CHRISLEYDON.COM

This is a bit of a touchy subject, but I’m willing to tackle it head on. I’m forever coming up with concepts for films, dramas or shows; some of them are awful and some of them are fantastic. The one that I’m currently working on, however, is likely to turn some heads and perhaps offend a few people. This is not intentional, you must understand, but it’s the slack that comes with attempting to tackle a taboo issue head on.

A few months ago I had to come up with a few ideas for a script for my Scriptwriting class, you may recall me mentioning this in a few earlier posts. In total I came up with what I believe to be 7 original concepts for scripts, some of them probably ought to be scrapped (in fact most of them ought to) but there was one which appealed to me (if that’s the right word). One idea was more or less perfect for a project that I want to embark on.

Film makers and creative digital artists are forever testing their boundaries, seeing how far the public will let them go before they get slammed down. As a creative digital media artist, I too hear this call, I want to test my creative boundaries and see how far I can go. To reuse an old cliché, I want to reach for the stars. For a very long time I’ve wanted to create a gritty British drama; the kind of thing that you would expect to see on the BBC during the weekdays. I personally think that a project like this would definitely push me to my creative peak, it would enable me to stretch the boundaries of what I can achieve. I also want to deliver a message, a very important message that isn’t heard too much.

The concept is a gritty British drama serial that addresses the taboo subject of pedophillia. Certainly to my knowledge there has not been a series addressing this issue. The drama would orientate around a boy whose mother sexually abuses him, unbeknownst to the boys father or other loved ones. The focus on the drama would not be on the act, or on the boy or even on the mother; the focus of the drama would be on the father. When one comes into contact with stories of pedophillia they usually feature a male adult as the pedophile, whereas in reality it is indeed both sexes that commit this crime. That is the story that I want to tell, that is the issue that I want to address.

I am fully aware that there will be people disgusted by my idea of wanting to make a drama about pedophillia, but it is an important issue that has never been properly addressed. Why do people commit the act? What is the immediate effect that it has on its victim? For too long people have seen this topic as too taboo to deal with. I want to make a drama that pushes these boundaries, this is a part of our society that needs to be addressed and I believe that a drama such as this (if done in the right way) could help.

Chris Leydon.

It’s over a year since I first signed my contract with BTPodShow / Mevio, consequently that first contract has terminated and there is a new one for me to sign. The question is then, why haven’t I picked up my pen, signed it and sent it off already? In all honesty I’m not too sure myself.

I really have enjoyed my first year working with BTPodShow to produce The Podzone, it was fun and I always had support for anything I did; however a year on I’m wondering if I want to sign the contract again. I can say that it’s not the EXACT same contact that I signed last year, it has updated T&Cs, but they aren’t the primary reason why I’m debating signing my life away.

The PodShow / Mevio contract in my eyes has always been a very sound and good contract to sign; it’s not that limiting and at the end of the day I can walk away still holding all of the rights to my programming. The agreement is all about the rights of transmission, I can’t think of the exact word right now (distribution).

Perhaps it’s time to move on. Mevio are having a change in direction, slightly and perhaps it is time for The Podzone to rest. I’m not at all too sure about all of this just yet. I need to talk to Nick Cooper but he’s not available for the next few days.

As you can tell this thing is really playing on my mind. Can I guarantee that The Podzone will still be here in 2 years time or even a years time? Probably not, and it would be wrong for me to do so; I want to move on, but on the other hand I still want to carry on with The Podzone and Mevio. It’s a tough call and one which I’m going to have to spend quite a bit of time thinking about.

Chris Leydon.

So the story that’s quite important for me today, as it affects me directly, is the news that PodShow (Podcasting pioneering company extraordinaire) is changing its name. What to? I hear you ask… MEVIO.

Yep, they’ve dropped the “Pod” from their name and the “Show” too, but that’s besides the point. There are rumours that MEVIO will be a video network, this has a slight truth to it. From what I can gather MEVIO will be more video orientated in nature but will still support and have audio shows.

This would be the point where I say that myself and The Podzone will still stick by MEVIO no matter what, and I’m sure I will, however I’ve just realised that my contract with PodShow UK expired 2 weeks ago. That’s a bit of a bummer, still here’s hoping that it gets renewed, I haven’t heard anything to say otherwise.

Chris Leydon.

Weekly posts it seems to be, at least that’s the feeling that I’m getting from the amount of posts on here.

