Into the future..

Things over here at 'Chalkley Towers' have been busy as usual, what with website development (oh yes in the next couple of weeks it's all change), Shoots and all manner of thrilling new stuff,... We can't say too much at the moment but we will officially announce a few big movements in the coming weeks,... For now though here is a nice picture of some Seagulls from Margate...

Florence Welch on the Cover of Radio Times

The Festivals of Britain are placed firmly in the public consciousness with the cover feature of this weeks Radio Times Magazine (23-29 June 2012 ). Focusing on many exciting events happening this summer the feature runs through an eclectic mix of festivals including this weekends Hackney Festival, Latitude, The I-TunesFestival, The Times CheltenhamLiterature Festival and lots more course.

Dean's Photographs of Florence Welch with her Virginia Woolf inspired finery appear on the cover and within the pages of the magazine. Florence certainly make a very eye catching cover star and the article is a great read too, so try to scoop up a copy before it gets snapped up and disappears.

The Soul-a-Trope (behind the scenes story)

This image shows a prototype component of Dean’s installation known as the Soul-a-Trope. The Soul-a-Trope (???) I hear you say... Haven’t you heard about the Soul-a-Trope? Well in many ways it represents an extension of Dean's visual repertoire. It's not strictly photography or strictly film, it's an amalgamation of both but presented as a gallery piece. Only seen once so far in public. Viewer’s responses were great, some could not comprehend it or factum out exactly what they were looking at...but all liked it and found it stimulating and engaging.

The Installation will appear again soon so please watch this space.

Krissi Murison NME Editor Leaves

Friday 22nd June 2012 was the last day of Krissi Murison's Editorship at the NME. This is a picture from her leaving 'Do'. The magazine always make a spoof cover for leaving presents. 

Krissi was appointed in 2009, she became the first female editor the NME. Previously Krissi had worked for the title as a journalist and then for a brief period taken a position at Nylon Magazine. Her passion knowledge and charisma all made her the ideal choice to become the New Editor when Conor McNicholas the former Editor left.

Whilst at the helm Krissi commissioned many inspirational features none more controversial than a Christmas Simon Cowell story. This was a great subversive moment that devided opinion, created debate and generally stirred things up.

Dean Says "Krissi is first and foremost a lovely individual, a person who truly cares about music. She is not frightened stick her hand in the hornet’s nest if it means pulling out a good story. She kept the NME at the cutting edge of things as well as reflecting the heritage of the music world. So good luck Krissi in your next job it was an absolute pleasure working with you."

Krissi will join The Sunday Times Magazine as Features Editor. The new Editor of the NME will be Mike Williams he has been Deputy Editor since July 2011 perfectly positioned to get stuck in and take the magazine into the future.

Winner of the Harrods Fathers Day Memories Competition

Copyright ©@Sallyann17

The Harrods Fathers Day Memories Competition was announced through Twitter on Friday 15th June. People sent lots of great images from their childhood with their Dads. So many of the pictures showed great humour, fondness and the special bond that is between kids and their Fathers. But after a very enjoyable editing process Dean settled on one image as the winner..This is how the winning image was announced on twitter

Congratulations @Sallyann17 Congratulations Sallyann - you will receive this@Fujifilm_UK X100 Black Premium Edition camera -

@Sallyann17 The reason @nitzerdc chose your photograph was because he thought it really showed a very protective love.#FathersDayMemories

Dean said, "There were some great pictures sent through, some really funny ones, some odd ones and loads of cute ones too of course. It was a very close decision and difficult to judge one emotion against another but I think the winning image really shows a very protective love, so congratulations to the winner. Everybody who entered took time to send their great memories through, so thanks for the great response it looks like you all had brilliant childhood memories with your fathers and these photographs will always remind you of those great times..Thank you for sharing them with us."

Harrods Competition Announced

It is said that a photograph is worth a thousand words. So with that in mind, Harrods are launching their #FathersDayMemories competition.

