Oh, contrair, Monsoir .. maybe its like the love for an old dying cat.. either way I’ve already got meself involved with an international collaboration. when I mentioned to Nijeena that we should write poems about colonialism onto old Indian surplus military uniforms / helmets.
Her dad was a naval dude and we went to the base at Fort Kochi.. anyways….
She went away with the idea, has now got the stock tracked down, and is ready to rock on this.
I, joined one of those British council online ‘how to’ zoom classes about how to fill in the Damn forms and it all came back to me, (dream/memory woozy sequence) my early days in London.. doing these goddamn forms for film funding and all the bollocks that the meetings / forms, committees and everyone else whos made a job for themselves, their mates & family and then the same few people who were always the recipients.. IMO
well, they know how to do the forms properly and are not cynical about the process, which mocks the existence of the families, friends, and everyone else involved with paying themselves a wage to give someone else the money.
This is probably why I trained to be a production manager and not a producer in 2007 when i walked away from Tele-land.. So, the money is already there. You get on with the job with whatever dosh you gotten..
So, there was some space for extra people to get involved and grab some of the filthy lucre. starting at 25 k going up upto 100k .
And the old/new adage ‘if not now then when.’.
—————————————————————
.. So a pot of Ronseal for the wooden sign..
the thing about that place (India) is that women don’t ever go to wood mills, ask those questions and get answers.. The whole process of selecting the wood and getting it cut, i’m told, was a bit of a circus.
So, I said I’d ask and I have..
I’ll see if amazon deliver to Kerala.
————————————————
Kate's Mum ‘Cathy’ was away and we’ve been In touch
Sunday, 25 February 2024
un send M Cat
Sunday, 21 January 2024
'Real' 2023
Hi Libby thank you for your response.
Is this a real response or just a general one..?
After giving careful consideration to all the selection criteria, it was felt that your skills, knowledge and experience were not as strong as the other candidates who have progressed through to the next stage.
As you would have seen from my experience, I have been a F/T live television director/vision mixer for many years. Also a cameraman on hundreds of hours of live concerts that have screened on BBC1 / MTV etc.. I have worked on feature films in a technical capacity and my own documentary (producer/director) was chosen as the pick of the day by Time Out when screened on TV. On top of this, I was trained at one of the Top Film Schools in the world: The National Film & Television School where I have since been invited to teach on many occasions; I trained at prestigious art schools for five years and possess a Masters in Practical Moving Image Production. This has been utilised in moving image work for the Tate Modern, Saatchi and Saatchi galleries as well as for artists like Thurstan Moore (Sonic Youth). Last year I continued my training In Virtual production at the Mars Academy on one of the largest LED Volumes in Europe. Before all this, I was a fully trained projectionist who presented films at the Toronto Film Festival.
If your other candidates have higher skill levels, knowledge and more Experience than this then That’s amazing or is this just a standard reply…?
Many thanks and nice to chat last week..
Regards,
Trevor
Thursday, 14 September 2023
White Dress Dream Angel
I was stood behind your 'dream' white dress girl at Holland and Barrett in Camberwell today. She looked like she was incognito with a baseball cap pulled right down over her eyes. I think she might have been with her dad who was watching through the window. She seemed so out of place that I didn't want to break her 'silence'.. Slightly nervous but confident with a very posh accent; I think she might be from a very 'secure' family.
Monday, 11 September 2023
UCA / No Way (draft!)
Hey John ,
Not sure if this is still your active e-mail ..? Anyways…. I’ll track you down one way or another.. If I don’t hear back. :)
Few things that I wanted to discuss with you. Details below, nothing heavy…
Some updates: Magalie is back in Australia and just waiting for her new contract with Schneider electrics & hoping to buy a house with a pool! I’ll probably get over there at Xmas for a swim. :). I’m still living in the same lovely flat in Brixton and off to a music festival this weekend called Mucky Weekender near Winchester. But missing my partner in gigs / events (Magalie) . So I really don’t mind moving out to the country side (Farnham way) if they need me (details below).
Though you might be up for this.. if your available & interested..?
My Friend Sharon is an Art Teacher at a well-to-do grammar school in Canterbury and is looking for people in the Film & TV industry to come and talk & motivate their 6th form students about careers and opportunities.. That kind of thing.
Looking for someone to do a presentation, Q & A etc.. Here is her outline: 'We run lecture slots on a whole host of things to motivate students in ‘out of school context’ ways, It’s first thing Friday mornings (9-10), when they have a slot for these kind of talks. It would be in the hall and for the whole of year 12 ( first year sixth form 16/17 year olds - around 150), so a presentation kind of thing. The school is Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School, Canterbury. It’s a co-ed sixth form. - mid September/early October. If you could propose that, I’d be so grateful.' -
TBH: I would find this incredibly scary but I thought you might be the right guy for the job…. ??
