tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30304404245934750932024-03-19T03:56:59.450+00:00Into ViewJude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-9006260917804542482016-03-20T20:56:00.000+00:002016-03-21T07:52:51.054+00:00INTERVIEW WITH FINE ARTIST CHRIS GRAHAM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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© <a href="http://vandenisdi.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Augustinas Našlėnas</a></div>
<i>"The art wankers that wear the right clothes, say the right things and smile in all the right places. They might get the jobs, but they'll still get caught wanking off in the toilets."</i><br />
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<b>When did you first realise you wanted to become an artist? </b><br />
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I don't think I always wanted to be an artist, or at least what I thought an artist was as a child. I remember wanting to be a soldier, an astronaut and having a short mental dalliance with ballet, but I think that was something to do with the tights and tutus.<br />
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As a child my mum said I was always drawing and painting, sitting in front of the television, scribbling, high on new experimental markers from me dad's printing job. I thought an artist was someone who made beautiful pictures in gold frames for rich patrons and they worked in a studio full of their drawings and paintings and smelled of paint and solvents. Or markers? Not knowing how to use my particular skill set back then, I ended up doing a degree in Illustration. Much later, after a failed attempt with an illustration agent at an unsuitable London agency, I soon realised I was an artist with a capital 'A'.<br />
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I realised I didn't want to, or maybe I wasn't actually capable of, painting and drawing 'nice' pictures that made the whole world look beautiful. Not like them other artists, the 'art wankers' as I now affectionately call them, with their pseudo-scientific intellectualism, their international art language, the mere producers of 'chewing gum for the eyes', colourful interior fucking decorators for whom it's just a job, with tax breaks and jollies, like Dolly Parton's 9 to fucking 5. The art wankers that wear the right clothes, say the right things and smile in all the right places. They might get the jobs, but they'll still get caught wanking off in the toilets.<br />
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I think trying to look and sound the part doesn't make you an artist, but it will get you into the interview. I'm working class. I'm the son of a miner and a nurse. I mistakenly believed the life that was being prescribed to me and that my making skills had to be used for a 'job', for employment, for a career, for capital, to sell more shit and further the illusion that we are at the peak of human existence and we are all winning. I think I always wanted to be an 'Artist', but it wasn't until 2014 really, after completing a masters degree in fine art and critical theory, that I fully realised that I already was an Artist and had always been.<br />
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I work 24/7, 365 days a year as an Artist. I have no fucking days off. There ain't no money in it for me, but I don't make my shit for the money, I make my shit because I have to. It's a form of therapy for me. It keeps me able to continue. I often say that we all have mental health issues, but luckily, I ain't fucking suffering. Do you remember the 80's cartoon Dangermouse? That was made by 2 blokes called Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall. At the end of the cartoon, the credits rolled and the words 'Cosgrove Hall' were shown. I always thought it was a physical place, a building somewhere that the animators worked in, a bit like Bletchley Park, but for cartoonists. I remember telling me mam and dad that I was going to work there when I was bigger. I never did work there and I am still only 5 foot 3.<br />
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<b>What brought you to Sheffield Hallam University to do an MA in fine art? </b><br />
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Geography and economics. It was the nearest and the cheapest. Well, that's not strictly true and does Sheffield a disservice. Sheffield Hallam University and the city of Sheffield have a long history of art excellence and making and Sheffield has always had a vibrant night life in its darker corners at the blurred edges of the map. At the time of first enrolling at Sheffield Hallam, my dad had just been diagnosed with myelodisplasia (pre-leukaemia) so I deferred for a year and looked after him with me mam. I was helping me dad to the toilet in the early hours of the morning and as I held the piss bottle to his penis, he placed an arm around my shoulders for stability and pissed all over my forearm, "Make some art out of that fucker", he said. We laughed. He died during my final year.<br />
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<b>What did your MA exhibition mean to you?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>After me dad died, I was gutted obviously, but I threw myself into my work harder than before, determined to make my Art do something, say something. Anything. I'd spent the previous 2 years of study, leading up to the final exhibition, thinking that I didn't know what I was doing, thinking that I wasn't producing very much. I realised later, that I was producing shitloads of work and doing shitloads of reading and research when compared to some of the other art wankers who just talked a good talk. I just didn't know yet, where it was all heading.<br />
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I started off by making my Kate Moss screen prints and then I made a deformed (by depleted uranium) Fallujah baby and then I made 2 cast bronze Abu Ghraib prisoner statuettes, a full size fibre glass donkey, fitted with a masturbation cup, cardboard letters spelling 'capitalism' that I made anagrams from, a large ceramic Chinese baby in a McDonalds box. I was just purging and making and remaking and purging, unconcerned by the final outcome, lost in the madness and chaos of the world around me. Because for me, that's what an Artist is. What an artist should be. It's not a fucking job (getting paid sometimes would be a bonus though). It's about showing the world back to ourselves so that we can see it afresh. I think Art should try to reconnect us to life, not hide life from us, in some art wankery, intellectual, pseudo scientific, international art language, codified, elitist fucking bollocks. In blue, to match your fucking sofa!<br />
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After the final show, I was <a href="http://www.axisweb.org/archive/profile/mastars/chris-graham/">reviewed by David Gilbert</a> from Axis web and I was happy as fuck and felt I had done my best for me and me mam and dad.<br />
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<b>How do you feel about the concept of fame, as expressed in your Kate Moss piece? </b><br />
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I've been eating Kate Moss for years. Eating her image. Consuming Kate Moss. I do lo- fi postcard collages, paintings on furniture, screen prints, whatever tools I have to hand. Whenever my wife buys a glossy magazine, there's always a Kate Moss image in there somewhere. She's an icon. A manufactured goddess for the every man/ woman. They're either using her image to sell more shit or attacking her image for not looking beautiful every minute of every day.<br />
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When Kate first spoke on television in a make-up advert, all she said in her native Croydon twang was, "Live the Landon Lack", but those four little words, dropped her back to earth like a hot fucking turd. Only human. The celebrity machine finds new stars, chews them up and spits them out, perpetuating the objectification and commodification of the 'unattainable' female form. As to fame, I don't think I would want to be famous. Or maybe that's just my brain compensating for my abject failure. Can you imagine me famous, as some poster boy for disaffected capitalism? What with my yellow teeth and greasy tee zone and clothes way past 'oh so last season'. I'm more like Kate Moss's badly dressed, disfigured, disabled, illegitimate brother, than any 'goygeous' salesman of our as yet, unsold futures.<br />
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<b>Your work references the fundamental dichotomies of beauty vs ugliness, good vs evil. </b><br />
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These seem like simple binary choices. Beauty/Ugliness. Good/ Evil. Only ever one or the other? Incremental? Measurable? Clearly defined? Sometimes everything is everything is everything all at once, mixed into a world of fucking grey. The world will make hypocritical monsters of us all if we let it. I believe real beauty can shine out of the 'ugliest' of people and that beauty can be hidden, blackened and unseen in the 'goygeous' people too. We all forget to see humans sometimes and we can stupidly judge people on their external, physical, first appearance.<br />
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<i>Chris round ours, talking to Brian, summer 2014.</i></div>
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People always ask me if I hate Kate Moss. They see my images and think I must really want to flay the flesh from her face, desecrate her body, be the misogynist of their first misreading of my work. Maybe that's part of the problem. Maybe I'm part of the problem. Can everything be understood instantly? Can contradictions ever create stability? Do you need to spend more than a 'micro slice' with humans to see them more clearly?<br />
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A few months ago, I was hanging my Kate Moss print in an art space in Doncaster, when a woman asked me if I hate all women, or just Kate Moss? I told her (told her? Maybe I am a misogynist) I love women. All of them. Told her she'd maybe got my work wrong. Told her I was making feminist work against the patriarchy that promotes misogyny.<br />
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I explained to her that Kate Moss was just, only fucking just, sixteen when she did her first topless modelling shoot. So, on her 16th birthday, just after the cocaine, champagne and chocolate cake, the photographer said something like "Now you're 16, you need to get your little titties out today love". Bosh! Done? No discussion? No coercion? No manipulation? No fucking grooming? No little girl needing to be talked into it? All in one day? Fuck off. Get a fucking grip you cunts. Or maybe Kate decided to do it on her 16 birthday because she just wanted to? It was her choice? "I know, as a recently empowered through capitalism, 16 year old girl, why don't I get me tits out for you today?". I reckon she had people talking her towards it from day one, before she even grew tits. After this quick explanation, she loved the work, said it was very powerful. I'm glad I was there to explain my true intention, as it was obviously lost in transmission. Like I say, I'm a failed artist. Maybe I'm just an arstit.<br />
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<b>How do you feel about religion? </b><br />
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Personally, I think religion is the delusion inside the illusion. But each to their own, whatever gets you through the day and all that polite bollocks. I was conditioned into Irish Catholicism as a child. Well they tried to, but it didn't stick and I was apostate at 10 years old. Like Doubting Thomas, I would've needed to repeatedly finger Jesus to believe. As the nuns used to say whenever I questioned the miracles, just before I got the slipper/ ruler, "You've just got to believe Christopher" (my name means 'bearer of Christ'). Funnily enough, I don't think you do have to believe with religion. You don't have to really believe and be a 'good human' in the hope you'll get into heaven and be saved from a life of damnation. You just have to turn up to mass, wear the right clothes, say the right things, smile and genuflect in the right places, promise to say your prayers in penance for your supposed sins and then get straight back to the shit in your life, cheating on your partner, beating and raping kids, swindling expenses, doing what you like really, because there is no final judgement and retribution. Only several hail Mary's and a few Lord's prayers. And death. And even if, as I died and my soul/ spirit/ mind floats off into the ether, even if then, I see a black woman speaking in a middle eastern accent and 'God' and religion is finally 'proved' to me and she/ he condemns me to eternal damnation, I would still choose 'free will' and say "Fuck you! I'll take my chances in the void".<br />
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<b>What is the funniest thing that's ever happened to you in your life as an artist? Or even just in your life? </b><br />
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When I started university, I didn't just feel it, I was actually, the odd one out. During the first week I attended a lecture on the theme of Catastrophe with 200 other students, to watch a film by Renzo Martens called 'Enjoy Poverty'. It's an excellent film about a filmmaker getting 'black coolies' to carry his equipment across Africa, through jungles and deserts, from village to village, talking to them about western politics and their own continued enslavement in poverty, getting locals to take him to fly ridden corpses and famine stricken families so that he can teach them reportage photography like the white journalists who flock to disasters, and then sets them up for a fail when they try to sell the images. Hard exploitation to show the exploitation.<br />
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At the end of the film, the tutor asked "What is catastrophe?". My hand shot up straight away and when asked I replied "It's a catastrophe that they can't eat their own dead black babies". The whole lecture theatre fell silent apart from a few audible groans. The tutor said, "What a great Swiftian response", and me being the uneducated underclass that I am, thought she meant a fast response to the question, until someone told me about Jonathan Swift and his Modest Proposal and the Irish potato famine.<br />
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Another time, (there was several every hour) the head researcher quietly asked before the lecture "Has anyone got a dictaphone?", to which I replied "Use your fucking fingers mate, you won't get spunk on the buttons". Again, no laughter, only nervous silence. I pissed meself.<br />
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© <a href="http://vandenisdi.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Augustinas Našlėnas</a></div>
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<b>Have you encountered people finding your work offensive? </b><br />
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From day one at university, some students, teachers and audiences found my work, ideas, presentations, offensive. I was even told on several occasions, not to become the 'irritating Other', for highlighting within the institution, those issues that my work critiqued. Some people felt that I was chastising them and their life choices, felt that I was telling them off, by using my artwork as a form of institutional critique. But that's their complicity guilting them, not me. We're all complicit. We're all hypocrites. The world makes us so in our silence.<br />
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Some people hated the Kate Moss prints when they first saw them and moaned about sexism, pornography and misogyny and that I could be seen to be promoting it. I explained that as an Artist, all I am trying to do is hold a mirror up to our lives and if you don't like sexism, pornography etc, then don't shoot the fucking messenger, use your own skills and perception to make artwork about it or the things that concern you and the wider world. Or don't, as was the case in the majority of the art wankers' output.<br />
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© <a href="http://vandenisdi.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Augustinas Našlėnas</a></div>
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<b>What about the limited exhibition space in Tel Aviv and the scroll? </b><br />
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I was asked to submit art work for an exhibition in Jaffa, Tel Aviv, called Entrapment and Engagement. I knew straight away that the work I wanted to send would fit the brief perfectly. Quite a few of my friends and colleagues questioned my choice to send my work to exhibition in Tel Aviv, what with the Israel boycotts, but I sent the fucker anyway. I wasn't sending them some nice 'happy clappy' interior decoration that would enable them to carry on killing Palestinians without ever questioning the atrocity.<br />
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I sent them my 'Corporate Holocaust', 7 metres of drawings that deproblematize WW2 propaganda, reconnecting the political, religious and corporate players of the time, Nazis and dead Jewish babies, hand drawn using 3 bic biro pens, using 6 million millimetres of black ink, displayed in a mock T' Orah scroll that showed 1 metre of drawing at a time, in the hope that the audience may review our/ their recent history and see the similarities between then and now. 100's of international corporations made money before, during and after the Trading with the enemy act. As they still do today. War is business and we're all fodder for the Industrial Military Complex one way or another.<br />
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© <a href="http://judecalverttoulmin.com/" target="_blank">Jude Calvert-Toulmin</a></div>
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<b>You're a supporter of </b><a href="http://www.exaronews.com/" target="_blank">Exaro News</a><b>' campaigning investigative journalism into child abuse, what do you think about the UK elite's attitude towards and ways of dealing with the survivors of child rape by those in power? </b><br />
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I'm always interested in alternate histories, other voices, that fight to appear, that break free from the dominant history of the victors. I was groomed and sexually assaulted as a child by someone who was lodging with us. I wasn't repeatedly raped or killed, I was lucky, but it destroyed my trust in the adults around me and I entered into drink, drugs, crime, violence and ended up in young offenders at 18. I then spent 10 years on self destruct in those environments before I got me shit together, spending another 10 years on self-reeducation and self -rehabilitation outside of institutions.<br />
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Now don't get me wrong, I most probably still would have entered into those things anyway, coming from a working class, ex mining community, underfunded in education and health care, with few real economic prospects beyond a shitty factory job at the local knocker factory. But the broken trust made me more vulnerable to being in those environments and it took me another 10 years of self-education and self-rehabilitation to correct those wrong behaviours, with the love and support of my family and a few great art teachers.<br />
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© <a href="http://vandenisdi.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Augustinas Našlėnas</a></div>
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But, because I was a child when it happened and because I was unable to understand it and then subsequently couldn't report it until 10 years after the fact, the police called it 'historic' and told me there was nothing they could do. Hold on a minute. Nothing you can do? The cunt is still working with kids. But it was my word against his and in the eyes of the law, nothing could be proved that anything had happened and I was not allowed to name him. He was an army cadet instructor and part time territorial army instructor and full time fucking paedophile.<br />
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I did all the police work for them, trawled the internet and found the cunt working in Japan, where they sell used schoolgirls' knickers from vending machines. He was working as an English teacher to toddlers and holidays/ volunteers in a Thai Orphanage, frequented by other fucking nonces, well known to the authorities. What fucks me off the most, is when people defend celebrities, politicians etc who are accused of paedophilia. "No, they wouldn't do that. They're so nice. They do so much charitable work with all those sick children. I can't believe it". That's the fucking point you blind cunts! They ingratiate themselves into positions where it looks like they are whiter than white, beyond reproach, beyond questions of guilt. Have you forgotten Jimmy Saville, Gary Glitter etc etc et fucking cettera?<br />
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Since the dawn of time, humans have fucked children in the belief that it creates purer bloodlines. Then we got psychology and learned from the survivors that fucking children really fucks them up. We need more conversations on all forms of abuse that we accept daily. Prisons and psychiatric wards are full of incurable child rapists and sex offenders. There's no cure for heterosexuality/ homosexuality/ bestiality/ paedophilia. Your own sexual predilections are your own sexual predilections. I think the only way to try and change paedophilia, is to try and educate the abusers to the damage that they inflict. To make them realise that the victim does not see their actions as they do. I didn't see my abuser wanting to fuck me. I just saw someone paying attention to me, taking me to school, buying me sweets, taking me to a fucking gun club, the dirty bastard. If I would or could have seen his motives before he tried to buy my silence for the upcoming deed, I'd have said "Fuck you" from the start.<br />
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As to our elite rulers? They're just sad cunts who haven't learned from their own institutional raping, fagging, beastings at private schools. To them it's normal to oppress the weak and the vulnerable. It's normal to not consider the well being of those they govern. They don't give a fuck. They are all venal cunts.<br />
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© <a href="http://vandenisdi.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Augustinas Našlėnas</a></div>
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<b>Has any of your work to date dealt with this subject? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
As you can imagine, it can be a bit of a conversation killer whenever you mention paedophilia, but I am open and honest about my life when I meet any fucker, I have no guilt or shame, because I did fuck all wrong. I was lucky. I think so far, my work has just tried to get people to see the unseen and accepted abuse that capitalism creates, maybe as a precursor to thinking about paedophilia? I don't know. Much like spotting paedophiles (you can't), as people generally don't see the abuse that corporations inflict, they just see the happy smiling face of the corporation/ monster that's abusing them and others, without seeing the horror of their actions in bringing their products to you. Usually, the only people to see/ catch paedophiles, are those caught underneath them, the victims, or those that open the door onto their actions.<br />
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© <a href="http://www.axisweb.org/archive/profile/mastars/chris-graham/" target="_blank">Chris Graham</a> </div>
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<b>What is the most joyful thing that has happened in your life recently?</b><br />
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I had a 4cm, suspected benign, slow growing, suspected DNETS, grade 2 tumour removed from my right frontal lobe at the end of January. Suspected. When they actually cracked the top of me head off, it was a 4cm diffuse astrocytoma, grade 2 to 3. I became ill during the summer and rapidly began to suffer ever worsening symptoms as the tumour grew and increased the pressure inside my head. My neurosurgeon said he'd never met anyone like me, or seen anything like what happened when the anaesthetist began to anaesthetise me ready for the operation.<br />
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He said that I was wheeled into the operating theatre and as they prepared to anaesthetise me, I was in the middle of a conversation with him, they injected the anaesthetic, I then went unconscious and he performed a six and a half hour 'stealth craniotomy' operation, with full resection of the tumour. He said that when the anaesthetist injected the reversal to wake me up, I woke up and carried on with the exact same conversation in the exact same place I left off, before the anaesthetic was administered. He repeated that he had never seen anything like it, to which I laughed and said "You must have seen thousands of patients, just like me".<br />
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© <a href="http://www.axisweb.org/archive/profile/mastars/chris-graham/" target="_blank">Chris Graham</a> </div>
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I'm just lucky. On first waking in the operating room, I found myself, imagined my mind, my soul, my me, curled up inside the void left behind by the tumour and I went through the most sublime human experience as my brain and consciousness were 'rebooted' and all my feelings, thoughts, memories, ideas, fears, came back 'online' all at fucking once.<br />
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As an artist, I have a massive visual memory and vocabulary, and with that, I was treated to the most awe inspiring, internal, visual light show that displayed in my mind's eye, every single idea, thought, bit of knowledge, book, film, food, fight, fuck, memory, everything, ever, that I had had. All at once, in the deafening sound of a singular, pink, synaptic pop. Imagine everything your brain contains being 'shown' to you and 'felt', all at fucking once. I was remembering facts and figures that I didn't even know I knew. As I lay in the recovery room minutes later, sucking in oxygen, hot piss drips stinging my glans from the catheter removal, I told the nurse that the date needed changing on the cannula in the back of me hand, as "I've just had my operation today and this is yesterday's date on here". She said she thought that I was going to be alright. "Alright? I'm going to be fucking fine babe" I replied. You try making sense of that shit without scaring the life out of your wife and family.<br />
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© <a href="https://bryaneccleshall.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Brian Eccleshall</a></div>
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I had a week of super steroids and opiates and I was high as a cunt. I couldn't see my daughter for the first few days as I was too high. When I did see her, I cried my eyes out. I couldn't see her eyes. I was staring right through them. Through her eyeballs, through the orbits of her skull. I could see the base of her brain and it was on fire, electric, just like mine. She was sucking in the planet.<br />
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<b>Facebook Post by Chris Graham, post brain surgery, 3rd February 2016</b><br />
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© <a href="http://www.axisweb.org/archive/profile/mastars/chris-graham/" target="_blank">Chris Graham</a> </div>
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To produce this turd, today's menu consisted of...<br />
5 hours unmedicated sleep.<br />
06.05 Half mug of tea, 1 small spoon of sugar, splash of milk.<br />
06.08 2 paracetamol.<br />
06.10 Small one skinner spliff, toxic AK47, pussy amount.<br />
06.20 2 weetabix, 2 slices white toast, margarine, raspberry jam.<br />
06.30 Half mug tea, 1 small spoon sugar, splash of milk.<br />
06.45 Small one skinner spliff, toxic AK47, pussy amount.<br />
Gently (for me) running 5 hours of internal physical/ mental system diagnostic checks on the new hardware upgrade from the NHS neuro ninjas. All appears functioning well.<br />
30 minutes in the garden on anaesthetically disconnected legs, waiting for the sun to shine.<br />
5 skinny cigarettes.<br />
2 litres of tap water.<br />
11.45 2 slices of toast, margarine, 1 runny, crispy, fried egg, salt, brown sauce. Large mug of tea, 1 sugar.<br />
4.5 hours unmedicated sleep. 2 paracetamol.<br />
2 large plates of beef stew, over fried chips and 3 slices of white bread and the rest of me mum's dinner too.<br />
1 blackberry and raspberry yoghurt.<br />
1 bag of sweet and salt popcorn.<br />
A warm bath. Wife had to wash me arse.<br />
A couple more one skinners, toxic AK47, pussy amount.<br />
2 hours listening to Zoviet France to soothe my void.<br />
38 minutes listening to television static.<br />
Several repeated conversations with worried wife, family, friends, assuring them that I know what the fuck I'm doing. For the first time in 42 years, I am in control. Autonomy is not just a word. It's a state of fucking mind.<br />
Now for more sleep.<br />
Tomorrow I see my daughter again.<br />
Anew.<br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-73133260365019318972016-01-29T15:40:00.000+00:002018-06-04T09:02:40.607+01:00INTERVIEW WITH FILMMAKER SEAN MCALLISTER - A SYRIAN LOVE STORY<div class="MsoNormal">
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<i>“One of the most brave and powerful filmmakers around.”</i> Michael Moore</div>
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With <a href="http://asyrianlovestory.com/" target="_blank">A Syrian Love Story</a> nominated for Outstanding Debut at the <a href="http://awards.bafta.org/award/2016/film">2016 BAFTAS</a> for himself as director/producer and <a href="https://twitter.com/lalalooms">Elum Shakerifar</a> as producer, for Best Documentary at the <a href="http://europeanfilmawards.eu/en_EN/film/a-syrian-love-story.3722">European Film Awards</a>, and for Best Documentary at the Berlin Peace Awards, plus having won the Grand Jury Prize at <a href="https://sheffdocfest.com/">Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival</a> 2015, <a href="http://seanmcallister.com/">Sean McAllister</a> is once again getting the recognition he deserves as one of the finest documentary filmmakers the world has ever seen. </div>
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I first met Sean a decade ago in the bar of the Novotel hotel in Sheffield during Sheff Doc/Fest where he was showing <a href="http://seanmcallister.com/films/the-liberace-of-baghdad/">The Liberace of Baghdad</a> shortly before winning the <a href="http://www.sundance.org/festivals/sundance-film-festival">Sundance</a> award for Best World Documentary 2005. I knew I was in the presence of a singular person, not only is his filmmaking honest, raw, probing and revelatory, but as a person (as anyone who has met him will testify) he is one of life’s characters, someone who once met you will never forget. </div>
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I interviewed Sean twice after that, <a href="http://into-view.blogspot.co.uk/2008/11/sean-mcallister-japan-story-of-love-and.html">once in 2008 </a>about his multi award-winning film, <a href="http://seanmcallister.com/films/japan-a-story-of-love-and-hate/">Japan, A Story of Love and Hate</a>, and <a href="http://into-view.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/sean-mcallister-reluctant-revolutionary.html">once in 2012</a> about another of his multi award-winning films, <a href="http://seanmcallister.com/films/the-reluctant-revolutionary/">The Reluctant Revolutionary</a>. </div>
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With The Guardian giving A Syrian Love Story a five star rating and its film critic Peter Bradshaw hailing the film as the third <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/16/the-50-best-films-of-2015-in-the-uk-no-3-a-syrian-love-story">best feature film of 2015</a> as well as winning Sheffield Doc/Fest’s Grand Jury Prize, A Syrian Love Story is shaping up to be McAllister’s most successful documentary yet.</div>
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I remember Sean visiting Syria time and time again before the war broke out, falling in love with the country and spending five years finding and then filming what was to become A Syrian Love Story. Ahead of his time as always, Sean instinctively knew that something was brewing out there, and he was determined to be around to see what would happen when the pot boiled over. On an undercover assignment for Channel 4 news, he was arrested and imprisoned by the Syrian secret services, where he spent five days in jail, often being forced to hear the cries of prisoners being tortured around him. You can see the BBC news report here:<br />
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Sean escaped unscathed and here, a fortnight before the BAFTAs, Sean talks about making A Syrian Love Story and touring the world showing it to constantly packed out cinemas.<br />
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Storyville's Nick Fraser and Sean's father Joe at a BFI screening, 2015.<br />
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<b>You spent years trying to find a story in Syria, and, frustratingly, you were turned down by commissioning editor after commissioning editor who claimed that “No-one’s interested in Syria.”...</b><br />
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True, although <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0292205/#producer">Nick Fraser</a> to his credit did eventually commission a film about Syria. It was a great story about a gay restaurant owner I'd met near Homs, but when I went to film him he got scared and pulled out. By which time the BBC money was in the bank and I was too broke to tell them the truth. The great thing about Nick and why he is unique in this business is that he takes the same risks as we filmmakers take and then he leaves you alone. So I spent the next three months looking for another story. I met Amer and started filming but there seemed no chance of getting Ragda out of prison. At the same time two different people who didn't know each other told me of this man they'd met who was a great "Sean character" - problem was he wasn't in Syria, he was in Yemen!<br />
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The Arab Spring had started but it seemed impossible to go to Syria. I'd left the UK for three weeks and came home after four months for Christmas with no film. My eternally supportive wife Ruth wasn't happy! So over Christmas I got in touch with Kais and as a tour guide he managed to get me a visa to Yemen. After Christmas I followed my gut instinct and went there. Everyone else was going to Libya. I made The Reluctant Revolutionary without telling Nick Fraser - then whilst still in Yemen I heard that protests had broken out in Syria and Amer and his 14 year old son Kaka had been arrested held for a day. I flew home, handed my rushes to the editor and flew straight to Damascus on a tourist visa. No camera. I bought one in the Sony shop there. I continued filming the Amer film (which was to become A Syrian Love Story) while editing the Yemen film (The Reluctant Revolutionary.)<br />
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I remember Nick saying in the edit suite, "I usually have to ask how your story has changed, but on this occasion I have to ask, "Where in the world are we?"" I told him Yemen and he told me to play the movie. And he loved it. He has since said he loves commissioning me because he enjoys the surprise of what he's going to get.<br />
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<b>What are the most important things you’ve learnt whilst touring with the film all over the world?</b><br />
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I've learnt that people really care about this refugee crisis and when given something deep and meaningful to engage people do go and support such films. It's been amazing<br />
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<b>How have the film’s subjects, Ragdha, Amer, Bob and Kaka dealt with the film’s success?</b><br />
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The family love the film’s success. For so long they felt as if the film was never going to be seen anywhere. Now Amer is with me whenever possible. Ragda, less so, although she was with me for a couple of days in Istanbul and loved it.<br />
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<b style="color: #141823; line-height: 13.3pt;">What effect has the film had on their lives?</b></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 13.3pt;">Clearly the kids (Bob and Kaka) have new lives in France
now. Without the film they wouldn't be there. Many of their friends are dead, others
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<span style="color: #141823;">On another level Amer and Ragda lost each other but the
film has brought them back together as comrades to talk to audiences around the
world about the issues close to their heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;"><b>What effect has the demands of promoting the film had on your own life?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;">Having three teenage myself, being away from home is a constant struggle. One of the hardest things for me in making the film and films generally is the time away from my own kids. I think they pay a price. Especially my eldest son, George, who recently left home at the tender age of 17, for which I feel a bit responsible. But we are talking now and I hope he will come home again. Anyway I was so proud to see his lead role in the Devils doing a full on Ollie Reed role and magnificent performance. It was West End quality never mind Brit school. I was so proud of him, wonderful stuff. </span></span><br />
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George doing an <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/40580391795">Ollie</a>...</div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;">Negotiating my family situation is always hard but also touring is rigorous in other ways, for example keeping fresh with a different audience night after night, all who ask similar questions, but I love meeting people and seeing their different reactions. Like tonight it plays in Jerusalem and tomorrow in Ramallah where I've just had the most wonderful Palestinian breakfast although it's winter now and freezing cold...<br /><br /><b>You're vegetarian, right?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;"><br />Yes, and since trying your husband Brian's wonderful home made <a href="http://www.artisanveganlife.com/books-dvds/">vegan cheese</a> I've been making vegan cheese myself, and am keen to go vegan. Enjoying your <a href="http://nirvanosh.com/">Nirvanosh vegan recipe blog</a> by the way and spreading the word!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;">Vegetarian Sean having breakfast in Jerusalem.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;"><b>How demanding was it starting off without distribution and having to organise independent distribution?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;">Very demanding and we were learning as we went. But distribution is Elhum's passion. She produced the film with me and is great at distribution. She steered it all masterfully although it meant many sleepless nights. I think the BFI are very impressed with the results. Especially for awards like BAFTA where you need to get DVDs to 6000 members - only big films with big distribution can afford the 20k it costs - we could only send links and do screenings wherever possible to get BAFTA members along. But we did it in the end.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 17.7333px;">Sean and Elhum.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;"><b>What ended up happening with distribution? Did you eventually get mainstream distribution and how? </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;">No we didn't get picked up by anyone. They saw it as an uphill struggle, and it is, but we made it work by attending the films with Q&As and holding targeted screenings aimed at specific audiences, not trying to go on general release nationally and compete with mainstream movies.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;"><b>How has being imprisoned in Syria and hearing other people being tortured affected you since?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;"> I think of it from time to time. I don't like enclosed spaces anymore and even found IMAX Star Wars in 3D too claustrophobic. I don't like noisy atmospheres I feel I can’t escape from either. Or maybe Star Wars was just a pointless crap movie, I dunno. I think these things have a subliminal effect on us and affect us from time to time when we’re least expecting it...</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;"><b>What are your feelings generally about Syria now?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;"> I'm generally sad for Syria that our inaction has deepened the problem there, not made it any easier for us to solve but harder. Standing by and allowing Bashar to butcher his people ignoring the barrel bombing of them every day by his forces and instead only showing what Isis are doing there. We now need to find a way to make safety zones inside Syria to protect the people and stop them having to flee.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;"><b>How are your plans going to make a documentary about your hometown of Hull?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 17.7333px;">I'm moving more into that head space. I'd been resisting it I think but I can see the money is there and the appetite for BFI BBC co-produced film for cinema is the intention to be delivered sometime in the 2017 year of city of culture activities. Not sure what or who it will be about though. But I guess another story of love and hate, but from Hull this time!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 17.7333px;">Sean and Amer in Warsaw</span></div>
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<b style="color: #141823; line-height: 13.3pt;">What’s the stupidest question you’ve been asked during a
Q&A?</b></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 13.3pt;">I did a screening in the Jewish centre in north London. A
little old lady disarmed me with the first question there asking how the
subjects can afford computers and mobile phones if they are supposed to be
refugees. I made a mistake in the way I responded. I got angry and refused to answer her but an
Israeli insisted I answer. It was just insulting to me. But I don't think she
meant it to be. I then brought Amer up on Skype and they asked him why he left
his homeland in the first place. He laughed and answered because some people
came and stole his land when he was 3 and since then he has been a refugee all
his life. He got them back for me. I stormed out wishing I'd never shown the
film there at all.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823;"><i>“Sean McAllister makes filming look easy.”</i> BBC Storyville's Nick Fraser<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;"><b>What’s the funniest thing that's happened whilst touring the film?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 17.7333px;">I remember Amer’s face when we'd lost the car after a night’s drinking in York after the screening there and he was just jaw-dropped looking at girls littering the streets, drunk, shouting and vomiting. He'd never seen anything like it and to him it seemed like another kind of war zone. Then waking up next to him as I've done on so many occasions in the 5 years making the film and seeing him asleep next to me in the car in a York car park - it was funny that the guy I used to wake up next to in Tartous all those years before was now in my homeland with me sleeping rough as we'd always done. Nothing had changed!</span></span></div>
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Sean in the speaker's chair, House of Commons.</div>
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<span style="border: 1pt none; color: #171717; padding: 0in;"><i>“My duty as a filmmaker is to get beyond the
performance”</i> –</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="border: 1pt none; color: #171717; padding: 0in;"> </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="border: 1pt none; color: #171717; padding: 0in;">Sean McAllister</span></span><em><b><span style="border: 1pt none; color: #171717; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></em><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="border: 1pt none; color: #171717; padding: 0in;">N.B. Some links and pics sourced from <a href="http://seanmcallister.com/">seanmcallister.com,</a> thanks to webmaster <a href="https://twitter.com/mrrudeforth">Kevin Rudeforth</a>, subject of Sean's first film <a href="https://vimeo.com/ondemand/workingfortheenemy/11477352">Working for the Enemy</a> which if you haven't seen yet is well worth seeing. Sean's mates stick with him...</span></span></div>
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Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-34129110008720605622016-01-15T07:01:00.001+00:002016-01-15T07:01:29.615+00:00INTERVIEW WITH VEGAN SIDEKICK<i><b>"It is something deep inside me that opposes injustice, exploitation, sadism, cruelty and suffering. It's simple to me, that I don't want anybody to suffer, and these animals are among the most vulnerable victims." - Vegan Sidekick</b></i><br />
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As of the time of writing, January 2016, veganism is in its embryonic stage of going mainstream in the Western world after years of being derided as a cultish movement for freaks and nutjobs. <br />
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It is often artists who bring about widespread social change and the vegan cause is no exception. Satirical cartoonist <a href="http://vegansidekick.com/" target="_blank">Vegan Sidekick</a> has inspired and educated thousands of people to stop funding animal abuse through consuming animal products. His <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vegansidekick" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> is becoming exponentially more popular, shooting to almost 85,000 likes in only a couple of years. <br />
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It took 400 years to persuade America that black people were deserving of equal rights and not inferior beings to be used as slaves. It took 400 years until women were given the right to vote. The queer movement is still in its infancy. And the majority of society's attitude towards speciesism is still stuck in the Middle Ages. <br />
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Certain species, such as dolphins, lions and bees, stir up defensive behaviour in many people, but due to speciesism most people still do not care about the suffering of the billions of animals murdered every year in what is euphemistically called "animal agriculture." Pigs, sheep, cows, ducks and geese are routinely abused, tortured and murdered <i>by the billion </i>whilst society turns a blind eye and makes excuses.<br />
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Vegan Sidekick is single-handedly doing more to fight speciesism and campaign for animal rights through his cutting and brilliant satirical work than any other artist on the planet. I interviewed him recently exclusively for Into View.<br />
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How did you come to be a vegan?</h4>
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I had been vegetarian since I was a child, ever since I learned what meat was. Over time, I just gave more and more thought to the idea of "owning" animals, and using them in whatever way seemed unreasonable to me. When I started at university I was buying milk and cheese etc for myself, and I realised how totally unnecessary it was. Looking at entire food stores with so many options, and I was specifically buying stuff which required exploitation of animals. So I stopped buying it. I never met a vegan, and I didn't have it explained to me that males are a byproduct and get killed in the egg and dairy industries, and that their sisters get killed when their production is less profitable. Now that I know that, it's one of the first things I tell vegetarians, as surely they cannot support that.<br />
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How did you start making comics? Had you been producing art prior to the Vegan Sidekick comics?</h4>
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I began the page as a more informative project, trying to get across to other vegans how you can respond to typical arguments etc and I made videos and graphics relating to that. But as I made more memes, I noticed that the ones with a little humour did better, so I continued in that way and it just expanded into what it is now. I have always produced art since I was little, it is what I studied at college and university, and it's what I do for a living as a graphic designer.<br />
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How do you draw your comics? What software do you use and how long does it take you on average to produce one? </h4>
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I draw them with a graphics tablet and stylus using Adobe Photoshop. Most of the comics might take about ten minutes to draw. Others take a bit longer if they're more complex pieces like the wall of excuses, or the "I love animals" pieces that I do from time to time.<br />
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<h4>
Where do you draw inspiration from for your comics? </h4>
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It is basically from my experiences of talking to people, and hearing what they consider to be justifications for harming animals. I also spend a lot of time in the day just trying to think of ways to get it across in an interesting manner to make people say "Hmm, I've never thought of it like that before". A lot of that is done by trying to view the entire planet and what we're doing from an outside perspective. If you hadn't been brought up with animal agriculture being the norm, then it surely would seem horrendous (which it is). Many people dismiss it as "just how it is" without really considering what they're advocating, and that it's so unnecessary. Spelling it out, talking about meat as a dead body, talking about animal slaughter as stabbing animals, and holding people accountable for the results of the egg and dairy industries, is something that I feel is very important to get people to put two and two together. So much of non-vegan vocabulary hides the reality of what they support.<br />
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<h4>
You've produced <a href="http://vegansidekick.com/guide" target="_blank">a handy guide</a> to which I regularly refer when talking to non-vegans, listing all the common defenses that they use for eating meat and cheese and consuming other animal products. How did you compile this guide? Do you find that people refer to it and use it?</h4>
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I compiled it after spending so much time in the same conversations over and over again as a result of so many people being drawn to the page. I realised that it wasn't only myself facing this Groundhog Day phenomenon, and that a guide would aid everyone for copying and pasting, along with perhaps educating vegans on what to even say, and indeed non-vegans to just look through without me having to type it every time. I know that people use it, I even see them copy from it and direct others to it. And I think that some of what I am saying has influenced how people approach these conversations in the first place. <br />
<h4>
<br />What is the most stupid thing that anyone has ever said on your page, can you remember?</h4>
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Many to choose from.<br />
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<i>"What about microorganisms?"</i><br />
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<i>"Killing is part of life, you can kill my entire family and me if you want, as long as you found a use for our bodies"</i><br />
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<i>"Plants create oxygen, and animals use it up. So by killing plants rather than animals, you are causing the world to run out of oxygen."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"Rape is a choice. I'm not trying to justify rape, I'm just saying, raping someone is a choice, as is eating meat."</i><br />
<i><br />
"Giraffes would run factory farms if they could."</i><br />
<i><br />
"I don't see a distinction between a mammal and a skin cell"</i><br />
<i><br />
"Until the 1990s, marital rape is legal. You can campaign against these things as much as you like, but it is a person's right to act within the law"</i><br />
<i><br />
"It is a person's right to kill animals. You are violating the rights of others to try to stop us killing animals"</i><br />
<i><br />
"I would bet that the cows that I eat had a much better life than the cows that you don't eat"</i><br />
<i><br />
"If cows produce methane which is harmful to the environment, then surely it makes sense to kill them"</i><br />
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<i>
"Eating meat is a matter of survival. Don't tell me that we don't need meat to survive, I know that, I'm not an idiot"</i><br />
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<b>And what is the nicest thing anyone has ever said on the page?</b><br />
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I can't really decide that one. So many people have said that they love or adore me, and that my work means so much to them. Several people say that the comics are the first thing they look for every day when they wake up. One thing that is clear from a lot of people is that they feel very alone. They might be the only vegan in their area and they are made to feel like a freak. As well as giving them comebacks and a logical method or arguing, the comics remind them that they are sane, and it is the world that is so fucked up.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.veganuary.com/" target="_blank">Veganuary</a> has been more popular than ever this year and there are articles regularly appearing in the mainstream media about veganism. When I first discovered your Facebook page it had less than 5,000 followers. Now, less than two years later it has over 84,000 followers, and your Intagram page is growing exponentially and suddenly has almost 84,000 followers. Do you think veganism is finally going to go mainstream, and that vegans will stop being regarded with derision and suspicion by most people?</b><br />
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It is very hard to say. Veganism is definitely becoming more popular and is slightly better understood by the general public. However, we are still a tiny minority, so it's very early to say that it will become mainstream. Personally, I don't see any reason why not. I think that despite the many flaws that humans seem to have, society in general is becoming more civilized over time (some societies slower than others, and depending on who is in power at any given moment...). I think that over time, animal rights will be taken more seriously, and of course, that means not exploiting and killing them (veganism). It is a very slow process however.<br />
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<b>Although your page is incredibly popular with more people liking it every day and constant positive feedback from thousands of fans - your images now regularly attract more than 2k likes - almost every day a troll will appear seemingly only to argue with you and cause disruption, or some idiot will appear saying ludicrous things to justify eating animals.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLn8W4O-orqQZATIvOfsiiNMC6DJRyaJy5U9xjph6nUo17-Orkf6Sh86kGZjjXSkALV1END6mGQBZtoakJzfqpaKH2vBnBx5mzvFLPwZsI6XRnq1c7utdAwYLvo-Onj3XOZP7yaoxfDi6A/s1600/merch.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a> How do you deal with them and does it ever get you down?</b><br />
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I experiment all the time, in terms of what could be effective in getting a troll to rethink what they're doing, getting them to rethink how they perceive vegans, and also preserving my sanity. I go through phases of ignoring comments altogether. I often block trolls immediately if they are posting images of meat or hunted animals, because they are clearly there for no other reason than to upset us and get a laugh out of it. I don't know what the answer is really, everyone is different.<br />
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Some trolls might not be malicious, rather, they think it is all in good fun and they can sometimes react well if you say "Look, vegans just want to avoid harming animals, why are you so against that?". But some really are just arseholes, and the best thing I can consider is ignoring or blocking them. Immediate trolls like that don't get me down. But sometimes these pseudo-intellectual types piss me off when they are just hopping from foot to foot with justifications, changing their argument as they are proved wrong again and again... They want to appear legitimate, like they have a genuine interest in debate, but when it comes down to it, there is literally<i> nothing</i> that anyone could say in a debate that would talk them down from bacon. Sometimes I wonder if they go through these conversations to validate it to themselves more than anything.<br />
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But the best you can do is calmly respond, and wait for them to inevitably either freak out, insult you, choose nihilism, or say "Plants tho".<br />
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These conversations aren't about them becoming vegan at that moment. They won't like being proven wrong or selfish. But they may go away and think about it later. That process is pretty tiresome to me so I am more inclined not to get involved. 99% of people who contact me to say they've gone vegan because of me, are people that I have never said a word to. My comics do the job, so spending hours in the comments is perhaps a trivial use of my time comparatively.<br />
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<b>For one of the most important satirical artists of our time, you're very modest. Do you sometimes find it hard to take in the relatively sudden and enormous impact you're having on stopping animal cruelty the world over through your art?</b><br />
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Well I find it hard to even accept the phrasing of the question! I certainly have not taken in the impact I have made, and I doubt I ever will. Meeting people at <a href="http://www.vegfest.co.uk/" target="_blank">Vegfest</a> really opened my eyes, with them wanting me to sign books and have their photo taken with me...<br />
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So many people call me a celebrity and I try to talk them out of it, but have to give up because people are just so into what I'm doing, so in their eyes I am a celebrity. From my perspective, I'm just a guy who is sick of how the world works, and a lot of people are feeling the same way, so I guess the comics are a way for everyone to express this frustration.<br />
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Both the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vegansidekick" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vegansidekick/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> pages have over 80,000 followers now. I can't even imagine what that many people would look like in a crowd, and the Facebook page reaches easily 500,000 people a week in terms of image views etc... I don't think the human mind is equipped for it really. I just keep doing what I'm doing, and don't worry about it. We should all do what we can, and I'll try to make the best of this opportunity that I have.<br />
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<b>When did you start weight-lifting? Are people surprised to discover that you lift weights as a vegan?</b><br />
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I used to be pretty overweight in my teens, and I got into fitness when I was 17, and I've done it on and off ever since. When I am in decent shape, people are surprised that I am vegan and say "Well you don't <i>look </i>vegan...".<br />
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I've often given training and diet advice to people, including non-vegans. There are some really good examples of <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3206401/The-rise-plant-powered-body-builders.html" target="_blank">vegan bodybuilders and fitness people</a> now, I'm just a guy who draws comics and tries to stay healthy and active. (For anyone interested these are all worth looking up: Max Seabrook,
Josseline Nayad Jeria, Ed Bauer, Chakabars Clarke, Jessica Ortiz, Ed Goins, Robert Cheeke, Mindy Collette, Derek Tresize, Patrik Baboumian, Kelly Schlegel, Paul Kerton, Simone Collins and Torre Washington.)<br />
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<b>What do you do to relax?</b><br />
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I like having long baths, or watching some TV shows that I enjoy like Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Sopranos etc. Stuff I've watched a million times so I can just zone out and get comfy. I also enjoy <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30412358" target="_blank">ASMR</a>, and it's cool that it is becoming recognised and that there is a nice community around it now. I'll often stick a video on and just take a nap.<br />
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<b>Do you care for any companion animals? Many people ask what vegans do to feed the animals in their care. What advice would you give?</b><br />
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My partner rescues a lot of injured or unwanted animals, and any that can't be released into the wild end up staying. Regarding feeding carnivorous animals, I recommend doing your own research. It is an area which causes massive rows between vegans. Nobody wants to support animal agriculture. But if someone thinks that feeding their animal a plant-based diet would harm them, then they'd say they would do what was necessary for their animal which is part of their family. The reason people argue so strongly is because we all love animals and we're doing what we consider is best. <br />
<br />
From my own research and reading a bunch of articles over the years, it seems like dogs can very easily be fed a plant-based diet. Cats have some requirements which must be met to avoid certain hazards, but it can still be done. One of the main things that cats need is taurine. This doesn't have to come from animals, and indeed, most meat-based cat foods have taurine added to them anyway.<br />
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Of the cats we've got living with us, three have chronic health conditions which require specific food, and there is no plant-based alternative that we know of. The other two cats are healthy, and are fed a plant-based diet, and there have been no problems so far.<br />
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My primary advice regarding companion animals is to adopt from a shelter or sanctuary, and never support a breeder. There are too many of these animals needing homes and being neglected, and shelters are constantly overrun, and if they're fed animal products, then of course this funds animal agriculture. So the first step is to control the breeding.<br />
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There are people who would say "If you're vegan, don't adopt a cat, then". That might seem like reasonable advice, but those cats are going to exist in shelters either way. If they're in a shelter, they'll be fed meat, that's a fact. So whether it is the shelter doing it, or you doing it, doesn't actually change how much money the meat industry gets.<br />
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So really, it is just your own accountability that you're removing, you aren't actually changing the numbers. To actually alter the numbers, you'd have to kill all carnivorous companion animals, which the majority of vegans would object to (although I have met people who advocate this).<br />
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The remaining alternative is to release all carnivorous companion animals into "the wild" and let nature take its course. The trouble with that is, they are not a natural breed, and releasing millions of animals into an ecosystem will surely cause all kinds of problems.<br />
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So I don't know what the solution is for the animals which exist today - I can only advise that people stop breeding them, then we won't have this dilemma in future.<br />
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<b>Why are non-vegans obsessed with bacon, routinely using it to justify their eating habits?</b><br />
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I think it has become part of this strange culture of being proud to be unhealthy. Obviously, bacon is fatty and salty, so I assume that is the physical appeal of it. But it has become a perpetuated meme in itself. It seems to be cool to indulge in clearly unhealthy food, like it is macho to have no regard for your own health. I don't really know what else to say, you won't get any sense out of the people who go on about it.<br />
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<b>What are your hopes for animal welfare over the next 50 years or so? Do you think there will ever be a time when animals will be treated as equals to humans and not enslaved, tortured and murdered for our pleasure?</b><br />
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Well my hopes are, everyone goes vegan tomorrow. But realistically, I hope we see a steady increase in intelligent, logical people standing up and pointing out the problems with farming animals, to educate people, get rid of these excuses, and change how people perceive animals.<br />
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I think that as more people become vegan, it will inevitably lead to a tipping point in societies around the world where it just becomes socially unacceptable to harm animals. Just as we still have massive amounts of racism, sexism and homophobia - it is as least understood to be unreasonable as a rule of our society (at least here in Britain), and not tolerated, which is how harming animals will end up. No idea when that will come about. But all these documentaries like <a href="http://www.cowspiracy.com/" target="_blank">Cowspiracy</a>, <a href="http://www.getvegucated.com/" target="_blank">Vegucated</a> and <a href="http://www.nationearth.com/earthlings-1/" target="_blank">Earthlings</a> are so readily available that education can spread rapidly, if people are willing to open their eyes.<br />
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Veganism to me is just a logical practice. We know that we can avoid harming animals, and so it doesn't make sense to choose anything else. One large aspect of veganism is a plant-based diet which more and more people are adopting. Whether they're doing that for health, environmental, spiritual or religious reasons, I think it is a good thing to do. But as a vegan it is 100% about ethics and it is acknowledging that animals are not our property. <br />
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It is something deep inside me that opposes injustice, exploitation, sadism, cruelty and suffering. It's simple to me, that I don't want anybody to suffer, and these animals are among the most vulnerable victims. When you see so many healthy athletes out there doing well on a plant-based diet, and as I know first hand how easy it is and inexpensive, there really is no excuse that I'll hear in modern society. <br />
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If you're not vegan already, you can find help on any vegan page, or google for vegan recipes and ideas, it's easier than ever before. Cheers for reading.<br />
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***</h2>
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You can see Vegan Sidekick being interviewed below, there are more <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vegan+sidekick" target="_blank">interviews with him on YouTube</a> and some on his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/vegansidekick" target="_blank">YouTube video channel</a> too.<br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-10910143252550563732012-05-01T10:28:00.000+01:002018-06-04T09:02:12.906+01:00INTERVIEW WITH FILMMAKER SEAN MCALLISTER - RELUCTANT REVOLUTIONARY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
UPDATE 11th June 2015. Sean's Syrian film did get made and has just won the Grand Jury Prize at Sheffield Doc/Fest, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33079812">as reported here by the Beeb</a>. More photos of 2015 Doc/Fest<a href="https://www.facebook.com/calverttoulmin/media_set?set=a.10152945027677616.1073742029.638012615&type=3"> here.</a></div>
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Executive Producer Hoshang Wasiri and Sean McAllister after winning the top prize at the internationally renowned Sheffield Doc/Fest.</div>
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On Sean's ongoing determination to get a documentary about Syria commissioned: <b> "I know the great British public are crying out to connect with these places through people instead of grainy you tube footage that just looks the same in the end."</b></h4>
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<i> “Sean Mcallister he
is one of the heroes in Yemen. Not just film maker. He is great film maker.”
Kais, The Reluctant Revolutionary. </i></div>
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<a href="http://seanmcallister.com/index.php">Sean McAllister </a> is one of the most talented documentary
filmmakers alive today. Winner of the 2005 Sundance World Cinema Special Jury
Prize for Documentary for <a href="http://seanmcallister.com/films/liberaceofbaghdad.php">The Liberace of Baghdad</a>, he continues to eschew
mainstream high-budget documentary filmmaking and insists, with dogged
determination, on following his own hunches and travelling the world alone in
search of a good story built around a central figure battling for emotional and
physical survival in unjust societies. If you want a quick taster of his filmmaking style, have a look at his <a href="https://vimeo.com/11553176">Six Stories of Love and Hate</a>, a short compliation of exerpts from some of his many award-winning films over the past 16 years.<br />
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Sean is currently touring film festivals
worldwide with his film <a href="http://seanmcallister.com/films/reluctantrevolutionary.php">The Reluctant Revolutionary.</a> This is his second
interview with me; the first was an interview about his film <a href="http://judecalverttoulmin.blogspot.co.uk/2008/11/sean-mcallister-japan-story-of-love-and.html">Japan: A Story of Love and Hate</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.pixelwitchpictures.co.uk/w/doku.php?id=start">©Pixelwitch Pictures</a></div>
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<b>Jude:</b> Our last interview was about your film Japan: A Story of Love and Hate. Since
then your documentary about the 2011 uprising in the Yemen, Yemen: Reluctant
Revolutionary, which involved four trips to the country, has just been aired on
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mfx6">BBC4's Storyville</a>, and you've been to Syria ten times working on a documentary
over there. When did your fascination with Syria begin?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> It began at the Sheffield Documentary film festival
just after my Japan film premiere three years ago. At the time, I was making futile
trips to Dubai looking for a film and wanted to find an alternative place to
explore with more meaning. A Syrian guy called
Nizam, who was resident in Norway, asked me a question so I went for a drink
with him. To cut a very long story short (almost 2 years I guess) I ended up
accompanying Nizam on trips back to his homeland, Syria, trying to make a film
with him about his lost and confused life in the West. Sadly neither his mother
nor Norwegian wife wanted to be filmed so I pursued the project anyway filming
his family in Syria (Aleppo) but he was never really confortable with the film,
he was a film student at the time and much preferred being behind the camera
with me I guess, so just as the BBC commissioned the film Nizam pulled out. </div>
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It was quite funny though because the BBC had wanted Dubai
and I said no to it, then after 3 or 4 months of my looking in Syria they
didn’t want Syria because they had done a 6 part series called “The Syrian School”
and they didn’t think another Syrian film would grab a big enough audience. </div>
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But by then I had fallen in love with Damascus and was drawn
back there. I remember getting a call and having Libya suggested randomly.
Libya was far more difficult to enter at the time than Syria so I didn’t know
what to do but fortunately Nizam was half Libyan (his dad was Libyan his mum
Syrian) so when I went to pitch the Nizam film I told the commissioning editors
that everyone was speaking in Libyan and the whole thing was shot in Libya – it
was about telling them what they wanted to hear to get the commission I felt - I
was pissed off that they wouldn’t commission Syria because it wasn’t in the
news. They wanted Libya rather randomly because it had a sexier leader I guess.
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Anyway after this fell through I went back to them with a
great trailer to a film about a gay restaurant owner living just outside Homs
in Syria – at this point (another 4/5 months later) they gave in I guess and
just commissioned a film in Syria. He was a great fun character but on my first
day back in Syria he pulled out on me, by which time I was desperate and could
not afford to refuse the money so I never told the BBC.</div>
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Then one night in a famous Damascus park in the old city where
young kids would gather to drink in the hot evenings (such was the openness of
this attractive secular city) I met 45 year old Amer who was on the phone to
his wife; later he told me she was in
prison and had a phone in there with her. I began filming Amer who was a
Palestinian living with no passport or legal rights in Syria with his wife
Ragda an Alawete (from the President’s sect) – they had both met in prison some
13 years ealier, fallen in love and married on release and had 2 boys. Amer had
given up his politics but Ragda couldn’t – she had written a book about their
love story that attacked the Assad regime and it had landed her straight back
in prison without trial. So for 4 months I filmed Amer’s life looking after the
13 year and 4 year old boys and living a life kind of on the run in Syria as he
had no rights to stay without his wife who was the only one with a passport. He
was also vocal against the regime in a way no one dare then - this was 9 months before any Arab spring.</div>
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I guess part of my journey with Amer was trying to
understand the mind of someone so paranoid by a regime like Syria, I discovered
he had lied about a few things to me; his wider family not being in Syria, him
being a Christian not Muslim – when I confronted him he told me he had 2
stories to protect himself in Syria. I was a little pissed and left the
country, it was 4 months away from my own family anyway and I felt it was time
to go home. I decided to abandon Amer for now and to return to film confronting
him on camera. I told him that if I returned he must tell me the truth and he
promised to do so. <br />
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I remember heading home for Christmas 2009 feeling like I
had no film. I’d been away for 4 months and was heading home to a frosty
response. These are the dulls in what I do I guess and are the hard bits where
one sacrifices so much time away and forgets about the issue of bringing money
into the home, all for a film which sometimes doesn’t work out.</div>
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Anyway in the previous year in Syria I’d met 2 different
people who’d told me about this guy in Yemen called Kais who ran this hotel. I
remember sending him an email over Christmas, kind of desperate and him
replying by chance, also kind of desperate as his hotel had gone under and he
had no work (by now the Arab Spring was under way in Egypt in Tunisia and I sensed
that Yemen could be next.) <br />
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Yoshi and Naoki, Japan: A Story of Love and Hate</div>
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But it was a funny, like I’d encountered in Japan when
filming Naoki. I’d given up on him a year before and gone looking for a ‘better
story’ that suited the ‘brief’ and ended up back in Yamagata by chance with someone
else I was filming who had insisted I go to the Yamagata Film Festival with
him, then when I arrived I met Naoki who was working in the festival. Towards
the end of the festival this guy that I’d just got commissioned by the BBC and
NHK pulled out on me and I was lost confused and Naoki was there and picked me
up and almost started filming me. If felt right and appropriate to film him,
like the experience had defined what the film should finally be.</div>
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I guess my arrival in Yemen was the same feeling – I felt an
instantaneous connection with Kais and the experience had defined what and
where the film should be. But it did leave a nagging question inside me for some
time that I’d spent so long in Syria and come out with nothing and that I had
unfinished business with Amer – I had left in a rush discovering his lies and,
I guess, frustrated that nothing ever seemed to be happening actually in Syria
- it was every country <i>around</i> Syria <i>except Syria itself</i>, and this was my problem in attracting an audience. <br />
<br />
Anyway after Christmas and back in the Yemen I didn’t tell
the BBC anything. They thought I was still filming the gay restaurant owner
just outside Homs in Syria. I always depart from the commissioned story but
never before have also departed country without permission. It was a big gamble
that paid off. Had something bad happened needless to say I wasn’t insured and
had no BBC back up and truthfully, had I tried to get permission, I doubt the
film would ever have been made. I don’t think people felt Yemen was sexy
enough. And Health and Safety just would not have gone with it I think.</div>
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By March 2010 I remember watching the news from my hotel in
Yemen and hearing that protests had begun in Syria and I couldn’t believe it.
Yemen was already on fire and much of my film was already filmed and then I got
an email saying that my Syrian friend Amer and his young son Kaka 13 had been
arrested in a central Damascus souk after protesting with pictures of the kids’
mother. They were released after 14 hours and I remember then making a call and
Amer saying “Sean please come back we need you now more than ever”. I left
Yemen for a break and could not get back in when violence had escalated and so
I returned to Syria to meet up again with Amer. 2010 was spent visiting Syria
on two trips for Channel 4 news who paid me to make 10 minute films as I
couldn’t get my Syria film commissioned.<br />
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I remember my first meeting with the BBC before I’d told
them anything about my story/country switch from Syria to Yemen. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/feb/05/sundance-diary-nick-fraser-storyville">Nick Fraser</a>
entered the BBC screening room where I was due to show them something as
another deadline for delivery was looming and they wanted me to meet this one.
