So, for those of you who may not be aware of my ever so interesting life, after five glorious months of Summer holidays of sitting around at home, not doing very much, enjoying the free time I went back to university today.
In all the time leading up to it while I was off, all thoughts of my third and final year were put to one side. I had completed a daunting and difficult task which was my second year and as I went off for my summer break, I can remember taking a breath and thinking, okay I have some breathing space now because I don't have to do anymore work. I think it's fair to say I loved my summer holidays and made good use of my time while I was off.
Now the time came when I got that email from the head of my course with the two words I have dreaded to hear throughout the whole summer "Welcome Back". Because it meant yet another year of exhausting assignments that would push me to the level to achieve a satisfactory grade that would leave me in a high credible standard. I got a sicking feeling in my stomach during the time leading up when I nearly had to go back because I dread uni so much, that I felt that if ever I feel this way, about work, it's time to stop. In all honesty I am afraid to fail, I don't want to fuck up. This is the final hurdle and I don't want to let myself down when I am so close. It's the competitive spirit in me.
I don't think it's any secret to reveal that I'm not overly keen on university, however I've stuck with it because I of all people have had to learn the hard way, not everything in life is easy to do and some of your biggest life choices are sometimes made by other people in your best interests. I'm talking about my parents here, who dragged me to all those boring open days, all those horrible car journeys, having to sit through all the talks and people going "we're great, come and study with us!". It's all the hype to uni I don't like either, the fact that people point out "university is one of the best experiences of your life"... and it really isn't.
It wasn't my idea to go, but I'm here, I've done two years. In those two years I've been baffled in thinking "my gosh, how on earth did I get here?" but none the less, I have, I'm in good standard. The light is green so far, so let's keep that way and try and go the extra level and try and do my best to achieve the best I possibly can.
The good news however is, I only have five modules throughout the whole year, two of which I know I must do well in amongst all others. If there are two things I can't fuck up this year it's my extended essay or dissertation and my final major project (FMP for short). I think if I nail those two things, I'm going to sail through. At the moment it's all a bit of an unknown because I've only been back for one day and so far we've had a detailed break down of what our dissertation module is going to be. It sounds interesting yet very hard work at the same time. I'm not scared though, there's so much freedom with it. We are allowed to choose our own topic, what we talk about for 4000 words, we've been advised the best way of success is to talk about something you feel passionate about, we've had the teaching from last year to give us a guide, the staff are there to help us get through it, all in all if I just tackle it one little baby step at a time I shall be fine. I've got all the support and help lined up for me, I just need to use the resources that are available to me.
There is also the FMP. The main concern I have with that is making sure I get in the right group. That is the key to success, make sure you're working with people who you have an understanding with or get on with. If you're working with people who you dislike or don't get on with. Chances are you're going to enjoy it. You'll make a shit film which you will only look back on with disappointment. I know because it's happened to me where I have worked with a group of people who I didn't like and it was a nightmare.
So those are the major things I can't afford to slip up on, as those are things that will boost up my grade. Not to say that the other three modules are not important, they just are just of less consequence to me than say the big two.
Other than that, what I will say is this, I look forward, face it head one, forget what's happened the other two years, start fresh, work hard, stay focussed and it'll all be fine. The important thing is to get a good finish.
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Monday, 26 September 2016
The Browning Version / Black Comedy
During nine eventful weeks of summer, the production team of the first play of the new season were getting ready to put on the first show of the new 2016/17 season. At the abbey theatre in St albans where I work at, The Browning Version / Black Comedy was to be the first play to start the season off on the main stage, with rehearsals happening over the course of the summer period.
This wasn't a production for which I had purposefully volunteered to be a part of, however it just so happened that a college I know who works at the theatre and just so happened to be stage managing the production, asked on her Facebook 'Who's around to help out with some painting?' I volunteered myself and that lead to Karen asking me if I was around to help on the production which was happening now.
The show itself was a double bill of two one act plays. The Browning Version by Terence Rattigan and Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer. The show in September that was originally scheduled to happen was supposed to be Abigail's Party by Mike Leigh, but for some reason, that got pushed back to November. So this double bill took the missing spot. Both shows a complete contrast to the other. One a drama about an old school teacher in the late 1940's and the other a comedy set in the 60's where a group of people are plunged into darkness after a fuse blows.
It was a busy show to work on, I dare say the most busy out of all five shows I have done so far at the Abbey Theatre in the four years I have been a member. I say that because what it involved this time were myself, another ASM and the stage manager on each night the show was on, after the browning version had finished we came on took the set for browning version down and set up the set for black comedy and when black comedy had finished, we'd clear up the stage give it a through tidy up and then set up the set for Browning version for the next night. Out of all nine shows during the run, I did five altogether.
The Browning Version, The first of two plays in the double bill.
