"I drove through the hood in my electric wheelchair"

The following is what New York Mag called "a sad and violent short film" created by and starring that crazy South Africans rap crew Die Antwoord and directed by Harmony Korine (of Kids, Gummo, and Mister Lonely fame). If you know anything about Die Antwoord, you know how strange, over-the-top, and unpredictable they seem to be. The only problem is deciding whether or not you think they're for real. In any case, they've made something really strange and beautiful with Korine and I suggest reading the accompanying New York Magazine article before or after watching the 15-minute "fok-ing" awesome mini work of art. As always, enjoy.

 

Can't get enough...

...Of Aussie singing sensation Kimbra. Get this, she's only 22 YEARS OLD. It's times like this where I feel pretty hopeless in following my own dreams and aspirations, when there's gals like this so ahead of the game, but that's another story. I saw the awesome music video for "Settle Down" on my friend Lil's facebook and instantly fell in love with Kimbra, the song, and the video. She's one of those artists you can tell straight away has "star quality" and just great performance skills. So, I went on to watch her live studio performances at Sing Sing studios and, of course, I was completely blown away. The videos are shot wonderfully, and her charisma and her interesting yet powerful voice (not to mention good looks) make it impossible not to watch. I read that she's apparently a SXSW Showcasing Artist, and that her debut full-length album Vows is being released sometime in the start of 2011 (hopefully soon!). As always, hope you enjoy.

Never a dull moment...

I was just paying my weekly visit to the lovely Hanneli's blog when I saw that she posted the just released video campaign for for Prada's SS11 collection. I've explained before how I feel about fashion videos and how I feel most of them are sort of hit-or-miss, but given the awesomely quirky styling and equally fun print ads for this collection, we could only assume that a video campaign would be just as great! What impresses me the most, is Miuccia Prada's ability to constantly change inspirations, styles, and aesthetics each season, while somehow keeping the core of the Prada woman (whatever you may describe that as) consistent. Whether I love every piece of every collection each season or not, I have always thought and will continue to think, that Miuccia can do no wrong!


The song is Mirando by Ratatat, and Steven Miesel shot the print ads but I am not sure who did the video. As usual, enjoy!





Edit: My good friend the lovely Dani D left a comment on this post pointing out how you can definitely see the references to Josephine Baker not only in the hair and makeup (obviously) but in the model's wildly freeform dancing. I then stumbled on this video of Miss Baker's amaaaaazing moves.

Baby Pop

About two weeks ago, my friend Casey sent me this link to a playlist of songs by 1960's French baby-faced artist France Gall. It has been making for the perfect work soundtrack (trying to catch up on some sewing and sketching) and I have been listening to it nonstop! I hope you enjoy.
 Oh and I couldn't help but post a couple of her amazingly cheesy-yet-cool music videos as well. The videos for "Laisse Tomber Les Filles" and "Baby Pop" both feature great 60s French style in terms of clothes and overall style of the video but some of the others are just plain funny with their awkward male actors and dances.

Joy to the World.

 Hello friends and readers (although I think you're pretty much one in the same)! First things first, I'd like to (in true Meredith fashion) say I'm sorry for the lack of posts over the past two months. I guess I just wasn't feeling it, but I have been keeping a long list of potential post topics so that I'd be ready when the time was right. Well now the time is right, and I have some lovely videos, music, fashion (not to mention a new header I created!) and lots of other things I'm dying to share with you.


So let's get started. The video posted below is a short fashion film created by Jae Song and Claire Carre for fantastically over-the-top fashion/costume designer Christian Joy. Most of you may be familiar with Miss Joy's work with Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O, for what seems like the larger part of Karen' career. Although Christian Joy's design aesthetic may be far, far away from my own, I can definitely respect and admire her use of kaleidoscopic colors and patterns of the 70's (perfectly demonstrated in this video), as well as her nod to the anti-fashion and DIY style of the 80's and 90's. She's a designer and artist who had/has most certainly found her niche and continues to show her point of view, regardless of trends or seasons.

some of Karen O's costumes over the years.
all images: www.christianjoy.us

We all know how much technology has been changing all aspects of fashion, from digital printing on textiles and e-shopping, to live on-line streaming of high-profile collections during Fashion Week. With many designers in the past year opting for video presentations over, or at least as a supplement to the typical runway show, I have found myself more often disappointed than impressed by them. I think that fashion film is a great way for a designer to have complete control over the feeling and mood they wish to convey with a collection, much more than they do with a typical runway show. It also gives designers who may not have the chance or means to be a part of Fashion Week a way to showcase their work, in a medium which may have a greater reach and impact on potential customers than photos from the runway. However, it seems that some designers wanted to get on the digital bandwagon and whip out a fashion film of their own, but lacked the clear vision, or something... I'm not sure what, to make the film an asset to their collection.


