Media Parents

Media Parents Networking BRISTOL June 28th DATE CHANGE

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www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information. To join us in BRISTOL on June 29th please email your CV marked with full name, job title and genre to events@mediaparents.co.uk

We’d like to invite you to the Media Parents networking evening in Bristol on Tuesday 28th June, it’s going to be a great opportunity for top end editorial TV production talent to network with Execs.  The date has been changed so that Nick Shearman, Knowledge Commissioning Exec, Network, can join us.

What is Media Parents?

www.mediaparents.co.uk is a new jobs and social networking website for experienced media people.  The Media Parents site showcases experienced talent, lists flexible and standard TV and film contracts, it has a blog, a chat forum and a thriving network, like a mini LinkedIn for media.

What happens at the event?

The networking event will take place from 6:30pm till 9pm on Tuesday 28th of June at BBC Broadcasting House on Whiteladies Road. Execs will introduce their companies and then station themselves at tables to chat with freelancers for approx ten minute slots.  Freelancers bring a CV to discuss, and without the direct pressure of a job interview it’s a great opportunity to put a face to a name in a relatively informal setting. There will also be breaks, and more informal networking towards the end of the evening.

If you would like to come please send a CV and covering letter titled with your full name, job title and genre to events@mediaparents.co.uk On the night you’ll be given the name of someone to head for at a particular time. This is what we posted in advance of our last networking event so that everyone could find each other:

https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk/2011/05/media-parents-meet-vera-splash-and-rival/

And here are some photos of a couple of events, as you can see, it’s a good laugh:  https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk/2011/02/tiger-aspect-meets-media-parents-gallery/

https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk/2011/05/media-parents-met-vera-splash-and-rival-at-envy/

In addition to the BBC, representatives from the BBC and Zodiak Media group will be joining us, as well as other local indies.

June 10, 2011 @ 1:24 pm Posted in News Comments Off

Media Parents networking CARDIFF June 29th DATE CHANGE

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www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information. To join us in CARDIFF on June 28th please email your CV marked with full name, job title and genre to events@mediaparents.co.uk

We’d like to invite you to the Media Parents networking evening in Cardiff on Wednesday 29th June, it’s going to be a great opportunity for top end editorial TV production talent to network with Execs and Commissioners.

What is Media Parents?

www.mediaparents.co.uk is a new jobs and social networking website for experienced media people.  The Media Parents site showcases experienced talent, lists flexible and standard TV and film contracts, it has a blog, a chat forum and a thriving network, like a mini LinkedIn for media.

What happens at the event?

The networking event will take place from 6:30pm till 9pm on Wednesday 29th of June, venue tbc. Execs will introduce their companies and then station themselves at tables to chat with freelancers for approx ten minute slots.  Freelancers bring a CV to discuss, and without the direct pressure of a job interview it’s a great opportunity to put a face to a name in a relatively informal setting. There will also be breaks, and more informal networking towards the end of the evening.

If you would like to come please send a CV and covering letter titled with your full name, job title and genre to events@mediaparents.co.uk On the night you’ll be given the name of someone to head for at a particular time. This is what we posted in advance of our last networking event so that everyone could find each other:

https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk/2011/05/media-parents-meet-vera-splash-and-rival/

And here are some photos of a couple of events, as you can see, it’s a good laugh:  https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk/2011/02/tiger-aspect-meets-media-parents-gallery/

https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk/2011/05/media-parents-met-vera-splash-and-rival-at-envy/

In addition to the BBC, representatives from Zodiak Media group will be joining us, as well as other local indies.

More info will be posted here nearer the event.

www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information. To join us in CARDIFF on June 28th please email your CV marked with full name, job title and genre to events@mediaparents.co.uk

@ 1:18 pm Posted in News Comments Off

5 minutes with… Claire Barry, Producer

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I am the Line Producer on Horrid Henry.  That wonderful, lovable little boy who is a bit like Just William’s little brother http://www.horridhenry.me/ From a factual and live sport background I’ve changed direction and learnt about animation and it’s always really good to learn something new.  So what’s the story of A to B?  How do you put 36 years of television production down in a blog?  Yep it really is my 36th year in TV.  Can I even remember the beginning?