Fairly busy week.My Internet & HTML Technology assignment deadline and exam were this week. the exam was incredibly easy, I scored 97% which let’s face it isn’t bad going really; the assignment as perhaps the trickier task of the two.

The assignment was to create a website based around the streaming technologies that the BBC use on their websites. I had to create the website from scratch using a WYSIWYG, if you know me, or have seen my work, you know that I’m fairly capable at this kind of thing. The hardest thing about this assignment was simply the content; the BBC don’t REALLY use that many different streaming technologies, at least not that many up to date ones. They still use Real Video and Windows Media for their news reports, as an example, instead of Flash.

In the end I used a theme that I created for v.4.0 of the Keyone Productions website and customised it to fit my needs. If you want to take a look at the finished site, head on over to www.chrisleydon.com/bbc - I’m quite happy with my work.

I have one more assignment and one more exam left before I finish Uni for the year, the exam is on the 28th of April and the assignment needs to be in by the 2nd of June. My final assignment is for Audio Processing; I have to create an original piece of music and then write a report on the process, pretty much the same thing as last time - apart from this time we’re using Reason instead of Cubase.

I’ve taken this weekend off from working; I know that this isn’t a good plan but I feel as though I deserve it. Next week I’ll be working on Reason and the technical report. If I have some spare time I might even pop around once again, write a post and give you an update.

Chris Leydon.

Well that was a fun weekend. I decided to take the weekend off and head back home; ’twas a nice and relaxing weekend, but not very productive. However, before I left for Worcester, I did launch the new Keyone site (v.4.1) I’ve had some good feedback from it, but make up your mind for yourself… www.keyoneproductions.co.uk

While the Keyone Productions site was down during the upgrade, I stuck up a test of the Keyone TV “Mogulus” channel. No idea if any of you have seen this service, but it is definitely worth a look at. Mogulus allows you to essentially create your own online streaming television channel, using content from YouTube or your own content which you upload. All, of course, for free - www.mogulus.com

This morning I received the marks and feedback for the Project Elements drama. In all they were very good; as a group we scored a 2-1 with a few pointers on how we could have improved the film. The plot was a little thin, but other than that it appeared to be alright.

No idea what’s wrong at the moment, but my typing and writing skills seem to be lacking today. As a result of this temporary lack of skills I shall bid you adieu.

Chris Leydon.

All I actually seem to be doing today is typing. Don’t get me wrong, I love to write and type, but there are some days when all you do is one thing and you just get a little fed up of it. However on the other hand I still love it, after all I wouldn’t type otherwise. I have no need to write or type this post, but yet I am.

Most of my day today has revolved around getting the latest Podzone out, which it is by the way - head on over to www.thepodzone.net to download it… Although this morning, whilst recovering from a splitting hangover, I headed down to the Doctors surgery to be informed that I need to get an Ultra-scan to make sure that I don’t have testicular cancer.

My goal for the end of this week is to get v.4.1 of the Keyone site live and functioning correctly. v.4.0 of the site seems to have died in development hell, I’m not too sure why, but it seems as though it will never see the light of day; pity really, but to make sure that its memory lives on I’ll stick a screen shot of it on this post.

As soon as the Keyone site is up and running I’ll modify it to fit the needs of my Internet and HTML assignment; I’m pretty sure that plagiarising work that you’ve already created is allowed, although I’ll get that checked out.

Chris Leydon.

Nothing in Return

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First week back at Uni and I’ve hardly paused for breath, it’s been one hell of a week. I suppose I ought to talk you through it, event by event.

Last week was the week which myself and the rest of my “Project Elements” group decided to shoot our film. Until 22:00 BST on Sunday  we did not have any actors for our film, not great when you’re supposed to be filming the next day. Dan Hayne and my dear friend Dave Tyrrell came to the rescue and agreed to make up the cast for the film.

Monday came and as a group we twoddled on down to Worcester for an evening shoot on top of Fort Royal Hill. Lights were ready to be switched on, cameras were rolling and the sound was recording; however the generator would not power up, I kicked it, threw it and bashed it but to no avail. After a quick phone call to Nick Cooper and Tom Evans (to come and pick up the generator and take it with them) we attempted to film some night shots with the little light that we had naturally available. Very soon we began to realise that we couldn’t keep filming with no light, consequently it was decided to call it a day. Ben, Chet and Dan headed back to Stafford, despite my advice not to, and I headed with Nick & Tom to a volunteering event to document it.

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