Taste different style of writing

Writing for theatre summaries


Sleeping Beauty

With the magnificent spectacle, romantic plot, lavish sets and costumes, Sleeping Beauty is truly one of the greatest classical ballets that have ever been staged. Royal Opera House will dedicate this vintage masterpiece to our audience on Saturday 15 August at 7:30pm.

Sweet Charity

A newly produced musical is hitting Sir Jack Lyons Theatre on Tuesday 23 June at 7:30pm. The story tells of a young dance hall hostess' misfortune, but she still optimistically expects love to conquer all, is she eventually granted that honour?

Unconditional offer from NCTJ course provider

I have received the following e-mail in early June, which qualified me to attend UK newspaper journalism professional training course recognised by the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

The NCTJ Pre-entry Certificate is recoginsed by journalism employers nationwide.

Dear Yixiang
I am pleased to tell you that we are able to offer you a place on the September 2009 NCTJ Pre-entry Journalism Course at Lambeth College.

Would you please confirm by return of email, to say whether you wish to accept the place or not. If I have not heard from you by Friday, June 12, then your place will not be held.

If you have any questions you can telephone me on 020 7501 5489 or email me at wmcclemont@lambethcollege.ac.uk
Yours sincerely
Wendy McClemont
Course Manager

End of term art showcase at Blake

This piece of news I am trying to imitate writing for local newspaper, which is very different format for writing online.

Students' works were praised as "brilliant and fantastic" by visitors yesterday at Blake College's end of term art showcase.

The college mainly exhibited BTEC Foundation Diploma students' art and design works, which include painting, illustration, photography, textile design and costume design. There are also plenty of short films displayed during the showcase.

Itai Ankrah, an illustration student, who did a string of cartoon characters, and developed both into digital imagery and animation, was highly recommended by his tutor Christopher Rainbow, he said: "These characters are truly creative and imaginative, it shows a strong indication of combing different approaches of producing art work."

Dereck Cluckie, Director of the Blake College said: "This is our 17th art exhibition to date. It is always a great opportunity for encouraging students to show their works, to share their achievements with their friends and families."

Speaking with one of the students at the showcase, Clare said:"I have really enjoyed the exhibition, the quality of the works are excellent, and tutors here are very good."

Though the college considerably planned yesterday's showcase, still there are some steps which need to be more orginised and work more sufficiently.

The showcase was held from 6pm to 9pm on Friday, 12 June 2009, and from 2pm to 6pm on Saturday, 13 June 2009.

MP expenses scandal

The most outrageous and appalling embarrassment among the "gentlemen's club" in UK politics was the recent MP expenses scandal, which was leaked by Daily Telegraph.

What is all about

The MPs in UK parliament are allowed to claim expenses on their second homes - the places they stayed when they attend Parliament in London rather than their constituency home.

However, in the last few months, the Daily Telegraph unveiled a list of goods that the MPs claimed, which are far more unusual than the normal things we could imagine.

People are furious towards MPs' outrageous behavious as all the taxpayers' money are just wasted, they claim that they want their money back, they want those ridiculous MPs to step down, and they want to chose someone who is really caring about taxpayer's money.

At least, there is freedon of speech

MP expenses scandal are wildspreaded in every single corner of the UK, people talked and discussed it wildly. I think at least, to some extend, people are able to speak out and not afraid of talking things, which are trully crucial and important for a society.

I'm not sure how the things would be settled in undemacratic countries, which I do believe this kind of corruption exist.

BNP leader confronted egg incident

BNP leader Nick Griffin was pelted with eggs by protesters outside the House of Lords when he was going to give a press conference there, according to Metro's report.

An democratic excuse

Griffin condemned that the police was ordered not to present in front of Westminster Palace by other two major parties and led the mob run wild, and he also claimed that his message should be delivered across the country, which in a way will reflect the true meaning of democracy.

However, the demonstrators argue that why should Fascist be voted to provide any seats in European Parliament? Is it still not enough that the catastrophe the WWII brought to us? Nick Griffin and his colleagues should abandon their places and leave it to other parties.

Passion and Profession

Now, I could say that there are only two professions which I will never hesitate to throw myself on the spot - a musician or a journalist.

Piano - I have once dreamed too much

Aged 5, I got a piano as a birthday gift from my loving mum, an object seems too much bigger than me. I liked it and played it and as well most probably if I was not mistaken - I showed off in front of all my mates.

But this is not enough, of course, under the guidance of this 30-year-old, most generous and rigorous lady, my mum would provide me everything that could lead me to be a true musician.

