Ladies and Gentleman, day in the Capital, and a talk-show host

Hey Mediadreamzers

One thing I have never done before, and that is go into London on a Sunday. Granted its not breaking world headline news but it makes the weekend a whole lot more interesting and I guess it gets one through to Monday smiling about the day.

The morning was pretty slow before heading in to meet one of my friends for a catch up and just hanging out, but mainly for something really cool planned for the evening. Surprisingly London was not only busy for a Sunday but also bloody hot. Oh my we actually had what we call Summer, so everyone hopefully up and down the UK made the most of it.

Afternoon was going to Madam Tussaud’s, and I admit it was the first time I have been there; tried going years ago and I remember the queue stretching for three streets. It was a a lot cooler in M.T than outside. I admit it was nice to be papped with ‘celebrities’, seeing Star Wars and a bunch of other things housed inside. Following that it was a quick look round Baker Street Sherlock Holmes Museum before getting the tube all the way out to Waterloo and yes Abba song, of course. You may ask/ wonder why we were heading all the way out to Waterloo for 6pm, and the answer to that question L’s and G’s is to go to the ITV Studios; to be in the audience for one of the shows filmed there.

Here is the clue for the show it is on BBC One on Friday nights at about 10.35pm. And the seats we had in the audience were brilliant, you know when you go out and you find there is always someone in front of you who is taller than you and you can’t see well luckily that didn’t happen.
Before filming kicked off we were all entertained my a stand up comedian and by the time he had to come off the set my face was hurting from laughing. And then of course the host arrived, await for it, Graham Norton.

Following his entrance were Jeff Goldblum who many know him from Jurassic Park, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Independence Day and of course the follow up Independence Day two. Which Jeff discussed with fellow co-actor and another guest on the couch Liam Hemsworth. Yes the guy from the Hunger Games trilogy and completing the line up for the first part of the show was Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson talking about his upcoming movie ‘Central Intelligence’.

The first part of each of the actors talking about there upcoming films, fun and funny banter and stories, Dwayne creating an app alarm clock system, looking at photos of what each of the actors looked like at certain stages in their lives, looking at clips for the films and laughing at various points.

My phone got its 15 seconds of fame, well rather 20 minutes but whose counting, well I wasn’t much.

Another guest on the show was who is representing the UK at the Rio Olympics. Go team GB. Finally we were all granted a performance from Tom Odell performing his latest song ‘Magnetised’, and it was an awesome song.

The show wrapped and it went like clock-work, afterwards James and I got access to the Green Room one of the places where guests, celebs and Graham Norton head to for drinks and food. But before that we both got pictures taken with Jeff Goldblum and I must say he is a very friendly very approachable person. Just a shame that the person taking the photo made it blurry, I guess I should have thought to use my actual camera. At least I got a picture with a legend.

 

 

I even got to say hi to Liam after the show. Though before leaving James and I needed to sign release form as we had appeared on camera and of course ITV/ Graham Norton show did not want to get sued by us, not that I would but there are people out there that do.

 

After filming it was a visit, like VIP visit to the Green Room, but before that I had the honour of meeting Jeff and getting a photo with him was the highlight to end the day (just a shame the guy taking the photo on my phone made it really blurry; note to self I should have used my normal camera). Headed into the Green Room, spoke to a few people and Graham came in and spoke to a few people. It got a bit hot at one point so my friend and I headed outside where some of the people who work for ITV and on the show were chatting. I had a blast today and I owe my friend a big thank you for such an awesome Sunday, normally I am pretty boring on that day so it was nice to shake it up a bit.

 

Made it back home just after midnight and prepped myself for getting up to go on a defibrillator training course as part of what I already know. Hopefully, I will still be awake later that morning given the fact I went to bed at 1am and got up at 5am.

 

 

More opportunities in the next couple of weeks so I am hoping the weather holds up for these.

 

Nunquam Deditioneum

Indie- to the New Year

Hi fellow Mediadreamzers

What a fun New Year I have had; I worked both New Years Eve and Day, first time ever to work the Day part but I was doing something that I love, so no complaining from me. One thing I have done is set myself a series of goals/ challenges for the year ahead. I say goals/ challenges and not Resolutions because I find, if anyone else does too that people say this a lot and then by February/ March they break them. Plus I find goals/ challenges has more weight as a word, I digress.

