The duo will select two winning remixes to be published on the official Black Girls Remix EP.

Two winners will have their remixes featured on the Black Girls Remix EP, which will be released across the band’s social media channels. They will also receive a year’s “Pro” SoundCloud account, complimentary downloads of the entire Chester French catalogue and an exclusive merchandise package to include a t-shirt and signed CD.

The highest voted producer will receive a year’s “Lite” SoundCloud account, complimentary downloads of the entire Chester French catalogue and exclusive merchandise package with a t-shirt and CD signed by Chester French.

This Invite doubles your chances, so there should be nothing holding you back. Submit by June 25, 2012.

Draw your inspiration from her music and a strong female image for maximum impact.

P!nk will choose the winner herself. The winning submission will become her Timeline image for one month and be seen by 14 million of her fans. The image will also be used in the marketing materials for her upcoming album, so it will travel beyond the internet’s reach. A framed, signed copy of their design or photograph, a feature on P!nk‘s social media channels and $1000 will also be awarded to the winning designer/photographer.

P!nk will also select the runner-up to receive a framed copy of their work, $250 and a feature on her Facebook page. The highest-voted submission will also be rewarded with a framed copy of their work, $250 and a Facebook feature.

Your design or photograph is due July 2, 2012. We can’t wait to see what you submit!

This year’s edition marked the 51st anniversary of the fair and was especially important due to the presence of the biennial EuroCucina exhibition, which specializes in kitchen furniture, and the International Bathroom Exhibition.

The "MonteNapoleone Design Experience by Citroën. AUTO-MOBILI" exhibition.

Cosmit’s President, Carlo Guglielmi, stated:

Nearly 350,000 visitors turned out for the event. Among the most popular attractions was “Design Dance,” an event at the Teatro dell’Arte that sold out every night. The show illustrates the story of man through design.

Some of the especially popular attractions were the “skybook” installation at the Biblioteca Pinacoteca Accademia Ambrosiana and the “MonteNapoleone Design Experience by Citroën. AUTO-MOBILI” exhibition, the latter of which was set against the backdrop of Milan’s most exclusive shopping street.

SaloneSatellite’s “Design<->Technology” was a theme dedicated to technology this year. It honored the late Steve Jobs, “who taught us to dream and to believe in the possibilities of technology and creativity.”

The iSaloni 2012 app made planning and navigation a cinch for visitors, who were able to instantly be notified of changes to the fair, look up vendor locations and add events to their calendars – a perfect example of technology put to good use.

Were you able to attend the event? Share your experiences with us!

In addition to Laidback Luke, partygoers can expect to see Datsik, Tommy Trash, Peacetreaty and Oliver Twizt. Dress as a superhero, villain or vixen and try to make sure your utility belt doesn’t get caught on anything.

Tickets can be purchased at madeevent.com, or…

You could go the fun route and enter to win them through our Creative Invite. This opportunity is a real treat because Stan Lee and Todd McFarlane will choose the winner! Not only will you get to attend the party and see your costume on Laidback Luke, you and a guest will be flown to New York and accommodated for two nights in order to do so.

Submit your design for Laidback Luke’s superhero costume by May 21, 2012 to get in on the action (pun intended).

“We have provided support for research that seeks to help individuals with speech and movement difficulties, and for a project that will prepare a significant collection of African-American gospel and blues from Memphis and the Mississippi Delta for digitizing and preservation,” Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation, said.

Thanks to the grants, live recordings of artists like Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald will be preserved and archived and live performances and related oral histories will be digitally transferred and archived in the oldest continuously running folk music coffee house. New York’s Carnegie Hall and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association are among the grant’s beneficiaries.

The Grant Program has awarded nearly $5.8 million to music-related projects, including annual funding to organizations and individuals that support archiving and preservation efforts and research projects. As of 2008 the Program also supports the creation of preservation plans. The planning process often consists of inventorying and stabilizing a collection before archiving begins.

We’re all about preserving musical history! What kind of projects would you like to see more funding go towards?

This project reached 657,672 people. Active participants averaged:

• +61 New Supporters
• +123 Shares & Comments
• +15,146 Social Reach

Congratulations to Cedric on his third host’s choice win!

Cedric Cha of Malaysia has become Talenthouse’s very own design rockstar with his winning design for the Governor’s Ball Music Festival Creative Invite, ‘The Nutty Rockstar.’ His design will be produced and sold as limited edition merchandise for the music festival, which will take place on Randall’s Island in New York June 23-24, 2012. Beck, Passion Pit, Fiona Apple and Chromeo are among the headliners.

Additionally, Cedric will pick up two VIP 2-day passes to the festival, a customizable merchandise pack and social media exposure across the festival’s channels. He will also be featured in an e-mail blast.

Runner-up Marina Rubino of Spain will be rewarded with two general admission 2-Day tickets to the Governor’s Ball, a customizable merchandise pack and a promotional push across the Governors Ball’s social media channels with a feature in their official email blast.

Finally, our highest-voted artist is Chris Zuppa of the United States! He will receive two general admission 1-Day tickets to the Governors Ball to the date of his choice and exposure across the Governors Ball’s social media channels, including a feature in their official email blast.

We hope our winners have a great trip to New York! We have plenty more design Invites on the way and hope to see more of your work.

Taken from the book Take Your Best Shot: Essential Tips & Tricks for Shooting Amazing Photos, these 6 tips will make sure your next round of concert photography submissions give you an edge when you enter to photograph Catalpa Festival, Roger Waters and Invites further out into the future.

1. Set your ISO

Don’t go for the highest setting, but a notch or two below. Graininess and “visual noise” from shadows will be less noticeable at ISO 800 than at 3200.

2. Hold steady

Dark scene equals slow shutter speed. With the action onstage, you can’t blur-proof a photo, but you can keep from adding more by turning on image stabilization. Brace your elbows against your sides for a steadier hold.

3. Beat distraction

Spot-weighted metering meters a specific point in your shot rather than the whole scene’s ambient light. Use this and single-area autofocus to keep your camera trained where you want it.

4. Use Exposure Compensation

Because lighting effects may shift throughout the show, make sure you add or reduce exposure manually to keep up.

5. Go High and Low

Shoot from overhead and at waist level, even if you can’t see the LCD screen. Getting above and below the audience’s eye level offers new perspectives apart from what you see as part of the crowd.

6. Overdo it

Expect a shooting ratio of about 30:1 and be sure to pack plenty of memory. One of the best parts about digital photography is its ability to take tons of shots without the hassle of adding rolls of film. Keep your eye on the prize – those keeper shots that will give you bragging rights forever.

Photo credit: Oscar Omi

With pieces adorned with everything from feathers to crystals (and butterflies, as seen in the Alexander McQueen headpiece above), it’s clear that headpiece design sets no limitations! Orlando will wear his Talenthouse-designed headpiece to Bestival, where it will be seen by countless audiences and play an important role in his set. As he put it:

Would we ever consider anyone else to kick off the list but Stefani Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga?

Model Eva Herzigova at Givenchy Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1997, by Alexander McQueen.

We can only assume Katy Perry was singing “Firework” when she donned this colorful headpiece.

Contestant Daisy Payne wore an extravagant snowflake-themed headpiece in this photo shoot during cycle 5 of Britain’s Next Top Model in 2009.

Photo credit: Huggy Raganarsson

Hedy Lamarr captivated audiences around the globe with this appearance in the 1941 film Ziegfeld Girl.

Gaga strikes again with the help of Philip Treacy.

The fabulous Anita Ekberg and her glittering headpiece.

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen in a Native American headdress.

Photo credit: Mark Seliger

Actress/singer Josephine Baker.

Singer Celine Dion at her 1994 wedding.

Cher made a bold fashion statement with this headpiece at the 1986 Academy Awards.

…And then again at the 1998 Academy Awards.

Lily Donaldson at the 2010 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

Last but not least is the headpiece Madonna wore during her halftime performance at this year’s Superbowl, designed by Philip Treacy.

This project reached 21,444,068 people. Active participants averaged:

• +58 New Supporters
• +127 Shares & Comments
• +12,599 Social Reach

SIGG is an eco-conscious company known internationally for its innovative bottle designs, powerful images and hundred year history. After launching the “Design for SIGG” Creative Invite with Talenthouse, their team selected 3 winning graphics for their .4, .6, and 1 liter bottles. Out of a pool of very impressive submissions, the judges chose the well-traveled and wilderness-exploring Nicole Reece‘s minimalist, yet striking, design of a snow leopard. The design will be printed on Sigg’s limited edition .6 liter bottles (read the winner announcement here).

Not only did Talenthouse enjoy revealing to Nicole that she was a Winner about to have her design featured on the worldwide mark, but we had the great pleasure of asking Nicole a few questions about her life and forays into the graphic design world. View the video, then read up on Nicole’s background and vision in our follow up interview!

TH: How did you wind up submitting your work to this Invite?
Nicole: I submitted my work for the SIGG invite after being asked to go to Talent House to vote for a friend’s submission for another invite. After I had voted I had a look around the site. I looked at a few other competitions but the SIGG invite really stood out to me so I started work
on a submission straight away.

TH: Your Portfolio mentions your experiences with a number of different regions. Have your cultural connections to New Zealand, Scotland, and Australia influenced your artwork in any particular manner?
Nicole: My connection with New Zealand will always influence me because it will always be my home and is where I first learnt about design. My home town of Dunedin has a great music scene which fosters a vibrant gig poster scene, this has definitely had a major influence on my design. Living in different countries including Wales, Scotland, and Australia over the last few years has also shown me the different ways in which cultures treat design and what influences them. The Celtic influence in Wales and Scotland are very prominent and I have started to experiment with aspects of this in my designs.

TH: Your submission uses a striking blend of white, black and golden hues in tandem with natural patterns and a feral stare. Did one image come to mind first, followed by the rest of the visual elements falling into place? Please describe your process.
Nicole: When I first decided that I wanted to use a snow leopard for my design I did some image searches to get inspiration. I did many sketches of leopards in different positions and environments but the two things that kept becoming the focus for me were their beautiful eyes and the patterns of their fur. I decided to focus on these two aspects and the image became a close up of the face.

