I invited Kate Foy to come and share with us the world of a professional theatre actor and all that it means. What was the theatre industry like in the early 1970′s when the Queensland Theatre Company was just getting underway, what do you need and how hard is it to succeed in this art but also what is it like to have nearly 40 years experience in the different areas as a professional theatre actor and academic.

Kate is one of those people that I meet through my interactions on twitter and other new media social platforms. Like a few, Kate has become one of my twitter friends and we’ve had many 140 character conversations with each other. What a surprise it was for me, that afterwards while doing some research in preparation for some audio recordings for the Oral History Project at Queensland Theatre Company, I discovered she has a deep involvement both as the Chair of the QTC Board but also with the theatre community in general.

Kate mentions her latest passion to gather theatre professionals together in a way that hasn’t been possible in the past by establishing Greenroom. Unlike with the past physical publications, now using a web site she hopes to form a portal for people to gather and create a community around shared interests in theatre.

Her website is KateFoy.com and  ActorsGreenRoom.net.

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Music is from

Nick Hollywood
“Deep Henderson” (mp3)
from “White Mink : Black Cotton (Electro Swing vs Speakeasy Jazz)”
(Freshly Squeezed Music)

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In a pub recently it was mentioned that I should sit and talk with Gemma-Rose as she has a passion for photography and has managed to make a career of what many would love to do for a living.

Gemma

Not only do we learn of the early days of learning photography in high school but the advantage of coming into it with a little more maturity has paid off along with working as a photojournalist and doing some of the more unpleasant aspects of the job.

Now Gemma is off to Melbourne to work with St Kilda Gatehouse to enable street sex workers and substance dependent people to find a new way to express themselves and to tell their stories. Gemma has a more oblique way of looking at the world and recently undertook and explains her ongoing project, Show Us Ya Tits to show the differences of women and their worlds.

Her website is gemmarose.com.au
email is info@gemmarose.com.au

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Music

iodaPROMONET

Vodovoz
“Mantra” (mp3)
from “Mantra”
(Night Drive Music)

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Brisbane by Night from Geoff A Charters on Vimeo.

Since then I’ve been on a mailing list, receiving irregular updates as to how the development of the OTTO was going, only to be constantly left wondering if it would ever finally be available. The little bit of information I’ve been able to glean by reading between the lines is that there must have been some design and manufacturing issues which delayed the release of the production model. This doesn’t surprise me as this is one of the harder design challengers out there to manufacture and a credit to the originator of the concept as developed in the Atomic Stove Top Cappuccino Maker.

I’ve had an Atomic for a few years now that I was fortunate enough to pick up second hand in an Op Shop. Even so I still paid $350 for it and I know that the value of Atomics can get pretty silly at times due to the lack of availability, that was up until recently.

When I saw the OTTO I thought that this was simply a copy probably brought about by the lack of availability of Atomics but the OTTO is significantly different in several features. Significant enough to win an Australian International Design Award and is currently a finalist in the International Design Excellence Awards.

Poking around and comparing the manufacturing approach shows that significant design changes would have had to have been incorporated by design firm Tiller Design. Whereas the Atomic is sand cast aluminium coming in at 1.8 kilograms the OTTO is 4 kilograms of pressure die cast stainless steel. Tiller Design have faithfully reproduced the style and elegance of the original Atomic so much so that many people who know no better, I’m sure will think that the OTTO is an Atomic. It’s only in seeing the differences that you can see that a timeless design has been upgraded.

