Month: March 2022

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Community LGBTQ

Teens Organise ‘Queer Prom’ to Create ‘Safe Space’ for LGBT+ Youth

Queer Prom
© KSL News

Students in a northern Utah school have thrown an inclusive prom to create a “safe space” for LGBT+ young people to celebrate.

Jocelyn Anglesey, a senior at DaVinci Academy of Science and the Arts in Ogden, told KSL TV that students in their final year were asked to plan a project to solve a problem. So, she decided to create an event (queer prom) for LGBT+ teens like her to feel more accepted and provide a safe space for queer youth in the area. “Dances have really heavy stigmas around them,” Anglesey said, “A lot of schools don’t even allow same-sex couples to come in.” 

The Queer Prom, which took place on Saturday (26th of March), was held in the school’s sports hall and had booths dotted around the event to offer support, makeup advice and fashion tips to attendees. “Kids need to be able to have a safe space that’s monitored by parents and a place where they know that there is informational booths that they can talk to if they need anything,” Anglesey said.

Anglesey initially thought the Queer Prom would be a small social gathering but was then contacted by hundreds of people wanting to attend the event. She said many people were “excited” that the teen was “throwing something that they could come to”. 

Bliss Van Der Venter told KSL TV she previously had the idea when she was a senior at DaVinci Academy of Science and the Arts last year. But she couldn’t bring the party to life because of COVID-19 restrictions and subsequent lockdowns in the area. So, she mentioned the idea to Anglesey, who she said thought it was the “coolest thing ever”. Van Der Venter said the other teen took the idea and “ran with it”, bringing it to life for the LGBT+ teens in the area. “We are all very lucky to live here, and yet a lot of people don’t get the privilege of feeling safe in their own homes or at school,” Bliss Van Der Venter. Anglesey said, “everyone needs that” space where they feel supported and that “no one should be reprimanded for who they are”. 

The inclusive dance comes as a growing number of anti-LGBT+ bills are being debated in legislatures around the US.  And the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) reported that over 320 anti-LGBT+ bills are under consideration across the United States, and at least 130 directly target the trans community. Of those, approximately half would ban transgender students from participating in sports teams consistent with their gender identity. 

Republican lawmakers in Utah overrode a veto by Governor Spencer Cox on Friday the 25th of March, and enacted a bill that would ban transgender young people from competing in girls’ sports across the state. In a letter explaining his veto, Cox explained that only four of the estimated 75,000 high school students participating in sports in Utah are transgender. He said these students aren’t “dominating or winning trophies or taking scholarships”. Cox also said the students are just trying to “get through each day”, make friends and “feel like they are a part of something”. He noted that trans youth have faced waves of hate just for living as their authentic lives, saying, “rarely has so much fear and anger been directed to so few”. 

Utah is now the 12th state in the US to ban trans children in school sports, along with being the third state to pass such legislation in 2022 alone. 

The HRC has vowed to use “every tool at our disposal” to fight for trans youth in Utah. The ACLU of Utah said that “litigation” to stop the bill from “taking effect” in July is “now both necessary and inevitable”.

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Community

Microplastics Found in Human Blood for the First Time

A microscopic look at microplastics
https://www.anews.com.tr/life/2022/03/25/scientists-find-microplastics-in-blood-for-first-time

A new study shows that tiny particles were found in almost 80% of the people tested

Microplastics – tiny plastic particles – are ubiquitous pollutants and can be found almost everywhere on earth. Previously, they’ve been found at the top of Mount Everest, in the Mariana Trench, and now in a new vessel; human blood.

Scientists analysed blood samples from 22 anonymous donors, all healthy adults, and found plastic particles in 17 of the samples. Half the samples contained PET plastic, the plastic commonly used in drinks bottles. A third of the samples contained polystyrene, usually used for packaging food and other products. And, a quarter of the blood samples contained polyethene, the material used to make plastic carrier bags.

Tiny plastic particles on someone's hand
Ⓒ Sky News

The scientists behind this discovery have seen that the particles can travel around the body and may lodge in organs. Currently, the impact on our health is as yet unknown. However, researchers are concerned as microplastics have been seen to cause damage to human cells in the laboratory. And, it’s clear climate change is already having a serious impact on our health as air pollution particles are already known to enter the body and cause millions of early deaths a year.  As a result, climate activists have taken to social media to warn the public of the harm that will continue to occur if we do not alter our behaviour, both as individuals and as a society.

