Mark Waddington

First Class Memorials

2007-03-21T18:04:00.002Z

As darkness falls, the train pulls heavily through the greasy mechanics of the railway cuttings, her resigned travellers gazing mesmerized by lumps of iron and the occasional piece of garish graffiti, desert flowers by comparison.

Up at the front, there is no time for gazing, high backed couches like headstones support still working bodies, executive remains in pinstripe shrouds form their own first class memorials.

Here in the less refined quarters, pungent plastic meals are pulled from branded bags and consumed to a background of nokia, sony and hello moto.

Now away from the brown and rust, and in the fading light, incandescent platforms flash like TV channels surfed by remote control, their meagre charms not sufficiently enticing for a moment's pause.

Wakefield, Sheffield and Doncaster pass without acknowledgment, other than for the lottery of seating arrangements, newly boarded passengers, bags hoisted and bums squeezed into scarcely adequate spaces.

Now go to the new blog by clicking here

V&A Friday Late

2007-01-27T14:37:00.001Z

From Friday Late at London's V&A held on the last Friday in every month starting at 18.30.

First, a vertical light box on which people can write ideas about

destiny, romance and conquests.

Then, Volume, an installation which
responds to movement.

After a disorderly wait in the rain it was a rushed wander through the pillars of LED lights - which also housed loud speakers. The patterns responded to peoples' movement but it was
difficult to make out with so many people. Would have been excellent as a solitary experience.

Volume is a collaboration between design collective United Visual Artists and Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack and co-writer Neil Davidge (as part of their music production company, one point six).

Now see the new blog before this one closes down

Apple iPhone - Want One

2007-01-11T05:54:00.000Z

Don't forget that I'm now at http://markwaddington.typepad.com/

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T09:37:00.000Z

All the best for 2007 and don't forget that I'm now at http://markwaddington.typepad.com/

Fresh Start with Typepad

2006-12-30T11:12:00.000Z

I started with blogger in September 2002 and here, at the end of 2006, it's time for a fresh start. Yes, the charms of Typepad have finally caught up with me. Blogger has served me well, but there's so much more I want to put on and so little space.

So I would appreciate you updating your links, feeds and whatever with my new address.

http://markwaddington.typepad.com/

Edit Magic

2006-12-15T18:15:00.000Z

I was spellbound at the Tate Modern by Video Quartet in which clips of percussion instruments were edited on four screens to produce one coherent piece (Christian Marclay).

Here a different artist Lasse Gjertsen shows that a thrilling relationship can be achieved between sound and vision in the edit.

Nine

2006-12-10T09:22:00.000Z

Nine
Originally uploaded by markwaddington.

Nine has become a tradition at Grace. The idea is based on the nine lessons and carols, but the content is not so expected.

Nine contributors are commissioned to come up with a response their the chosen reading - but we never know what they will do. There were home made videos, animations, unusual reflections and tunes.

The challenge for the team was processing the huge range of media thrown at us - CDs, Powerpoint presentations, DVDs, VHSs, photos.

Kathy and Adam

2006-11-26T00:32:00.000Z

Congratulations to both. A great day for everyone. more pictures here

Grace: Listening

2006-11-12T00:58:00.000Z

This month's gace was all about listening - which you're invited to do now. Click play.

Shhhhh You Know Who

2006-10-31T18:26:00.000Z

About fifteen years ago I suggested that we used William Franklyn to voice a BBC One promo and in reply other guys in the office said they were sure he was dead. As it turned out he was very much alive and keen to do the voice-over.

I'd always been a fan of his voice (and his personality) and since then I've wheeled him in to do countless jobs for the BBC. What always struck me about him was that he was not only very professional, but that he had a boyish enthusiasm for the art of voice-overs. After every session we would end up talking about voices and the things he'd been working on. He was thrilled to have been asked to narrate a version of Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy.

Talking with him was a bit like talking with your dad but with a bubbling, youthful excitement for the job in hand. "Supposing we did it this way", he'd say, "would we get into trouble? I hope so".

The last conversation I had with him was about growing old. He explained that when you get to a certain age something happened to your voice, "it was a bit like a teenager's voice breaking but in reverse". Your vocal chords would crack and all of sudden you'd sound like an old person, he explained. He seemed a little worried about this prospect, but as it has turned out - even at the age of eighty one - it never happened.

Sadly the next time someone says, "why don't we get Bill Franklyn to do the voice over" I'll have to say that he's no longer on the agent's books.

Saturday Night

2006-10-15T21:46:00.000Z

The Secret Policeman's Ball was fantastic. It came at the end of a stressufull day with doubts as to whether we could face going. Glad we did. The highights for me were Russell Brand and Eddie Izzard.

The presentation of the event I thought lacked flow. They opted for using a scripted announcer voice over to link the items. For me this didn't work. Being in the round, you were never quite sure where you were supposed to be looking. There was only one live link - from Russell Brand hanging off the balcony which was perfect.

The Grace, VOX, service was a success. Jonny has a note about it on his blog. The idea was that we would reflect on why some speeches are so powerful and yet other important voices go unheard. We gave people the opportunity to make their great speech. On the new Grace website the contents of the service are available, click here.

Good Living

2006-10-13T21:57:00.000Z

Russell and Bevan Davies have put together some good living tips on an excellent little site which I hope you'll support.

In the presents section he says, "one of the best presents we have ever been given is a Kalashnikov automatic rifle...." Full details at http://www.goodlivingtips.co.uk/

Grace on VOX

2006-10-09T22:33:00.000Z

Just completed the final planning session for this weekend's Grace. It should be good thanks to the amazing talents of the Grace team.

Having set it up, Deborah and I will be heading off to The Secret Policeman's Ball that evenining to celebrate our anniversary (torture and unjust imprisonment!).

So if you can't get tickets for the Amnesty gig, here's my definite recommendation:

Just occasionally someone stands up and says something the whole world takes notice of. Think of those like Luther King and Winston Churchill - what made their words so powerful?

Now think of your words. Are they lost in a chattering world? What do you want to say? How do you want to say it? Is there anything stopping you?

A service of reflection on the human and divine voice. VOX.

listen to the opening montage

BBC ONE Idents

2006-10-06T21:59:00.000Z

And you thought that hippos didn't do synchronised swimming. New BBC ONE idents produced by Red Bee begin tomorow at 10am.

Appearing Rooms

2006-10-03T19:57:00.000Z

Appearing Rooms
Originally uploaded by markwaddington.

Another picture of Jeppe Hein's Appearing Rooms at the South Bank Centre. Quite pleased with the drama of this picture - a lot of people getting very, very wet.

Elvis Promo for Radio Two

2006-10-03T18:59:00.000Z

I have to say that for all the creative effort put into the advertising industry, there is still a lot of crap out there. But occasionally, just occasionally, someone makes a promo or an ad which is really good. Steve Cope directed this one for Red Bee Media.

Elvis BBC Radio Two Promo on Vimeo

Dance

2006-09-04T23:36:00.000Z

Dance on Vimeo

A short animation by Josh and Luke (they are working on the feature version).

