Saw This One Coming!

So Sky have announced that they're closing two channels which they've recently acquired when they took over the bloody world of television.

Channel One was re-branded from Virgin 1 only two weeks ago. What a waste of money that must have been to re-brand a channel only to close it. But this is Murdoch we're talking about. The guy who wants world domination by buying every network and cable operator out there. Where there's Murdoch, they'll be no competition. Speaking of competition, where the hell are OFCOM?? Which bright spark allowed this to happen?

Its clearly seen that Sky have got rid of its competition. Both channels have shown UK premieres of shows that Sky failed to obtain, so they've gone in through the back door like a spoilt child and got what they want.

Sky's excuse for the closure of Channel One was down to its schedule being too similar to Sky3, another channel which broadcasts on Freeview.
What? Can't two entertainment channels co-exist on one platform? Isn't that what Freeview needs more entertainment and less shopping? Obviously not, and why? Because Sky3 was being out done by Channel One and poor little Sky hates it when other channels get the better of them.

So what have Sky planned to replace Channel One with on Freeview? A bloody games channel showing repeats of game shows from the 80's! Woo!

As for Bravo, I'm sad to see this one go as its been around for over twenty years. Another great loss and all because it was out classing its rival entertainment channels after buying programmes like Spartacus which saw the channel get high ratings on a satellite platform.

Sky have announced that it plans on spreading the programmes from both channels across Living TV and Sky3.
More like the decent stuff stays on Pay-TV while the crap stays with Sky3 on Free-TV.

Thanks Sky!

Lady La-La!

Copyright ©2010 David Gabber/PR Photos

Erm... Yeah whatever (cuckoo!).

Hope Your Happy Now!

(Picture: Atlantic Council)

Its been announced that spending is down yet again in the UK.
Seriously are we surprised? Erm... not really no.

Is it going to get better? Erm... not while the Government think of more ways to rob from the poor and give to the rich.

The only way this country will see any improvement in spending would be to make things affordable again and up the wage and ease taxes for the poorly paid.

Ahahahaha! Who the hell am I trying to kid? This is the Government where nobody gives a toss about anyone who voted them in. The only people they care about are themselves and their deep pockets.
To be honest, how many of you can honestly say you've got full satisfaction from your local council, councillor or MP? Very few of you because they just don't seriously care. We voted them in, give them a job and we get shat on from a great height.

This country doesn't need higher taxes, spending cuts, more job losses.
What would we benefit from when VAT is raised to 20% in January 2011? Nothing. I believe this will bring the country firmly down to its knees and for what? Hmm?

Petrol in the UK is expected to soar to £1.30 (US $2.02) a litre on Unleaded, £1.50 (US $2.33) on Diesel by the new year.
How is that going to help the economy?  On the average 1.6 litre motorcar, a tank of unleaded petrol can cost on average £60 to fill.
So how are the Government expecting people to continue using their cars if petrol can rise to £100 a tank?
People will stop using their cars, people will have to get a second job to meet payments on bills their primary job won't no longer cover, people might even leave their jobs because its too expensive for them to travel to work on a daily basis.
On top of that, the Government plan on taxing food items that aren't covered by VAT. So when food prices rise what's going to happen to people who can just afford a week's worth of shopping? What's going to happen when utility bills soar? The list can go on and on.

I'll give it a year before we start hearing of more businesses collapsing or taking their companies abroad, more redundancies and more bankruptcies.

More people are leaving the UK because its become to expensive to live in their own country.

The people who should be hit hardest on tax are the rich, not the poor, not the people who work long hours to earn enough so they can afford to pay a gas bill or a week's worth of food.

If the Government want people to start spending and give the economy the boost it needs, then they're going to have to make thing more affordable again so people will spend, spend, spend.

Drop down VAT to 9%, get rid of council tax. We coped without it in the past and we can cope without it again.
Half petrol prices, it can be done especially when the oil companies are boasting about the millions their making in so many months.
In all honestly, all this is falling on the deaf and dumb isn't it? Why? Because if they gave up all that extra money, how else will they afford their big polluting cars, flights around the world, holiday homes, their second homes, their office refurbishments, their unfaithful marriages and porn stash?

Its great living in a country where its elected Government care. God bless everyone of them!

Let It Burn!

Well its been two months since I was last feeling a bit on the 'downside' should I say about a great deal that was going in life.
But after taking a big step back, I've now taken a giant leap forward, after redefining my issues and reigniting that spark again.

