Best Stuart Willis Podcasts (2025)

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1dZ-01: Arkyvrs - A Mansion Most Vile - Ep1 2:08:19

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6d ago2:08:19

2:08:19

What happens when a group of filmmakers play a ragtag group of filmmakers in a gritty sci-fi horror? "Ignite the fire within and explore unknown territory" - Werner Herzog. This episode is unusual, even by Draft Zero standards. It's an "Actual Play Podcast" where Chas, Stu, & Mel are joined by Kim Ho and Luke Clark to play MOTHERSHIP, the sci-fi ho…

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Constable Ambisonic - Perception of Landscape with Alan Hockett 47:55

18d ago47:55

47:55

As part of the Constable Ambisonic project I want to understand how we perceive the landscape, and what did Constable and his contemporaries bring to our understanding of the natural world, and who else has contributed to the language used and ideals we hold in regard to perception of landscape. Here I talk to artist and photographer Alan Hockett w…

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Boat Building Near Flatford Mill - 2nd October 2025 (excerpt) 20:00

26d ago20:00

20:00

Diners with trays of food and drinks from the cafe, the air con unit drone, this year is a ‘mast year’ for local trees which can be evidenced by the abundance of acorns on the ground, mast years are possibly a way that trees work together to create more fruit/seeds in one year that can possibly be eaten by seed eating animals and increasing the lik…

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The Hay Wain - 30th September 2025 (excerpt) 22:00

29d ago22:00

22:00

A landscape, at noon. A man jogging with his dog, and man and woman chatting on the bench next to the Field Studies Centre, the mill pond has been cleared of weed and algae, and most of the vegetation has been trimmed making it easier to see the path of the water between the trees, spider threads drifting and glinting in the sun, Moorhens running o…

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DZ-122: Escalating Antagonism 2 1:44:51

1M ago1:44:51

1:44:51

How can you apply horror ideas to action and comedy? In this episode Chas, Stu and guest Kim Ho continue their exploration into the power(s) of antagonism and how focusing on them can develop story. While Part 1 looked at the horror film SINNERS, in Part 2 we venture into genres beyond horror with the action-thriller REBEL RIDGE, and the comedy cla…

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Hampstead Heath looking towards Harrow - 27th September 2025 (excerpt) 20:00

1M ago20:00

20:00

It’s been a long trek on public transport to get here, and a bit stressful on the Tube with all of the tripods and kit bag, that has put in to perspective a few things. It would have taken Constable, everyone, a lot longer to get around. For instance Constable used to walk from East Bergholt to Stratford St.Mary to catch the Stagecoach, which would…

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Dedham Lock and Mill - 12th September 2025 (excerpt) 20:00

1M ago20:00

20:00

Yesterday a storm front blew in and passed over head. In front of it the warm summer air and behind it the cooler air of autumn. I didn’t realise until it had passed but the difference was clear and defining. Today the wind is feisty, autumnal, and its effects on the trees dominates the sonic space. Imagine being a tree, or a nomad, constantly at t…

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St.Botolph's, Colchester - 7th September 2025 (excerpt) 20:00

2M ago20:00

20:00

Sunday morning in town, its a bit breezy, people making the shortcut through the graveyard, a flock of pigeons or Rock Doves as they used to be called, air con units, aircraft heading away from London, a lady whose perfume I detected before I saw her, I feel like I have to behave differently in this urban environment as I can’t blend in to being a …

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Willy Lott's Cottage - 6th September 2025 (excerpt) 20:00

2M ago20:00

20:00

Tourists taking photos, a woman coming from the Mill Residencies, a man singing, a chat about exam results, a man getting his photo taken with a baby, I’m featuring in people’s photographs, or influencing their decision not to take one, being in ‘the’ spot means that others also gravitate there, pause to get ‘the’ shot, then leave, voices of sports…

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DZ-121: Escalating Antagonism 1: SINNERS 1:24:59