There is no problem with my mum, my dad or my entire family. But I was stumbling, I was confused, and I got lost with my mind, my fingers, or more precisely, my talent.

I have got talent, I know that, but it has never enough. From the bottom of my heart I know my limit and always, so I tried very hard to show people different side of me.

When I was 16-year-old, I was fiercely determined to go for an English Speaking Contest in my high school - one of the eight best English teaching records boarding schools across mainland China.

I was excited to be on stage, I knew I was going to make my day...At the end I didn't won but I have landed an offer as a second.

I didn't complain as I have more than enough reasons to freak out because I would never forgot the hours and hours practice in front of mirror in the bathroom from my mum's flat.

What is this? What is this to back me to the hilt for practising hours and hours long? I didn't know, I was too young to pursue the answer, or maybe I just simply don't care.

Life continues until I obtained my Proficiency Level Ten in Piano Performance. Then there are two ways in front of me - being a music student at a music college or go to a normal University studying a normal subject - I knew I had been at a crossroad.

Finally, I chose to lead a normal life - on that moment and that place - Chongqing, China, 2001.

Malta, back to piano

2003, I left to Malta, aged 19. My mind started to regret. I once anxiously asked my young and talented Maltese piano teacher:"How do you think if I study music?""Oh, well, you have good technique, but you know..."

I have got very little sleep, and every single night I can only sleep for two hours worrying where my piano could end up, and then it lasts for more than half an year. Have I got a flicker of hope?

It was the first time in my life that I started worrying about my profession, but it was so vogurous even I did not understand.

In the meantime I started pursuing my Communication studies at Uni. Malta, I started to learn all the aspects of Media, Communication theories, and then political science as my second major.

I was tirelessly absorbing EU integration, UN founcationality, International co-operation these seems quite posh concepts, in that little island in the Mediterranean. I tried so hard to integrate with local students and get myself deeply involved into uni. life.

And then, my piano was back into right track and I know where I am going and what I can achieve. A warm smile back to my cheek.

I talked, talked, and talked all these things, and almost everything to my soul mate - a nice maltese chap, with a gentle personality and a kind heart. And of course, a good musician, much better than me.

Four and an half years living in Malta, I was nearly used to that island, that little island. But I know there is always the other half of me to keep my eyes open, my curiosity alarming, and my goals settling.

I joined AIESEC Malta, travelled and interned in India, Kolkata, though I was a marketing researcher in that Indian org, but it's more of a cultural exchange programme.

I was once considering about Marketing as my profession, but do I truly wish to be a sales person? I am not saying being a sales person is something wrong, it's just I was wondering do I really possess that passion, that eager motivation just as the apprentience of Sir Alan Suger?

EU integration summer school and "The image of Europe" meeting along with the trip to Brussels open another world to me, a world which is fundamentally clashed with my culture, mentality and the way I was brought up.

Is it good or bad? To date I am still searching the answer.

London, a new start

Pursuing journalism as a professional career in London is the toughest challenge I have ever met. It's not because I haven't got the motivation, the drive, the dedication or curiosity, it's simply just because of my English is holding me back.

Andy, the news writing teacher from News Associates, NCTJ course centre

Will continue...

Eurovision winner 2009 said "I won because I had a story to tell"

Norway contestant Alexander Rybak, aged 23 won the first prize of Eurovision 2009. He composed both the lyrics and the melody of the winning song "Fairytale".

Alexander started piano and violin study at younger age, to date he has performed with one of the world most celebrated violinst, Pinchas Zukerman.

China sex education was once again put off

A sex theme park supposed to be open in October in Chongqing, China was demolished even before its opening date. The state run newspaper China Daily expressed its concern on the owners "interested only in profiting from sensationalism"

Sex - Taboo subject in China

The park aimed to improve sex education and allow local people to get more access to information related with sex.

As the park's manager Lu Xiaoqing said:"Sex is a taboo suject in China, but people really need to have more access to information about it."

According to BBC News, the park will display giant genitalia, naked bodies and an exhibition of sex history.

Why press is afraid of speaking out

I am not surprised when found this piece of news, as China is a conservative country for centuries.

Its vast territories, including an incredibly large amount of ethnic communities, are far more tough for governing than westerners could imagine.

Who can guarantee those visitors' initiatives and attitude towards these rare displays.

And is China ready to positively embrace this kind of brain-wash which is directly contrary towards rooted Chinese mentality?

I seriously doubt about it. Though I do understand that to be open-minded, tolerant, and optimistic with changes is the pre-requisite for huge development, as a nation, or as a person, no matter whatsoever it does counts.

But under such a situation - a rigorous state controlling condition, anything that leads to transform people's mind will simply be torn down, just as the park.

