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Gavin Hignight- Director, Actor, Model, Writer- What doesn’t he do?

h: How long have you been acting/ writing directing/ modeling and what got you into it?

G: I’d say I’ve been doing all of this seriously since about the age of 21, that’s when I arrived in Hollywood. Although I was making films as early as 16 years old. At 17 I had a 16mm film show at a festival in Denver, that was probably the beginning. A much more simple time, I think, really just making stuff for the sake of making it. No consideration of commerce at that point. As for the modeling, I never planned to do that. I kind of fell into it, and it worked, and it paid, so I kept doing it. At the same time I was out here in L.A. (Hollywood) trying to hustle writing work, and get on sets, etc… I kept being approached by people in casting, saying “Why don’t you model, or do commercials, etc…” I was a starving artist and the kind of pay I saw people could make from one commercial or print ad was enough to keep me interested in it. I always like creating things, whether it be an editorial for a magazine that I am taking part in, or a stop motion film made with toys in my apartment, or a comic book, like the last project I completed Motor City

h: who are some of the bigger names that you have worked with?

G: I’ve had the pleasure of working with some awesome people. The first name that always pops into my head is Peter Lindbergh. I got to work with him on a few ads, and some awesome editorials. We shot in some crazy places, out in the desert and downtown Los Angeles (before downtown LA was cool and “safe” again). I’ll never forget him and I wandered away from the crew and production to get a shot on the street. My hair was combed up high in a crazy pompadeur, and these gang members walked by messing with me, and talking some smack while Peter was shooting. Of course he was focused on shooting, and ignored them completely, and I they kept trying to mess with my hair, and I kept looking at the tattoos on their necks and thinking… “Crap, I’m gonna die in downtown LA with Peter Lindbergh.” Well the guys got bored and wandered along, and we got, what is probably my favorite shot I have ever done with someone. Working with him was cool, cause I started to feel like part of the family. He’s got a great crew of regulars around him on his shoots and it’s a positive environment. In the acting world I got to do a scene with Michael McKean and Martin Short and that was fantastic too.

h: What are some of your greatest achievements ?

Ugh! That’s a tough one. Surviving this long in Hollywood… Does that count? I am also very proud of Motor City. I worked on the graphic novel the last two plus years of my life with illustrator Jettila Lewis. I wrote it, and created Rebel Sidekick Studios to publish it. And, of all the various ideas I’ve had, projects I’ve started, etc… It is the most realized. Meaning the finished product, came out the way I had envisioned it to begin with. It is very original, and distinct. And I am happy it is getting such positive response from the comic community, as well as people who don’t often read comics but have picked it up because it’s different. I am also proud of the work Jettila Lewis did on the book. I saw her talent, and knew she could kick ass on a book, and was happy to be the first person to give her that opportunity and have her work prove I was right. That fact that it is an indie book and is selling regularly is a nice feeling too.

h: what would be your ideal role? As an actor?  g: I am more comfortable with eccentric. I made a digital short called Wilcox which haunts youtube somewhere. It is a good example. I love characters that you could find in any Wes Anderson movie, strange, but not over the top.

h: what are your favorite films? Geez, I have so many… I just saw Children of Men, and can’t stop thinking about how incredible it is. So many… Down By Law, The Lost Boys, The Outsiders, The Monster Squad, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Last Man On Earth, Dawn of the Dead, Wings of Desire, Stand By Me, Bladerunner, the list goes on and on. And it’s all over the place.

who are your major artistic influences and why?

G: Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Jim Jarmusch, Keven Eastman and Peter Laird, George A. Romero, George Lucas, Jack Lord. Just go listen to, or watch some of their work that’s all the explanation you’ll need.

h: what was it like shooting for sky vodka?

G: The Skyy ad was awesome. I never had so many grueling callbacks for a job in my life. I knew that was one I wanted. Shooting was great, they are really nice people to work for, and I can say walking around a corner while in Manhattan, and seeing that ad and my mug on the entire side of 4 story building was pretty surreal. The funny thing about that ad is that it was used very heavily in NYC and not in LA (where I work). So people from NYC would recognize me from it, but not that much here in LA. Probably the most high profile thing I have ever done, and I lived in a city where I didn’t get to cash in on it… I was recognized much more often for a tiny scene I had in a Michelle Branch video than I was on the Skyy ad. But still, nice to have that one in the book. I love the lounge singer-Sinatra-esque vibe of it, and was glad to take part. There are two kinds of male models. The sculpted, handsome, alpha-male model, and the guy who is strange looking and weird enough to make an interesting photo. I’m glad one of the weird guys got picked over all the handsome ones to sell some vodka in that ad…

H: Where would you like to see your career go?

