The Gardener

On May 15, HieronyVision and Film Independent surprised 30 young filmmakers with a year of free membership in recognition of their talents. The winners of the 30 x 30 contest were hand-selected by both organizations. 25 of the winners are current film school students at NYU, UCLA, CSU Los Angeles, University of Chicago, and Chapman … Read more

We lost a friend, mentor, and inspiration this week in Harry Mastrogeorge. Harry was a beloved acting coach who first began teaching the craft in 1956. In the past 70 years, he has worked with a number of notable performers: Robert Redford, Bryan Cranston, and Elle Fanning, just to name a few. At the age … Read more

Okay, maybe we’re becoming a bit death obsessed at HieronyVision. This week, we’re talking about the death of storytelling. At least it’s not a literal death? In the new piece out this week, our brother from another mother Max Bosch examines the detrimental effects of social media on storytelling. Spoiler alert: he basically says that … Read more

New on HV this week: a potentially controversial reassessment of the classic 1966 version of Alfie starring Michael Caine. That’s right, Alfie! If you haven’t thought about that movie ever, we don’t entirely blame you. The piece by HV Artist Member and film writer Adam D-F focuses on two scenes. One’s crucial to the plot … Read more

Here’s a crazy idea: artists don’t have to make money from art to be successful. To some extent, this seems obvious. History is full of examples of celebrated artists who found no recognition and little reward in their own time: Vincent van Gogh, Emily Dickinson, Nick Drake. Financial success and artistic innovation are often two … Read more

New on HV! Max Bosch explains why talented directors shouldn’t direct big franchise movies. Whether you’re over-, under- or properly whelmed by Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Max makes a compelling case for rising filmmakers to stay away from Marvel. Read the excerpt below. Stop us when this starts to sound familiar. A young … Read more

This past year, HV hit the road! If we’ve been quieter than usual, that’s because we were filming on location in Europe for big chunk of 2022. If you follow us on social media, you may have heard about the documentary examining the life and legacy of Oskar Werner. The late Austrian actor, who would … Read more

Happy Thanksgiving from Max Bosch and the HV team! Enjoy these Max Bosch comics… and stay tuned for Max content on the site and social media! Penguins by Gerhard from Pixabay

For film and TV writers, the eternal dilemma: Should a screenwriter pursue their passion project, the story they love and believe in above all the other ideas in their notebook? Or should they write that script that can get made? Agents, managers, and producers will always say write the idea that sells. Press those same … Read more

We recently posted a piece written by our awesome summer intern Ethan B. about electro swing. The niche musical genre first gained traction in 2010 with the popularity of “We No Speak Americano” by Yolanda Be Cool and DCup; the song, a reworking of Renato Carosone’s classic “Tu Vuò Fà L’Americano” was such a global … Read more

Now streaming EXCLUSIVELY on HV! In the newest episode of The Art of Art, host Shane Guffogg talks with the marvelous Michael Lindsay-Hogg. Find out how Michael went from filming the Beatles to painting whimsical, eclectic portraits.

The terrible assault on author Salman Rushdie last week served as a sobering reminder to artists of the continuous struggle for free expression. While the attempt on Rushdie’s life is the most extreme example, censorship continues to remain a potent political and cultural force, even in societies that protect free speech. Of course, the stated … Read more

In general, bots have a bad name on the internets. Bots can lie, cheat, steal—even from artists—not to mention undermine democracy. Or rather they get programmed to do all those things by bad actors until they can pass the Turing test and decide on their own whether to be complete dicks. Of course, most recently … Read more

Whether through the continued cultural dominance of The Simpsons and South Park (full disclosure: your humble Gardener no longer watches new episodes of either show), the globalization of anime, or the all-ages approach of Pixar, cartoons haven’t been just “kids’ stuff” for some time. In fact, some might even claim we’re at peak adult animation … Read more

Ten years ago, Tupac caused a collective freakout when he played Coachella. The deceased rap legend appeared as a hologram performing with the very much alive and in-person Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. A few years prior to that, Celine Dion sang a duet of “If I Can Dream” alongside Elvis Presley on American Idol. … Read more

