Women of Note

My girl Animalia has released a new music video for her song...

Mon, 13 May 2013 23:56:00 -0400

My girl Animalia has released a new music video for her song “Swimming”. Forget witchy– the girl is going for the sorcerer spot. Watch her get creepy and light fire with her fingers and stuff. There’s nothing better than an artist unfolding, and this wee Aussie is just full of surprises. xo

Emma Ruth Rundle has announced she’s working on a solo...

Mon, 13 May 2013 07:18:00 -0400

Emma Ruth Rundle has announced she’s working on a solo album to be released later this year. The Marriages singer/guitarist hinted a retreat towards her own creative ventures when we spoke in Februrary, and so to see such solitified means it’s all high-fives over here. (high-fiving myself… I’ll make it work.) Here’s a song Rundle wrote for her sister– a chilly acoustic tease.

One of my favourite artists who I can’t believe isn’t the most famous.

FIRST PEEK AT AUSTRA’S NEW ALBUM. WE’VE BEEN WAITING...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:56:59 -0400

FIRST PEEK AT AUSTRA’S NEW ALBUM. WE’VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG.

Kim, oh Kim. It’s her birthday today. This affects...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:43:00 -0400

Kim, oh Kim. It’s her birthday today. This affects everyone, as she does own most of our souls. A cat call; a guitar riff, the ability to hold herself as an equal player in a game so full of dudes. She is the equinox of female prosperity in the music world, and a whole lot to look up to. Best of days, Mother Music. xx

Dear Future, Look for me under the brilliantly bold framework...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 05:31:00 -0400

Dear Future,

Look for me under the brilliantly bold framework of a Lindsey Thornburg cloak. Dress me, dazzle me, make me a darling. I would like to be nestled, encased and underneath it all. Full sleeves and floor length maxis to flirt with the dark days. This is where I will be.

Yours Truly,

laura P.

Grimes Drops Knowledge

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:25:00 -0400

Grimes Drops Knowledge:

Grimes gets candid on her blog about gender roles in the music industry. A breath of fresh logic. Click the above link to read the full post.

ERYKAH BADU + JANELLE MONAE. The queens command– not exactly...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:55:00 -0400

ERYKAH BADU + JANELLE MONAE. The queens command– not exactly what I was expecting, a bit poppy, but the track’s last quarter rips pretty $good$. What do you guys think?

Dorothy and Alice. (Thanks Carmen)

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:08:00 -0400

Dorothy and Alice. (Thanks Carmen)

new from jenny.

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 09:49:00 -0400

new from jenny.

Interview: Sarah Gadon

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:23:00 -0400

(Photography by Caitlin Cronenberg)

*This interview was initially done for Dazed and Confused, but it ended up getting x-ed from publication for logistical reasons. (EG: negotiations with steely-eyed PR peeps proved tricky with photo shoot + interview time.) Dazed is very much about maintaining original photography and content, and so its a shame things couldn’t get worked out. Anyhow, not to fret, I figured I’d just post it here alongside this amazing shot of Sarah via Caitlin Cronenberg. Please Enjoy!

—

Anyone with the advantage of first-world problems and the internet knows celebrity is just another subset to this so-called modern life. In the new sci-fi thriller, Antiviral, however, Toronto’s rising it-girl Sarah Gadon takes life in the limelight to a darker decree. In a world where obsessed fans pay top dollar to be injected by celebrity sicknesses, super starlet Hannah Geist (played by Gadon) is in the utmost of demand. The film’s mind-bending unveil of a cultural psychosis isn’t for the squeamish, as blood, needles, and distortion offset its jeering commentary on the thrones of obsession, desire, and fame.

Gadon’s become somewhat of a family jewel for the Cronenberg clan through her back-to-back triad of films by both David and Brandon Cronenberg. A Dangerous Method and Cosmopolis catapulted her into international acclaim in– what seems like– a blink of an eye, but the 25-year old actor and university student is moving fast with two new films set for release in early 2013 and her own self-directed documentary about her work with photographer Caitlin Cronenburg on Antiviral.

