I once heard a feminist argue that “corsets represent the binding of the female spirit and the restriction of liberties by men”. I personally don’t think men ever gave that much thought to a metaphor realised by a garment; otherwise they would be arguing a similar thing about ties.
I don’t know what my point is, here’s a little chart to show you how to tie your tie:
[via haha.nu]
I think summer’s here, I could be mistaken because it’s so grey, that won’t deter me though. Are you mad enough to go to the beach? Here’s a few bikini ideas available on the high street.
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<<< Myla Lucie bandeau bikini. Top – £65, bottom – £65, Myla
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>>> Matalan, Bandeau bikini, top – £5, bottom – £4, Matalan
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<<< FCUK Retro stripe bandeau, top – £22, bottom – £20
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I do like BBC3’s approach to experimental comedy drama, so when I was offered a sneaky preview at their latest offering I jumped at the chance.
Dappers is about a couple of single mothers living in Bristol surviving on benefits. Constantly trying to come up with get rich quick schemes; Ashley and Faye; played by Lenora Crichlow (Being Human) and Ty Glaser (Emmerdale) live in council owned properties in a well-to-do part of town.
Despite the fact that the pair are “like Del Boy and Rodders in thongs”; a phrase that could depress the very soul of happiness personified; the show is being billed as “a cheerful poke in the eye to all the negativity that surrounds single-mums.”
Our emerging-talent-philes warned us about a director who was winning awards on the festival circuit so we cornered him to tell us all about his latest project. Here is what he said…
Frost: Tell me about the film…
Adam: Rock and Roll Stole my Soul is a fictional documentary about a rock band called the Fury. It charts their almost rise to fame, and the bitterness and loss that comes with the failure of a band, or, indeed anyone, to make it in the music industry.
But, you know. There’s jokes in there too.
Frost: What was your inspiration for making it?
Adam: I’ve been massively into music since the age of 5, and always dreamed about being the lead singer in a rock and roll band. Or a guitarist. To be honest, I’d have settled for bassist. For a while, it looked like it might happen; the only thing really holding me back was a complete and utter lack of any musical ability whatsoever. Plus, I couldn’t sing/didn’t have the requisite charisma/access to illegal pharmaceuticals. Rock and Roll Stole my Soul is basically me living out my rock star fantasies, which is one of the reasons it was so much fun to make.
Frost: What exactly is the film nominated for?
Adam: It picked up a best film nomination at the Twin Rivers Media Festival in North Carolina, and has just been selected for the AOF Festival in Pasadena. That’s a biggie, as it was voted one of the 25 best by Moviemaker magazine, and is renowned for helping break new talent. They announce the award nominees at the start of July, so I’m keeping everything that’s vaguely crossable crossed.
Frost: What was your biggest challenge you faced while you were making it?
Adam: The biggest challenge, and believe me, it’s a damn good challenge to face, is what to leave out. I could have made another film with the material and actors I had to cut out completely. I shot the film in two ways: there was a shooting script, which I captured, and then each scene would be acted out again, but this time completely improvised. Because the format is a documentary one, and because it’s important for each performance to be as truthful as possible, all the auditions which were held were improvisational in format. There are performances in this film that it just wasn’t possible to include, for reasons of story or running time. It was a dream cast to work with.
Frost: Is there anything you would have done differently if you did it again?
Adam: I shot this film on a rolling basis, over a period of 9 months, which was great, as it allowed me to go back and fix what wasn’t working, story wise. For the first time, when it was finished and burning to DVD, I had the pleasant feeling of finishing a project that was almost exactly how I originally pictured it. Visually, it’s not perfect – if I was to start shooting it again today parts of it would certainly look better – but overall I told the story I wanted to tell, in the manner I wanted to tell it.
Frost: Do you see yourself as a typical ‘auteur’?
Adam: I’m always wary of the term ‘auteur’, as it suggests a beret wearing, pretentious ****. Now, while this is in fact a completely accurate description of me, I’d still rather consider myself as multi skilled media maverick.
The lesson I learnt from my first film, The Superhero, was that I needed a greater degree of self-sufficiency. It’s not enough to just classify yourself as a writer/director nowadays. If you’re working on a limited budget (and who isn’t?) it’s vital that you can do as many of the roles yourself as is physically possible. On Superhero, because there was animation and a great deal of effects work, too much emphasis was put on other people. With this film, I tried to make it as simple as possible, and adopted a back to basics approach, teaching myself editing, sound design and camera along the way. This has led to me doing video work with several theatre companies this year. I’m always up for collaborating with a project that seems like it’s going to be exciting.
