Julie Angel is a British filmmaker, artist, academic and writer. After finding Parkour, Julie became interested in the idea of movement and free-running, making it the focus of her PhD and setting up the movement group See&Do.
Lets know her story more closely as she catches up with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You are an independent filmmaker who likes documenting the current ‘age of athleticism ‘ – Parkour, MovNat, buildering and much more. Share with us your spectacular journey in the world of film-making and how it all began.
Ms. Julie Angel:
Ever since I can remember I’ve always felt drawn towards images and sounds in some shape or form, whether it was watching films, listening to music or looking at the work of different artists and photographers. In parallel to this I loved learning about other people’s stories. There was never a clear plan, just a series of decisions of moving towards something that combined these passions. In hindsight it looks obvious that it’s possible to merge this into a career but at the time it just felt like following my heart. I went to art college in Plymouth in the South West of England and then carried on making films when I left, working on self-initiated projects as well as commercial ones.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You are an author, writer, filmmaker, photographer, academic, artist and parkour coach. How do you manage such a remarkable, multi-dimensional lifestyle?
Ms. Julie Angel:
What links all of the above is a growth mindset, love of learning, an interest in people and self-improvement, and loving what I do. Sometimes my projects are more of a creative exploration into shapes and colors through my more artistic endeavors, and others are about ways to communicate meaning using either images or text. Meaning is always more important than the aesthetic in anything I do. The academic work is the same, exploring ideas and finding ways to understand and apply them. Movement, self-reflection and improvement is a common theme in all of the above – strong body, strong mind.
Full Interview on Next Page!
All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to “Breaking the Jump: The Secret Story of Parkour’s High-Flying Rebellion”.
Ms. Julie Angel:
The book Breaking the Jump is the product of the past 12 years’ worth of research into Parkour. It tells the story of the group of friends who created Parkour, and how it then spread from some unknown areas on the outskirts of Paris and became a global phenomenon. It also documents my own journey of rediscovering movement and how a single jump can change your life. Effort, challenges and facing our fears are all relative, and they are things that everyone can relate to. You don’t need to be an elite level athlete to start doing Parkour, you just need to be willing to turn up and take your first step.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who or what has been the inspiration and motivation that led you to find out more about Parkour and made you become a practitioner yourself?
Ms. Julie Angel:
I was inspired by the athleticism of the athletes I was working with but ultimately what fascinated me was the creative way that they saw opportunities to move and explore their own potential in their everyday surroundings.
There was no special equipment so it was accessible and available if I was willing to try. Movement begets more movement and because Parkour taps into an emotional side of how you look at your surroundings – how they are not fixed but, instead, they are open to change. The same is true of how you perceive yourself and what you are capable of. The physical obstacles you train to move on, over or around in Parkour are a metaphor for the obstacles we face in life. Both involve a process of being attentive to our abilities and progressively working towards a goal. Once you start moving again after being somewhat sedentary for many years it’s something that you don’t want to stop doing.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have selected a profession of being an independent filmmaker that requires a lot of hard labor, technical soundness and excellence in different faculties to finally succeed. How do you achieve that?
Ms. Julie Angel:
My learning curve has been a long and steady one; nothing happened overnight. I still feel like an infant in the independent filmmaking world as each project teaches me something new. Technology has changed a lot since I started but my focus has always been on communicating meaning and sharing stories. The fundamentals of filmmaking never really change. Sometimes there is just new equipment with different buttons to push.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine?
Ms. Julie Angel:
It’s all a mixed bag depending on where I’m living and what my projects are. On average I spend 2 hours a day walking with my dog which is very relaxing and good thinking time too. This may sound like a lot but it’s when I form ideas and I also enjoy being outside in nature. I then train 6 or 7 days a week on top of the daily walking. Recently it’s been a mixture of power lifting, gymnastic rings, swimming, MovNat and Parkour. I also work on the floor when I’m using the laptop which means I’m constantly doing hip mobility drills instead of sitting on a chair or even using a standing desk.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Julie Angel:
I was a vegetarian for 20 years. Over the past 4 years, I cut out grains, re-introduced fish and then finally meat. I feel fantastic for it. I eat a lot fat, protein and veggies. I love food and think it’s important for everyone to work out what works well for them. I’m not strict and try to be relaxed and adaptable to what is available, especially when travelling and being hosted by other people. I enjoy food and appreciate good quality food. It makes a difference to how I feel and think.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you have some advice and motivational words for our inspiring and budding independent filmmakers who all are your fans? What should they do for their climb to the ladder of success in field of film-making?
Ms. Julie Angel:
Filmmaking is a skill like any other, whether it’s weightlifting or learning how to climb. You only get better at making films by making films. The important thing is to be very reflective and try to deconstruct your own content. Be your own harshest critic. Also, have a wide set of influences from the creative industries as a whole, not just film. You need to be brave enough to make the kind of films that you want to make rather than trying to make the same kind of thing that everyone else is creating to show that you are ‘good enough’. Be original and be brave.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about your project “See & Do”. How do you wish to inspire more and more people through this initiative?
Ms. Julie Angel:
See&Do is an online project that encourages, promotes and teaches women to be happy and healthy by having a strong body and a strong mind. The three pillars of See&Do are to inspire, empower and connect women. I regularly post images of women of all ages and abilities moving outside, being brave and facing their fears as a way to normalize these kinds of activities and show that we can all strive towards being stronger, mentally and physically. Sometimes we need to “See it to be it”. The more people ‘see’, the more they will want to ‘do’, and realize that outdoor training like Parkour or MovNat are something that could be for them. If people see someone like themselves doing an activity then it confirms to them that they too could start to learn it.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In 2011, you completed the World’s First Parkour-Focussed Ph.D. What according to you are the Top 3 Fitness Requirements that are needed to start Parkour?
Ms. Julie Angel:
The mindset is more important than any physical attributes that you start with. You need to be open to trying things that you find challenging and not let your ego get in the way. Parkour reveals to you who you are and what you are capable of. Don’t compare yourself to others and then you will enjoy a beautiful journey of physical and mental self-improvement. It’s a long-term discipline so it doesn’t matter where you start. We are all able and everyone can do something.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have shot commercials and short movies for big brands like Nokia, Canon & Native Instrument. Share with us your experience of working as a videographer?
Ms. Julie Angel:
It’s always fun to do these kinds of bigger jobs as there’s a different type of pressure than the self-initiated and independent ones, but ultimately it’s always a team effort. Nobody makes anything on their own, even if you are doing pretty much all of the roles. When people are professional it’s always a good experience.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Julie Angel:
I believe in the saying ‘monkey see monkey do’, so it’s great to see projects like the WomenFitness website with so many role models and inspiring stories. My message is to be brave, try things and to share your stories with others.
To know more about Julie Angel, follow her on:
Twitter: @JulieAngel
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julie.angel
Or visit her website: julieangel.com
Women Fitness Team thanks Julie Angel for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.