Shed Obscura

2006-08-31T07:15:00.000Z

Grace at Greenbelt on Vimeo

This is the building of the Grace installation at Greenbelt; The creation of a "shed obscura". The idea was that inside the shed you could see a projection of the outside world but upside down.

Viewers were invited to sit in the shed and reflect on this upside down kingdom, and the way in which the Christian faith requires us to see things differently. Those who spent time in the shed were invited to write comments on the outside - most said it was an amazing experience.

Grace

Greenbelt

2006-08-29T20:45:00.000Z

Some images of Greenbelt which was as inspiring as ever. In spite of the damp and sometimes cold nights, there is always something to make it a great time.

Ikon from Belfast was particularly memorable, exploring truth. Intriguing images of a bible being edited with a scalpel and being invited to exchange and eat a piece of paper with the words, I believe.

Fuse Factory's great video mixing and a very clever four walled screen in which the singer moved immersed in images.

Christopher Booker I thought was fascinating - on the subject of the seven basic story plots. I bought his book.

Our own contributions, Communion by Numbers and Shed Obscura worked particularly well. The communion as first seen at Grace.

Other pics: 1 2 3

The shed had a queue of people waiting to go in every time I looked with some great comments. The reflection was on the upside down kingdom which could be seen projected on one wall of the interior.

Inside Out

2006-08-19T21:30:00.000Z

Went to see Sarah Bevin's installation at Pitzhanger.

Plants growning out of household items - trainers used as plant pots, sofa cushions like growbags. Looked like a home has been invaded by nature. "I am attempting to present the power of nature in a formal setting" she says.

Here's a TV with weeds.

Appearing Rooms

2006-08-16T18:53:00.000Z

Jeppe Hein's Appearing Rooms at the South Bank Centre. A spectacular water sculpture by the Danish artist on the terrace outside the Royal Festival Hall.

Fountain on Vimeo

Walls of water in the aquatic pavilion rise and fall randomly to divide the 10msq space into a series of smaller 'rooms': changing every ten seconds, they define all possible right-angled configurations of the space. As viewers walk through the 'rooms' they must interact with the patterns of rising and falling water if they are to leave the space without getting wet.

Knives Out

2006-08-15T15:29:00.000Z

My get-out-of-the-office strategy is proving enlightening. I had lunch with my wife in Bentalls in Oxford Street today and the store had an interesting promotional campaign. From a red booth on the third floor they were giving away free knives! Now given the levels of security in central London does giving away sharp pointy weapon-like implements seem like a good idea? The tannoy announcement did make it clear that they were for over 21 terrorists only.

Perch on the wardrobe

2006-08-14T21:20:00.000Z

I read today in the Ariel – the BBC’s in house weekly magazine – that creativity is still top of the agenda at the corporation. I’m pleased to know this as someone who has been called a Creative Producer. The article canvassed the views if some key people who gave their top tips for coming up with ideas. The creative tip which came up consistently was to get away from the desk and out of the building, and so here I am in St Martin’s church at Trafalgar Square.

Outside the church is a pneumatic drill pounding the living daylights out of a very resistant pavement. Inside the church there is a small number of miserable looking souls hunched in uncomfortable pews and one tourist in a floral shirt snapping pictures. Beats me why anyone should want to take pictures here, it’s so drab. Anyway, I chose this spot because I am using my laptop and it is conveniently dark - bright cheery locations tend wipe out everything but the faintest image.

By the way, I had in mind to prepare for a meeting I have tomorrow but as you can tell I’m easily distracted. Even on the way here I bumped into Peter, a former colleague and “the voice of BBC ONE”, and had a great conversation to stir the creative juices. Something about threatened specialist skills and automated announcements being used instead of real people. Daleks in dinner jackets reading the news.

Prior to taking up this position in the rear pew, I visited the National Gallery where I stumbled on a talk on Van Gough’s chair. The commentator explained that Van Gough had made some significant symbolic choices in painting the picture. Firstly, the angle of view was very steep – as if perched on top of a wardrobe! Perhaps he was? The chair itself was distorted. The painter had included a pipe which, according to tradition, symbolised death and a sprouting onion which symbolised life. The explanation given was that Van Gough wanted to get away from there merely earthly and fashion a symbolic view of himself which was emotional rather that rational.

And so here I am trying to reflect in the day’s business and come up with creative solution for tomorrow’s tricky meeting. If I am being told anything it is that the solution requires a combination of spiritual, emotional and rational approaches. Right now I am not sure what this means in practice. The best I can imagine is that the right kind of spaces need to be provided to allow for these requirements.

So firstly, a time of reflection (or even prayer) is required to provide for the mystery of creativity. Secondly that the emotions are engaged through the uninhibited interaction of human beings upon whose ideas we can build. And lastly that we engage in serious minded analysis to ensure that our ideas are practical and meet real needs.

These three “spaces” seem to make sense - the spiritual, the emotional and the practical. My guess is that they are rarely in balance and that the practical (and safe) argument for a particular course of action usually wins through.

So in conclusion, I shall perch on a near by wardrobe (or similar item of furniture) to view the problem and take it from there.

Just Back from Yorkshire

2006-08-14T20:36:00.000Z

View
Originally uploaded by markwaddington.

Sunday arrived back from nearly three weeks in Litttondale in Yorkshire. A small cottage in a dale with no broadband of mobile phone signals. Sheep during the day and bats at night. The picture here is of Joshua on a walk on the hillside above the cottage. More photos here

TV Ark

2006-07-07T19:32:00.000Z

Here's a podcast about old continuity announcers

TV Ark

Jackie's Relaunch

2006-06-17T09:23:00.000Z

Jackie Relaunch
Originally uploaded by markwaddington.

Fab party given by Jackie at Dr Johnson's House in Gough Square. A smattering of Grace people and many others heard Jackie talk about her health and passion for transforming faces worldwide. Included a talk by Esteban Lasso.

Grace Labyrinth

2006-06-11T08:46:00.000Z

Grace Labyrinth
Originally uploaded by markwaddington.

This is the Grace Labyrinth held at St.Mary's Church in Ealing. The path is mown into the grass (by the Bakers). Unfortunately the whole area of grass had been cut a few days before but thankfully the path was clear on a low mower setting. The service began with prayers and the lighting of the fire wok with story telling by Sarah.

Also see a short video from the tower

Terror at Tescos

2006-06-08T23:18:00.000Z

TERROR RAID POLICE SWOOP ON TESCO
Originally uploaded by Martin Deutsch.

Looks like another intelligence service tip-off. Let's hope they have nine items or less in their basket or they may be in there for some time. Martin has a talent for spotting these.

To Lille and Back

2006-06-03T09:53:00.000Z

Just got back from a couple of days in Lille. The journey is about the same distance as Leeds! Increasingly we are appreciating the value of short breaks and this one was very refreshing. If we were American we'd do this all the time, but being Brititish I guess motoring for more than 30 minutes for pleasure is an obstacle.

The ferry was part of the Norfolk Line - cheaper than P&O but the journey is longer and the ships are not as posh. I like this photo which someone said looked as though the cars were worshipping the sun.

