I had a strange welcome to London recently. In a city of this size, one could say that people don’t look after each other. They don’t look at each other on the tube. They ignore others. It’s easy to keep walking past someone who looks like they’re having a rough time.
Continue reading “An Elderly Neighbour and digital television”
I am such a film geek. I watch a bazillion films a year (well, not as many as I’d like). I go to film seminars. I hang out with film peeps. I read film books. I listen to film podcasts. And recently, I watched the amazeballs film ‘Cabin In The Woods’.
It was phenomenally awesome. I came out and tweeted ‘Joss Whedon is a God’. I love how everyone who has watched it has avoided spreading spoilers about it. The film is best seen without knowing anything about it. Let’s just say, eventually, I want a copy of the DVD in my collection.
I’ve joined two Bellydance classes since being in London.
One is what I would consider an Advanced class, focussing on Arabic Theatrical Cabaret. The teacher is an Egyptian man called Shafeek; the ladies in the class have been dancing for years, some teach classes themselves. I’m really enjoying extending myself.
The other is a Beginners Class with Hayaam Bellydance. I’m taking it because I like to see how people teach the fundamentals. It’s good to go over them myself too. I was drawn to Hayaam’s website from a Google Ad, and found it to be a very professional site. Adrianna is a Brazilian teacher who is invigorating her new students into Bellydance.
This weekend, both teachers were performing, and I went to the shows.
Continue reading “Dance Shows – a weekend of Bellydance and Cabaret”
Now that I have a full-time job, it is harder to get film opportunities. I apply on StarNow, FilmCrewPro, and Mandy, but am limited to those shooting on weekends or evenings. I keep looking at Sound Recordist roles; but I can only apply for roles where I don’t need my own gear until I ship it from New Zealand or replace it.
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).
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:
So, here I go again, with a list of films that I intend to see this year.
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
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.
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:
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.
Busy Times 