Obey and Billy

I have met two new 11 year olds for my doco!
You can see a short clip I cut of Billy here.

Billy is a big wrestling and Dirty Dancing 1 and 2 fan. He likes the womance and nice dance moves. He also likes David Arquette.

Obey boxes 2 times a week at the Repton Boys club in East London.



'Dude I know too much'- my fave Billy quote so far! We are hanging out tomorrow so that is going to make my day.

On Thursday I fly to Montpellier in the South of France. French kids here I come.

Skype

I was just chatting with Gina and Skype was not connecting very well

"you are breakin up" Gina kept saying...

So I check youtube and found this



Reminds me of singing in the car with Dad.

I have had progress with Eleven this week. Met with Obey at a boxing club in the east end, he is very small, a tough little nugget, red beckham type haircut, very fair skin and freckles, very cockney accent! And I am meeting another boy Billy for the first time tomorrow in Angel. Cant wait!


South of France next week...

Home Alone

I spend a lot of time at home alone in London, working and eating and working and sleeping. This is the view from my flat. Over the last 2 weeks there have been loads of fireworks going off. Over last weekend there was a period of about 4 hours where they were going off left right and centre, some felt like they were just metres from my bedroom window! Quite an experience although it wore off and I continued on with my work. I have been working very hard, just finished 3 new music videos. Also have spent a long time researching and trying to find 11 year olds here in London







I am hoping to hear back from Autistic society tomorrow. Its difficult getting through to the right people at schools here so I set out on foot again today, kid hunting with various funny results. I met 2 boys as they run in front of a truck. I have a VERY good radar after 2 years of scouring the world for 11 year olds, I am a pretty good guess. He was indeed 11 but his friend was very sceptical and he whispered to his friend |"i am going to be the responsible one here and not talk to the stranger" Michael replied "yahhh I am going to be on TV!!!!!!!" and his friend whispered something else and Michaels eyes lit up and he handed back my paperwork and squeeled I dont wanna do this anymore! I told him I was legit and to give the forms to his parents and get in contact if they are all interested, he snatched the forms back and apologised and ran faster than the wind. AY ay ay I would like to know what the other boy said to him!

Its true this would be harder if I was a man, but I am not. And I am pretty sick of people who make peodophile jokes as well.. Friends joke, oh you better stop saying you are looking for kids. Its silly really I dont like those sort of cheap jokes... anyhoo!

Tomorrow night I am heading to a junior boxing school in the East end to meet 11 yr old boys there. So, fingers crossed by this time next week I will have one on board! Actually this time next week I will have a French kid in front of my lens! Cant wait, South of France is a tiny bit warmer and hopefully a great new challenge.
Then back to London then Morocco with Henrik! YAH! We are shooting at a school for the blind and doing some photography work!

Waiting for Stickels.

Kinda like Waiting for Godot, but different.




Here is a music video I shot in Harajuku Japan, one of my very fave places in the world so far. The song is Motion Sickness by the lovely Oklahomo Trio. This is one of my favourite songs off their 2nd album Obbsessive;Impulsive. You check check them out here



I enjoyed shooting this video, its the first video I have made without moving my feet... just stood and captured life around harajuku while waiting for Stickels to arrive, good thing he was so late, had a nice time shooting. When he did arrive we shot footage for another music video which was very fun.

Strong American lady accent directed at me
"Oh mah GOSH is that that your husband? He is SOOO crazy he is lying on the ground. Oh mah gosh you better give him CPR"

Fun shooting with Luke in Japan. Very fun. That video will be on here when its finished.

I will post the other 2 new videos tomorrow

:)

London... an update

We all had a bit of a giggle at these little guys on the train platfrom at Dalston. They were making game plans and shooting birds. Usually I am quite opposed to kids with any sort of toy weapons, but I couldnt help but laugh. Kids with thick British accents make me smile.





Winterpark played to a good crowd in Highbury Islington.




The Never Alone video team in one spot. Linnea and Henrik were in the video I made for Matt in 2005 in Prague. Fun we were all in the same place at the same time!