2M ago1:24:59

1:24:59

How do the antagonistic forces in your story escalate distinctly from the protagonists' journey? We often struggle to develop the middle stages of a story. Could this be because we focus on our protagonists' journeys and plot structure more than on how the antagonistic powers are awakened, wronged, discovered, gathering strength and revealing thems…

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DZ-120: Subtext is overrated 1:54:04

3M ago1:54:04

1:54:04

Or, how focusing on good drama will result in good subtext. We often hear how subtext is important for good screenwriting. We're here to tell you it isn't. Good subtext is a result of good drama, and your focus should be on creating that good drama. But how? In this episode, Chas Fisher and Stu Willis are joined by screenwriter+teacher, Tom Vaughn …

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Constable Ambisonic - Perception of Landscape with Terri Bowditch 59:15

4M ago59:15

59:15

As part of the Constable Ambisonic project I want to understand how we perceive the landscape, and what did Constable and his contemporaries bring to our understanding of the natural world, and who else has contributed to the language used and ideals we hold in regard to perception of landscape. Here I talk to my mum, Terri Bowditch to try to under…

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DZ-119: Final Character Choices & Great Endings 1:52:39

5M ago1:52:39

1:52:39

How does your protagonist's final choice resolve the plot, character arc and theme? In this episode, Stu and Chas focus solely on the final choices made by protagonists and how that reflects their character journey and successfully, or not, dramatises the internal. We compare and contrast different uses of narrative POV in respect to these final ch…

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Constable Ambisonic - Perception of Landscape with David Stone 39:47

5M ago39:47

39:47

As part of the Constable Ambisonic project I want to understand how we perceive the landscape, and what did Constable and his contemporaries bring to our understanding of the natural world, and who else has contributed to the language used and ideals we hold in regard to perception of landscape. Here I talk to artist and printmaker David Stone at t…

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Reed Bunting and Cuckoo, Fen Bridge Lane, East Bergholt, Essex - 17th May 2025 30:00

6M ago30:00

30:00

This recording has come about by my activities on the Constable Ambisonic project, where I'll be making ambisonic sound recordings of 20 locations of paintings by John Constable. https://www.constableambisonic.co.uk/As I explore and reacquaint myself with 'Constable Country' I have been recording in a variety of locations in and around the Dedham V…

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DZ-118: Adolescence and tension through questions 2:00:18

6M ago2:00:18

2:00:18

How do dramatic questions create tension? In this episode, Stu and Chas delve into the cultural phenomenon of ADOLESCENCE. We try to find the craft tools that have made the show so compelling and such a catalyst for conversation. In particular, we breakdown how the show's emphasis on questions creates tension: not just tension through plot, but ten…

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Zip Line on Bournemouth Pier - 25th April 2025 5:00

6M ago5:00

5:00

I was in Bournemouth on an assignment but arrived early to have a mooch about the town. I hadn't visited since 1999 and that was under the cover of darkness as we were going raving at an all nighter, although I forget which club it was we went to. What I do remember is that it was the first time I heard the Ferry Corsten remix of William Orbit's ve…

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Sedge Warbler and jets, Old Hall Marshes, Tollesbury, Essex - 20th April 2025 15:45

6M ago15:45

15:45

Myself and good friend Matt Shenton went on a well overdue trudge around the edge of Old Hall Marshes near Tollesbury. It's an RSPB site, so we were looking forward to hearing, seeing, recording, some birds, but as the car park is closed on weekends (doh!) we had a extra mile or so walk to get to the site. it was windy and fresh, but with a hint of…

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Skylarks, Middlewick Ranges, Colchester, Essex - 5th April 2025 12:00

7M ago12:00

12:00

To follow up on my recording of the Nightingales at Middlewick from last year (yes, I know it takes me a long time to do things) I wanted to record the skylarks as there are several nesting pairs on the site. Frazer Merrick (artist and runner) commented that he'd just heard them on Middlewick and Michael Padmore (from the 'Save Middlewick' campaign…

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DZ-117: Tonal shifts 2:08:13