The snow leopard’s eyes look very blue in a lot of the photographs that I found, but there were a couple photos that I stumbled on where they looked gold due to light reflection. I loved the look of the contrast between the black and white and the gold, so I decided to use these colours as a base. I wanted a striking image as well as a very simplified and clean image, which I feel is also representative of the SIGG ethos.

TH: You’ve noted that you draw inspiration from many artistic spheres, including Art Nouveau and Art Deco – do you have any favorite works from those worlds?
Nicole: I have to say the Art Deco poster designs from the 1927 movie Metropolis are some of my favorite posters of all time. There were many of these posters produced and all are beautifully designed. Mucha has also been an important influence on a lot of my poster design.

TH: Besides sporting vivid imagery, SIGG bottles are for people on the go - what outdoor or urban adventures do you like to pursue (that might build up a thirst)?
Nicole: Coming from New Zealand, the outdoors have always been important to me, and I try to take any opportunity to escape to it. Since moving to Scotland last year I have been lucky to meet some wonderful people who have taken me on trips to the Highlands. Walking through breathtaking mountain ranges and beside stunning lochs, a SIGG bottle would come in very handy.

TH: What sorts of artistic endeavors would you like to achieve down the line?
Nicole: When I move back to Australia I am hoping to get the opportunity to work for an inspiring design company with other talented and enthusiastic people, where I can continue to develop my work. I think that winning the SIGG invite will help me achieve that. I also hope to continue working with amazing bands producing promotional material. I love having a mixture of work in my life.

TH: Do you have any personal websites or social media links that you would
like to share?
Nicole: My website is www.wix.com/nicolereece/website and my professional Facebook page is
http://www.facebook.com/pages/NReece-Design/184595054906194. Drop in and say Hi!

Cheers to Nicole on her wild winning design and continued artistic pursuits!

[Interview conducted by Fabrice]

Images from Talenthouse and Nicole’s design gallery on Facebook.

This project reached 272,391 people. Active participants averaged:

• +69 New Supporters
• +141 Shares & Comments
• +14,233 Social Reach

British contemporary artist Dave White launched a call for submissions when he needed an animator to bring his ‘Amazonian Parrot’ to life for the upcoming ‘Natural Selection’ exhibit. We’re pleased to announce that he’s chosen Patricia Shrigley‘s hand-drawn animation!

This is White’s biggest exhibition and aims to explore threatened animal species presented through the medium of large scale oil paintings and works on paper.

Patricia will work with Dave to create a new piece for the exhibition, where she will receive full credit for her efforts. She will also receive a feature at the press and preview launches where her animation is to be screened, she’ll receive an invitation to attend the press and preview launches at The Hospital Club gallery in London.

Additionally she will get her own feature on davewhiteart.com, thehospitalclub.com and their social media channels and a signed and dated original work by Dave White. Lastly she will get to choose between a year’s membership to The Hospital Club or the Norwood Club in New York rounds out the winning prize pack.

The highest voted animator is Pablo Unfried, who will receive exposure on Dave White’s social media channels and a signed, limited edition print of Dave White’s artwork.

Thanks to everyone who submitted. We loved giving you a chance to show off your animation chops, and the results were fabulous!

This project reached 29,501,324 people. Active participants averaged:

• +56 New Supporters
• +122 Shares & Comments
• +23,334 Social Reach

When they launched their Be the Face of BCBGMAXAZRIA Spring 2013 Creative Invite with Talenthouse, BCBG’s team had the daunting and exhilarating prospect of searching through a talented legion of models from all sorts of backgrounds and degrees of experience. Amanda Hill‘s submission was found so striking that they knew they must include her in the cadre of ten Semifinalists to be flown to Los Angeles for a BCBG photoshoot (you can view her video-captured reaction to qualifying as a Semifinalist here).

Amanda not only rose to the occasion by contributing to an excellent shoot, but also earned the highest number of votes among the Talenthouse community. Combined with BCBG’s decision, this makes her at once the People’s Choice, the Host’s Choice and the official Face of BCBG for their Spring Campaign of 2013 – an exceptional feat in a monumental Invite.

In this Success Story, Amanda talks about this accomplishment, her future plans and personal compass, plus how she deals with the pressure in the modeling industry. After viewing her grand prize winner video below, you can enjoy the written interview that follows.

TH: Is there a model in the industry that you look up to?
Amanda Hill: The one model I have always looked up to is Tyra Banks. She is very inspirational and has a passion for what she does, just like me.

TH: What other great projects would you want to work on in the future?
AH: In the future, I plan on working on other projects such as opening up schools for children and teens. These schools will be sectioned off into three categories based on how the child learns (such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.) Not only do I plan on helping kids, but I plan on opening homes for people with special needs to help them become more self-dependent.

TH: To you, what does true beauty mean?
AH: To me, everyone is beautiful in their own way whether they realize it or not. As far as outer beauty, anyone can be beautiful on the outside, but it’s the real beauty that lies within.

TH: How does your faith influence your modeling?
AH: My faith is a huge factor that influences my modeling because without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today. As I was growing up, I have always been taught that faith without works is dead. My faith has kept me strong and true to myself even in the midst of temptations. Because of my faith, trust in God, and attempt to work my hardest towards my challenging goals, not only have I became the strong woman I am today, but it got me as far as I am as well.

TH: What’s the best advice you’ve received with regards to modeling?
AH: The best advice I have received with regards to modeling is to never let anyone or anything change who you are no matter how far you get in life.

TH: How to you combat negative stereotypes about the modeling industry?
AH: It’s a challenge battling negative stereotypes about the industry. I have realized that no matter how much you tell people the truth about what goes on and how you are different, they don’t seem to believe you. Therefore I step in and continuously prove with my actions that there is someone out there that is true to herself and that is not afraid to stand out and be different.

TH: What’s your favorite accessory?
AH: My boyfriend surprised me with a lime green Michael Kors purse, which is currently my favorite accessory.

Congratulations, Amanda! We at Talenthouse wish you the best of luck in LA with BCBG, and in all your modeling endeavors.

Images from StyleCaster for BCBGMAXAZRIA.

The problem is obscenities tend to be “one size fits all.” Spewing swear words doesn’t take much imagination or depend much on context. For instance, Colin Firth’s spontaneous rant in The King’s Speech works as comedy and stays inoffensive because it has no context at all. Really memorable insults are clever and inventive, or get right to the crux of a person’s insecurities.

Of course, well-timed swearing can be hilarious. But in the interest of narrowing down the list, here are 10 movie insults that use so-called “polite” English to deliver a punch directly in the solar plexus.

10. “May I speak plainly?… If you’ll forgive me, he’s common… He’s like an animal. He has an animal’s habits. There’s even something subhuman about him. Thousands of years have passed him right by, and there he is. Stanley Kowalski, survivor of the Stone Age, bearing the raw meat home from the kill in the jungle.”—A Streetcar Named Desire

9.  “You despise me, don’t you?”
“If I gave you any thought I probably would.”—Casa Blanca

8. “To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people! I’ve known sheep that could outwit you. I’ve worn dresses with higher IQs. But you think you’re an intellectual, don’t you, ape?”
“Apes don’t read philosophy.”
“Yes they do, Otto. They just don’t understand it.”—A Fish Called Wanda

7. “His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.”—Mae West

6. “Mr. Madison, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”—Billy Madison

5. “You are a sad, strange little man. And you have my pity.”—Toy Story

4. “Gentlemen, Chicolini here may look like an idiot, and talk like an idiot, but don’t let that fool you. He really is an idiot.”—Duck Soup

3. “You’re weak. And I’ve outgrown you.”—The Incredibles

2. “You stuck up, half-witted scruffy-looking Nerf herder!”—The Empire Strikes Back

1. “You’re a virgin who can’t drive!”—Clueless

Sometimes a withering insult is all about passion. For instance, in this clip from a popular children’s show.

If you bleeped out the character’s dialog, it would be easy to imagine all sorts of dirty things she could be saying based on her tone and expression. But could “piece of sh*t” or “motherf*cker” possibly capture the unbridled rage the character puts into “big dumb meanie?”

Maybe “big meanie” is a little strong for mixed company. But in general a good insult works on imagination, knowledge of what ticks the other person off, or an inversion of expectations. Or by just really meaning it. When an annoying person is cut down to size can be the moment that truly reveals character and stays in the audience’s head.

Pictures taken from impossiblebs.com, listal.com, beertripper.com. Video from Youtube.

This project reached 36382642 people. Active participants averaged:

• +185 New Supporters
• +556 Shares & Comments
• +178,980 Social Reach

We couldn’t be more proud of Amanda Hill, who has won the BCBGMAXAZRIA Creative Invite and will become the new face of the global fashion house! Amanda is the highest-voted model and the choice of of BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP, and Refinery29.

In addition to the unlimited exposure she’ll get from being featured in a BCBGMAXAZRIA campaign, Amanda will receive a head-to-toe BCBGMAXAZRIA wardrobe. As she is also the People’s Choice winner, she will be awarded an additional $1000 in BCBGMAXAZRIA merchandise.

This has been one of our most exciting Creative Invites of the year and we are grateful to our community for standing by during the multiple rounds. Your participation means the world to Talenthouse, BGBGMAXAZRIA and Refinery29.

Thanks to all who entered and an additional thanks to our fabulous semifinalists, who were rock stars at the photo shoot.

Keep an eye out for Amanda next spring and keep the submissions coming in our exciting future Invites.

This project reached 6,941,979 people. Active participants averaged:

• +76 New Supporters
• +164 Shares & Comments
• +36,903 Social Reach

Minaya and Vikus will are the winners of the Size Records Creative Invite, in which Steve Angello of Swedish House Mafia, the head of Size Records, invited DJs to submit their best 10 minute mix.

They will perform a 30 minute DJ set for SIZE MATTERS at the Palladium in Hollywood on May 12, 2012.

In addition, they will receive two VIP tickets, a framed copy of the event poster signed by the SIZE MATTERS DJs and a limited edition Size Records merchandise package. They will be featured across Size Records’ social media channels.

