Tomorrow sees the grand final of Oxjam's Battle of the Jams at Barfly in Cardiff.
It looks set to be a good night and all profits will go to Oxfam to help with their charitable work.
For full details, take a look at an article I wrote for Buzz magazine, which can be found here.
Friday, 13 March 2009
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Revelation play
Here is something else I wrote for Buzz.
It's about a play called Revelation which tackles domestic abuse towards men.
The article can be found at Buzzmagazine.
It's about a play called Revelation which tackles domestic abuse towards men.
The article can be found at Buzzmagazine.
Coffins, Cats and Fair Trade Sex Toys
I am currently on work experience with Buzz , a Cardiff based magazine, and today I wrote an article for them about a newly released book called Coffins, Cats and Fair Trade Sex Toys by Jeremy Piercy who is the brains behind fair trade shop Shared Earth.
Take a look at my article at http://buzzmagazine.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/coffins-cats-fair-trade-sex-toys/
Take a look at my article at http://buzzmagazine.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/coffins-cats-fair-trade-sex-toys/
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Rhydian Roberts to appear at BBC Wales Roadshow in Cwmbran this Sunday
Welsh singing star Rhydian Roberts will be at Cwmbran Stadium on Sunday 8 March as part of BBC Cymru Wales' Here For You Roadshow.
Rhydian, who shot to fame on The X Factor, will be at the event as a guest on Shan Cothi's Sunday morning BBC Radio Wales show which will be broadcast live from the Stadium.
BBC Wales' Here For You Roadshow is a free event, giving the public an opportunity to step inside Doctor Who's TARDIS, read the news with Wales Today's Jamie Owen and present the weather with Sue Charles and Behnez Akhgar.
Visitors will also have the chance to come face-to-face with some of Doctor Who's most terrifying monsters in the special effects area as well as picking up some handy consumer advice from X-Ray husband and wife team Lucy and Rhodri Owen.
Financial expertise will also be available from the BBC Raw Money campaign team who will be joined Radio Wales presenter Louise Elliott on the day.
BBC Radio Cymru's Hywel Gwynfryn will also be broadcasting live from the Stadium and another of BBC Wales' famous faces, Jason Mohammad, will be there on the day too.
With its Stadium setting, the Roadshow is taking on a sporting theme with a chance to meet sports internationals – including former Wales rugby captain Colin Charvis on the Big Welsh Challenge stand – as well as activities to try out including tri-golf, street dance and a special form of bowls called boccia.
Anyone who fancies a go at getting behind the microphone is invited to try out continuity announcing or sports commentating, with experts on hand to reveal a few tricks of the trade.
Younger visitors will be delighted to hear that CBeebies' popular Bobinogs characters will also be along to entertain fans, on the hour every hour between 10.00am and 4.00pm.
The event will feature a string quartet from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, a chance to meet some of the cast from BBC Wales' Pobol y Cwm soap and a special space stand with demos from the Cardiff Astronomical Society, Cardiff University and the National Museum of Wales.
Visitors can also take a look back at evidence of an "ancient" Cwmbran with the local historical society.
Find out more at bbc.co.uk/wales.
BBC Press Release
Rhydian, who shot to fame on The X Factor, will be at the event as a guest on Shan Cothi's Sunday morning BBC Radio Wales show which will be broadcast live from the Stadium.
BBC Wales' Here For You Roadshow is a free event, giving the public an opportunity to step inside Doctor Who's TARDIS, read the news with Wales Today's Jamie Owen and present the weather with Sue Charles and Behnez Akhgar.
Visitors will also have the chance to come face-to-face with some of Doctor Who's most terrifying monsters in the special effects area as well as picking up some handy consumer advice from X-Ray husband and wife team Lucy and Rhodri Owen.
Financial expertise will also be available from the BBC Raw Money campaign team who will be joined Radio Wales presenter Louise Elliott on the day.
BBC Radio Cymru's Hywel Gwynfryn will also be broadcasting live from the Stadium and another of BBC Wales' famous faces, Jason Mohammad, will be there on the day too.
With its Stadium setting, the Roadshow is taking on a sporting theme with a chance to meet sports internationals – including former Wales rugby captain Colin Charvis on the Big Welsh Challenge stand – as well as activities to try out including tri-golf, street dance and a special form of bowls called boccia.
Anyone who fancies a go at getting behind the microphone is invited to try out continuity announcing or sports commentating, with experts on hand to reveal a few tricks of the trade.
Younger visitors will be delighted to hear that CBeebies' popular Bobinogs characters will also be along to entertain fans, on the hour every hour between 10.00am and 4.00pm.
The event will feature a string quartet from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, a chance to meet some of the cast from BBC Wales' Pobol y Cwm soap and a special space stand with demos from the Cardiff Astronomical Society, Cardiff University and the National Museum of Wales.