On Sunday I went to Broadway Market with Tom and Bec. Bad news, it wasnt on, good news I met Ollie! Now, I welcome any boston with open arms and big kisses, but Ollie was PARTICULARLY cute as he had many Bosco like features. He did the whole, "Im not gonna kiss you.." BANG "Ok maybe just one" as he lunged at my face and smacked one on me. SOOOOOOO happy to get some Boston energy. I was raised on BTs so I get a bit low without them around.




Yes this is my crazy dog lady smile. Olivia Ollies's mum (yes odd name choice) was from California and was actually quite proud of how much attention I was paying to Ollie. "Its nice to see him being appreciated." Let us hope I meet more Bostons here, although they are rare.


I FINALLY had my first drum class, african drums in Camden! Very very fun. The concentration reminded me of tap dancing, but my hands got the work out not me feet. Our teacher was great. Jo and I look forward to more drumming. Our new friend David took us, he's a great Glaswegian!



This is David and Jo in Chalk Farm. We stayed out chatting so late we missed the last trains. David is going to work on my next film with me which I am very excited about.



We celebrated Jo's birthday at a Moroccon place in Soho a couple of weeks back.
The entire ground floor was women. Henrik was the only guy! We were sandwiched between 2 Hens parties, wearing witches hats etc. There was a belly dancer too.
Henrik was suitably comfortable as he had experienced Mums 60th so you know, this night was tame in comparison. And people werent in PJs so...


This is Marilyn who Jo and I befriended on a bus at like 4am a couple of months ago. Jo and Marilyn have a very special bond and Marilyn thinks that Jo is like an extended birthday present as it was her bday that night on the bus.. Very cute.





This is Hampstead Heath where we wandered with Josh who was over from Prague. Twas nice and felt a world away. Its only 30 mins by train but very very country.

Looking forward to researching and making plans for Morocco and Italy soon. Launching the Peggy Sue and the Miou Miou video very soon!

:)

Wrong way come back

Today Henrik had the misfortune of missing his flight, not because he was late but because his plane was not at the same airport he was at... or something. Good part is means he is here for a couple more days! YAH. Celebrations were had with banana pancakes. We can now go and see the Autistic childrens work at the gallery which has just opened. The sun is shining so bright today so I cherish it, it wont be here for much longer! Awesome sunsets up here on level 12!





This is my local park where we watch deer.. ok, enough about the deer Gen...



We are nearly finished the Peggy Sue Clip. I have been editing and listened to the song many times, its a great track. Here are some photos from the shoot in Hackney and Brighton.
The shoot was a lot of fun. We met some real tjomens = chums.



I love the pic of the girls lying down and the little local tricksters watching on. They asked a million questions while I was standing up on the bridge shooting the girls, and I didnt realise til later there were also hiding under the bridge with stink bombs. The girls did a great job, and ended up giving the kids a skateboard once we wrapped... Not so safe in the knowledge that they wouldnt not hurt themselves.. it was a very cheap skateboard... Oh well, they were tough kids! Lots of kids here in the UK!



In between wrapping shooting the video and heading to the live show Henrik got snap happy and took some photos on Brighton Beach with the only person around to shoot! I tried to look comfy on the rocks as the ones where I am actually reflecting how uncomfy they are, dont look very good! I dont get rocks over sand at beaches.. never have.



Kung Fu Fighting and Pass This On are sort of the theme songs of that shoot, we played it over and over. I think I liked Kung Fu Fighting a bit more than most people. Awww yeah. I made a mix cd of danceable tracks which went off a treat in Dalston where we stopped people to dance for us...

In fact it was a little bit frightening, but they did it with expert timing.. ohh ooo ohh ohhhh.. HA! I love it. I gotta get up and dance now. Ciao!!

Sad day

For the last few weeks I have been calling the couple with Benji the 24 yr old dog I met in August. I am really keen to make a short doco about this great foursome, Marilyn Harry Benji and Asti, the dreadlock dog. I have been really desperate for them to pick up the phone but have only been able to leave messages until today when Harry answered.

