Julia Gazdag
writer | producer | photographer
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Side Projects

Side Projects

Next to her film, photo, and writing work, Julia has a number of creative projects that she pursues purely for enjoyment. She recently undertook the construction of her first self-made acoustic guitar, built from scratch. 

Ingredients

Ingredients

Meet Estelle!

Meet Estelle!

 

Julia also has a couple of side-project instagram accounts: 

The Little Things
An Instagram-based series of snippets in the lives of Polly Pocket dolls

She held the box aloft. It felt small, delicate, vulnerable; like her heart. In a way, that was what it contained.
She held the box aloft. It felt small, delicate, vulnerable; like her heart. In a way, that was what it contained.
She’d waited her whole life for this moment. To take her rightful place in this exalted seat. And yet, something felt amiss. The feeling that all wasn’t well lingered in the air; hovering; looming. Somewhere not far. Sort of to her left a bit.
She’d waited her whole life for this moment. To take her rightful place in this exalted seat. And yet, something felt amiss. The feeling that all wasn’t well lingered in the air; hovering; looming. Somewhere not far. Sort of to her left a bit.
This was certainly turning into one of Phillip’s weirder sex dreams.
This was certainly turning into one of Phillip’s weirder sex dreams.
It was one of those magnificent afternoons when nothing special happened, really. It was the indistinct mundanity of the day that thrilled her and warmed her hardened soul.
It was one of those magnificent afternoons when nothing special happened, really. It was the indistinct mundanity of the day that thrilled her and warmed her hardened soul.
It must be admitted, she thought, that dinner was her primary interest in this encounter. Without a proper meal to soothe her soul, most men seemed even more mediocre than they already were.
It must be admitted, she thought, that dinner was her primary interest in this encounter. Without a proper meal to soothe her soul, most men seemed even more mediocre than they already were.
The silence weighed on them like the distance it magnified. Gordon would have given anything for things to go back to the way they had been. Perhaps the moment had come to begin work on his time machine.
The silence weighed on them like the distance it magnified. Gordon would have given anything for things to go back to the way they had been. Perhaps the moment had come to begin work on his time machine.
This was their time. Just her and Teddy, against the world.
This was their time. Just her and Teddy, against the world.
She had a question. They all had a question.
She had a question. They all had a question.
Others may have had great adventures in faraway places, but they didn’t have the monopoly on living life to the fullest. After all, how much more can one live than to spend all her time in a room named for living?
Others may have had great adventures in faraway places, but they didn’t have the monopoly on living life to the fullest. After all, how much more can one live than to spend all her time in a room named for living?
Just like that, it appeared. She had never really appreciated the ease of walking down her front path and out the gate before. Fighting her way past the spectre that was death promised to be a more complicated task.
Just like that, it appeared. She had never really appreciated the ease of walking down her front path and out the gate before. Fighting her way past the spectre that was death promised to be a more complicated task.
The hat made him feel so very tall, yet he couldn’t see from any higher than he was used to. Doubt crept into his thoughts; perhaps he had paid too much for it.
The hat made him feel so very tall, yet he couldn’t see from any higher than he was used to. Doubt crept into his thoughts; perhaps he had paid too much for it.
She felt her flesh sizzle under the punitive sun’s merciless rays, and wondered if it was time to head inside. “No,” she thought. “I’ve made my choice. This is my home now.”
She felt her flesh sizzle under the punitive sun’s merciless rays, and wondered if it was time to head inside. “No,” she thought. “I’ve made my choice. This is my home now.”
He had never thought about the school’s open curriculum, that most students didn’t get to choose their subjects for themselves. But now... now he started wondering. He started asking questions. They had always encouraged him to, and yet now they didn’t seem to have answers.
He had never thought about the school’s open curriculum, that most students didn’t get to choose their subjects for themselves. But now... now he started wondering. He started asking questions. They had always encouraged him to, and yet now they didn’t seem to have answers.
She could do it. She could be her own therapist. The bird would provide excellent moral support.
She could do it. She could be her own therapist. The bird would provide excellent moral support.
It was small, but it was his. The gazebo made him feel tall. More than that, it gave him a sense of accomplishment. He’d built it himself, through the labor of others, yes, but it was his idea, and he liked to think of himself as an ‘ideas man.’
It was small, but it was his. The gazebo made him feel tall. More than that, it gave him a sense of accomplishment. He’d built it himself, through the labor of others, yes, but it was his idea, and he liked to think of himself as an ‘ideas man.’
Merlot. He’d never thought about the sound of the word until he heard Phillip say it. He wanted to drink the sound from his lips.
Merlot. He’d never thought about the sound of the word until he heard Phillip say it. He wanted to drink the sound from his lips.
Even the waiter tired of her penchant for showing off. He could walk on water too, if he’d wanted, if he weren’t so busy bringing her those damn cakes all the time.
Even the waiter tired of her penchant for showing off. He could walk on water too, if he’d wanted, if he weren’t so busy bringing her those damn cakes all the time.
As she stood there she realized that, in a way, everyone dies alone. Not everyone has balloons, though. Years later she would recall how special she felt in that moment. Alone, but special.
As she stood there she realized that, in a way, everyone dies alone. Not everyone has balloons, though. Years later she would recall how special she felt in that moment. Alone, but special.
She heard Corinne toss and turn in the bed across the room. She must remain perfectly still or she’d wake her. This was not the time for conversation. This was not the time for anything except staring into the void of the wall and wondering how her life ended up here.
She heard Corinne toss and turn in the bed across the room. She must remain perfectly still or she’d wake her. This was not the time for conversation. This was not the time for anything except staring into the void of the wall and wondering how her life ended up here.
The cake was so close. If she could just reach it and run, they could finally be alone together. She’d never have to feel his breath on her neck again, whatever his name even was.
The cake was so close. If she could just reach it and run, they could finally be alone together. She’d never have to feel his breath on her neck again, whatever his name even was.
She held the box aloft. It felt small, delicate, vulnerable; like her heart. In a way, that was what it contained. She’d waited her whole life for this moment. To take her rightful place in this exalted seat. And yet, something felt amiss. The feeling that all wasn’t well lingered in the air; hovering; looming. Somewhere not far. Sort of to her left a bit. This was certainly turning into one of Phillip’s weirder sex dreams. It was one of those magnificent afternoons when nothing special happened, really. It was the indistinct mundanity of the day that thrilled her and warmed her hardened soul. It must be admitted, she thought, that dinner was her primary interest in this encounter. Without a proper meal to soothe her soul, most men seemed even more mediocre than they already were. The silence weighed on them like the distance it magnified. Gordon would have given anything for things to go back to the way they had been. Perhaps the moment had come to begin work on his time machine. This was their time. Just her and Teddy, against the world. She had a question. They all had a question. Others may have had great adventures in faraway places, but they didn’t have the monopoly on living life to the fullest. After all, how much more can one live than to spend all her time in a room named for living? Just like that, it appeared. She had never really appreciated the ease of walking down her front path and out the gate before. Fighting her way past the spectre that was death promised to be a more complicated task. The hat made him feel so very tall, yet he couldn’t see from any higher than he was used to. Doubt crept into his thoughts; perhaps he had paid too much for it. She felt her flesh sizzle under the punitive sun’s merciless rays, and wondered if it was time to head inside. “No,” she thought. “I’ve made my choice. This is my home now.” He had never thought about the school’s open curriculum, that most students didn’t get to choose their subjects for themselves. But now... now he started wondering. He started asking questions. They had always encouraged him to, and yet now they didn’t seem to have answers. She could do it. She could be her own therapist. The bird would provide excellent moral support. It was small, but it was his. The gazebo made him feel tall. More than that, it gave him a sense of accomplishment. He’d built it himself, through the labor of others, yes, but it was his idea, and he liked to think of himself as an ‘ideas man.’ Merlot. He’d never thought about the sound of the word until he heard Phillip say it. He wanted to drink the sound from his lips. Even the waiter tired of her penchant for showing off. He could walk on water too, if he’d wanted, if he weren’t so busy bringing her those damn cakes all the time. As she stood there she realized that, in a way, everyone dies alone. Not everyone has balloons, though. Years later she would recall how special she felt in that moment. Alone, but special. She heard Corinne toss and turn in the bed across the room. She must remain perfectly still or she’d wake her. This was not the time for conversation. This was not the time for anything except staring into the void of the wall and wondering how her life ended up here. The cake was so close. If she could just reach it and run, they could finally be alone together. She’d never have to feel his breath on her neck again, whatever his name even was.

