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Film Mashup

On Tuesday this week I went to Film Mashup at the Seven Dials Club in Earlham Street, Covent Garden. The event, organised by my good buddy Jared Fryer is for film industry people, which, as a part time movie extra and wannabe actor I'm very much on the fringe of!

It's primarily an event for film producers and freelancers, but anyone involved in any aspect of film making is welcome. It started, more or less, as a social event I gather, about a year ago, however it's become a good place for industry people to network and find interesting jobs, projects, collaborators and inspiration. One of several special things about it though is that it doesn't FEEL like a networking, work the room, what's in it for me type of event.

It's got a truly great atmosphere, number one it's friendly and, well, downright comfortable, but wonderful as that is that's not exactly a benefit that would make you want to go, so what is? Number one is that it's inspirational, the average age, well I won't embarrass anyone but it's youngish, maybe late twenties and it's packed with people who just go for it, example to follow.

Making a career in the film business is notoriously hard but here's a crowd of people who's optimism and self belief shines through without being in your face. These people MAKE things happen, budget or no budget and yet they're refreshingly modest. Whilst the results are often pretty spectacular.

The evening starts with drinks and chat, but pretty swiftly moves on to screenings of several short films. This week there were four. The first, being the example I referred to above was a documentary about a play put on in 2012 at The Rose Theatre by 'My Lovely Productions' a company started by two like minded actresses. Not only did they put on a play, having raised the funds themselves from nothing, they also had the foresight to get backing for this remarkably well made, pacy documentary so the story will live forever.

Next up was an animated short entitled True North, about a couple of polar bears essentially, which was great fun and then another film with an environmental message about seeing a greener world through an empty picture frame. Simple special effects created a supernatural story which saw a man passing through an empty frame in a city environment to find himself in a green and lush place, he returns with a small frame through which he can see the world as it might be.

Finally a film called Opus, filmed in one of my favourite cities, Budapest, also had a hint of the supernatural about it. Another enigmatic short, the message I took is that rewards can be spiritual as well as monetary. A struggling student violinist, busking in the city is given a simple blue hair clip by a young girl, she's moved to return it, as it means nothing to her and matches the young girl's dress, however the young child is insistent she have it, the violinist plays a nursery rhyme tune in thanks and becomes more and more inspired and her music soars to new heights. It's a great little story, with a wonderful soundtrack.

After the screenings a short break to chat, drink, take a comfort break is followed by a question and answer session with producers, directors, and anyone involved in making the films. No holds barred, production questions, budget, equipment, techniques, fund raising, all is revealed.

This is not the world of Hollywood, Bollywood or even Pinewood, no Hobbits or Top Guns here, but it is the world of Mission Impossible, because here you will find people on a mission, who will be the big film producers, directors and stars of the future, mark my words. Love film? Got any kind of industry involvement? Then look up Jared Fryer and Film Mashup and get yourself along. It's every month and as they say about certain films - unmissable.

Jitterbugs – The New Dawn

The queen is resting long live the queen. Jitterbugs is Julie Oram, I've been going for about fifteen years, since Jitterbugs took place in both Sevenoaks once a week, and in Leicester Square once a week. Several venues later it's still thriving at Stern Hall, in Seymour Place near Marble Arch on Wednesday evenings from 7pm.

Julie Oram has done as much or more than anyone to make London the Lindy Hop Heaven it is and I've long held the view, that although certain other teachers also turn out some pretty awesome dancers here in the smoke. Julie is London's number one Lindy Hop teacher for raw beginners. For Julie to leave Jitterbugs, as she did this Wednesday, for a very well earned rest, which may or may not be a permanent retirement from teaching, (she's not saying) is truly the end of an era. And a great and memorable era at that. Is it the end of Jitterbugs though?

NO NO NO! Onward and upward. About fourteen years ago I met Angela Andrew at the world's number one swing dance camp, Herrang in Sweden. Angela was world class even that far back, as both a dancer and a teacher. However, she didn't teach in the UK that often I think it's fair to say, and in recent years has been living on the continent, so no chance for us Brits to receive her wisdom. In a stroke of pure genius Julie has passed the Jitterbugs baton on to Angela!

Those of us who've been around for a few years know just how fantastic this is. It worried me that a lot of the newer dancers might think that with great Julie Oram leaving they might do something else on Wednesday evenings. Rest assured, give her a chance and Angela will inspire and delight you and will take dancers to heights you won't believe. This Wednesday just gone, the 9^th January 2013 saw Julie say goodbye and Angela give her first beginners lesson. On regular club nights there are two lessons or more, so it's not just about beginners believe me, although beginners will still get off to an incredible flying Jitterbugs start.

So, this Wednesday, well, a lot of the old faces came out of the woodwork to see Julie off and to welcome Angela in, the joint was jumin'. It was emotional for me since, stumbling into Jitterbugs, by accident more or less, fifteen years ago changed my life forever, introduced me to a genre of music that had passed me by, new friends, a new hobby and a dance I found hard, but which I got a sense of achievement from as I progressed. Something which I may not have done without someone like Julie to guide me.

So if it was emotional for me, I can only imagine how Julie felt. It is a new dawn though and Angela's style of teaching is very different from Julie's, initially some will prefer it and some doubtless will want Julie's way back again, but no, go with Angela's way, it seems less precise at first, well, it is actually, but in one hour on Wednesday Angela had a huge room full of people of very mixed abilities doing Lindy Turns, Lindy Circles, promenades, round the world, and tuck turns right on the button. I can tell you Lindy Turns and Lindy Circles on their own are actually quite technical. That's a LOT that Angela had people doing in one little hour, yet she made it seem easy and that, ladies and gentlemen is genius at work.

The dancing after the lesson was terrific, danced my little socks off all night, right through to the last song. London Sinfonia were terrific, and it was, well, it was a very, very special night. I hope it's the springboard for a new and wonderful age at Jitterbugs. Julie said “it really is London's best club”. I'm supposed to be impartial, but Jitterbugs is my spiritual Lindy Hop home, so I'll leave you with that thought. Support Angela and Jitterbugs, you will be rewarded, right here on earth.