Professor Dick Vethaak, an ecotoxicologist at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands, who lead the study, told the Guardian, “Our study is the first indication that we have polymer particles in our blood – it’s a breakthrough result. But we have to extend the research, increase the sample sizes and the number of polymers assessed.” He also confirmed that a number of further studies by a variety of different organisations are already underway.

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Featured Music

GRAE: In Conversation

GRAE Cover Art
GRAE Cover Art

“I find social media can be quite hard when you’re an artist. We don’t always identify as content creators,” GRAE on making music in the social media age

GRAE is the Toronto-based singer leading the way for Gen Z alt-pop artists. And, after releasing her aptly-named debut single, ‘New Girl’ just three years ago, she’s ready to drop an album.

Due for release on April 15th, GRAE’s debut record ‘Whiplash’ will swirl through ‘80s new wave, dream-pop and alternative sounds, taking time to question love and succumb to the reality that we all have to grow up eventually. And, on ‘Whiplash’, those coming of age themes are nowhere as apparent as on new single ‘Boxes’.

Released today (March 30th), ‘Boxes’ errs on the rockier side, showing GRAE in a grown-up and self-assured light. Speaking of the single, GRAE says, “The idea for ‘Boxes’ came about when I looked around my room one day and realized I wanted to tear down all the posters I’ve had on my walls since I can remember. That was a significant moment because I always thought I’d be that girl wearing a band t-shirt with posters covering her walls forever. But I needed a change. I thought about how I’m ‘not that kid anymore,’ and I wanted to mature in my style and ‘grow up.’ I felt super nostalgic as I went through my band T’s and started clearing out my space. I decided to write about the process of coming to terms with what it means to be an ‘adult,’ and the result of that is ‘Boxes.'”

To mark the release of ‘Boxes’ and gear up for GRAE’s first full-length project, the ‘Slow Down’ singer sat down with Chapter Z to about everything from TikTok to letting go of love.

GRAE Press Shot
GRAE © Gemma Warren

In Conversation With GRAE

Hi GRAE – thanks for taking the time to speak with us today!

Hey, thank you for having me! Happy to be speaking with you! 

Let’s start right back at the beginning. Can you tell us how you started out in music? Where did your love for songwriting come from?

I’ve had an interest in music my whole life. My Dad bought me my first guitar from a pawn shop when I was around the age of ten; I started writing songs in this journal I had, I’d perform at school assemblies, talent shows, anywhere I could. When asked what I wanted to ‘be’ when I grew up, I’d say a singer. I had a lot of motivation and was determined to make it happen. Initially, I gained my love of songwriting from artists like Corinne Bailey Rae, Norah Jones, but an artist by the name of Rodriguez inspired me greatly. I noticed his song lyrics were like poetry, and I began to write songs inspired by that; I appreciate the imagery in his lyrics and how they tell a story. 

Fast Forward to now, and you’ve recently released the single ‘Forget You’, which is lifted from your upcoming debut album ‘Whiplash’. Can you give us the lowdown on the Track?

‘Forget You’ was written about this relationship/person I romanticized. I thought I’d never get over them but realized I had to in order to move on with my life and get back to a healthy place mentally. Writing the song was my goodbye to that person and time in my life. It helped me get out the emotions I needed to and was very therapeutic to write. 

And, how does ‘Forget You’ compare sonically and thematically to the rest of ‘Whiplash’?

‘Forget You’ is one of the more emotional tracks on the album. Most of the songs are about relationships I was in and confused about; ‘Forget You’ ties in with that theme and flows well with the rest of the songs.

Today (March 30th), you’re releasing ‘Boxes’, which is the next single from the record. It’s the first song on ‘Whiplash’. Why did you decide to have this track kick the album off?

‘Boxes’ is my favourite track off the album. It stands out from the rest of the songs and is the one I’m most excited to have out there. It’s about letting go of the past and coming to terms with growing up. I love how it sounds. It captures the more ‘rock’ sound I’m influenced by, which is cool. Since it sounds different from what people are used to hearing from me, having it start the album is a surprise. I have to keep things interesting, you know? haha. 

