span> 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?<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">http://www.menemshafishmarket.net/</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sofi Thanhauser</span>- 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.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">http://www.myspace.com/sofithanhauser</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Dumptique</span>- 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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Che's Lounge</span>- 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. <div>http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vineyard-Haven-MA/Ches-Lounge/23651653209<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">West Tisbury Farmers Marke</span>t- 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.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farmersmarkets_details.php?market=158</span><br /><br /><br /></div>Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-2944280949351575692009-04-17T07:10:00.000-07:002009-04-17T08:05:19.130-07:00YO MAJESTY VIDEO<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpphZcVg40ISBA93tfTuhxRumi76QTOysc6dLP66u3txllQxhXV0DjRwmCTqkNvqqrOtVBtePvSz1Tn9Z3HziTVxL1xnTTA4NgzK0EtNypvs4vjthwzcYwD_IwkTGXGrK_KWl9M41PMVQ/s1600-h/Picture+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpphZcVg40ISBA93tfTuhxRumi76QTOysc6dLP66u3txllQxhXV0DjRwmCTqkNvqqrOtVBtePvSz1Tn9Z3HziTVxL1xnTTA4NgzK0EtNypvs4vjthwzcYwD_IwkTGXGrK_KWl9M41PMVQ/s400/Picture+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325667899811442466" /></a><br /><br />It's been a while since I've blogged! But I have been busy, honest!<br /><br />Here's my latest video for the MAGNIFICENT American band Yo Majesty and their dancy number "Don't Let Go." <br /><br />VIDEO LINK ( click on the video to make it bigger)<br /><a href="http://www.academyfilms.com/flash/#/academy/music_videos/ali_taylor/yo_majesty_dont_let_go">http://www.academyfilms.com/flash/#/academy/music_videos/ali_taylor/yo_majesty_dont_let_go</a><br /><br />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. <br />This is their myspace page for those in doubt: http://www.myspace.com/yomajesty4life<br /><br />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. <br /><br />Credits<br />Producer- Liz Kessler<br />Production Company- Academy Films<br />DOP- Cathrine Derry<br />Editor- Darren Baldwin<br />Starring- Connee D as Latex LAdy<br /><br /><br />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. <br />http://www.battybass.com/<br /><br />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/<br /><br />I hope Mr Dan decides to come too.Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-50031292017755031402009-01-20T05:28:00.000-08:002009-01-20T05:56:03.430-08:00BANG 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". <br /><br />So here are some things to be celebrated that are in no way bang on trend, and can't be bought anyway.<br /><br />An old man's tattoo. I like this. I think it's the best tattoo I've ever seen. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpoeJ8RYGOAjJrqK9xlU4UN24KocHVQJy3b6KnIEECK-5TrEXBuOasQpxJbchj7xOu0wrOMih8aKJ-svYlEPQeGKyDxNVbHIWW9aAne0089rAlFcwdg_HNTTw-ZkJQnpXgxJy90-PqH0/s1600-h/mower_tattoo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 339px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpoeJ8RYGOAjJrqK9xlU4UN24KocHVQJy3b6KnIEECK-5TrEXBuOasQpxJbchj7xOu0wrOMih8aKJ-svYlEPQeGKyDxNVbHIWW9aAne0089rAlFcwdg_HNTTw-ZkJQnpXgxJy90-PqH0/s400/mower_tattoo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293369368323604690" /></a><br /><br />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. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6fSSzF5yMXigZdnNrYOolSlCvWG4YQzLZ-0t6XZ4Dp8LMFzus921q0H_tfxezWGytZ67Lc-nSDXBUvVTB6GHhqD-WquYHePONvTJHEufh6VLEOy5zAFo51cKoZHhwqVihkNkNhPaHkw/s1600-h/n751278494_1351861_4973.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6fSSzF5yMXigZdnNrYOolSlCvWG4YQzLZ-0t6XZ4Dp8LMFzus921q0H_tfxezWGytZ67Lc-nSDXBUvVTB6GHhqD-WquYHePONvTJHEufh6VLEOy5zAFo51cKoZHhwqVihkNkNhPaHkw/s400/n751278494_1351861_4973.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293369633496354210" /></a><br /><br />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. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4bGvDcEI8BEztFXhTzDdw3FM1zPNM761aDwFEOUMBZ86T6168LBtcNbWKfbxGu2RSkYf8fjPNmQz9atpDYHmSkBILP4VEOJnDhBwXPvXqUpYPE9u46YQ3AOxgRPWGvDfnM0AsUFTXoU/s1600-h/3325447.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4bGvDcEI8BEztFXhTzDdw3FM1zPNM761aDwFEOUMBZ86T6168LBtcNbWKfbxGu2RSkYf8fjPNmQz9atpDYHmSkBILP4VEOJnDhBwXPvXqUpYPE9u46YQ3AOxgRPWGvDfnM0AsUFTXoU/s400/3325447.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293372384930637074" /></a><br /><br /><br />That's all.Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-6635230798034879082008-12-20T08:25:00.000-08:002008-12-21T10:14:56.219-08:00How to Be a HAPPY New Music Video Director<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlEFFsUqi2N9CZj3-hgoofsFwDZUhgMJZ8ISpzinILt1qYM5GJQ_kJzGQZV5MbWoC-s8Lk5TzdmHCGK6OwJno3fd3oQty1d-hc-kaXGAF6mjDx7owWjjqJ6FTmJhD571_K3qfFeupbpc/s1600-h/ali_party.