Visitors can also take a look back at evidence of an "ancient" Cwmbran with the local historical society.
Find out more at bbc.co.uk/wales.
BBC Press Release
Let's Dance for Comic Relief - final group of celebs announced
Zoe Ball & Suggs, Dom Joly, sports stars Martin Offiah & Denise Lewis, The Bill actors Lisa Maxwell and Patrick Robinson, Fern Britton and Angela Rippon will all appear in the third heat of Let's Dance For Comic Relief this Saturday night on BBC One.
Lisa Snowdon and Dara O'Briain will be guest panellists alongside head panellist Anton Du Beke.
In the final, Anton will be joined by guest panellists Denise Van Outen and Michael McIntyre who is back by popular demand.
The show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Steve Jones will see the six acts perform iconic dance routines in a bid to wow viewers and win a place in next week's spectacular final dance off.
Who goes through and who gets a chance to compete in the final will be down to the public phone votes and the panel.
The final will see two celebrity acts compete alongside Robert Webb, Dick & Dom, Keith Lemon & Paddy McGuinness and Jo Brand for their chance to be crowned the Let's Dance For Comic Relief Champion on Saturday 14 March during Red Nose Day weekend.
The show is produced by Whizz Kid Entertainment for the BBC.
Proceeds from the voting will go to Comic Relief.
Courtesy of BBC Press Releases
Lisa Snowdon and Dara O'Briain will be guest panellists alongside head panellist Anton Du Beke.
In the final, Anton will be joined by guest panellists Denise Van Outen and Michael McIntyre who is back by popular demand.
The show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Steve Jones will see the six acts perform iconic dance routines in a bid to wow viewers and win a place in next week's spectacular final dance off.
Who goes through and who gets a chance to compete in the final will be down to the public phone votes and the panel.
The final will see two celebrity acts compete alongside Robert Webb, Dick & Dom, Keith Lemon & Paddy McGuinness and Jo Brand for their chance to be crowned the Let's Dance For Comic Relief Champion on Saturday 14 March during Red Nose Day weekend.
The show is produced by Whizz Kid Entertainment for the BBC.
Proceeds from the voting will go to Comic Relief.
Courtesy of BBC Press Releases
Monday, 23 February 2009
How blind people experience movies
Angela Neads, 44, has been registered blind for 10 years and has been gradually loosing her sight for the past 21 years. Angela always enjoyed watching films before she started losing her sight and misses the experience. She now has to rely on the audio aspects if she is to enjoy a film, which is not always easy.
She said: "It’s very difficult, I have to have a sighted person to tell me what’s going on. Some films I can’t follow at all."
Angela explains what a film needs to be like if she is to follow it successfully: "They have to have an easy story line with very few characters."
"The narrative side is very important as long as it’s nice and clear but, sometimes you can’t always hear what they’re saying if the background music is a bit overpowering."
She also has to focus on differentiating one character from another: "If their voices are very clearly different it’s easy to follow but, obviously at the beginning of the film, somebody has to explain to me who is who. Names help as well if they are used a lot in films."
Not all films get the balance right though and blind people can often be put off trying to watch the film. Angela said: "You start to watch it and lose the story when too many characters appear or when I have to ask somebody what’s going on, you just can’t enjoy it."
"When scenes are rushed and it jumps from one scene to another," she added, "that’s when I lose everything. Or when they switch from one place and can be in a completely different place next."
Angela does have a few favourite films though, which she is able to enjoy and follow with more ease, including: "The Rocky series - the story is simple and not complicated. The character’s voices are clear and easy to follow."
"See No Evil, Hear No Evil - there are very few characters, a simple story and it makes me laugh."
"Ben-Hur - I already know the story line and I think it’s entertaining to listen to."
"Grease - Again, it’s entertaining. I know who the characters are and from memory, I know exactly what’s on the screen."
There is some aid available for blind people to experience films more easily as Angela explains: "Audio Visual is available for blind people or you can have films on cassette tape (Or CD now). With Audio Visual, as the film is playing, you have a person talking and explaining who is on the screen, what the background is, what the people are wearing, a full description of them. Colours are explained to you, movements for example ‘ man now going to sit in the chair.’ You can now get Audio Visual television as well."
"Personally, I just can’t get on with it. I tried watching a film but, it just didn’t appeal to me. As you’re trying to follow the story, you’ve got somebody describing everything and it put me off."
Angela says that she would find a brief synopsis at the start of the film a helpful tool: "Before a film for a blind person, if they gave a reading of a rough story line so at least when you go into the film you know who the main characters are, what the film is you’re following in case you lose the story line, at least your memory has had a rough guide of what’s going on."
She says she would also like a voice over after the film has finished to relay certain information: "Some information about the film at the end, like when the film was made, what year, where the film was made, just a bit of general knowledge about it, how old the actors are e.t.c, that would be helpful."
