Sketch - Danger Signs: TV Graphics

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The Danger Signs is back with a good hard look at TV graphics. Featuring very little violence and no cusswords. But lots of graphics and the Open University. Which, I suppose is a bit graphic.

Lumiere - Wychbury Hill, Clent

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/ This is filmed at the top of Clent hill, Hagley, near Birmingham. You can see the obelisk on the neighbouring Wychbury Hill.

The obelisk that you can see to the right of frame is one of a series of antiquarian monuments the local landowner had built (along with the mock castle to the left, and the Temple of Theseus, that's in the trees in the middle).

The obelisk currently has the large graffiti on the side - Who Put Bella in the Witch Elm - referring to a famous local mystery from the Second World War in which a woman's dead body was found in a nearby wood (at the base of the hill the camera's standing on).

Videojournalism - Coventry Festival of Youth Arts

I visited the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry earlier this week to shoot this news item. Young people from youth clubs across the city came together for a sell-out performance of music, dance, photography and art.

Lumiere - Autumn trees on Clent Hills

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Lumiere - Proof House Junction, Birmingham

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Lumiere - Edgbaston cricket ground, Birmingham 2

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Lumiere - Edgbaston cricket ground, Birmingham

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Stone Tapes - Aberdeenshire - Culsh souterrain

Culsh souterrain, Aberdeenshire from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

As part of their trip around Aberdeenshire looking for archaeology, Phil, Gary and Omar explore the souterrain or earth-house at Culsh.

Stone Tapes - Aberdeenshire - Nine Stanes, Garrol Wood

Nine Stanes, Garrol Wood, Aberdeenshire from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

Phil, Gary and Omar continue their trip through Aberdeenshire looking for recumbent stone circles. They find one in the woods. In the hail. In May.

Lumiere - East Aquhorthies stone circle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Stone Tapes - Aberdeenshire - Esslie the Lesser and Esslie the Greater

Esslie the Lesser and the Greater, Aberdeenshire, Scotland from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

Gary, Omar and I spent a couple of weeks in Aberdeenshire a few years back looking for recumbent stone circles and other archaeological features. The first sites we visited were in a pair of fields near Banchory. As can happen in Scotland, the weather started to change very quickly...

My Electric Love Affair at The Captain's Rest 12 October 2009

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Lumiere - near Feaval, Orkney

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Lumiere - A9 near Tomatin, Scotland

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Knowe of Yarso burial chamber, Rousay, Orkney

Knowe of Yarso burial chamber, Rousay, Orkney from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

Phil, Omar and Gary continue to explore the archaeology of the Orkney island of Rousay.

Lumiere - A9 between Thurso and Latheron

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Stone Tapes - Blackhammer cairn, Rousay, Orkney

Blackhammer cairn, Orkney, Scotland from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

Phil, Gary and Omar continue their tour of Orkney with a trip to Blackhammer neolithic burial chamber on Rousay.

Lumiere - Causeymire windfarm, north west Scotland

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Finding the Knowe of Lairo

Knowe of Lairo burial chamber, Rousay, Orkney from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

Phil, Gary and Omar explore a burial chamber on Orkney. Difficult to find but worth it...

Lumiere - burial chamber on Cairnpapple Hill, Scotland

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Lumiere - mast on Cairnpapple Hill, Scotland

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Lochbuie stone circle, Mull 21 July 2006

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Loch Sunnart, Scotland 20th July 2006 - 2

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Loch Sunnart, Scotland 20th July 2006 - 1

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Goatfell, Arran 3rd July 2008 - 2

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Goatfell, Arran 3rd July 2008 - 1

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Ben Buie on Mull, Scotland 21 July 2006

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Nether Largie North cairn, Kilmartin, Scotland

Nether Largie North cairn, Kilmartin, Scotland from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

Phil, Gary and Omar continue their exploration of the Kilmartin valley. They find the cairn of Nether Largie North, with a sliding door in its new concrete lid.

Eigg Lumiere - 7th February 2009 - 6

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

I shot this on the Scottish island of Eigg,

Nether Largie South cairn, Kilmartin, Scotland

Nether Largie South cairn, Kilmartin, Scotland from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

Phil, Gary and Omar continue their exploration of the Kilmartin valley. They find the cairn of Nether Largie South, almost part of the landscape now.

Goatfell, Arran 4th July 2008 - 4

Gary and Phil climbed Goatfell, the highest point on the Scottish island of Arran. Splendid views from all directions. A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Great X of Kilmartin

Great X of Kilmartin, Scotland from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

Phil, Gary and Omar explore the beautiful Kilmartin valley in Scotland. The next site they encounter is the Great X of Kilmartin, a set of standing stones.The middle stone has particularly pronounced cupholes.

Phil shows off, but is suitably reprimanded by an audience of sheep. Next: Nether Largie South.
Music by Richard Walley.

Goatfell, Arran 4th July 2008 - 3

Gary and Phil climbed Goatfell, the highest point on the Scottish island of Arran. Splendid views from all directions. A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Ballymeanoch stones, Kilmartin

Ballymeanoch Stones, Kilmartin, Scotland from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

Phil, Gary and Omar explore the beautiful Kilmartin valley in Scotland. The second site they visit is the standing stones of Ballymeanoch, located on a terrace heading down towards the sea.

