For You

G'day, hi, how are you? Channelling Julia Gillard, right there. Anyway! What's been happening this week? Not much. I've been listening to heaps of music, watching a few movies. I started back at uni on Monday, got hit it the head by a bird, and ate a lot of chocolate. But that's beside the point. I'm going to try a sort of new format where I can recommend a lot of different things to you in one post. Like, film, music, writing, photography, etc etc.

BLUE VALENTINE

Not long ago, I watched a really lovely film called Blue Valentine, which stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. Both are very brilliant actors, and play their characters here excellently. What I loved most about this movie was its dialogue. It felt like such an honest portrayal of a story such as this, and its outcome was just so realistic that it's hard to fault. As well as this, the style in which it's filmed is just lovely, and the cinematography is, in my opinion, wonderful. It's a rather serious film, and at times, very intense, but there are some moments which are very light-hearted and funny. Overall, I'd say it was a great film, and definitely one I would recommend.

WHITE FANG - THE CALL OF THE WILD

This book, The Call of The Wild, written by Jack London, is a pretty great story. And, while it's not exactly a page-turner and it took me an age to finish reading, the concept is really cool. It follows the story of a wolf cub, named White Fang, and it's told through his point of view. Really interesting stuff. Give it a read if that kind of thing is your kind of thing.

Port O'Brien - I Woke Up Today

See, the thing I love about this song, is that the band just looks like they're having an absolute blast. I discovered them quite a while ago, but there's a commercial that's airing on TV right now that a little part of this song features in, so you might recognise it from that. Either way, give it a listen. I guarantee you'll wish you owned a shark suit afterwards.

Ida Maria - Oh My God

A song from the lovely Norwedgian lady who brought us 'I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked', this song's clip is funky and heaps of fun. You'll find youself bopping your head along, I promise.

8TRACKS

Lastly, I've found a new website to be addicted to that's called 8tracks, where you can listen to handcrafted playlists, and even make your own. Just search genres or artists or things, and there'll be plenty of playlists for you to listen to. I have an account which you can visit here. Enjoy!

A Film - June 2011

A short film that I shot yesterday with my friend Nat, accompanied by Danger Beach's song 'Apollo'. Enjoy.

The Sixth of May

Friends! As a special treat, since you helped me reach 1000 views (YAY!) I have another short film for you. I considered not posting it, since I don't want my blog to just be FILM FILM FILM, I FILM EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN MY LIFE, FILM! But uhhhh, well, I'm posting it anyway. Because I'm pretty proud of it, and it's only a minute long. Anywho, I made it with my friend Romy, and... enjoy! Oh, also, I'd love your feedback.

A Short Film

This is a short film I've been working on lately, comprised of over a thousand photographs of my friends and I. Just to be clear, the song isn't mine. I wish it was, but unfortunately, no, it belongs to Darren Hanlon. Who, incidentally, I love.
Enjoy!

Musical Recommendation: Week 7

This week I've got a song for you that's fairly old. It's by The Stranglers, and it's called 'Golden Brown'. I first heard it when I watched a movie called He Died With A Felafel In His Hand, a favourite of mine. It's also been featured in a few other movies, and it's just a great song. No more blabbering, here's your music.

Musical Recommendation: Week 5

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie Fink. I think I might have a little bit of a music crush on you. For those who don’t know who this Charlie Fink fellow is, let me introduce you to Noah and the Whale, a very lovely band from the United Kingdom.

Again, I’m going to have to recommend you to a whole artist, rather than just one song. Because really, I mean really, these guys have got some great stuff. Its all folksy and pretty and poppy all at the same time!

So firstly I present you with their song, ‘L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.’, which isn’t a lot of fun to type, but is a lot of fun to listen to. This was released at the beginning of this year, and restored my faith in spelling words out in song. For a bad example of this, see: ‘Three Words’ by Will.I.Am and Cheryl Cole (which is actually embarrassing). But enough on cringe-inducing music! On with the real music!

Next, I give you ‘Shape of my Heart’, which is a fantastic song. It sounds so dreamy! I found this little gem after doing a bit a youtube trawl, and fell in love with the film clip. I’m a sucker for that vintage film stuff. If you didn’t like the first song in this post, I urge you to listen to this one anyway, because of all the Noah and the Whale song’s I’ve heard, this one is the best. I'm going to have to link the video though, because my computer is so rude to me. So HERE!

Finally, the song that made me love violin. Usually I’m strongly against the instrument, after the many primary school Christmas Concerts I’ve been subjected to. It was at these miserable gatherings where I was forced to watch as groups of musically challenged 8 year olds abuse the hell out their violins. But this song, ‘Rocks and Daggers’, is absolutely beautiful and I highly recommend it.

There’s no “official” film clip for the song online, so I can’t actually give you the original version of the song where Laura Marling joins Noah and the Whale, but if you can source it yourself, then definitely have a watch. It’s lovely! I won’t keep talking about Laura Marling now though, because that’ll keep me talking for another hour or so. Perhaps I’ll save her for another Musical Recommendation.

Cheerio and toodle pip,

Hannah

Solarium

Hello! Today, I have something a little special for you. It’s a film! Not of my own creation of course, but I’m going to introduce it to you. It’s called SOLARIUM, and it was shot by Moses Berkson, a photographer who I like. In the past, he’s taken portraits of Devendra Banhart, whose music I don’t particularly like, but who seems to be quite photogenic. Anyway. This film. It’s quite obscure, but keep an open mind, please. If nothing, appreciate it for its strangeness, and its intensity.

Shot in the middle of nowhere with a Super 8 camera, Moses Berkson captures musician Lykke Li frolicking around in a desert. She collaborated with the wonderful Björn Yttling, of Peter Bjorn & John, for the musical aspect of SOLARIUM, again creating an intense, eerie, almost scary piece of beautiful, beautiful music.

So now watch, SOLARIUM.

Oh, and also, next week’s musical recommendation is going to be a cracker. In fact, I’m writing it right now.