Wednesday 31 August 2011

LANVIN A/W 11


Fashion not taking itself very seriously isn't something you come across every day. So we'd like to tip our hats at Lanvin's creative director Alber Elbaz for this silly & delightful new fashion film courtesy of Steven Meisel.

In short, the film features supermodels Karen Elson & Raquel Zimmermann throwing some shapes to Pitbull's I Know You Want Me, whilst wearing Lanvin's current Autumn/Winter 2011 Collection. Alber even joins in at the end. Enjoy.

BURBERRY BODY


British fashion powerhouse Burberry have just today unleashed the full TV ad for their latest perfume, Burberry Body. 

Shot by Mario Testino, the campaign features supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wearing the brand's trademark trench, and... well, not much else! The ad also boasts a very fitting track entitled Rose, which was written and performed by The Feeling


Says creative director Christopher Bailey: "We wanted to create something very British, feminine, timeless, distinctive and effortlessly sensual, with the attitude and energy of our iconic trench coat at the heart of it." (quote source: grazia)

And, look, we even got our hands on some behind-the-scenes sneak peeks from the shoot. Don't say we don't spoil you.

MUSIC INSIDERS: NEW COMPETITIONS


Back in July, we told you about BlackBerry and icould's excellent Music Insiders campaign, which aims to introduce young people to a career in music - with an emphasis on the countless roles & opportunities within the industry that don't necessarily involve being a performer.


The campaign is drawing to a close, and so we wanted to draw your attention to their amazing final two competitions: the first is a chance to assist renowned music video director Emil Nava on his next shoot, the second is a chance to win one of two brand new BlackBerry PlayBooks.


So if you are or know young people who would benefit from this initiative, get them to click HERE for the Emil Nava competition, and HERE for the BB PlayBooks. Also make sure you follow @icouldstories on twitter, and look out for the #musicinsiders hashtag. 

Tuesday 30 August 2011

LIZ GREEN


Major music vid crush alert for Liz Green's new single Displacement Song. The brilliantly executed and expertly suited animation is courtesy of the very-talented-indeed Kate Anderson.

Liz's debut album "O, Devotion!" will be released on the 14th November, and we cannae wait to hear it. Here she is on facebook, here she is on twitter. Get to know her & get buying.

BAFTA FINDS NEW BRITISH WRITING STARS


Congratulations are in order for another member of the HOME.corp family! Our very own Greg De Roeck is one of three new writers selected by BAFTA to participate in the Rocliffe New Writing Forum at the 2011 NYTV Festival.

Following a nationwide competition, a series of tense interviews and a lot of deliberation, 3 winning scripts were selected from hundreds of submissions. The lucky winners - that's Greg, Anne-Marie Draycott & Thomas Phipps - are being flown to New York this September, where they will mix with the cream of the US television industry.

Read the full press release from BAFTA here, and check out Greg's blog here, where he'll share his experiences as he embarks on his adventure across the pond.

Here are some words from the man himself: "This is a brilliant opportunity, I feel very lucky and can't wait to go to New York. All young writers out there should get to know Rocliffe and get involved."

LITTLE SCRAPS OF PAPER: PAUL BOWER


South London-based graphic artist & illustrator Paul Bower is the subject of our very own Tomas Leach's new Little Scraps of Paper film. Little Scraps is a series of wonderfully intimate mini-documentaries from a team of talented directors, which focusses on creative people and their process.

In this film, we meet Paul at work in his quirky studio, where he discusses the importance of sketchbooks and the immediacy of his workflow.

Here are a few words from Tomas on the project: "The lovely people at Pocko asked me to make a film about Paul for his upcoming show, Come And Get It. He has such a great way of working, it was a real pleasure seeing into his world and getting to nose about in his studio."


Make sure you catch Paul's show at the Sanderson Hotel (50 Berners St, W1T 3NG), where his penchant for punchy typography and bold, multicoloured posters will be on display for just two more nights (30th & 31st August). Definitely one not to miss.

