Stella Grammenos-Dimadis Blog

The art of relaxation. “ Art raises its head where creeds relax.” Friedrich Nietzche One of my friends, a very hard worker at that, is basking under the Mediterranean sun as I write this, and she has been telling me about the lack of creative work whilst on holidays. Creativity is a constant and when there are times that it does not occur, like on a holiday or in bed due to an illness, a panic can set in, well, lets just say I am definitely known to panic when I don't create and I gather, she has been very panicky, like me, by the shear fact that she isn't creating. This got me thinking about the different stages of creativity, or rather, more specifically the times that creativity is at its most conducive, and I have to add that the greatest inspirations for creativity to occur, do in fact, arise in times of relaxation. Being on holidays when the mind is at its most rested does allow it to wonder to places that it dares not go under normal circumstances w

My director's notes on 25.12 25.12 "Directing is so interesting.  You know, it just sort of encompasses everything that you see, that you know, that you've felt, that you have observed. " Barbara Streisand As our population is ageing there are a number of issues that are becoming prevalent in our society, Dementia is one of them, but alongside this, is the individual who remains healthy and able, but finds themselves in a predicament of loneliness. Our ageing population may not be tech savvy, therefore cannot stay in touch with family and friends via social media, Skype, may not live in close proximity to public transport, have family that is removed, friends, who may be sick or passed. The variations are many for our ageing population and in creating this short, I wanted to create a film that delved into the innermost thoughts and concepts of someone that is ageing and literally has no one to share their life with. What does this look like, especially with a d

“The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond, and must be polished, or the luster of it will never appear.” Daniel Defoe Creativity in Western Society I worry when I look around me at the lack of creativity in our Western society. Now in order that I can articulate this correctly, it goes something like this. Our western society encourages individualism and pre determination, it has to, because it is what the whole basis of democracy and capitalism is based on. The economy encourages individuals to think outside of the box so that they will flourish as independent economic leaders. It stops here though, because an individual cannot think outside of the box when their soul is not nourished. The soul is the essence of the individual and in order for it become individualised and healthy, it needs to be creative. Our Western culture seeks religion to satisfy the growth of the soul and therein lies the problem. Religion does not feed the soul, nor can the

25.12   "To discover our reality we must explore our illusion" Stella Dimadis 25.12 is based on the short story, 'Christmas' written by Thanasis Papastergiou. It has been adapted into a screenplay by me with production on the short film  having  started in 2014, and completed in 2015. The short film revolves around an older man who faces loneliness on Christmas Day and the actions and repercussions that he goes through, in trying to experience the festivities of Christmas. When most people share Christmas day with their families, organising gifts and feasting on wonderful food, what becomes of those people who don't have anyone to experience Christmas, Easter or associated milestones throughout the year? I explore the foundations of the emotional rollercoaster of such an experience through the use of colour, the landscape, music and the art of film to exemplify this mental state. It was easy for me to see the film before production as I

The Edge of creativity-Whiplash & Dior and I "The Edge...there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over." Hunter S Thomson Having had the benefit of watching two very different but successful films this weekend, I came to the conclusion that art will be groundbreaking, when and if, the limits are pushed beyond the edge and humanity is explored.  Our senses must be challenged to the point that an alternative to the static perceptions and views of the world, is provided for.  When this happens we are left astounded and wowed with the potential of differentiated thinking, as it applies to humanity.   Whiplash's writer/director,  Damien Chazelle, and Dior and I's artistic director, Raf Simons, create artistically edgy work in their very disparate mediums, of film and Haute Couture.  It is no wonder that Whiplash has taken out so many awards, predomi