Ridiculously easy for 60 and 80 words/min shorthand exam

The shorthand exam speed between 60 to 80 per minute is held today at Uni. Westminster at 10:30am, most of the journalism students have found the 80 and 60 passage are ridiculously easy.

You see, here we are

When talking with Helen Elizabeth Varley, one of the student who did the exam, she said:"Yeah, the 60 one I am happy with it, and as long as you get something, so you see, here we are."

Though the 60words/min passage are pleased by most of the students, for those who aiming at 70 words/min seems that they did not receive the same happy ending.

Jennifer Willis-Jones is struggling with 70 speed, she said: "Oh, I am aiming at 70 and cannot imagine that the 80 words/min passage is ridiculously easy, and there is no councillor, local community, social security these difficult stuff. I cannot believe it."

Kirstie Nicols, the first one who left the exam room, said: "I will definitely get the 60 one, and I just make sure I have got my 60 today. Next time I am gonna to do the 80 one, and for today's 80 passage, I have missed one sentence, so it is stupid for me to transcribe it, and I will fail I know that."

Rukshana, cannot fall asleep till 5am worrying about bloody shorthand

Angela, the shorthand teacher as well as the examiner was worrying about one student from the class - Rukshana - who had not appeared until half of the exam passed.

Rukshana, a Londoner originally coming from Bangladesh, said: "I just cannot fall asleep until 5am in the morning today and worrying bloody shorthand. When I got up and found out that already 9am. "

I really want to kick myself, and stupidly missed the high speed level exam, which I do know how to do it, for the 80 one!

Shorthand

Shorthand is part of UK National Council for Training of Journalists (NCTJ) qualification for pre-entering newspaper journalism industry in UK, which require newspaper journalists reaching the standard of 100 words/min, while magazine reporters need to make sure 80 words/min.

Sharing my experience with BBC Step Up 2009 new trainees

A forty minutes discussion for sharing previous experiences with Step Up new trainees 2009 was held today at BBC Television Centre at Wood Lane as part of the first session of this year's training scheme.

What you have gained mostly out of the experience

The online trainees I have met today are so enthusiastic to get to know what they will gain out of the process.

I talked quite a lot about my Step Up 2008 experiences, including both of the theoretical side of the scheme and the practical session, which also including production fortnight.

They were also very curious about how the mentor and mentee experience will help them to develop their skills.

From my personal point of view, to build up good relations with your mentor will obviously help your future career, especially those people are the ones who have already put their feet into the media industry.

And more importantly, it's part of the networking process. In such a huge and prestigious organisation like BBC, knowing how you are going to approach these media professionals and how to make friends are essential.

I have also explained to them how I have produced two of my stories published on BBC london Website, and what other essential skills I have learnt from the process, such as pitching story, conducting interview, getting access to the BBC internal learning resources, learning how to use content management system.

David Dunkley Gyimah - one of UK's first video journalists

A piece I have translated for David Dunkley Gyimah, publisher of Viewmaga, Who's currently preparing for his lecturership at Peking Uni. for the upcoming summer school.

Videojournalism Today "Videojournalism is an advance on television news production - a shift away from the predictable approach television has stuck to doggedly since its inception.

现今的录像新闻是一种最先进的电视新闻产品，它是可预测的电视新闻作品的另一种形式，(而电视新闻从其开始产生时就在顽强的克服自身弱点）。

It is next generation television: story telling in which you are not be bound by the many constraints of traditional news production" That says one of the UK's leading videojournalists and trainers, a multiple international award winner and viewmagazine.tv publisher David Dunkley Gyimah.

录像新闻是下一个时代的电视新闻：它的新闻制作不受到传统新闻制作模式的限制 － 英国录像新闻记者领头人和录像新闻制作指导，多个国际新闻大奖获得者， viewmagazine网站制作者 David Dunkley Gyimah 说。

An accomplished media professional, over his 22 year career.
David has worked for the BBC, ITN Channel 4 News, ABC News and Channel One - the UK's first video journalism station.

David是英国媒体领域的杰出人士，在其22年的职业生涯中，他曾先后在英国电视广播公司， ITN4频道新闻，ABC新闻和一频道工作，其中一频道是英国首个录像新闻电视台。

Videojournalism Trainer David has used his acclaimed style of videojournalism to train 1000s of journalists from around the world e.g. the Financial Times, the Chicago Sun Times and the UK Press Association - where he helped write and launch their VJ programme.