When people hear Whiplash for the first time, how do you hope it makes them feel? What emotions do you want to evoke?

Good question! The album, primarily, is about relationships. There’s likely a song for any listener, whether they are in love; or going through a breakup. They can probably find whatever they’re looking for while listening to ‘Whiplash.’ I hope it generates whatever emotional response is appropriate for them! 

Nowadays, you have quite a sizeable social media presence, particularly on TikTok. How do you view social media as a Gen Z music artist?

In all honesty, I find social media can be quite hard when you’re an artist. We don’t always identify as content creators. I’m a singer, musician, performer, writer, but when it comes to Tiktok, Instagram, etc. creating content for these apps isn’t necessarily my strong suit. I’ve only been making music professionally for the past three years, two of which have been during the pandemic. So with that being said, social media has helped me significantly to get my music out there in a way I never would’ve been able to.

Although some days I don’t feel I’m the best at making content and may not feel up to it, I have been grateful enough to build a following of people who genuinely enjoy, appreciate and listen to the art I create, which is all I could ask for really. It can bring many life-changing opportunities, especially for an independent artist like myself, so I try to use it to my advantage and see the good in it. 

This is your very first full-length project. How are you feeling about the release? Is it a careful balance between excitement and nerves?

I’m excited. Honestly, it’s all the good vibes over here. I’m proud of this music and can’t wait for it to be out. Since I was that ten-year-old girl writing songs in her journal, I’ve wanted to create an album. It’s a dream come true! 

What else can your fans expect from you in 2022?

Shows shows and more shows! I want to perform this album as much as I possibly can! 

 

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Art + Culture Featured

Will Smith, Chris Rock confrontation steals show at subpar Oscars

Controversial Oscars ceremony culminates in row between Will Smith and Chris Rock after tasteless joke. 

There was no shortage of controversy at this year’s Oscars. Questionable production decisions, unlikely winners and an array of awkward moments, including Will Smith assaulting Chris Rock on stage, made for one of the most bizarre ceremonies in recent memory. 

As tradition dictates, the red carpet rolled out on the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on the evening of the 27th to celebrate the year’s biggest achievements in filmmaking. But, the ceremony was already under heat before it had even started. A decision to cut 8 categories from live broadcast in an attempt to reduce airtime, as well as the introduction of fan-voted awards to lure in more viewers, had been fuelling criticism against the Academy for months. Animosities were only made worse when, weeks prior to the Oscars, Best Picture contender West Side Story’s star Rachel Zegler shared online that she had not been invited to attend the ceremony, leaving film fans perplexed, and the Academy scrambling for a last-minute invitation.

To top off this already wobbly scenario, a surprising change in the betting pool saw CODA overtake sure-winner The Power Of The Dog as Best Picture champion. A prediction that did indeed come true, to the dismay of a lot of viewers, who contested the Oscars tendency towards awarding tearjerker films over other more complex works. Other categories, however, played out as expected. Dune swept technical categories, Belfast secured a win for its Screenplay, Jane Campion received the Best Director nod and Jessica Chastain, Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur went home with Oscars for their acting. 

Will Smith confronts Chris Rock
Oscars, Will Smith, Christ Rock
Will Smith strikes Chris Rock at the Oscars stage | © Robyn Beck / Afp

Also in the acting category, one of the most unanimous wins suddenly became uncertain when King Richard lead actor Will Smith physically assaulted presenter Chris Rock. Rock, who was on stage to give out the award for Best Documentary, made an offensive joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. Pinkett Smith, who has been vocal about her struggle with health-related hair-loss issues in the recent past, was visibly annoyed, prompting her husband to go up on stage and slap Rock across the face. Smith then repeatedly shouted the phrase, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f######  mouth,” at Rock from his seat. To make matters worse, the broadcast was then cut in a panic, just as musician Questlove was dedicating his Best Documentary win to his deceased father. 