7M ago2:08:13

2:08:13

How can we teach our audience new storytelling rules in the middle of our story? Following on from our episodes on establishing tone through action lines and through character, this is what we have been building up to: how to pull off a tonal switch… that does not throw the audience out of the film. And, in particular, how to pull that off on the p…

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The Final Episode 2:17:04

7M ago2:17:04

2:17:04

Goodbye, goodbye. For our final episode of this run, Austin, Raymond & Henry talk about how they watch movies, some mailbag questions, some musings on the craft, and more. Thanks again for tuning in each week, everybody. Stay safe, and we'll see you at the movies! Follow us on Twitter! @austin_hayden (Austin) @creamatoria (Raymond) and on Letterbox…

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Woodpeckers, Flatford, Essex - 23rd March 2025 6:13

7M ago6:13

6:13

In preparation for my upcoming project Constable Ambisonic (more on that soon), I was in Manningtree Station car park for 5am to meet my friend photographer Simon Rogers. It was damp but mild and we walked the paths of the Stour Valley as far as Flatford and back, simply to get back in to the swing of being up early, in the field, listening and rec…

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Mulholland Drive: It Was All A Dream 1:33:55

8M ago1:33:55

1:33:55

Our penultimate episode! The guys get into Mulholland Drive (directed by David Lynch) on this one. This film is a great segue for conversation as it weaves through film studies, what it means for something to be Lynchian, what it means to make movies - and more. Enjoy! Join the LAST Livestream of SHOW ME THE MEANING! next Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the…

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The Boy and The Heron: A Filmmaker's Legacy 1:41:53

8M ago1:41:53

1:41:53

Raymond is back from filming his movie! The guys get into The Boy and The Heron - Hayao Miyazaki's swan (heron?) song. Who will take over Studio Ghibli? Does more money make a better movie? Is this film a bigger metaphor for Miyazaki's retirement? They get into these questions and more - and more! Enjoy! We only have TWO episodes left! So be sure t…

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Conclave: Catholic Camp 1:25:45

8M ago1:25:45

1:25:45

Get your cigarettes out for this one - we're talking Conclave! Austin, Henry, and Michael talk the intersection of humanity and religion, the campiness of this film, pope names - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! https://youtube.com/@wisecrack_2 Follow us on Twitter! @aus…

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Dawn chorus in the woods, Arger Fen, Suffolk - 2nd March 2025 11:27

8M ago11:27

11:27

It had been a while since I'd done any recording so it was great to get up early and head out to one of my favourite spots, Arger Fen. I made two recordings, this one in the woods, and another in more open scrubland. Since it was before dawn there was plenty of bird action including tawny owl, pheasant, song thrush, robin, blackbird, mistle thrush,…

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Babygirl vs. May December: Giving and Taking 1:12:23

8M ago1:12:23

1:12:23

We got another cage match: Babygirl vs May/December! Austin is joined by Wisecrack's Amanda! They get into age gap films, the philosophy of the male gaze, the role of eroticisim in this era of films, and more! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! https://youtube.com/@wisecrack_2 Follow us on…

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DZ-116: Writing physical comedy 1:35:40

8M ago1:35:40

1:35:40

How do you make extended technical scenes funny on the page? Mel joins Chas to tackle physical comedy. We limited our homework selection to extended scenes (as opposed to moments and sight gags) in live action projects and - with the help of our Patreons - selected early sequences from BRINGING UP BABY, the pilot for HAPPY ENDINGS and that wonderfu…

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Aftersun: We Got Daddy Issues 1:27:53

8M ago1:27:53

1:27:53

The best movie for a cry (if you got daddy issues). Austin is joined by Producer Henry for a chat on Aftersun! They get into realizing the frailty of our parents, the nature of memory and music, some narrative structure of the film - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! http…

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Hypernormalisation Explains EVERYTHING Going On Right Now 1:05:39

