The List

I did not think of doing a list till the lovely Jason said I should so guess what, I did. This is what I will be watching, and like I said I hope to do a mini review of each one and post it on here. Also Jason thinks you should all say what you think of the film/programme I have watched. So after each review give me your views or a star rating, but only after I watched it, do not want to be off put by people’s thoughts

The Films

Smart People

Rumble Fish

Running with Scissors

Phone

Right at your Door

Steal

Taxi 2

Shrooms

Sherrybaby

Seven Swords

Series 7: The Contenders

Scum

Scarface

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger

Revolver

Two Hands

Underworld: Evolution

Sixty Six

Alfie

The Lawnmower Man

Train to Hell

Chopper

Eye of the Beholder

Hurly Burly

Help! I’m a Fish

Steamboy

A Bittersweet Life

The Big White

Best in Show

The Amityville Horror (Remake)

After the Sunset

One Million Years B.C.

Arachnophobia

Annie Hall

Australia

The Crow

The Cooler

Colour of Magic

The Chronicles of Riddick

Bride of Chucky

Black Snake Moan

The Deer Hunter

Dear Wendy

G.I.Joe The Movie (Animation)

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad

Fargo

Flags of our Fathers

Night of the Hunter (Remake)

The Invasion

Intolerable Cruelty

House of Flying Daggers

Hollywoodland

Hellboy: Blood & Iron

Letters from Iwo Jima

Moby Dick

Monster House

Moonwalker

Fast Food Nation

Factotum

Do the Right Thing

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

The Fog

The Programmes

Jekyll

State of Play

Taken

Quantum Leap Season 1

The Tribe Series 1

Doctor Who: The Leisure Hive (Tom Baker)

Dead Like Me Season 1

Black Books Series 1-3

Billy Connolly’s World Tour of England, Ireland & Wales

Batman the Animated Series Vol. 1

Police Squad!

The Osbournes First Series

Sliders Season 1 & 2

The Muppet Show Series 1

Naruto Unleashed Series 1

Robot Chicken Season 1-3

Mongrels

Gotta watch'em all!!!

The other day I got to thinking, which takes a lot of time, and 3 days later a thought popped into my head, “Why the Hell do I own so many DVDs that I have never watched?”. I go out and buy something that sounds good and say “I’ll watch that later or soon” and 3 years later it tries so hard to look different (most of them have got pre-owned stickers from Blockbuster) from the other DVDs, to get me to pick it up and watch it. But still I just pass it over trying not to give it eye contact, like picking a puppy or adopting a child (I guess that is what it is like). So I went through all my DVDs, mine are easy to find because I am a weirdo and I put green stickers on the spines, and picked out all the ones that I have never watched and I made another pile in my room, 2 piles, one of Films and the other of Television programmes. I then counted and in total I have 63 films and 16 Programmes that I have never watched or in the case of the programmes, never completed watching.

So I have decided to only watch from those piles and to try to watch them all by the time I leave York. I also feel to get me writing more I will do short reviews on each of them, including a reason why I brought it in the first place. So check back on how I am doing.

5 Button Rocker, HSM and Film 2000 and Crap!!

Ok just a few random thoughts today, starting with the brilliant but money eating computer games of the last few years and still to be released. So my problem with the Wii, Guitar Hero/Rock Band, the PS3 wand thing and the 360’s Kinect, is when will it end! I am a pretty big fan of the Guitar Hero series, and I probably will never play the guitar, but like a lot of people I have been known to jump round to rock music throwing my arms round pretending, very very badly, to play air guitar, so the 5 button plastic guitar is like a step up from the air guitar. And you know what? It is a good laugh. I do not take it that seriously (I have had it for 2 years and I can only just about play the medium setting), and I know that it is no way as skilled as the real thing, but it is great to just sometimes put on the tracks that you love, and pretend to play along! What I’m unsure about is the new version of Rock Band being released at the end of the month, now including an updated drum kit, a keyboard and the “real” guitar. I think the drum kit is a cool idea as the old Rock Band one did not have cymbals, and the keyboard is something that I knew would be released at some point, but the guitar confuses me. Why buy a plastic guitar with a hundreds of buttons on it and what looks like some strings, when you could go out get a cheap REAL guitar and learn to play! I do see a small point to it, it will teach you very simply how to play the chords, but only to the songs on the game.

I think “South Park” has it down to a tee. In one of their episodes Randy, Stan’s Dad, shows the boys that he can play a track the boys are playing on guitar hero, on a real guitar. After playing the song note prefect the boys look in shock and tell him that it was “Gay” and “Stupid”. I think it goes to show how important technology is today for kids and that makes me sad. I am not saying that when I was a kid I was really active and I would go and run and play sports, because that would be a total lie, but I did spend a lot of time at the park outside with my friends. I remember one year we even got more then one days worth of fun simply by just jumping into a crash mat we made out of cut grass! And as years go on the games get even more life sucking taking away a child’s imagination, just look at Xbox 360’s new invention, “The Kinect System” which is a hands free controller. It uses a camera and sensors to pick up your movements and put them in the game. Ok I know that is pretty active and better then just sitting on your arse and playing “Halo” or “Grand Theft Auto”, I just feel it is taking something away from going out and exploring the outside, even if it is the boring task of helping your father pick up sticks or fallen plums from the plum tree, it gets you out and into the world! So all I am saying is calm down Sony, take it easy Microsoft and have a rest Nintendo, let us not forget the real skills of learning a hobby or what we can find in own back gardens!