Before I share these the afternoon was filled with fun and excitement as a writer that I worked with a TV Pilot called ‘Jobseekers’ has opened up a film studio in Derby called of course ‘Indie Studios’. This is a studio where creative individuals can hire out space for their numerous projects and productions and a chance for people in this industry to network and for old friends to catch up. The studio is 20×20 metre offering 24/7 hire, free internet access, motion capture, soundproof room, green-screen, crash mats, dressing room, stunt scaffolding, restroom and showers, free parking, onsite support and more… So if anyone is interested then hunt them down on the net or FB.

2016 I am hoping to be a promising year both media and personally. I have decided to get back into the groove of Zumba and try my hand at fencing, not the painting kind but the one with epee, sabers and all that jazz. To try to get onto the property ladder in say a year to 18 months (granted I can’t achieve this this year but I can focus on this). Visit the Capital more, take a holiday abroad as I haven’t left the UK’s sunny shores in, wait for it, 11 years. Crazy as it may sound but my reason was because I did not think or feel like a deserved a holiday as I did not achieve much in the past and now I have so time to take a break.

Media wise its work-shadowing with Assistant producers, Editors and going out into the field more with camera crew, learning the art of Script-reading, doing more work as an extra and becoming an extra in the next Bond film whether this will happen this year or next I can’t say but again another one to focus on. Going to more networking events and expanding my media circle of contacts.

These are just some of the things I have planned for 2016 and later down the line. How many chapters will I write and memories will I create, who knows. Before I sign off on this post; belated Happy New Year to you all and I wish you the best for the year to come.

Nunquam Deditioneum

Christmas Cheering Round One

Hey Mediadreamzers

Festive season is soon to be upon us, of course and one thing, rather strike that two things that have shocked me so far, one is that I got my Christmas shopping done by the end of November, normally I get it done on second or third week. The second is that I have been invited to three media Christmas parties and my first one was last night in where other than the capital.

So after playing dress up and trying to make myself look pretty, heading to the station and getting to the Capital, specifically Farringdon to Dado54. I am surprised I found it without getting lost and once in it was free champagne and photo shoot A-list style. It was nice to meet one of my media producer contacts face to face; Jonathan. Soon more guests arrived and I admit it was not just people that work in media; lawyers, people who work with politicians, photographers, event organisers and lots more. One thing that gets me down is time is on overdrive when I am in the Capital or at a party and in my guess it was double the speed being in Capital.

I eventually drag my ass back home after midnight and all I can say is what an ace party definitely a 10/10, I just hope that my next party on the 15th is gonna be as awesome as this one. Back to the Capital again today to take Christmas treats to my other media friends and I don’t know how I did it but I got there without any of the stuff getting crushed or destroyed on the train. miracles do exist.

Next to come- Curry Nite.

Cosmopolitan Carnival Creativity

Hi Mediadreamz readers

What a day I have had, luckily not stuck on a checkout but something much more interesting. A few weeks back I was contacted by a company, through a recommendation, to help film an event happening in Leicester this weekend. The event is as you see above the Cosmopolitan Carnival and the purpose of the event is and was to Celebrate Leicester’s culturally diverse city through every imaginable art form. Everything from dancing of all forms to graffiti art, to music to singing and I along with a friend of mine, Raj, who I have worked with before on episodes of ‘Dickinson’s Real Deal’ were given the role of filming the setting up of the events, the reactions of people, the performances throughout the day and the closing aftermath of the events on the day.

 

                                    

 

Prior to the event starting all the people involved we all met at Red Hot World Buffet where everyone had a complimentary lunch before getting ready to work. After getting the cameras Raj and I started filming, though the first half hour the cameras died so whilst they were charging we improvised (I used a spare Flip camera that I bought with me, and Raj used his phone). When all cameras had died it was a case of taking shifts to monitor the charging and guarding the tripods in half hourly intervals, in order to get some incredible footage. The main stage was mainly musical acts and the high st was dedicated to a mixture of dancing everything from tribal to zumba that encouraged other people to get involved too. I also thought the people on stilts was very creative. I made a couple of trips to st. Martin’s sq to listen to the random musical acts too, as well as getting people’s reactions. Personally my favourite bit was the dancing Chinese dragon, it was certainly something the children who came to the event found really interesting).

Areas were designated for the following
– Jubilee Square MAIN STAGE- MUSIC
– High Street DANCE ZONE
– St Martin’s Sq PERFORMANCE AREA-MUSIC

and not forgetting the Silver Arcade ARTS HUB & WORKSHOP DISPLAYS

Soon time grew closer to the fact that the dancing had finished and that everything was to end at Jubilee Sq with a few final acts before it all ended with a film projection on the wall of BBC Radio Leicester, so of the members of staff I met during the days events, and the footage was very interesting and cleverly constructed. And as usual the day went by so fast, this one of the disadvantages I have when involved in media work, that when I am enjoying something so much time just goes by, that is why it is so precious to any and all productions.

