Celeb Spots of the Week

I did quite well this week!

- Richard Hammond - He came into work to record a voice over for his latest TV programme, and although I'd heard mixed things about him, he was very nice. I took him a black coffee, and later he ordered lunch from Pho, which does Vietnamese street food. He reeled off this long Vietnamese name for whatever he wanted, and then said "But you know what that is don't you, I don't need to tell you that!" - All I could think was "My god.... I'm having banter with Richard Hammond!"

- James McAvoy - Not my spot unfortunately, but one of the other runners. He had spotted him eating outside Benito's Hat on Goodge Street, and when he got back (about 5 minutes later) and told me, I ran down there to try and spot him, but he'd already left. Gutted. I must have only missed him by 2 minutes!

- Felix from Basement Jaxx - walking along Saint Annes Court.

- Moss from The IT Crowd - also walking down Saint Annes Court... We were sat in the window of Soho Thai at the time and all turned to look at him, and he turned around looking quite scared while he swiftly walked around the corner!

- Anne-Marie Duff - wife of James McAvoy and star of Shameless, The Virgin Queen and Nowhere Boy, walking down Margaret Street towards Regent Street, looking very normal!

"Well... my symptoms include itchy feet and chronic daydreaming......"

I've been doing a lot of pondering lately (yes, it's one of those posts...) ...and here's something I know for sure:

I want to move to Toronto.

I always have, ever since my first visit to my brother in 1999. I've been a few times since, and my month-long visit last year completely confirmed and increased my desire to do so. I don't honestly think I want to move there permanently - I'm incredibly close to my family so would never want to be apart from them forever - but definitely for at least a couple of years. I just have a love for Toronto that I know I'm never going to have for any other destination on earth. It feels like a home away from home. My love for the city is a deep and entirely rational one, as opposed to the love I have for other places that I would never realistically emigrate to. And I honestly think I will do it. I planned to next summer, but then I moved to London, and I definitely need to carry on with my career for a while.

Now here's another bit of 'ponder-fodder'....

I want to do a filmmaking Masters in America.

I have been on the emailing list for the New York Film Academy for a good while now, but today I printed out an application form. It's probably not the one I would go for - I want to do the Filmmaking MA which they only do at the Disney Studios in Florida or in Abu Dhabi, and I would really like to do it in New York or California. Also I can't think too much into it yet because I need to significantly bump up my portfolio before I can apply. But I want to do it. I didn't want to do a Masters when I graduated, and I definitely would only do it if it was as practical-based as this particular course. I would not be able to stand another year of university otherwise!

I've realised, while pondering these two potentially life-altering decisions, that I have a slight travel bug. My small glimpse of the world this summer, followed by my spontaneous relocation to London has given me itchy feet. Even though I'm doing well in London, have great contacts in the industry and a good job prospects.... I'm ready to move on again.

That was the most difficult part of settling into my job here at the post-production company, and was something I didn't expect. I found myself within a few weeks thinking about where I might be moving onto next, and worrying about staying put too long. Both things that even now I don't need to worry about too much, but an obvious result of a manic few months.

I obviously need to get away again. Not so much need.... but want to.... and I honestly think while you're young and have the desire to see something more than your own back yard, that equals need. Which will it be? Will I move to Toronto, something I actually can't wait to do, and something that my putting-off has frustrated me a great deal? Or will I up sticks for the US and hopefully give my career a little potential boost, which would involve big worries about funding but would be something that I would love every second of?

Or... will I end up doing neither one? I hope not. I hope in my next few months - or couple of years - in London, nothing happens to halt either plan. I also hope that I get over the itchy feet for a while. Because I really do love London, and although I daydream about moving across the pond on a regular basis, when I really think about it....

....I don't want to leave the Big Smoke just yet.

Almost Celeb Spots of the Week

So this week was fairly rubbish for me. At the beginning of the week I had a stomach bug AND a viral throat infection, and, just in time to see the doctor on Wednesday, managed to develop an ear infection too! This not only resulted in me feeling epically awful, but also going stir crazy in my tiny shoe-box of a bedroom.

