The Paris Chong Show

Paris and Bil discuss the unique draw of Leica cameras, with Paris noting their cult-like appeal and Bil sharing his personal obsession, including owning multiple models and trading them. Bil emphasizes his desire for a personal Leica to pass down to his children, particularly his son Dorian, who is already interested in photography and shooting film. They touch upon the resurgence of film photography and a cinematographer's process of digitally shooting and then transferring to film for a specific aesthetic, leading into Bil's current "Hollywood Cult" project, which explores underground queer culture and requires shooting in low-light conditions at odd hours, making digital capture essential for his artistic vision.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Bil Brown

https://youtu.be/j1N0Yvgcf0U

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#leica #photography #film

Bil Brown and Paris Chong discuss the limitations and potential dangers of AI, with Bil asserting that AI cannot be a true artist as it lacks the ability to create or think independently, only compute based on existing data. He plans for the revived "Black and Gray" magazine to explore the "negative spaces" where AI cannot reach, focusing on what it means to be human in a world increasingly shaped by simulation. He references the controversial comedy routine "The Aristocrats" as a metaphor for a "rite of passage into humanity," aiming to highlight genuine human creativity and experience within the magazine's content.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Bil Brown

https://youtu.be/j1N0Yvgcf0U

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#poetry #photography #ai

Bil Brown explains how his magazine work led him to a 15-year career as an agent, primarily for Amazon Fashion, where he managed over 600 photographers, stylists, and digitechs across multiple studios in several states. However, this relationship ended when he discovered Amazon was using his talent to train their AI, leading them to propose a "collab agreement" where he would pay them to hire his own talent, which he refused. Inspired by this, he's now taking a "vow of photography" to "make the world safe for photography" against AI, emphasizing the importance of content credentials in cameras like the Leica M11-P to prove authenticity, especially in light of controversial attribution issues like that of Nick Ut's iconic photo.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Bil Brown

https://youtu.be/j1N0Yvgcf0U

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#photography #leica #ai

Bil Brown discusses the upcoming revival of his "Black and Gray" magazine, where he plans to feature both established and emerging artists, with Matt Mercury joining as an associate publisher. He then shares his varied professional background, from avant-garde poetry at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics to accidentally becoming a photographer, even meeting Robert Frank through Allen Ginsberg. Brown also recounts his 15-year career as an agent, where his primary client was Amazon Fashion, managing hundreds of photographers and stylists across numerous studios, a relationship that ended when he discovered Amazon was using his talent to train their AI and sought to have him pay to hire his own talent.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Bil Brown

https://youtu.be/j1N0Yvgcf0U

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#photography #agent #amazon

Paris sits down with her friend, artist, and talented, Bil Brown. They kick off the conversation with a lighthearted discussion about Bil's long hair and a humorous, unexpected suggestion of a live haircut. Bil shares a funny anecdote about his last haircut being during the pandemic and a Jim Morrison quote about bad haircuts. Paris then reminisces about how she first met Bil years ago at a convention in Las Vegas, even before their more memorable meeting at Leica, a detail she didn't recall until much later. Bil then discusses his "Black and Gray" magazine, which is making a comeback, and mentions his collaboration with Matt Mercury, who will be an associate publisher.

Bil delves into his diverse professional background, starting with his MFA in avant-garde poetry from the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University, a Buddhist college. He recounts how he became a photographer by accident after working for a modeling agency and shares fascinating stories about meeting comedian Jeff Garlin and being introduced to Robert Frank by Allen Ginsberg. He also details his involvement with the Ginsberg archive at Stanford, where he photographed Ginsberg's India journals with his Leica. The conversation then shifts to Bil's 15-year career as an agent, where his major client was Amazon Fashion, overseeing 600+ photographers, stylists, and digitechs across numerous studios. He reveals the shocking reason for the end of his relationship with Amazon: they were using his talent to train their AI, and then proposed a "collab agreement" where he would pay them to hire his talent, which he refused.

Inspired by these experiences, Bil shares his new "vow of photography," mirroring his earlier "vow of poetry" to "make the world safe for photography" in the face of AI. He emphasizes the importance of content credentials in cameras like the Leica M11-P to prove authenticity. They touch upon the controversial situation surrounding Nick Ut's iconic photo and the ongoing debate about attribution. Bil also discusses his family history, including his Cherokee great-grandfather and his surprising connection to the wealthy Brown family of Louisville, Kentucky. He closes by sharing a poem from his Kerouac School days and his vision for the revived "Black and Gray" magazine, aiming to feature both renowned and emerging artists while incorporating street photography ethics into editorial work.