Sharons contact info.. : xxxxxxxxxx
Also.. I’ve just been for a chat with UCA Farnham re: Technical Services Manager post: looking after their studios, facilities and Staff. I did a presentation and spoke about the 10 Years that I worked on / off at the NFTS, as well as commercial work and LSBU. I mentioned you and the DFX dept..Where you employed me, now and again, between 2008 - 2018. There is a small chance that they may want to follow up my presentation and discussions and I hope you don’t mind that I mentioned you as a previous employer. I know it was previously alot of Hassle with Bianca the HR at London South Bank University when they previously asked you for references for me etc. And they were really pedantic / idiotic about the whole process.. Maybe you still have your response and that could work for UCA..? Anyway it’s just a possibility and the logistics of getting to Farnham, Surrey everyday might not be feasible.
— Ive just bought a ticket to see the ‘Death Cult’ at the electric Brixton in November. Not ‘The Cult’ or ‘Southern Death Cult’, but essentially the same people, doing all their old ‘goth rock’ songs for one last time. So music from around 82 - 85 ish .. No new songs. I guess everything up to ‘she sells Sanctuary’ but really concentrating on the early years. Would you be interested in coming along..? I’m going on the last night of the tour.. at the electric Brixton. November 21st…
This sort of thing: https://youtu.be/YV9Xo_7xPRc?si=YlT8MaEk8RDGhzYe https://youtu.be/uod2gdVKP6c?si=Ws8JruyNA7rKQ6ND
It’s ages away but I'm planning ahead… Let me know .. :)
Have been reading about this mega camera ‘Big Sky’ recently; looks like more disruption coming soon to the industry if we’re not all going to just use verbal prompts in Runway.ai to create films in the future? : https://www.tvbeurope.com/production-post/sphere-studios-unveils-most-advanced-camera-system-in-the-world
Creative projects on the go: music, paintings and stuff: chk here: https://linktr.ee/tch1. Have a look if you have a sec.
Personally Ive been out of work (consulting!) for the last few months and thought I might be better suited back in education. As much fun as the commercial world has been, its been very tiring and full of egotistic big babies.. That’s just how I feel at the moment. But currently nice and sunny so I guess I’ll jump on a bike and head out to enjoy.
Catch up soon.
---------------------------
Hi Tony,
I hope all is well!
Its been 24 months since I moved on from LSBU and I thought I’d contact you and give you an update of what I’ve been up to…
Two years in the commercial world as Studios manager for Camberwell Film & TV Studios and Greenwich Studios too.
I've
recently been reflecting on my time working for LSBU & as an
employee in TSS, considering what worked and what obstacles I
encountered. Particularly with the move of the school of ACI from the
London Road site to Borough Road. Both the achievements and the
setbacks, good and bad, dealing with the various contractors, our
technical staff (some of whom did not like change and actively rebelled
against it & me), the previous director of the school, and maybe
how I would go about things differently in retrospect. This came about
as a task & application I recently did for UCA Farnham for the role
of Technical Services Manager. I was invited to do a presentation and
used an ishiwaka (fishbone) diagram to look at the root causes of some
problems I perceived along the way; also I didn't slander or mention
anyone in particular..
I hope that my ‘legacy' on the multiple
projects that we undertook and my determination to provide the best
facilities possible are still part of the foundations of the school of
ACI and the various courses we supported. From the 4k Cinema and the
‘broadcast journalism' space with NDI capability and Newtek TC-1 vision
mixer as well as the training I organised for the team. Along with my
eye & ear for detail and making sure the studios were equipped to
their best capability, keeping the pressure on MARIS persistently to fix
their errors, inc: silent AC in studios, connectivity to the other
studios etc. This was also true for supporting the sound department and
the installation of Dante in the edit suites.
It was really unfortunate that I had to leave Lizzie’s research project after I moved to her department after two years within TSS. You probably know that there were huge delays (12 months!) with the refurbishment of the studios I was involved with creating at Maidstone TV Studios, this was partly down to the pandemic, getting the right contractors in place and subsequently missing our window for a timely build. It was a ‘dream’ job for me and I was very disappointed with the delays and that we could not look for another site to refurbish instead. Very frustrating. I did, however, change the whole direction of the project for all the ‘hubs’ and partners that we were working with and was very happy that everyone embraced my ideas and went with the new direction and approach that I suggested. . Again, I believe my influence was key in making this happen through my research and presenting it to all the stakeholders.
This also meant that I unpacked my boxes, as I was moving to Kent and closer to the new studios, and was left in limbo.. with nowhere to go.. Luckily a studio near me in Brixton needed my skills and soon took me on where I put all my Health and Safety training to good use and got them up to speed. Clients include Ben Malloby (academic on the film course) with Ruby Wax & LSB students on the crew, Feature films, music videos and producing documentary work.
