July and August of 2006 was at most, pretty good . September and October was simply amazing. The last 6 months of last year was pretty full on and that is partly because of having enough work and plans to boot. I like having plans. Plans and work now which are still subject to some change for a few months. At least for this month, I have a music video to shoot, then I go to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ben Nevis for 10 days, come back and shoot and edit a film working with homeless young people of Chatham. The film will be shown in schools in Kent. That'll take me to the beginning of September. Which might not seem very far for most but for free flying freelancers, having enough work for the next month or so is good. I'm pretty excited at all that. I'm not sure if the project in Syria will come about (in September or October would be great- but doesn't seem likely) but in late November I have tickets to go to the Camerimage Festival in Lodz, Poland. Will also visit Krakow on the way back. At least, by September, I will have finally gone into the black and have a partial fund for my trip to Beijing next Spring. So I hope a few more projects present themselves so I can save for the rest. Another 6 months of opportunity for work.
Then Beijing. Then I don't know. Whatever it is, it will be. There aren't really any destinations, just a discourse we should try to enjoy.
- J
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Saints Last Splash
Nothing like a good chin wag with a new friend. Nothing else like waking from consuming a whole bottle of Robert Mondavi. My brain felt like it was in a gelatinous state today. Other than that, things are pretty good. Summer work has been trickling enough to keep the green coming at least until the end of next month. A little trip to Edinburgh, Glasgow and camping in Ben Nevis should be enough to breath some non London air. Years since I climbed Ben Nevis and a year and a half since I saw a dear friend. Got news that the Concretes music video that we shot this year will be screening in the Edinburgh Film Festival this year while i am there so that's great news. I don't think i will be going to see it. The doc, Aylesbury composite will also be screening this summer. On Aug 8th at NFT1 as part of the Beautiful South Festival. Nothing like getting a film you shot screened at the NFT (2nd time for me).
Can't complain really. After a rather crappy Spring, Summer is being good to me. For a moment it had the symptoms of a frustrating summer but at the moment at least, things are good.
I need to hit the sack before my brain oozes out my skull... not unlike what's going to happen at any moment to these horny snails...
taken with a Nokia 6300.
J
Can't complain really. After a rather crappy Spring, Summer is being good to me. For a moment it had the symptoms of a frustrating summer but at the moment at least, things are good.
I need to hit the sack before my brain oozes out my skull... not unlike what's going to happen at any moment to these horny snails...
taken with a Nokia 6300.
J
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Changing Face
These last few days I have been shooting a short for Musical Theatre Students at Mountview College. I worked with the school last year. It's not a great gig. It's badly paid and I have no crew. In the van on the way to central London, overhearing the incessant trivial banter from the students, bordering on annoying- I was tempted to put my iPod on. Tonight I booked tickets to go to hear the talk: Cameras in conflict: the changing face of war photography held by Front Lines Club (a club that supports photojournalists and cameramen). I wanted to go so badly. Instead I spent a wasteful last hour dropping equipment off to tomorrows location and watching the blocking. I hardly ever become 'gutted' but i was today. I almost became resentful that my working hours for this crappy short film wasn't up yet and i wasn't going to make the talk that meant so much more to me. I spent the day in Bankside and then sweating in a bathroom shooting a couple arguing. A short that will go nowhere for me or for the people that make it. It really made me see how much time we at times waste for projects that despite needing the money and getting paid- not very much, is trivial and a general waste of time/life. I would much have rather heard the talk and talked with some photojounalist and camermen who have shot war photography.
I few years ago I killed to shoot anyones short. I couldn't care less for most of them now.
I got am email from someone I sent a showreel for a drink driving short that will be distributed in schools. He said despite liking my stuff, he thought my style wouldn't be suitable. I wrote back with a spiel about that DoP's have no 'style'. That Cinematography has more to do with collaboration and the attitude towards people and film making. He called me on my phone straight away and wants to meet up as he appreciated my email and attitude to speak up. I want to do this short. But it's up in the air. There's a chance. We'll see.
I am on board doing one about 2 suicidal people who meet up to do the deed and another, a period drama short in the autumn. Still waiting on the project in Syria.
- J
I few years ago I killed to shoot anyones short. I couldn't care less for most of them now.
