Sam Taylor-Wood
Sam Taylor-Wood is an artist and filmmaker, her photographs and art films examine the split between being and appearance, often placing her human subjects – either singly or in groups, in situations where the line between interior and external sense of self is in conflict. Work has included the iconic film portrait of David Beckham sleeping, other works on celebrity have included her project on Crying Men, photographing many of the most iconic and well known Hollywood actors crying, they included Daniel Craig, Jude Law, Ed Harris and Paul Newman. Taylor-Wood was nominated in 1997 for the Turner Prize and won the Illy Café Prize for most promising artist at the 47th Venice Biennale. Her commercial projects have included music videos for Elton John, featuring Robert Downey Junior and a collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys, advertising clients inclue YSL fragrance and Bottega Veneta, Sky Arts and the BBC.
More recently Sam Taylor-Wood directed her first narrative short film, Love You More (2008), which was scripted by Patrick Marber and produced by Anthony Minghella. The film was screened for the Palme d”or a the Cannes Film Festival and nominated for a Bafta. In 2009 Taylor-Wood is in production for her debut feature film Nowhere Boy, chronicling the childhood of John Lennon. The film features a strong cast including Kristin Scott Thomas, Aaron Johnson as John Lennon Thomas Sangster as Paul McCartney and Anne-Marie Duff as Julia Lennon.