Friday, 28 July 2023
A film Review
A gonzo and speculative look at that Wes Anderson Film, that at first may seem tedious, self indulgent and was inexplicably quite well reviewed. What’s going on here? No one I know, who has seen it, has anything good to say about it = Conspiracy!! What can it all mean…?
This film was made during the recent pandemic and lockdown and is analogous to those times. It represents, through its narrative and symbolism, the isolation and ennui that occurred on a micro scale that can now infect us all over again with this representation on screen.
Here’s how I’m going about this: If you imagine that the pandemic virus is shown symbolically in this film by the brief appearance of an Alien then this might all make sense…. It is structured with three layers of ‘Reality’. It self consciously depicts the nuts and bolts of its own fabrication in multiple interconnecting storylines.
Structured like this:
1 : A besuited, shot in contrasty Black & White (b+w) announcer, a bit like the twilight zones’ Rod Serling. Presented by the actor Byron Cranston who bridges the sections together as a meta narrater. Looking straight at the single viewer.
2: A 1950’s teleplay, also shot in b+w, about a theatre writer who is staging a play in Asteroid City. This character plays to the spectators through the artifice of this imaginary constructed scenario and seemingly to a larger viewership.
3: Asteroid City: a 1950’s colourful Cinematic world that is the ‘stage’ for the main event and context of the film. The actors in this world do not look at the audience.
The structure of it’s reality can be said to be likened to its sources; that it mocks and also aspires to be: The 1950’s and the iconic stereotypes that were produced and constructed by Television & Cinema that traversed the globe from Hollywood through the post-war & cold war propaganda system; that we are are still subjected to today.
Q... Are the film makers usurping these cliches or reenforcing them…? Maybe Both….
.. From the artificiality of the whip pan camera moves, for no obvious dramatic reason in the first scenes of ‘asteroid city’, You may ask yourselves: Are these here to highlight the artifice of this medium..? To the picture postcard, pastel colours and hyper real 50’s style sets. Whilst the actors only present it as fake when crossing over into the other B+W ‘realities’ of the film. An example of this is when the ‘announcer’ appears in ‘Asteroid city’ in colour for the first time and announces ‘Oh.. am I not in this scene’ and promptly disappears. Depicting that this reality is fake whilst in the other b+w scenes, where he is addressing the audience, he is addressing us with something closer to truth…. As he informs us who is who and what is happening as a Grand Narrator.
Maybe the whole plot has been woven to reveal to the audience how we can be manipulated?
This device is used again in the teleplay ‘world’ with Edward Norton as the play writer. The actor ‘Jason Schwartzman’ smashes a fake window for (fake) fresh air when he crosses over into this thinly veiled construction of The Real World. He then goes on to add his fake beard, that he was wearing in the colourful asteroid city scenes and to discuss his part in the script & how to play the character: “Too much pipe and eye brow raising..?”. Self consciously nodding to the viewer and that ‘we’ are ‘in’ with them and the use of this device in our relationship with them. A-ha..we won’t be fooled by the trickery. If we go along with this and are not annoyed by this breaking of cinematic conventions we should be paid back for being complicit in all this playfulness? Maybe with the revelation of truth that is concealed In plain sight, that we may encounter everyday through these mediums.. Right..?
So: Colour = represents a lie of the realist world as portrayed on screen.
b+w = more genuine as it reveals its non-reality more honestly.
Following this logic of the less realist / colourful the more genuine then surely B+W animation is the highest form of truth; as it does not conceal its alien nature to us..
(Go with it!)
Conspiracy: in the films most entertaining scene a PENTAGON shaped space ship hovers above the colourful city. A nervous looking Alien, that is animated, comes down a ladder and takes the asteroid that the city is named after. After this event the government enforce a lockdown and we see all the town & actors isolated.
Either its an explanation of the lockdown. Or It's saying that the whole Alien thing is just a fabrication by Hollywood & the government…
OK, lets go for this...
Speculation, rumour, conspiracy..
One of my favourite speculations for the recent lockdown & pandemic was revealed during a zoom call I had with a London university as we chatted before a meeting . This is what was said::
The governments of the world had been told to stop burning all the fossil based fuels on the planet as the Aliens who wanted to visit could not land their vessels because of all the pollution. Hence the lock down...
So, this is a lockdown film about an alien arrival that Wes has decided to tell us the truth about in a symbolic way...?
The spectre of Death: In the background… We, the audience, see in the 'Asteroid city’ colourful world a mushroom cloud in the distance as the government conducts atom bomb Tests in the desert. So, here we have government tests and the looming spectre of the end of the world. Retro paranoia, hinting at what’s to come… Selling Fear…? What awful times to be living in with that on the horizon. I’m glad we’ve gotten over all that non-sense.