I got am email from someone I sent a showreel for a drink driving short that will be distributed in schools. He said despite liking my stuff, he thought my style wouldn't be suitable. I wrote back with a spiel about that DoP's have no 'style'. That Cinematography has more to do with collaboration and the attitude towards people and film making. He called me on my phone straight away and wants to meet up as he appreciated my email and attitude to speak up. I want to do this short. But it's up in the air. There's a chance. We'll see.
I am on board doing one about 2 suicidal people who meet up to do the deed and another, a period drama short in the autumn. Still waiting on the project in Syria.
- J
Thursday, July 05, 2007
I shoot, you shoot
This morning I got call from a friend to forward me a job I might get called for. I don't know the specifics but it was 10 days in Afghanistan with a UN convoy. From next Tuesday, in 5 days time. I wanted to go. I waited for the call. But it didn't come. I got called for another job, a not so well paid and not as great for the same days. I asked my middle man friend to find out where this job went. She got back and said it went. Oh well. I texted her back and wrote, 'I will have to find another way to get shot at'.
I realize that actually being shot at and actually being peirced with a pointed, hot metal cylinder travelling at high velocity is neither funny or pleasant. In fact, it's plain gruesome. My 'joke' has more to do with that it seems to reveal an urge or need in myself to be in an environment that isn't very safe. Living in Turnpike Lane doesn't seem enough. Perhaps it isn't just that. It's the wild environment of some lands. Lands, places that don't have more basic needs than watching big brother or which sunglasses look good on me. Places where survival is a concern.
I've never been to Afghanistan, but I would like go. Unfortunately, it won't be next week. Not that I would have been hired to shoot anything that was in a war zone, I'm not experienced enough. Instead, I will be shooting a short for a local musical theatre college I worked with last year. I have patience, there will be other oppotunities. I felt alive, more than ever when I did that project in Palestine last year. That is why.
- J
I realize that actually being shot at and actually being peirced with a pointed, hot metal cylinder travelling at high velocity is neither funny or pleasant. In fact, it's plain gruesome. My 'joke' has more to do with that it seems to reveal an urge or need in myself to be in an environment that isn't very safe. Living in Turnpike Lane doesn't seem enough. Perhaps it isn't just that. It's the wild environment of some lands. Lands, places that don't have more basic needs than watching big brother or which sunglasses look good on me. Places where survival is a concern.
I've never been to Afghanistan, but I would like go. Unfortunately, it won't be next week. Not that I would have been hired to shoot anything that was in a war zone, I'm not experienced enough. Instead, I will be shooting a short for a local musical theatre college I worked with last year. I have patience, there will be other oppotunities. I felt alive, more than ever when I did that project in Palestine last year. That is why.
"The only dream worth having is to live while you are alive, and die, only when you are dead..."
Arundhati Roy
- J
Monday, July 02, 2007
Borders
A photo I shot in Ramallah is being published as the front cover to a book about the changing landscape of Palestine. It's called Palestine Walks: Notes on a Vanishing Landscape and is written by Raja Shehadeh. I shot it right after we did an interview with Steve Sosebee (CEO of Palestine Childrens Relief Fund). I took a couple of quick snaps before we got back into the car and drove to Jerusalem. I put it online with Fotolibra over a month ago when they emailed that a publisher was looking for a picture of Banksy's Balloon Girl on the Wall. I didn't hear anything until a few days ago and didn't see the email until today. I'd practically forgotten about it. I asked a few questions regarding the book and looked up the book. I'm pretty chuffed that I will have a photo I took published as a front cover of a book. Though it's much more to do with the subject matter which is of personal interest of mine and of political thought I agree with.
They want to change a few things about the photo and have good reasons for doing so. It's coming out in August. I'm so chuffed that it feels like i wrote the book myself...
I had a drink/meeting with the Production Manager for the Syrian doc. She has been pressing the director for me to work on it. I haven't met with the director yet but I am hopeful she will warm to me. We talked a lot about ideas and I suggested a participation with the subject, to allow the subject to shoot her surroundings, her friends etc... She also said it might be prudent to have more than one Camera person, a male and a female which I think is a good idea. Different genders for different situations. Even if I do not end up doing the camera work on this doc, I have a good chance directing the photography and general advising on the project and may go out there after all.
Shot a music video on the weekend. The 'artist' got increasingly more obnoxious and diabolically unprofessional, it's unfunny. I had fun watching the puppet sing though.
- J
They want to change a few things about the photo and have good reasons for doing so. It's coming out in August. I'm so chuffed that it feels like i wrote the book myself...
