Stijn Hoekstra, a Netherlands-based cinematographer and photographer, has released a stunning series of photos named Cinematic Morroco where he explored the country of Morocco over a period of three weeks.
You can find more work by Stijn Hoekstra here.
Kevin Krautgartner, a German-born photographer, has released the second part of his Australian Salt series.
Discussing the series Krautgartner wrote: “Salt evaporation ponds, also called salterns, are shallow artificial ponds designed to extract salts from sea water. To make it’s sea salt, many companies in Australia are using a method called “solar evaporation”. Solar salt is produced by the action of sun and wind on seawater in large ponds. The seawater evaporates in successive ponds until the seawater is fully concentrated and the salt then crystallizes on the floor of the pond. Due to variable algal concentrations, vivid colors, from bright blue to deep red, are created in the evaporation ponds. The color indicates the salinity of the ponds.”
You can find more work by Kevin Krautgartner here.
Justyna Hołubowska-Chrząszczak, a Polish illustrator and graphic designer, has released a series of illustration for a Polish book publisher Zielona Sowa. The illustrations are named Snow White and feature eye-pleasing colours, easy to understand narrative and a well mastered style of illustration.
You can find more work by Justyna Hołubowska-Chrząszczak here.
Stian Klo, a Norwegian-born photographer, has released a beautiful series of photos named Finnish Lapland, in which Klo explores the stunning nature of Finland.
Talking about the series Stian Klo wrote: “I visited the Finnish Lapland back in early January 2019. I had high expectations having seen many great images from the area, but I was left completely speechless by its pure and natural beauty. I’ve never experienced such low temperatures (-37 degrees Celsius), but it was all worth it. Already booked my next trip for 2020.”
You can find more splendid work by Stian Klo here.
Matthew Thorne, an Australian film director and photographer, has released a series named The Sand That Ate The Sea. Like his other works, this series has a raw-feel to it and focuses on themes such as community, land, and spirituality. The Sand That Ate The Sea will also be released as a short film. The release date of the short film is yet to be confirmed.
You can find more work by Matthew Thorne here.
Skander Khlif, a Munich-based photographer and visual storyteller, has released a series of photos named Stories From Bangkok. The series is part of a larger travel series where Skander Khlif explores Asia by travelling across different countries and photographing people in their everyday life.
You can find more work by Skander Khlif here.
Getting quality headphones is becoming harder and harder, not because the quality is not out there but because of the sheer amount of companies making low-quality, overpriced headphones. Here is a list of some of best Over-Ear Headphones for Under £100
| Name: |
Sennheiser HD 4.40 BT, Over-Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headphones |
|---|---|
| Features: |
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| Why We Like It: | Well adjustable and comfy. Well balanced sound. |
| Price | £79 – Buy Here (Amazon) |
| Name: |
Audio-Technica ATH-M40X Professional Headphones – Black |
|---|---|
| Features: |
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| Why We Like It: | Perfect for music producers. Top-notch price for the quality. |
| Price | £79 – Buy Here (Amazon) |
| Name: |
AKG K612PRO Reference Open-Back, Over-Ear Studio Headphones |
|---|---|
| Features: |
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| Why We Like It: | Lovely design with solid quality. AKG have done it again! |
| Price | £79 – Buy Here (Amazon) |
All of these headphones are fairly priced and whilst there is a tonne of other headphones competing for this spot, we must name the Audio Technica’s as our favourites. These headphones have stunning sound and have always been reliable when it comes to travelling and working in harsher environments.
Belle Chen, an Australian-Taiwanese pianist, has joined us for an interview to talk about her latest recently released album Departure.
Good thanks!
I’ve been playing piano since I was 5, although I think the real love for music came during my teenage years – during this time music became my vital way to truly communicate to the world. I knew I wanted a life in music then, and this thought stays the same to this day!
The idea for ‘Departure’ came from listening to traditional music from around the world — I had been listening to a lot of Gamelan, Chinese traditional music, Flamenco, Zimbabwean Shona music… and I became obsessively curious about how these timbres may able to be achieved through the piano.