Thus, those pesky celebs have evaded me for a week. However, on reading this week's copy of Heat magazine I made some frustrating discoveries. Heat's "Spotted" feature - a double-page spread listing celebrities that have been spotted out and about recently, and where they were seen - used to be a fun, if trivial, highlight of my fortnightly gossip-fest. But recently, or to be more precise, since I started working in Central London, it has become something more. Oxford Street, Regent Street, Mortimer Street, Margaret Street, Charlotte Street, Dean Street, Wardour Street... Not only do I know these streets like the back of my hand, but I walk along them every day.

"Spotted" is no longer something to wonder at ("Ooh... Keira Knightly was shopping at Tesco? I shop at Tesco!) or a form of light entertainment. "Spotted" is now, I believe, Heat's way of rubbing it in my face that some of my favourite stars grace the very pavements that my footprints are so well worn into. Ok, so maybe Britain's favourite glossy doesn't have it in for me, but it's still pretty damn annoying.

So, here Ladies and Gentlemen, are my "almost" Celeb Spots of the Week... We'll start with the most gutting of all, shall we?

- "Alicia Keys chatting furiously on her mobile phone as she left The Langham hotel in Regent Street, London." - The Langham hotel?! I pass by that hotel every single day on my way into work, not to mention sometimes walking past the entrance on the occasional run. Every time I linger a little longer to see who the swanky Bentley is waiting for, and every time I see nobobdy of interest. Alicia Keys?!

- "Pete Burns wearing a hideous outfit outisde Starbucks on Wardour Street, London." - Ok, so I don't actually care about missing Pete Burns, but i have always been intrigued to see for myself if he really is that ugly in the flesh. Shame.

- "Radio DJs Nick Grimshaw and Annie Mac meeting for lunch in Itsu in London's Soho." - Would have been cool, Annie Mac is a legend.

- "Alfie Allen and Jaime Winstone on Shaftesbury Avenue, central London..." - Not that great, but hey, I got excited about Fiona Phillips and Diane Louise Jordan...

- "Simon Pegg going into a sandwich shop on Charlotte Street, central London." - I've heard mixed things about this guy, but what a brilliant Celeb Spot that would have been!

And finally... and incredibly annoyingly...

- "Michael McIntyre rushing down Goodge Street, central London." - ARGH! I work SO close to Goodge Street, I walk along it most days. And Michael McIntyre is my FAVOURITE comedian. Excuse the slightly tasteless use of capitals, but there's no other way to convey my frustration. Michael McIntyre! As a Northern lass I used to be a die-hard Peter Kay fan, and I do still love the guy, but - sorry Peter - Michael stole my heart from the first time I saw him on Live At The Apollo. I have all his DVDs, and went to see him live last year in Lancaster with my old flatmates, also superfans of the floppy-haired funnyman.

One can only hope that he was doing what we all love him for; skipping whilst swinging both arms together...

Passer-by: "What are you doing, Michael?"

Michael: "I'm winning, that's what I'm doing!"






[Quotations taken from Heat, "Spotted", 16-22 January 2010]

"The first key to writing is to write, not to think!"

I want to write a screenplay.

I've been thinking about it for a good while (I know, I know... "not to think..."). These are my thoughts.

1. I can write. I'm a fairly good writer. Not an amazing writer... but I think I have the potential to write a good script.

2. I can see how the scene will pan out, for whatever I'm writing. Meaning I don't sit with a pen and paper and try to write the scene itself, rather visualise it and let it write itself. I have no idea, but it seems to me this could be a good technique to have.

3. I love film. And so the thought of seeing something that I have not only contributed to, but actually written or co-written, come to life... Well. That would be a dream come true.

4. (And this is where reality kicks in) I've never really written anything creatively. My writing skill is based on non-fiction essays and articles, which yes, I'm good at, but does that really set me in good stead to write a screenplay? It would seem not.

5. I don't seem to have the inspiration to come up with concepts, even though I think that if I were given a concept I would be more than able to run with it. Frustrating at the least. Especially when I probably do have the inspiration, it's probably staring me in the face. I just don't know how to see it yet.

6. I know that, even though it's not entirely necessary, taking some sort of course in writing screenplays, or just creative writing in general, would help me, but right now I have zero time to do anything like that.

7. Do I even have the time to write?


I don't want to become a writer. I just want to do it for a bit of fun... Something me and a few friends can take on and make something out of. Some more experience. But right now I'm stumped. I don't know how the hell I'm gonna do it.

