A few questions to ask. Today it is hard to answer because of media overload and desperate attention seeking.
What is ELEGANCE in 2024?
Why does modern style lack NUANCE?
Has glamour become a CIRCUS?
Is fashion inspiring or SILLY?
What’s the definition of Celebrity OVEREXPOSURE?
Legendary fashion designer Theirry Mugler passed. A visionary known for the cinched waist, broad shoulders and theatrics, Mugler was never boring. As a child of the 90’s, I remember his designs on celebrities and in music videos including George Michael’s “Too Funky”. For those who grew up in the social media era, Kim Kardashian’s 2019 Met Gala crystal dress and Superstar Beyonce’s concert tour costumes are fine examples of Mugler’s style. The Strasbourg born designer always gave a great show. The 72 year old passed due to natural causes according to his agent.
We decided to profile Mr. Reeves for the first performer profile. Why? We like his movies. After 35 years in the business, he continues to be relevant.
The next Chat Cinema Podcast takes a turn. We dedicated this episode to profile an actor. Stay Tuned.
The Coronavirus outbreak has knocked the world into a new uncertainty. An event that has become a universal reference point. Make no mistake, reality will be a different place once this over. The things we consider important. Values have shifted. The “All About Me Culture” suddenly feels petty. Who cares about a daily selfie? Curated threads laced with freebies, in the scheme of things, not relevant.
Narcism got old fast. Get over yourself!
Even Kim Kardashian could not believe she was not the center of the world with her antics. No one bothered to tell her the human race is hurdling towards the brink of ending. The world is shutting down. Suddenly her reality show family gets knocked off the top headlines. How sad a person could not put aside their fame driven ego to perhaps focus on a greater issue.
Medical teams are on the front lines. Grocer stockers making sure shelves are full to keep society functioning. These people matter. A Kardashian leaking a tape from years ago reeks of “I need attention”. A tacky publicity stunt. The shocking part, it got coverage in media outlets and trended on Twitter. HUH! Calling photographers, alerting them to where and when you will enter and exit is so 2019. I am not event going to go into Madonna’s bathtub video. Just some advice: Seek Help!
The other phenomenas: Crying about an unfair world. Rules do not apply to me. Tell that to Corvid 19. “Corna Parties” became fashionable for a few days during the crisis. There were a few in my area park. Raising the middle finger to a pandemic. Because the virus is for old people. Anyone under 35 is exempt from the plague. “It doesn’t affect the young”. All about ME! ME! ME! Mother Nature has no favourites. She has forced us to reconsider everything we hold dear. Cuddling, coddling thin skinned handling has mercifully ended. For Gen Z’s and Millennials, mommy cannot kiss it to make it better. No amount of being plugged in social media whining will take society back to before Covid-19. Just Deal With! Planet Earth is a scary place that can devour all of us.
I recently had a conversation with a record company press relations head. We talked about his artists rosters. Many I did not know, but I am over the hill. As the conversation continued I said, “Today, everyone is famous. Either a celebrity, reality show, Instagrammer, YouTuber, 5000 channels, 10.000 programs, and whatever else. All you need is a iPhone. KaBOOM! Instafame!” We both laughed.
In 2018 if you swing a cat, you will hit a so called “famous” person. Famous for being Famous. Not a clue how or why.
Being famous in the past was an exclusive commodity. Reserved for those with talent or a gift from the heavens. Not anymore. Thanks to camera phones and Instagram, fame is the same as mosquitos during a hot summer. Pocket size digital devices replaced sound stages, recording studios, and cameras. As mass media continues to loose its grip on audiences, so too have the boundaries it once set collapses. Fame has become a true democracy, no talent required. There are “Kardashian Wannabes” lurking in every household.
A 20thcentury invention by mass media, fame evolved over the decades: First, the mass hysteria of Valentino, The swooning for Sinatra, blonde Goddess Monroe, the cultural force of The Beatles, and the seismic shift of Michael Jackson,. These artist shook the world with appeal and talent.
The 21stdefinition of fame means: Multi-talentless has appeal. Something of no value has a warped value. The generational gap continues, modern fame skill-sets are lost on many parents. Can anyone over 35 understand why the under 25 crowd follows daily selfies? However, my Grandparents, considered Madonna a Flozzy. HA!
While not begrudging those seeking fame. I bemoan the old rules of being famous. Until recently, it meant something.
The first chance for a styling to came to us via Lea Mornar. The Berlin based actress was preparing the ultimate film festival, Cannes. The South of France takes it up 4 notches in Spring. The entire film world descends on the Rivera for fun, sun, and the Red Carpet.
