Visionaries

Akinola Davies Jr is a British-Nigerian filmmaker whose debut feature made history as the first Nigerian film ever selected to premiere in Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival — earning a Special Mention for the Caméra d’Or and later becoming the UK’s Oscar entry. In this episode of Visionaries, we sat down to discuss how Akin’s work is constantly weaving worlds and the creative faith it takes to make something that hasn’t been done before. This episode is brought you by MPB, who make it easy for storytellers to buy, sell or trade camera gear. Find your next camera at ⁠⁠⁠MPB⁠⁠.⁠ Follow ⁠⁠⁠@visionaries⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram Follow @akinoladaviesjr on Instagram Follow @aliceaedy on Instagram Watch on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Making History at Cannes Film Festival 00:07:21 Brothers in Creation: Writing with Family 00:15:21 Working with Friends and Breaking the Rules 00:21:45 Building Infrastructure: Seven Years in Lagos 00:26:13 The Delusion Required: Believing Against the Odds 00:39:56 From Protest to Process: Political Awakening 00:53:12 Digital Fast Food: Staying Focused in the Age of Distraction Visionaries with Alice Aedy Producer - Chloe Puttock Art Director - Liliana Saldanha Director - Issey Rider Camera Operator - Stephan Knight + Sam Mulvey Lighting - Al Rice Editor - Tom Forsey + Paolina Stefani Colour Grade - Jasper Brown Music by the talented Jon Hopkins

For over three decades, Sophie Darlington has helped create some of the most iconic natural history documentaries of our time - Planet Earth, The Hunt, Dynasties, Our Planet II, Queens and African Cats. Her work has earned her a BAFTA, an Emmy, and one of the highest honours in cinematography: membership of the ASC - the American Society of Cinematographers in recognising her as one of the leading visual storytellers of our time. In summary, she’s a badass. This episode is full of wisdom from a true trailblazer - she was one of the first female DOP’s in a male dominated industry - what drives her, and how she’s now offering the same mentorship to upcoming talent she credits herself receiving (and yes, even she still has imposter syndrome). This episode is brought you by MPB, who make it easy for storytellers to buy, sell or trade camera gear. Find your next camera at ⁠⁠⁠MPB⁠⁠.⁠ Follow ⁠⁠⁠@visionaries⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram Follow sophiedarlingtondop on Instagram Follow @aliceaedy on Instagram Watch on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Breaking Barriers as a Female Wildlife Cinematographer 00:10:27 Finding Her Calling: From Modeling to the Serengeti 00:16:48 Balancing Motherhood and Career: Eight Years Away 00:18:57 Breaking into Bristol: The Old Boys' Club 00:21:29 The Craft: Film vs Digital and the Future of AI 00:30:42 Witnessing Decline: Cataloguing the Climate Crisis 00:32:36 American Society of Cinematographers: A Historic Achievement 00:35:04 The Industry in Crisis: Engaging New Audiences 00:45:56 The Fire Within: Advice for Aspiring Cinematographers Visionaries with Alice Aedy Producer - Chloe Puttock Art Director - Liliana Saldanha Director - Issey Rider Camera Operator - Stephan Knight + Sam Mulvey Lighting - Al Rice Editor - Tom Forsey + Paolina Stefani Colour Grade - Jasper Brown Music by the talented Jon Hopkins

Es Devlin is one of the world’s most visionary artists and stage designers - the creative mind behind some of the most iconic cultural moments of our time, from Beyoncé and Adele’s performances to the London Olympics and Conference of the Trees at COP26 in Glasgow. In this episode of Visionaries, Alice Aedy sits down with Es to explore the imagination as a tool for connection and change. They discuss how awe can shift behaviour more than fear, what it means to design for both human and non-human audiences, and how art can help us see, and build, a more hopeful future. This episode is brought you by MPB, who make it easy for storytellers to buy, sell or trade camera gear. Find your next camera at ⁠⁠⁠MPB⁠⁠.⁠ Follow ⁠⁠⁠@visionaries⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram Follow @esdevlin on Instagram Follow @aliceaedy on Instagram Watch on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Power of Seeing Through Others 00:03:16 Finding Comfort Zones and Trusting Instinct 00:05:28 Early Memory: Nearly Drowning and the Influence of Light 00:07:24 An Atlas of Collaboration: The Monograph as Lens 00:10:06 Following Instinct: Choosing Theatre Over the White Room 00:15:40 From Wire to Beyoncé: The Evolution of Concert Design 00:18:40 Conference of the Trees: Art Meets Climate Action 00:21:27 Congregation: Portraits of Displacement and Belonging 00:24:03 Come Home Again: More Than Human Londoners 00:26:01 Left Brain, Right Brain: The Architecture of Attention 00:31:25 The Art of Scale: Models, Giants, and Human Perception 00:33:09 First Awe: The Staircase Built 25 Times Bigger 00:35:34 The Oddity of Theatre: Stillness and Shared Attention 00:37:28 Advice for Young Visionaries: Finding Common Ground 00:43:25 Legacy and Being a Good Ancestor Visionaries with Alice Aedy Producer - Chloe Puttock Art Director - Liliana Saldanha Director - Issey Rider Camera Operator - Stephan Knight + Sam Mulvey Lighting - Al Rice Editor - Tom Forsey + Paolina Stefani Colour Grade - Jasper Brown Music by the talented Jon Hopkins