But I will. And on the first few attempts it'll be shit. But I'll get there.

Failing that, I'll turn all Michael Bay on you... and bombard you with glorified pyrotechnics until you forget all about the shoddy dialogue and lack of narrative.

:)


“You must write your first draft with your heart. You rewrite with your head. The first key to writing is to write, not to think!”
Finding Forrester (2000) - William Forrester (Sean Connery)

"Honey, I'm off out for a New Years tipple..."

I spotted this at my local station on New Years Eve morning.....
...Looks like Santa knows how to wind down after a busy Christmas!

(A little late in posting this, but had to share it!)

"Do you like your tea strong, Mr Strong?"

Ahahahaha. I'm a funny one.

So today - definite the highlight of the day! - we had Mark Strong in recording a voice over. If you're not sure who that is, firstly shame on you, he's a British acting gem! And secondly, look out for tomorrow's Celeb Spots of the Week for more info.

I'm sorry folks. I honestly do apologise for this epic fail. Mark Strong did not order tea, or coffee, or anything that I could make myself and thus blog in too much detail about the amount of times he likes his tea bag swilled, or how he prefers brown sugar, or how towards the end of the day he enjoyed a lemon and ginger tea for a bit of a pick-up.

I can tell you this. He ordered a cappucino when he arrived, which we swiftly went out to pick up.
For lunch he simply ordered a Bananarama Smoothie from Crussh.

How very Hollywood.

Celeb Spots of the Week - First of 2010!

Things have been slow on the old celeb front. Mainly due to not doing much running around Soho lately, but my first week back in 2010 has been fairly fruitful.

-Chris Evans - Strolling down Great Portland St (probably after his radio show down the road at Radio 1) with a strange looking man-bag that looked somewhat like a vanity case....

-Mel C - Walking down Riding House St towards Regent St - didn't realise it was her at first; she looked up and smiled and I only realised as I walked past. Gutted I didn't stop for an autograph!

-Mark Strong - Star of Sunshine, Stardust, and various Guy-Ritchie-fests such as Revolver, Rock N Rolla and the new Sherlock Holmes in which he plays Lord Blackwood, in one of our audio suites recording a voice over. A very nice and very attractive man!

"One Day In Your Life...."

This post was going to be called 'A Day In The Life', but the Michael Jackson song title was too good to resist.

So. Here's the deal. Many friends and family members, and in fact total strangers, frequently ask me about my job, and often ask me what a typical day at work is like for me. I always try to explain, and fail because it's not exactly something you can fit in two sentences without making it sound like the worst job in the world. Which it isn't. So I'm going to explain it in a little more detail using the example of today.... and probably still make it sound like the worst job in the world. But bear with me.

I worked the late shift in our main building today, but I've also included the duties from the start of the day to give you and all-round idea.

8am - Open up the building. Check the night report - an email that goes round from around 7pm the previous night and is updated by each staff member as they leave with details of what has been done and what needs to be done the next day. Put water and glasses in each suite.

8.30am - Cover reception until receptionist/bookings staff arrive at 9.

9-11am (ish) - Take breakfast orders (tea, coffee, toast, fruit, etc) from all suites and serve them. Usually the busiest period of the day - when we're full this is 13 suites-worth of hungry clients all calling you at the same time!

11.30am - Take lunch menus round to clients who are in online suites.

12pm - Go out for lunches - varies but is usually really busy and can sometimes mean going to opposite areas to get various orders. Means rushing around with lots of carrier bags whilst trying to get back before it all goes cold! Serve lunches.

1pm - Early runner goes on lunch break. Sometimes cover reception during this time too if not too busy. Covering reception means answering phones, tranferring calls, organising tapes (logging in, dispatching, moving location on the system, etc.).

2pm - Today I went on a run during this hour, to Talkback Thames on Newman St. Usually never have to go any further than a 15-20min walk away from our main building. Also went on a run to our other building on Margaret St.

3pm - Early runner went to cover the mid-shift runner at our other building. The other building is smaller with 5 online suites (audio, grading, etc), and that shift involves the same job, just slightly different depending on the amount of clients attending/tapes to be organised, as there is no receptionist. Our main building has 11 offline suites and 2 onlines.

4pm - Late runner (me today) goes on lunch break. You get an hour, which I usually spend watching TV on iPlayer or 4OD to unwind a little.