G: I’m a big nerd. I’ve always been nerd first, model-actor guy second. So I am really focused on writing. Comic Books, and Novels for now, but I really want to get further into TV. I love long term story arcs, and the kinds of stories and emotions and revelations that can be accomplished in the TV format. And when I say that I don’t exclude TV Animation. SO yeah, I just want to keep making things, and hope to be successful enough at it, to keep it going. I’ll be happy when my entire day consists of working on my projects and visions. After all, life is short, I really want to leave as much evidence of my walk on this earth as possible.

Next up for me… I am currently working on a webcomic with the artist of Motor City. It will be completely free to read, and will run over a 4 month period. After that we have two more volumes of Motor City to get out there into the hands of all the ghouls and gals, and we’ll just have to see what other projects pop up. More info at www.gavinhignight.com and www.motorcitycomic.com

I photographed Gavin for an Editorial Campaign for clothing Company ROYAL CHEAPSKATE out of Los Angeles. This ad has been featured in Flaunt Magazine, 944, Black Book to name a few.. Celine Elise Briggs did the graphic design. Very cool stuff!

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still one of my favorite photographs, we shot this one downtown L.A in the market. The expression on the guys face sitting next to Gavin is awesome…And why does Gavin have a birthday cake? Any one who has worked with me knows how much I love throwing in Random props!

nothing like a bit of L.A smog to make for moody photographs. Gavin came up with the glowing hamster ball idea that we used for clothing company, Camden Lock. Featured here with his good friend model Brandise Danesewich. I recently found out Brandise is involved with a photoshop scandal for them using her image without the proper consent. So not cool when big corporations take advantage of talent.

You can see Gavin’s famous Skyy Vodka ad shot here by one of my favorite photographers, Matthew Rolston.

Carmen Conte- A face to remember!

I caught the acting bug when I was ten-years old and played Anna in the “King and I” in my school musical. I had seen Sarah Jessica Parker live on stage in “Annie” and decided that was what I wanted to do too. So it was a thrill when I got to work with her, a fellow Ohioan, in a Matrix parody for the MTV Music Awards fifteen years later. Since moving to Los Angeles, I’ve been in several commercials, theater productions, films, and television shows. I’m drawn towards comedic roles and one of my favorites was playing the mother of the young Red Hot Chili Peppers on a skit for VH1. I was trying to wrangle them up as they ran around a blanket with their musical instrument toys, wearing only socks for underwear. I just finished playing a loopy high school drama teacher in Luther’s Magic Weed and I’m looking forward to working on two movies in the next couple of months playing a soccer mom and a strip club owner. I will also be performing Improv at the IO West.

The Bid I Do RE Do…..

Fantastic charity event for brides in the UK….

Most new brides will tell you how they long to wear their wedding dress again — well now you can! The Big I Do Redo means brides CAN go to the ball — wearing their wedding dresses. Julia Boggio Photography is organising the event to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK and it’s being held in Liverpool Street, London on 1st November 2008. Julia is one half of the ‘Dirty Dancing Couple’ in her wedding video as seen on YouTube and she’s staging the event in tribute to Patrick Swayze. Find out more at www.thebigidoredo.com

Why Shooting in Canada is Awesome… Part 1

I would just like to start of by giving our bride, Jani, major props for fearlessly strolling into water temperatures similar to that of an iceberg.

I break for cow fields! I love shooting with llamas, baby sheep and anything we stumble across the way on our Canadian adventure….

One of the main reasons why Canadians kick A** is because you can just knock on your neighbors door and ask to use the vintage car in the driveway.. They even offered to clean it up, unlock it, and remove background items. And did I mention they let us use their trampoline too? In retrospect, we should have ended with the trampoline, as it caused the bouquet to break. Of course, this would be categorized in the “funnest time ever” photo entry. I can’t even count how many times I have been busted for not having a film permit in Los Angeles… Its refreshing to not have to think about it and just shot.

We ended our photoshoot in the middle of a huge irrigation sprinkler. I was scared about getting my gear wet, and also getting an insecticide spa treatment.

Don’t Trash your Dress!

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