The show ran from the 16th - 24th September on the main stage. With a preview night on the 14th and charity night on the 15th. The charity night got cancelled which cut one performance off, which meant the cast and any crew that were doing that night all got the night off, which is no big loss.
The Browning Version set, I thought was one of the best sets ever constructed. It was the flat which belonged to Mr and Mrs Crocker Harris and one of the things that the Abbey Theatre archives really well is period drama, for the furniture down to the costumes and make up. It all looked authentic and fantastic.
It achieved the drama very convincingly and the story was very heart felt and moving to watch. It's a very contemporary story about an old school teacher who is leaving the school and taking up a new job and his wife is having an affair with another one of the teachers who is a good friend of theres.
There is also a young student called Taplow who at the heart of the story, gives his teacher a presents which makes him rethink his entire life.
Black Comedy, the second play of the double bill, a hilarious farcical comedy.
After the interval we travel forward fifteen years in time to the mid 1960's where Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer is set. It's about a struggling sculptor living in a rundown basement flat in chelsea who is engaged to a young toff who's father is a colonel and they are preparing for a dinner party and an extra special guest is said to arrive. To make the flat look nicer they have stolen some of the neighbours furniture and antiques who has gone away for the weekend, but returns the night before.
It was very cleverly organised in that it's party played in the dark. Before the party starts, there is a power cut and the fuse blows. When the fuse blows the lights go up and the audience can see what's happening and the actors on stage have to act as though they are in the dark. It was very cleverly constructed in making sure that the comedy aspect of it was very well portrayed.
I thought it was very carefully cast, all members of the cast excelled in this and gave excellent performances.
The design of the set, though it had to look the same is also relatively different with props and furniture added to make it look like a rundown 1960's flat. It looked bare in some places, with lots of extra space and didn't look very pleasant place to live.
The pace of it was great, I remember watching it thinking, it goes so quickly. Doesn't drag out, it was a show that had to be carefully constructed. There had to be an ASM backstage to help actors and make sure they had all the correct props and extra bits that they needed. There was a scene which one actor went of set and had to put different bits of furniture on stage, like a rocking chair. So it was just a matter of take the first chair off him and pass the new one to him and he would go back on stage. I remember the actors used to sweat a lot of stage, and had to be on their mark a lot, and there were some occasions where that didn't happen or the timing wasn't quite right, a buddha wouldn't smash etc. There is a risk when you do something like this, will people laugh, will the comedy work, will every work as well as it is supposed to. Most things worked, just be sometimes where there would be a cock up in some shape or form.
At the end of the show, there is the strike, were we dismantle everything and put everything away or back where it was, tidy the stage etc. This took us a good while to do, even with so many extra people coming in to lend a hand and help out as best as they could. I can just remember everything working so well as a team effort among anything else. This whole show felt like it only worked because we had such a precise, dedicated team of good, hard working people who all combined to make this show work.
As an unexpected pleasure, though this show wasn't one I at first would have put myself forward for. I'm very happy that I did. It was great fun, and everybody was lovely. It's an experience for which I can put forward and use in my working life, so I'm very grateful for the opportunity. It all started as me doing a favour for Karen and she gave me something back so Karen, for that I say "Thank You".
Sunday, 25 September 2016
Mortal Kombat XL : How to Unlock Revenant Skins
The Revenant skins. They're cool right? At the moment they are the one thing I'm trying to unlock in playing the game. I have two so far and intend on unlocking the other two. In this blog, I will tell you how it is possible to unlock all five revenant variations as well as the dark emperor Lui Kang and dark empress Kitana.
Kitana - To unlock Kitana's revenant skin, you need 250 points in King of the Hill by playing online. King of the Hill is a series of matches that players participate in in order to come out on top. Who ever is on the top is king and what the other players are trying to do is beat whoever is king so they can become king and the idea is to stay as king for as long as possible. At the end of every King of the Hill match you as a player are entitled to 'pay your respects' just give each player 10 points each, and you'll be done in 25 matches. It's as simple as that. You don't even need to win the game, you just need the points.
Sub Zero - To unlock Revenant Sub Zero, you need to complete a test your might challenge tower. Caution, it is extremely hard. So much so, that you have to cheat the game a little with your controller and a remote control battery. Once you have completed it first time around, this version of Sub Zero is yours.
Jax - In order to unlock Jax's revenant, you need to get 15 flawless victories in two player kombat rounds. I'm not sure what they mean by that that exactly, wither it means 15 flawless victories in a row or just in general. I'd try it 15 flawless victories in a row. Which sounds easier said than done, but actually it's really not as difficult as you think, there are two ways you can do it.
1 - play on your own, leaving the second player not doing anything and then you can just beat them again and again until you have achieved that all important 15 flawless victory target.
or 2 - (This option is a more precise and quicker way into securing what you want) You go into a custom kombat mode, and you select danger. This ensures you a win with a single hit, and just do that 15 times. This way is a bit tedious and redundant but no way difficult any shape or form.