Simply tweet them a childhood photo of you and your father with the hashtag #FathersDayMemories. Here are some examples http://ow.ly/i/FkYs

The winning photo will be chosen by Dean @nitzerdc and receive a @Fujifilm_UK X100 Black Premium Edition camera -http://ow.ly/i/FkZk

You have until Thursday 14th June to tweet them your photos ASAP. The winner will be announced on Friday 15th June. Good luck...and get sending

I would also say go for the creative pictures the ones that tell a story, that have mood atmosphere fun etc etc...

Here are the simple instructions to enter the competition:

Simply tweet @Harrods a childhood photo of you and your father with the hashtag #FathersDayMemories good luck ... oh and the #FathersDayMemories is important. Don't forget to include it!

From Coast to Coast

From Margate in the UK to Seattle in the USA. This weekend is another big one for Young Souls.

1-6-12
Feed Back from the SIFF was that the Screening in the Seattle Uptown Theatre on Sunday 27th was sold out ... a full house !! Brilliant that the collection of 7 films from the UK they presented captured the audiences attention and got such a great turn responce.

27-5-12
SOUL TOWN
Westcoast-Margate
The Famous seaside town of Margate is holding a very special event known as SOUL TOWN. It's a Celebration of Great British Youth Culture and Heritage. Young Souls will be included in a programme of short films made by Dean. In addition there will be 2 other short clip films on the bill by 'Hemingway Designs for Hush Puppies'. The films will be projected in the 'SOUL CINEMA', at the Westcoast Venue, between 3pm to 9pm. The whole event runs from 1pm until 11pm. It will be a great weekend in Margate the Sun will be shining and the ice cream flowing, so little better places to hang out, dance to Soul music and pop into the cinema for some shade and catch the films.

27-5-12
SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival)
Cinema Uptown - Seattle
SIFF's mission is to create experiences that brings people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world. It is through the art of cinema that they foster a community that is more informed, aware, and alive. This is why the festival thought that it was important to have Young Souls included in their programme. You can find out more about SIFF and what is America's largest film festival by clicking here . Young Souls will screen on Sunday so if you are in the area pop along and cheer the film on!..More later about this wonderful film festival so watch this space.

Dean's talk at Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School

Last Thursday (17th May), Dean paid a visit to Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School for Girls to give a talk to the year 12 and 13 Photography students.

The talk took place in the library. Dean showed the students a selection of photographs he had taken throughout his career, from early collage work to the present day. The talk was then followed by a Q & A with lots of questions from the eager students and a short portfolio review, where the girls showed some very promising work.



Here’s a picture of some hand carved figurines of the Madonna and Child and the Sacred Heart contained within the doors off a busy hallway in the 112 year old convent school.

A busy time...

12-5-12 Almost Grown Cellar Cinema Club
Dean created this 'Happening' in the famous basement of The Royal Hotel in Southend-on-Sea Essex UK. The 'Cellar Cinema Club' was a great link up, an amalgamation of film and music on a weekend that brought thousands of Scooterists to the sunny Essex coastal town of Southend-on-Sea. 'Almost Grown' is one of Essex's foremost Mod and Soul clubs and they organized a whole 'Weekender' of club nights. Dean laced together the 'Cellar Cinema' daytime idea hooking up Almost Grown with the Southend Film Festival, securing a brilliant opportunity to screen Young Souls to Film lovers and lovers of Soul music too. It was the last event in the programme on the Southend Film Festival fringe schedule.


The happening was multi-faceted incorporating 6 exciting and different elements to stimulate all the senses… The Almost Grown Cellar Cinema Club comprised of:

1. Young Souls, screened on the hour every hour between 4pm to 8pm.

2. 'In Orbit : Periphery of Young Souls', a brand new just under 3 minute film of unseen footage taken from the edge of the Young Souls main filming.

3. 'Bodies Brut & Talc' and Odor Installation

4. '6 DJ's' playing music of the style and period. 

5. 'Scully's Car from the film Young Souls ' presented as a static display
6. 'Soulatrope' this very special never seen before installation that brings together dancing, vinyl, atmosphere and aesthetic, in a surreal manner.

Between 3pm - 8pm on Saturday 12th May 2012

The basement of the Royal Hotel became a very unique happening.



