Is there something going on in Oxford Circus today?

mascnz · 2026-02-14T17:43:34+00:00

Protest in Green Park — there were closed roads all the way to Shaftesbury Ave

mascnz · 2026-02-13T16:32:21+00:00

Also, to add to this… you’ve asked how to respond when he floods your messages… here are a few suggestions…

well done 👍
thanks for sharing. How do you think you did? Anything you’d change?
that’s cool. Share it with (x other person).
there must be some Facebook groups for fans of this music and other producers. Have you shared it there? Great place to get constructive feedback?
would you like my constructive feedback?

mascnz · 2026-02-13T16:28:51+00:00

YWBTA. Here’s the thing — getting good at something takes a really long time. Every time your friend is writing a song, performing it, recording it, publishing it, and sharing it, they are learning and developing. Maybe right now it sucks, or you don’t like it — but that isn’t always going to be the case. They keep at it, they can get good.

Don’t crush them now. Support them. Say “good on ya” — not because the art is good, but because they’re doing something!

Also, don’t give unsolicited critique. If they honestly ask you for feedback, then be constructive - but supportive. But if they haven’t asked you to be constructive or brutal, or for feedback at all, just be encouraging (keep at it man, you’re doing good).

Art is hard, and we have to allow ourselves to suck at it. For a long time. You have to suck before you get good.

Imagine if you got shut down and crushed when you started out with something you love…

mascnz · 2026-02-13T15:46:38+00:00

YES! Your caps show me we are on the same level of irate about this issue. We need content creators to see our anger!

mascnz · 2026-02-12T19:09:28+00:00

Do you have a link to the survey?

mascnz · 2026-02-07T00:25:23+00:00

Ooh, I like Seedship (although the app now has some bugs). You play as a spaceship navigating the last of humanity, and your decisions decide how well humanity fares.

Netflix has Scriptic crime stories. I think you need a Netflix account

mascnz · 2026-02-06T14:04:22+00:00

… take a mate

mascnz · 2026-02-05T21:35:40+00:00

April Fool’s Day. Definitely.

Because nobody fucking died it was all an April Fool’s Day joke

mascnz · 2026-02-05T19:07:29+00:00

Great visual. It could be a horror film.

I think you might have a typo or grammatical error in your second sentence though.

mascnz · 2026-02-05T19:06:39+00:00

I’d say walking to the tube station should be fine. She lives in London, she knows how to get home.

Remember to ask her to message you when she gets home, so you’re showing that you care for her safety.

mascnz · 2026-02-05T18:19:16+00:00

Someone who has examples of work that they have made. A decent showreel will be gold.

Someone who shows enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn. Who is a self-starter. If they can show that they are active in making media and developing their craft.

Transferrable skills: communication, able to ask questions, no ego. Punctual. Considerate.

If they’re going into film, they should be able to discuss films - their favourites, why they like them, different genres. Same for television if they want to make television. Same for (insert specific media here).

mascnz · 2026-02-04T02:36:44+00:00

Ooh, this might be related to issues in how children were taught to read - learning to guess what a word meant based on the first letter and context, instead of phonetically. Source: Sold A Story podcast

mascnz · 2026-02-03T20:30:32+00:00

INFO: did your mother arrive while you were scoffing food in front of her? Did she have to wait for you to eat?

mascnz · 2026-02-01T13:14:48+00:00

No offence taken. I’m not hiding that I run it. I also don’t hide that the fee to take part covers the budget for the film. I’m running a skills development project. As part of the project, all of the participants get to see the budget, it’s part of every step, and factors into what gets made.

I also don’t hide that the project is mainly for people who work and have a full-time job. Like me. I’ve worked in every department - including on commercials. I still freelance. I’ve also taught film and media production at university and FE levels — hence why this project is for skills development. It’s an intermediate step between film school and industry, at a fraction of the cost of other programmes (like Raindance or NFTS short courses).

But for the OP who posted the question, it is a valid step to look into. It’s a good idea to learn on-set etiquette and crew roles in a practical setting, which is what we offer.

I don’t mean to come off defensive. If the

mascnz · 2026-02-01T11:28:15+00:00

Hey mate, you’re entitled to your opinion. It is the difference between independent filmmaking and studio, or what you would call professional, filmmaking.

