2 Minute Radio Interview = Radio Production is HARD... :)

My first 'uni' Radio Production assignment is to research, create, edit and produce my own 2 minute radio interview = HARD.

After much 'Googling' and telephoning, I managed to secure Fire Fighter Morris to interview regarding Greater Manchester's Fire and Rescue Service 'Cadet Scheme'.  A project designed to help improve the lives of local youths, enabling them to experience many skills, not all fire-fighting related - increasing employability prospects.

Interviewing Fire-fighter Morris at Mossley Fire Station.

Here's a photograph of Firefighter Morris and myself - using a Marantz 660 to recording the interview.

He was also a great help when I had to record 'actuality', additional sounds to help my interview sound more interesting and realistic.  Actuality such as fire engine noise, tannoy messages and siren wailing being just some examples.  I used Adobe Audition software to put my recorded interview and actuality together, this was rather time consuming but I really enjoyed the editing process.

ITV's Judge Rinder Audience Participation.

Had a long but brilliant day today - all thanks to ITV's Judge Rinder team.  A week ago uni emailed students, passing on audience participation invites for the show.  My mum and I set off early, arriving at the studios excited to watch the programme.

All the production team were really friendly, looking after all the audience making sure we knew what was going to happen and when, plus instructing where we were seated and how to react during filming.

Filming lasted approximately 2 and a half hours - however this time flew by as watching the Judge, Robert Rinder, getting to grips with the cases was professional but amusing at the same time.  Mum and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would love to come back to court again some day - in the audience I mean...:).

Here's a few images of one of the cases we watched, courtesy of ITV Player's website :-

Claudette v's Marie - The Case of the Broken Fence, courtesy of 'Judge Rinder' & ITV Player website.

Not one to brag - but there's me on the back row!!!! :) :).

Back to the case, here's a brilliant screenshot of Robert - he's scarily hilarious, perfect for the show.

Robert Rinder - image courtesy of  'Judge Rinder' & ITV Player website.

Finally a wide angle shot of warring neighbours.

Claudette (left) - Marie (right) - image courtesy of 'Judge Rinder' & ITV Player website.

Like I said earlier, a brilliant, interesting and entertaining day - topped off with the programme rewarding we the audience with a free lunch :).... Straight across the Quays into Nando's !!!!!! :)

My MEDIA CITY Uni !!!......:) :) :)

Now I'm definitely a Salford Uni student I decided to do the sensible thing and check out travelling times from home to Media City...

Metro tram station - 2 minute walk from my Uni...

So EARLY this morning (07:15) I caught the bus, then after a short tram ride I arrived at Uni in a little under an hour and a half :).

If you look closely you can see my Uni - getting excited now !!!!!

View from across the Quay's.

Piccadilly Manchester - Bus Stop for home.

GET IN - I'm now a Salford University Television and Radio Degree Student !!!

 Words can't express how happy I feel this morning after reading this...

Both excited and scared about beginning my Television and Radio course in September :).

College feels like a distant memory...

I'm patiently waiting for my A level results - dreading 14th August :(.  So keeping myself busy before hopefully going to Uni in September, so I thought 'time to give my room a bit of a makeover'.

I want to make a 'Memory and Inspiration wall'.  Buying most of Paperchase's postcard collection and printing my favourite photographs reminded me of my time spent at college.  Hard work - which I'm glad I did, but mainly remembering my class mates and the laughs we had :).

Here's a few college memories - some good, some not so good...lol! :)

Classroom Banter :).

Don't know why but this always makes me laugh?  I used Photoshop to change this photograph into a comic book style image.

Media Studies kids with our tutor Angela - AFTER taking last exam - phew :).

I love this photograph - taken straight after we Media kids had finished our last exam - best time ever! :)

Filming 'Infection'.

Will always love this memory.  Laughing with my friend Gemma who helped me and my A Level Media Studies Film Trailer group such a LOT, during production of our Zombie Film Trailer. 

'Infection' Film Trailer by 'Undead Productions'

We had a lot of fun creating our film trailer, so to remember the laughs I put together the following 'outtakes' video for our group. 'Infection' Outtakes

St Annes - near Blackpool.

Rainy A level 'Graphics' trip to St. Annes, near Blackpool, to provide useful research and inspiration for our unit 3 work.

I don't know how we managed it but we got lost even though St. Anne's isn't that big...

As you can see Syeda's not happy... :)

'Sister Selfie'

Here's my inspiration - my sister Sam, taken at her recent 'Graduation' from the London College of Fashion, a proud time for all the family xxx :).

HOT WEATHER = Shop Work & Content Writing

The UK has been experiencing very hot weather over the last week or so, which we Mancunians are not really used to...

Volunteering has been a bit rough as we don't have air conditioning in the shop and this morning I had to check through LOTS of clothing donation bags, then steam (I love this bit, but not today) and sort the clothes into sizes before hanging on rails.  Not much fun with only one fan and the door wedged open for ventilation.  Has to be done though.

Unfortunately we didn't have many customers either, I reckon it was too hot for most people to come out shopping - so during the last 45 minutes of my shift we all sat down with a cold drink.

I've mostly sat inside at home, sunbathing is not for me - I get bored too easily. So I've had lots of time to continue with my 'sit-com' writing.

I've drafted content ideas for around 3 more individual programmes, but only posted the 1st for now.

The idea is to keep my online followers wanting more - seems to be working :).

Open4 Learning Modules and Channel 4 Production Training Scheme

A few days ago I signed up for Channel 4's 'Open4' online learning platform http://open4.channel4.com/home?learning:2

On here you can learn how Channel 4 factual (documentaries and news programmes for instance) television programmes are made.  Ranging from the Pre-Production, Production and Post-Production levels of programme making through to developing programme ideas and pitching them to the Channel 4 commissioning team.

Working through the Open4 modules was really interesting and exciting,  I didn't realise the amount of teamwork required just to create, develop and make one programme.  After each module there is an assessment of what you've learned, which I have to admit was a little intense as you don't know how well or not you are progressing, until the end.

After completing the learning modules you are given a choice to apply for a Production Training Scheme, which is a paid placement lasting 12 months with one of the independent production companies that work together with Channel 4.

I decided to apply - even though I don't have much chance of receiving a placement because there are only 12 places available and thousands of applicants :).  I suppose if you don't try you'll never know... Fingers crossed.