In Lille we stayed in a Formule 1 which cost just 29 Euros for three of us so we were able to spend more on eating out. The Formule 1 hotels are pre-fabricated industrial units made of plastic but very clean and practical. The one we stayed at was next to an Auchan hypermarket - great for getting the beer in.

Look Busy

2006-05-19T11:59:00.000Z

Here's a neat idea from lastminute.com. For people who are on the site during work time there is a little link that you can click if your manager is approaching. The boss is coming - look busy

Communion by Numbers

2006-05-15T19:42:00.000Z

On Sunday we held Communion by Numbers - nine envelopes with instructions. It fell to me to curate this event and happily there were some great ideas on which to draw. This was a communion not led by a vicar from the front but, in true Grace style, a DYI service.

We managed to maintain the structure and contents of traditional communion but gave the opportunity for creativity and personalisation. This resonatated very well with my experience in the media which suggests that participation and personalisation are critically important.

The activities included a text message confession - a number was set up to which you were to text your confession - an absolution came by return. Another favourite was the final blessing which required me to procure 50 towels in little bags (as in Indian restaurants). The towels were delivered hot to the tables and were used as a symbol of cleansing. I could only buy bulk in boxes of 500 so if you need 450 towels let me know!

Here are some more accounts: Tall Skinny Kiwi's Blog reports the event and even includes an audio recording of the mobile phones going off. Also, Jonny's blog gives the full story.

Many thanks to Duncan Strathie of St Mark's in Kempshott for doing the communion prayer and here's his blog entry.

My Odeo Channel (odeo/fdba8224f0326120)

Picadilly Flow

2006-05-11T17:52:00.000Z

A like the way the crowd flows - taken from the window of Burger King.

Picadilly on Vimeo

Trust Nobody

2006-05-08T23:47:00.000Z

I see Brian Haw the London peace protester (and friend) is finally to be moved on for posing a security risk.

The war designed to make the world a safer place has been so unsuccessful that even these two characters can't be trusted.

I do worry about the kind of laws which prohibit protest.

Piqure

2006-05-04T21:33:00.000Z

Here's an unusual little film from Charlie Mars posted on Vimeo. His stop-frame sequences are crazy and beautifully strange. Piqure I think means bite or sting.

See also Sans Cagoule blogspot

Some Media Facts

2006-05-02T10:11:00.000Z

According to research carried out on behalf of the BBC recently:

40% of the population are not online
27% of households have terrestrial TV only
27% of the population aren’t aware of Digital Radio
15% of the population aren’t aware of Freeview
Only 2% of UK internet users publish a blog
30% of UK internet users haven’t even heard of blogs

We Have Changed the World

2006-04-29T07:13:00.000Z

Here are some images by Edward Burtynsky of Toronto. He says, "We are drawn by desire - a chance at good living, yet we are consciously or unconsciously aware that the world is suffering for our success. Our dependence on nature to provide the materials for our consumption and our concern for the health of our planet sets us into an uneasy contradiction".

Attention Invested

2006-04-24T16:05:00.000Z

“When goals are clear, feedback relevant, and challenges and skills are in balance, attention becomes ordered and fully invested.”
(Csikszentmihalyi, 1997, 31)

Oscar John Poulson

2006-04-23T22:13:00.000Z

Oscar baptised today in Southall. A happy service with lots of water and cake - just the way it should be.

Dancing Shoes

2006-04-23T05:14:00.000Z

Take a few snaps and load into Quicktme - Bob's your uncle. These are Deborah's trainers. Is You Tube better than Vimeo?

Next from Grace

2006-04-02T16:33:00.000Z

How can we have a healthy Christian life, where our relationship with God flourishes? Grace on Saturday 8 April, 8pm. (more details)

Then, Holy Ground art installation Thursday 13th - Saturday 15th April.

(click here or on image for bigger version)

I am the Vine

2006-03-25T14:33:00.000Z

A reading by Joshua Waddington

Also on The Grace Lent Blog
My Odeo Channel (odeo/fdba8224f0326120)

Perspective

2006-03-21T12:17:00.000Z

If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

See the Grace Lent Blog entry by Steve Paynter

Three things

2006-03-20T11:02:00.000Z

Three things you need to remember in life
Never be mean
Never be false
Never be cruel

Blessed are the Rulemakers

2006-03-14T13:14:00.000Z

It’s lunchtime and I’m sitting at my desk taking a well earned break (be encouraged that I am writing this to you as recreation and not as part of my paid employment). I am sure there must be a rule governing how long I’m allowed to linger writing this before I need to be back on the job. I say this because it is the subject of rules which is bugging me.

In many ways my whole day is dominated by rules. I have to fill in time sheets by Friday, submit project plans by yesterday, fill in work request forms to get things done. I don’t normally worry about this but lately there seems to have been an upturn in the zeal with which the rule-makers have been operating. In fact, if rule making were a religion I believe we are now in the middle a spirited revival in which new converts being added every day.

Here’s an example. Take the elderly lady who, last week, was asked to remove her hat in a pub because she represented a security risk! I kid you not. Apparently she fell within a general category which includes hoodies. There was also the man who was handed some junk mail and made the foolish move of putting it in a public waste bin. Foolish because he is now fighting to avoid an £80 penalty for abusing this public facility by depositing private waste.

Last weekend I was in church and someone had helpfully produced a sign requesting that we all try and be quiet this week. I quite understand this since the Sunday morning service is usually dominated by shrieking, wailing, heckling and other disturbed interjections. Be that as it may, the intention was to encourage worshippers to respect the silence required by people who find spurious outbursts unacceptable. This was not exactly a rule but the way it was presented came across that way.

Where am I going with this? My point is that there is always an intention behind any rule, and this intention is rarely articulated for fear of giving people a choice. For the rule maker it is about minimising the need to compromise. The intention behind the sign outside church was that we give due respect for the variety of worship needs within the congregation. However, by demanding a specific solution, it was an attempt to meet the needs of one part of the congregation. In the case of the little old lady who wore the hat in the pub, the intention was to make the pub a friendly place. The cold application of the rule achieved the opposite.

I have another couple of things to say on the subject…..(2 o’clock my boss is coming).

Grace for Lent

2006-03-12T09:46:00.003Z

Last night Grace invited enyone to bring a station to help reflect on lent. This is the what Deborah, Josh and I came up with.

Wherever you look there are entrances and exits - doorways in and doorways out. Each one marks out a different territory where particular rules apply. Each space on the other side of these thresholds, these boundaries, is the domain of someone.

I remember an aunt in the north of England who had a particular pride in keeping the doorstep polished and the kettle on. Her domain was a place of welcoming and hospitality but of course not all spaces are as welcoming as my aunt’s. Some places are selectively welcoming, keeping out undesirable elements while only opening the doors to those who fit certain criteria.

The Celts used the idea of the open gate. I like to think that this image – a gate through which the land is visible, enticing and accessible – is a good way of understanding the gateway which is open to all who choose to venture that way. This is an idea which offers us all hope, but in order to go to one place we necessarily have to leave another – so the gateway is both an entrance and an exit.

