No casting coaches but some hard chairs...
Chelfyn and I went to a casting yesterday for a TV advert. We got the call in the afternoon and barely had time to get Fudged up before heading to the studios. It's a strange process. You wait around in on hard chairs, before a few brief minutes in front of a director when you have to switch on and perform on command (dahling).
We all had to go into together and stand in a line, holding up whiteboards with our details and introduce ourselves. It was like some bizzare police lineup or AA meeting, "Hello my name is Helen, I'm 32 and I have tattoos". We were then told to dance around in the front of the camera as if we were at a club. They played a track which was about 125 bpm and way too slow to really dance to. So Chelfyn whipped out one of his mix CDs, and as soon as the acid line kicked in everyone started cranking. After 5 minutes of bouncing around the director yelled 'cut!' just as we were all getting into it. We had a swift don't call us we'll call you, and the next line of hopefuls went in.
We should know in a few days if we get the parts and if we do we'll be playing twenty-somethings. Which tickled Chelfyn as his Mum had kindly pointed out he's nearer to his forties than thirties. Luckily like me he's never been a sun bunny. We've spent most of our lives being indoor geeks in the cloudy UK, unlike the beach loving Kiwis with no ozone layer. Anyway it's all about smoke and mirrors in TV. What you don't see is the amount of work that goes into post production and how much is about good makeup and lighting. With a coat of paint and the right light anyone can look celebrity-glossy.
The last time I was 'talent' (sweetie) was in June. I was booked for a speaking part in a shoot for POD Fashion Management. It was the first time I'd worn full make-up in years. It took over an hour for the slap to be trowelled on and under the lights I looked fantastic. It was another story in daylight. Think drag queen after a night's carousing on K'Rd. I'm very glad I don't have to wear that much makeup every day, and it's one of the reasons I love doing radio.
We'll be broadcasting this week's TMet Show from Twisted Studio #3 in Waitakere City. With special guests Xtensa which comprises of Cathy on the decks with partner Al on live Didgeridoo. Xtensa are recently back from the UK and will be spinning some psytrance alongside Chelfyn on The TMet Show, Friday 28th October, from 5 - 8 p.m. on Twisted Radio. You can also check out our show archives if you miss it.
October 26, 2005
October 21, 2005
Chelfyn on TV3 News & MsB on National Radio
For someone who popped his TV cherry recently, Chelfyn is fast racking up appearances on Kiwi TV. This will be the third appearance he's made in as many weeks, and we're both up for a TV commercial next Wednesday. It's almost like we've had a special offer on this month at Mohawk Media Tarts-R-Us. I'm on Liz Barry's Night Manoevres show on National Radio from 11.06 p.m. again tonight as in part 2 of my interview on our label TMet Recordings. I talked so much the poor girl had to split it into two weeks.
It was the last thing Chelfyn was expecting this morning - a phonecall from the TV3 Newsroom. He'd only had a few hours sleep, as he stayed up until 4 a.m. last night playing with the green-screen. It was a choice of 'early night' or 'stay up and make Sith Lord animation'. Of course the chance to throw lightening bolts proved too much for him. He had an hour to get his head together before the camera crew arrived, and the piece about Phishing should be on TV3 news between 6 and 7 p.m. tonight.
Which is right in the middle of our Twisted Radio show, but luckily we're broadcasting from Twisted Studio 3 in Waitakare City. So we'll be able to mix some long tracks in and then watch the TV3 news in our sitting room. I love this remote broadcasting lark. All I have to do if go down 3 steps and I can be live on the radio. Best of all we hardly need any gear, just a mike, a decent net connection and a few PCs. With a bit more bandwidth we'll be able to broadcast net TV, made in a garage in West Auckland.
For someone who popped his TV cherry recently, Chelfyn is fast racking up appearances on Kiwi TV. This will be the third appearance he's made in as many weeks, and we're both up for a TV commercial next Wednesday. It's almost like we've had a special offer on this month at Mohawk Media Tarts-R-Us. I'm on Liz Barry's Night Manoevres show on National Radio from 11.06 p.m. again tonight as in part 2 of my interview on our label TMet Recordings. I talked so much the poor girl had to split it into two weeks.