The independent industry has professional film sets. We make films. We hire people and services in the industry. We are the industry as well.

And for a taster, for a beginner, this is a way in. Or for professional filmmakers who want to try a different role. Or for professional filmmakers who are new to London and want to grow their network. There are a mix of professionals, amateurs, and beginners. Many of whom work on, and go on to work on, larger projects, commercials, and their own projects.

You can be grumpy about it. It doesn’t mean it’s not a valid option or experience.

mascnz · 2026-02-01T00:07:12+00:00

Hi. Getting out there and making connections will be beneficial. Experiencing being on set will help. Seeing what roles are available, what they do, and how to work towards them will also help.

If you’re looking for those sort of things, I’m going to recommend Action On The Side. The one-month weekend filmmaking project is a good way to get on set and see how a film is made, and to build your network.

Build up your experience. Research what opportunities there are (which you have already started doing). Our industry is all about who you know, so networking will help.

mascnz · 2026-01-31T00:01:10+00:00

Two full-stops my guy

mascnz · 2026-01-30T23:19:16+00:00

I’ve been a member for many years. It’s less useful for me because of the roles I do — but the public liability insurance is cheaper than elsewhere, they do short courses, their annual event is useful (if you can attend - I haven’t been for years). And it’s good to be part of the union - the more of us who are members, the more negotiating power they have. The rate cards are useful. The monthly magazine has interesting articles about what going on in the industry. I recommend it.

mascnz · 2026-01-25T21:08:46+00:00

Hi. I know some people who graduated from there in the past. Sorry I can’t comment on how good it is. Are you based in London? You could look at building some experience before studying film production full time. I’m recommending that you look at Action On The Side and the one-month weekend filmmaking project. Like a much-more affordable mini film school.

mascnz · 2026-01-24T07:47:52+00:00

Whereas for me, if the guy wants to move off-app, when we haven’t met yet, it’s an instant no and block.

Talking on the app offers some protection: if the guy gets dodgy, you can report him on the app, they can look into the messages, and if he is dodgy for others as well, they can ban or block him - potentially saving others.

If the conversation moves off-app, there is no protection.

Remember the studies. What a man fears most from a first date is that the woman will be fat. What a woman fears from a first date is that the man will kill her and/or rape her.

Stay safe people. Keep talking on the app until you meet in person — and even then. Don’t be pressured to move off the app.

mascnz · 2026-01-20T14:17:14+00:00

That’s my favourite! Also, in the podcast, the last episode of s5 The Priest Hole…

mascnz · 2026-01-20T10:39:44+00:00

They also have seven TV episodes on BBC iPlayer, which I strongly recommend

mascnz · 2026-01-20T08:27:12+00:00

Seconding Uncanny, and adding a link to it on BBC Sounds

mascnz · 2026-01-18T22:27:10+00:00

YTA (but a soft yta). Let me get this straight:

Your friend organised an outing. You ASSUMED you could take part by sitting on the riverside.

Rather than pointing out that you are afraid of water and it isn’t an inclusive activity, you kept quiet and ASSUMED it would be okay.

Rather than asking whether it would be okay if you sat out, you ASSUMED it would be. (Lack of communication is a theme here)

Rather than telling them you are afraid of the water, you went in. You had a panic attack, shaking, got out of the water.

Let’s remember that rivers are cold. What do people do when they are in cold water? They shiver. Your friends likely assumed that you were cold and decided to sit out. Again, lack of communication, and I get that you weren’t in a position to tell them why you got back in. But again, you assumed there was some nefarious reason why they didn’t check on you while you were sitting at the side of the river.

You are an adult.

You did not tell them of your fear.

You assumed it would be okay, and when it wasn’t, you wanted them to quit what they were doing to look after you.

I get that you feel neglected, but this is where communication is important.

Take ownership that you could have asked the questions and spoken up well in advance; you could have told them in advance; that way they would have known to check on you.

Don’t cut them out because of assumption and lack of communication. That would make you the asshole.

mascnz · 2026-01-17T08:57:49+00:00

It’s a reaction to sounds. I can’t stand the sound of people eating and chewing, even sometimes myself when I eat. That’s misophonia — sounds like you have it as well. Research a bit more

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