Size Records and Steve Angello have chosen Christian Paul to receive a feature on Size Records’ Facebook page and a Limited Edition Size Records merchandise package. Highest-voted artist Dean Yogev will receive the same incentives as Christian.

Congratulations, winners! We hope Minaya and Vikus have a blast. Check back for more shots at DJ stardom

1. Call your own shots

“There’s nothing worse than hearing somebody say, ‘Oh, you made that movie? I thought that movie sucked,’ and you have to agree with them,” Fincher said on why he’s so hands-on in making decisions.

“You are going to have to take all of the responsibility, because basically when it gets right down to it, you are going to get all of the blame, so you might as well have made all of the decisions that led to people either liking it or disliking it.”

Fincher on set with actor Daniel Craig in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

2. Give it your best, but stay realistic

‘Do the best you can, try to live it down,’ that’s my motto. Just literally give it everything you got, and then know that it’s never going to turn out the way you want it to, and let it go, and hope that it doesn’t return. Because you want it to be better than it can ever turn out. Absolutely, 1000 percent, I believe this: whenever a director friend of mine says, ‘Man, the dailies look amazing!’ … I actually believe that anybody, who thinks that their dailies look amazing doesn’t understand the power of cinema; doesn’t understand what cinema is capable of.”

Film is a collaborative process. It’s dependent on everything falling into place the way it’s supposed to – no one person, even the director, can exercise complete control over this. All they can ever do is put in their best work and keep trucking.

3. Check for different perspectives

Fincher looks at the set up of each scene with each eye individually – the left, for composition and the right for focus and technical specs.

Why? The left eye is connected to the creative side of the brain and the right is connected to the mathematical side.

4. Movies vs. Films

“I think that Fight Club is more than the sum of its parts, whereas Panic Room is the sum of its parts. I didn’t look at Panic Room and think: ‘Wow, this is gonna set the world on fire.’ These are footnote movies, guilty pleasure movies. Thrillers. Woman-trapped-in-a-house movies. They’re not particularly important.”

That said, make sure your movie actually contains a semblance of a plot. A series of scenes where characters sit around and reflect on the meaning of life might as well be a documentary.

5. Take it one day at a time

At the beginning of the filmmaking process, your project looks like a heck of a giant to tackle. In the middle it’s hard to step back and imagine what the finished product will look like.

“How do you eat a whale? One bite at a time. How do you shoot a 150-day movie? You shoot it one day at a time,” said Fincher. This advice is applicable across the board in nearly all art forms. Break your projects down into smaller tasks and don’t let the gravity of any situation overwhelm you.

Photo credit: Sony Pictures

This project reached 1,079,769 people. Active participants averaged:

• +36 New Supporters
• +81 Shares & Comments
• +14,453 Social Reach

We hope there’s no shortage of Botox in Los Angeles, because the city’s going to have some laugh lines to deal with when Don Barnhart brings his standup act to Levity Entertainment Group‘s comedy club stage.

The Sideshow Network launched a Creative Invite seeking the best in up-and-coming comedians and Don is the winner for the hilarious demo he submitted.

A booking agent will be among those who watch Don take center stage so we wish him the best of luck! In addition to travel and two nights’ accommodation for the 5 Spot event, Levity will promote Don’s work across their social media channels.

The Sideshow Network has chosen Reginald Ferguson as their runner-up. He, along with highest voted comedian Charlie Bailey, will each receive two tickets to a Levity comedian’s show and promotion on Levity’s social media channels.

Congratulations to our winners! It was great to see our community showcase their humor and we hope to see more of it in future Invites.

This project reached 2,865,656 people. Active participants averaged:

• +49 New Supporters
• +104 Shares & Comments
• +9,523 Social Reach

20 artists from the Talenthouse community will receive a 12″ vinyl slip cover featuring their submission to Ladyhawke and Sarah Larnach’s Creative Invite! Ladyhawke and Sarah selected 19 of the artists; the highest-voted winner will also receive a slip cover.

The winners

• Monica Murgu
• Colton Kruizenga
• Gemma Ward
• Shane Pascoe
• Arthur Hugot
• Antoni Ponti
• Sveta Pachkevitch
• Mama Cass
• Milan Topalovic
• DRAWING LE H
• Gadge Roberts
• Superdaimos Guevarra
• Dina Dudina
• Jenny Kadis
• Tudor Codreanu
• Ilya Suhoi
• Bimpe Alliu
• Charlotte Franks

As the highest-voted artist, Ying Li Wong will have his design produced on a 12″ vinyl.

The finalists

• Jennifer Pick
• May Art
• Justin Scott

Congrats, winners! We love giving you an outlet for expression and an artistic opportunity all in one.

We’re making that come true by teaming up with Glade Festival to provide you with all the necessary support to make this happen. Glade Festival is an electronic music festival whose 2012 headliners include Rusko, Sven Vath and Andy C.

Tess Acheson, Art Curator at Secret Arts, said, “Secret Arts are committed to supporting artists and sourcing viable and interesting exhibition sites and we will continue to work with the winner of the competition in the future.”

Submit a JPEG concept of the piece you plan to produce during the weekend of Glade Festival, June 14-17, 2012. Feel free to include any additions you may bring to the table to enhance the entertainment factor at the festival. The judges are looking for original, iconic, clean line submissions which show legs to evolve over the weekend. The winner may be a single artist or an art collective.

In addition to the creative liberty to awe Glade Festival attendees with their work, the winner will receive five tickets to Glade Festival 2012, a feature in the Glade Festival 2012 programme, social media exposure through Glade Festival’s channels and an exclusive blog post written about them on secretarts.co.uk.

One runner-up, selected by Glade Festival 2012, will receive a pair of tickets to Glade Festival 2012. The highest-voted artist will also receive a pair of tickets to the festival.

Glade Festival features over 14 stages in a beautiful countryside setting. Best of luck – we’re confident that this will be the highlight of the winning artist’s summer.

Submit by May 29, 2012!

Become a Fighter

We’ll spare you and forego quoting the Christina Aguilera song, but being a fighter essentially means you don’t let circumstances push you around. If you give up you’ll become a victim to the things that happen to you. Fighters don’t succumb to this. They keep going.

Monitor yourself to measure how reactive you are to the things that happen in the course of a day. When someone cuts you off in traffic, do you let it get to you? If it’s been awhile since you’ve gone grocery shopping, do you race off to the nearest fast food joint or do you hunt down a healthier meal?

The next day, work on an obstacle. If something gets in your way, brainstorm ways to get around it.

Refusing to accept the bad things that happen to you is what the fighting spirit is about.

All things pass

The poet Robert Frost put it best:

The odds are usually in your favor that today’s failure won’t matter 30 years from now. When you step back and consider the entire scope of your life, there’s no need to cause additional misery by fretting over something that will hurt a little less as each day comes and goes. You can always count on tomorrow.

There are opportunities in life that you will pursue and there are opportunities that will find you. Take a look back at the opportunities that have come and gone in your life regardless of their outcome. There’s no rational reason that your opportunities have dried up. Your next shot could be the one.

As ‘The Help’ author Kathryn Stockett said:

Unlock positive emotions

There’s an immeasurable happiness that comes with doing what you love. Most human beings don’t like being afraid or uncomfortable, which is exactly what feelings of failure often bring.

But if you find that what you do brings you so much joy that you could never give it up, that’s the emotion you should aim to channel in the face of rejection. Use happiness as fuel and keep truckin’.

Find people who persist

The internet makes it easy to find inspirational stories of persistent with a simple web search. It’s a powerful tool that can unlock instant access to first-person accounts of triumph over failure, rejection letters from people who went on to do great things and advice on how to keep on keepin’ on.

Seek and you will find. Use your favorite examples as a crutch to lean on in hard times.

What tips have gotten you through tough spots in your career?

The project ended with about 700 CD cover designs were  showcased at the Idea Generation Gallery in London during Record Store Day 2012. During the exhibit all 700 of the CD covers were  available for sale and all funds were donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust fund.

We are happy to say that one of the talented designers selected, is from Turkey.  DJ Shadow chose Cansu Turan‘s design! We want to share with you our talk with Cansu about her life as a designer and inspires her most.

TH: Could you tell us a little about yourself?
Cansu : I live in Istanbul, and currently am an Interactive Media Design student. I am a design student because I cannot picture myself in any other field.

TH: How did you enter this Creative Invite and why did choose something from DJ Shadow? 
Cansu : This Creative Invite really caught my attention. I like to be a part of projects that combine music and art.  Music speaks to me and I understand its language. We always get along and that is why music plays a huge role in my life.  I feel like I have a partnership with music. Music is my partner that I enjoy listening to. I enjoy album cover artwork because I feel as though it is a part of my partnership with music.

TH:  What about ‘Come On Riding (Through The Cosmos) inspired you while designing your cover?
Cansu : The line, “Through the Cosmos” is what caught my attention the most. People are able to reconcile even with the darkest areas of their lives. It is important to add passion, love and excitement into what you are designing. I feel that once you do this you can take your design to a whole new level.

"Through the Cosmos" by Cansu Turan

TH: How do you feel about being a part of Secret 7?
Cansu : It is great to be a part of this exhibit. However, I would love to hear all of the opinions from those who go to view the exhibit. It would be nice to hear what they have to say about my design.

TH: What do you enjoy most? 
Cansu : Being inspired, trying and creating different versions.

TH: What artist would you want to be compared with?
Cansu : Slava (astronaut designer), Scott Hansen (iso50), and Jamie Hewlett.

TH: Could you tell us about your thoughts about Talenthouse? 
Cansu : Talenthouse is a platform that carefully selects creative invites. It is a platform that I am always following. When on Talenthouse I am able to see many creative invites and categories that catch my attention. The simplicity of the designs reaching Talenthouse, became one of the deciding factors for me when entering this creative invite. Talenthouse provided me with an easy simple folder that helped me quickly start working on my design as opposed to spending time looking for the format.  This easy simple to use formant that Talenthouse uses makes it so much more user-friendly.

 Cansu on the Web : Talenthouse | Twitter | Tumblr

Hammer and Depp as The Lone Ranger and Tonto.