• Removing the water filler plug from the base with the group handle is an inspired idea and enables filling while still warm easy. A major issue with the aluminium atomics was the filler plug seizing if it wasn’t used for a prolonged period requiring many a good Atomic being damaged in order to get it going again. With the use of stainless steel on the OTTO that will never be an issue.
• Two coffee baskets for coarse and fine grind coffee. Now there is an option of grind size.
• Adjustable steam wand enables easier entry into a milk jug.
• Silicon mat prevents over heating and boiling off the coffee in the jug.
• Large solid handles for manoeuvring while hot and it gets very hot. I think hotter than the Atomic.
• The machining, finishing, carry case and extras like jug, tamper, glasses and DVD/manual are all top quality in every respect and again reading between the lines I’m sure some perfectionistic personality of the individuals involved is evident and probably due to some of the productions delays. It is truly a piece of Industrial Design Art and one of the reasons for me investing in an OTTO.

The OTTO like the Atomic are not the standard stove top coffee makers as they build up significant pressure to espress through the coffee. It’s been quoted that the OTTO generates about 3 bar of pressure compared to a commercial 9 to 12 bar so it isn’t the same as a commercial machine but it’s an improvement on the normal stove tops and significantly more than the cheap home espressos at a bit over 1 bar.

I’ve made this short video of the unpacking and the first coffee that I made on the OTTO to give you a feel for what it’s like. Does the OTTO make a better coffee than the Atomic? At this point I don’t know. It makes a great coffee all the same but I don’t know if it’s better than the Atomic. It doesn’t really matter which is better as this is about great design as well as great coffee and the coffee from these machines, with some practice to learn the idiosyncrasies of them, offers the chance for someone to feel like they are creating something rather than just pressing a button. The pleasure of creation has returned. I hope to make another video at some stage when I get the feel of the OTTO and do a direct comparison side by side with the Atomic but that’s for later.

On an aside, on the instructional DVD Craig takes One for the team by removing the group handle while the OTTO is hot showing what happens if it’s attempted. It’s worth watching just to see the trepidation on Craig’s face and surprising that he didn’t get scalded in the process. It gets the message over perfectly.

If you purchase an OTTO due to this review please let the good folks at OTTO know, this has been reviewed without any involvement with OTTO other than the purchase.

Outrageous, vivacious and exuberant(along with some off mic cussing) is what you get when you meet Patty Beecham. It’s a name I haven’t heard for years but there it is in my twitter stream. Fancy that, you can meet celebrities on twitter, well you can decide where on the A to Z celebrity line she sits.

As someone who recognised her name I had to go and check out her site and see what she’s been up to all these years. That’s where I listened to her radio cross as she climbed the Story Bridge(long before the safety harnesses of bridge climb) and where I discovered her Funeral Photography and Living Wakes.

Being the daughter of an Anglican Priest, Patty respectfully captures the farewell moments of a persons funeral, that in time when the grieving relatives are ready can be viewed remembering the day they said goodbye with slide shows and DVD’s.

I remembered Patty from her days with Peter Dick on breakfast at 612 4QR, ABC Local Radio nearly 20 years ago. She was the roving reporter who was sent on the “interesting” assignments to give the breakfast show some entertainment, sometimes at the cost of poor Patty being the brunt of the adventures. To get a bit of a feel for the mayhem that ensured check out this archive of the breakfast show.

Her website is HERE
Her email is pbeecham@bigpond.net.au

To get a bit of a feel for the mayhem that ensured check out this archive of the breakfast show.

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Music is from iodaPROMONET

Os Mutantes
“A Minha Menina” (mp3)
from “Mutantes Live – Barbican Theater, London 2006″
(Luaka Bop)

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Tjupurru plays a distinctive modern version of the traditional Didjeridu(Didjeribone) blended with the sounds of the FaceBass, distorted and looped through electronics and punched out in a style that would make any party or stadium rock. The sound is unique, organic and ever evolving with every performance different to all others due to the improvisation constantly evolving the sounds as they develop.

Tjupurru’s relationship as an audio engineer with Charlie McMahon of Gondwanaland fame led him to use both the Didjerbone and FaceBass, (both invented by Charlie) and now his involvement with the development, production and marketing of the Didjeribone around the world  promoting it through his performances. Including a performance on KCRW Radio in Santa Monica in April of 2008.

