The Essential List: James Hagger
Born in the UK to an English father and a French mother, James Hagger has lived in London, Johannesburg and Sydney. After studying TV and film and working on features for 10 years as an assistant director, he moved to Paris in 2008 to open TROUBLEMAKERS.tv as its CEO and EP. Fast forward 10 years and TM now represents over 20 international directors specialising in live action and animation and, while working with brands on global campaigns, are also developing a feature film – a hark back to James’ past – and a couple of longer format documentaries.
We tapped James for his Essential List – and from his grandma’s gossip to his series of Polaroid pictures, it’s a goodie.
Lifestyle
o Place of birth: Edgbaston, UK
o Hometowns: Paris, London, Valbonne, Johannesburg
o Staycation: Giverny
o Vacation: Mauritius. My brother lives there! What a treat!
o Pet: Dogs
o Place of work: TROUBLEMAKERS Paris
o Place of workout: Sivananda Center Paris
o Mode of transport: Electric scooter and bicycle
o Bonus Travel Essential: My naughty pin-up skateboard
Culture
o Artist: René Magritte
o Musician: Win Butler
o Commercials / music video director: Jones + Tino (If you guys read this, you know the door is always open)
o Film director: Cameron Crowe – (Same Same but different)
o Photographer: Lee Jeffries
o Film: Almost Famous
o Series: The Leftovers
o Commercial: John Lewis – The Long Wait. It’s the nostalgia speaking.
o Music Video: Portishead – Only You. Same Same but different time.
o Video Game: Playdead’s INSIDE
o Board Game: Backgammon
o Book: Sapiens
o Graphic Novel: L’Arabe Du Futur
o Podcast: Didn’t make it to that digital stage.
o Newspaper (off or online): BBC News
o Magazine: Ecran Total
o Bonus Culture Essential: My Grandmother’s Gossip
Food and Drink
o Breakfast: Cereals
o Restaurant: Zebulon
o Cheap bite: Elaichi Vegetarian Street Food
o Working lunch: 52
o Dish: Vegan extravaganza
o Snack: Petit Ecolier
o Guilty Pleasure: Chocolate
o Bar: Le café Parisien 75019. Downstairs from where I live.
o Booze: Wine the red one.
o Not Booze: Carrot juice
o Bonus Food: Clean food
o Bonus Beverage: Old fashioned cocktail
Kit
o Phone: The fruit 7
o Computer: The fruity one but bigger
o TV: Japanese
o Headphones: Bowers & Wilkins
o Camera: Polaroid
o Soundsystem: Marshall
o Pen / pencil: Bic
o Where you document an idea: The interwebs. I have a few secret spots ☺
o Casual Clothing: Octobre Editions
o Smart Clothing: Not that smart after all
o Footwear: adidas London blue. Can you please re-edit them?
o Watch: Raketa 1960 editions
o Collection: Raketa 1960 editions
o App: Petit Bambou
o Website: www.troublemakers.tv if you’re looking for Trouble
o Blog: www.troublemakers.tv/en/journal-en if you want to hear who causes Trouble
o Work program: Mail
o Digital work tool: Interdubs
o Analogue work tool: Fingers, extremely useful sometimes
o Morning grooming / makeup essential: Don’t do makeup
o Bonus Kit Essential: Audio-Technica turntable AT-LP5
