Somehow 2012 seems magical. As a nation, the British have been talking about and planning these 366 days for quite some time now. The Olympics have been that looming shadow, casting itself over the UK and the days ahead. Now it's almost time, and even I have to admit to feeling a sense of exciting and nervous energy in the air.
It goes beyond the Olympics, and beyond the Queen's Diamond Jubillee. There's an optimism we're all living with; a sense that something good is coming, after years of reccession and 'the world is doomed!' type news items.
For me, 2012 marks the start of something brand new. It's no secret that it's time for me to do that work shuffle again, and move to another site in the company's fleet of many. I've worked here at Shepherds Bush for well over 12 months now. I'm feeling tired, and if I'm honest I'm looking back - and then looking forward, unsure what else I can contribute that hasn't already been contributed.
Moving on means a brand new fresh start; the biggest change in my life since October 2010.
In many ways 2011 was great - most of all because it was a period of stability. However, the danger with stability is that you spend too long 'stable' and things very quickly turn into routine - and that's nasty, because it's utterly predictable and boring. The chief reason I wanted out of Manchester in the first place was because every day/week was like every other day/week before it.
Where next? I have a fairly good idea. I've spoken to my GM and other senior managers, and have a clearer view of what comes next. I'm not saying what those options are, here, however - because as soon as they're written down they become fact, or the idea of them become boring and lifeless before I've even starting the new movement.
There's new experiences to had across 2012. My sister is pregnant (congratulations!) so the concept of me being an uncle become official, and draws nearer and nearer. You know, the baby is scary, for me too, because it sorts of sums up the need to grow up at last and find that responsibility your parents talk about when you're younger. I'm no longer a child, or of the 'new generation' - there's beings now who need my help and support, and it's time I act the adult, and grow up accordingly.
Hmm. The challenge of 2012. I'll post more about the year as I live through it...
Monday, 2 January 2012
Sunday, 1 January 2012
2011: AOB
We're about 2 and a half hours into 2012 now, and I'm back home in Manchester. Of course,it's been that long since I last wrote on this blog that I haven't actually chronicled my leaving home in the first place. Damn. To cut a long story short, there's a new exciting city, and my body morphed at the metabolic rate of, ooh, about twelve months.
It's curious that I've spent the first 150 minutes of the new year watching a couple of review shows looking back at the departed 2011. Hmm. I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. Allow me to offer a quick, but comprehensive review - except it won't be quick, nor comprehensive. Probably a bit tedious to anybody that doesn't give a rat's ass about me, or 2011, or me in 2011.
1: The Big News
I live around the corner from BBC Television Centre in Shepherds Bush, London. The place has the biggest satellite dishes you ever did see spewing from its rooftop - so it's a cruel twist then that I don't have any TV signal on my tellybox.
A consequence of this is I often fall behind, or miss entirely, items of news. Now obviously I'm hit by the big stories (reports of the Tsunami in Japan and the subsequent nuclear/human meltdown) but a lot of others go over my head. It's not ideal, because I usually revel in that level of politics. Taking a back seat means I'm growing ever more ignorant, and that's never good...
The breakout story for me has to be the riots in London and Manchester in August. Obviously, two cities close to my heart. It was so very easy getting caught up in the hysteria of it all. I was in Brixton the night that the troubles kicked off there, innocently watching a Morrissey gig with my friend Dan, who was visiting from the North, and probably wishing he hadn't bothered. Worse still, he took the trouble back up country with him when he left London town!
But the sheer velocity and force of the riots... Man, it was scary. Seriously scary. At its peak, there was a dangerous edge. I remember walking around London and people were looking over their shoulders suspiciously; eyeing you up to see if you were "one of them" about to attack. I knew the feeling well, because I shared the paranoia. That's not like me - to get caught up so easily in the slew of news and action.
It's summed up by the U2 song "Stuck in the Moment". It played on an endless loop on my iPod for much of the riot week - somehow capturing in my mind the image of it all so perfectly.
I've a little optimism for 2012 (Olympics, and all that jazz) but I confess, there's still some concern that the "moment" in question isn't quite over just because the riots stopped.
If I have one real resoltion for the new year, it's to follow the news more closely. Stuff like the Eurozone crisis could very well define this 'generation' - I can't afford to miss the politics, and the immediately aftermath of it all.