Within this context the only subjects that are not pretending to be involved in this illusion appear to be the actors themselves as we see in the actors studio b+w exposition scene. They are told to act asleep (representing the audience..?) And then they repeat the line ‘It's time to wake up ‘ as the camera pulls back and they look through the lens at ‘us’ breaking the imaginary fourth wall.
So we’ve got: Government tests with mushroom clouds in the distance, an alien that may be a fake played by an actor, after the animation sequence we see behind the scenes the actor Jeff Goldblum in the alien costume without mask who also just happens to have starred in the Hollywood blockbuster 'Independence Day'. So this is a fake!!
Using this logic, the animated version of the same looking alien must represent a higher level of truth..? 'We' are not privy to the animator making this scene though...
A conclusion: The government had to lock down the planet, so that Aliens could land and we are being treated to the poetic truths right here, right in front of us, Just open your eyes!! Its time to wake up, its time to wake up, Repeat the mantra, repeat the mantra!!! Smoking is cool and we’re definitely not living through a second cold-war; It’s all just in the media nowadays. Scarlett Johansson takes her clothes off, again, purely for narrative reasons again!… (Phew: tick another Box)
Maybe if this was executed using humour and acknowledging that we like entertainment in our dreary lives, it might have worked better? it does come across as a self indulgent piece by someone who happens to have a lot of Hollywood friends and no one ever saying No to them. If you like structured films just pop to your local video store and get some Peter Greenaway stuff or earlier Wes Anderson films that were good.
Anyway…The film makers got to spend that barren time with their friends, hanging out and doing nothing interesting and we the punters can just now observe at our own time-expense and wonder.. WTF….
Or..
Its a subversive testament to destroying the very hand that feeds by questioning the role of the entertainment industry to mis-inform, manipulate and coerce the population through its mimetic qualities…. ?
What’s on at the cinema this week ?
A 1950’s based, cold-war film called Oppenheimer..
Sounds good..
got a light..?
Ends….
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have more time on your hands .. There is more stuff below that I decided to originally leave out (edited: 1st August '23):
The theatre playwright:
in the 1950’s theatre parody ‘reality’ where Edward Norton lives in a B+W world of shoddy sets and cliches. This is constructed as a TV play as shot through the proscenium of the theatre and academy framed TV screen; hence why the aspect ratio changes. Stereotype alert. there’s someone at the door. He and Jason Schwartzman discuss the role he will be playing In the ‘cinematic’ colourful world of Asteroid city and the play that will be produced there.
Wow, two men kissing after sharing ice cream; gosh, aren’t people who work in the theatrical arts a bit Gay. This is very progressive for the 1950’s, except it isn’t… It's 2022 (3) and everything needs to have a dash of the rainbow in it these days. Lets tick another box for this glaring cliche…
Let’s take another look: A child, who is smoking with the wandering minstrel group in ‘Asteroid city’. Yes, smoking has been portrayed as cool in Cinema from its earliest incarnation. The tobacco Industry is still a major contributor to Hollywood, hence why we get more and more of these period pieces where they smoke in them, for authenticity, although tobacco advertising on screen is supposedly banned. The cowboy minstrels are blamed by the mother for giving it to him, highlights this trope, but at the same time it still shows a kid, being funny(?) and smoking. Ha ha!. Yes… all the audience are as clever as the L.A. ‘creatives’ who have manipulated them for all these years; by making smoking cool in their films and now referencing this in retrospect. we’re all in on this joke…(coughs)
In the middle of a school lesson, the same child, starts singing and dancing..? Ohh, like in those old movies, how funny…(?)
This film has really, highlighted and caught the essence of the pandemic & lock-down.. in its depiction of nothing happening, inane repetition, and the very essence of being bored.