9-5-12 Radio Shows
Dean guests and then presents on 2 radio broadcasts, The Soup Sessions on Radio.Novalujon and Rob Messer's 'Soul Porridge' on Stomp Radio. 



YOUNG SOULS Wins at Southend Film Festival

Copyright © Nicola Jane 2012


On Tuesday this week Dean attended the Southend Film Festival Awards ceremony along with Sonny "Scully" Evans (who stared as the lead in the film) where his short film YOUNG SOULS had been nominated for Best Short Film in the Music category. We are very pleased to announce that Young Souls won in that category! This is the 2nd award that YOUNG SOULS has secured since it was released back in July 2011, winning in the moving image category of Creative Review's Photography Annual. Young Souls has been very popular on the film festival circuit having already been shown at the London Short Film Festival and Cinequest, USA and will be shown at the Seattle International Film Festival at the end of May. You can now keep up-to-date with the film by following YOUNG SOULS on twitter and subscribe to the YOUNG SOULS page on Facebook.

Dean Chalkley ON RADIO NOVA LUJON

Tune in on Wednesday 9th May, at 9pm for Dean Chalkley's first live solo broadcast on Nova Lujon.com's "Soup Sessions".



Dean's no stranger to the station, having recorded his first session alongside fellow Black Cat DJ Si Cheeba back in November 2010,Dean has been involved two live recording of his club night Shake! at the Boogaloo in December 2010 and in June 2011 and most recently, on the 3rd of Feb 2012 gave Dave "Jazz DJ Dawson of Radio Nova Lujon exclusive access to broadcast live from the after party of the opening night of his exhibition "Look.Hear" in Leigh~on~Sea

Dean will be spinning you up some vinyl delights of Northern Soul, R&B and more! Join them for an audio adventure presented to you in full stereo sound… live from 9pm (GMT+1)! NOT TO BE MISSED!

"I'm really looking forward to getting down to Nova Lujon towers with my car stacked full of vinyl to delight and excite the Internet airwaves." - Dean Chalkley

Southend Short Film Festival

Currently all the entries for the Southend Film Festival Short Film Competition are being judged by actor Perry Benson. The awards ceremony will take place at the Park Inn Palace Hotel on Tuesday 8th May and starts at 7pm. Clips from all the entered films will be played and the winning Films will be screened in their entirety. It will be a great night out at the Park Inn Palace and all are welcome it is free entry so come down and support the festival and see some good stuff...come on!!!!

Young Souls to be shown at Seattle International Film Festival

We are extremely pleased to announce that Dean Chalkley’s short film YOUNG SOULS will be included in the highly prestigious Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) in Washington, USA!

SIFF runs from May 17th until June 10th and is the largest and most well attended film festival in the United States with 160,000 attendees expected in 2012. SIFF is also a recognised Oscar nominating Festival in the categories of Best Short Film and Best Animated Short Film!

YOUNG SOULS’s will be screened at the SIFF’s Uptown Theatre on Sunday 27th May as apart of the ShortsFest Weekend

Here’s the 2012 Trailer for the Festival….

"The Seattle International Film Festival is a BIG DEAL!!! How amazing that Young Souls has been selected. It means a hell of a lot to me. Young Souls is now getting out there, audiences are getting a kick out of it and being turned on whether they are knowing of the culture or not. The SIFF is a highly prestigious Film Festival and the largest in the USA, so the film will reach out in a physical way as never before. Young Souls is amongst incredible company just look at the festivals programme.. I can't wait for the audience to come through the door to settle down, for the lights to dim and then to start tapping their feet and watching the story of Young Souls unfold." - Dean Chalkley (2012)

Thames Delta Exhibition

The Thames Delta Exhibition is a very important document to the profound effect that a small area has had on the World wide musical landscape. Many artists have submitted work to help illustrate this most dynamic of relationships.

A selection of Dean's photographs of Southend bands are on show at the Beecroft Art Gallery which runs from 7th April-16th June.



