Thursday, 21 May 2009
Craftily Recession-Proof
A podcast on http://buzz.bournemouth.ac.uk/?p=4532 written and recorded with Sophie Warnes.
Angels and Demons
Published on www.listedmagazine.com
The Vatican is being threatened by a secret society known as the Illuminati, who have kidnapped four leading Catholics and planted a devastating bomb somewhere within the city walls. Accompanied by Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer), a CERN physicist, Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) must follow a series of ancient clues to locate the missing men before time runs out.
Filled with stunning visual effects and unexpected twists, Angels and Demons will please both fans of the novel and those who have never read it before.
I would not, however, recommend it to the easily disturbed as some scenes are very graphic.
Newspapers in Crisis?
Written for http://buzz.bournemouth.ac.uk
Having just listened to a lecture by Stephen Jukes, Head of Bournemouth University’s Media School and a former reporter for Reuters, I was left feeling distinctly worried about what the state of the news industry will be when I graduate in two years’ time.
The upshot of the presentation was that the newspaper industry is having to adapt to rapidly changing technology and the recession has thrown it completely. No longer are journalists working on regional newspapers going out and reporting - the vast majority of their time is spent processing news. So when the local council does a dodgy deal with a developer how are the public going to find out about it?
What’s more, finding hard news is expensive. Comment is free and so instead of being able to access a broad spectrum of news stories we are instead being fed the same information, repackaged in as many different forms as possible. This takes less journalists, so it's small wonder that in a recession this is the method being turned to.
I must admit, I’m as guilty as the next student for looking up news on the web and was left feeling that I am neglecting to support the very industry that I am trying to enter. But then, its all so easy to do isn’t it? And there’s none of those mountain-ranges of newspapers to forever shift around my room and never find the time to read.
And therein lies the problem…
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Silent Clowns
The front of the house – weighing two tons – falls slowly towards the actor. The audience gives an intake of breath as he is saved from certain death by a window which is barely bigger than he is. However, this is no big-budget action thriller, but Steamboat Bill Junior – the last independent feature by silent comedian Buster Keaton.
“If you have never seen silent comedy on a big screen with a big audience and great live music you will be amazed,” says Paul Merton, on his website, “if you have seen it before you will need no further persuasion from me.”
The live music is provided by pianist Neil Brand, who improvises the entire piece, making every performance unique.
As well as appearances from the likes of Chaplin, Keaton and Laurel & Hardy, Silent Clowns also includes some comedies from the earliest days of cinema and a short feature by the unusually-named Snub Pollard.
At this particular show the full-length film in the second half was Keaton’s The Seven Chances - not Steamboat Bill Junior, as billed. Though the feature was a little slow to get started, once the audience started laughing they barely stopped.
Unfortunately, the performance felt as if it had been rushed. Merton gave only brief introductions to each extract, as opposed to the gems of information which those who watched the television series will be expecting. I for one would have liked to have known more about the enigma that was Mr Pollard, who was given little introduction beyond the fact that his film - The Inventor - was like Wallace and Gromit.
Despite this, Silent Clowns was a very entertaining night out and I would recommend it to both fans of silent comedies and those who have never seen one before.
“If you have never seen silent comedy on a big screen with a big audience and great live music you will be amazed,” says Paul Merton, on his website, “if you have seen it before you will need no further persuasion from me.”
The live music is provided by pianist Neil Brand, who improvises the entire piece, making every performance unique.
As well as appearances from the likes of Chaplin, Keaton and Laurel & Hardy, Silent Clowns also includes some comedies from the earliest days of cinema and a short feature by the unusually-named Snub Pollard.
At this particular show the full-length film in the second half was Keaton’s The Seven Chances - not Steamboat Bill Junior, as billed. Though the feature was a little slow to get started, once the audience started laughing they barely stopped.
Unfortunately, the performance felt as if it had been rushed. Merton gave only brief introductions to each extract, as opposed to the gems of information which those who watched the television series will be expecting. I for one would have liked to have known more about the enigma that was Mr Pollard, who was given little introduction beyond the fact that his film - The Inventor - was like Wallace and Gromit.
Despite this, Silent Clowns was a very entertaining night out and I would recommend it to both fans of silent comedies and those who have never seen one before.
Cradle
Footage I shot of Cradle - an outdoor art exhibition which showcases work by students from the Arts Institute Bournemouth - has been used on their site to promote the event.
http://www.artbournemouth.co.uk/section281983_92997.html
http://www.artbournemouth.co.uk/section281983_92997.html
Nerve FM
Written for Nerve Magazine
20th April 2009
Two weeks. Thirty DJs. Two-hundred-and-fifteen shows.