Frost: What’s next in the pipeline?
Adam: I’ve made a bit of headway into the music video world this year. I’m just finishing one for a Mexican artist called Mig Dfoe which I think is going to turn out really well. It’s a great tune, and is out next month, I believe, on Loki Records. I’ve also just finished shooting and editing a short film with Kirsty Eyre, who I know from the theatre world. I can’t say too much about that one yet, but it’s unique, it’s called The Lonely Gladiator, and it could be a bit of a festival killer, I think.
Frost: Where can festival goers see your film being screened?
Adam: Any of you good people that are in the LA/Pasadena area, get yourselves to the AOF Festival in Pasadena from July 23rd onwards, snap up a ticket for the screening, and have your soul stolen by Rock and Roll*.
*Film not actually guaranteed to steal your soul, more just borrow it for 70 minutes
Monday 7th ITV3 – 22:00
Psychological thrillers…so much scarier than horror, which is why The Shining is still the scariest movie ever made, and why I shall be watching the first instalment of The Sculptress. First shown in 1996 this made for TV movie stars Pauline Quirke in a break from her time in the long running Birds Of a Feather to play an altogether different kind of character. The Sculptress, based on the Minette Walters novel, is set three years after a gruesome murder of the mother and sister of, now lifer, Olive Martin who was found blood soaked at the scene of the crime. The story of the murder, the trial and the imprisonment of Olive is the subject of a new book by journalist Rosalind Leigh who, after finding out more about her subject and interviewing all involved, starts to believe in Olive’s innocence. A brilliant turn for Quirke and a series that’ll keep you guessing as you follow the investigation, anyone with a penchant for mystery should see this.
Tuesday 8th ITV1 – 22:35
American dramas can often come across as cheesy an fake, full of beautiful young adults looking ponderously out over lakes while an acoustic indie hit plays over the scene (Dawson…I’m looking at you), but every so often they send out something amazing like John Adams or Carnivàle (which EVERYONE should watch). This is what I’m hoping for in the new to air in the UK, October Road. For 10 years, writer Nick Garret has been away from his home town becoming a famous author and screenwriter. After returning home he must handle the reaction of the people he based his best selling book on, try to re-kindle old friendships and after living a pretty full life in his absence, see if he is really able to return to his old quiet lifestyle. With the second episode running straight after tonight’s pilot, lets hope it can hook us right away. The only problem I can see with this is that it clashes with the second half of The Sculptress (ITV3 – 22:00) so it’ll have to be Sky+ one and watch the other.
Wednesday 9th Channel 4 – 21:00
I have an addictive personality, if there’s something I like I will watch, listen to or play it for ages (currently it’s Assassins Creed II and the music of Broadway show Wicked) after today though, I’m pretty sure it’ll be all about Big Brother. I’ve not watched every series, but the ones I have, I’ve been glued too! So tonight I shall be joining Davina and the braying, cheering, condemning and booing crowds as we are introduced to the housemates of the last ever Big Brother. It looks like we’re in for a glorious summer, but between my Xbox, script writing and Big bloody Brother, I aint gonna see any of it.
Thursday 10th FIVE – 21:00
Robert Rodrigeuz is cool, his house is cool, his music is cool, his hat is cool and his movies are supercool. Once Upon a Time in Mexico is the third installment in his (possible homage to Sergios Leone’s Dollars trilogy) ‘Mariachi Trilogy’. Staring Antonio Banderas once again as the nameless mariachi, who is spoken of in Mexican folklore as merely ‘El’ and Johnny Depp as CIA Agent Sands. Based around a loose plot of a military coup against the Mexican President, Once Upon a Time in Mexico is more about the action and the brilliant gun fights that made El Mariachi and Desperado (the first and second in the trilogy) so much fun to watch.
Friday 11th Channel 4 – 19:30
Unreported World has had some horrific episodes showing atrocities from around the globe including slavery, sex trafficking and the plight of people in poor countries. Tonight’s episode travels to El Salvador to tell of the children used as hitmen for the multitude of gangs and who accept the high child mortality rate as part of life as much as they believe in the subjugation and sexual objectivity of teenage girls in the gangs. Never an easy program to watch, but always informative and humbling. Although I find it odd that Channel 4 chose to put this show in a lineup before Glee, Big Brother and 8 Out of 10 Cats, after Unreported World, I’m not sure I’ll be in the right mood for singing and dancing kids, an unpredictable human experiment and Jimmy Carr!