Ok I went off on one there; I have two other things I want to talk about for a couple of lines. The First being a mouse house creation, the wonderful world of the musical, but manly “Why am I put in such a great mood when I listen to songs of High School Musical”? I wonder if it is the up beat pop sound or the really cheesy lyrics, I just can not understand it, normally something this shiny and clean would make me cringe, but I just can not help clapping along and feeling all warm inside when they all realise that they have each other at the end of each film. Please someone help me understand, I am sure I will talk about this in more detail at a later date.

And finally, what the hell have the BBC done with Film 2010? What was wrong with the set up of the last series, of just one man sitting behind a desk and telling you his thoughts on the up coming releases? At least he sounded like he knew what he was talking about; I hope Mark Kermode had a good enough reason to turn down the role! Why the hell would you give it to a woman who can not even open her eyes all the way, looks like she has been dragged through a hedge backwards and seems to have no idea what the hell she is talking about! I do not think I could do a better job but I am willing to give it a go, so watch this space!

Youtube = Happy Memories

Until about 3 months ago I really did not see the point of youtube. Yer, I’m one of those people who goes on it a lot and manages to waste hour after hour watching dancing bears and ninja cats. But lately it hit me, what a pointless waste it is! What is so amazing about a kid who sings like Barry White, a sneezing panda bear or a guy wasting probably thousands of pounds/dollars to dance around the world! Then about 3 months ago after having a conversation with my housemates about old school television, I finally saw what the point of youtube is, and my good friends the answer is to re live those lost programmes that no one will release on DVD. And the programme that made me realise this? “Are You Afraid of the Dark”. An amazing programme that was both entertaining and scary as hell. Then I moved on to something that I know both me and my girlfriend loved as kids, “The Demon Headmaster”, and I jumped straight into series 3, and damn the acting really is as bad as I remembered!

About now I bet you are wondering why I’m telling you this, well I am trying to open your eyes! Take a minute, close your eyes if it helps, look back into your past and remember the things you watched, the things that made you happy, scared, excited, sad and just wanting the days to go faster till the next episode. Maybe I just watched too much television when I was a kid, but I do not care! Television, I think, is a key element to where I am today. Ok maybe I am in a shitty job and not sure where I am going, but I am truly happy. One of my great memories growing up was the joy of a Sunday night, sitting on the white wool rug in front of the fire, my parents behind me on the sofa, waiting for the Sunday family drama to start! “The Borrowers”, “5 Children and It” and “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” are to name just a few of the brilliant programmes that we would watch. And that is one of the reasons why I took up the decision to study a course on film and television, and maybe one day I will write something that at least one kid can sit at home and watch on a Sunday afternoon, in ore of the magic, adventure, romance and gripping cliff hangers at the end of each episode.

So please use youtube for the right reasons, do not waste time, use it to remember and have that warm feeling. Maybe it will not be good as you remember but I am sure it must bring back a good memory or two! I’m off to watch “The Last Train” and “Noggin the Nog”!

I'm Coming Back!!!!

Ok so it’s been a while……ok I have been busy……no really…..ok whatever. But I am back! I really want this to work, ‘this’ being the blog. I want to make it a weekly thing if not more often, starting by bringing back the weekly quick film reviews and then maybe stuff about the filming of Tim and Timewasters. I was also thinking of doing updates on my script writing that I have finally started doing!

So at this time in my life things are starting to feel different and I think in the next year I will be a new man. I have no idea why but I feel the winds changing, I know something is going to alter for the better, and I can not wait to see what it is! So watch this space because I hope (if I can tell what it is) to let you know of my progress along the road to the new me.

"I am Tim" is going very well and all filming has finished on the first series, and for a first series with hardly any money, I think Jamie (Tim) should be very proud of himself. And I wish just to thank him so much for allowing me to take such a big part in the series, when he had never seen me act before, so thank you Jamie! From this my very two lovely housemates have trusted me with another pretty big role, in their web series “Timewasters”, a series following two guys falling through time, trying hard to make it home. The first episode went well and I am very much looking forward to seeing online soon.