Considering the ceremony’s long list of cringe-worthy moments staged by presenters Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes, viewers were left wondering whether the altercation was in fact real. Doubts were cleared when, not even 30 minutes after the fact, Will Smith won the Oscar for Best Actor. During an intense, uncomfortable speech, Smith stated that “love will make you do crazy things” and apologised to the Academy and his fellow nominees, but not Chris Rock.  

The Academy has since released an official statement regarding the altercation.

A series of unfortunate events

Other poor moments from the 2022 Oscars, which many have called the worst in a long time, include rude interruptions to Drive My Car director Ryūsuke Hamaguchi as he accepted the award for Best International Film, a couple of badly-rehearsed musical numbers and Amy Schumer’s failed attempts at being funny. The fan-favourite categories were the laughing-stock of the internet with “The Flash Enters the Speed Force in Zack Snyder’s Justice League” becoming an instant meme.

Oscars, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Francis Ford Coppola
Al Pacino, Francis Ford Coppola and Robert De Niro reunite in The Godfather 50 year tribute | © Robyn Beck / Afp

It’s safe to say the list of films up for Oscars this year deserved better, and with all the fodder around basically unimportant events, the supposed protagonist of the night – cinema – was left overlooked. The few highlights include The Godfather 50 year tribute between director Francis Ford Coppola and film legends Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, as well as a Pulp Fiction reunion – with cast members Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman and John Travolta reenacting iconic scenes from the cult classic on the Oscars stage. Troy Kotsur’s Best Supporting Actor speech, made entirely in sign language, to a completely silenced and focused Dolby Theatre, was likewise one of the more positive moments of the evening. 

Ultimately, though, the Academy’s attempts to increase viewership through forced viral moments or a shorter ceremony failed, making for a subpar evening of television. Granted, the Oscars haven’t had this much media buzz since the Moonlight vs. La La Land debacle, even if it is for all the wrong reasons. 

P.S. If you’re curious to know which films most deserve your attention, check out this list of 5 essential watches of the 2022 Oscars. You can find the full list of winners here.

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Community

Is Mercury the planet of diamonds? Its crust hides a shiny secret

Mercury

Thanks to the planet’s abundance of carbon and pressure caused by frequent asteroid collisions, scientists think Mercury is covered with diamonds.

As per Diamonds.pro.com, a carat of diamonds is worth anywhere between $2,500 and $18,000. Diamonds are so valuable because there’s a limited supply of fine quality gems, and they cost a lot to bring to the market. So, what if you discovered there’s a place in the Universe where you can obtain diamonds as easy as simply digging a hole in the ground? While many astronomers and astronomy enthusiasts have always dismissed Mercury as nothing more than a scorching and simultaneously frigid tidal-locked rock orbiting the Sun, other studies have hinted at a possibly unique geological history. 

The research was presented in a preview at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston, Texas (LPSC). It included simulations that suggested the closest planet to the Sun hosts 16 quadrillion tons of diamonds under its surface.

Kevin Cannon, Assistant Professor of Geology and Geological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, calculated numbers for the entire crust of Mercury, mentioning how only a tiny fraction of the material at the surface is likely to be diamond.

Mercury
Mercury © NASA

The planet has more craters than the Moon, which also ups the chances for more diamond-creating impacts. There’s a chance that Mercury began with a thin crust of graphite and eventually cooled into a global magma ocean, with asteroids and comets slamming into its crust at several miles per second to create pressures powerful enough to turn the graphite into diamond.

As per Cannon’s words, the diamonds, which could be close enough to the surface, wouldn’t be instantly recognizable as gemstones. These diamonds are more similar to the small cloudy diamonds used in industry as abrasives, such as a mixture with graphite and other forms of carbon.

Knowing all of this, is it possible to actually mine the diamonds from Mercury and bring them back to Earth?

There’s an upcoming mission requested by the European Space Agency called BepiColumbo, with plans of mapping Mercury at various wavelengths once it arrives there on December 5, 2025, with a chance of perhaps finding Mercury’s diamonds in surface materials. In just a couple of years, there’s a chance a new influx of space diamonds would fill the market. Now the question will be, would space diamonds from Mercury be worth as much as earth diamonds? 

Diamond enthusiasts will most definitely be excited upon being able to add extraterrestrial gems to their collection, provided their wallets can sustain their desire for otherworldly jewels.