As you may already know Dean Chalkley hails from Southend and has a strong affinity with the area. The music scene in Southend, centred around Junk Club circa 2006 became the focus of Dean's photographic collection "Southend's Underground". During this period Dean shot many up-and-coming bands from the area including The Horrors, These New Puritans, Theoretical Girl, Neil's Children, Ipso Facto and more.

Split over two locations, The Thames Delta Exhibition celebrates the rich and varied musical heritage of Southend-on-Sea, Canvey Island and Basildon from the late 1940's to the present day. Naturally, Dean was approached by the organisers and submitted an array of images of the musical talent from this small corner of Essex.

Part one of the Exhibition is at The Focal Point Gallery and features works by contemporary artists including Ross Birrall, Matt Do and Scott King and runs from 16th April-30th June.

Part two, at The Beecroft Art Galley is an exhibition of ephemera and archive material relating to the rich musical history of the area. This is where Dean's images are located. Part two of The Thames Delta Exhibition at the Beecroft Galleryruns from 7th April-16th June.

YOUNG SOULS – to be shown at the Almost Grown weekender

Almost Grown Soul Club has linked up with the Southend~on~Sea Film Festival to present the 'Almost Grown Cellar Cinema Club'

12th May 2012 - 3PM-8PM - ENTRANCE: FREE



Taking place in the basement of the historic Royal Hotel, Dean Chalkley's short film YOUNG SOULS will be shown on the hour every hour from 4PM-8PM in between sessions by The Black Cat DJ collective, who will spin the best in Northern Soul, Rhythm & Blues and Ska to keep the essential club atmosphere “Uptight and Outta Sight” + a few surprises thrown in for good measure.
Later that night the club will take over the entire hotel for an all night club session.

Almost Grown Cellar Cinema
The Royal Hotel
1 High St.
Southend~on~Sea
Essex
SS11 JE

Watch this space for more details of what’s in store! :)

The New Faces: A Short Film - now online at SHOWstudio.com

Last night was the screening of Dean Chalkley's "The New Faces: A Short Film" at The Book Club, London.

For such a lively and well attended event the packed out basement of The Book Club was silent through out the 20min long film piece which delves into minds of three young British Mods captured in the enthrallment of a subculture. In the film we are privy to their refreshingly honest, personal and polarised views, rooted in the ideology of a Modernist culture. The film forms a hypnotic visual experience as well as being an incisive and engaging contemporary document. It’s also a pin point in a perennial subculture that began in the 1960’s and has evolved and lives on in this modern age. It was received last night with rapturous applause. It was a great night of people dancing and enjoying the passionately selected tunes by the film's subjects.

The film went live on SHOWstudio.com today. Click Here to see it!



SHOWstudio is an award-winning fashion website, founded and directed by Nick Knight. It has consistently pushed the boundaries of communicating fashion and culture online.

"I'm really thrilled that the film is now screening on SHOWstudio.com. The site is an institution dedicated to forward-thinking and challenging new work." - Dean Chalkley (2012).

BLUR NME - 21.02.12

In this week’s NME, Blur reveal that they are to headline a huge Hyde Park Olympic show. We went down to the Kentish Town Forum where they were busy rehearsing for the Brits to shoot them for this NME cover and feature story.

Here is the behind the scenes footage of the rehearsal and photoshoot too:

DEAN CHALKLEY: SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER AT "LISTEN TO THIS""

Following on from Dean's stint at The White Wall Space Gallery, Leigh~on~Sea with his Music portraits retrospective "LOOK HEAR" (on until 29th Feb).




Dean has been invited along to Metal's Popular music and culture festival "Listen To This" to appear as a special Guest Speaker at the "Tribalism And Difference: Subcultures And Scenes" talk.

Dean will be discussing the subculture in which he immersed himself whilst growing up in Southend and how they have remained at the core of his inspiration.

Click here to purchase tickets for the event which will be held on Friday 20 April 2012 7.30pm – 10pm at Chalkwell Hall, Southend on Sea. or call 01702 470700

LOOK.HEAR FOLIO SURGERY & AUDIO PLEASURE

LOOK.HEAR 

Special Sunday Session: 19th February


11am-1pm
Dean and renowned Photographer's Agent Adele Rider
will be reviewing photographers portfolios at the
White Wall Space Gallery Places are subject to availability so please apply by friday 17th February for your slot by mailing info@whitewallspace.co.uk... The gallery will reply with your allocated time.