Phew! All of that being said, Christian Joy's video impressed me instantly. The hair, makeup, models, and overall styling are all spot on, and the director/producers did an amazing job at making the film look as if it cam straight out of the 70's (which was to the definite benefit of the clothes). Most importantly, the piece is short and sweet, and leaves you wanting to see more of the collection. The focus is always on the clothes and the feeling the clothes create. Okay I'll stop gushing now and let you watch it already! Enjoy.



I couldn't help but post some more images from Christian's website... be inspired!

 

 editorial for Christian Joy shot by ioulex.

all images: www.christianjoy.us

I'm sorry, you're just not my type.

I love everything about the interactive video-test created by the brilliant minds at global design firm Pentagram. I originally found "What Type Are You?" via one of my favorite bloggers, Bobby Solomon at   Kitsune Noir (which I check daily). I took the test and receiving the font Archer Hairline as my diagnosis, have come to the conclusion that this little quiz is extremely true and quite intuitive! I won't give too much away because I want you to see for yourselves, but I love the simplicity of the video, as well as the quirkiness of it. It's fairly short, as to not lose your interest, but long enough to make it feel as if you are actually being analyzed. I love the voice and accent of the psychiatrist character, and the background music, and of course the fonts themselves. Upon finishing the test, you can see how popular your given type is, as well as get a summary and history of the design of each type shown. It's definitely one of my favorite things on the internet right now. Enjoy!

Find out "What Type Are You?"
(couldn't embed this one either, sorry kids)

Scissor Sisters.

I am currently in love these awesome hand-made brass and steel fabric scissors which not only seem super tough, and have that great weight to them, but are super affordable! Only $18 for the 6 inch pair, and $21 for the 9 inch) They also have an antique look which I am often drawn to (probably under the influence of my Mom) when shopping for sewing supplies or tools because it adds to the sort of nostalgic feeling actually doing a craft with your hands.

The scissors are from an online shop called Spartan which I know nothing about because they don't provide an "About" section on the website... but what I do know is that they have a great selection of understated yet interesting jewelry, tools, and housewares (like the vintage Bolivian wool rugs I am also loving). There is also a sister site Bows + Arrows which is an online clothing store, although I don't know which one came first... While Bows + Arrows carries some great brands (A.P.C. Rachel Comey, BillyKirk, Band of Outsiders) and definitely shares a common aesthetic with their other online store, I think I was definitely more impressed with the careful and smart choice of products on Spartan.

 

Spartan also sells a set of smaller brass and steel "Barber" scissors which are perfect for seam ripping, and other little delicate sewing tasks. So I'm thinking about getting one of each (one big and one little pair) so they can be scissor sisters! GET IT? LIKE THE BAND? ANYONE? Ok, nevermind. Anyway here's a really cool video for "Any Which Way" by Scissor Sisters (whom I was obsessed with in High School).

"It has some boobs in it (tasteful)"

So, sadly I don't know much yet about the Animal Collective-esque musical stylings of Spanish musician El Guincho. He was first introduced to me by my good friend Sean Hudson (whose awesome illustrations I blogged about back in June) a few weeks ago, and just today, another good friend Casey (whose quote is the title of this post), sent me this music video that happened to be for the same artist. The video has moments of what seems like unnecessary nudity (almost every shot of a female in the video is a topless one) but in that harmless, sort of ironic-hipster-y way. Or like the non-sexed, natural, nonchalant nudity of the 1970s. There's also a fair share of weird futuristic 80's images including one with a glowing globe in a forest. Did that make any sense at all? I doubt it. Sorry. Well the point is, I still haven't decided if I love it or hate it, but it is most definitely very impressive. Between all the slightly strange disturbing imagery I realize that the cuts and editing are pretty spot on (in my opinion), and fit the beat and overall tone of the song perfectly. The song is awesome and I think the video definitely served as its compliment. Now only if I knew what he was saying.

Model Behaviour

The young and beautiful faces featured in the video "Marc's Models" shot by (the awesome) Chadwick Tyler for AnOther Magazine may now seem a bit like old news, especially in the fashion world where things (and people) go "in" and "out" of style before we can even decide what is in fact "in" or "out". But I promise you'll be as intrigued as I was by the lovely likes of the models chosen by Marc Jacobs for this year (I don't know exactly when this video is from, but a friend had sent it to me earlier this year, probably around the time of the Fall2010 shows?) in this little video which acts sort of like a silent character study for the often otherwise anonymous designer-clad boys and girls.




The site also offers an interesting word about Marc Jacobs' model choices throughout the years and how the young men and women lucky enough to grace Marc's catwalk are almost always the ones to become the "it" kids of the seasons to come. Also mentioned is the personality and individuality of the models featured in the 2:00 minute film and how it is precisely this that Jacobs looks for when making choices for his runway shows, saying "They wear the clothes, the clothes don't wear them" (also my own personal design philosophy), and even adding that each model only wears one look per show, a look that is tailored and styled for that model specifically.

