Plug-o-rama!

Lots of brilliant people have been making so many great films and podcasts and magazines recently that I thought a little wanton pulgging was in order. On that note…

First up is Barry. A short film, written by Rupert Raby and directed by John Michell:

Ella is seven. Her best friend is the best friend a girl could have: Barry. Her rabbit. They don’t care what other girls say about them.  They like to spend days in the park, having picnics, sharing secrets and dreams of escaping. But how can she when her dad’s best friend was once her’s too?

The Barry crew are currently trying to raise funds, they’re about half way there so help them out. It’s bound to be good and if you’re generous enough you get to go to the premier!

The Invisible Tour Guide is bonkers and genuinely, rib-ticklingly hilarious, with a full complement of silly voices, crazy twisting plots and wonderful characters. Oh, I should probably say that it’s a podcast (one of the many that’s kept me going over the past month of exams/project deadlines). The first five episodes were followed up by an old timey radio play:

‘Behind the Tour Guide’ is an imaginary documentary following two weeks in the life of world renowned expert, imaginary Professor Byron Frump, as he battles a tricky conspiracy involving 11 foot tall aliens from the Bacchanalian dimension, the grand inquisitor of the Royal Society, and an Italian masquerading as a ladies unmentionables millionaire.

Catch up with episodes 1 to 5 and the Behind the Tour Guide show by subscribing.

Coming soon is EXIT Magazine. It’s very mysterious and very good. It’ll be around in the last week of May. But for now I can’t say any more. (Disclaimer: I wrote an article Exit)

Also coming soon is Pinpoint Radio, another great podcast this time by a bunch of fantastic broadcast journalism students. It will feature radio documentaries, magazine shows and more great talk radio. (Another disclaimer: I produced some of these shows)

Analogue Issue 5

Analogue Issue 5 has been out for about half a week now. I’ve you haven’t read it yet, go pick it up! I wrote a piece with Ciarán from Goldmine Trash about concept albums that you can read in the online pdf of the magazine (page 30).

Feature of the Month 2

All through this month I was beginning to think that the “Feature of the Month” award might have been a little hastily conceived. There were very few articles that really stuck out and I was starting to think that I would have to settle for something a little under-par. However yesterday I found this month’s winner, just in the nick of time. It’s a piece written by David Ramsey, a teacher and former editorial assistant, entitled ‘I Will Forever Remain Faithful’. It was published in issue 62 of the Oxford American, which is a quarterly literary magazine dedicated to the American south. It may seem like an odd publication to pull an article from, but I actually found it through Sasha Frere-Jones’ blog over at the New Yorker.

Issue 62 took the legacy of Katrina as its theme and attempted to clear up some misconceptions about New Orleans and it’s surrounding area post-hurricane. In particular Ramsey contributed an article on his experiences as a teacher in a New Orleans school. It focuses though on the massive influence that local-boy, now rap superstar, Lil Wayne has on the kids and had on Ramsey himself during his time there. It reads as an personal exploration of Lil Wayne’s music but it also shines a spotlight on everyday life in New Orleans, the lives of the kids in Ramsey’s school and the social conditions of one of America’s most distressed regions.

It’s funny in parts and well balanced, yet also suggests underlying tragedy. It’s interestingly structured and, as Frere-Jones’ noticed, it reads almost like fiction. Altogether a deserving winner, you can read an online version of it on the Oxford American website.

Feature of the Month

The Observer Music Monthly published a brilliant feature this month that led directly to the creation of this little award. Paul Morley interviewed Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett for the cover feature “Artful Monkeys“. It was mainly a discussion of their opera/musical Monkey: Journey to the West, yet it also covered a lot of other ground with topics ranging from China, the Olympics, Blur, Gorillaz, the evolution of Monkey and the forthcoming album. It was also accompanied by some of Hewlett’s artwork and some great photos by Harry Borden.

What really made the article great reading though was that it provided a great insight into the creative life of this pair. Morley managed to convey through quotes, anecdotes and critical reflection a portrait of Hewlett and Albarn as men with seemingly infinite interests and creativity. This was increased by the structure of the feature. It was written as a Buddhist philosophical treatise, with headings such as “On the fact that we do not normally look at things but overlook them” followed by numbered points. It was quirky yet innovative as well, and entirely suited to the content. Altogether to was refreshing to read for its great style and insightful portraits and observations.

More info about the Monkey album and opera here.