It was the last thing Chelfyn was expecting this morning - a phonecall from the TV3 Newsroom. He'd only had a few hours sleep, as he stayed up until 4 a.m. last night playing with the green-screen. It was a choice of 'early night' or 'stay up and make Sith Lord animation'. Of course the chance to throw lightening bolts proved too much for him. He had an hour to get his head together before the camera crew arrived, and the piece about Phishing should be on TV3 news between 6 and 7 p.m. tonight.
Which is right in the middle of our Twisted Radio show, but luckily we're broadcasting from Twisted Studio 3 in Waitakare City. So we'll be able to mix some long tracks in and then watch the TV3 news in our sitting room. I love this remote broadcasting lark. All I have to do if go down 3 steps and I can be live on the radio. Best of all we hardly need any gear, just a mike, a decent net connection and a few PCs. With a bit more bandwidth we'll be able to broadcast net TV, made in a garage in West Auckland.
October 19, 2005
The 10 Faces of Innovation
"meet the personality types it takes to keep creativity thriving--and the devil's advocate at bay."
Intellectual property issues
"PATENTS and copyright laws are meant to be the friends of innovation and are a foundation of the modern business world. But there is a growing risk that intellectual-property laws are now so stringent that they are actually inhibiting innovation, rather than protecting it."
October 17, 2005
Night Manoeuvres & Green-screens at TMet Towers
It's been a hectic few weeks at the TMet Studios with a few of our out-of-town producers dropping through. Focus, Crises and Disorder AKA The Nitrate Boys were up from Christchurch for the Auckland leg of their 'Tantrum 2' tour. These motivated youngsters have toured their Nitrate all ages nights to three Kiwi cities. All by the tender age of seventeen. Thankfully they are ego free and it's inspiring being around teenagers with so much drive and passion. Focus spent a few days holed up in the studio with Chelfyn, swapping samples and music production tricks. We now have seven Focus releases out on TMet and he left us with some wicked new psychadelic trance for Chelfyn to engineer. We also had one of my favourite boys DJ Baxter staying for a few days, on his way back from two weeks in Melbourne. Baxter has been busy writing at his Northland studio, and he'll have more releases out on TMet Recordings in the next two weeks.
TMet Recordings was featured on this week's Night Manoeuvres on Radio NZ, as part one of a two-part interview I did with host Liz Barry last month. We've been plugging away at building the label for almost two years, and it's so exciting that people are starting to take notice of what we've built. I'd like to thank Liz Barry heaps for being so supportive, and letting us tell the TMet story. The second part of the interview with me will be on Night Manoeuvres this Friday from 11.06 p.m. on National Radio.
We've got some cool video projects in the Mohawk Media pipeline, like VJ gigs in November and December. We're starting to cluster with another Auckland videographics agency and our first collaboration with them may be a rock video for an Australian act. We also had an awesome meeting this week with JCK, a young Auckland duo who are making funky Hip Hop. They consist of songwriter/MC James CK, with slinky vocals from the gorgeous Lou Ludbrook. We are hoping to work with them on some music videos, as they are both creative and up for pushing visual boundaries. With the use of green-screen shoots and post production techniques, the only limit is our imaginations...
It's been a hectic few weeks at the TMet Studios with a few of our out-of-town producers dropping through. Focus, Crises and Disorder AKA The Nitrate Boys were up from Christchurch for the Auckland leg of their 'Tantrum 2' tour. These motivated youngsters have toured their Nitrate all ages nights to three Kiwi cities. All by the tender age of seventeen. Thankfully they are ego free and it's inspiring being around teenagers with so much drive and passion. Focus spent a few days holed up in the studio with Chelfyn, swapping samples and music production tricks. We now have seven Focus releases out on TMet and he left us with some wicked new psychadelic trance for Chelfyn to engineer. We also had one of my favourite boys DJ Baxter staying for a few days, on his way back from two weeks in Melbourne. Baxter has been busy writing at his Northland studio, and he'll have more releases out on TMet Recordings in the next two weeks.