Friday 26 August 2011

AB FAB TURNS 20


Ab Fab fans rejoice. Jennifer Saunders' popular BBC comedy is set to return with a three-part 20th anniversary special that will see Edina and Patsy take on... the 2012 Olympics.

Saunders and Lumley, pictured above shooting scenes for the special outside Stella McCartney's London store, are currently filming scenes all around the capital. Other original cast members June Whitfield, Jane Horrocks and Julia Sawalha will also return for 3 thirty-minute episodes.

BBC comedy exec Jon Plowman said "Viewers have been fantastically loyal to this show, so we're really thrilled to say that it's coming back to celebrate our 20th anniversary. All of the originals who are back together again are still truly absolutely fabulous and the new adventures of Edina, Pasty, Saffy, Bubble and Mother, plus a few surprising guests, will be a real treat for viewers." (quote source: metro)

TERRIBLE ANGELS


Our music vid crush of the day comes courtesy of actress, model and sometimes singer Charlotte Gainsbourg. Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg's daughter (who recently turned 40) has just announced a new double album, Stage Whisper, which will be released in November and is a mixture of live material & unreleased studio tracks from her 2010 album, IRM.

First single Terrible Angels was produced by Beck, and we are love-love-loving its accompanying video directed by Nathalie Canguilhem. Check it out below.

HACKS



And in even more TV news: another one-off special worth looking out for later this year is Hacks - Channel 4's upcoming comedy based on the recent newspaper phone-hacking scandal. 

Written by Drop The Dead Donkey creator Guy Jenkins (pictured above), Hacks is set in a fictional newspaper, where journalists frequently use phone-tapping, private investigators and even pinging - which is when a phone signal is used to track someone's whereabouts.

Shane Allen, Channel 4's head of comedy, says: "We are very excited bout Hacks and it's great that Channel 4 can be so quick off the mark to shine a satirical light on what's been happening in the media over the last few months". (quote source: BBC)

Thursday 25 August 2011

A TOUCH OF CLOTH


Tv fans, listen up. Sky, who have recently committed to invest more time and money in original programming, have just announced a new spoof detective drama from TV critic and Guardian columnist Charlie Brooker - who also created & wrote the excellent zombie comedy Dead Set for E4 back in 2008.


A Touch of Cloth, which will air as a two-hour special some time in 2012, stars Suranne Jones and John Hannah (pictured above) as DCI Jack Cloth, a maverick, heavy drinking loner. Brooker's work is always impeccable, so we're very much looking forward to that one.

LIFE'S TOO SHORT


Here's your first look at Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's brand new sitcom for the BBC, Life's Too Short. The highly-anticipated show, from the makers of The Office and Extras, follows the adventures of dwarf actor Warwick Davis.

As has become customary from the comedy duo's work, you can expect many celeb cameo appearances, including Johnny Depp, Cat Deeley, Right Said Fred, Liam Neeson, Helena Bonham Carter and Sting.

HOME-GROWN: THE INTERRUPTERS


The marvellous Steve James, who we have the privilege of representing via our Nonfiction site, is currently enjoying some fantastic reviews & extensive press coverage for his new documentary, The Interrupters. Let's have a look at the trailer.


The film, which follows a year in the life of Chicago as it grapples with the plague of urban violence, premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, where Moving Pictures sat down with Oscar-nominated Steve for a quick Q&A:


Make sure you also check out Steve's recent appearance on Radio 4 here, as well as this excellent video from the Guardian, where he discusses how he earned the trust of gang members on the streets of Chicago.

Finally, click here for a full list of upcoming screenings (including one tonight in London's Leicester Sq), and here for further events info. Definitely one not to miss.

Wednesday 24 August 2011

LOV


And here's another fashion film for your perusal, this time starring skinny Hollywood beauty Kate Bosworth, who models the Autumn/Winter 2011 collection of Parisian fashion designer Vanessa Bruno.

