On Episode 5 of The Paul Weller Fan Podcast, first broadcast on 29th December 2020, I am joined by the hugely talented film-maker Lee Cogswell…
Lee is one half of the brilliant team behind Mono Media Films (together with Episode 2 guest, Bax)
In this podcast chat, we explore the story behind his mini-documentaries on the making of Paul Weller albums A Kind Revolution, Jawbone, True Meanings and On Sunset.
Lee has also directed music videos for Stone Foundation, The Moons and Paul Weller (White Horses and Movin’ On, with the addition of Still Glides the Stream which came after our podcast chat)…
At the time of recording, the incredible documentary on The Style Council – Long Hot Summers had recently been broadcast on Sky Arts too…
Hear our chat below and find out more about Mono Media Films at monomediafilms.london
EP05 – Lee Cogswell – Film-Maker, Mono Media Films – Paul Weller & The Style Council – Paul Weller Fan Podcast
Thoughts from Podcast Host, Dan Jennings – Dec 2020
Let me attempt to explain why Lee’s work is so important to me as a Paul Weller fan.
Over the past few weeks, you can’t fail to have noticed that the internet ha Peter Jackson film on the Beatles. It is brilliant footage from the “Get Back” studio sessions and the band’s final work together, some never before seen film of them in the studio recording, larking about, playing together and most importantly, creating incredible music.
Understandably, it was just what we needed and everyone has been raving about how brilliant it looks. And whilst Lee doesn’t have the Oscars, the Golden Globes and the 6.5 billion pounds of worldwide box office revenue like Peter Jackson just yet, for me his work evokes the same kind of feelings that I got from watching the Beatles footage.
If you haven’t seen his films, Lee has had incredible access to Paul over the past few years, from the
Jawbone soundtrack through to A Kind Revolution, True Meanings and On Sunset.
Each of these wonderful albums has had these brilliant documentaries filmed in the studio as Paul
and his band work on a new album.
Now, as a fan, they are an absolute joy.
You dive into the new album. I remember A Kind Revolution… hearing The Cranes Are Back; loving,
loving, loving that song.
Hearing things like Long, Long Road, One Tear with the brilliant Boy George and New York, Hopper, The Impossible Idea… What a song. Wow. And I devoured that album for weeks.
And then the joy of discovering the incredible making of film created by Lee and by Bax (from episode two of this podcast). }
I’m mind blown; I loved it, I watched it over and over.
It captured the spontaneity of the band; how they create and nail these incredible songs in just a few takes. Watching Woo Se Mama coming together with PP Arnold and Madeline Bell. Such legends. Oh man, it is honestly such a brilliant film. And that’s just one of them.
So check out the documentaries for True Meanings and On Sunset as well. Just brilliant.
Lee Cogswell Music
In new news for 2023, Lee has announced the release of his first music.
ASHES, the debut EP by Lee Cogswell, is an introspective collection of soulful and melodic songs, touching on a range of themes – from mental health and anxiety to personal growth, love, resilience, and the fleeting nature of the present moment.
Pre-order ASHES limited edition (100 numbered copies) 10 inch vinyl.
Mono Media Films 2021 ShowReel
2017 – A Kind Revolution – Behind The Scenes
Shot and Edited by Lee Cogswell – With lots of behind the scenes footage, interviews with Paul, members of his band, his producer Stan Kybert and engineer Charle Rees, BEHIND A KIND REVOLUTION documents the making of Paul Weller’s 13th solo studio album ‘A Kind Revolution’.
2017 – The Making of Jawbone -Shot and Edited by Lee Cogswell
Lee had the pleasure of being on set and documenting the making of British drama film Jawbone – directed by Thomas Q. Napper and written by Johnny Harris.
The film stars Johnny Harris as Jimmy McCabe, Ray Winstone as William ‘Bill’ Carney, Ian McShane as Joe Padgett and Michael Smiley as Eddie.
The soundtrack to the film was composed and recorded by Paul Weller.
2018 – True Meanings (Behind The Scenes)
2018 – White Horses – Official Video – Directed by Lee Cogswell
Lee has described this video as “probably the piece of work I am most proud of”
2018 – Movin On – Official Video – Directed by Lee Cogswell
Created with artist Ed Gray.
