TALK

Welcome to Episode 9 of TALK with Photographer and Creative, Prod Antzoulis.

Prod and Dana talk about their mutual love for analog photography. We also learn how Prod's creative journey began, his intricate thought process when planning a concept for a shoot, his source(s) of inspiration and so much more.

Prod is a Cypriot born photographer, videographer and creative director raised in Dubai. Based in the Middle East - Antzoulis shoots professionally, as well as for the heart, capturing daily sparks of attraction and fashion set-ups. Prod has worked with brands such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, Red Valentino, Okhtein and Amina Muaddi. Most recently, he shot GQ Middle East covers, including Latin pop-star Maluma, Mustafa the poet as well as the ‘Self Isolation’ issue chronicling tales that documented interactions between himself and eight Arab talents scattered across the globe, shot over Zoom during quarantine. He has also shot covers for Elle Arabia, Jamalouki, and Emirates Woman.

Prod and Dana discuss some of the challenges they’ve both faced when they’ve chosen to shoot analog vs. digital and how they’ve overcome those challenges as well as how they’ve proven their worth to doubtful clients. They also discuss projects they’ve worked on together, Prod’s love-hate relationship with Instagram and we get a deeper look at the GQ cover project he took on during the pandemic.

Why TALK loves Prod -- We love that Prod has always stayed true to his chosen creative method - analog photography. While it’s sometimes been an uphill battle, occasionally consisting of clients needing to observe bigger publications publishing his work to see that he is indeed very good at what he does, it’s paid off for him. We also love that at the heart of Prod’s projects lies a true desire to connect with other people and nurture the energy he shares with his subjects. Lastly, we love that he took a difficult time during the pandemic and turned it into a beautiful and thoughtful creative project.

Prod’s work has been featured in Vogue Italia, GQ, Schon! and Oyster Magazine, as well as regional publications such as Vogue Arabia, CNN Arabic, Mille World, GQ Middle East, and Emirates Woman - and he’s just getting started.

FOLLOW PROD:INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

Welcome to Episode 8 of TALK with artist Amanda Wall.

On this episode Dana and Amanda sit down and discuss all things art. From Amanda’s  first artistic inspiration to when she picked up a paintbrush about 3 years ago and started to explore painting as an emotional outlet - only to find out that she was actually really good at it.

Amanda, always having been drawn to art has consistently found herself in creative roles, whether they had to do with brand identity and packaging, fashion, photography - in her own words she puts it perfectly, “It’s all about creating emotional response to basically an inanimate thing, and it’s something I’m really drawn to doing.”

Dana and Amanda also discuss Amanda’s previous roles including modeling, and how that role has made her reflect on her value versus now being in a more creative role. The conversation addresses some very valuable topics, specifically navigating public perceptions, imposter syndrome and insecurities, and how self-doubt seems to stem from what we think we are “supposed” to do. They also discuss the best way to deal with a creative block and how hard it is to actually take a relaxing vacation.

Why TALK loves Amanda -- We love that Amanda jumped into this creative outlet and is now a self-taught painter participating in numerous curated group shows. We also love her perspective on using art as an outlet, she makes a great point about periods of great art and breakthroughs in art following especially hard times and we couldn’t agree more.

FOLLOW AMANDA: INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

On episode 7, TALK podcast welcomes Mikka.

Dana and Mikka discuss Mikka’s career as a model and digital creator in Australia making audio-reactive and interactive art, working with objects in fictitious landscapes as well as different mechanisms to display art in a real-world environment. Mikka also shares how he gathers inspiration, deals with self-doubt, and how he uses high-pressure situations to his advantage.

More About Mikka.

Mikka tells us how he got into creating Snapchat and Instagram filters and shares his thoughts on them currently. Working with brands in so many different tangential ways Mikka understands what companies should be doing and how they should be doing it. He also explains his process in working with clients, which is really relationship-focused and sounds like such a pleasant experience. He recently completed a print design for Chanel and was featured in i-D magazine’s article, “Meet the digital artists bending our minds and futures.” When asked how he made it into the industry he answered, “Faked it till I made it.”