2: Family
Something I'm only going to touch on lightly, as more and more I appreciate one's need for privacy; especially in an age where potentially anybody can read the blog you write and make do with that information any way they want.
There's been some terrific ups (an unexpected pregnancy for an immediate family relative - baby due mid 2012) to some horific lows (a couple of deaths; one of which caught the whole family off guard because it just happened, and to this day still doesn't feel like it ever did).
I spent the week before Christmas moving my Nan in to a care home. This is the same name that I've celebrated in the past on this very blog; somebody who was once so independent and full of life. Now, it breaks my heart to acknowledge that they are no longer fit to enjoy the life they once lead, or indeed show ability in the running of day to day affairs.
She hates the new place. I thought she would. I hate the idea of her being there. I knew I would. Truth is, it's easy - me now being in London and all, and I often don't stop to think about those left at home. I don't know how my Mum would have coped caring for Nan on a full time basis, so a care home is absolutely the right place for Nan to be. Guess I'm guilty. Should I be? So far away, unable to offer much more help than just moral support. Am I the son who flew the nest and dropped all responsibilites?
Hmm.
3: Cinema
Gone are the days I can sit down and create top ten lists of the greatest films of the last year. I don't have the time, and am not objective enough to do that this year. Instead, here's a list of some of the films I did enjoy this year. A lot of the choices are flawed, yes - but they are included for the purpose I stated: enjoyment.
In no particular order (other than memory):
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (USA); Rise of the Planet of the Apes; The King's Speech; Captain America; Moneyball; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; The Skin I Live In; Super 8; Source Code; X-Men: First Class. There's more I've missed off, but it's late and my brain can't think.
Slim pickings.
Worse film? I tend to avoid any film I think looks naff - but Sanctum was piss poor, as was The Green Lantern.
Not exactly brain buster, intellectual cinema choices there - but I work in the busiest mulitplex in the UK. When I'm not there (a surprisingly tiny amount of time) the last place I want to be is back at a cinema watching films.
Honest - and so sorry!
4: Death
Man, this year sucked. I've already explained that I lost a couple of relatives (a grand parent and an Uncle, in the space of a week) but the loss of people like Elisabeth Sladen and Nicholas Courtney hit me hard. 'Only' TV stars yes, but they represent a side of my childhood that cannot ever come back now they're gone. Personalties larger than life, who often inspired me in ways I can't grasp. Their deaths rocked me, such was their power and hold over me.
5: Writing
Yay! (In some ways) I've made some head way on my long overdue follow-up to Self.
Boo! Hiss! Lots of miss opportunities. Even with 5 pages of a script complete, I haven't touched the project in over a month. It sits there gathering ever more dust. Why? I guess I can be lazy, and it's all too easy to allow other things to get in the way.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Actually, despite all of the apparent negativity implanted above, 2011 has been a good year for me. No, a great one - one of those all important years where it's possible you come out of it ten times stronger a person than you originally went into it as.
A lot of that is down to work, and developments there. I've worked at this particular cinema for well over 12 months now. It's matured me both working there, and the fact it's so far away from home. I'm a lot more rational, and less prone to silly tantrums. I'm a better communicator, and because of that, a better problem solver. My confidence hasn't been this high since college. Perhaps even EVER. In a good way - I'm not Mr Ego all of a sudden.
To wrap up then, a continuation of this last point. Yes, I'm a more assured person - but the best thing to happen in 2011? I don't know how, or when, but I'm happy again.
Hindsight is a funny thing. I haven't been truly happy since I was with Katie O'Donnell, many moons ago now. Well... it's an omen that I am sincerely over the girl now. Oh yes, sirree! For Anthony is a happy bunny in the world 2011 created for him. I try not to analyse it too much. I just know it's true.
Here's to the next 366-
-And to continued happiness (everybody).
It's curious that I've spent the first 150 minutes of the new year watching a couple of review shows looking back at the departed 2011. Hmm. I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. Allow me to offer a quick, but comprehensive review - except it won't be quick, nor comprehensive. Probably a bit tedious to anybody that doesn't give a rat's ass about me, or 2011, or me in 2011.
1: The Big News
I live around the corner from BBC Television Centre in Shepherds Bush, London. The place has the biggest satellite dishes you ever did see spewing from its rooftop - so it's a cruel twist then that I don't have any TV signal on my tellybox.
