Issues with a bank

I have had a truly awful experience and have to share it, and warn off others.

I was told when moving to the UK, set up a bank account before arriving. If you do it once you’re here, you need proof of where you live (like a bill sent to you). You can’t get a job without a bank account, but you can’t set up a bank account without proof of income. Hence I found HSBC has a Passport account. In your home country, you apply online. When you arrive, you provide your documentation (proof of your address in your home country and your passport).

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Twofifty, take 2

At the start of last year, I wrote a post that listed a whole bunch of films that I was going to watch in 2011. The list came from twofifty, an application on Facebook, where you mark off which films you have seen from the IMDb top 250, and you can filter which ones you have or haven’t seen.

I found having a list really useful. When going to the local video store to hire movies, I spent less time choosing. Even though I love spending time choosing. But I digress.

Doing two Honours courses and teaching dance classes and preparing for the move overseas meant I didn’t get to watch all of the films on my list. But I did get to see some of them. Most. Some.

I learnt a few things:

  • Arsenic and Old Lace is one of my favourite films now. [I also discovered that Shadow Of A Doubt is my favourite Hitchcock so far, but that is by the by]
  • There’s a reason that I haven’t seen the 3-4 hour epics. Das Boot was wonderful, but I don’t think I’ll have time to watch it again. (Not looking forward to Barry Lyndon and Fanny and Alexander for that very reason.) Also, The Deer Hunter. Glad I saw it. Glad I don’t have to see it again. AN HOUR FOR A WEDDING SCENE????? Seriously Cimino? Seriously?!?!?
  • Manhattan is one of my favourite Woody Allen films. (Also, Midnight In Paris is one of his best.)
  • There were a few films that I had seen before: Superbad, Amorres Perros, Dial M For Murder. I suppose it’s worrying that I can forget that I’ve watched a film in its entirety. (Or not, considering how many films I watch.) I had either forgotten most of Singing In The Rain or not seen all of it. But I loved watching a 35mm print on the big screen at the Wellington Film Society.
  • Superbad is not my sense of humour (probably why I forgot that i watched it).
  • 35mm prints on the big screen included Singing In The Rain at Paramount (Wellington) and Akira at the Prince Charles (London). Special thanks to Phil for screening a 16mm print of Dial M for Murder at his movie halfathon.

So, here I go again, with a list of films that I intend to see this year.

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Bellydance Teachers in Wellington

Want to learn how to Bellydance? Want to join a dance troupe? As I am no longer teaching in Wellington, you may like to try these teachers and groups…

Firstly, when picking a dance teacher, think about these things

  • what sort of style do you want to learn? Look into Cabaret Bellydance/Raqs Sharqi/Orientale, or Middle Eastern dance, or Tribal (ATS). You can do a Beginners Course and go from there;
  • the teacher’s experience: workshops attended, how long they’ve been dancing, what their students say about them;
  • the location where they’re teaching;
  • the price (at the moment you’re probably looking at $10-$20 for an hour class);
  • do you ultimately want to perform? You don’t have to if you don’t want to, and no teacher would pressure you to if you didn’t. If you do though and you’re starting out, you probably wouldn’t be performing for at least a year. Tribal takes a bit longer, as there are cues to learn and you need to be able to work with the group.

Melbourne Bells

In a strange twist, I have a day free, and am using it to sit in the sun and do some editing. Here is the next in my series of location image and soundscapes.

Melbourne Bells

London thusfar

The job hunt bore fruit with contacting a recruitment agency, and getting placed in a temp role the day after the interview. I have work for the next 4 weeks. Yay! Now I just need to focus on finding a room (I’m using Spareroom.co.uk and Gumtree) and the full-time job (or paid film work).

I was a Production Runner on a promo for a web series called PAs last weekend. It was a good crew, and I found I was useful on set. I helped the Gaffer with the Lighting and the Art Director setting up. I’m shooting a trailer on Sunday with MI6 Productions.

Here are my thoughts on London thusfar:

  • There are quite a few streets that don’t have street signs. When you’re lost and are looking for a specific street, it can be really confusing. I’m looking all over the buildings and footpaths at an intersection, and I can see one street sign, but not the other.
  • While I’m at it, quite a few stores won’t have their street number. So if you’re walking along, say, Oxford Street, and are looking for a specific number, it’s difficult. I suggest looking on Google Maps first, getting a street view, and working out the shops on either side of where you’re going.
  • Keep to the right or keep to the left? It changes. In some tube stations, there are signs saying keep right, in others keep left. Follow the signs, but seriously, some consistency please!
  • I’ve decided that I like the West End, near Covent Garden. I’ve been to a few seminars at the London Film School there, and have discovered nice areas like Neal’s Place. Today I saw Rupert Everitt in Fopps, a CD/DVD store – incidentally where I saw Mike Leigh when I was visiting London last year. It’s a nice area. I’m still working out the area from Oxford and Regent Street to Charing Cross and Covent Garden, and have done a fair bit of walking round there (see below for the story).

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Fundraising for ‘A Party For Me’

Ladies and Gentleman,

We are fundraising to cover costs for A Party For Me, and would appreciate your support. 

Please follow this link to PledgeMe: https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/Crowd/Details/60

PledgeMe is a New Zealand crowdfunding site. For those who are unfamiliar with crowdfunding, to donate you pledge an amount and provide your credit card details (the site is 100% legit and safe if you have any concerns). If the project is pledged the full amount, then the amount you pledged comes off your credit card. If it does not reach its target by the deadline, then no charge is made to your credit card. $270 is the minimum we need to raise; we can exceed the target.

We are asking for $270. That is to cover the costs incurred by make-up and wardrobe, who created the look for our nine undead characters. It will also go towards the costs of hiring equipment, such as a smoke machine, lenses, and lights.

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LONDON

London I’ve made it to London!

I’ve been here for nearly two weeks now. The job hunt has been taking up the bulk of my time (both for a role in Administration and Film work). The rest of it has been taken up by catching up with friends, exploring, and reading on the tube.

Last week I was a Production Runner for Televideo for the British Swimming Olympic Time Trials. The races were broadcast live on BBC Red Spot. It was my first involvement with live television broadcast, and I learnt a lot. I even did the sound mixing on some of the races.

I have a camera assistant role on a short film today. I have a meeting for another short film tomorrow. And I may be shooting a third short film later this week.

All in all, I’m keeping busy.

Rural Victoria

On my way to London, I spent a week in Victoria. I went out to Rural Victoria to visit a friend. On the way home, I shot and recorded this video.

It is the first of many of these that I am making. What I do is take photographs of a location, and then record the ambient sound of that location. Hopefully you can better experience where I was.

Please to enjoy

I’m leaving on a jet plane

Just a quick note to say that I’m moving to the UK. Tomorrow. No, hang on, it’s nearly 5am, and I’m flying out today. I’m moving today.

Spose I should start packing then.

In addition for preparing to leave and finishing up at work, I produced two short films: ‘Copper’, (21/22 and 28/29 January 2012), and ‘A Party For Me’, (4/5/6 February). It’s been a crazy busy time (which is usual for me). I’m looking forward to the ‘whoomph’ when I’m on the plane and have the chance to relax.

So, to all the people that I’ve known in Wellington: so long, farewell, auf wiedersehn, adieu. And come visit me in the UK.

One film down, one to go

We wrapped on shooting ‘Copper’ yesterday. Four days of intense shooting are being edited into a really cool little film, which I can’t wait to share with the world. Special thanks to Jack O’Donnell for directing  – film number 10!

We’re shooting ‘A Party For Me’ this weekend. I’m heavy in pre-production with the director, Amy Brosnahan.