It was one of these ideas that I could not stop thinking about, so I knew this would be my next album!
I often joke about the challenge of creating ‘Departure’ was trying not to break the piano… but in all seriousness, one of the main challenges of creating ‘Departure’ was to be brave enough to make the choices.. “to call the shots” so to speak.
Traditional instruments and sounds come with their respective contexts of culture, meaning, history… each instrument is indicative of the belief system and ways of living of the people who the instruments belong to. And thus, to take these timbres and refer to these instruments out of their original context and to develop new pieces based on Western language was a decision that only came after many, many nights of back and forth.
It was all very much in my head – but this would be one of the big hurdles I had to mentally get over (apart from not breaking the piano).
My manager would probably say arranging for a 200kg piano to be lugged down to a basement recording studio was also a challenge too… And my engineer would probably say the session that ran consecutively from 10am to 4am was particularly memorable (I had written a chart with 32 overlay parts, some to be looped, and each with 6 microphones in capture…).
In the end, it was really fun – we’re all very proud of the album.
I advocate for equality — love them all.
Original, provocative, curious.
I am playing quite a few live performances this year, with shows taking me around the UK and to Italy, Sweden, China etc.
There are also plans to transform ‘Departure’ into a live multimedia show with a very respected artist, which is cool.
And… I’ve started drafting my next ‘thing’ too!
For me… Culture is both the result of and the essence behind humankind’s behaviour and actions. Culture is to humanity what colours are to painting.
Ori Toor, a Tel-Aviv, Isreal-based illustrator, has released a small series of works named Gibberish Exploration. The series consists of stunning colours with wave-like shapes and an experimental style that will have your eyes investing for weeks to come. Gibberish Exploration is just a small introduction into the work of Ori Toor, the artist himself has released more than several projects on his Behance portfolio.
You can find more work by Ori Toor here.
With February just behind us, let’s have a quick look at some of the biggest events and headlines in the film industry.
Despite the many controversies surrounding this year’s Oscars, from the “Most Popular film category”, to hosts and then no hosts, as well as four major categories being cut and then reinstated from the show’s broadcast just to name a few. And yet, the show itself was surprisingly well presented. People were mostly pleased with how the show went down and who took home what awards. The Best Picture win for Green Book, however, was more of a shocking surprise to most and even contemptuous for some; in fact, Spike Lee even stated to the reporters at BBC that the best picture winner “isn’t his cup of tea”.
Alongside the Best Picture victory, Green Book also picked up awards for Best Original Screenplay and Mahershala Ali’s took home Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film. However, the biggest winner for this year’s awards was Bohemian Rhapsody, winning the most for the night with four awards including Best Film Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Best Leading Actor for Rami Malek’s transcending performance as Freddie Mercury. Black Panther, the first superhero film to be nominated for best picture, also picked up three awards on the night including Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design.
Olivia Colman delivered a fantastic acceptance speech to her Best Leading Actress win for her performance as Queen Anne in The Favourite. It was the only win of the film’s ten nominations. While Regina King’s brilliant performance for her role in If Beale Street Could Talk earned her the Best Supporting Actress win for this year’s awards.
Roma, one of the Best Picture favourites for this year’s awards picked up three, including Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Cinematography for Alfonso Cuarón – who has won his second Best Director award in six years since his last win for Gravity. BlacKkKlansman received Best Adapted Screenplay, giving Spike Lee his long-overdue first Oscar win.
Here is a full list of the winners for every category:
Best Picture: Green Book
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón for Roma
Best Leading Actor: Rami Malek for Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Leading Actress: Olivia Colman for The Favourite
Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali for Green Book
Best Supporting Actress: Regina King for If Beale Street Could Talk
Best Foreign Language Film: Roma
Best Original Screenplay: Green Book
Best Adapted Screenplay: BlacKkKlandsman
Best Cinematography: Roma
Best Animated Feature Film: Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
Best Animated Short Film: Bao
Best Documentary Feature: Free Solo
Best Documentary – Short Subject: Period. End of Sentence
Best Live Action Short Film: Skin
Best Original Song: “Shallow” from A Star Is Born.