A consequence of this is I often fall behind, or miss entirely, items of news. Now obviously I'm hit by the big stories (reports of the Tsunami in Japan and the subsequent nuclear/human meltdown) but a lot of others go over my head. It's not ideal, because I usually revel in that level of politics. Taking a back seat means I'm growing ever more ignorant, and that's never good...
The breakout story for me has to be the riots in London and Manchester in August. Obviously, two cities close to my heart. It was so very easy getting caught up in the hysteria of it all. I was in Brixton the night that the troubles kicked off there, innocently watching a Morrissey gig with my friend Dan, who was visiting from the North, and probably wishing he hadn't bothered. Worse still, he took the trouble back up country with him when he left London town!
But the sheer velocity and force of the riots... Man, it was scary. Seriously scary. At its peak, there was a dangerous edge. I remember walking around London and people were looking over their shoulders suspiciously; eyeing you up to see if you were "one of them" about to attack. I knew the feeling well, because I shared the paranoia. That's not like me - to get caught up so easily in the slew of news and action.
It's summed up by the U2 song "Stuck in the Moment". It played on an endless loop on my iPod for much of the riot week - somehow capturing in my mind the image of it all so perfectly.
I've a little optimism for 2012 (Olympics, and all that jazz) but I confess, there's still some concern that the "moment" in question isn't quite over just because the riots stopped.
If I have one real resoltion for the new year, it's to follow the news more closely. Stuff like the Eurozone crisis could very well define this 'generation' - I can't afford to miss the politics, and the immediately aftermath of it all.
2: Family
Something I'm only going to touch on lightly, as more and more I appreciate one's need for privacy; especially in an age where potentially anybody can read the blog you write and make do with that information any way they want.
There's been some terrific ups (an unexpected pregnancy for an immediate family relative - baby due mid 2012) to some horific lows (a couple of deaths; one of which caught the whole family off guard because it just happened, and to this day still doesn't feel like it ever did).
I spent the week before Christmas moving my Nan in to a care home. This is the same name that I've celebrated in the past on this very blog; somebody who was once so independent and full of life. Now, it breaks my heart to acknowledge that they are no longer fit to enjoy the life they once lead, or indeed show ability in the running of day to day affairs.
She hates the new place. I thought she would. I hate the idea of her being there. I knew I would. Truth is, it's easy - me now being in London and all, and I often don't stop to think about those left at home. I don't know how my Mum would have coped caring for Nan on a full time basis, so a care home is absolutely the right place for Nan to be. Guess I'm guilty. Should I be? So far away, unable to offer much more help than just moral support. Am I the son who flew the nest and dropped all responsibilites?
Hmm.
3: Cinema
Gone are the days I can sit down and create top ten lists of the greatest films of the last year. I don't have the time, and am not objective enough to do that this year. Instead, here's a list of some of the films I did enjoy this year. A lot of the choices are flawed, yes - but they are included for the purpose I stated: enjoyment.
In no particular order (other than memory):
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (USA); Rise of the Planet of the Apes; The King's Speech; Captain America; Moneyball; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; The Skin I Live In; Super 8; Source Code; X-Men: First Class. There's more I've missed off, but it's late and my brain can't think.
Slim pickings.
Worse film? I tend to avoid any film I think looks naff - but Sanctum was piss poor, as was The Green Lantern.
Not exactly brain buster, intellectual cinema choices there - but I work in the busiest mulitplex in the UK. When I'm not there (a surprisingly tiny amount of time) the last place I want to be is back at a cinema watching films.
Honest - and so sorry!
4: Death
Man, this year sucked. I've already explained that I lost a couple of relatives (a grand parent and an Uncle, in the space of a week) but the loss of people like Elisabeth Sladen and Nicholas Courtney hit me hard. 'Only' TV stars yes, but they represent a side of my childhood that cannot ever come back now they're gone. Personalties larger than life, who often inspired me in ways I can't grasp. Their deaths rocked me, such was their power and hold over me.
5: Writing
Yay! (In some ways) I've made some head way on my long overdue follow-up to Self.
Boo! Hiss! Lots of miss opportunities. Even with 5 pages of a script complete, I haven't touched the project in over a month. It sits there gathering ever more dust. Why? I guess I can be lazy, and it's all too easy to allow other things to get in the way.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Actually, despite all of the apparent negativity implanted above, 2011 has been a good year for me. No, a great one - one of those all important years where it's possible you come out of it ten times stronger a person than you originally went into it as.
