'Tis the Season... Sigh...

Did I ever mention to anybody just how much I hate shopping? I avoid shopping centres and places of commerce on a daily basis. I ignore advertising and spend my dollars as though ever little one is my last. I avoid capitalistic endeavours and curse crowds. I live this dream successfully all year around, with the exception of one day in particular... and today is that day. Christmas shopping day.

(Christmas shopping day rage, my yearly phenomenon)

This is most least favourite activity period in the year. However, I love getting presents - and the only way to encourage people to lavish me with gifts is to give gifts. And some gifts must be bought. So, please cross your fingers as I grit my teeth and catch the train into the city and suppress my capitalist loathing rage for as long as I can.

Update: It's now the other end of the day, and all I can say is just how horrible it was in the city. People pushing everywhere, making it physically impossible to even enter some shops. Aghh. My shopping trip ended in frustration, and my quest was extremely unsuccessful.

Home and Hosed

Argh, there is nothing like sleeping in your own bed after a month and a half away. This time, I've been living in Coolangatta and working near Murwillumbah (northern NSW) on two UK reality television programs revolving around "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here", one being ITV2's "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here... Now", and ITV's "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here... Coming Out". It has been along and challenging gig, one which will undoubtedly take a few days for me to come down from.

(The many "faces" of Coolangatta as seen from my apartment)

My sound kit has passed it's first test with flying colours. I have only a few modifications to tend to, yet from all accounts - anyone who has had to edit my sounds have been happy with what I have delivered.

None the less, I am as glad as anything to be able to be free from the trying bonds of a Gold Coast lifestyle...

My new Babee!!!

(Jubilation moments after opening the final package)

I've finally done it!!! Hoorah, hoorah, the final component has arrived! After spending a considerable fortune - I am now the proud owner of a fully functional sound kit. I can now only imagine the joy a father would feel after having a child...

(All together and ready to roll!)

Intensity in Tent City

My oh my, last weekend heralded the marriage of Lucas Stibbard and Neridah Waters, and it was an amazing couple of days. In fact, I'd go as far as saying it was the best weekend I have ever had - and coming from a captain like myself, these are words that shouldn't be taken lightly.

Below, you'll observe a video that I filmed during the construction of what we'd refer to as "intensity" - a small town of temporary nylon shelters housing some of the baddest asses on this side of the country.

I wish I could write more words that would sum exactly why this was such a ripper weekend, but I feel I'll leave it to the group photograph below to explain. The only things you need to know are: there was lots of alcohol and there was minimum sleep.

Yes, this is my beloved extended family. (Photo: Matt Dyall)

To Infinity and Beyond.

Ooh yeah, I have been a mad, busy little critter since my last post all those months ago! Since finishing up in Sydney I:

• I returned to Brisbane for 34 days...

Returning to my global command HQ after 3 months away

Is this the last ever sighting of Arseradish's Max Volume???

• Applied for my first ever personal loan

• Took on a month-long booking for November working on a UK reality TV show called "I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here"

• Went to Perth for 15 days to catch up with my Brother Tim and his partner Hannah and watch them get married. Found Perth to be really expensive, but a beautiful place to visit none the less. Very much enjoyed catching up with my well dispersed family.

Lisa and I went to greet the Indian Ocean for the first time

Exploring the tunnels under Fremantle Prison with Andy, Karen and Lisa

Kenny Cross helps my brother Tim with his tie just before the wedding

The novelty of watching the sun set over the ocean never wore off

• Had my personal loan approved (gulp)

• Returned back to Brisbane
  

• Ordered the components for my sound kit (over-budget of course however the pain and stress of finding further finance oddly feels totally worthwhile)
  

I received delivery of the first components of my sound kit today. Two batteries and a charger. Not the most exciting of items however I am extremely excited as it is the first physical representation of becoming a fully independent sound recordist / technician.

I've only been home from Perth for 11 days but am about to set out tomorrow as I head south to Ballina where I will attend the wedding of my oldest mate, Mr Lucas Stibbard. Should be a wild and crazy affair with good friends coming from afar. Exciting times require a sparse blog entry.

