| Wednesday, March 7th, 2007 |
| 11:39 pm |
My brother was hit by a car today. He's okay - for now - but still very worried. He was on his way to work on his bike, broad daylight and wearing very bright clothing. All of a sudden this asshole came shooting out of a side street without checking and slammed into my brother sideways on, impacting at his hip. Now - apparently this guys reactions are not too great as he didn't even slam on the breaks for a couple of metres. So my brother - slammed into, riding a car bonnet, then thrown off and the cars tyre stopping right next to his head narrowly avoiding him and oh, yeah he's in the other lane of oncoming traffic. Now Neil said he couldn't stop shaking he was in shock but managed to stand up and looked in the car and this guy has three kids in the car too. Driving like that with kids - sick. The guy eventually got out of the car and just said 'you alright, mate' - pretty non fucking chalant. After Neil got this guys details he left as soon as possible to drop his kids at school. Didn't even call an ambulance or offer to give him a lift to the hospital. Luckily some woman who had been driving behind Neil stopped and looked after him and volunteered her details as a witness. My mum got down there and after a long wait in casualty (they forgot about him - welcome to the NHS) was seen by a doctor. But they didn't x-ray him - ? Then was talking to police, statement, yadda yadda. Then came Jenny (his girlfriend) having being told, rushing in and started sobbing with relief. Her sister was killed by a hit run driver a few years ago in similar circumstances. So apparently my brother is still in a lot of pain but doesn't want to go to hospital again tonight. Just wants to sleep. I'm not the only who believes this is a mistake but my mum told me shes going to go around tomorrow and get him back to hospital whether he likes it or not. He's strong and well built so there shouldn't be too much damage hopefully. I'll find out whats happening tomorrow. |
| Friday, February 23rd, 2007 |
| 2:12 am |
Friends of the High Line
I think that on my list of places the I desperately want to visit around the world - New York is pretty much at the top. There is now another reason to add to the many reasons I wish to go there. Now. Ladies, please set aside the fact that Edward Norton is interviewed in some of these short films - he is of course a good reason to go to New York - but the High Line is a great reason. ...the last statement also applies to Timo. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=friendsofthehighline Speaking of Edward Norton there is The Illusionist soon, but what I'm really excited about is The Painted Veil. |
| Sunday, February 11th, 2007 |
| 7:25 pm |
I think some people should be steralised.
It's a wonder my family are still alive in that house. Basically - back home in Somerset we have a nice four bedroom house, big garden, drive way, nice location in a village. Was a council house but my mum and Aiden bought it and have been making improvements over the last couple of years to truly make it their dream home. Now finally they are doing the kitchen and conservatory - and what do the workmen find when they are tearing things through... Years ago before my mum divorced her lazy ass idiotic husband he had tried to do some 'improvements' himself. Well the wiring has been slowly scorching the inside of the ceiling and they basically are saying its a miracle the house hasn't gone up in flames. And if it had the part of the ceiling where the problem was comes out at the top of the stairs so say it happened in the night - everyone would have been trapped upstairs. Other problems found - funnily enough also caused by the twat. Plug sockets in the hallway - dangerous. Rotting in floorboards where he'd put in bathroom suite improperly and the bath could have come through the ceiling, hence - dangerous. This is now costing them alot more money to set things right they didn't even know were wrong and now my mum is having a friend of the family who is a surveyor to check to see if there are any other little blunders the prick made. I'm just pleased they found all this stuff before something dreadful happened. I heard a little while back that this idiot and his just as idiotic son made a boat/ship - whatever the fuck they wanna call it and they got into the sea finally and it sunk within five minutes. You couldn't make this shit up, you really couldn't. |
| Friday, February 9th, 2007 |
| 1:13 am |
The Science of Sleep
Tonight (or last night you could call it now) - myself, Helen, Timo and Chris went to The Curzon in Soho to see The Science of Sleep. A film by Michel Gondry. With a Q & A afterwards with the man himself. Didn't ask a question myself as was afraid that I'd get half way through and then just gush how I think he's fantastic and great and the bestest. It's not really a question. But Timo got to ask a question though. Not a bad answer too. So I recommend his new film - out next Friday - and just want to say that I think he's fantastic and great and the bestest. Sweet dreams all.  |
| Monday, January 29th, 2007 |
| 7:17 pm |
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| Saturday, January 6th, 2007 |
| 3:50 pm |
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| Friday, January 5th, 2007 |
| 9:12 pm |
I was sick - sick unto death with that long agony
Yeah. I had some Edgar Allen Poe for christmas. Hello one and all. Hope everyone had a great christmas, new year - and birthday. Hello Gavin. Saw family and friends. Had food, drink and was merry. Got nice pressies too. Weirdest thing though was from lil' sis among other things she gave me a teddy bear. But - no, don't be fooled ladies and gentleman. This is no ordinary bear. It is wearing the ghost costume from the movie 'Scream'. I'm torn between thinking its scary and its cute. Have been working at Algebra the last three days. Doing editing, subtitles and things but can't complain - I'm going on a shoot next week. Besides its nice of them to pay me for this stuff. Also bonus is their offices are only open five days a week. So, I have my weekends back. Hooray. I can actually see my friends... you have been forewarned. Oh, yeah and I think there needs to be a group outing on 16th February... http://youtube.com/watch?v=i7J_vYN5ZkYHappy Valentines.  |
| Sunday, December 17th, 2006 |
| 4:15 pm |
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| 2:37 pm |
3 friends coming for dinner, 2 work christmas parties and a partridge in a pear tree.
