Hello, Creatives! One of my side projects alongside running 99% Perspiration is a weekly radio programme called ArtyParti. We invite guests to chat about artistic & cultural events in the North East of the UK.
Here’s the latest;
Continue reading “ArtyParti – SunFest 2016 & Changing Lives”
A couple days ago, I had a creative chat over coffee with a new company called R.Branding.
“Branding is a process that can help distinguish a company from its competitors, increase customer relationships and create lasting impressions on the minds of your market.”
“We drank too many cups of Joe (in a place owned by a guy called Joe), talked about merging some creative projects, and enthused about logos together. Specifically, the Olympics logos.
And when I say enthused, I mean really, really enthused. I don’t think I’ve had a conversation that passionate for quite a while. All three of us loved how the London 2012 was so divisive, distinct & entirely original. And I had absolutely no idea that the Rio 2016 logo also looked like a mountain in Brasil as well as three people united in their love of the games. (Seems obvious now, huh?)
See the blurry photo below? Sat opposite from me & my freelance filmmaker friend Robert Carr are two thirds of R.Branding – Charlie Layzell and Ryan Booth. They’re truly inspiring guys, and you’ll be hearing a lot more from all three them on both the 99% Perspiration blog & the podcast in the future…
But now, over to R.Branding, and their low-down on why branding is key to any business, and how to make the most out of any brand.
Texas-based audio drama writer & producer Pete Lutz is a self-proclaimed king of “making radio drama on no budget whatsoever”. (Tongue firmly in cheek as he adjusts his crown.)
Considering producing audio drama involves finding a troop of acting talent, recording (ideally together) with quality microphones, sourcing/creating fitting music and sound effects, and hours upon hours of writing, editing and promotion… That’s a pretty noble claim to make.
Nick Wommack, left & Pete Lutz, right. Photo by George Tuley/Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Pete learned a great deal of his craft from listening to the masters: the creators of Old-Time Radio programs aired decades before he was born. Even his stories come from that era, for the most part, or are inspired by them.
“Back before any of you lot wuz born, eh? Well, ‘ere wuz summat called radio, eh?”
[Cue dramatic fanfare music…] Ladies and gentlemen, he’s the man with a face for radio, and more radio than you can face… Mr. Pete Lutz!
I was 14 when I told my parents I didn’t want to do the family route and study science. I finally admitted them I wanted to write and it freaked them a bit, because they didn’t know how to get me where I wanted to be, whereas in pharmacy/nursing they know people.
You can consider me the black sheep in the family if you will. Myself and my cousin both take media courses – herself journalism and me studying Broadcast Media Production.
I won’t lie, I was scared breaking out in the media industry. Taking an easy route into a job wasn’t what I wanted to do and I wanted a challenge. Since joining Spark Sunderland in 2013, I’ve clocked up a whole calendar of hours (I’ve stopped counting since 150) of radio, and working behind the scenes. I love doing it. I love choosing the songs for playlist for my Urban Show on a Monday, choosing what content I should put in my daytime show, being in control of all the specialist programming, I just love it.
But the one thing that bothers me? I’m one of the seven ethnic minority in the station. Media is not solely focused on BAME [Black and Ethnic Minority], and many just assume to put us in the Urban setting.
So, when given the chance to go down to London to attend a masterclass held by BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, I jumped at the chance. It was a masterclass hosted by creative access, a programme committed to providing the best advice, experience and internship for BAME industry beginners.
The first day in London, I panicked. Well, of course I did, I was in King’s Cross and was about to burst into tears because I didn’t have enough money to catch the tube home. Oh how stupid I was, thinking that I could be so comfortable down in London on my own.
Eventually, I got to my aunt’s house. And my cousin was so excited for this masterclass that she wasn’t even going to. “You’re going to make it, Steph, believe me.” I tried. I really did.
On the day, I wanted to look really good. I mean, I’m going to my future workplace, I wanted to stand out. Before making down in London I went to Newcastle and bought a whole new outfit, that screamed “I KNOW WHAT I WANT AND I’M GOING TO GET IT.” Continue reading “Meet Stephanie Chungu.”