Why TALK loves Mikka -- It’s hard not to love such a multi-faceted individual! He models! He creates! He believes it’s more important to be clear in what you want to be doingwhen speaking with people, and sees having different jobs to be advantageous. He’s passionate about learning about other forms of currencies and the future of art going digital. Perhaps our favorite part was his perspective on the benefit of continuously putting out creative work. Mikka believes that it’s key in tackling self-doubt as well as to have work you can actually look back on to gauge how much you’ve improved. Expect to see more amazing digital creations from mikkapedia.

FOLLOW MIKKA: INSTAGRAM

TALK’s sixth episode with Artist, Musician, Model & Muse - Zumi Roscow.

On episode 6 Dana sits down with Zumi to discuss Zumi’s artistic path, they cover how she became involved in The Black Lips, recording an album with Sean Lennon (in John and Yoko’s studio!!), walking a runway show for Balenciaga, and balancing an incredible personal loss whilst becoming the Gucci muse to Alessandro. Sit back and take this interview in, we have no doubt you’ll understand why Zumi Roscow is an inspiration.

Zumi tells us about her experience post-college when she found herself back in Los Angeles with no desire to partake in the world of acting and constant rejection that comes with the territory. She reached for her saxophone having not played it in over a decade and soon after found herself playing in bands. Fast-forward to the present day and in non-pandemic times you could find Zumi touring and performing with The Black Lips.

A self-described “late-bloomer,” Zumi also discusses how she went through years of self-doubt and how important it is to work with the right people, people who can keep you confident and elevated. She also points out how important it is to really go through all the experiences you can, that there is no skipping out on life experiences and moments. Ultimately going through life’s hardships make us all more empathetic and human connection can help overcome self-doubt -- a philosophy that checks out in our opinion.

The themes that come up throughout the episode are empathy, confidence, and fighting the idea of “perfection.”

Why TALK loves Zumi -- Zumi’s humanity shows through when she speaks. Clearly an artistic soul, you very quickly understand that you are in the presence of a sensitive and empathetic person -- important qualities for any creative person to have. We also love that she has consistently found herself in situations where she has been able to challenge the status quo (walking a Balenciaga show at 35 years old) and fully thrives in doing so.

FOLLOW ZUMI: INSTAGRAM

TALK’s fifth episode with Anthropologie’s Creative Director, Bobby Whigham.

We learn the trajectory of Bobby’s career on this episode, and we started to sense somewhat of a theme with our creative guests -- this world of creatives that shape so much of fashion, culture, and style often somewhat fall into their path or find that it finds them in some unpredicted way. Essentially, you can’t always plan these things. Bobby discusses some of the work he’s doing now, how he kept busy during quarantine, and offers some great advice for fellow freelancers and creatives.

Our episode begins with a look at Bobby’s initial career interests and how he ended up working retail and fully moving and growing through the ranks at Urban Outfitters from Buyer, Stylist Manager, Trend and Concept Design to lead Editorial Photographer all the way to Creative Director of Men’s and Women’s Brand Imagery.

After initially being rejected by the store associates at his local Urban Outfitters, he had a chance encounter with one of those same associates which ended up taking a chance on him and making him a dressing room attendant. Having always had the need to create, Bobby took it upon himself to shoot his friends and capture trending looks in New York City proving his passion and innate talent getting him promoted. For the next decade, Bobby grew with Urban Outfitters which we all know has always been right on the pulse of trends and culture amongst teens and young adults in North America. Currently, Bobby serves as Creative Director for Anthropologie continuing to expand on his vision for the company.

Bobby has consistently dipped his toes in other creative roles and mediums such as photography, making his own t-shirts for birthday parties, and collaborating with his long-time friend @rxmance on @Cowboy.Surf (inspired by what he could creatively take away from Orange County). Keeping busy with different projects probably has a lot to do with how he’s continued to stay fresh and imaginative for other companies aside from Urban, such as Pacific Sunwear and Ralph Lauren. He’s also been able to leverage his talent for spotting upcoming trends into a wardrobe role where he was able to bring a certain aesthetic that he understands so well to characters on Teen Nick and Netflix shows.

