BETTER THAN I WAS YESTERDAY - JOEL FENTON

Our latest incarnation of Better Than I Was Yesterday with local videographer and PXLCAT founder Joel Fenton.

Shop the collection HERE

I’ve known Joel Fenton for a number of years. He’s one of those guys that everyone knows in one form or another. He’s friendly, easy-going and seemingly manages to frequent all the Fitzroy hotspots simultaneously. Seriously, where does he get the time?! He’s also a bloody talented director and producer who brings the soul of campaigns he works on to life. Whatever the hell ‘it’ is, he gets ‘it.’

Joel’s done a bunch of work for massive clients, including Tennis Australia, EA Sports and Bonds. But this is our blog and we don’t particularly give a shit about those guys, so we’re going to focus on the work Joel’s done for PRGRSS. We’ve got a video coming out shortly that I’ll backlink on this page for posterity (if I remember) and a bunch of photos of him wearing our latest Aries pieces that he punched out with his friend, photographer Daniel Luxford.

We sat down with Joel to talk some smack for our latest version of Better Than I Was Yesterday. You can shop the Joel Fenton edit here.

Hey Joel. Where are you answering these questions right now?

I’m currently sitting at my desk in ALT HOUSE, a beautiful studio + co-working space in the heart of Fitzroy.

Do aliens exist?

I like to think aliens exist but they just avoid earth because we’re like the projects of the solar system.

What are the last 5 artists or bands on your Spotify?

The Strokes, Frank Ocean, Micheal Jackson, Jamiroquai, MF DOOM

What’s your favourite type of content to shoot and why?

I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to projects where I get to interview and talk to people. I shot my first documentary this year in South Australia and absolutely loved the experience, so I’m excited to explore that avenue further with my agency. Even talking head corporate videos can be surprisingly engaging. I’ve gained a wealth (pun intended) of invaluable insights about business that I’ve been able to integrate into my own life by interviewing leaders in the corporate space.

Music videos are definitely the most creatively rewarding.

Where’d you grow up?

Croydon Hills 3036 represent

Are you a high school reunion guy or do you leave that shit in the past?

Depends if there’s an open bar.

What do you miss most about the 2000s?

Toss up between watching Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath terrorise teams from each end at the MCG on Boxing Day, and Pokemon on Gameboy Color.

What’s your favourite piece of clothing in your wardrobe right now and why is it significant?

Oof, that’s a hard one. I’ll go with my Our Legacy flannel shirt that was gifted to me by my boy Jakey.

How important is quality in life?

Back in the day, I was the guy who’d blow his last dollar on a random jacket that caught my eye window shopping and opt for a week of hunger over waiting for the next pay check. To me, the magic’s in the making—be it a jacket, a meal, even a conversation. That’s the stuff that makes life worth it, for me anyway.

Where do you see your practice 10 years from now?

With tech and AI moving as fast as they are, trying to predict even a year ahead is like shooting at a moving target. I believe the key to success will lie in building and maintaining a strong brand, while cultivating agility and embracing the flux of change as it comes.

One particularly exciting thing in the works is my venture into the experiential marketing space this year with my business partner, George. We’re in the early stages of a really exciting project that I think will play a strong hand in dictating the direction my agency goes over the next 12 months.

Cheers Joel, catch you soon man! You can check out PXLCAT here.