Best Original Score: Black Panther
Best Film Editing: Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Sound Editing: Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Sound Mixing: Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Production Design: Black Panther
Best Costume Design: Black Panther
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Vice
Best Visual Effect: First Man
The long-awaited conclusion of the Star Wars sequel trilogy is only ten months away. On the 15th of February, JJ Abrams posted on Twitter announcing the filming of Star Wars IX has wrapped.
It feels impossible, but today wrapped photography on Episode IX. There is no adequate way to thank this truly magical crew and cast. I’m forever indebted to you all. pic.twitter.com/138AprtFuZ
— JJ Abrams (@jjabrams) February 15, 2019
JJ Abrams is back in the director’s chair for the first time since The Force Awakens after the departure of Colin Trevorrow due to “creative differences” in late 2017. Like the last film, The Last Jedi directed by Rian Johnson, was well received by critics but created a major backlash with audiences and toxic fans, thus predictions for how the reactions will play out for Episode IX are difficult. When asked by ET Online, JJ Abrams hopes to conclude the trilogy with a film that makes the fans feels “satisfied”.
July 16, 2021 🎥🏀🥕 #SaveTheDate pic.twitter.com/qV1Tnxuksd
— SpringHill Ent. (@SpringHillEnt) February 22, 2019
It has been twenty-three years since the beloved sports comedy Space Jam, starring Michael Jordon, was released and after many years in development for a sequel, SpringHill Entertainment announced on Twitter on the 21st of February that Space Jam 2 is set to be released on the 16th of July 2021. The film will star Lebron James, alongside Eric Bausa who will be the voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.
As the co-founder of the SpringHill Entertainment, Lebron James is also set to be the executive producer of the sequel. With Terence Nance, the creator of HBO’s sketch show Random Acts of Flyness set to direct the film, Ryan Coogler is also signed up to produce the film following his major success with Marvel Studio’s Black Panther.
The original Space Jam was about the Looney Tunes desperately seeking help for the retired NBA Champion Michael Jordan in an attempt to defeat the Monsters in a basketball game. The first Space Jam earned a massive 250 million dollars at the box office. Will this upcoming sequel recreate the same success? We will find out in the summer of 2021.
After the success of Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming ambitious project Dune, an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel series which was first adapted for the screen by David Lynch in 1984. Villeneuve’s version of the film is set to be released November 20th 2020.
In February, three actors including Javior Bardam (No Country for Old Men), Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War) and Jason Momoa (Aquaman) were announced as part of the already star-studded cast. They will join Timothee Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name), Rebecca Ferguson (Mission Impossible: Fallout), Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) , Oscar Issac (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) , Stellan Skarsgard (Thor), Charlotte Rampling (45 Years) and David Dastmalchian (Bird Box) – are all confirmed to be part of the cast. While Zendaya (Spider-Man Homecoming) is rumoured to be part of the cast.
The writer of Forrest Gump, Eric Roth, was also signed on to write the screenplay with Villeneuve, and the film is currently in the pre-production.
According to Hollywood Reporter, Chris Hemsworth (Marvel Studio’s Thor) is set to play Hulk Hogan, one of the biggest figures in 80s professional wrestling in the untitled Netflix biopic. The film is set to be directed by Todd Philips, the director of the Hangover trilogy and the upcoming DC film, The Joker. This upcoming project will be produced by Michael Sugar, the Oscar winner for Spotlight alongside with Philips, Bradley Copper, Eric Bischoff and Hemsworth himself.
While Hulk Hogan has become quite a controversial figure in the last few years, with his sex-tape scandals and his racist radio personality, this upcoming biopic will not focus on Hogan’s entire career but rather narrow its focus on his origins and the rise of Hulkamania which was arguably one of the biggest pop culture booms in the 80s. When the time comes for the film’s release on Netflix, make sure you eat your vitamins and say your prayers because Chris Hemsworth’s Hulkamania will run wild on the audience.
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