9M ago1:05:39

1:05:39

Austin is again joined by Wisecrack's very own: Michael Burns! Join the convo on the movie that explains EVERYTHING that is happening politically right now. We get into where Hypernormlisation originated from, our changing views on the Occupy movement, a Patti Smith-Sam Shepard play - and more! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday…

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Will The Brutalist Be Remembered? 1:22:13

9M ago1:22:13

1:22:13

Today Austin is joined by Wisecrack's very own: Michael Burns! Raymond is out shooting his movie. Join the convo as they get into the commodification of art (both in the film and by the director himself), the concepts of home explored in the epilogue, some "PTA-ish" notes that the film could have used - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING…

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Nosferatu: The Consequence of Repression 1:46:01

9M ago1:46:01

1:46:01

Nosferatu. Raymond returns. Henry takes the mic. Join the crew as they talk the merits of this adaptation, the messages around desire and sexuality, viewing this film as a western, and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! https://youtube.com/@wisecrack_2 Follow us on Twitter! @a…

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Dune: Part Two - Is Revolution In Art Possible? 1:49:09

10M ago1:49:09

1:49:09

Lisan al-Gaib! Austin and Raymond get into Dune: Part Two this week! How much of this film is aesthetic versus substance? What does it say about power structures in our mythos? Does this film oversimplify revolution? Join us as we ask those questions! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! htt…

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Covering Our Best Films of 2024 1:48:41

10M ago1:48:41

1:48:41

Happy New Year! Austin and Raymond get into their best films of 2024. What makes a film a "best" film? Was it your experience of watching the film? The performances? The craft? Because it was made by Sean Baker? And stick around until the end for our best performances of the year! Here are the films we get into! Raymond's Top 5: I Saw the TV Glow F…

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DZ-115: A Christmas Special - Rewatching & Rituals 1:56:39

10M ago1:56:39

1:56:39

What magic do Christmas movies use to make them so rewatchable? In this "backmatter" episode of Draft Zero, Stu, Chas, and Mel Killingsworth embark on a festive exploration of what makes holiday films so engaging and so re-watchable that they can become part of our rituals. To that end, we breakdown the charm of of Christmas films like KISS KISS BA…

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The Wild Robot: Technology Will Not Save Us 1:40:12

11M ago1:40:12

1:40:12

Roz! Today we cover The Wild Robot (dir Chris Sanders)! We get into narrative issues that both give this movie colonial undertones and undermine the themes it's trying to explore, the robotic emotional journey it takes the audience on, some philosophy on technology and the hierarchy of life - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREA…

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Anora: A Mature Fairytale 1:33:16

11M ago1:33:16

1:33:16

Well, well, well, we finally saw it! This week, we cover Anora (dir Sean Baker)! Join us as we get into Sean bakers process, the performances he got out of his actors, Mikey Madison’s incredible show of force, a little detour into the institution of marriage, that last scene - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday …

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Heretic: You Can't Hide Horny 1:32:13

11M ago1:32:13

1:32:13

We're covering HERETIC (dir Scott Beck, Bryan Woods) today! We're walking right past the shallow religious interpretation of this film, and taking a swing at a more provocative take: this movie is about sex. And does it even do a good job of being about it? Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channe…

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DZ-114: Climaxes in Challengers 1:17:26

11M ago1:17:26

1:17:26

How does ending your story on the climax affect audience experience? While Stu is on show, Mel and Chas sit down to analyse the meaning behind the ending of 2024's CHALLENGERS, especially when - upon reading the script - the most impactful moment of the ending on screen (for Chas in particular) is not written on the page. Following on from episodes…

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Gladiator II: Sans Gravitas 1:26:47

11M ago1:26:47

1:26:47

On my signal!! Join us for our chat on GLADIATOR II (dir. Ridley Scott). Was this movie worth the wait? And for that matter, who was waiting for it...? We get into why these lega-sequels feel empty, the relevance of Gladiator II within today's sociopolitical situation, how this film served its star-studded cast - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME T…

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Your Rainbow Panorama, Århus, Denmark - 20th September 2013 8:31

