All things LEGO: Madness, Mayhem, Movies... and Minifigures

It was the morning of the 14th of February, and all around the world romance blossomed, couples shared romantic dinners, many proposals were made and children flocked to the cinemas to watch a plastic toy come to life in it's first block-buster adventure. Extremely goofy puns aside, it's just another ordinary Valentine's Day isn't it?

Of course it isn't...

I've never really liked the concept of Valentine's Day, but this Valentine's Day was special, because it was when I fell in love with the children's toy, LEGO.

Well... not really.

My LEGO obsessions started way back in 2000 when I spent pocket money on a little helicopter made of blocks that could be put together.  Speed forward 14 years and 190 LEGO sets later, and you get to my latest acquisitions, which were bought at the LEGO store which recently opened not far from where I am currently living out the rest of my abnormally long childhood.

The latest LEGO sets I bought all had one thing in common: The LEGO Movie.

The LEGO Movie was released nationwide (and possibly worldwide) properly on Friday 14th February 2014, the day after I turned 19.  Everything that happened on that day now came under the category of "Awesome!" as exclaimed by Emmet, an ordinary minifigure who's life changes forever when he finds the legendary Piece of Resistance. Accompanied by an all star cast of minifigures including Batman and Liam Neeson (well, Good Cop, Bad Cop) and an Anime style kitten with a Unicorn's horn, Emmet must find a way to stop the megalomaniac Lord Business from ending the world on Taco Tuesday. Needless to say I loved this movie and I suggest you go and see it. It really is the Pièce de résistance...

Groans aside, On Friday 21st February 2014, a week since the LEGO Movie was released, I embarked on a journey to the LEGO Store in the Metrocentre to use my LEGO giftcard (which I was given on my birthday, the day before the movie came out) to buy some minifigures and sets that featured in the LEGO Movie.

I purchased Cloud Cuckoo Palace for £18, which got me a Unikitty (the hybrid I mentioned previously) and 3 minifigures for £2.49 each. Because I surpassed £25, I got given an exclusive LEGO Store T-Shirt, which the other employees in store were wearing branded with "LEGO Store Metrocentre", complete with a minifigure of the Angel of the North, which I thought was a nice touch. That beats an exclusive polybag I was meant to get with my purchase anyway!

My better half also bought me a further 4th minifigure to compliment the others.  With her help, I managed to squidge out Emmet, Abraham Lincoln, Velma Staplebot (Lord Business's Secretary) and Marsha, Queen of the Mermaids.

Below are some pictures of my purchases.  I enjoyed building the set as it's very colourful! LEGO have done a fantastic job capturing the scene. I may have to pick up some more of the sets in the future to go with my almost complete minifigure series. Will I do it?

Only time will tell...

   

The Student Birthday

Okay, I admit it.

I'm a big kid when it comes to birthdays.

 Today I entered into my nineteenth year. My final year as a teenager. Am I scared?

Of course I am.

Should I be scared?

Definitely.

However, I'm not here to ramble on about the nail-biting concept of surviving in the adult world. I am here, though, to share the antics of my first birthday in a different country, away from home and away from my family.

All night I tossed (which healthy teen doesn't?) and turned, unable to sleep. Perhaps this was the excitement for presents - I know, I know! - or maybe it was partly due to the nerves of not really knowing how I'd react to being away from home comforts on a day I'd always spent with my close family. I had no idea how things were going to turn out.

The day was pretty much just like any other birthday: I opened presents; I ate cake; I even ran knee first into a fellow student during an exercise at university. But still it felt like something was missing.

But then something magical happened, something so very spectacular that it's almost too good to be true:

SKYPE.

Thanks to modern-day technology, we don't really ever need to be too far from our loved ones. Sure, a phone call is nice, but nothing beats seeing your family face to face on your special day. And that is my top tip for students: before you leave home to go to university, or if you've already left and are visiting home soon, try and set your parents up with Skype if they've not already got an account. It's free and easy, and really helps to ease the pains of being away from home (and no matter how macho you think you are, you will fall victim to homesickness eventually!).

To conclude my birthday as night draws in, I've included below a small selection of photos from today. Let's all show our love for Lego Lone Ranger...

A Disturbance in the Force? Or Just a Simple Jedi Mind Trick?

The battlefield... sadly no lightsabers...

Am I the man they're looking for?