The stunning 34-second short, entitled LOV, is directed by Stephanie Di Giusto, and sees Miss Bos trotting around with white horses, standing atop a tree, and generally looking all manners of fierce. Well done!

FIRST AND FOREVER


Have a look at this lovely (if a little unexpectedly deep) film from Dr Martens. The iconic footwear brand has recruited the services of gorgeous Manc supermodel Agyness "real name Laura Hollins" Deyn, and asked her to describe her first experience of heartbreak.

Check out DM's full "First and Forever" campaign here, where they encourage their customers to share similar intimate moments. Not sure how this relates to shoes, but it's an interesting idea.

HOME-GROWN: LUCY BLAKSTAD FOR MACMILLAN


We're very proud to present our very own Lucy Blakstad's new ad for Macmillan Cancer Support. The spot, which is already on air, highlights the support network that Macmillan provides for cancer patients and their loved ones. Click here for more information on the wonderful work that they do.

Tuesday 23 August 2011

360


It's just been announced that this year's London Film Festival, which runs from 12th - 27th October 2011, will open with the hotly anticipated 360, which sees City of God director Fernando Meirelles teaming up with Frost/Nixon screenwriter Peter Morgan.


The film stars Anthony Hopkins, Jude Law & Rachel Weisz, and focuses on a series of interlinked stories between couples in different cities including London, Denver and Vienna. We'll bring you more news from the festival as it happens.

HMV IN THE SIXTIES


Have a ganders at this brilliant collection of pictures of the Oxford Street branch of HMV in London, in the  1960s. What perhaps stands out the most in comparison to today's shops is the vast amount of display space taken up by just a limited amount of stock. Awesome stuff.









HOME-GROWN: JON YEO FOR LYSOFORM


Check out our very own Jon Yeo's brand spanking new ad for Unilever's Lysoform! The playful spot, entitled Germ Hotel, showcases Jon's rich & unique visual style within a commercial setting perfectly, and we couldn't be happier with it.

Monday 22 August 2011

YOU AND I


Here's a musical collaboration of the 'WTF' variety that we can really get behind. In the blue corner: world-dominating, gazillion-selling, silly hat-wearing pop sensation Lady Gaga. In the red corner: falsetto-singing, hundreds-selling & all-round amazing Brit indie band Wild Beasts.

The Beasts have recently remixed Gaga's latest single, You and I, and the result is an irresistibly paired-down & mellow track that we simply can't stop playing. Frontman Hayden Thorpe tells the Guardian: "The unlikeness of this match was perhaps what compelled us to take it on. Gaga in many ways is the epitome of what we are not. She is the butcher to our butter knife."

Very well put indeed. It's worth noting that the remix is also helping raise awareness to the support of independent labels that lost stock in the recent Pias UK warehouse fire. Click here for more info on that.

SHOULD BANKSY BE LISTED?


New research from Bristol University suggests that the work of enigmatic British street artist Banksy should be protected as a listed asset.


As it stands, there are currently no English Heritage guidance documents on street art or graffiti, but many have argued that Banksy's work carries a cultural significance in modern society, and should therefore be protected as such. 


And in order to help you make up your mind, have a look at our selection of Banksy classics above & below. We think they're rather lovely and worthy of protection. What do you think? Click here for more info.



TOMAS TURNS TV CRITIC FOR BROADCAST


High praise please for our very own Tomas Leach, who recently ventured into a spot of TV reviewing for Broadcast

In the article, which we've lovingly included for your perusal below, Tomas gives his insider opinion on BBC1's Village SOS, BBC4's Timothy Spall Back At Sea, and ITV's Ronnie Corbett's Comedy Britain.

Friday 12 August 2011

OUT OF OFFICE AUTOREPLY


Dearest readers, our lovely blog is on holiday for a week. We will be back to delight you with more of our favouritest things and latest goings-on on Monday 22nd August.