White joins the ranks of several musicians who’ve successfully transitioned into film scoring. One of the most notable recent cases is Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Reznor won an Oscar for composing the score to ‘The Social Network’ and has since scored ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.’

Karen O. of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs scored the 2009 adaptation of the children’s book ‘Where the Wild Things Are,’ Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead provided the soundtrack for Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘There Will Be Blood’ and Daft Punk made waves when they infused 2010′s ‘Tron’ with its electronic sounds.

While this is White’s first foray into film scoring, he previously collaborated with Alicia Keys on the James Bond theme song for ‘Quantum of Solace.’

Danny Elfman, who frequently collaborates with director Tim Burton, and Darren Aronofsky‘s go-to composer Clint Mansell are both better known for their film-related music but got their starts in rock bands.

“Part of the thing about being in a band is: that’s your sound, OK, stick with it. You keep regurgitating the same ideas,” Mansell said.

“After my third or fourth film I realised that, whilst you can have a style, it has to be different each time. What works on piano for one film might not work for another. It’s very liberating.”

The film, directed by Pirates of the Caribbean’s Gore Verbinski, is set to release on May 31, 2013. It stars Armie Hammer as The Lone Ranger and Johnny Depp as his sidekick Tonto.

What do you think of the rock star/film composer crossover phenomenon?

Photo credit: The Hollywood Reporter

Unionized orchestras are classified as those that are made up of American Federation of Musicians (AFM) members. Every major professional orchestra in the United States is unionized.

Studio recordings

Performers are paid in accordance with the Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA) when they head into the studio. Their studio scale wages generally exceed $1000 for the total amount of music for a recording, separate from their orchestra earnings under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Additionally, the musicians who participate in the recording become part of the Sound Recordings Special Payments Fund (SPF) beneficiary pool. This entitles them to a share of five years’ worth of annual SPF payments. SPF payments come from the revenues on sales of all the sound recordings produced by a record company using AFM musicians.

Live recordings

AFM orchestras that are signatory to the AFM’s Live Recording Agreement (LRA) or Integrated Media Agreement (IMA) are entitled to make live recordings under those terms. Once the musicians have approved the project in question, they record for a low upfront payment (based on a percentage of weekly scale) and a revenue share dependent on the institution’s net revenue.

Live recordings made specifically for digital downloads may agree under conditions with no upfront payment but a revenue share based on gross intake rather than net. This makes the download numbers a crucial factor in how much the orchestra performers take home.

The current state of performer’s income has changed drastically since the 1990s, when the recording industry’s decline led several major orchestras to lose their contracts with big labels. Top orchestras in the United States, including Boston, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Francisco and Cleveland were signed to the classical divisions of their labels. Full orchestral recordings involved guaranteed payments to hundreds of players and a conductors. The costs of rehearsals, recording engineers, producers and recording facilities added up to high costs that the labels became unable to commit to.

The digital revolution is making its way through the classical world with the rest of the recording industry. Although orchestras have produced fewer studio recordings since then, live recordings and self-released works have become more common. iTunes, Amazon and other classical retailers are becoming a rising source of music selling and streaming for orchestras, who also use their own websites to sell their work.

Orchestra performers, how has the music scene changed during the span of your career?

This project reached 4,668,534 people. Active participants averaged:

• +75 New Supporters
• +162 Shares & Comments
• +32,533 Social Reach

We’ve gotten to know Talenthouse member DJ Maximilian (alias Max Robinson) from our interviews after Korn personally chose him to open for their concert – now, let’s have a look at him working their stage to a hall full of applause and the band’s backstage props.

After jokingly setting the audience up with the intro “My name is Justin Bieber,” Max Robinson quickly sets the record straight by orchestrating his high voltage takes on Korn’s tracks. As you can see and hear, the crowd responds massively and J Devil (aka Jonathan Davis) offers up some diabolical approval of his own. Quite a path from Max’s first listen to “Twisted Transistor” years ago. Dig the video as directed by Sébastien Pacquet for Roadrunner Records.

As an artist who bridges metal with dubstep and other electronic elements, Max enthuses about Korn’s tenth studio album and looks to the future: “The Path of Totality is really breaking ground with rock music…they brought in some of the greatest electronic producers, like Skrillex, Noisia, Feed Me, Excision, a bunch of other people on the album to just come together and make these really awesome songs that fuse metal and dubstep…electronic music in general. It brings together two different genres into one thing, and I really think it’s going to impact music from here on.”

Having taken on some extra adrenaline from this gig, Max is continuing to DJ and currently working on his first album. He’s hitting a solid balance between practicality and ambition: “I just want to keep making music and see where it goes – because so far, it’s been pretty good.”

To learn more about Maximilian, his remixing background and winning submission, click here.

Maximilian and Korn member Jonathan Davis in his J Devil persona.

Congratulations once more to Max on earning this honor and making the most of it. We are glad to be a part of your accomplishments and hope you keep bringing the house down!

Featured images from The Rave and Korn’s official website.

As music blogger Bob Lefsetz put it:

Dedicated fans were able to watch the track come together over the weekend of March 17-18th during a 22-hour Live Streaming session. At the time the song was just an instrumental based on a short Sci-Fi story by renowned author Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451).

The project began with deadmau5′s intention to craft a soundtrack for the short story. “What a great story, I figured,” he said. He uploaded the instrumental track to SoundCloud for his fans to enjoy and was subsequently bombarded with Twitter requests to check out a vocal version on Soundcloud.

Upon listening to the track he realized that fan Chris James had based the lyrics to his vocal version on the very same short story that inspired deadmau5. The entire process, from deadmau5′s reaction to his announcement that he was going to officially release James’ version, was caught on the live stream. Fans around the world were able to watch deadmau5′s manager and Chris working out the details on the phone.

In praise of James’ lyrics, deadmau5 blogged:

Be sure to read deadmau5′s full post on collaboration, songwriting, and the conception of ‘The Veldt’ on his Tumblr.

‘The Veldt’ EP will feature the track ‘Failbait’ with Cypress Hill (exciting news about them and Talenthouse to come) and a few key remixes of ‘The Veldt.’ The EP will be the first in a series of deadmau5 EPs set for release in the coming months. Expect an album later in 2012.

Although the EP won’t be available until June 25th, you can purchase ‘The Veldt’ single on iTunes now.

We’re counting down the days until ‘The Veldt’ drops June 25th and we see your mau5trap podcast submissions on May 16th, 2012!

TH: What is your approach to photography?
Ali: My approach to photography has changed quite drastically over the past couple years. I began believing I wanted to capture nature and make people see the world the way I see it using no manipulation what so ever. That’s all I thought I wanted to do and honestly that’s all I thought I could do with photography. But here I am today, though I’m still fascinated by how I used to approach photography, I’m also thinking outside that small box and I’m always striving to go outside of my comfort zone. I feel I grow much faster this way. I now just stick to shooting with whatever makes me happy. This could be anything from landscapes to people. Color and emotion are two main things I always try to master in my images. And when I have time, I really enjoy creating conceptual images that have a very dream-like quality to them.

TH: What is your favorite subject to photograph?
Ali: Like I mentioned in my answer to the previous question, I stick to shooting whatever makes me happy. I’ve always loved capturing things we see on a regular basis as well as nature and landscapes, but in this past year photographing people has really grown on me. At this moment, I would say my favorite subject to photograph is myself. I’m also sometimes my least favorite subject to photograph. My main inspirations are Lissy Elle, Sarah Ann Loreth, Alex Beadon, Rosie Hardy, Brooke Shaden, and the list could go on. There’s a pattern within this list of beautiful photographer’s and that is that they all are very well known for doing self-portraits. So you could say my reasoning for wanting to use myself as a subject comes from the inspiration that I get from them.

TH: What makes a good photographer in your opinion?
Ali: I believe a good photographer is someone who can make people stop and feel something when viewing their images. If someone can look at your image and they’re able to get lost in it for even just a split second, I think you’ve accomplished being a good photographer.

TH: What is your favorite or most exciting aspect about your job? Least favorite?
Ali: Interesting question. I say this because I’m wondering which job I should be answering this for. Currently the job where I am making my main income is not photography related. I started doing paid shoots last August, but it is just now finally picking up and I believe it will soon be where my main income comes from. So honestly, because it’s still very new to me and things are picking up so much lately, it’s all very exciting! My least favorite part is the nerves I get right before a shoot. Don’t get me wrong, the nerves make the job feel that much more exciting, but I’d love to see how it feels at least once to not be nervous right before a shoot.

TH: What inspires you to keep going and how do you keep yourself motivated?
Ali: So so so many things! Creative wise, as I mentioned before, my main inspirations are Lissy Elle, Sarah Ann Loreth, Alex Beadon, Rosie Hardy, Brooke Shaden, as well as Olivia Bee, Joel Robison, Alexandra Cameron, Suzanne Wansink, and I have many more! When I look back at these artist’s old flickr images and see how far they have come and grown, I know there is hope for me to grow into being the artist that I want to be and I realize just sitting around isn’t going to make my dreams come true! The only way to reach my goals is to get out there with my camera and think creatively. I also have to give a lot of credit to my clients and fans. When I get a Facebook message from some stranger who says they were recommended by some other stranger, it just makes me smile. I feel so lucky to be able to move people with my photography and to be able to move them enough to have them recommend me to someone else just amazes me. And it all just snowballs! The more supporters I have out there, the more motivated and inspired I feel to keep growing and creating better work for people… and for myself.

TH: If happiness were the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
Ali: This may sound a little cliche, but it would be working as a photographer. I’ve always believed we have to do what we love and follow our hearts in order to live a happy life. Ever since I realized how much I loved photography 3 years ago, I haven’t let myself give up my dream of making a career out of it. Now every day I am growing more and more passionate for this art form and can’t imagine my life any other way.

 Ali on the Web: Facebook | Talenthouse | Website

1. Become an expert

Having a niche will pay off handsomely in the scheme of things. It’s convenient to have an editor associate you with a particular area of expertise so that you’ll come to mind easily when they have an assignment up for grabs.

2. Use your photography as a form of expression

Your photography should be more than just a picture; it should be a visual expression of your ideas on a subject. If you excel at this, you’ll be able to blow editors away even if you’re an amateur. Ultimately, a editor wants a photographer who will be able to deliver what they envision to be a great complement to their story.