He said “Normally I ask you which story you’ve changed to but now I believe I
should ask which country you have switched to?” Fortunately he likes me and I
can get away with this especially if you bring back something better than what
he commissioned. But I still couldn’t get the Syria film commissioned until I
had delivered the Yemen film and as I’d spent so much time finding it I had no
budget left to pay for an edit so money made from my dangerous Channel 4 news
films in Syria would pay for the Yemen edit. I couldn’t afford the great <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0399677/">Ollie Huddleston</a> whom I’d worked with on every film so far so this was the first
departure working with a close friend who’d helped in the edit of Liberace of
Baghdad and Japan (in fact he edited the Japan film in the end when I ran out
of time and money for Ollie on this film.)</div>
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So I would climb into the crammed loft of <a href="http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/johnny-burke/14/88/87a">Johnny Burke</a>, a
Tai Chi teacher living in North London who departs from his meditative life to
edit only with me (he hates TV) we would cut on his iMac between his Tai Chi
classes and between my flying off to now war torn Syria editing Yemen over 11
random months including my week in a Syrian prison for my sins.</div>
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On my release from prison I met with the BBC to show them a
rough cut of Yemen and tried pushing my Syria film, (now Amer’s wife Ragda was
out of prison and also in the film, added to which I’d gone to prison and
entered the film) – Channel 4 had rejected the film as being too newsworthy
(ironic after Syria being so un newsworthy) BBC2 had rejected it because it
wasn’t newsy enough, Nick was my only chance but unfortunately BBC 4 Arab
Spring season didn’t happen and Nick Fraser said he “couldn’t justify
commissioning it without an Arab spring season.”</div>
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In the same week I was told that the material from my Syrian
project had rated No1 in the USA ITVS call where film from 166 countries
compete for completion money, so maybe I’m not going completely mad after all.
I’m still waiting for final confirmation from ITVS and also have the PBS series
called Frontline interested in the Syria film, fingers crossed. Amer and Ragda
are now in Lebanon after my arrest from where I filmed them and their ongoing
story. A twist in their twisted love story was that she recently left him and
the family in the safety of Beirut to go back to Damascus and fight, feeling
torn between her loyalties to the family and loyalties to the struggle. I hear
now that she has returned home again though and I am overdue another visit but
awaiting some funding really.</div>
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<b>Jude:</b> At one point you were encouraged by potential
commissioning editors to go to Dubai with the possibility of making a documentary
there. What were your impressions of Dubai and why were you not inspired to
make a film there?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> Nick Fraser had just returned from a lavish all paid
business class trip to Dubai Film Festival, he’d witnessed the sheikh’s fruit
juice reception where as soon as the formalities were over the booze and women
were brought in and he thought this would be a great place for me to make a
film. I went along with him but never really believed in it. I hated the place
and the people that live like that. My work in the Arab world is to spread a
positive vibe about Arab people who are so often misunderstood by the media. I
felt that my making this film would be falling into the same trap as other
foreign film-makers. In the end of course I found myself somewhere completely
different; even in Dubai I ended up with the Indian slave workers on the
outskirts of the city sleeping 10 to a room, but here I couldn’t get real
access to their plight and felt like their lives there were almost
pornographic, I wasn’t sure why I was there or what I was doing there and by
now I’d seen something much more interesting in Damascus where my heart was
set. Plus Dubai was impossibly expensive on a BBC slave budget - the cheapest
hotel was like £60 a night and in Damascus I paid £5.<br />
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<b>Jude:</b> Did you envisage the strife that is now tearing Syria
apart back when you first started spending time in Damascus?<br />
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<b>Sean:</b> No I didn’t imagine it, even when I was in Yemen
filming there and seeing it happen there, I kept saying “This will never happen
in Syria” then when it started I figured the president (Bashar al-Assad) would
do a deal with the opposition. The most confusing aspect of my time in Syria
was trying to gauge the people’s feelings about the regime and I concluded that
the president had a great support in the country. Even in March, April, even
May 2010 Syrians were not asking for Assad to go but to implement the reforms
he had promised since 2000 when he took office.
Of course the carnage that we see today is the truth of the regime, now
hanging the dirty -washing clear for the world to see. The well-groomed-western-educated-eye-doctor
image is no more, now al-Assad is open and honest finally to the world, a
monster like his father and brother and one hopes should meet the same destiny
as Gadaffi.</div>
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<b>Jude:</b> Considering the fact that Syria is now in the news so
much, why do you think you’re still finding it so hard to get your Syrian
documentary commissioned?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> I don’t know, Nick Fraser turned it down a couple of
weeks ago saying he ‘Could not justify it without an Arab Spring Season.’ A BBC2
series called ‘This World’ got close to commissioning it until they met me.
Then they backed off saying Panorama were doing something, in fact Panorma have
done 2 films on Syria in the last year or so, I have been filming this for over
2 years so far… it is a human story that has never been told yet since the
Syria conflict began...maybe TV is changing but I know the great British public
are crying out to connect with these places through people instead of grainy
you tube footage that just looks the same in the end.</div>
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<b>Jude</b>: You were detained by the secret police in Syria, an
event which was covered by news teams all over the world. Have you returned to
Syria since?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> No. I was deported from Syria which means I cannot
return, not legally anyhow. I was in north Lebanon the other week up near the
border with Syria and was offered safe passage to Homs with a couple of Syrians
there. I wasn’t even tempted!</div>
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<b>Jude: </b>Has your detention and what you witnessed had any
lasting effects on your state of mind? Does it haunt you?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> I guess it haunts me more than witnessing the massacre
in the Yemen film. That doesn’t haunt me, it leaves me saddened - seeing people
die and losing their loved ones is horrific, I kind of hide behind the camera
there also. In prison I was more shaken by the cries of people being beaten and
then being befriended by the same guys who were doling out the punishment. They
treated me well but I could not understand or accept the way they treated their
own and the unbelievable instruments used in torture, including electricity. I
befriended my chief interrogators as a way to protect myself but I never knew
what new info they would find on me or whether I was really going to get out
until I did, so it made a week a rather long time. I want to do a re-creation
of it as a drama but when I sit down to write it something stops me going
there. I do wake up thinking of incarceration a lot, I don’t like crowds or
tight spaces anymore. I feel a little more prone to panic attacks and don’t
like being blindfolded; to have the
sense of sight taken away is terrifying. I really don’t know how those brave
Syrians do it.</div>
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<b>Jude: </b>How are the Syrians you befriended during your time in
Damascus?</div>
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<b>Sean: </b>Some of my friends are still in Syria and others now
live in Lebanon. The family I am filming now live in Beirut, where they feel
lots safer and where I can visit to film them.</div>
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<b>Jude: </b>Are you tempted to go to Homs, where the government
are assassinating scores of people as we speak?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> I was in Homs before I left Syria but this was before
it became a blood bath massacred town, it was known as the heartbeat of the
revolution when I visited, where the protests where happening in a carnival-like
atmosphere daily and nightly. The government used the idea of foreign fighters
in the country as an excuse to make this disgusting attack.</div>
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<b>Jude: </b>Do you think Homs is going to be looked back on in
years to come as Srebenica is now?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> Yes or like Hama was viewed in the 80s - a place where
a whole town was encircled and bombed to bits killing a reported 30,000 people
– I can’t believe in this media age that we can stand by and allow it to happen
in Homs. Well we already have I guess.</div>
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<b>Jude:</b> How long after visiting Yemen did you meet Kais?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> He met me from the airport, I fell straight into his
lap. It felt like the long road that started in Dubai in 2008 was finally
coming to a close; the journey had meant something. My films are so
fundamentally about character that there can be a revolution anywhere but
without Kais or Naoki or Samir or Kev I have no film. In Dubai I watched the
economy collapse, it was a great story but I had no character through which to
tell it. So I don’t think I was waiting for a revolution but it certainly
helped with Kais, it gave my smaller ‘character framed ‘ film a larger, more
global framework, hence its place at Berlin film festival I believe.</div>
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<b>Jude: </b>Once the revolution got under way, were all the normal
services open? Could you just go to a bank and draw money out for food or did
you have to carry cash with you everywhere?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> ATMs worked OK in Yemen funnily enough but not in Syria,
there was a blockade put on all money transfers as part of the western
sanctions, so I needed to carry bundles of cash around, which is fine in Arabic
dictatorships as they are usually crime free, like Japan!</div>
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<b>Jude:</b> One of your quotes has always stuck with me, “The best
way to get permission is not to ask for it.” In the hospital scenes in Yemen:
Reluctant Revolutionary, did you not ask for permission to film in the
hospital, did you just walk in? How did you get access?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> I walked in with Kais, to be honest I hesitated and
tried to retreat because I knew what was happening but a doctor pulled me over
and asked what network I was. I said BBC, he pulled me in with Kais and took me
through the hall and into intensive care where the dead and dying were being
dragged, in this situation they want exposure – there is no asking. Then as the
injured lay dying at first I felt terrible to film them but then I learned that
it is what they want in their last moments of life. They don’t see you as an
outsider, they see you as one of them taking the risks to tell their story. All
the same I found it strange filming the young boy dying and the boy holding the
hand of his brother. It isn’t easy and you cannot really ask in that situation
either. You just respond.</div>
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<b>Jude:</b> How did witnessing so many deaths affect you
afterwards?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> I don’t know it is in me somehow and always will be, I
was more shocked when coming out from the intensive care room to go to the
toilet to discover they had dropped the bodies in this area and I needed to
clamber over then to take a piss. Terrible.</div>
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<b>Jude: </b>In the film you were chewing the drug khat leaves in
several shots, a social drug widely used amongst the Yemen but in segregated
gender groups. Did you do this to fit in with the people you were filming or
did you genuinely just fancy having some?<br />
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Sean at the British Independent Film Awards </div>
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<b>Sean: </b>I chewed every day, it helped me get through the day
there, life outside the camp in Yemen was quite boring for me so this helped,
especially when sitting in a big room with men only. In the end I put vodka in
my water bottle which gave an even bigger kick.</div>
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<b>Jude:</b> What is khat like? Did you ever do the full
cheek-pouch job with the khat?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> I would get mouth sores and swallow too much of it –
it’s a real knack to keep it in your cheek, I never really got the knack of it
and didn’t really miss it when I didn’t have it.</div>
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<b>Jude:</b> At one point, in Change Square in Sana’a as the
protests escalated into revolution, you’re seen posing as a tourist, wearing a
goofy grin and a silly hat, in order to protect your identity as a filmmaker.
Despite this you attracted the attention of the secret police. Were you not
frightened?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> I got frightened after we filmed the massacre scene –
by this time all foreign journalists were kicked out and I was the only witness
to the massacre with a camera from foreign media so not only did it feel
important for me to show it but I sensed it was as important for them to make
sure it wasn’t seen; we didn’t know who was a spy and not in the camp. The
first difficulty was getting out of the camp that night without losing the
material (which we managed), the next was getting out of the country. To this
day both my cameras are still in Yemen, it was just too dangerous to leave with
them, anyway it is an excuse to go back (hopefully with my kids) to get them
soon. </div>
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<b>Jude:</b> How did you feel about being told by the guy in the
hotel that another cameraman had been killed in the camp and it was now very
dangerous for you to go back into the camp? </div>
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<b>Sean:</b> This was a tense time but critical for the film, it is
why I included the shot of my son talking to me on the phone, his words of
wisdom stand out still, the most sensible words in the film many tell me - it
is the critical point that anyone with a family feels, going into danger when
you have kids at home. I don’t have an answer except that is what I am there to
do. But I left pretty sharpish after it to be with my kids!</div>
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<b>Jude:</b> The subjects of
many of your films have much in common – big hearted men with a great sense of
humour in deep shit due to the environment and social situation in which they
live; Kevin Rudeforth (now your webmaster) in Working for the Enemy, Samir
Peter in The Liberace of Baghdad, Naoki Sato in Japan, A Story of Love and
Hate, and now Kais in Yemen: Reluctant Revolutionary. You are under constant
scrutiny for the fact that you don’t live your life in the traditional family
man role, but instead spend months abroad searching for and making
documentaries in countries facing bleak hardship. Is there a connection? Are
these men you seek out, befriend and film, in some way surrogate Seans?</div>
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<b>Sean:</b> Yes they are all surrogate Seans I guess, I am working
stuff out about myself in all my films as well as exploring themes and things I
face in my everyday life so I can honestly connect with the people I film. I
don’t really expose my issues to them until after the filming process I guess,
but they feel an empathy and connection and know I am from a similar walk of
life or at least mind set to them. It is a conscious choice in order to find
people that connect with my target audience over in the West, people who wouldn’t
normally connect with the Arab world but when they meet people like my subjects
they do; open honest guys who share their feelings and fuckedupness; it makes
the big messy world smaller somehow.</div>
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<b>Final words from some of his documentary subjects on Sean:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg542ae4jJQK4BnBJdU36Xemg3_6Pe-rM2SaMBf_zKNIjSdeYypiqDwQ9CLEVbD1GMkTLD9N5m0KDZSwWv55pNFzYyY5D1y_gQrEbGfXRmU2N85If9I5EO6j_jqLNlQRH3-pPDypHWrKynT/s1600/reluctantrevolutionary_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg542ae4jJQK4BnBJdU36Xemg3_6Pe-rM2SaMBf_zKNIjSdeYypiqDwQ9CLEVbD1GMkTLD9N5m0KDZSwWv55pNFzYyY5D1y_gQrEbGfXRmU2N85If9I5EO6j_jqLNlQRH3-pPDypHWrKynT/s320/reluctantrevolutionary_web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>Support Kais <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/p/89759">here</a> to help him prepare the ground for one day getting his hotel back and seeing it flourish once again.</i>
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<b>Kais Ahmed </b>(<a href="http://seanmcallister.com/films/reluctantrevolutionary.php">The Reluctant Revolutionary</a>): This is from my
heart. I met this gentle man Sean McAllister firstly via internet by emails and
chatting via Facebook via friends in Syria - they told him about me and they
told me that he wanted to film my story with my old hotel, Sanaa Nights, then we met I believe December 2010.</div>
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My first impression
was scared - what and who is this person Sean? Will it be good for me to get
filmed by him? I had many fears but when I met him and I get to know him I felt
he is not just film maker, he is an angel. I mean it, he is, he lived with me
filming me what I do where we go and when you get to know Sean McAllister you
find out he is great man with great feelings he is not just film maker he is a
hero too because he pushed me to the Youth Revolution in my country Yemen and
he opened my eyes to freedom and true life. I will never ever forget this
person the one who changed my negative life into positive life. Sean suffered a lot of being chased by intelligence in Yemen, me too I got bad experience with
them, but Sean McAllister he is one of the heroes in Yemen. Not just film
maker. He is great film maker. </div>
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After the film I feel like new person really I was reluctant
but not any more the film that Sean made in Yemen made me feel that the life
and the change will never come by sitting at home but by moving ahead with
everybody to the right path and freedom. My feelings is great and I hope the
film will be seen in all over the world. Sean Mcallister I'm saying you are
great man keep on filming you are the right man. Thank you my friend and God
BlessYou.<br />
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<b>Naoki Sato</b> (<a href="http://seanmcallister.com/films/japanloveandhate.php">Japan: A Story of Love and Hate</a>): Sean is my
most important friend that I've had, the most reliable in the world.</div>
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As for the Japanese, they see Westerners as having no
modesty, and yet for the first time I saw foreigners being polite about Sean. </div>
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Sean is more of a conservative character than the Japanese
even, I thought he had a Japanese temperament, more so even than Japanese
people.</div>
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He was a silent and reliable personality. Gradually I was
more open-minded but it took time.<br />
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<b>Kevin Rudeforth</b> (<a href="http://seanmcallister.com/films/workingfortheenemy.php">Working for the Enemy</a>): Sean made us feel like we were in a gang,
conspiring, making the film together, but he never let us see what he had
filmed in case it turned us into performers.</div>
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It was just us and him, talking about stuff, secrets, just
us and that bloody camera, probing, provoking, devouring, he made us question
ourselves; we made him question himself.</div>
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Only the lone camera man can do what he does - a fully armed
crew with boxes and lights and bags and cases wouldn't have got through my
front door, literally and metaphorically. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfRfUR67P4h6dD7HTfDPdZUte1YH6lGB8NJs9a_7gDSRErK4JTlAfNU-cp65JFzm-BxBm6kIxd4B4BtVajLPRNOEREvDIVcNoB0O_D9Jqx0zenhxqIy1RZkJTgz0b8jyLssomdMeAF2oR/s1600/Sean-McAllister--007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfRfUR67P4h6dD7HTfDPdZUte1YH6lGB8NJs9a_7gDSRErK4JTlAfNU-cp65JFzm-BxBm6kIxd4B4BtVajLPRNOEREvDIVcNoB0O_D9Jqx0zenhxqIy1RZkJTgz0b8jyLssomdMeAF2oR/s320/Sean-McAllister--007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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© <a href="http://www.fkphoto.co.uk/">Frantzesco Kangaris </a></div>
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<b>And from his kids, talking about how they feel about his
work:</b></div>
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<b>Kate </b>(Ruth and Sean’s daughter, aged 9): I think it’s cool
because he has adventures and he brings me and my brothers presents from the
country.</div>
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<b>Harry </b>(Ruth and Sean’s
son, aged 11): I think it’s wicked but I get a bit scared when he’s in these
dangerous places. Because anything can happen to him but the good thing is he
always comes back safely.</div>
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<b>George</b> (Ruth and Sean’s son, aged 13): I don’t really mind,
I knew when he was in prison that they would not do anything because he was British,
so I wasn’t really scared, but it is annoying when he goes away because
everyone needs to be there and Mummy cannot do it all alone.<br />
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Commissioning editors: Sean is currently working on a commissioned film in Greece but is still <b>looking for a commission for his Syrian film</b>. Get in touch with him <a href="http://seanmcallister.com/contact.php">here</a>.
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/tenfootfilms">TenFoot Films on Vimeo</a><br />
<br />
Interact with Sean on <a href="http://twitter.com/mcallisterfilms">Twitter</a><br />
<br />
Interact with Sean on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/tenfootfilms">Facebook</a><br />
<br />
Sean's regularly updated <a href="http://www.tenfootfilms.co.uk/">Blog</a></div>
Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-55647433089824730592012-04-28T10:23:00.000+01:002018-06-04T09:04:26.530+01:00INTERVIEW WITH SINGER/SONGWRITER GAVIN CLARK<div style="text-align: center;">
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© Jude Calvert-Toulmin Backstage at UNKLE 2007</div>
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<i>Update: It is with unbelievable sadness that I have to update this article to say that on the 16th February 2015 Gav died of complications due to his drinking problem. Terrible news and writing this in December 2015 I still haven't got over his death and think about him all the time. At some point I'll write another article about him, when I'm ready. </i></div>
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Last month I saw a trailer for Shane Meadows' film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480025/">This is England</a> on tele. Shane Meadows? Never heard of 'im. My partner <a href="http://www.brianlt.blogspot.com/">Brian</a> informed me that Shane has been one of the most important up and coming filmmakers in Britain for a while now, and when another of Shane's films, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419677/">Dead Man's Shoes</a> came up on Film 4 a few weeks ago, we watched it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedlx_BP5TDE_IJSInsd8JwWSngVgfXwmZyCq-qVYebiMA60oi0SQF8STigY6whmPYi4iwUTeTilVjIdu1j3kBWSh98t37d2wVYzXgSJj04kOA-WJr1iEFqIPWfDBZbVCml6PpX6kPibQ/s1600-h/clapper.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066539335690453378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedlx_BP5TDE_IJSInsd8JwWSngVgfXwmZyCq-qVYebiMA60oi0SQF8STigY6whmPYi4iwUTeTilVjIdu1j3kBWSh98t37d2wVYzXgSJj04kOA-WJr1iEFqIPWfDBZbVCml6PpX6kPibQ/s320/clapper.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I like to think that I can spot a brilliant film within its first minute, but "Dead Man's Shoes" whacked me instantaneously, a bit like Bladerunner did when I first saw that.</span> It's one of the best films I've ever seen. So, being the kind of person that likes to hold diamonds up to the light and turn them around so that I can examine every facet, I wanted to find out more about Shane Meadows. First port of call, obviously, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0276349/">his IMDB listing</a>. Bloody hell.</div>
Winner of 11 international film awards plus 12 noms. Okayyyyy.<br />
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Then I go to <a href="http://www.shanemeadows.co.uk/">www.shanemeadows.co.uk</a>, a refreshingly good site with an excellent forum, and I have a look at what Shane's doing next. Hmmm. Click on "FILMS", click on "Future Projects?" This looks good. A documentary (or "docco" as they are known in the trade) comprising live gigs by Gavin Clark, whoever he is, shot in various living rooms around the UK. Excellent. A superbly surreal and bonkers idea. Right up my street. Our terrace would be ideal, I'm thinking.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpYWysv8yEVx3GOvQCWjSrIh4I3aCgyccNtTHDWCbZqNWRLBYmQAL7MoEegy5i5AMsfaLhWCzDe8IMadDdDrZOGlmBvSGkOdbaqbTy1DUtNvWytWiyY_30aVs5-3RUu2nprAvopz2ne0/s1600-h/garden.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066611392356778434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpYWysv8yEVx3GOvQCWjSrIh4I3aCgyccNtTHDWCbZqNWRLBYmQAL7MoEegy5i5AMsfaLhWCzDe8IMadDdDrZOGlmBvSGkOdbaqbTy1DUtNvWytWiyY_30aVs5-3RUu2nprAvopz2ne0/s320/garden.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3333ff;">Above: Our front room, which happens to be outside.<br />
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Lots of musicians and artists, torches, a view of the palm trees down below and a battered old Chesterfield out there all year round. That's a front room only it's outside. Oh right, all the footage is already in the can, shame. Anyway, next stop, check out this bloke Gavin Clark's music. Find his <a href="http://www.myspace.com/gavinclarke">MySpace</a>, click on a few tunes.<br />
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Fucking nora, what is this, what is THIS?!!!!<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">The second the vocal kicked in after the guitar intro on the song</span> "Stems" I knew exactly, without a shadow of a doubt, what I was hearing. Absolutely legendary, timeless, genius.</div>
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Here, have a listen and judge for yourself.<br />
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<a class="abp-objtab-0603850654441083 visible ontop" href="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><a class="abp-objtab-06589881628913535 visible ontop" href="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><embed allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="valid_sample_rate=true&external_url=http://minorcrisis.net/files/stems%5B1%5D.mp3" height="52" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" src="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />
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I had to talk to this guy and write about him. I did the following interview with Gavin by email but he's also up for me doing a photo session with him in the near future. I'm telling you, this is not just some flash in the pan, this guy is the genuine article, there are not many of these every decade...<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: Shane is about to edit a short he's made, filming you doing gigs in various living rooms. How many living rooms did you film in? Were they all over the country? Were they a variety of living rooms, as it were?<o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark:</span> The basic idea of the film was to do a tour of peoples front rooms, the</span><span style="color: #cc33cc;"> first starting at my house and each new venue picked from a hat at the end. </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">We did some background stuff ( we first met at Alton Towers when we worked </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">there for a Summer ) which went into our lives before anything had really</span><span style="color: #cc33cc;"> happened to us. I've only done one other gig in Brighton so far, the next </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">one's in Ireland and after that I'm not sure, could be on the other side of</span><span style="color: #cc33cc;"> the world.</span><o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude Calvert-Toulmin:</span><span lang="EN-GB"> What was the funniest thing that happened whilst making the film?<br />
<o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark:</span> </span><span lang="EN-GB">Generally hanging out with Shane is a good laugh but when he gets behind a camera he becomes a film maker. It was more serious than I thought it would be and I got an insight into how he manages to coax performances from unknown actors. He got a lot of out of me, more than I intended to give. The nature of it was pretty free, we saw a car on the roadside for 120 quid and bought it, we did a lot of filming just driving around in the car, getting it fixed up and talking.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span><span lang="EN-GB">What was the strangest thing that happened whilst making the film?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark:</span> </span><span lang="EN-GB">I've been trying to get a publishing deal for years, Shane set up a meeting with the guy who sorted the music for TIE. We chatted for a while and he agreed to sign me. It seemed odd that after years of no interest I could be signed on the strength of an idea.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span><span lang="EN-GB">When you write a new song, in which order do things happen? For example do the lyrics materialise as the melody evolves, or do you tend to write the melody singing gobbledegook words to catch the melody whilst it's materialising, and then write and get the lyrics into place later?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark:</span> </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">I tend to do both, I find it a lot easier to write a lyric first but often they sound the same because I'm addicted to writing in half lines. Sometimes they just get plucked </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;">out of the air, Stems was like that, it was there and I wrote it down.</span> <br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Jude Calvert-Toulmin: <span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #330033;">E</span></span><script>
<!-- D(["mb","exactly. i call it taking notation. but not everyone has got the ability to be able to plug themselves in to receive the information, most people think they can manufacture it themselves without plugging themselves in. \n\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>thanks again :)\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>jude\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>ps > I'm not sure how to
answer this without sounding like a nut.\u003cbr\>\u003cbr\>you dont sound like a nut. you sound honest and brave.",1] );
//-->
</script>xactly. I call it "taking dictation". But not everyone has got the abilityto be able to plug themselves in to receive the information; most people think they can manufacture it themselves without <span style="color: #330033;">plugging themselves in.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Do you use alternate tunings? If so, which do you prefer?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark:</span> </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">I love open E or D, I write a lot in </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_tunings" style="color: #cc33cc;">open tunings</a><span style="color: #cc33cc;">. Some things just sound </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">right and both these make sense to me.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHA2xH8BCpLNFurc1Ymr7c8BI_X7VTprOvr3LncZx4wAiPODWwJaVFBloZWOBO2fvm-28ItuVgZDVZ4YzYHF-Oq1NmAnOl0fO_uPAt-jsNMPRTAXNXrpIQLvR37Gz4GeHvY7fYcm2iu0c/s1600-h/gav+crop+1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068415497664430610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHA2xH8BCpLNFurc1Ymr7c8BI_X7VTprOvr3LncZx4wAiPODWwJaVFBloZWOBO2fvm-28ItuVgZDVZ4YzYHF-Oq1NmAnOl0fO_uPAt-jsNMPRTAXNXrpIQLvR37Gz4GeHvY7fYcm2iu0c/s320/gav+crop+1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span><span lang="EN-GB">Have you ever played a 12 string?<o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark:</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"> I've just got into using one again on this new record. It covers a multitude of sins.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span><span lang="EN-GB">I'm loathe to compare your work to anyone else's, but I'm a big fan of both Nick Drake and Tom Waits, and your work seems to be floating in the same haze as theirs. I don't think one can choose to go into that haze. You're either already in it, or you aren't, and in my opinion, you are. What music would you say has been an influence on your work? Are Nick Drake or Tom Waits in there at all?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark: </span></span><span lang="EN-GB">It was only after I started to play my songs to other people that I was introduced to Nick Drake and Tom Waits ( they thought I sounded like them.) At the time it was a confirmation that I was doing something right. The whole Britpop thing was at its height and I felt completely out of place in that environment; hearing them helped me believe and gave me something to aim for.<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"> I'm not sure who my influences really were, I was raised on Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Dylan, Van Morrison and as I got older it was Billy Bragg and The Smiths. I think I developed a taste for good songs and stories and when I first started I wanted to write just one great record like all the artists I knew and loved. Now I want to make loads of great records and the beauty of<br />
the age I live in is that it's possible to do without an A & R guy asking for a single!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span><span lang="EN-GB">How old were you when you got your first guitar?<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark: </span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #cc33cc;">I was 18 which is really late, I wrote my first good song at 22 and was </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">in my first band at 25. It took me a long time to discover who I was, </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">musicians were in a higher realm, untouchables to me in my youth, but looking </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">back I think it was really important for me to go through that. I've never </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">lost that feeling and it's something that drives me to keep going.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0l25TSzhzeRKhMrEqDcFz6uj_nyALnA40eeVIjbPaKzSzy-SutPQsHAoYOx6zW-oWWVGVl4VucsVhui7fC5syIGKkHb2UGElY-ZfN23aKRKdX7IfJXA766u9E2J6fG0Hwp0XdAExecI/s1600-h/Clayhill.1.tif.big.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068415489074495986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0l25TSzhzeRKhMrEqDcFz6uj_nyALnA40eeVIjbPaKzSzy-SutPQsHAoYOx6zW-oWWVGVl4VucsVhui7fC5syIGKkHb2UGElY-ZfN23aKRKdX7IfJXA766u9E2J6fG0Hwp0XdAExecI/s320/Clayhill.1.tif.big.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3333ff;">Above: Clayhill in, I presume, the studio. It's barren and bleak and it's got a big clock, so it must be a studio. L to R Ali, Ted, Gavin.<br />
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<span style="color: #3333ff;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span><span lang="EN-GB">Do you play piano at all? If so, how do you find writing on guitar vis a vis<br />
writing on a keyboard?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark: </span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p style="color: #cc33cc;"></o:p><span style="color: #cc33cc;">I don't play the piano, I admire people who play the piano well.</span><br />
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</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span><span lang="EN-GB">I have this theory that the brightest light comes from the darkest darkness, artistically speaking. Paul Morley sums it up more lucidly than I in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Words-Music-History-Shape-City/dp/0747568642/ref=pd_bbs_1/026-9825726-0602024?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179676856&sr=8-1">Words and Music</a>. "No one has ever written, painted, sculpted, modelled, built or invented except literally to get out of hell."<br />
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">What do you think about this idea? Has your own songwriting been a means to slay personal demons? I realise that's an uncomfortable question but going back to Nick Drake, his music could not have had the kind of depths it does have, were it not for the torment he went through...</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark: </span></span><span lang="EN-GB">I'm not sure how to answer this without sounding like a nut. I've had bouts of depression and panic attacks since my early 20s and had the usual addictions to booze and drugs that go hand in hand with mental illness. I can't escape it and have almost learnt to accept it, it's part of me. My songs are a reflection of the world as i see it, and the world as I see it is often dark but not hell. I'm filled with hope sometimes I think but mostly it's dark with the odd shaft of light.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #cc33cc;"> I don't think all great music has a dark under current but most of it has. I </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">sometimes sing songs like ' Don't Look Back In Anger ' because I think it's </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">a great song ( a lot of people disagree I know ) but my version comes from </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">an entirely different place. I love that song because it's beautifully put </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">together yet I don't think it was born from a personal hell.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OE7WeflJOwGDVJTTupVDuHXDShCO2c_XeumPmC0w6HzdawIqX95yzj-m-qgDEZGIHiD1P-OBnMGsYQPQFJLhAc4vJ0KWIlrFErV41Yicm8ol0tvx5jc7VsHldsZS9XjYinrWOxLRzVg/s1600-h/clayhillBandGrins026.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068415493369463298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OE7WeflJOwGDVJTTupVDuHXDShCO2c_XeumPmC0w6HzdawIqX95yzj-m-qgDEZGIHiD1P-OBnMGsYQPQFJLhAc4vJ0KWIlrFErV41Yicm8ol0tvx5jc7VsHldsZS9XjYinrWOxLRzVg/s320/clayhillBandGrins026.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #3333ff;"><br />
Above: Clayhill. L to R Ted, Gavin, Ali.</span><br />
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span><span lang="EN-GB">I was struck by a <a href="http://shanemeadows.proboards39.com/index.cgi?board=gavin&action=display&thread=1170926210">particular story Shane told</a> on the section of the forum on his site set aside for <a href="http://shanemeadows.proboards39.com/index.cgi?board=gavin">discussion about your work and that of Sunhouse and Clayhill</a>. Shane said that he went round to yours one day and you were looking through the yellow pages at adverts with a view to getting a job delivering pizzas. Have you got any other recollections about that incident?<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark: </span></span><span lang="EN-GB">The story of me looking for pizza work is pretty much as Shane told it. I've never earnt much money from music and have always had to do shit jobs to make the rent. Pizza delivery is my own choice because you don't have to think about doing it, you pick up pizza and drop it off and your mind is your own. I hate having to do it but can't get out of it really. It's an odd experience when you're on tour being applauded one night and humiliated the next but it stops anything going to your head which is a good thing.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #330033;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin:</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #330033;"> Have you done any solo gigs yet?</span><br />
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark: </span></span><span lang="EN-GB">I've now signed a publishing deal and did my first solo gig as part of the documentary.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span><span lang="EN-GB">Do you get stage fright?<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark:</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #cc33cc;"> I get terrible stage fright, it takes me about 20 minutes to settle </span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">down. I can still sing even if I'm shaking but it's not that enjoyable.</span><br />
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span><span lang="EN-GB">Do you watch Road Wars by the way? It's my favourite programme. If you don't, what's your favourite programme on TV? Or do you not watch TV?<br />
<o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #cc33cc;"><span style="color: #330033;">Gavin Clark: </span></span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">I watch a lot of TV and love reading. I'm a lot fussier with books than I am with TV. I love good comedy, Peep Show , Curb Your Enthusiasm etc. I really like any type of documentary, even the really shit ones you get on the History channel.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Christian from The Leisure society lent me a book called The Fountainhead which I absolutely love and am just finishing now. I love the children's story The Giving Tree</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #cc33cc;">, it really is remarkable. And my favourite film is It's A Wonderful Life</span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">.</span><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: #330033;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fountainhead-Penguin-Modern-Classics/dp/0141188626/ref=sr_1_1/026-9825726-0602024?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179680483&sr=1-1">The Fountainhead</a> is Ayn Rand's story of Howard Roark, a brilliant architect who dares to stand alone against the hostility of second-hand souls. First published in 1943, this best-selling novel is a passionate defense of individualism and presents an exalted view of man's creative potential; it is a book about ambition, power, gold and love.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fountainhead-Penguin-Modern-Classics/dp/0141188626/ref=sr_1_1/026-9825726-0602024?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179680483&sr=1-1">The Giving Tree</a>, by Silverstein: This story of a boy who grows to manhood and of a tree that gives him her bounty through the years, is a moving parable about the gift of giving and capacity to love.</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #330033;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/">It's A Wonderful Life</a>: Capra's masterpiece is considered by many (including me) to be the greatest film ever made.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #330033;">I thank Gavin for his honesty, integrity and brilliant answers. I knew a question about Road Wars would break the ice, wink.<br />
</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span>Here are the lyrics to "Stems". These lyrics are up there with Dylan and Nick Drake in my opinion.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjkjpCRzY_VMRN9buv3X-Ru8HdTFnEnrHbvJFSAv18OXb71E9tjQhC9C7tmeEROxqC1iqSgtwHySsDJQHw6BbGKaeWQfja7VOCyUYz-EPoDtgTSj5StyX46DG86NzMQqMKXc0SCaLuhg/s1600-h/booth+pic+1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066539331395486066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjkjpCRzY_VMRN9buv3X-Ru8HdTFnEnrHbvJFSAv18OXb71E9tjQhC9C7tmeEROxqC1iqSgtwHySsDJQHw6BbGKaeWQfja7VOCyUYz-EPoDtgTSj5StyX46DG86NzMQqMKXc0SCaLuhg/s320/booth+pic+1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-weight: bold;">STEMS</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><u1:p></u1:p>I buried my heart, outside in the dirt,</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I fed it with tears, I fed it with earth,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I let it grow, gave it a name,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Born on the wind, raised in the rain,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">A stem of illusion, a flower of pain,</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><u1:p></u1:p>I pulled it up, by the roots from the dirt,</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Gone were the tears, the trace of earth,<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">I let it die, by the light and the sane,</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Killed by the wind, killed by the rain,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">A stem of illusion, a flower of pain,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I'll never bury myself again.<br />
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #3333ff;">© Gavin Clark</span></div>
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<br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Well personally, I think those lyrics are mindblowing. You don't just twiddle your thumbs and come up with stuff like that.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Anyway, a little bit of history:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkya9xkwEy81WWFNno_dkHRaZ7VbBFaOfq6UZAzOCHSBznhg87NI3WNBtQOFMDm_L7E1PRhGuYGPvHVs6WZ6Emr13R_BAVBS3y5G7IDT4a8GvQEekzw-yZrhxu3mjn9UP6kaK7Ruv9Mw/s1600-h/live+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066539339985420706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkya9xkwEy81WWFNno_dkHRaZ7VbBFaOfq6UZAzOCHSBznhg87NI3WNBtQOFMDm_L7E1PRhGuYGPvHVs6WZ6Emr13R_BAVBS3y5G7IDT4a8GvQEekzw-yZrhxu3mjn9UP6kaK7Ruv9Mw/s320/live+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
From <a href="http://www.shanemeadows.co.uk/" style="font-family: georgia;">www.shanemeadows.co.uk</a>, here is how Shane Meadows describes meeting Gavin, and how unwittingly, Gavin shaped Shane's future as a filmmaker...<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Me and Gavin First met at Alton Towers in 1989'ish, He was working in a fast food shack and I was painting faces with Paul Fraser<span style="color: red;">*</span>. Gavin had moved up north from Maidstone with his future wife Judy (who was 6 months pregnant at the time) and was living on a caravan site near to Alton.<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Around that time I was in a band with Paddy<span style="color: red;">* </span>called 'She Talks to Angels' and really thought that we were like the best band of all time and would conquer the world in the early nineties, but then I heard Gavin play a song one day and it changed my life forever....<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">I had told Gavin about my band etc and he had said he had always wanted to be in a band himself. I was like, play us one of your tracks Gav, maybe you could do like backing vocals or summut. So he played a song to me and I was totally gutted. As I watched him play and sing I watched my own music career go up in smoke as I knew he had more songwriting talent in his little toe than I had in my entire being on a good day with a prevailing wind. I didn't realize it at the time, but that day played a major part in me becoming a filmmaker. Although I was horrified, I was honest enough to know that my dream of becoming a rock star was simply that, a dream.<br />
<br />
</span>This story reminds me of how the then unknown Jimi Hendrix got up on stage to jam with the already legendary Eric Clapton and blew him offstage. Literally. Clapton sloped offstage and ended up in his dressing room, attempting to light a cigarette with trembling hands, saying "Was he really that good?"<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">*</span><span style="color: #cc33cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #330033;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0175916/">Paddy Considine</a></span></span></span>, one of the best actors I have ever seen, who is in many of Shane's films, and delivered a remarkable performance as Richard in Dead Man's Shoes.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">*</span><span style="color: #cc33cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #330033;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #330033;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0292211/">Paul Fraser</a></span></span></span></span></span>, writer of several Shane Meadows' films, and winner of the Golden Berlin Bear award for Best Short Film, <span style="color: #cc33cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #330033;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #330033;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0811058/">Scummy Man</a></span></span></span></span></span>, starring <span style="color: #cc33cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #330033;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #330033;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0334318/" style="font-family: georgia;">Stephen Graham</a> </span></span></span></span></span> who played Combo so wonderfully in This Is England. Scummy Man was commissioned by Sheffield band <span style="color: #cc33cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #330033;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #330033;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/arcticmonkeys">The Arctic Monkeys</a></span></span></span></span></span> and inspired by their track "When the Sun Goes Down". The rushes from the shoot were used to create the Pop Promo for that track.</div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><a class="abp-objtab-0603850654441083 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/10uL6GuD_E8" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><a class="abp-objtab-06589881628913535 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/10uL6GuD_E8" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><object height="350" width="425"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/10uL6GuD_E8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />
<span style="color: #cc33cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #330033;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
Gavin's band <a href="http://www.myspace.com/sunhouse1">Sunhouse</a> were formed in early 1997 and split up in 1998 after releasing one album, Crazy on the Weekend. Sunhouse material is now very rare and hard to come by.<br />
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Below: "Hard Sun" by Sunhouse. Check. Out. That. Fucking. Voice.<br />
And yes, that's Sinead O'Connor singing backing vocals towards the end of the song. Cool or what. She's one of my favourite singers, too. A legendary lass.<br />
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<a class="abp-objtab-0603850654441083 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/dSE3W3db0zA" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><a class="abp-objtab-06589881628913535 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/dSE3W3db0zA" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dSE3W3db0zA"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dSE3W3db0zA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />
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Below, "Crazy on the weekend."<br />
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<a class="abp-objtab-0603850654441083 visible ontop" href="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><a class="abp-objtab-06589881628913535 visible ontop" href="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><embed allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="valid_sample_rate=true&external_url=http://minorcrisis.net/files/crazy%20at%20the%20weekend.mp3" height="52" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" src="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHa8zYJMa55BMFRKtPnAN56anDF8Vydy3FN3kzx-gaDzBXPrEPuAoQNoj16lYpQyEOOn-MgSDat4fRYP6ur4EoobbZYSm6t0hOYageFNykDB5m9DZAXU4f3LiEOcnkOucSApwqyKsVik/s1600-h/clayhill+with+beth+orton.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066611400946713058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHa8zYJMa55BMFRKtPnAN56anDF8Vydy3FN3kzx-gaDzBXPrEPuAoQNoj16lYpQyEOOn-MgSDat4fRYP6ur4EoobbZYSm6t0hOYageFNykDB5m9DZAXU4f3LiEOcnkOucSApwqyKsVik/s320/clayhill+with+beth+orton.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
Above: Clayhill during US tour supporting Beth Orton.<br />
<br /></div>
Gavin is now playing with the band <a href="http://www.myspace.com/clayhill">Clayhill</a> whose song Afterlight can be heard on the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Mans-Shoes-Various/dp/B00030EQY8/ref=sr_1_1/026-9825726-0602024?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=11%20%2079651432&sr=1-1">soundtrack for Dead Man's Shoes</a>. Below, an unofficial video made by gggy32 for Afterlight, a song which is, naturally, amazing:<br />
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<a class="abp-objtab-0603850654441083 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/yw5kp5I4wu8" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><a class="abp-objtab-06589881628913535 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/yw5kp5I4wu8" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yw5kp5I4wu8"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yw5kp5I4wu8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />
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Clayhill also covered The Smiths' "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" for the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/This-England-Original-Soundtrack/dp/tracks/B000OCXF56/ref=dp_tracks_all_1/026-9825726-0602024?i%20%20e=UTF8&qid=1179651353&sr=1-1#disc_1">soundtrack for This Is England</a>. If you haven't seen This Is England yet, go and see it. It is brilliant. Acting, directing, editing, music, production design; seamless, the lot of it. Apart from everything else that's wonderful about the film, it's worth seeing for the astonishing acting debuts of Thomas Turgoose as Shaun and Rosamund Hanson as Smell.<br />
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And the cover of Please, Please is perfect. Clayhill have taken the song apart, reducing it to its basic components and then started from scratch, re-assembling it in their own way; the only way to do a cover version in my opinion. Clayhill have got a "best of" coming out on i-tunes soon for under a fiver. Here's cowboymod's video on YouTube for the Clayhill cover of Please, Please:<br />
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<a class="abp-objtab-0603850654441083 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/sCFKvqPwOpY" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><a class="abp-objtab-06589881628913535 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/sCFKvqPwOpY" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sCFKvqPwOpY"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sCFKvqPwOpY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />
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Gavin's song "Never Seen The Sea" is also on the This Is England soundtrack. You can hear that track <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Mans-Shoes-Various/dp/B00030EQY8/ref=sr_1_1/026-9825726-0602024?ie=UTF8&s=music&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;am%20%20p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;qid=1179651432&sr=1-1">here</a> on Gavin's MySpace. All the tracks on Gavin's space are available on an add to add to your own MySpace page, by the way.<br />
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Gavin has recently finished recording material with <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theleisuresociety">The Leisure Society</a>, check them out on MySpace. Really beautiful music. For those who don't know it yet, there has been a burgeoning acoustic/folk revival going on for a few years now...<br />
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One of the greatest scenes I have ever seen in the history of cinema. Paddy Considine as Richard and Gary Stretch as Sonny, from Dead Man's Shoes.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #3333ff;">SPOILER ALERT!!! Do not watch if you haven't seen the film and are intending to do so!</span><br />
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<a class="abp-objtab-0603850654441083 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/1fL6TYty4Ic" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><a class="abp-objtab-06589881628913535 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/1fL6TYty4Ic" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1fL6TYty4Ic"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1fL6TYty4Ic" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />
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Below, This Is England trailer:<br />
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<a class="abp-objtab-0603850654441083 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/H0jkv2bRFgQ" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><a class="abp-objtab-06589881628913535 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/H0jkv2bRFgQ" style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/H0jkv2bRFgQ"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/H0jkv2bRFgQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">I've got a theory about Shane Meadows, Gavin Clark, Paddy Considine et al. I'm sure it's been said before<span style="color: red;">*</span>, but I think there's the same kind of ensemble thing going on here that Scorcese had with De Niro and Harvey Keitel when they first started making films together. I certainly think that Shane is the most talented director I've seen in the UK for a long time. In my opinion he's on a par with directors like Mike Leigh, Ken Loach, Terrence Malick and Krzysztof Kieslowski. And with Paddy Considine having the same kind of depth as Robert Duvall, and with Shane's music.....I just think the sky's the limit for these guys.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "courier new";">* It's being said all over the internet. Duh....</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Many thanks to Gavin for this interview.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYV3buT12oQ-ZLrb560Hf-cztA9OgICQw7hs8wpCWnkkD89KIeGX3jRzpI2k97pvnKMfHxc13Mynw79B0KCJr8QyM9Bnz8e_45RYMorK8rJXwe9rgBl-RWlNP77Ox7PNVpmRKP6246oH4/s1600-h/deadman1.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066611396651745746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYV3buT12oQ-ZLrb560Hf-cztA9OgICQw7hs8wpCWnkkD89KIeGX3jRzpI2k97pvnKMfHxc13Mynw79B0KCJr8QyM9Bnz8e_45RYMorK8rJXwe9rgBl-RWlNP77Ox7PNVpmRKP6246oH4/s320/deadman1.gif" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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Above: Paddy Considine and Gary Stretch in that seminal scene in Dead Man's Shoes.</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">***</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "courier new";">Thanks to Dave, admin over at <a href="http://www.shanemeadows.co.uk/">www.shanemeadows.co.uk</a>, for giving this interview a heads up on their front page.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "courier new";">Thanks to Gavin for putting this on his <a href="http://www.myspace.com/gavinclarke">MySpace</a> blog!:<br />
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It's the most enjoyable interview I've ever done so if you're into finding out what's happening with the Doc, how I write and what tv I watch press the link. Gavin. I've also put Jude up as a top friend so check out her myspace.</div>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Well I've put Gavin as a top friend on both my spaces so it's just one great big hippy love-in :)</span></span><br />
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***<br />
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RIP Gavin Clark 25 January 1969 - 16 February 2015</div>
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Loved and missed</div>
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fgavin-clark-singer-songwriter-guitarist.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-54712888412072652032012-04-27T15:55:00.000+01:002018-06-04T09:05:15.203+01:00INTERVIEW WITH FILMMAKER SEAN McALLISTER - A STORY OF LOVE AND HATE<div style="text-align: center;">
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From my interview with <a href="http://seanmcallister.com/index.php">Sean McAllister:</a> "I think I will write a book from the blogs from my film and credit you with giving me the inspiration and idea."<br />
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My most recent interview with Sean from April 2012 is <a href="http://into-view.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/sean-mcallister-reluctant-revolutionary.html">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFFuc3Yky7LIxeCD_WYaAPgzkcCZTh0EpQL1Ed2RCtrx-mY2Ix6MODCAHVAKBej-bBKQfHZcPYLSONX6gks1ORh9Li0OKYarK3gBI6yIie3ygnXYOMpHwv7Oo8oRIkMAP4vXVVc8KDak/s1600-h/british+indy+film+awards.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270319122688666498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFFuc3Yky7LIxeCD_WYaAPgzkcCZTh0EpQL1Ed2RCtrx-mY2Ix6MODCAHVAKBej-bBKQfHZcPYLSONX6gks1ORh9Li0OKYarK3gBI6yIie3ygnXYOMpHwv7Oo8oRIkMAP4vXVVc8KDak/s400/british+indy+film+awards.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 266px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #000099;">Sean McAllister at the British Independent Film Awards</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjaCAQDKkqBeY5bwgS_Ia3rfyxkD6doF8pNY3NpsJxo18BLOC40BTHIEGZJSvLi4wtiEFDjm6XpB5-adPUyDGSHZSMvcly6kDXInCgbmFClBZCjuVZiNlxSQIdDmjtrzPZbRJ3LoiaBE/s1600-h/japan02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270319134898268626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjaCAQDKkqBeY5bwgS_Ia3rfyxkD6doF8pNY3NpsJxo18BLOC40BTHIEGZJSvLi4wtiEFDjm6XpB5-adPUyDGSHZSMvcly6kDXInCgbmFClBZCjuVZiNlxSQIdDmjtrzPZbRJ3LoiaBE/s400/japan02.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #000099;">Sean's blog. Naoki to Sean: "I am happy now, it is good. If post office fire me I must go to court and show film."</span><br />
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We're living in times where everything is cheesed up, watered down, disguised, homogonised, blanded to bleurgh and branded by corporations to simper to easily offended politically correct palates.<br />
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Well fuck that. That's not sexy. What's sexy is real life and what's sexy in filmmaking is documentaries made by people brave enough to break through the surface and swim in the murky underwater of other people's worlds, no matter how fetid the water.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXt-ZbpzPLUnKe-uq1MCASQVz-uSkntsA4CIGBhRa-8XO0D_ypViavHfYGosoUQzX6uIoYa9Hq3TDiLtbF3lDVYMdifs3v-d6tIX5SaAmM9raxHHjA2pZJQ7c5GULYQzUJhX6zRPyI-0/s1600-h/sean&samir1.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270319353565419234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXt-ZbpzPLUnKe-uq1MCASQVz-uSkntsA4CIGBhRa-8XO0D_ypViavHfYGosoUQzX6uIoYa9Hq3TDiLtbF3lDVYMdifs3v-d6tIX5SaAmM9raxHHjA2pZJQ7c5GULYQzUJhX6zRPyI-0/s400/sean&samir1.png" style="cursor: pointer; height: 188px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Sean McAllister with Samir Peter.</span><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">© Sean McAllister</span></div>
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Yeah, doccos made by people like this, Sean McAllister. I know an alpha male when I see one.<br />
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I first saw Sean at the <a href="http://sheffdocfest.com/">Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival</a> back in November 2004 when <a href="http://seanmcallister.com/films/liberaceofbaghdad.php">The Liberace of Baghdad</a> was screening. Of all the filmmakers and industry movers and shakers at the festival, there was only one who really captivated my attention and that was Sean. At the time I knew absolutely nothing about him but I instinctively felt that here was one of those renegade geniuses whose private lives may be more troubled than some; an enfant terrible with a kind heart and vision.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrwn_kejBpiq_sL42AGesBZ-psgGOfi440ekTiouc9sqCUteVjFywUOxtt5_6t6dGNlulumUlWs7KuPQTW0uj4xzXCnfUz8zB1fw-ej6J_ScrU6MShaDYHuPb87_0drBIEm8_kbHNXNU/s1600-h/lobposter72dpi.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270314723813372914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLrwn_kejBpiq_sL42AGesBZ-psgGOfi440ekTiouc9sqCUteVjFywUOxtt5_6t6dGNlulumUlWs7KuPQTW0uj4xzXCnfUz8zB1fw-ej6J_ScrU6MShaDYHuPb87_0drBIEm8_kbHNXNU/s400/lobposter72dpi.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 283px;" /></a></div>
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In the early hours of one morning during the Doc/Fest I ended up in a crowd of people in the bar of Sheffield's Novotel Hotel. I only got one opportunity to talk to Sean, constantly surrounded as he was by admirers of his work wanting to bend his ear, and I fucked that up, stumbling over my words and mispronouncing the name of the subject of his film, Samir. Who then joined me and proceeded to charm the pants off me, such is his way with women.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRu-th19Ih1NFMwpktA6U34oVQT7xJb1VwWxxuxl63tWfOQy7SRG6stwlfTHPSKQxLap2QZE4AbPBgY8Lbrt7QfOzjzZzLIKmCt1FCHYkpaJkCMv-JKiBh4_6VxV5NpwLtlo4PAeYPuk/s1600-h/samir.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270319350184467042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRu-th19Ih1NFMwpktA6U34oVQT7xJb1VwWxxuxl63tWfOQy7SRG6stwlfTHPSKQxLap2QZE4AbPBgY8Lbrt7QfOzjzZzLIKmCt1FCHYkpaJkCMv-JKiBh4_6VxV5NpwLtlo4PAeYPuk/s400/samir.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Samir Peter, </span><a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=F3hSDODDNs4" style="color: #000099;">This Charming Man</a><a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=F3hSDODDNs4" style="color: #000099;"> </a><span style="color: #000099;">in repose.</span></div>
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On the last night of the fest, Samir gave a performance on The Showroom's resident piano which got a load of us dancing and brought the house down, amongst them the fabulous Beeck sisters, founders of <a href="http://www.biff1.com/">The Boulder International Film Festival.</a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> It was one of those impromptu parties that ends up far more memorable than the official organised ones, one of those "Were you there?" parties.<br />
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The Liberace of Baghdad subsequently went on to win the Grand Jury prize at <a href="http://festival.sundance.org/2009/">Sundance</a> 2005 and I never forgot either Sean or Samir, such was the impression they, and the film, made on me.<br />
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Four years later Sean was back at Sheffield Doc/Fest again, this time touring the festivals with his latest documentary, <a href="http://seanmcallister.com/films/japanloveandhate.php">Japan: A Story of Love and Hate</a>. Here is the press release blurb about the film for those of you who know nothing about Sean or his work:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAsqmwDJPrQ53_lVCX11pGCzZRvLG-kzMGR-2CwXbkErLJMXbBTK8Z-XCQPmCDJwocGzC_AzFbjYVBDDxbS_SPUler0d4xcN0NIsH-QpJoY2AVEGYhD85gMbd4mh_wmRSbNCG1wLxLRY/s1600-h/screenshot72dpi.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270314731798745682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAsqmwDJPrQ53_lVCX11pGCzZRvLG-kzMGR-2CwXbkErLJMXbBTK8Z-XCQPmCDJwocGzC_AzFbjYVBDDxbS_SPUler0d4xcN0NIsH-QpJoY2AVEGYhD85gMbd4mh_wmRSbNCG1wLxLRY/s400/screenshot72dpi.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 267px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333399;">Japan: A Story of Love and Hate.</span> <br />
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Naoki 56, had it all in Japan's bubble economy days: he ran a business with 70 staff, drove a brand new <acronym title="Bavarian Motor Works">BMW</acronym>, and lived in a 6 bedroom house. But when Japan's economy crashed in the early 1990's he lost everything, ending up divorced (for the third time) and penniless.</div>
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He was saved from being homeless by his new girlfriend, Yoshie 29, who took him in, despite living in a tiny one-room apartment with no windows.</div>
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At his age, the only job Naoki can find is part-time at the post office. Here, part-time means working 7 hours a day and earning just £4,000 a year. Yoshie now has to find extra jobs to support him: working 15 hours a day in 3 jobs.</div>
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Each evening Yoshie leaves Naoki at home to do the housework and heads to a sleazy chat bar, where she is paid to drink, flatter and flirt with married men. Sometimes she comes home drunk and teases Naoki about his poor income. After taking her nightly dose of sleeping pills, she cannot remember anything.</div>
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Naoki sees his relationship with Yoshie like father and daughter. He admits since losing his business he has lost his confidence and his ability to have sex with Yoshie. Their life is a love story of survival in the world's second richest economy.</div>