I got to thinking about how rare it is to see models in motion, and I think that is why I love this video so much. Besides the catwalk (which most of us only see in photo form afterward) or perhaps highly styled and directed "fashion videos" or commercials, we never get the chance to see a model's movements, personalities, changing facial expressions. Not to mention, included are three of my favorite models as of late, other-worldly pale beauty Hanne Gaby Odiele and doll-faced pouty-mouthed newcomer Lindsey Wixson, and of course striking tomboy Freja Beha Erichsen.


Watch "Marc's Models" (I wish I could have embedded this video, but it didn't work!)

Any-who?

A few months ago, I started following a great Scandinavian fashion blog called Anywho. Created and run by three (adorable) twenty-somethings, Ingrid, Elise, and Stephanie, it has the perfect combination of streetstyle photographs (often of the great outfits that the girls themselves wear), photos and info about new designers, as well as great shots behind and on the scenes of fashion shows. AND the posts are written in Swedish AND English! I have always had a soft spot for Swedish fashion because of its (in my opinion) more daring, quirky, and overall modern point of view. The collections always seem less trend-driven, and although I wouldn't call them "timeless" (because of the connotation that word usually has) I do feel that the clothes always look like they were simply the product of their creator, as if they can't be placed in a certain time or place.

So I check the blog pretty much daily now, (another thing I love about it, there are new posts almost every day) and I was surprised and pleased to see a video (a Vimeo video!) of backstage footage from Copenhagen Fashion week. First and foremost, the video is shot b-e-a-u-tifully. And the music and editing make it such a pleasure to watch, while providing you with wonderful backstage and runway footage of the collections and brief interviews with the lovely down-to-earth and inspiring designers. My favorite designers featured in the video would have to be Minimarket (check out the AMAZING shoes), Stine Goya (adorning the heads of models with floral wreaths? slightly distracting, yet it somehow works), and Henrik Vibskov. Fashion and film lovers alike, you will enjoy this I promise.




And here's an interview with the Anywho girls (the sound is kind of bad)!
 

Trees are Green Explosions Trapped in Time.

Wonderful. Found it under "Staff Picks" on Vimeo (which I finally created an account for). Enjoy.

Don't Blink.

Perhaps due in large part to my lovely, video-making, video-obsessed boyfriend, I have been watching (in a somewhat obsessive fashion) tons and tons of videos lately. Not just of the music sort, but everything from commercials to comedy and fashion videos, short films, everything. It seems to me to be a very interesting time for video direction and production (as I suppose it is for many of the creative fields) because of the immense amount and variety of content available on the internet. On the one hand, it seems that directors are exploring each and every realm, (although there may be certain "fads" in video which sort of string them together, like there are in anything else,) to create the best and most memorable experience for the viewer. On the other hand, (in my humble opinion at least) the widespread accessibility and use if HD cameras can make almost any footage at all, and in turn, any video at all, seem amazing. I admit at first, I would find myself watching an only mildly interesting video with this intense awe because I couldn't seem to take my eyes off the images on my screen. It turns out...it was just the HD! I quickly learned and have become perhaps a little too skeptical at beautifully filmed works, realizing that anyone can buy and operate a fancy camera. But it takes an artist to tell a story, and leave a lasting impression on a viewer... especially in this era of internet-information-overload.



Which brings me to my latest video obsession: Blink Productions. Ellis had sent me this great music video (above) which quickly led me to the Blink page on Vimeo where I was totally blown away with the variety, quality, and creativity of work shown. I'll let the videos I picked speak for themselves, but I highly, highly suggest checking out their Vimeo page, as well as their website for a look at all of their work. You'll notice some familiar favorites included in the impressive league of directors... such as Patrick Daughters, and Andreas Nilson who did two Peter, Bjorn and John videos ("Nothing to Worry About" and "It Don't Move Me"), as well as the directors of the awesome Hot Chip video "I Feel Better", and one of the We Have Band videos I wrote my first post about, "You Came Out".

Eric and Eric.

Most of you may know Eric Wareheim from his work on Tim and Eric: Awesome Show Great Job!, (which is in it's 5th season) a super-strange, super-uncomfortable, but super-hilarious sketch comedy show on AdultSwim. It's public-access style fake commercials and "educational" TV shows and low-budget filming make the show appear campy, but somehow has attracted the attention of numerous musicians and actors (i.e. Paul Rudd, Will Ferrell, The Shins, Flight of the Conchords, Ben Stiller, Josh Groban, Jeff Goldblum and a bunch more)who often make cameo appearances on the show.