3. Accept that you’ll have to sacrifice

When photographing for a magazine, you are photographing an assignment that will inevitably limit your creative license. Deadlines are important in the publishing world. If you receive a photo call, be urgent about fulfilling it.

4. Build an archive

While deadlines can be difficult to work with, one way to make it easier is to develop an archive of photos that you can fall back on. Being able to immediately satisfy an editor with a selection of photos that fit his assignment will put you ahead of the pack, but it takes some building effort. Don’t show an editor photos that aren’t related to his current needs for a photograph.

5. Learn to predict patterns

Do your homework and study the magazines you shoot for, or want to shoot for, very closely. You’ll notice that they tend to use the same kinds of photos over and over. Try to obtain copies going as far back as possible and become an expert at knowing what your editor will want next.

6. Help yourself get noticed

Take the time to get your portfolio on the internet and, if possible, craft an impressive website. Participate in online forums and don’t be afraid to reach out to fellow photographers you meet over the net. Represent yourself well by using good grammar in all situations. If you find good photo contests, feel free to submit, but don’t bank on winning one and becoming the next Dorothea Lange. Keep in mind that you have a better shot being rewarded by an editor than you do by a contest.

7. Meet standards of decency

Even if your photos don’t sell right away, you can archive them (see #4) and they’ll probably sell eventually. It’s on that promise that you should remember that every photograph you present is a reflection of your work. Don’t ever submit an image that you know is poor in quality. Matthews writes, “The difference between a throwaway snapshot and a publishable image is usually exactly two seconds of reflection prior to depressing the trigger.”

8. Invest in the right equipment

You don’t need a top-of-the-line camera, but strive for a ten megapixel one if you can afford it. Luckily cameras are becoming more affordable by the day. Ten megapixels can make an acceptable two-page (known as “double-truck”) images in horizontal orientation. A six megapixel camera can make one full vertical page.

9. Be professional

When you make your first sale, the editor will know it, so there’s no need to act like you’re closing a real estate deal Donald Trump-style. Your priorities are to get published, then paid. There’s no need to harass an editor about when or how much you will be compensated. Flexibility, responsibility, and reliability will give the editor a great first impression of you.

10. Do not miss a deadline

The following things will happen if you miss a deadline:

• The editor will get in trouble
• The magazine will lose money
• The editor will have to pay another photographer a premium that will absolutely be higher than the budget they set with you
• The publication will have to rush and settle for second best
• You will never be hired again

So don’t miss a deadline.

Once you’ve established a reputation as a dependable professional in a narrowly-targeted field, picking up assignments will get easier. Keep hacking away and continue to promote your work to people who may buy it.

Follow these tips and you’ll see your hobby become a nice supplemental source of income, along with the added bonus of your work reaching countless audiences.

Have you been published in a magazine? Link us to your portfolio!

Photo credit: Mike Baird

This project reached 9,488,463 people. Active participants averaged:

• +12 New Supporters
• +35 Shares & Comments
• +10,296 Social Reach

Viet Van Tran is the winner of our Creative Invite with Robert Caplin and ViewBug, and will therefore be the star of his very own feature on ViewBug! His photograph “Praying” will be promoted across the ViewBug and its social media channels. He will also take home a 16 GB iPad 2.

Robert Caplin and ViewBug couldn’t choose just one runner-up, so we’re pleased to announced that there are two! Ryan Young and Iva Bebek, along with highest voted artist Papion Silva will all see their submissions featured on ViewBug’s social media channels.

The submissions were stunning! Congratulations to our winners and thanks to our photographers who entered.

This project reached 48,367,314 people. Active participants averaged:

• +104 New Supporters
• +249 Shares & Comments
• +30,769 Social Reach

One year ago, Thomas Leopold won a comic design contest from Talenthouse. At the time, he was just a normal guy, working as a sales representative for an IT company, and living with his family in Potsdam, Germany. But then he met Stan Lee and Todd McFarlane, visited the Comic Con in San Diego and presented his ideas to publishers. The result: the 37 year-old Thomas quit his job – and started a career as freelance comic artist.

Thomas Leopold loved to draw comics when he was a child. After his A levels, he wanted to study art, but failed the exams every time. So he chose business studies. After that, he moved to Potsdam and started in the sales team of Oracle. Then one day, his wife saw an advertisement for a “Comic Design” course in the metro of Berlin. Thomas didn’t wait, he joined the course.

“It was the first time that I got professional instructions how to draw comics, how to do the illustrations, the anatomy, the perspective. It pushed me,” Thomas says. For one year, he went to the course every Saturday, and afterwards he did his homework. “After that, I wanted to do my own comic. I wanted to let my dream come true.”

Thomas started with The Angel, the project he created in his comic course. He drew in the evening after work or on weekends. After one and a half years, his first book was finished. He published it by himself, until he met the crew of THENEXTART, an independent publisher. Just a few weeks ago, Thomas aka “Tomppa” sold the third book of The Angel at an exhibition in Berlin.

But The Angel is not the only thing he works on. His first priority is now the “Counselor,” the character he created for the Creative Invite from Talenthouse. Stan Lee, the creator of Spider-Man, and Todd McFarlane, a Californian comic artist, were searching for a new superhero through Talenthouse. “When I saw the announcement, I thought: I have to participate,” Thomas says. “Stan Lee is a legend, and I read Todd McFarlane already 20 years ago.” His idea: a superhero that does not use muscles, but knowledge. “The Counselor has a book that only he can read. It includes the whole knowledge of human being.”

Stan Lee and Todd McFarlane liked his idea and invited Thomas to come to San Diego. “I had nothing, just a picture, but no story”, Thomas says. Because of that, he prepared a concept with a colleague, so that he could show at least something to his idols and the publishers at the Comic Con in San Diego. And yes: Thomas found a publisher over there. “When I first heard the idea for ‘The Counselor,’ I was instantly intrigued,” William Wilson says, the CEO of Arch Enemy Entertainment. “It’s not often that we get submitted truly innovative concepts, but Thomas had one.”

It seems like Thomas’ dream became true. First “The Angel,” then “The Counselor” – Thomas didn’t want to stop this process. So, he quit his job and started a new career this January, as a freelance comic-strip artist. “You do what you like to do, you show people your work, you get feedback and sell your own books – that’s amazing. I’m addicted.”

Thomas isn’t able to say when “The Counselor” will be published, but you can find all news about the comic on his website.

Do you want to find out more about Thomas?
Talenthouse Portfolio | Official Website | Facebook | Twitter

From juggling Twitter updates, Facebook comments, blog posts, iPhone apps, emails, everything on TV, film and all other sorts of media it’s no wonder that it seems as if our attention spans are shrinking. And while this may be an admirable feat, say when you’re checking up on your tweets, listening to Kanye West’s newest single and emailing your boss at the same time while in line at the supermarket, such talents have convoluted the true message behind certain pieces of art, leaving viewers asking “Yes, it is very nice, but what does it all mean?” to which some may answer with an “I don’t know.”

So to avoid the seemingly philosophical question and the dreaded response, here are three ways to present a clear and effective message in your work without losing its originality.

Stringing It All Together

Sometimes artists are hit with a flood of inspiration, with ideas ranging from the transitory nature of love to the beauty of a single blade of grass after the passing of a rainstorm. And while some of these innovations of the imagination are starkly different from one another it isn’t impossible to find a point of relation in some of your ideas.

Take for example the ephemeral essence of romance and the blade of grass, a commonality between the two could be the passing of love and the rainstorm and an artist could play on this hidden relation, creating a work in which the grass and rainstorm were lovers only until the storm moved on. So think of it like a game of connect the dots – keep on connecting until you’re satisfied with the message that comes out.

Question, Pour Moi?

When you’ve got a lot to work with, you’ve got to sift through all of your materials to see which of them sends out the strongest message. That being said, ask yourself who your target audience will be, what your desired point is and why you’re creating this piece.

Sometimes an artist can get a bit lost in his or her own imagination, so it doesn’t hurt to remind yourself why you started making something in the first place.

Exploration, Onward

Keep a notebook around for you to jot down inspirations, and when you have time, explore what your mind has to offer. If one of your ideas strikes you as brilliant then pursue it; if one doesn’t pique your interests as much, then don’t be afraid to store it for later.

The winner will also receive two VIP tickets to a Miike Snow concert of their choice, exclusive signed merchandise including a signed copy of their t-shirt, a feature on Miike Snow’s social media channels and $1,000.

The band will select one runner-up whose design will also be produced on a t-shirt. They will receive an exclusive signed merchandise package and have a feature posted about them on Miike Snow’s Facebook page.

The highest voted designer will be awarded with the same incentives as the runner-up.

Send us your designs by May 30, 2012!

The winner will receive $750, a signed copy of the album, and a signed copy of their poster, which will be the official poster for the show. Their design will be promoted across the band’s social media channels.

The Temper Trap will select three runners-up to receive a signed copy of their new album. The highest-voted artist will also receive a signed copy of the album.

We’ll see your designs on May 24, 2012!

Masks, capes, utility belts – ignore or include it as you see fit when you sit down to craft a superhero costume as off the hook as Laidback Luke’s party is going to be. The Dutch DJ will wear the costume to the Super You&Me party that the winner will be invited to, so take note and make it good. We love that these costumes were made out of sheer admiration for comic book characters and hope to see that same spirit when we look at the submissions.

Comic-Con 2009.

Comic-Con 2009.

Comic-Con 2008.

Comic-Con 2010.

Comic-Con 2009.

Comic-Con 2009.

Comic-Con 2009.

Comic-Con New York 2011.

Comic-Con 2009.

Comic-Con 2009.

Comic-Con 2009.

Share your own favorites with us!

Photo credit: Billboard and Maximum PC

1. Research

“One should check to see who is reputable first, length in the buisness, and who an agency represents,” Newbill advises. He say the biggest mistake he sees girls make is not doing their homework. Note which agency represents the models you like. Make sure you do some internet research on smaller agencies to make sure they have a good reputation in the industry.

