Casting Notice For Shakespeare Project.

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We need the following cast for a Shakespeare project filming next year. Unpaid at the moment, but will be paid if we get funding. Filming in HD with experienced and talented cast and crew.

William Stanley, later 6th Earl of Derby (1561 – 1642) here aged 21
Christopher Marlowe, student and alleged spy (1564 – 1593) here aged 18
Francis Bacon, later 1st Viscount St Albans (1561 – 1626) here aged 21
Edward de Vere, 21st Earl of Oxford (1550 – 1604) here aged 32 Craig
Will – son of a local glove-maker (1564 – 1616) here aged 18
Anne, a local barmaid (1556 – 1623) here aged 26

Please audition by uploading yourself doing a Shakespeare monologue on Youtube and then post the link below. Name link ‘Audition for The Shakespeare Episodes’.

Thank you

Jack Bauer is Back as 24 Film Gets Green Light.

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Good news for fans of 24, the new film is coming your way soon(ish). Kiefer Sutherland said he was more than a little excited about returning to the role of tough guy Bauer in an interview in October.

He said: ‘We’re going to hopefully start production in April on the film, and that’ll be out later on in the year.

‘We’re still a few months away, but we’ve got a script that we’re very excited about and we’re moving forward.’

Fox has announced that they will start filming next Spring.

Sutherland also said: ‘It’s going to be a two-hour representation of a 24 hour day, so we were not going to be restrained by the real time aspect of the TV show.  With the TV show we always had to have the crisis come to us because we couldn’t move.  Twice we put Jack on a plane and it was a disaster.

‘This will be different – it will be very feasible to get from Eastern Europe to England in the course of 24 hours! And the crisis can be more personal – it doesn’t have to be a huge bomb, it doesn’t have to take out the rest of the world.  It’s very exciting.’

Carbon Monoxide; The Silent Killer.

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Carbon Monoxide kills one person in the UK every week. It has no odour and less than 2 per cent of carbon monoxide in the air can kill in two minutes according to the Department of Health.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning like tummy upsets, and migraines can be confused with flu. If it is left undiagnosed, exposure to the gas over s long period can cause neurological damage that mimics strokes, depression and even some types of dementia.

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuel that has been lit doesn’t have enough oxygen to burn.
The lack of oxygen causes carbon monoxide instead if harmless carbon dioxide.

Carbon monoxide hijacks haemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. This causes the body to be starved of oxygen, affecting vital functions, causing a heart attack, coma and ultimately death.

Are you at risk?

Less than a third of homes have a carbon monoxide alarm, which cost about £10.

Watch out for:

* Yellow or orange flames in boilers and heaters when there should be blue ones.
* Soot on the walls around fires and water heaters.

SYMPTOMS

Headaches
Anxiety and depression
Nausea
Tiredness and drowsiness
Dizziness
Vomiting
Heart palpitations
Chest pain
Personality change and clumsiness

www.co-bealarmed.co.uk

Michael Douglas Speaks Out Against Nuclear Weapons.

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Hollywood Legend Michael Douglas Speaks out in Support of the Treaty That Bans all Nuclear Explosions, Forever

Oscar-winning actor and producer Michael Douglas is well known for his commitment to nuclear disarmament. Now he has teamed up with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization on a series of austere but powerful TV spots aimed at raising support for the Treaty.

“The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty is a guiding light on the road to a nuclear weapons free world. Once in force it will help prevent the kind of nuclear arms race we experienced in the past and will make it much more difficult to continue to build up nuclear arsenals,” says Douglas.

Douglas says his engagement with nuclear disarmament issues stems from a childhood set against the backdrop of the Cold War arms race. “I grew up in the United States at a time when nuclear weapons testing was commonplace. We used to have air raid drills at school and my father had a bomb shelter built in his yard in California. As a child, it was difficult to grasp the meaning of what was happening. It had a nightmare, monster-like quality which always haunted me,” he says. “Later, as I began to understand the ramifications of nuclear weapons testing, my commitment to nuclear disarmament grew.”