Show Notes:

www.theparischongshow.com/episodes/bil-brown-from-avant-garde-poetry-fashion-photography-black-gray-magazine-to-art-ai

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:28) Bil Brown

(00:02:21) Black & Grey

(00:11:22) Amazon

(00:13:14) Vow of Photography

(00:16:20) Magnum

(00:19:28) #1 Dad

(00:21:58) 100 Years of Leica Block Party

(00:24:11) Black & Grey Reissue

(00:29:43) Street Photographers

(00:34:20) Thoughts on AI

(00:39:57) Film vs Digital

(00:46:32) Outro

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

Paris Chong and Hussain Manawer discuss his birthday dinner plans with friends Mar and Caitlin, who will be bringing their kids. They also briefly touch upon his recent meal choices, mentioning salmon, calamari, and fries. Paris jokingly refers to the situation as "the parents show show." Later, in a deeper conversation, Paris reflects on her podcast journey, describing it as an extension of herself and a platform for talking with friends. She recounts her past in radio, volunteering at KCRW and later working at other stations, expressing her love for interviewing people. Paris explains that the podcast evolved from a desire to interview Hussain and her overall passion for connecting with creative individuals.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Hussain Manawer

https://youtu.be/rg_oqbuwgxE

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#poetry #radio #pastwork #podcas

Hussain Manawer shares one of his poems, which focuses on healing, mental health, and emotional resilience, emphasizing being present for oneself during difficult times. After reading, he discusses his creative process, explaining that his poems often come to him spontaneously as a "gift" of emotion, rather than being meticulously planned. He emphasizes the importance of capturing these moments immediately, as they can quickly fade. They then transition to discussing Paris Chong's own poem that appears in Hussain's book, and her creative process as well, noting her inspiration often comes during travel and from emotional triggers. They conclude with Hussain mentioning his upcoming book, which he says will be different from his previous work.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Hussain Manawer

https://youtu.be/rg_oqbuwgxE

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#poetry #loss #grief #podcast

Hussain Manawer and Paris Chong discuss how Hussain's grief over his mother's passing has influenced his work as a poet. Hussain feels privileged to receive people's emotions as a form of currency during his performances, noting how many people cry. He views these emotional responses as a positive release for the audience and feels a responsibility to provide a safe space for them to express their feelings. Hussain sees his poetry, which often speaks about his mother, as part of his healing process. He also shares how traveling has allowed him to find "pockets of home" in different places and reflects on meeting people who have led to special opportunities, such as performing at the English Consulate General's home.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Hussain Manawer

https://youtu.be/rg_oqbuwgxE

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#poetry #loss #grief #curry #podcast

Paris Chong interviews Hussain Manawer about his life and his books, particularly how his mother's death inspired his first book, "Life is Sad and Beautiful." They discuss the emotional impact of losing a parent, and how it affected their own lives. Hussain shares about his mother's special treatment of him on his birthdays and his lingering question of whether she would be proud of him now. They also touch on Hussain's struggle to let love in again due to the fear of heartbreak, and his feelings of being guarded. The discussion is heartfelt, with both expressing deep appreciation for their friendship.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Hussain Manawer

https://youtu.be/rg_oqbuwgxE

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#grief #bestseller #poetry #podcast

Paris Chong sits with Hussain Manawer, a poet and public speaker, on his birthday. They discuss Hussain's life, his career, and his two Sunday Times bestseller books, "Life is Sad and Beautiful" and "I Wanted to Quit Too." The conversation delves into personal topics such as the loss of Hussain's mother, his struggles with letting love in, and his close relationship with his father. They also touch upon his creative process, his diverse audience, and some of his most memorable performances, including Glastonbury and Abbey Road Studios.

Paris and Hussain reflect on their friendship and how they initially met, highlighting their appreciation for each other. They share stories about mutual friends and experiences, like their encounter at Curry Kingdom and attending an event at the English Consulate General's home. Hussain expresses his gratitude for the support he receives from his family and friends, including Paris, and discusses the emotional connection he forms with his audience through his poetry. He also shares insights into his writing process and the inspiration behind his work.

The conversation explores themes of grief, healing, and the creative journey. Hussain talks about the impact his mother's passing had on his life and career, and how it influenced his writing. They discuss the challenges of balancing personal emotions with professional aspirations and the importance of staying true to oneself. Paris shares her own experiences in radio and her passion for interviewing artists, expressing her desire to grow her podcast and create a platform for genuine conversations with creative individuals. The episode concludes with Hussain sharing a heartfelt poem and discussing his plans for his upcoming book.

Show Notes:

www.theparischongshow.com/episodes/hussain-manawer-poetry-grief-and-healing-in-an-intimate-conversation-on-his-birthday

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:40) Hussain Manawer

(00:02:17) 2 Best Sellers

(00:04:07) Hussain's Mom

(00:08:55) Life Now

(00:15:10) Healing Journey

(00:19:23) Performing Poetry

(00:22:33) A Couple of Poems

(00:26:36) Writing Inspiration

(00:30:26) A Question from Hussain

(00:33:46) Working A Lot

(00:37:28) Gratitude

(00:40:57) Outro

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com