The Paris Chong Show

Jeff Dunas, Passion Projects, Publishing Art Books, Palm Springs Photo Festival & Leica

Paris Chong welcomes back renowned photographer Jeff Dunas, who dives into the photographic books he produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily from his archive. These projects include a small, limited-edition book with publisher Nazraeli called *Highway 61 to Honeyboy*, a Renaissance garden book, and a collection of his American pictures. He discusses the changing landscape of photo book publishing, particularly the unique crowd-sourced model used by Michelle from Minor Matters, who also designed his earlier book, *State of the Blues* . Dunas also reflects on his early career, including his widely known nude photography and work for magazines like *Playboy*. Dunas shares his deep connection to Leica cameras, which he has used since the early eighties, noting he still owns an M3 and M7. He highlights his attachment to the M9 Monochrome, calling it "perfect" for black and white work—like shooting an M6 with Tri-X film. He contrasts the slow, deliberate process of shooting with film (the psychological importance of a 36-picture limit) and the mastery of the darkroom with the current, faster pace of digital photography. He likens his new hobby of making sourdough bread to the focused, scientific process of working in a darkroom. The conversation also covers the Palm Springs Photo Festival, which Dunas co-founded and ran for 17 years. He proudly defines its portfolio reviews not as critique sessions, but as a crucial "job fair," connecting emerging photographers with industry people who could hire, publish, or exhibit their work. While the festival itself is currently on hold due to the high costs of maintaining its high-quality faculty, the reviews continue online. Finally, Jeff discusses his successful "Palm Springs Photo Festival podcast," which he started in 2020 to maintain a sense of community during the pandemic. You can find Jeff Dunas's work on his website, dunes.com. Show Notes: www.theparischongshow.com/episodes/jeff-dunas-passion-projects-publishing-art-books-palm-springs-photo-festival-leica Chapters: (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:51) Jeff Dunas (00:01:19) A Few New Books (00:05:07) Paris's First Art Book (00:08:28) Famous For Nudes (00:11:25) Super Rare Books (00:15:26) Palm Springs Photo Festival (00:18:48) Marker 12 (00:22:45) Leica Store (00:25:24) Other Hobbies (00:32:25) Didn't Know You Had A Daughter (00:36:26) Landscape - Palisades Fire Talk (00:39:04) What's Next? (00:46:33) Outro 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

The Timeless Impact of Clueless | Show Clip

Costume designer Mona May's new book celebrates the 30th anniversary of the movie *Clueless*. Mona May confirms that she wrote the book with the help of a ghostwriter, a fashion writer who lives in Los Angeles and understood the book's themes of friendship, girls, and fashion. The conversation details how Mona May designed the book, which is a "coffee table book" with pictures, process discussions, and interviews with actors and the director, taking about a year to put together. The discussion also touches upon the general decline in writing skills and the importance of handwriting and journaling for creativity. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Mona May https://youtu.be/ggFe8n7f5Eo https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #clueless #costumedesign #monamay

'Clueless' Costume Secrets Revealed! | Show Clip

Costume designer Mona May dives into the iconic fashion of *Clueless*, revealing how she transformed Jane Austen's *Emma* into a high-fashion, colorful aesthetic for 1990s Beverly Hills high schoolers, moving past the era's grunge trend with plaids, Mary Janes, and berets. She discusses her continued work with cast members like Alicia Silverstone and shares her concerns about the struggles facing the film industry in Los Angeles as productions increasingly move to places like Bulgaria and Ireland for financial incentives. Finally, Mona May explains how her Polish-German background and her birthplace in India, where she first experienced a world of bright color, profoundly shaped her signature design style and love for using color in her films. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Mona May https://youtu.be/ggFe8n7f5Eo https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #clueless #janeausten #film

Missed Opportunity: 'Barbie Should Have Been Mine!' | Show Clip

Costume designer Mona May (Clueless, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion) and Paris Chong lament over the missed opportunity for Mona May to have been the costume designer for the *****Barbie* movie. They dive into the complexities of forming relationships in the industry, the grueling life of production (including Paris's one awful experience on the set of *Starship Troopers*!), and why dating in LA is so tough. Mona May is also crowned the "Queen of the Nineties" as she lists her classic film credits and reveals her unique process for sourcing materials and creating the iconic looks for movies like *Enchanted*. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Mona May https://youtu.be/ggFe8n7f5Eo https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #Clueless #MonaMay #CostumeDesign #bookpublishing

The Power of Costume Design in Film | Show Clip

Costume designer Mona May explains the immense power of costume design, noting that an actor's clothing instantly conveys their character's "psychology" and socio-economic status. She pulls back the curtain on her process, revealing her large team of artisans—including pattern makers, tailors, and dyers—that allows her to manage large projects like Enchanted and typically stay off-set, contrasting this with the constant presence required for the frequent changes in Clueless. Mona May offers crucial career advice for aspiring designers, emphasizing the need for passion, a love for film, and flexibility to embrace a "gypsy" lifestyle of constant travel. Finally, she discusses her current focus on the Clueless 30th-anniversary book (written with a ghostwriter) and her book tour. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Mona Mayhttps://youtu.be/ggFe8n7f5Eo [https://youtu.be/ggFe8n7f5Eo] https://www.theparischongshow.com [https://www.theparischongshow.com] 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ [https://andrewraiher.com/]📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com [https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com] #careeradvice #monamay #clueless #hollywood