"It's Just Uni Man!"

The end of the second year

2008-06-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm coming to the end of my second year of Uni and I feel quite sad about it. This year has gone way too fast, I can't believe it. Just my Pdp essay to write and I've got the Summerball lateron which I am excited about.

As for my academic improvement, I am glad to see I haven't got below a 2:1 on any of my essays and actually attained a couple of firsts. I think this due to my wider referencing and better awareness of assessment objectives. I am looking forward to getting the marks back for my 60 minute drama but in all honesty, it could have been a lot better. I am probably going to work on a new draft over the summer just to do the story a bit more justice. Either way, I am happy with my progress and happy that this year has been one of the best.

I'm hoping at the end of Uni I am going to feel like I want to move on because at the moment I can't see it. I am enjoying Uni life too much but we'll see. I cant wait to get researching and writing my third year feature film and along with sorting out the rest of placements, thats is one of my main priorities. Thanks Bournemouth for an absolutely amazing year!!! ; )

Episode Drama Complete!!

2008-03-18T23:43:00.000-07:00

I've just finished the final draft of my Lions of Mesopotamia 60 minute script and I am very happy with the outcome. I think we have built some strong characters in our scripts and we have been helped by all the hard work we have put in on the bible.

I wanted to bear in mind pitfalls from last year and I think I have may have done. I ensured my dialogue was more succinct and concise and the arena I have created, or shall I say, we have created, is far more strong and vivid. I have often lacked in the strength of the arena's created before but this time I feel the arena is one of the main strengths of the story. I look forward to getting some feedback on the script and hope I get a good mark. I have worked on my script and we have worked hard as a group and i expect us all to do well!

Easter is coming....a chance to sort out some placements and crack on with my Irish script drama.

Yes, the adapted screenplay is a bit weird isn't it?

2008-03-11T23:24:00.000-07:00

Obviously it's not in a proper script format, but blogger didn't allow this. Nevermind, enjoy it's weirdness anyhoo!! I tried to make it as Blake-esque as possible, (in other words - 'fucked up') and I think I've succeeded!

Never Seek To Tell Thy Love - The Adaptation

2008-03-11T23:19:00.000-07:00

EXT. AN OPEN FIELD - DAY

CAPTION: SOMEWHERE IN A FIELD IN ENGLAND - 1799

Under the shadow of a huge oak tree, on a bright summers day, sits WILLIAM BLAKE. Dressed in a bright tunic, High brown trousers up to his breast and fluffy collar, he sits deep in thought, a feathered pen in hand, and paper on his lap.

He moves the feathered pen up to his mouth, still thinking. It touches the tip of his nose tickling him.

He sneezes violently all over the paper.He looks around for people, then cheekily wipes the paper with his sleeve.

He points the pen to the sky. He’s thought of something. He dips the tip of the pen into an ink-pot sitting next to him and begins to write.

He writes almost like he’s conducting an orchestra.

He then stops, raises the feather pen up to the sky and taps the paper once more. He's done. He smiles to himself, admiring his work.

BLAKE
Aha, indeed this is another one to piss off them
A-level students in a few hundred years time.
What do you say Inky old bean?

An ink-pot, INKY, turns to him, develops a face and begins to speak.

INKY
Hurrah, indeed, and maybe a few students of
the media too!

BLAKE
Indeed, indeed Inky! Oh, you are naughty...
but I like you.

He lets out a sigh and places the pen by his side.With that, a bird swoops down and lands next to him. He begins to talk with a cockney accent.

BIRD
Oi, that’s mine you cheeky ponce!

The bird picks up the feathered pen and flies off. Blake unperturbed, follows the birds flight with his eyes until its out of sight.

BLAKE
Wonder what his problem is?

INKY
Oh probably just the fact you jumped on him
earlier, pinned him down and proceeded to pluck
a feather from his arse.

Blake chuckles to himself.

BLAKE
Oh, yes, you’re right. One had forgotten.

He looks back at the piece of paper, stands up, and begins to read.

BLAKE (CONT'D)
Now listen to this.

Blake starts to prance back and forth in front of the tree, the paper held out in front of him in one hand.

BLAKE (CONT'D)
Never seek to tell thy love. Love that never told
can be; For the gentle wind does move.
Silently, invisibly.

The ink-pot nods and smiles approvingly.

INKY
Very good, very good.

BLAKE
Don’t interrupt, I’m not finished.
(beat)
I told my love, I told my love, I told her
all my heart, Trembling, cold, in ghastly fears
-- Ah, she doth depart.

