Behind the Image is an ongoing MODELS.com series taking a more personal look at both established and emerging creative talent.
Alec Maxwell of Kloss Films, director
Hometown: Ellesmere Port
Based: London
Representation: TODAY MGMT
How would you describe your work? What’s your trademark?
I am comfortable with social conversation. I want people to look and feel like themselves in my projects.
How did you get into your chosen career?
It’s been snowballing since I was a kid.
What other jobs have you had?
Womenswear designer, university lecturer, and waiter.
What have you watched/heard/read lately that has inspired you?
Taylor vs. Serrano Boxing Fight at Madison Square Garden, a historic night for women’s boxing.
What do you love about what you do?
I love editing and hoping that the viewer feels emotion. I also love working on KLOSS merch.
What have been the biggest challenges you have faced professionally?
Being patient.
What’s one thing outside of your work that you would like people to know about you?
Obsessed with facials and mani-pedis.
Who do you think is one to watch?
Philip-Daniel Ducasse
Selected Work
I’m an Immigrant, 2017
In the wake of President Trump’s executive order restricting immigration from seven, predominantly Muslim countries, 80 of fashion’s most recognizable faces came together to make a statement in solidarity with those affected by the refugee ban. This is the first time my work has had such a strong social commentary. The video went on to win WEBBY Award for Public Service & Activism (video). It was shot in one afternoon in New York during fashion week.
Lizzo, British Vogue Cover, December 2019
I don’t see myself as a photographer, so this project was captured in motion. Each image was accompanied by a moving image version. Onto the still images and cover, a channels effect was applied, this was another way of suggesting motion within the image. Lizzo was a lot of fun on set and really understood the references and the clothes. There was a dream team on this shoot, stylist Dena Giannini, hairstylist Yusef Williams & makeup artist Renee Garnes.
FENDACE (Versace), 2022
It was a dream to be involved in the iconic collaboration between Fendi and Versace, shooting alongside Meisel, under the artistic direction of Ronnie Cooke-Newhouse. I wanted the concept of the video to be a way to get the name ‘FENDACE’ stuck in your head. This was my first time working with Set Designer, Mary Howard, who brought the FENDACE club sets to life. I was excited to have the girls do the runway down the stairs into the nightclub. It was really refreshing to work on a project with minimal speaking after a stint of projects with heavy dialogue.
Louis Vuitton, 2021
Some of my favourite projects have been with the Art Director Ronnie Cooke-Newhouse. Originally Ronnie’s brief was an interview with Stacy Martin. When I discovered that she was English and French, I thought that it would be interesting for her to interview herself. I know from Netflix that people have become so comfortable with watching foreign language film and TV, so this was another part of the thinking behind the concept. Shooting this was tricky yet fun. We had a stand-in who looked just like Stacy, all you see in the video is the back of her head. This gave Stacy an eye-line to look at.Judi Dench, 2020
This was shot in the studio next door to Nick Knight, who was shooting Judi’s British Vogue Cover. Judi recited personal anecdotes with every answer without any notes. The shoot was just before COVID and I worked on the edit during the first lockdown. I was drawing on all the emotions of the time for the edit.