So what do you want to leave behind and where do you want to go?

There are more photos here

Vimeo

2006-03-10T22:43:00.000Z

Here's a video from a site called Vimeo which is a movie version of Flickr - in fact you can post your video on Vimeo and then link it to the Flickr site. It's also very easy to link the video to your blog - as I have done here. Now here's the hairy technical bit: this video is on the small side but I've decided that the ideal size for a one minute clip is 320x240 (good for ipod) using Sorrensen 3 compression. This comes out at just over 3Mb. The good thing about these file sizes is that they are comparable to music file sizes.

View video

Andrew Kime Photography

2006-02-24T12:00:00.000Z

Caught up with the Kimes last night - Alison, Andy and the children. Andy is doing some wonderful work as a photographer based in Snowdonia with an enviable back garden.

I hope he won't mind me putting up a link to one of his photos and imagesofsnowdonia.com

His site also includes links to other eminent landscape photographers.

Cancelled

2006-02-23T23:25:00.000Z

Cancelled
Originally uploaded by markwaddington.

I quite like this idea for an advertising campaign for road safety. It presents the idea of what the future might have held for an 11 year old girl had she been more careful. It grabs attention and (I imagine) connects with its intended audience. And how easily our life stories can change direction.

Daily Dose of Imagery

2006-02-12T19:31:00.000Z

This is a link to one of my favourite photo blogs, infact this is the archive built up of daily images created by Sam Javanrouh of Toronto.

Grace on Discipline

2006-02-11T23:55:00.000Z

Grace on Discipline
Originally uploaded by The Waddingtons.

The Grace service tonight was on Discipline curated by Steve. It has been a theme for me over the last period. At work I'm having to be much more disciplined especially in my use of my time. Making time for being still and listening to God was the main talking point on my little section on laziness. I liked the thought of using stillness as a preparation for activity; moving forward in a spirit of stillness enabling time to move more slowly and for us to be more attentive.

For some more see Jonny's blog

Chocolate Sundae

2006-02-05T05:47:00.000Z

I was walking though the park last weekend when I met the vicar of one of our local churches. He was giving out Divine chocolate bars as a promotion for "Chocolate Sundae". I didn't manage to get to the service and my wife ate the chocolate.

The Ladder of Humility

2006-01-15T00:15:00.000Z

Grace invited John Chapman of St Hugh's Northolt to help us reflect on Benedictine spirituality.

The idea of The Rule was not as a legal imposition but a grid which gives guidance and structure.

The evening opened with a short video from The Monastery showing the importance of listening and silence in a conversation, and the need for humility - one of the a key words.

A reflection on the Ladder of Humility followed by communion.

Fear the God who sees all
Desire only the Father's will
Submit as unto the Lord
Embrace difficulties for Christ
Confess all sin, conceal none
Be content with the lowest task
Choose humble attitudes not just words
Follow the common rule
Control the tongue, learn silence
Beware careless laughter
Speak gently at all times, be meek
Show humility in one's bearing

The service was curated by Richard and Sue who have provided a book list.

Strength to Love

2006-01-03T22:00:00.000Z

I see in the Guardian that George is giving up on Iraq having spent much of the reconstruction money on bomb squads, prisons and other defensive measures. Coincidentally I have been browsing a book by Martin Luther King, Strength to Love, which contains the following:

"And there are heard-hearted and bitter individuals among us who would combat the opponent with physical violence and corroding hatred. Violence brings only temporary victory; violence, by creating many more social problems than it solves, never brings permanent peace. I am convinced that if we succumb to the temptation to use violence in our struggle for freedom, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and our chief legacy to them will be a never-ending reign of chaos."

Look out for Iraq - Why We Went to War? on Channel Four Monday 9th January . It's part of the The Bloody Circus season - a series of provocative films which offer a range of critical perspectives on the war in Iraq and its devastating consequences. You may have seen to trailer!

Christingle

2005-12-24T18:22:00.000Z

Christingle
Originally uploaded by The Waddingtons.

Christingle service at 4pm on Christmas eve. The lit candle - the light of the world - in an orange. Oranges kindly supplied by Waitrose. A red ribbon representing the blood of Christ.

Grace Christmas Party

2005-12-18T02:04:00.000Z

The Grace secret Santa has become a hightlight of the year. Glowing duck, body brush, mini-lava lamp among the treasures. Thanks to the Bakers for hosting, excellent night.

more photos here

Skating at Kew

2005-12-17T01:42:00.000Z

Nine

2005-12-11T14:58:00.000Z

Very exciting and thought provoking Grace service last night - the annual christmas 'Nine' taking the traditional readings. More when I get hold of photos.

Bagel in Limbo

2005-11-30T22:56:00.000Z

"I think I'm schizophrenic but I'm in two minds about it" goes the joke. The recent pronouncements by the pope seem to betray an absence of single mindedness within the catholic church. I don't mean this disrespectfully, but the pontiff has conceded that there is no such thing as purgatory after all - the place children go if they have not been baptised. Imagine how upsetting this must be to the parents of children who have passed on struggling to know what has become of them. A previous pope, Pius X, was sure there was purgatory. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Pope like Dr Who? They are really all re-generations of St Peter and so essentially the same person, but unlike Dr Who they/he never makes a mistake!

The other point of fuzzyness centres around the gay issue. Those who practice homosexuality are not allowed to become priests. However if a homosexual is able to behave "normally" for a year or two they may take up a position of Deacon in the church. Perhaps this is a bit like saying to someone born a cripple, "stand up straight and walk normally for a few years then we'll give you a job" For heaven's sake!

To be dogmatic one minute and then flexible the next is quite unsettling. My own conviction is that God, and in particular Jesus, offers us all the chance to be in the place we were meant to be, but don't ask me to explain it. I am single minded about my uncertainty and quite happy about that.

There is story about a rabbi on his death bed surrounded by devoted followers looking for a word of wisdom. Faintly the rabbi says, "life is like a bagel". The word spreads through the crowd waiting outside the rabbi’s house, “Life is like a bagel; the rabbi says life is like a bagel,” until finally, at the edge of the crowd, it reaches the town fool, who asks, “What does it mean: life is like a bagel?” The question spreads back through the crowd, “What does it mean, life is like a bagel?” until it reaches the bedside of the rabbi. “rabbi,” his assistant asks, “What does it mean, life is like a bagel?” “Nu,” the rabbi says, weakly shrugging his shoulders, “so life is not like a bagel.”

Participation

2005-11-27T22:56:00.000Z

In order be able to participate we are often dependent on someone or something which will allow us to do so. Many of us sit in the sidelines not because we choose to do so, but because we don’t feel equipped to do so. There are many people who may be excluded for a range of reasons.

(Where are you? A map of the www, but is everyone able to plug in?)

Some people do not have the technical resources to participate. Digital networks provide the opportunity for interaction, but not everyone can afford the equipment. For other people the obstacles to participation may be psychological - years of being told that you are useless may become an insurmountable obstacle to participation in almost anything. And if you add to the psychological obstacles, physical disabilities you have profound limitations.