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Featured Music

Tai Verdes: In Conversation

Tai Verdes

“I’m gonna be an even bigger problem this year”, Tai Verdes on his upcoming album HDTV.

TV has been HD since the early 2000s, and now so is Tai Verdes. Since releasing his debut album, ‘TV’, last year, the Californian songwriter is ready to step it up a gear with a souped-up second offering, ‘HDTV’.

Due for release later this year, ‘HDTV’ is written and co-produced by Verdes himself. And, with another year of experience to draw from, it promises to be bigger and better than its predecessor.

So, to celebrate HDTV and the album’s recently released single, ‘3 outfits’, Tai Verdes sat down for a chat with Chapter Z. 

Tai VerdesIn Conversation With Tai Verdes

We’ve got to start by talking about the upcoming album. HDTV is due for release in the next few months. Sonically and thematically, how would you say the record compares with your debut album?

On my first album, I picked my favourite songs out of the first 30 I ever made, co-produced and wrote. For this next album, I’m compiling my favourites from about 150 songs I’ve made, co-produced and written. I’ve taken it to the next level. This shit is HD. 

What’s it like putting out a second full-length project? Has the process been starkly different?

I’ve been able to bring my production to a new level. I’m gonna be an even bigger problem this year. This is all a part of the 4-album quadrilogy; it’s all part of the plan.  

Last month, you released ‘LAst dAy oN EaRTh’. The track has such an uplifting sound – could you explain how you felt when you wrote that song?

 The first single off HDTV is ‘Let’s go to Hell’ and the second is “LAst dAy oN EaRTh”. Every song I put out has a meaning; they’re infinite entities. I don’t take that lightly. I just share my thoughts as purely as I can and I don’t think people realize any day could be their last.

How does the rest of the record compare to “LAst dAy oN EaRTh”? Can we expect more tracks like that?

Every track is just a moment, feeling or snapshot. Look at me tryna sound artist as fuck! Honestly, I’m just out here tryna make dope shit.

When people hear HDTV for the first time, how do you hope it makes them feel? What emotions do you want to evoke with the songs? 

I don’t really think about how other people feel. I think about how I feel; that’s how I make my music.

You’re also set to take the album on tour this year. How important is the live aspect for you? In your opinion, what extra dimension does performing/hearing a track live give to a track?

I just try to perform so hard that I pass out. If I think I’m about to toss one on stage, then we’re making progress.

You’ve also recently announced that you’re playing Reading and Leads Festival this summer, which is extremely exciting! As a US artist, how does it feel to be able to play at such a famous festival overseas?

 It’s exciting. Things are happening fast, but it’s all in the plan. I love music more than anything for giving me these opportunities. 

What else have you got planned for the year? What can your listeners expect from you in 2022?

HDTV motherfucker. 

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Community LGBTQ

Transgender Model Asked About Sex Life and Breast Size by Airport Staff

Transgender Model Rachaya Noppakaroon

A Thai transgender model was interrogated by airport immigration officials for nine hours before being deported

Describing the incident as a “nightmare while opening my eyes”, transgender model Rachaya Noppakaroon was barred from entering the United Arab Emirates.

Noppakaroon was stopped at the Dubai International Airport after immigration workers found her gender did not match the marker on her passport, Maylay Mail reported. The 2014 Miss Tiffany Universe runner-up said all her travel documents were in order, from proof of coronavirus vaccine to her visa, to enter the UAE at around 2pm. She had flown there to perform at the delayed Expo 2020.

Yet, immigration officials “asked me am I a man”, she wrote on Facebook on 16 March. Stuck in a men’s holding room for two hours, Noppakaroon prayed to be released as staff asked her intrusive questions.

As officials asked her if airport staff had asked her to take her clothing off, Noppakaroon broke down in tears. “We did nothing wrong,” she said. Another two hours later, Noppakaroon went into a room to be interrogated by all-male staff. “He spoke loudly, but I wasn’t afraid,” she said. “I showed my work in Thailand to show that I exist.”

But Noppakaroon alleged that the interviewer cared little about who she was or why she sought to enter Dubai – “he was more interested in sex,” she said. The staff member asked her about her sexual history and breast size. During the second round of questioning, Noppakaroon pleaded: “I’m a girl. I have been since I was born.”

