By Definition In The Wilderness a short fashion film presented at La Jolla Fashion Film Festival. The film brings a connectivity to the world of fashion with a group of friends in the Coachella Valley desert region.
By Definition In The Wilderness Photo Credit LJIFFF
The friends become separated due to a desert storm. They have to overcome obstacles and find their way back to each other. Mathew Koppin, the film’s director, and producer states, “This film captures the edge of the independent spirit. Each person becomes lost in a desert storm.” There is a connectivity these friends’ share that drives them to reconnect in the end. The active urban style presents a brand meant that is perfect for daily wear.
By Definition, the clothing brand represented in the film, the fashion lifestyle brand’s mission is designing and creating an eco-friendly fashion line. The clothing line is contemporary with a classic feel.
By Definition In The Wilderness LJFFF Photo Credit Raymond L Forchion Jr.
Kristen, film costuming and brand partner, says, “we want to teach people why recycling clothing is important. Our clothing production provides job stability contributing to families and the community. We give 5% of all sales to By Definition Foundation. ” This foundation supports the planet by funding programs, individuals, and entities that work to improve the earth.
This fashion brand is providing connectivity for consumers to the fashion they buy. They connectivity with awareness to the production, eco-friendly inks, the value in recycling clothing, and care for our clothing.
The friends in the film, as well as the clothing they are wearing, have a strong connectivity to the world around them.
Film nominated for Best Editing and Cinematography.
Robots, World Premiere at La Jolla Fashion Film Festival, gives us insight to their award-winning film. This film awarded Best Directors for Josh Brandåo and Nicolai Kornum. This film provides an insight into the blurred world of technology and human emotions that are fluid between humans and droids.
How does this film connect to fashion?
“Robots” is an editorial style fashion film, which involves 6 primary designers, we invited them to take part in the project. The film uses fashion items creating the universe. This gives it a special aesthetic look, i.e. using close-ups of fashion items as doorways or buildings etc. We incorporate fashion with makeup and body painting for the characters’ look and use fashion accessories as props and plot points. This unique world creates the background for our story taking a critical look at our relationship with modern technology: smartphones and social media.
How does location play into the subconscious side of the human affections?
It might not play a big part in life, locations seem to disappear around us when our eyes become distracted and affected by an object or subject. Using film language, however, there is an option to create places and surroundings to build the atmosphere and mood of the characters to convey their feelings. This develops a subconscious level to an audience, which opens up many possibilities.
Robots Crew La Jolla Fashion Film Festival Red Carpet Photo Credit Raymond L Forchion Jr.
What is the one thing you do each day to make it successful?
Drink coffee in the morning.
What is your background in film and direction?
We have together made several fashion films over the last 6 years that have won several awards at festivals. We develop, produce, and finish the projects together from our photographic studio based in London.
Josh Brandao has a Master’s Degree in Fashion Photography from London College of Fashion and a degree in Moving Image and Performance Design from the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Nicolai Kornum worked for 8 years as a First Assistant Director in Feature Films, Commercials, and TV-Drama and trained at the European Film College in Directing and Editing.
When creating this film what was the advantage of being a short film?
Most of the fashion films we create are usually editorial fashion films showcasing several designers in the same way as a magazine editorial and are not an advertising for one specific brand. This means we have greater creative freedom but the budgets are lower, which makes short films ideal.
The short film format fits well for our stories and ideas, and is perfect for online distribution and showcasing at international festivals at this stage in our carriers.
This film takes on a message outside of the actual robot being the robot in the film. How was this juxtaposition developed?
We think it’s interesting how today we have become so attached to the great technology. We have the available in the palm of our hands that we seem more and more living inside the world of our smartphones and computers, perhaps neglecting what’s around us too. Of course, technology is important and has opened up a whole new world of possibilities and interactions.
In Robots, we tried to blur the lines between the humans and machines, playing with inverting the roles, both in the sense of making humans more like robots and giving actual robots human emotions.
What are the other locations is this film will be screening?
The La Jolla Fashion Film Festival in San Diego, California is Robots world premiere. From there we will be screening the film in the International Fashion Film Festival circuit. Our next stop is the Miami Fashion Film Festival.
This film uses fashion to create the sensory experience of reality and machines being difficult to differentiate between. This creates a conversation about this reality as a real possibility in the near future with the complex development of machines.
