I'd usually introduce this kind of follow-up post by saying that it's long overdue. But then I realised: who the hell is it long overdue to? As far as I'm aware, nobody's set me a deadline. I tend to live by the mantra that if you have nothing worth saying, then don't say anything at all. That's not to say I've gone nowhere in the past few months since Part 1 of this series: just that there wasn't enough to write about in one go until now.
And now there's so much, Part 3 will probably be right around the corner. It's like Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3! Or Avatar 2 and 3! ...No, I'm not sure why I'm associating myself with those other back-to-back releases either. But suffice to say that by the end of this post, it'll become blatantly obvious why Part 3 will surface in a couple of weeks...
In Part 1, I mentioned I was writing for a website called The Hollywood News. I still am. I also mentioned that I might be going to a film premiere to interview Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried and Cillian Murphy. And that I did. (It was a complete clusterfuck and a pretty horrendous experience, but more on that later.) Now, though, I've expanded my horizons somewhat: I'm writing for Kettle Magazine, with my first piece (which is currently in the research process, and will likely end up at around 4,000 words. Ah, if only I was paid per word. Or paid at all) consisting of a history of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, followed by an album and concert review. So there's that.
Also along the music lines, I'm currently midway through a one-week stint at Uncut magazine. You might have heard of it. As it was a short notice invitation, they don't have much for me to do. For the past two days I've mainly been proofreading the March issue. But I've also had the chance to write an album review, for which I'm awaiting feedback from Deputy and Reviews Editor John Mulvey, and I've had a nice long chat with the Editor, Allan Jones, about getting into the business. So it's not been a complete waste of time. Plus, I get to listen to decent music, while kicking back and basking in the sun from my tenth story view of Central London. Not too shabby.
On another note, before Christmas I applied for a paid freelance position at mobile advertising website MobiAD, and next week I have a phone interview. Now, anyone who's spoken to me in person will no doubt have wondered what the hell the other half of the conversation they just had was about. My vocal clarity is about as advanced as that of a mute infant. But never mind. MobiAD, in any case, is, like Uncut, a completely different direction from film journalism. But one can never have too many doors open.
And now it's apparent to you, or at least it will be if you actually took any of the last couple of hundred words in, why Part 3's just around the corner. No doubt in a couple of weeks I'll be telling you how I shouted at the interviewer in a state of panic about how I'm acshully a reli gud jurnalist man despite wat he must fink by dis stage in the intavew and how I accidentally burned down Uncut's offices on my final day. At least I'll have plenty to write about...
Back in the world of film journalism, and I've had my fair share of press screenings to attend since October. Most surprisingly enjoyable was A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas (where I also got a free pair of 3D glasses. Simple minds and all that). I do love a good press screening. Free drinks, free films, etc.; it's all good. But yes. Back to that premiere. Huddled into groups of 6 after waiting in the cold Halloween winds for an hour and a half, the lowly print/radio/online journos (basically anyone without a camera) all charged at the poor unassuming actors in one go. For about thirty seconds. Which meant we got about one question in each (if that). And when it got to Seyfried, they were really short on time, so all 12 or 13 of us had to clump together. Again, a bit of a clusterfuck.
Luckily, JT and Seyfried were lovely and co-operative. Murphy, on the other hand, looked like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world and was very unresponsive and offhand to questions, but, then, a lot of them were about the weather... bloody Sunday tabloid journos.