Rachaya NoppakaroonBy 11.30pm, nine hours after she first touched ground in Dubai, Noppakaroon was told she would be sent back home to Thailand. Immigration officials said that as the gender marker on her passport is listed as male, she would have to get this changed to enter the UAE. Such a task would be impossible for Noppakaroon, given that transgender people in Thailand cannot change their legal gender, sequestering them from life-saving services such as healthcare, employment and education.

This legal barrier has long been a source of humiliation and harassment for transgender Thai people, the Human Rights Watch has found.

While transgender Thai citizens can legally change their name, the Passport Division of the Department of Consular Affairs, an agency within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, does not allow them to change their gender markers.

In the UAE, all forms of gender-affirming healthcare are illegal, as is crossdressing. Homosexuality, meanwhile, is punishable with prison, flogging, forced anal examinations, chemical castration and other forms of brutal torture.

Noppakaroon arrived back in Thailand in “tears” nearly 20 hours after she first arrived in the UAE. Gathering her thoughts, she stressed that the staff at the Dubai airport were simply doing their job. “We don’t blame Dubai employees (but we’re angry),” she wrote. “We blame Thai law. They look down on us and many of us have to face problems like this.”

Categories
Community Sustainability

Finding Joy in Activism

Activism Graphic

Find the balance between finding joy in activism and fighting for the things you believe in.

Any activist, or anyone who cares about societal issues, will know how draining it can be to constantly have to fight and stand up for what we believe in. With the constant onslaught of the news and social media, doomscrolling can often leave us feeling deflated and hopeless. But activism doesn’t have to feel like that. It isn’t about feeling pessimistic and defeated. Finding hope and joy will ultimately lead us to better outcomes.

Mural with six women holding a banner that says 'together'
Mural by activist and illustrator Alice Skinner

“Joy doesn’t betray but sustains activism.” as the author of Hope in the Dark, Rebecca Solnit, puts it, “when you face a politics that aspires to make you fearful, alienated and isolated, joy is a fine act of insurrection.” Throughout the years, I have found this to be true. So often, we feel we should be fearful and deal with our struggles alone. But, by coming together and finding joy in our work, we become much stronger.

Activism is about imaging and aspiring towards a better future; it’s about envisioning a better world where everyone is healthier, happier, safer. And, it’s about picturing that and striving towards it. What is the point in fighting for a new world if that new world is not filled with joy?

So you might be wondering how you can achieve the balance of finding joy whilst also fighting for what you believe in. Don’t get me wrong, there will always be moments when you feel you’re fighting a losing battle, but pinpointing the things that bring you joy will give you the energy you need to keep going.

Think about where the joy in your life comes from. It might be spending time with family, hanging out with friends, connecting yourself with nature, listening to music or eating food. Wherever that joy lies, latch onto it. Being an activist is not the only thing that defines you. So often, activists feel guilty when enjoying themselves. But they shouldn’t. This new world we’re trying to create is one where there is more joy for everyone. We have to know what brings us joy before we can start building our new world around that.

Activism Press ImageSecondly, there is a lot in your role as an activist to be joyful about – you are literally shaping the future of society, and if that’s not something to be joyful about, then I don’t know what is. But there are also smaller moments to cherish; the little victories. Nothing makes my heart soar more than when I hear the hundreds of voices united in their call for action. There’s so much joy in knowing you’re not alone. There’s also beauty in the art, music and poetry that comes out of activism and taking up space with fellow activists. Inhabiting that space and providing people with a voice is definitely something to feel joyful about.

Banner with joy is an act of resistance written on it.And it might feel like we’re fighting a losing battle sometimes, that we are defeated more than we win. But the small wins should be celebrated and amplified. Just this year, activists Mikaela Loach, Karin van Sweeden and Jeremy Cox took an unprecedented legal case to court. The trio forced the UK government to admit oil companies make more from subsidies than they pay in taxes. This is something the government had previously denied.