Robots Directors La Jolla Fashion Film Festival Red Carpet Photo Credit Raymond L Forchion Jr.
A side note, we enjoyed the directors fun stylish suits worn on the red carpet.
La Jolla Fashion Film Festival is a top fashion film festival. This year’s festival brings fabulous fashion, exceptional films, and a beautiful location in La Jolla California. Fred Sweet and Linda Comer present a wonderful festival.
Connect with 4Chion Lifestyle for your best lifestyle here:
Grace Wethor Red Carpet Photo Credit Raymond L Forchion Jr.
Wethor takes each day doing what she loves. She states, “2 weeks after my diagnosis I decided that modeling and acting are what I am doing with my life. I moved to Los Angeles and went full force. Before I knew it I was signed with an agent and manager.” She embraced the 8% living for 6 months with this diagnosis to the maximum. This decision and diagnosis took place two years ago. She focuses her goals, life, and mind on living each day.
Grace Wethor Fashion Runway Coverage Photo Credit Raymond L Forchion Jr.
Embracing each day and taking charge of her health she has accomplished:
Teen Vogue® It Girl provides her a place where she feels nostalgic. Attending Catholic school in Minnesota Teen Vogue® provided her a look that was more inspiring than her school uniform. Becoming an It Girl was a dream come true.
Grace Wethor Vogue® It Girl, Tammy Forchion Photo Credit Raymond L Forchion Jr.
These opportunities give Wethor a place to share her story. She embraces the idea that we are all living good days, bad days, and hard days. Wethor says, “I am three different people. There is sick Grace, there is normal teenage Grace, and model/actress Grace. I have found the perfect balance that works.” This balance is giving Wethor a life that is full and touching.
She wants everyone to know that no matter your situation you can live life to the fullest. She has been able to share her story of life living with a brain tumor, sharing her talents, and joining forces with Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
Grace Wethor Vogue Red Carpet Photo Credit Raymond L Forchion Jr.
Wethor took the ability to live life to the fullest by asking herself what do I want from life. She has made those dreams come true through continued medical care, headaches, and other side effects. Wethor forges through all this with strength, determination, and a wonderful mother who listens to her dreams. Wethor will keep embracing her dreams and making a positive impact in the world.
Allegoria directed by Ines von Bonhorst, she is a director, producer, and video artist. Her work includes documentaries, long and short films, experimental films and video art installations, worldwide. Yuri Pirondi work reflects a relationship between visual art and cinematic experience. He Follows a multidisciplinary and transversal artistic direction in which he collaborates with different artists. This couple’s talents combine creatingAllegoria, a short fashion film, screened at La Jolla Fashion Film Festival.
Allegoria Synopsis: A fashion short film based on the subconscious side of the human affections.
The film is about the subconscious side of the human affections. How does this film connect to fashion?
Usually, fashion is all about our external shell, how we appear, how we look to other people. Our idea instead is to take out our hidden side and show it in a shape of cinematic emotion, where our main character is fighting against her doppelgänger.
As the movie developed, also the dress does. From a tight look that constraint the actress in the beginning of the movie, slowly our character reaches her freedom, as well as the clothes, became light and soft.
The ideas behind the look of our actress are from our great stylist Daniela Corcio, also the designer of IKONOSTAS, the dresses used in the video.
How does location play into the subconscious side of the human affections?
The location in our video is a middle-age castle based in North Italy. By itself a castle is like a fort, this metaphor; the castle represents the mood of our main character. When she finally manages to be herself, she runs away from the castle, in other terms the location work as a main element in the movie.
What is the one thing you do each day to make it successful?
Keep creating. Keep doing movies! Working hard every day, and always have a new project in mind to develop it!
What is your background in film and direction?
As a couple, we have 2 different backgrounds. Ines has a sharp eye on working with actors and editing, developed during the years. Yuri instead has a background more focus on the photography and mise-en-scene. We are definitely complementary in our job!
What is your insight into women in film creation, with 7.5% being directed by women (Women In Film)?
As the woman co-director, I can describe my own feelings and thoughts and try to trespass those same moods to film and acting.
The majority of women pass from different period and moods and I think there is no one better than other women to speak about that same feeling.
The statistics are low but I have an optimist view where the numbers are getting higher, at the moment there are much more women studying film and I think the statistics will change in a near future.