A Sound Perspective

Words: Lawrence Carmichael - Photo: John Hatfield

A Little Update

Ahh yes, well now here I sit in Brisbane after some months away. To make the whole Sydney trip that little more surreal, I have returned home and nothing seems to be different...

Was it all a dream?

Regular readers, please note - I've finally been reunited with my trusty computer and have been able to load pictures into my previous posts. Please enjoy whilst I try to get a grip on the situation and discern if anything has actually transpired in Brisbane these past three and a half months...

Bye Bye Sydney...

The bags are packed and farewells have been said. The sadness of leaving beautiful friends and a city that has embraced us since our arrival mingles with the excitement in the idea of heading home. My head is whirling with conflicting emotion. Three months in Sydney is leaving me with a fear of culture shock upon arrival in sleepy and friendly ol’ Brisbane. To look in the faces of loved ones in Sydney, giving big hugs and saying goodbye without a few tears is the biggest challenge of the day.

Sydney friends (you know who you are), thankyou for welcoming us into your world and invigorating my mind. Be sure to know I will never forget the many selfless acts of true friendship, and be rest assured that I put a promise in my writings: I will definitely return to your city for many more good times in the metaphorical blink of a twinkling eye!

Now... on to Brisbane, the long drive awaits...

A Sydney Style Birthday

Feeling mischievous, I prepare for a party

Bryan Moses enjoys my sparkling company

Lisa and I celebrate our last night in Darlinghurst

Silly Sketchings and more...

A quick sketch depicting the elation of Darlinghurst.

Our time in Sydney is growing short. We've already placed an ad online advertising our studio apartment and should you know of anyone looking to live in the Sydney area tell them to check out our advert below to see if this place is for them!

http://www.gumtree.com.au/sydney/10/12153210.html

Effects of a Wrap Party

I survived the rigors of snow shooting (barely)...

With the exception of feeling incredibly ill yesterday (and exceptionally powerful during the actual night), one can say that the catastrophic release of emotion during the industry standard wrap party is certainly a sight to behold. Co-workers become best friends, enemies become lovers and strangers become trusted confidants.

Getting my "Man of Fist" shirt (Photo: Simon Chapman)

It was a great night. Free booze for five and a half hours, a photo slide show that refreshed my warped memory systems, an awards ceremony where the lucky recipients received coveted "Man of Fist" crew t-shirts (I got a small shirt, even though I seem to be a large fellow), an amazing montage of footage set to the "Requiem for a Dream" theme and lots and lots of brotherly and sisterly love. Afterwards, we headed to the Newtown RSL where I moshed to a powerful acid rock group called "Trip" - and then the last boozy port of call (before Lisa and I vanished into the evening under the cover of "going to the toilet") was the Courthouse Hotel on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst.

Feeling the power at 4.18am.

Now I only have two weeks left in Sydney. One week to rest, one week for pickups and re-shoots (if necessary), then I will head home for detox and lavish sessions of sleep.

Going to the Snow

It's been another busy week. The day after my last posting, I managed to hurt my upper back (an old injury that came back to haunt me). As a result, it's not been another busy week - but also with lack of sleep and four days of constant pain - a very loooong week. Thankfully, it's the weekend now!

"Looking busy" - a technician's art. Photo: John Hatfield

Tomorrow morning, we're heading off for the week to Jindabyne and Thredbo for our last week of shooting. I'm very excited about heading down, and by all accounts the snow season is the best ever. This of course means cool temperatures (worst case scenario is - 27 degees I have been told). Of course, being a Queensland resident for 18 years hasn't prepared me at all for the cold - but none the less I imagine it's going to be one hell of an adventure! What a great way to wrap up shooting a series!!!

On the set. Photo: John Hatfield

A Moment To Spare

I’ve just finished watching “Lost in La Mancha”. It’s the third time I’ve watched it – an amazing documentary. There’s something gut-wrenching for a film-worker to watch Terry Gilliam grimace, swear and slump his way through what would be the last few days of attempting to film his dream project “The Man That Killed Don Quixote”. To dream so big and to be battered by reality… seems to be a theme in my world at the moment.