Now streaming on HV! The newest episode of The Art of Art spotlights Susanna Schulten. The German-born painter has straddled the worlds of art and film, which explains how she established herself in the LA scene. In this episode, host Shane Guffogg and Schulten discuss how she brings a storyteller’s sensibility to her neo-expressionist painting. … Read more

Your humble Gardener proudly presents another HV reissue: Friday the 13th edition. Maggie Hagan’s “Don’t Talk to Me Until I’ve Had My Coffee” is a surreal account of a day in Los Angeles. Or an average trip to Starbucks for actor James Cromwell. Enjoy! Considering how jittery I get and how I feel like my … Read more

The great comedic actor Robert Morse passed away this week. He was best known for his work on Broadway and roles in prestige television like Mad Men and American Crime Story. However, his singular role as a leading man in the oddball cult comedy The Loved One. Which is also the greatest movie about the … Read more

How did a middle-aged Victorian-era mother turn photography into a viable artform? Julia Margaret Cameron took up the still new media format of photography as a hobby when her children were grown and gone. While most of the other early practitioners of photography valued the more scientific applications of the medium, Cameron focused on the … Read more

The Smithsonian Institute usually preserves history. This past week, the museum made it with the decision to return its collection Benin Bronzes to their place of origin. For American and European cultural institutions, this could turn into the first domino in the repatriation of African works, as well as perhaps other pieces from former imperial … Read more

The world could always use a little more poetry. Please enjoy this piece by the award-winning poet Jeremy Schmidt as much as we do. -The Gardener Colorways So far as a sofa is softskin no matter how distant is sway. So long as near-silk and reduction run over it, nightbakingnights are clear sky. So near … Read more

Born the son of former slaves, Paul Laurence Dunbar carved out a significant place for black American voices in literature. Considered the first major Black American poet, Dunbar developed a few distinct voices. He distinguished himself not only as a master of literary works in the American Romantic tradition but also the use of Black … Read more

Back in the early days of HV, contributing editor Adam D-F published this in an essay from our series about the state of contemporary art: From the perspective of an interested observer, so much of the art today – painting, sculpture, video, performance, conceptual, multi-media installation – isn’t technically unsound but spiritually uninspired. Nor is … Read more

The Gardener, Max Bosch and friends at HV would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday this season! If Max says you’ve been nice, please enjoy this inspiring Christmas song from featured member William Carr. William is an incredibly talented singer-songwriter, originally from Maryland, trained in Los Angeles. We are proud to share … Read more

Harry Mastrogeorge is a legend in the acting community. As a teacher, he famously has rejected the idea that performers need to draw on their own experiences and emotions to understand their characters. He also has some thoughts about all those methods, starting with Stanislovski 👇 His notable students include Ray Liotta, Bryan Cranston and … Read more

Last month, HV hosted our first LIVE AND IN PERSON CONCERT EVENT! The evening featured performances from headliner Kate Grahn, along with singer-songwriter Michele Lu, pop/rocker Maisyn, Peter Saputo and a surprise set from LA-based alt rockers MatchHouse. The artists from this talented group of emerging performers brought their own style to the night. Michele … Read more

This week, HV released the newest episode of our EXCLUSIVE original series The Art of Art. Hosted by artist Shane Guffogg, the show features in depth conversations between Shane and other artists in the contemporary LA art scene. The first episodes explored the world of expressionist painter Laura Hipke. In this newest release, Shane sits … Read more

No deals on cheap, disposable goods here. Why not? Because for $2/month (or $20/year if you REALLY like savings) you can join HV and help keep the small, independent arts alive. A membership includes access to all our EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, including original films, series, and featured members’ work. It also features additional benefits like invitations … Read more

The HV Featured Member is one of our favorite artists

As part of HV’s commitment to the arts LIVE & IN PERSON we are proud to present our FIRST FULL CONCERT. The event will take place in a private location and feature performances from up-and-coming Los Angeles area artists. Featured Member and HV Live alum Kate Grahn will headline the show. The evening will also … Read more

It was only a matter of time before crypto went to the movies. This week, Quentin Tarantino announced a secret auction of NFTs related to Pulp Fiction. On the one hand, this makes sense. Tarantino is the auteur equivalent of a viral video and blockbuster franchise—all of which had dominated the film and video NFT … Read more

Don’t worry if you missed Omar Zahzah’s vampire satire

We should be focusing on the role of new and social media in this American poetry renaissance

As a Bosch-inspired site, we’re not not jealous

Everything you REALLY need to know.