I am also having fun working on the feature film I mentioned before, which I resume work on in the next few days.

Baton Twirling battle commences day 1- Thurs 7th

Well the first day of the championship got into well swing, and quite possibly spin today. Early met with the team and the Baton Biz representatives/ organisers prepping us on today’s events. Every event began with a warm of the Junior and Senior women first then the men before each group performed for their designated judges.

The events of today were compulsories for the Juniors and short programs for the Seniors in the morning, which lead to the performance of the Junior and Senior pairs in the afternoon. I must say it was a lot of skill and co-ordination in baton twirling, and it is a very creative sport. Soon the day came to an end and it was a case of us wrapping and reading the schedules for Friday.

Lets see what the day holds for everyone at Capital FM

Next steps

I have managed to finish the music for my montage film from the Radio Fox Birthday night. I thought the music would take me forever to do as it normally takes me a long time to put something together. On this occasion it took a matter of an hour and half, which surprised me, maybe I should adopt the method I used here; finding random loops, listen to them and then add them.

Well here is the film, nothing too fancy.

My next objective is to make a film for a friend of mine, who after seeing my radio film wants my help, which I have agreed to. In addition, I will be helping out a director shot a film in the region. This is to start next week, hopefully lots to report.

The Delis Mix Dish it out

No I’m not referring to a deli counter of a supermarket, I am of course talking about the coolest rock band in melton and that is the guys mentioned in the title of the post. These guys have been performing in the Surface Festival Midlands region music events since they were announced. So far they have made it through to the final, which is and was held at the O2 Academy in Birmingham, an event that I headed to this evening. I traveled in with a few of the Delis Mixs friends Sam and Tom, and when once I got my ticket I was given one of the coolest T-Shirt which you can see here.

                                                                               I know cool isn’t it

Met the band and after watching a few of the others perform before the Delis Mix took to the stage, to rock the O2, and here are some of there songs and shots of them. Although Jasper and the Company of others delivered some great tracks they still didn’t do as well (in my opinion) as the Delis.

Next band to perform was a group called Extras Fall In and the first song I heard more of the drums than the person actually singing.

And then came the best part of festival came; the Delis took the stage and the first song that they performed was one I and others had never heard before and it was awesome beyond anything I had heard that night.

And here are more of their songs;

And the grand finale of their totally awesome performance!

Although there were about 30-40 people roughly the majority of the vote comes from the judges from the different counties of the Midlands. However, there is a text Vote..its ‘Midlands 3044’ too ‘64343’..if u cant make it please text to help the Delis make it through to the final FINAL of the gig. This will give them the chance to make it to the O2 London Arena (as far as I can remember only 6 out of the 20 that performed this evening can go). All I and the rest of the Delis supporters can do is hope, text and pray that they make it. So boys and girls across the globe if you like what you see then help them go all the way and vote for them before they night ends. As for me the night was a blast and if they make it to London I hope you will see more pictures like this;

Jammin’ with ‘The Deli Mix’

Well, I hope to be in the next few weeks, along with the filming I’m doing with the Derby Braves. A few weeks ago a friend who went to schol with contacted me asking if I would help him make a promotional music video of his band, called ‘The Deli Mix’, to send to the US.

For those of you who have not heard of ‘The Deli Mix’, I guarantee you will soon, not just through me writing about them on my blog, but also through their music. But for the momoent here is a little info on the band, ‘The Deli Mix’ is a funk and cpsychedelic rock band, whose music, when heard, is gonna blow everyones minds.

The next thing I will be writing about this awesome band is when I’ll start filming their music video. I’m gonna be honest and say I’ve never shot a music video before, so it will be a first and great experience for me too.

Can’t wait to get started working with ‘The Deli Mix’. They ROCK!

One woman show

What I mean by that is because Liz, my radio mentor, had this Sunday off I was in charge of the two hour show we do together, Sunday Sounds. It was exhausting going round two wards and getting back in time for the show. Because we were on auto-pilot I managed to put everything on manual use, all except the presenters mic, so for the first few seconds there was silence. Thankfully I clocked on why and just got on with the requests and other music I’d decided to play. It is hard to talk about anything on the radio when your alone in the studio. So I came away unscaved, and was greeted by comments from messages I got from other presenters saying well done. Lets see what happens next Sunday when Liz comes back.

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