The Didjeribone is a unique instrument developed from an ancient instrument using the best of modern manufacturing and available around the world. If your interested in purchasing one, contact  Didjeribone it’s only $160 delivered anywhere. (I’m saving up to buy mine.)

His website is tjupurru.com
email is jordan@topshelf.com.au

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Tjupurru

Stompin’ Ground

Today we talk with Chris Booth artist and maker of things.

Chris is now starting to have real success in the art scene in Australia after years of being a struggling artist. We discuss the artist life, how difficult it is to make a success in the art world and the compromises that are made to get to that success. Chris mentions how Metro Gallery in Melbourne have given him a leg up, supporting him with a regular retainer income so he can concentrate on making the art rather than having to compromise his passion to find the income for his basic human needs.

Chris has developed a new and different type of painting art-form utilising his making skills to build multiple layers of board sitting proud of the backing to create a real depth of field causing the image to lift from the canvas. This blending with his pop/anime style using clean precise lines create these elegant images that he is becoming known for.

To have a look at some of his work go to Metro Gallery, and another Metro page and Art Net.

His website is still coming…
email is chrisbooth002@yahoo.com.au

As mentioned on the show the Lapel Microphones used on this episode are from Giant Squid Audio.

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Music is from iodaPROMONET

DJ Bitman
“Tropilove” (mp3)
from “Latin Bitman”
(Nacional Records)

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Rachel Beaney is a young women working for VibeWire, initially as an intern now full time. Today she explains what VibeWire is about.

VibeWire is an organisation set up to facilitate young creative entrepreneurs to enable them to develop, network and promote themselves. It has resources to help young people explore all manner of creative industries and help co-ordinate with others, connecting the resources with mentoring opportunities to build individual or collaborative projects.

Additional to helping individual artists VibeWire has been running the Reelife Film Festival for six years, with over 23 screenings in six cities featuring over 80 films giving young film makers the opportunity to express their own film making skills and opportunities to collaborate with other skilled artists.

The website is vibewire.org
Rachels email is rachel.beaney@vibewire.org

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Music is from iodaPROMONET

Levan Vs Ekala
“Happiness” (mp3)
from “Happiness”
(System Recordings)

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Today we talk with David Shaw who as an Industrial Designer with his company Street and Garden Furniture Company shares a little of the life of an industrial designer. We talk of what design is for him with his early attempts at being a manufacturer to eventually realise that designing and out sourcing manufacturing is a better business model.

He mentions his efforts to help the up and coming new designers which enables him to able to give them a chance through his business. Additionally he plans to use the greater space at his premises for display and art purposes to help other people within the community.

David has been making Street furniture for decades now and to my surprise once he started mentioning where it’s been placed around Australia I realised that I’ve been seeing it everywhere for years.

It’s strange for me to know that street lights, bollards, water bubblers and rubbish bins that I’ve walked past with scant regard all come from David and I just through coincidence happen to ask him onto Your Story.

His website is streetandgarden.com
email is david@streetandgarden.com.au

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

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Music is from iodaPROMONET

Wade Robson
“I Question Mark” (mp3)
from “Wade Robson’s Project: Dance Beats Vol. 1″
(Wajero Entertainment, Inc.)

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Dive Index
“Water in Our Hands” (mp3)
from “Collisions – The Mid/Air Remixes”
(Neutral Music)

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It’s been some time since there has been a Your Story Episode, unfortunately the constraints to produce an episode while on the road travelling made it difficult to find the time required for the standard necessary to do justice to the wonderful people that I meet.

However now that I’ve returned to Australia it’s possible to finish the necessary work required to get an episode out and here it is.

Today we talk with Michael Kierans who in is a Canadian migrant living with his Czech wife in Prague, Czech Republic. He is established as a successful business owner of two cafes bars having moved from his successful life as a lawyer in Canada to Prague after the fall of Communism. Michael explains the difficulties of dealing with a different cultural and mental attitude that permeates all aspects of life in the Czech Republic from organising the necessities of running a business to the way that the government and politicians operate.