A lot of that is down to work, and developments there. I've worked at this particular cinema for well over 12 months now. It's matured me both working there, and the fact it's so far away from home. I'm a lot more rational, and less prone to silly tantrums. I'm a better communicator, and because of that, a better problem solver. My confidence hasn't been this high since college. Perhaps even EVER. In a good way - I'm not Mr Ego all of a sudden.
To wrap up then, a continuation of this last point. Yes, I'm a more assured person - but the best thing to happen in 2011? I don't know how, or when, but I'm happy again.
Hindsight is a funny thing. I haven't been truly happy since I was with Katie O'Donnell, many moons ago now. Well... it's an omen that I am sincerely over the girl now. Oh yes, sirree! For Anthony is a happy bunny in the world 2011 created for him. I try not to analyse it too much. I just know it's true.
Here's to the next 366-
-And to continued happiness (everybody).
Sunday, 3 April 2011
London Calling
I left home about six months ago. A job opportunity presented itself in the capital; so I up-rooted myself from Manchester, and made a 250+ mile journey to live in London.
Living on my own, I have plenty of time to think... to reflect on what's happened. I often don't. More important things occupy my time now, like work or money (rather, my lack of). When I do stop and pause for those brief moments, it's kinda scary... because I just don't know the answers to any of those questions I'm asking myself inside.
Am I enjoying London? Would I rather be back home, with my family? Is it worth it? Etc.
I don't know.
What I do know for sure is that, whether I liked it or not, I needed change during that last year or so in Manchester - and London offers it.
I spent a lot of time when I worked at Bury cinema thinking "Is now the right time to go?" I still maintain it was. 3 and a half years I spent working there. Ventures new, and all. And boy, there ain't no venture bigger or better than the one I'm at now. Westfield! The number 1 cinema in the UK.
Am I enjoying it? No more/less than Manchester, if I'm quite honest. I have to get use to my new surroundings, of course, but when I do and I'm comfortable with them there's no reason why I can't go about town just like I use to in Manchester, hopping on/off those 135 buses.
Would I rather be back home? Yes. Home is, ultimately, where the heart is. If Bury, Manchester offered me the same facilities and life tools as London... well, it would be a no brainer. I'd never leave (or have left). The fact is, it doesn't - so I have to use elsewhere.
I'm waffling. In short, I just don't know.
Living on my own, I have plenty of time to think... to reflect on what's happened. I often don't. More important things occupy my time now, like work or money (rather, my lack of). When I do stop and pause for those brief moments, it's kinda scary... because I just don't know the answers to any of those questions I'm asking myself inside.
Am I enjoying London? Would I rather be back home, with my family? Is it worth it? Etc.
I don't know.
What I do know for sure is that, whether I liked it or not, I needed change during that last year or so in Manchester - and London offers it.
I spent a lot of time when I worked at Bury cinema thinking "Is now the right time to go?" I still maintain it was. 3 and a half years I spent working there. Ventures new, and all. And boy, there ain't no venture bigger or better than the one I'm at now. Westfield! The number 1 cinema in the UK.
Am I enjoying it? No more/less than Manchester, if I'm quite honest. I have to get use to my new surroundings, of course, but when I do and I'm comfortable with them there's no reason why I can't go about town just like I use to in Manchester, hopping on/off those 135 buses.
Would I rather be back home? Yes. Home is, ultimately, where the heart is. If Bury, Manchester offered me the same facilities and life tools as London... well, it would be a no brainer. I'd never leave (or have left). The fact is, it doesn't - so I have to use elsewhere.
I'm waffling. In short, I just don't know.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
A Picture of You
It's there, and I'm looking at it. Of course, I'm not supposed to be. It breaks all the rules, but hey, I'm passed the point of caring. Hell, I don't think there are rules anymore - not when it comes to YOU. It's been to long, and so much has changed.
The key word to all of this: Change.
It's there in that photo. All this time apart, and because of it I'm the most qualified person in the world to notice all that's different now. The hair stands out most of it - it's a completely different colour! My God, when did that happen? It's so different, and new... but it works. You look fantastic. Time has been good to you.
And then it hts me how annoying that is, because you don't deserve to look good. Not in my eyes, not anymore. You gave up that entitlement a long time ago. I'm supposed to hate you, and look back on our time and think it were some giant mistake. But I don't, and I can't - because that picture proves it. You really are as beautiful as I told myself every date, and as clever, and witty, and as good for me.