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As with The Liberace of Baghdad, Sean has once again been allowed into the life of a charming but broken man in a crumbling society, and presents the world with the innards of the situation rather than a botoxed surgically enhanced exterior.<br />
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I was so impressed with Japan:A Story of Love and Hate that due to having missed two minutes of the film for a loo trip during its first screening, I made sure that I went to see its second showing the next day, in order to catch the missing snippet and watch a further Q and A with Sean and the subject of the film, Naoki.<br />
You can get an idea of the scope of Sean's work in the compilation <a href="https://vimeo.com/11553176">Six Stories of Love and Hate</a> on his <a href="https://vimeo.com/tenfootfilms">Vimeo channel</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h_wAb8D-CClY7vPUx2CNEvKICUzc3SO56JqcYleQZoNN3_tOBh12OVZClh83zj4Cpy4rxlA9CzogX3Vkou17mRXrtbCu9fyvfHKqxWTFIS07DQxSIfsxtsTzAyB5b8eEqX3NMi5FPwQ/s1600-h/seanscranning.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270321351499159346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h_wAb8D-CClY7vPUx2CNEvKICUzc3SO56JqcYleQZoNN3_tOBh12OVZClh83zj4Cpy4rxlA9CzogX3Vkou17mRXrtbCu9fyvfHKqxWTFIS07DQxSIfsxtsTzAyB5b8eEqX3NMi5FPwQ/s400/seanscranning.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 268px; width: 350px;" /></a></div>
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Sean was actually a pea picker and welder in Hull before becoming a journalist and filmmaker. Then he filmed the factory he worked in, which led to him gaining a place at Bournemouth College of Art.<br />
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In the 90s, The Silhouette Club in Hull had a sunken dance floor, ringed with a raised balcony, a bit like a Victorian Bear Pit. Having someone open up their flies and piss on you on the dance floor at The Silhouette, as happened to me, left me with a lasting impression of Hull. It reminds me in many ways of Plymouth...both ports...however Hull does have the <a href="http://www.hullfilm.co.uk/">Hull International Short Film Festival</a>...<br />
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From Hull to Sundance, eh? You can take the man out of the North but you can't take the Northerner out of the man. Here's an interview I conducted with Sean last week:<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: How many weeks altogether did you spend in Japan and for how many weeks of those were you actually filming footage for Japan: A Story Of Love And Hate?</span><br />
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Sean: I can't remember how many weeks I spent in Japan in total. The whole experience has been over two and half years I guess. I would make regular trips with aims and intentions that would usually fail in some way and I would leave disappointed swearing to never return again. I guess I did about forty five weeks in total, or more. It is all a blur...<br />
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I spent two weeks with Naoki filming him in 2006 when I first met him. I never had the confidence to commit then to him or Japan, I guess. I felt there was more to discover in Tokyo so went back to Tokyo for another year and then returned about fifteen months later to film Naoki. Then I spent about four months filming in one go and we made the film, although I did use a little of the footage I shot a year earlier.<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Sean's blog. Tuesday, February 21, 2006 -</span><span style="color: #000099;">"The plight of the homeless salarymen and the tired army of modern day salarymen reminds me of a quote I read before coming here, 'Japan has one foot in the future, one foot in the past and nothing in the present'.</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Today it feels true.</span>"</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: Why did you dislike Japan so much?</span><br />
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Sean: I never connected with it, in the city or countryside. I enjoy people and I never felt at any point I was really meeting many there. There seemed to be so much role playing going on; it drove me crazy.<br />
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There were many other reasons. Food is so important and as a vegetarian who doesn’t eat fish, Japan is a difficult place. Also I am looking for individuals and this society crushes them, making my search more difficult. I don’t know... the place always remained so alien to me. The streets small and winding, the traditional style paper houses, all made me feel I was in some kind of prison. It just wasn’t my cup of tea...<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">How do you think Naoki is going to cope with touring the film? Samir craved attention and fame, whereas Naoki seems embarrassed by the attention and told me that he is missing his girlfriend and just wants to go back to Japan. When I saw him in the bar at the end of the Doc/Fest he looked like a deeply troubled man! However whenever I saw Samir at the bar he looked like he was having a ball!</span><br />
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Sean: Samir’s troubles were in a way well behind him so could party at the bar; he’d made many of his mistakes and nothing much could be done. I guess Naoki knows he must return, he knows that all of this is temporary. I think Sheffield was a shock, he really is a loner in Yamagata, not really having any friends, so suddenly being on stage like this was a shock.<br />
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He has never been away from his girlfriend so he was missing her. Now he is better. He is looking forward to Amsterdam. In fact arriving back in London from Sheffield he said he was missing being ‘famous’ in Sheffield...<br />
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© Sean McAllister. Homeless in Japan.</div>
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<span style="color: #000099;">"Sean McAllister makes filming look easy" - </span><span class="italic" style="color: #000099;">Nick Fraser, BBC Commissioning Editor</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: It says on your site about you, "His films are intimate portraits of people from different parts of the world who are survivors; caught up in political and personal conflict struggling to make sense of the world we live in."</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">And on your blog, you write, during your time in Iraq, "Samir has been an inspiration to me. The great thing about making films for me is that I can absorb myself in someone's world. My friends at home always joke, "Why don't you get a life of your own instead of sticking your nose into other peoples all the time?" But other people's lives are so much more interesting than mine, especially in a place like Iraq right now."</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">So, how does your filming abroad affect your family life?</span><br />
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Sean: I miss my kids a lot when I film and to make these films they suffer because I have to give a big part of me to the film and not them. So this is a constant fight and the kids at different ages attack me for going away as well. I don’t know how to resolve this because I think I would be more miserable as a dad if I wasn’t making films.<br />
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Maybe I need to run away all the time. Sometimes I feel like I can’t stand still for two minutes. My girlfriend has got used to feeling like a single mother and struggles along. It often gets more difficult when I come back and disturb the routine at home.<br />
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I was drinking too much after both these films, in part through fear and in part to get through missing home, especially in Japan. I would come home drinking which wasn’t good and I have now stopped drinking at home. My aim is to stop completely but I can’t imagine doing that just yet, it kind of helps making these films. But when at home I try to be doing the dad stuff as much as possible. I enjoy it.<br />
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This week I’m alone with the kids, my girlfriend has a week off relaxing at her parents and Naoki is helping me with my duties at home. He looks a little shocked at all the work involved with three kids, but he is a good assistant. Although at times he feels like a fourth child...this is nice for the kids though...they get to meet everyone I film and travel to some of the places where I film as well. I try include them as much as possible as some reward for my absence. It is something I constantly struggle with.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: On the Doc/Fest site, in the intro blurb about you, it says,"In over two years of filming British documentary's sinner and saint, Sean McAllister, again offers extraordinary access and returns with an absorbing a portrait of inescapable contradictions, of life and the narrow lines love and hate share."</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Why are you referred to as a "sinner and saint"? I'm more interested in the sinner part actually. Have you got a bit of a reputation in the documentary industry or something? If so, why? And isn't every human being a sinner and a saint? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMeWAUvpOnAZ1v92M7aaElQVWScd3BEjYiVzGP-JxuJxea8jVBhnyCrw1bd4ss1RV0yYVV07snOXgMvYLUegVTA49k_bHGOpZFRcAOMxEpYb6NU94Dw5G8FJoivi2qxAul0eUINs4qvw/s1600-h/sean.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270358015274337314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMeWAUvpOnAZ1v92M7aaElQVWScd3BEjYiVzGP-JxuJxea8jVBhnyCrw1bd4ss1RV0yYVV07snOXgMvYLUegVTA49k_bHGOpZFRcAOMxEpYb6NU94Dw5G8FJoivi2qxAul0eUINs4qvw/s400/sean.png" style="cursor: pointer; height: 124px; width: 165px;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">© Sean McAllister</span></div>
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Sean: I’ve no idea where this sinner/saint thing came from. I thought it was my role in the film helping Naoki but also pushing things a bit giving his father-in-law Viagra. But it also stems from my drinking reputation at parties and tendency to use the ‘c’ word to commissioning editors' faces.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: With reference to this sinner/saint comment, some of the renegade enfant terrible stars of British rock climbing and mountaineering have troubled personal lives – they get to middle age ending up single, with a string of broken hearts behind them. I'm wondering whether this is the curse of the enfant terrible and whether you consider yourself an enfant terrible and whether the situation applies to you?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZWMwS7l-fGkLiI5x-etqeAOFPp3wWSVpOst2JC3qOKWmQ2E9RKHcP18W7aT6W0TQ7d42DwkL_Vv_J57ayGWR11j4EJNQVh2Ew1hDj-1Vx3zZ35LWiv00lv5aMdtmgsuLWVdFz_tjl7Q/s1600-h/watermelon.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270358015151477490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZWMwS7l-fGkLiI5x-etqeAOFPp3wWSVpOst2JC3qOKWmQ2E9RKHcP18W7aT6W0TQ7d42DwkL_Vv_J57ayGWR11j4EJNQVh2Ew1hDj-1Vx3zZ35LWiv00lv5aMdtmgsuLWVdFz_tjl7Q/s400/watermelon.png" style="cursor: pointer; height: 140px; width: 165px;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">© Sean McAllister</span></div>
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Sean: To be honest there is something about the ‘enfant terrible’ that I play up to for a joke and for its shock value, at festivals and other events that can often be quite dull. It amuses me in what are often very dull places...<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: (thinks...every enfant terrible I've ever met talks like that...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">What interests me fundamentally is what compels you to archive the plights of broken men in crumbling societies and whether you see them as an extension of yourself or maybe a way not to have to think about your own situation? All I know of your situation is that you have children and yet you spend months and months abroad making doccos about broken men in crumbling societies. I want to know what is behind this, because you’re obviously a very caring, sensitive and intuitive person.</span><br />
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Sean: I love your quote and will use it on the website; ‘broken men in crumbling societies’. They need championing I think. I guess I am working through stuff in my life with people I film. That is why it takes so long to find people to film for me. I am interested in the political backdrop of a country like Israel, Iraq or Japan but then I’m looking for someone I can relate to in order to explore more personal issues. Often someone I genuinely learn from and someone who will benefit from the film. All of this makes the two/three year thing worthwhile to me. It is an exchange in that sense. I guess people often associate me with my characters. This is to some extent true. There is a part of me in everyone I have filmed. so in this way I should look out and take care judging by their track record !<br />
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I guess I am a broken man now - with this recession I am in a crumbling society and my relationship is always on the rocks, so there you go!<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: Did you manage to attend the debate "Documentary filmmakers, profiteers of human misery?" at The Chapel during the Doc/Fest? The motion proposed was, "Are filmmakers doing some good in the world? Are we selflessly sacrificing ourselves for the greater good? Or simply exploiting the vulnerable, taking advantage of conflict zones and cashing in on the world's troubles?"</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">If so what did you think?</span><br />
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Sean: In addition to what I've said above, Samir moved to America because of the film and found the fame he yearned for. Naoki moved his relationship forward in the film, regained his confidence after with the film at festivals and also pushed in the only way he can his political view of the society in Japan today. I facilitated their window to the world. I am looking for ‘my kind of people’ wherever I film in the world to give them a platform and voice. There is a small political ‘p’ in all my films. It an important part of what I do. All of these things are the reasons I sacrifice so much for the film, not just one of them.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: What's your opinion on the debate's proposed motion in general?</span><br />
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Sean: I think more people should find at their heart why and what it is they want to make films about. I sometimes wonder if people know why they are making films. I am drawn to question this often when I watch films. I'm not sure whether filmmakers profit as much from misery as the broadcasters; filmmakers rarely profit.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: What initially attracted me to your work as a filmmaker, three years ago, was the fact that you became so close to Samir Peter during the making of Liberace of Baghdad. You quite obviously deeply care about both the man and his plight. Similarly, Juan Carlos Pineiro-Escoriaza told me that several of the subjects of Second Skin remain friends of his long after the film's completion.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Which brings me onto the fact that in Japan: A Story Of Love And Hate, for the first time you appear in your own film. How do you feel about this as opposed to remaining behind the camera? The fact is that some documentary filmmakers /producers are incredibly charismatic in themselves – you, Juan Carlos Pineiro-Escoriaza, Mark Cousins and Nick Broomfield stood out for me in this respect, Nick Broomfield being the only one whose body of work I was familiar with prior to the Doc/Fest. As a writer, I find every human being fascinating, but not all are charismatic...</span><br />
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Sean: I appeared a little in The Minders in 1998 and a little in Liberace of Baghdad. I feel at ease with this. But it is a thin line. Step over it and you can humiliate yourself and lose the film. For a long time I was making ‘Sean Lost in Japan’ on account of not being able to find a character there and this was less interesting. I am in this film as a bridge for the audience to help step into something very difficult to understand.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: Johnny Burke made Coming to America - Sean and Samir for BBC2's The Culture Show - I noticed Johnny with you at the Doc/Fest and that you were being filmed for some of it. Is Johnny making another docco about you? If so, for where is it destined?</span><br />
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Sean: Johnny helped me find Naoki. He lived in Yamagata for a year as a teacher and knew Naoki. He also helped edit the final version of the film. I ran out of time with Ollie, my editor and Johnny stepped in. He was great. He knew this place like me and we could exchange and find the right words for what was a very difficult commentary to write.<br />
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The simplicity with which the film flows only comes through hours and weekends of work at trying to make it work. Japan is by far the hardest film I’ve made to date. I wonder whether its strength is because I’m working out of my comfort zone? Do I need to suffer? Is this your next question?<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: Would you like to make a film in the UK? Would making a film in comfortable circumstances not appeal to you? Is there a masochistic element to your filmmaking? Or on the contrary, a humanitarian one ie you suffering in order to help these men who are worse off than yourself?</span><br />
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Sean: Perhaps I need to suffer. In some ways I always do. Films are always hard to make, even the easier ones. I don’t like lazy films and resent the lazy filmmakers out there who wander round shooting ‘art’ and cut it together. I guess I always find ‘comfortable circumstances’ with the people I film, they take me in, but I am often in hostile or uncomfortable places. At the moment the BBC would like me to go to Dubai (where I've already been for four weeks to look and think) then came back and am trying to persuade them to do similar story in Damascus which has more going on in my mind politically but is less sexy for commissioning.<br />
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I must say that there is a part of me now wondering whether I should take the challenge though with Dubai. I really did kind of hate it though but there is something we know nothing about that would be my challenge. My dilemma is that I need to care and need to find that person whose cause I can champion. He must be there but would I find him? My instinct was that Damascus has a bigger political backdrop with lots of Iraqi refugees and more for me to champion.<br />
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Re, the UK. I feel a duty to make a film in the UK. I am disappointed by the films made here and feel a little bit like it is my duty to make a film here. I used to make a film abroad then one at home. I am struggling with this now. I like the idea of making a film here but can’t seem to get into it. The recession interests me. I meet the BBC next week and bought a paper today to think about something. I saw a film about Prescott and thought a film about class or recession or something...but only if they give me a film abroad as well. I’m addicted to the Arab world I think I need after Japan.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: How do you feel about writing a book based on your blog and filmmaking? I think you ought to, your blog is wonderful and you have a very pure, straightforward and self-deprecating writing voice without a trace of guile, pomposity or pretension.</span><br />
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Sean: Blogging about Dubai was amazing. I should do a film there just to write the ‘blog book’. It was incredible each day, encounters and re-encounters. I have nearly convinced myself about Dubai now doing your interview. The book on Japan would have been really insightful as well... yes I think I will write a book from the blogs from my film and credit you with giving me the inspiration and idea...my fear is that the book would be better then the film...I think Dubai is a fascinating read, not so confident about the characters for the doc though.<br />
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Thanks for some great questions, Naoki says hello, he is living with me until Amsterdam fest.<br />
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Quotes from Sean's blogs (links at end of article.)<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">12.11.08</span><br />
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Naoki: "The film sometimes makes me into a ‘star’, this was never an intention to be ‘movie star’. This is bad, it is about showing the life for many people in Japan and telling a story not many people know about. I was shocked to be treated like a star at the Sheffield festival, so many people wanting to talk with me and shake my hands. Why?"<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">December 4th 06</span><br />
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I am lost in my translation staring into the 'space' that is my new prison, that is my Japan.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Late July 06</span><br />
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I've been raising money to make this film for the best part of 3 years ... the money allows me to make a film the way I want with the luxury of a year in which to make it. This was always my dream.<br />
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The problem is now my dream has become my nightmare.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">June 19, 2006</span><br />
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Paul Weller to audience in Nakano: "It's a great pleasure to play back in this hall in Nakano. I played here 26 years ago when I started out with The Jam and ..." he smiles knowing he is talking to himself. "It was a fucking nightmare then and it is now" he hammers into another song laughing to himself.<br />
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This concert was more personal than most it felt like an epitaph to my time Japan. A grateful goodbye to 10 long weeks of alienation, confusion and disappointment.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">August 5th 2004</span><br />
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I'm often asked to describe my approach to film making, the answer right now is quite simple, it is making friends and sharing experiences in interesting places. In everyone I film I see myself, my aspirations of what I'd like to be, but also my inadequacies and my failings. I look for people who are brave and honest enough to confront this, and allow me to film them, naked, often literally.<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Sculpture in Abu Ghraib Art Exhibition</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">July 15, 2004</span><br />
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We get home safely to Samir’s and hit the whisky. He was panicking. "Do you realise what could have happened there? We could have been killed by both sides." Samir worries a lot in this dangerous troubled land. We relax and he opens up to me about his past. He tells me horror stories of his time on the front line in the war with Iran. He still has nightmares, waking up screaming in the night. He cannot forget the face of the young Iranian man he killed. The young man's eyes are still vivid in Samir’s mind, as he sliced open his throat.<br />
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"Imagine a pianist doing such things. I want to make the world more beautiful with my music, not kill people."<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">© Jesse Grant</span></div>
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<span style="color: #000099;">Sean's blog. Tuesday, March 08, 2005</span></div>
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<span style="color: #000099;"> At the back stage party Samir and I held each other, he wanted to cry, he said he was so happy, not for him but for me. He could see how happy I was to have won and it made him happy and proud to have given himself to the film. "We're more then friends" he said, "We're like brothers now."</span><br />
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Sean's regularly updated <a href="http://www.tenfootfilms.co.uk/">Blog</a></span></div>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fsean-mcallister-japan-story-of-love-and.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-55699006363505099572010-01-29T16:14:00.002+00:002018-06-04T09:00:44.959+01:00INTERVIEW WITH HURRICANE KATRINA SURVIVOR ALVIN DUVERNAYOn watching Alvin DuVernay in the documentary <a href="http://ageofstupid.net/">The Age of Stupid</a>, I realised that this was an exceptional human being whose voice should be heard. And my gut instinct kept telling me "This man can write." My gut instinct was correct as I saw when he sent me <a href="http://judecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com/2010/01/al-duvernay-writes-about-hurricane.html">his account</a> of what happened when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005. Subsequently I interviewed him, below. Not many men can charm a jaded cynic like me, but Al managed to. What a guy. <br />
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In the documentary "The Making of The Age of Stupid", director Franny Armstrong and co-producer Lizzie Gillett expressed worry about your taking part in the documentary due to the possible negative psychological effect of making you relive your experiences. Franny agreed, but said you'd be great for the film. In the end you did appear, and the film was titled after one of your quotes. <br />
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"In my opinion our use or misuse of resources the last 100 years or so, I'd probably rename that age, something like Th Age of Ignorance, The Age of Stupid."<br />
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<blockquote>
Indeed, I was being kind by injecting the word "ignorance". That implies that we didn't know any better.</blockquote>
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Did appearing cause you psychological trauma as Lizzie had feared? <br />
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<blockquote>
Quite the contrary. Spending hours in front of a camera was unfamiliar and a bit unnerving for me but expounding at length about my experiences, thoughts and feelings was actually therapeutic. Fran that ruthless... Lizzie was my guardian angel but never mind all that. Unbeknown to me, they both staged a covert rendezvous at a bar (pub) with a local shrink. We all talked and drank and laughed and the diagnosis, still unbeknown to me, was that my psych trauma could only benefit from the probing. And did. I was a mess plagued with sleeplessness, facial tics and periodic tremors (obvious in the film whilst trying to roll a smoke). By the end of the process, I had stopped taking antidepressants, all the physical manifestations had faded, and in general felt humanoid again. Thanks Frannie! Thanks Lizzie!</blockquote>
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Or had the fact that you'd previously written about your experiences in Katrina <a href="http://judecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com/2010/01/al-duvernay-writes-about-hurricane.html">(read here)</a> already exorcised some of the ghosts? <br />
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Writing was one of many things that collaborated in my healing - drugs, physical labor, volunteering, friends, family, motorcycle, boat, etc. In retrospect, I can't point at any one thing. As for the ghosts, I fear they will never be exorcised and perhaps never should. The neighbors who died in their attics that I could have saved had I not been so otherwise focused; some of the people in my boat that I was short with and even cruel to because for some reason my compassion and humanity had evaporated for a few dayz. Those regrets will (and should) stay with me forever. Those are teaching ghosts. I shall do better next time because of them.</blockquote>
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Why didn't you talk about this in your written piece about Katrina? <br />
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Those ghosts and my subsequent meltdown didn't happen until after I wrote that piece I think.</blockquote>
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Are you glad you contributed to the film? <br />
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Yes. It was a unique experience for me and I made some friendships that will endure. I also think the film has taken on a life of its own and could be a catalyst for positive change. For that I am proud to have made a small contribution.</blockquote>
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Have you spoken to any of the people you rescued since?<br />
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<blockquote>
No I haven't. I find it so bizarre that in four and a half years, in a place as small as New Orleans, that I wouldn't run into at least one of them. My conclusion is that all of our souls and synapses were on overload those dayz and subsequently wouldn't even recognize each other. Having said that, I have the advantage of multiple photo images. I confess that I often look the pics over and spend considerable energy searching for faces in crowds - Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras, grocery stores, nightclubs, etc. I would like to make some contact. Some just to see how they are doing like the gal who went into insulin shock in my boat. Some to caress and offer a mea culpa like the gal I made cry by assuring her that the dog she had left in her home a few blocks away had certainly drowned and we'd have no time to search for the animal. Damn it. I would like to weep with her. I can do that now. No luck yet.</blockquote>
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<img alt="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/08/photogalleries/New_Orleans_flood/images/primary/katrina23.jpg" src="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/08/photogalleries/New_Orleans_flood/images/primary/katrina23.jpg" height="311" width="320" /></div>
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<span id="main" style="visibility: visible;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"> Alvin rescuing Rusty © <a href="http://www.chgphoto.com/">Chris Graythen Photography</a></span></span></div>
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Indeed, have you stayed in touch with any of the people you rescued?<br />
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<blockquote>
Thanks Jude - I love the closed focus questions. No. I have however, stayed in touch with Chris Graythen. He's the guy that I met the day of the flood. He's a professional photographer and could have been traversing the city capturing award winning images. He chose otherwise and will be forever in my heart for his help.</blockquote>
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You say in The Age of Stupid, "A year or so later, after the event, and not a whole lot has changed." What is the atmosphere in New Orleans now? How has "not a whole lot" changed? <br />
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<blockquote>
At the time, I was referring mostly to the physical and political aspects of the city. Demolition, waste removal, rebuilding and the like was going very slowly. The city stunk and the policy makers couldn't have been more ineffectual. The political posturing and personal agendas was abundantly obvious and obscene. The local, state and federal leaders could not get together on anything and their inability to agree on who was going to do what and how was enormously counterproductive. That was then.</blockquote>
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How is the rebuilding of the city progressing?<br />
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<blockquote>
Since then, the citizens have taken charge. Our city is world famous for its laissez faire attitude. We are called the Big Easy or the City that Care Forgot and other such nick names. Well, once the residents realized that those with the wherewithal for recovery were virtually impotent, i.e., government entities with heavy equipment, manpower, money and other resources, that's when we mobilized at the neighborhood level. Neighborhood associations sprouted up all over town and bulldozed thru the log jams of recovery. Additionally, I've never seen my citizenry more politically engaged. We are quite literally calling our policy makers out. We show up in numbers at council meetings and political rallies. We mobilize call-ins and write-ins to shit-can certain legislations and legislators. I myself write no fewer than three or four letters to editors and politicians per week. The numb-nuts politicians for the first time are looking over their shoulders and it's very exciting.</blockquote>
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You've said you're in the process of rebuilding your house.Are you having to rebuild it from the foundations up?<br />
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My house soaked for three weeks in that disgusting mess from floor to ceiling. I couldn't see trying to salvage any of it so had it demolished down to and including the foundation. We broke ground on the new construction a month or so ago - yes, foundation up.</blockquote>
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Who's designed the new house? <br />
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<blockquote>
I designed the house and hired a draftsmen and engineer to draw it all up according to local codes and such. It's a simple design very typical to old New Orleans called a raised basement home and suits my simple life style. Basically, you raise the whole thing up about ten feet off the ground, enclose the area underneath and use that for garage, storage, workshop, etc. The old timers new what they were doing by building up high on piers in case of flooding. Imagine that. </blockquote>
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Are you doing all the building work yourself? <br />
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No, I've hired a professional builder to deal with all the headaches and subcontractors and such. I did all the research on hi-performance and energy efficiency, and simply point the builders in the right direction. My goal is to eventually be energy independent. </blockquote>
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Your temporary house, is that the camp you've mentioned? <br />
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<blockquote>
I'm living in a house that I bought a few months after the storm, not the camp. The intent was for it to be temporary while I rebuild. I did all the renovations and energy efficient upgrades in this temporary house since the storm and that has been good practice. With a few simple upgrades, I've reduced my energy consumption by two thirds. That's the sort of stuff that blows my skirt up. I know. I'm truly a geek. When the new house is complete, I will sell this one and someone is going to get a great deal with all the work I've put into it.</blockquote>
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Al and friend Diana Shaw at the camp.</div>
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The word camp is a very local reference and has nothing to do with camping. When a South Louisiana person uses it, they mean a permanent structure, a cabin in a remote area usually used for pleasure boating, fishing, and hunting and such. My camp is on Bayou Des Allemands - an ancient crevasse splay/distributary channel of the Mississippi River. There are no roads so access is by boat only - about a half hour truck ride from my house to the launch then twenty minute ride in my boat. A buddy and I hauled everything out there in our little boats and built it in the summer of 1972 with hand tools. Since then the power company ran electricity down the bayou so we are wired and have all the conveniences of home - TV, microwave, A/C, refrigerator, freezer, radio, ceiling fans. We haul propane out there to fire our stove and the water is captured in a cistern with rain run-off from the roof.<br />
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Bayou country around here has a very rich history. The Native American Indians built up shell middens on the banks while collecting clams. You can see me in the film walking on one of the middens fingering some of the pottery shards that they left behind so many centuries ago. The bayous were also the highways and hideouts for the pirates that used to do their thing around here.</blockquote>
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Al's friend Bruce Gebhart</div>
Is there more of an atmosphere of co-operation and help since Katrina with neighbours and friends who went through the hurricane too? <br />
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On a daily basis, cooperation and tolerance has improved by orders of magnitude (if such a thing can me measured). There is a spoken and an unspoken sense of camaraderie; a shared feeling of loss, survival and conquest. We volunteer cleaning up green spaces and planting trees. We volunteer our time demolishing and re-building houses. We cook for each other, dance longer, sing out loud and hug with passion - then we hug som'mo. We will never again take for granted the stuff of life.</blockquote>
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What is the most memorable thing that has happened as a result of rescuing people? <br />
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<blockquote>
I gained a personal sense of mortality and appreciation for psychological trauma. I used to feel quite indestructible. I also used to think that I had great powers of empathy. Not so. Until I had my own meltdown, there's no way I could appreciate the debilitating effect.</blockquote>
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What is the most humorous thing that has happened as a result of your experience in Katrina? <br />
<blockquote>
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In the film, the word hero is used. I've heard that a few times from other sources as well. I think that is literally hilarious. A hero is one who puts him or herself in harms way on purpose - think military, police, firemen, educators. I on the other hand, am a dumb fuck that had two dayz to get out of the way of impending danger, and didn't. Here's some humor: I'd do it again.</blockquote>
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What is the most humorous thing that has happened as a result of your appearing in The Age of Stupid? <br />
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<blockquote>
Well, I find that a crusty old Creole from South Louisiana being on a British Blog kinda funny.</blockquote>
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Did you attend any of the Age of Stupid screenings and speak at Q & As? <br />
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I was talked into attending the global premier in New York and was glad that the girls brow beat me into doing so. It was so kool to observe all the inner workings of such a thing. The Stupid team pulled off a Herculean event. Inspirational. I was scheduled for some Q & A and interviews but they never materialized. To many moving parts and pieces to fit it all in.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJSSNX_KhfT5TDCc_GgtM19IwatZBfrZkmSePgV2XqNhqglW0q4KM14RUOumvvQfe1dw99tte9J3tAEAyQgmhk1_TozGEctVT2-ETRE8q5UBU55GI5E5jPOkQ0RbVTRH2jj_0_8XVSyw/s1600-h/6.10-14.09+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJSSNX_KhfT5TDCc_GgtM19IwatZBfrZkmSePgV2XqNhqglW0q4KM14RUOumvvQfe1dw99tte9J3tAEAyQgmhk1_TozGEctVT2-ETRE8q5UBU55GI5E5jPOkQ0RbVTRH2jj_0_8XVSyw/s320/6.10-14.09+016.jpg" /></a></div>
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If so, were you ever challenged about the irony of your appearing in a film about climate change, having previously been employed as a paleontologist by Shell? <br />
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<blockquote>
I've been asked that and don't find it ironic. Paleontology by definition is a very holistic discipline. You must be a student of physics, biology, climatology, chemistry, philosophy, astronomy, and planet history to name a few. We are charged with integrating all of that in order to unravel and reconstruct Earth changes through time. Many of the geo-sciences, ergo, my colleagues, are the same. We are a planet friendly lot. Corporations (not just oil) on the other hand are in the business of making money within the confines of government rules and regulations. If we make the governments behave, the corporations will be required to behave and we will pay for the consequences and/or reap the benefits. I did what I did and am proud of my professional and environmental accomplishments from the inside.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__TMTxJ-u1VddK7xWhg4YyOs_Ja2yR1gnuhWTwQBcReMOb55kn9GNPjecK_FCrKavl7hm-VAgtiaOAlvguapJc17HlN4i7wdCa31Jdd9uF06Oyt8JdteZjeXdhumVi5-Mpcx_wdGpzsQ/s1600-h/020_20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__TMTxJ-u1VddK7xWhg4YyOs_Ja2yR1gnuhWTwQBcReMOb55kn9GNPjecK_FCrKavl7hm-VAgtiaOAlvguapJc17HlN4i7wdCa31Jdd9uF06Oyt8JdteZjeXdhumVi5-Mpcx_wdGpzsQ/s320/020_20.JPG" /></a></div>
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What's the most stupid thing you've been asked about The Age of Stupid? <br />
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<blockquote>
The above question is about the only thing that I've been asked so by default...but seriously, if I were to set out to cure, for example, Nigeria's ills exposed in the film, I would be looking down the government's throat, not the corporations. Shell Nigeria is majority owned by the Nigerian government. Not exactly the Shell that I worked for.</blockquote>
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<br />
What are your feelings about the film and Franny's campaigning for people to recognise the seriousness of climate change? <br />
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<blockquote>
I love Franny. I find her energy and passion contagious and think the momentum she has created will have real impact. She is indeed fo' real. But Franny n dem left some huge gaps in the cause and effect issues around the Nigerian scenes. No worries from my side - to be completely objective and pose all the info would take a twenty hour film.<br />
<br />
When making a documentary you put stuff in there that supports your message and leave stuff out that contradicts it. E.g., Layefa in Nigeria bless her heart - isn't she a doll. She talks about the pollution and oil spills and fish kills and such and eventually goes into the black market fuel business to make a living. What you will never see in a film like Stupid is that the pirates that raid the oil facilities in order to feed the black market are huge contributors to the spills. Their modus operandi and equipment as you can imagine are not exactly environment friendly. Your everyday tree hugger watching the film would never get that. A tree hugger like me with experience in fuel theft would. The film is not lying, it's simply not documenting all the information.<br />
<br />
As for climate change, it is indeed very serious and it is equally and simply what's so. By that I mean geologically speaking (the last thousand years or so) we have been in a warming cycle (inter-glacial, high stand system tract, transgression, bla, bla, bla). The debate raging in the political arena however, is about anthropogenic global climate change. Personally, I think the debate is sophomoric at best and only feeds the illusion that leaders are doing something. The only substance that I get from the debate is how important it is for their respective sides to be right at the expense of the other being wrong. Are we causing climate change? WHO CARES!!! How can anybody be against reducing emissions and pollution, and moving toward energy efficiency/independence? Could it be money? Winning? Power? Ego??? Sorry, what was the question?</blockquote>
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<br />
You say, "If you multiply what happened to a million people living in this area by the billions on this planet...it's gonna be ugly". <br />
Can you elucidate this point? <br />
<blockquote>
<br />
In that context I was referring to the inability of our elected officials to react to disasters of that magnitude. Hurricane Katrina was a natural event but the destruction after the storm was a man made, civil engineering disaster caused by poorly designed, constructed and maintained levees compliments of the US Army Corps of Engineers. So here is a perfect example of an unaccountable government agency creating a disaster and the same ineffectual government unable to react to it. Now we add the multiplier of the globe because I'm fairly certain that ours is not the only government that thrives on the indulgence of people's tolerances. Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, fires, droughts, floods, famines, freezes... Whether these things can be correlated with human activity or not, I don't see our global leaders having the capacity or will to manage effectively. If further, the incidence rate of these disasters increase because of human activity, that looks very ugly in my minds eye. I could quote some Old Testament here for effect.</blockquote>
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Devil Horse Locust at Al's camp.</div>
<blockquote>
We are a resilient species. The Earth is also resilient and historically very patient. Resilience and patience like resources are finite. If we ignore our own power to upset the balance of things, some or all components of life as we know it (physical, political, social, environmental) could experience a step change in the wrong direction. We've seen it happen on a small scale e.g., Katrina, Haiti, and there's no reason to believe that it couldn't happen on a global scale. Again.</blockquote>
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...and to finish, here's Al's Gumbo recipe. As he says, "Most of the population eat to live, we live to eat." You can buy Gumbo file on eBay international from the USA...<br />
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<b>DuV's Gumbo </b><br />
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About Gumbo – It is the quintessential New Orleans food incorporating the rich diversity of cultures in our area. Indeed, the word has become to mean ‘a mix’ of things. Gumbo is an African word for okra. It kills me when people ask if I’d made an ‘okra’ gumbo or if I use okra in my Gumbo. The short answer is that it ain’t Gumbo if there ain’t okra. Other inputs include but are not limited to: the roux from the French, Tomatoes from the Spanish, seafood from the Eastern Europeans that settled down River, sausage from the Germans (Des Allemandes), and of course, file’ (Sassafras) from the Native American Indians. The lore in my family is that with each additional vege or spice, you will gain a new friend that year. <br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
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<b>Roux</b> - 4 oz butter, 1T olive oil, flour (qty is texture dependant) <br />
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<b>Gumbo</b> - 2#'s coarse chop onions, 2 large bell peppers coarse chop, 2 1/2 #'s okra coarse chop, 3/4 head celery (chop leaf & stalk), 1 1/2 bunch green onion, 1 head garlic, 2 - 14oz cans whole tomatoes, 2 whole crabs (clean & break in halves or quarters), 5 - pt jars oysters, 4 #'s peeled shrimp; also may add sausage, crawfish, crab meat, boiled egg, weenies, chicken, duck, nutria, gator, wombat, etc... <br />
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<b>Seasoning</b> - 1/3 bottle (~1/2oz) gumbo file (fine ground sassafras)*, 3t basil, 1t thyme, 1t rosemary, 1 1/2t salt, 2t ground red pepper; also may add to taste sage, Tabasco, Tony's (Creole seasoning), etc... <br />
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<b>Procedure</b><br />
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<b>Roux</b> - Heat butter and oil in sauce pan; add flour while stirring until consistency is that of thin pancake mix. Stir roux periodically on very low fire until dark vanilla wafer brown. Your roux should smell as rich as it looks. If you burn it start over or your gumbo will taste like burnt toast. <br />
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<b>Rope</b> - Fry onions on medium to hi heat (dash of oil for sticking) stirring often for approx 15 min. Add okra, stir violently until slimy texture. <br />
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<b>Gumbo</b> - Add canned tomatoes and fluid, add all juice from oyster jars, add roux very slowly while stirring, add fluid if necessary (beer, wine, stock or water), add crabs, seasoning, garlic, celery, bell peppers & green onion. By now you should need 1 or 2 bottles of beer to make it soupy. Add 2t vinegar if you want to cut the slime. Let cook till desired texture (approx 2 hrs), add shrimp & oysters and let cook 15 min after oyster gills curl or approx 30 min. <br />
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Remarks</b> – Use fresh veges and spices for some or all above when possible. This gumbo should be prepared the day before you want to eat it so that all the flavors can spamodulate properly. Serve over white rice. <br />
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<b>Note </b>– The file is a very powerful spice, compliments of our Native American brethren. It will darken the brew and is the distinguishing flavor of Gumbo. The quantity used however, is typically according to your taste. Many will use none or a small amount when cooking and garnish with it upon serving. <br />
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<b>Also</b> – Be gentle with salt and or Tony’s if you’ll have sausage. Depending on the sausage, that can add plenty salt to the mix. Better to let it cook and wait to add salt at the end if needed.</div>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Finterview-with-al-duvernay-of-age-of.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-1184808980644397512010-01-22T16:13:00.001+00:002018-06-04T09:12:25.351+01:00INTERVIEW WITH FINE ARTIST JOHN REDHEAD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/judecalverttoulmin/redhead2small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/judecalverttoulmin/redhead2small.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Introduction from <a href="http://brianlt.blogspot.com/search/label/John%20Redhead">"For whom The Bells, The Bells toll; a meeting with John Redhead"</a> by Brian Trevelyan.<br />
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<blockquote>
To most people in the climbing world, John Redhead was best known as arguably the finest rock climber of his day. Some of his routes had to wait for up to ten years before a second ascentionist had sufficient madness or bottle (not to mention ability) to repeat them, and were characterised by lethal seriousness combined with cutting-edge technical difficulty. Many have had no third ascent and Margins of the Mind remains unrepeated, eighteen years on (“What does that say about the youth of today?”, says Redhead). However, his primary means of self expression was his painting; big canvases which mattered more to him than his climbing did, and which was a side of him hardly revealed to the often un-artistically minded climbing public.</blockquote>
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<i> The Mary Station </i> <a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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John Redhead is currently touring internationally with his multi media intervention - Remains of Languedoc. I interviewed him recently about his work.<br />
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<b>The Cathar Forensic series - when did you create these? </b><br />
<blockquote>
Little more than a year ago I recorded some sounds at Montsegur (the last stronghold of the Cathars) - and took these raw sounds to the studio where I started to sketch - after three months I found the 'intent' needed to work the images into the sounds, evoking something of the energy needed to realise the paintings. From the start I have known that there are only about twenty works before the energy fails. It's limiting stuff! It's draining. Some artists play a style out and keep churning out, but that would make me ill - so that will be the sum lot! I will then involve myself with some other theme.</blockquote>
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<i><b> </b>God will recognise his own </i> <a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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<b>How did you come to find out about the Cathars? </b><br />
<blockquote>
I have known something of the cathar situation for a while - I have a friend in the village who was the president of the Scottish Theosophical Society who is well versed in the 'Mary'/St John stuff and he introduced me to a book - The Blood of Toulouse by Maurice Magre (in French) - and I edited a section of this for an English translation - enthralling stuff and a better read than The DaVinci Code! This was only on paper though. Only recently did the landscape hit me. It's pretty obvious that something went on in the area...not just by travelling through it, walking the hills and seeing the sites - but the geometry and energy of the landscape - physical! I did a similar intervention in the slate quarries of Llanberis - again, the landscape having absorbed what went on there - Soft Explosive hard Embrace. Again, images conjoured up by the textural sounds found there.</blockquote>
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<i> Detail </i> <a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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<b>One of the pieces is entitled 'rape - a catholic tool' Why? </b><br />
<blockquote>
The Cathars or rather 'The Pure Ones' (Cathar being a derogatory term coined by the catholics meaning heretic) believed in transcendance from the physical - they were trans-material. As such, the body, the earth, procreation were the result of the Devil. As there was no omnipotent God, they needed to free themselves (their soul) from this prison. For the Cathars, homosexual sex (non procreative sex) was preferred to marital sex. At that time the Roman Catholic church was the opposite and procreative sex (rape etc) preferred over non procreative sex. </blockquote>
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<i><b> </b>Cake or Death </i> <a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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<b>Another is entitled 'God will recognise his own' - what is the religious significance of this body of work?</b> <br />
<blockquote>
On the seize of Beziers a crusader asked the commander Papel Legate Arnaud- Amaury how to tell a Cathar from a catholic, the abbot replied "Kill them all, God will know his own". I keep my own feelings out of my work for the intent to work. However, if I were to take a personal approach, this saying sums up much of the problems that religion causes - and causes to this day. Seven centuries later, what have we learned? Bullying a belief system onto others that are just 'other' still orders the world! </blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fZsktYR4REUkRcTmb-QcKymlRyfCAgfv_2uoVGOUVTTxvOl1IsZBTErJCFW47IAaH9pw4jNlsnErwYlH6-vmNHvSqiIVc6zLjCV4go1znzCsyjXlDSoM9E7fpkMlhnvm75r6_GvixBU/s1600-h/rape+-+a+catholic+tool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fZsktYR4REUkRcTmb-QcKymlRyfCAgfv_2uoVGOUVTTxvOl1IsZBTErJCFW47IAaH9pw4jNlsnErwYlH6-vmNHvSqiIVc6zLjCV4go1znzCsyjXlDSoM9E7fpkMlhnvm75r6_GvixBU/s320/rape+-+a+catholic+tool.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i> Rape - a catholic tool </i> <a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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<b> What are your own feelings about god?</b><br />
<blockquote>
I have a spiritual 'other' energy in all I have ever done! I am aware that a part of me is a microscopic part of the whole of creation and beyond - and connects me with everything else...this has nothing to do with god or religion. I don't have to have a belief system to understand a wrongness! The Kaballah makes sense to me - and other pre Christian gnostic stuff - the Uphanishads Hindu scriptures also, Buddism, The tao etc...Pagan ideologies! The shamanic influence is strong in my work. But I don't need any of it to make me aware of who I am and what to do - the spacecraft will appear soon enough!</blockquote>
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<i> Detail </i> <a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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<b>Is there still strong feeling in the region where you live in the south of France about the The anti-Cathar Albigensian Crusade?</b><br />
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<blockquote>
I say that the Cathar forensic searches for fragments as much in the future as in the past. This area of Languedoc was the civilised, tolerant, educated part of what was to become France. The Cathars mixed with the muslims and jews to have discourse and share mutual source material. This ended with the crusade - and the fuedal lords of the north and King of france helped the Pope in disposing the Cathars of their land. French was only imposed on the region in 1700. All other tongues where expunged violently. Anyone who spoke Occitan was burned (remember that Richard the Lionheart King of England spoke Occitan as his common language). When genocide hits the land, the land does not forget..and more importantly with the soul of the people. Civility and chivalry died in this part of the world! Among the French they say this area of France is the 'arsehole of France. The French being generally intolerant and in my opinion openly racist this may have more to do with the Catalans - another race under the subterfuge of the French. The area where I live is historically and culturally Spanish (Catalunya) and now traditionally communist - from the Franco days over the border - Picasso stayed here! The Nazis were embraced here however as the mountain people adapted yet again to change. There is a strong Pagan element in the old folks here. Mary and John the Baptist are worshipped above jesus and the witches (the Bruixa) have their ceremonies. Some houses have larger facing stones on the walls to attract a witch to 'sit down'...and some have trident shaped forks on the apex to stop them (espanta bruixa). I have the exhibition showing in my village at the moment...the mountain folk are not used to art!</blockquote>
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<b> </b><i>Detail </i> <a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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<b>Do you really believe that the divine message originally came from Zarathustra and was kidnapped by the church?</b><br />
<blockquote>
At the time we are talking about there were three strands of 'Christianity' - The Jew Jesus line, the Paulicians and the gnostic stuff. To me there is nothing 'divine' with Roman Catholism and the Jesus story is well dodgy! The gnostics travel way back beyond time and possibly hold the most of what was the essence of Christianity. The Cathars were certainly heretic because Catholism wasn't their Christianity! There is something to grasp with the Essenes, the Manicheans, Bogomils...ancient manuscripts for the church to die for! Religion holds no power for me... there is more power in a dog turd on the pavement! However, one must always read between the lines!</blockquote>
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<b> </b><i>The Devil Seeks a Shoulder </i> <a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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<b>Were you brought up a catholic and does this bear any relation to the work you're now producing?</b><br />
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<blockquote>
My work is merely a response to where I find myself - I think the primary role of art is that of engagement with the community - not in a local sense but offer the potential of a wider, alternative vision...like offering a chariot to a stranger place! Having no 'axe to grind' or no picture to paint means that I am not fudged in the personal! I am not an artist in the sense that I 'produce' paintings. It is an organic process, often slow and spasmodic, which I hope creates the potential for possibilities, dialogue and latitude. Is it a religious tenet to make the effort to understand oneself in the cosmos? In Hindu scriptures, it is one's duty to connect 'The city of Brahman' in one's heart to the cosmos. Is this religion or a way of life? I think religion can take you away from this goal...communication other than the literal is poetic - transformative. In Thailand it is considered a duty to learn something new from a stranger every day! Anyone can make pictures to sell and the art galleries are full of style and products and concepts that are displayed like labels in the high street. Not my deal. There is no religious motive in this latest work, but being a religious subject with implication for today, religion informs it.</blockquote>
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<i>Ships of Bugaresh </i> <a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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<b>Do you still climb?</b><br />
<blockquote>
The physical act of movement on rock is still important to me. Bouldering mostly on warm rock near the Med. The sangria is good for my old injuries!</blockquote>
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<i>The Mary Station </i> <a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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<b>Was there any religious significance in any of your route names?</b><br />
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<blockquote>
All my route names where significant! The religious aspect is in the eye of the beholder! Religious in the sense that they were meaningful and thought out and related to the worship of a divine being? Hmm! Devotion to the superhuman? Religious in the sense of being a football supporter? Employing a certain poetic, some route names certainly had a divine quality! For instance, Margins of the Mind or Rite of Spring. Others were just pure filth! All is sacred.</blockquote>
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<i>Detail </i> <a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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<b>What are your feelings about Llanberris? It seems to be a place to which you return time and again. Do you still consider it home?</b><br />
<blockquote>
Yep, Llanberis and its mountains are still home! When the evening sun reaches under the black clouds and spreads its luminous green light for all to bathe in - yes - you are home - and the sun embraces the Welsh hills every evening to die! As Augustus John said, "The changing skies reflect our temperament more so than a perpetual blue". It's also nice being in the perpetual blue on the Med, but after a little while I need to play with it and mix a little black reality in there! I'm not a tourist.</blockquote>
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<i>God Will Recognise His Own </i> <a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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<b>How do you feel about living in France, up in the Pyrenees? Is it inspiring, artistically?</b><br />
<blockquote>
I'm in the process of writing a book called 'Colonists Out' - (from the political graffiti around Llanberis) exploring what exactly a 'home' is. This was inspired from moving out of Wales into the unknown and realising that we are all 'colonists'. As such our duty is to protect and nourish the land we find ourselves in. I am working in the Pyrenees much the same as I have always worked - be it living in Leeds or Liverpool or the Welsh hills. I don't portray the landscape in a romantic, wooly way - more inspired to interview that lone soul stumbling down the street or take recordings from a heroin addict in a doorway, or construct huge panels of painting and obstruct pathways in the hills! The only art this region of France recognises is that of hunting wild boar! The hunters are the artists! I came around a corner on a piste the other day and there on a stool slept a hunter with his finger on the rifle's trigger pointing my way...I stopped the van and approached him cautiously...he awoke with glee thrusting a bottle of pastis in my face! The church in my village is at an altitude of 666m - this attracts a few alternative types! 200 years ago the church steeple colapsed killing some of the congrigation...on the French side you have Ceret where Picasso lived and on the Spanish side you have Figueres where Salvador Dali lived - Franco woz ere, Pan's Labyrinth was filmed here, Naploeon fought wars here, the Nazis were welcomed here - the Jews escaped into the hills here - this is all history. This does not inspire me as an artist, but informs me - possibly creating a template to work with and reach into and draw a body of work out. I am mostly working with sound here - the area has a musical tradition. I feel my next work will be on the Spanish side (who are more tolerant and engaged with the arts at every level) for a 'bruixa' (witch) theme! Perhaps barcelona which is only one and a half hours away.</blockquote>
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<i>Death To Civility </i> <a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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<b>Tell us about the soundscape 'dead room chiseller'</b><br />
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<blockquote>
Dead Room Chiseller. My new project! A sonic exploration in loss and suffering.<br />
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Five tracks taken from recordings of the homes and from the voices of those in suffering from loss. For some, a loss can become unbearable, and the living space a torture cell of times and moments and actions of the past. It seems a ‘sticky’ land of hauntings and negative thoughts, where one is unable to travel through to new possibilities. This land is entered and life stops.<br />
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All buildings have a presence, and for me the hauntings are part of a sculptural sound that has dialogue with a mythological landscape. This ‘virtual’ land has its origins in the very heart of the home and through visualisation and intent its auditory aura can be meaningful. Giving ‘tongue’ to this skirmishing connects beyond the subjective and personal. I believe such a manifestation can help dissolve the torment and ablate the woeful state of loss.<br />
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This mapping of souls is a kind of sonic mourning, a digital keening that can evoke a unique sense of perception, not only of the world but of your immediate environment and living space.<br />
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For me these ‘songs’ have a certain musical imagery and may be familiar or suggestive. Death and the field of parting is certainly a subject for the ‘banshee’ to enter and pull out some meaning and hope and renewal.<br />
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This canvas is not just a song, but a song sung before the mystery of time.</blockquote>
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<a href="http://johnredhead.org/John_Redhead/images.html">© John Redhead</a></div>
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<b>Did you see The Culture Show special about <a href="http://www.johnlydon.com/jlhome.html">John Lydon</a>? In it John talks about composing music through the grief he was experiencing. Have you ever felt any kindred feeling with John Lydon or his work?</b><br />
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<blockquote>
Don't see the culture show - I don't watch TV - no time and no reception!</blockquote>
<b>Would you ever consider working with other musicians? Musicians like John Lydon or <a href="http://www.30hertzrecords.com/">Jah Wobble</a>, say? Or do you prefer to work alone as a musician?</b> <br />
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<blockquote>
I am not very good at working with others! Something about me. I have tried and will continue to collaborate if it suits. Certainly the soundtracks that I do have an interesting place on the musical energy spectrum but perhaps need to be brought into the wider arena - this is where working with others helps...I tend to 'tangent' my energies to work on other projects...I have five or six at any time! I lack organisational skills and have a poor memory! My big truck that moved me to the Pyrenees has gone back to Earth after having been parked up on some land belonging to a friend (Gilad Atzmon from the Blockheads!) I finished a series of huge paintings in it as part of the 'Interview with the Streets' project and finished the soundtrack (using Gilad's sax sounds), 'Hero Gone Bent' a textural city soundscape with the transcripts from girls working the streets (two have since died) - this was four years ago...and I haven't been in the truck since! </blockquote>
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<b>Dead Room Chiseller </b>- A sonic exploration of loss and bereavement - five tracks of recordings from the homes and lives of those in suffering...sonic mourning...<br />
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<b>A Cathar Forensic</b> - Words, images & sounds from Montsegur to Rosslyn - “Kill them all, God will recognise his own.” <br />
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Exhibition Dates:<br />
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Sunday, 15 February 2009, Tuesday, 17 February 2009 at <a href="http://www.galeriakokopelli.com/">Galeria Kokopelli</a>, Placeta Sant Antoni, Sant Lorenc de Cerdans, France 66260<br />
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<a href="http://www.llamff.co.uk/exhibitions-programme.htm">LLAMFF 2010</a>, 5th to 7th March, Llanberis, Wales<br />
