Visionaries

How Director Akinola Davies Jr Made History at Cannes Film Festival- And What It Took to Get There

Akinola Davies Jr is a British-Nigerian filmmaker whose debut feature made history as the first Nigerian film ever selected to premiere in Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival — earning a Special Mention for the Caméra d’Or and later becoming the UK’s Oscar entry. In this episode of Visionaries, we sat down to discuss how Akin’s work is constantly weaving worlds and the creative faith it takes to make something that hasn’t been done before. This episode is brought you by MPB, who make it easy for storytellers to buy, sell or trade camera gear. Find your next camera at ⁠⁠⁠MPB⁠⁠ [http://bit.ly/42CTIfU].⁠ Follow ⁠⁠⁠@visionaries⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/visionaries] on Instagram Follow @akinoladaviesjr [https://www.instagram.com/akinoladaviesjr] on Instagram Follow @aliceaedy [http://www.instagram.com/aliceaedy] on Instagram Watch on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC78Sk5_NomIRURpkG5-k9eg] CHAPTERS * 00:00:00 Introduction: Making History at Cannes Film Festival * 00:07:21 Brothers in Creation: Writing with Family * 00:15:21 Working with Friends and Breaking the Rules * 00:21:45 Building Infrastructure: Seven Years in Lagos * 00:26:13 The Delusion Required: Believing Against the Odds * 00:39:56 From Protest to Process: Political Awakening * 00:53:12 Digital Fast Food: Staying Focused in the Age of Distraction Visionaries with Alice Aedy Producer - Chloe Puttock Art Director - Liliana Saldanha Director - Issey Rider Camera Operator - Stephan Knight + Sam Mulvey Lighting - Al Rice Editor - Tom Forsey + Paolina Stefani Colour Grade - Jasper Brown Music by the talented Jon Hopkins

Es Devlin on Art, Imagination and Designing for the World’s Stage - Visionaries Episode 4

Es Devlin is one of the world’s most visionary artists and stage designers - the creative mind behind some of the most iconic cultural moments of our time, from Beyoncé and Adele’s performances to the London Olympics and Conference of the Trees at COP26 in Glasgow. In this episode of Visionaries, Alice Aedy sits down with Es to explore the imagination as a tool for connection and change. They discuss how awe can shift behaviour more than fear, what it means to design for both human and non-human audiences, and how art can help us see, and build, a more hopeful future. This episode is brought you by MPB, who make it easy for storytellers to buy, sell or trade camera gear. Find your next camera at ⁠⁠⁠MPB⁠⁠ [http://bit.ly/42CTIfU].⁠ Follow ⁠⁠⁠@visionaries⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/visionaries] on Instagram Follow @esdevlin [https://www.instagram.com/esdevlin] on Instagram Follow @aliceaedy [http://www.instagram.com/aliceaedy] on Instagram Watch on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC78Sk5_NomIRURpkG5-k9eg] CHAPTERS * 00:00:00 Introduction: The Power of Seeing Through Others * 00:03:16 Finding Comfort Zones and Trusting Instinct * 00:05:28 Early Memory: Nearly Drowning and the Influence of Light * 00:07:24 An Atlas of Collaboration: The Monograph as Lens * 00:10:06 Following Instinct: Choosing Theatre Over the White Room * 00:15:40 From Wire to Beyoncé: The Evolution of Concert Design * 00:18:40 Conference of the Trees: Art Meets Climate Action * 00:21:27 Congregation: Portraits of Displacement and Belonging * 00:24:03 Come Home Again: More Than Human Londoners * 00:26:01 Left Brain, Right Brain: The Architecture of Attention * 00:31:25 The Art of Scale: Models, Giants, and Human Perception * 00:33:09 First Awe: The Staircase Built 25 Times Bigger * 00:35:34 The Oddity of Theatre: Stillness and Shared Attention * 00:37:28 Advice for Young Visionaries: Finding Common Ground * 00:43:25 Legacy and Being a Good Ancestor Visionaries with Alice Aedy Producer - Chloe Puttock Art Director - Liliana Saldanha Director - Issey Rider Camera Operator - Stephan Knight + Sam Mulvey Lighting - Al Rice Editor - Tom Forsey + Paolina Stefani Colour Grade - Jasper Brown Music by the talented Jon Hopkins

Sophie Darlington on being one of the first female wildlife cinematographers - Visionaries Episode 3

For over three decades, Sophie Darlington has helped create some of the most iconic natural history documentaries of our time - Planet Earth, The Hunt, Dynasties, Our Planet II, Queens and African Cats. Her work has earned her a BAFTA, an Emmy, and one of the highest honours in cinematography: membership of the ASC - the American Society of Cinematographers in recognising her as one of the leading visual storytellers of our time. In summary, she’s a badass. This episode is full of wisdom from a true trailblazer - she was one of the first female DOP’s in a male dominated industry - what drives her, and how she’s now offering the same mentorship to upcoming talent she credits herself receiving (and yes, even she still has imposter syndrome). This episode is brought you by MPB, who make it easy for storytellers to buy, sell or trade camera gear. Find your next camera at ⁠⁠⁠MPB⁠⁠ [http://bit.ly/42CTIfU].⁠ Follow ⁠⁠⁠@visionaries⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/visionaries] on Instagram Follow sophiedarlingtondop [http://www.instagram.com/sophiedarlingtondop] on Instagram Follow @aliceaedy [http://www.instagram.com/aliceaedy] on Instagram Watch on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC78Sk5_NomIRURpkG5-k9eg] CHAPTERS * 00:00:00 Introduction: Breaking Barriers as a Female Wildlife Cinematographer * 00:10:27 Finding Her Calling: From Modeling to the Serengeti * 00:16:48 Balancing Motherhood and Career: Eight Years Away * 00:18:57 Breaking into Bristol: The Old Boys' Club * 00:21:29 The Craft: Film vs Digital and the Future of AI * 00:30:42 Witnessing Decline: Cataloguing the Climate Crisis * 00:32:36 American Society of Cinematographers: A Historic Achievement * 00:35:04 The Industry in Crisis: Engaging New Audiences * 00:45:56 The Fire Within: Advice for Aspiring Cinematographers Visionaries with Alice Aedy Producer - Chloe Puttock Art Director - Liliana Saldanha Director - Issey Rider Camera Operator - Stephan Knight + Sam Mulvey Lighting - Al Rice Editor - Tom Forsey + Paolina Stefani Colour Grade - Jasper Brown Music by the talented Jon Hopkins

