PART TWO... I was thinking that maybe it was time to update my dairy, so once again I stepped foot into the diary room! Since my last entry I've been very busy dashing around to art galleries, filming and editing my film and going to festivals to soak up all this local art!
 | | Yes. I am a big kid! |
My film is coming together although I have more footage to get before it'll be finished. Looking pretty cool so far though! Basically it’s about my journey to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ office. Doesn't sound too exciting you say?! Ha well! I started in Hebden Bridge which is renowned for its arts and quirky character. The first bit of footage captured was some morris dancers. Interested yet? You will be. There is evidence that I joined in! Shall I, shall I not put that in?! Hmmmm... Then I had a filming session in Halifax and went around the art galleries, filmed some street entertainers and took photos of some impressive graffiti on the walls of buildings. I also managed to get some footage of some of the local arts and crafts festivals going on. Haven't reached my final destination which is Bradford yet but will have a whip round and get it on film! I also went to have a look around Cartwright Hall in Bradford to see Bradford's very own David Hockneys art work. Now, the exhibitions were brilliant but wait for it. Cartwright Hall has a park and a boating lake on its grounds. Taking a break and releasing my inner child I have to admit I went down the slide a few times! That about sums it up for now but I have my film to complete and a couple of little local festivals to go to over the next week. Watch this space! Ohhhhhh yes. It's Leeds Festival this weekend so I think I'll be writing a little something on that. Can't wait! Over and out! PART ONE... It all started on the day my head of year whinged at me to clear my school email inbox. 'Well,' I said to him 'I can't help it if I'm popular!' So I did and a monster amount of school related emails came through but one stuck out! It was to do with the summer Blast opportunity and I thought ‘Yes!’ that’s what I want to do. But because of the full inbox situation I had missed the deadline date, but thought where’s the harm in asking?! And where was the harm considering I'm here!
 | | My Blast Diary...honest! |
I spoke to Christine at the Bradford ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ and she asked me to come for an interview the next day. All I could think of was that it was the next day. The next day!
That night I put together a list of things that interest me and what type of things I'd like to do for Blast. It was more like a scroll than a list! All prepared I jumped on the train and headed over to meet the team! I was really nervous and couldn't control those butterflies. It didn't help that I arrived waaaaay too early. More time for serious panic mode to kick in! Time seemed to drag but when the clock chimed 11 I was greeted by Christine and Martin who are now my Blast mentors! We sat down and chatted about loads of stuff about me and what I'm all about. Not once did I get my ‘list’ out! Both of them were really awesome and normal, down to earth peeps. Not the intimidating people I had conjured up in my sleep! I said my goodbyes and went home not knowing if I was ever going to hear from them again. The following morning I got a phone call. I had been accepted! Whooooo! The start of something wonderful! | "It was my birthday and I was with strangers. BUT it turned out to be awesome!" | | Esther |
I woke up on the 23rd of June, looked in the mirror to see a new wrinkle. It was my 19th birthday! It was also the day of my last A level exam and the day I was going down to Bristol for my Blast training weekend. The Bristol trip actually started early Friday but blast! (Sorry that’s a bit cheesy!) I had an exam in the afternoon. After a torturous 3 hour film exam I rung up my favourite and free taxi service (dad) and we cruised down to Bristol with the help of Jennifer, our trusted satellite navigator.Ìý When we eventually got there I started to get worried. I had missed out on a full day and missed out on making friends. I didn't want to be a loner, especially on my birthday! But I needn't have worried though with my mouth! I made sure people knew I had arrived and within half an hour I had a little group of fellow Blast reporters going on! That evening we had a film workshop and we were given all the equipment to make a small film like profile of ourselves. Now, I am sooooo camera shy hence the reason why I like making the films and not being in them! I stuttered throughout the whole thing! That night was interesting. It was my birthday and I was with strangers. BUT it turned out to be awesome! They sang me happy birthday and we had a right laugh! The next day, after a massive breakfast I did a few workshops and met some cool new people from all over the country! I never realised that Blast was such a huge thing! I loved the time I spent down in Bristol because I learnt a lot and met some wicked people! |
Read my interview with Hebden Bridge band Comedy of Error right here!
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When I got back up north I went to visit my mentors and got down to work straight away. Through myspace, I got in touch with a local band and interviewed them in a very professional place! The pub! It was a brilliant way to start my Blast experience!
 | | Alan Titchmarsh: "Very friendly!" |
The next thing I wanted to do was in Hebden Bridge, the fourth most unique town in the world. The organisers were hosting an arts festival which was perfect timing considering that I am writing about the arts in all its forms! I got the programme and noted down out what jumped out and bit me. Loads of things looked awesome so I had to narrow it down to a couple which was difficult! I got tickets booked for a rap performance which I couldn't wait to get to! I loved it! |
Find out what I thought of the new Experience TV exhibition by clicking on the link below!
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The biggest thing that I have done so far is writing about Experience TV at the National Museum of Film and Television. I felt well privileged to be one of the first people to see the new exhibition! The joys of working with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ! The best thing was the actual opening of the exhibition. How could I complain when I was surrounded by 100's of bottles of champagne! I also met and had a little chat with Alan Titchmarsh who was really friendly. My next project is to begin making a short film. I have plenty of ideas to go from, one being a skating and graffiti competition in Hebden and one being involved in an art project in Bradford. My Blast experience is going brilliantly so far! | 