Why TALK loves Bobby -- Bobby is willing to try so many mediums and really keeps his creativity alive almost 24/7, it’s part of his ethos. We loved hearing how he acted as a multi-faceted asset to a brand so many of us are familiar with. Knowing that he has played a big part in this company also shows us that he understands his consumers and their desire for that cool and effortless look and feel so many of us strive for. Lastly, we love that he’s been able to expand on this talent and dive into his own passion projects with fashion, and even bringing his work onto the screen. We can’t wait to see what other projects come from this brilliant mind.

FOLLOW BOBBY: INSTAGRAM

TALK’s fourth episode with Purple Magazine’s editor-in-chief, Olivier Zahm.

This episode is jam-packed with so many topics! Dana and Olivier Zahm discuss what art is, some of the difficulties that come with creative work during quarantine, his disdain for 80’s fashion, how Purple came to be, and what you should do with your personal brand. Zahm, having founded Purple in 1992, is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to art, fashion and culture.

Zahm was working as a struggling art critic before he ventured into the world of creating magazines. In 1987 he found himself in New York traveling with his girlfriend where he had the opportunity to use the city as an artistic medium, meet creatives and give himself a little more credit than had previously been afforded to him. He’s quoted in an article by The Cutsaying:

So there was little, tiny, tiny circle that I knew, or people told me to meet. And I immediately enjoyed and understood that contemporary art was totally part of everyday culture in America. That it wasn’t just an extension of art history, it was art today. You know? In Paris, we always need historical legitimization. If you don’t know every artwork of Marcel Duchamp you can’t be an art critic. There’s a feeling of a sense of freedom that New York gives you because you can create a fiction in New York. You can recreate yourself, and also there’s positivity and excitement for what’s new.

Zahm has never gone with the status quo and searches for the true meaning in art, society, and cultural movements, he has even been described as “anti-fashion,” or “counterculture”. When he publishes something in his bi-annual Purple Magazine, his readers never quite know what to expect, but they know Zahm has gone out of his way to follow the chosen theme until he’s found what he’s really looking for, something raw and real with no desire to fit in. Zahm has never shied away from publishing things through his unique lens which is one of many reasons why Purple Magazine has withstood the test of time.

Why TALK loves Olivier -- Olivier works with the best, publishes what he likes, and doesn’t care what you think. His authentic style shows in all of his work and he’s not afraid to publish things that may offend or shock the public - better yet he’s been doing this since the early 90’s so his unique take on art, fashion, culture, and society goes beyond what traditional magazines offer us and you know he’s the real deal.

FOLLOW NABIL ELDERKIN: INSTAGRAM, WEBSITE, PURPLE'S IG

Welcome to TALK’s third episode with film + music video director and photographer Nabil Elderkin.

Dana and Nabil Elderkin discuss what work and creativity look like during and after the pandemic, and his upcoming feature film, Gully, being put out by Paramount pictures. Elderkin takes us back to when he used to shoot his skateboarder friends as a teen to how he got creative and set himself up to become Kanye West’s long-time photographer along with a whole roster of A-List artistic collaborators. We also learn what advice Elderkin has for young photographers, how he stays organized, and how he sources inspiration.

More About Nabil Elderkin.

Elderkin moved from Chicago to the coast of Australia at the age of three. Ironically failing a photography class in high school was what got him sent back to Chicago, which ended up propelling Elderkin’s career as a photographer. Elderkin started out shooting photography in the music scene, which led to him hearing Kanye West’s mixtapes and wanting to find a way to work with him.

His desire to work with Kanye came to fruition when Elderkin purchased KanyeWest.com on a whim, with the possibility of this being a way he could get in contact with the hard-to-reach artist. Sure enough, weeks later the opportunity presented itself and Elderkin found himself photographing Kanye soon after. This led to a long-term professional relationship between the two which further exposed him to more clientele and creative opportunities.