Helen Keller was less than two years old when she came down with a fever which left her blind and deaf. She wrote, "I stood between two persons who were conversing and touched their lips. I could not understand, and was vexed. I moved my lips and gesticulated frantically without result. This made me so angry at times that I kicked and screamed until I was exhausted."

At age six Keller met Anne Sullivan Macy, the tutor who taught Keller the alphabet and thereby opened up the world to her. She eventually attended Radcliffe College, where she graduated with honors in 1904. Keller became an activist and lecturer, she championed Socialism and women's rights. She also founded and promoted the American Federation for the Blind.

What can we do to enable those on the sidelines to participate?

Here are some Keller quotes:

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature... Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.

Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.

Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.

Loft Life

2005-11-25T19:37:00.000Z

We're having to loft done - looking forward to some creative space in the place. Estimated to complete before Christmas but still lots to be done. more pictures click on the images

Interesting Job

2005-11-25T10:36:00.000Z

Recent job advert in the media pages:

'Experience: Minimum of three years hands-on writhing/producing experience.'

Christmas Ads

2005-11-23T22:02:00.000Z

There have been a couple of interesting articles in the Guardian. The first is on brain activity while watching commercials. It seems that, 'watching the programmes appeared to suppress higher-level thinking that was only reactivated during the commercial breaks'. We also learn that the programme preceding an ad provides an influence on the way we receive it - suggesting that the most effective ads are related to the programme we have just seen. Read article .

In another article the correspondent talks about the influence of the current ad for the Sony Bravia LCD TV. The ad features coloured balls falling on sunny scenes to capture the idea of the beautiful colours reproduced by the screen. While the ad is impressive, see it here, this was just a small influence on the buying choice. Read article.

Ads achieve a lot if they are able to capture a truth. This print ad for John Lewis captures the truth that we often don't want to give anything decent for Christmas.

'Of course you could always give them bath salts instead'

Web

2005-11-20T20:32:00.000Z

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.

(Chief Seattle)

Picture, gate of Lammas Park West London. click for bigger image

Creative Day

2005-11-20T19:31:00.002Z

Had a great day in London - enrolled Josh on a film-making workshop at the ICA. He really enjoyed the experience of making a film in a day - One End of the Street to the Other, but don't have any photos or film to share right now. Filmfantastic ran the course with great energy and commitment, giving them the essentials of story telling, shooting and editing.

We went to the Tate to see Rachel Whiteread's work. She has created a gigantic labyrinth-like structure, entitled EMBANKMENT, made from 14,000 casts of the inside of different boxes, stacked to occupy the Turbine Hall.

Early Morning

2005-11-17T20:57:00.000Z

I have lapsed on the old blog for a bit. I've been working on a contract for Flextech Television; Red Bee Media has won a huge contract to play out 10 of its TV channels. My role is to set up a production village in central London to produce the on-air presentation elements. Here's an early morning shot of Lammas Park near where I live in West London.

Ch Ch Changes

2005-10-26T20:02:00.000Z

A little ahead of time, my company (formerly known as BBC Broadcast) has announced its new identity. I can now announce, before the first press reports, that I now work for Red Bee Media. There will be a few pieces in the media press tomorrow.

‘All our services bring stories and people together – whether it be a news story on BBC World, a promotion on UKTV Food for Ready Steady Cook, delivering last week’s episode of EastEnders over broadband on the interactive media player, or the latest football highlights to a 3G mobile,’ Pam Masters CEO of Red Bee Media said.

Also today, my wife and son visited the Saatchi gallery in London and turned out to be its last visitors. The gallery has sadly had a run-in with the landlords and has been kicked out of the building. My wife is not a person to be rushed or told what to do and so became part of the final event.

Lighter of lights

2005-10-22T18:42:00.000Z

Lighter of lights – illumine us
Fire of fires – thaw us
Power of powers – strengthen us
Lover of lovers – warm us
Teller of tales – encourage us
Destroyer of darkness – save us
Touchstone of truth – examine us
Summoner of stars – amaze us
Wellspring of wisdom – weather us
Water of life – refresh us
Dancer of days – delight in us
Breath of the universe – bless us.

(Words by Ruth Burgess, picture Wallpole Park, London )

Rain

2005-10-19T21:50:00.000Z

It's been raining in London today. The weather is considered bad if it's raining here in the UK, but I guess for many people rain means life and joy.

I love the rain, especially warm rain. Not much fun if it's cold but to have no rain, no unexpectedness in the climate must be no fun either.

Picture, White City London W12

Oliver Twist

2005-10-15T20:51:00.000Z

Storytelling is at its best in a tale by Dickens. Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist is marvelously atmospheric and captures the brutality of the workhouses of Dickens' time. As Fagin I have to admire Ben Kingsley in this adaptation who, at the hands of Polanski, was a very human Jew. Thankfully no sentimental singing this time and more blood than I remember. And, may I say, Michael Heath, you were great as Mr Sourberry.

Here's what the BBC had to say

Brands on the Brain

2005-10-13T21:59:00.000Z

Graham McCullam of the Branding agency Kemistry has been writing about the brain and brands. I've had the pleasure of working with Graham and respect him thoroughly. He says that brand names and logos give us an instant emotional fix. Children as young as 18 months have come to associate the MacDonalds golden arches with comfort food and toys.

Our relationship with brands is, as I have come to understand, less about the products and more about perceptions and emotions. The value of a brand has absolutely nothing to do with the thing in the bottle it's a mind thing.

Here's a story from his article:

During the Korean War the Coca Cola Company decided to send every US soldier a free bottle of Coke. Some of them took the bottle to bed with them, many wrote home to their parents and loved ones about it, while others kept it for a special celebration. To these soldiers it was more than just another drink. The brand meant home and raised memories of sitting in the soda bar with their first girlfriend, summer days with friends and all the other life experiences in which Coke had played a part.

Full article by Graham McCallum

Hope of New Life

2005-10-10T21:20:00.000Z

Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies....

Let's be grateful to God for the beauty that has been, the nourishment it bore which will carry us through to a new season. Let our sadness at its passing be lifted by hope of new life.

Question: What in your life must be let go in order to make room for something new?

(conkers from a park in West London)

Grace Create

2005-10-08T22:56:00.000Z

Grace Create tonight was curated by Adam and in a master stroke he managed to get the congregation to create the the entire service. Prayers made to look like blackmail notes, shredded ideas, "consequences" prayers and leggo were among the activities. All the pieces were hung on camouflage netting for everyone to view immediately after a low key and very reflective communion. Some great discussion about being creative. There you are Andy, a blog post at last.

Malicious Attempt?

2005-10-06T13:13:00.000Z

What do you think?

I find it extraordinary to see how easy it is these days for the media to propagate fantasies masquerading as truth. For a while now I have been amazed at the transparently biased and finger-pointing FOX NEWS. And here in the UK editorial standards seem to be a bit wobbly.