It all started 3 weeks ago when my Dad alerted me to the fact that Disney were holding open auditions for the much anticipated sequel, Star Wars Episode VII.  When it was first announced Disney was taking over Lucasfilm and were making another Star Wars film, I have to admit.  I groaned and clutched my 6 Star Wars DVDs to my chest, praying for the news to be false.  Sadly though it looks like they're going ahead with it.

Now even though I was against the idea at first, I decided that this was too good an oppurtunity to miss.  My Dad linked me to the BBC News article stating that Disney were holding open auditions for two main roles, a male and a female.  At first I looked at it quizically and came to the conclusion that because I was only 18 I wasn't elligible to take part.  I was stupid though, because they were looking for someone over 18, and I had been 18 for many months already.  So between my Dad and I we agreed that I was to go forward for this.  Audition points were in Manchester, Bristol, London, Dublin and, to my delight, in Glasgow!

The auditions were scheduled to be on 2 weeks ago today, but were called off because of the size of the venue they intended to use.  They were lucky!  There would have been carnage, had they not changed the venue!  Rest in peace to those who died in the Police Helicopter crash last night.  The final choice of venue was Glasgow Science Centre.  I was quite taken-aback when this was announced because all the other audition events took place at sportsgrounds and concert venues... Not in a museum.

So after a very early start of 4am (breakfast at 4:30), my Dad and I set off for Glasgow at 5am on the dot.  We got to Glasgow and parked in the Hydro Car Park at around 6:15 and by the time we got to the Science Centre, the Queue was open and only I was allowed to go and stand in the queue.  100 people in front I thought, "This could be a long wait".  6:45 I suddenly realised that it was baltic temperature and my feet froze so much I couldn't feel my toes.  This didn't stop me however.  7:15 came and I felt inclined to sit down.  I suddenly remembered I had my DS in my rucksack after forgetting to take it out whilst unpacking my stuff last night.  So I spent a good hour working my way through various Mah Jong puzzles, and I was quite content.

8am was the moment it all changed.  The queue started moving.  You could feel the buzz of excitement from all who were there as we moved....about an inch.  Still it was something.  A step in the right direction, closer to possible stardom.  The dream in everyone's minds at that point was exactly that.  To win the role.

Around 8:30, staff members with megaphones announced that the auditions were beginning and brought out the casting staff who would be interviewing us today.  Then we were also introduced to the guests of honour...  Stormtroopers, shipped direct from the Death Star had come to oversee the throng.  It was a nice touch, but a tad ironic considering the forms that we were given, to fill in with our details around 30 minutes later stated that the film was untitled...  Of course, it was the press who gave the game away that it was for Star Wars that these auditions were being conducted.

I finally got to the front of the queue around 9:45am.  a whole hour and 15 minutes before they were due to open.  First we were presented with mirrors so we could make ourselves look 'handsome' and 'beautiful' just like the casting call stated.  Then it was onto the proper interviews.  I was interviewed by a really nice Scottish woman named Sarah.  Poor Sarah...  I must have been twice her height...  I could have sworn she had to crane her neck to talk to me...  Sarah asked me questions like:
 "What do you do?" (I'm an actor was my response),

"Why do you like acting?" (It's always been where I have felt most comfortable),

"What sort of movies do you like?" (Anything really, but mostly musical theatre and action, movies with big epic moments in them),

 "Who is your favourite actor?" (Now this response I didn't have to think about:  Sir Christopher Lee!) and finally,

 "Who is your favourite actress?" (I had to think about this one, and I shamefully made the crap decision of "Jenna Coleman from Doctor Who"...  Sorry Helena, I completely forgot about you...).  Then I was thanked for attending and told to put my application form with headshot into a box as I left, and that was it.  approximately 10 minutes the whole thing took, not even.

Overall I am so glad I went, because now if any more open auditions come up, I'll be able to remember this experience as my first.  I obviously wasn't told anything, so we'll see what happens in the future...

Safe to say I probably won't be involved in the making of Star Wars Episode VII... but who knows at this stage?  Only time will tell...

Kind Regards


Gordon H

Review:- Walk On by Amy McLean

disclaimer:  this review may contain spoilers, and may also be a bit biased (or not).

From the moment I finished the first chapter of Walk On.  I knew I wouldn't be able to put it down.  The book is structured in a very imaginative way and it keeps you reading.