Claire Barry, Producer can be found in the talent section of www.mediaparents.co.uk

The beginning was actually in commercials I worked for two agencies in London and started my life with directors such as Alan Parker, Hugh Hudson, Tony and Ridley Scott who were still running RSA and many more, none of whom had made any films at this stage. Alan Parker used my room in the basement in Howland Street to play around making movies at the weekends with strict instructions to “clean it up” for us on Monday mornings.

When the pull of Fairy Liquid lost its charms I moved on from commercials, crossing over to ITV and Anglia TV.  Ah the heady days in Norwich with Nicolas Parsons and “Sale of the Century”.  I spent 12 years with Anglia, and would probably still be there if Maggie Thatcher hadn’t put her oar in.

Horrid Henry

Anglia TV was a small company that punched above its weight. Stuck out near the Broads and the North Sea it was a great place to live, but oh how my heart use to sink when we would arrive back at Heathrow having been filming abroad for weeks and knew we had at least a 3 hour drive back to base. In the end I use to schedule our flights out of Norwich via Schiphol Airport, as it was quicker than driving to Heathrow.

I’m not sure where the 12 years there went, but we made many network productions, travelled a lot, had fun, nearly drowned our director in a lake in Sweden one midsummer night.  Had to talk the Polish police out of arresting my electrician who had jumped a set of red lights (why do the sparks always do things like this?).  Spent 3 hours one morning in the jail in Tenerife trying to persuade them to let us film hung over English boys who had been arrested the night before.  I thought I had failed when just as we were leaving the jail they suddenly said “yes you can film” and I found the man in the corner in the smart suit, smoking cheroots was the Chief Superintendent and had spent hours watching me running around like a headless chicken, then said “yes”.

Claire Barry, Producer, can be found in the TALENT section of www.mediaparents.co.uk

We had a good time filming in Saint Marie de la Mares at the gypsy festival trying to keep a low profile but still get the shots.  Loved the 3 days spent in Assisi at their spring festival of 24 hours partying, displays, music, drumming, food and drink all in medieval costume, watching prostitutes fall at the feet of their local saint in Corfu and marching Roy Castle across northern Spain to Santiago Compostela, mostly in the rain.

I worked on many plenty of live studio and OBs from horse racing to church services, which always made me feel sick as trying to persuade a vicar, who is used to preaching for half an hour or more, to talk for 5 minutes is no fun.  I have watched floor managers lying on the floor grabbing vicars’ ankles to try and get them to stop talking.

In 1992 with a kick from the Thatcher government I had no choice but to launch my freelance career.  This has been extremely varied and when my son was born in 1993 (why didn’t I have him when I could have had maternity leave?) I went back to PA’ing live studios at SKY News and SKY Sports. I eventually gave up the News as I really felt the lunatics had eventually taken over the asylum.  Then I spent 4 years on the European Golf Tour for SKY Sports running the live gallery.   6 hours live a day, 4 days a week, 33 weeks a year and I’ve still never hit a golf ball in my life.  The husbands of most of my friends were really jealous when I told them I had met all the golfers including Tiger Woods – didn’t hit him with a golf club though.

Having a child did impact on my career at that stage and I did take a backward step to do PA’ing again and not Producing and Director as I can moved on to do.  I had a nanny I shared with another family their child was full time and mine was part time with the nanny but it worked very well.  At that stage I was still married so my husband, who also worked away from home on occasions, was around to help out but it meant a lot of sitting down with diaries and sorting out dates.

Eventually, sitting on a plane, I decided I didn’t want to die with these people and never ever wanting to see Heathrow airport on a Wednesday morning at 5am again I left the Golf Tour and moved over to Unreported World for Channel 4, and started sending everyone else off around the world for 5 years.  Unreported World could certainly prove nerve-wracking with crews being arrested in various parts of the world, or getting stuck in the Congo when the warlords went on the rampage again, or missing flights from far flung places around the world.  In between these programmes I made various Dispatches and also my own programmes.