In the five decades following World War II, more than 2,000 nuclear bombs were tested at over 60 locations around the world. Radioactive fallout from these explosions impacted humans, animals and the environment. Many test sites will remain uninhabitable for thousands of years to come.

Born of the optimism following the end of the Cold War, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty opened for signature in 1996 amid acclaim and hopes for a speedy cessation to the nuclear testing madness. Today it enjoys widespread support from more than 180 countries around the world, but it cannot enter into force until nine outstanding nuclear-technology holder countries ratify. They are China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and the United States of America. Indonesia’s commitment to complete the ratification process this year brings new hope and moves us closer to entry into force. But as the world waits for the others to follow, the threat of resumed nuclear testing and a new arms race hangs over us all.

“The world has waited long enough for the Treaty to become global law,” says Douglas. “So today, as an actor and a United Nations Messenger of Peace, I’m using my voice and my name to raise awareness and support for this crucial Treaty. I’m calling on the nine countries that still need to ratify the Treaty to do so without further delay, so that we can bring it into force and remove the threat of these terrible weapons once and for all.”

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty outlaws all nuclear explosions anywhere, anytime, by anyone. It stands for a safer and more secure world because it prohibits the development of new nuclear weapons as well as the upgrading of existing nuclear arsenals.

In the past, concerns about the verifiability of the Treaty were sometimes given as reasons for not ratifying but today, with the CTBT’s billion-dollar, state-of-the-art verification regime almost completely in place, that is no longer an issue. “The CTBT is clearly verifiable,” says Douglas. “No nuclear test will go unnoticed with the International Monitoring System firmly in place.”

The International Monitoring System (IMS) is the backbone of the verification regime. Its facilities worldwide scour the planet for signs of a nuclear explosion – underground, underwater and in the atmosphere. It uses four monitoring technologies: seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide. The network is nearing completion with 285 of the planned 337 facilities already operational.

Earlier this year, the crisis in Japan underlined the growing importance of the system’s civil applications – monitoring earthquakes, speeding up tsunami warning alerts and tracking radioactive dispersal from nuclear accidents.

The Art of Making Friends by Carole Stone, Founder TheStoneClub

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I was desperately shy when I was starting out in the world but I’ve grown to love networking, and I now know how important it is in both your professional and social life. I think the secret of success in both cases is taking a real interest in other people, listening to what they say about themselves and what they do, and not just talking about yourself. I call it ‘good networking’, making the most of the people you meet to your mutual advantage.

We all feel a bit apprehensive when we walk into a room full of people we don’t know. This is equally true of a business conference or a social gathering. My advice is to make up your mind beforehand that you are going to ‘seize the moment’ and not leave before you have met at least one or two new people.

When you meet someone interesting you feel you want to see again make sure you get their contact details. Never leave it so that someone you want to see again takes your card and says they will contact you. You should be the one to come back with an email or call to make sure they remember you.

What if you approach someone who responds by snubbing you? Don’t worry: it happens to all of us at one time or another, and it’s only your pride that will take a temporary knock. You’ll soon get over it – and it is much better than missing the chance to talk to someone you really want to meet.

If you are at a professional gathering, try to find out who the other guests are and, if there are any speakers you want to meet afterwards, listen to them so that you have something sensible to say about the subject. If there is a chance to put questions to a speaker from the floor take the opportunity. State your name and the company, charity or organisation you are involved with and make your point briefly and clearly.

If it’s a gathering of friends for drinks or a party, and you are feeling really lost, just go up to someone like yourself who looks a bit lonely, and ask how they know the host, or whether they’ve been to the house before. Say you’re on your own and don’t know many of the guests there. Most people will be only too pleased to respond.

It is always a bonus to have somewhere to invite new people you meet and want to see again. A way of building a circle of friends that I have found very helpful indeed is what I call my ‘salon’. For a few weeks, set aside one day of the week – it must the same day and time each week and say that for one and a half hours (no longer) you will be in a certain place, a room in your office, your home, a corner of a coffee shop, and that you will be happy for your new contact to join you there – and perhaps bring a friend too. You’ll be amazed how many new and interesting people you will meet – and it needn’t be expensive. I ran my ‘salon’ at my office for many years and made dozens of new contacts.