5pm - Early runner leaves. From this point onwards we do general jobs in the quiet periods (cleaning, toilet checks, suite clearing, etc).

6pm - Take, go out for and serve dinner orders.

7pm - 9pm - Mid-shift runner leaves at 7. Clear all suites of empty cups, plates, etc, and tidy them up as much as possible. Clean the kitchen, set the last dishwasher load off and prepare anything for the next morning (e.g. dispatch notes for tapes to be delivered in the morning, putting the next day's daysheet on the wall). As long as everything is done and all the clients are gone, the late runner leaves at 9pm.

Throughout the day we do any runs that need to be done, either between our buildings or to other companys also working on the programmes we are doing. We also generally look after the clients, mainly with drinks and food, but also with other odd-jobs. It means we spend most of our day in the kitchen, and do a LOT of running around throughout the day. The shifts are also not strictly set to the allocated times. Often on the late shift it can run over by half an hour, an hour, or sometimes longer. Before christmas I worked one shift when one of our projects had finished and all of the deliverable tapes needed to be dispatched the next morning. This included 20 episodes, with 3 tapes and 3 DVDs per episode. I had to wait for them all to be done, double check they were all there and create a dispatch note for them all, which ended up with me not leaving until 1.30am. It's all good though, it doesn't happen very often so you just get on with it when it does, and you get a cab home if you miss the last tube, so don't have to worry about getting home safely.

So that's it. Like I said, it probably sounds shit, but it's not. Yeah, sometimes it gets to you a bit that you are just on the bottom ring and generally take people's shit for a living, but all in all it's a great environment to work in, 95% of the people I work with are lovely and good fun, and I get the experience of seeing post-production television happen before my eyes.

Plus, you get to recognise every form of tape by just looking at its cover.... what more could you want to learn in life?

"Goodbye 2009... You've been good to me."

What an amazing year. Like any year there have been major up and major downs, but overall I think this has definitely been my best year to date....

2009 began, as usual, with post-Christmas family time. Translation - yet more turkey concoctions, bad TV re-runs and frenzied rooting through the empty wrappers in the Quality Street tin for untouched green triangles.

Then, it was back to uni. The next few months consisted of attempting to retain my good grades whilst, in all honesty, partying way too much with my fantastic friends. I couldn't have asked for more. Intense Wii sessions - the entire flat crammed into my tiny bedroom taking turns to play on the maracas, and me and my flatmate desperately trying to complete House of the Dead late at night, whilst taking the piss out of the cheesy dialogue. Then there were the days spent sunbathing on the fields, when someone always seemed to turn up with a crate of beer and a disposable barbeque, the immense roadtrip to Scotland with the girls, and some amazing parties.

Oh, and I wrote my entire dissertation in 36 hours. 8000 words of which were written in the 24 hours before the deadline. On my usual form, I managed to get a reasonable-yet-could-easily-have-been-much-higher grade of 65.

The day I received my results could not have been more of a contrast of up and down. I was over the moon to get a 2:1, and set out to celebrate at a uni-organised party in the bar by my flat. A couple of hours into the evening I got a call from my mum to say that the news was reporting that Michael Jackson had died. I sat down where I was in the street and cried. I have been a huge fan of Michael my entire life, and had been ecstatic for months looking forward to the front row tickets for one of his London concerts in 2010, which I had paid £600 for, as well as another £100 for another show on another night. It was truly one of the saddest things I have experienced.

In July I graduated, extremely happy with my degree, and very sad to be leaving Lancaster, my graduation day being the perfect end to a brilliant year.

At the end of the month I set off on my long-awaited trip to the US and Canada, one of the best experiences I will ever have. Then, a day after returning to the UK I began my new career in London, and have been here ever since. I have worked on fashion shows, music videos, a film, and now for my company in post-production. And the future is already looking bright.

This year also saw the birth of my amazing nephew Lucas, who in his first month survived major heart surgery and has grown into a beautiful, funny, well-behaved and inspirational little soldier.

I'm almost sad to see 2009 go, with so many moments that I would give my right arm to experience all over again. But I'm excited for 2010; my first year that begins entirely in the real world! I honestly have no idea how it's going to pan out, but I'm going to continue to work my backside off to 'keep the dream alive'.

Ahhh.... casual cheesiness. Brilliant.