Stuff on Bus Stop Roofs
A collection of photos of random objects seen on London bus stop roofs, such as a fresh salmon fillet.

A frog gummy. Will try to get a better photo.
A frog gummy. Will try to get a better photo.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯✨🏳️‍🌈✨
¯\_(ツ)_/¯✨🏳️‍🌈✨
A cardboard cutout of a shaving razor.
A cardboard cutout of a shaving razor.
Part of a windowsill (???)
Part of a windowsill (???)
A Mickey Mouse baseball cap
A Mickey Mouse baseball cap
An empty bottle of Lucozade
An empty bottle of Lucozade
A dog collar and chain, that’s different than the other dog collar and chain I posted a year or however long ago.
A dog collar and chain, that’s different than the other dog collar and chain I posted a year or however long ago.
A carton of cigarettes
A carton of cigarettes
A squishy cushion
A squishy cushion
Update: there is now a second newspaper and a metal bar with a hook end next to the original newspaper (which has been there at least a year)
Update: there is now a second newspaper and a metal bar with a hook end next to the original newspaper (which has been there at least a year)
1 liter of fruit juice
1 liter of fruit juice
This cool stick covered in lichens
This cool stick covered in lichens
A fresh packet of wet wipes
A fresh packet of wet wipes
A usb backup battery
A usb backup battery
A bag of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
A bag of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
A jacket and also snow!!
A jacket and also snow!!
A cupcake
A cupcake
A pigeon
A pigeon
5 p
5 p
A tiny backpack
A tiny backpack
A frog gummy. Will try to get a better photo. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯✨🏳️‍🌈✨ A cardboard cutout of a shaving razor. Part of a windowsill (???) A Mickey Mouse baseball cap An empty bottle of Lucozade A dog collar and chain, that’s different than the other dog collar and chain I posted a year or however long ago. A carton of cigarettes A squishy cushion Update: there is now a second newspaper and a metal bar with a hook end next to the original newspaper (which has been there at least a year) 1 liter of fruit juice This cool stick covered in lichens A fresh packet of wet wipes A usb backup battery A bag of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ A jacket and also snow!! A cupcake A pigeon 5 p A tiny backpack
 

She also ran a small music blog for a few years back in the day, based on the principle that if you have a camera, most of your favourite indie bands will indulge all your nerdy questions. 

The Cynthia Weston Project

Untouched for a few years now, the Cynthia Weston project was a music blog that enabled Julia to feature some of her favorite artists and eventually led to her role on Echotone. Comprised of 5-minute videos, the series was based in a love of the music and the curiosity it inspired. It had zero funding and was usually shot with whatever camera could be sourced at the time.