I go home on Tuesday so for today we are having the London christmas dinner for friends. Anyway so, its been a while since an update. Its been quite a fun month, even though I was working solidly through it. The situation was the same as last time - five days a week at HMV full time and two days a week at Algebra TV full time which = knackered natalie. But worth it. Had the works do for HMV which was quite fun. First went to gourmet burger in Richmond and then went to Kew Gardens to do night time out doors ice skating. And it appeared I was the only one who could skate without falling on arse, proud moment. After that it was back to Richmond for what was meant to be a night in an irish pub with live bands but as some couldn't get in as had no ID we had to go to this horrible bar across the street which had a - dance floor. Oh, the horror. But I did dance, I danced like a twat and loved it. Only thing a bit odd there was that girls were literally going around in underwear (some kind of special theme night) which was just yucky. Guys were creepy and led me to say no sorry, I'm with him to whoever from work was closest. Funny - most the other girls from work tended to do the same. But overall was a fun night. Then there was the works night out for Algebra. We went to The Albany pub in Twickenham. Everyone from media side was there and a few people from Shell (main client) turned up too. Ate food, dranka dn was merry and as some will know that was also the night when I texted several people to exclaim 'Nick Frost is in the pub!' - for the uninitiated he was Mike in Spaced and Ed in Shaun of the Dead. Lately though I couldn't cope with going home for christmas for just one day, which with my hmv contract I would have to do. So, just over a week ago I handed in my notice and lied rather convincingly that I had had a full time media job offer - so they wouldn't/couldn't be pissed at me. Funnily enough though since I did that people at Algebra have been enquiring whether I am free in the new year, and whether its full time. Also had an email from a woman from a new chat show who said she's like me to be involved. Also - the final filming for feature film LVJ I have been involved with is in January. Umm, I think I am now a freelancer. How did that happen? |
| Thursday, November 30th, 2006 |
| 1:59 pm |
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| Wednesday, November 29th, 2006 |
| 4:47 pm |
Cardiff Ahoy
So. Earlier this week I had my two days with Algebra TV again. Not as exciting as last week but hey, take the bad with the good. I also had a call from Another Film Company for an interview, tomorrow. Fingers crossed. I've also applied for a job on Doctor Who as a runner. Unlikely but must try. For me it is one of the dream jobs that may actually be attainable at this point. In Cardiff though. Do-able. |
| Tuesday, November 21st, 2006 |
| 10:40 pm |
How soon is now?
Today went well. The shoot was at the Shell building next to the London Eye. That building is amazing; part of it was meant to be a shopping centre for tourists from Waterloo way back when. In the lower levels and basements there are swimming pools, a fitness centre, squash court, cinema rooms, a theatre (that has sadly been gutted - badly) and... a tv studio that they just use for their corporate films which is where Algebra TV come in. Hard work and lots of fun. At the end of the day when we got back to the office the two guys in charge went off for a quick chat. When they came back they said that they are paying me fifty quid for every day I've worked and if I'm free theres work for me next Monday. I'm so very, very free. I'm going to be knackered working full time and part time but its worth it. So very tired now. But grateful. |
| Monday, November 20th, 2006 |
| 9:32 pm |
Woo hoo woo hoo hoo.
Well... I got another job. I think. Sort of. Algebra TV whom I have been bothering for a little while - called me last week and invited me to work with them on my next day off (today) which I did. It went well. I was doing office stuff all day; logging shots, etc. At the end of the day I was invited to go on a shoot tomorrow. And apparently if the amount of work they have keeps up they could use me on many if not all of my days off from hmv. Paid. The guy in charge said I could wind up going on several shoots a month. I met everyone again from last time and got to know them more. The entire staff went to lunch together and it was a lot of fun. One guy Shaun when he saw me this morning and was told I'd be working with them, came out with:- 'How do you spell Don Quixote?' Though bemused - I spelt it out. He then laughed and said welcome. Apparently this is now a company joke as they gave a runner a chance a while back and he was doing subs for something. They said if he was unsure - to ask, or wanted to check spellings - please do. Donkey houti. Didn't even know it was a person. But a lesson for me. When I was unsure about something today - I asked. I think this could finally be the start of something good. Current Music: Woo Hoo - 5, 6, 7, 8's |
| Saturday, November 18th, 2006 |
| 7:54 pm |
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| Thursday, November 2nd, 2006 |
| 12:15 am |
Glaciers melting in the dead of night
I filled out an application yesterday in HMV. I then began to browse. The manager found me, we chatted and five minutes later I was hired. I did a shift today. I am employed. Congratulate me. Talking about movies and music all day was quite a stretch but I managed. The day before that I went to Algebra TV in Twickenham who I had visited when my CV was more crappy than it is now with recent work. They may give me freelance work. We'll see. |
| Saturday, October 21st, 2006 |
| 8:23 pm |
Temping at my dream job...