Saturday, 15 July 2023
Saturday, 13 May 2023
Saturday, 15 April 2023
Tuesday, 11 April 2023
T NN / Spotify playlists & 1st Mix image preview (REAPER)
7 mins from the 1st Mix : https://on.soundcloud.com/Tp4d5PiQtViGDJdf6
For all the shows go here: MMM. TXH
...NTN
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6CAKXBbdvJGzlxOOfM2CQ4?si=3c3cbf825746446e
..NNT
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/44MEOarQHyJdDFyo4LBYMg?si=f8167cb69c99471c
A New TNN:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6aTLGHObBjyfrldUIdKbxx?si=b962d6ade60340be
ahhhh TNN
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1LjVY6CqcFyGuLOebjMiqn?si=8031da84b4c54e2b
a NNT
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1JN1ajPtsTYfAoMh9Jsx6i?si=12dc85ed79d14599
TNA 1.1
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7dN0A6wnUYYS4D2obZU0JD?si=aa6a82459d3948d6
TN Aa 1.2
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7pqC8BPq240uPCSMZAH04k?si=f5ff9242dacd4a5b
0.0
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6aPuECITDd3NtYWsBbjEpP?si=f12bcce7b42e42b7
0.75
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/67HQs9bcKww1EFKHa8YOgM?si=46bb9e319090430e
1.1
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7dN0A6wnUYYS4D2obZU0JD?si=1f3257f6c02e4a55
TNnA
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zwFhLlxSxcFNOLvwBv0OO?si=47a194b810344392
TNA 0.001
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7ovI9qwrwfhwOs5UCrIlOJ?si=12036fed194a475e
00.1
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2M7sY5YNiCbNZqYiOv6a1C?si=cd0a1d67dd43456c
TNN #1
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3hDvC5KA8H6lvW68oOwvPR?si=e532399292af43ab
TNN # 2
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/304qkIkuhzzwaEgorL0u6s?si=01a66de22c144043
TNN # 3
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6PPAetarThWTePIMv1YmJM?si=e074d8fa0e5848cf&pt=2ac09ecf4013b3fc0339ed75338f3e2c
TNN # 4
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3YoI22BI9Q0e4OLFgJe6KG?si=6c97785f51414820
TNN# 5
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0u7ua2zUMYumQh4O2Iyr6a?si=ce30afb7040f4520
Sunday, 9 April 2023
An ever growing list of my personal property stolen from me by my (so called)brother; who also stole All of my families inheritance from me (Yep! house, money, everything)
Theft & The 'Will' to deceive..
Missing:
Copic - marker set (set of 12). Worth over £100
Bottles - Vintage / antique - various worth -£5 to £50 -each approx 120 units
Pub Mats & towels (250 units) / branding / wooden large pub signs inc brewers Fayre / fox etc..
Mad magazine (majority) inc. USA/ European copies / Cracked magazine and associated paperbacks: 200+
T-shirts -The Cult - Electric (1987/6). GBOA (original Git down PFX). Zodiac Mindwarp etc.. worth in excess of £100 each in Ok condition
Poster (XX—Large) super rare - promo poster yellow with orange dots - by Ray Lowry cartoon Gaye Bykers..
Cassette tapes / Video recordings originals!! (Ultra rare bootlegs of The Cult / GBOA etc.. approx 20)
The only copy of my Suffolk College HND Graduate film all on VHS - Space Traxx inc. Jazz (promo) /. NSPCC promo / MTV blows me away (promo).
The only copy of 'Manchester on Air' (VHS) a short documentary I made with the workers film cooperative '95 - interviews with Kiss FM, BBC, Pirate stations etc..
Super 8 films made by me (one off reels / cut by me by hand) - stop motion / Lytham Walk - Notting hill Carnival ’91/ baby me.. 'Wearing hats and pointing at Things' with Martin Hamblen..Probably others (?)
Sketch Books - inc: Yellow Cover - inc. personal newspaper articles (guilty in mob rampage) project '91 - illustrations / art / photgraphy / collage etc..
A3 Zip-round Art folder / Carry case with inserts with my Images in .
Ticket stubs from 100’s of concerts. (Priceless memories !!)
NME / Melody maker / Sounds (broadsheet music papers) - approx 60 units inc. 80’s Cramps interview /
Personal photographs of me and my friends (priceless). Approx 150 pics +
3D porcelain ET miniture
Chi - Chi ; panda bear given to me by aunt Jackie !!
Box set of the film 'Naked' (VHS) with screenplay and postcards; as won from ID magazine
Books / comics: (all mint /VG condition)
Thee Phychik Bible - Temple of Phykick youth / Genesis P. Orridge - (Incredibly rare / bought early 90's Manchester) -
Bad wisdom - Bill Drummond / Mark Manning (zodiac Mindwarp)
Star Wars - the toys
Twilight zone - (same square size as above)
Illustrations (trolls etc) - by Brian Froud -
Violent cases - Neil Gaiman / Dave McKean
Mr Punch - Neil Gaiman
Good Omens - first edition by Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman
Biology for Life - book given to me by Grandma Cross (day before she died)
Small booklets of punk poetry by dyslexic author Sexton Ming (Rare - Hangman books / obtained from Virgin Megastore - 80’s) + lots of music / film 'Zines' from late 80's /early 90's
2000AD Annuel 1989
Eagle Annuel 1983
Dan Dare - pilot of the future - hardback , over sized edition
Film / Concert posters:
Polish Graphics poster (b+w) face- bought by me in Poland!
Jimi Hendrix live 60's concert poster (repro / small) came with live at winterland LP
The Cult - Love (80's)
Ghoulies - they'll get you in the end (80's)
Metal Hammer pull outs inc. Zodiac Mindwarp / The Cult etc..
Comics: (mint /VG)
The Killing Joke - Brian Bolland / Moore - 1st edition
Skin - Brendon McCarthy - 1st edition!
