Because who is perfect?

"Because who is perfect"
Pro Infirmis
Director Alain Gsponer

This initiative displays disabled mannequins for astonished passers-by at the Zurich Bahnhofstrasse. Between immaculate dolls are also people with scoliosis or brittle bone disease modelling for the latest fashion. Some have shortened limbs, the other a deformed spine.

The motto is "Who is perfect? Come closer." And encourages us to reflect on the acceptance of people with disabilities.

The film captures the process from when the models first come in, to the finished display. When video comes together in one unity of humanity, creativity and bravery - I like it.

www.proinfirmis.ch

Things being destroyed very slowly

Tempus II
Shot on the Photron SA1.1
Directed and produced by Philip Heron and James Adair.

Amazing video of items being destroyed very slowly...

Talking of loneliness

How to be alone
By Tanya Davis

In no connection to my last blog post at all, but I just like this very simple poetic video by Tanya Davis about how to practice being alone. I like the animations too.
We are quite afraid of it, aren´t we? I like going to the movies alone, but I don´t like eating alone at a restaurant, not even having a coffee by myself, unless I look extremely tied up doing something massively important - like checking my Twitter account. I really don´t like having a drink by myself. Spending far too many years as a blond single woman in foreign countries, the repercussions have been too severe.
I do like being alone. But I don´t like feeling lonely.

I share, therefore I am.

The innovation of loneliness, by Shimi Cohen
Living through Social Media

I think this is the most exciting time to live in ever really. We have everything we could ever ask for. As well as nature, simplicity and friends, we can choose to live with an abundance of exciting technology and efficient electronics. How easily we can get in touch with each other now, how simple it is to stay connected with family abroad, friends in foreign countries and how cheap it is to communicate! We love it! Because if you didn´t - you wouldn´t be on here, reading this!

Unfortunately, a lot of people keep complaining about all this. They think we´ve stopped talking to each other and become lonely. But wait a minute - who has? Have you stopped talking to your friends? Have you stopped your own thoughts and adapted to some sort of general Social Media mass brains, where you only copy and paste whatever is coming in through your own personal account, without any selection, without any connection to your own thoughts?
Or are we actually just streamlining our own personality, identifying what our true interests and passions are, and finding a great way of expressing this by sharing it with our friends?

I would suggest if someone is feeling lonely due to social media, it´s because they´re outside the network, they don´t actually use it as intended, they don´t want to share their thoughts, taste and identity - and therefore - you would be lonely, because you won´t have anyone "talking to you!". You make yourself a social media outsider, an observer, a loner without your own identity. To gain from social media, you need to give. It´s in the word, from the Latin "allies" - you become part of an allied force that will communicate by giving - and taking.

I can assure you that I don´t repost most of the posts in my accounts, because either I disagree with them, or they are naff or they are of absolutely no interest to me. But when I repost something - it´s because it´s something that has resonated with me. Something that has drawn my interest, something that has made me laugh, got me curious or something that has helped me understand the world a bit better.
It´s by choice I do this - not because of group pressure. 
I post a lot of my photos and of course I don´t post the ones I don´t like or aren´t happy with. But I don´t meet up with my friends without having a shower and doing my hair very often either. It doesn´t make sense to say that it´s bad selecting the way we want to present ourselves online to me - it makes the same sense as choosing a specific top when we´re meeting someone.
I haven´t stopped seeing people because of my activity online. I´ve made more friends, made more connections, and met with more people I would ever have met, if I had been sitting at home, waiting for someone to knock on my door to ask if I wanted to have a coffee with them.
Being connected online is for me - as a foreigner abroad, as a small business owner, as a busy mum - a marvellous way to stay in touch and get connected. It doesn´t change the way I am - I´d like to see it as it verifies the way I am! Never has it been easier for people to express their inner feelings, taste and identity - we are free, our minds are liberated, our identities are stronger and we are NOT lonely!!

The one thing you need to succeed

Kevin Daum on the foundations of a successful business
(Photo by Mi Elfverson)

So what is the ONE thing we need to have, to succeed with our business. This is what we all ask ourselves as start up companies, entrepreneurs, mumpreneurs, dadpreneurs, anyone who´s running their own business.

Some people say "it´s passion!" you got to be passionate to drive your business forward. Some people say "you´ve got to work hard to succeed". And some may say "you´ve got to network".

Well, Kevin Daum just taught us the only true thing you´ve got to have if you really want your business to succeed. And it´s none of the above.

You need a good business model. If you don´t have your business model and structure in place, none of the above will help.

But the good thing is, that when you have your business model in place - all of the rest will come automatically. You will find the passion, enjoy working hard and go out networking and make your business a very successful one.