2018 – The First Day
Shot & Edited by Lee Cogswell. THE FIRST DAY is a fly on the wall glimpse at the first rehearsal, on 2nd July 2018, for Paul Weller’s Royal Festival Hall gig. This short film “THE FIRST DAY” was screened in Vue cinema’s across the UK, alongside Paul Weller‘s Royal Festival Hall gig, in February 2019.
2020 – On Sunset: The Making Of
Shot & Edited by Lee Cogswell, with additional filming by Ben Gordelier. Interviews by John Wilson & Lee Cogswell… Here is a short fly on the wall film about the making of Paul Weller’s fifteenth solo studio album, On Sunset. The album reached number 1 in the UK chart.
2020 – Long Hot Summers – The Story Of The Style Council
The pop group The Style Council, whilst at all times impeccably dressed, served up a diverse and catchy mix of classic agitprop pop, soul and jazzed infused songs, that are still fondly remembered to this day. We look back at how the fervent 1980s political landscape shaped the life, times and music of the band, that Paul Weller left The Jam to create, with Mick Talbot.
Featuring: Paul Weller, Mick Talbot, Dee C Lee, Boy George, Billy Bragg, Martin Freeman, Rev Richard Coles and more.
2021 – Still Glides The Stream – Directed & Edited by Lee Cogswell
This music promo video, released in the summer of 2021, came after our podcast chat…
Still Glides The Stream is taken from Paul Weller‘s 16th solo studio album Fat Pop (Volume 1).
2013 – KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON – A Short Film About Soul
A short documentary film by Lee Cogswell, following the 2012 collaboration between Northern Soul legend, Nolan Porter and UK band, Stone Foundation.
LA soul singer, Nolan Porter, made two albums in the early 70′s backed by legendary bands “Little Feat” and “Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention”, before becoming disillusioned with the music industry and turning his back on it for the next 30 years. That was until NF Porter and his brand of soul music was picked up by the UK northern soul scene. Nolan’s songs became must have’s for any northern soul connoisseur, and once again made their way into the limelight. His song “If I Could Only Be Sure” was covered by Paul Weller, on the album Studio 150.
2014 – Tubby Hayes – A Man in a Hurry – Directed by Lee Cogswell
Lee’s first big project as part of Mono Media Films with Bax was the documentary film, Tubby Hayes: A Man in a Hurry. Narrated by Martin Freeman, the film featured Sir Peter Blake, Michael Horowitz, Jeffrey Kruger, Ray Gelato.
2018 – John Simons – A Modernist – Directed by Lee Cogswell
For Stone Foundation‘s 2017 Street Rituals release, Lee & Bax made three studio music videos from footage captured while the band record at Paul Weller’s Black Barn Studios.
2018 – John Simons – A Modernist – Directed by Lee Cogswell
John Simons: A Modernist featured, amongst others, Paul Weller, Kevin Rowland, Suggs, John Hegarty and Robert Elms.
2018 – Peter Black: Pop Art Life – Directed by Lee Cogswell
In celebration of Sir Peter Blake’s 85th year, Mono Media teamed up with Channel X to create a special 60-minute documentary celebrating the acclaimed pop artist and his legendary artwork.
PETER BLAKE: POP ART LIFE looks at the way music has guided Blake’s work over the past 60 years and how it has inspired some of his most original pieces, such as the 1984 Band Aid ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ record sleeve, and how his musical influences have led to collaborations with some of the biggest names in pop.
Alongside an exclusive interview with Sir Peter Blake about his lengthy career and the pop culture movement, the documentary features interviews with iconic musicians who have been influenced by his artwork, including Sir Bob Geldof, Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller and Suggs from Madness, alongside broadcast and art-history industry experts, and Sir Peter’s daughter, illustrator Rose Blake.
2022 – Rise Above It – The Story of Stone Foundation
With Neil Sheasby and Neil Jones’ working relationship heading into it’s 25th year, this feature length documentary film looks back and celebrates the journey of the band Stone Foundation, with lots of rare and previously unseen footage from early demos to the latest release “Outside Looking In”.
Watch the full film here and read my review here…