It's true that I've changed too. Unlike me looking at you - an outsider looking in - I'm not as aware of those changes, though, because I've rolled with them. They've been tiny steps to me - but added together, they would equate to giant leaps to you. And now I'm curious what you would think - if the tables turned, and you saw a picture of me.
Would you think the same?
And it's a cruel twist of fate that I'll never know.
The key word to all of this: Change.
It's there in that photo. All this time apart, and because of it I'm the most qualified person in the world to notice all that's different now. The hair stands out most of it - it's a completely different colour! My God, when did that happen? It's so different, and new... but it works. You look fantastic. Time has been good to you.
And then it hts me how annoying that is, because you don't deserve to look good. Not in my eyes, not anymore. You gave up that entitlement a long time ago. I'm supposed to hate you, and look back on our time and think it were some giant mistake. But I don't, and I can't - because that picture proves it. You really are as beautiful as I told myself every date, and as clever, and witty, and as good for me.
It's true that I've changed too. Unlike me looking at you - an outsider looking in - I'm not as aware of those changes, though, because I've rolled with them. They've been tiny steps to me - but added together, they would equate to giant leaps to you. And now I'm curious what you would think - if the tables turned, and you saw a picture of me.
Would you think the same?
And it's a cruel twist of fate that I'll never know.
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Beneath the Surface
I've been inspired to write this, having just completed The Writer's Tale: The Final Chapter. The amount of thought and sheer hard work that Russell T Davies puts into every step of the writing process shames me, because I know - and you probably know, too - that I'm a lazy writer. Most days I wake up and do very little thinking, if any, writing - save the occassional blog here or there. Hell, I don't even think about writing anymore. Well, that's not exactly true - I think I should be doing more of it (a LOT more) but mentally, I'm not creating new characters, or situations, or whatever. My creativity and workflow? Dead.
Today I forced myself to write something (anything) - the end result being five or six pages of my continuing graphic novel, Assassin. Yep, it doesn't actually set the world alight, but those half dozen pages (from episode 3.5) mark my return to writing, for the first time since... well, it's been that long that I've forgotten. But I'm telling myself I have to continue the trend, and write some more tomorrow, and the day after that, etc.
The Assassin script has, actually, been a fantastic jumping on point. It's such a brave and unique script for me. Honest, I don't think I've ever written anything like it before. It explores the life of one character, Terrance Bronson, who is staring death in the face and in the moments before he dies has flashes of his life repeated to him (but new to us, the reader) that examine the character and the actions that he's taken over the course of the series. Oh, and there's a MASSIVE PLOT TWIST too. Gotta love the MASSIVE PLOT TWIST. Always exciting, and one of the only times you'll walk away from a script or idea and know, hand on heart, that you've done something good, because by the end of the drama, that twist has changed EVERYTHING.
So go twist!
Hopefully I'll have the script completed tomorrow, and then I'll move onto whatever comes next - whether that's Assassin 3.6, or something else entirely, I don't know. That's exciting, I suppose. Lot's of potential there. Fingers crossed I don't waste any of it, and that the potential in me manages to come to the surface.
Today I forced myself to write something (anything) - the end result being five or six pages of my continuing graphic novel, Assassin. Yep, it doesn't actually set the world alight, but those half dozen pages (from episode 3.5) mark my return to writing, for the first time since... well, it's been that long that I've forgotten. But I'm telling myself I have to continue the trend, and write some more tomorrow, and the day after that, etc.
The Assassin script has, actually, been a fantastic jumping on point. It's such a brave and unique script for me. Honest, I don't think I've ever written anything like it before. It explores the life of one character, Terrance Bronson, who is staring death in the face and in the moments before he dies has flashes of his life repeated to him (but new to us, the reader) that examine the character and the actions that he's taken over the course of the series. Oh, and there's a MASSIVE PLOT TWIST too. Gotta love the MASSIVE PLOT TWIST. Always exciting, and one of the only times you'll walk away from a script or idea and know, hand on heart, that you've done something good, because by the end of the drama, that twist has changed EVERYTHING.
So go twist!