11M ago8:31

8:31

On the 19th September 2013 I had a phone call from a friend who only phones when he needs something. He's cool so usually it's a pretty good shout. He was in a spot of bother and needed a package full of art taken to a gallery for him as the package sent via courier had gone missing. Only problem was that it needed to be there tomorrow, and the gal…

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John Hughes Comfort Views 1:53:47

11M ago1:53:47

1:53:47

Autumn: the time of cozy movies and (un)comfortable nostalgia! In this CAGE MATCH episode, we pit The Breakfast Club against Planes, Trains & Automobiles to explore the autumnal film. What makes a film cozy? What is the philosophy behind Thanksgiving (hint: capitalism)? How can we associate John Hughes with Reagan era films? We get into these quest…

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The Zone of Interest: The Evil of Banality 1:55:42

12M ago1:55:42

1:55:42

The crew is joined by recurring guest Mallory Blair to talk Jonathan Glazer's THE ZONE OF INTEREST! Starting off with the worst take of all time on this film, this conversation ranges from the filmmaking techniques within, similar Holocaust films, materialism and other philosophy lessons, the very obvious comparisons to the events unfolding in Gaza…

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Alex Garland's Civil War: Vagueness, Violence, Boring 1:31:02

12M ago1:31:02

1:31:02

The guys cover CIVIL WAR (dir. Alex Garland) on this one, and it gets heated! But does it get heated because the film is hot garbage? Join the guys as they attempt to find out what this movie is trying to say through its vagueness, violence, philosophy, and potential to be a good film. Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday a…

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Movie Slasher Showdown 1:49:20

1y ago1:49:20

1:49:20

Happy Halloween! Raymond and Austin - and the stream audience - pit 8 Hollywood Slasher Villains against each other to decide who is the ultimate Slasher Champion. We got Michael Myers v Art the Clown, Jason v Norman Bates, Freddy v Leatherface, and Ghostface v Chucky. Who will win? Take a listen! Along the way, we break down archetypes of the horr…

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Furiosa: Studio Flop or Furious Masterpiece? 1:26:29

1y ago1:26:29

1:26:29

Start your engines! Austin and Raymond jump into FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA (dir George Miller). The guys get into the mythos of this installment within the larger franchise, the role of fan service in these cinematic universes, concepts of religion and populism in Mad Max villains, and the decency of the heroes within. Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEA…

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Longlegs vs The Substance: A Pop Horror Cage Match 1:40:22

1y ago1:40:22

1:40:22

Our first cage match! Austin and Raymond have chosen LONGLEGS (dir. Oz Perkins) and THE SUBSTANCE (dir. Coralie Fargeat) to battle it out. Join the crew as they break down these films, from the different ways each director relies on genre expectation, to the iconography within both films - and, of course, a dash of philosophy sprinkled in to cover …

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Harwich Tide Bell - 24th February 2024 10:00

1y ago10:00

10:00

Whilst collecting sounds for my Modern Tendring Vernacular project in February 2024 I went to record the tide bell at Harwich, which I had never seen or heard before. There was a strong wind and rain but I'd timed the tide right to capture the bell, and was meeting a chap called Geoff soon, so only had one shot at recording it.…

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Cracking Open I Saw the TV Glow 1:30:14

1y ago1:30:14

1:30:14

The Pink Opaque! Raymond and Austin are joined by Mallory Blair to talk Jane Schoenbrun's I SAW THE TV GLOW. Listen along as they peel apart the many layers in this film, from the nuanced trans experience of "cracking open the egg" in the character's self-discovery, to the specificity of Schoenbrun's direction, to the philosophical metaphors we can…

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Ridley Road Market, Dalston - 14th February 2009 7:31

1y ago7:31

7:31

Between 2008 and 2010 I lived in Hackney and on a cold Wednesday morning I went for a walk down Ridley Road Market in Dalston. I remember there being lots of meat, piles of pigs trotters and some strange vegetables. I loved the mixture of cultures, food, voices, accents, and music, but not so much the intensity of some of the smells. I recorded thi…