Walk On contains some scenes of harsh brutality, most of it coming from her husband, and miserable disgrace of a character, Peter.  Maggie's way of escape is into the four walls inside her head, where she can lock herself away from the terrors of reality.  There is also a very spiritual element to the novel, in the form of an Angel, named Ariana, who is of course Maggie's guardian angel.  Ariana shows Maggie some visions of the past, a tragic tale of two lovers and misunderstandings.  Throughout the novel there is a running theme of a bridge. For instance Maggie's favourite painting is Claude Monet's Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies, and the cover of the novel shows a bridge as well.  Once you finish the novel, it is clear why the author chose to use such a beautiful image for the cover of the novel, and also the beautiful metaphor of the bridge throughout.

This is Amy McLean's first outing as a novelist.  Currently sitting her third year in her English Degree, Amy has coped well balancing a novel on top of all of her workload.  It amazes me how well thought out and how well written the novel is, considering she hasn't finished her degree yet.  I will definitely read more of Amy's work, as she has a true talent that not many people still in university can say they have.

Before reading the book, I found out that Amy had been heavily influenced by her favourite book, The Boy Who Could See Demons, written by her favourite author, Carolyn Jess-Cooke, and whilst reading, I felt this definitely shone through because you can clearly see the effort that she has put into this, after her writer's block was cured by Jess-Cooke's wonderful novel.

Overall Walk On is definitely worth the read, and if you haven't already, you should definitely buy the book and read it for yourself.  It is hard to say a bad word about it and I think it will captivate you and leave you with a very open mind.

From the bridge in Maggie's favourite painting, to the bridge of the novel, Walk On leaves the reader wondering how it will end, if it will end well, or if it will all end in tears... How exactly does it end? You'll just need to read it to find out! ;)

This review can also be found on my goodreads page here :)

Book Review - The Guardian Angel's Journal by Carolyn Jess-Cooke

Back in April/May I was recommended to read The Boy Who Could See Demons by Carolyn Jess-Cooke. So I did, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so that I ended up writing about it in my English exam since it fit one of the questions...

I knew back then that Jess-Cooke's first book was The Guardian Angel's Journal and after enjoying The Boy Who Could See Demons so much, I decided that I would read it.

Before I go into my thoughts let me give you a taster of the story.  Margot Delacroix suddenly dies and when she gets into heaven, God gives Margot the task of being her own guardian angel, under the new name of Ruth.  Under the direction of Nan, another angel in heaven, Ruth realises that she will watch over Margot from the very beginning of her life.  Ruth knows exactly what happens all through Margot's life (having lived it all before) and she wishes she could change Margot's life for the better after everything that happened, however it's not all that simple, as she soon learns what consequences are in store for her.

I really enjoyed this book.  It was interesting to read Jess-Cooke's first outing second, because after reading Demons and enjoying it so much, I did wonder if this book would be less appealing to me being a first novel, but it did not take away from the enjoyment of the story at all.  Both The Guardian Angel's Journal and The Boy Who Could See Demons have their similarities and differences. This one was told from the point of view of an Angel, and the other was kind of told from the point of view of the Demon (albeit the demon isn't really there.).  It was interesting to see how demons fit into this story, after reading about them in the other book.

In short, The Guardian Angel's Journal is unlike anything I have ever read before.  I love the style of writing Jess-Cooke has and how the story developed and also how the characters developed.  Early on we see a completely different side of Ruth and then as it progresses we gradually see her develop and change and it really did keep the story going; her determination to be able to change things when she couldn't really shone through the whole novel.  When reading about Margot's life, how dark and horrible it was, right from birth, it is, in parts, incredibly moving.  In the early chapters, I nearly found myself in tears, and that hasn't happened since I read the end of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables.  The power of the narrative and what is going on in Margot's life, feeling sorry for both Margot and Ruth at the same time, it all really makes you want to bawl into your pillow.

I also found this book was one that couldn't be put down.  That sounds very cliché, but the past few nights I have lost track of the time during the reading of it.  It really grabs your attention and makes you want to read more and more, which is what I feel makes this book one that I won't forget for a long time.  I bought my own copy yesterday and I've also ordered The Boy Who Could See Demons because I know that at some point in my life I would love to go back and relive these books again.  I hope Jess-Cooke continues to write novels because right now I have been left with the desire to read more.  It's probable I will pick up her poetry collection, Inroads at some point too.  But probably not for a little while yet.

I wouldn't recommend this book to young teenagers, but older teenagers and adults will definitely appreciate this book, and if you are into books about Angels and Demons, this is definitely one you should read.

kind regards

Gordon H

PS: The cover is gorgeous!