What is one way that we can support women created films as a participant in films?
I think the best way is to work hard every day and try to create your own identity, as a woman and as an individual. In my opinion, anyone that insists and works hard for what they want, in one way or another they end up reaching their goals. Unfortunately as a woman, a majority of the times, you have to do it even harder. The way to support women in films is to include more female characters and try to understand their point of views.
When creating this film what was the advantage of being a short film?
The main advantages to making a short are the low costs of production and the short time to make the movie, so you can have a product in your hand in few days of work. We would love to work on a feature movie instead, where you can have plenty of time to develop story and characters.
Subconscious and surrealism is a theme through out your films how did you mix this with Allegoria?
Yes, we usually work with surrealist images, in the case of Allegoria we worked on the idea of doppelgänger effect, where our main character talk with her double to discover her persona and finally be free from her self-judgment.
What are other locations this film will be screening?
The movie aside La Jolla Fashion Film Festival has been shown at the Canadian Fashion Film Festival in Calgary, and also is trying to participate at Milano Fashion Film Festival, Istanbul, Brussels, London, and Porto.
The film takes fashion full circle with the concept of what is real and not real, similar to the Allegory of The Cave by Plato.
Okja, a film with a juxtaposition on genres, screens at Grand Théâtre Lumière at Cannes Film Festival. This film’s distribution and financing by Netflix. The film’s director, BONG Joon Ho and cast take on the controversy surrounding the new media at Cannes in stride. The film brings to the forefront the concept of capitalism and conservation of natural resources.
Tilda Swinton (Lucy Mirando) Seo-hyun An (Mija) Okja
The film synopsis: Mija, a young girl who risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend, a mystical animal named Okja. The film takes on the concept of environment, consumerism, and childhood imagination.
Tilda Swinton, Oscar award-winning actress, plays Lucy Mirando CEO of the Mirando Corporation in the film. Mirando provides a sterile perfect image to the public, but brings the sense that there is more behind the scenes. The company developed the mystical creature. Swinton says, “The feeling of dedication and simplicity in living life that is what animals can teach us.” This film demonstrates the natural environment and capitalism struggle.
The film’s starting location creates an environment of its own. The serene mountains and childhood imagination brings a strong force of love, contrary to the conflict and suffering throughout the film.
Seo-Hyun Ahn, actress Mija, states, “I love animals too. Before shooting Okja I loved to eat meat, particularly pork. I have been greatly influenced by the character, Mija. I am sure I will not eat as much meat as before.” She is from South Korea and her career includes the film Monster.
Okja and Seo-Hyun Ahn (Mija) Photo Credit FDC Courtesy Cannes Film Festival
Jake Gyllenhaal is excited about this film’s message and ability to reach hundreds of thousands through the limited theatre screenings and streaming. He states, “Sometimes it’s not just an issue of aim, it’s also an issue of when a movie comes out and what it has to say, and I think there’s no better time than now for something like this.” Okja provides a message that can be communicated to audiences worldwide.
Seo-Hyun Ahn (Mija) Cannes FIlm Festival Photo Credit FDC Courtesy Cannes Film Festival
Okja brings to Cannes Film Festival the first Netflix film screening. The debate began early in the festival about the online streaming media. Pedro Almodovar, the president of the Palme d’Or jury, states at a press conference “the screen for films should not be smaller than the chair on which you’re sitting.”
Will Smith, Palme d’Or juror, discusses the ability of his young adult children to enjoy a movie in the theatre and on home screens. He brings forward the concept that many films are not viewed in the cinema theatre. These options allow his children to experience cinema films with the escape and grandeur intended while experiencing films they would otherwise never view.
Bong, at the film’s press conference, says, “loved working with the company, its willingness to authorize a higher budget and it was a wonderful experience.” There was a glitch for the first few minutes of the screening. He also explains that he was, “excited that the press could watch the opening film scene twice.”
Swinton, states. “It’s really important the president feels free to make any statement he or she wants … but if you want to know what I really think — there’s room for everybody,” She further explains that this debate brings forward the way we are entertained and what respect is brought to the art of film. The cast tells us who there Okja is in their life here. Who is your Okja?