The mission undertaken, get Ms. Mornar noticed both on and off the carpet. Starting with the daywear we needed a complete style representing casual, elegant, and professional for the 10 days. Taking meetings or a stroll on the promenade, visual character had to speak for itself. Italian luxury brand Cividini supplied key looks perfect for La Croisette. Light, rich fabrics that breezy with designs that are sophisticated. We wanted people to notice the details. The striped suit and white blouse became her signature look immediately. Fellow attendees responded immediately to the looks commenting, “the best dressed” to “loving the style”.
Accessories, easy, Spring on the Mediterranean means, sunglasses. Not just one would do but a selection. Having a cafe at a meeting industry spot or interviewing on a yacht, the perfect pair of specs. Sunglasses can convey the dramatic, color, or hip. The brands used: Izipizi and Etnia Barcelona.
The Cannes Red Carpet walk can make a career. As one of the Big 3 Red Carpet Events, an image goes around the world in a matter of seconds. Photographers line both sides and above the walk to the Palais. The competition is fierce. A Hadid in the rear or standing beside a Dior Couture. The dress has to impress. The walker has 2 minutes. Given this level of importance, I enlisted some help.
I called Mephistopheles Productions. The studio collaborates with different Couture Brands in Paris. Feathers, embroidery, and flowing sheer gowns, materials of spectacles.
The design credentials of Patrick Pham and Ziad Nakad served Lea well. The flash and cameras clicked. We have made several global best dressed lists.
The Met Gala for 2019 took place on Monday. The annual event has evolved into an A list media fashion event in New York City. This years theme “Camp: Notes on Fashion” from an essay by Susan Sonntag seemed broad for interpretation. Co-Chairs Harry Styles and Lady Gaga approached the benefit from Gender and theater. Styles’ Gucci black sheer pants suits with pearl earrings. The megastar singer follows the modern trend of challenging modern notions of masculine style. Meanwhile on red carpet center stage, co hostess Gaga decided not on a single look, not enough, showed off 4 in one.
This year judging the best looks became an impossible task. The pageantry overtook the fashion aspects.
Mainstream has embraced a sub-culture. There were many reports of people asking “what is camp?” Defined as tacky, over the top, exaggerated. As a gay male that questions is easy to answer. Drag queens have been “camping it up for decades”. Television show “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is a weekly homage to camp culture.
As I looked over the attendees styled, Grace Jones came to mind many, many times. Capes, dramatic entrances, headpieces, androgyny has been her style for over four decades.
Proceeds from the Met Gala benefit the Metropolitan Museum’s Met Costume Institute. It was in fun. This year all lived up to the occassion.
The 69thBerlinale is shaping up. French Academy Award winning actress Juliette Binoche heads the festival jury starting February 7th2019.
Danish director Lone Scherfigs “The Kindness of Strangers” opens the winter cinema event. According to the press film’s release, the ensemble work stars Zoe Kazan and Bill Nighy as a group living in New York. Lone, a Berlinale regular, is known for character driven films. “An Education”, with Carey Mulligan opened to positive reviews with award nominations.
This is the swan song for Berlinale head Dieter Kosslick. After 18 years of greeting cinema goers on the red carpet, he is hanging up his hat. New head Carlo Chatrian takes over the creative reigns in 2020.
Staying to it’s reputation, the Berlinale showcases independent films and filmmakers with outsider perspectives.
The Competition list of films announced:
The Ground Beneath My Feet by Marie Kreutzer
By The Grace of God byFrancis Ozon
I Was Home, But by Angela Schanelec
A Tale of Three Sisters by Ermin Alper
Ghost Town Anthology by Denis Cote
The Golden Glove by Faith Atkin
Stay Tuned for our Chat Cinema Podcast on the 2019 Berlinale.
London born actress Actress Michaela Coel is effervescent. When it came to chatting during press interviews at the Berlinale for the European Film Promotion program, Shooting Stars, she exploded with energy. Admitting to not having filters, a character trait since childhood, her confidence glowed during the round table press chats. A two time BAFTA winner, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama graduate appeared in films including Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Television audience probaly recognise her face from 2 episodes in the Black Mirror series. A true social media fan, her philosophy is follow no rules when it comes to posting.
Michaela’s first lead role is in the romantic film Been So Long by director Tinge Krishnan. Currently, there is no release date.
#Thisberlinale18 sponsored by Canon Camera and Pringle of Scotland