In June 2020, a single photograph taken by Misan Harriman at a Black Lives Matter protest went viral — shared by Martin Luther King III and seen by millions across the world. Almost overnight, Misan went from self-taught photographer to becoming the first Black male cover photographer in British Vogue’s history. In this conversation with Alice Aedy for Visionaries, Misan reflects on the image that changed his life, the role of protest photography in shaping culture, and the responsibility of storytellers to capture truth and legacy. This episode is brought you by MPB, who make it easy for storytellers to buy, sell or trade camera gear. Find your next camera at ⁠⁠⁠MPB⁠⁠.⁠ Follow ⁠⁠⁠@visionaries⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram Follow misanharriman on Instagram Follow @aliceaedy on Instagram Watch on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Photo That Changed Everything 00:02:25 The Black Lives Matter Image: Darcy Bourne 00:05:53 Finding Inspiration: The Masters of Photography 00:08:14 The First Black Man to Shoot British Vogue's September Cover 00:10:15 What Happens When Opportunity Comes 00:11:38 Picking Up the Camera at 40 00:12:40 Neurodiversity as a Superpower 00:17:04 Intersectional Issues 00:21:00 From Recruitment to Photography 00:22:14 Documenting Protests and Student Movements 00:25:35 Navigating Celebrity and Activism 00:29:30 Building Trust Through Vulnerability 00:31:46 Misan on Fatherhood 00:36:47 Hope in a Time of Reset 00:42:06 The Cost of Speaking Out 00:39:41 Misan's Advice for Storytellers Visionaries with Alice Aedy Producer - Chloe Puttock Art Director - Liliana Saldanha Director - Issey Rider Camera Operator - Stephan Knight + Sam Mulvey Lighting - Al Rice Editor - Tom Forsey + Paolina Stefani Colour Grade - Jasper Brown Music by the talented Jon Hopkins

Lynsey Addario is one of the most renowned photojournalists of our time. She’s survived two kidnappings, risked her life on the frontlines, and built a career documenting war and humanitarian crises across the globe for The New York Times and National Geographic. In this episode of Visionaries, Alice Aedy sits down with Lynsey to talk about the sacrifices behind the images, the moments she didn’t think she would survive, and the lessons she’s learned from decades on the frontlines. This episode is brought you by MPB, who make it easy for storytellers to buy, sell or trade camera gear. Find your next camera at ⁠⁠⁠MPB⁠⁠.⁠ Follow ⁠⁠⁠@visionaries⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram Follow @lynseyaddario on Instagram Follow @aliceaedy on Instagram Watch on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: A Life Behind the Lens 00:03:25 Finding Photography: From Hairdressers to War Zones 00:06:09 Building Trust: The Art of Connection 00:07:28 Early Work: Afghanistan Under the Taliban 00:08:51 Iraq War: Collecting Evidence 00:10:32 Darfur and the Camera as Barrier 00:13:09 Being a Woman in the Field 00:14:55 Marriage and Balance: Finding Paul 00:21:17 Ukraine 2022: The Family Photo 00:27:21 Libya 2011: Seven Days in Captivity 00:40:33 Processing Trauma and Staying Human 00:43:18 Femininity and Strength in War Zones 00:44:35 Packing for War: Tools of the Trade 00:46:41 The Future of Journalism 00:49:35 Advice and Legacy: The Enduring Lesson Visionaries with Alice Aedy Producer - Chloe Puttock Art Director - Liliana Saldanha Director - Issey Rider Camera Operator - Stephan Knight + Sam Mulvey Lighting - Al Rice Editor - Tom Forsey + Paolina Stefani Colour Grade - Jasper Brown Music by the talented Jon Hopkins

Introducing Visionaries with Alice Aedy, my podcast celebrating the storytellers changing the way we see the world, with music by a true visionary: the extraordinary Jon Hopkins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.