Well, that was an interesting year. But do not fear, this is not so much a review of 2020, as a look back at the first season of Five Rooms, listening to excerpts from conversations with each of the 10 guests featured in the first series.

If you are new to the show, each guest is given 5 rooms to create an imaginary exhibition that tells their story. As guest curators, they have the chance to fill each room with the stories of their lives, the essential tools of their trade and the influences which guided them along the way.

For those of you who haven't listened before, I hope this episode gives you a flavour of what Five Rooms is all about, and maybe a little inspiration to check out some of the previous episodes.

Will Foulser is a CG Environment Generalist Supervisor.

This may seem like a bit of a mouthful to those outside the visual effects industry, but fundamentally Will's work involves creating beautiful and believable environments for feature film and television at DNEG, one of the world's leading VFX and animation studios.

Growing up in South London, Will drew inspiration from a wide range of TV and film, and particularly from his mother’s talents as an accomplished artist. Never settling on one format, he spent his youth experimenting with model-making, photography, film and sketching, enjoying a wide range of ways to express his creativity instincts.

After studying Computer Animation at Bournemouth University Will established his career at DNEG working on night shoots to capturing camera data for Joe Cornish’s 2011 hit, ‘Attack the Block’. Since then, he has worked on a wide range of Hollywood blockbusters including ‘Interstellar’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Mission Impossible: Fallout’, ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Les Misérables’.

Most recently, he has been involved in Christopher Nolan’s 2020 espionage thriller ‘Tenet’. The film, starring John David Washington and Robert Pattinson, follows an unnamed CIA agent as he embarks on a dangerous time-bending mission to prevent the start of World War III.

Beyond the world of film, Will was Environment Supervisor for ‘Chernobyl’, the five-part miniseries co-production from HBO and Sky that dramatises the events of one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history, vividly retelling the story of the sacrifices made to save Europe and its people from unimaginable disaster.

The efforts by Will and the DNEG team were recognised at the 71st Creative Arts Emmy Awards with the award for ‘Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role’ for their work on the critically acclaimed series.

DNEG’s TV VFX team delivered around 550 visual effects shots for the series that included creating the RBMK-type nuclear reactor building inside and out, developing complex destruction and smoke simulations, and researching and designing never-before-seen shots, including peering into the burning reactor core.

Our conversation covers his formative years growing up in Dulwich, the often complicated relationship between Hollywood and the VFX industry, and resisting the temptation to express love to inspirational film makers.

Lauren McCormack is a makeup artist and hair stylist living in London.

After a career in TV production, Lauren made the executive decision to retrain in a personal passion of hers to become a full time hair and make up artist. Filled with a replenished spirit, switching paths resulted in a successful career working across multiple disciplines to bring makeup and hair to models, broadcasters and brides.

​Starting her makeup career in fashion and beauty, Lauren has assisted leading artists for publications including US Vogue, Glamour, Twin and Porter magazine. Her own portfolio includes work for brands such as Ted Baker, Matches Fashion and LK Bennett.

Outside of fashion and editorial work, Lauren provides hair and makeup styling for pundits and presenters across a variety of sports broadcasting, and in 2019 was part of the ITV Sport team that brought coverage of the memorable Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Our discussion covers Lauren's work across broadcast, editorial and bridal hair and makeup, as well as what it is really like to powder the broken noses of rugby legends.

LINKS

Lauren McCormack Makeup - https://www.laurenmccormackmakeup.com

Lauren McCormack Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/laurenmccormackmakeup

Bridal Beauty by Lauren - bridalbeautybylauren.com

New York Skyline Artist, Krikko Obbott - https://www.krikkoproductions.com

Pamia Coleman is an urban gardener and cooking instructor.

She teaches simple and affordable plant-based cooking classes and urban gardening in communities across Philadelphia, PA. Her work is routed in educating people of all ages how to achieve a healthy lifestyle through eating well and being active.

