Animator Richard Cullen has just been nominated for a BIMA award (British Interactive Media Association) for his work on the music video for 'Who Would Have Thought'.
The video has been shortlisted with 4 other nominees for an award in the Film and Animation category. Other contenders for the award include clients like the British mobile phone company Orange and the BBC.
This is a wonderful achievement for Richard, PixelFing, Powdered Sugar and Darren Hayes.
'Who Would Have Thought' appears with 12 other animated and filmed music videos on the limited edition 'This Delicate Film We've Made' DVD, due for release on Dec 1st. If you haven't already, check out the trailer HERE
You can check out the other nominees at BIMA's site over here.
I know that religion and politics are the worst topics to discuss at a dinner party - let alone on a 'celebrity' blog. But I'd like to think that we all feel at least mildly closer than that.
I feel so strongly about the need for a change of guard at the helm of the government of the most influential nation in the world that I simply can't keep quiet about it. I'm absolutely terrified of the possibility that someone like Sarah Palin could be calling the shots in the White house next to a rebublican President.
Let me explain that, as a citizen of the world, and as someone who is and has been a tax paying 'American' for over a decade - I feel the right to have an opinion on this most serious of world events.
Our world is in chaos - and has been - since the turn of this century. And the lynch pin of getting us out of this turmoil lies in the future of the next U.S Presidential election. I truly believe that.
Let me assure any of my U.S friends - I'm a fan. I love America. I love everything she stands for. America was the country that gave me hope as a child - the country that proved that dreams were possible and that anyone could 'make it'. She represented all the wonderful potential inside 'everyman'. My biggest wish as a child was simply to go there one day.
I'll never forget the first time I ever saw her shores. Or the buzz I got just breathing in her air. Who knew that years later I'd grow up and make it there.. and live by the sea in Sausalito for almost 7 years? Until recently, those years were the happiest of my life!
When I first left America to move to England - I cried. Full of sadness for leaving. But also sadness for the loss of something that had been missing for a while. The America that I knew. That we all knew.
I have missed my friend for a few years now. But I want her to come back. Strong. Proud. True. Full of dignity, character and an undeniable moral compass that we all expect.
This is beyond, republican or democrat. It's about the responsibility of being a hero.
it's not always easy being a big brother or sister. Sometimes you have to do what's right instead of just what suits you best. And I hope and pray that this year, Ameicans stand up and do their part to make sure that the world's biggest hero stands tall again.
If you're at all curious as to where you stand, and who you should vote for, perhaps you could invest five minutes of your time to DO THE SURVEY on this page.
I'm not here to campaign for Obama. It's no secret I'm a democrat. But if you're even slightly concerned about the future of our world, and have never voted before - Please consider asking yourself what is important in your life and who you would vote for if you could.
We're at a precipice here that we've never been at before. The world economy collapsing is the least of our troubles as a global nation. Global warming, Aids epidemics, the changing of constitutions to legalize discrimination. Knife crime. Abuse. The world is sending us a message and it's time we picked it up.
I love you all - and I hope you know this comes from a sense of urgency about our world rather than a need to preach.
A few answers to some recently asked questions about the new DVD
WILL THE DELUXE EDITION BE SOLD IN STORES?
*No. There are currently no plans to make the deluxe edition available in retail stores. The 'deluxe' was always meant to be a limited edition via the website only. Because it is such an expensive item to produce (the 48 page book, glasses, packaging and years of animation!) - there was never going to be a 'cheap' way of producing them in mass quantities. So we decided to do a limited run in deluxe packaging via the website.
WILL THERE BE A STANDARD EDITION RELEASED IN MY COUNTRY?
*As of now, there are no plans to release the 'standard' edition in other territories apart from the UK. Because 'The Time Machine Tour' DVD did so well in the UK it made sense to release a 'standard version' in stores. In general, music DVD's do not sell well and rarely make a profit. So it was always going to be a challenge to produce an abstract, animated, 3D whatever you call it! Darren tried to come up with the most creative and fair way to see 'This Delicate Film..' come to life. The Deluxe edition was intentionally made region free and in two formats to allow for anyone in the world to be able to view it.
WHAT ABOUT ME? *If the deluxe version isn't within your means and you don't live in the UK don't fret : the Standard Edition track listing will be released digitally on iTunes worldwide in February 2009. So some way, somehow, as many people as possible will have access to the final piece of the puzzle that Darren has been working on for the last 2 years.
THIS DELICATE FILM IS COMING SOON..
Current mood: DELICATE
Log on TO WWW.DARRENHAYES.COM at one minute past midnight on Friday October 3 to see the world premiere of the trailer for 'This Delicate Film We've Made' and pre order the deluxe limited edition or standard versions.