TMet Recordings was featured on this week's Night Manoeuvres on Radio NZ, as part one of a two-part interview I did with host Liz Barry last month. We've been plugging away at building the label for almost two years, and it's so exciting that people are starting to take notice of what we've built. I'd like to thank Liz Barry heaps for being so supportive, and letting us tell the TMet story. The second part of the interview with me will be on Night Manoeuvres this Friday from 11.06 p.m. on National Radio.
We've got some cool video projects in the Mohawk Media pipeline, like VJ gigs in November and December. We're starting to cluster with another Auckland videographics agency and our first collaboration with them may be a rock video for an Australian act. We also had an awesome meeting this week with JCK, a young Auckland duo who are making funky Hip Hop. They consist of songwriter/MC James CK, with slinky vocals from the gorgeous Lou Ludbrook. We are hoping to work with them on some music videos, as they are both creative and up for pushing visual boundaries. With the use of green-screen shoots and post production techniques, the only limit is our imaginations...
October 13, 2005
Fudge Paintbox for Manga style mops
I've had a few readers mail me recently, to ask if my hair really is purple or if I've Photoshopped it. No digital manipulation for me, as my crowning glory is currently a vibrant shade of Purple Haze, while Chelfyn loves his Orange Crush, and the Mistress her Cherry Bomb red. All of these in-your-face shades are from the Fudge Paintbox range, as worn by artists, musicians, clubbers, and creatives worldwide.
Thanks to our Fudge sponsorship, the Husband, Mistress and I get to play with their entire new hairwear range. We've found a few firm favourites from the 'Wet Head' shampoo and conditioner that keeps our locks clean and soft, to the stick of 'Dynamite' for a deep moisture treat that smells wonderfully of coconut. As does the '1 Shot' leave in treatment, perfect for a spray in moisture boost in-between washes.
Chelfyn has two clear favourites to keep his mohawk aloft. For daywear he goes for the soft feel of 'Hair Gum' and its delicious bubble gum smell. For evening wear and a erect crest, he prefers to use the 'Matte Head' styling paste. With long hair I used the 'Skrewd' curl enhancer and a slick of 'Hair Varnish' for shine. Now I'm loving 'Fat Hed' in the day, and 'Hair Shaper' to give my choppy crop some night time cyberpunk. They all smell wonderful from fruity fresh to coconut & honey.
Fudge is extreme hair styling for extreme wear, and will easily survive a hard night's clubbing. There are even temporary spray colours in the Paintbox range for weekend warriors to FudgeUp their faux-hawks & fins. Best of all Fudge don't test on animals. Unless you count us of course. We'd like to say a big thank you to Angelique Fris-Taylor at Fudge New Zealand for keeping our locks luscious. For more check out: www.fudge.com
I've had a few readers mail me recently, to ask if my hair really is purple or if I've Photoshopped it. No digital manipulation for me, as my crowning glory is currently a vibrant shade of Purple Haze, while Chelfyn loves his Orange Crush, and the Mistress her Cherry Bomb red. All of these in-your-face shades are from the Fudge Paintbox range, as worn by artists, musicians, clubbers, and creatives worldwide.
Thanks to our Fudge sponsorship, the Husband, Mistress and I get to play with their entire new hairwear range. We've found a few firm favourites from the 'Wet Head' shampoo and conditioner that keeps our locks clean and soft, to the stick of 'Dynamite' for a deep moisture treat that smells wonderfully of coconut. As does the '1 Shot' leave in treatment, perfect for a spray in moisture boost in-between washes.
Chelfyn has two clear favourites to keep his mohawk aloft. For daywear he goes for the soft feel of 'Hair Gum' and its delicious bubble gum smell. For evening wear and a erect crest, he prefers to use the 'Matte Head' styling paste. With long hair I used the 'Skrewd' curl enhancer and a slick of 'Hair Varnish' for shine. Now I'm loving 'Fat Hed' in the day, and 'Hair Shaper' to give my choppy crop some night time cyberpunk. They all smell wonderful from fruity fresh to coconut & honey.