See the film’s photo collection here https://4chionlifestyle.com/okja-netflix-film-photos/
The Beguiled Red Carpet Photo Credit Mathilde Petit FDC Cannes Film Festival
The Beguiled is one of the most anticipated films at Cannes Film Festival. Director, Sofia Coppola, brings the woman’s point of view and how it was for these women during this time period. The original film was from the man’s point of view. This point of view brings a new dynamic to the melodramatic remake.
Film synopsis At a girls’ school in Virginia during the Civil War, where the young women are sheltered from the outside world, a wounded Union soldier is taken in. Soon, the house is taken over with sexual tension, rivalries, and an unexpected turn of events.
The Beguiled Photo Credit FDC Courtesy Cannes Film
This film is a remake of (The Beguiled (1971). Both films based on the novel The Beguiledby Thomas Cullinan. The first film brings the male perspective of a wounded Union soldier. Coppola brings the story back with the perspective of the women in the boarding school.
The Beguiled Movie Photo Credit FDC Courtesy Cannes Film
The revisiting of The Beguiled creates its own dynamics. Coppola says, “I never tried to remake the film, go back and tell my story. I wanted to forget that and to imagine how I would make this film.” She brings the women’s stories and perspective to the forefront.
The Beguiled Photo Credit FDC Courtesy Cannes Film
Coppola discusses the film being a feminist film, she states, “It is up to the audience to determine how they want to take it. I put my thoughts into film and you can determine how it affects you. I was making the film from the female point of view. The core of the story is the power struggle between the male and female.” The story brings this struggle to the center of the film.
Living in a boarding school atmosphere where they are all women who are functioning well, until the new dynamic, Farrell enters the school. Kidman states about Farrell’s character, “I think he comes in an ruins everything. We were fine. We only could not procreate. Good riddance to him.” The dynamic changes for each person in the film.
The Beguiled Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival Photo Credit FDC Courtesy Cannes Film Festival
Kirsten Dunst, plays Edwina Dabney in the film, says “all these people pent up together no matter male, female, or a mixture. There will always be something that comes out it is a survivalist technique. Colin just happens to be what all our aggression, energy, and emotions corseted up, let’s say. They get unleashed because this new dynamic comes in.” This does bring a change for the girls attending the boarding school.
The Beguiled Nicole Kidman CreditFDC Courtesy Cannes Film Festival
Nicole Kidman recalls Martha Farnsworth, her character in the film, “is very maternal. Kidman states, “She is there to protect these girls in a very treacherous difficult time. Her motivation is to protect them, to guide them, to bring them, so when the war ends they are capable.” Farrell’s character makes it difficult for the continued protection.
Colin Farrell, John McBurney character in the film, states “It has been a journeyman to get here. Many miles of roads and many corsets. It was an amazing experience shooting this film. Coppola sets a particular mood, one that is of comfort, of ease, trust, and an environment that allows you as an actor to explore and play. It was my favorite experience and shoot. Sophia is a creative beast of an engine with tenderness, elegance, and a gentility.” Looking forward to this film? It will be in theaters June 20, 2017.
The Beguiled Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival Credit FDC Courtesy Cannes Film Festival
Just a few fun notes from the press conference Kidman and Coppola often swiped their hair from the left side of their faces at the same time. Kidman discusses working through mistakes, “I try to focus on the positive. Sometimes you fail and sometimes you succeed. That is the journey. You just get back up. . . You fall over you brush off your knees and get back up. It is a really really hard thing to do. You cry and you feel. It is not saying don’t feel, but experience it navigates and get move through it. . . I’ll learn from everything.”
This 70th year will continue to evolve film worldwide. Stay tuned here for coverage of events from fashion, red carpet, actresses/actors, and films.
The Jury and the 2017 winners Image Credit: Alberto Pizzoli: AFP
Cannes Film Festival 2017 ends with just as much grandeur as the last 70 years. The thousands of films, masterclasses, and fashion on the red carpet represents the best in film and arts.