2. Prepare

There are classes you can take to familiarize yourself with the business and boost your self-esteem, but they’re definitely not a requirement. If you don’t feel comfortable in front of cameras or feel that your lack of knowledge could hold you back, they might be helpful. Again, Newbill recommends reading up on agencies you interview.

3. Perfect your portfolio

In the modeling industry, your portfolio is your resume and therefore one of your most important assets – at least, before you meet with an agency in person.

Make sure that your book has enough variation that an agency can see your potential. Aaron says:

He says a few great pictures can look better than a thick book of “fluff.” Flow is also important – “You want to get and keep the client’s attention.”

4. Be Yourself

Once you’ve booked a meeting with an agent, do your best to maintain the you they saw in your portfolio. Don’t make any drastic changes to your hair or buy an over-the-top new outfit.

Of course, if you have a trademark quirk, be sure to flaunt it. Rather than trying to blend in with what you think the agency represents, play up your best attributes.

“When meeting prospective models we prefer to see them as they are: no makeup, natural hair, and their personality. Body-conscious clothing like skinny jeans and a tank are good so we can see the body.”

5. Show your casual side

As serious as models seem on the runway and in some photo shoots, that’s not necessarily the demeanor agencies want you to have when they meet you. Bring some snapshots or Polaroids. Newbill says a smile is good and recommends simple clothes that don’t distract from your shape and face.

Just for fun: see some old booking Polaroids of today’s supermodels here.

6. Show that you are genuine

Models that do well are confident, ambitious, and able to convey a sense of humbleness about their appearance. Business, respect, and professionalism is really important. Be sure to arrive for your audition or interview early and show an outgoing personality. Agencies want models who don’t appear nervous or shy, are able to express themselves, and give off the impression that modeling is something they truly want to do.

7. Take caution when signing

This may seem like a no-brainer, but make sure you bring up any questions about your contract and have them clarified before you sign. And of course, never sign without reading.

See the full article at Marie Claire.

Best of luck in your modeling adventures!

Photo credit: Getty Images

Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’

After that wonderful quote from comedian Robin Williams, need we say more? We’d rather celebrate spring by showing off some our community’s finest work! As our friend and former Creative Invite hostess Florence Welch would say, the dog days are over.

1. Stevie Ray  of the United States

2. “Make-Believe” by Amberly Valentine of the United Kingdom

3. Amberly Valentine of the United Kingdom

4. “People” by Kevin Fry of the United States

5. Olga Plakitina of Russia

6. Mert Edir of Turkey

7. Eleanor Chellini of the United States

8. Arpine Zakaryan of Armenia

9. “Spring Comes with Me” by Quique Manas of Spain

10. Pinta Mawi of the Netherlands

11. Kristen Aldieri of the United States

12. Agatha Poirier of France

13. “Black Elegance” by Rezon Pattipeiluhu of the Netherlands

14. David James Coxsell of the United Kingdom

15. Taybah Qureshi of the United Kingdom

16. “Her Own World” by Julie De Waroquier of France

17. “Why Here?” by Ariana Fizudeen of the United States

Using only After Effects, Photoshop, and coffee, Jeff Desom has created a masterpiece out of a masterpiece: after dissecting Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1954 hit Rear Window, Desom reassembled the footage into “a single panoramic view of the entire backyard” that Jimmy Stewart’s character spends his convalescent time spying on. The end result is fascinating, particularly after a viewing of the original film. Behold, the “Rear Window Timelapse”:

For more on Jeff Desom, check out his website here and his Vimeo page here.

What remixes of classics have impressed you? Share below!

Header Image Credit: MacGuffin Movies

Jackson screened 10 minutes of footage at CinemaCon recently. Among the response were complaints that the frame rate difference was too visually dramatic; overall, the reaction was mixed.

“But you know, that doesn’t last the entire experience of the film – not by any stretch, [just] 10 minutes or so. That’s a different experience than if you see a fast-cutting montage at a technical presentation,” Jackson responded.

James Cameron is also an advocate of the new format, as he has announced that his two planned Avatar sequels will be shot in HFR. So what does this mean for viewers and theater owners?

In terms of viewing experience, HFR is meant to generate a clearer, more vibrant picture. But it will come at the cost of roughly $10,000 per monitor, which will hit theater owners who decide to upgrade before the first in the two-part film series, ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ hits theaters on December 14.

Whether theater goers will encounter a surcharge to absorb the costs remains to be seen, but the film will be available in standard format and 3D so you can journey back to Middle Earth with the experience of your choice.

Would you pay a surcharge for better picture quality?

Photo credit: James Fisher

Submit a live event photograph for the chance to win a photography pass to the New York show on July 7, 2012.

Waters will choose one winner to receive a photography pass, two additional tickets to the New York show with travel and two nights’ accommodation and a framed, signed copy of one of their concert photos. Their photographs will also be featured on Roger Waters‘ Facebook page.

The prize set for the highest voted photographer includes two tickets to The Wall Live tour date of their choice and exposure for their submission on Roger Waters’ Facebook page.

Don’t get Comfortably Numb, Run Like Hell and send us a snapshot by June 4, 2012.

This project reached 3,876,445 people. Active participants averaged:

• +50 New Supporters
• +109 Shares & Comments
• +8,437 Social Reach

Tim Mues of the United States is about to see his design on a scooter wrap, because he’s been declared the winner of the Current Motor/Dell Creative Invite! His special edition Current Motor Super Scooter will make its debut at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and Earth Summit Rio+20 on June 20-22, 2012. That’s what we call going green in style.

Tim is also set to receive a Super Scooter of his own with a matching helmet featuring his wrap design, exposure from the social media channels of both Current Motor and Dell, a Dell XPS 13 UltrabookTM and a $50 royalty for each Super Scooter that the Current Motor site sells featuring his design.

The judges have selected five runner-ups who will each have their wrap produced and sold. They are Manel Villalonga, Benjamin Depardon, Michele Haro, Matej Balaz and Fernando Arturo Jimenz Lara. Like Tim, they will receive a $50 royalty for each scooter sold with their wrap. They will also each receive a Current Motor t-shirt.

Feliz Cakmak of Turkey is the highest voted artist, which means she will have her submission featured on Current Motor and Dell’s social media channels.

Congratulations to our winners! You gave us even more reason to take pride in our community with your wonderful submissions. We hope to see more of your great work in the future.

1. Get moving

Exercise is a common suggestion, but it keeps coming back for a reason – because it works. Exercising in a natural setting (this is code for outdoors) is, if possible, a better option. Clear your mind and get some endorphins flowing, and you should be ready to face a creative challenge by the time you’re toweled off from your post-workout shower.

2. Go somewhere else

Get out of your usual creative space (unless you have a lot to haul around). A coffee shop or the library is great for this. While a lot of the others around places like these may be doing work, you’re bound to run into a few creatives. Even a five-minute conversation with another artist can refresh you and send you back to work with a renewed sense of confidence.

3. Listen to different music

If you haven’t updated your work playlist in a few months, no wonder you may be feeling stuck. Routine is good, but so is a little flavor. These days, discovering new music you wouldn’t normally come across is easy with the advent of Spotify playlists and Pandora stations. Don’t limit yourself!

4. Get a mentor

This is a win-win situation because it gives the apprentice a wealth of knowledge to tap into while instilling the mentor with a breath of fresh air. Everyone brings something new to the table, regardless of what kind of background they have. A mentor never knows when their former apprentice may come back with a design that inspires them in turn, so if you can pursue such a relationship the rewards are well worth it.

5. Break out new tools

Every artist has their go-tos, but using new tools may help them create things they wouldn’t normally think to add into their work. Music producers can check out new synths, visual artists can look for a new plug-in. This doesn’t mean you should give up on your usual tools, just see if other ones have something new to offer your creative side. We hate to use the cliché “think outside the box,” but it’s okay if we follow it up with another cliché…right?

6. Share your work with someone new

Show your work to a friend who’s never seen it and get their honest opinion. They may have some good suggestions, or you may find yourself with a new supporter! If you have another artist friend whose work you’ve never seen, reciprocate. Sharing is a major component in artistic inspiration, after all.

7. Immerse yourself in another art form

This is pretty similar to 2 and 5. Playing around with your creativity might help you create a bridge between two art forms and get extra innovative. Think about the music video – it’s a hybrid concept between two art forms that works wonderfully.

Sean Penn‘s film The Indian Runner is based on Bruce Springsteen‘s song ‘Highway Patrolman.’ Springsteen’s song ‘Thunder Road’ is based on a film poster he saw in a theater lobby…see a pattern?

8. Break your routine

Sometimes you just need time and space. Skip out on a creative work session and see a laser show or visit the nearest botanical garden. Better yet, visit a friend who lives a few hours away. There are few things like the solitude of driving and listening to relaxing music to mull over the thoughts in your head.

When you get home and experience that rush of familiarity, you may find that it’s easier to sit down and pick up where you left off or start an entirely new project.

9. See other artists in action

You know that unique energy you get from being in the crowd at a rock show? See another artist make magic to invigorate yourself. Go to an art show and witness the nerves and excitement that come with a major event for an artist. Support your artist friends and forge new connections with artists you don’t know. Like-minded individuals can find a lot of common ground to bounce ideas around, so it can help to resuscitate your imagination.

10. Pursue another medium

Commit yourself to completing a project in a different medium. This isn’t giving up; consider it a detour, like a musician who puts out a solo album but sticks with his band. It’ll free you to reach beyond the boundaries of your main craft, and the best part is, you’ll have something cool to brag about when it’s done. The great thing about creativity is its adaptability. You can easily find a niche within multiple forms of expression.

What helps you when you feel creatively burnt out?

Photo credit: Getty Images

TH: When did you first time become interested in photography? 
Zoya: I’ve loved it since I was explained how to use a camera. During school years I always carried two cameras – an old Zenith with b/w film and Kodak one with colour film. I remember that time I wanted to be a photographer, but it did not seem to be a good way to go from what adult and wise people said – everyone had to be a lawyer, banker or diplomat. I do not trust anyone anymore so easily as I used to .