Fudge is extreme hair styling for extreme wear, and will easily survive a hard night's clubbing. There are even temporary spray colours in the Paintbox range for weekend warriors to FudgeUp their faux-hawks & fins. Best of all Fudge don't test on animals. Unless you count us of course. We'd like to say a big thank you to Angelique Fris-Taylor at Fudge New Zealand for keeping our locks luscious. For more check out: www.fudge.com
October 12, 2005
Top 20 NZ Indie Albums, September 05
1. Fat Freddy's Drop, Based On A True Story
2. Recloose, Hiatus On The Horizon
3. International Observer, All Played Out
4. Various, Dub Conspiracy
5. Fly My Pretties, Live At Bats
6. Fat Freddy's Drop, Live At The Matterhorn
7. Rhombus, Bass Player
8. Ghostplane, Beneath The Sleepy Lagoon
9. Kora, Volume EP
10. TrinityRoots, Home Land And Sea
11. Whirimako Black, Kura Huna
12. The Illphonics, The Illphonics
13. Bachelorette, The End Of Things EP
14. Kitsch, The Burning Ground
15. Phoenix Foundation, Horsepower
16. Katchafire, Revival
17. BassCamp, Southern Face
18. TrinityRoots, True
19. Various, Loop Select 007: We Are Here
20. Die! Die! Die!, Die! Die! Die! EP
From Indies.co.nz
1. Fat Freddy's Drop, Based On A True Story
2. Recloose, Hiatus On The Horizon
3. International Observer, All Played Out
4. Various, Dub Conspiracy
5. Fly My Pretties, Live At Bats
6. Fat Freddy's Drop, Live At The Matterhorn
7. Rhombus, Bass Player
8. Ghostplane, Beneath The Sleepy Lagoon
9. Kora, Volume EP
10. TrinityRoots, Home Land And Sea
11. Whirimako Black, Kura Huna
12. The Illphonics, The Illphonics
13. Bachelorette, The End Of Things EP
14. Kitsch, The Burning Ground
15. Phoenix Foundation, Horsepower
16. Katchafire, Revival
17. BassCamp, Southern Face
18. TrinityRoots, True
19. Various, Loop Select 007: We Are Here
20. Die! Die! Die!, Die! Die! Die! EP
From Indies.co.nz
October 11, 2005
Celebrating Kiwi Chicks from TV & Screen, 10 years of WIFT
I'm still suffering from the aftermath of last night's Women in Film & Television Awards. We arrived at the Village Cinema on Broadway at 6 ish, in time to grab the last goody bags and my first Chardonnay. Before the Kiwi premiere of Toni Collette & Cameron Diaz chick flick 'In Her Shoes' which was great fun, with some hilarious one liners from the older characters. Chelfyn was kept amused by the amount of time the delectable Ms Diaz spends half naked. In an old folks home no less. One suspects that her chest has undergone recent enhancement, as her breasts are very perky for a lithe thirtysomething. But she's Cameron and will always be fabulous.
After the film we decamped to the foyer for the 10th annual WIFT Awards, given to oustanding women working in the New Zealand Film & TV industry. The PM was supposed to be attending but instead she sent Judith Tizzard, the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage who is one funny lady. One award went to super fit Zoe Bell, who was stunt double for Lucy Lawless in Xena and Uma Thurman's kick ass stunt chick in Kill Bill 2. Another was presented by Julie Christie, head of Touchdown Productions one of New Zealand's biggest production companies.
Julie Christie is Queen of Kiwi Reality TV. One cannot deny that she has made a lot of money, and created a whole new layer of celebrity fodder for the women's weeklies. But I have to say the cynic in me sees great irony in an industry award from someone who has directly and indirectly put so many writers and actors out of business. The American Screen Actors Guild estimates it at 10% of their previous work rate before Reality TV hit the industry.
