Apparently life as a freelance graphic designer can be stressful, dealing with clients wanting free logo’s with pie charts, deadlines and neighbours. This poor designer has to deal with his clients missing cat…Missy. I thought he did quite a good job…click here to see the whole story.
Frost Magazine, in association with Yahoo! gets the inside scoop from David Beckham on England’s disappointing World Cup campaign and tells us which players have impressed him in South Africa.
What was your assessment of England at the World Cup?
We didn’t play at the level we knew that we were capable of. Over the four matches we weren’t good enough and regardless of the goal that never was, Germany played better than we did over the 90 minutes and deserved to go through. Having seen the lads in training, the spirit was good, everyone trained at a really high level, it was just disappointing we couldn’t transfer that onto the pitch. As a team, we have to learn from everything that’s happened, come back stronger and play to our potential.
What was the experience of watching from the bench like?
It was different and at times I wanted to get out onto the pitch and play! It was frustrating at times, but purely because I know what the players out on the pitch are capable of. I have to say the fans were unbelievable, like they always are. It must have been really tough, having spent the time and money they did and the team were so desperate to give them the success their support deserved.
Have your experiences in South Africa and the success of Diego Maradona given you the urge to take up coaching?
While I am flattered to be talked about as a coach and am always available for my country, whenever I am needed, I still see myself as a player and remain supportive of the manager. Diego has done a great job so far though and I wish him well.
Who do you think is in with a shout of winning the World Cup?
It’s a tough one, there are a few teams who are very closely matched and will be there or thereabouts. Argentina looked strong in qualifying from their group with three wins from three and are a potent attacking force with the likes of Messi, Tevez and Higuain. The Germans have such pedigree at World Cups and seem to get better as each tournament progresses. Brazil are Brazil, so you’d expect them to do well and maybe go on to the final. I love watching them play football, all the players are so relaxed and comfortable on the ball. I was lucky enough to play with a few in my career and they are without doubt some of the most skillful athletes.
My other two picks would be Netherlands and Spain. The Dutch have pace throughout their side and with Van Persie, Sneijder and Robben, they have potential match-winners. Spain, despite their shock defeat at the hands of Switzerland, are unbelievably strong all over the pitch. Villa is on red-hot form at the moment and if Torres starts scoring, they are going to be a handful for anyone. That’s before you consider Xavi, Iniesta, Silva, Alonso, Fabregas, need I go on?
Which players have impressed you at the tournament so far?
With all the pressure on Messi, prior to the tournament, he’s been a star-performer so far for me. He’s been brilliant on the ball and an important link man for Argentina and instrumental in their four wins so far. Sneijder has been in fine form for the Dutch and scored some vital goals. I’ve also been impressed with Chile as a team and Sanchez, bags of pace and trickery. Diego Forlan for Uruguay has scored goals but also worked hard for the team, the same can be said for Ozil for Germany. I’d heard a bit about him before the tournament and he hasn’t disappointed, at the centre of many German attacks. David Villa has been Spain’s standout performer. He has scored goals, created chances and worked his socks off for his team and looks a good bet to be the top scorer at the World Cup.
How will the performance of Team USA affect the development of football in the US?
It can only be positive. I thought USA played well in the tournament and it will stand them in good stead for future tournaments. I know TV viewing figures were considerably more in the US compared to the World Cup four years ago. The MLS is getting stronger all the time and the increase in the number of youth leagues will all help in the development of football in the US.
Got something you’d like to ask David Beckham? Then head over to Yahoo! Answers. The football legend and global superstar will be answering the best of your questions in a unique video interview on Wednesday 14 July, with live video link-ups to 18 countries – shown exclusively on Yahoo!. So get thinking and submit a question today.
According to this tweet from 20th Century Fox, Any Serkis is donning the motion capture suit to portray some sort of evil super intelligent ape.
He’s been cast as the ringleader of the Apes, Ceaser, filling Roddy McDowell’s shoes (from 1972’s Conquest of the Planet of the Apes). According to the website, the story is set “in present day San Francisco, the film is a reality-based cautionary tale, a science fiction/science fact blend, where man’s own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.”