TH: What is your favorite or most exciting aspect about your job? 
Zoya: It allows me to be myself. I like the photographing process itself, it is my way of exploring the world. Its beauty, mystery and misery. Sharing with others what I see makes me feel a kind of instrument for it. It encourages to photograph and share more.

TH: What are some of the toughest things to deal with as a photographer?
Zoya: It feels bad when you miss the moment.

TH: Yes and I think it is not just about pictures. And what are the pros and cons of being a photographer?
Zoya: Everything is relative. People have different approaches to how they want to manage their lives, they have different priorities and goals. You can not choose to be an artist, you just can not stop from being one if you are. You do not see the cons when you do what you love.

Being a photographer is not just a lot of fun and interesting stuff, but also a lot of planning, flexible schedule (any time 24 hrs), risk, being on the run, finding approach to different people, dealing with a lot of inconveniences, but when a good photo is at stake – there are no cons, just a target.

Somebody wants to have a stable office job and conform with a “must be” image, for them being a photographer will probably seem hell without any hint on pros. All people are different, and pros and cons are different for everyone in everything. As for me I do not want to loose time on any conformism and want to just photograph, whatever it takes. Life is too short to spend it not doing things you love.

TH: But we all know that often a muse leaves an artist. What inspires you to keep going and how do you keep yourself motivated? 

However, while the amount of attention from the public is welcome, it has taken some of EDM’s big names by surprise. “I just didn’t think I had the commercial appeal of somebody like Justin Bieber, you know? I thought it was too avant-garde, too artistic, too left field for people to truly understand,” said Kaskade, one of EDM’s hottest DJs and frontrunner of the genre when it appeared in the 1990s, when he spoke to Flaunt Magazine before his set at Coachella two weeks ago.

But if you haven’t been following the genre for the past few years or have never been to a rave, then the inorganic, computer-based tunes currently slipping into the radio on your daily drives may be a bit confusing. Don’t worry, though, because we’ve compiled a quick playlist for all of EDM newbies to test the waters with. So plug in your headphones, turn your speakers up and get your dancing shoes on.

Feel It In My Bones by Tiesto ft. Tegan & Sara

While the name Tiesto may be unfamiliar, the featured singers on the song should ring a bell. Having created a name for themselves in alternative pop-rock, female duo Tegan and Sara have become equally well-liked in EDM with this addictive track.

The song is difficult to dislike with its graceful combination of Tiesto’s upbeat synths and dramatic keyboard composition with the emotive lyrics of the twin sisters, who switch turns singing about the heartache felt in a turbulent relationship. In the track’s most passionate moment, the singers lyricize “I take my heart out of my chest / I just don’t need it anymore” and when paired with the increasing of the keyboard’s treble, the song has a chilling – if not hypnotically paralyzing – effect on listeners.

Move For Me by Kaskade

Taking it down a notch from Tiesto, Kaskade is infamous for his signature soft and subtle beats lacing his tracks. Off of his 2008 album “Strobelight Seduction,” “Move For Me” epitomizes Kaskade’s unmistakable style with its dominantly delicate bass, the breathy voice of notable EDM singer Haley Gibby and the simple memorable lyrics, the song is one of the DJ’s most popular productions.

Singing of the nightlife of a 20-something social butterfly, Gibby’s whisper-like tone entrances listeners by repeatedly chanting “Another night out, another dance floor” and “Move for me, I’ll move for you” – with both verses acting as mantras that all EDM lovers live by.

You Used to Hold Me by Calvin Harris

Despite the first two DJ names of our playlist looking pretty foreign in spelling and in sound, Harris’s name should look a little less alien. And it’s not because of its easy spelling and pronunciation. Last year, the DJ was contracted to collaborate with pop songstress Rihanna, ultimately becoming the mastermind behind the singer’s hit “We Found Love.”

With its repetitively attractive beat, “We Found Love” may seem like an innovative music-making technique, but to anyone who has heard any of Harris’s previous songs, the approach is one of his distinct moves, as evidenced in “You Used to Hold Me.” Heavy on the synthesizers, the singer reflects on lost love repeating the song’s title throughout the entirety of the track, infecting listeners with its rhythm and lyrics.

Levels by Avicii

Fairly new to the game, Avicii has made a name for himself in EDM with this sweet headbop-inducing track. The song follows in the steps of other irresistible EDM tracks by being primarily instrumental; save for the familiar bellowing of Etta James’s lyrics “Oh, oh sometimes I get a good feeling” from her famous “Something’s Got a Hold On Me.”

Now, this all may seem very familiar and you’re probably struggling to put your finger on where you’ve heard this song – or something like it – before. Don’t worry, you’re not crazy. With its unending ability to attract listeners, the track has been featured on a Bud Light Platinum commercial aired during the Superbowl and has most recently been sampled from on rapper Flo Rida’s single “Good Feeling.”

And while the prevalence of non-vocal music is quite strange to some, the ability to evoke good feelings from music isn’t – and it just so happens that that’s something Avicii is a natural at.

Sun & Moon by Above & Beyond

On the other hand, there’s trance group Above & Beyond’s heavy heartbreaker of a song “Sun & Moon.” Poetic in verse, the song details the bittersweet ending of a once wonderful relationship. Synthesizers play a large part in the track, although, if it were to feature an artillery of beats like other songs in the genre, the poignancy of the lyrics would have been lost.

“We were in heaven you and I / When I lay with you and close my eyes / Our fingers touch the sky / I’m sorry baby / You were the sun and moon to me,” painfully croons the track’s singer Richard Bedford, the aching blow of loneliness resonating throughout the song. And for a genre that relies on creating through a piece of cold, hard machinery, the agonizing sorrow portrayed in the song is tenderly real.

Till The Sky Falls Down by Dash Berlin

Considered one of the demigods of the trance subcategory of EDM, Dutch DJ Dash Berlin has acted as herald to the genre since 2006. Opening the track with xylophonic taps, “Till the Sky Falls Down” was released in 2007 as a single and re-released in 2009 with the DJ’s critically acclaimed debut album “The New Daylight.” Combining smooth vocals and the nuances of electronic mixing, the song is a fan favorite among listeners of EDM.

The Entire “Fire & Ice” album by Kaskade

Released late last year as a double disc, Kaskade’s “Fire & Ice” offers two very different listening choices to EDM lovers and newbies alike.

For those looking for an up-tempo, more synthesized and bass-based beats, the DJ has offered the “Fire” half, which contains the original mixes to the songs on the album, including the popular tracks “Turn It Down” featuring singers Rebecca & Fiona and “Eyes” featuring EDM-singer Mindy Gledhill.

However, for listeners desiring a softer side to things, Kaskade created the “Ice” disc, which features mixed down versions of the album tracks, including a melancholic “Let Me Go” and a moody “Room For Happiness.” So if you’re looking to ease yourself into Kaskade’s beats and into the EDM genre itself, this album may just be your lifejacket in an overwhelming sea of DJs, singers, genres and remixes.

If you like what you hear, be sure to check out these tracks and DJs: “Take Me Over” by Manufactured Superstars; “Bromance” by Avicii’s alter-ego Tim Berg and singer Amanda Wilson; and “One” by dance trio Swedish House Mafia.

Tell us about some of your favorite EDM tracks, albums and artists!

This project reached 4,090,744 people. Active participants averaged:

• +58 New Supporters
• +122 Shares & Comments
• +22,957 Social Reach

Nic Johnson is the winner of Lady Antebellum‘s Creative Invite! His design will be used as the official poster to promote the country band’s Charity Ball, the proceeds of which will go toward the rebuilding of Henryville, Indiana. He will also meet the band at a show of his choice, get social media exposure for his design and receive $1000.

Of Nic’s design, our gracious hosts said:

That’s not all! Lady Antebellum chose Katie Willis‘s design as the runner-up, meaning she’ll receive a signed and framed copy of her poster design and two tickets to a Lady Antebellum show of her choice complete with meet and greet passes.

Highest voted artist Evan Parker will also receive a signed and framed copy of his poster design and two tickets with meet and greet passes to a Lady Antebellum show of his choice.

Lady Antebellum’s partying words:

Congratulations to our winners! We can’t deny we’re jealous, so send some meet and greet snapshots

If music is your passion, can a personalized ringtone be a good way to express it? Most of the time, absolutely.

In times past, a man or woman’s choice of scent created an aura of distinctiveness and left a distinct sensory impression on the people they interacted with. Now? It’s all about your ringtone. No longer will you ride a crowded elevator and be overpowered by conflicting fragrances. Instead, you’ll be distracted by jangling electronics.

If music is your passion, can a personalized ringtone be a good way to express it? Most of the time, absolutely. But there are times when your ringtone may not be saying what you think it is.

In countries where music is a part of cultural identity, unique ringtones are popular. For instance, Rotimi Ige writes in The Nigerian Tribune,

 “Ever wondered how funny the situation in a public bus would be if all the phones owned by the passengers ring at the same time? If the scenario was situated in Nigeria, the South to be specific, it would be almost certain that all genres of music would be adequately represented. From Apala music to jazz to monotones, every cell phone owner would patronise one. Music is one passion of most Nigerians and they welcome it at every opportunity.”

Of course, some people stick with one of the options that comes with the phone. Safe, but in the eyes of the younger generation especially you can seem a bit boring. Ditto if you set your tone to classical music or an older rock song. Others make a statement by setting their ringtone to a simple ringing sound. But not a very original statement.

Keeping a single ringtone for an extended time communicates stability. On the other hand, if your phone is still playing a Christmas carol in June, your boss may doubt your ability to keep on top of work.

When can a ringtone send an entirely wrong message? When it goes off at the workplace, double if it happens during a meeting. Rob Daumeyer, writing for Business Courier, recounts how his coworker’s ringtone of “Sexy and I Know It” disturbed a meeting.

“I could tell he wasn’t embarrassed at all. He looked pleased that he’d chosen such a cool, ironic ringtone, and that an entire room got to hear it. He smiled and winked at his table mates. I think that was the wrong response…That guy’s ring wasn’t professional and he was at a professional meeting…It didn’t make him sexy and he should have known it.”

Solve the problem by setting your phone perpetually to vibrate? Well, either you’ll be perceived a considerate individual, or you’ll send the message that you’re so popular you just can’t keep your friends from bugging you.

