Andre Leon Talley is a 20th century fashion icon: former creative director at Vogue, friend of many designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Diane Fustenberg and fashion editors Anna Wintour and Diana Vreeland….. I’m just back from viewing the documentary on him at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Here’s the trailer:
Continue reading “Film Review: “The Gospel according to Andre””
Ken Burns, well-known American film-maker, recently revealed that in a lifetime of making films for other people, he was quietly collecting quilts, for his own enjoyment. Then he let them go on public show, at The International Quilt Study Center and Museum. The whistle-stop tour in under 2 minutes. And for the threads enthusiasts – the 10 minute version – which also features great footage … Continue reading “Civil discourse… quilts and films are ways to do that”
As a fully-paid up comedy writing fan, I’m delighted by a Youtube documentary “Life before the Flying Circus” – featuring the background to the Monty Python comedy team. I’ve watched lots of comedy documentaries in my time, and will seek out ones on Monty Python – but this programme seems to have the edge over so many I have already seen. It not only has … Continue reading Comedy writing – Monty Python
Paul Duke documented the decline of the fishing industry in the Moray Firth, with a series of life-size photos. He tells the story of how he took those and made them into a whole exhibition.
Occasionally, with very good films, you come away stunned. On Saturday, I saw “Loving Vincent” and was affected – similarly with today’s viewing of a memorable documentary on Soviet revolutionary art. I saw a whole range of arts took on vital new forms – as the film tells us the gripping, memorable and mostly tragic tale of what happened next in Russia.
I knew a little about Russian art around 1917, and less about the history, but I now know far more. “Revolution: new art for a new world” is made by Margy Kinmonth. I hadn’t seen her work before, but will need to rectify this, as the list of her art documentaries is long and distinguished. The range of resources and research in this film are vast: previously unseen paintings, artworks which are too precious to leave the country, and interviews with the children and grandchildren of the featured artists.
Having had so many posts last week about collage – here are 2 similar in a much more expensive media – stained glass and video.
A brief, one and a half minute film about Richard Leclerc, who lives and works on Arran Island, with a stained glass making practice.
Continue reading “Stained Glass and Making films – Richard Leclerc and Make Works”
Just watched a BBC documentary on the making of the album “No Secrets” – which includes the song “You’re so vain”. Absorbing. We get to hear from the producer, bassist, sound engineer, drummer, lead guitarist, her manager and most of all Carly herself. What were her inspirations for her songs? What was it like to be at the centre of recording such a phenomenally … Continue reading Songwriter – Carly Simon