Whilst they may have lost the court case, the government’s confession is a huge win for the climate movement. Winning really isn’t a linear journey, and the small wins all add up. In the same year, Shell has pulled out of the Cambo oil field, and Siccar Point Energy has put the project on hold – this came as a direct result of protesting and campaigning. Change doesn’t just happen; it happens because we choose to fight for it.

By finding shared joy and passion, people are coming together with a shared goal for a better world. And whilst we may feel defeated sometimes, we must remember we are winning the fight for social and climate justice. We are creating change. And, for that, you have a lot to feel joyful about.

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Art + Culture Featured

Bones & All: Luca Guadagnino and Timothée Chalamet Reunite

It’s been 5 years since Call Me By Your Name brightened up our screens. But now, the stars have realigned, and director Luca Guadagnino and man-of-the-moment, Timothée Chalamet have reunited for a coming-of-age horror film, Bones & All.

Bones & All press
IMDB Press Release Photos

Bones & All is adapted from Camille DeAngelis’s 2015 novel. Chalamet will share the screen with Taylor Russell, to become Maren and Lee: who are young adults in search of their absent father. To start with, the plot seems rather pleasant, but the thousand-mile journey to find Maren’s father takes unexpected turns, as Maren also hopes to find answers to her urges for eating human flesh.

In a recent interview with Deadline regarding the plot, Guadagnino teases, “a very romantic story, about the impossibility of love and yet, the need for it. Even in extreme circumstances.” He continued to talk about the connection between the two protagonists, hinting that they have “a gleaming power” and effortlessly “portray universal feelings.” Despite being a horror, it appears Guadagnino is keen to remain integral to his passion for portraying humanity and affection on screen.

Bones & All press
Luca Guadagnino and Tilda Swinton (starring in Bones & All) – Press Release (from Elle)

The ironic plot made headlines a few months back when fellow Call Me By Your Name lead, Armie Hammer, was found to have “cannibalistic tendencies.” A previous partner of Hammer revealed the private Instagram DM’s in which Hammer disclosed disturbing fantasies around rape, “drinking blood” and “cutting toes.”

When Elizabeth Chambers, Armie Hammer’s ex-wife, heard of Luca’s plans for a cannibal themed movie, she said in a news article, “No. Words.” On her own Instagram post, she continued, “For weeks, I’ve been trying to process everything that has transpired. I am shocked, heartbroken, and devastated.” In the months following the scandal, Hammer’s career has stalled, the Call Me By Your Name sequel has been shelved, and now, Luca and Timothee’s new film seems to kick the boot in even further.

The cannibalistic concept of the movie has wowed some of the biggest names in the industry. On 23rd March, production company giant MGM, announced that it has picked up the rights to ‘Bones & All’ – the company’s first big post-acquisition deal following the completion of their $8.5 million merger with Amazon. Based on this alone, Luca and Timothee are heading towards another big hit in their filmography.

With Bones & All, Luca and Timothee have done a full 180. Fans are ecstatic with the news of the close-knit duo’s return to our theatre screens but within an entirely different genre. Although risky, the incredible chemistry and friendship between Timothee and Luca will no doubt carry the movie to success. No release date has been announced so far, but as the hype builds, we are sure that this will be a film to get your teeth into.

Some of Luca Guadagnino’s most impressive cinematic projects so far:

 

We Are Who We Are

Another coming-of-age project, this time shown on the small screen. Released in 2020, this 8-part series is set on a fictional US Military base in – you may have guessed it – Italy. The show follows two American 14-year-olds in the quest for self-discovery.

 

Call Me By Your Name

Based on the heart-wrenching novel from Andre Aciman, this adaption will go down in history as one of the most romantic and beautifully shot movies of all time. Picking up dozens of awards, this coming-of-age film has already amassed a cult following, with fans eagerly waiting for news of a sequel. Not to be missed.

Suspiria

Another horror directed by Luca. Starring Dakota Johnson, an American woman enrols in a prestigious dance academy in Berlin, Germany. But all isn’t as it seems, as the academy is run by a coven of witches. Luca’s close friend, Tilda Swinton co-stars in the supernatural horror, playing the company’s lead choreographer and a male psychotherapist. Yes, two roles!

