Latest Stories from Charlie
Exclusive – Meeting Gen Z filmmaker Kasha Sequoia Slavner
Kasha Sequoia Slavner is an award-winning filmmaker and director who made a splash in the industry with her 2017 social change film ‘The Sunrise Storyteller’. We discussed her work and future ambitions, as well as her take on the changing landscape of cinema. If you’re an indie film savvy you may have already heard of Kasha Sequoia Slavner, a 22-year-old director, screenwriter, and founder of The Global Sunrise Project. Her...
Opinion – How Bo Burnham’s ‘Inside’ masterfully portrays Gen Z angst
Written, directed, and shot all by Bo himself, ‘Inside’ could be this decade’s first true modern masterpiece, an isolating and self-referential rollercoaster that derails into a nightmare of Millennial and Gen Z angst. I’ve no doubt you’ve seen the rave reviews and social media buzz surrounding Bo Burnham’s latest special ‘Inside’ by now. Released last week, this new 90 minute ‘comedy’ was created entirely by Bo himself. Recorded, directed, written, and...
Lil Nas X named Pride icon with huge Philadelphia mural
The famous pop singer Lil Nas X has been featured in a giant three-story-tall mural in the ‘Gayborhood’ area of downtown Philadelphia, solidifying his place as a Pride icon. Lil Nas X has been honoured with a giant three-story-tall mural in Philadelphia to kick off Pride Month. The artwork is on full display in the ‘Gayborhood’ area downtown, and features three separate costumes based on aesthetics from his recent music videos...
Should we ban bosses from emailing after working hours?
France introduced a law four years ago that secured employees the ‘right to disconnect’ from bosses to improve mental health. Should other countries do the same? UK organisation Prospect is calling for the government to introduce new protections into its Employment Bill that would ban bosses from routinely emailing employees outside of working hours. It comes after a year and a half of huge, widespread cultural shifts in the way...
Shell ordered to reduce emissions by 45% before 2030
The company calls the order ‘disappointing’ but it could be a landmark order that forces big polluters to radically change their practices for the better. Oil firm Royal Dutch Shell has been told it must cut back on its carbon emissions by 45% within the next nine years. It could have big implications for the future of fossil fuels and may help to make huge polluters accountable for their actions....
Vocal synthesiser project Solaris begins crowdfunding
AI technology project Solaris is entering its crowdfunding stage, providing further evidence that the industry is about to be altered significantly. Ever wanted a singer for your new instrumental but lack the funds or contacts to hire someone? If you fit into that oddly specific niche than you may want to check out this new crowdfunding campaign launched by Eclipsed Sounds for its project titled Solaris. Using automated sounds Solaris is...
Snapchat to shift further into ecommerce with AR features
It looks like Snapchat is headed down the same path as Instagram with its newly announced features intended to boost ecommerce opportunities. Long time Instagram users may remember when it decided to introduce a bunch of new features last year - for better or worse - that promoted shopping and ecommerce from inside the app. Now, in an unsurprising move, Snapchat wants in on the ecommerce hype. Last week it...
Climate change could shift American Alligator’s sex ratio
Our warming planet could alter the sex ratios of some reptile species, shifting their populations to be either entirely male or female. There are a ton of consequences to climate change, nearly all of them detrimental to our wellbeing and way of life. Whether it’s damaged coral reefs, rising sea levels, or altered ecosystems, pretty much all of them will have long-lasting, permanent effects on our planet. One alteration to...
Light Phone II removes social apps to reduce anxiety
The Light Phone II removes all social media apps to give users a minimal, stripped back experience that reduces user anxiety and encourages time away from your screen. If you’re sick of endlessly scrolling through social media feeds, you may want to check out the ‘Light Phone II’, a minimalist smartphone developed by two ex-Google employees that’s designed to alleviate anxiety and reduce your phone usage. You won’t be getting fancy...
Student-run CSRN launches First Steps Programme
Bristol-based CSRN has announced a new pilot scheme to help sixth form students get a taste of the consultancy industry, offering project opportunities with social change organisations. Are you interested in consultancy and looking for new connections and opportunities to get a foot through the door in a tough industry? Bristol’s CSRN organisation took that phrase quite literally with its new ‘First Steps Programme’, an initiative organised with consultancy company Q5....