"Darren Hayes continues his defiant and extravagant musical journey by releasing 'This Delicate FILM We've Made'. A DVD album in surround sound with extraordinary animated visuals.
Hayes commissioned two animators and almost 18 months of their time to create a collection of short animated and filmed music video pieces to accompany songs from his latest album.
With music remixed and remastered in glorious 5.1 surround sound - Hayes describes the DVD as 'the way the album was always meant to be seen'.
The Deluxe Version is presented in a landscape DVD gatefold luxury package with a 48 page book and 3D glasses. Only 2000 of these will be produced and the artwork and tracklist are unique to this version only. The deluxe version is region free and available in both PAL and NTSC formats.
PRODUCTION CREDITS A Richard Cullen film Produced by Darren Hayes
Animations written and directed by Richard Cullen (of Pixelfing) and Damian Hale (of Onedotzero)
Concepts and stories by Darren Hayes and Richard Cullen
-Music written and produced by Darren Hayes with Justin Shave and Robert Conley
-Mixed in surround sound by Ash Howes
. A FEAR OF FALLING UNDER . WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT . WAKING THE MONSTER . HOW TO BUILD A TIME MACHINE . NEVERLAND . THE FUTURE HOLDS A LION'S HEART (in 3D) . STEP INTO THE LIGHT . CASEY . SETTING SUN . WORDS . A HUNDRED CHALLENGING THINGS A BOY CAN DO . MAYBE . A CONVERSATION WTIH GOD
A standard version of the DVD will be released in the UK only on Feb 3 2009 and features the tracklist above minus 'The Future Holds a Lion's Heart' and is presented in a standard jewel case. The standard version features bonus music videos 'Me Myself and I' and 'On The Verge of Something Wonderful'
Both the Deluxe and Standard versions will be available for pre order on October 3.
Log on to WWW.DARRENHAYES.COM on Oct 3 for all the details and links.
I'm sitting in the lounge of my hotel suite with the light of the harbor in Wooloomooloo (isn't that word hilarious! Love it!) warming me up. I've been awake since 6 am doing radio interviews to promote my upcoming appearance on Australian Idol this Sunday and Monday as a guest judge and mentor.
Yesterday I spent 12 hours filming workshops with the kids at a recording studio in Surrey Hills and I came home and collapsed! It was a lot of fun and all the contestants are wonderful. I particularly connected with Roshani, Wes and Sophie. They are just adorable. The truth is it's very difficult not to get attached and I've found myself wanting them all to do well!
Sophie had a great workshop and I truly feel she'll give a performance this weekend that is more in keeping with who she is and the person we put through in London.
In other news, I am very happy to announce that the trailer for This Delicate Film We've Made is set to debut online on Friday October 3 at 12.01 am.
I am sitting in my favorite café in Sydney. It's a place that's been the backdrop to many of my adventures in this town since the beginning of my career. For those who don't know I'm originally from Brisbane, Queensland. As a child, Sydney was always this glamorous almost Hollywood-like place I'd visit sometimes to see relatives. Later on it became the city Daniel Jones and I would record our first Savage Garden album. The hub of all the magic that began my career. And today it still holds a fascination as a place I visit and adore but have never known as home.
But in this café, on my own, I feel a wonderful sense of familiarity. It's not fancy but it's perfect. The right food (always breakfast no matter what time) and staff and décor that are friendly without being over the top. And we're like old friends.
My trip down under was rough as usual. How can flying 21 hours ever be rejuvenating? But you get through it mostly by using the time to think and occasionally sleep. I arrived at my hotel and immediately had a shower and got ready to see my godson Calvin and his parents; Mother Leonie (one my oldest friends and former manager) and her husband Robert (famously my co writer and producer for years) Spent the whole jetlagged day with them and the new addition, the adorable little Jarvis.
Leonie is doing really well, managing an artist called Axle Whitehead. And Robert is on fire. He co wrote and produced Axle's record but has become something of a buzz in Australia involved in many albums and projects. It makes me happy that there is life after Darren Hayes. They've both given me so much and it's nice to see their hard work has resulted in outside success.
It was a very strange time lapse day – reminding me of the past – sliding into a future in weary time zoned blur. Later I saw my dear friend Troy Brennan (responsible for all the hair both good and bad over the years). It was a bit like old times and I loved it. These days everyone has moved on and is doing their own things (and doing them well!); but it was nice to feel that connection again.
I did some interviews this morning to discuss my upcoming mentoring role on Australian Idol (we film tomorrow and this weekend). It's going to be a busy week but I'm really enjoying it so far. The crew are wonderful and the contestants seem really likeable and talented. I'm looking forward to getting into it.