If you haven't had the slightly-terrifying pleasure of seeing this show, than you may be familiar with the three-part Absolut vodka commercials created by and staring Tim, Eric and (once underground, now wildly popular) comedian Zach Galifianakis. And if you haven't seen those either, I highly suggest you do so. Immediately.

Let's get to the point though, which is that Eric Wareheim is also a director in his own right. And his work... is sick (some of it, literally, a little sick). I was confused at first as to whether or not the music videos on his Vimeo account were commissioned by the bands, or if they were just very popular fan videos. Then I noticed some of the artists actually appeared in the videos, so I assume that they are looking to Eric to create amazingly weird music videos that suit the tastes of musicians like Major Lazer, Bird and the Bee, and Ben Folds. I realize that many of these videos have been out for almost two years, but I thought it was post-worthy. The following are my favorites, but I suggest you check out his whole Vimeo account when you get the chance. Enjoy, and prepare yourself to be weirded out. Big time.


: Many of you my know the following video because I think it has made the rounds plenty given Major Lazer's recent "major" success. Or just because it is a unbelievably un-forgettable video that I find hard to resist showing everyone I know or meet. :

Major Lazer "Pon De Floor" from Eric Wareheim on Vimeo.

Ben Folds - You Don't Know Me from Eric Wareheim on Vimeo.

Warning: This one is really gruesome/terrifying. But really cool.

HEALTH "We are Water" from Eric Wareheim on Vimeo.

Aaaand another Major Lazer for good measure.

Major Lazer "Keep it Going Louder" from Eric Wareheim on Vimeo.

Love-ly.

I AM LOVE - UK Trailer from PPC Film on Vimeo.

I have been waiting patiently for the release of the Italian film I Am Love and it is finally here! Well, next week at least. It's a story of a wealthy Milanese family which Russian immigrant Emma (Tilda Swinton) has been married into. She has completely adopted the culture of Milan and seems to fit perfectly into the family acting as a loving and attentive wife and mother. But suddenly Emma finds herself amidst a passionate and highly secretive love affair with her husbands brother's friend, a young restauranteur. The selling point for me? Tilda Swinton dressed entirely by Fendi and Jil Sander. Not really, but that's still great.

Your Wish is My Command...

I wish I could say that I knew more about self-proclaimed "awesome, sexy" scraggly-bearded Frenchman Breakbot, but all I can tell you for sure is that his powerpop, breakbeat, electronic serenades will NOT disappoint. Back in February, a friend had posted a download of the song "Baby I'm Yours (feat. IRFANE)" on his facebook as a little celebration of Valentines Day, and I've been listening to it probably almost every day since. I later found the article from DAZEDdigital.com for which Breakbot did the honor of creating an awesome 30-minute long romantic mixtape (it's clear that the fella has great taste). His EP is available on iTunes under Ed Banger Records which represents other creators of dance-worthy tunes such as Uffie, JUSTICE, and Sebastian Tellier.

SO... FINALLY. Here it is, the music video for my (still) favorite song by Breakbot, "Baby I'm Yours". It was directed, and essentially, created by Irina Dakeva at Wizz productions. Made up of approximately 2000 watercolor images, I think the super-bightly-colored images dancing against the black background go absolutely perfectly with the song (even though it would be hard to ruin the video for this song, because the song itself is so damn good). The video premiered yesterday at (insert French accent here) super-cool Parisian boutique Colette and their website had some pretty sweet pictures of the original watercolors which were exhibited as part of the event.

Breakbot - Baby I'm Yours (feat. Irfane) - HD from Ed Banger Records on Vimeo.

Hamburger.

My boyfriend having gone to school to study film (Emerson College to be exact), I am always looking at the latest work from his friends, which honestly, never ceases to impress. The strapping young fellow pictured above is Daniel Scheinert, a friend of Ellis' and a fellow Emerson grad, whose Vimeo account is brimming with comedic and after-effect genius. To put it simply, he's a damned good director. Not to mention, I think he may have sort of made his bigger break by directing the latest music video for Iceland band FM Belfast. Here's his stuff. Some funny. Some really funny. Some just really really good.

Funny.
Old Spice Everclear Commercial Contest

Really funny.

Oh F*** Me from Daniel Scheinert on Vimeo.

Really, really good.

EVERYTHING a MONSTER is NOT - Chapter 1 from Daniel Scheinert on Vimeo.

Awesome music video.

Underwear by FM Belfast (Music Video) from Daniel Scheinert on Vimeo.

Slightly Stupid.

I don't have anything against the Olsen twins, and I am aware at the following series of videos (I haven't yet watched all of them) is slightly ridiculous, and maybe just flat out dumb... but this one made me laugh. A lot.

Very Mary-Kate: Zac Efron from Mary-Kate Olsen on Vimeo.

Brilliant.

If you haven't seen this already (I am aware that it is a few years old) you must watch. Immediately. I promise you, it's brilliant.