Green Lantern / green Arrow (70’s) - various (Neal Adams )
Green Lantern Corps… approx 40 units (80’s).
The Flash - multiple 80's - approx 25 units
Fabulous Freak Brothers - Various by Gilbert Sheldon
Records: (as left : VG/ NM - condition)
Bugblot - improve your petrol (ep / naked brain)
The Electro Hippies - The only good Punk LP
Fishbone - Truth & Soul
Jimi Hendrix - live at winterland LP
Original 7inch that came with MBV LP - isn’t anything -
Wonderful day. -1st ever Wonderstuff Single
Sly wicked and slick - sly Dunbar
Less than Zero out (US import copy)
Beastie Boys - vinyl - Aglio E Olio : Ep !!!!
Love - The Cult (beggars Banquet)
Rektum -Sakredanus (roadrunner recs)
Sonic Youth - Goo
Hairway to Steven - Butthole surfers
Boo ya Tribe - Lp
Urban Dance squad - LP
The Cramps - A Date with Elvis
Tackhead - friendly as a grenade LP
Jimi Hendrix - woke up this morning & found myself Dead (rare bootleg ft: Jim morrison)
Aerosmith - greatest Hits
Dinosaur Jnr - Bug
The Keatons - Seven ep 12"/ Residivitch single
Thatcher on Acid - 7"
Pregnant Neck - 7"
Dandelion Adventure - Puppy shrine (action records)
Loop - collision time (ep) 12"
Norman Bates and the Showerheads LP (US import)
The Damned - Anything & Phantasmagoria LP's
The Cure - Standing on the Beach (gatefold) LP
Pop will Eat itself - Cassette single / 7" Boxset (designers republic)
The Fall - I am curious Orange - 7" Box set
Public Enemy - rebel without a pause - 7"
Fat boys with the beach boys - Wipeout - 7"
Alice Cooper - 2 LP's - inc: welcome to my nightmare!
Framed pics / Furniture / Jewellery :
Local End of Pier / Theatre Posters 1920's - 1950's (Xmas Present to me / fm parents) Framed and Window mounted by me. 8 units
All the pottery that I created!
Mum & Dads wedding Rings!
Silver backed mirror set with brush inherited by Mum from Grandma Hargreaves
Chinese vase converted into Lamp with matching shade (from grandparents Hargreaves)
Sewing box
The list goes on.... And on...
Tuesday, 4 April 2023
3 short - 'Plays'
Exile
A barren, sandy landscape with a few rocks and plants. There is a signpost in the distance stating ‘Eden 50
Miles’ pointing off stage. Adam and eve sit on a couple of rocks at the side of the stage.
EV: I’ve been thinking about things, now… he says that it was our fault for disobeying his wishes… yet, if I remember rightly, we only had free will after eating that flipping apple
AD: Yeah. so?
EV: well… if that’s the case, how could we have done anything wrong before or during eating the apple?
AD: uuh.. dunno
EV: So we ate the apple without free will and cannot be held accountable for the consequences after… It’s a catch 22
(pause…thinking)
AD: like what came first the chicken or the egg?
EV: well, that’s a load of bollocks too. Cos the chicken, like us, was put into the garden fully formed and only after our exit from Eden did mortality and birth begin.(under breath) All due to that damn apple
AD: (shaking head, sounding sarcastic) ooh.. that apple
EV: (with aggression mounting) But he put the blooming thing there in the first place
Ad: So what your saying is… he tricked us and knew we would eat the apple, because we didn’t have free will at the time
EV: … and now is blaming us for doing exactly what we were pre-determined to do
AD: (shaking head) wanker
EV: not only that… he threw us out of the garden, made us hungry and cold. An every-time I give birth or hit my foot or anything… (sounding emotional) it really hurts… (scrunches up face)
AD: (getting angrier and shaking head) Cock!
EV: So what’s he up to then…?
AD: err.. probably a bit pissed off about something
EV: yeah, well I tell you I’m pissed off. I’ve had enough of his hissy fits.. I swear (sound of distant thunder) he’s mental
EV: (stands up) come on… I’ve had enough of all this.
He’s got some answering to do (grabs Adam’s hand). Come on… I’m not flipping cooking and squeezing kids out
for the next five hundred years without some proper explanation about what the hell is going on and (lets go of Adam’s hand and opens arms wide to encompass her surroundings) what the blazin’ heck is all this about?
AD: he’s not gonna like it
EV: well what’s he gonna do?
(sound of thunder and crack of lightning, they both stare outwards – towards audience, looking scared. From behind his rock Adam reaches down and picks up an umbrella and stands up next to eve. They both look upwards as lightning strikes. He opens the umbrella above them. They look back to the audience and slowly hold each others’ hands)
(the scene gets darker and thunder claps loudly)
small oval objects start falling, being thrown, from the sky and splat around them and on top of the umbrella.