Elderkin’s work goes beyond celebrity and has been seen in the form of advertisements, editorials, magazine covers, music videos, photojournalism, and more. His latest project is a feature film, Gully, expected to release this year.

Why TALK loves Nabil -- Nabil is a true Hustler in the best sense of the word. We love the creative and ballsy approach he took once he had decided he really wanted to work with Kanye West. The conversation with Nabil flowed easily because while he is an artist that often works with the best he has not lost his humility. Lastly, we love how Nabil is continuously working on all sorts of projects and always pursuing different creative avenues.

FOLLOW NABIL ELDERKIN: INSTAGRAM, WEBSITE

Welcome to TALK’s second episode with guest Miyako Bellizzi.

Dana and Miyako Bellizzi discuss how Bellizzi jumped on an Indie film project that essentially changed her whole life, and career trajectory. They also discuss her process when starting new projects, working with the Safdie brothers, her experience working on an upcoming HBO mini-series, as well as the March 2021 cover of New York Magazine. Bellizzi is best known for her Costume Design work on Uncut Gems (2019) and Good Time (2017).

More About Miyako Bellizzi.

Bellizzi moved from the Bay area to New York in 2007 to pursue a career in fashion. She attended FIT and snagged all the internships she could get at Details Magazine, New York Times, T Mag, and then went on to freelance styling.

A spontaneous meeting with an indie film Director looking for a Costume Designer turned into one of the most important decisions of Bellizi’s career. Never having really considered film as a possible career move, she decided to explore this new opportunity and came to a realization: how much she loved narrative storytelling -- in which working in fashion seemed to fall flat. She was hooked and from that point on she became completely immersed in working in film.

Since deciding to pursue more Costume Design gigs her career has naturally snowballed and Bellizzi has found herself in excellent company. She’s worked with Josh and Benjamin Safdie on Good Time and Uncut Gems and has unexpectedly found herself working on an HBO mini-series, “Scenes from a Marriage.”

We can’t wait to see what she does next.

Why TALK loves Miyako -- We love her work ethic! As Miyako says herself, she worked in the service industry for a decade while she pursued her passion for Costume Design in film, often not making very much money from this passion. She has most certainly paid her dues. She actively goes after the projects that make her feel uncomfortable so that she can expand on her knowledge. And we really LOVE how open she is with her process as well as how she’s continuously learning.

FOLLOW MIYAKO BELLIZZI:Website, Instagram

TALK’s first guest, poet Sonny Hall.

Host Dana Boulos and poet Sonny Hall discuss staying creative and starting a new venture during the pandemic. He is also kind enough to do a live reading of a poem that had not yet been released.

More about Sonny Hall.

Hall recently launched an independent publishing house and poetry club under the name, Blue Beggar Books with their first title Introducing The Beggar available forpre-order now. Co-founded with Ryan Kevin Doyle, Blue Beggar Books is a hierarchy-less community of established and unestablished poets.

South London-born Hall, began his career as a model after being scouted in 2014, now represented by Kate Moss's modeling agency, Hall has graced the pages of GQ, LOVE, and Vogue Italia. In 2019, Hall self-published his first book The Blues Comes With Good News, an anthology of 109 poems. Which was then Published as a second edition, by Hodder & Stoughton.

Why TALK loves Sonny Hall --We love his perspectives on creativity and the outlook that we should celebrate the raw ideas we have, that we don’t need to perfect every single thing, as well as how honest Sonny is with himself.

Blue Beggar Books will take open submissions later this year for their first anthology. The house strives to give a voice to un-established poets, amongst many great versifiers.

FOLLOW SONNY HALL:INSTAGRAM

FOLLOW THE BEGGAR:INSTAGRAM|WEBSITE

TALK Podcast coming 04/27/21 

@talkbybrainfreeze hosted by @DanaBoulos