My blog, Cultured, investigates the way that arts and entertainment impacts my day-to-day life. I’m a film producer, fortunate enough to be dazzled by art, daily. It wasn’t easy limiting my suggestions to five, but I’d hope there’s something for everyone in here, since culture affects us all so differently. Whatever you choose: Shop with your imagination this year. Unless otherwise indicated, all gift pricing is in (sometimes adjusted) Canadian dollars, and no pricing includes S&H fees.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 18-CATEGORY OVERVIEW OF DailyXY’s 2011 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Minimalist Movie Posters (pictured, A Clockwork Orange)
I love simple graphic art, and I believe that most movies can be identified with a single iconic image. When I move my production office out of the basement and into, well, an office, I’d rather have art adorn my walls than movie posters, despite the fact that film is my biggest inspiration. This is why I love this new minimalist movie poster movement: Raiders of the Lost Ark summed up with a whip that morphs into a snake; Die Hard, an elevator panel shaped like a skyscraper; Jaws, a simple blue expanse with a jagged white header and footer. Me, I’ll take the Stay-Puft bowtie Ghostbusters, please and thanks. From $12

Phonofone
Sometimes, I hate technology. I often rant about the death of celluloid — they’re no longer making film cameras, everything is digital. While I’m not the kind of hipster to go on Craigslist to find the right record player, I did surf upon the Phonofone, and it’s awesome. It looks like ye olde gramaphone but supports iPhones and their ilk. Better still: It’s fabricated completely from ceramics. No wires, no buttons, nothin’ but glass and clay. Even better still: The genius dudes that make it are Canadian. $600

Under the Radar magazine
For my money, Under the Radar is the most vibrant, palpably exciting culture-scene mag out there right now, consistently providing really upfront profiles and interviews with musicians, actors, artists, etc. Just check out the following quote from a recent issue and tell me it doesn’t sound like something you want to eyeball: “He talked about ending his life a lot, and that was a byproduct of his drug use and the fact that he felt like shit. But he was such a sweetheart, and I don’t think he wanted to die.” —David McConnell, Elliott Smith’s producer and friend. From $10.50/year

Moo-brand Business Cards
Like most artsy dudes, I hang out and network with other artsy dudes. We may know how to write scripts/paint/direct/rock a Mac laptop, but in schmooze situations, we often don’t know how to work the handshake, let alone pass along a business card — because we don’t have a business card. Moo will prove to be a game-changer. Their custom cards are totally one-of-a-kind and affordable, something that artsy freelancers like. From $23

TMN Subscription
Lastly, I’d recommend gifting a short-term subscription to TMN, which in January launches the insanely good Luck, starring Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, made by Michael Mann (Miami Vice) and David Milch (Deadwood). I’ll admit this suggestion is a shameless plug, as TMN exclusively carries my reality-cum-comedy series The Right Hand. It’s a (not-so-)typical story detailing the awkward adventures of a small-town kid who lands a ‘dream’ starter gig as a personal assistant in L.A. — ‘dream’ in scare quotes, because he’s working for a porn producer/director/star. He’s the porn guy’s metaphoric “right hand,” and the show pushes the envelope without getting its hands, well, dirty. Obvious bias aside, I think it’s refreshing and unique, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it; hit me in the Comments. Approx. $20/month (pricing is carrier-dependent)

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Image courtesy of Viktor Hertz.