And on the way, it may help if you tattoo "New York Times Best seller" on your chest back to front, just as a little bit of an encouragement when you see yourself in the mirror every morning, for the rest of your life...

www.kevindaum.com

If you like good chocolate...

Chocoholly
27 Western Road, Hove BN3
Shop, parties, workshops

Marketing video Spring 2013

This is a quick job I did for Holly at Chocoholly - she wanted to promote her workshops and guess if it was a fun shoot!!

Holly´s little chocolate boutique in Hove is an amazing hub of creativity and gourmet chocolate. She´s really knowledgeable and such a fun person. Book your hen party, children´s birthday party or just pop in for a hot chocolate (the real thing) or some gifts that anyone will love!

You can order online too:

www.chocoholly.com

Zoe Hazel - "Live Life"

Zoe Hazel - "Live Life" 
Music video produced by Mi Elfverson, True North Vision 2013

And off she goes out to the world - let´s hope she´s well received and embraced by the audience!
On a snowy day up the South Downs, this is what we achieved in a freezing winter afternoon, this young Brighton based artist with roots from Spain and me.
I loved doing this video - and despite playing it about a trillion times by now, I still love the song. Its simplicity and  melancholic words reflect a clever girl, ready to hit the big stage soon.
Make sure you listen with good headphones.
Thank you!

https://soundcloud.com/zoehazelhedderwick

Side Effects / review

"Side Effects" A Steven Soderbergh film

Steven Soderbergh used to be one of my favourite directors - but I have lately wondered why and how. Sex, lies and video tapes, Traffic and Erin Brokovich - but then it kind of went all Oceans.

Now he´s back with Side Effects - a psychological thriller - possibly his last film they say. 

In short, the story is about a fragile woman (Rooney Mara), who´s not coping well with her husband´s return from prison. Her depression develops and bring in the psychiatrist (Jude Law) who is paid to promote a new antidepressant (thankfully not legal to do in the UK) and soon we have a catastrophe in our hands.

I like the film, but I don´t know if it´s Jude Law or the script that puts me off just a tad too much and I feel disappointed if this is Soderbergh´s last film. The script is entertaining as a whole, but it´s tied together with very thin credentials and it´s not helped by Jude´s over-emphatic doctor or the jungle of stop moments for beer branding and other product placement.

At one point, I felt extremely bored, completely at loss and had to ask my friend (a doctor) what the heck was going on. It turned out she was just as confused, but then suddenly it all changed and became crystal clear.
The whole end part is really thrilling, but unfortunately the dip in the middle is too long, and I was almost ready to leave the theatre before the turning point came.

Like in Traffic, Soderbergh (or Peter Andrews as he calls himself as a camera director - he shoots himself) works with different film looks to enhance emotions and scenes. The dramatic interior scenes in pushed colours and light give an almost claustrophobic look, whereas the crisp and clear atmosphere around Dr Barnes enhances the sanity. But I´m not sure I buy it, it just feels uneven and a bit in the face.

And why do they always have to have two actors who look exactly the same to confuse you?!

Catherine ZJ, who I find a bit bonkers and who lives in an little acting bubble of her own, filled the part pretty well, but Rooney Mara walks out with the trophy. She´s good, albeit a little bit too pretty and the camera over-adores her, but I guess, if you know the ending, it kind of makes sense. Oups - sorry :-)

It´s a good watch, but the ice-cream was delicious.

Body cast - time-lapse verision

The Tasha Marley Project - Time-lapse version

I was commissioned to document the process of a full body-cast of Tasha Marley at Brighton Body Casting. 

An amazing day followed with a very brave and patient girl, luckily fit and strong too.

I set up one camera to do a time-lapse version, while I was working with the longer video on another camera.

This is the quick Time-lapse movie of the project, longer version to come.

Contains certain nudity - but it´s ART!

www.brightonbodycasting.com

Test shoot at Euston Station

Nikon D800 test shoot around Euston Station in London with Calumet, Drummond Street

La Belle Beauty Boutique

This is my latest video - it´s a promotional film for La Belle Beauty Boutique in Worthing. 

The client is over the moon!

Our aim was to make a tranquil and beautiful video, which shows all the services the salon provides. One shorter version to run on the website and all other online sites, plus one longer version to run on the monitors in the actual boutique.

http://www.labelle-beauty.co.uk

Miss Matahari

It´s such incredibly exciting times and the next couple of weeks will really put True North Vision on the map. We have just locked the picture for the Miss Matahari video - the music is being nailed in there on Monday, specially composed by Graham Kearns, and all should be ready just in time for the amazing introduction of Miss Matahari in Paris on Thursday. I can´t wait - not only to see my film being shown for the first time in public, but also to be there when Miss Matahari flies off the ground up to the skies where she belongs! Watch this space carefully - the film will be up for you to view before anyone else! www.missmatahari.com