He holds his hand on his heart, looks up to the heavens and lets out a deep sigh.

BLAKE (CONT'D)
This happened you know. Horrid little tart!
Anyway... (clears his throat)
Soon as she was gone from me...

A modern day SCHOOLBOY (16), bowl-cut, earring, blazer on inside out, comes bowling up to Blake who pauses mid-flow.

SCHOOLBOY
What the fuck are you on about Blake?

He throws a haymaker at Blake, hitting him square on the nose.Blake flies off-balance, like a tumbling Audley Harrison getting a slap from an old lady, hitting the ground with a thump.

His body bounces slightly, like a beaten Tekken fighter.

The frame turns into to a beat-em up style, computer game frame.

VOICE OVER
School-boy wins!

The schoolboy faces the camera, crosses his arms and laughs like a hyena.

The frame returns to normal.

The schoolboy starts to walk away, then in a sudden turn, he looks back at Blake, lying motionless on the floor.

SCHOOLBOY
Homo!

The schoolboy laughs cheekily and runs away.

INKY has a confused expression on it’s labelled face.He turns to the camera, gives a little wink and begins to speak.

INKY
He started so I’ll finish. (beat)... a traveller
came by, silently, invisibly... O, was no deny.

Inky smiles, winks again, then returns to a normal ink-pot, falls forward and spills ink all over the grass.

Blake then stirs and sits-up. Looking dazed, he grimaces and rubs his head.

BLAKE
Hmmm, I’ll probably write a poem about
this one day.

THE END

Blakey returns!!

2008-03-04T15:45:00.000-08:00

William Blake is like bloody Noel Edmonds........ I thought I'd rid my world of that convoluted homo (talking about Blake here) after my English A-level..... which, incidently, I pissed all over, partly in thanks to Blake himself and my supreme understanding of his fucked up brain..... but here he is again, returning to my life like a "gentle wind..... silently, invisibly"!!! Nevermind, the poem is a lot easier to understand than a lot of his other shite!! Cheers Blakey!

My interpretation of a William Blake poem

2008-03-04T15:40:00.000-08:00

Never Seek To Tell Thy Love

Never seek to tell thy love
Love that never told can be;
For the gentle wind does move
Silently, invisibly.

I told my love, I told my love,
I told her all my heart,
Trembling, cold, in ghastly fears--
Ah, she doth depart.

Soon as she was gone from me
A traveller came by
Silently, invisibly--
O, was no deny.

by William Blake

In this cautionary poem by William Blake, he warns us of the dangers of expressing one's love for another. The word 'tell' could also be alluding to the dangers of trying to explain 'love' itself. William Blake was a firm believer in all things natural, from natural growth and development away from a repressive society, to nature itself and the idyllic pastoral settings he has described in many of his poems. In this poem, he may also be suggesting that love should be the same, natural. It should come as naturally as the 'gentle wind', both 'silently' and 'invisibly', so in a sense you should not have to 'tell' your love, for if the other 'doth depart', it shall leave you: "trembling, cold, in ghastly fears.

The rhythm of the second stanza is also noticeably very unsettled. The first line has 8 syllables, the second has 6, the third, 7 and the fourth only 5. This unsettled and chaotic structure may also represent the unsettled result of telling thy love. As described, it shall leave you in despair. This admission of love has clearly scared his 'love' away. The repetition of 'I told my love' in the first line of the second stanza may also carry different meanings for the word 'love'. Love as a thing or feeling, and love as the embodiment of the person whom he loves.

It could be viewed that we are left with a positive feeling in the end despite the earlier despair. He cannot 'deny' his love for this 'traveller' who comes exactly as love should; 'silently, invisibly', like the 'gentle wind' he described in the first stanza. This reading would leave us with the feeling of a lesson learned also and a hopeful message that; if love develops naturally, it does not need to be told for it simply cannot be denied.

Despite it's earlier caution and unlike a lot of Blake's poems, the message left with us at the end, is, in my reading, a positive one of hope, lessons learned and love fulfilled.

BBFC - Image Classification

2008-01-24T18:28:00.000-08:00

The final part of my online assignment requires me to respond to and classify the following images as my assigned regulatory body, The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

Image 1

The bbfc has no jurisdiction when it comes to books but would be slightly concerned that this book maybe overtly blasphemous or religiously offensive.

Image 2

This content is very mild in nature and the bbfc would therefore have very little problem if this image was shown in a film.

Image 3

Again this image is not overtly explicit but it is very sexual in nature. Unfortunately for many, no nipples are on show and this isn't exactly a full frontal shot, so this would probably be acceptable for a '12' classification.