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<a href="http://www.galeriakokopelli.com/"></a><br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Finterview-with-jude-calvert-toulmin.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-1113253626454516192010-01-05T16:02:00.008+00:002018-06-04T09:13:00.263+01:00INTERVIEW WITH ME, JUDE CALVERT-TOULMIN, FOR AN UNDERGRADUATE STUDY<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfbyalh2Z8WimhgF901FywM3-cIYfqRAepUx6x8lSN9nQ1g_YxNKoqyRgU83qOp0UAfqbHt_k-drgqgHh-e2_YxdsgcLZDLhLBwwgVpY7oMqVV3XXaKCKwSWFTHXdJYfONcpiZ8RMgfRN/s1600/beerfest7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfbyalh2Z8WimhgF901FywM3-cIYfqRAepUx6x8lSN9nQ1g_YxNKoqyRgU83qOp0UAfqbHt_k-drgqgHh-e2_YxdsgcLZDLhLBwwgVpY7oMqVV3XXaKCKwSWFTHXdJYfONcpiZ8RMgfRN/s320/beerfest7.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
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A friend of mine writing a dissertation for her degree has interviewed me for her coursework. The interview is below. If you would like to be interviewed on this vital subject then <a href="http://www.fleurdelyspublishing.com/contact.html">contact me</a> asap and I will put you in touch with the author of the work.<br />
<br />
More interviews, filmed and written, with documentary filmmakers and with me, coming up over the next few months...<br />
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<b>How has your age changed the way you perceive yourself over the years?</b><br />
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<blockquote>
My knowledge and wisdom have made me feel more powerful, but have also made me more aware of the injustices perpetrated upon women, and of how vulnerable I am to inequality in this patriarchal society. </blockquote>
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<b>How do you think other peoples perceptions have changed as you have aged?</b><br />
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<blockquote>
It depends on the gender. Women aren't as viciously competitive towards one another when they get older. They tend to stick together more to help one another as we're all in the same boat, having endured a lifetime of inequality and ill treatment from men.<br />
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Older men are definitely much more threatened by me. In my teens and twenties, there was a default setting for how I was treated by men. They were condescending, abusive, violent, sneering and lecherous. So called friends, family, employers, almost every man I dealt with. Those who were respectful and admiring were in a pitiful minority. Now, younger men are more respectful because I'm the same age as their mothers, but with breasts that aren't taboo in an incestuous sense, therefore I scare them. Only the strongest younger men are able to deal with me on an equal footing; Older men are generally just scared and use condescension as their armour. I feel much more powerful now that I'm older but just as many doors are shut in my face. Men are free to be good-looking, intelligent, talented, outspoken and old without being sneered at, denigrated, labelled or vilified. Women are not.</blockquote>
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<b>Have you ever been or suspected you have been the subject of ageism or has somebody you know i.e; a colleague? How did this effect your/their self esteem?</b><br />
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<blockquote>
I'm the subject of ageism the minute I walk into the street. It doesn't affect my self-esteem because I was treated even worse when I was younger when men abused my gullibility. Now at least I have the power of wisdom. </blockquote>
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<b>If so how much of this do you think is down to the media, or other factors? What factors?</b><br />
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Above: Moira Stuart - too graceful to say "But you didn't sack David Frost."</div>
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The media are to blame for much of the perpetration of ageism towards women. No physically unattractive, doddery 65 year old woman would be allowed to anchor a breakfast programme on one of the main TV networks as David Frost was allowed to do on Breakfast With Frost. Newsreaders such as Angela Rippon, Anna Ford and Moira Stuart were all herded off our screens due to being too old. They were all physically attractive older women who would not have lasted as long as they did had they been as physically unattractive as David Frost.</blockquote>
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<img alt="http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/David_Frost_Rumsfeld_interview_cropped.jpg/225px-David_Frost_Rumsfeld_interview_cropped.jpg" src="http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/David_Frost_Rumsfeld_interview_cropped.jpg/225px-David_Frost_Rumsfeld_interview_cropped.jpg" /><b> </b></center>
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David Frost. Allowed to be on TV despite his age and looks. <b><br />
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<b>Is there a glass ceiling that exists for women still?</b></div>
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Of course. Look at the key figures sitting round the table at any international convention of heads of state. They are nearly all older men, most of them balding and unattractive. A convention of ugly older women making decisions about the state of the world would never be tolerated. A woman's main currency is still beauty. A man's currency is power and money. Unless women abandon their children to child minders, which means abandoning one of their fundamental roles in life, nurturing, loving, caring for and teaching their young, then they will be years behind in any future career, which, even aside from society's prejudice, will mean they have less power than men. </blockquote>
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<b>In what ways do you feel the double standard between women and men as they age is perpetuated by the media? (e.g Michael Douglas marrying Catherine Zeta Jones was fine, Joan Collins marries much younger man and people raise eyebrows)</b><br />
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It is wrong, it is damaging to society and it is time that women rose up and put a stop to it. The Suffragette movement in England was only a hundred years ago; there is still a long way to go. And in many countries women are still enslaved and physically and mentally abused in male dominated societies.</blockquote>
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<b>Are women to blame in any way for the ageism that occurs?</b><br />
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Buying into the expectations of society and getting plastic surgery in a vain attempt to look younger is buying into it, but you can't blame women for their insecurity. It's hardly surprising we're insecure. Our power, the power to have blood pouring out of us but still continue to work, to have a creature growing inside of us and then emerging into the world, putting our life and its life at risk, is ignored and marginalised whilst men trumpet their power undergoing pursuits such as mountaineering as "fighting the elements" making them "real men" when really these are just selfish hobbies to entertain themselves.<br />
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However we need men, to fertilise our eggs, to hunt and build and fight wars. And to be big warm furry teddy bears to cuddle at night. I love men individually. It is the male domination of society I abhore.</blockquote>
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<b>What advantages does your femininity bring you within your line of work? </b><br />
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None. As a male writer and publisher I would be taken far more seriously. As a female writer of erotic fiction the fear invoked has held me back. Local radio and TV won't touch me with a barge pole at the moment because I'm not family viewing. Maybe because my erotic novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0956029809/ref=noism?/tag=fledelyspub-21">Mother-in-Law, son-in-Law</a> is in celebration of the sexuality of older women; a totally taboo subject.</blockquote>
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<b>Have you ever omitted your gender because of the ageism/sexism that exists (i.e online forums, or omitting your first name from any publications)</b><br />
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No. And I never will. I've always posted on forums under my own name or a recognisable pseudonym linking to me and always posted/written as a woman. I once ventured onto a completely male dominated forum full of supposedly well 'ard climbers, defending myself against vicious cyber bullying by cowardly males protecting themselves with either anonymity or the power of being a mod, whilst I posted as a woman under my real name. Who's a big strong brave boy now, eh? You can read about that in my novel <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0956029833/ref=noism?/tag=fledelyspub-21">My Adventures In Cyberspace</a>.</blockquote>
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<b>Do you think there is a scientific basis in ageism – i.e youth and beauty will always be preferred? </b><br />
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Youth is preferred as a criteria for reproduction. Women who have already produced families and grand-children should not be judged by these criteria and should be judged on their wisdom, experience and what they can give to society. The fact that the resource of women has been so wasted is one fundamental reason why our civilisation is in decline. <br />
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Beauty is preferred to sell products, including magazines and films. In terms of finding mates, if all else is equal, men and women tend, I believe, to gravitate towards those on an equal scale of attractiveness. However ugly rich powerful older men tend to seek out weaker younger poorer beautiful women. </blockquote>
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<b>There have many examples of ageism in the media recently, for example the Alesha Dixon / Arlene Philips story (Strictly Come Dancing), (Moira Stuart BBC Newsreader) what is your take on them?</b><br />
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I don't watch soaps, Strictly or X-Factor but I do watch the news. Moira Stuart was a talented and popular BBC newsreader. Dumped from the TV at a beautiful 55, whilst Frost dodders and dribbles on at an ugly 70. It is wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong wrong. It is sexist, it is ageist, and we are all putting up with it. If a woman chat show host had been responsible for sexually related slurs on an elderly man's grand-daughter on the telephone as Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand were, then she would have been sacked for good and far more widely vilified than they were, not let off with a temporary ban like Ross, before walking back into her overpaid job which costs the BBC millions.</blockquote>
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<b>Should ageism be taken as seriously as racism or other forms of discrimination?</b><br />
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Yes. The BBC should be punished for sacking Moira Stuart for a start. However the BBC do have Nick Fraser as the commissioning editor for their <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/storyville/">Storyville documentary series on BBC4</a> so they are forgiven for that alone. </blockquote>
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<b>Do you think the media will continue to oppress women more or less in the future? (Do you think your daughters will face the same hurdles)</b><br />
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It will get worse. In the UK, girls of 7 are prancing around in mini skirts and mascara. Young, powerless, skint women are lured and ensnared by men with power and money the world over, and prostitution is the oldest profession in the history of mankind. Women are doomed. </blockquote>
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Having said that, I adore my daughters, my son and my husband equally as human beings. It is mankind, that earth-infesting virus, which is a horrible little scourge on our planet, rather than individual human beings. </blockquote>
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<b>Are the government doing enough to stop ageism/censor ageism in the media?</b><br />
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Of course not. But the rungs of the political ladder are made from greed, corruption, lies and a voracious power-hunger; the government only care about the other boys in their tree house ie the bankers, the lawyers and politicians. On the door of that tree house is a scribbled sign saying "No girls allowed unless you've sold your soul to the devil like Thatcher."<br />
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Link: Maev Kennedy for The Guardian about newsreader Moira Stuart. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/apr/06/broadcasting.bbc">Media celebs question BBC decision to dump one of its older female newsreaders.</a><br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Finterview-with-jude-calvert-toulmin.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-50161291759035758482009-06-04T16:01:00.001+01:002018-06-04T09:10:58.609+01:00INTERVIEW WITH SCULPTOR GUY PORTELLI - POP ICONS<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYilBA-hEOX6M4DzHgNRHvGbl7pWDIBqHVlK4pJi_M37t_0RYgbm0VXpKx-I75qRZyxmcD1wv6Z-cA5aBuwqYr0C_yK2V3cmp1aUsAj0aMoJCZGPek23EUfD6iHeHkn-15xDwAx1sEa-Q/s1600-h/jimi_hendrix.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343429292661366946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYilBA-hEOX6M4DzHgNRHvGbl7pWDIBqHVlK4pJi_M37t_0RYgbm0VXpKx-I75qRZyxmcD1wv6Z-cA5aBuwqYr0C_yK2V3cmp1aUsAj0aMoJCZGPek23EUfD6iHeHkn-15xDwAx1sEa-Q/s400/jimi_hendrix.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 348px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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Entrepreneur James Caan and Guy Portelli with Jimi Hendrix in aluminium, bronze and mosaic.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xdQgrBKuaoTjoC-QjM0IxcAQcCFV7h8d_my6eJH3QpSjvk_oHLHn8IjwBI8OK5oaHtM6V_yDVN1wTqwO3QvCkaq3rqllGoK7MYfDM5IFG761zpWaNZbLiEJj7_EtcAw7ChNMJJDiuMs/s1600-h/guy_mosaic.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343419732299689106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xdQgrBKuaoTjoC-QjM0IxcAQcCFV7h8d_my6eJH3QpSjvk_oHLHn8IjwBI8OK5oaHtM6V_yDVN1wTqwO3QvCkaq3rqllGoK7MYfDM5IFG761zpWaNZbLiEJj7_EtcAw7ChNMJJDiuMs/s400/guy_mosaic.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 326px; width: 250px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.portelli-popicon.co.uk/index.php?inc=about">Guy Portelli</a> at work. Guy is a council member of the <a href="http://www.royalsocietyofbritishartists.org.uk/">Royal Society of British Artists</a>.<br />
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Sculptor Guy Portelli's <a href="http://www.portelli-popicon.co.uk/index.php?inc=media">Pop Icons exhibition</a> at The Mall Galleries, London, opens to the public on Thursday 25th June 2009. Partly funded by Theo Paphitis, James Caan and Peter Jones, three entrepreneurs from BBC TV's popular <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/">Dragons Den</a>, this is the largest exhibition on the theme of the Pop Icon ever staged in the UK.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECDddSjedUZzmrWHHhrLHkx8_IWtvayNXvjUy06p31cnQTJS7Uz0E-e_mz0zGBew9WUnT7vnBleV8wnI57lL3cf_nUpaCqCgRfYS_I-6u2c1ZvARiWlmOk4sSFlabu8Len0FGE_5g1MM/s1600-h/popicons_invite.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343409899389290578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECDddSjedUZzmrWHHhrLHkx8_IWtvayNXvjUy06p31cnQTJS7Uz0E-e_mz0zGBew9WUnT7vnBleV8wnI57lL3cf_nUpaCqCgRfYS_I-6u2c1ZvARiWlmOk4sSFlabu8Len0FGE_5g1MM/s400/popicons_invite.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 278px;" /></a><br />
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Here's part of the invite to the private view (yes that's my name amongst an illustrious bunch of exhibitors - I've been asked to exhibit three limited edition photographs of the beautiful, sultry Sade) - and below is an interview I recently conducted with Guy about his work.<br />
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Above: Guy's pitch on Dragon's Den.</center>
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: What was the most amusing thing to happen during your appearance on Dragons Den?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: When I realised that I was standing in front of these wealthy and high powered/high profile people and I had to choose what to do...quite amusing!</span><br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: Were you nervous?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Yes</span><br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: Have you seen <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR2E4ESLQOE">Paul Whitehouse and Harry Enfield's spoof of Dragons' Den for Comic Relief?</a> What did you think of it?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Yes we saw it - excellent takeoff of the characters and their mannerisms - good entertainment!</span><br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: Do you listen to music whilst you work?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Working alone yes - or Radio 4, otherwise if I have others with me it's usually their choice of station...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrCLlkBHVg99V8sYsUSpa7BINUzRpGwaI-aKObA0ng1FqhNu60hZYT5TbC5pwPh_sqi03ythq81EklwVgLV4oB8MXU2jy42pF471q5mC5utdyrCgLhQ9pawvg4YQTk77nrhHk9ec6X0Y/s1600-h/bob_marley.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343429281901479570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrCLlkBHVg99V8sYsUSpa7BINUzRpGwaI-aKObA0ng1FqhNu60hZYT5TbC5pwPh_sqi03ythq81EklwVgLV4oB8MXU2jy42pF471q5mC5utdyrCgLhQ9pawvg4YQTk77nrhHk9ec6X0Y/s400/bob_marley.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 329px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Guy Portelli's Bob Marley in bronze</div>
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: Do you keep abreast of current new music or like most of the rest of us listen to old favourites from your youth?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Both really - lots of old favourites but always on the look out for new music; I listen to a lot of Latin American - more innovation coming from abroad I feel...</span><br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: Do you have assistants in your workshop studio?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Yes - usually two - last week up to five!</span><br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: Do you prefer to work alone?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Yes for the creative side, no for the production.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrLCMEY5GUczyn6c4VcREmCJhEdwpn3WwqI_ZjFsbEPOIEkkGjwwSkrST1I655Ks_x6xGcd4I73ivca5JSQcQ63ofJJPuRZuH3CuF5mKCdp78Br1gV-xKyHQ1u1XnqsdAKO8H8Ksv2bk/s1600-h/madonna2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343429286054984274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrLCMEY5GUczyn6c4VcREmCJhEdwpn3WwqI_ZjFsbEPOIEkkGjwwSkrST1I655Ks_x6xGcd4I73ivca5JSQcQ63ofJJPuRZuH3CuF5mKCdp78Br1gV-xKyHQ1u1XnqsdAKO8H8Ksv2bk/s400/madonna2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 266px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Guy Portelli's Material Girl, Nickel Plated Bronze, Swarovski Crystals </div>
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: I notice you use Swarovski crystals in several of your pieces - Material Girl & Frank Sinatra, to name a few. I am crazy about Swarovski. Have you seen the <a href="http://www.alliumblue.com/swarovski-pendants-6670-de-art-c-46_2_383.html">de Art crystals in this season's new Swarovski range</a>? They're asymetrical. What do you think of them?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsALuvILIKmE5OtajSsbTM7fWAX889VkiWhSG3TTjXauPnWE_V-4fy-5WmnYGsxwIcD9Tc9iKEF_dId7QMnQhECZshelEsEfGatWgOV8hSdIZuGJ2ltrXmPHLqwxMPt-Cublvl6T0F_6s/s1600-h/de_art_AB.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343433571571470674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsALuvILIKmE5OtajSsbTM7fWAX889VkiWhSG3TTjXauPnWE_V-4fy-5WmnYGsxwIcD9Tc9iKEF_dId7QMnQhECZshelEsEfGatWgOV8hSdIZuGJ2ltrXmPHLqwxMPt-Cublvl6T0F_6s/s400/de_art_AB.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Swarovski de Art crystal AB</div>
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: I have seen a few - their </span><a href="http://www.swarovski-crystallized.com/Portal.Node/public?gentics.am=main_content&p.contentid=10007.25844" style="color: #000099;">Gt Marlborough St Shop</a><span style="color: #000099;"> is "bling" heaven!</span><br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: What do you think about Swarovski generally?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Expensive but good.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIneOwR60bX2i5ofH_LBbJ1qfTdkHEJu4sP1crOeBiYhle5uEP9OCFT0noVEVlxIj8DOwQvHtY8hCniu6xhe2S2o6Piermkl-a0bZwM7x3p1PmysUZXwFz3rJ4lvT-NLdv3wJ6sm2gpQ/s1600-h/sade2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343429298520670018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIneOwR60bX2i5ofH_LBbJ1qfTdkHEJu4sP1crOeBiYhle5uEP9OCFT0noVEVlxIj8DOwQvHtY8hCniu6xhe2S2o6Piermkl-a0bZwM7x3p1PmysUZXwFz3rJ4lvT-NLdv3wJ6sm2gpQ/s400/sade2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 269px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Guy Portelli's Sade, bronze.</div>
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: You use a lot of bronze in your work...<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: I have done in the past but now using cast aluminium with nickel or gold plating.</span><br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: What is your favourite material to work with and why?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Bronze remains the classic material for sculpture and a number of my Pop Icons pieces are bronze.</span><br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: Have you ever used ungrouted smalti in your mosaics or have you mainly used Italian glass tessarae? Would you like to use smalti in the future if you haven't used them so far?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Yes I have used it but find it hard to grout - but it produces some interesting effects.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIjIymO96KbofJWMVO4fNzhrbCBYBXz6Bp6XioXl1LxHCMWKptHIYqwr0et8R38z_NjM8Ur7AsBMNhqxIQA_IJSJI5WvcfRg9M1ZF0bVyt-OoDddbx2-vCl_OeRDwo0jIIuB_WdIgCYw/s1600-h/dichro_cabs.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343409893726922514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIjIymO96KbofJWMVO4fNzhrbCBYBXz6Bp6XioXl1LxHCMWKptHIYqwr0et8R38z_NjM8Ur7AsBMNhqxIQA_IJSJI5WvcfRg9M1ZF0bVyt-OoDddbx2-vCl_OeRDwo0jIIuB_WdIgCYw/s400/dichro_cabs.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 328px;" /></a></div>
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Dichroic glass cabochons by dichroic artist Debra Collins of <a href="http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Toffeeglass-Dichroics_?_sid=51948635&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14&_pgn=2">Toffeeglass Dichroics</a></div>
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: How do you feel about dichroic glass?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: I have not used it so far...and havent researched it so can't really comment.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYybnvFX2XnAlKNR0fDnOXC6ZEMJ1DbO8bZ28-TE1sNmSojEH0q8ICZJr3yALL9OXNX4rtOhetCjWQnul_kms6Am_EaH6tcBHZvkAZ6FJ5IjIe2ggxy4S6I3A6i7TSz5Q1MJh6LIP6T0A/s1600-h/veiled+erotic+meret+oppenheim+Erotique+Voil%C3%A9e.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343413862401064194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYybnvFX2XnAlKNR0fDnOXC6ZEMJ1DbO8bZ28-TE1sNmSojEH0q8ICZJr3yALL9OXNX4rtOhetCjWQnul_kms6Am_EaH6tcBHZvkAZ6FJ5IjIe2ggxy4S6I3A6i7TSz5Q1MJh6LIP6T0A/s400/veiled+erotic+meret+oppenheim+Erotique+Voil%C3%A9e.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 310px;" /></a></div>
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Dada Movement: Erotique Voilée (Veiled erotic Meret Oppenheim) by Man Ray</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm5QVWFPE-y2hQjaGX_RDTZRsbk8MHEKlOtGQeang1P1o_QMlZRNsmpcaLPCZBy9rUu0yCPwx08COi8eKAhlyrA_pBjYJ5NdAxYhNIMBcsUVoCJioiOhWwmWgqkknBbHrEyAsIxHSYlE/s1600-h/oppenheim_object.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343413855088647506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm5QVWFPE-y2hQjaGX_RDTZRsbk8MHEKlOtGQeang1P1o_QMlZRNsmpcaLPCZBy9rUu0yCPwx08COi8eKAhlyrA_pBjYJ5NdAxYhNIMBcsUVoCJioiOhWwmWgqkknBbHrEyAsIxHSYlE/s400/oppenheim_object.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 248px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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Dada Movement: by Meret Oppenheim, constructed with fur from a Chinese gazelle. Oppenheim is also often credited with coining the phrase " Nobody will give you freedom, you have to take it"</div>
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: How important is the Dada movement as an influence in your work?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: I dip in and out of every art"ism" to put together combinations of images and styles - no one movement is favourite - but I do like Italian sculpture of the 50s.</span><br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: Me too, especially Murano glass!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfV0dR82MzlmGtFRQ9vyqH-jPXnsFGcnIM8oRz4_NIhNNsLCQ_TV023wyByZGbr4hW3h92kDVSbmckTbv_QnjkQF3NKDeDnB5_EIlGYVocouOQ-eqCZX8pcmWX94pWSCJGONJwjod0Vig/s1600-h/walter+furlan+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343428544235916482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfV0dR82MzlmGtFRQ9vyqH-jPXnsFGcnIM8oRz4_NIhNNsLCQ_TV023wyByZGbr4hW3h92kDVSbmckTbv_QnjkQF3NKDeDnB5_EIlGYVocouOQ-eqCZX8pcmWX94pWSCJGONJwjod0Vig/s400/walter+furlan+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTifHySxUL4jLK6lVj9D4R4lYCS_8n6GU8A5sUrACCtJW6CaJXy9UDHHkl2LdDnrmIKX4Fw5KmILpfRjSnq84MTSTE0j9SPo4sG3L1_2q1G4dO_mgXLryclKJ6R8ppChdwth-dvmyUfE/s1600-h/walter+furlan.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343428540417156114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTifHySxUL4jLK6lVj9D4R4lYCS_8n6GU8A5sUrACCtJW6CaJXy9UDHHkl2LdDnrmIKX4Fw5KmILpfRjSnq84MTSTE0j9SPo4sG3L1_2q1G4dO_mgXLryclKJ6R8ppChdwth-dvmyUfE/s400/walter+furlan.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a></div>
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Two pieces by legendary Italian glass sculptor <a href="http://www.artdecorwhalley.co.uk/artdec.cgi?call=special">Walter Furlan</a></div>
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: Do you mentally construct an entire piece before physically assembling it? How much of the creative process occurs during the actual making of the piece?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: I usually have the first few stages resolved at the outset but rely on watching the work unfold to give the last few magical elements.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcp03NspwZak_o8iMw1kjgRthspc1WjiESVMlfTnRhAi0EvcYB6sX-bgyJuZmiUclSGwA1erU2MD9Bo9NRPQCEv6mcfetNh5qjeE-5MGwkxWkHBzYsXE9J7hHj1F5OqZOeQvRbv4KZq1w/s1600-h/artpark_sculpture_guy_portelli_gates.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343432019616411826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcp03NspwZak_o8iMw1kjgRthspc1WjiESVMlfTnRhAi0EvcYB6sX-bgyJuZmiUclSGwA1erU2MD9Bo9NRPQCEv6mcfetNh5qjeE-5MGwkxWkHBzYsXE9J7hHj1F5OqZOeQvRbv4KZq1w/s400/artpark_sculpture_guy_portelli_gates.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 264px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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Above: Guy Portelli with his Eagle Gates in bronze, metal and stone. "<i>"The gates weigh around 2 tons worth of bronze, and are possibly the largest set of gates privately owned"</i></div>
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: How long did it take you to make your wondrous and magestic Eagle Gates, from mental construction to finished piece?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Approximately 18 months - 2 months were spent researching eagles' anatomy and how they moved before starting the gates.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-b_h6tepBZGp3il8hB5QDnn17E039kytzT8rBw601u5vZexTwC0GQ0wR2nj2-zadVUzSPqrHWFjczboT_QYpqAIu9h8GTdzeVJqI-yUmw3NubY3f7xo8Na6eh4xb3oAcONHRWwv_7dLs/s1600-h/artpark_sculpture_guy_portelli_gate_1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343445782661969218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-b_h6tepBZGp3il8hB5QDnn17E039kytzT8rBw601u5vZexTwC0GQ0wR2nj2-zadVUzSPqrHWFjczboT_QYpqAIu9h8GTdzeVJqI-yUmw3NubY3f7xo8Na6eh4xb3oAcONHRWwv_7dLs/s400/artpark_sculpture_guy_portelli_gate_1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IuXO6cJt6J9M8Z6zP4Lg428GQKaUd6xXFren4U6AxfOMkIHhvAlr7vZ5DlSBiXZvloBpiPFRUBEwrhAyp5H_SB5lCR2KyPlSfrvXuwMeDYS92plUzLCMfZwpIFYsx3RJ1YaEYHKkHEw/s1600-h/artpark_sculpture_guy_portelli_gate_3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343435265409074450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IuXO6cJt6J9M8Z6zP4Lg428GQKaUd6xXFren4U6AxfOMkIHhvAlr7vZ5DlSBiXZvloBpiPFRUBEwrhAyp5H_SB5lCR2KyPlSfrvXuwMeDYS92plUzLCMfZwpIFYsx3RJ1YaEYHKkHEw/s400/artpark_sculpture_guy_portelli_gate_3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a></div>
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: What material would you like to work with that so far you haven't worked with?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Gold</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGGhbhErYtdTSUKi81Vxf7cYeB_raBO6hI8hLyImJm2726GE2Cv5OLPFBmml-q5b4thyisLBfWjo7UKcygp-dvLc30WIIqI79ad_Ik-RYqeIqiDkmtLQ2f_mShUarrHIMI9IpgqcfZJA/s1600-h/Deadwood-Smelter.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343436120196465154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGGhbhErYtdTSUKi81Vxf7cYeB_raBO6hI8hLyImJm2726GE2Cv5OLPFBmml-q5b4thyisLBfWjo7UKcygp-dvLc30WIIqI79ad_Ik-RYqeIqiDkmtLQ2f_mShUarrHIMI9IpgqcfZJA/s400/Deadwood-Smelter.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 318px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Deadwood and Delaware Smelter at Deadwood, Dakota Territory.<br />
Taken by legendary Western Frontier photographer <a href="http://www.digital-picture-printing-frames.com/john_grabill_picture.htm">John C. H Grabill</a>, 1890. Grabill donated 188 photographs to the Library of Congress between 1887 and 1892.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-h_CMdjt-yUaOf8jgxg0JN5wfY3Au8YMzYhWzmq5PU0-ZWVVSh22whqIeOG1GcwRooYazHxBgNjLyptN-Ry6yDfmWCPpE7RYTwzh7T3q2L_3wphqWo5V4UxILpsoP1t9YKOejDhF5WY/s1600-h/GRA-00005497-med.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343438526248872770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-h_CMdjt-yUaOf8jgxg0JN5wfY3Au8YMzYhWzmq5PU0-ZWVVSh22whqIeOG1GcwRooYazHxBgNjLyptN-Ry6yDfmWCPpE7RYTwzh7T3q2L_3wphqWo5V4UxILpsoP1t9YKOejDhF5WY/s400/GRA-00005497-med.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 259px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Placer mining at Rockerville, Dakota. Old timers, Spriggs, Lamb and Dillon at work.<br />
1889. Part of the <a href="http://www.digital-picture-printing-frames.com/store/PPF/Category_ID/720/products.asp">John C H Grabill Collection</a>.</div>
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<br />
Jude Calvert-Toulmin: The mosaic artist Martin Cheek is often hailed as one of the leading mosaic artists in the UK, and has been a huge influence on my own mosaic work. Are you familiar with his work and what do you think of it? He has recently been expanding his working method using fused glass as key feature pieces in smaller mosaics, I wondered what you think of <a href="http://www.martincheek.co.uk/new%21%21%21/">this new work?</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4IcVnphNnKJ3zjuo4asqCaCAYQPh5vhL2ENssE3vzA_woEFKPuZfhO1MyYKeamx2u1FqxhaeHJAf8p__z58o6LUij6CqI-IBhLIe5111YgXRBhanIHMjFNCpn9te3QlcOkNL_-sG0cQ/s1600-h/martin_cheek_madonna.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343439018086002546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4IcVnphNnKJ3zjuo4asqCaCAYQPh5vhL2ENssE3vzA_woEFKPuZfhO1MyYKeamx2u1FqxhaeHJAf8p__z58o6LUij6CqI-IBhLIe5111YgXRBhanIHMjFNCpn9te3QlcOkNL_-sG0cQ/s400/martin_cheek_madonna.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 398px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Madonna, by Martin Cheek.</div>
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Thank you for introducing me to his work - I think the Byzantine pieces are the ones I feel suits his style best - I think what he does is more difficult than what I do!</span><br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: Is glass a material with which you'd like to experiment more in the future?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Yes, I have done a few small pieces with glass in the past but would like to do more.</span><br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: What are you most looking forward to about your upcoming show at the Mall Galleries?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Getting it all finished, dressing the gallery.</span><br />
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Jude Calvert-Toulmin: And what aspect is the most daunting?<br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Guy Portelli: Talking to lots of people!</span><br />
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Below, the Pop Icons exhibition as reported by the BBC.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG40kL8WVq39C_Lb3uH7lTx7zV4AtlAAW0h5DGZjeNsuQSjgVRUCvAaWuUYw0WTLDlAmWvhN5Pn554TEFZl1E8pp-ejEhyphenhyphenuqqUnefSaSuAeTXRT1cRmDM_t6E4_OPds5VaXqUVOnWy4fs/s1600-h/1978.jpg"><br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Finterview-with-sculptor-guy-portelli.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-85805946191910223972009-02-08T15:00:00.002+00:002018-06-04T09:10:07.546+01:00INTERVIEW WITH PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID WINGENote to the dozens of climbers viewing this article: My live online interviews with legendary climbers Johnny Dawes, John Redhead and John Dunne, and my published articles for climbing magazines On The Edge and High can be found <a href="http://judecalverttoulmin.googlepages.com/">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiVLTkER4u9FX0oxuHCCJ0vbMtX4rR2Zj-u7Wj8vsF49aVlVuksc2FOMgf12ZAI8gEFEImGl7T3IWRkwgt8t4Owtoix0Y7x4fIpcZCe_ytSLfb-pHj3lDwRH-puLv7VRAGnqWoDuUKUs/s1600-h/IMG_8269B2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300420488154145778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiVLTkER4u9FX0oxuHCCJ0vbMtX4rR2Zj-u7Wj8vsF49aVlVuksc2FOMgf12ZAI8gEFEImGl7T3IWRkwgt8t4Owtoix0Y7x4fIpcZCe_ytSLfb-pHj3lDwRH-puLv7VRAGnqWoDuUKUs/s400/IMG_8269B2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 267px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>Bill Helm<br />
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A year ago I decided to write a novel to cater for the number of people arriving on this blog having googled the key words "mother in law son in law sex". I spent the spring writing the novel, handed it over to my editor, then pored through hundreds of photographs on deviantArt, waiting for that one photograph to jump out at me as the cover.<br />
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As soon as I set eyes on Tree Shadows, David's beautiful shot of model Nora Saenz, I knew I'd found the one.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO2YWtnbahRXgItvot0TT7RRHZO4JyUBAIG0zY7Fqx6GablHT1sVH27_sqIGM14Tl5m7p0bHNtNzbBTduA_yI3cZrxBFuM2zrAAxfKM-V8tijSAN_Z426L9uABy-eCxUbjBJRm4G3wH8/s1600-h/Tree_Shadows_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300433440744107778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO2YWtnbahRXgItvot0TT7RRHZO4JyUBAIG0zY7Fqx6GablHT1sVH27_sqIGM14Tl5m7p0bHNtNzbBTduA_yI3cZrxBFuM2zrAAxfKM-V8tijSAN_Z426L9uABy-eCxUbjBJRm4G3wH8/s400/Tree_Shadows_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge<br />
Above: Tree Shadows<br />
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After my own input in Photoshop and Illlustrator, the end result was below. You can buy the novel on Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0956029809/ref=noism?/tag=fledelyspub-21">here</a> in the UK or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0956029809/ref=noism?/tag=fledelyspub-21">here</a> in the USA.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9jLeDGnKqFL4grxi7wVcTp_NahpHA3izJ6Ug56y1bAh-GqwOjd3U5ayLE19tXAGva-TH05OPzNrmCxf9ic-x_OiQF6Ugg_ZhzhHaX7GtPDrY2BF9jf-4hHS1MkomnzMqIQ6r4Hs4Qgk/s1600-h/MILSIL_medium.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300434940741606306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9jLeDGnKqFL4grxi7wVcTp_NahpHA3izJ6Ug56y1bAh-GqwOjd3U5ayLE19tXAGva-TH05OPzNrmCxf9ic-x_OiQF6Ugg_ZhzhHaX7GtPDrY2BF9jf-4hHS1MkomnzMqIQ6r4Hs4Qgk/s400/MILSIL_medium.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
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So many people have commented on the stunning David Winge cover that I thought I would interview David for the blog. Here's what he had to say.<br />
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Jude: Hi David. What do you think of the final book cover result?<br />
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David: It's wonderful, and honestly it is a shot that almost didn't get posted, Nora picked it out. It was a result of Nora wanting to do some images in a more figure study style, as you know I tend to work more in landscapes where my model is part of the overall scene and not necessarily<br />
the main subject in the photo. After the shoot we were reviewing the results and she saw this image and immediately asked me to edit and post it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ykXJPU2pyK0QaY8FKy9jkzcdfMTOXGCO91RFcll7ZN-aL3wR_f4eTBpHFeHchSZ4W7yQbPtMEgVVSPxRP_OCH31y9oVFoHq0DLNv3lXue5hRAlthSrpDogT4kav6xH3BSKyqVVKCrLM/s1600-h/Hidden_Strengths_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300432561620369314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ykXJPU2pyK0QaY8FKy9jkzcdfMTOXGCO91RFcll7ZN-aL3wR_f4eTBpHFeHchSZ4W7yQbPtMEgVVSPxRP_OCH31y9oVFoHq0DLNv3lXue5hRAlthSrpDogT4kav6xH3BSKyqVVKCrLM/s400/Hidden_Strengths_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Jude: I understand you got into photography by restoring old family photographs. Can you tell us a little about that?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNf5z66ONiOUv2Ni1QLo2zl2HjiZfOe9WB2yIbPksPF6Ml483Dajkvkz4zGmGxe-Xd87YjvbGn74SvgLGEtEBklTEXPz5IF4CPTdrEy2m3n74C1a1QsusfphjdAu8NGwwZeL261P6wKGI/s1600-h/57738927.1stmovie.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300420440196239954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNf5z66ONiOUv2Ni1QLo2zl2HjiZfOe9WB2yIbPksPF6Ml483Dajkvkz4zGmGxe-Xd87YjvbGn74SvgLGEtEBklTEXPz5IF4CPTdrEy2m3n74C1a1QsusfphjdAu8NGwwZeL261P6wKGI/s400/57738927.1stmovie.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 296px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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David: From the time I was very young I had a keen interest in old photographs, historical photos, old family photos and I would come across old family photographs but because of the age, original materials, storage and quality of these images they were often scratched, faded or damaged. I was learning to work in a darkroom and found I could actually photograph these images using my 35mm SLR camera and then using darkroom techniques, touch them up and enlarge them. I began a little restoration program and many of these redone photographs hang in the homes of my relatives today.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4QICUTDhh1sWrpJT4e3Bved_QJoHw14dgPVm_D1MUepLoaMbL0-cnYWA3aC3yXnFoT7yd0hSZnM8O9CSR_r6wHkOzmGV6yESJfKMCC1WZX8CUB8Z3Wjy2fA3TQ4DkxyQIypf5w56qbU/s1600-h/Prayers_That_I_Send_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300433151805070722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4QICUTDhh1sWrpJT4e3Bved_QJoHw14dgPVm_D1MUepLoaMbL0-cnYWA3aC3yXnFoT7yd0hSZnM8O9CSR_r6wHkOzmGV6yESJfKMCC1WZX8CUB8Z3Wjy2fA3TQ4DkxyQIypf5w56qbU/s400/Prayers_That_I_Send_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Jude: Was the first nude portrait you ever did in the desert? Or were you photographing desert landscapes first?<br />
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David: I have not been photographing nudes for very long, only about 3 years now, I was starting to photograph more and more in recent years and my candid shots of people were receiving wonderful reviews. Someone suggested I find a model to work with and try to expand on my ideas and concepts. Using landscapes for me goes back all of my life, then I discovered the desert in the early 80s and travelled out there often when I played the drums for a band whose<br />
founding members lived in the Mojave just north of Los Angeles, CA.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQRfarHNfNq6-U9G-pcnyIdYw3eqfwJg2VK7BIuTitti1jp6YuSAHEpp2hiSonATxu7Z6ODaVZz0qiTXlG1PLAsT3EgsDEsW57HySqsVuix8ca0Hnt2iE07jkBLyELRX4oRC4wSV1LrU/s1600-h/See_Right_Through_Me_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300433439604871730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQRfarHNfNq6-U9G-pcnyIdYw3eqfwJg2VK7BIuTitti1jp6YuSAHEpp2hiSonATxu7Z6ODaVZz0qiTXlG1PLAsT3EgsDEsW57HySqsVuix8ca0Hnt2iE07jkBLyELRX4oRC4wSV1LrU/s400/See_Right_Through_Me_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 267px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Nudes in the desert was a natural collaboration of these two, the first several models that I met were wonderful and very creative people, I feel very fortunate to have found them and those first photographs we shot were amazing. After a couple of trips out there working with nudes in the desert I was hooked, I remember one specific instance while editing our work, I had to pause, I could hardly believe that I had helped create such beautiful images.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMa0RoNE9AHYigherf0zf8v09x0xjETfiRCGkvPLX5afNtYGtox9GtG-AHuupeBhkGHmHngvAOhWP1NnKvKnnUPXZYsXM4FW7k1_e2_OPMgmbNKba65_xzlF35mbxmmDctuXCM9QyFNo/s1600-h/Hope_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300432562003262290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMa0RoNE9AHYigherf0zf8v09x0xjETfiRCGkvPLX5afNtYGtox9GtG-AHuupeBhkGHmHngvAOhWP1NnKvKnnUPXZYsXM4FW7k1_e2_OPMgmbNKba65_xzlF35mbxmmDctuXCM9QyFNo/s400/Hope_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge<br />
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Jude: You have been quoted as saying "Putting clothes on a model is akin to putting a parking lot over a field of flowers." I love this quote, because it sums up for me one of the beauties of your work, your appreciation of the natural beauty of women's bodies. I had an article published in the final ever issue of prestigious climbing and mountaineering magazine, HIGH, entitled <a href="http://judecalverttoulmin.googlepages.com/">Tits vs. homo-Eroticism at the Crag</a>, arguing that if men were allowed to take their tops off whilst rock climbing, so should women be. The article caused storms of controversy on the British climbing forums. Do you think women should be permitted the freedom to take their tops off in public just as men are? Why do you think that society still demands that women cover their breasts? After all they are beautiful, men love them and they nourish babies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0doFjfADjjmvRrmsNEKjpKqAcZ_HRoo6d85OjXwzLBbB8WqkV-5nL1pHcEQLrix78d_Gv1mZdpAPyDVwWrnxVaFEyfB6RGE3WFawq3wJL-h_Mf4ToJkl9NOaZNdICi9c_U9kV6-7_10/s1600-h/Physical_Memory_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300433148925464674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0doFjfADjjmvRrmsNEKjpKqAcZ_HRoo6d85OjXwzLBbB8WqkV-5nL1pHcEQLrix78d_Gv1mZdpAPyDVwWrnxVaFEyfB6RGE3WFawq3wJL-h_Mf4ToJkl9NOaZNdICi9c_U9kV6-7_10/s400/Physical_Memory_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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David: Thank you, that quote was born partly from frustration at attitudes and in my opinion nudity should certainly be a choice, I find it quite twisted that society equates nudity to something wrong or bad and especially something illegal except in very private locations. That said, this does not mean I would enjoy a ride in a crowded bus full of naked strangers, what I mean is I find it so ironic that we place a high value on classical paintings and statues depicting<br />
nudes done by historical masters but deprive ourselves of this expression. Who and what are these laws and morals protecting? I don´t see that laws against nudity have done<br />
more good than harm.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMW3iRamJpLry6qxhVDrHKW9H33FTbwiCyOr9Jn-Az5jw8Lci-R16IbPZQ70AC7M54hj_u_TMNjmB9gXM8vs3-dgsFJeK3ch26236IIPbkS5cA6Krh3vftKsGiQDPJ4OSanBb0HC8zMc/s1600-h/But_You_Won__t_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300432205501486034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMW3iRamJpLry6qxhVDrHKW9H33FTbwiCyOr9Jn-Az5jw8Lci-R16IbPZQ70AC7M54hj_u_TMNjmB9gXM8vs3-dgsFJeK3ch26236IIPbkS5cA6Krh3vftKsGiQDPJ4OSanBb0HC8zMc/s400/But_You_Won__t_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Another favorite quote of mine is from Peter McWilliams, "The laws against public nudity make no sense. The idea that Jerry Falwell can go topless while Cindy Crawford cannot is an absolute affront to logic, common sense and the 5000 year human struggle for aesthetic taste."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZmgsbRWMWCpxEPzWYFRLKm3dTITrBxFqDY6iFqyHqnEmBuqgyiZYYaUYAH1RVLikih2aen6EOHxWjq5_K20xdwiBAxb_yrqw0ZopJ242eoU7GzeVZzbsNF0FQwbN9NGvT7g491gLSmk/s1600-h/Natural_Resource_II_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300433143172970930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZmgsbRWMWCpxEPzWYFRLKm3dTITrBxFqDY6iFqyHqnEmBuqgyiZYYaUYAH1RVLikih2aen6EOHxWjq5_K20xdwiBAxb_yrqw0ZopJ242eoU7GzeVZzbsNF0FQwbN9NGvT7g491gLSmk/s400/Natural_Resource_II_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Jude: Another thing I love about your work is the fact that you so obviously have a lot of respect for women. By photographing naked women in stunning landscapes, are you trying to emphasise the fact that nature is beautiful, and just as no one would be ashamed of a mountain, no one should be ashamed of the bodies nature gave us? Or am I reading too much into it! At any rate, what inspires you to photograph nudes in desert landscapes?<br />
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David: This is it exactly Jude, my intention is to share the natural beauty I see, and I wouldn't mind at all if it changed a few attitudes along the way. My hope is that when people view my work they are able to see past the model and see the harmony of beauty in a natural setting, I would hope they see how we are part of it all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqus4JJd-TH2CP5F_M3cEMy69CsK_UqifpGMtMRVxMsFEPO9EOBSVkEEve5BBDQDl9PVtDb7ArgqcA8o__Utfo49K7WNXbv-1RsFv2JHD2Tw1juLaxy2Gw4_axKGStKa9afGdaY5ZGCbs/s1600-h/Magic_Woman_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300433144674808498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqus4JJd-TH2CP5F_M3cEMy69CsK_UqifpGMtMRVxMsFEPO9EOBSVkEEve5BBDQDl9PVtDb7ArgqcA8o__Utfo49K7WNXbv-1RsFv2JHD2Tw1juLaxy2Gw4_axKGStKa9afGdaY5ZGCbs/s400/Magic_Woman_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Another factor is the desert itself because I feel we sometimes equate nudity with vulnerability, it is part of my goal to show the glory and strength of the human spirit. And I do have a great deal of respect for my models not only are they out there in remote areas of desert, in all kinds of weather and temperatures, at odd times of the day but they do all this nude and for the purpose of creating art.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQj0ekSNVPM6XES8VaYIUZX5r8Dju8BSxV6XwjzcecB6Rl0RHebOMEO5gtmt7AmUh-j3ELSRmRWsKnurYjz79nt88y34cGWljzAburzQZYst4QsgpeOZpNAD9e2pn3fqgXZxMOvUhXil0/s1600-h/How_Could_I_Say_No_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300432564039422642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQj0ekSNVPM6XES8VaYIUZX5r8Dju8BSxV6XwjzcecB6Rl0RHebOMEO5gtmt7AmUh-j3ELSRmRWsKnurYjz79nt88y34cGWljzAburzQZYst4QsgpeOZpNAD9e2pn3fqgXZxMOvUhXil0/s400/How_Could_I_Say_No_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 267px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Jude: One of the reasons I love Tree Shadows so much, which I used as the basis for the cover of my novel Mother-in-Law, Son-in-Law, is the interplay between light and shade. So how important is chiaroscuro in your work?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSveRSGjgNpPBFk_Pf-nRzsC4j2Z9BYzKGAtbMrpmbJCsv7LRiaNPSIjjr17aaZKPnwLjcbWejApKdYhQCGdGFkdEdFjynkzkQitvouXbFkJk3q2qvutC9ozlpghuIg0Z26sxtbAS08lU/s1600-h/IMG_2784B2B.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300420480816741426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSveRSGjgNpPBFk_Pf-nRzsC4j2Z9BYzKGAtbMrpmbJCsv7LRiaNPSIjjr17aaZKPnwLjcbWejApKdYhQCGdGFkdEdFjynkzkQitvouXbFkJk3q2qvutC9ozlpghuIg0Z26sxtbAS08lU/s400/IMG_2784B2B.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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David: I try to remain aware of shadows, especially my own! Seriously, shadow plays an important role as does the lack of shadows, in photography I use shadows to add dimension and sometimes to add a level of drama. Nora has such a beautiful shape, in Tree Shadows it was Nora who chose that location, I found that using more shadow than light helped to soften the overall image and to further enhance the depth of field, to make her smooth skin appear in the image more as it does in real life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TPYtU3wY-rv8p14riWDdZ3lF_40SUSSk4uT6OooXMgwLNnSKefY4SQLNpLwkCg91GqMvzek2dzB3uSrq2phOL8G0S-q-5CgS9DEHn87eL2XtBJBZufkYFH9MPcKacmzpDV2BhQ3PCX4/s1600-h/Twisty_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300447428004900770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TPYtU3wY-rv8p14riWDdZ3lF_40SUSSk4uT6OooXMgwLNnSKefY4SQLNpLwkCg91GqMvzek2dzB3uSrq2phOL8G0S-q-5CgS9DEHn87eL2XtBJBZufkYFH9MPcKacmzpDV2BhQ3PCX4/s400/Twisty_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Jude: How important is texture in your photographs? How important is the difference between the texture of the model's skin and the texture landscape's skin in your work?<br />
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David: This is where I just love the desert for my work, there is an abundance of textures, and shapes in the desert, I try to use both in a sort of interplay along with contrasts and light and appearance of the model.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Jude: I have heard top rock climbers say that they become physically aroused by their interaction with the rock, and climbers use many sexual innuendos when describing climbing, often referring to rocks as women and lovers. Do any of your models become aroused by the feel of the rock?<br />
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David: I hadn't heard this before, but honestly I would be so busy setting up to shoot I probably wouldn't even notice, though I have had a couple of models want to start a naked rock climbing club, so there may be something to this!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHphBx6awuBMHZbT7K6mxuSuVlSmrNAF3s0Tqrpg0nKwzq-IdiCzymbqi4-7RgbQhN7zlOKtfwt3bsn7ueELtdCm-BLW4z6QEsm0ukniX1eBurVdI2XfS-0W5WVuRpHsIgEj6xgC3Y4s/s1600-h/At_Work_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300432209134237970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHphBx6awuBMHZbT7K6mxuSuVlSmrNAF3s0Tqrpg0nKwzq-IdiCzymbqi4-7RgbQhN7zlOKtfwt3bsn7ueELtdCm-BLW4z6QEsm0ukniX1eBurVdI2XfS-0W5WVuRpHsIgEj6xgC3Y4s/s400/At_Work_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 267px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Jude:How important is the relationship between photographer and model?<br />
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David: I believe this is important, however also dependent somewhat on the type and genre of the work, the more creative and edgy the goal of the image the more important this relationship becomes I feel. I look at other photographer´s work regularly and I feel I can see a certain dynamic between certain pairs, now others may not believe this to be true and I myself didn´t believe it at first. I was under the impression that as two professionals getting remarkable images was something quite consistent regardless. But over time now I have come to realise there is something intangible going on as you move closer to the artistic side of photography, for myself it came in the way of improved images the more I work with someone and better images depending on our level of enthusiasm about the project.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOaynGNVh817cNJFIQfWmMLX-ZJv6N_bDNsWiA9IRRF53t2yTV2MPLZSW3m5JagG-XyB5IM7VlC41vvFGWnY3jclYlQs2_AWBcYLqR1EEZywHuvTBLsHIN65iFxuIPZ-mOH3xuT0-2eA/s1600-h/Alien_Home_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300432204940861954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOaynGNVh817cNJFIQfWmMLX-ZJv6N_bDNsWiA9IRRF53t2yTV2MPLZSW3m5JagG-XyB5IM7VlC41vvFGWnY3jclYlQs2_AWBcYLqR1EEZywHuvTBLsHIN65iFxuIPZ-mOH3xuT0-2eA/s400/Alien_Home_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Jude: I know from my own experience that being photographed naked is a form of making love to the camera, and that an electrical spark must happen between the photographer and model for the shoot to work at its best. Does this spark always exist between you and your models?<br />
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David: I'm afraid my answer may be disappointing to your readers, if by spark you mean a creative spark then yes, if you mean something more intimate than I have to say no. My time on location at a photo shoot is most often somewhat exhausting, I am constantly watching for the location of the sun and the type and style of terrain I want to use, the distant background as well as the models placement in setting up a shot. I'm conveying the emotional feel and at times the pose to the model and I am concentrating on my composition as well as the shadows, light and field of view.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPXQZsRc_EaMyj3YwAGF2vOnHAbWICGENAd3Knk_nKEoFmoivu07BanX6RM8TbHD9FAKPy5uQDGR5HVyqWCan7XEQ3ywPtX7kTGyCqRokJY8VKgy4aL1YyYTo_3zFMypbHKalNKgbKO0/s1600-h/honey_grooving.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300443279943544498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPXQZsRc_EaMyj3YwAGF2vOnHAbWICGENAd3Knk_nKEoFmoivu07BanX6RM8TbHD9FAKPy5uQDGR5HVyqWCan7XEQ3ywPtX7kTGyCqRokJY8VKgy4aL1YyYTo_3zFMypbHKalNKgbKO0/s400/honey_grooving.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 265px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
The extremely naughty Fleur De Lys Publishing PA, "Honey Higginbotham"<br />
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Jude: Have your photo sessions ever led to further intimacy with a model?<br />
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David: Not yet unfortunately, should I have the opportunity to work with Fleur De Lys PA, the enchanting Ms. Higginbotham....however!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORLt2JBBGt1Jxe9R7kmQc7TwjS9Fx3K6lU4dDB51xJnSw5-Riuf8F6508PEd9sy3Pzps5HGWwFsk_WNqgvY59DylaH5_A45aEOCwnsqqFDrLLCqkJI437mcbRW6YB1poB9OVTGVKm6dk/s1600-h/IMG_9633B2B.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300420703501261970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORLt2JBBGt1Jxe9R7kmQc7TwjS9Fx3K6lU4dDB51xJnSw5-Riuf8F6508PEd9sy3Pzps5HGWwFsk_WNqgvY59DylaH5_A45aEOCwnsqqFDrLLCqkJI437mcbRW6YB1poB9OVTGVKm6dk/s400/IMG_9633B2B.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Jude: Have you ever fallen in love with any of your models?<br />
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David: No, I haven't, but this is an interesting question that I've been asked before, it seems there is a misconception about relationships when nudity is involved, people in general equate nudity with sex and this is far from the case. At least for me it is, there must be a good degree of trust in the relationship and mutual respect as artists, though I haven't fallen in love, I do love and have become good friends with several of the models I've worked with.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTsNRYONb9L1MF5ViPipPa2IWG8MrVrMtsk4B-p-_W9tJmNDfV0W6ydywUMDt8ebUaBYhfCqa6t5irtUHSmI7rN4n0nrQYL1J3FDjVFl22gjTxIbjdn1rUDYGQV_2FWX5N23TuPHdNQs/s1600-h/Planetary_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300433153584268066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTsNRYONb9L1MF5ViPipPa2IWG8MrVrMtsk4B-p-_W9tJmNDfV0W6ydywUMDt8ebUaBYhfCqa6t5irtUHSmI7rN4n0nrQYL1J3FDjVFl22gjTxIbjdn1rUDYGQV_2FWX5N23TuPHdNQs/s400/Planetary_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Jude: Have any of your models ever fallen in love with you?<br />
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David: Well, there was one early on and we dated briefly, I spend most of my time scheduling, planning and shooting then editing images so it fizzled out in short order, I just couldn't devote the time needed to sustain a relationship.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CDv4o9-i-3Uc7gkP28YPnsmrfD6PW0PAJ73JoLoCXXFpFk31Q0aQUDS3Xz8e0x_zXdWfbpZ0jps9d2TuY1U6ujPpKjEVxWVbV1NME4zcifROLBCezHHHYlu2E3cl-qmglvZNf3btUb0/s1600-h/Collaborating_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300432213777786322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CDv4o9-i-3Uc7gkP28YPnsmrfD6PW0PAJ73JoLoCXXFpFk31Q0aQUDS3Xz8e0x_zXdWfbpZ0jps9d2TuY1U6ujPpKjEVxWVbV1NME4zcifROLBCezHHHYlu2E3cl-qmglvZNf3btUb0/s400/Collaborating_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 267px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Jude: Have any of your models met one another? If so under what circumstances and how did they get on?<br />
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David: They meet all the time, many are good friends of each other, in fact one of our local photo studios has been doing a meet & greet style open house one day a month for some time, several of the local art photographers and models meet up there. At times there may be 8 to 10 of the models I've worked with all there at the same time. It's really a wonderful fellowship of artists and like-minded people.<br />
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Jude: Does your partner get jealous of your work?<br />
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David: I'm single, for me it's not that easy to date anyway, not only do I have a very busy schedule and limited time, very few women my age understand my desire to go with young women out to remote locations and photograph them nude.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSr6PaYEFGnJ25bt7rzr_HPhpVjAn-DfnRXKx0FkuA1QaeeS_YC9akrlZzoiNjjOUFA-dag3k9snCT8CBbveEQED5g7buAkQRiDTQJAAK02f0ArnK2xcw7x-tdLCWiUWryMXZBb4VErHI/s1600-h/Heartbreaker__by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300432558222050930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSr6PaYEFGnJ25bt7rzr_HPhpVjAn-DfnRXKx0FkuA1QaeeS_YC9akrlZzoiNjjOUFA-dag3k9snCT8CBbveEQED5g7buAkQRiDTQJAAK02f0ArnK2xcw7x-tdLCWiUWryMXZBb4VErHI/s400/Heartbreaker__by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 267px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge</div>
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Jude: When I asked for your permission to use your shot Tree Shadows as the basis of my book cover, how did you feel?<br />
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David: Oh I was thrilled, I doubt 5 seconds elapsed in between the time I read your message and sent a message to Nora, I knew she would be thrilled as well.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHat3M0eXcFGceOs8c9_C7WRL2Wz_1Qu1ieDLit5QdS4MhAn9fbtoNUtFlm22F8H4jhHrNGD12Lwk416bV31uLPT5nUPEsPgLi9nbYGE8UYuROXA2a7fLjFMc0BWHHaUD72z0kErBle8/s1600-h/IMG_1212B2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300420445467232626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHat3M0eXcFGceOs8c9_C7WRL2Wz_1Qu1ieDLit5QdS4MhAn9fbtoNUtFlm22F8H4jhHrNGD12Lwk416bV31uLPT5nUPEsPgLi9nbYGE8UYuROXA2a7fLjFMc0BWHHaUD72z0kErBle8/s400/IMG_1212B2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial";">© </span></b>David Winge<br />
Above: This shot of Nora inspired Chapter 6 of Mother-in-Law, Son-in-Law, "Cleaning The Window" where Alex lays on the bed fantasising about his topless mother-in-law being outside his bedroom window, cleaning it.</div>
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<br />
Jude: Have you read Mother-in-Law, Son-in-Law yet?<br />
<br />
David: Yes, yes I have.<br />
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Jude: What did you think of it?!<br />
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David: It's a wonderful read, I couldn't put it down! Well, a couple of times I had to. I especially love how you developed the characters and I followed right along with them and it was so easy to see the scene play out in my mind. I love how the plot developed over a period of time, everything didn't just happen at once but more methodically with a sense of things growing between the characters, no pun intended ;) What I also found very interesting was that you included some of your inspirations and influences at the back of the book, I saw that we have more than a few things in common.<br />
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Jude: I personally feel that your model Nora Saenz is one of the most stunning nude models I've ever seen. She has a vibrancy which sings with electricity. Can you tell me what it's like, working with Nora?<br />
<br />
David: Nora is wonderful, I met Nora through another model I was with at the time, Nora had seen our work and wanted to work with me, she hadn't modeled nude prior to our first shoot. Though you wouldn't know it, we did a few shots in a field of desert wildflowers near dawn then drove further out into a low portion of the Colorado desert known as Pinto Basin, by the time we left that second stop she was a natural. She genuinely enjoyed our shoot and that must be some of the vibrancy you see in her images, photo shoots are such wonderful creative outlets and she is also a painter, so I think this was a natural extension of her creativity, almost from the beginning she was sharing ideas which made our shoots more like true collaborations.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdfmSfz2A0VylQJAKYvHf1xIy77G4eocJACY_DC-IKAF0nC7Diy8i_T0S7fEqm2snIFfqefyHANh8vBjZFek0oyqXzW3enz2EQ6R8JCKBrkHkRmVFaL_Tnkts5V0G8UAvAxL6J9-oji8/s1600-h/At_Work2_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300450652299346498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdfmSfz2A0VylQJAKYvHf1xIy77G4eocJACY_DC-IKAF0nC7Diy8i_T0S7fEqm2snIFfqefyHANh8vBjZFek0oyqXzW3enz2EQ6R8JCKBrkHkRmVFaL_Tnkts5V0G8UAvAxL6J9-oji8/s400/At_Work2_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 175px; width: 117px;" /></a></div>
<br />
Jude: And finally, when is your long awaited book Desert Nudes coming out?<br />
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David: I so wish I had an answer to this question, it spent 2 months with a graphic designer who has given up on the project, so now I have to start all over and find someone to help me put it together.<br />
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Most of my work can be seen on the following websites:<br />
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<a href="http://www.pbase.com/dwinge" target="_blank">http://www.pbase.com/dwinge</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://dwingephotography.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">http://dwingephotography.<wbr></wbr>deviantart.com</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.universdartistes.com/2009/02/david-winges-interview.html">David Winge interviewed by Chris St James on the highly regarded Univers d'Artistes</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeznCo8a95AkZfgtV0cFVyiM-kIJ7zRTWTxIyDkS2rqEdmrgx6n6GU4dxtwoul1f7AReJSDG5GodXELsVM3fTcxKOe3Y3_GQ2GedGTY1Aok4tpteqqw7vKaPLByJu44nvddPbrJuTqNk/s1600-h/What_Do_I_Do_Now_by_dwingephotography.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300433442298339154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeznCo8a95AkZfgtV0cFVyiM-kIJ7zRTWTxIyDkS2rqEdmrgx6n6GU4dxtwoul1f7AReJSDG5GodXELsVM3fTcxKOe3Y3_GQ2GedGTY1Aok4tpteqqw7vKaPLByJu44nvddPbrJuTqNk/s400/What_Do_I_Do_Now_by_dwingephotography.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
And finally: me climbing topless in protest at women not being permitted the same freedom as men to remove their tops. When it was published in the climbing press, this photograph caused nothing short of hysteria on the British climbing forums, with little boy climbers who probably hadn't shagged anything other than their hands for a very long time, publicly slagging off both me and my breasts in dozens and dozens of separate threads.<br />
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My Adventures In Cyberspace II, the second of a trilogy of novels inspired by my experiences on the net, is due for publication in September 2009...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ2-NXqMnSIi2yP5YaEBPoHF5AawtqU9E9NjAcAq1yvYeaHFpVossjEqO-nWVvICiUKAKCJBjG-NScL8M3sYfLaAkk02ef7dlTQbL5p4-90Z1gkG9_8ejSNiKcPfuLs5CXTKBqNqkDwQ/s1600-h/best+shot+low+res+copy.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300764234571397170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ2-NXqMnSIi2yP5YaEBPoHF5AawtqU9E9NjAcAq1yvYeaHFpVossjEqO-nWVvICiUKAKCJBjG-NScL8M3sYfLaAkk02ef7dlTQbL5p4-90Z1gkG9_8ejSNiKcPfuLs5CXTKBqNqkDwQ/s400/best+shot+low+res+copy.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 266px;" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fdavid-winge-photographer-of-cover-shot.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-24497248836750485372008-12-19T15:59:00.001+00:002018-06-04T09:09:47.362+01:00INTERVIEW WITH FILMMAKER JUAN CARLOS PINEIRO ESCORIAZA <div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00nHrFCUJDcUz13lwuwDCaj2JgwAjPrb61Kf9kNAx377hub5uB07Plof1f0FyxXZPZ0VgZPPFaDY4vG9JmRpnGzLMTleclIbXpxw7MzyM36O2Fm5qKggeOdkdfx-p3dCZhKyZ1ML7PeA/s1600-h/sswallpaper-800x600.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281484391587953794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00nHrFCUJDcUz13lwuwDCaj2JgwAjPrb61Kf9kNAx377hub5uB07Plof1f0FyxXZPZ0VgZPPFaDY4vG9JmRpnGzLMTleclIbXpxw7MzyM36O2Fm5qKggeOdkdfx-p3dCZhKyZ1ML7PeA/s400/sswallpaper-800x600.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">"Second Skin introduces viewers to the real people who populate online virtual worlds in games like World of Warcraft and Second Life.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> Couples who have fallen in love without meeting, disabled players whose lives have been given new purpose, those struggling with addiction, Chinese gold farming sweatshop workers, wealthy entrepreneurs and legendary guild leaders — all living within a world that doesn't quite exist.</span>"<br />
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***</div>
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<br />
The news has just been released that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0893659/">Gore Verbinski</a>, director of Pirates of The Caribbean and the The Ring (a US remake of Hideo Nakata's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0178868/">Ringu</a>) is going to make a live action, narrative feature film about a Second Life couple.<br />
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Coincidentally, I have a novel coming out on February 27th 2009 entitled MY ADVENTURES IN CYBERSPACE. Set at the turn of the millenium and inspired by own life, it is about a couple falling in love online, on a discussion forum, without knowing what the other looks like IRL (In Real Life.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySrhis5_PkYxIk0uw56T6OQJyz8dYyA3e3m095hDfQh3h9kLOaj1rW7vFwgaqvwwr2oXXiNzgsr9NNdahasltLNFmOHcgfQEVsvKxpiBCkNoB622yJnGtvEjh5wkoyKJDTbUYsn0ICTU/s1600-h/MAIC_large.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281458849171988802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySrhis5_PkYxIk0uw56T6OQJyz8dYyA3e3m095hDfQh3h9kLOaj1rW7vFwgaqvwwr2oXXiNzgsr9NNdahasltLNFmOHcgfQEVsvKxpiBCkNoB622yJnGtvEjh5wkoyKJDTbUYsn0ICTU/s400/MAIC_large.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 258px;" /></a></div>
<br />
And also coincidentally, I have just finished conducting an online interview with Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza, director and editor of <a href="http://secondskinfilm.com/index.php">Second Skin</a>, a documentary which introduces viewers to the real people who populate online virtual worlds in games like World of Warcraft (WOW) and Second Life.<br />
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Here's a trailer for Second Skin:<br />
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<center>
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Produced by <a href="http://www.purewest.us/">Pure West Films</a>, Second Skin has just won Best Documentary at NYC's <a href="http://www.acefest.com/">ACEFEST</a> (American Cinematic Experience) and premiered on the opening night of <a href="http://2008.sxsw.com/film/">SXSW 2008</a> to sold out shows, rave reviews and unprecedented press. It then had its International Premiere at <a href="http://www.hotdocs.ca/index.php/audience/">Hot Docs</a>, selling out and appearing on multiple Must See lists. The filmmakers have been interviewed by Newsweek, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, NPR, Wired, Fox TV, MSNBC and many others.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzfCVUyQbMrS-O-CzdOmsjXr2WWrVI0cb2Tu7vW1uRgESQCQjiUtZ_OgxjDXihPdYjqA_Pt6UWl-EqQeuEarJsb1BRw-T1VxzqfJRYA5og9BcETIqsQia5u6K9yR3CzQu30fjUV_G9EQ/s1600-h/pw_sundance_ss_blog.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275924295563621938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzfCVUyQbMrS-O-CzdOmsjXr2WWrVI0cb2Tu7vW1uRgESQCQjiUtZ_OgxjDXihPdYjqA_Pt6UWl-EqQeuEarJsb1BRw-T1VxzqfJRYA5og9BcETIqsQia5u6K9yR3CzQu30fjUV_G9EQ/s400/pw_sundance_ss_blog.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a></div>
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As soon as I saw this doc listed in the screenings for the Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival in November, I knew I had to see it. And once I'd seen it, my editor, Brian Trevelyan and I, ended up taking Second Skin director Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza away from the Doc/Fest to a traditional English pub for a few bevvies.<br />