David 运用自己被广泛公认的教学模式已经训练了全球上千余记者，这些记者大多来自于：英国金融时报，芝加哥太阳报，和英国媒体协会。其中在英国媒体协会，他协助并且创办了录像新闻节目。

David, a 2009 jury member for the UK's prestigious Royal Television Society, has presented for The World Association of Newspapers and Apple Inc to name a few..

David 是英国享有盛誉的皇家电视协会2009年评判委员会成员，他曾先后为世界报纸联盟，苹果股份有限公司，以及其它一些权威机构开设（关于录像新闻的）讲座。

The UK Prime Minister's brother Andrew Brown [then a poltical editor] and UK top TV News presenter Jon Snow say David is an original.

政治新闻编辑Andrew Brown 先生，英国布朗首相的弟弟，和另外一位英国著名电视主播 Jon Snow都曾评论到David的作品极其具有独创性。

He is currently working on Barack Obama: 100 days, a video to accompany an original classical compostion by one of the UK's most talented composers.

目前他正致力于奥巴马总统“100日”的录像制作 -- 为配合英国一位才华横溢的作曲家的原始古典创作的录像作品。

You can find out how to hire David as a consultant or trainer your online, multimedia and Video journalism projects by visiting his site here (ENTER).The site is in English.

如果您希望与David合作，邀请他担任您的顾问以及指导贵媒体的网络，多媒体， 以及录像新闻，您可以通过登陆他的网站：http://www.viewmagazine.tv/ 查询到他的联系方式。网站语言为英文。

Shorthand struggling

The basic key skills for local newspaper reporters in UK, followed by NCTJ accredited courses are Teeline shorthand, media law, news writing, and public affairs(including both central government and local government's functionality).

However, heard from most of the course trainees saying that the Teeline shorthand practice takes most of their revision time.

Teeline practice

I was wondering at the beginning how does these little, funny and strange drawings work? Fortunately my curiosity and stubborn mind guide me to find Angela, an experienced Teeline tutor who has been working in this field for a long period.

The learning process from the beginning is very tough and most probably I have already described in the previous posts on my blog.

Here I would like to emphasize is that though I spent most of the March and April to be familiar with the outlines and the rules.

The problem bothers me is that it seems as if I would have understood the rules and remembered these outlines, when I write it down during the passage, I'm still stumbling with them.

Even with some of the most common words, such as an, while, I , and they would have been, like the word grouping stuff.

Apart from the above, transcribing the passage is problematic as well, and even it seems I wrote all of them down, while I'm a bit of over the moon and thinks that I'm going to get it.

But when I read it back and transcribe it into the longhand, I found myself not quite sure what all of these shorthand are about.

And the worst thing could be I found out that I have lost the story, then I cannot transcribe anything.

This is really bullshit right?

And what else? More frustrated and funny thing is that there are two or three words in a passage even I do not know - the English I don't understand.

Oh well, perhaps Angela will think Oh dear, what a pity it is, and I will think oh, great, what a challenge it is!

At end of every class, Angela keeps saying: "everyone is going to get 60 per min and as long as you are practising every single day, and you are going to get it."

The Parkhouse Award Final Concert

It's an honour for being invited to listen to the final concert from The Parkhouse Award at Wigmore Hall, London yesterday. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my friend, an Italy pianist: Mariangela Vacatello.

Beautiful performances

The whole concert was given by three groups of musicians. Paul Monkemeyer (Viola) and Nicholas Rimmer (Piano), Rautio Piano Trio, and Giovanni Gnocchi (Cello) and Mariangella Vacatello (Piano).

I intentionally chose the seat more close to the back but in the middle of the whole Wigmore Hall, as normally I would prefer to sit where I can watch the pianist's miraculous playing.

The sound is absolutely beautiful I must admit, and guess that only classical music can reach such glorious and brilliant sound atmosphere.

When closing your eyes, probably you would even enjoy more to identify which sound is coming from the piano, or the viola, or the cello, or the violin.

And you will just imagine what these little notes are murmuring? What fairytale they're trying to tell to their dear audiences.

It's good fun to practise your ears and trace all the different levels and types of sound, especially listening chamber music concert.

Rautio Piano Trio

I enjoyed all three performances. However, personally I really like the second one, the three perfomers are collabarating extremely well.

I particularly enjoy the melody of their chosen piece. Trio No 3 in C minor, from Johannes Brahms.

The Rautio Piano Trio formed in 2004, and has now drew together three outstanding young musicians from Russia, Britian, and Israel.

Three musicians are the prize-winning graduates from RAM, RCM, and RNCM.

Mariangela and her cellist Giovanni Gnocchi

Italian people's enthusiastic and passionate personality even more explosed when making music. The two distinguished music figures dedicated to audience very different and exotic music.