Horses are the big love of my life (along with my son of course) and I take part in Endurance Racing, which is complete madness.  It’s long-distance riding and can be anything up to 100 miles in a day – well-padded bum needed.  So I have made programmes for SKY Sports on Endurance, Eventing, Polocrosse and anything else they want.  We will be making an Eventing Series this summer and also the World Championships for Polocrosse as well (Polocrosse is like rugby on horseback with a lacrosse stick) see this website http://www.countrychannel.tv/player.php

Out of the blue one day I had a phone call asking me was I interested in being the Line Producer on Horrid Henry.  Novel Entertainment had my CV on their files, though none of us know how they got it, and we all live in Oxford.  I did point out I had never worked on animation but they weren’t worried about that as it is the Line Producing part that was more important.  I found I picked up the work flow very quickly as it is quite logical and our final animation is done in China anyway so that is out of the country.  So here we write the scripts, record the voices in London, then the sound is sent to be put together with the storyboards and animatics which are done at Spider Eye in Cornwall then everything goes by ftp to China who hand draw all the episodes and then send us a hard drive with the episodes on and my editor here in Oxford puts on the titles, credits and edits them to the exact time, then it’s back to London for the final dubb and the deliverables.   This makes it sound very easy but as we make 52 episodes at once we are at all the different stages at the same time so a lot of juggling goes on and the whole process takes about 18 months.

So now I find myself with my son about to leave home and go to university and life is changing again so who knows what programmes will come up next and I find myself free to work anywhere at anytime…..

By Claire Barry.  http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/911/claire-barry

www.mediaparents.co.uk for great talent, networking, jobs and information.

June 9, 2011 @ 1:34 pm Posted in News Leave a comment

Media Parents Social!

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In response to requests from Media Parents members, we’re going to start holding regular Media Parents social events, the first being a barbecue in Central London on June 16th kindly hosted by Evolutions. If you’d like to come along please email us through the site with SOCIAL as the title of your email, Media Parents members will be given priority.  We are holding networking events in Bristol and Cardiff on the 28th and 29th of June, and our next social event will be the Media Parents 1st birthday party on July 12th in London.

www.mediaparents.co.uk for great talent, networking, jobs and information. To join us on June 16th at our London barbecue please email us through the site with the title SOCIAL.

Welcome to Evolutions!

We are the largest independent full service post production company in Soho.  Based over 4 sites – Berners Street, Soho Square, Great Pulteney Street and Wells Street.  Wells Street is home to our boutique facility servicing the commercials, design and VFX market.

We offer Avid and FCP offline and online, Pogle and Baselight grading, stereo and 5.1 audio and duplication facilities.  We also have bespoke on-location live ingest systems designed for productions which require instant capture of high volumes of media with immediate logging capabilities.  Our logging offerings include Cinegy, Interplay and Forscene.

Our clients are broad ranging across all genres and included in our credit list is The Only Way Is Essex, Top Gear, The Apprentice, Made in Chelsea, QI and 71 Degrees North.

We also have a fabulous Roof Terrace with panoramic views of London where our legendary BBQ’s happen.  We’re very much looking forward to hosting the Media Parents Networking Event here on the 16th June!

Look out for Evolutions Business Development Manager Joanna Rowan on the night!

Evolutions Development Manager Joanna Rowan is in the Media Parents NETWORK

I started my career in TV production in Manchester working for Granada and Turn on TV as a researcher following my degree in Media Technology and Audio Visual Media at the University of Central Lancashire.

I moved to London in 2003 where I starting working at Nats Post Production. After some time working as a Post Producer, I moved into Sales following the Evolutions take over of Nats. I’ve now been in Sales at Evolutions for around 4 years. Working with clients such as The BBC (Top Gear/Comedy Productions/Entertainment), Studio Lambert and Two Four – I’m still very much enjoying my job and the challenges it brings. Always looking to broaden my network, I’d be delighted to hear from anyone in need of post services, or just looking to gain more information about the industry and what we do.

Amy Walker, Site Director Media Parents will be at the event, please say hello.

To join us at the event please email us through the media parents website www.mediaparents.co.uk with the title SOCIAL.

