Whistleblower

I'm posting this feeling a little queasy after watching 'Whistleblower' on BBC1 tonight. It exposed dodgy food practices in supermarkets, specifically Sainsburys and Tescos and was frankly, horrific. I don't get easily affected by progs such as this usually, but after this one, ugh, I won't be buying ANYTHING from any of the 'fresh' counters at any supermarket (except fruit and veg). I will also be buying carefully from other areas after watching the abuse of food standards and lax hygiene practices depicted.

It's strange and naive I suppose, but I've worked in kitchens and as a waitress in the past so know fine well what goes on behind the scenes in the service industry, but somehow I'd never considered what goes on behind the scenes in supermarkets. For some odd reason, I always assumed they were 'safe', trustworthy places who at least while they fleeced your pockets, were washing their filleting knifes and not using the fish scissors to trim their own nails in between servings. Apparently not, and as for the secret filming inside a company who supplies 'ready' meals to the big supermarkets - the least said the better - horrific, disgusting and illegal.

Can't wait to see the comments in the media tomorrow. I'm betting profits will show some drop - at least they should.

Brokeback Mountain

I'm probably one of the few people who hasn't seen this, but I put that to rights after I got my Uni assignments finished. Wasn't expecting to love it - probably because there was so much hype - but it was a glorious film. Can't really see what the moral majority were complaining about either, as it showed the tough, difficult side of love as well as the passion and emotion of it. Heath Ledger was a bit of a revelation really - probably the best portayal that I've seen of a man so repressed that he can barely admit to himself how he feels nevermind show another human being - and when he finally does come out of his cocoon through his developing friendship with Jake Gyllenhal's character, it was realised perfectly. So were the destructive ructions in each of those character's family lives - Michelle Williams was heart-breaking as a betrayed wife. Tragic ending too (sniff) but the perfect length.

On another note, fantastic soundtrack and incredible landscape.

Mission accomplished

Done done done! Finallyyyyyyyy, Interactive presentation done and full concept submitted, and 10 minute short and module critique submitted too phewww.

In all, we had 5 hours of presentations (with some students still to do theirs) - so something of a long morning, but it was interesting to see how different everyone's game concepts were - there genuinely were no two alike, and that's sort of heartening - everything from monkeys to celtic romans, rats, torturers, ghostly investigators, killer rugby players, fighter pilots in space, to film noir detectives, and my own futuristic female soldier.

I think that's basically us for the Summer now. We have some projects to do over the 4 months, and we also plan on meeting up regularly to do some workshopping (part-timers so far, as the full-timers will be deep into their final assignment).

Roll on the summer!

Daniel Craig wears my dress

Okay he doesn't really (though if he did I'm sure he'd still look fabulous darrrrrling), no, but I have some other tenuous yet exciting film news to report. With my vintage hat on recently, I sold this rather gorgeous vintage 70s black crepe and chiffon dress to a contact in London. Just found out that it's been purchased for the film 'Flashbacks of a Fool' starring Daniel Craig which will be shooting soon. Who knows if it will end up in the final version but hey, it's nice to have a bit of reflected glamour. Am on the lookout for some items for the same contact, but can't put much energy into it at the moment as am also currently deep in MA 'Assignment hell' (they're all due in next week). Once that's over though, all hands to the 70s pumps!

Bourne Ultimatum shoots in Edinburgh

oooh isn't is kind of thrilling when you get a bit of film gossip (this is where 15 people email me to tell me that everyone already knows but don't be raining on my parade, man).

Last night they were setting up tracks and official film things outside the Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh. Someone who knows someone who works with someone, knows a stunt man who's working on the mystery film and confirmed that apparently they're shooting material for 'The Bourne Ultimatum' - the 3rd one in the series. A spectacular car crash is due on Thursday night but I don't have any other details as yet. Makes me feel a bit like a stupid fan-girl but I might go down and see what I can see.

Ken Stott was also spotted in a bar near the scene but then maybe he was just out having a wee drink.... but maybe not...

I just hope it doesn't turn out to be an episode of 'Eastenders' or I'll be mortally ashamed.

George Bush is an utter winker

George Bush winked at the Queen... that's it.. that's all... George Bush winked at the Queen. I thought I was seeing things. Then when I realised I wasn't, I thought maybe someone at the BBC News had actually shown a doctored YouTube clip rather than actual footage. I'm not a Royalist, but did he really then go and up his status of utter winker by saying SOMETHING ABOUT HER BEING OLD ENOUGH TO BE HIS MOTHER? That man has NO shame.

(Click on the title to go to the BBC website and watch his winkerness and the Queen - I'm still rubbish at adding clips properly)

Comrades!

Following on from the last post, I turned up for Uni hoping a few keen bods would also appear so we could salvage the day - and in fact another 8 students did! After a quick coffee, we decamped to the Screen Academy in the hope that we could use the room that had allegedly been booked for a speaker (who, again allegedly, had cancelled at the last minute). Now I'd hate to be thought of as cynical, but if this planned speaker had indeed existed and had then cancelled at the last minute, surely the room he was supposed to speak in would be empty... but no, what dya know, we all cheerily massed through the doors to be met with a rather frosty response, as apparently there were some important funding people in (and they must have been REALLY important because all the tutors were wearing suits) - NOT a last-minute delegation either (I can feel my cynic muscle twitching again). But, we asked, how about the empty room that our class should have been in? Pfffft, of course the room was being used. We stood our ground though and were eventually allowed to hold our class in the reception area - not ideal but there were seats and tables so perfectly sufficient. AND, surely if funding bodies were checking the Academy out, they should be pleased to see enthusiastic students workshopping scripts amongst themselves in lieu of a tutored class (even if it was in reception).

Actually the atmosphere did melt a little, as soon we were getting supplied with the unused croissants from the 'important delegation' meeting - so not all bad. I felt a bit militant yet satisfied when I came away at lunchtime. Power to the People! and all that...

On another note, our little group of hardy part-timers have been talking about arranging a schedule of meet-ups over the 4 month summer break so we can continue to workshop and feedback on each others scripts. There's a possibility that a room might be free at Napier, so fingers crossed as that would be ideal!

give good learning

Just got an email - no morning class this week at Uni, and our afternoon tutor is off being a Polling Officer so no class there. I feel I should be cheering but instead (I guess this proves I'm finally an adult) I'm thoroughly disappointed. I'm still going into town to do some work with hopefully a few other keen students in my group, but really I'm a bit pissed off. We've had sparse actual tuition in this Interactive module so far, with lots of 'have a chat amongst yourselves' type classes - however I'm well aware that this sort of new medium has got sparse material to work from, but it's still frustrating. Apparently our work in the class is of a higher standard than the previous lot but that's scant comfort - TEACHHH MEEEEEE (it's that damn 'good pupil' syndrome again).

Still haven't got our marks back from the short script module either. We submitted our premise and outline in the middle of March, and our completed script (from that premise/outline) is due in 2 weeks but we haven't had our mark or feedback back. What if my premise was entire crappola? I'd like to have known that before I wrote up and workshopped my script. I couldn't get a tutorial in the first available round so I've had to wait until a week before our final submission. I don't want to be babysat through this course but I am on it because I believe I have things to learn - is it worth it? Time will tell.

Apparently I (and every other student on the course) has a 'Personal Development Tutor', and has had this since the course began 7 months ago. First thing I heard about it was a couple classes ago, but I think perhaps a meeting is required for the beginning of my 2nd year just to get some things sorted out.