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Juan Carlos is a fascinating intellect and a huge talent. He also has his photo on his business card, as I do. Always a good sign. Here's our business cards, and our subsequent online conversation across the pond...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuK1kyeAwzfdMLUKLcqF0aIJVIzKtlfDLoA5Y4zT6qfx1YFY9B-T5i-_8WxGnNUwIbNEPxY-arg-ILTSPAN_Yzj8xVXv7TbbfUVTUOZgyhq5LQ5UAykyvTBtHS0stABHoZ5XLrdd5nbhI/s1600-h/judecard2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281479103318586130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuK1kyeAwzfdMLUKLcqF0aIJVIzKtlfDLoA5Y4zT6qfx1YFY9B-T5i-_8WxGnNUwIbNEPxY-arg-ILTSPAN_Yzj8xVXv7TbbfUVTUOZgyhq5LQ5UAykyvTBtHS0stABHoZ5XLrdd5nbhI/s400/judecard2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 217px; width: 325px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrI9_mmOGTLmjQH6lnScds6fXi0r8u6CTxNf1zRamNIYmneFedP6jYcSYF4J4w6xeWuqo4Vioe0JOPMzqyhQvBKLqf3jgpe_brAHrQDWL57aGGmmGxhX3NQFuyK2NUwcOKXEhuQ9O4zs/s1600-h/juancardfront.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281458105491843826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrI9_mmOGTLmjQH6lnScds6fXi0r8u6CTxNf1zRamNIYmneFedP6jYcSYF4J4w6xeWuqo4Vioe0JOPMzqyhQvBKLqf3jgpe_brAHrQDWL57aGGmmGxhX3NQFuyK2NUwcOKXEhuQ9O4zs/s400/juancardfront.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 216px; width: 328px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin:</span> What's happening with Second Skin at the festivals? </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza:</span> At the moment we're still making our way through the festival tour. The Santa Fe Festival just passed, and we're looking forward to more screenings in Florida, Australia, and Italy. We've also been doing a school lecture tour with the film which has been a lot of fun.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span>In your interview with Newsweek you say:</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">"There was a guy we met in Second Life who was really great: affable, funny, smart and fun—we really connected. Months later, we were shocked to find out he was completely disabled by cerebral palsy, to the point where he could only work one finger on one hand and couldn't talk. In that moment, the power of virtual worlds to enhance people's lives really crashed down on us." Who was this? Andrew Monkelban who plays WOW in Second Skin is disabled. How are his disabilities different from the person you're referring to above? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduxQvHfAhsVgC-yl6UZnmS7rjvf2tOeiCn2OLuGI3rkRwoCIhyphenhyphenc8S2mlDK9UeTmuy8o1FR-UMvDhKhLjDFaMr_Edz5p6HkFvBb-_ek64bCEQzxgvMaDmhzRYDUItdM_db_n9ltZDRRzY/s1600-h/andrew_monkelbans_girls.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275924002369275458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduxQvHfAhsVgC-yl6UZnmS7rjvf2tOeiCn2OLuGI3rkRwoCIhyphenhyphenc8S2mlDK9UeTmuy8o1FR-UMvDhKhLjDFaMr_Edz5p6HkFvBb-_ek64bCEQzxgvMaDmhzRYDUItdM_db_n9ltZDRRzY/s400/andrew_monkelbans_girls.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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Andrew Monkelban at the Anime North convention.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>Actually the person that we were referring to in the Newsweek article is in fact Andrew Monkelban.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKChtwRbpQiSmPV-QL5kEQqHgmukiO-KQx8iIOiE_sx7rf_VMPll6qGcXtRMVkuHprz1URaStXm84OpdP_I3kvgRT3Ae9rI8-vzeIA_BE5bAjJKwNctjz2aRy9vpZYVxmZZI4K5wS5bN8/s1600-h/andrew_monkelbans_WOW.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275920658591015938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKChtwRbpQiSmPV-QL5kEQqHgmukiO-KQx8iIOiE_sx7rf_VMPll6qGcXtRMVkuHprz1URaStXm84OpdP_I3kvgRT3Ae9rI8-vzeIA_BE5bAjJKwNctjz2aRy9vpZYVxmZZI4K5wS5bN8/s400/andrew_monkelbans_WOW.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 326px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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Andrew Monkelban's WOW set up.</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">The British satirical news show, Have I Got News For You (it's harsh, very harsh!) was recently taking the piss out of the idea that gamers represent idealised versions of themselves in their avatars compared to their appearance IRL. Do you think the general public impression of gamers and forum users has crossed over from suspicion at the turn of the millenium (when "cyberspace" was a threatening place full of "weirdos" and geeks) to derision, now?</span></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>There is a stereotype of gamers not looking like their idealized counterparts in the game. As a society we tend to classify and quantify others by putting them into little boxes. It's not a healthy way of doing things, but we do it nonetheless.<br />
I think as virtual worlds become more popular we will see much of the same suspicion and derision that has always existed for new things. People tend to be scared of what they don't know or don't understand. Our life on the web at this moment is frightening because we're all spending so much time glued to screens, but we still don't really understand the impact of it all.<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin:</span> (still chuckling to herself at the irony of Have I Got News For You conforming to bland stereotypes...) </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Have you ever fallen in love online?</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>No - I have never found love online. I found love the old fashioned way. I did try out match.com for a few months some years back, but nothing really happened. The very first interaction I had in an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massively_multiplayer_online_game">MMO</a> with a stranger was pretty odd to me. An armored fellow spoke to me, I got nervous, and left my new buddy stranded. I had an almost instantaneous flight response. At first the relationship gamers had with other strangers did surprise me. Then I put it in perspective with all the social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. I didn't think it was so odd to meet strangers then. Context is everything. Once we become comfortable in a space we tend to open up to others more easily.</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin:</span> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">As you know from the conversations we had IRL when you met him, I fell in love with my fiance and partner of 7 years, Brian, on a large forum. I didn't know what he looked like at the time as this was pre-facebook / online profile days. I fell in love with his writing on the forum, with the way his postings were totally subversive. He was managing to offend hundreds of people with one liners and only I could see that he was taking the piss. And yet he was also respectful, respected, gentle, funny and highly intelligent. By the time we met IRL we were already in love, unbeknown to us at the time. What I think is great about this way of falling in love is its purity. I had no idea what job he did, his status IRL, whether he was tall, short, fat or thin, handsome or not. All I knew was how he interacted in a large social group online. I feel that's a very pure way to find a mate. IRL most people can't help but be influenced by a person's looks and status. What do you think about this?</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>I think it is one of the reasons why a virtual space can be so appealing and freeing. Here is a world where people cannot judge you just by looking at you. Instead you learn about someone from the inside out. First you hear their stories, get to know who they are, discuss your strengths and weaknesses, and then you see them. A lot of people I interviewed said that often they were more open with online friends than real life friends. Sometimes they become your closest friends, and of course many times (like in your case) they fall in love. Personally it seems to me like a very romantic way to get to know somebody. Much like the old days of sending love letters back and forth by mail.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgSHn5Qjk-tbatM37rE2obnfCv6_3Wa69UbBtYNgvU_RKwH9WuGvQO_EN7g_RWOTDytPc3xOkERHe0H1kuo-JqOPnvZPEl0eyARhZo84-nva1FlKvEtwDdENqB3WTg5Lircgkcnc4rrk/s1600-h/bj2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281471225487314402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgSHn5Qjk-tbatM37rE2obnfCv6_3Wa69UbBtYNgvU_RKwH9WuGvQO_EN7g_RWOTDytPc3xOkERHe0H1kuo-JqOPnvZPEl0eyARhZo84-nva1FlKvEtwDdENqB3WTg5Lircgkcnc4rrk/s400/bj2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 401px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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Cyber-lovers in love IRL me and Brian.</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin:</span> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">I was looking for an alpha male who wasn't frightened of his emotions or of women, who was a bit of a nutter, yet also responsible, funny, compassionate, artistic, into film, literature, art, music and cookery and could make and put up shelves to a high standard whilst enjoying the process. That's a tall order, I hadn't managed to find anyone like that in my 42 years on the planet so how come I found it in amongst sentences on a screen? I'm intrigued as to how meeting a partner in an online social situation seems such a perfect way to find the ideal mate. What are your thoughts on this?</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>Well I think there is one easy answer that may not be that new, but I agree with it. In online spaces we gravitate to things we like or like to do. When we become part of an online space we tend to have some common ground with the people around us. In real life, you go to a bar or social space, what is the likelihood that someone else likes what you like? Even if they did like what you like our guards are up on places like that. Most of the time jumping into another group's conversation is not that easy. Online a lot of those barriers just aren't there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodcfX8VaSy6xvZ-jzLsBJhjP-d0D6Oea-6a2pjtNqOKvdNYuW59ELWXodWYwLhOYLFgT9WpZnPvU4s_R0f72fZC_jeWLPFO-PBZyPYLOfyeBq9UMusoBVSJ9athuou0Bua-v_Ikuu1i0/s1600-h/kevin_gaming_ss_blog.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275922682061317138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodcfX8VaSy6xvZ-jzLsBJhjP-d0D6Oea-6a2pjtNqOKvdNYuW59ELWXodWYwLhOYLFgT9WpZnPvU4s_R0f72fZC_jeWLPFO-PBZyPYLOfyeBq9UMusoBVSJ9athuou0Bua-v_Ikuu1i0/s400/kevin_gaming_ss_blog.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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Above: Juan filming Kevin Keel, who fell in love with Heather Cowan on WOW.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMITpy1RgVGgMzex41toTXy1bIZE3kNpM7THdHR1Y3BOkbYGRWnId_4yBf0W3njn4WxWqx0eSwQZd_G8WvZeIY2RXrD6YediCETBgThIQ2JYzWyzv-xAVAjcGoXSjU3pk56Uruc8OQDQ/s1600-h/heather-transform-01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281474419851052290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMITpy1RgVGgMzex41toTXy1bIZE3kNpM7THdHR1Y3BOkbYGRWnId_4yBf0W3njn4WxWqx0eSwQZd_G8WvZeIY2RXrD6YediCETBgThIQ2JYzWyzv-xAVAjcGoXSjU3pk56Uruc8OQDQ/s400/heather-transform-01.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 71px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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Above: Heather Cowan morphing from WOW to RL.</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin:</span> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">From your experience, how close do you think peoples' avatars or forum personas are to their RL personalities?</span></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>By and large the gamers we spoke to creating the film believed their avatars were extensions of themselves in real life. Most people said they looked a little better online or were a little freer in their conversations, but were generally speaking themselves. Perhaps even a little more true to who they were than they felt they were in real life.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">You've said you're planning to go on to make features. I, personally, think you're going to be a hugely successful features director in the future. I can see it in front of me, clear as a bell..</span></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>Thank you so much. My company, Pure West, is adapting a screenplay at the moment of the book "6 Sick Hipsters". It's about a serial killer who is offing the elite hipsters in Williamsburg. I think it has huge potential, and I'm really excited to direct it.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">What do you think of this quote by Peter Greenaway, one of the masters of European cinema (my bold):</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6gSkkRDK4cOKgp7HsJlKgk5C4MeWwz_dXvTvHCvT9eW1RkzAwbXrZAFIYQyPS1npXvkRif1gLxJKkC_cot-zj3SoiBSICI_B7A1Ajcg1l5qW7OMO9lpe0Rddz_8VkX4UyFCW4X19Eds/s1600-h/PeterGreenaway_TALK_Web_BIG.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281464211744086018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6gSkkRDK4cOKgp7HsJlKgk5C4MeWwz_dXvTvHCvT9eW1RkzAwbXrZAFIYQyPS1npXvkRif1gLxJKkC_cot-zj3SoiBSICI_B7A1Ajcg1l5qW7OMO9lpe0Rddz_8VkX4UyFCW4X19Eds/s400/PeterGreenaway_TALK_Web_BIG.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
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"In a sense I think it's already too late: Cinema is an old technology. I think we've seen an incredibly moribund cinema in the last 30 years. In a sense Godard destroyed everything -- a great, great director, but in a sense he rang the death knell, because he broke cinema all apart, fragmented it, made it very, very self-conscious. Like all the aesthetic movements, it's basically lasted about 100 years, with the three generations: the grandfather who organized everything, the father who basically consolidated it <span style="font-weight: bold;">and the young guy who chucks it all away</span>. It's just a human pattern."</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>I think people like to call out the death of things all the time. It's a way to signify the end of something and the beginning of another. Every end of the year magazine I read talks about the star that has changed the face of their art forever, and no one will do what they can. There is always a space for innovation in any field. There are still absolutely amazing pieces of art being made in every medium. It is impossible to innovate like the godfathers of any given medium because they were creating new theories in visual space. However there is new media coming out now that needs those visionaries as well. I want to be working on projects that use new media in ways that change they way we think about our reality. It will be a lot of fun.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin:</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> I watched all your vlogs from the SXSW South by SouthWest Film Festival in Austin, Texas and was hugely impressed. The road leading up to success is often looked back upon nostalgically by successful artists as having been the most favourite period of their lives. It seems to be one of the most fascinating roads a person travels, paved equally with fear and excitement. I love the way you've archived your first TV interview and your first festival tour and put it straight on the site for everyone to see. How important do you think archiving this journey is?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGQfN3RUgllg_L1yNBP_8kNOQ0YnWv3IgM6N6EHdKVH5fkV9drJNBjK35wycecV5IaaESFsvHkVGoB0LMFnWl63bUePu81ntXWPsXZrAlB414k5FkXRNuagOPh4irT_ZJzC6Kcd_dESM/s1600-h/celebration_ss_blog.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275922078779410898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGQfN3RUgllg_L1yNBP_8kNOQ0YnWv3IgM6N6EHdKVH5fkV9drJNBjK35wycecV5IaaESFsvHkVGoB0LMFnWl63bUePu81ntXWPsXZrAlB414k5FkXRNuagOPh4irT_ZJzC6Kcd_dESM/s400/celebration_ss_blog.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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Above: The Second Skin team.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>Archiving everything is actually something Victor, one of our producers, got into. He is the major engine behind the blog, and he wanted to keep everyone on the blog up to date with what was going on in Austin. I think the vlogs that he made are absolutely hilarious, and they definitely made it onto the DVD extras. Personally I'm glad they exist, and I hope one day I can look back at them nostalgically from a successful place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbNRzZaNaoGGBoS9JCL3FztkpG5B9RIpqTqsgTcOU0VvLp8ob1TSyZ5ILTcIxASOmz2HuS0kiuTGzwOsSXJXKsSfu_YWCDJDp0pcqDGTffm0JFpH_Mm_rqEztndLrfYb_fKWapnTZ2Zo/s1600-h/howard.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281464214779983282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbNRzZaNaoGGBoS9JCL3FztkpG5B9RIpqTqsgTcOU0VvLp8ob1TSyZ5ILTcIxASOmz2HuS0kiuTGzwOsSXJXKsSfu_YWCDJDp0pcqDGTffm0JFpH_Mm_rqEztndLrfYb_fKWapnTZ2Zo/s400/howard.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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The Howard, a traditional English pub full of locals. First time I went there was with The Teardrop Explodes on their 1980 Uni tour.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin:</span> During our pints down The Howard pub after Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival, I found out that, like me, you're a big admirer of David Milch's<a href="http://www.hbo.com/deadwood/"> Deadwood.</a></div>
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I have been thinking for a while that Milch is a living Dickens, Hardy or Dostoevsky. Crime and Punishment is the greatest book I've ever read and towards the end of Deadwood, Milch tackles similar themes. Milch is very familiar with the mind of the murderer, just as Dostoevsky was.<br />
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In his (mindblowing) book, Deadwood, Stories Of The Black Hills, Milch says:<br />
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"The number of characters in Deadwood does not frighten me. The serial form of the nineteenth-century novel is close to what I'm doing. The writers who are alive to me, whom I consider my contemporaries, are writers who lived in another time - Dickens and Tolstoy and Dostoevsky and Twain."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCwbAicDTpcXJPOnfUUrFsuJ6VrfclhCaRYwkVC3AJhgqIkXH8Mnrxg5vq94ej3DcTXd1w7OhIvc0p_kqCSnPxBd2hA0tMs_0CKaymv-CmExhUjb7aWh1Hw_bZtrfdAQkATMBIXt1vYE/s1600-h/davidmilchgenius.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281464202461352018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCwbAicDTpcXJPOnfUUrFsuJ6VrfclhCaRYwkVC3AJhgqIkXH8Mnrxg5vq94ej3DcTXd1w7OhIvc0p_kqCSnPxBd2hA0tMs_0CKaymv-CmExhUjb7aWh1Hw_bZtrfdAQkATMBIXt1vYE/s400/davidmilchgenius.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 284px;" /></a></div>
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What do you think about this?</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>I think he's a genius, and I think my little group of friends in New York went through a year where we quoted it a little too much. I haven't read the book, but the series is absolutely poetic.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Have you got any ideas as to what could be done to persuade Milch to do the promised 2 hour feature conclusion to Deadwood?</span></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>I don't know - there must be some forums that we can appeal to. We should take a note from Joss Whedon fans and group up Firefly style.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span>Who are your favourite filmmakers and which films have most influenced you as a filmmaker?</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>I'm in the process of reconsidering this all the time, and I still can't really give anything definitive. Today these are some of the people I've been thinking about.<br />
Sergio Leone was the king of big expansive emotional scenes. Every shot in Once Upon a Time in the West is perfect. The music in it is unbeatable - "The Man with the Harmonica" is inside my head all the time.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">(Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span>Thinks...funny that, I've just compared <a href="http://shanemeadows.com/">Shane Meadows and singer-songwriter Gavin Clark</a> to Leone and Morricone elsewhere on the net...)<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span><span style="font-style: italic;">(contd)</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span>I am a big fan of science fiction and fantasy films. Pretty traditionally nerdy. I know the REAL Star Wars trilogy front to back. I can quote almost every alien line, know most the names of all the robots from the lineup on Mos Eisley, and I named all my hard drives a character's name from the films. So yeah - I suppose I'm a fan of George Lucas the early years before the Star Wars Apocalypse. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_1GCX5EP2ccvzScOzDTFdMOof2H9EXS_WfyEIMb5L6yX5hqel7oQnSi1QKwUbAKP_EAbU2lRUpKcQoSQH-j18hHP1eoQNjOABEgVZfv-KQ9HCug5tF78dnMG5RAOVIyZN_1wy-8v8Y0/s1600-h/Twileks.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281466351722485218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_1GCX5EP2ccvzScOzDTFdMOof2H9EXS_WfyEIMb5L6yX5hqel7oQnSi1QKwUbAKP_EAbU2lRUpKcQoSQH-j18hHP1eoQNjOABEgVZfv-KQ9HCug5tF78dnMG5RAOVIyZN_1wy-8v8Y0/s400/Twileks.bmp" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 334px;" /></a></div>
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The Twi'Lek twins with their super stylish Lekkus inspired by the divided hennins of the fifteenth century. Two reasons to still love all of Star Wars.</div>
Broken Lizard for Super Troopers and Beerfest. Those guys made by far the most watchable comedies of all time for me.<br />
Willow and the Princess Bride are definitely up there too.<br />
Ridley Scott is literally why I think I wanted to start directing. It was Blade Runner. Jesus it was the awe inspiring beauty of Bladerunner. Last year I got to see the Final Final Final Cut of the film in theaters. The colors, the theory, the cyberpunk noir - It just really hits home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88GvEcT_dIZdrHwIEklECd81zRhPB5UH4QDl5GkVn971QmbM0yT4g4Uuil0c18R056VHKuglXBNNcOPdwpSptuugObT7sfVjVseshyphenhyphend_c-075MhQaJWCFKUngbdQJmBoaguUzu1tT-Tw/s1600-h/bladerunner.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281481721888898898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88GvEcT_dIZdrHwIEklECd81zRhPB5UH4QDl5GkVn971QmbM0yT4g4Uuil0c18R056VHKuglXBNNcOPdwpSptuugObT7sfVjVseshyphenhyphend_c-075MhQaJWCFKUngbdQJmBoaguUzu1tT-Tw/s400/bladerunner.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 262px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
Probably my favorite director is Paul Verhoeven (for his Sci Fi flicks). Total Recall and Starship Troopers. What else do I have to say?<br />
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Milos Forman for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. That was an eye opener for me. Everytime I see it there is something new.<br />
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The Coen Brothers for The Hudsucker Proxy and The Big Lebowski. Those two films are absolutely visionary. The scene where the hula hoop becomes a runaway success is poetic and dead on.<br />
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There is one guy who is pretty obviously a genious, and sometimes gets a bad rap from people who graduated from film school. Steven Spielberg. Recently, I've been thinking a lot about Minority Report. The theory of the future in that film is becoming eerily precise, and you can't take away that his vision was in that. There are obviously plenty other good ones, but recently I've been thinking that's the one to keep as the futurist's handbook.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span>Who are your favourite authors and which books have most influenced you as an artist in general?</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>I like a lot of traditionally great authors. What are you going to do? I think they're great for a reason.<br />
Nabokov - Tops my list because I think the first three paragraphs of Lolita are perfect. Russian was supposed to be his first language, but somehow English ended up winning out. What child knows to choose their second language as their first language because eventually they'll be the best prose writer of all time? Only Nabokov.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0fMtfVe-jZoivlY7gROyUWhOGlcFOoQpVKXGhvdGuzrE9AABRI9bN2jtjfaXXdjYyoebd_rFLKWcSCANd9cdK2bMXfD7CFm0sYpmMK8hdG_VY9W14W6pVseyrdesX1-CVnd6Lcz9-tc/s1600-h/04nabokov.large1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281464746692618290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0fMtfVe-jZoivlY7gROyUWhOGlcFOoQpVKXGhvdGuzrE9AABRI9bN2jtjfaXXdjYyoebd_rFLKWcSCANd9cdK2bMXfD7CFm0sYpmMK8hdG_VY9W14W6pVseyrdesX1-CVnd6Lcz9-tc/s400/04nabokov.large1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 274px;" /></a></div>
Hemingway - The Old Man and the Sea. The story struck me more than anything else up to that point. I was in 7th grade and up until then I was still pretty sure the Phantom Tolbooth was the best book of all time. Then this came along, and in a few short minutes I knew it had changed. That book's themes are the most timeless I have ever read.<br />
Camus - The Plague. Every character in this book is completely memorable and tragic. Every wave of a plague is entertained in this novel. If I could make a film of it I would in a heartbeat.<br />
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Fitzgerald - This Side of Paradise. I personally like this one way better than Gatsby. The book is more raw, and less artistic. Some people I think write better later, but Fitz was at his peak for me here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2snstrSNXCjEcCLpkVFHMpe5e1KT79L92X9Ym1P34-yv23fJk4mcmmwvBJxDl09ji2RwmEN5L3LNg-sLldYT7FBQFefhgcCpxNEVpaD3MaMMeUNZKhtBfvK-qpdnUKhKV7e_eJEfFpY/s1600-h/361px-Neuromancer_(Book).jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281468635757542082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2snstrSNXCjEcCLpkVFHMpe5e1KT79L92X9Ym1P34-yv23fJk4mcmmwvBJxDl09ji2RwmEN5L3LNg-sLldYT7FBQFefhgcCpxNEVpaD3MaMMeUNZKhtBfvK-qpdnUKhKV7e_eJEfFpY/s400/361px-Neuromancer_(Book).jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 241px;" /></a></div>
William Gibson - Neuromancer. It was my introduction to Chapter science fiction.<br />
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Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game. Child geniuses in space fighting wars. How do you make that one liner believable? Thank you for not only proving me wrong, but also making by far the best sci fi book ever. Come one Hollywood! This should have been made years ago.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Where do you want to be and what do you want to be doing, career wise, in ten years time?</span></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza: </span>Ten years from now. Who knows - it's hard to tell. I definitely want to be in the center of our cross media revolution. I know that whatever I'm doing it's going to be a mix of films, args, video games, web, and marketing. At least the company I founded with a few other buddieswill hopefully be creating all those things. Me personally - I think my focus is films and ARGs.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Thanks for taking the trouble to do the interview and Happy Christmas :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza:</span> Wonderful thank you! It was a lot of fun doing it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsg63HGU-_IYqR2pw8q_3YYJjEFzXSB1BtCOlVb4lTVyTDjmY9XiPq-qGADP63qm5l8KaVsYuIlNRK6YsjyigmM03tBWOzVsHj0H8lhaU6uU0ae5ZL1rQ4LvFEmnZtOzT5_2MCF1p7L5E/s1600-h/wow_iraq_ss_blog.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275925360258478082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsg63HGU-_IYqR2pw8q_3YYJjEFzXSB1BtCOlVb4lTVyTDjmY9XiPq-qGADP63qm5l8KaVsYuIlNRK6YsjyigmM03tBWOzVsHj0H8lhaU6uU0ae5ZL1rQ4LvFEmnZtOzT5_2MCF1p7L5E/s400/wow_iraq_ss_blog.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Iraqi servicemen and women playing WOW.</div>
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Festival Tour Vlog Day 1: (may take a minute to load)<br />
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Festival Tour Vlog Day 7: (may take a minute to load)<br />
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Juan's Second Skin <a href="http://www.secondskinfilm.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Sheffield-Doc-Fest.html&Itemid=58">blog</a> and <a href="http://www.secondskinfilm.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Sheffield-Doc-Fest.html&Itemid=58">his write up about Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.secondskinfilm.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=503&Itemid=59">More about Second Skin</a> at the official site.<br />
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<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/147784">Newsweek: Why People Live Second Lives Online</a>, Fast Chat with Second Skin.<br />
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<a href="http://secondskinfilm.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=506&Itemid=60">Interviews</a> with a huge number of magazines and newspapers from Newsweek to the BBC.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9402514777">Second Skin Facebook Group</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrY8KdXIMZrpmP8jQieAyaR55hP48XdN8ClBzcyMwRJ0JdTimaYkCo65AQGC8F6I7XPWFRWJBUVUhF7Iw0aTW7z_Yd6QTyg36LuGMjdXEgfWC-0y3Y9Bk_M6k_xq-VS4SUyiGDqDHKgjA/s1600-h/juan_window_ss_blog.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275921657928497970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrY8KdXIMZrpmP8jQieAyaR55hP48XdN8ClBzcyMwRJ0JdTimaYkCo65AQGC8F6I7XPWFRWJBUVUhF7Iw0aTW7z_Yd6QTyg36LuGMjdXEgfWC-0y3Y9Bk_M6k_xq-VS4SUyiGDqDHKgjA/s400/juan_window_ss_blog.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 200px; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fin-conversation-with-juan-carlos.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-16915561528469984012008-08-14T15:54:00.002+01:002018-06-04T09:09:08.540+01:00INTERVIEW WITH LEGO ARTIST CHRIS DOYLE<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJRQWmt8CIF29AaYYa4LF6J1nat8oC1DBBDInoMCyB20pW6Vht_c36Zdc86J1JMCWAwrvzOtb-UhbRrV_eOmHMa5nVGJJ78DeRKZ7JlPILsWo49qbMtM_C44Ypc_mdPj44tQdP5C0y9o/s1600-h/sushi_1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234305075413162562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJRQWmt8CIF29AaYYa4LF6J1nat8oC1DBBDInoMCyB20pW6Vht_c36Zdc86J1JMCWAwrvzOtb-UhbRrV_eOmHMa5nVGJJ78DeRKZ7JlPILsWo49qbMtM_C44Ypc_mdPj44tQdP5C0y9o/s400/sushi_1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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"Sushi" © <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">Chris Doyle</a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">Mission Statement of Chris Doyle's reasonablyclever.com:</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br />
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Reasonably Clever strives to be just that: Reasonably Clever. To be an on-line time waster of national renown, to entertain as well as instruct, and maybe...just maybe ...create world peace through effective use of LEGO bricks.</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;"><br />
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Funny, I've only just seen that mission statement and it looks like Chris and I have been thinking along the same lines for years...</span><br />
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I've always been a huge fan of Lego. I've been playing with it since the mid 60s and I still buy Lego now, for me to play with, and I'm nearly fifty.<br />
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For the past six years I've been using an online tool to create yourself in Lego called Mini-Mizer. I create an online Lego self-portrait on average once a year. It's a far cheaper and more instant way to get an accurate snapshot of what's going on inside your head than going to a shrink or as we say in the UK, going to see a psychotherapist.<br />
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<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7898/2902/1600/LEGOJUDE.0.jpg" style="color: #663366;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7898/2902/320/LEGOJUDE.0.jpg" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a> <span style="color: #663366;"><br />
Self-portrait, May 2002. Going through a nightmare of a second divorce. Ready to be creative but too distressed.</span> © Jude Calvert-Toulmin</div>
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As well as being lots of fun, building yourself in Lego is also in my opinion a serious tool for self-analysis. For it to work as such, use the Lego to express how you feel without worrying what anyone will think. This is just for you; you're aiming at a realistic self-portrait of how you would look if you had the option to have a mermaid's tail, light saber, wings etc.<br />
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After this intro blurb I am deeply honoured to present an interview with the creator of the world famous Mini-Mizer, Chris Doyle himself, but if you're dying to get stuck in and build yourself in Lego, then here's the link to Chris's reasonablyclever.com <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/mm2/index.htm">Updated Mini-Mizer</a> so you can see where your head's at before returning to read the interview with Chris! If you've been into Mini-Mizer for years like me you may want to use the old school version, <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/mini/index.htm">Original Mini-Mizer</a> which is far lower res but with different options.<br />
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So I thought I'd email Chris with some interview questions in the hope that he'd reply. He did, and the interview is below, just scroll down through some Mini-Mizers of me, my partner Brian and my son Jasper over the last six years so you can see in context how progressively over time Mini-Mizers do reflect the state of a person's life:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQfEM1twgWXKIxLDAafnCo1tyWiwYFgu0AGghlTcVXV1eq_PaBqtjve3JVyifK2w-zI9Q_tH2_M4ACnjUSJaSZFmIqDto31R_W_fdBu4zKlmykjCQTA26RP0tJcAmtGFFO3g6Q2WqSZE/s1600-h/brian+in+lego.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233947321939136082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQfEM1twgWXKIxLDAafnCo1tyWiwYFgu0AGghlTcVXV1eq_PaBqtjve3JVyifK2w-zI9Q_tH2_M4ACnjUSJaSZFmIqDto31R_W_fdBu4zKlmykjCQTA26RP0tJcAmtGFFO3g6Q2WqSZE/s400/brian+in+lego.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #663366;">Self-portrait by my partner Brian, May 2002. Ready to defend his new damsel against the world. "Insult my woman and you'll get this tomato and lettuce sarnie in yer face, luv."</span> © Jude Calvert-Toulmin<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRz6i2QKpIiNaUwtuSL37P8cIkgTZZKws3CG71jYPtmRJRZut2tDf3kZSkWyzGrcgW41fhg1bL1DsnXVtTxrxF1tn_di1OKFI8PMrm6mESCjUqhRvHKIlFudpLbHxLGTq-BAQBJeL3Km8/s1600-h/lego-jed_2002.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233948068269119506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRz6i2QKpIiNaUwtuSL37P8cIkgTZZKws3CG71jYPtmRJRZut2tDf3kZSkWyzGrcgW41fhg1bL1DsnXVtTxrxF1tn_di1OKFI8PMrm6mESCjUqhRvHKIlFudpLbHxLGTq-BAQBJeL3Km8/s400/lego-jed_2002.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #663366;">Self-portrait by my son Jasper, May 2002, not liking very much what is going on in divorce-land.</span> © Jude Calvert-Toulmin<br />
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<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7898/2902/1600/lego%20person%20jude%202.bmp.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7898/2902/320/lego%20person%20jude%202.bmp.jpg" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #663366;">Self-portrait, May 2005. Living with my beloved Brian near the woods, just started writing my first novel and feeling like anything is possible.</span>© Jude Calvert-Toulmin</div>
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<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7898/2902/1600/may%202006%20copy.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7898/2902/320/may%202006%20copy.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #663366;">Self-portrait, May 2006 - Finished my novel, </span><span style="color: #663366; font-style: italic;">MY ADVENTURES IN CYBERSPACE</span><span style="color: #663366;"> (due for publication 2009) having spent a long time examining characters and writing about flame wars in the Wild West days of cyberspace at the turn of the millenium. My son Jasper chose the Wonder Woman headband for me which </span><span style="color: #663366;">is telling. </span>© Jude Calvert-Toulmin<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsgLNEOo3X4G2c9CO9LAWjkt_ByxSUM9vSPQnqlvt4dNsxidKU8es1l77voaKhYv-pGPKn-AyPoyQuJSGhie7LFe_DlATx3rbBRxffD_TbvkAPhQ4SYA6qRdOmIkqS4Hj-AqZ0BwcTEs/s1600-h/lego+person+september.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233947320611604258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsgLNEOo3X4G2c9CO9LAWjkt_ByxSUM9vSPQnqlvt4dNsxidKU8es1l77voaKhYv-pGPKn-AyPoyQuJSGhie7LFe_DlATx3rbBRxffD_TbvkAPhQ4SYA6qRdOmIkqS4Hj-AqZ0BwcTEs/s400/lego+person+september.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #663366;">Self-portrait, September 2006. Brian has now copy edited </span><span style="color: #663366; font-style: italic;">MY ADVENTURES IN CYBERSPACE</span><span style="color: #663366;"> and I'm looking for a publisher. Still got an itching to design the cover myself though (note artist's palette.) </span>© Jude Calvert-Toulmin<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cMmwkt-3w81w8nRXyzu-N0tRe_o0v9GEwaA4_GAMeeN5h0s-IxER79Umt8jLWBnNa6k6-Jcd1df8LyxZHoFsaFc4zmJssWKo3MHYGvWF94eE6fKLFqZwN0Sf5sBOHIM5pQlFQvJfk-E/s1600-h/lego-me-t-shirt2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235554749703415346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cMmwkt-3w81w8nRXyzu-N0tRe_o0v9GEwaA4_GAMeeN5h0s-IxER79Umt8jLWBnNa6k6-Jcd1df8LyxZHoFsaFc4zmJssWKo3MHYGvWF94eE6fKLFqZwN0Sf5sBOHIM5pQlFQvJfk-E/s400/lego-me-t-shirt2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #663366;">Self-portrait, August 2008. Ready for take-off. In the process of setting up my own publishing company, having written a second novel purely to meet market demand, with the satisfaction of having designed my own cover and the book's layout. Here I am carrying the prototype proof copy of </span><span style="color: #663366; font-style: italic;">Mother-in-Law, Son-in-Law</span><span style="color: #663366;">, which is currently undergoing a final edit and will be published in September 2008! </span>© Jude Calvert-Toulmin<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklrjL4WfKlQNF9VvLsLGDnFEVyU4wQ7CxuYnnwUeKL05ibPvY0HtS55aFNw50bPAtS0fn5JkfMifi59wkvqcoMpvPlYDSZn5tZk7FG7r0-lqrXGWqVtFHREtRTgbpJ5NLzV4zm779X9Q/s1600-h/lego+mini-mizer+brian+aug+08.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231908917099339074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklrjL4WfKlQNF9VvLsLGDnFEVyU4wQ7CxuYnnwUeKL05ibPvY0HtS55aFNw50bPAtS0fn5JkfMifi59wkvqcoMpvPlYDSZn5tZk7FG7r0-lqrXGWqVtFHREtRTgbpJ5NLzV4zm779X9Q/s400/lego+mini-mizer+brian+aug+08.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #663366;">Self portrait by Brian, August 2008 by Brian - a happy craftsman.</span><br />
© Jude Calvert-Toulmin<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZAaTavFhcXnIDG_dUXhaARxnpyCpZVXKRNc66k4MqZHprnwGC9lRGRwpFUGXU4-bT4lzf43lfMl7w5pNzeZ78REuRU4i89mzhWAD_1pSWQ3abji8LOwdOpdcraGyF495NlWNCP0wdcs/s1600-h/jed+lego+2008.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233951977644625058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZAaTavFhcXnIDG_dUXhaARxnpyCpZVXKRNc66k4MqZHprnwGC9lRGRwpFUGXU4-bT4lzf43lfMl7w5pNzeZ78REuRU4i89mzhWAD_1pSWQ3abji8LOwdOpdcraGyF495NlWNCP0wdcs/s400/jed+lego+2008.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #663366;">Self-portrait by Jasper, August 2008 by Jasper- a happy teenager.</span><br />
© Jude Calvert-Toulmin</div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Interview with Chris Doyle, creator of the world famous Lego Mini-Mizer.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: Hi Chris, I'm a huge fan of your work, I built my first Mini-Mizer in 2002 and am planning a new blog article about the use of Mini-Mizers as a tool for self-analysis. Would you mind doing an interview for the article?</span><br />
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Chris: I'm quite honored that you're interested in the person behind the 'mizers. I'm also quite fascinated by your insightful use of them - this is the first time I've thought of them in terms of "tools" rather than just "time wasters." That said, I'd be glad to answer your questions. :)<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: Thanks for getting back to me :) Believe me the honour is all mine, I think you're a total legend!</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">When did you first start using Lego? Back in the 60s, a Lego era defined by various white window frames and red and blue roof tiles, or later?</span><br />
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Chris: Actually I was LEGO-deprived as a child. My parents were beyond reproach in most every way, but they did make the mistake of buying me the Sears Knock- off "Brix Blox" instead of the (admittedly more expensive) LEGO brand. As I child I swore that - if I ever reached adulthood - I would buy an entire room full of LEGO bricks. It was around 1998 or so when I finally started working on that childhood goal. Better late than never, I suppose...<br />
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(The full story and pics are here: <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/lego/room/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.reasonablyclever.<wbr></wbr>com/lego/room/index.html</a> )<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: What was your favourite Lego set as a kid?</span><br />
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Chris: I remember lusting after most of the Space themed sets - I was a big science fiction fan as a lad. I don't recall focusing on any one in particular, though. Even then I was more interested in the range of pieces available in the sets, rather than the suggested model. I wanted to make my own stuff! Well, okay, I wanted to make Battlestar Galactica ships. But you have to start somewhere...<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: What do you think of the way Lego has progressed since the early days with the current tie- ins with movies and books?</span><br />
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Chris: Personally, I like the tie-ins. Hitching on to popular movies and trends means more shelf-space for LEGO at the store, which translates into more new sets and thus interesting parts for me to create with. LEGO remains very good about introducing and expanding their own in-house themes, too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJHykgkO8vVW5SY-p8J4MXUBaa7kC5W97VYZEFsim7kN0uMMOiKXb8fwUGxdwzhR8tvkhhmXRyOeScpMpBa6j-3Z3QdDSGYXJuV1wl9rwO4BOt9NuC7jqzfnesWl22lMuWEry5W3c_ZU/s1600-h/peddler+of+the+flesh+by+big+daddy+nelson.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234323779316359794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJHykgkO8vVW5SY-p8J4MXUBaa7kC5W97VYZEFsim7kN0uMMOiKXb8fwUGxdwzhR8tvkhhmXRyOeScpMpBa6j-3Z3QdDSGYXJuV1wl9rwO4BOt9NuC7jqzfnesWl22lMuWEry5W3c_ZU/s400/peddler+of+the+flesh+by+big+daddy+nelson.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
"Flesh-Peddler" © <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/bigdaddynelson/sets/72157603620082084/">Big Daddy Nelson</a></div>
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There have been some controversial developments due to the tie-ins, though. For example, the 2003 NBA sets introduced the concept of "flesh tones" to LEGO mini-figures. Since then, LEGO has decided to produce all of their media tie-in characters in "correct pigmentation" rather than the previously-universal yellow. I found the addition of diversity to the line as welcome - but there's a large purist fan base that despises the "fleshies".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo7JeLlFdM8aN5kvg3Hlr3uGegrSQEJrt4TBhqdlB-vdX2dnPIR5fMi09-Cy3CjMDyN9IL14Nd-64rWbyKK_kNy8LV9rRsHtfcdfODx5STQhXthXXp_aKEHsooxNqNQu-DTYc8yndilI/s1600-h/peer_pressure-02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234347618129743602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo7JeLlFdM8aN5kvg3Hlr3uGegrSQEJrt4TBhqdlB-vdX2dnPIR5fMi09-Cy3CjMDyN9IL14Nd-64rWbyKK_kNy8LV9rRsHtfcdfODx5STQhXthXXp_aKEHsooxNqNQu-DTYc8yndilI/s400/peer_pressure-02.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
Peer Pressure © <a href="http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=328643">mijasper</a></div>
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It's not shocking I'm on the diversity side of the fence - the Mini-Mizer was already offering skin toned minis back in 2000. ;)<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: (Asunt to readers: Way. To. Go. Ahead of his time as usual.)<br />
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Who is your favourite comic book hero?<br />
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</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuQ0qAJ8M7I00M6TrGfj1lrTFgqJWiMcurnwos8-hpJpuuFykUI1LyWlQ33HA0jndYeCpGubJLyZGQiDcWoM9yOGRP2HKKXJ58iqpg7uQbHPyalbLvOziCWZ24suU5si2_UsDwCv2jTk/s1600-h/01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234322971661686194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuQ0qAJ8M7I00M6TrGfj1lrTFgqJWiMcurnwos8-hpJpuuFykUI1LyWlQ33HA0jndYeCpGubJLyZGQiDcWoM9yOGRP2HKKXJ58iqpg7uQbHPyalbLvOziCWZ24suU5si2_UsDwCv2jTk/s400/01.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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Chris: I've always been a big fan of Green Lantern. I liked the idea of a normal human who was able to use his imagination so directly - being able to will-power his ideas into reality. Plus, his costume was a lot cooler than Superman's.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiH2EnloQYNWQXstSWxqdwHvqIi4tZoyZkVYz1C3GlwVzjwZFnM_XSwFDHhaYDfdnooL2o_-yeaVytcyK_hLFEfhF9AyOzGNOwuuqawHdqUd54vZxsLoguTEET6nBcuZJ8WbPIg1aEvJg/s1600-h/joker.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234323108570565458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiH2EnloQYNWQXstSWxqdwHvqIi4tZoyZkVYz1C3GlwVzjwZFnM_XSwFDHhaYDfdnooL2o_-yeaVytcyK_hLFEfhF9AyOzGNOwuuqawHdqUd54vZxsLoguTEET6nBcuZJ8WbPIg1aEvJg/s400/joker.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: What do you think of The Dark Knight and Heath Ledger's portrayal of The Joker?</span><br />
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Chris: I enjoyed both. Ledger's Joker is the most interesting take on the character to date - it was the first time I saw him as a truly menacing force, rather than a bit of overplayed camp.<br />
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But I still liked Iron Man more. ;)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaIfAGv6TGsECake1c7gJoW7YQ9_hQO9RMeQJi6KENP3zIj8r7iLD3mOntXBzIyWyOw_h_lvdTbYXPl4nz84pedqMNyMdkSi8bAwKpGRY7S5fkZ_aHq05PpWlyoBg2wzfflAcJtCvYmI/s1600-h/iron+man.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234327068862877090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaIfAGv6TGsECake1c7gJoW7YQ9_hQO9RMeQJi6KENP3zIj8r7iLD3mOntXBzIyWyOw_h_lvdTbYXPl4nz84pedqMNyMdkSi8bAwKpGRY7S5fkZ_aHq05PpWlyoBg2wzfflAcJtCvYmI/s400/iron+man.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
Above, Iron Man from the recent movie.</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: How many emails do you get a week from fans?</span><br />
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Chris: One or two? I do have some daily interaction with visitors in my blog, but direct-to-my-inbox communication is fairly rare. Those few emails, however, tend to be more than just a quick "kewl site!" or "you suck" comments. I'm quite content with the signal-to-noise ratio.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: Do you manage to answer much of your fan mail?</span><br />
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Chris: I try and answer everything, although sometimes it's a few days before I get a chance to type a decent reply.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23mZRYfa9yLYrd5IlUNV2gI6xYjmWpPLqb9V-mYmIeuRtcjd9rJrJYaKwISoHomDhyDOmbCh7H-gBKn9XfffkohyphenhyphenHqUuPmQbGcnlOZtoVrSVXEBY7pETwsqciKGV9GimYFGrKk3Fc6TQ/s1600-h/m18+-+the+Moon.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234304016339921138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23mZRYfa9yLYrd5IlUNV2gI6xYjmWpPLqb9V-mYmIeuRtcjd9rJrJYaKwISoHomDhyDOmbCh7H-gBKn9XfffkohyphenhyphenHqUuPmQbGcnlOZtoVrSVXEBY7pETwsqciKGV9GimYFGrKk3Fc6TQ/s400/m18+-+the+Moon.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
Above: The Moon from The Major Arcana of <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/tarot2/index.html">Tarot Cards in Lego</a> © <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">Chris Doyle</a></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: Do Lego know about you and would you ever consider working for them?</span><br />
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Chris: A few years ago I had incorporated the LEGO logo into the header art for my LEGO tarot set. I got a very nice email from LEGO-Legal telling me to revise that particular graphic. So I knew at that point I was on their radar!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wAAONdDS0SOV8ujKpUHwdjy6NcWiH_FxPwiM8u_azB2Bk9VNk32PBv7f_RZXzk5Bfzz6JVfk9U71CZB4bjM5YZxSByejNw90lxAyvFiFi8_JFXpcYpWMROP0pV2yPKjgOcg4_77EH98/s1600-h/tarot+cards+in+lego.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234303436883507490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wAAONdDS0SOV8ujKpUHwdjy6NcWiH_FxPwiM8u_azB2Bk9VNk32PBv7f_RZXzk5Bfzz6JVfk9U71CZB4bjM5YZxSByejNw90lxAyvFiFi8_JFXpcYpWMROP0pV2yPKjgOcg4_77EH98/s400/tarot+cards+in+lego.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/tarot2/index.html">Tarot Cards in Lego</a> © <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">Chris Doyle</a></div>
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Last year I was contacted by LEGO to possibly help them design an in-store figure creator. They were obviously quite familiar with my mini-mizers at that point, and some of the folks I talked to told me they were fans of my other LEGO creations. It seemed some sort of collaboration was in the works, but something happened on their end and I was cut out of the loop and my emails stopped being returned.<br />
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I suppose I could be bitter about that, but honestly I'm still tickled that they even considered involving me. And, of course, I'd jump at the chance to work with them again should the occasion arise.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: Lego should immediately take you on and put you on a whacking great salary. It's obvious to anyone with half a brain that you're a genius. I think Lego without you is like Tracy Island without Brains. Anyway, when was the last time you built yourself using the Mini-Mizer and have you kept any of your previous results? If so would you send me some to include on the blog?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8j6vkAh4MX7cZqiSosnED938wBkGekW1CSLgJVhTOoAdsk07LALqNsmH36-Ncq7OiXgreDR9HgklzGO-5ZckWNaOz1LcQxBi5prU1x5lMBzhyW7yGs3EjY62vthZ2eeHbi6C0R5ViRqs/s1600-h/399.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234303397673823410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8j6vkAh4MX7cZqiSosnED938wBkGekW1CSLgJVhTOoAdsk07LALqNsmH36-Ncq7OiXgreDR9HgklzGO-5ZckWNaOz1LcQxBi5prU1x5lMBzhyW7yGs3EjY62vthZ2eeHbi6C0R5ViRqs/s400/399.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
© <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">Chris Doyle</a></div>
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Chris: I do tend to make little LEGO versions of myself from time to time, but I use real bricks rather than my virtual ones. (The LEGO me has shown up in my comics a few times, for example here: <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/bh/399.html" target="_blank">http://www.reasonablyclever.<wbr></wbr>com/bh/399.html</a> )<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAE6vAgSHnUlcf-9kbU239QG4FI6qm6RMAR2aaeWa1qbSP5wqIfhuJF8VkPaBs0B8hLFpN_sG83Xsel1_iNOdm2gcgbxFWY_VA1v7_mnhy0EaSiqxVLBkWKsDip7xBD2QB7oeq6aK5Gw/s1600-h/chris1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234303389135188226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAE6vAgSHnUlcf-9kbU239QG4FI6qm6RMAR2aaeWa1qbSP5wqIfhuJF8VkPaBs0B8hLFpN_sG83Xsel1_iNOdm2gcgbxFWY_VA1v7_mnhy0EaSiqxVLBkWKsDip7xBD2QB7oeq6aK5Gw/s400/chris1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
© <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">Chris Doyle</a></div>
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There are two previous virtual versions on-line, though. First, there's the "mini-me" on the front page of the Classic 'Mizer - the figure on the left holding the rose.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7YK8-JUyR4d7XYmQmjEO_NjFpvZwIYRcTiEy9BJrEB-OM6YJ9AIv8kSGe8vkLTQisjateigvvQ_FX_vY-v2pteJTQFPvs9OF3kWR5rlqsA3muxxAnUbu7b798isSmo3apQRIQ_rzuDw/s1600-h/self2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234303435479034002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7YK8-JUyR4d7XYmQmjEO_NjFpvZwIYRcTiEy9BJrEB-OM6YJ9AIv8kSGe8vkLTQisjateigvvQ_FX_vY-v2pteJTQFPvs9OF3kWR5rlqsA3muxxAnUbu7b798isSmo3apQRIQ_rzuDw/s400/self2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
© <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">Chris Doyle</a></div>
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In the newer 'Mizer, my self-image is here in the teaser graphic: <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/mizers.html" target="_blank">http://www.reasonablyclever.<wbr></wbr>com/mizers.html</a> (Black Tiki shirt and jeans. Strangely, that matches what I'm wearing today.)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2ZWCBDBqeJBmiWcu7fLjgFOIF1sRqxcUOWL5muBhYoAQvKqTQfeLVuUWk5y-Bm9x0Bf6JWPze3dl2jJK69q_C0hquJa6zDJn0vB3Ay1LjV7f9lJiOVrV8ytgOasvaYXpwOnpxrfnapI/s1600-h/fatherson.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234303394444839522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2ZWCBDBqeJBmiWcu7fLjgFOIF1sRqxcUOWL5muBhYoAQvKqTQfeLVuUWk5y-Bm9x0Bf6JWPze3dl2jJK69q_C0hquJa6zDJn0vB3Ay1LjV7f9lJiOVrV8ytgOasvaYXpwOnpxrfnapI/s400/fatherson.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
© <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">Chris Doyle</a><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: My son Jasper recently gave me a Lego treasure chest full of Lego jewels as a token of affection. That is possibly the most lovely present I've ever had. What Lego would you give to someone you loved as a gift and why?</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWUaWM_YcFqutMF4VrsVc0wTros13GoNZGtSwUf2_20vwNMRdqb4EzUUr78SP1p-T7urlnPkTqtWKUhvOgdbvLcA-n_GmK1Pkl9Y3MgypZ5pg3Ijk6OTwj6jkBWFumTfFCkjDgXRpVGk/s1600-h/full.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234332803202305474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWUaWM_YcFqutMF4VrsVc0wTros13GoNZGtSwUf2_20vwNMRdqb4EzUUr78SP1p-T7urlnPkTqtWKUhvOgdbvLcA-n_GmK1Pkl9Y3MgypZ5pg3Ijk6OTwj6jkBWFumTfFCkjDgXRpVGk/s400/full.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
© <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">Chris Doyle</a></div>
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Chris: I created this Vig as a birthday present for my Dad. <br />
This year some of my closest friends had lost loved ones, and that of course prompted thoughts of "limited time" and "don't wait until they're gone". So instead of finding just another DVD set I thought he'd enjoy, I built this little tribute to the bond we share. If nothing else, I hoped it was a step up from the "Macaroni Faces on Paper Plates" he got while I was in grade school.<br />
I wanted a simple image that had a quiet, contemplative feel to it. That's a Mini-Mized version of him standing, the Mini-Me in front is pretty much how I look these days (although the glasses are missing.) This isn't based on any specific moment in our lives, but the whole "looking out over the water in the same direction" thing does resonate with me. <br />
I thought of doing something with a more "junior" me - maybe something from that Macaroni-Face era - but I also wanted to stress that he's just as important to me now as he was back then. <br />
<a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/bricktionary/father/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.reasonablyclever.<wbr></wbr>com/bricktionary/father/index.<wbr></wbr>htm</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WBIrf4KWPP_banT2nQpFaxZ3NyWtiqWJD1N49NQGX1y9EUfoTYSlpII3pmii2ymvy-9LVtpFoBXOuy5zbAU_I8eEMtDuRjzYGbe2EmxozR0rtoZi2djjUxEzDmHvYxD7km89e449RHE/s1600-h/sushi.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234308012630578754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WBIrf4KWPP_banT2nQpFaxZ3NyWtiqWJD1N49NQGX1y9EUfoTYSlpII3pmii2ymvy-9LVtpFoBXOuy5zbAU_I8eEMtDuRjzYGbe2EmxozR0rtoZi2djjUxEzDmHvYxD7km89e449RHE/s400/sushi.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
Above: Three views of "Sushi" from the <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/bricktionary/index.htm">Lego Bricktionary</a> © <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">Chris Doyle</a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik700-o56b1af2SnOwPJAFuMOOV0QM6DdmACmLy3YQzwoKHtqNNoq_2jIDUWZ_0Reu89x7CsCuf-smkF1Jp763b8qvn4K6CYBfKMvY3Wdht_vH4o-eFWhSone2fY2l7IXcKTGtj7d4YM0/s1600-h/vodka1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234330383225526530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik700-o56b1af2SnOwPJAFuMOOV0QM6DdmACmLy3YQzwoKHtqNNoq_2jIDUWZ_0Reu89x7CsCuf-smkF1Jp763b8qvn4K6CYBfKMvY3Wdht_vH4o-eFWhSone2fY2l7IXcKTGtj7d4YM0/s400/vodka1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The bricktionary definition for <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/bricktionary/vodka/index.htm">Vodka</a> which was, according to Chris, "Loosely based on a Vodka-Tasting Party a friend and I attended" © <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">Chris Doyle</a></div>
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I urge you to visit Chris's site and look through every page because everything is great. Finally, here are some shots of Chris's Lego room:<br />
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<div align="center">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEt_9sn7cZQUwa2JXFoYKmfcHhp5He5O44c_vE6CRmCB3fxI0Pa5Sa0iA4453Awn6CrAmWfeu6XeFt4Fef8UkJ-VxPIarYZHHz6vLttzKU9KTZTd6q5G9WteMX_8z0h-E_61Ck6pUzow/s1600-h/favepart.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234328014930460626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEt_9sn7cZQUwa2JXFoYKmfcHhp5He5O44c_vE6CRmCB3fxI0Pa5Sa0iA4453Awn6CrAmWfeu6XeFt4Fef8UkJ-VxPIarYZHHz6vLttzKU9KTZTd6q5G9WteMX_8z0h-E_61Ck6pUzow/s400/favepart.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a> </div>
<div align="left">
"The open drawer holds my current favorite part - a 1x1 tile with a slope on it. (Like a little wedge). It's an awesome detail piece that LEGO only recently started making. This is the sort of detail that I longed for back in '78. Well, better late than never. " © <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">Chris Doyle</a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4dCac1zUNr3nyeelpf3mqBKbuAOwVm3AHW9jAvTMkY5aMUU6EyLgFL1ZN9RyxYCZABeHnbpzqWmWGWXekmM4lUA6ZkjoutPBFBVPS6OFqZxRUvp9Gwe9PmLFSYXkvh-9TyinQJ3SfeQ/s1600-h/monkeys.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234328022535872930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4dCac1zUNr3nyeelpf3mqBKbuAOwVm3AHW9jAvTMkY5aMUU6EyLgFL1ZN9RyxYCZABeHnbpzqWmWGWXekmM4lUA6ZkjoutPBFBVPS6OFqZxRUvp9Gwe9PmLFSYXkvh-9TyinQJ3SfeQ/s400/monkeys.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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"A bin of monkeys! (Haven't you always wanted a Monkey?" © <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">Chris Doyle</a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxcOEOxmW_5AgpG0o8Br8wE_TcN_EyT_-e8bqn-Ti3rNNLKNRSVbyQ417zNEqTcCq07O38KNeQ5xPS2CGL2YAGRNUy4Qu7r5PA5HRsBuiVRR0xsiwNXSe_Lz4ztfsrbjqPTxtETOiaV0/s1600-h/room2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234328017226402642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxcOEOxmW_5AgpG0o8Br8wE_TcN_EyT_-e8bqn-Ti3rNNLKNRSVbyQ417zNEqTcCq07O38KNeQ5xPS2CGL2YAGRNUy4Qu7r5PA5HRsBuiVRR0xsiwNXSe_Lz4ztfsrbjqPTxtETOiaV0/s400/room2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
"I swore, with all the energy and determination of a seven year old's tantrum, that if I ever reached adulthood <em><strong>I would buy SO MANY REAL LEGO BRICKS that it would take an entire room to hold them all! That I would BUIILD and BUILD and BUILD until my fingers bled!</strong> </em><br />
And, as things worked out, I did indeed reach adulthood. (Note I didn't say I grew up any, though.) <br />
And, as things worked out, I did indeed fill that room with LEGO bricks." © <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">Chris Doyle</a> <br />
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In case I haven't already put enough links, here's the home page of <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/">reasonablyclever.com</a>.<br />
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Here's Chris's <a href="http://www.reasonablyclever.com/buyme/index.html">Buy-Me-Mizer</a> where you can use existing parts in the Lego range to build yourself and then buy the result!<br />
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So another HUGE thank you to Chris Doyle for allowing me to interviewing him. After initially thanking Chris for the interview, he said this:<br />
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Chris: I was wondering if I could have one-time permission to reproduce "Rubber Stamp 1" on a LEGO torso - the next time my mini-figure appears in my comic, I'd like to have him wearing a shirt with that print on it.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Jude: Bloody Nora, YES! That's as good as winning an Oscar! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHFwoUcvPi891ZJtUMm0qvf5dZClZZk9Al3lb2oC5MpAN1BxZBisqYbU_fTPZgzOF3NFCcBVj5eFpGrZ2gDes_uLnIlOS6cIfHa0udz5WqDbEvQi38UVIhuZ1uuMAVt5dKjuyEQdHUZE/s1600-h/rubber_stamp_1_by_judecalverttoulmin.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234333395667727954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHFwoUcvPi891ZJtUMm0qvf5dZClZZk9Al3lb2oC5MpAN1BxZBisqYbU_fTPZgzOF3NFCcBVj5eFpGrZ2gDes_uLnIlOS6cIfHa0udz5WqDbEvQi38UVIhuZ1uuMAVt5dKjuyEQdHUZE/s400/rubber_stamp_1_by_judecalverttoulmin.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
Rubber Stamp 1<br />
© Jude Calvert-Toulmin<br />
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<img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/judecalverttoulmin/legot-shirt.jpg" style="height: 412px; width: 276px;" /></div>
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Above: 'Mizer me on a promo T-shirt. Modelled by my mannequin Marina (named after Marina in Stingray, of course.)</div>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Finterview-with-chris-doyle-creator-of.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-78688529332053863982008-06-18T15:44:00.002+01:002018-06-04T09:08:38.828+01:0010 SECOND INTERVIEW WITH MYSELF (LOL) JUDE CALVERT-TOULMIN<div>
Here's a 10 second Interview I did on Facebook with the 10 second interview app.</div>
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If you don't know how this works, the database comes up with pre-programmed random questions and you can either answer them or move onto the next one. So, they're their questions and my answers in mauve, all answered in under 10 seconds (dunno if that's the point or not but that's how I did it. See, sometimes I <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span> join in with the stupid crappy Facebook apps!)</div>
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Women are...</div>
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Complimentary to men and deserve equality</div>
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What's your dream job?</div>
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Author, which is what I'm doing. People keep telling me they want to see me on TV again after Come Dine With Me and I'd love to do some more TV. Once my next two novels are out I may do a YouTube cookery show, but the novels come first. </div>
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George W. Bush is...<br />
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A cunt</div>
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What celebrity do you wish would just go away?<br />
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Jimmy Carr, Alan Carr, Jimmy Saville</div>
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What was your worst fashion mistake?<br />
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The black fake fur cape. Ask my daughters.</div>
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I'd do just about anything for...<br />
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<div style="color: purple;">
Brian</div>
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What's the closest you've come to death?<br />
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Giving birth to my first baby 1989. Nearly walking out in front of a bus on Oxford Street in London,1983</div>
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What are the strangest two foods you've combined together?<br />
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<br /></div>
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Marmalade and cold Thai coconut vegetable soup on baked potato. Last week that was.</div>
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I like to wear...<br />
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What I want. Although that means being shouted at by men almost every time I leave the house. </div>
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What advice would you give your younger self?<br />
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<br /></div>
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All those men treating you badly and telling you they're better than you? They're jealous and insecure arseholes. Get rid of them from your life.</div>
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No matter how badly I needed the money, I'd never...<br />
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Have sex for it. </div>
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In retrospect, do you wish you had studied harder or had more fun?<br />
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I had fun wasting time. now I'm having fun working.</div>
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What makes you blush?<br />
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Very occasionally, my big gob</div>
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If I wrote the script for a porno, I'd title it...<br />
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Hate porn. It's a degrading and destructive industry. Internet porn is the biggest cause of divorce in the USA. Erotic literature is a whole different ball game so to speak.<br />
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Five star hotel or a tent in the woods?<br />
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Champagne and oysters in a tent in the woods</div>
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What's the worst movie you've ever seen?</div>
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When Harry Met Sally. I walked out.</div>
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I love the scent of...<br />
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Freesias</div>
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Everything is negotiable in a relationship, except...<br />
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Trust. </div>
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What's your earliest memory?<br />
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Crying, feeling imprisoned and abandoned behind my cot bars and no-one coming to rescue me.</div>
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What's your favorite web site?<br />
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Google</div>
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Do you play any instruments?<br />
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Acoustic 12 string guitar, bit of piano. percussion.</div>
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For the talent portion of the competition, I will...<br />
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Write a best selling book My novel Mother-in-Law, Son-in-Law became a best seller in February 2012.</div>
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When I was little, I used to believe that...<br />
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One day I would make books. I was right. </div>
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What always makes you smile, no matter how bad a day you're having?</div>
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Babies </div>
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What's one magical thing that happened today?<br />
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A hard chapter wrote itself and I managed to transcribe it all</div>
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My backpack/purse/wallet contains the following surprising things:</div>
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A mini spirit level</div>
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What's your favorite candy?<br />
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My home made fudge</div>
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What's your favorite type of cuisine?<br />
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Moroccan, Vietnamese,Thai, Chinese, Indian,</div>
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When I'm bored, I...<br />
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I'm never bored. I don't have an off switch. How can anyone be bored with Google at their fingertips?</div>
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If I were the first person to land on the moon, I would've said:<br />
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That's one small step for a woman considering we grow humans</div>
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My philosophy is...<br />