June 8, 2011 @ 4:57 pm Posted in News Comments Off

Edinburgh TV Festival Places

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Holly Blake at MGEITF has indicated that applications for the scheme below from Media Parents returning to work would be welcome, so disregard the 2 – 4 years experience stipulation and make your case once you’ve read below.  Please contact Holly for further queries, this really is a great opportunity to learn and network – the idea for Media Parents came to me after listening to Jay Hunt, Daisy Goodwin and other women in a panel discussion at Edinburgh, so it’s all-round inspirational.

www.mediaparents.co.uk for great talent, networking, jobs and information.

Do you have 2-4 years experience in ANY area of TV?
Would you like to spend 4 days in Edinburgh over the August bank holiday weekend gaining insight and advice from the top programme and policy makers in TV?

Fancy receiving £2000 worth of training for only £50?

APPLY for FAST TRACK at www.mgeitf.co.uk/fasttrack

Just answer 3 questions about TV and detail your experience to date.

Benefits:
• FREE delegate pass to MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival (MGEITF)
• FREE programme of masterclasses from some of the most respected programme and policy makers in the business
• Opportunity to network with peers and top TV execs
• Opportunity to pitch live at the TV Festival and win a commission (this year to BBC’s The Culture Show)
• Heavily subsidised training after the event

Past Fast Track speakers include: Robert Thirkell, Tim Hincks, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Dawn Airey, Julian Bellamy, Jay Hunt and Andy Harries.

TV Festival sessions confirmed for 2011 include Masterclasses with: The Cube, Downton Abbey, The Killing and The Only Way is Essex. speakers include: Professor Brian Cox, Alex Crawford and Dr Eric Schmidt.

Accommodation in Edinburgh is provided. Fast Track takes place from Thursday 25 – Sunday 28 August, including Edinburgh TV Festival sessions and social events over the weekend. For further information can be found on our website.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: midnight, June 12

Not for you? If you know someone that would benefit from the scheme then you can nominate them via our website and we will get in touch with details of how to apply.

If you would like more information then please email: holly.blake@mgeitf.co.uk or call 0207 278 9515

click on this logo to go to the MGEITF site

www.mediaparents.co.uk for great talent, networking, jobs and information.

June 3, 2011 @ 12:06 pm Posted in News Comments Off

5 Minutes with… Donna Taberer on the Fast Train Event

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Fast Train – the biggest TV freelance training event ever in the UK – brought a huge buzz to White City recently.  The event was hosted by the BBC Academy, sponsored by Skillset, involved 14 training partners and commercial training providers,  and Media Parents members were out in force!  Head of Public Partnerships for BBC Academy, Donna Taberer, writes here about the day.

Head of Public Partnerships for BBC Academy, Donna Taberer. Donna is in the Media Parents NETWORK section at www.mediaparents.co.uk.

Around 350 freelancers including several Media Parents members took part in the taster training sessions and master classes. There were a total of 1,457 attendances across 72 separate practical training sessions – everything from scripting, pitching, self shooting, editing to 3D, to multi-camera directing a band. The master classes  - with some of the biggest industry names including BBC Controllers Janice Hadlow, Zai Bennett, Richard Klein and Liam Keelan, pioneering documentary producer Roger Graef, Nic Morris, director of photography of Being Human, Shine’s Jamie Munro, Silver River owner and author Daisy Goodwin, Richard McKerrow of Love Productions, ITV commissioner Jo Clinton-Davis, Channel 4’s Andrew Jackson, So Television’s Graham Stuart, and Sky’s Stuart Murphy, were also fully subscribed.

The informal feedback from the day showed just how much training is valued by freelances. 87% of attendees said they found the day extremely useful and the other 13% very useful. 100% would consider booking more training after Fast Train and 100% would be interested in attending next year.

Donna Taberer, Fast Train organiser, said, ‘We were amazed at the response to Fast Train, and to the demand for places.  We’ve had nothing but positive feedback from delegates and contributors. There was overwhelming gratitude that the BBC, along with partners, could offer such a range of training and all for free. The day had amazing support from BBC programme makers and executives.  We’re now actively looking to see how we can replicate the event in other parts of the UK.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUCkLGrqXhE link to Fast Train film featuring Janice Hadlow, Roger Graef, Anne Morrison and others.  Please go here for further information www.bbc.co.uk/academy

www.mediaparents.co.uk for great talent, networking, jobs and information.

