Love Shines, the BBC Four/HBO feature film about Canadian singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith, directed by our own in-house video director Douglas Arrowsmith, has received 3 Canadian Screen Award nominations, including for ‘Best Arts Film’ and ‘Best Direction’!
The film is an atmospheric quest-journey about the Canadian balladeer, following him through the making of his last record “Long Player, Late Bloomer” with legendary producer Bob Rock. It’s currently broadcasting on HBO Canada (feat. Elvis Costello, Steve Earle, Kiefer Sutherland, and Feist). The Gala takes place in Toronto on March 3rd.
Along with the videos for ”Total Control” and “Illusions” (feat. Bryan Ferry), Doug will also be directing Nicky’s upcoming video for the track “Real Live Girl” which will be shot in London very shortly, and will feature some very special cameos! The album “Midnight Matinee” and the video will be released online in March 2013.
FROM: DAVID OGILVY, PRODUCER, WESTERN STUDIOS, LONDON.
PRESS RELEASE
“TOTAL CONTROL”IS THE FIRST SONG TO BE RELEASED FROM “MIDNIGHTMATINÉE”, THE FORTHCOMING ALBUM PRODUCED BY DAVID OGILVY, WHO PRESENTS NICKY HASLAM, BETTER KNOWN WORLDWIDE AS AN INTERIOR DESIGNER AND AUTHOR, IN A NEW PERSONA AS A VOCALIST, BACKED WITH ORCHESTRATIONS, ON A LINE-UP OF SONGS RANGING FROM STANDARDS TO CONTEMPORARY, FROM IRVINGBERLIN TO GUY CHAMBERS….. “I WROTE THE MUSIC FOR HANNAHROTHSCHILD’S BBC FILM ON NICKY” SAYS OGILVY, “AND THOUGHT THEN THAT I COULD DO SOMETHING WITH HIS VOICE, HIS UNIQUE WAY WITH LYRICS. “MIDNIGHT MATINÉE” IS THE RESULT OF A YEAR OF WORKING TOGETHER, AND IT’S TURNED OUT PRETTY WELL”.
ON “MIDNIGHT MATINÉE”, NICKY IS JOINED BY A HOST OF LEGENDARY MUSICIANS…. BRYAN FERRY, NICKMASON, BOB GELDOF, CILLA BLACK, AMANDA ELIASCH AND SEBASTIENLEON AMONG THEM, WITH SPOKEN PASSAGES BY RUPERT EVERETT, TRACEYEMIN, A.N. WILSON AND OTHERS…. TO SAY NOTHING OF GRETA GARBO, MARIA CALLAS, AND NOÈL COWARD, OR HIS ROYAL AND IMPERIAL HIGHNESS PRINCE JOÃO OF ORLEANS AND BRAGANZA.
“MIDNIGHT MATINÉE”, NICKY HASLAM‘S HIGHLY INDIVIDUAL DEBUT ALBUM—A KIND OF SURREAL AUDIO-JOURNEY—IS ALREADY BEING TALKED OF AS A COOL ADDITION TO THE CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SCENE.
THIS SINGLE, “TOTAL CONTROL”, AND ITS ACCOMPANYING VIDEO DIRECTED BY CANADIAN FILMMAKER DOUGLASARROWSMITH, IS AN INTRIGUING EXAMPLE OF THE ALBUM’S UNIQUE CONTENTS.
You know that Tony Duquette quote, ‘I feel like there is only 15 minutes left and there is so much beauty I want to create, I must must must hurry!’. The other side of that manifesto for living, is that there is so much to be discovered that must must must be shared. And very occasionally, someone brings to you a gem so rare, so brilliant, it can only make you worry that there are millions more out there undiscovered, unknown.
I was recently reminded about my days spent as a catwalk model. Eons ago in the mid 1990’s I was asked to model for Comme Des Garcons. I duly arrived in Paris as instructed, the location escapes me, it was at one of the many Parisian Institut’s, but I do recall the most incredible murals within, the most beautiful ornament as often found in French public buildings. The day was wonderful, fashion and interiors-one could call it heaven.
Not too long ago Ronda Rice Carmen of ‘All the Best Blog’ asked me what my most treasured possession was to which I replied, John Fowlers address book - which it was - or is - or….sometimes is! I mean do YOU actually have ONE consistent most treasured item, because the truth is I fall in love pretty frequently. My most treasured possession du jour for example, comes hot on the heels of my recent trip to Moravia with Nicky; my signed copy of ‘The Journey‘ by Celia Sternberg. Though strangely, MY journey begins much before that, when I posted one of my very first blogs on Diana Phipps. Last fall, deep in the basement of Conde Nast amongst the vintage Vogues I came upon that pink plaid bathroom, designed by Diana Phipps, which appears in Affordable Splendor (an old copy of which rests on my cottage bookshelves). Nicky at the time, and as is often the case, says - ‘of course Diana, wonderful decorator, she is absolute heaven and a great friend of mine‘ - and I posted the blog and that was that.
Months later we plan our trip, and Nicky determines it would be just as easy to fly home via Prague, and we could spend a night at Diana’s (Phipps nee Countess Sternberg) wonderful house. He also tells me I MUST read ‘The Journey’ and I ignore his advice because I believe that sometimes there is merit in approaching an adventure in the mindset of La Farge…that is ‘that we should bring no books, read no books, but come as innocently as we could‘. So having spent a week touring the Czech Republic and surrounded by unspeakable beauty, we arrived, were so warmly welcomed - wonderfully overwhelmed by Castolovice.
Yes SO warmly welcomed despite the magnificent scale and grandeur of Castolovice! I quickly realise my mistake because instantly I want to know EVERYTHING about the house, and the divine Diana (who does not generally go by Countess although she has added Sternberg back to her name).
I am very sweetly lent a copy of the book, (which I am subsequently allowed to steal) written by Diana’s mother, and which I stay up all night reading! ’The Journey‘ is everything I love - history, aristocracy, ancient lineage, castle-owning cousins, eccentricity, humour, poverty, and tragedy written in the most brilliant irreverent prose. From Castlovice (and other family palaces) the Sternberg’s were forcibly removed by the Nazi’s during the war, only to return in ’45, then forced to flee again in ’48 when the house was taken over by the Communists. It was in fact eventually to house a refrigerator repair school until 1989 when Countess Sternberg, almost accidentally, was returned to the home she left when she was 11; the result of various difficult restitution arrangements. She has spent the last 20 years making good the extensive and exhaustive damages the house has suffered.
On a lighter note - this is a typical Diana touch. We dined for example, with all the fine Nymphenberg china…AND a cow dressed as a pink poodle on the table!! A sense of humour I can tell from ‘The Journey’… she has inherited from both her mother and father.
…and just a FEW of the Sternberg 8-sided stars at Castolovice, although surely it is Countess Sternberg’s which shines the brightest. This was a truly magical experience and here are two very poor videos (my fault) which I hope will give you a better taste of it all. Now if you, like me, are hooked…exclusive arrangements can be made to accomondate parties of six to stay. Contact Harriet Landseer at [email protected]