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Do as you would be done by</div>
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What's your magic word?<br />
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Moonbeam</div>
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Use the following words in a sentence: pink, dirigible, luckily, phonics<br />
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Luckily, the fact she didn't know what either phonics or dirigible meant didn't make her cheeks go pink when she blushed.</div>
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Have you ever been on TV?<br />
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Yup</div>
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Fame or Fortune?<br />
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Work</div>
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Please buy me a...<br />
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Nothing. the best gifts are free</div>
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What cartoon character did you have a crush on? </div>
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Pepe le Pew </div>
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Girls go to Mars to get more...</div>
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Closer to the Mars probe<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2F10-second-interview.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: medium none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-76341170363040308512008-05-02T15:00:00.004+01:002018-06-04T09:07:47.341+01:00MICHAEL DE LARRABEITI'S FUNERAL<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGoYKdA3bwLb72AuT7g2-GiRFcV5BsIS2K7hnom7WsmeAugHWHq-rkaCKPup9YoyUJjq-nLPPVKOo2q0jjrWsSkjQkJE10M9dHgcP7IFpwXU43ngngUFRqD8gLJuq1aWYyua_DM4NKH4/s1600-h/mike+by+willy+rushton.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195701231054404882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGoYKdA3bwLb72AuT7g2-GiRFcV5BsIS2K7hnom7WsmeAugHWHq-rkaCKPup9YoyUJjq-nLPPVKOo2q0jjrWsSkjQkJE10M9dHgcP7IFpwXU43ngngUFRqD8gLJuq1aWYyua_DM4NKH4/s400/mike+by+willy+rushton.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
Willie Rushton's quite incredible characature of Michael de Larrabeiti.<br />
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<a href="http://judecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com/2008/04/michael-de-larrabeiti-author-and-travel.html">A posthumous tribute to Michael on my Jude Calvert-Toulmin blog</a><br />
<a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3993751.ece">Obituary in The Times</a><br />
<a href="http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/article3806709.ece">A posthumous tribute to Michael in The Sunday Times</a><br />
<a href="http://michaeldelarrabeiti.com/">Michael de Larrabeiti website</a></div>
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After Michael de Larrabeiti's funeral yesterday, I found myself saying to several people, "That was the best funeral I've ever been to" before stopping myself and wondering whether that was a terribly non-PC thing to say. But then I found myself inwardly smiling at the irony, because one thing Michael had no truck for was being PC.<br />
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Michael's funeral was organised by his family and by <a href="http://www.rightscom.com/default.aspx?tabid=1101">Richard Balkwill</a>, <span align="center" id="_ctl0__ctl2_ContentPane">a consultant to the Publishers Licensing Society and senior lecturer in publishing studies at Oxford Brookes University. But apparently, </span>Michael wrote the script for his funeral himself, and it showed. There was not a falsely reverential note during the entire day. He was a man fortunate enough to be surrounded by people who loved him but nevertheless told the truth about him; what could be worse than being reduced to a life where one is cosseted and surrounded by yes-men.<br />
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Michael's funeral will go down in history for me as having the greatest proportion of genuine folk per square foot than almost any other congregation I've ever attended. No arse-licking, no PC nonsense, no the-sun-shone-out-of-his-backside.<br />
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Everyone is human, and everyone has failings and qualities. All of us, at some time or another during our life, will do not only bad things, but dreadful things. All of us will perform acts of courage and kindness which astonish even ourselves, all of us will by loyal, all of us will be disloyal. All of us will hurt others, all of us will rescue others. All of us will be selflessly kind, all of us will be cruelly selfish. It's a part of being human.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2KQA9MAn4ro4dNQM4to0sRuXRX9zEkTa8MJJ0miaVYky71bFt0ece4LivTI-AXH5nKf4vKvr5SU8Oax3_J2b1CNf95GUaov_1heX19JSxLZoFxIgSrnfVALksgIf15wICzeIQAvJYSA/s1600-h/eating+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195701222464470258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2KQA9MAn4ro4dNQM4to0sRuXRX9zEkTa8MJJ0miaVYky71bFt0ece4LivTI-AXH5nKf4vKvr5SU8Oax3_J2b1CNf95GUaov_1heX19JSxLZoFxIgSrnfVALksgIf15wICzeIQAvJYSA/s400/eating+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
Michael de Larrabeiti at his home in Great Milton, Oxfordshire. Pic by Jude Calvert-Toulmin, 2007.</div>
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What all of us don't do, is live on beyond the living memory of those who knew us. And through Michael's books, that is what he <span style="font-style: italic;">will</span> do. Having several of Michael's books stacked up and as yet unread is a joy remaining to me, but the passages which were read out at his funeral, even though I've already read them before, struck me by their insight and beauty even more the second time around. You can read some quotes from Michael's work in my initial article about and interview with Michael here:<br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"> <a href="http://judecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com/2008/03/michael-de-larrabeiti.html" style="color: red;">CLICK HERE </a></span><br />
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(that's for all the lovely folk I met yesterday who admitted that they would attempt to read my blog even though they're completely computer illiterate!)<br />
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But here is a quote by Proust which affected Michael deeply enough for him to include it in his masterpiece, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Journal-Sad-Hermaphrodite-Michael-Larrabeiti/dp/095546224X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209714041&sr=1-2">Journal of a Sad Hermaphrodite</a>, which is being republished by the avant garde and independent Tallis House on the 1st June 2008.<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">…What one can say is that everything happens in our life as though we had entered upon it with a burden of obligations contracted in an anterior existence; there is nothing in the conditions of life on this earth to make us think ourselves obliged to be good, to be sensitive, even polite; nor for the artist to feel himself compelled to begin a passage twenty times over when the praise it evokes will matter little to the body devoured by worms…all these obligations…seem to belong to a different world, a world founded on goodness, on scruple, on sacrifice, a world entirely different from ours, and whence we come to be born on this earth, perhaps to return there and live under the rule of the unknown laws which we have obeyed here because we carried their principles within ourselves…those laws to which every deep intellectual labour draws us nearer, and which are invisible only…to fools.<br />
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Marcel Proust.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXk-i99U9vAeSIzW8GNtZYqIZVK540VSpwwiaYYIY3UDaMZuI5UyOxCjeJXNtxKyx43t76cG49HtuG-Imh7c_sch7FF-Q5c9Sbkcq8hUSa2YNpwDM7iqYoAeGo2LXISFJPu56oEa5OI8/s1600-h/service.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195701226759437570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXk-i99U9vAeSIzW8GNtZYqIZVK540VSpwwiaYYIY3UDaMZuI5UyOxCjeJXNtxKyx43t76cG49HtuG-Imh7c_sch7FF-Q5c9Sbkcq8hUSa2YNpwDM7iqYoAeGo2LXISFJPu56oEa5OI8/s400/service.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;"><br />
</span></span>It is a tragedy that Michael was of a time when the dinosaurs of publishing had so much sway, and when New Publishing was in its infancy, as it is now, when the new small presses, avant garde writers and publishers and digital print on demand are revolutionising the book trade (and not before time.) It is a tragedy to read a quote like this from Michael's memoirs, <span style="font-style: italic;">Spots of Time</span>:<br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">My adventures with the third Borrible volume were not so enjoyable. The 'Wicked Witch of the West' Margaret Clark, had moved into complete control at the Bodley Head and she had never liked the series. 'It's far too long,' she said. 'It needs 10,000 words taken out of it.'</span><br />
<span style="color: #6600cc;"> I worked on the book for about six months solid, day in, day out, taking three or four lines off each page. It was a virtual re-write and it broke my heart to throw that stuff away, stuff that I'd worked on for weeks and months. But I did the work, and re-submitted. She didn't even look at it: 'I don't want it,' she said. 'Try somewhere else.'</span><br />
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Heartbreaking.<br />
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It was an honour to meet so many people who had worked with and been friends with Michael - Linda from Clarkson's Tours, Monique from his travel guide days, who had come all the way from France on one of the biggest public holidays, the May Day weekend, and therefore the worst for travel, actor and theatre director Stuart Mungall, who at one time ran the Young Vic, and staged the first volume of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Borribles</span> trilogy, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Great Rumble Hunt</span> to great acclaim.<span style="color: #cc0000;">*</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">*</span> Irrespective of its official acclaim, earning the respect of a load of Y9's from the local comprehensive is a far higher accolade than earning the respect of the critics, <span style="font-style: italic;">believe me</span>. From Spots of Time:<br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">The last night was a riot and impossible to get those kids off stage; they sang their way through the songs again and again, marching up and down and round the auditorium. There were tears in my eyes and I was given a long round of applause: "Author, author," they shouted, bless 'em. It was the nearest I ever got to The West End.<br />
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</span><br />
I spotted environmentalist, author, journalist and politician <a href="http://www.stanleyjohnson.com/">Stanley Johnson</a>, with whom, along with Tim Severin, Michael repeated Marco Polo's original route in 1961, but didn't get a chance to talk to him which was a shame as I wanted to commiserate with him that his boy (Boris Johnson, running for Mayor of London - the votes are being counted as I type) got such a bashing in The Guardian's G2 yesterday. Whatever one may think of anyone, if you can't say something nice then don't say anything at all. Maybe that's why I'll never be a politician.<br />
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It was also a pleasure to meet, albeit briefly, Michael's personal computer guru and geek, Graham aka <a href="http://youtube.com/user/cineprojectorman">cineprojectorman</a>, who visited Michael every Sunday in recent times and was too choked up to attend the wake. Here's Graham filming Michael and Great Milton:<br />
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There's a lot more I could say about yesterday, and a lot I won't say, but to finish up, I will say this:<br />
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On every film set I've worked on, I've always been the most interested in talking to the sparks and the chippies, the backstage crew, the facilitators whose work is hidden but without whom the stars wouldn't be able to shine. Michael was not only a "star author" in my eyes and in the eyes of many others (and, I am certain, even more in the future,) he was also a film technician; one of the crew, which is an interesting anomaly in itself.<br />
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But backstage in his own life, one whose work was hidden, but who was clearly a luminary in her own right, was his wife Celia, who died before Michael, but whose memory ain't going anywhere soon. I deeply regret, having listened to people talk about her and having seen her photos (a stunning beauty, quite obviously both inside and out) not having had the chance to meet such a remarkable woman who has left such a deep impression on all who knew and loved her.<br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">By the end of the year I was stepping out with Celia, a tall slim good-looking girl from Devon. She had a graceful upright stance, a low pitched voice, golden hair and a figure to die for. Eighteen she was, that's all. I saw her that first time striding through the arched portal of Front Gate, the skirt swinging the way skirts swing, tense with life. 'She walked unaware of her own increasing beauty', unaware of her own elegance and the effect it had, 'a flower of good breeding.' She was as bright as a blue sky too, and I saw the talent, the resilience, the softness and all the love that made her what she was, and I was flooded by that love and knew that this was the girl I wanted to tie my life to, and I felt that love that only comes once and I took it into my heart and held it there. So this was why I had come to Dublin.<br />
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</span>Michael de Larrabeiti. From his memoirs, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spots-Time-Memoir-Michael-Larrabeiti/dp/0955462223/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209719343&sr=8-1">Spots of Time</a>.<br />
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Celia bore Michael three daughters, Phoebe, Aimée and Rose, and being a mother is without any shadow of a doubt, the most undervalued and difficult job on earth. A good mother will always be far more worthy of my respect than an esteemed professional in whatever occupation; that is not personal, that's just a fact.<br />
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However besides the fruit of these human seeds, Michael's creative seeds will also continue to bear fruit for a long time to come. The creative energy Michael left behind him was equally as palpable as the grief, and that is a legacy in itself.<br />
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The final song at the funeral was Al Bowlly's recording of <span style="font-style: italic;">Love is the Sweetest Thing</span>, spontaneously accompanied by a group of Michael's oldest friends in the front row.<br />
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The only video I can find on YouTube is one being used to accompany an excerpt from Luis Buñuel's <span style="font-style: italic;">L'Age D'Or</span>, and as Michael had such good taste in all matters artistic, cultural, cinematic, and French, a clip from a film by one of the godfathers of cinema to one of Michael's favourite pieces of music seems fitting. Here it is, a classic Buñuel clip:<br />
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<a class="abp-objtab-007213273135854692 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/DSx4C3MdmLA&hl=en" style="left: 341px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><a class="abp-objtab-007213273135854692 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/DSx4C3MdmLA&hl=en" style="left: 341px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><a class="abp-objtab-006846101792390535 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/DSx4C3MdmLA&hl=en" style="left: 341px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><a class="abp-objtab-00764682086589441 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/DSx4C3MdmLA&hl=en" style="left: 341px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Block this object with Adblock Plus"></a><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DSx4C3MdmLA&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DSx4C3MdmLA&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object></center>
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Clip from <span style="font-style: italic;">L'Age D'Or</span> by Luis Buñuel. Music, <span style="font-style: italic;">Love is the Sweetest Thing</span>, lyrics and music by Ray Noble, sung by Al Bowlly.<br />
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***</div>
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Many thanks to Michael's family, and especially to his great niece Sarah and her partner Adrian for thier kindness and hospitality yesterday; I feel as though I have made new friends there. And thank you to all Michael's family and friends for making me, a virtual stranger, and let's face it, basically just a gushing fan, so welcome.<br />
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To Michael, wherever you are: Good call on getting such a prime spot in the cemetery, mate. Nice one ;)<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fmichael-de-larrabeitis-funeral.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-34920764710510371762008-03-06T16:00:00.001+00:002018-06-04T09:08:01.386+01:00INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR MICHAEL DE LARRABEITI<div style="text-align: center;">
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Sadly, Michael de Larrabeiti passed away a few months after this interview. You can read my tribute to him and an article about his funeral <a href="http://judecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com/2008/05/michael-de-larrabeitis-funeral.html">here.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovADSNEMGor2AYwc5AtYzd4MlQ70reOttmp3IfJ-uyZh2c1_mMDW0NN8IQZ-eHiD1Z9_GFLdUPn4fFSPB6yhgI7GhGDmW3kdB69Run97IOysDnO0LE3N4Aq1labZRpKQU36lNDBIuuKI/s1600-h/eating+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174611872751081122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovADSNEMGor2AYwc5AtYzd4MlQ70reOttmp3IfJ-uyZh2c1_mMDW0NN8IQZ-eHiD1Z9_GFLdUPn4fFSPB6yhgI7GhGDmW3kdB69Run97IOysDnO0LE3N4Aq1labZRpKQU36lNDBIuuKI/s400/eating+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #000099;">Above, Michael de Larrabeiti at his Oxfordshire home, 2007. </span> <span style="color: #000099;"><br />
© Jude Calvert-Toulmin.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Early in 2007 I was conducting research for a chapter in the sequel to my debut novel, MY ADVENTURES IN CYBERSPACE, and googled “princess diana conspiracy forum”. Eventually I found myself on the </span><a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/index2.html">website of an author called Michael de Larrabeiti.</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V7Jscqe-or-0h_jSG0M_8JqzjKoTSbWKEhVufrfodAit2ZHfhJVIxymzs8reJKBpKfsCg3rNVcpiCaoflsPEwsmx1F7s4XRZvLZpzv-0LV1I7GWtJwUIoCtIk1uP1cDKjPCZBC-jXnI/s1600-h/MdeL-1940-Arundel.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174613801191397138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V7Jscqe-or-0h_jSG0M_8JqzjKoTSbWKEhVufrfodAit2ZHfhJVIxymzs8reJKBpKfsCg3rNVcpiCaoflsPEwsmx1F7s4XRZvLZpzv-0LV1I7GWtJwUIoCtIk1uP1cDKjPCZBC-jXnI/s400/MdeL-1940-Arundel.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Michael de Larrabeiti. 1940. Arundel</span><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Reading the short <a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/biography/index.html">biography</a></span><span style="color: black;"> on his site I became intrigued by this man. Like me, he had lived in Clapham, round the corner in distance, albeit 45 years apart in time. He was half Basque and looked Basque, like my daughter Jodie who is a quarter Basque but looks more Basque than English.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp4Fj7l7xm_BCDcA4PYaDZaS_3oGSb7OkQWZAW0XZNL2Etl7g-xWgzf__G0jWvW3UJQUT7_v1futNm8-gFVrc6YpxMCrp6AMBJCMp56r3gWlg3_elz2VmevGM_PAF6FY7flZy9QNH9Pc/s1600-h/MdeL-1984.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174614436846557042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp4Fj7l7xm_BCDcA4PYaDZaS_3oGSb7OkQWZAW0XZNL2Etl7g-xWgzf__G0jWvW3UJQUT7_v1futNm8-gFVrc6YpxMCrp6AMBJCMp56r3gWlg3_elz2VmevGM_PAF6FY7flZy9QNH9Pc/s400/MdeL-1984.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti 1984</span><span style="color: #000099;"><br />
©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti</span></div>
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Like me he had worked in the film industry and travelled all over Europe (and for him, beyond.) He was also, like me, a photographer and a writer. But he had achieved far more than me. Even besides his fifteen published books he had been a travel writer for The Sunday Times, a shepherd in Provence, and he had retraced, on motorbike, Marco Polo's original route across Europe, through Afghanistan and onto India. This was a truly extraordinary man.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJzNIL59UAQOXqXZLfj1KtGnGb_g_uy-xKpTXS52aci3ysdhMVBVEw-qqESLAmHikTBG1sZ_XoTvh63wA0yJ-J_04E6vqTvr4QBRR3XemEBA6OrF2wpt4GAQ1pwZf3gQ-zpzbHg1KXmU/s1600-h/MdeL-1961-Afghanistan.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174614428256622418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJzNIL59UAQOXqXZLfj1KtGnGb_g_uy-xKpTXS52aci3ysdhMVBVEw-qqESLAmHikTBG1sZ_XoTvh63wA0yJ-J_04E6vqTvr4QBRR3XemEBA6OrF2wpt4GAQ1pwZf3gQ-zpzbHg1KXmU/s400/MdeL-1961-Afghanistan.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><span style="color: #000099;"><br />
<o:p>Above, Michael in Afghanistan, 1961</o:p><br />
©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">He had also been nominated for the Whitbread, the Crime Writer’s Association Golden Dagger, Travelex Travel Writer of the Year, and long-listed for the Booker Prize.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUqIS1HCwO-jLDY92Rp21Ztkottm9IWFWO3-DMhwQYICIxiRMTZW8JVVAHO8n0jkyDBtce0zCTlyKtuThrAnat_RbTBi7PXg6-kEUSBQy4QXtIw3VxfYPW1bFM0o5IhAQiBWNR_HRMC4/s1600-h/MdeL-1948-London.jpg"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYKJ_G6dCBBwMIgIus4wgl22lZLPB7FbHm5VRL1ExWIr5ny67ZTvg8QyTsFGcvyS7UeLf3F7RVx-x74oqOkZ66VWxSNuAWgYW8ouPMZ_cLip5r-eaw1tsvFC-hu-7cmp87uAvsi_D59Y/s1600-h/borribles.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174652601925949442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYKJ_G6dCBBwMIgIus4wgl22lZLPB7FbHm5VRL1ExWIr5ny67ZTvg8QyTsFGcvyS7UeLf3F7RVx-x74oqOkZ66VWxSNuAWgYW8ouPMZ_cLip5r-eaw1tsvFC-hu-7cmp87uAvsi_D59Y/s400/borribles.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">His<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Borrible_Trilogy"> Borrible Trilogy</a> had been a best-seller and still has a hardcore of devoted fans all over the world. </span><span style="color: black;">Though written as young adult fiction, the books deal with serious themes, most notably the debate over what causes are noble enough to die for and which aren't. </span><span style="color: black;">My regular LA readership take note - </span><span style="color: black;">the film rights expired in December 2007 so are once again up for grabs. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm51lrpx_wQKs06PkEbszVA-0V5JN2hqMRwjvZ5lcaDzEV47nHz50Z4eDj2X3ZQXqZUeVCplvqjl3-Uttoh4Ee4A9HPNyCvBPIvNcrwifIYWXpMnZk7FFGh5ZJ2xATMi69Y15YMn64ejM/s1600-h/MdeL-1986.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174614432551589730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm51lrpx_wQKs06PkEbszVA-0V5JN2hqMRwjvZ5lcaDzEV47nHz50Z4eDj2X3ZQXqZUeVCplvqjl3-Uttoh4Ee4A9HPNyCvBPIvNcrwifIYWXpMnZk7FFGh5ZJ2xATMi69Y15YMn64ejM/s400/MdeL-1986.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Michael de Larrabeiti in front of a Borribles promo poster, 1986<br />
©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">But what intrigued me most, more than any of his achievements, was a lust for life, a joie de vivre, a warmth, a chameleon-like ablility to fit in with people suffused with a subversive independence, which wafted out from his biography like heady incense.</span></div>
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I had to get to know this fascinating man. I had questions.<br />
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From the <a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/multimedia/files/PDR%20Press%20Release.pdf">Princess Diana's Revenge Press Release</a>:</div>
<span style="color: #6600cc;">Princess Diana’s Revenge was submitted to more than 30 publishers and refused by them, even though its author has written more than 14 critically-acclaimed books. In these days of celebrity publishing the traditional publisher is less and less likely to undertake the slightest risk – or was it the subject matter of this book that made every publisher in England so timorous?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHfN_a2CRLfFHcQSrfM-pYPnn5vWz9C9ilQaSW-mCnoEW03CQvInAsk2pjYDSE5cvnyVbNbBJhZaKNeAe9AuNAHNbQYa4q4YTKe-YXaOAOF3aKjoS3BWWn24SyfqeBHvnEZCo9Moealo/s1600-h/roof.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174613784011527906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHfN_a2CRLfFHcQSrfM-pYPnn5vWz9C9ilQaSW-mCnoEW03CQvInAsk2pjYDSE5cvnyVbNbBJhZaKNeAe9AuNAHNbQYa4q4YTKe-YXaOAOF3aKjoS3BWWn24SyfqeBHvnEZCo9Moealo/s400/roof.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above, Michael de Larrabeiti at his Oxfordshire home, 2007.<br />
© Jude Calvert-Toulmin.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Thus started a journey of emails between his publisher, James Benstead, and I, leading to a correspondence between Michael and I, that spanned a year and culminated in my spending a day with Michael at his home in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, late last year (and also meeting Jim in London last year too.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSPyNMbzazVSVfia_fH18ZejsV7Q5I0Ne1XyZyY2Bw95h1zDiTwmjx_7h4v6eyvwVkfUReiBKmZr9KxkIZj-pw48Zf99Y2CVJfXJLHnNziYUycnBYdzYd7u9kAxr4JUWZRrwezoi1QME/s1600-h/laurence+and+jim.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174650368542955506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSPyNMbzazVSVfia_fH18ZejsV7Q5I0Ne1XyZyY2Bw95h1zDiTwmjx_7h4v6eyvwVkfUReiBKmZr9KxkIZj-pw48Zf99Y2CVJfXJLHnNziYUycnBYdzYd7u9kAxr4JUWZRrwezoi1QME/s400/laurence+and+jim.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 291px; width: 290px;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above left to right: <a href="http://www.tohellwithpublishing.com/about.php">To Hell With Publishing</a>'s founder Laurence Johns; <a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/books/pdr.html">Tallis House'</a>s founder James Benstead. A private club in Soho, London, November 2007.</span><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">© Jude Calvert-Toulmin.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Last year Michael sent me a signed copy of Princess Diana's Revenge, the book that led me to his site through my google search, an Ealing comedy romp of a novel that his agent passed on and was eventually published by the independent Tallis House. He also sent me a signed copy of his most recent book, Spots of Time: A Memoir. But it was not until last Wednesday that I set aside a day to read what Jim Benstead told me was Michael’s most important work – Journal of a Sad Hermaphrodite.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiPYGXUJnGF4OdgfFCJGUOMSz832EmMBcq3lsyhF2J0zuM7MRa-i7FZI5S8j_fPH3XH15cz1Gtm1FohOqSKNfVV61bQzqfdjwSekHHPNc4DllqlZR5sGdK2w5XmXuzjjvqZJ7rJONDXc/s1600-h/200px-JOSH-UK.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174611868456113810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiPYGXUJnGF4OdgfFCJGUOMSz832EmMBcq3lsyhF2J0zuM7MRa-i7FZI5S8j_fPH3XH15cz1Gtm1FohOqSKNfVV61bQzqfdjwSekHHPNc4DllqlZR5sGdK2w5XmXuzjjvqZJ7rJONDXc/s400/200px-JOSH-UK.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">As you will see from our discussion which follows, Michael does not consider himself to be a truly great writer, and is very humble and self-deprecating about his work, where other writers wouldn't be.<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Journal of a Sad Hermaphrodite (aka JOSH) is ostensibly an innocent and unconsummated love story between the English teacher Cooper and his unnamed student, but the real love story is between the writer and the written word. JOSH is a kind of ode to literature, illustrated in human form by Cooper's secret admiration for and feelings of flustering incompetence before his gifted pupil.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">I need an excuse for my actions – I know she has talent, I can see it in everything she writes, but I must not let my appreciation of that talent become the basis of an obsession – that way lies shipwreck. Two thousand years of civilisation behind me and I cannot speak to her; two thousand years and still the old are frightened of the young.</span> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">– Page 20</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUqIS1HCwO-jLDY92Rp21Ztkottm9IWFWO3-DMhwQYICIxiRMTZW8JVVAHO8n0jkyDBtce0zCTlyKtuThrAnat_RbTBi7PXg6-kEUSBQy4QXtIw3VxfYPW1bFM0o5IhAQiBWNR_HRMC4/s1600-h/MdeL-1948-London.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174613852731004706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUqIS1HCwO-jLDY92Rp21Ztkottm9IWFWO3-DMhwQYICIxiRMTZW8JVVAHO8n0jkyDBtce0zCTlyKtuThrAnat_RbTBi7PXg6-kEUSBQy4QXtIw3VxfYPW1bFM0o5IhAQiBWNR_HRMC4/s400/MdeL-1948-London.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Michael de Larrabeiti, London, 1948<br />
©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Just as Cooper is the teacher, opening his pupils' minds to the treasures of literature through the ages, so Michael de Larrabeiti has been a travel guide, and JOSH is essentially a travel guide for writers through the terrain of literature.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">‘Have you thought about writing?’ he said at one point, ‘because you ought, I mean.’...’I’ve been collecting things over the years – words, poems I mean. I want to put it all together, more tidily than it is now. You could take it away with you at the end of the year…it would be like a map of the front line, not complete, but showing you how to get through the trenches and across no-mans-land.’ </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">- Page 80</span></div>
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This is Cooper talking to the unnamed pupil. But it is also Michael de Larrabeiti talking to those of us who are in love with literature and the written word.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNMGFHZ3_L_W63GJmukj9yigKRZrVOU7eP8I8s6MiHYZbQZ67JMbOH4aaFylACQaJwkkqJZEDuCJn2_VCYSfVws_RPOBFtEz_mfyo2EXb2LOQEmWJtHhKKFZ3fJZOXOahxhH9ay3A_oA/s1600-h/MdeL-1969-Singapore.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174614892113090498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNMGFHZ3_L_W63GJmukj9yigKRZrVOU7eP8I8s6MiHYZbQZ67JMbOH4aaFylACQaJwkkqJZEDuCJn2_VCYSfVws_RPOBFtEz_mfyo2EXb2LOQEmWJtHhKKFZ3fJZOXOahxhH9ay3A_oA/s400/MdeL-1969-Singapore.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Michael de Larrabeiti, Singapore, 1969<br />
©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">If people tell you they have no time to read make sure you find out what they do have time for.</span><o:p><br />
</o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;"><o:p>- </o:p>Page 123</span> <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Michael, like a travel guide with a map, explains, through the words of Cooper and his pupil, and also through the extensive quotes, from Horace and Montaigne to Stevenson sprinkled throughout the book, how to see whether we are on the right track or not. He doesn't take us, holding our hand, for that would stifle our sense of adventure. He holds up a mirror, a treasure chest of literary jewels, in which maybe we can see ourselves, our direction, our work and our loves.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">…What one can say is that everything happens in our life as though we had entered upon it with a burden of obligations contracted in an anterior existence; there is nothing in the conditions of life on this earth to make us think ourselves obliged to be good, to be sensitive, even polite; nor for the artist to feel himself compelled to begin a passage twenty times over when the praise it evokes will matter little to the body devoured by worms…all these obligations…seem to belong to a different world, a world founded on goodness, on scruple, on sacrifice, a world entirely different from ours, and whence we come to be born on this earth, perhaps to return there and live under the rule of the unknown laws which we have obeyed here because we carried their principles within ourselves…those laws to which every deep intellectual labour draws us nearer, and which are invisible only…to fools.</span><o:p> </o:p>Marcel Proust quote. </span><span lang="EN-GB">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite </span><span lang="EN-GB">-Page 77</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2L9OcvVEsZBAEGGjkKR1rWWwOo_621JYEjB8tqykFidwc0MCCNCIXJFkUH16JqZvrSSMvCXrEb0IaRxFpuAd6TFnX_kjCn1SM85WcTRuMahIb14NQlLOSWjCupToIojFJj0HJjNmfug4/s1600-h/MdeL-1986-Gt-Milton.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174614879228188562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2L9OcvVEsZBAEGGjkKR1rWWwOo_621JYEjB8tqykFidwc0MCCNCIXJFkUH16JqZvrSSMvCXrEb0IaRxFpuAd6TFnX_kjCn1SM85WcTRuMahIb14NQlLOSWjCupToIojFJj0HJjNmfug4/s400/MdeL-1986-Gt-Milton.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Michael de Larrabeiti, Great Milton 1986<br />
©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">He warns us of the fragility and transitory nature of life, and urges us to make the most of our time on this journey through life:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;"><span style="color: #6600cc;">The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life. Since man is mortal, the only immortality possible for him is to leave something behind that is immortal since it will always move. This is the artist’s way of scribbling ‘Kilroy was here’ on the wall of the final and irrevocable oblivion through which he must someday pass.</span><o:p></o:p> William Faulkner quote.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;"> Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: black;"> - Page 28.</span><br />
<o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">How many young people have you heard say that they would work hard and make a fortune before they were forty-five? Where are they now? Still working, the light of wonder dimmed in their minds by years of toil.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6600cc;"> And where are the ones who had talent but no bravery – those who could sing but didn’t dare raise their voices. Do they suffer in the deepest part of hell?<span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">– Page 30</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">To be overwise is to ossify; and the scruple-monger ends by standing stockstill. Now the man who has his heart on his sleeve, and a good whirling weathercock of a brain, who reckons his life as a thing to be dashingly used and cheerfully hazarded, makes a very different acquaintance of the world, keeps all his pulses going true and fast, and gathers impetus as he runs, until, if he be running towards anything better than wildfire, he may shoot up and become a constellation. </span><o:p></o:p>Robert Louis Stevenson quote. </span><span lang="EN-GB">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite </span><span lang="EN-GB">- Page 33.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7DO5gqnFggU5dJtPAvOA3LaUAM1ZhKTZhMH6Ie0MNOdFI6h6m4yO9T8xHXC8lq-4s78WEyMtxHV6hhM_9Wk62vzFst-oB47JygldYCf4G9daNFkVeCBom-3C9E3ynTMTuOfpMtdV500/s1600-h/MdeL-1960-Hong-Kong.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174614423961655106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7DO5gqnFggU5dJtPAvOA3LaUAM1ZhKTZhMH6Ie0MNOdFI6h6m4yO9T8xHXC8lq-4s78WEyMtxHV6hhM_9Wk62vzFst-oB47JygldYCf4G9daNFkVeCBom-3C9E3ynTMTuOfpMtdV500/s400/MdeL-1960-Hong-Kong.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Michael de Larrabeiti, Hong Kong, 1960<br />
</span><span style="color: #000099;">©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">He speaks to me so clearly through his words, through the words of Cooper and his pupil, through the words of the great poets and writers whose greatest works he has so selectively quoted, and through the words of "L.Lestrange" the mysterious writer whose quotes also appear in the book.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Is acting better than being?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Writing better than living?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Painting better than seeing?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Music better than hearing?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">Dancing better than walking?</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">N Lestrange quote.<o:p></o:p> </span><span lang="EN-GB">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite </span><span lang="EN-GB">- Page 33</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVVwHiyWzdMnHuIBiYTS8ebu_6O58rLOHHrTdgu5fPAWq_JkJ3QJyKz9WXfJHgCxGwbwYpG2Hf_XB8bMrnehA-7zUG5bNDgu2tlSs2a-x2UCYHsd_nx3MRAXuAnGyUMDCOxmhGjAfrMA/s1600-h/MdeL-2002-Gt-Milton.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174614879228188546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVVwHiyWzdMnHuIBiYTS8ebu_6O58rLOHHrTdgu5fPAWq_JkJ3QJyKz9WXfJHgCxGwbwYpG2Hf_XB8bMrnehA-7zUG5bNDgu2tlSs2a-x2UCYHsd_nx3MRAXuAnGyUMDCOxmhGjAfrMA/s400/MdeL-2002-Gt-Milton.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Michael de Larrabeiti, Great Milton, 2002<br />
©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">I started reading JOSH at 9.30am on Wednesday 5th March.</span> <span style="color: black;">By 10.30am I was merely waiting to see Browning's </span><a href="http://www.poetsgraves.co.uk/Classic%20Poems/Browning/A%20Toccata%20of%20Galuppi%27s.htm" style="color: black;"> A Toccata of Guluppi's</a><span style="color: black;"> for I was so in tune with the book, I knew it would have to be there. At midday it appeared on page 81.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">'Dust and ashes!' So you creak it, and I want the heart to scold.<br />
</span><span style="color: #6600cc;">Dear dead women, with such hair, too―what’s become of all the gold<br />
</span><span style="color: #6600cc;">Used to hang and brush their bosoms? I feel chilly and grown old.<br />
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</span> <span style="color: black;">The last verse of A Toccata of Galuppi's. If you haven't yet read it all, then DO! A truly beautiful yet horrific poem that has resonated within me ever since first reading it 35 years ago.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-SBO-nuh-HnujPG0nJQHVOWZtZxckLTy3xtkoOAqX5EtrdpGF_2FNGBEnjoHCp2F9jrfWBNR6iRgKyh6rckYcy0NXJJpqGQIbCGIVAklNYc4NVzrgpFNm_dGYMM6Z1zERrCcNDZzs5k/s1600-h/MdeL-1959-Casablanca.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174961979991034210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-SBO-nuh-HnujPG0nJQHVOWZtZxckLTy3xtkoOAqX5EtrdpGF_2FNGBEnjoHCp2F9jrfWBNR6iRgKyh6rckYcy0NXJJpqGQIbCGIVAklNYc4NVzrgpFNm_dGYMM6Z1zERrCcNDZzs5k/s400/MdeL-1959-Casablanca.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Michael de Larrabeiti, Casablanca, 1959; the year I was born.<br />
©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">It is this awareness of the fragility of life, this honesty, this clarity of vision and respect for simplicity and purity, that drew me to Michael in the first place:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">A man who is so fearful of poverty that he relinquishes his freedom – that freedom which is worth more than a mine full of gold – will because of his greed, bear a master on his back and be his slave forever: and all this for not knowing how to live simply.</span><o:p> </o:p>Horace quote. </span><span lang="EN-GB">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite -</span><span lang="EN-GB"> Page 44.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">Cooper forgot about our marked essays. ‘My fantasy,’ he said, ‘is almost endless travel. “Swagger the nut-strewn roads”, taking in the whole world, and every evening, as I came over the brow of a hill there would be the small auberge, with a few of the locals sitting outside, quietly talking, and I would be expected, known even, though never seen before. A seat would be ready, a table, and I could join in the conversation. In a bedroom where the beams were low, the counterpane would be turned down, the floor tiled and the shutters standing open in the summer’s dusk. All my books would have been laid out, standing in rows on shelves – and there is a desk with my papers. One morning I would move on – more adventures on the road and a new auberge that evening with new people in it. Long, extended dinners – and such companions at table! Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, Leopold Bloom, Odysseus, Cleopatra, Marco Polo and Becky Sharp. What evenings we would have.’</span> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">- Page 54</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">And by ruing his inability to write a work of genius, Michael de Larrabeiti has ended up unwittingly writing one, much as Cooper suddenly realises that by compiling his thoughts, and scraps of quotations, and pages from his pupil's diary into a cohesive whole, he has ended up writing his first book.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">Davies showed me the joy of words but he didn’t warn me about the envy I would feel towards those who possess the ‘shaping spirit of imagination.’ Whenever I think of her I feel excitement, love and lust – and a deep envy of her gift. But an artist without talent cannot write that excitement, love and lust (and envy) out of his system – cannot make poetry from it. Teachers, publishers, journalists, critics and columnists would all sell their souls for that gift of alchemy – the using of words to turn base metal into gold.</span> <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">*</span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: black;"> – Page 21</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">On the trestle table from the garage I am assembling my first book. All envy has gone, worn away in the work. In its place I have acquired an audacity beyond dreaming, and it is eager to match hers. </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">- Page 165</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jwgG6yHFx5xJIRoFN6wILkMaWkDn3G4A4qeNu6sV0DvINsxO4kkiAco-ba6yhToY_l7-PSSiQVj4tagHQs1TRDaYo9nrkvLrihUS1lrK522WFHyticaCAw-Of8uqkDRhF1jeza2IDQA/s1600-h/me+as+dennis.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174646876734543826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jwgG6yHFx5xJIRoFN6wILkMaWkDn3G4A4qeNu6sV0DvINsxO4kkiAco-ba6yhToY_l7-PSSiQVj4tagHQs1TRDaYo9nrkvLrihUS1lrK522WFHyticaCAw-Of8uqkDRhF1jeza2IDQA/s400/me+as+dennis.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 333px; width: 316px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #000099;">Above: Me and Brian dressed up as Dennis The Menace and Minnie The Minx for a works do in Leeds, 2003. © Jude Calvert-Toulmin</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">*</span> Besides all the other various <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Coelho" style="color: black;">Paolo Coelo</a><span style="color: black;"> The Alchemist road signs, notwithstanding our mutual love of A Toccata of Galuppi's and Dennis The Menace, Chapter 24 in MY ADVENTURES IN CYBERSPACE II is entitled "April - The Alchemy of Art." and concerns the use of alchemy to convert the base metal of ideas into the gold of art through writing, as a form of healing therapy.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8RFefEC78vZ7opRzP2Ti0ZX7sZMRs7D2MTwFDQaIYEy5OweBN_PPl-PVF1j2Q12AJMgcDGAwY_McoAxbqjQOUeGSbGFVhG0iJTkygdUHNsWTUTbXefVP3pBY460vtsbOGr79vscWImo/s1600-h/garden+1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174647155907418082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8RFefEC78vZ7opRzP2Ti0ZX7sZMRs7D2MTwFDQaIYEy5OweBN_PPl-PVF1j2Q12AJMgcDGAwY_McoAxbqjQOUeGSbGFVhG0iJTkygdUHNsWTUTbXefVP3pBY460vtsbOGr79vscWImo/s400/garden+1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: Michael in his Dennis The Menace hat, surveying the grounds of his beautiful home in Oxfordshire.<br />
© Jude Calvert-Toulmin<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite</span>, by the way, is dedicated to British poet and playright <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Connor">Tony Connor,</a> who is also a close friend of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J_G_Ballard">J G Ballard's</a>. One section of Connnor's 2006 anthology <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Things-Unsaid-Selected-Poems-1960-2005/dp/085646385X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204814460&sr=8-1">Things Unsaid</a> is dedicated to Michael de Larrabeiti.</div>
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If you want to read more about Michael's work then please go to his<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_de_Larrabeiti"> Wiki entry</a> and do your own research. There is a cornucopia of delights in his history which I cannot possibly cover in what is already going to be my longest ever blog article.</div>
<span style="color: black;">Before moving on to a transcipt of some of our discussion (much of which is too private to publish, and I have given my word to Michael that it will remain private), here is a little more about Michael's remarkable journey following in the footsteps of Marco Polo, a journey he undertook as the photographer for the Oxford University trip, accompanying </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Johnson" style="color: black;">Stan Johnson</a><span style="color: black;"> (Boris Johnson's father) and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Severin" style="color: black;">Timothy Severin</a><span style="color: black;"> back in 1961.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">From </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spots-Time-Memoir-Michael-Larrabeiti/dp/0955462223/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204815071&sr=1-12" style="color: black;">The Spots of Time</a><span style="color: black;">, Michael de Larrabeiti's memoir:</span><i><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></i> <br />
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<i><span lang="EN-GB">‘Greater Armenia is an extensive province, at the entrance of which is a city named Arzingan, where there is a manufacture of very fine cotton cloth…It also possesses the handsomest and most excellent baths of warm water, issuing from the earth, that are anywhere to be found.’</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> We wanted very much to find those baths but a footnote to the entry, in my edition of ‘The Travels’ cast doubt on their very existence: ‘…<i>of their existence at Arzengan I have not been able to find notice in the works of the Eastern geographers</i>.’ <span style="color: black;">Spots of Time - Page 62</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3f4pn-6H3U6uRptdt5wwd60Oc9kF0EJSJByMi6S1KQnbGWx7FlOWKirJ16X0Q5rLRPdwA1BdwdhpTZmKScM_Hdd7Ho8dttiy64kLgWGHW9QqxcNb6CHov99b1P9YGnLzhc5uGeNradzs/s1600-h/MdeL-1966-London.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174614887818123186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3f4pn-6H3U6uRptdt5wwd60Oc9kF0EJSJByMi6S1KQnbGWx7FlOWKirJ16X0Q5rLRPdwA1BdwdhpTZmKScM_Hdd7Ho8dttiy64kLgWGHW9QqxcNb6CHov99b1P9YGnLzhc5uGeNradzs/s400/MdeL-1966-London.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Michael de Larrabeiti, London, 1966<br />
</span><span style="color: #000099;">©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti</span><span style="color: #000099;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">Then out of the gloom came a lonely silhouette, a peasant, behind him three water-buffalo. ‘Sejak Su?’ we asked. ‘Hot water?’ He turned and pointed, and there, a hundred yards or so away, disappearing into the dark, was the outline of a broken mud building.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6600cc;"> We went back to our machines and found a track that brought us round to the building. It was totally dark now, but we could hear springs splashing out of the ground and running off into the marshes. The building was small, say seven yards by seven, there was no roof to speak of and a weak moonlight fell onto a rectangle of water that was contained in blocks of stone. We lay down on the ancient paving and plunged our arms into the bath; it was warm, and the bubbles caressed our hands. It was a moment of sheer delight; we had discovered Polo’s ‘</span><i style="color: #6600cc;">handsomest and most excellent baths of warm water</i><span style="color: #6600cc;">’. <span style="color: black;">Spots of Time - Page 63</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kupz9JFjCK6k82riY56UtcGyQDKDAOs5A5Z_1aC-K8H4i3HKiq5K27G_fodOLpixbipx3ZicimZS-k2ygV_2c0IYBG1Rzc9hBWm-Gh7WkNYkRTzk5uxu85U4xqXCaQ-KAUj2wvG_UGQ/s1600-h/files+1.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174963650733312402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kupz9JFjCK6k82riY56UtcGyQDKDAOs5A5Z_1aC-K8H4i3HKiq5K27G_fodOLpixbipx3ZicimZS-k2ygV_2c0IYBG1Rzc9hBWm-Gh7WkNYkRTzk5uxu85U4xqXCaQ-KAUj2wvG_UGQ/s400/files+1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">One of Michael's many bookcases.</span><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> James Benstead, 2008</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">TAPE RECORDINGS FROM MICHAEL'S KITCHEN.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: black;">A CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL DE LARRABEITI</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: Can you tell me about Princess Diana’s Revenge? Why didn’t it get taken on when you’ve had so many books published before?<o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: It started off as a thriller and then started sending itself up and was a kind of fairytale written as a thriller, and satirical, but also saying something about British society and this absolute obsession about Princess Diana, which is totally crazy, so it was criticised for being a thriller and then “losing its way.”<o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"></span><span lang="EN-GB">But you can mess about with genres, you can write comedy thrillers for example. Looks like a thriller then becomes something else. They don’t like that, and I told them. I believe I was totally in the right. But agents and publishers haven’t got the time for me any more. I’ve been told “I’m surprised you’ve become such an old grouse.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Jude: A grouse or a grouch?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Michael: </span><span lang="EN-GB">A grouse.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Jude: Why?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Michael: Because I'd expressed my opinion and said they were illiterate, basically.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: </span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p>But why a grouse? When used as a noun rather than a verb, a grouse is a bird!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Michael: (rolls eyes and smiles) Their command of English is not acceptable.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>Jude: Where do things stand with The Borrible trilogy at the moment?<br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: </span><span lang="EN-GB">I got a query about The Borribles, an email from LA…<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">“I was a great reader of the Borribles when I was young, I’m now a producer and I’m really interested in making a film, can you tell me if the rights are free...” <o:p></o:p><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">And I told them the rights are not free at the moment but they will be in December when the option runs out, and I don’t think they’re going to be renewed….they show all this enthusiasm...(laughs) and publishers and agents are just very...they see themselves as...that you’re baying at the door...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Jude: You haven’t always had a bad relationship with agents and publishers have you? Otherwise you would have changed your agent...<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: Well it's not that easy...it’s an incestuous brotherhood...I was told “Most agents who are any good are so bloody busy that they wont take any new people on and they’ll probably get onto your previous agent and say “Why is he leaving you?” and the first agent will say “Well, he’s a bit of a troublemaker..."<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I was just exercising my own right to express my opinion. I’m not much trouble really, but I was labelled as a troublemaker. There was a whole series of things for which I was hauled over the coals, which I just found amusing.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">So I didn’t even submit Spots of Time. And anyway, they publish a memoir if you’ve got a name...I only wrote it for my daughters, I didn’t write it with an idea of publication, and then this sole publication thing came up with Jim, h</span><span lang="EN-GB">e started reading my stuff, particularly JOSH, coz I think back there somewhere is a desire to be a writer, and then also he's an IT whizzkid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: You say most of Spots of Time is true. So is the married woman sun-bathing in Greece true?<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: No. but it happened to a friend of mine. Got seduced in a Turkish bath.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>(Michael tells me the whole story naming names and I promise to keep schtum.)<br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: I was wondering about that coz that came across as very true.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzfzEen2aNjXQnq_tfNJsBiyMw1Wa89iPZ8qnWPC72KdJwLQttZ4YkpODFYhSxa3GSvyVE3JtW71wSRx8a_cng6rWVIE8EoWEm8t4zzas-oBnks7n-L3Wl3D2Th7pSCpUjM7VgLde0mg/s1600-h/phone+1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174611877046048434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzfzEen2aNjXQnq_tfNJsBiyMw1Wa89iPZ8qnWPC72KdJwLQttZ4YkpODFYhSxa3GSvyVE3JtW71wSRx8a_cng6rWVIE8EoWEm8t4zzas-oBnks7n-L3Wl3D2Th7pSCpUjM7VgLde0mg/s400/phone+1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above, Michael de Larrabeiti at his Oxfordshire home, 2007. </span> <span style="color: #000099;"><br />
© Jude Calvert-Toulmin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p><br />
Michael: I was hitchhiking in the holidays, in Greece, and I got up to the top of this hill, wonderful place, you must go there sometime, and I thought the fairy story was a nice way of describing it. Coz a lot of Greek women don’t like their men you know. Their men are even more male chauvinist pig than I am.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>Jude:</o:p> Was, I’m sure. I’m sure you’ve mellowed with time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>Michael: </o:p>Well, I don’t have the same energy anymore, otherwise I might still be. (chuckles) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p>Jude – (chuckles) Ohhhhhhh dear…<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: In a way one can see it as a pilgrim bringing joy and happiness to women who are unhappily married...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: - (giving Michael a level, feminist look of disdain) I’ve never thought about it like that.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">(Both chuckle.)<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p><br />
Jude: What about the characters in Princess Diana's Revenge? Are they invented?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p><br />
Michael: The Bunce is totally invented. The Borribles is totally invented and Princess Diana’s Revenge is invented.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p><br />
The character of Joe is a bit like me. I love that attitude where the Joe character sees everything but is a bit pathetic in that he doesn’t do very much, and I like taking that point of view. So I mean, that’s totally invented.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> In PDR, the girl from the shop is not invented; there was a person like that in the shop but she never came into my bedroom. However according to village gossip she was in quite a lot of others. She looked a bit like I’d imagine Tess of the D'Urbervilles to look.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Vernon Minge was based three quarters on a real person who I hated. He wasn’t as good looking as Vernon Minge...he was a professor of anthropology at Oxford...daft as a brush...he used to say the most stupid things...bloody idiot, as a lot of academics are. So some people in the village are invented, some not. The countess is totally invented.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: I like the Montaigne quote you’ve used too: "Just as our mind is strengthened with vigorous and well-ordered minds, so it is impossible to overstate how much it loses and deteriorates by the continuous commerce and contact we have with mean or ailing ones."</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTZQeqKx7Cew3YTsR1GjPYTPE3xi1Y5bnmiLEflYWacQeVICWNf8exwxaaWlHppgiq8Mloqi0CgSnJ3MML2_c_viqg8GenUK6igAJxrC6KvmjMhay157vK7r3noa_vEXuHcY0l3bM7Ig/s1600-h/files+2.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174963655028279714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTZQeqKx7Cew3YTsR1GjPYTPE3xi1Y5bnmiLEflYWacQeVICWNf8exwxaaWlHppgiq8Mloqi0CgSnJ3MML2_c_viqg8GenUK6igAJxrC6KvmjMhay157vK7r3noa_vEXuHcY0l3bM7Ig/s400/files+2.JPG" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: One of Michael's many bookcases, containing, besides books, folders of photographs, clippings and notes.</span><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> James Benstead, 2008</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #000099;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: I recommend his essays if you haven’t read them. Penguin do a very good translation.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: I’ll put that on my reading list...I’m ashamed to say there are a lot of classics I haven’t read...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>Michael: </o:p>Ah. Well. Ars longa vita brevis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>Jude: </o:p>Yes, I'm aware of that.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: Well stop enjoying yourself and start studying.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude:<o:p> </o:p>Well the thing is, it’s different for a woman. I chose to take 15 years out to raise a family. If you then want a career then that’s a big block of your life that you’re gonna be behind the men.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: I appreciate that...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p style="color: black;">Jude: </o:p><span style="color: black;">And that’s why there aren’t as many famous women writers or artists as men, because they’ve been raising families.</span><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">…to make something beautiful is an intoxication. Is that why so many women are happy enough to be mothers and only mothers? – such a thing they’ve made and nothing else like it on earth. If men could carry, bear and suckle children how many books would they have bothered to write and how many pictures painted?</span> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: black;"> – Page 75.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GF_rGQ6-Vb43-Efa4Lb7YmCUsWpH_aAt5n3TUnOyLmEfJrxDEaqGC-U62uw55vD1evFULnoVpaVtCRYuF-XnA8o_oDISsCaXgC3yHOlCosnXpxtH_f6K8KReVhsWsa2U2Cx4yxjvRyU/s1600-h/shed+4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174613796896429826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GF_rGQ6-Vb43-Efa4Lb7YmCUsWpH_aAt5n3TUnOyLmEfJrxDEaqGC-U62uw55vD1evFULnoVpaVtCRYuF-XnA8o_oDISsCaXgC3yHOlCosnXpxtH_f6K8KReVhsWsa2U2Cx4yxjvRyU/s400/shed+4.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above, Michael de Larrabeiti at his Oxfordshire home, 2007. </span> <span style="color: #000099;"><br />
© Jude Calvert-Toulmin.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: Do you still have any connections with The Sunday Times, with your travel writing? Or has everything changed?<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: I don’t even read it now, the Travel Section...12 places to take your kids at half term…it’s awful…it wasn’t my style. The style changed so much...they stopped asking me...it just died a natural death.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: How long ago was that then?<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: I think the last one I did was 2002. In France, I filled the car up with wine and sent my daughter back as a foot passenger. It’s not as bad as it sounds. She was going to London anyway. But it’s a story she tells…you know, “I went to Dieppe with my dad and he made me get out the car so he could fill it with wine"...but that was the last one I did.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The other reason for my relative failure is that I never write the same book. What you do if you want to be a success is keep writing the same book…a detective story, whatever. The Bunce got very very very good reviews and if I’d continued in that vein...you carve out a kind of readership…like Rankin…Maeve Binchy...but I always wanted to write something different.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: Personally I think you should write for yourself. These are the books that will be remembered for a long time. These are the books that are written with passion, and from the heart.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: My books are from the heart.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>Jude: </o:p>I know. That’s why I’m here.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: It’s like Jordan...you have the tit operation...<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: Katie Price is a hard working girl . She’s very intelligent. She’s used her modelling as a way into getting published.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>Michael: </o:p>I know, but I’m just saying that as a celebrity, however you’ve got to that celebrity status, makes getting published easy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>Jude: </o:p>Yeah it makes it easy but it’s not the only way to get published. I do think what you have to do nowadays is put yourself out there as much as you can.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: You're right. I’ve been lazy, and too proud. Anyway, you ask me questions, I’m talking too much.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: Whaddaya mean I ask you questions you’re talking too much?! I want you to just talk! About whatever you want to!...actually I do have a few questions I want to ask...<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: Oh yes <span style="font-style: italic;">I know you do.</span> Otherwise you won’t get to know what you want to know...and then we’ll have a couple of pizzas and a tomato salad.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: I love tomato salad.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: I do a very nice vinaigrette.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: I’m sure you do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael prepares lunch and as we're eating he muses...<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: If my mother could see me now...napkins...big house...all through 15 books or whatever it is...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DfRp4MMLSuj-7OWUifwTsCk4wAbNaWeRj46tjzTZEnD08akAuHizMfiK0eKg0tvEMeIep6tB40GH_F_pGBQlAzIj2qYUXjOL-l4Y_pSqmT_EGUUmXBrGZnOStCWDsjyt2sb6lK7EKRc/s1600-h/MdeL-1952-Festival-Gardens.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174962001465870706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DfRp4MMLSuj-7OWUifwTsCk4wAbNaWeRj46tjzTZEnD08akAuHizMfiK0eKg0tvEMeIep6tB40GH_F_pGBQlAzIj2qYUXjOL-l4Y_pSqmT_EGUUmXBrGZnOStCWDsjyt2sb6lK7EKRc/s400/MdeL-1952-Festival-Gardens.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;"><o:p>Michael de Larrabeiti, Festival Gardens, 1952 </o:p><br />
©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">After lunch...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude:<o:p> </o:p>Is it OK if I take some photos?<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: As long as I don’t have to take my clothes off.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>Jude: </o:p>Yes you do.<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">(Both laugh)<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: Not a pretty sight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude:<o:p> </o:p>Well...none of us look like what we did when we were 20...</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">(Jude studies list of notes and mutters to herself.)<o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: Some of these are questions and some are just lines I like from your books.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: (chuckles)…Oh that’s all right. We writers like a bit of praise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: “It was very special while it lasted, that time with Bernadette. There was the smell of mint tea on the air and the palm trees on the boulevards looked skimpy and dishevelled like mop headed models.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I love that line...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: (chuckles) I quite like it too. She died a couple of years ago.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: Oh! You managed to track her down!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: Um…oh yeah, I say (in Spots of Time) that I got on the boat at midnight and left her dumped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">It’s a good story but it’s not true. However it’s a better story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: You used some poetic licence. So you kept in touch with her? That's good.<br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: Yes, I did. I got her a job in a holiday camp in the south of France and we kind of drifted apart and then after many years, I was cycling down from the Pyrennees...and went back to Casablanca to do an article for the Sunday Times. Anyway I managed to find this friend who had her number, so I rang her up, thirty years later. Went to see her, she was living not far from Toulouse, and she was quite miserable...and I got a letter a couple of years ago, saying that she’d died. Most of the book’s true…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: I’d been reading the stuff about you on your website when I first stumbled across it…I did think, “This is a very interesting bloke and I’d like to meet him", and the story about Bernadette did…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: Went against your impression…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: Yes…it was incongruous…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreIFGaTt-PQQMmz0WeA_exUN9UYQqFP7o2P2NZ2eHm8r9nU3lCGWJui8F5h98OQPDPSiWAZPagHuaPMm_bzu0cSkWmAuTWyzGWSQDlSGJlTyuo-WtCMRLNZ-KvQYYfksgxu4DO0Ln26s/s1600-h/phone+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174611885635983042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreIFGaTt-PQQMmz0WeA_exUN9UYQqFP7o2P2NZ2eHm8r9nU3lCGWJui8F5h98OQPDPSiWAZPagHuaPMm_bzu0cSkWmAuTWyzGWSQDlSGJlTyuo-WtCMRLNZ-KvQYYfksgxu4DO0Ln26s/s400/phone+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above, Michael de Larrabeiti at his Oxfordshire home, 2007. </span> <span style="color: #000099;"><br />
© Jude Calvert-Toulmin.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Thirty thousand pounds for the Turner Prize, for an unmade bed, a pile of bricks or a room where the electric light flashes on and off. Not one of them as great in conception as the roof I put on my house. My roof is a work of art and will last a hundred and fifty years, two hundred maybe. It was made of timber I had cut, battens I had soaked in creosote, ancient tiles, and the knowledge of the builders who showed me how to do it. I had been to Blanchford’s builders’ yeard to buy galvanised nails and sacks of cement; I had bought my first claw hammer. There was nothing better than my roof.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;"> </span><span style="color: #6600cc;">The activity of making a roof brings with it all the joy of making a work of art, especially when you do it for the first time. It is art to the roofer even if it isn’t art to anyone else, just like the pile of bricks to the artist. You go beyond life for a while, beyond death. You are not quite sure where the work is taking you or what you are going to learn about yourself. It beats Columbus for discovery. I climbed a hundred tall ladders to the highest roofs in order to meet knowledgeable men, searching for instruction. And in pubs I talked with artisans</span><span style="color: #6600cc;"> </span><span style="color: #6600cc;">who made celebrity sculptors look fashion-minded and fraudulent. I spent time with builders who carried the wisdom of the tribe with them. And, it came to me as a bonus, I worked out a definition of art on those roofs: art is something you want to return to, something you want to see many times, and not just a one off joke. </span><span style="color: black;">Spots of Time - Page 145</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: I love that quote. Damien Hirst for me is not art.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: It’s a joke. You’ve seen that once, like Tracey Emin’s bed.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: <a href="http://www.tracey-emin.co.uk/tracey-emin-home.html">Tracey Emin</a>’s a bit different I think, because if you investigate her she’s put an enormous amount of herself into her work, an enormous amount of passion. It’s a different thing, Tracey Emin to Damien Hirst. Tracey has had a turbulent life and has put it all into her work.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: I still wouldn’t want to go back and see her bed more than once. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: It’s conceptual art. A different type of art, although I do think that art should be aesthetic. Like with music, I don’t like experimental jazz and stuff, I like really beautiful harmony and melody; I don’t like noise…</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVizW1v3IP3SEfoC3fVGmlDDfOqukEpy7DPzukEaDE-hN2a7YH6vNQI3E5GE3jW6oCtME_Rky3lUknyqepcj3pbq4VRdINnUCpualW0GmV1069FcZZWQoUAU53TKt3ewd1oKUghLUQ6I/s1600-h/MdeL-1989-Gt-Milton.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174962005760838018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVizW1v3IP3SEfoC3fVGmlDDfOqukEpy7DPzukEaDE-hN2a7YH6vNQI3E5GE3jW6oCtME_Rky3lUknyqepcj3pbq4VRdINnUCpualW0GmV1069FcZZWQoUAU53TKt3ewd1oKUghLUQ6I/s400/MdeL-1989-Gt-Milton.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;"><o:p>Michael de Larrabeiti, Great Milton, 1989</o:p><br />