May 31, 2011 @ 11:06 am Posted in News Comments Off

Media Parents met Vera, Splash and Rival at Envy

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Many thanks to ENVY for hosting Media Parents meets Vera, Splash, Rival and more in Central London.

Jane Lush and Kate Gibbard from Splash Media meet Media Parents at ENVY

Steve Wynne and Howard Myers, MDs from Rival Media, and Splash Media HoP and MD Kate Gibbard and Jane Lush meet Media Parents

Geoff Atkinson from Vera Productions meets Media Parent Shiroma Silva

Splash Media HoP Kate Gibbard meets a Media Parent

Vera Productions HoP Rebecca Parkinson and MD Geoff Atkinson meet Media Parents

PM Emily Freshwater

Steve Wynne, MD Rival Media talks to a Media Parent

Gregg McNeill from Big Baby Productions talks to Media Parents PD Ian Greaves

Elliott Cranmer, MD ShootMedia talks to Media Parents

Howard Myers, MD Rival Media talks to Media Parent Emma Griffiths

PD / SP Claudine Parrish and PM Jess Goodman

Media Parents Administrator Udo Okpara caught redhanded.

SP Delyth Lloyd, PD Stephanie West and Emma Lyne, AP

PM Jess Goodman, Media Parents Director Amy Walker, photographed by Drama Co-ordinator Maggie Walsh

May 18, 2011 @ 12:23 am Posted in News 1 Comment

Media Parents meet… Vera, Splash and Rival

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www.mediaparents.co.uk for great talent, networking, jobs and information.

On Tuesday 17th May 2011, Media Parents members (from www.mediaparents.co.uk) will be meeting MDs and Heads of Production from Vera Productions, Splash Media and Rival Media in Central London.  Here’s who’s coming…

Rival Media

Howard Myers, Joint MD Rival Media

Howard Myers has over 25 years experience in the TV industry, during which time he has created and produced award-winning programmes in live, factual, entertainment and scripted genres.  He has been nominated for several BAFTA’s, an RTS Award, and has won both international Prix Jeunesse and New York Festival Awards including the Grand Jury prize for his original scripted comedy series Bus Life.

Steve Wynne, Joint MD Rival Media

Named a Broadcast “Hot Shot” in 2002, Steve Wynne has over 20 years of production experience in television, radio and emerging technologies.  A founding board member of the Children’s Media Conference, his UK credits as producer include BAFTA Award winning shows SMTV /CD:UK, The Disney Channel Kids Awards and Star Ticket Active.  Steve sits on many international judging panels at BAFTA and the International Emmy Committee.

Splash Media

Jane Lush, Joint MD Splash Media

Jane Lush began her programme making career at the BBC, producing popular documentaries and features. She turned BBC One’s flagship travel programme, Holiday into an all year round hit show. She exec produced BBC One docs including Martin Clunes, Born to be Wild. As Controller of BBC Daytime she can be blamed for commissioning Weakest Link, which became a global hit around the world, Bargain HuntEscape to the Country and Flog It, and created Doctors, a daytime soap opera from scratch – all still stalwarts of the schedule. As Controller of Entertainment Commissioning her legacy includes Strictly Come DancingThe ApprenticeDragons’ DenHouse of Tiny Tearaways and Test the Nation. She was also responsible for the BBC’s Comedy output, and steered Have I Got News for You through all its controversies since it began.  She started Splash Media with Fenia Vardanis in 2007.


Kate Gibbard, Head of Production Splash Media

Kate Gibbard started her career at Twofour where she worked on a wide variety of productions including The Hotel Inspector, Through Hell and High Water and Dead Famous for many broadcasters such as the BBC, Channel 4, Five and Living.

Vera Productions

Geoff Atkinson, MD Vera Productions

Geoff Atkinson is Joint MD of Vera, which he founded with Rory Bremner, Vivienne Clore and Elaine Morris in 1994. He is also an established comedy writer.