Goatfell, Arran 4th July 2008 - 2

Gary and Phil climbed Goatfell, the highest point on the Scottish island of Arran. Splendid views from all directions. A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Goatfell, Arran 4th July 2008 - 1

Gary and I climbed Goatfell on Arran, off the coast of Scotland. A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Sunkenkirk stone circle, Swinside, Cumbria

Sunkenkirk stone circle, Swinside, Cumbria from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

Phil, Gary and Omar try to find a stone circle in Cumbria, with the help of Julian Cope's book The Modern Antiquarian. Music by Richard Walley.

Dunchraigaig cairn, Kilmartin, Scotland

Dunchraigaig cairn, Kilmartin valley, Scotland from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

Phil, Gary and Omar visit the Kilmartin valley in search of archaeological sites. The first one they find is a cairn with a narrow entrance and a big slab of stone.

Eigg Lumiere - 7th February 2009 - 4

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. I shot this on the Scottish island of Eigg. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Taversoe Tuick burial chamber, Orkney

Taversoe Tuick burial chamber, Rousay, Orkney from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

Phil, Gary and Omar explore the twin level burial chamber Taversoe Tuick on the Orcadian island of Rousay. The chamber was discovered when 19th century landowner FW Traill-Burroughes was having a viewing platform built for his wife.

Eigg Lumiere - 7th February 2009 - 3

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. I shot this on the Scottish island of Eigg. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Staycation in 1997

I've been using my time at home to finish off a few projects that have been hanging around for a while - among them is the edit of the final episode of my student TV comedy/drama that got put into a box in 1997 and forgotten about.

It's been interesting to wind the clock back by twelve years, to say the least. We all look so young, but I think we look better now. Not a particularly original observation, but an encouraging one.

Eigg Lumiere - 7th February 2009 - 2

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. This was shot on the island of Eigg. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

My brain's not a trusted container anymore

Writing in yesterday's Guardian Weekend magazine, Oliver Burkeman makes the point that keeping certain information like phone numbers in digital devices means we're no longer forced to remember them, so we don't remember them. 

I don't think that's necessarily a problem, as it shows that the numbers are actually now a redundant step in the process of getting hold of the person we want. And there are lots of other parts of the process that are done automatically for us anyway (which mobile phone cell they're in for example).

I also bumped into a bloke yesterday who illustrated this very nicely with his Blackberry. He said that with mobile google he can use the internet to augment his professional experience at the drop of a hat. He'd even got a cash figure to hand for how much more it put on his salary.

Help for Heroes launch

I shot and edited this piece for West Mercia Police, promoting a charity day to raise money for injured service people through Help for Heroes.

Drug driving campaign

I interviewed Steve Rogers of West Midlands Police as he demonstrated how the force uses a roadside impairment test to crack down on drug driving.

Grain souterrain, Orkney

Grain souterrain, Orkney from Phil Hayes on Vimeo.

Here's a video of me, Omar and Gary exploring an underground chamber on a business park in Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney.

Sandwell kids at Symphony Hall

Filmed this at Symphony Hall - prep for a concert by young people from Sandwell in this enormous - and fully sold out - venue.

Danger Signs - 1924 & Streaker (The Bacon Flavoured Soft Drink)

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The new series of The Danger Signs starts as we join Jack Bauer in 1924 and investigate Streaker - the bacon-flavoured soft drink. All this and some some more on The Danger Signs - watching out for the consumer. Visit the website at www.thedangersigns.com

Coventry emergency exercise

Had fun at the weekend, filming volunteers covered in fake blood and wounds for an exercise to test the emergency services.



And here's the lower-res version that made it on to the Coventry Telegraph's website:

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/videos-pics/warwickshire-coventry-videos/2009/06/30/emergency-disaster-exercise-in-coventry-92746-24023451/

Eigg Lumiere - 7th February 2009 - 1

A Lumiere is a silent film of sixty seconds or less. This was shot on the island of Eigg. See the Lumiere manifesto at http://videoblogging.info/

Feed me!

IMG_3360
Originally uploaded by missinghen

How my iPod feedreader rendered the latest blog entries from http://www.podnosh.com/blog/

Yum!

N@T: Plague

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Bring out your dead - but only once a fortnight. Council causes corpse chaos as they cut cadaver collections. We report live from the 14th century as the Black Death takes a turn for the worse.

 The News@Then - bringing you all the latest, live from history.

N@T: The Apprentice

Just in time for tonight's final of The Apprentice here in the UK, Missing Hen has finished the edit of the Lord Sir Alan Sugar sketch, in which he casts judgment on the finest business brains of the 16th century.

See the sketch on YouTube, Blip.tv or download from iTunes. Or click here to visit the Missing Hen blog.

News@Then: Attack The Moon

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Anarchists arrested in Victorian London over plan to pop the moon with a pointed stick. Bringing you all the latest news live from history - www.newsatthen.com

Eigg photos

I just got back from the Hebridean island of Eigg, where I was lucky enough to be sent for work. A real treat for me, as I usually have to both pay and use up holiday to visit Scottish islands.

I didn't take a stills camera with me this time, which meant I spent a lot less time looking through a viewfinder. Fortunately Robin, who I was working with, uploaded his pics to Flickr, so here's a slideshow:



Thanks Robin.

News@Then: Kicking the Habit

It's here. The first episode of the new show, in which we report on Henry VIII's abolition of the monasteries.



Here's the YouTube link - Kicking the Habit

Here's the Blip.tv link - Kicking the Habit

Two films for work

Here are two films I shot and edited last year for work. No landscapes, no comedy. Nice crane shot in the Big Drink Debate one, thanks to a handy escalator though...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYYQy_3A52U



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIX6utbcPVo