Sarah sat down with me to talk about film, Juliette Binoche, and art of it all.

——————————

You’re a hot prospect for the obsessed-fan demographic in Antiviral. Did any of your own experiences with fame help you hone into the role?

Initially, I was unsure about the role because I didn’t feel much of a connection to Hannah in the script. She was this glitzed-out “icon” type, and I was concerned she was just a bit static. I had a sit-down with Brandon who really stressed the dimension he wanted to build for this starlet– she is an icon but also a young woman with a great deal of vulnerability. As an actor, you’re always looking for an emotional challenge, and so once I got the full picture the prospect of being in the eye of this commentary was very intriguing.

You were initially concerned about being portrayed as just a pretty face?

Well, I was also taking feminist film theory course at the time and had just come off of Laura Mulvey’s “Visual Pleasures in Narrative Cinema”. I was nervous that Hannah Geist was really just a fetish object. I tried to convince Brandon to give me the part of the villain. (laughs) But delving into Hannah’s character turned into something really fun and fascinating– the idea of wrenching out her many conflicting qualities and giving her a more human side.

Did you take any inspiration from real-world figures?

There were a lot of different ideas for Hannah. We didn’t want base her on a specific person because we didn’t want her to be located anywhere in time. However, we did look to borrow pieces from women like Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana– women who spent their lives being immortalized into complete icons.

The film is loaded with visual imagery– lots of adverts, background photography, etc. How did this play into your work the film?

We spent a week alone just doing pre-production which was interesting because it was shooting before shooting, and that was a different experience for me. All the pre-production ended up being a huge part of the set deck that further added to the film’s course. I was able to shape my character through the images you see of Hannah through the film. I got to work closely with Brandon’s sister, Caitlin Cronenburg, on this since she did the photography for the film. That was fun.

You study film theory. How does this align with your work as an actor?

I’m eager to learn about film and the culture of film. I’m always looking for ways to contribute to the art form, and so my studies help fuel me in this respect. I think a lot of actors look to storylines and character when considering projects and that’s definitely on my list, but I often think about how roles fall within a greater body of work– whether its my own or the director’s or another actor’s. I guess my studies allow me to be aware of film in its grand scheme.

So you’re a film buff?

I’d say so. I love Italian Realism– Momma Roma, Shoeshine, Ossessione. The humanity and the struggle draw me in. I also adore Philippe Falardeau’s work. Tarantino. Scorsese. The list goes on…

Do you see yourself writing or directing at some point?

I’d like to experiment. I’ve been dabbling a bit lately with a half hour documentary about my work experience with Caitlin Cronenberg (who did the photography) on the set of Antiviral. I’m editing that now and learning a lot. But I think if I were to direct a feature, I’d want to go to study to learn a lot more technique than what I have right now. I’m pretty consumed at the moment between acting and academia, but I’d definitely like to go behind the lens at some point.

What’s a great script?

The context of a script is always key for me. For example, everyone is so interested in the excess of fame and how it develops to affect our day-to-day culture. I read the Antiviral script and thought: hey, someone has taken this huge topic and written a really elegant dialogue about the industry and the excess of it all. This is something I talk about with my friends all the time, and now it’s all here in a very well-thought satire.

Is there a family resemblance to the Cronenbergs as directors?

I’d definitely say they’re different in the sense that they’re in very different places in their career. This is Brandon’s first feature film, and so he is still very much a student as he leads the pack. It was so beautiful to see him blossom through the duration of the film. With David, he’ll walk onto set and you know that he’s a master filmmaker. He’s got years behind him. That said, I think the way they command their crew and treat the people they work with is similar. There is thoughtfulness and an intelligence that seems to run in the blood.

Three words to describe Cronenberg Senior?

