I’ve been reading posts on film blogs and have been signing up to email newsletters. Partly to pick up tips, partly to find out about networking and learning events around London. It’s good getting tips and projects straight into my inbox.
Videography gigs
My spare time has been taken up by editing. I’m working on the sound design for one film, and have shot a few things recently which I’m trying to edit and get out. So apologies to anyone who hasn’t heard from me.
An Elderly Neighbour and digital television
Firstly, I know. Third post today. I spent some time typing things that were on my mind, cumulating in too many posts on one day.
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”
Cabin In The Woods
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.
Dance Shows – a weekend of Bellydance and Cabaret
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”
Strange film opportunities
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.
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).
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.
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.
Busy Times 