Either of these ways will ensure you get what you want which is the Jax Revenant skin.
Liu Kang - This one is a little bit more tricky to unlock. You need to get 26 wins in Ranked Matches by playing online. You can't just play in these matches, you need to play and win. It sounds more easier said than done, it's a matter of luck of the draw to be honest. Some players are more experienced than you and are a lot harder to beat, some are less experienced than you and so give you a more greater chance at winning. However this variation of Liu Kang also can be unlocked randomly by playing a premium tower challenge as well. So yes, some say it's 25, some people say it's 26, and some people have had to achieve 40+ wins in order to get it. Playing ranked matches online is what you need to do in order to get this variation. It's a bit of a tricky task, but it'll be worth it. I'm on 19 wins at the moment, so another 7 wins and I'm pretty much there.
My advice is to play as a character you enjoying the most, that way win or lose you still enjoy yourself. Also it may be worth studying what your opponent does and copying them, I mean this in a sense of blocking attacks. Just take your time and be patient and you may win the odd round or two.
Kung Loa - finally we have Kung Loa. Now in theory, this variation you can get by winning 25 - 30 King of the Hill matches, for me it was 27 wins. It's why these revenant variations exist. They're super cool and the game designers / makers of the game Nether Realm Studios are clever because they know that the players will play as many modes as possible and keep playing the game in order to get them. That's what you've got to do, just keep playing the game, so win 27 King of the Hill matches and you should have it. I don't think there is any other way to get this version apart from that.
Dark Emperor Lui Kong - To get Dark Emperor version of Lui Kang, you must complete 10 tower challenges. On the main menu, you go to single player, then towers, then tower challenge. There are 5 opponents per tower, so that's 50 opponents all together you have to defeat in order to get it. He's super cool and though this way is a bit tedious, it pays off with this awesome version of the character which you have forever after you've unlocked him.
Dark Empress Kitana - The way I unlocked this variation was randomly playing a premium tower. The way most gamers have found to unlock the dark empress is to beat the premium tower as Goro, it doesn't matter what version of Goro you play as, just beat the tower as Goro and you should get it. You don't have to get gold, just beat the tower as Goro and it's yours.
Although sometimes you don't get the option to choose your character for the premium tower, if not today or tomorrow. eventually It'll happen for you.
That concludes all the Revenant variations of the characters in the game. I hope this guide was useful to you, should you ever want to unlock the revenant versions but don't know how.
Thanks guys.
Saturday, 24 September 2016
COMING UP on THE CHASE!
- 11 out of 18
- 30th September 2016
- N/A
- 26th - 30th September 2016
- DANBURY Productions
- 24th September 2016
Wednesday, 21 September 2016
COMING SOON: DOCTOR WHO - THE TENTACLES OF DOOM
COMING SOON
DOCTOR WHO : THE TENTACLES OF DOOM
OUT IN OCTOBER 2016
Synopsis
When scientists unearth two seed pods deep in the south african undergrowth at a silo station, the Doctor and Tom Clarke rush to investigate. Soon the Doctor's worst fears are confirmed: the pods house Krynoids, one the most parasitic and dangerous life forms in the universe. One of the creatures has already infected a scientist and now a hideous monster is rampaging through the bade, intent on total destruction.
When the second pod is stolen amidst the escalating carnage, it is transported into the hands of enemy agents who plan to use it for their own means. Can the doctor stop them and the rapidly growing Krynoid from infecting and destroying our entire world?
THE TENTACLES OF DOOM will be released on Saturday the 1st October 2016
Technical Details
Tuesday, 20 September 2016
COMING SOON : The Rani to return at Christmas
DOCTOR WHO : THE AUDIO ADVENTURES
THE RANI TO RETURN FOR THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
With the second series of Audio Adventures about to draw to a close and with christmas just 97 days away. The Audio Adventures Christmas Special for 2016 is under way, and who else to return for it than the Rani herself. The mischievous time lady from "The Mark of the Rani" and "Time and the Rani".
The Rani is set to return for the christmas special, what she will be doing in it is yet to be revealed. Knowing the Rani it won't be handing out presents under the tree. She'll be up to her old tricks as usual. But will it be an unhappy christmas for the doctor?
More information about the christmas special to be revealed later.
Monday, 19 September 2016
Mortal Kombat XL : Play Online
MORTAL KOMBAT XL : ONLINE PLAYER VS PLAYER MATCHES
Online player vs player Mortal Kombat XL matches start on the 29th September. I start off with a few player vs player matches to get me started. Ranked matches I'm a bit inexperienced to do those as I don't know who I will be up against, and most players are more experienced than me and I don't want to set myself up to lose.
Thought I'd try out a few things in Player matches, see how that goes and then progress if I feel I'm improving. As far as my online stats go, it's at a 52% win rate, so I'm not doing too bad.
Online matches start on Thursday 29th September.
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