EV: that’s not rain (scrunches up nose, looking around)
AD: No, they’re…(bends down and examines residue) Eggs?
EV: The bloody coward! come on, I know your there, you’re everywhere, come out!
AD: (looking relieved now) I told you he had a sense of humour… everything’s going to be all right now, you’ll see
Ev: C’mon you chicken, get out here and tell us the truth.
(from stage right a man dressed in a chicken outfit comes out – Adam and eve both look relieved)
(The chicken man then pulls out of his plumage a machine gun and points it at Adam in a threatening and phallic way. Adam stares at him silently then bursts out)
AD: oh… you cock!
(Adam is shot down with a burst of machine gun fire – eve goes over to the body and kneels beside it and cradles Adams head – looks up at the chicken man and states
EV: Why?
(The chicken shrugs his shoulders and wonders off stage.
Eve stares at the audience and quietly states)
EV: oh… my… God
ALL About Eve
Eve – sat, clothed on a rock, smoking a cigarette – talking to audience – cockney accent in a Kathy burke style
So I’m like Hang on…
I get to loose my figure, I can’t drink or smoke and he gets what?
To prance around naked all day, enjoying Most of the fruit… hang out with his mates .. (under her breath)If they are ever created… and basically do what ever he likes..
I’m like…. Fuck Off
I may just be a rib to you… but do I get a say in all this?
And he’s like. (Pause – then in slightly gruffer accent)
Look, he’s made (points at self) in my image. I don’t do pregnancy, periods and all that. (pause)
So he’s feeling pretty shitty and offers me a deal.
He says… (gruff voice again)look, how about.. you can have as many orgasms, as often as you like, twenty-four hours a day.
(normal voice) And I’m thinking, ok, yeah… that’ll work
But I’m stuck with this fucking bozo, (points behind her) who as soon as he’s done; its’ like… cheers babe and the lights are out.
So I’ve been royally fucked over, (exclaims) again…
then this freaky looking, slimey phallus thing comes up to me and says..
(in Hispanic accent) ‘hey sisss-ter – you wanna some real action’ and I’m thinking – y-e-a-h - but then he goes and gives me this green round thing.
An I’m like eerm …thanks – what am I supposed to do with that?
Well the next thing Adam comes bounding along, going (sounding slightly retarded) ‘What ya got?, What ya Got’ and grabs it. So now I want it back, but he keeps going on (adams’ voice) ‘Adams apple, Adams’ apple’ . dancing around me, pissing me right off. So I’m getting well bothered and jump right on top of him. So he only goes and fucking bites into the thing.
(pause)
And from then on he’s been much easier to deal with
When he realised he was naked – ha! he looked a fucking picture.
And now that (raises fingers in inverted commas) “big brothers” out of the picture an we’ve this free will thing..
I can go shopping whenever I like, there’s twenty-four hour TV, we’ve the pill… condoms…
(Picks up and bites into an apple and with mushed apple in mouth states)
It’s the f-u-c-k-ing Bollocks.
The Flamin’ Zinger
This is set in a KFC in Bristol with a massage parlour next door. A zen master has just collapsed and an ambulance and police are at the scene:
Under his breath to no one– ‘Shit, shit, shit, oh fuck – bollocks’
Tarty Woman – ‘What’s happened to him?’ (Points at Zen dojo on stretcher being taken away.
Boy – he’s dead
TW- s-h-i-t. So you still serving or what?
B – err, I dunno, errm, what you want? (tips back his KFC baseball cap)
W – I’ll ‘ave a special chicky mealy dealy, with extra, S-p-I-c-e-y (sexily), sauce.
B – (raised intonation) ‘are you sure’
W – Yeah
B – Its just that he (pointing at stretcher) had the spicy sauce and (opening hands) well… I wouldn’t – (screwing up face)
W – isn’t he that weird guy from upstairs
B – Yeah. H-e-y, (Looks slyly) your from next doors aint ya?
W - Yeah I come in here all the time. You gona give me a discount or somethink.
B, (Scratches chin slowly) I could, like, y’know , (embarrassed and tongue tied) give you… extra fries?
W – oh yeah? you goner give me a large portion, ehh? (with wink)
The guy looks round at his colleague to see if he’s listening – there’s still a huge buzz with the police and ambulance crew / and onlookers.
B – Yeah I could do you a special deal
W – Well luvey, you see me right and I’ll sort you out (raising eyebrows)
He gets the box of chicken / chips and puts it in front of her – she passes a five pound note to him – on the counter – but he pushes it back.
B – listen, you girls, y’know, do ya do everything?
W- we cater for all requests, yeah, you should pop over – I’ll make sure you get a special deal-y
B- Uh – maybe – yeah
W – look, just come over on your next break and see if you like anything we have to offer
B- Ok, I’ll just have to wait for the manager to turn up, cos of all this… (points at commotion inside / outside).
