THIS MUST BE THE ONLY FANTASY…a short film.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, mostly because we get busy over here.  REALLY busy.  And because, frankly, shit happens.  Big things take place and instead of writing about it, you retreat and decide that living it is the only way to get through to the other side.  You decide that caring about the things that seem to matter when you do what we do: who shot what big editorial, who booked that big campaign, being seen at that magazine party, what photographer is dating which models, selfies, instavids, “tag me” AAAAAGH!!! – it can all get so fucking exhausting!!!  So we retreat, withdraw from it all for the opportunity to get back to who we are.  We have to give ourselves that much so that we can come back with a fresh outlook and a new set of survival skills to take on each day.

I’ve been plugging away at the new Summer issue of PhotogenicsMAG, which is set to release tomorrow, but in the meantime I wanted to share this short film which I find symbolically appropriate for the way a lot of people are feeling around me.  The Journey, the Heroine, the Bad Boys, the Villain, the Triumph, and let’s face it – everyone wants to ride that unicorn through the streets of LA.  So, enjoy this extremely well-done short by RODARTE and TODD COLE featuring our rising star, DAKOTA with music by one of my all time favorite bands, BEACH HOUSE.

 

NOTES OF MEMORY…(father’s day)

click to view…Notes of Memory

“Notes of Memory” is a short film by Michelle Peerali featuring our very own Stefanie Wood, Alli Cripe, Dakota Bottcher, Adesuwa Aighewi, and Leore Hayon as they share really moving accounts of their favorite scent memory on Style.com.  Really well done…and it got me thinking of the scents that mean the most to me.

As a child, my dad was never the warm, loving type.  He was stoic, solemn, the stern provider, a military man.  He was the head of the household with strict and sometimes unreasonable rules, but there was never any doubt that he loved us.  I always knew that he did…he was just hell bent on carving out a good life for his family.  He rarely picked me up, but when he did the smell of his $4 BRUT Cologne from the drug store stuck to my clothes for hours.  When he did, I knew I was safe.

Now, I’m a fully developed human, and he’s a different man.  He’s… jolly even.  He and my mom travel the world, organize medical missions, and plant community gardens in their homeland.  He loves a nice red wine and enjoys hiking, as well as an occasional secret-back-alley cigarette on special occasions (The jig’s up, Dad. We know. 😉 )  He’s a different man than the man I knew growing up, but two things have remained:  He still loves his family more than anything, and he still wears $4 BRUT Cologne from the drug store.  Some things never change.

Happy Father’s Day, DAD!  You’re really the best dad ever. – M-

“Waiting For Tomorrow To Wake Up” x MONSTER CHILDREN x

Last week, I met up with Nicci and art department babe, Emily at the launch of Monster Children’s 37th Issue and the premier of Mike Piscitelli’s short film, “Waiting for Tomorrow to Wake Up.”  The party took place underneath a freeway overpass in a grungy studio/venue called Wild Honey Studios.  Something really stuck with me about that night.  There was something really surreal about it.

It was already a dreamy night to begin with. The rain and fog always do it to me. When I arrive, there’s a crowd of low-key skate/fashion people milling around. The low light from the garden lights make it difficult, but I finally spot my friends vibing out next to Erin Wasson. I reach for a beer, check out the short film looping on the seamless, go out to hear the band, and I look up to see this:

The best part is that the short film featuring our models Torian, Brianna, Leore, and Dakota is really fucking good.  It made me feel nostalgic for the days when the word “consequences” had no bearing on the decision to get into some trouble…when we felt free and untouchable.

Check out the short film’s editorial companion piece in Issue 37 of Monster Children Magazine available for purchase by clicking the cover below:

                                                                  -M-