Image 4

"This is a very disturbing image and some viewers may find it distressing" would probably be something along the lines of the official warning the bbfc may give. It is very likely a 12 classification would be given to this image if it were to feature in a movie but the pre-warning would be a requisite.

Image 5

Hanging out with the wang out is probably indicatative of the certain content that would no doubt mean an 18 certificate would be attached to this film. WARNING - CUNTS AND DICKS AND LOTS OF SHAGGING.......well maybe it wouldn't be worded like that!

Image 6

This is explicit but educational, but the erect penis is still an image that would mean a higher age classification. The bbfc would possibly let this one go with a '15' on a good day.

Image 7

The real scenes of the full execution would definitely be banned completely, but in a film, and a fictional hanging for example, a 15 or 18 certificate would probably be applied depending on how graphically it is shown.

Image 8

The bbfc would be very concerned about the controversial nature of this particular piece, but would have have no power to prevent its showing at art galleries. We're keeping out of this one....we'll let the peeps at Media Watch UK worry about this one.

Image 9

Errrrrrrr? What??.........due to its animated, unrealistic nature, this would probably be classified as a 15.

Image 10

18 - explicit sexual content, you know the score..............

Image 11

This game is simply "unacceptable" and shall remain banned in the UK unless there are significant changes made. We feel that "to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public.”

Image 12

Mainly because of its profanity, its unusual depiction of Judeo-Christian themes, and surreal images such as a troupe of tap-dancing Ku Klux Klan members this would no doubt be an 18 certificate.

The bbfc guidelines are as follows............

Consumer Advice: Contains very strong language and strong sex references
Language: Very frequent and very strong
Sex/Nudity : Frequent strong references
Violence: Infrequent, mild
Other:Drugs references

BBFC

2008-01-15T22:36:00.000-08:00

THE BRITISH BOARD OF FILM CLASSIFICATION - BBFC

These few short paragraphs contain the words fuck, cunt, bollocks, shit, wanker and donkey-raping, shit-eaters. Of course, if you are easily offended, then you are advised not to read on, however, it is more than likely that the damage has been done and I offer you my sincerest fucking apologies. Now, if this was a film containing the gratuitous swearing you've have just beared witness to, the bbfc would probably be attaching a 15 or an 18 certificate to it. That is basically the purpose of the 'bbfc'. They are the independant, non governmental, regulatory body who have classified all cinema films released in Britain since their formation in 1912. More recently, since 1984 to be precise, they have been in charge of classifying all video recordings offered for sale or hire commercially in the UK too.

In regards to censorship and regulation, it is the job of the bbfc to give the general public the necessary information whereby they can make appropriate viewing decisions for themselves. This ensures that potentially harmful or unsuitable viewing content remains shielded from the vulnerable (ie. kids who shouldn't really be watching someone get ripped to pieces by a man with a chainsaw) and society in general, whilst still allowing room for; "adult freedom of choice". (http://www.bbfc.co.uk/about/vsindex.php)

Media content that the bbfc would find particularly problematic would be the use of swearing, violence, sexual content, drug use and gore in films set for release. They have to find the balance between what is acceptable for certain age groups whilst ensuring that they do not alienate a potential mass audience with misguided classifications. Ultimately, their classifications are guidelines and are very often ignored but with the classification set, the finger of blame cannot be pointed at them if someone is affected by the content of a film they are perhaps not old enough to be watching. This only becomes problematic when there is argument that a film should not have been classified within a certain age group but this is relatively rare, and some may argue, the bbfc often lean on the side of caution, which too can be annoying.

An example of 2 classifications is listed below.

GRINDHOUSE
Contains strong bloody violence, gore and brief strong sexual images

Certficate - 18

AZUR & ASMAR - THE PRINCES' QUEST
Contains mild fantasy violence

Certificate - U

All in all, the bbfc is an important and necessary body which is needed to set guidelines to ensure certain content is not viewed by those who should not be viewing it. Although, they are often ignored when it comes to DVD release and suchlike, ultimately, their classifications are just guidelines, and do not infringe on freedom of choice. It then comes down to the parents whether 4 year old Tommy should really be knocking back the pints whilst the watching the 18 rated; Saw 3.