I do agree with the Director General's defense of the BBC's journalism following evidently misleading articles in the The Daily Telegraph, The Times and The Daily Mail following up on an article by John Kampfner in the New Statesman. (To give the NS a plus point they did refer to, "Lord Hutton and his wretched report") I don't know what the truth of the various conversations is, but I'm inclined to go with the DG on this one

The upshot of my thoughts is that there are very few people or organisations we can really trust these days - and that includes those selling us dodgy goods and services. We are living in a time of information transparency, but this can only be a good thing if the quality of the information can be trusted and that our interpretation of it is sound - a case for a strong BBC.

To give you an example of this sad state of affairs, I bet that this blog entry will soon attract one or two 'comments' which are in fact adverts produced deceptively and automatically.

Trust no-one!

link to mark thompson's statement

Boundaries

2005-10-05T22:26:00.000Z

Here is an image taken in the Yorkshire Dales. The significance of a boundary I think is interesting.

In England, boundary lines are very evident. Dry stone walls which have survived for centuries & boundary stones set at the junction of ancient parishes are among the most interesting.

The Celts talked about 'thin' places where the boundary between earth and the spirit world could most easily be crossed.

Whatever the significance of a boundary, they hold a powerful emotional quality forcing us to stop or at least question our progress across them. They can be tempting and forbidding, welcoming or threatening. My challenge to you today is to take notice of the boundaries which exist in your life and try crossing some of them.

Songs of Praise

2005-09-17T23:10:00.000Z

Good to seen David Kremer again after about fifteen years. I used to work with him on the above mentioned programme. David is the man who for many years has brought you such delights as Carols from Kings, but I have to say he's getting very funky in his old age. High angle spinning shots and fancy lighting! Must be the Manchester club influence. Programme from St Mary's, Ealing on 6th November on BBC ONE.

Commercial Success

2005-09-16T14:26:00.000Z

Just to update you on how BBC Broadcast (soon to officially change it's name) is doing in the commercial world. We've signed a contract with Flextech TV to play out all Flextech Television channels - LivingTV, Bravo, Challenge, Trouble, FTN, LivingTV2 and four time shift channels. I am working on the production arrangements for the promotions team.

Nominations for the British Television Advertising Craft Awards have just been released and BBC Broadcast has 4 nominations which puts them alongside the recent Honda commercial.

Best Performance by an Actress - FA Cup - BBC Sport
Best Performance by an Actress - UKTV Style 5 Steps
Best Sound Design - Match of the Day - BBC Sport
Best Special Effects/Prosthetics - Sci Fi US.

St Mary's Ealing

2005-09-14T21:33:00.000Z

St Mary's has a smart new web site now - try this link

The Art of Zagging

2005-09-13T08:29:00.000Z

Here's an article by Christa Paula on the Promax website. She interviews John Hegarty on Black Sheep and the Art of Zagging.

“It’s about ‘zagging’! When the world ‘zigs’ you ‘zag’…When everyone is going in one direction, go in the opposite direction.”

He goes on...

“What happens with age, is that you do stop questioning, and it therefore means that you stop engaging, you stop challenging (and then) the mind begins to close down. It can happen to 30-or 80-year-olds.”

I'm not sure I agree with the above, it used to be like that but the new generation of "old" people are a different breed I feel.

Bush on Sky & Vacation

2005-09-11T19:51:00.000Z

These snaps have been doing the rounds. Poor chap, it's very cruel.

Smashing Stuff

2005-09-10T22:27:00.000Z

You should have seen Steve Collins - workman's jacket and safety goggles, and that was just to eat Jackie's Pizza. No, seriously, Grace had quite an inspired start to the season with the destruction of a mirror carried out with great theatre by Steve. The congregation was then invited to write the things they find difficult to let go of onto a plate. The plate was then smashed. The procession of people to the front was very powerful and some people were clearly letting go of something very emotional.

(picture from small ritual)

Jonny curated this one was called Engage, next up is Adam with Creativity for October, then I do a Participation Gracelet some time after that.

Politicians are lovely people

2005-09-06T22:12:00.000Z

Interesting to hear the eager reports of John Humphrys' after dinner speech. Many of the reports begin (probably unfairly) with the headline "John Humphrys calls all politicians liars" or something like it.

Surely calling all politicians liars (if he did) is an irresponsible generalisation. A cheap shot. But now, here's a thought, would he have come in for as much stick if he had said all politicians are honest? This too would have been less than impartial but I doubt that he would have been in so much hot water.

Another point to be made here is that an after dinner speech is just as much a medium as radio or TV. In this case it is multiple media because his words get reported beyond the event itself. It becomes complicated when you consider that he only gets paid by one part of the audience. Naturally, he may be under pressure to tell his paying audience what they want to hear. When he is being paid by the BBC he has to be accountable to every single license payer.

If I were the Director of News I would encourage John to do his articles and speeches but subject them to the same editorial safeguards as any other "broadcast". I would also look at the way such events are paid for. To stop him speaking would be counter to the BBC's role of encouraging all forms of communication.

If there is real evidence that many politicians are put into a position where the truth is compromised then surely it must be said.

For the record, most politicians are lovely people.

Grace - Engage

2005-09-05T17:17:00.000Z

Grace begins a new season this Saturday at 8pm at St Mary's, W5 Three services, three themes - Engage, Create, and Participate.

The Grace team is going through a forward looking phase and the first of the services promises to be dynamic and challenging.

Would love to see you. how to get there

Greenbelt 2005

2005-08-29T22:48:00.000Z

more greenbelt photos

Just got back from the Greenbelt Festival which was refreshing and full of inspiration. I always feel slightly reluctant at the thought of Greenbelt - four days of thinking, camping and general uncleanliness. This year I came away feeling positive and motivated (and unclean). Greenbelt has become for me the spiritual new year after which I feel inclined to make a fresh start and some serious resolutions.

So what did I think of it? My first impression was that there was a good turn-out, and indeed the organisers are saying that after nearly twenty years the festival will have cleared its debt. This year I was very aware of the diversity of the festival including a very well defined youth area around the YMCA tent and many families. If I'm honest though, (to quote Greg Dyke), the crowd may have been "hideously white" and mostly well off.

There were some very interesting visual arts exhibitions. Life interrupted was an show of photographs on HIV/AIDS in Africa by photographer Don McCullin. His very sensitive and yet challenging images told powerful and moving stories.

Jake Lever's very expressive images of hands were accompanies by an opportunity to use a range of materials make a hand as a gift (see opening photo).

A little gem was the Sunday morning worship with Chris Hales and Delhi-born Peter Hicks (Aradhna), whose guitar and sitar music was beautiful. The Grace team was there of course running this year's interactive installation on Creation. Around 500 people took part.

Deborah my wife contributed to Pip Wilson's Level Five session. The idea being that we have five levels of conversation - cliche, facts, opinions, feelings, total honesty. Pip's proposition was that we rarely have conversations of depth and should find the people and space to do so.

Social action is always a big part of Greenbelt and two of the seminars I visited were very depressing (not that the speakers were). Clive Stafford Smith told stories of injustice from Guantanamo bay including the story of the fourteen year old imprisoned for "salad" dealing (a tragic mistake in translation). John Bell gave an impassioned rant on the subject of truth in relation to Iraq. And he asked if the tele-evangelist Pat Robertson would be excluded from Britain for inciting violence. Quoting Robertson on the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, "If he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it, It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war." These two session made me feel angry, especially reflecting on the BBC and the Hutton outrage and the absence of any apology for the terrible course this has taken.