This summer, HV hosted our first in person live event to present the first episode of our newest series

The photographer and HV Featured Member chronicles two distinct worlds through his portraits.

It was a tough week for the alliance of sex workers and free speech advocates.

Now on HV! This EXCLUSIVE new series features intimate conversations with California’s most exciting artists. Host Shane Guffogg offers insights into how and why we make art

Art, porn, censorship, and smartphones. When the Louvre takes on PornHub, we all want to see who wins. But who should win? And why?

HieronyVision is proud to present a new original series from Featured Member Nick Hansen. Always the groomsman. Never the man. Will Knight is the perpetual groomsman. He has been standing by the lucky guy’s side in every one of his friends and family’s weddings. Over 15… not that anyone’s counting or anything. Can Will finally … Read more

How does one of the greatest, most memorable pop/folk songs ever recorded come to life? Apparently off the top of the head. In this vintage interview with Dick Cavett and Paul Simon, the legendary singer-songwriter describes the process behind composing “Mrs. Robinson” (with a heartwarming but humorous apology to the real-life Mr. Robinson, Mel Brooks). … Read more

Everything is for sale on the internet if you look in the right places, and love is no exception. Thanks to algorithms and dating apps, the “shop ‘til you drop” approach to romance has only tightened its stranglehold on modern society. Still, there’s something that’s disheartening – pun intended – if not deeply disturbing about … Read more

For Ruth Asawa, the materials were the message. Her hanging biomorphic wire sculptures represent the most visionary breakthrough in the history of modern sculpture. They were such a brilliant piece of experimentation that the Japanese-Amereican artist initially had to defend their categorization as sculptures to museums and galleries. In her own lifetime, Asawa achieved reasonable … Read more

Ask yourself a question: do you put more thought and effort into buying a pair of shoes online or whether to swipe right? It’s okay, we’re not judging you for it. A good pair of shoes can last years, while you might only get one awkward date out of that internet love connection. To be … Read more

As part of the new and improved HV, each month we will highlight one of our beloved featured members on the site and in the Garden. This month, we’re catching up with Chris Wu. Chris grew up in suburban Texas with Taiwanese immigrant parents. He studied economics at Yale and USC, and after a brief … Read more

Last week, we said goodbye to the oldest working actor in Hollywood. The legendary Norman Lloyd worked with everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to Judd Apatow. He was a charter member of Orson Welles’s Mercury Theater. Yet his experience provided him with a wealth of stories and the wisdom of experience. His professional career extended across … Read more

If you’re a returning member or have ever visited our site before, you may have noticed a few changes around here. Don’t worry. All the old familiar content you loved is still around. It just might be in a different category. For starters, the Garden, this section, is now the official HV blog. It’s the … Read more

The great shame of the digital age: true independence and authentic community are becoming relics of an analog past. This is especially true for artists, as those pockets of culture, conversation and, by necessity, commerce that serve as beacons for the creative class had already begun to wither away before the coronavirus deemed them extinct. Somehow, in the name of saving civilization, it’s always … Read more

Careful readers may notice that they are in the Garden. Many of these featured posts are authored by the Gardener. So who exactly is the Gardener? So have you figured out who the %&#! the Gardener is? Let us know!

PROVOKE! Hey Instagram. We knew you’d shut us down. Even though we went out of our way to follow your written guidelines, as well as the shit you don’t mention but still enforce. We didn’t post any nude pictures, impersonate someone else or spread hate filled lies. Still, we knew you’d shut us down. See, … Read more

As part of the new and improved MUSIC section, we’ve added a new category: THE INDUSTRY. This section moves beyond individual artists to take a holistic look at music: how we make it, why we like it, how it transforms our culture. Features in this section will explore issues of cultural appropriation in hip-hop: Articles … Read more

ENTERTAIN: As part of our new relaunch, HV will be premiering new content. One of our new shows is a series of animated shorts that reinterpret classic paintings in interesting, amusing and offbeat ways. Because we’re classy, we’re calling it ART FARTS. Stay tuned for more!