Thoughts from the Competition and Ageing

I noticed that an earlier post bore a striking resemblance to the posts of my other team mates. So in the interest of diversity I'm posting some observations and memories;

• I was REALLY impressed with the way the team fell into place. Everybody pulled together to do the best job they could.
• The writing exercises that Seraph and I worked on coming into the competition really helped. It was great to see how quickly we could turn out a working script.
• It was really funny to see myself on screen, I was surprised to see the facial expressions (even though I know how late in the day the shooting took place)
• I would not attempt to do this again without a Mac.
• The feeling of relaxation once Seraph handed me the Safety Copy for delivery to the 48 Hours HQ on the Sunday.
• Viv and myself drinking a beer, upstairs at the Bowls club getting a sales pitch from the grounds keeper as to the benefits of a social membership ($20 and you can bowl any time after 5pm on a week night).
• Despite the late time of my arrival in Wellington, being met by a half asleep Seraph
• Borrowing a guitar at one of the practice rooms at the school and jamming with one of the kids from the brass band competition.

All that fun and it was my birthday yesterday!!

Are YOU on message?

As the kind of guy who writes little of what he wants and much of what he has to; I suggest it is refreshing to reacquaint oneself with an excellent essay on the subject and a watch dog website whose humour is really quite tragic...

Or you could read this 'how not to' guide...

Memories of Billy T

I had a couple of hours at Wellington Airport before my flight out.
So, as you do, I was browsing around the shops. Figured I should get myself a book to read or a DVD or something.
So I was looking around and found vol 1 of the Billy T James Show (you know the one that was on TV3 in the early '90's)(not generally regarded as his finest work). To be honest I thought I was buying a selection of his sketch comedy, didn't realise my mistake until I got to Sydney, oh well its still a bit of fun!

Thankfully You Tube has a great selection though...

48 Hours Later...

Just a quick note now I'm back in the country after my incredible weekend of 48 Hour film Madness!! It was always going to be a crazy time and it did not disappoint.
So there we were, Seraph and I, on Friday 6.59pm poised behind our laptops like dueling banjo's. At 7.00pm on the dot Viv and Conan call in with our theme and must haves;

Character; Jerry Reed - Hypochondriac
Line; "And what do you call that?"
Prop; Rope
Genre; Educational/Religious

To be honest the temptation to go after a religious theme was strong, but we just couldn't pitch any really solid ideas. Eventually we hit upon the idea of a marketing/sales training video for pharmacists based on the idea of Hypochondriacs as the ideal customer - a walking goldmine if you will. By that time Conan and Viv had returned and we had our production team in place.
From that point on it just flowed...

Everyone was just incredible

Seraph - For taking the chance
Viv - For being a total battler and hanging in there with a full blown cold (and selective creative control)
Conan - For working like a demon the whole weekend, you are a legend dude!!
Jamie - Our wingman and graphics professional!
Angela - Set design is too poor a word for the hard work that transformed a small bland corner into a fully believable pharmacy.
Ryan - Sound and editing guru
Meredith - Runner, hand model and girl Friday extrodinaire
Danyl - For being a great sport to let us film him rubbing himself with loads of money (I think he actually liked it!)
Flick - For the awesome theme music
Maggie - Well this is one is a joint award for the donut as well

We had so much good luck and so many people helped us out in little ways. It was such a fun and positive environment. I could do it again next weekend!!

I'm just so glad I was able to join in this year. It always sounds like just a whole lot of crazy ass fun. And let me tell you know it was.
Thank you to everyone!!

Zombie town Team Management Song

As long as we're talking about Zombies here... Thought y'all might like this one (thanks Seraph)

28 Weeks Later - a lousy film review

I call this a lousy film review, because I'm not in the least bit objective here. 28 Weeks Later is a scary sequel, I'd rate it as a worthy follow on from 28 Days Later (possibly even scarier!).
So how do I measure these claims?

1) There were parts I actually hid my eyes from!!
2) I had dreams about the 'Infected' and was seriously wondering about the security of our house at 3am last night!!
3) Drove to work today wondering if Canberra could be quarantined off and how one might do that!!

All in all good 'clean' scary fun. It did its job well from that respect.
In terms of the franchise we get to see the speed with which the infection can spread and how a city could get taken down so quickly. Helps to give some background to the first movie (As an aside I think you could watch this one first or on its own without losing any major elements).

My recommendation; spend the money dude, its well worth it!

My niggles are below in super secret inviso-pen, don't read them if you actually want to see the movie...

Inviso-Pen ACTIVATE>>>>>>>

Niggle 1 - What I do know of the Apache Helicopter Gunship is that the main cannon is linked to the gunners eye. There is no way he would miss.

Niggle 2 - Why was the wife left unattended?!? and why did the husband have unfetted access around the entire base?!?

Time Management

Last Friday I drove to Sydney and back again. In between I had meetings and pitched by 3 year business plan for the business area. I'm not complaining, I got a lot done and it was well worth the effort.
You know I've been driving for about 6 or 7 years now. It is in fact one of the most fun things I can do with my time. The Canberra to Sydney drive is about 3 hours, give or take traffic, each way. And I have done it so many times its like a pleasant afternoon drive, no hurry - enjoy the sights.
Tomorrow I get to do it again, there is a training course up in Sydney I've been signed up for. The only problem from my end is its Karins birthday tomorrow.
I'm writing this from the radio station, I'm about to go on for 2 hours.

So tomorrow I will cook my lovelly wife a birthday breakfast in bed (bugger, forgot to get flowers - hmmm might check out the servo on the way home...(yeah if I want a divorce :)
There will be bacon eggs, pancakes with real Canadian maple syrup and whipped cream!!

It should be fantastic.
Every now and again though I feel like there isn't enough hours in the day. But I'm learning, that just means I need to move faster.