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What have I started?

I was just forwarded a video, which claims to be a “shameless ripoff” of my ‘Big Ideas’ film.

Feels a bit surreal watching it. I think I’ve started a genre.

I think that bd594’s intentions are probably good, and his heart’s in the right place. I’m flattered that my video inspired him to create something. Although I feel a bit weird about him using my concept…

I just hope that a lazy marketing company aren’t similarly ’inspired.’ Like that Berocca advert which was so blatantly ”inspired” by the brilliant OK-Go video. Or more recently, the VW Golf ad which was ‘inspired’ by Lasse Gjertsen.

Feeling a bit sick…

I’ve got the lawyers on stand-by. If this idea ends up in an advert for Cillit-Bang, I’ll be quite annoyed, but for the time-being I’m genuinely flattered that the interest is still there, and people are responding to it.

Thanks to Simon James from mynoisymatchbox for letting me know about this new version.

Jim Le Fevre's zoetrope

By far the most imaginative work I’ve seen for a while. Completely astounded by it’s beauty. This man deserves a big medal.

You can see Jim’s Interesting 2008 talk on the guardian website, where he explains the process.

Stories about Glue

Couldn’t get to sleep, so I’ve been up all night staring at the Internet. Reading through Glue’s website, I found personal statements written by each member of staff.

Some are quite amusing, like Lewis’ for example:

“In my first job, I used to sweep up hair in a barbershop. When I wasn’t sweeping, I made cups of tea and coffee for the customers. One man had seven sugars in his coffee, which is a lot in any cup, but our mugs were particularly small. It must have been extremely sweet. I don’t know how he drank it, but he did and this was awesome. I learned a lot from that man.”

Now I can’t get to sleep, as I’m wondering what the saturation point of sugar in tea is.

Thanks Lewis.

Welcome to Mars

Photo by Knebworth Chap

Just before a tea-break during Russell Davies’ Interesting08 conference, I noticed a chap wheeling a huge analogue synthesiser onstage full of knobs, buttons and vintage wonderfulness. I’m into that sort of thing, so I hung around in the empty hall as everyone else rushed out to grab a cup of tea & a scone.

I’m glad I did. During the break, I was treated to Simon & Curtis James of mynoisymatchbox rehearsing their ‘presentation’ which was reminiscent of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, or Jonny Greenwood with that huge telephone switcher thing he’s got.

Vintage mischief-making audio wizardry. The duo played their gear which consisted of weird tape feedback loops, and a box that squealed when they punched it. Ken Hollings read from his book ‘Welcome to Mars’ as Simon & Curtis created their soundscape. It was something special.

You can check out the performance here, mynoisymatchbox website here, or blog here.

Simon was the first person I’d met offstage after I’d presented my film. Great chap, and great work. I’ll need to find a reason to do a project with these guys. I was also kindly given an audio CD of theirs to take home with me. A true gem of Interesting08.

A few days in London

Photo by tim_d

I’m writing this on the train back from a few days in London. I left Glasgow on the surreal night of graduation, and arrived in Euston station at 7am in order to present my movie at the Interesting 2008 conference organised by Russell Davies. I was invited to the event by David Smith, whom I owe a lot of thanks - as he’s also the man who told Colin Greenwood about the film.  David kindly offered me his presentation slot at the conference which allowed the first public screening of Big Ideas (Don’t get any).

Great chap.

The event was an incredible transition between London & Glasgow - and was a valuable opportunity to meet and show my work to some really interesting people. Among those were Matt Dent, Jim Le Ferve, and Curtis & Simon James - I’ll post more about my personal highlights in the next few days.

I wanted a chance to meet up with Ben Terrett from the Design Conspiracy, who did the Ident for the event. Ben visited GSA last year and it would have been nice to catch up - although I couldn’t find him in the crowd afterwards. His face was all pixely.

My friend Ivor Williams let me stay at his - which was handy. Another great chap.

Then there was D&AD. New Blood is an event held each year by D&AD to showcase the talents of new graduates, and to meet prospective employers. Art schools enter, and it works & looks very much like a trade show. Our department - Vis Com @ The Glasgow School of Art was awarded best stand in show. We also got three ‘Best New Blood’ awards. These were picked up by Jonny Naismith, Silje Eirin Aure, Victoria Kastenbauer and myself. Rock on GSA.

When in London, I also met the fine folks at Frani&Jonny’s (after a hellish cab journey that involved a minor crash, and the mixup of Charlotte Street and Charlotte Road) and had a tour of The Mill.

Thanks to everyone who helped me out in London, look out as I’m coming for good in a few weeks!