In 2016, Pamia Coleman and Latiyanna Tabb founded Black Girls with Green Thumbs. This not-for-profit organisation focuses on urban gardening and community engagement.

Through Merkaba Wellness LLC, Pamia teaches how to use fresh and affordable vegan ingredients to create delicious meals for the whole family.

I reached out to Pamia earlier this year and she graciously accepted my invitation to record our conversation in August 2020. I very much hope you enjoy our conversation about the art of patience, inspiring young people to eat well and learning to appreciate nature. You can find out more at the Five Rooms website via the link below.

Blog Post - http://fiverooms.co.uk/2020/09/01/s1-e8-pamia-coleman-urban-gardener-and-cooking-instructor/

LINKS

Black Girls With Green Thumbs - http://blackgirlswithgreenthumbs.org/

BGWGT YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2RhuEyZvIuB0NgTXIuXzsg

BGWGT Instagram - http://instagram.com/blackgirlswithgreenthumbs

Merkaba Wellness LLC - https://www.facebook.com/MerkabaWellness1/

Paradise Farm Camps - http://www.paradisefarmcamps.org/

Lauren Ray is a singer/songwriter.

Lauren has firmly established herself as an independent artist. In 2016, Lauren released her debut album ‘We Will Need Courage’. Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, the album was released to critical acclaim. Following this release she has toured extensively across the UK and Europe, supporting artists such as Anastacia, Rebecca Ferguson and Paul Carrack.

Alongside writing and recording her own creative projects, Lauren has written and collaborated with artists in a variety of genres.

Our conversation took place in July 2020, a few months after her second studio album ‘Woman In The Arena’ was released. We cover numerous topics including her early life growing up across Europe, what it takes to find your voice and achieving authenticity in songwriting.

LINKS

Lauren Ray - Music

www.laurenraymusic.com

Woman in the Arena (2020)

https://ffm.to/womaninthearena

We Will Need Courage (2016)

https://ffm.to/wewillneedcourage

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592408419

Ted Talk: The Power of Vulnerability by Brené Brown

https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability?language=en

Jack Good is a video game artist based in London.

Jack works in the games industry for Bossa Studios and has been involved with a number of highly successful video games, including the viral sensation Surgeon Simulator.

We now live in an era where the video games industry is now bigger than both the movie and music industries combined. This huge landscape offers a wide range of different types of gaming for different people. So how do you differentiate your game in such a crowded market? Jack and I spoke remotely about the growth of the industry, engaging with specific gaming audiences and what influences him in his work as a 3D Artist.

LINKS

Surgeon Simulator

https://youtu.be/ZO10bAn_8M8

Worlds Adrift

https://youtu.be/L9MfYOUTi5k

"Rollo The Masterful" Figurine

https://www.monkstoneminiatures.com/shop

Nazan Fikret is a soprano opera singer.

Born in the UK to Turkish and Irish parents, she studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and her singing career has led to numerous critically acclaimed operatic performances all over the world, most recently as Blonde in The Seraglio for the English Touring Opera.

As a coloratura soprano, she has the vocal dexterity to sing breathtakingly high notes. This agile vocal range has lead to performances such as the iconic Queen of the Night from The Magic Flute, which we discuss later in this episode.

Originally when I set out to create this series, I was keen to record each session in locations relevant to the guest. However, due to the COVID-19 lockdown, our conversation had to be shifted to a remote recording session. Nazan kindly spoke to me from her home in July 2020. We cover her upbringing, her first performances and how to translate emotion through singing in a multitude of different languages.