PLEASE LET ME GO


You should know by now that we are big champions of Charlie Simpson's music here at HOME.work. Not only is he wonderfully talented, but our very own Max and Michael have also directed his last two promos for Down Down Down and Parachutes.

So we urge you to kick back, relax and enjoy Charlie's intimate acoustic performance of new track Please Let Me Go below, which is available exclusively on the iTunes deluxe version of his excellent new album, Young Pilgrim - which you can get here.

OH LAND


Let's start Friday with our music vid crush of the day, courtesy of Oh Land and her delightful promo for new single White Nights, which was directed by CANADA. Danish singer-songwriter Nanna Oland's new album (pictured above) is out on October 17th, and you can purchase it here.

Thursday 11 August 2011

TOM DALEY AT HEATHROW


A life-size wire sculpture of World-champion English diver Tom Daley, in full diving flow, is currently greeting tourists at London's Heathrow Airport Terminal 5.

It is part of an exhibition which runs until 30th September and celebrates the London 2012 Olympic games. Several British sculptors will go on to create 30 full-scale pieces for the collection, which will be displayed in galleries and public spaces across the country.

So next time you're flying from T5, look out for a wiry 17 year-old diver greeting you as you depart.

ANTI-BULLYING CAMPAIGN

Jedward

Yes, we're writing about Jedward, but bare with us. The 19-year-old bouncy pop twins feature in a new campaign in Ireland aimed at putting an end to bullying in schools and communities.

Several other celebs (see below) are also taking part in the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children initiative, which depicts them as bruised and battered victims of violence. 

Click here for more information on the campaign and to lend your support.

CURTAIN CALL


We've just stumbled across a fantastic time-lapse video documenting architect & designer Ron Arad's latest construction at London's Roundhouse, which opened on Tuesday (scroll to the bottom of this post to see it).


Entitled Curtain Call, the 360-degree interactive installation will showcase pieces from Arad's invited friends and artists, including Hussein Chalayan, Ori Gersht, Javier Mariscal & many more.


The 18 meter-wide cylinder was built from over 5,600 hanging silicon rods and will be available to see until 29h August. Click here for more info.

Wednesday 10 August 2011

HEROINE OF HACKNEY


If you've been following the media coverage of the UK riots, chances are you have stumbled across this video of a woman berating looting youths on the streets of Hackney. The clip did the rounds on twitter and facebook and quickly gathered thousands of hits.

Her fearless demeanour and no-bullshit approach was applauded by many, and she has now been tracked down! 45 year-old Pauline Pearce, a grandmother, jazz singer and community radio activist had this say about the events: "I had to say my piece and everyone stood and listened, and some people were saying 'Hear hear'. Some people clapped, but now I feel embarrassed."(quote source: telegraph)

Known as Lady P, she has a Monday afternoon show on Conscious FM (106.9). We love her.

SECRET SAFARI CLUB


Keep next Saturday night free, good readers. We thought this delightful summer we're currently blessed with in London might put you in the mood for something a little exotic...

Secret Safari Club will definitely be the place to be on Saturday 20th August. Dirty blue champagne cocktails & canapes will be served from 7.30pm by topless models in full body paint (as jungle animals, of course). Mingle and drink as a live band plays, then sit down for an unforgettable five course taster meal cooked by Fergus Shields, ex Head Chef at Hospital Club.

Rising DJ star Jack Smedley will then lead you onto the dance floor, where you will party until the small hours (3am, to be exact) with a bevy of gorgeous patrygoers, belly dancers, snake charmers, masses of balloons and of course plenty of booze.

The zone 1 location is a closely-guarded secret, but will be revealed here on the 15th August. Tickets are limited to just 200 people, so be quick. They are a bargenous £32, which includes cocktails, 5 course supper, dancing and even sneaky shots.  Get your tickets from here

All that's left to say is we'll see you there! In the meantime, let us listen to a bit of YELLE to get us in the mood.