After the spot prizes and the winner of the 'Most Fabulous Shoes' competition I chatted to some fabulous women. Jules McLachlan is a screenwriter and stunning redhead, who has a treatment waiting for a greenlight from a keen producer. Nina Knight is an immaculate New York actor & model who also does stand up and has written a children's book that she wants to animate. She says she's had some funny situations since coming to New Zealand, as she's been modelling in America for years. Here on every casting she's surrounded by gangly teenagers. It seems that Kiwis haven't cottoned on yet to the fact that women actually want to see other women on screen and in fashion spreads.
I also caught up with the gorgeous Jenine Olliver who was the producer who spotted me in the street, and booked me for the Pod shoot back in June. She introduced us to her lovely Director friend Elena Doyle, who by a huge coincidence went to art college in Dublin. With one of Chelfyn's girlfriends!
It was a great night and very inspiring to see so many successful women working in the Kiwi film & TV industry. I was also struck by how friendly everyone was and how much they seem to support one another here. In my time I've met some truly dreadful TV people. Here you have cool women making great work like Intrepid Journeys, The Piano, Once were Warriors and Lord of the Rings. The only sore point to the night was the one too many Chardys, followed by two too many beers. Now I'm now off to nurse my hangover.
I'm still suffering from the aftermath of last night's Women in Film & Television Awards. We arrived at the Village Cinema on Broadway at 6 ish, in time to grab the last goody bags and my first Chardonnay. Before the Kiwi premiere of Toni Collette & Cameron Diaz chick flick 'In Her Shoes' which was great fun, with some hilarious one liners from the older characters. Chelfyn was kept amused by the amount of time the delectable Ms Diaz spends half naked. In an old folks home no less. One suspects that her chest has undergone recent enhancement, as her breasts are very perky for a lithe thirtysomething. But she's Cameron and will always be fabulous.
After the film we decamped to the foyer for the 10th annual WIFT Awards, given to oustanding women working in the New Zealand Film & TV industry. The PM was supposed to be attending but instead she sent Judith Tizzard, the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage who is one funny lady. One award went to super fit Zoe Bell, who was stunt double for Lucy Lawless in Xena and Uma Thurman's kick ass stunt chick in Kill Bill 2. Another was presented by Julie Christie, head of Touchdown Productions one of New Zealand's biggest production companies.
Julie Christie is Queen of Kiwi Reality TV. One cannot deny that she has made a lot of money, and created a whole new layer of celebrity fodder for the women's weeklies. But I have to say the cynic in me sees great irony in an industry award from someone who has directly and indirectly put so many writers and actors out of business. The American Screen Actors Guild estimates it at 10% of their previous work rate before Reality TV hit the industry.
After the spot prizes and the winner of the 'Most Fabulous Shoes' competition I chatted to some fabulous women. Jules McLachlan is a screenwriter and stunning redhead, who has a treatment waiting for a greenlight from a keen producer. Nina Knight is an immaculate New York actor & model who also does stand up and has written a children's book that she wants to animate. She says she's had some funny situations since coming to New Zealand, as she's been modelling in America for years. Here on every casting she's surrounded by gangly teenagers. It seems that Kiwis haven't cottoned on yet to the fact that women actually want to see other women on screen and in fashion spreads.
I also caught up with the gorgeous Jenine Olliver who was the producer who spotted me in the street, and booked me for the Pod shoot back in June. She introduced us to her lovely Director friend Elena Doyle, who by a huge coincidence went to art college in Dublin. With one of Chelfyn's girlfriends!
It was a great night and very inspiring to see so many successful women working in the Kiwi film & TV industry. I was also struck by how friendly everyone was and how much they seem to support one another here. In my time I've met some truly dreadful TV people. Here you have cool women making great work like Intrepid Journeys, The Piano, Once were Warriors and Lord of the Rings. The only sore point to the night was the one too many Chardys, followed by two too many beers. Now I'm now off to nurse my hangover.
October 02, 2005
Business Wisdom
"All high achievers plan their work and work their plan, for they are keenly aware that 'luck' is most often being prepared to take advantage of a situation."
Anon
Anon
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