Although the premise of the film is set against the scientific community and in particular those researching a cure for Alzheimers, lets take a moment to think about the work they are doing to benefit people who are suffering…and donate.
Thanks Internet, you’ve shown me some wonderful things in my time, sadly this isn’t one of them.
There’s theories on the Internet about this very dead dogfish; either it has the zombie virus, or it’s “a living suffering being” (very unlikely), or something to do with salt and lemon. Or the lemon and aluminium foil. Or the salt and the… oh whatever, cue some more home experiments with seafood and expect to hear mums shouting “Stop playing with your food!”
via [Boing Boing]
Have you tried your own food Frankenstein experiment? Post your videos in the comments below.
She might be an A-List celeb and the role model for pale and interesting skin types the world over but actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been told to spend some time in the sun.
She revealed, in her newsletter GOOP, that a bone scan showed she had the begginning stages of Osteopenia and a test revealed her Vitamin D levels to be startlingly low. Some people are blaming her frequent detoxes and preference for vegan food but her blog has lots of yummy recepies, how is she not hungry all the time when writing about food?
Her Doctor, Dr. Frank Lipman, goes on to talk about the benefits of sunshine and Vitamin D.
Frank says “Although irresponsible sunbathing is unquestionably harmful and precautions need to be taken, regular, moderate, unprotected sun exposure is essential for good health. It is free, easy to get and good for you when used intelligently.”
Picture from Iron Man 2 [Product Page]
I interviewed Alexandra Aitkens and found a young women who has found her calling teaching yoga. I think we can all benefit from the answers below.
1) You have had many, mostly creative careers. Which one do you find most satisfying?
By far teaching kundalini yoga and sharing these miraculous tools and techniques. The pectice of Kundallini yoga will awaken your potential and give you the power to actually complete your dream heaven on earth.
2) You teach yoga now. What advice can you give to people who want peace in their lives?
Meditate every day it will clear the rubbish out of your mind!
Start by trying one of these meditations for 3 minutes everyday and experience all the benefits for yourself.
http://www.yogamint.com/videos/yogamint_videos
3) What is your favourite yoga move?
My favourite yoga move is the one minute breath. Your life is counted in breaths not years. This breath will make you eternal. The average breath is 20 – 25 times a minute. In good health you breath 10-12 times a minute. If you practice the one minute breath you will have control of your mind.
Inhale 20 seconds
Suspend 20 seconds
Exhale 20 seconds
Or perhaps listening to or singing to the mul mantra which leads you do you true purpose or destiny.
http://www.amazon.com/Mul-Mantra/dp/B000QQGF8Y
4) Tell me about Blue Light Yoga.
Blue Light Yoga is a 501c non- profit organization… bringing the healing power of yoga to underfunded schools, hospitals, prisons, & shelters, and to people whose lives and lifestyles could be transformed by yoga and meditation worldwide.
Blue light yoga has a new exciting project. We are planning our school in Amritsar India.
Blue Light School in Amritsar India
Blue Light realises the fact that helping is not simply a matter of dispersing money but of making a deep, long-term commitment to educate and train people to be the best they can be.
Childhood is the time when a young person needs nurturing, schooling, time to play and be given the opportunity to be excel in life.
India is home to the largest population of working children in the world. But child labour like child trafficking, infant mortality, child beggary and child marriage are just symptoms. The root cause lies somewhere else. Educating these children is the only way to care for them and protect their welfare. An Education that empowers them to earn a livelihood and an education can teach them to lead better lives. Blue Light works as a catalyst to change the lives of numerous such underprivileged children and youth for the better with great empowering success.
Our curriculum will also include traditional Indian Subjects like Maths and Numerology, Gurmukhi, Philosophy, Ayurvedic medicine, Kirtan and Yoga.
These classes and special courses are open to Global visitors by donation.
www.bluelightyoga.net
5) What was your favourite acting job?