Filming a scene on the old water slide at O'Neil's Adventureland

I realise that filmmaking is not the most glorious, lavish or relaxing profession, despite common misconceptions. I’ve managed to deal with a lot more stress and fatigue in these past 8 weeks than what I believe I’ve ever been subjected for a long, long time. Luckily, I’m surrounded by people who can make me laugh it off in the name of self preservation.

The Friday night drinkies crowd got bigger and bigger...

Long days of wearing a full field sound kit and swinging a microphone on a boom above my head in the name of clean audio, coupled with a few exasperating limitations has me feeling a little emotionally raw and physically drained. I guess it’s just that stage of the gig! Yup, only one week to go (down at Thredbo) and then another couple of weeks “mooching” in Sydney before I head back north to the sanctuary of my “secret world headquarters”. I think it’s fair to say that this job has been testing for everyone involved – but still it is definitely a project of passion. I’ve never before worked with a group of people who so selflessly strive against the odds in the belief in the project.

05/07/2007 - Welcome little Maddy!!! (Photo: Simon Chapman)

On a good note - I received a new boom pole that I had ordered at the ABC today. When it’s fully extended, it’s almost 7 metres in length! A lot more pole than what I could possibly need for this job, but hopefully a wise investment for the future! I’ve named the pole “Toni” – as a homage to one of our directors / principal cast, Tony Walters. Recently, our cinematographer, Simon and his partner Kristen gave birth to a little girl and Tony told everyone at work that they had called their baby “Toni” – after him. Many people believed his story and as a result, much hilarity and confusion arose when the Simon told the crew that they had called their baby Madeleine. I thought that it would be only fitting for him to know that something (yes, even a boom pole) was indeed had been named in his honour. Needless to say, I’ve got the gear buying bug – and am already plotting spending my next pay on more technically-related audio capturing goodies!!!

A Pinch and a Punch

I'm enjoying the last vital hours of the one week production break. It's been a bliss to sleep in and get a little bit of social activity into the schedule.

I've managed to slip in no less than five drinking sessions, one movie ("Transformers" - surprisingly enjoyable), one day of shooting pickups, one day of production meetings, catching up with many good friends, meeting new friends, one "hair out" mosh dance, kilometers walked around the city, three dinners out and two sleep-ins. Needless to say, I don't feel a high level of refreshment - and couple this with the raw fury of having to wake up at 5am tomorrow morning for four more weeks of standing with my arms over my head holding a boom for almost twelve hours a day... hey, it's almost enough to give me a good case of the trots.

In all seriousness, apart from the back-snapping schedule, I've been having a blast on set. We've covered more bizarre scenarios than what I could possibly relate. My senses have witnessed surreal situations that make my pulse surge. Our last day before the production break was spent filming 60 extras dressed either as "westies" or medieval re-enactors going hand to hand against each other in pitched battle.

It has been an amazing experience and the next four weeks promise to be quite an eye-opener indeed. In three weeks time I'll be heading south with the team to work in the snow at Thredbo for a week. I've never been to the snow before and I'm highly excited about the idea of sinking waist deep into the wet and cold snow with a a full sound kit strapped to my body. Of course, our cast will wearing highly inadequate costumes for such a blisteringly cold setting. Ahh, the joys of film making know no bounds, my friends!

So in a nut-shell, there you have it. More madness and skull-duggery than you can possibly point a fluffy microphone at. And, there's so much more to follow!!!

My, How Time Flies!

I've been busy - can you see the stress?

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's been an intense month of shooting. I haven't forgotten those who like to call by to check out my latest missions, but please bare with me as I struggle to find sufficient time to tappity-tap my up-to-date details for your perusal...

Sidat (camera assistant) and Chappy, drinking buddies

Filming in the back of a grounded DC-3 at Bankstown

The 7am "I've been at work for two hours" grimace

Bruce Spence hides in the shadows as Craig and Chappy line up a shot

Beautiful Panda takes some time out for a fan

Fighting off the council workers in Horsley Park

The "Room" - our Darlinghurst home