The juries enjoyed film after film. The jury members include:
The closing ceremonies ended the festival with honoring the top films with a presentation. Nicole Kidman in regards to her honor, states (video from Nashville Tennessee) “I feel blessed to be able to work in this profession. The 70th celebration was incredible; it was the celebration of cinema and stories.” This season Cannes Film Festival continues to draw positive attention to the top world-class film festival. Looking forward to 70 more years at Cannes.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR Joaquin PHOENIX in YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE by Lynne RAMSAY
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS
Diane KRUGER in AUS DEM NICHTS (In The Fade) by Fatih AKIN
JURY PRIZE
NELYUBOV (Loveless) by Andrey ZVYAGINTSEV
BEST SCREENPLAY EX-ÆQUO
Yorgos LANTHIMOS and Efthimis FILIPPOU
for THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER
Lynne RAMSAY
for YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
SHORT FILMS
PALME D’OR
XIAO CHENG ER YUE (A Gentle Night) by QIU Yang
MENTION DISTINCTION BY THE JURY
KATTO (The Ceiling) by Teppo AIRAKSINEN
CAMÉRA D’OR
“UN CERTAIN REGARD” PRIZE
LERD (UN HOMME INTÈGRE – A MAN OF INTEGRITY)
by Mohammad Rasoulof
PRIZE FOR BEST ACTRESS
JASMINE TRINCA for FORTUNATA by Sergio Castellitto
PRIZE FOR THE BEST POETIC NARRATIVE
BARBARA de Mathieu Amalric
PRIZE FOR BEST DIRECTION
Taylor Sheridan for WIND RIVER
JURY PRIZE
LAS HIJAS DE ABRIL (APRIL’S DAUGHTER) by Michel Franco
JEUNE FEMME (Montparnasse Bienvenüe) by Léonor SERRAILLE
presented at UN CERTAIN REGARD
The CST Jury awarded the VULCAIN PRIZE FOR ARTIST-TECHNICIAN to Josefin ASBERG The Cinéfondation and Short Films
First Prize
PAUL EST LÀ (Paul Is Here )
directed by Valentina MAUREL
INSAS, Belgium
Second Prize
HEYVAN (AniMal )
directed by Bahram & Bahman ARK
Iranian National School of Cinema, Iran Third Prize
DEUX ÉGARÉS SONT MORTS (Two Youths Died)
directed by Tommaso USBERTI
La Fémis, France Awards
€15,000 grant for the First Prize, €11,250 for the Second and €7,500 for the Third.
The winner of the First Prize is also guaranteed the presentation of his/her first feature film at the Festival de Cannes.
Rerun in Paris
The awarded films will be screen at Cinéma du Panthéon on May 30th at 7 p.m.
All the films of the Cinéfondation selection will screen at the Cinémathèque Française on May 31st & June 1st.
Lady Gaga is preparing for the biggest show in sports, the Super Bowl Halftime Show. The practices and song list not released to the press at this time. This classically trained musician will present a top performance. The stakes for any performance are high. There is nothing comparing to Lady Gaga and Diane Warren’s 2016 Oscars performance ‘Til It Happens to You.
This song was the theme song, The Hunting Ground, a film about multiple students who allegedly sexually assaulted at college campuses, and there claims ignored or required to navigate a complex academic bureaucracy addressing their claims. This collaboration nominated for an 88th Oscars MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG) and Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. We meet Diane Warren, at the Creative Arts Emmys®.
Emmys® Creative Arts
Diane Warren’s award-winning music writing started early in life. One of her first songs was Solitaire and Hot Night, for Ghostbusters. She has worked for decades creating award-winning music.
She states, “this song became something more than ever expected. Listening to the stories of these victims compelled me to write the song. I want this song to be the inspiration to all going through a difficult time.” We talked about the moment at the Oscars® when the victims filled the stage. The emotion that filled the room as they stood to share their message of being a victim written on their arms. She said, “It was a moment to listen and feel.”
Backstage Emmys® Creative Arts Awards Diane Warren
Diane Warren is the recipient of Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, at The Emmys®. She said, “I am a bit overwhelmed at this moment.” This song has carried this message to many sexual assault victims and many more.
“‘Til it happens to you, you won’t know
It won’t be real (how could you know?)
No it won’t be real (how could you know?)
Won’t know how it feels.” (‘Til It Happens To You)
The statistics, “Every 98 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. And every 8 minutes, that victim is a child. Meanwhile, only 6 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison.” (RANN).
“If nothing changes, more than 100,000 college students will be sexually assaulted in the upcoming school year.” (Kilpatrick, Resnick, Ruggiero, Conoscenti, McCauley (2007) The Hunting Ground)