Facing rudeness and crudeness with compassionate sweetness.
6) What is next for you?
Continuously deepening my understanding of kundallini yoga and sharing all the discoveries, love and wisdom on how to be happy , healthy and peacefully relaxed.
7) What makes you happy?
Realising everything that happens is a blessing to help you grow to experience how miraculous your lovely life is.
Thank you Alexandra.
1) How did you get into casting?
I worked as assistant to two casting directors, but I’d always had a casting director’s brain (I used to read Spotlight in the local library from the age of 8, which, although it sounds sad, completely fascinated me!). I started on my own in 1989, as the first freelance casting director to specialise in theatre – in those days, the vast majority of theatre casting was done by artistic directors and their secretaries, and was not considered worthy of specialised casting knowledge (the only people who cast for theatre worked in the casting departments of the major companies, such as the RSC and The National Theatre, and the only other freelancer was Leonie Cosman who did many of the West End musicals). While many film and TV casters initially treated theatre with disdain, viewpoints changed remarkably quickly, so I, in turn, diversified, but theatre is still my favourite medium.
2) Favourite film you have cast?
I’ve cast relatively few films, as it’s not really a medium that I’ve pushed to work in. I am, however, extremely proud of most of the projects I’ve cast, for a multitude of reasons.
3) What do you love about your job?
Getting it right! Leaving a casting where we have first, second, third… even eighth choices for each character makes me walk on air. I always strive for absolute perfection and sweat blood over everything I do, so when everything falls into place it makes it all worthwhile. My absolute favourite thing is giving someone their first job out of drama school and then seeing them progress to bigger and better things – it doesn’t often happen, as there aren’t always suitable roles on my desk at the right time, but it’s amazing when it does.
4) Advice for actors?
Buy my book!… no, seriously… BUY MY BOOK! Where do I start?! Be honest about your capabilities and what you’ve done. We are in a small business, which gets smaller the longer you are in it, so any fibs will surely be found out. Prepare everything thoroughly, know as much as you can about the projects you’re up for and the industry you’re in. Be prepared for anything, and, above all, enjoy whatever you do – if you don’t, others won’t. I could go on, but there’s lots of other advice, tips and resources at my website.
5) Who is your inspiration?
Anyone who knows what they want and goes for it wholeheartedly… especially if they have overcome adversity to do so.
6) What’s next?
I’m currently in discussions to cast a new musical, which it’s hoped will tour the UK in early 2011, and I’m told that a corporate video has had its budget approved, six months after I was first called about it. My policy is to always believe that a project is only definite after it has happened and the cheque has cleared. People are being far more cautious at the moment, due to the recession, but the great thing about our Industry is you never know when the phone will ring and your luck will change – even after all these years, I am frequently surprised when it happens to me.
7) Tell me about your book.
AUDITIONS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE is, I’m told, just that. I wanted to write a book that is an easy and amusing read and would be useful and pertinent to every performer, from those considering training or starting a career in performing arts to the most experienced actors who want to brush up their skills and learn new techniques. The reaction has been phenomenally positive, even from people who have been in the Industry for decades and are notoriously harsh critics (I’m still waiting for someone to contact me and say ‘I didn’t like your book because…’, which would actually be quite refreshing, silly though that may sound). The book covers many different genres and takes the reader through the audition process step by step. Writing this book was a long-held ambition – I first thought of writing it back in 1993 – and was a huge learning curve, taking over 4 years from conception to publication. I wanted to write it partly as I was frustrated at the amount of performers who unwittingly lose jobs by auditioning badly and, on a more selfish note, because I wanted to prove to myself that I could write a book and get it published. It is without doubt the proudest achievement of my life… so far!
8 ) What is your background?
I was an actor for 10 years, which I believe has stood me in excellent stead to work in casting, as, having seen things from both sides of the audition table, I am able to appreciate everyone’s point of view and, hopefully get the best out of performers when auditioning.
9) What does your average day consist of?