I asked him if he was still keen for me to come shoot them and he said 'our boy went on Friday...'

Harry clarified that he actually didnt die of old age, he had an accident.

'He was actually 28 not 24 and one year off being the oldest dog in the world.'

I am really sad today because I know how hard this is for them even though I only met them for a day I could see they were the proudest parents around. He had a funeral service. I am going to print the photos I have of him and drop them around. I only wish I had got through to them earlier and been able to make this film for them.
For non dog people grieving for someone elses pet might seem quite strange... but it is a very sad day for me.

But Harry reminded me "Time heals all wounds, and we still have the rastafarian."

Locating, hunting, skating

Today Henrik and I went location hunting for the music video shoot tomorrow. I need a lot of skateboards.. which we hope to round up this week. For tomorrow I just need one, so I bought it from the local sports store. The guy there asked what we were using it for, shortly after seeing me ask Henrik to get down on his back lie on the board and see how easy it is and comfy to push yourself around on it....

So yeah I told him its for a music video and he asked if we 'happen to need' any extras to which I promptly responded YEAH, we need dancers... And he said "well, I happen to be a LUFFLY Dancer.'

Notice me trying to imply the accent... It was great he really drew out the word DANCER pronounced the real proper way. His name is Don and it was against store policy to get my number so he gave me his. Sweet. He said his lady friends are professional dancers so BRING IT ON I say! In fact, I need to go to sleep so I look alive tomorrow!

My phone company has conveniently chosen this week to go freaky and has selected certain numbers in my phone to not allow me to call or sms at all. I have been barred from certain lines. These lines are.. the band.. other people I need to call.. Thats pretty much the list.

So lets hope all goes to plan tomorrow. Photos soon.\



These are stills from my video camera, I played with the colours. Henrik and I did a test shoot outside some shops nearby. I was doing my, Im not embarassed actually I kinda am but I am looking cool like Usher, shots... Sort of...

It's getting colder... I guess people in RNB videos usually look hot not cold. Oh well. I'm working on it.

Who will bring it for you?

Peggy Sue video shoot next week... Rosa and I had a dance in the park yesterday and some test shooting. She is fun to shoot.




Amazingly this video has only had 25 views on youtube at time of posting.
Time of posting for me... ready for bed, happy in the knowledge that I know someone who will bring cheese should I need it. Happy he is coming to London tomorrow.

Blur

This morning was a blur because I had a really bad migraine and not much I could do about it. Some men were banging on my door and I was a, too scared to get up b, too sore to actually move so I ignored them. Then I eventually made my way to the chemist who was very nice, I got some painkillers despite wanting to avoid needing them, then went to see the deer. I visit the deer and billy goats daily. I like it there and I like listening to Nick Huggins and The Beach Boys and ...what else... Wilco! Yes, Wilco and deer go well together for sure.

Nick Huggins is ridiculously talented by the way... Such a great songwriter, have a listen for yourself here
I went to the National Portrait Gallery with Linnea yesterday but nothing really blew me away apart from technical things like how weird it was looking at really detailed paintings that are over 500 years old. A few shots of Diana were nice but I had higher hopes of being a bit more inspired by the gallery. I get more ideas from watching people on the street I guess.




I just found some great Blur videos on you tube and remembered how much I used to love watching them, but pre youtube, when you acutally had to be organised enough to remember to set a tape going to record rage on the weekends.. then watch the tapes to death, then make sure I didnt actually tape over a good rage section with Pot Of Gold. Ah, the complexity of teenage years. Glad I am over that. Now I have to make sure I dont tape over 11 year olds with deer footage...

Check out Damons face at 1.01mins.. GOLD. Maybe I should have hairs like that?

I have been watching a bit of tv this week and Current TV is soooo good. They broadcast view created content. So informative. If only as many people tuned in to Current as what they do for shows like Next Super Model or whatever its called. Model makeover plastic surgery etc shows are on SOO much here, multiple times per day. Current TV is entertaining and a great source of both local and international stories. I think lots of their content can help promote tolerance and understanding which is a good thing in my book! I am going to contact them and see if I can get some work on there.