You can easily felt the passion and enthusiasm from their performances, they're playing with pure heart. And this is what I really like from Mariangela and Giovanni.

I just guess musicians from Mediterranean region tend to express themselves more freely and exaggeratedly. Though some of them I have heard still like the English ones, a bit more conservative.

But particular culture does strongly fertilise its music or other types of art.

Mariangela and Giovanni won the public prize and the two German Musicians, the first perfomance won The Parkhouse Award.

Mistresses

A modern drama series is broadcasting on BBC One currently called Mistresses, which describes four British women's romance conflicts, how they deal with their family life and sex relationships.

Morality doubt

After seeing some of the episodes, I got very confused how on earth these protagonist treat their sex relationships so playful!

When a couple tie a knot, from that point of time, they were tied to be faithful and loyal to each other, and no one has the right to blame as marriage is your own choice. If you want to play the game, you must comply the rule.

I think this is universally accepted morality as well.

I was very much doubt western value on this point, after talking with a former BBC journalist about how I feel, she was laughing at me (in a friendly way), and suggested me just taking it as a drama that is unreal. However, I believe drama, all sorts of art coming from real life.

You never imagine that romance drama will be directed and acted in this way in China. I don't know exactly how about other Asian countries.

But like South Korea, a traditionally man-dominant society, I believe they will be concerned when commissioning such type of series.

From Mistresses to the 13-year-old dad

Another reason makes me confused and worrying is the recent blow of the 13-year-old lad becoming dad, which makes Britain feeling like a fool indeed.

Press and different sorts of media all discuss it and many people condemn it, saying it's the most outrageous, appalling thing in the world they have ever seen.

But don't these Brit ever wonder how these drama will affect people, especially these young teens? They're in a period of growing up and lack of mature judgement.

And if they see these drama (intentionally or whatever), they will just imitate what they see from the screen!

Democratic society

From another point of view, people may say that we are in a democratic society, people are allowed to see different things and express different views.

It's good to show us different approaches of life, then we're going to make up our own mind!

Fashion in London

London, the world's most vibrant metropolis, has always been a popular place for fashion. When walking on the street, you could easily find out stylish Londoners "showing off" their prevailing brands and stunning hairstyle.

Posting some photos above display what strike Londoners attention this year:

Trip to Tate Modern

March, a raining Tuesday, I spent a whole afternoon at Tate Modern to analyse the post-world war painting from The UBS Art Collection combining with the significant Tate works.

My task is to find out who the artist is? What kind of technique she/he applied , what kind of texture he/she used to accomplish the work, and what kind of atmosphere the work creates?

Jane Seymour

A magnificent work I have noticed from an Indian artist Raqib Shaw.

Jane Seymour, a painting depicts the third wife of Henry VIII, what really makes this work interesting is to combine the animal head with human body, which beautifully and delicately brushed by bright colours, such as dark red, yellow,.

The picture is quite scary, because of the animal head, more specifically, it's a fish head with very terrific teeth.

The textures artist applied are quite complicated, it seems having different layers on one painting, he also used fake jewel to decorate Jane's dress.

Busy life

The second painting I have looked carefully is from a French artist, named Jean Dubuffet, the whole painting applied oil on Canvas.

It's really a mess work from far away, but when you see closely, you will find out lots of going on in this work, it describes people's busy life, such as the metropolis London.

Rising sun, commuters rush to work, traffic on the highway, taxi, tubes, bikes all different kinds of transportation you can imagine.

I was wondering how the artist can keep the main characters clear on one hand, and mess around others on the other hand, however in the meantime, the whole piece of work remains as an integrated painting.

White Spring

A work from a Germany artist Ernst Wilhelm Nay - White Spring, it's quite abstract and very arty.

The paint applied oil and used white, yellow, green and black colours, there're many whirlpools in the paint, quite romantic indeed.

More photos from Toy Exhibition

World toys exhibition attracts mordern Londoners

Ancient toys from all around the world exhibite at London's Pollock's toy museum, which attract many young londoners' attention.

The museum displays hundreds of dolls with delicate laces, hilarious looking, and various postures. Their texture and dresses are very stylish, though most of them look quite old.

Apart from dolls, the ancient theatre models, animated toys, strange shaped animals are also kept visitor's eyeballs.

Animated toys

One toy displayed in the exhibition can be considered as the first original animated toy to date.

The toy is made of two layers, the inside layer is composed of different pictures, and the outside layer is a round rollying device, when a person rotates it, people can see through the holes on the outside device to the pictures on the inside layer.

The music boxes are also exhibited in the store, there's a ranging of different tones, even there's some from China.