What’s your favorite ringtone? What’s the most annoying ringtone you’ve overheard? Have you designed any ringtones yourself?

pictures taken from: Textually.org, Cartoonresource.com

Shooting in Virginia horse country, John Henley captured this colorful sunrise with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II and Canon 24–105mm f/4L zoom. Exposure: 1/640 sec at f/7.1 and ISO 400.

Waking up early enough to see the sun rise is the photographer’s proof that the early bird gets the worm – and a bonus is that glorious only-person-on-earth feeling you’ll get from the morning solitude. So set your alarm clock and read these tips from pro photographer John Henley.

1. Arrive early

Get there while it’s still dark so that you can have your tripod set up just as the sunlight starts to break over the horizon.

2. Look for ground fog

Ground fog will give a soft, romantic character to your photos.
Of the above shot, Henley said:

3. Study the weather

Ground fog often occurs in late summer and early fall on windless mornings when the temperature and the dew point are nearly the same.

4. Play with color temperature

Try setting the white balance to “shade,” which should warm up the scene.

5. Stick to manual exposure

Manual exposure tends to yield the best results, as auto exposure renders the scene as if it were midday. Let your camera’s LCD be your guide and experiment to find an exposure that looks best.

Photo credit: Getty Images and John Henley

Stan Lee (Spider-Man) and Todd McFarlane (Spawn) will choose the winning costume design, which will be worn by the renowned Dutch DJ at his Super You&Me party on New York’s Governor’s Island. The winner will be flown and accommodated to attend attend the party in June with a guest. They will receive exclusive signed merchandise from Stan Lee, Todd McFarlane and Laidback Luke and their design will be featured across the three’s social media channels.

The highest voted artist will have their submission featured on Laidback Luke, Stan Lee and Todd McFarlane’s social media channels and receive exclusive signed merchandise from them.

It’s not everyday that comic book legends request a superhero costume design! This opportunity is as offbeat as it is awesome, so we can’t wait to see what you have to show us.

Submit by May 21, 2012.

Three tattoo artists are interviewed: “Vinny Romanelli embraces pop culture, tattooing detailed portraits of entertainment idols, Kiku works with the traditional Japanese form, and Stephanie Tamez embodies an eclectic mix of influences, with the occasional use of nice typography.” Their beautiful work provides a compelling visual presentation on the enormous range of design and influence that go into 21st century tattooing.

“In some societies, tattoos are indelible marks of tribe or of status. They can signify a difficult passage to adulthood, or identify the owner’s skills. One of the most popular reasons must surely be one of the oldest—body art adds to the beauty of the wearer,” says the National Geographic. What constitutes beauty in a tattoo may be subjective, but the artistry and skill involved in tattooing is undeniable, and many creatives (including Talenthouse members) have been inspired by tattoos. Does tattoo art serve as an inspiration for you?

Got any favorite tattoo artists or tattoos to share? Show and tell below!

Great Queen Street 36 is a heart of London, where a hat-shop and studio of Stephen Jones Millinery (SJM) are located. In this studio during many years a lot of unique headgear have been created for the royal family, world-famous actresses and singers.

The First Day
On the very first day it became clear that I needed an incredible focus and a plan what to do.

Action Plan
SJM studio is divided into three zones, the first one is for blocking and creating all kinds of hard frames for hats, the second one – for trimming, the third one – for cuting out and finalizing all hat pieces. First of all, I met with the heads of all three divisions and we found out what exactly I wanted to learn. During the first 2-3 days I had to learn the very basic things without which it was impossible to start working on hats.

The Hat #1
I have never thought that blocking a hat is a hard physical labor! Not for nothing, in the past it was a purely male profession. Half a day I spent on learning of hat blocking and when I finally made something decent I had to cut it into pieces to build drawing curves!

Each step of the process should be thought through and I had to be very patient. Being in a rush didn’t help. It was very hard for me, because I was very eager to see the results. But I passed that test, I was sizing, scribbling, stripping patiently until after few days of work I made my first hat. It was my very first project in the SJM.

The Hat #2
My second hat was a cap-tablet. It was quite different from creating my fist hat. I did not use a sewing-machine and made everything by hand. The only thing that was the same is blocking. As it turned out, the materials I chose to work with were not the most docile and easy, but we never look for easy ways . When you deal with chalenges you learn a lot more techniques and secrets, no one would have taught us this in college! The SJM team is true professionals with a strong expirience. Finishing touches: I consolidated the drapery, pasted lining, neatly made a hem and then the second hat was created.

Different, but very interesting things
In addition to the projects, which I had implemented by myself, It was very interesting to help and just observe ongoing work of the studio. For example, there was a hat collection built from from different collections over the past 30 years, which was getting ready for an exhibition “Bath in fashion” in the Holburne Museum, and also some orders from regular customers. The most exciting thing was my involvement in making my favorite headgear of the season – Stephen Jones + Jil Sander!

As it turned out, during these two weeks I could learn so much! Two weeks passed very quickly and now it is time to get back to my summer collection for the next season. Time flies fast!

Outcome.
The shapes, threads, needles, scratches, glue, beads, steam, feathers, airbrush… experience! It was unforgettable experience. Thank you, SJM!

TH: Tell us a little bit about the submission itself. It was built professionally – introduction, dance and message to Paul Taylor.
John: Yes I did plan my video submission, but I simply followed the guidelines provided. They wanted to know why I wanted to dance and get a glimpse of who I am as a dancer, so I tried to show them that to the best of my ability. I believe that video submissions like these are all about presenting yourself the way you would like to be seen. And the final product should be something that you would enjoy watching as well.

TH: How was your four-week intensive?
John: My experience at the Paul Taylor Summer Intensive was unforgettable. Paul Taylor is, of course, a legend, so it was an honor to work so closely with his legacy. All of the instructors were either previous or current dancers with Paul Taylor so they provided invaluable information into his work and they shared what they learned throughout their years performing with him. Receiving that quality of training provided new insights into my own dancing, and keys to discovering who I am as a dancer.

TH: What was the most unforgettable moment of your time at PTDC?
John: The most unforgettable moment of the intensive was getting to perform for Paul Taylor himself. Never in a million years would I have thought that would happen.

TH: How long have you been dancing? Why are passionate about dancing? Who inspires you to continue dancing?
John: I started taking real ballet classes at the age of seven, but I had always wanted to dance. For me, it’s always been the most pleasurable way of expressing myself, and I believe that we have only just begun to discover the vast options that dance can provide in way of communicating with others. And to this effect, a huge inspiration of mine is the late Pina Bausch. Her work, while insanely simple at times, always speaks great depths about its subject and with unbelievable clarity.

TH: What are you doing now professionally?
John: At the moment I am finishing up my second year as a Dance major at The Juilliard School, and I hope to become a professional dancer when I graduate in the spring of 2014.

TH: And a question for Russian dancers Do you know any Russian dancer who inspires you?

Congratulations to John on this great opportunity! Stay tuned in to new projects.

Fifty-one entries from 29 countries including Argentina, Finland and Indonesia and 518 entries from students representing 105 United States colleges and universities are in contention for the Gold, Silver and Bronze medal awards and cash prizes in five categories:

• Alternative
• Animation
• Documentary
• Narrative
• Foreign Student Film

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science established the Student Academy Awards in 1972 to encourage excellence in collegiate-level filmmaking.

At the 84th Academy Awards earlier this year, 2011 Student Academy Award winners Hallvar Witzø and Max Zähle were nominated in the Live Action Short Film category for “Tuba Atlantic” and “Raju.” Read our blog post about “Raju” here.

James Spione, a Student Academy Award winner in 1987, earned a nomination in the Documentary Short Subject category for “Incident in New Baghdad” at the 2012 Academy Awards.

The award ceremony will take place at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Screenings of the winning films will be a part of the presentation.

Congratulations to the nominees. We love seeing student filmmakers get the acknowledgement they deserve! View the list of entrants here.

Have you seen any of the nominated work? Share your recommendations!

You may have used stock sound effects of shattered windows or even canned laughter in your own videos for that extra dimension of camp. Many sound effects in movies and TV are recycled and placed whenever need calls for them, but only one has as rich and obscure a history as the “Wilhelm scream”–a disembodied gasp recorded under mysterious circumstances in the 1950s.  The Wilhelm scream (or simply, the Wilhelm), once a pure utility, is now the stuff of Hollywood legend. Making its appearance in over 80 films, the Wilhelm found hosts in films of popular directors like George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Peter Jackson.

Due to the difficulties involved in staging action sequences, sound effects teams frequently fill in scenes in need of more aural oomph in post-production. The Wilhelm scream was first utilized as a stock sound effect in 1951 for a Warner Bros. Pictures film called “Distant Drums,”  but took its name from a character named Wilhelm in a later picture called “The Charge at Feather River.” When a savvy sound engineer named Ben Burtt placed it into all the original “Star Wars” films as a kind of nod to its unacknowledged but widespread use, other sound engineers picked up on Burtt’s machinations, and so Wilhelm’s echo resounds in many studio blockbuster today.

Wilhelm has given wail in numerous Disney films, commercials, and TV shows like the “X-Files” and “Family Guy.” There is even a band named The Wilhelm Scream. Legend has it that Quentin Tarantino forced his sound crew to watch “Distant Drums” in the middle of shooting “Reservoir Dogs,” including the scream in the film, as well as in his “Kill Bill: Volume 1.” ”When Peter Jackson was told the history of the Wilhelm during the sound mix of “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (2002), he was so excited it was included and he had its volume raised–and insisted that it also be used in “Return of the King” (2003).”

Below is a compilation of some of Wilhelm’s greatest appearances for your viewing pleasure.

Once a pure utility and exhausted kitsch, the Wilhelm is both homage and fetish of Hollywood and beyond. By now the soundbite of cult status is not only ear candy for attentive cinephiles, but has, beyond the shadow of a doubt, infiltrated a deep part of our cultural psyche.

Do you have an all time favorite sound effect? What are some of your favorite movies utilizing the Wilhelm scream?

[source: hollywoodlostandfound]