Last year I established TheStoneClub, where members come together to meet each other – often together with experts in their field – to discuss business and social issues of the day. If you’re interested to know more about the Club do contact us.

Finally, before you go to bed, make a note of the people you’ve met during the day, with their contact details, in your electronic database. That’s the way to build a network that will make you the envy of all.

To find out more about Carole and join her network, go to her website.

Kirsten Dunst Not Ready To Be 30.

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Kirsten Dunst has revealed that she has the same fears as all the other women reaching the big 3-0, finding someone to have kids with.

Dunst turns 30 next year and says she is terrified she will not find a man to have kids with.

The Spider-Man star told Lucky magazine she want to settle down, but fears that she won’t find the right man in time. Proving that even the rich and famous are slaves to their biological clock.

Dunst said: ‘I thought when I reached 30 I’d have a lot more figured out. Until you have a kid, you’re just looking for your partner. And guys have a Peter Pan vibe. They’re 35 and they act like they’re 25.’

‘That’s what scares me about being in my 30s – not finding someone to have kids with. I can’t wait to re-live life in a little kid’s way,’

‘I’m so ready for that lifestyle – get a little place upstate and have them go to school up there.’ She told Lucky.

Susan Boyle- The Emperor's got Talent.

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I was right about The Darkness. Sorry, but while you were all hailing them as the new ‘Queen’ I was shaking my head and thinking, ‘That lad’s a ‘top C’ and a bag of chips away from disaster.’
I still feel I’m right about button flies. I stand there by the exit of public toilets, fiddling with myself and thinking, ‘This is how they came up with ‘The Cube’!’

I was wrong about Uggs- fair enough. I was wrong about Mark Wright- seems like a decent lad, he can live. I’m happy to be corrected.

So can somebody, please, tell me why Susan Boyle is worth millions?

I saw her this morning on the day-before-yesterdays ’This morning’, which I’m sure qualifies me for my own Tardis, and all I could think was what I always think when I hear her sing: “It’s just a woman, singing!”

As I write, my wife is treading the boards in a West-End musical. Many of our friends are from the same industry. Trained, talented people. My wife can sing. She’s a very good singer- a professional, as it were. She’s not worth millions.

Susan Boyle can sing, of course she can. She’s got quite a nice voice, but take the echo off her microphone and she’s just a woman who can sing, and there are thousands of those.

Everyone, even now, goes back to that moment on BGT when she came out onto the stage looking, it has to be said, slightly bovine and did what has, in my opinion, made her fortune. She sang ‘better than expected’. In other words, she sings better then she looks like she can sing. If she’d looked like Celine Dion she’d have got a raised eyebrow from Simon and a, ‘yes, but would the Queen like it?’ from Piers.

She waddled out before the judges, all flock wall paper and facial hair, and started gyrating her hips and speaking in tongues. Everyone thought she was going to be guided gently back off by someone in a smock and marigolds muttering, “Honestly Susan, I turn my back for five minutes…” But instead she nodded to the magic hand on the sound system that, thankfully for her, could still play C90 cassette tapes, and let rip.

It was impressive. Anton- the taller half of the conjoined presentation unit ‘Anton Dec’, turned to the camera, “You didn’t expect that, Didga!” I shook my head- I hadn’t. But then, I didn’t expect Diversity to be as good as they were. I didn’t expect that guy who swallows snooker balls and goldfish to be able to regurgitate Amanda Holden’s ring after unlocking it with his over-worked duodenum, but he did, and he’s not worth millions either.

Nine days later she’s an internet sensation and tipped to win the whole thing. She’s mentioned on Oprah and has been credited with reinventing music altogether and fathering/mothering Jesus, so I thought I ought to Google her performances since that moment on BGT and see what all the fuss is about.