I'd like to say a big thank you to the organisers of Greenbelt for an excellent festival

Slovenia

2005-08-23T06:27:00.000Z

Many people don't know Slovenia is so, to the north is Austria; to the east, Hungary; to the south, Croatia; and to the west, Italy. Great place to have a holiday if you like lakes, mountains, caves. We were in an around Bled.

On Holiday

2005-08-05T19:55:00.000Z

Have not been blogging lately and should have.

Officially I don't work for the BBC now but have become an employee of a certain Australian consortium, but no apparent difference.

We spent a glorious weekend in Yorkshire (see photo of a wall in Littondale) and tomorrow we head of for Lake Bled in Slovenia.

Isn't life wonderful.

I was closer this time

2005-07-21T21:53:00.000Z

This morning I travelled through Shepherd's Bush and Warren Street on my way to a course near Euston. It is unsettling to be so close. I had been looking at the floral tributes at St Pancras thinking I hope it's a long time before anything like two weeks ago happens again.

Here's a Podcast of my journey through London recorded today.

To subscribe to future waddcasts here's the feed you need to copy into iTunes: http://feeds.feedburner.com/markwadd

Straight from the heart

2005-07-13T17:09:00.000Z

The Guardian carries an article about an extraordinary speech. As well as the purely human connection we can feel, this is an inspiration to anyone interested in authentic and powerful communication.

"It is indeed the raw originality and authentic angst that give the delivery such impact, the plea such effect. No knighted veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company could deliver such an address without hours or even days of rehearsal."

The article and transcript here

(thanks your blog Jonny)

South Ealing Saints

2005-07-11T22:32:00.000Z

Just a quick thankyou to Alan and the team for all the great work they do with the South Ealing Saints. They've done a great job encouraging the lads. Here's a picture of Joshua with his man of the match trophy.

I want to go to Chelsea

2005-07-11T17:23:00.000Z

For those of you not able to pick up BBC Radio Merseyside here's a little promotional spot from the station. click here to listen

To subsribe to future waddcasts here's the feed you need to copy into iTunes: http://feeds.feedburner.com/markwadd

Blasts

2005-07-07T11:16:00.000Z

The BBC building where I am is under strict security right now. A full list of everyone in the building is being formed and accommodation is being requested for those unable to get home.

____________

The BBC's adivice at first was to stay in the building but later the view is that we should go home early. At 3.30 I decide to set of for the Uxbridge road to see if I can get a bus to Ealing. The traffic is light but the buses are crowded. There are a lot of police vehicles around with sirens going. Helecopters overhead.

____________

The sun is shining, people are smiling and I walk home. I'm not sure how I would have felt on a crowded bus!

____________

The most vivid images in the news are those taken by members of the public on phones.
Joshua, my son, says that he's been upset by the news and that there is a rumour around school that terrorists want to kill children and that their school could be next. The school did little to support the childen (from what I've heard so far).

The youth club Joshua goes to was supportive and led some prayers for the situation which seemed well handled.

First Waddcast

2005-07-01T10:54:00.000Z

I've been getting excited by podcasting - along with everyone else it seems. My last upgrade of itunes got me going. You'd think there were more important things to think about!

Here's my first load of nonsense recorded today. To subsribe to future waddcasts here's the feed you need to copy into iTunes: http://feeds.feedburner.com/markwadd

The BBC, as always, has not been slow and there's some great content including documentaries from the World Service - the BBC's best hidden secret.

Useful links:

For some great content:
BBC trial

For managing podcasts:
ipodder

For doing the feed thing:
Feedburner

For recording, editing, processing and converting audio:
Amadeus

BBC SOLD

2005-06-28T21:54:00.000Z

Steve Lawson rants on the sale of BBC Broadcast. I admire your passion, Steve.

It is odd to think that the BBC ONE announcers who in former years have embodied the essence of the BBC will be working for an Australian company, the BBC will not be the place from which its (network tv) programmes will be transmitted, and the people creating her brand image will not belong!

So how do I feel about to be sold off? Personally, not as disappointed as you might imagine. Yes it's sad but I have been knocking around the place for a while so the change will do me good. Certainly the range of work will be very exciting, and being released from the restrictive public service world will be interesting. A lot of weight is being given to conditions of service, but it's tough everywhere these days.

The big question is.... will it be good for public service broadcasting? I still think the DG's plan to invest in local services and new ways of delivering them is intelligent. If I'm sad about anything it's losing contact with English Regions broadcasting which, I think, is very interesting.

So this week I wave goodbye to my team in the BBC English Regions - those hardy souls in the far reaches of the empire who so selflessly make trailers for BBC services beyond the M25. It has been an exciting if uncertain year. See some of their work

On Monday I start my new role project managing with BBC Broadcast Operational Development (not BBC BOG as someone miss-heard). This is a six month attachment which will bring me into contact with some of the new technology developments.

By the end of July (possibly) I will move into the big wide commercial world of he Macquarie Capital Alliance Group

David Dunhill

2005-06-22T21:40:00.000Z

For those who don't know, I spent many years in front of microphones, first on local radio, then on regional Radio Four and eventually on BBC ONE.

During my time doing this job of reading out loud I was coached by David Dunhill who died recently (Nigel Fell kindly alerted me). His encouragment led me along a very intersting path.

More on announcers

David was a highly respected voice at the BBC and in 1967 he closed down the Home Service and introduce listeners to the new Radio Four the next morning. His announcement went, "This is the end of the Home Service for today, and for all days. We're like a bride on the eve of her wedding. We go on being the same person, we hope. But we'll never again have the same name. Tomorrow, at 6.35 am, we become Radio 4. So, goodbye, Home Service, two of the best words in the British language - and still, I'm sure, the only answer you can give to the question: 'What is radio for?' Two words we shan't erase. Good night." (Telegraph obit.)

Among those he tutored were Libby Purves, Jill Dando Jon Snow and me.

Dogs say no to tram

2005-06-21T18:44:00.000Z

A long running controversy in Ealing is that of the proposed tram
for the town. Tonight the sight of protesters gathered outside the
Town Hall prompted me to look up the pros and cons from the two
main adversaries (click on the links). For me I can't quite understand why a long thing on tracks costing more than £500 million can be much more effective than a bus - but what do I know.

For the tram

Against the tram

Split Personalities

2005-06-17T21:55:00.000Z

Here's an image I shot in Oxford Street, London. bigger The street has an interesting blend of people - multi-national, young, old, tourists, business people. So many interesting stories behind the faces.

Watch the video and use the pause button to see what split personalities you can find.

Can anyone suggest a piece of music to go with it?

