HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Well another year is practically over.

The Xmas wrapping paper has either been studiously folded away for re-use

or casually tossed to the side without a second glance.

Which one of these will be your '2010 RESOLUTIONS' in the coming weeks?

Only time will tell.

But what I can tell you about is a few of the things planned for the upcoming months in 2010......

SO WHAT'S NEXT??

Well, MY YEAR IN REVIEW is out now.

Let me take this time to once again say thanks,

to all the wonderful people I've had the pleasure to work with this year.

It's been an incredible journey and a great experience for both growth and learning.

Looking forward to seeing you guys in 2010.

Thanks to your votes

MONUMENT by Robin Schmidt

click here to see more photos or the link above to view the movie clip

has made the Final 14 of the 14 Island Bahamas Film Challenge.

As a result our director Robin, flies out to Long Island to work

on a film together with photographer/director Charles Knowles.

My online version of the images I exhibited forthe blackˈmanˌkīnd exhibition

is expected to be up for viewing late Jan 2010.

Take this opportunity to see what you missed

at The Gallery @ St. Pancras last August.

The Journey with PATTIESHOPDIARIES continues.

I'll be doing further work on the website I've designed for them

and look forward to sitting in on the next stage of rehearsals.

Albany Theatre has been booked for the next series of workshops which

includes a 20min performance to press and supporters.

Stay Tuned!!

KERB is back

The online magazine that looks at everything from Fashion to Politics

and a wealth of information inbetween returns.

And the first shoot styled by GAVIN MEDFORD and shot by me is called "FREE TO BE".

A 'nude accessories' shoot that promises to knock whatever you have on, right off.

photography/ art direction RasConrad

styling Gavin Pierre Medford

Another shoot on the cards for early in 2010 is called

BACK FROM THE BRINK

and features a return by an 'old' favorite as well as..., REPTILES??

The edited images from my shoot with international model POLLY FEY

will be up as well as more of the behind the scenes images that turned

a bald headed, tattooed model into this:

www.pepis.net

Hair by PEPI's HAIRDRESSER

more on polly fey

additonal images supplied courtesy

CAPE LONDON MODEL MANAGEMENT

Also next year I'll be part of "the Awakening".

Trinidadian born Choreographer and Events Manager Avni-Joy is preparing her first London production for 2010. The Caribbean Contemporary show promises to take you on a truly theatrical journey.

"Visual and audio scenarios will create a magical synthesis of dance, poetry and music capturing the attention of the audience."

The handpicked, all-Caribbean team consists of artists, actors, singers, dancers, writers, producers, designers, marketing and financial specialists creating the optimal mix for a successful show. Their creativity, high energy, innovation, skills, experience and fun combine to deliver an unforgettable journey.

But what I'm really excited about..,

(And yes it's been done a million times over, for every major fashion mag and by every major photographer. So don't you think it's time I put my own spin on it....)

'ALICE IN WONDERLAND - the photoshoot.'

That's one of the first big project for 2010.

no hints, no clues, WAIT and SEE.

Let just say my Alice will be one like you've never seen before...

So Look for this emailer, RasConrad presents...

on the last Tuesday of every month.

And as always, you can see more of my work on my website at

www.rasconrad.com

visit my fanpage on facebook at

www.facebook.com/rasconradpresents

and follow my blog here at

www.rasconrad.blogspot.com

Or why not do a search on youtube under rasconrad to see me in aother light

suggetsed link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvCTFQtREa0

to know what's happening, what im working on,

and more importantly WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT!

See you in 2010.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

RasConrad

AVATAR

4am on the last day of the year, I'm smiling inside and it not just because the year was great; I'm in good health, better mentally and emotionally and I feel blessed.

It's because somehow a movie with lots of near naked blue people made me feel like a kid again.

I firmly believe that movies are nothing short of a new world replacement for the story-tellers and griots of our past. Where once before we huddled around a fire and were told stories of our ancestors that lifted our spirits and caused us to sing; we now huddle together in dark tombs called cinemas/ theatres where we can be transported to other places or even times past or future an be entertained, educated or enthralled. When once we were called upon by the actions of local village heroes to also right the wrongs inflicted on the masses, we are now called up out of armchairs. Simply put, where once we were told, now we are shown.

Tonight was such a night. I revelled in the hero. Felt sadness at his defeats and when all was lost rose as one with him in his final moments of triumph. Yes, it was a simple enough story, but arn't those the best? The simple ones that stay with us forever. Like a nursery rhyme that stays all through adulthood. Never forgotten and easily recalled to retell to our own children. The images were fascinating but believeable. I was transported back to my youth when after coming out of some "BRUCE LEE" flick or "SHOALIN MONK" facade I would feel to leap, and kick and shout "HIYA!!!".....

Beacuse in my innocence I was given a gift, the gift of confidence that somehow "I TOO COULD FIGHT THE BAD GUYS AND WIN; I TOO COULD BE A HERO!"