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281909515469901138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlEFFsUqi2N9CZj3-hgoofsFwDZUhgMJZ8ISpzinILt1qYM5GJQ_kJzGQZV5MbWoC-s8Lk5TzdmHCGK6OwJno3fd3oQty1d-hc-kaXGAF6mjDx7owWjjqJ6FTmJhD571_K3qfFeupbpc/s400/ali_party.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />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....<br /><br /><br />GO EASY ON YOURSELF<br />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.<br /><br /><br /><br />BE HUMBLE<br />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."<br /></p><p><br />TAKE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM (BUT DON'T ALWAYS BELIEVE IT)<br />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.<br /></p><p><br /><br />TRUST IS THE KEY<br />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.<br /></p><p><br />DON'T LET NEGATIVE COMMENTS GET YOU DOWN<br />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. <p></p><br />WATCH STUFF<br />Some ace sites, with a less poisonous rantings are:<br />NOT FAT CLIPS- Which is great for animation, music videos and shorts.<br /><a href="http://dekku.blogspot.com/">http://dekku.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />YOUTUBE- Obviously as long as you ignore 'wot da fuk " man.<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/">http://www.youtube.com/</a><br /><br />PROMO NEWS- Some Antville gumpsters do go on here, but generally it's a nicer feel.<br /><a href="http://www.promonews.tv/">http://www.promonews.tv/</a><br />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.<br /><a href="http://www.promonews.tv/2008/12/19/video-mixtape-by-sarah-chatfield/">http://www.promonews.tv/2008/12/19/video-mixtape-by-sarah-chatfield/</a><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><p></p><p><br /><br />HAVE A SECOND INCOME WHEN YOU START<br />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.<br /><br /></p><p><br />GO TO THE AWARDS<br />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!!"<br /><br /><br /></p><p><br />DEVELOP PITCH BOUNCEBACKABILITY<br />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.<br /><br /><br />BUILD A GREAT TEAM<br />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.<br /><br /></p><p><br />DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY<br />...In the words of Bobby Mcferrin form the 80s. </p><p>I leave you with this strange thing...<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yjnvSQuv-H4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yjnvSQuv-H4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /></p>Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-84558069052161896492008-12-16T09:13:00.000-08:002008-12-16T09:19:29.932-08:00FUNNY FRANZ FERDINAND VIDEOSadly this video wasn't shot by me. It was made by Mr Dan's daughter Sadie. Very funny and cute. <br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SRgRpcnWNV4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SRgRpcnWNV4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />If that didn't make you smile then bah humbug.Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7744412026338380075.post-12766887547133114382008-12-09T01:15:00.001-08:002008-12-19T12:59:06.031-08:00A CHILD OF THE JAGO<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XqCoA6FMkCMN4PrCcjmzVjF2raLhXxzDdNjAoc4rrjR4hEKHLoNQA0Iw4uqq1IiQ-ICXAmm57958PdRKEFaL-QjfbCR7YcwZDA0rv_Yv_reWGiBjHqBys7mpB1B0knP27fLIDixaihE/s1600-h/jago.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277717672420951890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XqCoA6FMkCMN4PrCcjmzVjF2raLhXxzDdNjAoc4rrjR4hEKHLoNQA0Iw4uqq1IiQ-ICXAmm57958PdRKEFaL-QjfbCR7YcwZDA0rv_Yv_reWGiBjHqBys7mpB1B0knP27fLIDixaihE/s400/jago.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />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.<br /><br />(To the lady who took the photo above, I took the liberty of using it. As I'm IN it talking to Dave.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEoN-wlcovBK848YFVC1GbiKIvyNRwWBtxZ8YTIzcX1IQv2vNgDRQqUE_Amr4tWMacV1MuCI-yVW4h462slhAZjJbscKhEgtyVxRBITPy4RQvW3hcISuqLnbuWUk-G4_Sd4phPW2BGHs/s1600-h/3092869974_f97f46b8b9_o.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277721161806959506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEoN-wlcovBK848YFVC1GbiKIvyNRwWBtxZ8YTIzcX1IQv2vNgDRQqUE_Amr4tWMacV1MuCI-yVW4h462slhAZjJbscKhEgtyVxRBITPy4RQvW3hcISuqLnbuWUk-G4_Sd4phPW2BGHs/s400/3092869974_f97f46b8b9_o.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br />Here's a drawing inspired by the hats.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizTMTDU2VNEmhm2fjBixfeMBFCFLY7THp23vIMV6zLEfS9rdZacgAowIf5xu7BpRfHMViB_3uy5Z5Qy41tyhFvJN8NbfDbgjl9dSVaK3SBAZcGt1uHYEdjUC4Yj80t2CtIRz51UgGO9Q/s1600-h/hat001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277726134896990306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 373px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizTMTDU2VNEmhm2fjBixfeMBFCFLY7THp23vIMV6zLEfS9rdZacgAowIf5xu7BpRfHMViB_3uy5Z5Qy41tyhFvJN8NbfDbgjl9dSVaK3SBAZcGt1uHYEdjUC4Yj80t2CtIRz51UgGO9Q/s400/hat001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />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.<br /><br />WEBSITE: The website has a great jukebox thing on it.<br /><br />http://www.achildofthejago.com/Ali Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564279505839703839noreply@blogger.com