©</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Michael de Larrabeiti</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">My children grew faster than roses on the wall; picnics by the river at Cuddesdon Mill, teaching them to swim, canoeing expeditions. And me loving them every minute, watching, hoping they would turn into friends one day. Learning how to get through adolescence again; second time for me, first time for them.</span> Spots of Time - Page 162</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: black;">Jude: I love that line, "My children grew faster than roses on the wall", how beautiful, and how true.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: I think of my kids at school over the road...as a tour guide I was out the house 4 and a half months of the year, and as a travel writer for the Sunday Times I was out the house even less, so three quarters of the time I was here with my children, taking them to school, reading them stories, and I adored it. And now when I think of them, I don’t think of them as grown up ladies, I think of going over the road and meeting them at school; they stay like that.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: Oh, absolutely! My 16 year old daughter Jodie was here at the weekend, she was cuddling up to me on the sofa, and I could see this beautiful figure but in my head she’s a toddler and always will be...my little pudding.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: I’m glad I had girls.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: What, even when they were teenagers? (laughs)<br />
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Michael: When they got to 16 I bought them a huge bunch of flowers each and said “You’re on your own. I don’t want to interfere, but I don’t want you coming back here pregnant.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: My eldest did. Got pregnant at 17.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: So young. It must be so traumatic to have a baby at that age. I mean, it’s not a walk in the park at any age.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: No. She’s a very young soul. My other daughter Jodie was born wise.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> Michael: My daughters have all been pretty good, but Rose was also born wise. I could have a row with Rose and sit down afterwards and she’d listen to what I was saying, go away and think about it and say “Yes, you were right.” Which is unusual in children growing up. Aimee, the eldest, was always very spiky. We told her off for something once, and she came down one morning and…you know Wheatley is the next village….and she said (adopts booming voice) “I HAVE LEFT HOME!...in the direction of Wheatley.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">It’s become a family joke. She’s in her thirties now. We always still laugh about it. She was always very spiky.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: I think first children often are. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: I was talking to a psychiatrist the other day and he said he’s got a second daughter who’s more trouble than the other two put together.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: black;">More wine?</span><br />
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: You're going to get me hideously drunk aren’t you? </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: I know, have my way with your voluptuous body!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">(both cackle with laughter)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: Might as well go and have my after lunch nap!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">(uproarious laughter from both...fizzles out...)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: You are naughty. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: I’m only naughty verbally. I do make my friends laugh which is a gift.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jude: It <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> a gift.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Michael: As I say in the last chapter of Spots of Time…about being in debt to all the authors and poets and musicians who’ve gone before you, and it was time to pay back.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I was in debt not only to Stevenson for bringing me here but to all the others – regiments of them: Stendhal, Hardy and Fielding; Dickens and Balzac. And all those poets and painters and composers too, who had sweated out their lives to give me pleasure and knowledge and a little wisdom. I owed people, not only for the lobster breakfasts of Samoa, but for many other things. That farming family who had taken me in off the road as a young hitch-hiker, in France, a night of no moon and much storm. And those folk I had met, miners and steel-workers, shepherds and coach-drivers, they had been generous too. And generosity from women – mothers, friends, lovers – who had given me moments of tenderness and understanding; kindness everywhere, and wit and laughter. And friendship was the best of it; friendship and love. ‘…the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend. He is a fortunate voyager who finds many.’ <span style="color: black;">Spots of Time - Page 244</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"> I owed the living and the dead. I had been nourished by everything that had preceded me – there was no such thing as ‘before my time’, all time was part of me: the seasons, the rain and the wind, snowrops and autumn leaves, and wars I had not fought in. I was heavily in debt and there was only one way to get out of it. It was pay back time, difficult though it was, for I did not possess much capital – I could tell silly jokes, I had the gift of making my friends laugh, I could spread a little knowledge and some love and friendship in my turn, and perhaps – only perhaps – I could leave a few decent books behind me. That wouldn’t be too bad- picture postcards from the past, thank-you letters addressed to those who read them. It was the best I could do. <span style="color: black;">Spots of Time - Page 245</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLwZxG7-jPMK83cthZTdewb-wTcMRpcfheNG0NQW10Z8s2gbeXqrFmKlJMsm4sqGkSovotH7dyEeVTS-nPQKNWL8g3QqMhPNZ-wckQlIo-HfLOKAruUn53sYIzERlpU4jLNaHN0h7bAY/s1600-h/shed+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174611889930950354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLwZxG7-jPMK83cthZTdewb-wTcMRpcfheNG0NQW10Z8s2gbeXqrFmKlJMsm4sqGkSovotH7dyEeVTS-nPQKNWL8g3QqMhPNZ-wckQlIo-HfLOKAruUn53sYIzERlpU4jLNaHN0h7bAY/s400/shed+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above, Michael de Larrabeiti at his Oxfordshire home, 2007. </span> <span style="color: #000099;"><br />
© Jude Calvert-Toulmin.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">After our lunch, the delicious vinaigrette, and a tour of the beautiful house he spent many years lovingly restoring with his own hands, it was time for me to go. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Shyly, Michael told me that if I wanted to return for a weekend I would be welcome. ‘And bring your man, Brian.’ he added. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">We were quiet for a while and then he said; ‘I suppose I could take an early retirement, you know, go to Spain. Then you and Richard could come and stay, on your way round the Mediterranean.’ He made the invitation sound casual and for a moment I felt older and more experienced than he. I took a water biscuit' </span><span style="color: black;">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">- Page 154</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Have I not made </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">A monument more enduring than brass</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">To soar above the pharoah’s pyramids?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">A monument which nor the wind, nor the rain</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Nor the centuries unnumbered can destroy,</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Nor all the passage of the seasons?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">- Not all of me shall die…</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Horace quote. </span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: black;">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite - Page 41</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">This is the grove of Narcissus. I lay out these stolen lines at random to show you where I have wandered for a lifetime. Round and round, back and forth.</span> <span style="color: #6600cc;"> Still I haunt this familiar grove, wishing I were young. I recite the verses I learnt then. When I look into the pool I see only the grave marks on my face. A man fast becoming old, I take pleasure only in the words of others, flaunt them as if they were my own, even though their beauty and power make me melancholy. They are words beyond my inventing. There is no despair deeper than that of the artist without talent. </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: black;"> – page 7</span><span style="color: #6600cc;"><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Well, the sorrow of seeing the talented artist's insecurity and laments comes close.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;">The jackal thinks that he has fed well when he has in fact only eaten the leavings of the lion. </span><span style="color: black;">Quote from Abdul-Qadir of Gilan</span><o:p style="color: black;">. </o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">Journal Of A Sad Hermaphrodite</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;"> - Page 135.<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: black;">No great artist was ever secure in their talent, no <span style="font-style: italic;">truly great</span> artist has ever been smug, much as they may feign bravado as a flimsy disguise - this is what makes them great in the first place, for smugness is a result of blindness and reserved for the jackal, not the lion.<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: black;">The artist, beautiful, dignified and powerful, will always be aware of his own fragility.<br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">By twelve, he had written a book of poetry which he later destroyed when no publisher could be found.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">From the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Browning">wiki entry about Robert Browning</a>, one of the greatest English poets to have ever lived.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEI-1mdNxuz9LY1S4G6xsvXm9FWLAuM3lKfJzVy5-o5q_3xI2tnkdjRiv8FyVgvRWwqdaBYWVVH2KAvIVNJ5E1lgdnGegPct1bvs8SKOol-CRSBdPP9amBUJ84H9LjWxQ7lHaiqRoWdn4/s1600-h/resting+copy+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174613792601462514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEI-1mdNxuz9LY1S4G6xsvXm9FWLAuM3lKfJzVy5-o5q_3xI2tnkdjRiv8FyVgvRWwqdaBYWVVH2KAvIVNJ5E1lgdnGegPct1bvs8SKOol-CRSBdPP9amBUJ84H9LjWxQ7lHaiqRoWdn4/s400/resting+copy+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above, Michael de Larrabeiti at his Oxfordshire home, 2007. </span> <span style="color: #000099;"><br />
© Jude Calvert-Toulmin.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: #6600cc;"><span style="color: black;">***</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;"><span style="color: black;">Further reading for those of us who like to mine deeper seams and not just scrabble about on the surface larking around with everyone else:<br />
</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/books/index.html"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #6600cc;"><span style="color: black;">Michael de Larrabeiti website:</span></span></span></a></div>
<a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/multimedia/audio/BBC%20Radio%20Oxford.mp3">2006 interview with BBC Radio Oxford</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/books/pdfs/josh.pdf">First chapter of Journal of a Sad Hermaphrodite</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/multimedia/files/PDR_Sample.pdf">First section of Princess Diana's Revenge</a><br />
<a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/books/pdfs/borribles1.pdf"><br />
First chapter of The Borribles</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/books/pdfs/borribles2.pdf">First chapter of The Borribles Go For Broke</a><br />
<a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/books/pdfs/borribles2.pdf"><br />
First chapter of The Borribles: Across the Dark Metropolis</a><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Selection of Michael's travel articles for The Sunday Times:</span><br />
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</span><a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/journalism/articlepdfs/1998-10-11.pdf" style="color: black;"><br />
<span class="style3" style="font-style: italic;">Going Loco</span></a><span class="style1" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/journalism/articlepdfs/1998-10-11.pdf">:</a> The Copper Canyon Line links Mexico's cowboy heartland to some of the most dramatic scenery on earth. Michael de Larrabeiti climbs aboard. First published 11 October 1998.<br />
<a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/journalism/articlepdfs/1997-04-27.pdf"><br />
</a></span><a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/journalism/articlepdfs/1997-04-27.pdf" style="color: black;"><em>Heart of Stone</em>:</a><span style="color: black;"> MICHAEL de LARRABEITI does battle with the unforgiving terrain of Greece's Mani region and achieves a childhood desire to find Cape Matapan. First published 27 April 1997.<br />
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</span><a href="http://www.michaeldelarrabeiti.com/journalism/articlepdfs/1999-03-07.pdf" style="color: black;"><br />
<em>Treasure Island</em>:</a><span style="color: black;"> A hero's final resting place exerts an awesome pull - more so if it happens to be a South Sea island. Michael de Larrabeiti paid his respects. First published 7 March 1999.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">Press Reviews:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">THE BORRIBLES</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">‘...deadly glint and sophisticated appeal.’</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">Kirkus</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">‘London’s answer to The Lord of the Rings...try The</span> <span style="color: black;">Borribles, warts and all, before they become a legend.’</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">The Times</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">‘...the offspring of a singular imagination.’</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">The New York Times<br />
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</span> <span style="color: black;">‘...Larrabeiti has written a modern epic.’</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">Publishers’ Weekly<br />
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</span> <span style="color: black;">‘...this juvenile Clockwork Orange projects a gripping</span> <span style="color: black;">story through slam-bang action.’</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">Los Angeles Times</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">‘It’s stuff as strong as Fagin’s underworld. Dickens</span> <span style="color: black;">would have approved of this book.’</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">Evening Standard<br />
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</span> <span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">A ROSE BEYOND THE THAMES</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">‘...a beautifully warm, inventively true book.’</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">The Guardian</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">‘...the whole thing is a tour de force.’</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">The Sunday Times</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">FOXES’ OVEN<br />
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</span><span style="color: black;">‘A dark story with overtones of Ian McEwan’s</span> <span style="color: black;">Atonement...keeps you enthralled.’</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">The Guardian<br />
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</span> <span style="color: black;">‘It is so well done...Michael de Larrabeiti’s book is of a</span> <span style="color: black;">high literary standard.’</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">Beryl Bainbridge<br />
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</span> <span style="color: black;">‘Compelling and atmospheric.’</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: black;">John Carey, The Sunday Times</span><br />
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</span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">THE BUNCE</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">‘Craftsmanship, style, imagination and intelligence</span> <span style="color: black;">make this an enjoyable, sometimes alarming novel.’</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">Time Out<br />
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</span> <span style="color: black;">‘...rich in comic life...there are escapades galore,</span> <span style="color: black;">vicious, lewd, hilarious...crime as vaudeville.’</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">The Guardian<br />
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</span> <span style="color: black;">‘The plot roars off on a letching-retching rollercoaster...</span> <span style="color: black;">hurtling pace, sharp tin-tack writing.’</span> <span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">The Observer</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLwZxG7-jPMK83cthZTdewb-wTcMRpcfheNG0NQW10Z8s2gbeXqrFmKlJMsm4sqGkSovotH7dyEeVTS-nPQKNWL8g3QqMhPNZ-wckQlIo-HfLOKAruUn53sYIzERlpU4jLNaHN0h7bAY/s1600-h/shed+2.jpg"><br />
</a><br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fmichael-de-larrabeiti.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-6816628022353568162007-12-03T15:00:00.001+00:002018-06-04T09:07:03.329+01:00INTERVIEW WITH PHOTOGRAPHER KEVIN CUMMINSNB: The links on the artists' names lead to examples of their finest work so if you're reading this in a place where you can't have the speakers on, bookmark it for later.<span style="color: #6600cc;"></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.tohellwithpublishing.com/">Juvenes</a>, The Joy Division photographs of Kevin Cummins, is published today, December 3rd 2007, by <a href="http://www.tohellwithpublishing.com/">To Hell With Publishing</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKf96ravgvFktAmPo33uXglC3yaN_Wq7rBbJ_xw6Ivsh6T89dCh0Q-X8EH5PqvqOSTxji1QAHG4ZHR7Akrt_lMSLKuZed6gtiBT2ucBdeSRE0Pxx1MOcUsqxdUsJ9zHC2dDUnfSxKRFw/s1600-r/roxy+fan+73.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138633147372348978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrMG2-imVGbQkRrU7OYwUooHfaH867i-rWygtCtzL-NoVeY560RVlHQVv-t1I2oAPnsA54zWYRST7FphO2T9p9hSopIxO10sK16EQWaJsVIAKPvJKypoH-zduXBfOuijo6m4WZB8Ipo0/s400/roxy+fan+73.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #000099;">Above: Kevin Cummins, <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-F2X5Qrgo0Y">Roxy</a> Fan.</span></div>
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSNFPl4peaoxMqbmVLWlSicsnbACgCGRPZwr1cDrpQWq6wotvaXz7Abe-EniLj2w7f58oI7Y7a4VSG7aHLSNePiTWkOOq7mP9q9-6D64WjXaQiJqOKmYjeGwkeh662UJ8agaptu8-aVQ/s1600-h/n603201609_458378_8846.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137531767433797826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSNFPl4peaoxMqbmVLWlSicsnbACgCGRPZwr1cDrpQWq6wotvaXz7Abe-EniLj2w7f58oI7Y7a4VSG7aHLSNePiTWkOOq7mP9q9-6D64WjXaQiJqOKmYjeGwkeh662UJ8agaptu8-aVQ/s400/n603201609_458378_8846.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: Photographer Kevin Cummins<br />
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Something extraordinary happened to me a week ago. I was tying up the loose ends of the series of articles about the <a href="https://sheffdocfest.com/">Sheffield International Documentary Festival</a><span style="text-decoration: underline;">,</span> and I stumbled across this quote about photographer Kevin Cummins:</div>
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<span style="color: #6600cc; font-size: 130%;">Kevin is responsible for defining the image of Joy Division and helped bring them to a wider audience - Fiona Sturges. The Independent.<br />
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</span>I realised I had neglected to talk about the man who took the seminal <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K0dfd_L4tDk&feature=related">Joy Division</a> in the Snow shots shown in Grant Gee's documentary Joy Division, about which you can read more in<a href="http://judecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com/2007/11/sheffield-international-docfest-passion_8139.html"> Sheffield International Doc/Fest - Passion Part III - Joy Division.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2x4KcB7qbMT2KJaJAOzatz6tnB9f2q2GenLReekr4FceYSQCRH744Yg7RkdugdojFPszpwR0Em0TBhrh-us4eMdHzQberK73DnOu4x0Z_8QetNDKIa88kA-jhGlAwsw3jai2BxDEcsQ/s1600-h/l_2f7a43335015b11ca4bc0ff3037f7f3f.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137538471877746914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2x4KcB7qbMT2KJaJAOzatz6tnB9f2q2GenLReekr4FceYSQCRH744Yg7RkdugdojFPszpwR0Em0TBhrh-us4eMdHzQberK73DnOu4x0Z_8QetNDKIa88kA-jhGlAwsw3jai2BxDEcsQ/s400/l_2f7a43335015b11ca4bc0ff3037f7f3f.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #000099;">Above: The Joy Division in the Snow shoot.<br />
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I was aware of Kevin's name and legacy as a renowned music photographer, after all I was freelancing for the music press in the late 70s, and Kevin was the main photographer at the New Musical Express for ten years, but I had never seen his full body of work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooWDTUUCBmdOS1zV-lTMhlq3WKVYIYU3RfXXkJHS0qT4r_UJbm66wSby8kDPnoDFCXsPS3MLwQbw4lRYJoD48GH8292uxkysUK-lqOhIexFwje87nPKeejfstHB3QBsmC8tXGBFbSypE/s1600-r/kevin+ramones+electric+circus+may+77+adrian+boot.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138629668448839154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TWN-9eUICw-XMs936NiNJPzOektXR_POyUDOklz2BEUKL654VTKBktjZGIwmuHAYy5rLoAZMlZrn3M72_RRAck9Jf92q135w6YGd0eNfSvQjODddZKutFZhhrHn0lIPSQO1BKnzVbPs/s400/kevin+ramones+electric+circus+may+77+adrian+boot.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above, Kevin, centre, photographing his mates <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vZZ8cKuqTQs">The Ramones</a> at The Electric Circus, 1977. Pic by Adrian Boot.</span></div>
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Having a look through the albums on his <a href="http://www.myspace.com/kevin_cummins">MySpace</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=603201609">Facebook</a>, I was absolutely enthralled at some of his portraits. Portraiture is my main area of interest photographically, including portraits of musicians, and I understand the degree of trust that has to exist between the photographer and subject to capture essences of their personality that sometimes the subject would prefer not to be seen.<br />
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And that's why self-portrait work is so fascinating, because by subjecting oneself to the scalpel of the lens one discovers facets of oneself one would prefer to remain hidden, so as the subject of a self-portrait, no matter how much you intend to bullshit the camera, you will not succeed.<br />
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Which is one reason why Kevin Cummins' portraits have such resonance, because he focuses on the most outstanding element of his subject's character and then builds the portrait around that. Just like the lens does. So he and the lens are in harmony.<br />
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Anyway, have a look at these stunning portraits:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXu9px-jd-_bNprl6cVyw1XwXYxhaPBMY-sZRu3BKf4G5EDswK2bUF2Y0MdVVMeyTA49VAOzRs8yLyARP-yLmDyEHrH7bF673Yw5oHOpmIXg6LnN4O3XbBNEUGGGfRDA-9A5bTquSHtM/s1600-h/n603201609_303606_7353.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137530710871842930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXu9px-jd-_bNprl6cVyw1XwXYxhaPBMY-sZRu3BKf4G5EDswK2bUF2Y0MdVVMeyTA49VAOzRs8yLyARP-yLmDyEHrH7bF673Yw5oHOpmIXg6LnN4O3XbBNEUGGGfRDA-9A5bTquSHtM/s400/n603201609_303606_7353.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #000099;">Above: <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EBUiPs1PxKo">Mark E Smith</a>, </span><span style="color: #000099;">singer/songwriter </span><span style="color: #000099;"> of <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FFxB5jOEJMs">The Fall</a>, one of <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hXA8p4-x0Co">John Peel</a>'s favourite bands (and my partner <a href="http://www.brianlt.blogspot.com/">Brian</a>'s too.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4VNG0w1WE1aYUrifRabJVwlE1dQosOTv-r505DCWrRi-THjhMGTFLJMwGbbo4GnNmPrzhBUdsoZyxRR8kBOoGpOPo1C8uHg1d6S-KCalA7DOOphJT_zVWNadPAksU2dzMRCLzDftStg/s1600-h/n603201609_303624_1863.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137530728051712146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4VNG0w1WE1aYUrifRabJVwlE1dQosOTv-r505DCWrRi-THjhMGTFLJMwGbbo4GnNmPrzhBUdsoZyxRR8kBOoGpOPo1C8uHg1d6S-KCalA7DOOphJT_zVWNadPAksU2dzMRCLzDftStg/s400/n603201609_303624_1863.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: </span><a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pHqNgfNULek" style="color: #000099;">Albert Finney</a><span style="color: #000099;">, one of Britain's greatest ever actors.</span><br />
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Kevin: <span style="color: #6600cc;">"</span><span style="color: #6600cc;">Finney came up to Salford for me. The photo was taken in the house in which he was born. His aunt still lives there."</span></div>
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0iGbKccw_kBQBzEi9ANZ4_9X96jXjna5YgKhb-oeYysz2wNChVTUMNdNiSmjvjp14_xDLGDhAbeZKqQbdg_CuIvJbj4GnZOwRbUaKZlR5ZJTpPPGpOdujhcKuOyrwotoguo7KsZRLw8/s1600-r/marc+bolan+77.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138629664153871842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1dwAX3J2BReXpGLOjjzC69O4WE9zouYM8gijoSpgl5HMQ_LXjVMNlpsZzPh5PBU1PrQlo4SM6VKAZQbcojl6PdaZ038I-HZy3m3ock-Bmzvlq1Wa1LLJLg0SVIQD6ZLr7t9FFFW9zMs/s400/marc+bolan+77.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;"><a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=y9rFoPyqFoA">Marc Bolan</a>, </span><span style="color: #000099;">Singer/songwriter, musician</span><span style="color: #000099;">.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VbUyIkVgMnNeJZrYKaZgNyzk4Jhw3jzLTukXMr6a1MPlPWoAf_2IrRtfthOfG7SV-xr1liKIu2AekOqKx3AjbdOmiBoZky832D2dwOUMi07m48LoUwDfP3gVp_oYEpgIV2PRhlebWmI/s1600-h/n603201609_334349_8392.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137530740936614066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VbUyIkVgMnNeJZrYKaZgNyzk4Jhw3jzLTukXMr6a1MPlPWoAf_2IrRtfthOfG7SV-xr1liKIu2AekOqKx3AjbdOmiBoZky832D2dwOUMi07m48LoUwDfP3gVp_oYEpgIV2PRhlebWmI/s400/n603201609_334349_8392.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above, playwright, theatre director and actor <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FZHjaxbufvE">Steven Berkoff</a><a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FZHjaxbufvE">.</a><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0S9XOQAjgpgIN-zw__UndMA7gn5nC_H_-LfNZcwRgCLptOnGhz-25dZra5nzptUNbOLiEKSeAT_BftZZsvmT8xi_7p4wKzQKr1K4Z5iOuZ1G8yQS21Z4VJ0Ptc74Moaf20-53A6zahV8/s1600-r/jeff+buckley.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138629655563937234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4m3yiE-IZgThBe3WhCAeP847LzvKjQjAWYDsF9hNgrs2D7yzh9FOOS7WKfYBOOf5olLqtryGBlBuDF4-DICLsUoVwzO11_uvfZrJOXZgE87t5E0imO9V20hbGlaYrcSoth4jPzgs4no/s400/jeff+buckley.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;"><a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AratTMGrHaQ&feature=related">Jeff Buckley</a>, </span><span style="color: #000099;">Singer/songwriter</span><span style="color: #000099;">, musician.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0Nt-gzwA8boUl6znPxS3P2qi5oyl1iVPOldQguxuZREYBz3WOS0UGikayMngwbWsfahg0TELLMD1CDqnH-0L-l8r9LC3HSfNBZowqqTzK_ASYy8h_Ql98b9iVv6udycTxhmEte2fI1A/s1600-h/n603201609_303604_6769.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137529340777275474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0Nt-gzwA8boUl6znPxS3P2qi5oyl1iVPOldQguxuZREYBz3WOS0UGikayMngwbWsfahg0TELLMD1CDqnH-0L-l8r9LC3HSfNBZowqqTzK_ASYy8h_Ql98b9iVv6udycTxhmEte2fI1A/s400/n603201609_303604_6769.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FnBq98uUJE4&feature=related">John Lydon</a>, </span><span style="color: #000099;">Singer/songwriter. </span><span style="color: #000099;">Sex Pistols, PIL.</span><br />
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Absolutely stunning. But it was his photographs of women that blew my mind. Capturing a woman's strength <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> her fragility in one portrait is something you can only do if you have earned the woman's trust, understand women and aren't afraid of them. And all that's besides having the raw talent as a photographer. There are a lot of wusses around, I can tell you; men who run around like headless chickens when confronted by beautiful strong women like <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RXr06hcuSAw">Courtney Love</a>.<br />
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Kevin Cummins isn't one of them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZREQvt5DVMxAdH7J-GZCwzmvgDgv58OcnhTq50w8gQilcCBegr_L0j8Ig7QjNi6zInYPiwsc-Egx654Vqv4KZiN7mZ3wlMBaodhJ8w2W1gi2GyfKHcJoUQhoaLq3oSTpKortcGuPxlrA/s1600-h/n603201609_334280_6527.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137530736641646754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZREQvt5DVMxAdH7J-GZCwzmvgDgv58OcnhTq50w8gQilcCBegr_L0j8Ig7QjNi6zInYPiwsc-Egx654Vqv4KZiN7mZ3wlMBaodhJ8w2W1gi2GyfKHcJoUQhoaLq3oSTpKortcGuPxlrA/s400/n603201609_334280_6527.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #000099;">Above: </span><span style="color: #000099;">Singer/songwriter, musician </span><span style="color: #000099;">Courtney Love</span>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwP9rlbPJBcFxzzqqnIjVidyW_vKLlqSA6u29MparxDFGMsF68T9l5CtJDHCvc6BBRbk9S8wOY8y0VqSun-OxP10_H3GwwI6ISJZSzS6sVKUgKlq5Zf5oIwjk-B8j-vKOzjZ7SQhSzYxQ/s1600-h/n603201609_303618_392.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137530715166810242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwP9rlbPJBcFxzzqqnIjVidyW_vKLlqSA6u29MparxDFGMsF68T9l5CtJDHCvc6BBRbk9S8wOY8y0VqSun-OxP10_H3GwwI6ISJZSzS6sVKUgKlq5Zf5oIwjk-B8j-vKOzjZ7SQhSzYxQ/s400/n603201609_303618_392.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: Courtney Love</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyOyTimplaNDmUYMkUG1-93qTh6C3lmLsBx86REDDE4LwYHp-sy3dYPGtLN9oc2rGMXJrwTE6FJ_J4v86M8Ca932cGsyuoNYZklRy3dJ993evlSg77tocVKIXzc_fQdwq-9oy2_mYIrA/s1600-h/n603201609_286324_532.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137529327892373554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyOyTimplaNDmUYMkUG1-93qTh6C3lmLsBx86REDDE4LwYHp-sy3dYPGtLN9oc2rGMXJrwTE6FJ_J4v86M8Ca932cGsyuoNYZklRy3dJ993evlSg77tocVKIXzc_fQdwq-9oy2_mYIrA/s400/n603201609_286324_532.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: Courtney Love<br />
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Strength and fragility are the two main qualities oozing from these pics of Courtney Love. That's the combination that <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ucjq2Awypgs">Marilyn Monroe</a> had as well; strength and fragility. These photographs of Kevin's are powerful testaments to Courtney's strength in the face of everything she's endured and still endures. Any man who can create work such as this has my deepest respect.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8NoKMkLlG-sHDjKYwNMb5LTFFCLC0xY8TECBQUdrMzRxlJwg1ufWPs5ZvLg3-kUavZVby1u_0gjzDj_BwBrPP28MAFtNWh7fiBsDCP4jBmzEpVrANEo8fwJ3r2j0xSd_EdKHaSgoj18/s1600-r/kevin+and+courtney+reading+fest.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139094616320166018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbJzZTp6LgnVHFs2MTF6KbB0ZMdbH5ZZ595BNyHPfMrlx6npo01GA5EQxK0qDeXPkZ9wctXe6ULFvpDrcZRzTU28iFsb_K7QnqlhC0-leNEEjiiiZ2uqDsdvt_DmCFNVd2ZUrp4HPag4/s400/kevin+and+courtney+reading+fest.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: Photographer Kevin Cummins and Courtney Love, Reading Festival.</span></div>
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Here's another startling portrait, this time of the gifted actress Anne Marie Duff, with whom you may be more familiar as Fiona Gallagher in Shameless. This portrait actually reverberates; astonishing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlroLS3nL_3NtRo3ORVGRWc-Y4_LCe8FuHjIc9p5SGxFqG8B4UXmputAqi-uiGhjI0QkMbPFhWdkep9seXq8SKRomlfVNyilLnLfKiydM9sZUnrmaTtaWWWjj0ji-uEXYPketjsa30Cyw/s1600-h/anne+marie+duff.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137529315007471650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlroLS3nL_3NtRo3ORVGRWc-Y4_LCe8FuHjIc9p5SGxFqG8B4UXmputAqi-uiGhjI0QkMbPFhWdkep9seXq8SKRomlfVNyilLnLfKiydM9sZUnrmaTtaWWWjj0ji-uEXYPketjsa30Cyw/s400/anne+marie+duff.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: Theatre, film and television actress <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=A5l0Uke19ho&feature=related">Anne Marie Duff</a>.</span><br />
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And here's a portrait of my personal musical and cultural hero John Wardle aka Jah Wobble:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRw1_9hvY85i9HTdLrTssIMldsozd__gPCKbAAhoQz8-Yt9zprsRzyojSSKuUgwKNcK1d2_QSr2XEzsBsoXhveNGgy7ZpWh7mh8-1bMpmlgTmF5Byja_8fUmAyqJPyZGUpCfRYdNfp3Q/s1600-h/l_603f091005abdd4cbe115077c5aba0ff.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137538480467681522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRw1_9hvY85i9HTdLrTssIMldsozd__gPCKbAAhoQz8-Yt9zprsRzyojSSKuUgwKNcK1d2_QSr2XEzsBsoXhveNGgy7ZpWh7mh8-1bMpmlgTmF5Byja_8fUmAyqJPyZGUpCfRYdNfp3Q/s400/l_603f091005abdd4cbe115077c5aba0ff.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: </span><span style="color: #000099;">Singer, songwriter, poet, </span><span style="color: #000099;">composer and musician <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8ubEbM5KXaY&feature=related">Jah Wobble</a>.<br />
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</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mrWDlWeSFN3Yg7rX8yg4mvJxy3lTx5EgSpaDUwV6qQ3b1NBGT0B2MamgbmKKek8DWPk3OuKYuzLQFfqBwl7YAL7kTJgnZsHuF3Zviee65Qt0y8R1nx2mEFTfcu8YSogvgoYlGMxk6Po/s1600-h/n603201609_297575_5828.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137529332187340866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mrWDlWeSFN3Yg7rX8yg4mvJxy3lTx5EgSpaDUwV6qQ3b1NBGT0B2MamgbmKKek8DWPk3OuKYuzLQFfqBwl7YAL7kTJgnZsHuF3Zviee65Qt0y8R1nx2mEFTfcu8YSogvgoYlGMxk6Po/s400/n603201609_297575_5828.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: Singer/songwriter Ian Curtis, Joy Division.<br />
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But back to women, and back to the Joy Division story. There is plenty on the net if you want to research the subject of Joy Division further - <a href="http://www.cerysmaticfactory.info/blogger.html">John Cooper's Cerysmatic site</a> is a very good place to start, but as I said in the Doc/Fest article about Joy Division:<br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">I thought it was a shame that Ian's wife, Deborah Curtis, on whose book </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Touching-Distance-Deborah-Curtis/dp/0571239560/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195839157&sr=8-1" style="color: #6600cc;">Touching From a Distance</a><span style="color: #6600cc;"> the film </span><span style="color: #6600cc;"> </span><a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0421082/" style="color: #6600cc;">Control</a><span style="color: #6600cc;"> is based, did not participate in the documentary, aside from allowing her quotes to be used.</span> <span style="color: #6600cc;"><br />
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The music industry is very male dominated, very all-the-lads-together orientated, but ultimately the tale of Joy Division's demise focused around women; Ian Curtis' journalist lover, Annik Honoré, and the mother of his child, wife Deborah.</span> <span style="color: #6600cc;"><br />
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Maybe that's why the lads love to stick together in the rufty tufty world of Rock'n' Roll.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">Women are dangerous.<br />
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</span><span style="color: #6600cc;"></span>Since I wrote that, and without reference to it, Kevin said to me about Courtney Love:<br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">I love her - men are scared of her. Especially little boys who write for music papers. Women can't do rock you know..<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPaDuun2v3a65FbMwoASAr5ANsGnWGv5AHsoRP_oSlsNtWvE5Boc2_Q7lllqlZocv_Z0olX5OC5EMB3OhHMqumIlP0E2yGjohiTxp78uomM_-fXp9KNC2mBl3s5Lq4pFYw_mztTAHKOc/s1600-h/n603201609_303605_7088.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137529349367210082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPaDuun2v3a65FbMwoASAr5ANsGnWGv5AHsoRP_oSlsNtWvE5Boc2_Q7lllqlZocv_Z0olX5OC5EMB3OhHMqumIlP0E2yGjohiTxp78uomM_-fXp9KNC2mBl3s5Lq4pFYw_mztTAHKOc/s400/n603201609_303605_7088.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: Ian Curtis<br />
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Here's an interview with Kevin at his recent exhibition of Joy Division photographs, held at the prestigious Paul Stolper gallery in London. The interview is conducted and filmed by YouTuber Hindle248:<span style="color: #000099;"><br />
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<object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9HL2qobAqR8&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9HL2qobAqR8&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br />
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<a href="http://www.tohellwithpublishing.com/">Juvenes</a>, The Joy Division photographs of Kevin Cummins, is published today, December 3rd 2007, by To Hell With Publishing. Here is what To Hell With Publishing say about the book:<br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">“Even though I must have only been about three years old, I can still remember the first time I saw Kevin Cummins’ photographs of Joy Division. Even as a small child I was aware of the band and knew that my father was the singer, but seeing the black and white prints spread out across the carpet brought tangibility. They really did exist!”</span> <span style="color: #6600cc;">Natalie Curtis, July 2007</span> <span style="color: #6600cc;"><br />
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Kevin Cummins’ long awaited book of photographs from his Joy Division archive is more than just a book of pictures of one of the greatest rock bands by one of our greatest rock photographers. Since Ian Curtis’s death in 1980 Joy Division have developed, and maintain, a special place within rock’s history. Kevin Cummins photographed them from their beginnings as Warsaw in 1977.<br />
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This lavish production captures the essence of what they meant then and what continues to make them so influential today.</span> <span style="color: #6600cc;"> JUVENES is a brooding investigation into the intangible quality that makes Joy Division one of the most loved and respected English bands still to this day.</span><br />
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I asked Kevin why he wasn't going with a major publishing house, and this is what he said:<br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">I commissioned several short personal essays from a mixture of people whose lives had been touched by the band - all have very different experiences.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">Ian Rankin (crime writer), </span><br />
<span style="color: #6600cc;">Natalie Curtis (Ian and Debbie's daughter), </span><br />
<span style="color: #6600cc;">Alan Hempsall (singer with Crispy Ambulance - he stood in for Ian one night when Ian was ill), </span><br />
<span style="color: #6600cc;">Pat Nevin (former Scotland and Chelsea footballer), </span><br />
<span style="color: #6600cc;">Matthew Higgs (artist - he is in the background on some of my shots - as a schoolboy), </span><br />
<span style="color: #6600cc;">Nick Lezard (writer), </span><br />
<span style="color: #6600cc;">Cath Carroll (writer and musician),</span><br />
<span style="color: #6600cc;">David Peace (novelist).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">I wasn't interested in going with a major publishing house. Experience told me they wouldn't do what I wanted anyhow. They'd have wanted a more obvious title and they wouldn't have let me have a graphic book jacket.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">I decided that I wanted to sell it as a piece of art - hence the very limited edition. 226 copies. 200 at 200 pounds each. 26 (these include a gelatin silver print) at 500 pounds each - all signed and editioned.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6600cc;">Several majors wanted to publish it - and they still want to do a normal paperback edition. I don't want to do it though.<br />
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Finding myself in the excrutiating position myself of being an unconventional person trying to go down the conventional route of getting an agent with a view to my debut novel being sold to a major publishing house, I can only admire Kevin's dedication to pure art; pure art being unconventional by default.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzuvHUzsIWJlyZmtR82YTAvpFh71D_SXY0fsv8_Mj8mvYCL3C9L3UuFoehAwVPtJB7e9Nk037n7_78fv1GD0sOpbpyRyY3v9rHhJBTAkMeM7dp_pdHwFltC3Z0OROMMrZvKLRjunwqUQ/s1600-r/kev+bottles.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139094607730231410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4jQjEyFG-I024XDmzCcF3VErZl4I4ro9bm0shkPA15Tvyu2equVQTFs2VfIAy3rP4fp8D1VmMJii2m9F-HBa-bIVkudNXjhprOtBrE10a8qvkpn5QJTvijRRMlxkV2U8hyphenhyphen1JfQ1l7Z4/s400/kev+bottles.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: Kevin Cummins in Shanghai</span></div>
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Here's <a href="http://music.guardian.co.uk/rock/story/0,,2146993,00.html">an article Kevin wrote for The Observer</a> last August, about his time knowing and photographing Joy Division. At the end, Kevin talks a little about Tony Wilson.<br />
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When Joy Division came along Tony was just as excited as me and the band, despite being that bit older. He was like a kid when it came to music. He believed in bands when no-one else did, and was prepared to spend his own money making things happen. He was the catalyst for everything that happened on the Manchester music scene from the 1970s.</div>
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Tony didn't mind anyone lampooning him. But it's a shame that lots of people thought he was Steve Coogan's caricature in 24 Hour Party People. In fact, he was very kind, very generous, and very, very smart.</div>
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<object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oW5ChNf3Z1c&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oW5ChNf3Z1c&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></center>
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<span style="color: #000099;">Above: Tony Wilson interview in Hulme, Manchester uploaded by YouTuber joesoap2006</span></div>
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Absolutely. I only met Tony a couple of times and I thought he was a lovely man. Come to think of it, there was a lot of lampooning in 24 Hour Party People. <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ldfzypHivI4">A Certain Ratio</a> were portrayed as something akin to <a href="http://www.thekrankies.cwc.net/">The Krankies</a> which irritated the fuck out of me, considering that they were, in my opinion, as important a band as Joy Division (I realise I am alone in having this viewpoint.)<br />
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It turns out that Kevin and I are both fans of Brassai, too:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Gh8jT6MlJCXxgnVsehBLk1JjRvFNycKseEyuEUiRZUt-20hRMKG2s2GTKgM-SyT5DcPTHPhmcF5O7YJuf8a0glIHwjQ_we4qXxxa3M0PlmwHvCd1mfoRQVT1T4PtJxnVXwgz89OHQKY/s1600-h/brassai.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137537054538539218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Gh8jT6MlJCXxgnVsehBLk1JjRvFNycKseEyuEUiRZUt-20hRMKG2s2GTKgM-SyT5DcPTHPhmcF5O7YJuf8a0glIHwjQ_we4qXxxa3M0PlmwHvCd1mfoRQVT1T4PtJxnVXwgz89OHQKY/s400/brassai.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: Photograph of an Opium Den from </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Paris-Thirties-Brassai/dp/0500271089/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196178285&sr=8-7" style="color: #000099;">Brassai The Secret Paris of the 30s</a><span style="color: #000099;">.<br />
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<br />
Me: Who would you love to photograph, but havent done so yet?<br />
<span style="color: #6600cc;">Kevin: George Bush's assassin.</span><br />
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Me: Who do you wish you could have photographed, but now its too late (for me its Oliver Reed.)<br />
<span style="color: #6600cc;">Kevin: Graham Greene<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEz5j8e1TN9E-1NrtrJ4PaFYV1lNWNOgnhSnOdVELqNrY2aDdn6rdo7t-KyElP95OEB6pSiEH2CopVy7yITi4nIm8AEwP0ZTDHXY-dpqNNnX8Z1OTvT9vv_vNt2rnwbH71-7yjlX9joU/s1600-h/gg_1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137920277290493330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEz5j8e1TN9E-1NrtrJ4PaFYV1lNWNOgnhSnOdVELqNrY2aDdn6rdo7t-KyElP95OEB6pSiEH2CopVy7yITi4nIm8AEwP0ZTDHXY-dpqNNnX8Z1OTvT9vv_vNt2rnwbH71-7yjlX9joU/s400/gg_1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: A portrait of author <a href="http://www.greysanatomyinsider.com/quotes/episodes/the-heart-of-the-matter/">Graham Greene</a> by </span><span style="color: #000099; font-style: italic;">I think</span><span style="color: #000099;"> Alice Springs. </span></div>
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I love this shot but yes, I would have liked to have seen a portrait of Graham by Kevin.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnfPJ-sLwL8ZAZhTlnuQfEeKQwvuqF9OV7ClQMEXnPpDbAMNVe0sURzfRbPF-2OdW3jBvGi7S72Sl9MSqUpBP8qeqq37SJG44hQXWHeQ9_yOftdtqLxouoKLujPUZIIveDZt2GxeyieM/s1600-h/l_7c812e8db36ab3676a007cab071a84ba.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137538484762648834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnfPJ-sLwL8ZAZhTlnuQfEeKQwvuqF9OV7ClQMEXnPpDbAMNVe0sURzfRbPF-2OdW3jBvGi7S72Sl9MSqUpBP8qeqq37SJG44hQXWHeQ9_yOftdtqLxouoKLujPUZIIveDZt2GxeyieM/s400/l_7c812e8db36ab3676a007cab071a84ba.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above, Kevin Cummins as a boy, Trafalgar Square, London.<br />
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I love this shot of Kevin. There he is with his box Brownie. And look, here's me around the same age writing on my favourite magic slate:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtuf4f1lgO20xhdmfNLQrIO3Que_kImyH2WF761dqjLC9wneCtsTuzLBtY7F5mJAgayzGMDRdO9F3i_IMOqiKx4VvANBBPNPw7Ra4gfM2kFrNiG1ZDfQMQxcoN485Xrfy3OlLaVStR3w/s1600-h/drawing+at+5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137910063858263426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtuf4f1lgO20xhdmfNLQrIO3Que_kImyH2WF761dqjLC9wneCtsTuzLBtY7F5mJAgayzGMDRdO9F3i_IMOqiKx4VvANBBPNPw7Ra4gfM2kFrNiG1ZDfQMQxcoN485Xrfy3OlLaVStR3w/s400/drawing+at+5.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #000099;">Above: <a href="http://judecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com/2006/12/animal-nightlife-auditionee-low-point.html">me</a> as a nipper.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Naturally</span> I've ordered a copy of Juvenes.<br />
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Rarely do I purchase art. Rarely has a photographer been such a huge inspiration. Photographs of nature don't touch me the same way as great portraits; nature is God, that's a given, whereas humans are fragile and flawed; that's what makes them so fascinating.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">The spark of human life is so fleeting that when a great photographer captures it and unfolds it before our eyes with such a delicate touch, our hearts cannot fail to be captivated too.</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br />
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I wrote that about KC, it's not someone else's quote. It's one of my own voluptuous pieces of lilac prose. Good innit? :) Can you tell I've been once again been totally knocked out by an artist, much as I was in May when I discovered the work of singer/ songwriter <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=62uR9MgKNm4&feature=related">Gavin Clark</a>? :)<br />
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Sometimes my blog articles have soundtracks. The one to this article is the late, great Mama Cass singing "Dream a Little Dream For Me." Don't ask me why; it asked to be included and didn't tell me why. So have a flick through this blog article again just looking at the photos, whilst listening to Mama Cass sing...<br />
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<span class="text">Notes:</span><br />
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<span class="text"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusCdaZLrU5OR5i_kwOWq4nGyE_ykJcbiO7AAFmrIlKDho5tUaOBPW6H5RiyKv34IhS5ic78dlbYM8MmUV0Zwtu9Q0hnnGhUoyj5qQUyeXmV-5TkjoMJz4QrZ3RuKP_gUbn-shIOgCCrI/s1600-r/tony+wilson+portrait+gallery.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139415308643256482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1b_fJ0dWxzIaZ1ev-Z77XsjHQU015OuRiJRqwb2yjuihXQgn8w8nCi7Wpi7_XLAmjM0Pr8rgM-oECCoOZRli1iqYuar-ptUQ1bspVOiaXUYIsnWHcmeR2GZdOmlYOkyLKm-bjhcf9Z0/s400/tony+wilson+portrait+gallery.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span class="text">National Portrait Gallery, London, Photographic Portrait of the Month for December 2007: Tony Wilson, 1950-2007.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text">From kevincummins.co.uk:</span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="color: #6600cc;">We are selling a limited edition of the photo in order to raise money for the two hospitals where Tony was treated this year.</span> <span style="color: #6600cc;"><br />
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<span class="text"><span style="color: #6600cc;">They're handmade 16 x 20 inch gelatin silver archive photographic prints in an edition of thirty signed by Kevin Cummins.</span> <span style="color: #6600cc;">No further prints will be made in this edition.<br />
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<span class="text"><span style="color: #6600cc;">Proceeds go to Manchester Royal Infirmary (Kidneys for Life charity) and Christie's Hospital.</span></span><br />
<span class="text"> <span style="color: #6600cc;">email kevin@kevincummins.co.uk for further details</span><br />
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<span class="text">Kevin has worked for</span><span class="text"><span class="text"> The Royal Opera House, The Royal Northern Ballet, The Liverpool Playhouse and The Oxford Playhouse.</span></span><span class="text"> He has contributed to many major UK publications, including: The Times, The Observer, Esquire, Maxim, Elle, Vogue, Mojo, Q, FourFourTwo, Sleaze Nation and The Big Issue.</span><br />
<span class="text">He spent 10 years as the chief photographer for New Musical Express – the world’s biggest selling rock weekly – where his award-winning pictures were a major contributing factor in the rise of the ‘Madchester’ (a word invented by me old mukkas Phil Shotton and Keith Jobling) and Cool Britannia scenes.</span><br />
Kevin was commissioned by Salford's Viewpoint Gallery who wanted him to choose 40 eminent people born in Salford to photograph. His personal choice included <span class="text">Sir Alistair Cooke, Albert Finney, Celia Birtwell, football commentators Kenneth Wolstenholme and John Motson, John Virgo, <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bEWT6pdjON8">John Cooper Clarke,</a> <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9jKxu8JbMrU">Happy Mondays </a>and Graham Nash...</span><br />
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Kevin Cummins' work is represented worldwide by the prestigious agency, Idols. <br />
His photographs are held in the permanent collections of: <br />
The National Portrait Gallery <br />
The National Museum of Film and Photography, Bradford <br />
The Victoria and Albert Museum, London <br />
Salford City Art Gallery <br />
Wigan Heritage Centre <br />
The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester <br />
Proud Central, London<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3sf5VKesBo26p-epnclDeoWLIDzDeHea5rSMvE5SirdaX8zaRgtoQ_-aErhzAKDBJQsUUEU3jqyXywSUclFFQB6h99K_BuP-OSN4oVuAvIy4hJM7sFGd-YCA0fIBZsB1Kv30lfupLeY/s1600-r/paul+morley,+merlin,+jody,+karen,+steph,+KC,+richard+boon.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138629681333741058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOcm-JBNy1DmTu_TZrrov-d1ORle2V6KTqAQZG1UhZfFupRIjySe8POe9_gNXjCltoybgVQlmKcAoThUNKdTCfej9iyFCwl2zSOSOKqQWNIvbOEMNRSYtQnIsoMIlSbsay7kP4s5MhyU/s400/paul+morley,+merlin,+jody,+karen,+steph,+KC,+richard+boon.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><span style="color: #000099;"><br />
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<span style="color: #000099;">Above: L to R: <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uhLao7SdzIE">Paul Morley</a>, Merlin, Karen, Steph, KC, Richard Boon.</span></div>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fkevin-cummins.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-32825025803942251002007-06-11T10:31:00.004+01:002018-06-04T09:06:44.723+01:00INTERVIEW WITH SYNTH NL MICHEL VAN OSENBRUGGEN<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "courier new"; text-align: left;">EDIT 19th June: Synth.nl has just mailed me with some </span><a href="http://judecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com/2007/06/news_20.html" style="font-family: 'courier new'; text-align: left;">GREAT NEWS! </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG3yfFtKr08C-8u8a-ucBWbcxRD87Jt1NXW8YuRy0Fe8YqKCoisfzLBTl2CEudV6sspZz4YOLOBY1EO2-z2vLdKiR8D-VBXwSTTPYpU9EHD1M8aNXEd2-n-653j_vs7Eab3TESh4f5y8/s1600-h/michel2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074808449561103042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG3yfFtKr08C-8u8a-ucBWbcxRD87Jt1NXW8YuRy0Fe8YqKCoisfzLBTl2CEudV6sspZz4YOLOBY1EO2-z2vLdKiR8D-VBXwSTTPYpU9EHD1M8aNXEd2-n-653j_vs7Eab3TESh4f5y8/s320/michel2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3333ff;">Above: Synth.nl in his studio.</span><br />
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I'm getting a lot of musicians inviting me to be MySpace friends, and I really enjoy listening to everything. All the music I've heard has been good in one way or another, but occasionally I hear stuff that triggers an empathy switch in my brain. The music is communicating that somewhere along the line, I have something in common with the artist; the music is almost a conductor of understanding and familiarity.<br />
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I knew absolutely nothing about Synth.nl when I clicked on his MySpace invite and started listening to the track that was playing, but I found the music instantly uplifting. It's the sort of music into which I can jump in and then float about, being gently tossed this way and that by its currents. It reminds me of that transendental floating around feeling you get as the passenger of a fast car doing laps round a race track.<br />
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It's no coincidence that Synth.nl is really into racing cars then. Only I didn't know that before I interviewed him...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9uWKfGIZg1xxtM9-PqEzgUwOjVJdk_0dQj_nH6b2q5axjt7sFEtd-3qj3Im2pqmL43apST5YDpfzvdYxr6_eiIfAmQTl9zF8GPFZe5flVoNfx_NgjcnCzCNdEGg-IUWy3ekdjuQPk18/s1600-h/lotus+elise.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074808445266135714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9uWKfGIZg1xxtM9-PqEzgUwOjVJdk_0dQj_nH6b2q5axjt7sFEtd-3qj3Im2pqmL43apST5YDpfzvdYxr6_eiIfAmQTl9zF8GPFZe5flVoNfx_NgjcnCzCNdEGg-IUWy3ekdjuQPk18/s320/lotus+elise.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3333ff;">Above: Me in my mate's Lotus Elise after a whole day of doing laps at, I think, Donnington race track (him driving, of course, wink.)</span></div>
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The following interview is a list of emailed questions, with Synth.nl's answers. Click below to listen to "Scuderia." This gives you a good idea of Synth.nl's music. You can find more on his <a href="http://www.myspace.com/synthnl">MySpace</a> and<a href="http://synth.nl/"> site</a>.</div>
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<embed allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="valid_sample_rate=true&external_url=http://synth.nl/mp3/Scuderia.mp3" height="52" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" src="http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Jude: I love the fact that Scuderia starts with what sounds like a cricket (cicada) followed by Formula 1 sounds. I think the Formula 1 sounds work really well throughout your stuff. Are you a fan of motor racing?<br />
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</span><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: Yes I love motor racing. Formula 1 in particular. I really love this little high tech world. Once a year I just have to go to a race and hear the singing of these high revving engines and also smell the mixture of oil, gasoline and burning rubber. Also the atmosphere on race events is always very relaxed. I will go to the 24 hours of Le Mans this year as well. Second best to Formula 1. The car you hear in Scuderia is a Ferrari Formula 1 car by the way. My favourite brand.. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWCcf00W059nY_6lyuv5k8P9Kj2V5eYgyblfYayEbYNmWS7troIiv09Z-9pwGL6Mtcu1tvOL_6C5RRNIYS8AjBRYmwJKj2e_8rvGgG4lqsS92zxzftu5moZwcUdjQmR5nQD-tRcqr8X0/s1600-h/2001_13.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074811958549384034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWCcf00W059nY_6lyuv5k8P9Kj2V5eYgyblfYayEbYNmWS7troIiv09Z-9pwGL6Mtcu1tvOL_6C5RRNIYS8AjBRYmwJKj2e_8rvGgG4lqsS92zxzftu5moZwcUdjQmR5nQD-tRcqr8X0/s320/2001_13.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Ferrari Scuderia Formula 1 car.</span><br />
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Jude: Have you ever been on a track day? Where you go to a racing track and drive round the track in your own car? I did a few laps at Donnington as a passenger in a TVR Tuscan and we came off the track at over 100 mph. That was fun. Do you like fast cars? What car do you drive?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKQ4VVevn33MxquR86OaDvw2IhcIE-KR9cVfFiwMSB4SSNAuINI4rX-5rYf3v0-H9YYMQHp_GmABHkM9-qRG0BGBMq7W_z27ujOfw1jvmOyvigyhrdLSwn1BHs1cVVTB8VMNSnmd1dJ8/s1600-h/tvr+tuscan.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074808999316917042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKQ4VVevn33MxquR86OaDvw2IhcIE-KR9cVfFiwMSB4SSNAuINI4rX-5rYf3v0-H9YYMQHp_GmABHkM9-qRG0BGBMq7W_z27ujOfw1jvmOyvigyhrdLSwn1BHs1cVVTB8VMNSnmd1dJ8/s320/tvr+tuscan.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3333ff;">Yeah, </span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-style: italic;">that </span><span style="color: #3333ff;">TVR Tuscan. A total sex beast.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: I drove on the Fiorano circuit recently at the Ferrari factory. This is their official test track. We drove brand new F430 cars there with an official testdriver. It was like a dream come through for me. It was actually the only time I drove on a circuit. In the beginning I was quite nervous, but after a while I really enjoyed it. My dream is to buy a Ferrari one day. But for now I drive a very nice cousin. It is a Maserati.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj83LzczW7GD2J0J4A3YTLYjWKUdmigt9AUsFTWjYBKkRE1ZleMiIL9TP45c83jQPM5xRi0gapPNFxRxBzFgR1K3FjWItyU1mg0XQCW4-qUUSphVHbqK-p8zm6IesiaHcrRb1XzfYC5HQ/s1600-h/f430_red_left.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074812160412846962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj83LzczW7GD2J0J4A3YTLYjWKUdmigt9AUsFTWjYBKkRE1ZleMiIL9TP45c83jQPM5xRi0gapPNFxRxBzFgR1K3FjWItyU1mg0XQCW4-qUUSphVHbqK-p8zm6IesiaHcrRb1XzfYC5HQ/s320/f430_red_left.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Above: Synth.nl's dream car. </span><a href="http://www.testarossa.nl/modellen/f430_gallery.html" style="color: #3333ff;">The Ferrari F430.</a></div>
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Jude: I’ve just written an article about <a href="http://www.petergreenaway.co.uk/">Peter Greenaway</a>, who also lives in the Netherlands, like you. <a href="http://www.michaelnyman.com/">Michael Nyman</a> has written the scores for many of his films. What do think of Michael Nyman’s music?<br />
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: I wasn’t familiar with his music before I read the interview. I listened to some of his work after reading the interview. It is very nice I think. Much more classical than what I do. But I like classical music a lot too. I can only have much respect for someone that has achieved all this already. I’m just a beginning amateur compared to this man. </span><br />
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Jude: I saw Orbital live in Sheffield some time in the early nineties and it was one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to. Have you ever seen them live? What did you think when you first heard their music? Have they influenced your work?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9A0_kBkPcEurCwbp9qGAUoYock-m38lGwE31JNC8OZH0FobAe09TeaZVWV6kot5Gg6lEN3twWVQpmVUsAaNsTgNxlsewx8-9rqX3vOVywnuhyphenhyphenuORFCTtMvQ_VQ4b29LeOknTHm0qsnao/s1600-h/orbital.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074816433905306530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9A0_kBkPcEurCwbp9qGAUoYock-m38lGwE31JNC8OZH0FobAe09TeaZVWV6kot5Gg6lEN3twWVQpmVUsAaNsTgNxlsewx8-9rqX3vOVywnuhyphenhyphenuORFCTtMvQ_VQ4b29LeOknTHm0qsnao/s320/orbital.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: No I haven’t seen them live unfortunately. I would like to though. I like their work a lot. And yes they influenced me for sure. </span><br />
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Jude: Are you classically trained? If so, up to what grade? And if so, was the piano your first instrument?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7s0bAOwKsZbIhlkKcoM-dy_LOnCRBFl1LWHAr33EipODRPlls7PjW6j9pXM4F4bN3tfx68NIst39Lo-yYemomNbTOEUC8Mu0-cad5yrsLmvkeA7k6VbhqZYLBzlQZugy4bCz9oq_TNHk/s1600-h/workspace6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074809162525674322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7s0bAOwKsZbIhlkKcoM-dy_LOnCRBFl1LWHAr33EipODRPlls7PjW6j9pXM4F4bN3tfx68NIst39Lo-yYemomNbTOEUC8Mu0-cad5yrsLmvkeA7k6VbhqZYLBzlQZugy4bCz9oq_TNHk/s320/workspace6.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: I took one year organ lessons when I was ten years old, but I hated the music they made me play and also the fact that I had to learn to read notes. So I quit :) I still can’t read notes actually. I do everything on my hearing and can read the midi editor in Sonar very well. After this organ lessons a long time nothing happened. I studied electronics and from there my interest in synths came along. More from the technical side than the musical side. So actually I started out as a collector of these beautifully black and white buttoned machines with blinking light on them about 11 years ago. I never did anything usefull with them though but tweaking filters and knobs. About 1 year ago I suffered a burnout and had to stay home from work to recover from that and got bored quite quickly. That is when I started making music to relax and keep myself busy. I took a very steep learning curve in that year :) I actually had no idea where to start. </span><br />
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Jude: Do you have sounds already in your mind before you compose a new piece? Like, with Asian cooking and website building, you prepare all the ingredients and then right at the last minute, assemble them into something interesting. How would you describe composing music on a synth? What kind of process do you use?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRcG4_Jq-nodphzn6wwLOWe3h6NvGvQ7Ccdb2GaxfY04HTbVREBYOv9-s4cZcJnqiLEr2rh12L07HgFEHsuYuoTs7Rc2Qa4N77iIZB3to71NXDu03HwtwdDaaLsUBsl382FAUlvjwg_w/s1600-h/racks1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074808453856070370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRcG4_Jq-nodphzn6wwLOWe3h6NvGvQ7Ccdb2GaxfY04HTbVREBYOv9-s4cZcJnqiLEr2rh12L07HgFEHsuYuoTs7Rc2Qa4N77iIZB3to71NXDu03HwtwdDaaLsUBsl382FAUlvjwg_w/s320/racks1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: Usually I’m starting with a certain sound I like. I’m always fiddling around with synth sounds or samples I like to record in the field with my Edirol R09. I love that machine. I carry it around everywhere. At a certain moment a melody evolves around these sounds and I start to work on a rough track. Usually I work on a lot of tracks at the same time. I like switching between them and tweaking them bit by bit until they are finished. I also have some friends that listen to my rough versions and comment them. I learn a lot from my friends this way. In the beginning it was strange for me to hear that people all listen to different things in a track. </span><br />
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Jude: Are you more into smoother rhythmic electronic music rather than industrial dance music?<br />
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: I like smooth stuff and dance stuff as well. Not too hardcore though. It has to be melodious in the first place and my preference is synths only. So no acoustical instruments are harmed in the production of my music ;) </span><br />
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Jude: Was Tubular Bells an influence on you? Tubular Bells was one of the albums which was very important to me during the 70s.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2TC1mPvz66ImRe2gIcbNnBKa1RZsfy1PhHGx6CiN3qSkDi33PWZSt5pA1jakR_-wdaxNy4lLKRfOg6lVNqlTLCKvbFJSh_wFrwCdNyPJzIlnZnZGdqTCnz0rmAguMF3Klww4x7IoW9w/s1600-h/Tubular.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074816438200273842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2TC1mPvz66ImRe2gIcbNnBKa1RZsfy1PhHGx6CiN3qSkDi33PWZSt5pA1jakR_-wdaxNy4lLKRfOg6lVNqlTLCKvbFJSh_wFrwCdNyPJzIlnZnZGdqTCnz0rmAguMF3Klww4x7IoW9w/s320/Tubular.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: Yes I liked that album a lot. I was one of the first instrumental things I heard. I started my to listen to Vangelis and Jarre after that. And that is the music I ended up loving the most.<br />
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</span>Jude: Do you like Hagelslag on bread? I think Hagelslag is one of the best things about Holland.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGZ7cOcE7OR5nskKKJdww1UYtB4zqODQgI7H4d2b7ipCkV1BJ4IU9Ki5lXIy-BvWRQavbitiltzpfJsjDNLV-3ZEQESYPCRYpBMsTLDNgJ368D6pfE095JioC4czjvx2dFpS2fm7t15g/s1600-h/hagelslag.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074816433905306514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGZ7cOcE7OR5nskKKJdww1UYtB4zqODQgI7H4d2b7ipCkV1BJ4IU9Ki5lXIy-BvWRQavbitiltzpfJsjDNLV-3ZEQESYPCRYpBMsTLDNgJ368D6pfE095JioC4czjvx2dFpS2fm7t15g/s320/hagelslag.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: Hahaha. Yes I like it, but I’m more a peanut butter kind of guy :) </span><br />
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Jude: More about the 70s…you list Tangerine Dream as one of your influences. I went to see Tangerine Dream at the Sheffield City Hall around 1974, and fell asleep. But it was a great experience. Music as drugs. I think the idea of music as a soundscape is a very pure form of music as it aids thought processes in a meditative kind of way. What do you think about this idea?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93R_fTckOzolL-zbnXchwSXP3YOhaBVRjliNoNs2huU-3BRQQjyRC3FzZ34RFmVkh3Rsim7qIm9u42Uzh7KzeU_iydn5_rbaBHKmxb-YzchKdsW6g9v5T6aSaK-5CEat08eTmInxK7uA/s1600-h/tangerine.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074817511942097858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93R_fTckOzolL-zbnXchwSXP3YOhaBVRjliNoNs2huU-3BRQQjyRC3FzZ34RFmVkh3Rsim7qIm9u42Uzh7KzeU_iydn5_rbaBHKmxb-YzchKdsW6g9v5T6aSaK-5CEat08eTmInxK7uA/s320/tangerine.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: I totally agree on that. Relaxing is very important in my music as well. I often use music to fall a sleep myself. To get back on Tangerine Dream: Maybe that could have been the nicest thing to happen to them too. The whole City Hall asleep :) I would feel very pleased if I know someone used my music to fall a sleep with :)</span><br />
