For The Cultural Thing
Ryan Pilot
Explicitly erotic underground film brilliantlove made its North East debut this week.
Produced by Newcastle-based Pinball Films and directed by one third of the organisation, James Horner, it premiered in June at New York's Tribeca Film Festival and also played this year's Edinburgh Film Festival.
But it came home to play at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle last Tuesday and also played Thursday.
Set in a remote Teesside town, the Northern Film and Media funded film follows young lovers, Manchester and Noon as they spend most of the first half of the film naked and blissfully having sex.
But their relationship is put to the test when naïve Manchester gets caught up in a world of art and pornography.
Speaking after the first screening, the film's writer, Sean Conway said: “I discovered the word erotology, which is the study of sexual love and love making and thought 'shit, I wish I'd have done that at A-level!'
“So one of ideas was that and the other idea was a pastiche of the art world, which was called 'Fuck Art' initially until brilliantlove became a fusion, an amalgamation of both.
“But obviously as a writer you should write about what you know and I don't know a great deal about the art world but sex and being in love is my specialist subject.”
Monday, 22 November 2010
Historical Staging Of Pitmen Painters: Your Chance To Star
For The Cultural Thing
By Ryan Pilot
The People’s Theatre in Newcastle has secured the exclusive rights to stage the first ever amateur production of the Pitmen Painters as part of its centenary celebrations next year.
The play, based on the true story of a group of Ashington miners who become the toast of the art world recently played Broadway and was penned by Billy Elliot writer, Lee Hall.
People’s Theatre venue manager, Steve Robertson explained how to get involved.
He said: “You do two pieces in front of the production committee and the director of any show can go up and watch.
“We have what we call a new members night where people come along – next one’s the first of December.
“I would say that if you’re joining the theatre just because of Pitmen Painters – not a great way to go about it because we have roughly a 350 membership.
“But if you want to join to be part of the People’s Theatre that’s great.
“And if you want to get a part in Pitmen Painters, go for it – but there will be a lot of people going for six parts.”
Technical staff, such as stage designers, sound engineers and security staff are also encouraged to get involved. See www.ptag.org.uk for more details.
The Pitmen Painters will play June 13 to June 18 next year.
By Ryan Pilot
The People’s Theatre in Newcastle has secured the exclusive rights to stage the first ever amateur production of the Pitmen Painters as part of its centenary celebrations next year.
The play, based on the true story of a group of Ashington miners who become the toast of the art world recently played Broadway and was penned by Billy Elliot writer, Lee Hall.
People’s Theatre venue manager, Steve Robertson explained how to get involved.
He said: “You do two pieces in front of the production committee and the director of any show can go up and watch.
“We have what we call a new members night where people come along – next one’s the first of December.
“I would say that if you’re joining the theatre just because of Pitmen Painters – not a great way to go about it because we have roughly a 350 membership.
“But if you want to join to be part of the People’s Theatre that’s great.
“And if you want to get a part in Pitmen Painters, go for it – but there will be a lot of people going for six parts.”
Technical staff, such as stage designers, sound engineers and security staff are also encouraged to get involved. See www.ptag.org.uk for more details.
The Pitmen Painters will play June 13 to June 18 next year.
New Creative Hub For North East
For The Cultural Thing
Exclusive by Ryan Pilot
A New creative hub is set to open in central Newcastle.
The building will primarily be used by Sustained Theatre North East, a black and ethnic theatre group.
But it will be open to everyone - with the man behind it, Oscar Watson of North East Intercultural Arts keen to include as manny people as possible, not just a creative élite.
He said: “There is a discussion at the moment about a building which will be about development of performance art.
“But I am very keen if that does happen is what we create is a creative community hub.
“The last government talked about creative hubs as spaces like schools for example, so I wanted to build on that – using the resources that came from Sustained Theatre to buy and open a building.
“But to make the resources of that building available to schools, and colleges and wide groups of people.
“There is a particular building that we have in mind and we're very close in the way to possibly getting it.
“But there are problems. It's a significant amount of money that's being brought into the region.
“It's £750,000 but we may not be able to get hold of it for the want of £10,000.”
Exclusive by Ryan Pilot
A New creative hub is set to open in central Newcastle.
The building will primarily be used by Sustained Theatre North East, a black and ethnic theatre group.
But it will be open to everyone - with the man behind it, Oscar Watson of North East Intercultural Arts keen to include as manny people as possible, not just a creative élite.
He said: “There is a discussion at the moment about a building which will be about development of performance art.
“But I am very keen if that does happen is what we create is a creative community hub.
“The last government talked about creative hubs as spaces like schools for example, so I wanted to build on that – using the resources that came from Sustained Theatre to buy and open a building.
“But to make the resources of that building available to schools, and colleges and wide groups of people.
“There is a particular building that we have in mind and we're very close in the way to possibly getting it.
“But there are problems. It's a significant amount of money that's being brought into the region.
“It's £750,000 but we may not be able to get hold of it for the want of £10,000.”
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Helictite Feature
A feature on the North East's finest free-noise collective and their recording in an underground waterfall chamber for The Cultural Thing.
Monday, 1 November 2010
All on Board at Walk Bus Man Honour
For the Wear Valley Mercury (Oct 29)
By Ryan Pilot
A CARING dad has been awarded a medal for his services to Durham's longest running walking bus.
Michael Walker set up the walking bus six years ago when his daughter Danielle asked him.
He said: "I used to walk her to school anyway, so I said yeah, I would do it. I went to a meeting at school and it all went from there."
Danielle, 12, has since left Woodhouse Community Primary School in Bishop Auckland. But dedicated Michael, 25, has continued with the scheme. He said: "I enjoy it and to be honest I don't want it to fold. I enjoy doing it and I want it to keep going for the school itself."
Durham County Council chairman Mac Williams gave Michael the Chairman's medal last Friday at a school assembly. It now has pride of place in his living room.
He said: "I'm very proud of it. They recognise the work that I've done for the school." A group of six adults run two walking buses, with one running morning and evening.
Michael, a parent governor, takes about 10 children to school every morning. His wife, Emma, 30, who is a supervising assistant at the school, is also involved.
Handing over the award Coun Williams said: "Michael is a perfect example of why the Chairman's Medal was launched. Michael's work has been outstanding and it's a credit to his sterling efforts that the Walking Bus Scheme is so successful at Woodhouse Primary School."
Danielle missed her dad's award ceremony as she was at school, but is very proud nonetheless.
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