On another note completely, the time spent prior to getting on the plane in London was hectic to say the least. Richard and I were desperately trying to finish the last video for the DVD. We had to make sure all the files were on their way to Jane in Australia for her to do the compile next week – which meant I had to sign off on the edit of Neverland (the one video I directed). Richard and I worked until 6 am the night before I left. And then literally an hour ago I spoke to him on the phone in London and he'd finished it. He sent me a link to watch it and I was so happy. He's done a wonderful job (as always) and This Delicate Film is finally finished. Well, our part at least.
Jane Wallace (who did all the artwork for the recent album) is working on the artwork for the book and stitching together all the videos and authoring the final output. But the 'work' per se on our end is over.
That's a really satisfying feeling after 2 years of blood sweat and tears. Actually there may not have been any blood, perhaps just that bruise when I twisted my ankle earlier this year. But you get my point ;)
Next week I have the pleasure of going home to Brisbane for 3 nights to spend time with my lovely family before heading back to my new one in England.
False alarm - acoustic show not happening
Current mood: falsely alarmed
Category: falsely alarmed Music
Sorry all! There was a slight chance it might happen but at such short notice we couldn't get the venue we needed for the date I was available. To cut a long story short, I am coming to Sydney next week to do something judgemental for a television show about Idols (hint hint) and was hoping to surprise some Aussies with an impromptu gig on my night off in Sydney.
I'm sorry if I got hopes up but I wanted to make sure I had given those who could have attended as much notice as possible to try to make it.
Unfortunately the choice of venues on a Saturday night so close were very limited and as I'm only in the country for less than a week there was no other day it could have been.
It is, after all, supposed to be my year off from live gigs - but I've missed you and was really looking forward to singing.
Hope I haven't upset anyone! I was really trying to do something lovely. Good news though is that my agent Tony Grace was thrilled at the idea and though he was gutted we couldn't get it to happen this time we're already thinking of 'next time'.
Love you and if it makes you feel any better I was up until almost 5 am trying to make it happen!
Neverland Girl
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Music
This is a still from the video for 'Neverland'.
It's almost 2 am as I write this and we've just wrapped the video for 'Neverland' today in London. I've been blogging about 'This Delicate FILM We've Made' for some time now - but those who aren't familiar it's a DVD coming in December. It's 13 songs from my recent album remixed in 5.1 surround sound with specially commissioned video art pieces for each track. I've been leaking a few of them since the start of the album project - but today saw the completion of the second to last one.
Sarah Matthews, the actress in this photo, first worked with me in the 'Unlovable' video for the 'Big Night In' tour and we were keen to find a reason to work with her again. In 'Neverland' Sarah played the part of the moon in a child's fantasy of the universe. I made almost all of the props in the video, wrote the treatment and directed all the on set action. The wonderful Gavin Elder (www.heyluke.com) was our cinematographer and Richard Cullen co-directed and will do all the post production and editing.
It took me 3 weeks to make the props and costumes and today we filmed for a little over 10 hours. Lots of stop motion, shadow puppets, traditional puppetry and of course the wonderful Sarah. I had the pleasure of working with one of my best friend's children. Maggz has been a friend of my sister's and I for years and we've sort of grown up together in the last decade really. Her children feature in the video with her son Adam playing the part of a young me (he looks like me as a child!) and her youngest Dylan provided macabre drawings.
I'm so very proud of 'This Delicate Film'. Richard showed me the finished 3D video for 'The Future Holds A Lion's Heart' today (wow!) and his pieces for 'Time Machine' and 'Conversation With God' will take your breath away.
I'm so proud to be working with my dearest and most cherished friends and family who just happen to be some of the most talented people I know!
Finally I'm off to bed. May I never see another pot of glitter again!
The Wrong Way
Current mood: validated
Category: Music
I decided to post a song demo that never made it past the writing stage. It's called 'The Wrong Way' and I co wrote it with Glen Ballard in sessions for 'Delicate..' I loved it but felt I had explored this idea in another song more succinctly (Sing To Me..) and that it didn't fit the album I was making. Without going into too much detail it's a song for someone very close to me who had to take that phone call you dread to hear when someone you love has passed away suddenly and too soon.
Hope you dig it. I just didn't want it to gather dust, like so many songs do. Now it has a voice.
Rare late night post from me.. not sure if many of you have noticed but I've tried to become a bit more of a morning person these days! Even if I stay up late I'm still up earlier and it's been awesome.
I'm up late because I just got home from a dinner with Will (our monitoring engineer on tour) and Tracey Turner (my ex P.A whom I still adore). We ate at a lovely French restaurant and had one of those amazing nights of laughing and feeling good and walking home on a high.