2pm
The Fantastic Canadian Troubadour C.A.Smith will be performing a very special Acoustic Set in the Gallery space, this is not to be missed!


Click here for the Facebook event.

THE PRINTSPACE: LOOK.HEAR ARTICLE

This morning The Printspace informed us that they have posted up a little article about LOOK.HEAR. Dean talks about several images that appear in the exhibition. Click here to read the interview. More exciting exhibition news to follow so keep an eye on the blog.

YOUNG SOULS FILM - AT CINEQUEST FILM FESTIVAL

The Festival is attended by 80,000 and although over 2,000 films are submitted each year only 188 films are shown and so we feel very honored that Dean Chalkley's YOUNG SOULS is among the final selection.


Cinequest is an annual independent film festival held in San Jose, California.

2012 is Cinequest's 22nd year and takes place from February 28th until March 11th.


YOUNG SOULS will be shown in the Shorts Program under "Give-and-Take" alongside 5 others.

Here is what the organisers had to say about the selections:

 "What sacrifices must one make?
No matter how it's defined, most people enjoy successes, but what we rarely reflect upon are the losses we suffer. Give-and-Take highlights the good and the bad of our endeavors. This program questions how much effort we are willing to put fourth to achieve our desire and to what lengths we are willing to go. But ultimately, these creative and inspiring shorts help us identify what we really value as individuals and determine for which ambitions we are willing to fight."

Young Souls will be shown on the following dates:
01/03/12 at 2:15 pm
06/03/12 at 4:30 pm
08/03/12 at 07:00pm

Click here to buy tickets to "Give-and-Take" Shorts Program 3 where YOUNG SOULS will be screened.

LOOK.HEAR - NOW OPEN

After a fantastic opening night on Friday 3rd Feb the White Wall Space gallery has now opened it’s doors to the public for Dean Chalkley’s new Exhibition LOOK HEAR.



“The Opening party of LOOK HEAR was a great success, packed with people enjoying the work and the after show with it’s Band and music all added up to a great “happening”.

I’m keen to get down to the White WallSpace Gallery and meet people who come to see LOOK HEAR. So I’ll hopefully be there every Sunday. There will also be some spontaneous live music added to the mix. So keep an eye out on the Blog and the Facebook for the latest news!

So thanks to all who came down, and all those who made the event such a high point - the DJ’s, the band “New StreetAdventure”, all those that worked at the gallery, my assistant, just to mention a few.” – Dean Chalkley



So far the event has had plenty of radio coverage. The entire after show over at The Ship was broadcast live on Radio Nova Lujon by Dave "Jazz DJ" Dawson, Click here for an excerpt. Early on in the night on day Ian Wyatt of BBC Radio Essex came along to preview the show and conducted an interview with Dean in the Gallery before the party. Click here Dean talking with Ian Wyatt about the exhibition LOOK HEAR which was broadcast on Saturday morning (skip to 2hrs 23 to hear Dean's interview).

LOOK.HEAR - ECHO FEATURE

Today we are in Leigh-on-Sea hanging Dean's new exhibition LOOK HEAR!

Started the day off with a nice cup of coffee and read of the local paper!

The Echo have run a lovely spread on the show, which has it's preview night on Friday 3rd February at the White Wall Space Gallery followed by an after party at The Ship Pub (opposite the Gallery).

Anyway....back to getting the show up!

Dean Chalkley on Pelirocco Platters

Dean returned to England's most Rock and Roll hotel, Hotel Pelirocco for the 2nd time in a year to record the Podcast Pelirocco Platters.

Dean was asked back onto the radioshow by the host and hotel owner Mick Habeshaw Robinson to chat about Music, DJing, 'Young Souls' and his new exhibition 'Look Hear', which has it's opening night on 3rd February 2012 at the White Wall Space in Leigh on Sea, Essex.