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Jude: Do you have to have a day job to support making music or are you fortunate enough to be able to work at your music full time?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEp-YvvecN8U315BKbrw1aWeqBiX5_bcFGLFGfKrnpk_rU7prsqDMeCFNL780VyzRa4hyphenhyphenXrtCvJj8P9G3hZdYuWvPFgKSBkCVnZzTtqPCExKl5OPPkuRVxFFy4RtR6XCgzYSEe5qm-hU/s1600-h/studio.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074808995021949698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEp-YvvecN8U315BKbrw1aWeqBiX5_bcFGLFGfKrnpk_rU7prsqDMeCFNL780VyzRa4hyphenhyphenXrtCvJj8P9G3hZdYuWvPFgKSBkCVnZzTtqPCExKl5OPPkuRVxFFy4RtR6XCgzYSEe5qm-hU/s320/studio.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff;">Above: Schematic view of main studio components.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: 11 years ago I quit my job and started an Internet company together with a partner. I worked from 8 AM till 2 AM every day for the first 10 years. And then the burnout came. I didn’t have time to listen to music in that period. So I have a lot of catching up to do. I’m just starting out with my music and I hope to release my first CD this year. So this far I only spend a lot of money on this hobby :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDo8dHgh1ic1YqbeLe4nY9W_MmYnbD1H_dbo4mKV6b6BCpzSxDIp4IzcEAKlcDgM0GByfOPw56_Ho46W4UZf6j4urt3nn7wMnzpz015cGRWDmTwShblGiKpd0b2IHSpcqi-Svc4fgzMM/s1600-h/hartmann+neuron+VS+controller.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074808174683196050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDo8dHgh1ic1YqbeLe4nY9W_MmYnbD1H_dbo4mKV6b6BCpzSxDIp4IzcEAKlcDgM0GByfOPw56_Ho46W4UZf6j4urt3nn7wMnzpz015cGRWDmTwShblGiKpd0b2IHSpcqi-Svc4fgzMM/s320/hartmann+neuron+VS+controller.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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Jude: I notice you’ve got a Roland Jupiter 6, which is of course a well sexy and very famous synth. What do you reckon to Roland Junos?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg7HSr3sZmDHaA2eItxNp5wuIxhlMZTqMuzraJfN0OWj-XvrzMCcswngujb4MJWYclfxS1fWuwRUNPZ5ftnoUPcLxKtADWOr5vaYBAVwLx5JbNH2mjGtW5YlZ3FOuRWWTnsX7je2OV40/s1600-h/jupiter6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074815274264136578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg7HSr3sZmDHaA2eItxNp5wuIxhlMZTqMuzraJfN0OWj-XvrzMCcswngujb4MJWYclfxS1fWuwRUNPZ5ftnoUPcLxKtADWOr5vaYBAVwLx5JbNH2mjGtW5YlZ3FOuRWWTnsX7je2OV40/s320/jupiter6.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: Well let me start out that I have always been a Roland fan. The Jupiter is very nice indeed. I also have Europa installed in there, wich makes it a bit more modern. And about the Juno’s I haven’t got one yet, but I have a Juno 160 on my wishlist actually. So probably will get one some day. Recently I bought a JX8P also very nice :) </span><br />
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Jude: The Human League were, of course, a really great band in their early days. What do you think of their early music?<br />
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: Very nice music. I even have an album of them. Though I do prefer instrumental music :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lLx6zgHShCXhX_vPuqye1IVFpwLGI7z_MsrxMsREknSI2ekoUplzhge9Bd6uN7gdcmmzL-0AZTH6Mt8COpMUSTqxe7OUKgVQHlMdR1LjWezjp5vKp00zcQdCEo4BxbI-E3TS79dawxM/s1600-h/synths3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074808995021949714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lLx6zgHShCXhX_vPuqye1IVFpwLGI7z_MsrxMsREknSI2ekoUplzhge9Bd6uN7gdcmmzL-0AZTH6Mt8COpMUSTqxe7OUKgVQHlMdR1LjWezjp5vKp00zcQdCEo4BxbI-E3TS79dawxM/s320/synths3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #cc33cc;"><br />
</span>Jude: I love all the photos of your equipment on your website, including photos of the leads coming out the back of your gear. It’s almost organic, that. Tell me something about all your equipment, your favourite pieces for example and why you like them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnuO37Hm0JtJZbnH8zyKgba6-4bzvmdXNYE99RJFHGMxpUYuRtdZ4eiGjQ92bTS9usiCLt2hNYnxrH-3oqh6hx5Ww8vWdSs9iaX9xz2V3ggIVZCzwx_Dk9xczR1mGA6zRCmuHdYDkOlc/s1600-h/cables6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074808166093261410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnuO37Hm0JtJZbnH8zyKgba6-4bzvmdXNYE99RJFHGMxpUYuRtdZ4eiGjQ92bTS9usiCLt2hNYnxrH-3oqh6hx5Ww8vWdSs9iaX9xz2V3ggIVZCzwx_Dk9xczR1mGA6zRCmuHdYDkOlc/s320/cables6.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: Well to start out I’m a real gear junkie. I love sitting in my studio with the lights off and look at all the leds blinking. You can see that in my video’s I guess. When I buy a synth it is always a combination of sound and looks. I also like to do everything myself. All cables are hand soldered exactly to length. And I know exactly where every cables is. The only problem of my studio now is that it is full. I can hardly fit in there myself anymore. At the moment I actually thinking about building the entire thing from scratch in a bigger room. A lot of work, but worthwhile I think. About my favourite gear. A lot of people prefer old vintage synths my my favourites are actually very modern ones. My top 3: 1) V-synth (soon to be replaced by already ordered V-synth GT). 2) Access Virus TI and 3) The Korg Karma because it is fun to jam on.<br />
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Jude: I’ve not listened to a lot of Vangelis, although the soundtrack to Bladerunner is one of my favourite film soundtracks. Which are your favourite Vangelis albums and why?<br />
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: Oh that is difficult. He did so may things a most of them are brilliant. I love Soil Festivities that is my ultimate relaxing CD. And I like Oceanic and Voices as well. My favourite track is an oldie. Spiral :P </span><br />
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Jude: What unknown/little known and undiscovered musicians do you particularly rate? Maybe ones you’ve met on MySpace or ones you’ve come across in other ways.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23-rvM7DYSSn5zr_5GdjyDlam8SW7JCHaEkcrf-DWx4FY2qsm2nwpfj36g4uKejYCNNItsWd1Pe9sjvfxrFdBmGO985Ajwr7KXaE8FJfqkT09kxIO5rFGHNmLpVVL736YgqEMcVO6fZU/s1600-h/gert_emmens_when_darkness_falls.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074819272878689250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23-rvM7DYSSn5zr_5GdjyDlam8SW7JCHaEkcrf-DWx4FY2qsm2nwpfj36g4uKejYCNNItsWd1Pe9sjvfxrFdBmGO985Ajwr7KXaE8FJfqkT09kxIO5rFGHNmLpVVL736YgqEMcVO6fZU/s320/gert_emmens_when_darkness_falls.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: At the moment I’m discovering a lot of new artists. I meet a lot of people on myspace now. Lovely new world to discover. For me they are new but probably not for insiders: Again a top 3) <a href="http://ronboots.groove.nl/">Ron Boots</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/gertemmens">Gert Emmens</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/nattefrostmusic">Nattefrost.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3IRCjlkwRRcp5uqDSPL5V1hTX74C6oPLzAYYx2YZyasIfw09OidvBrdYEu3ETQId7-A-mp7jOG-gbhm4N3cIoDu_kwoyZx0Pa2qub7rzo3Ig1e1I-V-VNUASHhyphenhyphen8riAU56V_QcHUTG8/s1600-h/l_dd44559dc442029fe8fbe2e04220a291.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074837809957538834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3IRCjlkwRRcp5uqDSPL5V1hTX74C6oPLzAYYx2YZyasIfw09OidvBrdYEu3ETQId7-A-mp7jOG-gbhm4N3cIoDu_kwoyZx0Pa2qub7rzo3Ig1e1I-V-VNUASHhyphenhyphen8riAU56V_QcHUTG8/s320/l_dd44559dc442029fe8fbe2e04220a291.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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Jude: And of course, <a href="http://www.kraftwerk.com/">Kraftwerk</a>. Are they Gods, or what? I would say so. Can you remember when you first heard them? What effect did their music have on you?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuF0tciW_GoXGMdcwaG7HmaaBCQwIQsoScj3a5nHudwF2Y3VSF_U8ksROWmDs_raq-b1C-pRlU7hNh9RFw0LEGmhhly3WTCulhxxAoEKBOdPxTnjZUGyTtHDj0IOklPcJ0oPum0GVErY/s1600-h/kraftwerk~~_transeuro_101b.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074820260721167346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuF0tciW_GoXGMdcwaG7HmaaBCQwIQsoScj3a5nHudwF2Y3VSF_U8ksROWmDs_raq-b1C-pRlU7hNh9RFw0LEGmhhly3WTCulhxxAoEKBOdPxTnjZUGyTtHDj0IOklPcJ0oPum0GVErY/s320/kraftwerk~~_transeuro_101b.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: OK. The first time I heard them I just thought they were weird :) I learned to really appreciate their music later. I recently bought their DVD and I really love it. I have watched it more than 20 times already and I’m not done yet. Now I’m looking up all their old albums as well. </span><br />
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Jude: Would you like to compose film scores eventually?<br />
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: Yes. That would be my ultimate goal. I would also love to do documentaries for the BBC, Discovery or National Geographic or so. </span><br />
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I hope you do. I think your music is brilliant, and I hope you go on to be a big success, which you deserve. Thank you for inviting me to be a MySpace friend.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc33cc;">Synth.nl: Thank you very much for accepting me as a friend and this nice interview. I really enjoyed it.<br />
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</span><span style="color: #cc33cc;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/synthnl">Synth.nl's </a></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/synthnl">MySpace</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP56Zr3jy3Ylss4mhXzK6bVF2zVcsmx92WPa4WlO5kC5HH5Vqx0r-rIAXMwhxSnHwhyphenhyphen6cvd0bdCV8uUFvlxiRNjhVxyw015IBSY4kQbrMDKRaom-XRF_dsWyn1HmRYa7mCGUcl-_J94Q/s1600-h/screenshot+site.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074808995021949682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP56Zr3jy3Ylss4mhXzK6bVF2zVcsmx92WPa4WlO5kC5HH5Vqx0r-rIAXMwhxSnHwhyphenhyphen6cvd0bdCV8uUFvlxiRNjhVxyw015IBSY4kQbrMDKRaom-XRF_dsWyn1HmRYa7mCGUcl-_J94Q/s320/screenshot+site.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://synth.nl/">Synth.nl's site</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEDslMh4kWal6_2Oul8BGhXG-rsadelPZ4SV5IS_vQbBRpSbzrmeyv8GrS9Lwj1RoTUzNii_X9gCiWzoyldsfS_pE72QgmjWp1CeVPk92Kx6-mxm5BzGJSMavwpBg0VHAlRp4xeb9ikc/s1600-h/michel1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074808449561103026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEDslMh4kWal6_2Oul8BGhXG-rsadelPZ4SV5IS_vQbBRpSbzrmeyv8GrS9Lwj1RoTUzNii_X9gCiWzoyldsfS_pE72QgmjWp1CeVPk92Kx6-mxm5BzGJSMavwpBg0VHAlRp4xeb9ikc/s320/michel1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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A really well laid out and easy to navigate site. Here's an extract from the projects page:<br />
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<b><a href="http://synth.nl/project_detail.php?id=2">AeroDynamics Album</a></b> (2007)<br />
I'm working currently on my first album. I selected 'Aerodynamics' as the main theme for this album. It will probably become the name of the album as well. During my unvoluntary millitary duty I served in the Dutch airforce, where I was a mechanic on F-16 fighter planes. I got quite some education before I was able to perform this task. One of the classes I enjoyed a lot was aerodynamics and since then I have allways been fascinated with the aerodynamic aspect of race cars, jet planes and space vehicles. So all tracks are related to this subject.<br />
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<b><a href="http://synth.nl/project_detail.php?id=3">Atmosphere Album</a></b> (2007)<br />
I haven't finished my first album yet, but I am already working on the second one as well. I even know the theme for the next one. That third one will be all about Space. But before you get from the ground into space, you have to leave the atmosphere. So we will go through the different layers of air on this album. During this journey we will encounter a lot of cloud formations and other phenomena in earths atmosphere.<br />
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<b><a href="http://synth.nl/project_detail.php?id=4">Classical Project</a></b> (2007)<br />
I started working on a new project as well called 'Classical'. It will be a project for 2007. The objective is to make a CD with Synth.nl versions of famous classical tracks from the old composers like Vivaldi, van Beethoven, Bach and Pachelbel.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFf8fsixRRDLtfRJ-p6KE3pQp2ukRkCdnOtJXgwD98bXExX9hurfSDSugMO08We3ObD1SQ7LJ-hLXV3tufSAcqnd34qWTZhMjC8YInIZKhMGq82NXJj0wmEAnOG_A-Ddr7luV9YDx9Es/s1600-h/workspace1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074809162525674306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFf8fsixRRDLtfRJ-p6KE3pQp2ukRkCdnOtJXgwD98bXExX9hurfSDSugMO08We3ObD1SQ7LJ-hLXV3tufSAcqnd34qWTZhMjC8YInIZKhMGq82NXJj0wmEAnOG_A-Ddr7luV9YDx9Es/s320/workspace1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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Many thanks to Synth.nl for the interview and for the ease of communication too :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2NBpDKoBOSbmZTjulyXQvXWWFFYXfn_F-AeSU4C7lOVLnbaBGRKJEH8jwgafW_uKouaUnlck6sROWHshP3IeWBTYjQMWZqQNbOvnrKe9Q0UPTTOI-uSFtVmCRzJHu5VsHx28kkbyX1E/s1600-h/le+mans.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074827033884593154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2NBpDKoBOSbmZTjulyXQvXWWFFYXfn_F-AeSU4C7lOVLnbaBGRKJEH8jwgafW_uKouaUnlck6sROWHshP3IeWBTYjQMWZqQNbOvnrKe9Q0UPTTOI-uSFtVmCRzJHu5VsHx28kkbyX1E/s320/le+mans.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></div>
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Above: Me on my way to the 24 hour bike race at Le Mans on the back of a Yamaha XJ900. 1984.</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #3333ff;">©</span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #3333ff; font-family: "arial";">Jude Calvert-Toulmin</span></div>
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fjudecalverttoulmin.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fsynthnl-synthesiser-music-from-holland.html&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-70612913393412752722006-09-05T12:17:00.000+01:002018-06-04T09:05:46.402+01:00INTERVIEW WITH BLACK CAT WHITE CAT'S ANGELA BASSON<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I first saw <a href="https://blackcatwhitecat.bandcamp.com/releases" target="_blank">Black Cat White Cat</a> perform at The Shakespeare as part of Sheffield Tramlines 2013. I loved vocalist <a href="https://www.facebook.com/angela.basson" target="_blank">Angela Basson</a>'s </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">raw animal magnetism and visceral
passion, backed by a band so tight and accomplished and I determined to see the band’s live performances whenever possible thereafter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fast forward a couple of
years and I’m invited round to Black Cat White Cat HQ where on a dreamy terrace
swing seat under a bead-fringed garden umbrella on a warm early summer’s
afternoon, aforementioned vocalist Angela Basson talks about <a href="http://www.janisjoplin.com/" target="_blank">Janis Joplin</a>,
Strummer’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mescaleros/103140273058906" target="_blank">The Mescaleros</a>, <a href="http://www.katyperry.com/" target="_blank">Katie Perry</a>, women in music and the puff of green
smoke in the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/" target="_blank">Wizard of Oz</a>...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the history of Black Cat White Cat... <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Angela Basson:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Black Cat White Cat have been going about five and a half years. We’ve all got
jobs and lives so we’ve just dipped in and out and it’s taken us ages to get to
this point and record. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We all write together,
that’s important as we all own our own stuff.<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I met our drummer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/simon.stafford.10" target="_blank">Simon Stafford</a> through going down to
a gig night at Sheffield’s Club 60 - an underground
studio a bit like Liverpool’s Tavern<span style="color: red;">. </span>I’d just played with my electro
outfit from the town I was living in at the time, Goole. When I was sixteen I
used to sing jazz, some guys were jamming and I was just sat there, feeling a
bit shy, and I thought, “What am I doing? Why am I sat here in my own prison?
Why don’t I just get up and sing some blues?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So I got up and sang and
then a stranger came over and talked to me. Turned out to be Simon Stafford and
the first few things he said were just really supportive, I can’t remember his
exact words, but it was something like “I think it’s a real shame that there
aren’t more female musicians, that was great, it’s really nice to meet you.”
And never, in all the time I’d been doing music, had anyone said anything so
supportive because most blokes are so apologetic of themselves, aren’t they?
They feel a bit awkward around woman in music. It’s too much of a rarity I
think. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Simon’s a multi-instrumentalist who’s
worked with many musicians in the past including <a href="http://www.jarviscocker.net/" target="_blank">Jarvis Cocker</a> (who does a good
radio show and likes his corduroy suits.) Simon was in the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/apr/05/crispin-hunt-the-longpigs" target="_blank">Longpig</a>s too, and
Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros – I know that when he played for two weeks in
Brooklyn New York, that was the best time in his life, as a musician. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He loved Joe; he says Joe was nice to
everybody and spent hours after the gig talking to fans. I liked the sound of
Strummer before I met Simon, it’s clear he walked the walk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I bet his children missed their dad, I
know from having my own child that juggling parenthood and music isn’t always
easy. I plan to buy a really good ‘home on wheels’ so my daughter can come
along on tour sometimes, if things go to plan. I’m qualified to teach so
hopefully this will all be manageable during festival season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I saw <a href="http://www.chrismsaunders.com/#/" target="_blank">Chris Saunders</a> play guitar in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShakespearesShf/" target="_blank">Shakespeares</a> I didn’t know him, so I threw peanuts at him until I got his
attention. I love the way that Chris plays – he’s captured something in between
the cinematic and pure rock. Chris is a portrait photographer; he’s taken photos
of hundreds of subjects including <a href="http://www.davidlynchfoundation.org.uk/" target="_blank">David Lynch</a> who’s had a big influence on
Chris artistically - Lynch is a fan of Chris’s work too, it’s all good company.<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Whatever a woman does in the industry she
will be judged – the platform comes with teeth and claws.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;">***</span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On women in rock and pop...<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Women in rock tend to represent themselves in one of
three ways: sexual, vulnerable or political. Whatever a woman does in the
industry she will be judged – the platform comes with teeth and claws.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I think of really
famous women, Katie Perry, for example, strikes me as someone whose goal was to be powerful in pop and she
decided to go in the direction of what the industry funds –attractiveness – and
she’s tried to set herself apart by being not only sexual but kitsch and it’s
obviously worked because she’s had a big team of PR, costume etc to enable it
all. She looks good, she looks fun and it’s all very cheesy, a bit like a Carry On
Film. My daughter loves her, she writes from the heart like most people. I don’t
mind a few of her tracks. 'Birthday' sounds like classic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_(musician)" target="_blank">Prince</a> to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s interesting that she
married <a href="http://www.russellbrand.com/" target="_blank">Russell Brand</a>,
they seem like completely different creatures – she seems to support the
development of self image and the feelings of the individual, which is good,
Russell has very universal global concerns, he gets stick for it as much
as support. Same as Sting<span style="color: #9bbb59;"> </span>who got so much stick for buying rainforests - I’ve never understood why some people
get so angry when others, on getting a bit of money behind them, try to do the right thing. It's better than keeping your money hidden away. Best thing a person can do if it
make people’s lives better, if they have that opportunity. I think the world
might be changing in this way. I hope so.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jude Calvert-Toulmin: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I guess some people are critical of others' philanthropy because it makes them question their own lack of generosity.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t know, perhaps people think it’s because it
would interrupt their career and make them become something else? Because
what’s really huge in terms of entertainment on that level is not really
thinking about the concerns of the world, and we bury ourselves from these
issues, so to engage with serious complicated issues would be detrimental...
there is a definite division between responsibility and entertainment. Greed
rules everywhere.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It’s contravening the escapist...<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Exactly. Katie Perry’s mostly about escapism. And I suppose that’s an art form
in itself...<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Doesn’t really marry with what Russell Brand’s
about, does it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“And
I suppose that’s how I survive, just go the opposite direction to where people
try to position me.”</span></span></i></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">People have gone off <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madge_(given_name)" target="_blank">Madonna</a>,
she was queen in the 80’s, she was subject to growing older as a pop artist and
being cash rich and successful enough to continue, plus the perception of her seeming
to have a large ego made her hard to swallow. I would not want to be that
popular - why would anybody need so much? If things take off I’m hoping my
make-up and costume enable me to unnoticed on the street. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The main reason I formed a band is
because I want to sing and perform, I simply enjoy it but I don’t want to bore
people who have taken time out to come and see us so I give it my all.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Power can be misused. Thatcher’s best
quality was that she was a woman in power, she betrayed us by destroying
communities and under-minding equality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The public adore <span style="color: #9bbb59;"><a href="http://adele.com/" target="_blank">Adele</a> </span>but the main point of discussion
beyond her singing ability is her dress size, so she comes under sexual and
vulnerable I’d say - there are schools of thought debating whether her dress
size affects how entertaining she is. It’s a patronising, “Hey she’s on the
large size but wow she can sing.” Why wouldn’t she be able to sing? What does
size have to do with it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
For someone of my age you have to be on the ball and do it with passion and
heart. I have to be as on top of the game as I can be so it has to be a show
and it has to be energetic. I feel like there isn’t space for average female
singers so I cannot be one. I sing with character. I had a few opera singing
lessons years ago but I'm self-directed. When I perform my aim is to be full
on, give it a full percentage and I don’t see how I could do it any other way,
I don’t think there’s another avenue. At sixteen I couldn’t sing how I sing now. I was so shy back then, plus I think it’s rarer to have a woman rather than a
bloke fronting a rock band so I think it’s a responsibility to do it as well as
I can.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My advice to single young girls starting
out in the industry if they're in a band with a few blokes is to be aware that the blokes will be quite flirtatious and often want something more out of you. It's human nature but it
can be irritating. When you were in a band was it all male musicians?<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> No, in <a href="https://venustree.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Venus Tree</a> we had three women and one
bloke and I was pregnant as well with my third child when we did most of our
gigs so the dynamic was completely different – actually for the last few gigs
my stomach was really protruding making my guitar sit at an angle...<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
I got sacked from a band for wearing too tight jeans. This guy...I was singing
a bit of blues and he said “It’s doing funny things to t’lads in t’band. I
don’t know what you’re trying to do there.” And I was quite a bit older then so
I was thinking “<i>What?”</i> so I was
sacked for wearing tight jeans .<br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Unbelievable...<a href="http://everydaysexism.com/" target="_blank">everyday sexism</a>...<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Then after I’d left I was talking to one of the lads in the band in the pub and
I said, “So what really went on? Why was
I asked to leave?” and he said, really bitchily “<i>Coz.</i> You really aren’t good enough” and I said “Fuck you, one day,
I’m gonna fucking write some stuff that’s gonna be fucking brilliant. Don’t you
fucking tell me I’m not good enough.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And I suppose that’s how I
survive, just go the opposite direction to where people try to position me. What
he could have said was “Angela, it’s a setback, keep going with it, bands move
on all the time.” It bugged me. Even if he thought it, it was a mean response to actually voice. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On making the debut album <i>9 Wild Lovers</i>...</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
We’re going to put out a couple of singles including the single ‘Fat Bitch’, and
in early autumn put our first album <i>9
Wild Lovers</i> online & CD hopefully on vinyl which
you’ll be able to buy from Bandcamp <a href="https://blackcatwhitecat.bandcamp.com/releases" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> What was it like working with producer <a href="http://www.rossorton.com/" target="_blank">Ross Orton</a> who mixed <i>9 Wild Lovers?</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
It was brilliant. It’s no secret that Ross is world class. He’s super
professional and a great character, it was loads of fun. He got his head down, he worked hard and I really admire him. He’s built his
own studio with bare hands, no tools (laughs.) It was a great experience, if he
doesn’t really like the music he won’t work with it and I respect that. Ross is
really into rock so I knew we’d get great results.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I love the <a href="http://www.arcticmonkeys.com/" target="_blank">Arctic Monkeys</a> track ‘Do I
Wanna Know?’ which Ross produced – he co-produced the whole album in L.A., he’s
got a platinum for that hung up, he deserves it, really talented bloke. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/david.sanderson.94" target="_blank">Dave Sanderson</a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
who recorded the album, was really understanding of the fact we were skint and
had to spread the cost over time. We could only
do a day here and a day there when we could afford it. So it’s taken two years
to record the album.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We recorded the album at <a href="http://www.2flystudios.com/" target="_blank">2 Fly</a>, where the Arctic Monkeys recorded their demos (now quite a historic thing
musically). There’s a much bigger vibe around music and possibility and energy
amongst Sheffield bands because of the Arctic Monkeys, they went so massive
that people felt it could happen to them. I think the music industry, the
infrastructure and the vibe for making something happen has grown on the back
of their productivity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dave’s produced some
fantastic music, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/heysholay/" target="_blank">Hey Sholay</a><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">, </span><a href="https://soundcloud.com/65daysofstatic" target="_blank">69 Days of Static</a><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">, </span><a href="https://thepayrollunion.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">The Payroll Union</a> and currently <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FaergroundAccidents/" target="_blank">Faerground Accidents</a> who are doing OK, so he’s working on some really good material.
In terms of our producers we’re really lucky. Both Ross and Dave apart from
being great producers are really good company as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I’m
gonna make one of my dreams come true, make some muppets and be in my own
muppet show.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On gigging...<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So far we’ve never tried to
promote the band. We made a single, Fridge a couple of years ago and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/paul.blakeman" target="_blank">Paul Blakeman</a>
really wanted to put it out on the Club 60 label on vinyl and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thisisnotmyfirkinemail" target="_blank">Helene Michaelides</a>
really wanted to do the video for the single, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQvKPYtuLPQ" target="_blank">which you can see on YouTube</a>. I’m a big <a href="http://henson.com/" target="_blank">Jim Henson</a> fan so I
just thought “I’m gonna make one of my dreams come true, make some muppets and
be in my own muppet show.” I wanted it
to have a message too so it had a ‘Give Blood’ theme and everyone did it for
free. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are two more videos in the pipeline. Bands need videos nowadays, everything is centred on the internet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We’ve done about 30 gigs
around Sheffield over the past few years but never asked for a gig. We just play
gigs if someone asks and we can play them. We played Newcastle and everyone thought
we were great, amazing and one guy said “If you’re not on Jools Holland by next year
I’m gonna kill myself.” Simon says he is probably dead now, ha!<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s the thing I’m looking
forward to, I’m looking forward to playing more out of town, and I think it’ll
be vibey.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> What about London? <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> We've not played London yet but we're planning a tour in the future...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“If
you’re not on Jools Holland by next year I’m gonna kill myself.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On musical influences...<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Walker_(singer)" target="_blank">ScottWalker</a><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span>melted my soul. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Bassey" target="_blank">Shirley Bassey</a>, she’s an against the odds singer. <a href="http://www.katebush.com/" target="_blank">Kate Bush</a>,
she’s intriguing, she does it in her own individual style. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones_(rapper)" target="_blank">Jim Jones</a>, I’d love to
support him,<span style="color: red;"> </span><a href="http://www.nickcave.com/home/" target="_blank">Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds</a><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/detroitcobras" target="_blank">TheDetroit Cobras</a><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">, </span><a href="http://www.goldblade.com/" target="_blank">Gold Blade</a><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">, </span><a href="http://joanjett.com/" target="_blank">Joan Jett</a><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">, </span><a href="http://www.billieholiday.com/" target="_blank">Billy Holiday</a> because again she’s
an against the odds singer where despite racism in America, they just had to
have her, her voice was so beautiful. I like lots of music, the list is endless.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Billy Holiday is the woman
who enticed me to sing<b> </b>through just
listening and thinking<b> “</b>Wow, that’s
amazing, I wish I could do something like that.” I was stuck in a small town, there was nothing else to do so I might as well sing along to Billy Holiday
records. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And <a href="http://www.suziquatro.com/" target="_blank">Suzi Quatro</a> in the 70's, I was a really young girl when she came on the scene, I just loved her vibe but <a href="http://www.siouxsieandthebanshees.co.uk/" target="_blank">Siouxie Sioux</a> – although I
really like her now – was still a fledgling, underground punky act, something
you wouldn’t have watched on Swap Shop. So whilst Siouxie Sioux was writing her
first few albums I would have been listening to Prince, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Flash" target="_blank">Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wham!" target="_blank">Wham</a>
and Madonna cause that was blaring out the telly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m originally from the vinyl record era
– it’s the difference between an old book and Kindle – vinyl records hold
memories better than downloads somehow. <span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Billy
Holiday is the woman who enticed me to sing.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Prince was a bit of a sexual
awakening. When he wrote Purple Rain I was probably developing so watching the
movie was “Oooo...what’s this funny feeling? Prince is nice!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I got into Janis Joplin when
my friend Mike bought me an album and said “You need some Janis in your life.”
Quite often people will say “You’re like Janis Joplin”. I must look a bit like her or it’s just a few
things that make people think that. What are the elements about her? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> You’ve got a wild, independent freedom in your
stage presence that is reminiscent of Janis. With artists like Siouxie Sioux
and Suzie Quatro it’s more contrived and staged, they’ve got a really boxed-in
image, whereas yours is so organic and natural. The name of the band is Black Cat White Cat,
obviously, but you’ve got a feline presence onstage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
When I watch videos I just think I look terrible but that’s not what other
people say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> You look absolutely amazing on stage. Every
woman thinks they look terrible, that’s just part of being a woman. You’ve got
an incredible stage presence. It’s cat-like, the way you move, it’s got a
freedom and an uncontrivedness about it that’s very reminiscent of Janis. <br />
<br />
<b>AB:</b> Thank you very kind words. Yeah
Janis...I think people are really cruel about the way that she looked.
Sometimes I see photographs of Janis and she looks really nice. Obviously she’s
singing and when you’re singing your face is contorted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So even when you make an
effort with your togs, move around, sound brilliant, your face gets contorted,
someone takes a snap and then all hell breaks loose. We’re not allowed to be natural. We’re not
allowed to contort our faces but they still wanna hear the sound so because she
sang so well – and it’s a really physical thing, singing – she had to be that
way, but what they wanna see is a really evenly shaped face with a mouth that
opens up not so much and that’s OK, and <i>that’s
why nowadays people make all those videos</i> but Janis was from the pre-music
video era, she sang live and you get loads of live footage. <i>End of.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now it’s all manipulated,
you’re a product of the time. And because she never got to live her life and
settle down with one guy she went down in history as a woman who was lost and
promiscuous and everybody was experimenting back then but she got pulled up for
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“...even
when you make an effort with your togs, move around, sound brilliant, your face
gets contorted, someone takes a snap and then all hell breaks loose.</span></span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: large;">We’re
not allowed to be natural.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On perseverance... <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
There’s always been things trying to hold us back from being a band but we just
carry on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Driving to the practice room once the car got stuck and we spent
three hours jumping on top of the car trying to move it an inch...at one point
we thought we’d lost all our recordings (we found them on a hard drive in the
end)...I was supposed to go down and sing some vocals at the tail end of things
and I walked into a lamp post and had to cancel, it’s been like that <i>all the time</i> but it’s all just
typical...we just kept going despite all these things. In 2015 Simon Stafford
was diagnosed with a brain tumour, which put the album on hold for another
year. After successful surgery Simon is doing really well, he's escaped death with amazing results,
thanks to the NHS. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Yeah, some of these are huge hurdles you’ve had to overcome, especially Simon's brain cancer...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Yeah. You think you’re in control and you’re not.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> But we're going to keep going, the reaction when we play live is always so positive. I’ve been in other bands and I’ve never had
reactions like when Black Cat White Cat play - you know when people are faking it or not – at
the end of the gig we often get ten or fifteen people coming over and saying “That was
amazing”, “That was fucking brilliant” and “That was awesome – have you got
something I can buy?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We didn’t know we were good or
not until we played our first gig at the first ever Tramlines up near the Uni,
it was a really packed gig. Someone told me that this bloke had gone to the bar
to buy a pint and said “Fuck ‘avin’ a pint, this band’s too good I’m just gonna
watch the band I don’t care about me pint.” That kind of reaction is inspiring - you're only as good as the reaction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s when I knew. It’s
basically up to the audience. It’s always up to the audience. Playing to the
wrong audience feels like feeling-up somebody who you really don’t fancy. The
trick is to play the right places on the right night to the right people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The first Tramlines when it was pissing down
and <a href="http://www.reverendmakers.com/" target="_blank">Reverend and the Makers</a>
played on Devonshire Green? I was dancing in the audience with my brolly to
that gig.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Yeah that one. I’ve been told that the Reverends said we’re one of the
best bands in Sheffield. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/russell.senior.9" target="_blank">Russell Senior</a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pulppeople" target="_blank">Pulp </a>wrote a really lovely
piece about us. He said he was really worried about going to see us in case it
was rubbish and then it’s really embarrassing but then the opposite happened
and he loved us. He thinks I sing a bit like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GraceSlickOfficial/" target="_blank">Grace Slick. </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I know <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RichardHawleyOfficial/" target="_blank">Richard Hawley</a> thinks our
stuff’s good. Well he’s in<a href="https://youtu.be/XQvKPYtuLPQ" target="_blank"> our first video</a>, isn’t he? </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Fuck
‘avin’ a pint, this band’s too good I’m just gonna watch the band I don’t care
about me pint.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On ‘Fat Bitch’...<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We’re releasing ‘Fat Bitch’ as a single at some point. I’m
saying it to myself, ‘Fat Bitch’ - it’s about me. I own it. If somebody uses
this term towards somebody else they are being abusive, don’t tolerate it, they
have the problem. I’m saying I have my own problem, and part of that problem is
the way people struggle with humanity wanting to be accepted and loved and we
all mess up at one point. It’s a plea to find a soul mate, the ultimate
preoccupation is to be loved and love back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gentle language is very important and
the actual content of the song is completely diametrically opposed to its title
– I sing of acceptance, classic romance but I’ve set it within the context of
postmodern anxiety, with a flash back to <a href="http://www.ledzeppelin.com/" target="_blank">Led Zep</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I wrote ‘Fat Bitch’ on an acoustic
guitar. I was single and I’d been seeing this lad who was messing me around and
it just came from that, feeling fed up with looking for love and feeling I
wasn’t getting anywhere, so it’s a song about wanting to meet someone who was worth
their weight - it was never fully constructed as a song, it was a scrappy
half-written idea but it was one of the songs that helped me recruit musicians.
Simon, Chris and Ross played a big part in completing it as a full-blown track.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“It’s
basically up to the audience. It’s always up to the audience.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Fat Bitch’ refers to how to
we, men as well as women, can pull ourselves down and look for reasons as to
why things aren’t working out and then look to themselves...you want to just
meet someone who’s genuine and accepts you for who you are and loves you inside
and out and the feeling that sometimes we’re really meticulous and ridiculous
about this, there can be nothing wrong with somebody and they can have all
sorts of hang-ups about their shape and who they are and it really is about
just meeting that right person, there’s probably nothing wrong so with you that
most people go through one way or another. But we do these things to ourselves
to make sense of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Do you think women do this more than men?<br />
<br />
<b>AB:</b> No I think men do it as well but
there’s definitely more pressure on women to look more polished than there is
on men, and it’s really time consuming to achieve that polished look so there’s
more leisure time spent on that so maybe they feel when they are out and about
if they’re not presented in a certain way they’ll be seen as not making an
effort whereas for a man it doesn’t even cross their mind, they’ll just fling
on a t-shirt...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Well have you noticed how women in the public
eye from TV presenters to MPs, the first things that are commented upon are
their weight and clothes? Remember the presenter <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Frost" target="_blank">David Frost</a>? In his late seventies,
old and doddery, fronting national mainstream TV shows. You wouldn’t get an
woman in her late seventies looking like that presenting daytime television, it
wouldn’t happen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
I remember when <a href="http://www.blondie.net/" target="_blank">Blondie</a>
came back on the scene with Maria and <a href="http://www.deborahharry.com/" target="_blank">Debbie Harry</a> got pulled up and she was fabulous! People were
really hung up about whether she was young enough to keep doing it but good on
her, because I wonder whether <a href="http://www.rollingstones.com/" target="_blank">TheRolling Stones</a> would have headlined if she’d not done that before them,
whether they’d have felt self-conscious. I really felt for her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Well, I love <a href="http://www.keithrichards.com/" target="_blank">Keith Richards</a> but who’s ever criticised him in
the press for his looks? Nobody. Ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Yeah. It’s just cool. End of. Debbie Harry talks about that a lot, how her image
has been a huge part of her career and it has, she was a stunning young girl,
but for a while the public couldn’t accept her as an older woman yet if you saw
her without knowing she was famous you’d just think she was a stunning older
woman. It’s an impossibility to stay the same age. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The problem is that because polished
air-brushed photographs of women in the public eye are foisted on us it’s what
we as the general public now expect. How do you feel about this as a female
performer?<br />
<br />
<b>AB:</b> I’m normal and I will adhere to some of it.
I’m as vulnerable as any other person, I’m not separate from it, I’m gonna go
out in togs, and although I’m not going to be separate from it, I’m really
aware of it.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> My make up and costume mean when I am on stage I’m working, and when I’m off …
I’m off, just me ‘Angela’ hippy and mum.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JCT: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Good point...why do you normally wear black
when performing by the way?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Coz I’m 60% Goth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I
don’t think images of nearly naked woman in six inch heels is a balanced world
view and I don’t think women are getting a fair representation.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On women in the industry...<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many people feel that women in the music industry
are over-sexualised, dancing provocatively and performing almost naked. The
industry is funding this and the pressure on young girls to do the same is very
real – I don’t mind it massively, but I don’t subject my daughter to these
over-sexualised images, they’re not educational or particularly entertaining, In
fact I think it desensitises sensuality, they are culturally irrelevant but
somehow addictive to people, in fact I’m not sure how a woman doesn’t have sexuality.
I don’t think images of nearly naked woman in six inch heels is a balanced worldview
and I don’t think women are getting a fair representation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I was a girl I remember women
saying that feminism had made things worse, well it didn’t, what it did and
still does is challenge the status quo and that frightens people. Feminism
became very academic and when people struggle to understand something, it can become
repellent. Of course there are different points of view but I think unfortunately
many people feel feminism stands for ‘female supremacy’ and of course it
doesn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A man can be a feminist in my book; I
think it’s a word that describes the desire for equality. We cannot ban words, they
are out there. Like ‘Fat Bitch’ we have to change the negative into the
positive, it’s about vernacular. We can’t just eliminate words from history, it
wouldn’t work. Feminism has been used more for good causes than bad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m for being supportive of people in
whatever they want to do as long as it’s isn’t hurting anybody else. I think
it’s that simple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I’m
the witch you never see under the shed when Dorothy first lands in Oz.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">***</span></b></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On The Wizard of Oz...<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AB:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Dorothy clicks her heels to escape and return home so I have this thing about
wanting to escape the place I grew up in – Goole – I always had this
instinctive feeling that there was more to life and that people could be a lot
kinder than they really are, because of course there’s the witch who’s being
really mean to Toto in her black and white world and the witch is the
landowner, ‘the Conservative or Top Down Authority’ if you like and then
Dorothy goes into the magical world where’s the crossroads of good and evil and
you have good witches and bad witches
and on your journey you make friends with these unusual characters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I cite some of Wizard of Oz
in my lyrics, and there’s a tale of a green ghost a childhood friend told me
about when we were twagging (skipping school) one day on the Monkey Bridge (I
mention the Monkey Bridge in one of my songs.) There’s these great water towers
called <a href="http://wikimapia.org/6502871/The-Salt-and-Pepper-Pots" target="_blank">The Salt and Pepper Pots</a>, a feat of engineering - there’s lots of engineering feats in Goole,
it’s an important port but a small town - and there’s some lovely footage of
the water towers, you can find it on YouTube where the men are rigging to build
it and they’re sliding up and down, there’s no hard hats, nothing, and when
they opened it in 1915 they had amazing green fireworks during the opening
ceremony and there was an explosion in which someone died.<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the Wizard of Oz the
witches appear in a green puff of smoke and my friend had this thing about
ghosts – I never did, never believed in this tale and then I discovered that
there was some truth in it, someone <i>did</i>
die in a green puff of smoke...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Growing up in eighties
Thatcher’s Britain was quite a brutal period for a child - not that other
periods before it weren’t difficult – we still had corporate stuff going on so
I empathise with Dorothy’s journey on a road of discovery to get back to
whatever true love is or to find something meaningful and find a righteous path
or one of humanity and she mistakenly burns the witch, she doesn’t do it on
purpose, she doesn’t realise that pouring water on the witch is going to kill
her off, she feels quite guilty about it.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I fancied making some ruby
slippers so I performed with powder blue socks and ruby slippers so I wasn’t
just completely dressed in black. Now I’m true to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Frank_Baum" target="_blank">L. Frank Baum</a> books and I
wear silver slippers. <b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After an enchanting and
thought-provoking afternoon talking to Angela I’m left with the striking
impression of how challenging it is to be a female artist loyal to your
principles in what is still, essentially a patriarchal world, especially the
world of music. How many festival line-ups comprise all male bands for example?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Considering Angela’s
fascination with The Wizard of Oz, it’s interesting to note that its aforementioned
author, L.Frank Baum, was very close to his mother-in-law, the noted suffragist
Matilda Joslyn Gage, and edited a newspaper focused around women’s rights, as
well as being the secretary of his local women’s suffrage club... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The magic, and messages of
his Oz books live on...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3030440424593475093.post-22314240681377502302006-05-31T12:11:00.000+01:002018-06-04T08:59:03.454+01:00INTERVIEW WITH CUD'S CARL PUTTNAM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.williampotter.com/cudband/index.html">CUD</a> are not only known for the fact <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/may/01/john-peel-record-collection-online">John Peel</a> loved them, but also because they are one of those bands that deserved enormous commercial success, but due to dreadful handling of them by a mainly stupid music industry and despite extensive touring involving hundreds of live dates in the UK and abroad, they never found it. But they have also never been forgotten by those people who loved and still love their music, like me.<br />
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The first time I heard Rich and Strange I nearly crapped myself with joy. Twenty years later I still think it's one of the most perfect pop songs ever. Everything works, melody, lyrics, performance, that fantastic guitar riff and Carl Puttnam's gorgeous, sonorous vocals which many compare quite justifiably to <a href="http://www.tomjones.com/">Tom Jones</a>.<br />
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More CUD videos on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/CUDvideos?feature=watch">CUD YouTube channel</a>.</div>
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Above: Carl in Andalucian port Cadiz.</div>
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<b>To coincide with their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/336184486425545/">2012 Summer Tour</a>, I recently spoke to Carl:</b><br />
<b><br />Jude:</b> How did you feel when you got your first Peel session?<br />
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<b>Carl:</b> I was unexpectedly cool when John Walters rang me up to offer us a session. He said he needed to know within the hour and I said can I call you back? The band were all on their way round for a rehearsal in my cellar, and rather then tell them one at a time, I waited for them all to arrive, and then told them all at once. This sudden attack of "cool", was so uncharacteristic , they didn't believe me, and it was only when I rang John back to say we couldn't do it, that they figured I was telling the truth and relented.<br />
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<i>From William Potter's <a href="http://www.williampotter.com/cudband/history87_1.html">CUD History1987</a>:</i><br />
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<i>16th June: Maida Vale, a maze of corridors, cheap BBC restaurants, and snobbish orchestras. The first Peel session with Dale (Mott the Hoople) Griffin producing. We have no cymbals. It's a basic set up of instruments that won't stay in tune, found drums and less than an album's worth of songs to choose from.</i><br />
<i>We go for 'You're The Boss', 'Mind the Gap' (about Carl's home of East London/Essex where Carl left and William would move to), 'Don't Bank On It' and crowd pleaser, 'You Sexy Thing', and why not!</i><br />
<i>Suddenly our basic sound wasmade to sound like a snow plough. Mike drove the van back to Leeds straight after. We got back at 3am, shattered but ecstatic.</i><br />
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<i>We pestered Radio One to put the session out before the end of June so we could get PRS royalties in October. We wanted to spend them on a single.</i><br />
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<b>Jude:</b> What was John Peel like and what memories have you got from the sessions?<br />
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<b>Carl:</b> Loads of people ask what was it like meeting him when you play sessions, but the truth is that you record it at an empty Maida Vale on a Sunday afternoon, when John Peel is having a day off. I did meet him on a number of occasions though, and he was a funny sort. Very much the awe-struck fan on occasion and then sometimes cold and aloof. He was very kind to us. I'm not sure that I entirely agree with his "canonisation". The way the media ganged up on the musician who wasn't so besotted by his memory, despite that same media's ignorance of John while he was alive, and the way that the Beeb use his memory.(Jude: Whatever else, the Beeb <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/c/cud/">John Peel page</a> has not been updated since 2007.)<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>What inspired you to return to gigging in 2006 more than a decade after the band split up in '95?<br />
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<b>Carl:</b> Just the reissue projects that sprang up really, and then, of course, we realised how much we all enjoyed each other and playing.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>The Rich and Strange cover was one of your pieces from your time on your uncompleted degree at Leeds Poly. How do you feel about the irony of that image then being plastered all over Leeds Poly on posters?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>That is something I never thought about before, but will now be my number one gloat.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>Why did you drop out of your fine art degree at Leeds Poly?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>I met a woman who taught Fine Art at Bradford College, who convinced me that passing wasn't all that important. I had completed all my work, I just didnt get my thesis typed-up and handed in. I kind of wish I had these days. And, I'm sure that my inspiration got her degree.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>Have <a href="http://www.beefheart.com/">Beefheart</a> and <a href="http://www.zappa.com/">Zappa</a> influenced your work? And what about <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/11/gainsbourg200711">Serge Gainsbourg</a>?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>Neither Beefheart or Zappa exert an influence over Cud's music, though we all enjoyed Beefheart at the time and Zappa more recently. Serge used to provide intro music for a long time around 1990-1991. But my colleagues hated it in the tourbus. A lot of French literature and cinema makes it into my lyrics.<br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000254/">Isabelle Adjani </a>obviously. <a href="http://www.andregide.org/">Andre Gide</a>. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0136021/">Leos Carax </a>are all big influences. It's only while rehearsing for this tour that I realised how many songs nod to Gide.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>CUD are renowned for their audience stage invasions. Can you tell us a bit about them?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>We love them. We hate them.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>Have increased security measures over the past decade or so put a damper on this?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>It's all a little more ordinary, so yes. Funny though, we played in Bradford many moons ago and the security were wee fellows, so we gave them warnings about what to expect. "Don't worry about us" they said. Midway through the set and they were packing up, dismantling the monitors which they knew they couldn't protect. HaHa.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>What was it like supporting <a href="http://www.pixiesmusic.com/">The Pixies</a> on tour?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>A surprise firstly. They were very nice to us. Always watched us soundcheck and then watched us play from stageside, which felt very complementary. Each musician seemed to be checking out the moves and play of their peer.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>The Pixies' Brixton Academy gig turned out to be their last gig for a decade. What are your memories of that night?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>We never played with them that night, but watched them as guests.<br />
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Back stage, lined up waiting for an audience with the Pixies was a huge queue of rather famous liggers. When some usher came out of the Pixies' dressing room to ask "Are the Cud here? The Pixies would like Cud to visit their dressing room" all the liggers turned towards us, sneering. So we were ushered in and enjoyed The Pixies' renewed aquaintance...my girlfriend's brother was enjoying looking at Kim, when she came over and told him "You got a problem?" I had to intervene, telling her that he was with me.<br />
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<b>Jude:</b>What was recording the (never aired) pilot for the Vic and Bob show, ‘Popadoodledandy’ like?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>William couldn't do it, so we drafted in a replacement; Jessica. Six foot tall half japanese and very attractive. Vic and Bob were "in character" all day, or at least that's how it seemed, which made them funny and infuriating by turns. I'm rubbish on telly, which they seemed to like. My woodenness was exactly what they were after. We often spent nights out with Bob. We'd bump into him at a club and share cabs. He is the "nicer one" by common wisdom.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>You were writing a novel, did you ever finish it?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>It is finished. A group of friends got together to write a series of Richard Allen style novels. Each novel revolving about a present day youth "cult" fictional or otherwise. Mine was set in Leeds 6 around the travails of a group of rather well-off students bent on a music career. Easy target really.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>William writes on his history of CUD "2 Dec 1993 A&M Xmas party. Sting shows up but hides in the ‘Star Bar’, where we’re not invited." What do you think about that?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>I think William's having a wee jest. The "Star Bar" was mostly empty but for Sting and Bryan Adams.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>And what do you think about your time with A&M generally?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>We were signed by the MD who promptly left for another company, leaving us with an A&R who hardly understood us and barely liked us both musically and personally, so, while I enjoyed most of our time with the major, it was often quite frustrating artistically and commercially.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>What was it like working with the legendary <a href="http://www.sandieshaw.com/">Sandie Shaw</a>?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>Far from legendary. She is very nice, but a complete fruitcake. That will sound unkind and is unfair. She was fun and full of stories, which I oughtn't repeat and had an irreverent attitude to industry and management of which I was jealous as our bad didn't.<br />
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<i>From William Potter's <a href="http://www.williampotter.com/cudband/history93_1.html">CUD History 1993</a>:</i><br />
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<i>10 Feb</i><br />
<i>We’re set up in Ray Davies’ Konk Studios, a bit of a maze, and chilly. We put on a loop of the Stones’ ‘Gimme Shelter’ then record Steve’s drums along with it. Then I put down a basic bass part to give it structure. It sounds terrible so we replace it with a guitar loop and guide vocal. Sandie arrives and is lively and fun, easy to get on with. Turns out she’s teaching now and asked her students if they’d heard of CUD. When she got a positive response, then she agreed to the session. Carl has a great time gassing with her between vocal takes.</i><br />
<i>The harmonies agreed on push Sandie into a higher range than she’s used to while Carl is singing lower.</i><br />
<i>It’s a very long, drawn-out day, with photos and video needing to be taken for the project’s publicity. At one point Sandie gets irritated by constant postponements and retreats for a 10-minute mantra meditation.</i><br />
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<i>11 Feb</i><br />
<i>I lay down a superior bassline. More guitar and vocals are added before a mix we’re happy with is prepared in time for Sandie’s return, this time with her daughter. They try to work out which Monty Python member I resemble. (I fear it is Eric Idle.)</i><br />
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<i>12 Feb</i><br />
<i>Does our version of ‘Gimme Shelter’ really sound like The Sisters of Mercy’s ‘This Corrosion’?!</i><br />
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<i>24 Feb</i><br />
<i>Steve has to go to hospital with a pain in his lower leg. It turns out to be a tendon problem he has to rest for a week. And, so do the rest of us. (Well, I’m always working on the Space CUDet fanzines...)</i><br />
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<i>3 Mar</i><br />
<i>London, ‘Gimme Shelter’ launch at Camden Parkway cinema. Sandie is there, in a shirt Morrissey gave her. There are lots of TV interviews to do, especially for Carl and Sandie. She says how much she enjoyed the recording and finished track. I declined the offer of joining her for a Buddhist Introductory session, opting for boozing at the Good Mixer.</i><br />
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<b>Jude: </b>A fan from Garforth invited you all to tea once, what was that like?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>It was very nice and very strange. We were far from famous but being treated like Boys Inc or JLS or something. Incidentally, it was around that time that we recorded a message for a girl in a coma. She was about 14-16 and had meningitis. Obviously we weren't the reason she got better, I think modern medicine had a hand. I think Will still knows her.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>Did any of you get some of the CUD embroidered boxers on the cover of Once Again?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>Funny you should ask. I have no idea where they went. Steve most likely.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>Would you think about putting CUD underpants into production for fans to buy?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>We did socks, pillow cases and windscreen banners, so maybe.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>You and William have both had Megablocks characters named after you in <a href="http://www.2000adonline.com/">Judge Dredd</a>. How did that come about?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>I dont know, but it's good isn't it?<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>You have a vineyard in France, how did you acquire it and are you producing wine from it?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>My Brother in law (sort of) and I own it. It cost us peanuts.We have vines on the lower parts and olives on the steeper slopes. The wine is red, we don't know what variety, but strong, dark and tannic with aroma of raspberry. It was all obsolete land before we got it. We just cleared it up and let whatever was growing there carry on growing. Grapes, olives, thyme and a whole load of fruit trees.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>Do you speak French?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>Bonjour.I get by. And when I am around for a while get pretty comfortable.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>You got into a spat with Primal Scream over a drum at Futurama...what happened? Is Bobbie Gillespie as much of an arse as he's often portrayed in the press?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>We'd already had a number of unfortunate mishaps with "the Scream". Following one incident, a message arrived in Leeds telling me to hi-tail it out of town, cos "the Scream" were coming to get me.<br />
I laughed.<br />
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At Futurama, it was another misunderstanding that escalated into anger, because of this ongoing thing. I'd like to say it was all their fault, but who knows? To be fair to Bobbie, it was always the rest of the band, "TH" Robert and the roadies, and their threats were as comic book as their music.<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>Have you ever met <a href="http://www.martinfbedford.com/">Martin Bedford</a>, the Sheffield artist and legendary Leadmill poster designer who seems to have met every notable musician on the planet?<br />
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<b>Carl: </b>No. Who He? Maybe I'm just not that notable (well you never know.)<br />
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<b>Jude: </b>Yes you are. Anyway, he's the subject of my next Into View, he's got an exhibition on at the moment in Sheffield's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003856752381">Porter Brook Gallery</a>.<br />
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Finally, a question from a recent <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=313109495437711&set=a.231393740275954.55674.198555540226441&type=1&theater">live online interview by CUD</a> with their fans on Facebook.<br />
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On the set of Rich and Strange video shoot</div>
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<b>Mark Stubley:</b> What's your views on the whole download culture for music these days? Is it making music a worthless disposable product? Or a great way to get new music to an audience?<br />
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<b>Carl:</b> It's a bit of both for me. I'm sad in some ways that your super rare record is just a download away. I used to enjoy the crazy collector's thrill of finding rare stuff. I dont believe it's killing the business though. The people who kill the music business are the business. They mostly hate music, hate musicians and hate punters. Just look at your 'Istory...<br />
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A final bit of trivia, <span style="text-align: center;">CUD as footballers for NME's 70s themed Xmas 1992 issue. After the shoot all the NME journos ligged along with the band back to the Columbia Hotel, which is a bit like a London version of New York's Chelsea Hotel, where in the early 80s I used to hang out (in the Columbia, not the Chelsea) with my then boyfriend Roddy Frame.</span><br />
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CUD as footballers for NME's 70s themed Xmas 1992 issue. </div>
<br />Jude Calvert-Toulminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12112993362990797264noreply@blogger.com1