W- Ok, ma luver, I’ll be seeing you
Monday, 3 April 2023
Referral
https://morbidbooks.b-cdn.net/
I
just read this (link above) , not particularly as it happened! But I
thought you might be interested in one of the features .. I mainly read
it cos the guy who runs Morbid Press also does a poetry / spoken word
ting called the Surrealist temple band who I think are Gud.
I decided, after painting the small office room ere and making it look rather nice that I didn’t really need any one in my space now that I’ve accepted a new job starting after Easter and had to leave Helga from Iceland to find somewhere else to live / before she arrived; The job is Not the Gynaecology one which was all sort of confused in their understanding of the role & what the job actually was - inc. their tasks.. At some point, as I was told whilst working in HE, We become / are the experts and it does sometimes come down to…. They don’t know what the Fuk they are talking about. (Some kind of metaphor ere)..
Worth keeping in mind when getting knocked back from funding apps etc.. Those gate keepers who follow trends / policies etc.. You might think know what they are doing / but as the Russian artist in the above pdf says.. Nah!!!!!
However in yr note you say unsuccessful and then go on about all the things coming yr way. If living remotely in Scotland is what you have set out to do - then yr a total success..
Whomever these successful people are that you mention might be feeling that they have bought into a lie and envy others who follow different paths. - who ever knew that studying philosophy and art wouldn’t set you up on a conventional career path ;)
Had a few back and forth messages from Dave In Lytham (as he may now be known).. He seemed excited about the Rebellion punk fest. at winter gardens as I have mentioned.. I’m still 50/50 on it.. Have you any thoughts…? https://www.
So, Ive got 14 days b4 the new job. OPs Manager for a boutique film & Tv studio in Greenwich inc. small Manchester office. Its kind of a new start and Opportunity.. we’ll see . Just as I came back from meeting the co-MD, who knows Dave McKean very well. (Bonus!), I had 2 agents pushing me to look at their offerings. Ive dismissed one as too boring and the other is Net (Fuckin) Flix and managing a Huge studios in Enfield.. So they have better get their skates on before I sign me new contract..
There is a fox cub outside my window at the back sunbathing where the cherry tree used to be….
BTW: this is really good list to find out what’s on if yr interested: This is my referral for you -
https://sebsartlist.com/
Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Dreaming Reality by TXH
A scripted, reflective, documentary about my ideas about dream symbolism & film making.
Please find below an excerpt from the script I am working on for this:
Darkness with a few spots of light breaking through, out of focus, camera slowly pushes in…
V/O I had that dream again last night. In it I’m making a film. It’s not like lucid dreaming where you can control whats going on. (pause) I’m the viewer watching myself, until I become conscious that Its not real.
Through the darkness camera pulls focus into C/U of head on pillow, turns and opens eyes.
Something causes anxiety in me and I snap out of it and then I’m back in bed
The truth wakes me up.
(Sound of typewriter)
V/O Recalling the dream, or what I can remember (pause)
Cut to room, day time, Wide shot into Medium shot. Man sat typing at a desk shot from behind.
Man stands up, he is wearing 50’s style glasses ,and reads back looking towards camera.
‘Is that a good idea for a film?’
On screen graphic appears REWIND <<
The scene spins back as V/O continues ‘In it I’m the hero’ spooling stops and the scene is now outside with a macho stereotype film star in a heroic pose. On screen graphic flashes up ‘HERO’
V/O except I’m an anti-hero
Cut to alley way at night time a Rick Deckard sort of character in trench coat, stubble maybe lights a cigarette looks beaten.
Cut to someone in a studio, CU of shuffling actor headshot, Cut to sign for Auditions for Hero, Anti-hero this way (inc. previous two actors).This will be the real audition taped..
V/O its been said that people used to dream in Black and white, when cinema was in black and white. (pause) Did we dream in 2D before 3D came about?
During V/O cut to 50’s looking guy wearing red/ blue 3D glasses. Then to someone wearing an oculus rift pair of glasses.
Cut back to screenwriter at typewriter and on screen graphic “THIS IS’NT ME’ as shot cuts back to audition space and the man is in front of a panel for ‘screenwriter part’. Some one says:
can we try it with the glasses on please
He puts on the glasses. On screen graphic appears FAST FORWARD >>
Back in the bedroom and the anti-hero gets out of the bed, still in trench coat and walks towards the door /exit. He walks into the room where the screen writer is typing, they exchange a look and he places a gun on the side. screenwriter walks out of the room to reveal WS he’s on a large film set /sound stage. He walks towards the camera
This is the film school where I work
A workman walks past and says - He hasn’t worked here in years
Screenwriter takes out a piece of paper - My CV says otherwise
CU of CV