I guess all I needed was a bit of a breather.
I've been working constantly with 'Christian' for the past five years and making amends with a lot of it, certainly did take its toll, but on top of that I was dealing with some personal issues too that were knocking me on my arse. Trying to juggle all that would certainly knock the strongest contender on their arses.
But after getting things back on track and looking at the 15-hours of rushes we got so far along with seeing some scenes edited together, plus the first teaser trailer now released. Its added fuel to my fire which is now burning brighter than ever.

My love for film is back! I've already wrote a few synopsis for more production ideas for both screen and radio. I've been working as an actor again including doing voice-over work for other productions and even been offered a chance to make a return to radio, which could happen later in the new year.
But my priority at present is 'Christian' and getting that completed, promoted, sold and out-there!

The feedback from the footage I've released so-far has been very positive.
One fellow-tweeter told me its like 'Torchwood' and 'Angel' rolled into one, which I thought was a nice complement.
I've also noticed recently that another major studio have also started to follow us on both twitter and the official website, so its certainly getting noticed.

As for developing 'Christian' into a television series, well that is certainly beginning to take shape. I've been passed ideas for new characters and story-lines, plus been writing a few ideas down myself.
However, with a possible private funder wanting to talk as well as a UK broadcaster showing interest at picking up the series. I seriously need to sit back and look at how to move this project forward, especially being the creator, writer and director. I need to think what stories would make a great television programme that a world-wide audience would want to watch or it could end up being a one season wonder.

During the current shoot I've had ideas being thrown at me from all directions. Yeah, its been great watching the cast make the characters their own and filming ideas that have been suggested throughout have been very creative. But I need to start tightening the reigns again and look at every idea being passed to me and think would that idea seriously work in a series? Its those decisions as creator, writer and director of 'Christian' I need to make, especially when there's the potential of funding and a major UK broadcaster showing interest.
I need to make the right decisions that will bring these people on board. Hell, they will have major input on the production if they do come on board as its their money at the end of the day, and they'll most certainly would want to make sure their money is invested wisely, so they could even over-rule my decisions on anything. There's nothing stopping them sacking everyone and bringing in a whole new team. Or they could be prepared to work with the crew I've got now and expand on that.

But all that matters right now is that we do things right with this feature length pilot, otherwise we won't get a series or funding. It would be five-years work thrown away and I'm not prepared to let that happen.
Personally and this is coming from the horse's mouth no matter what's been said on the 'rumour mill'. I believe I've got a fantastic cast, who have worked their arses off despite the working conditions I've put them through and I'm truly proud of the work they've done. I can't say a bad thing about any of them and the same can be said about the crew.

After seeing some of the footage that's been produced, I'm now going to take the bull by its horns and make sure that we finish what's been started and we continue to produce the same results we've seen so far.

Also, one of the most positive ways to continue getting the results I need is to crack the whip and bring an end to the 'rumour mill' that I keep hearing about.
That's playground banter and if anyone has a problem with someone, you should confront that person directly and not through a third person who might tell you anything that might fuel the fire more without hearing it direct.
There's nothing more I hate than chinese whispers amongst people who love to milk the facts.
At the end of the day, If there is a problem, yeah let me know about it and I'll give you the best possible advice as an employer on what to do.Or if you've heard certain 'rumours' about things, I'll tell you straight whether these 'rumours' are true or not. I mean I am the director after all, its me who's got hold of the reigns and got control of this horse, no-one else. Everyone knows their place on this production and I expect those jobs to be done. If there are problems then I'll sort them out, but what everyone has to realise is that the director get's the final say, no-one else and if some people don't like that, then that's their problem nobody else's - simples!

As for Jerry's final thoughts - Keep up the great work. As you can see from the footage released, things are looking good and the production has started to get noticed.
Again, if you've got questions or want to verify rumours or other matters that are floating about. I would like to hear from you direct, even if its just a simple 'hello' to let me know how your doing as I've rarely hear from you. Its good to talk! :D

They'll also be another trailer being released over the coming weeks along with some behind the scenes footage I'm also working on.

See told you the flame was on high ;D

Do You Blame Them?

Picture: Craig Greenhill

I heard on the radio that Guns n'Roses walked off stage at a gig in Dublin after fans pelted the group with bottles for being late.


Yeah okay, the group were late on stage but can you seriously blame them for walking off after the actions of their 'so-called' fans?
I seriously can't and if I was in their shoes, I'd do exactly the same. 


So what if they were late! At least you still got to see them perform. I'd be more pissed off if they didn't show up at all, then fair enough you'd have a good excuse to kick off big time as your money and time had been wasted.  


As for the gig being cut short, then to be honest the only one's to blame for that are the fans.
Hope your happy with yourselves and good luck in getting a refund as its your fault not the band's or promoters the gig was cut short. Why the hell should you be entitled to your money back? The band should keep it as compensation for having their time wasted.