I know it's weird being sort of 'in between' albums, and perhaps confusing (maybe more so for me than you) since I'm 'away' but sort of around (Idol, DVD's etc) But I wanted to say how much I adore you and also how much I'm appreciating this opportunity to experience life and all she has to offer. I know I only have you to thank for this.
I don't know if I remember many periods in the last decade where I felt like this. The last period was in Sausalito prior to 'The Tension and The Spark' and until recently no such windows have appeared. Until now. I'm talking about moments where I get to look at the road ahead and I have no idea where I'm going but I know it's going to be alright.
I'm spending my days really productively – I still do musical things (or think of musical things!) and of course there's always 'work' stuff and of course overseeing the DVD. But domestic things like spending every morning in the park with Wally, deciding what to cook for dinner at night, paying bills, doing washing and cleaning house (yes you heard me right) are making me remember what it's like to be 'me' again. And this experience can only allow for a deeper connection with music.
I think I told you I already have the album title. Something that will germinate for a year or more I'm sure. And with it, the concepts and the themes I want to explore. And I'm excited because it's a complex beast.
It's funny isn't it? You never really stop growing and learning. Just when you think you know it all life throws you another curve ball and you find yourself thanking God you didn't duck and swerve to miss it. You try to catch it, bravely. Even if it means making a fool of yourself or getting hurt in the process. What you are left with afterwards is what you are left with : a lesson. And then hopefully some wisdom.
Anyway, I just wanted you to know you've given me so much wisdom and courage to find out what I'm made of and I'm just so grateful for that.
Sometimes, when I'm having a moment; it could be looking at a sunset or listening to the sky as it cracks before the rain falls down – I feel a tinge of sadness. I don't know how, because right then I'm in a moment of bliss. But I realize what it is – it's that one day, like I did with the period of reckless abandon I enjoyed in San Francisco – I'll look back on this period and mourn its passing.
Perhaps the character of Joy, played by Debra Winger in the biopic about the life and one true love of C S Lewis, put it best when she said
"The pain then is part of the joy now. That's the deal" (Shadowlands, 1993)
I recorded a video interview for the lovely folks over at www.poprepublic.tv who are always a great source for music and entertainment newz and who are regularly amazing to me. You can check it out HERE
Oh lookie look. It's me looking at you lookin' at me on my final night in Santa Monica. I'm home now as I type this. After what felt like an eternity but thankfully a relatively uneventful flight home. I was picked up at the airport by my lovely (love that!) and soon after had cuddles from Waldo (my dog for those who have just tuned in) and am now at 2 in the afternoon contemplating going to bed (but I will resist!).
I'm so glad to be home but I have to say I loved my time working with Rick and Alesha. I adored Rick's team at the moment. He has two incredible engineers - Dean and Kieron. And a fab assistant, Tara. They made us all feel so welcome. The final day poor Alesha had to sing two songs back to back (and they were difficult ones too). But she worked like a trooper and by the time I got back to my hotel I was wrecked!
I had the next day off, went to the movies and saw Hell Boy 2 (liked it a lot) and did some last minute xmas shopping.
Now I'm home and I've just seen little bits of the videos for 'How To Build a Time Machine' and 'A Hundred Challenging Things..' and I was blown away. Seems Rich was very busy indeed when I was in L.A. I can't wait to show you 'This Delicate Film..'
Right - I'm off to have a shower and try to wake up a bit. Zzzzzz xxD
Housequake!
Current mood: quaked
Category: quaked MySpace
Oh look. It's a picture of me looking at you looking at me drinking my Starbucks the day of the earthquake. In fact, it was moments before the earthquake in Los Angeles that thankfully didn't result in anything other than some mildly annoyed Apple customers who were forced to lose their place in line as all of the glass windows in the store fronts along the promenade wobbled like jello.
Yep that's me in full SPF 30 Sunscreen and full old man hat. The kind of hat that I normally take the extreme piss out of if anyone is wearing. The kind of hat that says 'Look at me! I'm wearing a hat. Because I'm DIFFERENT! I'M CRAZY! I WEAR HATS!'.
No, I'm not that desperate for attention but I am desperate not to get skin cancer or burnt to a crisp by the atomic rays that seem to invade every pore of my being in summer.
Can you tell I'm delirious? I've been working all night and day and night and day with Rick Nowels on songs for Alesha Dixon. Who is, lovely. But stupidly, I thought that writing for and with someone else would involve me just putting in half the effort I normally do.
Nope.
It's the same amount of work only in a different key.
Anyway, I've only got one or two more days work here and then we might end up doing some more work back in England. Hopefully I'm going to have a day off before I head back to take advantage of the currency exchange and the supreme power of the British Pound at Urban Outfitters. But who knows. I may not need any more 'wanker' hats back home ;)
accomplished
validated