There’s really no such thing as an average day, every day is different and that’s the way I like it. I’m usually at my desk by around 10am, replying to emails that have come in overnight and ploughing through my daily to do list. Some days are frantic, others very quiet, there’s no pattern. I go to the theatre to keep abreast of actors’ work at least 3 or 4 nights a week and may then return to my desk afterwards to catch up, especially if I’m dealing with agents and producers in America.
10) Favourite actors?
My favourite actors are mainly those that I like as people as well as for their skill as performers. There are many, and most aren’t the least bit famous or even yet in the public eye, so I’ll spare their blushes by mentioning them and having you saying ‘Who?!’ Those you may have heard of include: Douglas Hodge who is terrific and starting to be given the recognition he deserves, having been awarded best actor on both sides of the Atlantic for his astounding performance as Albin in La Cage Aux Folles. Samantha Morton always gives wonderfully naturalistic performances; Daniel Radcliffe is really proving himself to be a great actor (he’s also not a bad magician in real life!); Sheridan Smith has been excellent in everything I’ve see her do; Julie Walters is far more versatile than most people ever see, and Alec McCowen is doubtless the most underrated actor of his generation, if not all time.
11) What is the hardest part of the job?
Getting performers to prepare adequately for auditions and recalls, especially when they’ve been sent sides or songs to learn… and also getting some companies to pay my invoices on time!
Buy Richards book on Amazon or visit his web site.
Main picture credit Ethel Davies.
Frost: What does J.C. stand for?
J.C.: Well ‘Joe Cool’ of course ha ha no ‘just crazy’, no ‘jolly cute’ he he take your pick
Frost: You’re in a new film; L.A. Paranormal, what’s it about? When’s it slated for relase?
J.C.: LA Paranormal is a comedy ghost hunting movie centred around Hollywoods number 1 paranormal investigation team strangely enough called ‘LA Paranormal’. It follows the 4 man team documentary style as they investigate many ghostly happenings all over Los Angeles. Shot in the vain of ‘This is Spinal Tap’ the film was shot completely improv, there was a scene order and through line but no scripted dialogue what so ever.
It was a laugh a minute to work on with a gifted comedy cast, we had the whole crew in stitches at least once every day of filming during a take.
The producers knew exactly what they wanted and spent a long time over the casting process, for the final call back there were 12 guys 3 of each character. We all improved scenes in different groups of four, there was some great talent on display and the producers could have gone with any combination and had a good result in fact was one of the most fun days I have had here.The film was directed by John Gonzales who had a very clear vision of what he wanted, I enjoyed working with him.
So I play John London psychic artist, I’m the sensitive of the group who is actually an English playboy who when is not chasing ghost’s is chasing women, there are some hilarious comedy sexploits within the film, but you’ll have to watch it to find out more. The film also stars Mike Hatton, Tres Dean and Matt Temple. It is currently in post production slated for release early 2011.
Frost: Tell me about the web series you’re currently filming…
J.C.: The web series is called Mac and Moreti and is an all action comedy. I’m not allowed to say to much about it at this stage but I can tell you it’s very very funny. It has elements of sci fi and although different I think fans of Lost will appreciate it not to mention fans of Scooby doo ha ha. Steven Moreti a very talented American actor is my co-star in the project and the producers are just starting to leak information out via their facebook group macandmoreti
The show is going live on the 1st January 1.1.11 and can be viewed at www.macandmoreti.com we are still shooting for another 4 weeks all over the Hollywood area and I believe there are 8 episodes in season one.
Frost: What’s it like being a Brit in L.A. Do the the ex-patriot acting community stick together?
J.C.: I’m very proud to be British and representing in LA. British actors and crews are well respected in Hollywood so we have a great reputation to maintain. The American girls just love the accent and… ha ha only kidding.
It’s a great lifestyle, people are friendly the sun is always shining there’s nothing to dislike really in fact I might just stick around a bit longer ha ha
There’s quite a few Brits here doing well right now so think it’s a good time to be British and in Hollywood. There are a few groups of Brits who organize weekly breakfasts and events as well as offer advice to new arrivals.