Chaos City

2005-06-12T08:46:00.000Z

A belated post from Friday. Graham Fink of the finktank came to talk to our team. I contacted him after I'd heard him at BBH at the John Hegarty session. Graham has an impressive track record in the advertising industry and has an interesting attitude towards risk-taking & lateral thinking. Importantly I was interested in his enthusiasm for the way we human beings behave - how we beat ourselves up before even we begin. He suggested that we take time out to be different - perhaps spend some time looking for failure, writing rubbish or in some way doing the unexpected. "If you know what you are doing you are not being creative enough".

The team I have been involved with is due to be split up (BBC changes) and the level of uncertainty for the guys means there's a lot of anger, stress and suspicion around. As Graham said, "change can be a good thing". He showed us some great maps of Chaos City - a mad and confusing place but strangely interesting

Speed Parables

2005-06-11T22:15:00.000Z

Grace went well tonight. Jonny and Steve missed. The night involved six tables at which aspects of the parables were explored. For example, fill in the blanks Good Samaritan and story telling through film. The one shown in the photo was Adam's where stories were told according to the colour of M&Ms taken from the bag. The session was curated by Mike - thanks - and worked very well indeed. I had some great feedback from people visiting and the conversations went on and on.

Mark Thompson's Speech

2005-06-06T21:33:00.000Z

This evening listened to the BBC's Director General Mark Thompson addressing the Churches' Media Conference at Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire.

This is probably breaking news since I doubt if anyone will have published anything yet - so here you are, a hot report.

At the risk of taking his points out of context here are my notes from his talk - not complete but what I took to be the main points. He began by expressing hope in spite of complaints from some quarters. Like Desmond Tutu he is a, "prisoner of hope"
________________________________

Religion and broadcasting are a lot more than the category we call religious broadcasting. Religion pops up all over the schedules, for example in Monastery. Religion is front and centre stage - dynamic, complex and always potentially explosive. The BBC was founded on the belief that broadcasting could be a transformational force for good; a force for enlightenment, enrichment. I am full of confidence and hope that it can be.

I want to look at the complex and pervasive pessimism about popular culture which contaminates so much of what is said and talked about broadcasting. Most complaints are determined to connect a particular fault to what they think is a deeper trend - dumbing down, falling quality, denigration of traditional values or plain old depravity. They see this decline as applying to the rest of cultural life - the BBC of which is a litmus. I see this as a trench system with one set of arguments ranged against and behind another.

Stupidity of contemporary culture?
First trench - the stupidity of contemporary culture and broadcasting. They compare The Ascent of Man with Celebrity Wrestling.

In Steve Johnson's new book, Everything Bad is Good for You, he says that far from a decline into stupidity the main movement in popular culture in recent decades has been towards greater sophistication and cognitive challenge. He compares current output like The Sopranos and The Simpsons with their equivalents thirty years ago. What he finds is that there is more layering, more complexity, greater not lesser demands placed on viewers. The same with feature films and video games. The same trends are visible in this country as well. Compare the plotting, the characterisation, the wit, the cultural references of our new Dr Who with the linear simplicity of the old one. (Mark goes on to list some of big commissions in history and other factual programming which demonstrate the range and depth of current output).

When people look back they forget that American programming formed the spine of our output - Kojack, Man called Ironside etc. Yes, Kenneth Clarke's Civilisation was there, but so too was an alarming amount of Demis Rousos!

Cultural leveling?
Next comes the more sophisticated charge of cultural leveling. Once there was a clear national culture and a hierarchy of excellence with a canon of great work at the top - Shakespeare, Dickens. Now all that's been thrown in the skip and we're all expected to bow down and worship Tracy Emin and Victoria Beckham.

The accusation is that we are spreading a destructive and subversive alternative. I think the BBC has done more to correct the balance and introduce more of that classical canon (Beethoven week on Radio Three). The unfashionable canon is playing a big part in the BBC's output. Is our culture exchanging some breadth for depth? I think it is possible that it is. Broadcasting has seen a multiplication of perspectives - women, ethnic minorities, marginalised. Even so traditional and mainstream voices should still be proudly on display.

Moral bankruptcy?
The last and most serious trench in the system is around moral bankruptcy. Contemporary and popular culture (and broadcasting) are amoral or produce a system of morality which is different to and hostile to traditional moral perspectives. There is a great deal of amoral and hedonistic material out there. If the charge is that broadcasting is no longer a moral gatekeeper I think what's probably true, but don't make the mistake of believing that all TV is equally amoral. Much of our output (examples given) is presented within a moral framework. (Mentions Tsunami coverage, Live Aid etc.)

It depends on what your moral yardstick is. If it is swearwords and sex and not much more, then yes, things probably have slipped both on the screen and in society. But is you define moral and social concern more broadly then things look rather different - whether it's Africa or Iraq - broadcasting has become very interested in moral questions.

Finally
There is a danger in this digital revolution...

Quoting Wordsworth, "the great national events which are daily taking place, and the increasing accumulation of men in cities, where the uniformity of their occupations produces a craving for extraordinary incident which the rapid communication of intelligence hourly gratifies."

Wordsworth imagines a kind of negative feedback loop where the craving and the growing speed of transmission of information leads to a kind of cultural scrambling. In his words, "blunting the discriminating powers of the mind". Amazing for the 1800s.

Too much information delivered too quickly will, in the end, drive everyone mad. The city we are building now is virtual. The city is in our heads and it is open 24 hours a day.

It won't be possible for public service broadcasting to exist in this environment unless it cuts through and connects.

With on demand technology quality output can achieve a permanence because it does not only exist in a single point in time. Navigation and sign-posting become key.

The really big events will become bigger not smaller.

Creative integrity and conviction will become all the more important. The exceptional can stand out more and for far longer than ever before and the half hearted will disappear without trace.
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Producer's Note 3: Five Personalities

2005-06-04T13:34:00.000Z

I go to a lot of presentations during which the speaker will sum up in a series of bullet points (if only life were that simple). In this posting I’m going to offer five bullet points of my own which came out of a session I did on promo making with a group of media students in Odessa. I can say it was a great to have met them and an inspirational time

The proposition is that anyone can make a film (in my case a promo). My son whose twelve years old can make a film. It is so easy to make films these days that anyone with enough money to buy a camcorder can go ahead and make a film.

Learning how to make films – the story-boarding, the visual grammar, the lighting, the editing – all the technical skills can be learned and practiced, but even if you become brilliant at these things you still will not be able to make great films.

There are five personalities which are so important that they not only enable us to make great work, they also help make us who we are. The extraordinary thing is that I suspect we all have these personalities within us, and simply being who we are – human – is what is required to reach our creative potential.

So, instead of film-makers what do we need to call ourselves to make great films?

The Inventor
It is possible to have ideas without making films, but impossible to make a great film without an idea.

The Storyteller
It is possible to tell stories without making films, but impossible to make great films without telling stories.

The Actor
It is possible to speak the language of emotions without making films, but impossible to make great films without engaging the emotions.

The Prophet
It is possible to recognise the truth without making films, but impossible to make films without a truth we can recognise.

The Hero
It is possible to take risks without making films, but impossible to make great films without taking a risk.

Emily Gardiner's Christening

2005-06-03T19:51:00.000Z

May 29th in Crawley. Good to see everyone.
more photos