Genius. Terrifying. Sweetheart. (Terrifying because I’m sure he’d love me to say that…)

And Brandon?

Awkward. Intelligent. Sweetheart. (the biggest sweetheart)

Speaking of obsessed fans, how was working with Rob Pattison on Cosmopolis?

Hmm.. it was pretty serious business. (laughs) Although, working on this film opposite Rob was such a rich experience because we had this great complexity to hash out together with our characters. It’s the kind of film that I’m still talking about with people– some people think my character represents autonomy, others will say sex, and then other people think I’m void of sexuality. Everyone has an opinion on that and I really love hearing it. It’s a challenging film, so I think people really like to share their opinions about it.

The last year has been a big one for you. Can you give us a highlight?

I had a great moment with Juliette Binoche at Cannes this year who was also in Cosmopolis. We hadn’t actually met until we were all on the red carpet together as a cast, and it was very chaotic. We got shoved into private cars for transportation, and all of a sudden I found myself alone in a car with Juliette Binoche– just the two of us. She looked at me and we had this really odd exchange. She said to me that Cannes was such an important festival to her because she was born there… and she told me that she thought I was “very beautiful” in Cosmopolis. And she then told me to make art. ( “Make Art, Make Art.”) It was just one of those surreal pockets of time. A real life moment– and so yes, I think I’ll make art…

What’s next for you?

I’ll finish editing my documentary and gear up to promote two films that I’m so excited to have been a part of, “An Enemy” and “Belle”. I want to keep working in Canada and internationally, and to continue working with auteur directors who can provide me with new challenge and experience. There are a few prospects for the new year… so we will see!

Top 3 Sci-fi / Horror Film picks?

The Fly by David Cronenberg (1986)

1986 classic Cronenberg: A wild and brilliant scientist transforms into a giant man/fly hybrid after one of his experiments goes horribly wrong.

Blade Runner by Ridley Scott (1982)

Action movie meets science fiction. It’s a story about a blade runner who has to track down and terminate 4 robots who hijacked a ship in space and have returned to earth seeking their maker.

Diabolique (1955)

This one is less sci-fi and more horror. It’s about the wife of a cruel headmaster and his mistress who conspire to kill him. However, things go awry when the body disappears and strange events begin to haunt the two women.

Karen O is back. And she’s blonde. New YYY’s tracks...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 02:00:00 -0400

Karen O is back. And she’s blonde. New YYY’s tracks are happening. Nobody haunts like she does.

Sweet video.

some go for longevity. others flash their tits and...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 01:58:40 -0400

some go for longevity. others flash their tits and smile.

whatever works.

Photo

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 01:42:51 -0400

Amy Hempel shares some wise on writing. Beaut.

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 12:36:00 -0400

Amy Hempel shares some wise on writing. Beaut.

Romi of The xx and Kate Stelmanis of Austra on their recent tour...

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 20:42:00 -0400

Romi of The xx and Kate Stelmanis of Austra on their recent tour together. Shot by the lovely Hannah Marshall. How to resist such cuteness? (Check out Hannah’s site for more.)

some dayz. Louise Brooks by Guido Crepax (Merci, Ms....

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:43:00 -0400

some dayz.

Louise Brooks by Guido Crepax (Merci, Ms. Garconnére)

I was at The Mod Club on Saturday, nicely nestled in a sea of...

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:26:00 -0500

I was at The Mod Club on Saturday, nicely nestled in a sea of mostly burly bearded dudes, awaiting the Bosnian Rainbows and Marriages double bill. I always feel a tad inadequate in this kind of music setting–– the proggy/ instrumental / post-rock / however-you-wanna-spin-it sound–– given the fact that I am no musician and not at all versed in what it is those crazy kids are actually doing up there. All I know is that I love listening and that it makes me feel nice. Prog fans are almost always musicians themselves, but I think of the stuff as being kind of like a blanket: it’s just there and it’s good. I sometimes imagine a scenario where I’m cornered by angry niche nerds shouting smart, declarative disections of the 6th chord of the second guitar solo. I’ve yet to be accosted, which is a relief.