And that is the beauty of this film. It is simple storytelling that gives us hope. It says you too can stand up and fight back. It encourages you to fight for a greater good against all odds.

It touches something primal, instinctive and aboriginal in each of us. It harkens back to a day when we all believed and knew that the trees somehow whispered to each other in the wind; the animals all had a spirit and that life was about more than just money, power or sex. It is brilliant in it's innocence.

It says, HEY YOU. YEAH YOU HUDDLED IN THE DARK! STAND UP. YOU TOO CAN BE A HERO, AN AVATAR!!

Go watch the film.

"HIYA!!!"

AVATAR - the trailer

RasConrad already has the hair,

and deseires nothing more than to paint himself blue;

run wild and mash up de place.

But J'Ouvert is still a couple months away.

the GREAT ESCAPE from BABYLONDON

More and more each day as I cease to struggle against the bonds I restrict upon myself, I recognize there is no such thing as 'CHANCE MEETINGS', and that the universe truly does answer all you ask of her.

Today was such a day, and to cap it all off, mother universe sent across my path (and where else but in a ROTI SHOP IN LONDON) the trini author of must read book INTELLECTUAL VAGABOND - Keiron Audain.

The author provides clear insight into the valuable lessons learnt in issues surrounding immigration problems, high tuition fees and visionless government bodies as he struggles for higher education in London. It is dealt with in creative detail, along with a vivid description of the environmental backdrop that has shaped him into the Intellectual Vagabond that he is today.

This is a well written, entertaining, and truly eventful story – one that is not unique to any individual, but lies within all of us. The ability to express our thoughts and articulate our trials so we no longer suffer in silence, should be encouraged and practised, and Intellectual Vagabond has taken us in that direction.

Look out for more on Keiron , his book and his amazing journey in 2010.

and in the meanwhile....

READ THE BOOK!!

www.intellectualvagabond.com

XMAS GREETINGS from RASCONRAD

Tiger Lilly WOW's 'EM ALL

Every once in a while you come across an artist so genuine in their love for their art and open in terms of their good intentions that you can't help but love 'em on site. Such an artist is TIGER LILLY. Since meeting Ms Lilly this year at London Fashion Week, I've been bowled over like everyone else. Not only by her obvious talent, but her truly good natured being and fun loving attitude. As we said goodbye to 2009 'LILLY STYLE' a group of friends and well wishers gathered together to celebrate the year that was and to look forward with anticipation with her for the year to come, 2010. It seems that everyone is holding this year up as 'THE ONE'. And if her current success is anything to judge by for this young performer it certainly will be.

SEE MORE PICS.....

MONUMENT MAKES THE FINALS!!

Monument is UP!! and we're in the FINALS!!!

THAT's right folks. Robin and his team of Merry Men (and women) have made it through to the final selection for the 14 Island Film Challenge

Here is a glimpse of the 3min edit that was submitted to the competition.

But you can still help. It's about the votes.

So visit the link below, become and armchair critic and vote....

MONUMENT

By: Robin Schmidt

Aged rasta in wheelchair relives a knife attack and decides to rid the community of its knife problem once and for all by magnetising his body. This is a completely daft premise but I look at it as kind of an urban fairytale. We see this material in the papers and in gritty handheld drama but we never see it expressed in dance. It was a total pain in the butt to make, and due to some very heavy other commitments the post was done in a single day - also buying 140 sharp knives will get you some interest from the Old Bill. Ras Conrad in the title role, Lucile Weigel and Katie Keith produced it along with my good self, Sarah Linstra choreography, Marco Marco camera, Jon Kassell Dop, Andy Needham, 3d and assorted graphics, Gez Medinger, brains, Nik Pate, hunter of knives and creator of art, and me, everything else.

So click the link above, become an armchair critic and vote for MONUMENT

MOMUMENT IS UP

By: Robin Schmidt

Aged rasta in wheelchair relives a knife attack and decides to rid the community of its knife problem once and for all by magnetising his body. This is a completely daft premise but I look at it as kind of an urban fairytale. We see this material in the papers and in gritty handheld drama but we never see it expressed in dance. It was a total pain in the butt to make, and due to some very heavy other commitments the post was done in a single day - also buying 140 sharp knives will get you some interest from the Old Bill. Ras Conrad in the title role, Lucile Weigel and Katie Keith produced it along with my good self, Sarah Linstra choreography, Marco Marco camera, Jon Kassell Dop, Andy Needham, 3d and assorted graphics, Gez Medinger, brains, Nik Pate, hunter of knives and creator of art, and me, everything else.

So click the link above, become an armchair critic and vote for MONUMENT.

BLUE BOY DOES IT AGAIN

Well folks, the BLUE BOY SERIES DOES IT AGAIN.

Someone saw some of the images from the exhibition and while here on business

decided they HAD to have THREE of the BLUE BOY IMAGES along with

TWO from the AGED INNOCENCE series.

So the boys are off to NORWAY. Hurray!!