Starting off his career at Punch magazine, he ended up working with the likes of Douglas Adams and John Lloyd and was one of the main writers on Spitting Image. He has also written for Michael Barrymore, Lenny Henry and Cannon and Ball.

As a Producer he is best known for Rory Bremner’s shows along with the two Johns (Bird and Fortune), Alistair McGowan’s Big Impression, Mark Thomas Product and the recently acclaimed Getting On. He has also Exec Produced numerous Dispatches including Politicians For Hire.

Rebecca Parkinson, Head of Production Vera Productions

Rebecca Parkinson joined Vera in November 2010, and her aim is to maintain and build on the family friendly ethos and creative environment which exists at the company, and for which it is well known. Prior to this she worked with Stuart Murphy at Sky and at Twofour as Head of Production. Her PM experience was mainly garnered at Objective where she worked in factual, entertainment and comedy – and magic of course! As a co-ordinator she worked at most of the major independents on projects ranging from documentary to hidden camera. She has a daughter, Lily, aged 2 and a half.

Envy

Dominic Briere-Edney, Business Development Manager ENVY

Envy is one of the leading post houses in the UK and has three buildings in Rathbone Place, Margaret Street and Foley Street.


Envy is experienced with every type of HD and SD production and offer 95 operational areas including off-line AVID, Final Cut Pro, DS Nitris, Symphony, Grading, Smoke, Flame, 3D and Audio, including a Dolby licensed studio. We also have a courtyard garden, two fully licensed bars, a study and a 750 sq ft rooftop terrace.

ENVY is very proud to have won the Best Post Production House at the Broadcast Awards in 2008, 2009 and 2010. In late July 2011, ENVY is expanding, adding nearly an extra 10.000 sq ft in Rathbone Place which will include off line suites, audio and vfx.

Envy is thrilled to support the great work of Media Parents and look forward to continue to do so.

Media Parents

Amy Walker, Site Director Media Parents

Freelance Series Producer Amy Walker created the Media Parents website in 2010 in the hope that it would help experienced talent to stay within the creative industries, by listing opportunities for flexible work and standard contracts.  Within a year Media Parents has over 400 talented subscribers, a network of thousands, and works with more than 200 TV and film companies. Media Parents is placing talented people in great jobs on a weekly basis, and getting great feedback from everyone involved. http://www.mediaparents.co.uk is a lovely place to be.

Udo Okpara works with Amy as Admin Assistant at Media Parents.  Udo studied Ancient History at UCL  (see below) and spends most of his spare time training in Judo.

Udo Okpara, Admin Assistant Media Parents

May 17, 2011 @ 12:30 am Posted in News Comments Off

5 minutes with… Terry Tyldesley, PD/mum/rockstar

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Instead of buying a Harley Davidson, I started a grrrl band. And yes I’m over 40, and rapidly turning into Cheryl Cole’s worst nightmare, writes TERRY TYLDESLEY.

Pink rocker Terry Tyldesley fronts the band Suburban Mousewife and is a Producer / Director. She can be found in the TALENT section of http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/.

Suburban Mousewife are unashamedly lo-fi, political, punky and a bit poppy, and on Friday 6th May we’re playing at Amy Lamé’s Camden Mayoress’ Ball (scroll down for FREE tickets) along with hotly-tipped young bands, and cool DJs.  It’s a world away from PD-ing documentaries and award-winning current affairs, (though there have been a few rock and roll films too).

It’s been a transferrable skillsfest so far. I’ve learned about singing, sound, cabling, new bands, social media and widgets, and making a downloadable EP. My script-writing is being finessed by crafting punchy songs and I’m well on my way to being a Multimedia Parent with a 360º venture, and plenty of programme ideas.

Terry Tyldesley (left) is in the TALENT section of http://www.mediaparents.co.uk please use the link to book her for your next gig.

The band has had an enormous amount of goodwill, and yes, cheering, and played all kinds of trendy venues and small festivals. We’re not just tolerated, we get invited back. Being outspoken females of a certain age (3/5 of us are parents) is our USP, and we played a riotous gig at star jewellers Tatty Devine’s Xmas party.