YOUNG SOULS is currently being exhibited at Hotel Pelirocco. The show opened to the public on the 20th January and will continue on till 29th March. Open day and Night!

Bookshelf: Dean Chalkley on It's Nice That

Every week It's Nice That invite someone working from the creative industries to share with the world their most favourite five books.


Dean was asked to submit which books he draws inspiration from and why, along with a picture of the bookshelf in which they are housed.

Among Dean's selection was 'Mods!' by Richard Barnes, 'The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test' by Tom Wolfe and more... Click here to read why!

C.A. Smith | Single Launch Party

As you've seen on the Blog, Dean's Exhibition Look Hear will be unvailed this Friday!
The exhibition is a selection of music photography that Dean has taken over the past 10 Years!
Included in the line up of Artists featured is none other than C.A. Smith!

C.A will be celebrating the Launch of his new single "Time" tonight as he plays live at Eletricity Showrooms with his band "Sombody You Love". Visit the facebook page for more info on the event:

http://www.facebook.com/events/212868668791949/


"Time" (double A side with, "Judge Judy") will be available on January 31st from www.recordsrecordsrecords.com

LOOK.HEAR - NEW EXHIBITION

Dean Chalkley's brand new exhibition LOOK HEAR will be taking place at the White Wallspace Gallery in Leigh-on-Sea.



Opening night is on Friday 3rd February 2012 and will kick off at the Gallery where Dean will be showing a collection of some of his most iconic music photography. Featuring the likes of The White Stripes, Oasis, Paul Weller, Kasabian and more with images what span a decade.

Following on from the gallery the party will move across the way to The Ship public house where attendants will be treated to the sounds of the soulful six piece New Street Adventure + DJ's, dancing... ...What more do you expect from a Chalkley 'do'!

LOOK HEAR will be open to the public from Saturday 4th February til 20th February 2012!

The Maccabees NME – 09.01.12

This week's issue of NME features Dean Chalkley's shoot of The Maccabees as their cover and inside feature. The Maccabees are on the cusp of releasing their new, eagerly anticipated third album 'Given to the Wild'.

Last week The Maccabees attended the NME Music Photography Awards where Dean accepted the 'Outstanding Contribution to Music Photography Award'. The busy event was also attended by Kate Nash and comedian Matthew Horne, all of which have been shot by Dean on various occasions!

Here is Hugo White from The Maccabees' behind-the-scenes footage from the band's NME covershoot. Lovely Stuff!

Young Souls Exhibition at the Hotel Pelirocco

For your chance to see a selection of Dean Chalkley's Young Souls photographic exhibition with an addition of some new, exclusive, never-before-seen images get yourself down to 'England's most Rock 'n' Roll Hotel' Hotel Pelirocco in Brighton.

The exhibition opens to the public from 20th January until 29th March 2012 and is Free!

To attend the highly anticipated, exclusive, launch party on the 19th January 2012 (6pm-11am) at the hotel, please RSVP your names to press@hotelpelirocco.co.uk

For more info on the event such as DJ line up and more please join the Young Souls Facebook page here!

For info about the Hotel Pelirocco click here!

Opening Party & Exhibition for the NME Music Photography Awards 2011

AWARD-WINNING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASED AT LONDON EXHIBITION

HOSTED BY NME AND NIKON

OPENING PARTY : 5TH JANUARY 2012 

SHOW RUNS : 6TH - 11TH JANUARY 2012

The New Musical Express and camera manufacturer Nikon are hosting an exhibition for the winning photographers of the 2011 NME Music Photography Awards competition.  

The  Awards aim to find the most stunning and original music photography from both amateur and professional photographers.

Open to the public and free to attend, the exhibition of winning images will run from 6th - 11th January at theprintspace  in London, with an opening night private view on 5th January.

Amongst the work on display will be a collection from Dean Chalkley, winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Music Photography Award.

All the details are on the attached flyer...Maybe we will see you at the opening party on the evening of the 5th January at theprintspace..However, if you cannot make the opening party then try to catch the show as it will be open to the public from the 6th - 11th Jan 2012 check theprintspace for opening times.