Hopefully I'll have the script completed tomorrow, and then I'll move onto whatever comes next - whether that's Assassin 3.6, or something else entirely, I don't know. That's exciting, I suppose. Lot's of potential there. Fingers crossed I don't waste any of it, and that the potential in me manages to come to the surface.
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
The Story of THAT Video
The staff party went well! Literally everybody I talked to about it seems to have had a blast, and there's oh-so-many memories to take away from the night. The General Manager kissed me (not like that; it was an innocent kiss)! The costumes - all fab (literally in the case of one of them, Mister Jimmy B the Thunderbird)! And the food, t'was great!
One of the major things I was responsible for on the night was the film quiz - and for months I'd been trying to wrack my brains trying to come up with something suitable, because I wasn't interested in doing a straight film quiz. Had to be a twist to it. But what??
Rewind, about three years. The Doctor Who episode Blink airs. It features a scene where the Doctor speaks to the guest character through the TV. Excellent, I thought at the time, highly clever - maybe one day I'll steal such an idea and-
Ah. Yes. Of course!
So I stole it for the film quiz, thinking it would be interesting, to say the least! You see, I'm aware not everybody who works on site at the cinema is a massive film buff - so a film quiz has little interest for them. I had to think up a way of keeping them glued to their seats, or risk them growing restless. This was the perfect solution - it offered questions for the people that wanted them, and allowed a bit of comic relief for those that, well, didn't.
The problem became putting the idea together. I needed to write a script, but quickly found I just didn't have the time. Repeatedly I told myself I would sit down that night and get it done; again and again I put it off. In the end I wrote a very rough first draft that was simply AWFUL! I showed it to a friend of mine, Daniel O'Connor, who said kind things about it... but that script didn't deserve it. Glad we scrapped it!
In the end I wrote a very quick script, a day or so before the deadline, which was the day of filming. On that topic...
Filming.
Ah.
Wasn't too bad, not really. It meant I just had to go into uni dressed in my costume. To say it resembles something you might find a KKK member dressed in would be an understatement. Now, I attend a uni where there's a student population of around 65% black people... and I was walking around dressed in that costume. Not good. Not good at all!!
Was all in good fun, mind. I filmed most of the video by myself, in a drama studio on the media production floor. T'was the first time I'd ever shot on HD, which was an interesting learning curve. The end result looked brilliant because of it.
My main concern when filming was continuity - I had to maintain its order, so for example I couldn't be seen wearing badges in the video, and then not on the night not wear those badges, because it'd then become obvious it wasn't live. I had to look EXACTLY the same, and to do that I cut my hair a few weeks before (because long hair is pesky with ragards to continuity, and I just cba dealing with it) and I had to shave every other day to avoid stubble; but then I had to be careful not to get a rash... or develop a cold... or anything else that would have made it painfully clear that what you were seeing on the TV wasn't made that day.
(As it turns out, end of the night 2 people asked me if it was done live, because "you even had those badges on" - so it was worth the aggro!)
The editing process was peas. Well, once I'd gotten my head around using Final Cut Pro on the university's Mac computers. Beyond that, I just needed a bit of coaching on how to do specific things (like the "broken TV" effect I added) but it was a pretty smooth process.
It ended up going like this:
August 2009: Had my first couple of ideas about the party. Knew that it would involve a film quiz, as this meant somebodies name could go on the trophy.
October 2009: Stuck on the idea of having me appear on the TV set. Was just a question of finding the time to put it together...
November 2009: Wrote a first draft. Awful! Out it goes - in comes a new second draft, that's much better and, in parts (shock! horror!) actually funny!
Tuesday 8th December: Filmed the sequence.
Wednesday 9th December: Edited it into a sorta final cut, just minus any music.
Thursday 10th December: Came in especially to add the music, and begin compression (which can take up to 2 hours). But the piece is now complete! After worrying for so long that I might not be able to pull it off, I do it! This was the first time I saw the piece 'as intended'.
Friday 11th December: DVD copies burnt, and the film is added to Youtube. I discuss the project with Rob Dyson (who will be presenting the quiz in my 'absense') at work - which annoys one staff member, who has no idea what we're up to and thinks I'm suaving.
Sunday 13th December: Myself and Rob rehearse one more time. It goes well! Rob has really got a grasp on it, and bleeds the comedy for all its worth. Suddenly I start to think, "Hmm, this is funny and might actually work on the night!"