End of the first term

2007-12-17T01:47:00.000-08:00

Wow, cant believe it's nearly Christmas already....scary. Where the hell did the last 3 months go.
Either way, I have had the best time. I enjoy the media theory lectures a lot more and think the accompanying seminar with Dave McQueen have been really enlightening and far more relevant than last years. I am glad I got a decent 2:1 on my authorship essay using Dave McQueen's example essay on auteur theory as a guide to structuring my essay. I also made sure I sought out far more references to inform my essay and this did not go unnoticed. I have always had a good essay writing style from the amount I had to produce during my A-level English Lit coursework and this has served me well again. Roll on next term.

Still a lot more bible work to do for our episode drama's but the idea is coming together nicely!!

Results and Blogs!!

2007-08-30T15:20:00.000-07:00

Got my results back from my first year at Uni and I was most pleased to find that I had passed with merit. Unfortunately though, I did have to resubmit my Pdp essay but I have done that now and I'm pretty sure its correct this time round. Looking forward to going back to Uni now.
Blogs? Who cares? Another boring entry...perhaps my target for next year should be to make my blog entries interesting to read.......I reckon I've could say a lot about the world you know........if i cared!

Summer Project and Summer Term

2007-06-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

Wow, what can I say? I have had the best time doing this unit and have met so many new people that have become very close friends. Virtually our whole group has got on so well and I've loved every minute. I wrote the script and acted as one of the main characters in the final film and it has come out so well. It was very well recieved and got lots of laughs throughout. Well done Group G!!
I split up with my girlfriend during Easter and I feel I've been free to enjoy Uni this term and throw myself into everything. I have been going out a lot more this term and its a shame its coming to an end, just as Uni life started to become so much fun. Bournemouth University is the place for me I feel, though part of me wishes I had chosen TV production, I think id prefer it to my own course but I will see what Year 2 holds!!
Having the independance to work in our groups and create our own thing from scratch was a great experience and I would love to do something like this next year if its possible, though I'd be lucky to meet such a good group. A big shout out to my Group G Homies lol! Jonny, Tex, Fred, Laura and Sam!!!

Its a shame this year is coming to an end, just the pdp essay to accompany the blog to come and this should be done tonight!!!!

Crazy change around this year, from wanting to go home all of the time to not wanting to go home at all. Roll on next year!!!!

AUDIENCES UNIT

2007-03-30T14:27:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to Easter, few probs at home with my girlfriend so would like to sort them out too. I've found a few probs with the script, few things were not working and i had to write the whole thing again a couple of days before hand in day. I stayed up all night doing it and went to bed at 9am. I seem to concentrate better at night and luckily got the essay done too. All in all, its come out quite well.

6 minute film

2007-03-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

Wasn't too suure about the film. I dont think it was that good and i had to play the main character and basically be a miserable sod for 2 days...depressing!!!

Narratives back!!

2007-03-01T18:03:00.000-08:00

Just got my Narratives unit back and I am extremely pleased with my grade. 67%..not bad! Karen Rigby was extremely helpful throughout and even though certain circumstances made me unable to attend my tutorial, Karen took the time to E-mail me with comments which helped no end. Her comments are appreciated and again, I will look at my mistakes and aim to improve on them.......mood, atmosphere, tone and style being the main areas to look at.

Other than the actual work, my concerns remain about contact time and Monday morning lectures often seem irrelevant to be honest, bit of a worry, but I know I have to see this year out at least......

Going back to Uni

2007-01-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

I don't want to go back really....been working on 30 minute script and its going well but i would rather be at home. Uni hasnt been all it was cracked up to be.......moan, moan, moan!!!
Christmas at home was wicked!!!!

My First Term at University

2006-12-19T10:40:00.000-08:00

Coming to University is a very exciting experience, but at the same time, very daunting. I have settled into my accommodation well and formed good bonds with housemates early on. I have been very impressed with the Media school on the whole and with work being carried out all through Media School to improve it further, I really felt comfortable that this was a progressive place to be.

On reflection of the first term however and in particular, my scriptwriting course, I have to say my experiences havent been all positive. I am a bit concerned by how little contact time we have in University and although i feel I am learning a lot on my course, i feel a little more time to learn the fundamentals of scriptwriting would not go amiss. I think motivation may be a problem with being at University for just 2 days a week. I havent found too many coursemates on my wavelength, but I dont think i have perhaps made as much effort getting into the way of University life.

My 6 minute script has got an okay grade and I understood improvements I could have made before I even got my grade back. So I'm learning and improving and heading in the right direction!! I hope I return a bit happier!!

2006-12-10T23:10:00.000-08:00

Blog set-up and post made.....Progress reports to follow throughout the year!!!....the world waits.........

2006-12-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Blog Finally Set-Up!