I had a drink/meeting with the Production Manager for the Syrian doc. She has been pressing the director for me to work on it. I haven't met with the director yet but I am hopeful she will warm to me. We talked a lot about ideas and I suggested a participation with the subject, to allow the subject to shoot her surroundings, her friends etc... She also said it might be prudent to have more than one Camera person, a male and a female which I think is a good idea. Different genders for different situations. Even if I do not end up doing the camera work on this doc, I have a good chance directing the photography and general advising on the project and may go out there after all.
Shot a music video on the weekend. The 'artist' got increasingly more obnoxious and diabolically unprofessional, it's unfunny. I had fun watching the puppet sing though.
- J
Sunday, July 01, 2007
No Blacks, Irish, Dogs and Smokers...
If you don't live in England or don't know, today is the first day the smoking ban came into place. From now on in England, you can't smoke in a enclosed public space.
I smoke and have done so for about 12 years. I don't smoke a lot. Very, very few of my friends smoke. In fact, nearly all of them don't smoke. Neither did I start because of my friends, none except one did. I am a considerate smoker. Most smokers are.
I like to have drink. And I like to have a roll up (tobacco) with my drink. Not seperately. Not one inside and the other outside.
I don't agree they passsed this law. I think they should have non smoking areas. I think they should have non smoking areas in ALL public enclosed spaces and that the government should give proprieters subsidies to build partitions in their estanblishments. Not force proprioters to enforce a non smoking environment to all areas. I think proprioters should be allowed to choose. Just as they can choose who enters and who doesn't.
Most non smokers have said in defense of the ban, 'why should I inhale other peoples's cigarettes?'. Well... I don't stand in front of moving vehicles because I don't want to get run over. Okay, okay, granted I don't like a stinky pub or restaurant. But I don't think it should be one or the other. Thus a stict non smoking section. Exiling smokers to the outside, leaving their drinks and friends inside simply isn't fair, especially when it gets cold. Most people who don't and have never smoked simply don't understand people who do. To many, it simply seems like a disgusting habit none of us should do and especially not indoors with people who don't smoke.
If the government wanted to better our health and making a safer environment, they would ban cars that run on petrol , chemical pestercides in produce (some of which can cause cancer), American fast food chains (diabetes and obestsity and food poisioning), propaganda tabloid newspapers and television, celebrity driven magazines and stop invading middles eastern countries they suspect holding terrorist cells. You don't see the British Army riding armoured cars into Bradford do you?
The NHS might fair better but then, why doesn't the government spend more on the NHS and less on upgarding the Trident Submarines. They have passed a law switching around 500 years of smoking in public houses and in turn, have suppressed civil liberties a little more.
- J
I smoke and have done so for about 12 years. I don't smoke a lot. Very, very few of my friends smoke. In fact, nearly all of them don't smoke. Neither did I start because of my friends, none except one did. I am a considerate smoker. Most smokers are.
I like to have drink. And I like to have a roll up (tobacco) with my drink. Not seperately. Not one inside and the other outside.
I don't agree they passsed this law. I think they should have non smoking areas. I think they should have non smoking areas in ALL public enclosed spaces and that the government should give proprieters subsidies to build partitions in their estanblishments. Not force proprioters to enforce a non smoking environment to all areas. I think proprioters should be allowed to choose. Just as they can choose who enters and who doesn't.
Most non smokers have said in defense of the ban, 'why should I inhale other peoples's cigarettes?'. Well... I don't stand in front of moving vehicles because I don't want to get run over. Okay, okay, granted I don't like a stinky pub or restaurant. But I don't think it should be one or the other. Thus a stict non smoking section. Exiling smokers to the outside, leaving their drinks and friends inside simply isn't fair, especially when it gets cold. Most people who don't and have never smoked simply don't understand people who do. To many, it simply seems like a disgusting habit none of us should do and especially not indoors with people who don't smoke.
If the government wanted to better our health and making a safer environment, they would ban cars that run on petrol , chemical pestercides in produce (some of which can cause cancer), American fast food chains (diabetes and obestsity and food poisioning), propaganda tabloid newspapers and television, celebrity driven magazines and stop invading middles eastern countries they suspect holding terrorist cells. You don't see the British Army riding armoured cars into Bradford do you?
The NHS might fair better but then, why doesn't the government spend more on the NHS and less on upgarding the Trident Submarines. They have passed a law switching around 500 years of smoking in public houses and in turn, have suppressed civil liberties a little more.
- J
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