A rather late update

Hi all

This is an update for you all.  I know I failed to keep my promise of a blogpost per evening every night during Les Misérables and Oliver! at the Edinburgh Fringe.  There were many reasons for the failure.  One I was too fecking tired after nearly every show that I either forgot or simply couldn't be bothered (I know, it's very bad of me...), another being that I didn't have anything new to say about the subject at all.  One other major blip was the fact my camera packed in and the footage I took backstage of the final show which would have been showvlog 2 was lost.

But fear not.  I do plan to keep doing videos since I enjoyed doing the Playing Javert vlogs.  It gave me something different to do every evening for a while which was nice.  I'll probably be doing a mixture of vlogs, reviews, tag videos yadayadayada. (look out for my first attempt at "Actor Hopping" coming soon!

So Les Misérables finished with an incredible last performance, which was sold out and received the best standing ovation I've ever witnessed at a show.  That night backstage was very emotional (not just for me, but for everyone else and all the audience as well.  It became apparent that the audience felt the pain of the last night along with the people involved in the show.

My lovely Amy saw the show and reviewed it. During the next few days we saw the wonderful Caroline Rhea (Aunt Hilda from Sabrina the Teenage Witch).  Amy had tweeted her before the show saying we were looking forward to it, and Caroline actually came and said hello before the show started (Amy knows her quite well I'd say) and best of all, before I'd even said a word she took my hand and said "Oh you're Gordon"...  Safe to say I was a little starstruck but that did not take away from the enjoyment of her comedy show at the Gilded Balloon.  Sadly, we didn't get to meet her afterwards, which was really gutting, but can't be helped since she was apparently called away urgently afterwards.  Whilst waiting outside of the Gilded Balloon, some guy who had a show on, came up to us and asked us to choose a song for him to play on a small bespoke instrument.  He claimed to know every single song and asked us to name any song for him to play as a small demonstration.  So I picked I Dreamed A Dream, but I do regret not asking for Stars, as I'm not sure he would have known that one, but ah well.  Once we'd been serenaded with I Dreamed a Dream, whilst walking back to get the bus, we heard Les Mis again, this time it was being blasted from Edinburgh Castle...  Weirder still it then became Darth Vader's march....  We won't question it.

Over the last few days I've found out that I've been accepted onto a Performing Arts course at the University of Sunderland.  During the University Open Day, I managed to bump into the person I had talked to over the phone about gaining a place, who then very kindly arranged a trip to East Durham College in Peterlee to have a look around the facilities and get a feel of my future surroundings.  It seriously sounds like the best course ever, and I can't wait to share some of my experiences with you very soon.

Whilst staying in Sunderland I'm also coming to terms with student life, how to look after my money etc.  God Bless TESCO and cheap food!

And apart from that nothing much else is happening really. University for me starts on the 11th September (well, that's when induction is, it starts fully on the 23rd) and by then I'll hopefully be posting a lot more videos and blogposts for you to read, watch, appreciate (or laugh at if you prefer...  I don't care, I'm still getting the views aren't I?)

All that's left for me to say is roll on University!

Kind regards

Gordon H

Playing Javert - Days 8 and 9

I cannot believe I forgot to blog for a couple of days!  Shame on me!

Day 8 was the day of runthroughs of both Oliver and Les Misérables and both shows are coming together extremely well.  Les Misérables is basically ready to perform in my opinion.  There are a few things to fix, but very minor and little things.  Oliver needs a lot more work, but today is an all Oliver! day so we'll see how things go!

Day 9 saw the Les Misérables band call.  It was incredible.  It felt so amazing to sing along to the orchestra. Nearly got quite emotional since a lot of the orchestrated bits of the Schools Editon matches the professional West End production and the soundtracks.

Time is passing swiftly and this coming Friday sees the first Oliver! show (afternoon) and the first Les Misérables show (Evening).  I believe there are still tickets for both these events, so go to www.edfringe.com or www.captivatedrama.com to buy yours and come and see the shows!

Day 8 I got footage of Oliver! which can be viewed in the form of an unofficial trailer here:
















I have since done 2 vlogs but forgotten to update the blog, so apologies for this being a very rushed, not very well thought out post, but there's nothing I can do now I've missed the days they should have been up.  Here are the vlogs for days 8 and 9:

Once again thank you for following my journey to becoming Javert!  I promise this blog will be updated every night from now on and I won't forget!

kind regards

Gordon H