My bandmates are 4 gutsy women, including a vivacious physics teacher (I’m determined to get her on TV), an amazing art lecturer, an angel-voiced copyright expert turned professional musician, and a local indie legend.

As for my kids, they think it’s just what mums do. They’ve only seen us once, at the sole venue they could legally get into – a street festival. The older one feigned embarrassment and the younger one came up and kissed me mid-song – very sweet, but a bit distracting. My husband is wonderfully supportive and doubles as photographer and roadie.

Terry Tyldesley: "As for my kids, they think it’s just what mums do... The older one feigned embarrassment and the younger one came up and kissed me mid-song – very sweet, but a bit distracting."

Playing in a band is a refreshingly direct way of communicating – you can see why film stars (hello Hugh Laurie) itch to do it. It’s like having your own TV station and no channel controller.  Our favourite song, My Idol Is Me, is all about airhead culture and older women being banished from TV. Simon Cowell won’t like it, but it’s still catchy.

Not everyone’s impressed though. An AP I worked with was completely unfazed by my secret, (now not so secret) life. Her previous PD was also a burlesque dancer.

*** You can win tickets to the ball by entering a competition on the Tatty Devine website:

http://www.tattydevine.com/boutique/blog.php/?cat=1

Gig details: http://www.barflyclub.com/camden/whatson/event/30387.aspx

EP download: www.soundcloud.com/suburbanmousewife

www.mediaparents.co.uk for great talent, networking, jobs and information.

May 6, 2011 @ 9:44 am Posted in Events, News Leave a comment

Robert Horne walks in memory of his son

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Freelance Lighting Director Robert Horne is currently walking the length of the Thames in memory of his son Elliot.  Please read his letter to Media Parents below, and sponsor him at
Here is the letter he wrote to Media Parents and some photos from DAY ONE: May 4th when he started his walk in the Cotswolds.

Day 1: Lighting Designer Robert Horne starts his Thames walk in the Cotswolds on May 4th.

Hi Amy,
My name is Robert Horne and I am a freelance lighting director. I joined Media Parents on facebook last June as you were recommended and because I had my first child due a couple of weeks later. I thought it would be quite nice as I was about to become a “media parent”.
Sadly, Elliot contracted an infection in the womb and died during the final stages of labour. After his death my wife and I received a lot of help and support from SANDS, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity (Charity Registration No. 299679). They also fund research into the causes of stillbirths.

So to support them and in memory of Elliot I am setting out to walk the entire length of the River Thames (184 miles) over the next twelve days.
I wondered if there might be anywhere on your site that you might be able to give me a mention. I fully understand if this is not something you do, but you can but ask.
My just giving page is : www.justgiving.com/Robert-Horne-Sands
There will also be a blog: http://walkforelliot.wordpress.com
If you can help that would be great.  Thanks for your time,
Robert Horne
Since this email was published through Media Parents there has been a fantastic response from people connected with Media Parents and beyond – please help to keep him going by sponsoring Robert a bit more, and do look out for him in Broadcast Magazine shortly.  More updates as we get them.

Day 1: "Not what I was expecting" Robert Horne.

Day 1: Robert's photo of the first bridge over the Thames.

Day 2: Cricklade to Radcot. "Old Father Thames keeping an eye on all who pass. Not quite sure why he has a spade," Robert Horne walks on.

Thames Walk Click on the link to see Robert’s Itinerary.

Day 3: Robert Horne between Radcot and Swinford.

End of Day 3: Rob's feet after 38 miles of the Thames path.

Day 4: Swinford to Abingdon, 16 miles. Rob's wife Jo joins him on the walk - many congratulations to both of you!

Day 5 : Rob Horne after Sunday lunch with Jo.

End of Day 5: 30 miles in, the first blister.

Day 6 feet. Wallingford to Reading, another 18 miles walked and just shy of £2,500 raised.

Day 6: The view from Reading Travelodge.

Day 7: Reading to Aston, Robert Horne passes the 100 mile mark!

Day 7: 72.5 miles left and over £2,500 raised for SANDS.

Day 8 : Hurley to Windsor, 18 miles.


May 5, 2011 @ 5:38 pm Posted in News Leave a comment