Nerve FM was unleashed on Bournemouth’s airwaves during March by BBC Radio 6’s Phil Juipitus, who gave us an interview about Glastonbury, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and the Bournemouth Subway Appreciation group.
The fortnight was kicked off by the Jess and Jonny Breakfast show on March 16th. The early starts were hard at first, but from the lively way the presenters sounded you would never have known. Jess claims the reason for this was Red Bull and Coco-Pops.
“At times I found it hard when being careful what you say, but I think me and Jonny were a great pairing and hopefully gave off a good breakfast show vibe,” she told me,” I had such an amazing team to work with who made me laugh, especially on the last day when I was attacked with cameras!
“Also, it's something that I can add to my CV and made me think differently about what I want to do in the future - radio one if I'm lucky!”
The FM featured a range of shows for nearly every taste in music. Abi Brydon’s new and unsigned bands was characterised by her enthusiasm for the genre, as was Dave Curtis’ hip-hop broadcasts. Another presenter, Dave Ruddock, themed each of his shows around a word and played a range of songs from different genres.
For those of you who found themselves bombarded with hundreds of ‘Boycott Costa Coffee’ emails last term, you may have been interested in Chris Jones’ interview with vice-chancellor, Paul Curran, who gave the uni’s side of the story.
Jason Hawkins, SUBU’s Media Services Manager, said, “I would say that this year ranks as pretty much one of the best – for consistency as well as involvement. It’s about providing a platform for involvement regardless of what course you’re on.
“But, it’s also about taking a bunch of students in October who have never been in a studio, training them up and, after two weeks, turning them into competent presenters.”
I went to meet drive-time’s Sophie Moir and Dan Shojaie as they did their last show.
“The Dan vs. Sophie Marshmallow Challenge was really funny,” Dan told me, “Sophie managed to get all thirteen marshmallows in her mouth – she’s like a weird sort of hamster or something! We had the news team in doing a commentary. It was really funny – I couldn’t speak, Sophie couldn’t speak!”
Sophie said, “it’s gone well for us. I also do the news, so it’s been great to see both sides. And Jason’s just a pro at it, he’s taught us loads.”
20th April 2009
Two weeks. Thirty DJs. Two-hundred-and-fifteen shows.
Nerve FM was unleashed on Bournemouth’s airwaves during March by BBC Radio 6’s Phil Juipitus, who gave us an interview about Glastonbury, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and the Bournemouth Subway Appreciation group.
The fortnight was kicked off by the Jess and Jonny Breakfast show on March 16th. The early starts were hard at first, but from the lively way the presenters sounded you would never have known. Jess claims the reason for this was Red Bull and Coco-Pops.
“At times I found it hard when being careful what you say, but I think me and Jonny were a great pairing and hopefully gave off a good breakfast show vibe,” she told me,” I had such an amazing team to work with who made me laugh, especially on the last day when I was attacked with cameras!
“Also, it's something that I can add to my CV and made me think differently about what I want to do in the future - radio one if I'm lucky!”
The FM featured a range of shows for nearly every taste in music. Abi Brydon’s new and unsigned bands was characterised by her enthusiasm for the genre, as was Dave Curtis’ hip-hop broadcasts. Another presenter, Dave Ruddock, themed each of his shows around a word and played a range of songs from different genres.
For those of you who found themselves bombarded with hundreds of ‘Boycott Costa Coffee’ emails last term, you may have been interested in Chris Jones’ interview with vice-chancellor, Paul Curran, who gave the uni’s side of the story.
Jason Hawkins, SUBU’s Media Services Manager, said, “I would say that this year ranks as pretty much one of the best – for consistency as well as involvement. It’s about providing a platform for involvement regardless of what course you’re on.
“But, it’s also about taking a bunch of students in October who have never been in a studio, training them up and, after two weeks, turning them into competent presenters.”
I went to meet drive-time’s Sophie Moir and Dan Shojaie as they did their last show.
“The Dan vs. Sophie Marshmallow Challenge was really funny,” Dan told me, “Sophie managed to get all thirteen marshmallows in her mouth – she’s like a weird sort of hamster or something! We had the news team in doing a commentary. It was really funny – I couldn’t speak, Sophie couldn’t speak!”
Sophie said, “it’s gone well for us. I also do the news, so it’s been great to see both sides. And Jason’s just a pro at it, he’s taught us loads.”
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