First of all – I didn’t get the Film London job. Which is fine, my job is out there waiting for me. …wow, that sounded optimistic. The LVJ shoot though – has been fantastic. I did the night shoot/early hours next day on Thursday and the day time until next morning on Friday. First place was the control tower/radar room at Heathrow. Lots of security but much fun was had. And this feature may be low budget but my god; the way it was shot was beautiful. Everyone kept joking that it’d fit in with ‘24’ Then yesterday we were an airbase up near Colchester which – fighter planes and hangers, so beautiful and unbelievable how the producer managed to get these locations. Throughout the two days I got very snap happy with my trusty Pentax. At first I was just taking a couple of pics like most of the crew were to show people to say ‘look where I was!’ but then the producer said he’d like some more behind scenes ones – so, whenever I had a spare second… three rolls in total in the two days. But – I didn’t neglect my role and helped out pretty much in every department. So. The locations were amazing, the actors fantastic and really fun to be around and I got to see again crew from last time whom I got on really well with and they were happy to see me again, not to mention meeting the new crew too. Also; I think I’m getting better at the technical stuff on location as the D.P was saying that he was glad I was there again because I know what I’m doing with lights. For those that didn’t know, haven’t experienced my ‘skills’ in that area. I’ve always considered lighting as the thing I am crap at. So the film has finished its shooting. It is low budget and has been going for about five years. Everyone involved has been doing this over time with their day time media jobs doing promo films and whatever and has been a labour of love it would appear. But it looks amazing and really high budget. I’ve seen some of the special effects things from helicopters going over a scene, explosions to space ships. I’m really impressed. They’ve been editing and doing their CG stuff as they went along so hopefully won’t have to wait too long for it to come out. There is even a comic book tie in coming out. Like with what they did for X-Men. Mark Producer/Actor/Occasional Sound Operator – was so happy yesterday. Eating biscuits, chocolate and laughing because he doesn’t have to watch what he’s eating anymore and joked he was going to shave his head to get rid of the Hugh Grant hair. It only then dawned on me that some of the actors have had to maintain their look for a long time. All in all good experience and hope to work with them again, who knows it might even be on a different film. : ) |
| Wednesday, October 18th, 2006 |
| 1:16 pm |
LVJ Returns
The unbelievably hard film shoot in the middle of nowhere I helped on a while back are filming their final scenes. At the airport controllers room on a night shoot. On an airbase outside London that they used for that Channel Four show Space Cadets. And then some MI5 mock offices, blue screen stuff and model work. They want me on all these days but in some locations - such as an active controllers tower - there is a limit on people. So - Thursday; I'm waiting back to see if they can get a pass for me. Friday; is definate, the producer said I should like it as its the opposite of the woods shoot - indoors mostly, hot food, the nearest bathroom is closer than two miles and no lugging equipment on foot through a mile of uneven ground. I'm in! And Saturday - they have a back up location for some MI5 thing but want a better one so until its fixed they won't list extra crew. I'll get expenses but don't think there will be actual monies as nice as the music video thing. But hell, its experience. No word on the Film London job. By now its safe to say I didn't get it. Oh well. |
| Tuesday, October 17th, 2006 |
| 12:15 am |
Pools of sorrow waves of joy are drifting through my open mind
Should hear whether I got that job in the next couple of days. Mandatory finger crossing, please. I got a call from my mum to first of all ask after my mental health - sweet of her - and then to mention that a family friend named Helen, nice woman, also mum to a celebrity chef - was wondering how I was taking my unfair dismissal and continued rejection from the industry. Also to say - that shes gonna dig out the info for the production company who produce all her sons shows. I don't expect anything to come from that but its nice of her to try to help. What else - the whole being unemployed thing. I expected to be panicked or worried or something. But I'm actually very calm. Almost not caring. Thats probably a bad thing. I'm going to sleep now, I hope I'm awoken by a ringing phone. ...if one of you phones me in the morning as a gag; I will hurt you. After caffiene that is. |
| Wednesday, October 11th, 2006 |
| 1:22 pm |
Milestone.
Well, its happened. Today was the hearing about my conduct and I was fired. We each spoke our peice. I was quiet during his as is protocol and then I countered and explained my version - except he kept butting in and twisting my words. Every once in a while asking the note taker to 'write that down' he was so happy. You should have seen the look on his face when he told me he'd decided to fire me. Like I hadn't seen that coming. That was the point of singling me out for stuff that everyones done. I have my second interview for Film London this Friday. Friday the 13th - that just screams good omens. I am now of the unemployed. Congratulate me. |
| Thursday, October 5th, 2006 |
| 6:49 pm |
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