Saturday 12th ITV1 – 18:15
THREE LIONS ON A SHIRT, JULES RIMET STILL GLEEAAMING
I don’t usually like football, but when England play I cant help but get involved, our first game of the season against the USA will be shown live in the World Cup Live, so get some burgers on the bbq and join the nationwide party. This is the only time I get into football so I’m allowed to be excited by it.
Sunday 13th Sky Movies Sci Fi/Horror – 19:20
To coincide with Frost Magazine’s new Retro film reviews I thought a lovely piece of retro cinema would be a brilliant way to end the week, so I bring you The Lost Boys. This 1987 vampire classic revolves around the lives of two brothers, Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim) as they move to a new town supposedly over-run by vampires. As Sam befriends the self titled Vampire Hunter Edgar (Corey Feldman) the story thickens and after Michael starts showing the sign of vampirism, and with help from Ed, Sam goes on a hunt to seek out the head of a vampiric punk gang, played by a big haired Keifer Sutherland, in an attempt to save his brother. Full of brilliant 80’s humour and an awesome soundtrack, The Lost Boys is a must for any fan of the Retro.
No questions and answers, just an article to explain my absence and tell you I am now back ‘safe and sound’…not that you piss flaps cared!
Right basically, I got so depressed listening to your questions that I turned to alcohol and poppers. Then I found myself walking up the M4 at 2:15 on a Thursday morning crying out for my cat who hadn’t returned home for the last 2 nights! To make matters worse I removed her collar to use as strap for a broken watch I found; It was my nieces birthday and she likes pink!
I knew she was probably fox-meat by then so carried on walking…I saw police lights flash in the distance…with that, a truck’s horn bellowed! I dived out of the way (so I thought!) but in the confusion (and the fact my glasses were in my pocket) I jumped straight into the road!! The truck stopped literally an inch away from me I could feel a dying fly’s wings on the bonnet tickle my chin. A man yelled out of the window!! I opened his door and challenged his careless driving. I told him the story of my cat and niece’s birthday, Naturally touched and humbled at my selfless story he offered me a lift! I said “Just take me somewhere that has a bargain booze”…
To cut a long story short I woke up in Holland! Darren Egg (the long distance Truck driver) who later let me call him “Eggy Darren” (privet joke) let my live in the back of his truck. He brought me food and booze. What a top bloke! I can safely say I spent the best days of my life living in the back of that truck. We got stopped once! ’cause I wasn’t seeking asylum in the stereotypical kinda way (well I wasn’t actually full stop!) Darren (Eggy) Eggy Darren told one Dutch guy with a badge and fantastic moustache that I was his malnourished brother on work experience! He bought it! Despite Eggy (Darren) Eggy Darren spoke with a French accent and I did my best Irish!
Anyway! I’m back now, Darren Is here for another 2 days staying at mine (not in a gay way)
Send me your Questions …sorry Problems…nah screw it lets change this! QUESTIONS! anything you like.
I look forward to reading them and replying. Honestly.
DONOVAN
and
Darren (Eggy) Eggy Darren
Now is the future. Ok, so that’s the kind of clearly logic-flouting “I’m so po-mo” statements that are barely ever uttered beyond the uber-cool confines of…I dunno…Hoxton? I don’t know where’s cool.
But there is a hint of the Buck Rogers about all these World Cup themed crisps from Walkers. On eating the USA’s “American Cheeseburger” I actually exclaimed “Wow” (the first time since eating some really excellent cuisine in a Michelin starred restaurant…once). I swear I had a cheeseburger in my gob. This made me love them more than any burger I’ve ever had or ever could.
This experience reminded me of a limited edition of Skips released with the theme of a CITV cartoon I cannot for the balls of me remember what it was called – It was about some kids who lived in a computer game or some shit…it was quite good. Anyway, one of the flavours was donut. They were also divine.
All these “Foods with the flavour of other foods” (catchy) made me think: Why the hell are there not more of these wonderfully futuristic concoctions? I’m not talking flavoured pills from some dystopian World Republic or even a Fantasmagorically Wendiferous Roald Dahl-esque jar of sweeties. I mean crisps that taste of toast. I mean toast that tastes of cheese…like cheese on toast but without the cheese. I want to open a pack of Pringles and taste Apple Crumble.
So…what I’m saying is I want to go to the Fat Duck in Bray…
A budding maniac’s present to his little sister? Or quite possibly a first year art student’s work…
[thanks Geekologie]