Keep your lovely big eyes open for more posts soon and I hope not to disappoint! Off now to draw and continue to listen to the Vitamin String Quartet! xx

The First Episode and Getting Over The Fear

On Sunday the moment I had been waiting for finally arrived. The moment I would find out if I could act. The first episode of “I Am Tim” was going to go put online for all to see and it would be time to spot if all that fun had been worth it. The weekend I had spent helping to create the pilot episode had been great fun. The first day I arrived sweaty and tired from work, trying to push away my nerves, gather my excitement and try my hardest to remember my lines. I phoned up Jamie (the guy in charge and the one playing Tim) and found out that they were filming and would be finished soon so I could wait in the room they had rented out at the Uni. The room was a treasure trove of wonderful homemade weapons and tools, which would aid Tim on his mission of good, and that just upped my excitement. Into the room enters Jamie, with a massive grin on his face, Lloyd the cameraman/editor and Owen who plays Richard the documentary maker. All three of them seem pretty pleased with themselves, as they that completed all the interview shots that were needed and even some improve! I changed into my gear, well mainly Jonny’s gear, a white shirt, bow tie, waistcoat, smart shoes, pin stripped trousers, a bowler hat and a pipe. We ventured out to find a spot to film my interview, and only after two takes we got the one used in the episode in the can, not bad for my first day of filming, all done in half an hour! And even home in time for Doctor Who, double score!
The next day I arrive on time at Lloyd’s to film a scene, which ended up on the cutting room floor and after a short while the rest of the crew arrived. We walked down the cycle path till we came to a pretty spot that Jamie kept telling me would soon be covered in gore, he was not kidding. Jamie, Owen and I waited while people set up and as this was happening we read through the lines, which made it clear that we all were a little nervous but very much ready for the action. As a first time director Jamie took control very well and got what he wanted from the cast and crew, while being very constructive and helpful towards everyone’s needs. My big entrance finally came, and I gathered all my nerves and threw them to one side, got in contact with my jolly side, and jogged out of the tree line into my first scene. Yer sure I messed up my lines, who doesn’t? But each take I learnt from and it made me want to do more. The rest of the afternoon sped past, quicker then I would have liked, but I still had an ace time.
Sitting on the leather sofa at home in Essex with my parents and Mel, watching the pilot on the 40(maybe 50) inch screen was frightening because I had no idea what the final product was going to be like. Also I HATE hearing myself on screen, so I was not looking forward to that. To hear my Mum and Dad laugh out loud at some of the dialogue made me feel warm inside, so did the fact that Mel liked my acting, it also made me want to do the rest of the series that bit more!
I hope the rest of you liked the first episode, and if you have not seen it yet type I Am Tim into youtube or look for the fan page on facebook. I love feedback, ALL feedback so be as mean as you like! Also lastly check out the I Am Tim blog, http://www.iamtim.tk . That is all for now, but a new quick movie review will be on soon.

Being an Actor

About 5 years ago I finished my A levels and left with a C and 2 D’s, not amazing but I was happy with that, as my English Lit teacher told me that I would be the first student in the history of that school to get a U, but I proved her wrong! So anyway, the other two subjects I took were Drama and Media, Media lead me onto the next 3 years of my life where I studied Film and Television at Uni, but Drama I just seemed to leave behind. I have always loved to act, that feeling of getting on stage creating a character and a story, I have always had a great imagination. I did a few plays in primary school but my family always seemed to have the nac of taking me on holiday when they were being performed so I could not take part. The one I remember missing out on the most was Joseph and his multi coloured dream coat, where I was given the role of the youngest brother, but then along comes the holiday so I had to pull out, and ever time they did rehearsals I had to sit in the other room and create a pop up book about a cow!! Ok I can not complain to much as I did go to Disney World, but I just felt like I missed out!
In secondary school, I did the odd thing, but this time it was not just holidays that got in the way but nerves too. I have never been a very good reader out loud, I crumble under the pressure, even if I am reading out loud to Mel, I seem to read what I want to see! I think that is what lost me a big role in “Midsummer Night’s Dream” and all I got was a fairy dressed in a black bin bag, it was a punk fairy! I think the year after that I did a sketch with a friend I made through Midsummer, a comedy sketch about a stupid teacher who keeps buggering up and has been called to speak to the headmaster. It was ok people laughed so I guess they liked it!
When I got to sixth form I did two shows that I remember well. The first being a small part in Charlie and the Chocolate, the Granddad that stays in the bed, George I think his name was. So I had two lines and I was told the reason I got a small part was that 6th form students have busy lives so get smaller parts. The problem with that is that a fellow 6th student was playing one of the main kids, that was me being told I was rubbish! The second role was bigger; I was in a 24 hour version of Grease as Sonny, and I loved doing that, it was a good laugh.
So now lets jump forward 4 years, skipping over my first year in Uni where I had to be a reporter, which is a type of acting and I did not enjoy that much, to a short film where I was a hobo. “Utterly Romance” was a short musical two friends were making for their Uni course and I told them I would help out, so I was given the role of Hobo, only because someone pulled out and I was really happy to help. A silent role and a great fun.
So we have reached now and only a few days ago the first episode of “I Am Tim” was filmed, and I was very lucky to have a role. As soon as I found out about “I Am Tim” I wanted in, what ever the role and I never thought it would be a big one. Jamie, the man with the idea, told me he thought I would look good in a 3 piece suit. I took him up on the offer and I am so happy I did! I was worried about learning a script as I had not had to learn a lot before but I took it all in and I think for a beginner I did ok.

Hope to write further blogs talking a bit about each filming day and other things to do with the show. The next one to come soon will be on the first episode and a lovely day on York cycle paths.