Misan Harriman: The Photo That Changed Everything - Visionaries Episode 2

In June 2020, a single photograph taken by Misan Harriman at a Black Lives Matter protest went viral — shared by Martin Luther King III and seen by millions across the world. Almost overnight, Misan went from self-taught photographer to becoming the first Black male cover photographer in British Vogue’s history. In this conversation with Alice Aedy for Visionaries, Misan reflects on the image that changed his life, the role of protest photography in shaping culture, and the responsibility of storytellers to capture truth and legacy. This episode is brought you by MPB, who make it easy for storytellers to buy, sell or trade camera gear. Find your next camera at ⁠⁠⁠MPB⁠⁠ [http://bit.ly/42CTIfU].⁠ Follow ⁠⁠⁠@visionaries⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/visionaries] on Instagram Follow misanharriman [http://www.instagram.com/misanharriman] on Instagram Follow @aliceaedy [http://www.instagram.com/aliceaedy] on Instagram Watch on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC78Sk5_NomIRURpkG5-k9eg] CHAPTERS * 00:00:00 Introduction: The Photo That Changed Everything * 00:02:25 The Black Lives Matter Image: Darcy Bourne * 00:05:53 Finding Inspiration: The Masters of Photography * 00:08:14 The First Black Man to Shoot British Vogue's September Cover * 00:10:15 What Happens When Opportunity Comes * 00:11:38 Picking Up the Camera at 40 * 00:12:40 Neurodiversity as a Superpower * 00:17:04 Intersectional Issues * 00:21:00 From Recruitment to Photography * 00:22:14 Documenting Protests and Student Movements * 00:25:35 Navigating Celebrity and Activism * 00:29:30 Building Trust Through Vulnerability * 00:31:46 Misan on Fatherhood * 00:36:47 Hope in a Time of Reset * 00:42:06 The Cost of Speaking Out * 00:39:41 Misan's Advice for Storytellers Visionaries with Alice Aedy Producer - Chloe Puttock Art Director - Liliana Saldanha Director - Issey Rider Camera Operator - Stephan Knight + Sam Mulvey Lighting - Al Rice Editor - Tom Forsey + Paolina Stefani Colour Grade - Jasper Brown Music by the talented Jon Hopkins

Surviving Kidnapping and Covering War - Behind the Lens of Lynsey Addario - Visionaries Episode 1

Lynsey Addario is one of the most renowned photojournalists of our time. She’s survived two kidnappings, risked her life on the frontlines, and built a career documenting war and humanitarian crises across the globe for The New York Times and National Geographic. In this episode of Visionaries, Alice Aedy sits down with Lynsey to talk about the sacrifices behind the images, the moments she didn’t think she would survive, and the lessons she’s learned from decades on the frontlines. This episode is brought you by MPB, who make it easy for storytellers to buy, sell or trade camera gear. Find your next camera at ⁠⁠⁠MPB⁠⁠ [http://bit.ly/42CTIfU].⁠ Follow ⁠⁠⁠@visionaries⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.instagram.com/visionaries] on Instagram Follow @lynseyaddario [http://www.instagram.com/lynseyaddario] on Instagram Follow @aliceaedy [http://www.instagram.com/aliceaedy] on Instagram Watch on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC78Sk5_NomIRURpkG5-k9eg] CHAPTERS * 00:00:00 Introduction: A Life Behind the Lens * 00:03:25 Finding Photography: From Hairdressers to War Zones * 00:06:09 Building Trust: The Art of Connection * 00:07:28 Early Work: Afghanistan Under the Taliban * 00:08:51 Iraq War: Collecting Evidence * 00:10:32 Darfur and the Camera as Barrier * 00:13:09 Being a Woman in the Field * 00:14:55 Marriage and Balance: Finding Paul * 00:21:17 Ukraine 2022: The Family Photo * 00:27:21 Libya 2011: Seven Days in Captivity * 00:40:33 Processing Trauma and Staying Human * 00:43:18 Femininity and Strength in War Zones * 00:44:35 Packing for War: Tools of the Trade * 00:46:41 The Future of Journalism * 00:49:35 Advice and Legacy: The Enduring Lesson Visionaries with Alice Aedy Producer - Chloe Puttock Art Director - Liliana Saldanha Director - Issey Rider Camera Operator - Stephan Knight + Sam Mulvey Lighting - Al Rice Editor - Tom Forsey + Paolina Stefani Colour Grade - Jasper Brown Music by the talented Jon Hopkins