Frost: What’s the differences between the industry in America compared to the UK.
J.C.: There’s a lot more opportunity here than in the UK. I love the British film industry but unfortunately it’s badly financed and there are now very few films being made in the UK with decent budgets.
I think it’s a great shame and a loss to world cinema as a whole. It’s tough on UK producers with hardly any tax incentives to shoot in the UK so the rates for actors really are generally poor as a consequence.
Hollywood is a tough nut to crack and I think it’s naive to come here and think you are going to make it overnight. There are a lot more jobs here and the rates are higher but there are also a hell of a lot of actors here from all over the world all looking to make it big so competition is fierce. But that said there are opportunities every day that could change your life should you land one. Fortune has been smiling on me since I got here and I have been lucky enough to work with some very talented directors. I recently completed ‘You Kill Me’ which was directed by an incredible young director called Monica Sender who is definitely one of the brightest upcoming directors here and one to watch for the future. I’m currently shooting 2 separate projects with James Van Alden who’s last film ‘A numbers Game’ is doing very well and stars Steven Bauer of Scarface fame. James is a creative genius with an amazing eye and formerly a world renowned fashion photographer. Another film I recently had a lot of fun working on was ‘Hit the big time’ this just won it’s first award at the Swansea Bay film festival last month. It was shot in London, Hollywood, Las Vegas and Utah and starred the hilarious Jason Hyde. We play the dumbest hit-men in history who never quite manage to kill anyone and after bungling a hit in London flee to Hollywood to sell our life storys and hit the big time with disastrous effect. The film thrives on the differences between the Brits and the Americans and is being well received on the festival circuit.
Production Still of JC Mac in 'You Kill Me', Photo by Fady Hadid
Frost: Do you have any advice for actors in the UK who are aiming to work in the US?
J.C.: Advice hmm look left and right before you cross the road cause the roads are big here and make sure you stop for at lease 3 seconds at the stop signs he he…
No seriously come prepared, come with a strategy and come with money in your pocket because it can take a while to book a job here. I hear from most peoples experience it takes about a year before you start to book and the American actors are very very professional. They all have excellent web sites, reels, headshots (in colour by the way) business cards etc and all follow up every meeting with postcards and thank you notes. Never be without you 10 x 8s (headshots with resume that’s CV to you and me stapled on the back) because you never know who you might bump into. Be nice to everyone (good rule in life anyway) because you just never know who you are talking to in fact nearly every waiter, barman, etc is an actor looking for an opportunity just like you so to compete come prepared.
Frost: What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learnt?
J.C.: The most valuable things I think I have learned is not to take yourself too seriously and to enjoy the journey along the way, It’s not just about the destination. It’s very easy to get so caught up in the business that you can lose track of what’s important. Make time for friends and family and try not to let your sole topic of conversation be you no matter how interesting you think yourself to be! Have fun, live life and take it all in your stride remember yesterday is history tomorrow a mystery but today is a gift from God, that’s why we call it the present so enjoy it!!!
Frost: That’s some sound advice JC, not only for those in the acting industry but for all people who work in a high pressure environment. Surely we can’t be at the end of our interview?! Is there anything else you’d like to add…anything at all?
J.C.: I have been in the US a year now, just before I left [the UK] I did a gangster film called ‘Butterflies and Bullets’ directed by Mark Holland and starring some great up and coming British talent including Tony Fordham, Tony Cooke and Mitch Powel. I believe that’s now nearing the end of the post production process and I’m looking forward to seeing it. I also was in the psychological thriller ’45’ along with my brother Chico, we played a pair of rival boxers and I won’t say who but one of us ended up with a black eye at the end of filming. This film won a couple of awards on the film festival circuit.
Frost: Is there anything you miss in the UK?
J.C.: Friends and family but I keep in contact regularly with internet video chats and social networking. The biggest thing I missed was the birth of Chico and Daniela’s son Zacharia, that was a biggie and also the release of his world cup football song ‘It’s England Time’.