Monday 14th December: The big day arrives! I worry about technical issues before it's performed, and rightly so. The sound when played is awful - through not fault of mine, the TV set just had appalling sound. But aside from that, it all goes well! I have to go upstairs out of the way, of course, so as to not spoil the illusion. I can hear snippets of activity downstairs. The audience laughs! Then cheers! At me being muted. Bah! :P
Afterwards people thank and congratulate me on the video, which is fantastic, knowing that all the above work hasn't been in vein.
I'd like to thank Rob Dyson for being such a fantastic quizmaster and keeping the audience under his spell. He's the unspoken hero of the film quiz - so three cheers to him!!!
The videos are available on Youtube, and I'll try to embed them here as best I can.
Go watch them! They're good, honest! ;)
"Typical crazy Howard!"
One of the major things I was responsible for on the night was the film quiz - and for months I'd been trying to wrack my brains trying to come up with something suitable, because I wasn't interested in doing a straight film quiz. Had to be a twist to it. But what??
Rewind, about three years. The Doctor Who episode Blink airs. It features a scene where the Doctor speaks to the guest character through the TV. Excellent, I thought at the time, highly clever - maybe one day I'll steal such an idea and-
Ah. Yes. Of course!
So I stole it for the film quiz, thinking it would be interesting, to say the least! You see, I'm aware not everybody who works on site at the cinema is a massive film buff - so a film quiz has little interest for them. I had to think up a way of keeping them glued to their seats, or risk them growing restless. This was the perfect solution - it offered questions for the people that wanted them, and allowed a bit of comic relief for those that, well, didn't.
The problem became putting the idea together. I needed to write a script, but quickly found I just didn't have the time. Repeatedly I told myself I would sit down that night and get it done; again and again I put it off. In the end I wrote a very rough first draft that was simply AWFUL! I showed it to a friend of mine, Daniel O'Connor, who said kind things about it... but that script didn't deserve it. Glad we scrapped it!
In the end I wrote a very quick script, a day or so before the deadline, which was the day of filming. On that topic...
Filming.
Ah.
Wasn't too bad, not really. It meant I just had to go into uni dressed in my costume. To say it resembles something you might find a KKK member dressed in would be an understatement. Now, I attend a uni where there's a student population of around 65% black people... and I was walking around dressed in that costume. Not good. Not good at all!!
Was all in good fun, mind. I filmed most of the video by myself, in a drama studio on the media production floor. T'was the first time I'd ever shot on HD, which was an interesting learning curve. The end result looked brilliant because of it.
My main concern when filming was continuity - I had to maintain its order, so for example I couldn't be seen wearing badges in the video, and then not on the night not wear those badges, because it'd then become obvious it wasn't live. I had to look EXACTLY the same, and to do that I cut my hair a few weeks before (because long hair is pesky with ragards to continuity, and I just cba dealing with it) and I had to shave every other day to avoid stubble; but then I had to be careful not to get a rash... or develop a cold... or anything else that would have made it painfully clear that what you were seeing on the TV wasn't made that day.
(As it turns out, end of the night 2 people asked me if it was done live, because "you even had those badges on" - so it was worth the aggro!)
The editing process was peas. Well, once I'd gotten my head around using Final Cut Pro on the university's Mac computers. Beyond that, I just needed a bit of coaching on how to do specific things (like the "broken TV" effect I added) but it was a pretty smooth process.
It ended up going like this:
August 2009: Had my first couple of ideas about the party. Knew that it would involve a film quiz, as this meant somebodies name could go on the trophy.
October 2009: Stuck on the idea of having me appear on the TV set. Was just a question of finding the time to put it together...
November 2009: Wrote a first draft. Awful! Out it goes - in comes a new second draft, that's much better and, in parts (shock! horror!) actually funny!
Tuesday 8th December: Filmed the sequence.
Wednesday 9th December: Edited it into a sorta final cut, just minus any music.
Thursday 10th December: Came in especially to add the music, and begin compression (which can take up to 2 hours). But the piece is now complete! After worrying for so long that I might not be able to pull it off, I do it! This was the first time I saw the piece 'as intended'.
Friday 11th December: DVD copies burnt, and the film is added to Youtube. I discuss the project with Rob Dyson (who will be presenting the quiz in my 'absense') at work - which annoys one staff member, who has no idea what we're up to and thinks I'm suaving.
