Author: John Beohm

Love My Opening Sequence

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I just spent the last two days watching the entire first season of the Foxtel drama Love My Way, and damn it was good. It’s been so long since I got into an Australian drama, it was almost a novelty to see Australian culture reflected in a scripted show, I’m so used to my Six Feet Unders and the like.

It was refreshing that the show wasn’t based around a profession (doctors, cops, ranch hands or whatever it is the McLeod’s Daughters are). The characters are pretty fucked up, but none of it seemed contrived, the situations and storylines grow organically.

I don’t want to spoil the plot if you haven’t seen it, but episode eight was pretty hard to watch, its very emotional, and while the plot turn that occurs may seem like a way to wrap up the season or just generate some drama, its dealt with in such a blunt and raw way it actually works.

Its only 10 episodes so if you have a spare 500 minutes I really suggest you watch it, it will reignite your faith in Australian television.

I read somewhere that the commercial stations wanted to air it, but Claudia Karvan and co said no so unless you have Foxtel, the DVD’s may be your only option.

Tags Foxtel, love my way, showcase

BBC One Videos: Broadcast News Videos: Openings

The Six and Ten of BBC News

Post author By John Beohm
Post date May 23, 2006
42 Comments on The Six and Ten of BBC News

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The opening for last nights BBC News at 6pm and 10pm. The sets are excellent, and much better than anything we have in Australia.

Tags bbc news

ABC1 Videos: Chaser's War

The Ad Road Test. Or, How I learned to stop liking advertising and embrace idents.

Post author By John Beohm
Post date May 23, 2006
4 Comments on The Ad Road Test. Or, How I learned to stop liking advertising and embrace idents.

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While there are some ads I like, most ads like the new Click deodorant one suck, I’m a graduate of a Bachelor of Communications (in Advertising), and its the general insincerity that drove me from attempting to get into the industry, and probably why I like idents so much.

This video is from last weeks Chaser and shows Chris trying to pick up with the help of his new supermarket scent, he oddly enough even gets into the Unilever offices where the stuff is made, and judging by the fact he didn’t get kicked out I’m guessing they approved (or didn’t know about it).

BBC One Videos: Promos

Eurovision

chaserswar

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Just in case you didn’t feel like watching Tracy Grimshaw ask the miners “what was it down like there?”, the Eurovision Song Contest is on SBS at 7.30pm tonight.

This is the BBC promo for this years competition.

ABC1 Videos: Chaser's War

This week in current affairs shows: Part 8

Post author By John Beohm
Post date May 20, 2006
No Comments on This week in current affairs shows: Part 8

chaserswar

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This weeks lesson: comedy

This has got to be the best show on television at the moment, I don’t know how they do it, but each week is just getting better at The Chaser’s War on Everything.

Don’t let the topic fool you, this was probably the most serious of the “This Week in Current Affairs” they’ve done. This is the most scathing attack they’ve done on A Current Affair and Today Tonight yet. Its funny how pointing out some bad jokes really makes these shows look irrelevant.

Andrew Hansen had a look on his face that really summed it all up, it wasn’t quite pity I don’t think, but you really got the feeling of just how genuinely pathetic these shows are.

Web Misc

Updated logo.. lust

So I’ve shaved about 30px off the top of the logo to maximise space, and I’ve finally dumped ‘Rockwell’ as my font of choice, for now its ‘Gill Sans’ which aptly enough is the BBC and Saab font (..I drive a Saab).

Web Misc

Updated logo.. work in progress

Post author By John Beohm
Post date May 19, 2006
No Comments on Updated logo.. work in progress

It’ll probably change again soon, just got bored with the old one.

ABC1 Videos: Promos

Music superviser for a day

Post author By John Beohm
Post date May 19, 2006
2 Comments on Music superviser for a day

chaserswar

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“Cry” by James Blunt

One of my dream jobs has been to be the music superviser on a television show (that is, ever since I read an article about it in jmag and realised it was an actual job).

The combination of music and visuals is incredibly cathartic (for me at least) and its one of the aspects of idents that I really love. I often ask people what it is that they “do” with the music they really love, and for me I tend to create scenes in my head that go with them. I like to think I’m creating the soundtrack to a movie that hasn’t been made yet.

So, what does this have to do with the video?

Well, this promo for the ABC’s East Timor drama “Answered by Fire” has no narration, just music. In this case the track is “Cry” by James Blunt. It seemed like an easy video to play around with, so in this case I thought I’d try it with some different songs overlayed.

chaserswar

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“Lay Down” by Melanie Safka

chaserswar

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“The Fighter” by After The Fall

chaserswar

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“For Real” by Okkervil River

chaserswar

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“Four to the Floor” by Starsailor

chaserswar

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“Stupid” by Sarah McLachlan

Foxtel Videos: Idents

Foxtel Friday: TV1

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In an effort to post some actual idents I thought I’d introduce this semi-regular column.. Better Know a Foxtel Channel (aka Foxtel Friday). So without further ado, Part 2 in this 63 part series…

I’m so glad I called this a “semi-regular” column because gee I’ve been lazy with it, and calling it “Foxtel Friday” didn’t seem to help either, it gets around to Thursday every week and I realise I’ve got nothin.

Anyway this week I got around to doing something, and that something was called TV1 (the fightin’ first). TV1 is one of the oldest channels on Australian subscription television, its a joint venture between Sony, Universal and Paramount and just like FOX8 is best known for The Simpsons, TV1 is probably most remembered for having Seinfeld (in my household at least).

Nine’s $1.95 down-loans

virgin

In an ominous start to the Australian TV download scene the Nine network is offering this week’s episode of McLeod’s Daughters available for download for free. After that though it will cost $1.95 an episode and you won’t own the video, you’ll just have a license to watch it for five days.

It doesn’t work on a Mac (of course), and I’m still struggling to get it download on my Mum’s Compaq, instead of just letting you download the file they have this tortured flash interface which is still loading.