 

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SCA 2.0 – Step into a Creative Career Without Hesitation 

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Your creative career starts at SCA 2.0

The School of Communication 2.0 (SCA 2.0) was born out of a desire to seek out the best creative talent, nurture them, cajole them and inspire them to be the next advertising superstars. The school is home to some of the country’s finest creatives, artists, writers, oddballs, misfits, dreamers and schemers. 

While universities are ideal for developing certain disciplines, if you want to be among the greatest creatives, producers, writers and directors in the business working on some of the world’s biggest brands at the world’s top agencies, SCA is the place for you.

With the aim of offering something better than the traditional model, SCA was established in 2010 on the foundations of staying fresh, vibrant and relevant. 

Now, as the most awarded creative school in the world, 80% of SCA’s alumni secure a job at a top 100 agency within six months of finishing their course. 

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“Being very dyslexic, traditional education never worked for me. Being at SCA opened my eyes to what education could and should be. I went from a guy with 2 A-levels to a student Pencil winner who worked at Google in a year,” said one ex-student of the school. 

With such excellent statistics and an impressive list of alumni working for some of the world’s finest creative companies, you’d think students would be battering down the doors at SCA and schools of the like. But, the unfortunate reality is young people don’t even consider a creative career as an option. 

For so many, traditional schooling teaches students that university and conventional apprenticeships are the only viable higher education options. This leaves many students to pursue unfulfilling paths, never knowing a host of creative careers are out there waiting to be snapped up. 

And if it’s not traditional schooling holding young people back from their creative potential, it’s the trope that to be a creative you need to have money. While, in the past, wealth has posed a barrier to certain industries, SCA is here to change that. 

Current Scholarship Opportunities at SCA 2.0 include: 

Fully-funded places on the 10-month portfolio course for residents of Lambeth, Lewisham, Wandsworth and Southwark. 

All fees paid place for one care leaver on our 10-month portfolio course. In partnership with GREY London.

The Next of Kin Scholarship was created by one of SCA’s own, Naomi ‘Gnome’ Taylor, who, at the hands of SCA, not only achieved her career goals but overcame addiction and the impact of living through the care system. 

To find out more about SCA 2.0’s scholarships, sign up to the school’s mailing list here.

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SCA 2.0Press Image

Here’s Gnome’s story told by SCA’s Dean, Marc Lewis: 

The selection process at the School of Communication Arts is as unorthodox as the diverse students who win a place. When Gnome came for hers in 2016, I knew she was something special, and I offered her a scholarship. I loved her tone of voice and her attitude. The trouble was she needed more than just a scholarship to start her journey with us. As a care-leaver without family support to lean on, she needed help to fund her travel to and from Colchester every day, money for books, money for an iMac, money to survive. 

I was impressed by how Gnome crowdfunded the money she needed. By 10s of thousands of emails, letters and tweets, she persuaded the good and the great to back her. But in July 2017, Gnome hit rock bottom. Much of the money she had raised was invested in Colombia’s black-market economy and distributed up her nasal cavities. The troubles of growing up in care had come back to haunt her. Later, I would discover that drug and alcohol addiction is almost expected among those who grow up in the care system. 

Gnome moved into my family home that July. My wife and kids helped me to support her. I took her to Narcotics Anonymous meetings five times a week, and then I took her on our family holiday so I could keep an eye on her. Slowly, she started to look a bit more human and eventually like the fighter I met at that first interview. 

By September 2017, Gnome was ready to give SCA another go. Sober this time and focused on her hopes and dreams. One was to find an affordable flat in London, another to win a D&AD Black Pencil, and finally, to get a job at Mr President. 

Just before Christmas 2017, Gnome moved into her own one-bedroom apartment near Warren Street. Soon after, she submitted her D&AD award entry. And, a couple of months later, Gnome landed her job at Mr President. Two goals were achieved, one to go. 

Students from more than 50 countries entered the awards that year, competing in more than a dozen briefs. The single best campaign across all the entries would win the Black Pencil. Of course, that went to Gnome. 

SCA 2.0

Every year, over a third of the school’s intake is made up of means-tested scholarship places, funded by their vast partner network of global top-100 creative agencies who also offer mentor time and placement opportunities for students upon course completion.

If you think a course at SCA 2.0 could help you on your journey to a creative career, get in touch with the school today.