Brad's blog

Rarely when you see the words Zero budget feature film do they actually mean it, this normally refers to films made for under a million pounds.  

Scottish director Ross Howieson,29, decided to make a feature film himself when he could barely afford the rent.  

What Would Ridley Do? was inspired by a YouTube video he saw of the great film maker Sir Ridley Scott. In this video he said, “if you want to do what I do, just go and do it, there is no excuse”

As a huge fan of Ridley Scott this is exactly what Ross did. He set about writing a film that he could actually make himself with what he had available.  

He knew three great actors in London that were crazy enough to give it ago, one of whom had a family cottage in the Highlands of Scotland.  

This was to be the back bone of the story.  “Write what you know” is the advice everyone tells you, so that is exactly what Ross did.  

The film is about people trying to make a film. He came up with a story about two struggling writers who after  a confusion about a commission end up in Scotland trying to make a film themselves.

Being writers they have little knowledge of actual film making and comedy ensues. A local Scottish girl is there to help them around but they think she would be perfect for their film.

Sir Bruce Forsyth is expected to return to host Strictly Come Dancing again next season.

Rumours are suggesting the veteran entertainer will return to the series despite concerns regarding his age.

The 84-year-old took on a reduced role in last year’s series, dropping his presenting role on Sunday night’s results episode.

Other including John Barrowman, Vernon Kay and Chris Hollins have all been rumoured as possible replacements for Forsyth when he does indeed retire.

Source: Digital Spy

Simon Cowell has admitted he was cocky before the launch of The X Factor USA and that mistakes have been made in the debut season of the series.

Cowell has predicted openly that the series would be watched regularly by 20 million viewers but audience numbers have failed to reach that mark by some distance.

“I’m cocky by nature,” Cowell said at a press conference this week. “But I’d come off a massive final in the UK, I had adrenaline, I couldn’t wait to put the show on here and it’s gonna take a little bit longer than I thought.

“I learned that I’m not American – that was a big factor of where I got things right and where I got things wrong.”

Source: Digital Spy

Iwan Rheon has confirmed he will not be returning to Misfits for its fourth season.

The news comes after Antonia Thomas earlier this week announced that she would not be back for another run on the E4 series.

Rheon, who plays Simon, said: “Thanks for all the comments and support. I’m so grateful for the opportunity that Misfits gave me and all the fun I had doing it. But I have left now and look forward to doing exciting new things. The show must go on! X”

Rheon is the third of the original five cast members to leave the show in the past two seasons.

Source: Digital Spy

Strictly Come Dancing will hit the high seas next summer, it has been announced.

The reality series has teamed up with P&O cruise ships to launch an event that will see professional dancers from the show perform and teach dances on the cruises.

Judge Craig Revel Horwood is involved in the event.

Richard Halliwell, commercial brand director of Strictly Come Dancing, said: “The Strictly brand is very well suited to an ocean cruise given the heady mixture of elegance, romance, high-class entertainment and exhilarating international ports of call. 

“We’re very excited about this new adventure with P&O Cruises and I believe Craig Revel-Horwood has already packed his bags!” 

P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow said: “We are so excited to bring the magic of theStrictly ballroom to Oriana this summer. Our passengers will be able to learn with the professional dancers, watch extraordinary show dances and hear some of the secrets of this global phenomenon.”

Source: Digital Spy 

A new trailer and premiere date has been set for the second season of Mad Dogs on Sky1.

The series, which features John Simm, Philip Glenister, Max Beesley and Marc Warren, will hit screens on Thursday, January 19 at 9pm.

The second season will comprise of another four episodes centring on the foursome as they become embroiled in another incident.

A third season has already been commissioned.

Source: Digital Spy

Ofcom investigates Clarkson

Media regulator Ofcom is investigating Jeremy Clarkson over his comments on The One Show regarding the striking public service workers. Ofcom has received nearly 800 complaints while the BBC received 32,000.

Tinchy Stryder rumoured for Big Brother

Tinchy Stryder has been rumoured to be joining Celebrity Big Brother’s next season. The rapper is among a list of celebrities that includes Nocola McLean, Natasha Giggs and Frankie Cocozza who have been rumoured for the Channel 5 series.

Cher signs with L.A. Reid

X Factor’s Cher Lloyd has signed a deal with L.A. Reid’s label Epic in the US. “I went over to America to do some more recording and stuff like that and now I’m signed to Epic with L.A. Reid,” Cher said.

Savage eyes I’m A Celebrity

Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Robbie Savage says he is eying up a spot on next year’s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!.

Ofcom has criticised Channel 5 over its decision to air footage from Big Brother that contained swear words.

The media regulator received a complaint from a viewer over two episodes of the reality series that featured swearing just after the 9pm watershed.

The word “f**k” was heard six seconds into the program in one episode and 18 seconds into another.

Ofcom is investigating under the rule that states there must not be an “abrupt” transition to more adult-oriented material just after the watershed.

Ofcom said: “Ofcom did not consider there was sufficient editorial justification to include repeated use of the most offensive language in these programmes so soon after the watershed,” said the regulator. 

“The two uses of the word “f**k” or “f**king” in each programme in the period directly after the watershed did in Ofcom’s view constitute an ‘unduly abrupt’ transition to more adult material at the watershed. Rule 1.6 was therefore breached.” 

Source: Digital Spy

Strictly final pulls 13m

Harry Judd’s win on Strictly Come Dancing was seen by more than 13 million on Saturday night. 

Actress not returning to Misfits

Misfits actress Antonia Thomas has confirmed that she will not be returning to the series next year. Thomas’s character was killed off the E4 series in last night’s season finale.

Dancers axed from Strictly

Professional dancers Ola Jordan and James Jordan are said to be facing the axe from Strictly Come Dancing for next season after a series of back-stage issues.

Inaccuracies on Downton Abbey

A hunting expert has claimed that Downton Abbey features a number of inaccuracies when it comes to hunting attire. “The episode is set in 1919-1920, but the guns are dressed in the garb of the 1890s,” said Tony Jackson, the former editor of Shooting Times magazine. “No driven game shot in the ’20s would have been seen wearing leather gaiters.

X Factor winner Little Mix have hit the top spot in the charts with their debut single ‘Cannonball’.

While it is the fastest-selling single of the year, it is still well behind previous winners of the ITV1 series.

‘Cannonball’ is the second least sold winner’s track to date, with only Steve Brookstein’s effort selling less in the same time period.

Little Mix said: “To go to No.1 this week is simply amazing, as just to release a single is beyond our wildest dreams. For our single to be the biggest opening week sales of the year is just mind blowing! We want to thank everyone that has supported Little Mix, voted for us and bought the single this week. It means the world to us.”

Source: tellymix

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