Earlier this month I shared some thoughts about the striking similarity between What Lies Beneath, the LOVE #6 editorial lensed by fashion photographer duo Mert an Marcus, and Woodpecker, a 2007 series of photographs by artist Jeff Bark.  As I said in my original post, I don’t believe there can be any doubt that Mert and Marcus were inspired by the work of Bark.  The question is whether their shoot goes beyond inspiration or interpretation and enters the realm of plagiarism.

After that initial post I learned another bit of news: Mert and Marcus had also shot a short film to go with What Lies Beneath.  According to models.com it is the first fashion film ever shot by the duo.  Interesting.  The teaser was released last week and the full film was finally made available on the iPad on Monday.  As of today it is available online.

Which means…

We can compare it to the Jeff Bark film that accompanied Woodpecker!  Yes, my friends.  Back in 2007, Bark shot a film to go hand in hand with his Woodpecker series as well.

So, how do they compare?

Watching the two films it is clear, yet again, that Mert and Marcus were heavily influenced by Bark.   Is it as blatant of a copy as the editorial itself?  No, absolutely not.  But one must take into account that Mert and Marcus had a larger budget, more models at their disposal, and a large studio space to film in.

Top: Captures from What Lies Beneath Film. Bottom: Captures from Woodpecker Film

Bark’s film was shot in a much smaller place – his own studio – and the series itself was only comprised of 8 photographs, while Mert & Marcus’ spread is 46 pages!  That in itself explains some of the differences… but what of the similarities?  The audio in What Lies Beneath has distinct similarities to Bark’s film and the framing and editing often mirror one another.

Top: Captures from What Lies Beneath Film. Bottom: Captures from Woodpecker Film

Watch the two films below and tell me what you think – do the film adds fuel to the plagiarism argument or do you think it extinguishes it?

Jeff Bark’s Woodpecker

Mert and Marcus’s What Lies Beneath

So, what do you think?

Credits: Woodpecker Film via New Industry Arts and What Lies Beneath  Film via LOVE Magazine Website

Happy New Year, everyone!  I hope you each rang in the new decade with lots of laughter, wonderful memories, and martinis!

Now that it is finally 2011… you know what that means, right?

It is almost time for the launch of Tom Ford’s Womanswear Collection!  Yes, I am blogging about Tom Ford again.  How else could I begin the New Year?!

Image via TomFord.com

First a quick message to Santa from me (note: we celebrate Christmas on January 7th since we are Orthodox, so my message isn’t late yet!):

Dear Santa,

I have been a mostly good-girl this year.  You know that all good is no fun, so I am sure you won’t mind.  All I really want for Christmas is for the single, heterosexual twin of Tom Ford to walk into my life.  Since I know I can’t have that, could you please bring me the Tom Ford pajamas Kim Kardashian has on in this photo? I need a new pair of PJ’s and would love these.

Sincerely, B

Image via Glamour Magazine (February 2011 issue)

I love these PJs.  Don’t you?

Tom Ford told Vogue Magazine that his new collection was inspired by the 1970s: “The seventies is what I love. Soft, touchable beauty is what I love. I want to be touching the skin; I prefer no bra—I want to be able to slip in my hand.” Well these PJs certainly fit that bill.  They look touchably soft to me.  However,  as we wait for the official launch of the line, check out the video below to see exactly how inspired by the 1970s Ford really was.  Here we finally, finally have the video from the secret NYFW showing of his debut collection. Although we’ve seen most of it in photos by now there are some new pieces, but finally being able to see the movement of the pieces “live” is what makes it truly spectacular!

I die.

It’s pretty obvious what I am looking forward to most in 2011. What about you? What are you eagerly awaiting?

Then I even thought of The Shining.  

But that quickly went away.

Photographer: Christian Blanchard 

Note: post updated to add the video that goes with this campaign. Feast your eyes on “An Unpredictable Revolution:”