August 20, 2025
XCIV — Mollie Mills
Mollie Mills lives between London and Los Angeles, directing commercial, music videos and installation works that nod to grit, subculture, and queerness.

Below are Mollie’s SELECTS:

Video Art
Sometimes Making Something Leads to Nothing by Francis Alys
1997

I was captivated by Francis Alys in my late teens — the film ‘making’ takes a backseat, it is there only as the medium to receive the work — which creates something different entirely. It always reminds me to play and to be less precious.

Film
Morvern Callar by Lynne Ramsay
2002

Anything by Lynne Ramsay. But here’s the trailer to the unbelievably special ‘Morvern Callar’.

Book
Close to the Knives by David Wojnarowicz
1991

Not a film. But a book that made me want to make. Provocative. Honest. Queer. Political. A portal to a crucial time. But here’s an excerpt from ‘Fire In My Belly’ — one of his unfinished films (which was removed by conservatives from the National Gallery… sometimes people just don’t get it yet!)

Music Video
‘Man-Size’ PJ Harvey by Maria Mochnaz

The collaborative era of PJ Harvey and Maria Mochnaz. All the work they made together informed so much of what I now know collaboration can be. PJ was big teen obsession for me. The work is so distinctly the lens of two women — and what joy they can conjure together, despite budget, despite industry nonsense.

Film
Blue by Derek Jarman
1993

Proof that there are no rules to film-making and how we provoke response, emotion, empathy from an audience.

Music Video
‘Duality’ Slipknot by Mark Klasfeld & Tony Petrossian
2004

There are a million great music videos of this era. But — all the kids are street cast Slipknot fans. They did a lot of interesting ways of re-perceiving early 2000’s fandom including a suspended Perspex box of moshing teens as an installation at their show. I like how you can take one idea and actualize it across different parts of your practice.

And for my love of Los Angeles and living there for the past decade —- honorable mentions to:

Film
Thirteen by Catherine Hardwicke
2003

Feels so integral to a generation. Girls kissing felt important albeit a complicated context. I can still feel this movie when I’m on Hollywood Boulevard — special works live in your memory of a place.

Film
Wassup Rockers by Larry Clark
2006

One of the first movie posters I had on my wall.

Film
Totally F***ed Up by Gregg Araki
1993

Another homo movie by Gregg Araki as he so rightly coined. Early, restless, queer, teenage chaos. Perfection.

PEOPLE IN THIS ARTICLE
Francis Alys
Mentioned
David Wojnarowicz
Mentioned
Maria Mochnaz
Mentioned
Derek Jarman
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Mark Klasfeld
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Tony Petrossian
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Catherine Hardwicke
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Gregg Araki
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