Well, apart from that two minutes and twenty seconds of audition, and a CD version of ‘cry me a River’ from TEN YEARS previously. There was nothing… that would be ‘nothing at all’, the kind of thing that you’re left with if you take something from something- that nothing.

That CD of ‘Cry Me A River’ by the way, was dug up after her appearance on BGT. ‘Hello’ claimed it “cemented her status” as a singing star and no less a journal than the New York Times saw it as proof that she wasn’t just a ‘one trick pony.’ But, surely, even a pony with two tricks is no ‘Mr. Ed’.

Years pass and I’m left fiddling with my flies while I queue outside the Ugg shop for a £200 pair of lazily-crafted slippers, expecting the moment of revelation to come. Waiting for that enlightenment where I suddenly hear what everyone else can hear, but I can’t. All I can hear is a woman singing. All I can see is a woman who can sing better than her appearance would have you expect.

Susan, like Cher and Madonna, is now known by only one name but, unlike them and more like Jedward, it’s not her actual name but an abbreviated amalgamation: ‘SUBO’. Thankfully her second name isn’t Bale or it would be ‘SUBA’ which is ‘A BUS’ backwards and her PR people will want her as far from associations with the back of a bus as possible.

The worry is that, as her image is cultivated and her appearance improves, that ‘juxtaposition’ [wikipedia’s word- not mine] is lessened. As her fame and income increase she will, inevitably, end up looking more like Beyoncé Knowles and less like Nick Knowles and somebody, somewhere will finally look at her and think, ‘Hang on, it’s just a woman, singing.’

From what I’ve seen of her, Susan Boyle is a lovely lady. She seems to have a good sense of humour, a degree of humility and a half decent singing voice. I have nothing against her at all and wish her all the best. I just don’t understand, now the surprise has worn off, what all the fuss is about.

Maybe I’m wrong- maybe, thankfully, she’s not ‘in the altogether’ after all and her voice really is millions of pounds better than all the other women who can sing but, like the emperor’s new outfit, I just can’t see it.

Fresh Meat To Return For Second Series

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SECOND SERIES FOR FRESH MEAT AND BEAVER FALLS

NEW RUNS GREENLIT FOR HIT CHANNEL 4 and E4 DRAMA

FRESH MEAT
‘it has hit written all over it’ – Sunday Times
‘smart, sympathetic and pretty much adorable from the get-go’ – The Guardian
‘brilliant new comedy drama’ – The Sun

Channel 4’s critically-acclaimed smash-hit show Fresh Meat has been recommissioned mid way through its first eight-part run.

The Jesse Armstrong/Sam Bain created comedy drama centres on a group of six housemates embarking on the hilarious and painful business of being a student and features an ensemble cast of hot young talent.

Made by Objective Productions and Lime Pictures and produced by Rhonda Smith, the series is executive produced by Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, Judy Counihan, Phil Clarke and Andrew Newman for Objective Productions and Tony Wood for Lime.

BEAVER FALLS
‘heart-warming and gut-wrenchingly funny .. you’re guaranteed to fall for Beaver Falls!’ – The Sun

E4, home to BAFTA award-winning series Skins, Misfits and The Inbetweeners gets set to get out the Factor 50 (safety first) as it heads back to Beaver Falls for a second six-week run.

It’s Summer 2012 and while all is not perfect between Barry (John Dalgleish), A-Rab (Arsher Ali) and Flynn (Samuel Robertson) the three of them are ready and raring for another summer of mischief. But with a night in jail, a shotgun wedding and a run-in with the locals, the Brits are going to have their hands full …

The 6 x 60’ series was created by Iain Hollands, produced by Liz Lewin and executive produced by Charlie Pattinson for Company Pictures.

Commenting on the recommissions, Channel 4 Head of Drama, Camilla Campbell, said: ‘I am delighted that our strong series output has been recognised with a double recommission. Our series continue to reach the heart of the 16-34 audience, and consistently bring loyal viewers to Channel 4 and E4.’