I am going to the London Documentary group now with Erika and Linnea which will be good.

Pick Of The Week

COFFEE AND CIGARETTES Image from The Portable Film Festival website


From the rich and famous to the penniless and obscure, 'Coffee and Cigarettes' is our pick of the most compelling interviews from Australia and around the world in TV, film and online serials.
Pick of the Week

Need some inspiration? This week we recommend you watch:

1. Last Time I Cried. Geneveive Bailey & Henrik Nordstrom, Australia.
2. Shane Jacobson. Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, Australia.
3. Baghdad Refugees Flee to Kurdistan. Isam Rasheed, Iraq.
4. Tsunami Taxicab. Elvis D’Silva, Singapore.

Last Time I Cried. The ever-prolific Geneveive Bailey is our Portable poster-girl. We’ve featured her work in every festival so far, and this showcase is no exception. This poignant documentary is constructed out of several thousand still photographs, in which Gen and Henrik ask several interview subjects aged between 3 and 93 about the last time they cried.


Shane Jacobson on Enough Rope. Godfather of Australian talk Andrew Denton talks to the man most commonly known as Kenny about the business of movies, fireworks and the public image of a toilet attendant. Shane's role as the eponymous Kenny in the 2006 film earned him an AFI Award for Best Lead Actor.


Baghdad Refugees Flee to Kurdistan Online interview series Alive in Baghdad shows the occupation through the voices of Iraqi civilians. This episode presents a portrait of an Iraqi family in self-imposed exile, forced to sacrifice ties with family, work and community and start anew in Kurdistan.

Tsunami Taxicab. This short documentary combines animation and live footage to capture an interview with a taxi driver in Singapore just after the Tsunami hit in 2004, who believes the disaster was the result of God's wrath.

Stickels Guitar

Today I am editing a video I shot in Japan, and doing pre production for a video for a UK duo I am shooting next week. They are mega cute, such good eyes, they go by the name called Peggy Sue and The Pirates.

I did not know Luke could play guitar.. until I found him on youtube!





Ha ha this video is gold, a new friend Alex sent me a load of cool clips for inspiration and this one makes me smile / Single Bed. Happy also as I have a huge bed at the moment! Sleeping well. I would like to make a video like this starring the likes of John B and Dan Rice and Marcus, Mark, the whole gang. What dya reckon boys?
Maybe Tessie can be the female vocalist?

London, again!

I made this today, she makes me smile. Meet Tsukiko, 'chisai dobutsu' as Gavin called her... translates to little monster.




I have arrived back in London and found a lovely flat in Stoke Newington, 12th floor of a housing estate... I have amazing views... will post some photos soon...
Today was my first day back on my laptop for ages, first day with both my own bed and internet right at my finger tips! These two things have been pretty exciting.. plus, a tv. I dont really watch tv, I can take a conservative guess that I have watched no more than 25 hours of in in the last 2 years... But today, I have watched about an hour, of CURRENT.tv in the tv in the lounge here. Its quite nice to watch user created content that is actually good, and on a tv... I have been inspired by a few stories.

I switched between capturing and editing some of my own stuff, and watching stuff like this

http://hrw.org/campaigns/crp/child_soldiers/index.htm

A doco on child soliders.

Japan October 2007

Very excited to see Stickels in TOKYO! Shot some cool video with him lying on the streets of Tokyo and freaking out American tourists. He is easy to shoot in a crowd!



Nick and I had AWESOME Okonomiyaki, sooo good. Thanks Nick! He knows the good spots!





Keeping the kids happy with a bit of RNB. I think.. I think that was it.


My fave drink ever, Cassis Orange, well this is a Cassis Soda. A change is as good as a holiday, yes?




Elisa looking gorgeous.


Dhugs watching his dinner cook!



Great to see Marcus!



These ladies helped me after my fall. I was grateful, even if I do look a little deadpan here. I was in pain! A big thanks again to these girls and Elisa!





Shooting ELEVEN with Rika Chan.



Oyasuminasai Tokyo
Good Night!