Sunday 13th December: Myself and Rob rehearse one more time. It goes well! Rob has really got a grasp on it, and bleeds the comedy for all its worth. Suddenly I start to think, "Hmm, this is funny and might actually work on the night!"
Monday 14th December: The big day arrives! I worry about technical issues before it's performed, and rightly so. The sound when played is awful - through not fault of mine, the TV set just had appalling sound. But aside from that, it all goes well! I have to go upstairs out of the way, of course, so as to not spoil the illusion. I can hear snippets of activity downstairs. The audience laughs! Then cheers! At me being muted. Bah! :P
Afterwards people thank and congratulate me on the video, which is fantastic, knowing that all the above work hasn't been in vein.
I'd like to thank Rob Dyson for being such a fantastic quizmaster and keeping the audience under his spell. He's the unspoken hero of the film quiz - so three cheers to him!!!
The videos are available on Youtube, and I'll try to embed them here as best I can.
Go watch them! They're good, honest! ;)
"Typical crazy Howard!"
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Finding (Insert Relative's Name Here)
Got to spend some quality time with my family today, for the first time in a looooooong while. I've been extremely busy with uni stuff and organising staff social events that I have neglected them somewhat of late - but today being my little sister Lauren's birthday (Eleven! Already!!) I had no excuse, did I?
We all went to the TGI Friday's restaurant in Prestwich village and ate together, sat around the one table for 90 minutes. I told Mum about the promotion that's come up at work, and she wants me to go for it. I'm still undecided. It's a lot of responsibility to take on when I have one more semester left at uni. Could I manage the two? I don't know - and until I'm confident that I could, I wouldn't dream of putting my name forward.
My other sister Donna brought her boyfriend Phil with her, and what was nice was being able to talk to the guy properly. You see, even though Donna has been dating him for about a year now, I've always been afraid of talking to the guy. Well, not afraid, nervous. What if he doesn't like me, will it impact upon Donna? Or what if I don't like him? But of late I think I've just forgotten all that and the two of us have been talking more and more. Still a long way to go, but progress is being made!
It's scary to think just how much Lauren has grown this last year. Man, she's become this confident, cocky kid - and a right old bossy boots! Guess it's inevitable, what with the dawning of the dreaded 'teenage years' fast approaching. 10 years ago, I was in her boots - about to turn 11 myself, months away from leaving primary school.
Funny to think she's living my life, just ten years late (or was I living her's, ten years early...?!). More than with Donna, or Sarah, I see my life reflected through her eyes - and there's so much advice and support I wanna give her, but the biggest lesson of all, I learned the hard way, was if you want to make it out that in the big ol' world, you have to make it off your own back, by teaching yourself, and finding out the answers as best you can.
T'was a good meal. Nice chance to catch up with them all.
I'm off now; we're about to settle down together and watch Finding Nemo.
Quite apt, huh?
We all went to the TGI Friday's restaurant in Prestwich village and ate together, sat around the one table for 90 minutes. I told Mum about the promotion that's come up at work, and she wants me to go for it. I'm still undecided. It's a lot of responsibility to take on when I have one more semester left at uni. Could I manage the two? I don't know - and until I'm confident that I could, I wouldn't dream of putting my name forward.
My other sister Donna brought her boyfriend Phil with her, and what was nice was being able to talk to the guy properly. You see, even though Donna has been dating him for about a year now, I've always been afraid of talking to the guy. Well, not afraid, nervous. What if he doesn't like me, will it impact upon Donna? Or what if I don't like him? But of late I think I've just forgotten all that and the two of us have been talking more and more. Still a long way to go, but progress is being made!
It's scary to think just how much Lauren has grown this last year. Man, she's become this confident, cocky kid - and a right old bossy boots! Guess it's inevitable, what with the dawning of the dreaded 'teenage years' fast approaching. 10 years ago, I was in her boots - about to turn 11 myself, months away from leaving primary school.
Funny to think she's living my life, just ten years late (or was I living her's, ten years early...?!). More than with Donna, or Sarah, I see my life reflected through her eyes - and there's so much advice and support I wanna give her, but the biggest lesson of all, I learned the hard way, was if you want to make it out that in the big ol' world, you have to make it off your own back, by teaching yourself, and finding out the answers as best you can.
T'was a good meal. Nice chance to catch up with them all.
I'm off now; we're about to settle down together and watch Finding Nemo.
Quite apt, huh?
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