Michael explains the ever so subtle differences that he is able to be aware of now that he has been in Prague for a considerable period of time. He explains why the personality of the Czech people is the way it is, due to the long history of the Czech Lands and the impact that this history has had on the culture particularly during the communist era. Also he shows his enthiusium for this country and why there is an exciting time for the Czech Republic into the future as the next generations come through with their new and different mindset and continuation of their cultural heritages.

Impressively Michael explains what keeps him in Prague and why he loves it so much to make it his home.

His website is kava-coffee.cz

email is kava@mbox.vol.cz

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

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I asked a few questions that I would apprediate a quick response to if you feel inclined to help me with understanding the direction to direct Your Story. Please send you thoughts to chat@yourstorypodcast.com.

• Am I hitting the mark and what is it that interests you about Your Story?

• What is it that you like or don’t like?

• What type of personalities would you like me to find and what interests you?

• Did you enjoy my addendum episodes or would you rather I just stick to the main Your Story episodes?

Music is from iodaPROMONET

Time Machine
“The Groove That Just Won’t Stop” (mp3)
from “Life Is Expensive”
(Glow In The Dark Records)

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More On This Album

Today we talk with Roco Menzel of Metroccolis who in along with his collaborator Stefan Wabner is a Mime artist performing as Metroccolis.
Now after 14 years developing the skill of mime Rocco is starting to achieve real international success, earning a living and well on the way to achieving the success that is his passion.

Rocco explains that as an nearly unknown art-form there is much more to producing art than seen on stage and it’s necessary to to spend 60% of the time as an office worker to dealing with agents and negotiating the stuff in the background.

We discuss the lifestyle of Berlin, the culture and where it is going and the fact that there is still a difference between East and West Berlin and how East Berlin is the vibrant place of growth and change.

His website is metroccolis.com
email is mail@metroccolis.com

There are several YouTube clips of Metroccolis performing but here are a couple for you to look at.

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MynrUOS_tGE[/youtube]

Here is a quick update on how it’s been travelling settling and having a bit of a look around Germany. Particually Tübingen, Potsdam and arriving in Berlin. I flush out a bit more of my observations in follow up Addendum eposides. So this is just to make the quick connection with you out there.

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”

Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
If you use another Podcast software Get the feed here.

Then I remembered John and the Aboriginal Gallery, Indij-N-Arts, he has around the corner from me. You may remember he was with me on Episode 13 of Your Story.

So I trotted around there and got a few genuine Aboriginal souvenirs from a man that supports the people that make them and is making a go of getting the aboriginal culture out there. I have some gifts and we spread the culture a little further.

I’m looking forward to giving these and a few other things away.

In Episode 18 we saw a video that I posted and later spoke with Mel while she was cut for a scar by Timb Wilton.

So in order to flush out his story we get to understand a little better how it is to be a practitioner of body piercing, scaring and body modification.

Timb explains how he came into the field and developed the skills that have lead him to be now practicing as a professional.

If you want to see his handy work go to Episode 18 and watch him as he carefully cuts a scar for Mel.

His website is thirdeyetattoostudio.com
email is timbwilton@gmail.com

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The Slip

The music track used is The Four of Us are Dying from Nine Inch Nails

Today we talk with Mel Poudroux who I meet while working on Fools Gold at the Warner Brothers Film Studio on the Gold Coast as a Prop Maker in 2007. The moment I meet Mel I couldn’t miss the fact that she is covered in tattoos and piercings not to mention a bit of a comfortable attitude to the way she wants to live her life.

So as I was in Melbourne I knew that Mel was one of those people that I had to contact to get her story. She was enthusiast to get her thoughts out and fortunately she was ready to have her first scar cut to add to the tattoos and piercings so she invited me to meet Timb Wilton and watch him cut this scar. Well I had to video this for you to see and give all a chance to understand a little of this culture.