Hello, Creatives! Our latest series of blogs comes from the lovely folk at Northern Bear Films, an award-winning creative film & media company, focused on creating and sharing entertaining stories.
Since launching in 2012, Aman, Jerome & the team have delivered projects for local to national brands, including names such as The National Trust, Creative England, and the British Film Institute.
Today, the basics – a very building-blocks approach to video production;
from the ground up, with or without a budget.
Video is a great way to capture audience attention and convey the message in a short period of time, but have you ever wondered the different stages and the work that goes behind the scene before you see the polished product?
Here are the 3 main steps you need to consider if you are looking to create video content:
Continue reading “Northern Bear Films – the Building Blocks of Video Production”
Here’s opinionated me exploring Belgrade.
I’m a part of the last cohort of the International Performance Research Masters run by the University of Warwick, Trinity College Dublin and the University of the Arts Belgrade. In short, I study performing arts – academically, artistically, practically, and also from a curatorial perspective. Over the past 8 months, I’ve been inspired by so many wonderful artists, academics and amusing encounters along the way. I decided to start this blog to share experiences of my last semester here in Belgrade, which will be my home for the next three months before embarking upon my dissertation project.
Today’s post comes from the genius audio producer that is Tim Johns, who is currently Reporter/Producer for The Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2.
I did a talk on this subject at this year’s Student Radio Conference in Cardiff.
Yes, some of it is blindingly obvious, but I thought it needed saying because I see people come in for radio placements/internships/shadowing at Radio 2 a lot. And so often, people get the little things wrong.
Don’t be useless at making phone callsIf you’re asked to pick up the phone and book a guest, take a deep breath and go for it. You need to be charming and persuasive. It can be slightly daunting making this first phone call in an open-plan office but if you come across badly and the guest says “no” that’s not great.
Continue reading “How to not mess up your work experience placement”
Hello, Creatives! This one is stolen from the lovely folk at Cuckoo Young Writers, an organisation that exists to develop emerging writing talent in the North of the UK. If you’re interested in writing/journalism, aged 15 – 23, please read on!
(If you’re outside North UK, or outside Cuckoo’s age bracket, there are dozens of opportunities our there, and The Write Life have compiled a handy list of top-notch places to start: 26 Amazing Writing Residencies You Should Apply for This Year.)
“Become a Reviewer in Residence at the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) in Sunderland!”
Continue reading “Become a Reviewer in Residence at the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art”
Hello, Creatives! It’s been a long wait, but (drum roll…) here’s season 2.
Our awesome guests this week are;
Click here to listen to Peff Soulsby on 99% Perspiration
“My speciality is sexy robots. I’m trying to carve out that niche. GPS, on board computers… Siri, I’m coming for you.”
Freelance voice-over & voice actor, & Graduate Marketing Assistant at Newcastle University. And, following the release of EVE: Valkyrie, pioneering sexy robot voices everywhere.
“Find your outside passions. Be broad, and follow them as well. Contacts are important, don’t burn your bridges.”
Click here to listen to Tom Campbell on 99% Perspiration
“If you ever have a coaching session, and you leave feeling brow-beaten, and disheveled, and destroyed, then you have had a bad coaching session. You should never leave a coaching session anything less than inspired to get back on the radio.”
Drivetime presenter on Heart North East Radio, and all-round Super-Human. Also recently known as “Dr. Cuddles”, prescribing free hugs in Middlesborough. Awww.
Seriously, it’s cute…
“YouTube for me was just a fun little hobby with friends from school. It just turned out that there were people searching for gaming videos, and it’s grown from that initial spark – hey, people are watching my stuff, I should try to make it better.”
Click here to listen to Vik of The Sidemen on 99% Perspiration
One of the seven-strong Sidemen, a group of collaborating YouTubers who post pretty funny content. Your typical video-gaming dude. (Big ups to Niall McGuire for sharing with us.)
With new music, courtesy of the awesome audio producer Jed Stoker.
Get in touch with 99% Perspiration:And, as always,
Stay productive, stay awesome!
Jay Sykes
Executive Producer, 99% Perspiration
99% PERSPIRATION 