Anyway, I came for Marriages and stayed for Bosnian Rainbows. In the aftermath, I feel the need to plug two really incredible women worth knowing about. They are: Emma Ruth Rundle and Teresa Suárez.

Although I had not much of a backstory on Bosnian Rainbows beyond being an Omar Rodriguez supergroup, there was no walking away from vocalist Teresa Suárez’s (aka Terri Gender Bender of The Butcherettes) immediate guitar-induced head-thrashing and wild stage moves. This, coupled with the fact that every song in the set was THE instrumentally-ripe masterpiece to score your life to, I could only fall into submission and make occasional eye-contact with a bystander via eyeballs (“come ON”). Apparently, there was a time when she dressed as a housewife onstage and and doused herself in blood. None of that this time around, but the intregration of like-theatrics made it difficult to look away.

Emma Ruth of Marriages is another gem. We chatted after the set, and her modesty killis me. The artist is a wicked illustrator and delegates her time between a triad of musical groups. In Marriages, she blends her vocals with heavy instrumentals. Her pet project, The Nocturnes, is a group who give a softer, more shoe-gazy feel, and also features lovely instrumental work. Finally, Red Sparowes, the band that would form a longstanding musical partnership with bassist, Greg Burns. (Also of Marriages) There’s a lot going on here, you see? The tiny rocker also mentioned she’s hoping to do some solo work sometime soon. I can’t have enough good things to say about Emma– a sweetheart and an artist in many respects. You should definitely check her out.

One of my nearest and dearest, Jill Krasnicki of Animalia, has...

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 23:02:00 -0500

One of my nearest and dearest, Jill Krasnicki of Animalia, has released a wicked new song with the visuals to match. Did you know the polar bear sweater she’s wearing is part of her at-home daily loungewear? This is just another day in the life of one lovably freaky femme. Check it out and acquire some new dance moves.

(Also: this is kind of a video premiere since she’s not posting tonight “because most people are watching the Grammys”.) Lovesit.

I officially fell in love with Michelle Williams after reading a...

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:26:00 -0500

I officially fell in love with Michelle Williams after reading a feature interview in Hobo Magazine’s Issue #13. Her elegance is always to the max. Of all the creative professions available to man, acting seems to get the brunt of things, since there are so many tossers seeking the spotlight with glamour and extravagent lifestyles as the incentive. It’s all too easy to overlook the art of t r a n s f o rm a t i o n. The above interview features Williams being her usual poised self shedding insight into the heart of her craft. Love her and learn.

Thanks Another.

Reading List: Juliet Escoria

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:31:00 -0500

Juliet Escoria is voiced, and has the knack for realizing the voices of others. If you’re needing some direction, check out a few of this young fleur’s literary staples:

Joan Didion is my idol, pretty much. She is the person I want to write like the most, and a fucking genius, and true geniuses are pretty goddamn rare. (Slouching Toward Bethlehem)
Amy Hempel is able to point out the weird, the hilarious, and the heartbreaking in a few swift and precisely aimed sentences. She’s also magic. (The Collected Stories)
Mary Gaitskill has a razor-sharp eye and is frighteningly smart, and is not afraid to focus that eye and intelligence on the ugliest parts that make us human. I also find streaks of heartbreaking sweetness in her stories and books, but I do think a certain degree of pathos is required to accomplish this. (Because They Wanted To)

A few other writers I would like to mention, because I admire them both as people and writers: Fiona Maazel, Scott McClanahan, xTx, Mishka Shubaly, Anna Prushinskaya, Jenny D. Williams. Go buy their books and/or read all their stories. If you don’t like them, it’s cus you’re fucked.

. Photo credit: Katelan V. Foisy