I videoed this with my Still Camera not a video camera and frankly the Cannon G9 does a pretty good job but it’s not as good as a video camera so I’ll be getting one before the Europe trip next month. This is also my first attempt at editing in iMove and I’ll continue to learn as time goes by and get better but I think it gets the message across quite well.

“WARNING” The Video and Images Below are Intense.You have been WARNED!

Here is that video of Mel getting cut for here scar.

Mel also mentions that she has an interest in suspension if your interested here are some images of her experiences.

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The Slip

The music track used is Discipline from Nine Inch Nails.

Today we talk with John Pene-Fonmosa who in explaining his heritage from the slavery of the South Sea Islanders known as Kanakas and their strong work ethic offers an opposing thought on the Sorry concept that is in the public mind at present.

He feels that the Aboriginal Australians should say sorry to the Australian populations for surprising reasons.

He has strong opinions on how fortunate we all are in Australia and how he is creating his own reality through the development of his Authentic Aboriginal Art Gallery in Brisbane.

His website is www.indijnarts.com.au
email is indijnarts@bigpond.com

His poem that he recites during the show is…

Please Forgive Us

Aborigines lived, on Australian plains
No-one else there, but the wind and rains
Happy and free, living as one
Listen, the birds, the animals
Greet the morning Sun

For thousand of years, or so it appears
The air was pure, the land was clean
The mountains, the forests were pristine
Hunters, gathers, on the move
How could they know, these pale strangers, would disapprove

Hunted and chased, like animal herds
Far from their lands, to be placed on reserves
The dancing, the dreaming, their art to be scorned
The hurting, the weeping, the bitterness, had been spawned

Made to feel like a stranger, in our own land
Please try and help us, to understand
What you have taken, was rightfully mine
There was, no agreements, of treaty to sign

Is it wrong to ask, that justice be made
For all the broken spirits, your foundations have laid
We’re only asking, that the truth should be known
Please forgive us, if bitterness and anger we’ve shown

John Pene-Fonmosa
Fingal Head N.S.W. 1985

Music is from iodaPROMONET

Levan Vs Ekala
“Happiness” (mp3)
from “Happiness”
(System Recordings)

Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon
More On This Album

Today is Australia/Invasion/Survival Day and coincidentally I have a poignant theme.

Rod is a local in my area and when I asked him to tell me his story he just went off on the subjects that impassion him. I had to ask him to stop until I got my recorder as I found that he really had something to say about Australian society and our ill treatment of the native Aboriginal Australians of whom he is one.

Born in Western Australia and adopted by Dutch migrants he grew up in Holland only to return to Australia at 14 to prejudice from both the black and white communities and then to fall, like so many, into the cycle of addiction and prison.

He now has a career as a performer and artist, striving to make his world a better place.

This is His Story.

To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.

“Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.If you use another Podcast software Get the feed here.

Many thanks to Rod for allowing me to record his didgeridoo playing for use in this programme.

In this episode I chat with a young lady I’ve worked with who decided at school to get into the film industry and has achieved it in only three years and now has to consider her future.

I also bring you up to speed on how it’s been going for me to get this podcast up and running and some of the frustrations that I’ve faced.

Hope you enjoy.

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Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
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The general public listens to the popular and noisy commentators who aren’t as educated or have vested interests elsewhere.

However… Maybe the scientists may be wrong… Sure, nothing is for certain. Look at the panic caused about the Y2K problem. Fizzier wasn’t it? What a waste of money. Although, have you ever wondered that maybe all the work done because of the concern that was created may have averted the problem so it never happened and now we have the benefits of no problem, just a few dollars spent.

Well what if the same situation plays out with global climate change?

Here is the best way I’ve come across to explain it.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDsIFspVzfI&eurl=[/youtube]