It is impossible to comprehend how blind people have to experience films without being in the same situation as them. We forget how vital it is to be able to see what is happening on screen and take for granted how easily sighted people are able to follow a film. If certain techniques, such as Audio Visual and the ones suggested by Angela, can enhance the film experience for blind people and help them to feel more included in the plot then they should be greatly encouraged.
She said: "It’s very difficult, I have to have a sighted person to tell me what’s going on. Some films I can’t follow at all."
Angela explains what a film needs to be like if she is to follow it successfully: "They have to have an easy story line with very few characters."
"The narrative side is very important as long as it’s nice and clear but, sometimes you can’t always hear what they’re saying if the background music is a bit overpowering."
She also has to focus on differentiating one character from another: "If their voices are very clearly different it’s easy to follow but, obviously at the beginning of the film, somebody has to explain to me who is who. Names help as well if they are used a lot in films."
Not all films get the balance right though and blind people can often be put off trying to watch the film. Angela said: "You start to watch it and lose the story when too many characters appear or when I have to ask somebody what’s going on, you just can’t enjoy it."
"When scenes are rushed and it jumps from one scene to another," she added, "that’s when I lose everything. Or when they switch from one place and can be in a completely different place next."
Angela does have a few favourite films though, which she is able to enjoy and follow with more ease, including: "The Rocky series - the story is simple and not complicated. The character’s voices are clear and easy to follow."
"See No Evil, Hear No Evil - there are very few characters, a simple story and it makes me laugh."
"Ben-Hur - I already know the story line and I think it’s entertaining to listen to."
"Grease - Again, it’s entertaining. I know who the characters are and from memory, I know exactly what’s on the screen."
There is some aid available for blind people to experience films more easily as Angela explains: "Audio Visual is available for blind people or you can have films on cassette tape (Or CD now). With Audio Visual, as the film is playing, you have a person talking and explaining who is on the screen, what the background is, what the people are wearing, a full description of them. Colours are explained to you, movements for example ‘ man now going to sit in the chair.’ You can now get Audio Visual television as well."
"Personally, I just can’t get on with it. I tried watching a film but, it just didn’t appeal to me. As you’re trying to follow the story, you’ve got somebody describing everything and it put me off."
Angela says that she would find a brief synopsis at the start of the film a helpful tool: "Before a film for a blind person, if they gave a reading of a rough story line so at least when you go into the film you know who the main characters are, what the film is you’re following in case you lose the story line, at least your memory has had a rough guide of what’s going on."
She says she would also like a voice over after the film has finished to relay certain information: "Some information about the film at the end, like when the film was made, what year, where the film was made, just a bit of general knowledge about it, how old the actors are e.t.c, that would be helpful."
It is impossible to comprehend how blind people have to experience films without being in the same situation as them. We forget how vital it is to be able to see what is happening on screen and take for granted how easily sighted people are able to follow a film. If certain techniques, such as Audio Visual and the ones suggested by Angela, can enhance the film experience for blind people and help them to feel more included in the plot then they should be greatly encouraged.
Oscars 2009 revealed: Britain sweeps the board
It was a huge night for Britain at this years Oscars with Slumdog Millionaire and Kate Winslet having some great success.
Slumdog Millionaire once again overshadowed all of the competition and bagged an outstanding eight out of nine gongs at the 81st Academy Awards in Los Angeles.
Their collection of awards included: Best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, cinematography, sound mixing, film editing, best original score and best original song.
Kate Winslet added an Oscar for best actress in The Reader to her shelf that already includes her recent Golden Globe and her Bafta awards.
In a shock result, come-back king Mickey Rourke, lost out on the best actor award to Sean Penn for his performance in Milk.
Unsurprisingly, Heath Ledger was awarded a posthumous Oscar for his supporting role in the Dark Knight, which his daughter will inherit when she reaches the age of 18.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button claimed 3 out of 13 gongs and Penelope Cruz became the first Spanish actress to win an acting Oscar.
Slumdog Millionaire once again overshadowed all of the competition and bagged an outstanding eight out of nine gongs at the 81st Academy Awards in Los Angeles.
Their collection of awards included: Best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, cinematography, sound mixing, film editing, best original score and best original song.
Kate Winslet added an Oscar for best actress in The Reader to her shelf that already includes her recent Golden Globe and her Bafta awards.
In a shock result, come-back king Mickey Rourke, lost out on the best actor award to Sean Penn for his performance in Milk.
Unsurprisingly, Heath Ledger was awarded a posthumous Oscar for his supporting role in the Dark Knight, which his daughter will inherit when she reaches the age of 18.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button claimed 3 out of 13 gongs and Penelope Cruz became the first Spanish actress to win an acting Oscar.
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