Shoto

Do you remember when you saw Ken Park? If you saw it because it was refused classification in Australia...

For me it was when I was 20. In a dark foley studio, with three boys (including a new boyfriend) and I'd spent the day at the beach so was wearing a short, short skirt and thin singlet over a barely there bikini. Watching that movie, in those surrounds - cool, dark, deadly silent except for the sound on the screen - was one of those occasions that just sticks in your mind for no other reason than it was so out of the blue when it happened that my coping mechanism still is to giggle when the memory bubbles to the surface. Because if I thought about trying to put it in context, I'd have to ask myself long, hard questions.

It shocked me when I dug deep into Harmony Korine to realise that the man behind the lens for the recent Spring 2011 Urban Outfitters catalogue and the movie Ken Park. Analog photos that have been smashed in a way similar to the Byredo and M/M (Paris) M/Mink Eau de Parfum print campaign making the whole thing look and feel like art.









A taste of Ken Park for those that haven't seen it. Apparently so graphic it was banned from the 2003 Sydney Film Festival and the only trailer I could find was in German... The theatrical trailer poster should give you a clue to the themes of the movie.

French. Passion. POP.

Synchronize Time that heals and destroys Your wristwatch sparkles and shines We dance to organised noise Each beat a moment in time Synchronize tonight Yeah, you timed your move just right Synchronize And the hands of time are just your hands held in mine Take your time you will see We were destined to meet We move through time every day We move in time - to the beat It's high time you occurred Make your move here and now A wristwatch falls to the ground Time stands still in the heart of the crowd The lights flash in time with the beat And your heart beats in time with the drums And it's only a matter of time Yeah you timed your move just right Yeah the lights flash in time with the beat And your heart beats in time with the drums And it's only a matter of time

Synchronised.

Discodeine "Synchronize - feat. Jarvis Cocker" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq2L-tlNUNA&feature=related

Swan Dive

I NEVER watch movies. 1) I can't find 3 hours to sit in one place and not be pulled to another and 2) unless they look beautiful I get too bored. In 2010 I saw two movies. I watched Inception (stoned) and was awed, but was breath taken away by Kanye's "Runaway" which changed my opinion on him as a musician and cemented him as one of my favourite artists (ego and all).

I may take the time however to see Black Swan. Not only because Natalie Portman is simply A+ but because these incredible art deco inspired posters promoting the movie and designed by Bemis Balkind are all types of amazing.

Responsible for J.Depp featuring "Alice in Wonderland" posters and the Ledger/Blanchett "I'm Not There" Dylan story posters Bemis Balkind probably have designed your favourite TV show or movies posters also. These, I want to stick on my wall.

Steely Eyed

Focus. It's so hard to find. A steely eyed glare to the future to chase a dream that should have been a reality years ago. And that thin line, which is like a slither between one life and another, that if it manages to slice a little wider, and the shimmer gets a little brighter, will swallow you up and close over and in an instance you've gone from standing on a centuries old street, to a state of being that you've seen every day for your entire life. It's funny when you try and take control of your own destiny. And remind yourself that you need to run the whole way and not stop until you reach the top. And find yourself gasping for air but looking out on something that many only dream of.

Diana Kruger for Marie Claire UK - April 2010. Determined focus.

Vide(wow)

I was one of the many who jumped on the interesting use of new and old technology via Arcade Fire's "We Used To Wait" vid clip... more so because I'm totally in love with every beautiful sound that comes from the Canadian family duo.

I do feel, however, that this incredible video clip for Australian wonders Angus and Julia Stone is incredible both sound and eye wise. Directed by Australian filmmaker Kiku Ohe and shot by cinematographer Hugh Miller (also responsible for the presets "this boy’s in love" clip), this vid is a simple story of dreaming and escape - right on brief (to create a cinematic and non-glossy visual representation of the music).

Angus and Julia Stone - "Big Jet Plane"


I am also in love with the memories and the times that Ohe's music doco NEVEREVERLAND DAFT PUNK / THE PRESETS commissioned by Modular Records. Stills below but link here if you want to remember the good good times of youth. http://thesilentlights.com/

500 Days of summer | 1 great idea in Autumn

I never watch real movies. It never strikes me as particularly interesting to sit at home or in a cinema for an hour+ and watch a long story full of very boring people, with a predictable ending. I'm been so bad at it for so long that I didn't see Titanic, refused to see Pearl Harbour (the actual bombing went for 7 mins... how do you get a 3hr movie?!!) and still haven't seen Avatar. This weekend, I was holed up sick, and lacking a Rick Stein's Seafood Odyssey marathon, I decided to check out 500 Days of Summer. And God, I am SO glad I did.

Not only does the soundtrack to this movie seriously rock, but I loved the chalk headboard that featured in the leads bedroom. I think that chalk always makes sense to feature as a full wall somewhere, and with liquid chalk pens, it can look amazing and neat. But this wall was so impactful mainly because surrounding the Mission-style headboard (with shading to give it depth) were downtown LA skylines, with postcards and pictures of intricate art deco design features included on top in little areas which made the simple, slash-Eameseque room soft and warm and inviting. Beautiful. I loved it. **I couldn't find an amazing shot of this but if you watch the movie, you'll love. I promise.

The amazing amazing soundtrack from 500 Days of Summer. CHECK it on Amazon. BUY it on iTunes.

1. A Story of Boy Meets Girl - Mychael Danna and Rob Simonsen
2. Us - Regina Spektor
3. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths
4. Bad Kids - Black Lips
5. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want - The Smiths
6. There Goes The Fear - Doves
7. You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates
8. Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
9. Quelqu'un M'a Dit - Carla Bruni
10. Mushaboom - Feist
11. Hero - Regina Spektor
12. Bookends - Simon & Garfunkel
13. Vagabond - Wolfmother
14. She's Got You High - Mumm-Ra
15. Here Comes Your Man - Meaghan Smith
16. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want - She & Him

Check out the chalk board kitchen shot by Tod Selby in aimee bayliss, nathan smith & anne ryan's sydney apartment

You can kiiiinda see in the background... kinda?