The Essential List: Alan Lopez

Alan Lopez was born and raised in NYC, and then didn’t see any reason to leave. But he’d like to… someday. He started his career in advertising as a runner at RSA’s NY office, at a time where every sunset looked like it was shot by Tony Scott. Eventually he discovered the creative possibilities at the end of the production line (and his gift as an armchair psychologist) alongside a truly talented cadre of editors.

Lifestyle

• Place of birth: Queens
• Hometown: NYC
• Staycation: Berkshires
• Vacation: Los Angeles, Guatemala, London
• Pet: A cat named Cookie Puss
• Place of work: Hudson Square 
• Place of workout: Greenwich Village
• Side project: Traveling Wilburys
• Mode of transport: Always walking
• Bonus travel essential: Headphones

Culture

• Artist: Basquiat, Moebius, Genesis P-Orridge
• Musician: Dirty Three, Boards of Canada, Blur, Young Fathers, Midwife, PJ Harvey, Analog Africa label, Pressure Sounds label, Underworld, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis’ film scores, Mica Levi, Tom F’n Petty
• Commercials / music video director: Jonathan Glazer
• Film director: David Lynch, Abel Ferrara, Jacques Audiard, Claire Denis
• Photographer: Stieglitz
• Film: State of Grace, Frantic, Thief, King of New York, Wild At Heart, The Beat That My Heart Skipped, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Highlander, The Thing, OG Mad Max trilogy
• Series: Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Commercial: Guinness “Surfer”
• Music video: Los Lobos “Kiko and the Lavender Moon”
• Video game: Spy Hunter
• Book: Toast on Toast: Cautionary Tales and Candid Advice, by Steven Toast
  
• Graphic novel: Old Man Logan
• Podcast: The Midnight Miracle
• Newspaper (off or online): NYT, The Guardian
• Magazine: MAD Magazine
• Bonus culture essential: Music shops anywhere

Food and Drink

• Breakfast: Daily Provisions’ egg and cheese
• Restaurant: No Comply, Bessou, Kopitiam, Golden Diner
• Cheap bite: Kenka, Sunrise Mart
• Working lunch: The conference room
• Favourite dish: Katie’s black miso cod over rice
• Signature dish: Cashew pad prik
• Snack: Twizzlers (never ever accept Red Vines)
• Guilty pleasure: The Bridget Jones films, Simply Red
• Bar: Fanelli’s 
• Booze: Gin
• Not booze: Agua Pura
• Bonus food: No Comply Foods’ hot honey
• Bonus beverage: No Comply Foods’ Golden Milk Latte

Kit

• Phone: ‘fraid so
• Computer: Only the work one
• TV: Can’t figure out how to change the frame rate
• Headphones: JBL
• Camera: The phone one
• Soundsystem: Whichever one Mikey Dread reps
• Pen / pencil: Bic / Dixon Ticonderoga
• Where you document an idea: Post-its
• Casual clothing: Carhartt WIP, Dickies, Uniqlo
• Smart clothing: Rarely, but if necessary…
• Footwear: Chucks, Jordan 3 - 7
• Watch: Seiko, early model G-Shock
• Collection: Hats
• App: Google Maps
• Favourite social media feed: IG
  
• Work program: Slack
• Digital work tool: Lappy-top
• Analogue work tool: Walking into the next room
• Morning grooming / makeup essential: Hair control
• Bonus kit essential: Stealing my wife’s face cream