FutureFear - Episode 1

Back in the last century I was working for a large cable company in the U.K. and created FutureFear, a thriller/sci-fi show designed to showcase what we called 'Broadband'.

We made 6 episodes: the production values were nil, the direction and acting often awful.  I realised at the time I should have taken over and directed it myself but did not - and at the end of the day I decided not to release the series.

But now thanks to the miracle of Google Video all the stuff that's been clogging up my old hard drives can now be yours! So sit back enjoy some old-fashioned sci-fi pulp hosted by Blake's 7 Paul Darrow - and you know what?  It's a big hunk of cheese, but it is fun!

FutureFear - Episode 1

TV Crash

Ahhh Dear Listener:

Life is not always smooth sailing here at your Belfast Podcast.  Over here we have free-to-air digital wide-screen television called 'Freeview'.  What this means is that if you have a 'Digital TV' tuner in your television or have bought a 'Freeview' box you get up to 30 TV channels with no monthly subscription. 

This is fine in principal but sucks when the reception is bad as the photos below show.  Actually, I think they're pretty cool - the images freeze - crashing on your screen.  Pretty nifty but I was missing the program I really wanted to see this afternoon.

Oh, what was I desperate to watch this afternoon you ask?  Scroll down to find out.

 

(keep scrolling)

Incredible Tree

Saw this incredible tree in Belfast the other night; just standing there all by itself.  Don't know why people don't stop and look at it.

Fun with Video

The BBC was here at 'Letter to America' Central and documented the recording of Chapter 20.  I've worked with a lot of different crews over the years and sometimes they can be real hard-cases but these guys were nice and easy-going and seemed like all-around good folks.  That's producer Ruth standing on the left and presenter Joe Lindsay who you hear in Chapter 20 sitting down in the last photo.  If you'd like to see Joe in a more expansive mood click here.

Letter to America - Chapter 20

Holy Mother of the Infinite!  It's Letter to America - Chapter 20!

In which Wayne battles the Playaz, Maere has an inquiring mind, Joe Lindsay makes his feelings about Americans clear, Al Brenner has a suggestion involving guns and Michael Heenan plays Dress Up.

All this and more on your Irish Podcast.  Or Northern Irish Podcast.  Whatever.

Abandoned Book

On the train from Belfast to Bangor today I noticed a young man engrossed in this book.  He didn't notice that the train was at his stop - he looked up, panicked and ran out, leaving his book behind.  I took this photo.  Though tempted, I did not go over to see what book he was reading.  Thought it would be best to leave it to the imagination.

Cast and Crew Portrait

After taping Chapter 19 of Letter to America the cast and crew went wandering around.  That's me on the right, followed by co-host Allan Gildea, intern Patrick and new co-host in training Frankie...OK, actually those last two are just folks Allan and I met in a shoe store - but I can dream of having an intern and new co-host can't I?

Real Life Meccano Set

Across the street from me here in the heart of the Red Light District they're building something.  No one is quite sure what it is but last night I took these photos - it reminds me of a real life Meccano, (Erector in the States), Set.  I love the shadows on the brick that the night-time working lights are creating.

Jes - It's almost on its way

Yes Jes -

It's almost there.  Really.  Look, here's photographic proof that I'm at least thinking about creating the object that you've won.

AOL and Osama

Hey, if I were a parent I'd want to protect my kids from a lot of the filth on the Internet - for example would not want them to go to THIS SITE. But I sure as heck wouldn't want to insulate them in some sort of protective cocoon where only Santa and the Tooth Fairy reside. If you do however want your kids to be naive idiots why not use AOL as your broadband provider - hey look, AOL will even protect them from OSAMA.

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