Read the full blog post on the Five Rooms website

http://fiverooms.co.uk/2020/08/05/s1-e4-nazan-fikret-soprano/

LINKS

Aria of Blonde from 'Die Entführung aus dem Serail' by Mozart

https://youtu.be/DZ25PWJOct8

(Piano by Richard Black)

DAS LIED 2017 Finale | Nazan Fikret & Rebecca Cohen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP1olSP13cw&t=487s

Handel: Theodora “With darkness deep” with the Britten–Pears Baroque Orchestra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff2nX0sicEo

Mozart: Cosi fan tutte, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

https://open.spotify.com/track/0HXApdxwUIp78FtbFN5DQv?si=ZDl4IM4NRVev8__17s9G-w

Nazan Fikret Website

www.nazanfikret.com

Jonny Glover is an award winning illustrator and animator, currently working in London.

Jonny’s illustration style is instantly recognisable and there is this strong sense of wit and movement throughout all of his work. Exaggerated and expressive composition is key, and more often or not, it’s his diverse characters and use of light hearted humour that make tricky subjects more accessible. Some of his clients include the NHS, The Guardian, The UN, The Barbican, The Financial Times and The Wellcome Trust.

I spoke with Jonny in February 2020, in South London. It was great to talk through his influences and the encouragement from his family that has lead to his career as an illustrator.

Read the full blog post on the Five Rooms website

http://fiverooms.co.uk/2020/07/28/s1-e3-jonny-glover-illustrator

DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

Jonny Glover

https://www.jonnyglover.com

Saul Steinberg (Author of The Passport) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Steinberg

Hergé (creator of Tintin)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herg%C3%A9

Calvin and Hobbes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_and_Hobbes

Yoplait Advert (1966) by Raymond Savignac

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e6/65/cf/e665cf0c1cdb357796dccffe1147dba4.jpg

The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey (1963)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIPvzfQbioc

Jonny Glover's mural for the Coborn Centre for Adolescent Mental Health

https://www.creativeboom.com/inspiration/jonny-glover/

Valia Gliati is an architect, currently working in London.

Originally hailing from the chaotic city of Athens, she is a Project Director at Darling Associates Architects (www.darlingassociates.net), delivering exquisitely detailed homes and apartments.

Before lockdown, Valia kindly hosted our conversation back in February 2020 at her beautiful home in Battersea, South London. As you might imagine from an architect's residence, it is an immaculate space; every aspect of her home is effortlessly chic and minimalist, which obviously takes a great deal of effort and consideration.

Our conversation covers her early life in Greece through her approach to designing beautiful places to live in London.

You can see and read more about our interview on the Five Rooms blog (http://fiverooms.co.uk/2020/07/21/s1-e2-valia-gliati-architect/)

Juan Carlos Ortiz is a portrait photographer, currently based in Tokyo, Japan. Juan Carlos is originally from a small town up high on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, and he has found himself living and working all over the world, including in Italy, France, Belgium, Australia and the UK.

His qualifications at the School of Design in Barcelona and Fashion and Design School in Milan led to his working on fashion shoots for Vogue Italia, Vogue Uomo and Grazia.

His photography has a cinematographic quality to it. As you will hear from our conversation, his passion for silent movies from a young age is a key influence. As a result, his photography is often hugely expressive, raw and honest.

In 2017 Juan Carlos published his first book: I SEE YOU, a collection of portraits taken between the years 2000 to 2017 from his travels through Europe and Australia. This project was Highly Commended in the Australian Photography Magazine's 2018 Photographer of the Year competition and in the Capture Magazine's 2019 Australasia's Top Emerging Photographers.

​Juan Carlos is now resident in Tokyo where he is currently working on a photographic project called "Souls of Japan". In 2020, this creative body of work won the national "Nyu-Sen" prize in the 45th Exhibition of the Japan Professional Photographers Society.

Our conversation took place in late December 2019, a few towns away from where he grew up, high in the mountains. With the sun shining brightly through the window, overlooking a snow capped valley, we sat down to discuss his life and his work. This podcast doesn’t follow the Five Rooms format that you will come to know and (I hope) love, but I hope you enjoy our conversation regardless.

You can see more of his work at https://www.jcophotography.com or check out his Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/jcoportraitist