Medb's Booksmart Blog

Electric Picnic 2010

2010-08-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

After a 1 year absence, I allowed my land to rest, and now am heading back to Stradbally County Laois, Ireland for Electric Picnic. I am more grown up now, so will be well prepared - this is not a fashion show people! Get comfortable, and get down with the Electric Proms! Yes, that's right - RTE Concert Orchestra will be performing in the Body & Soul area! Woo hoo.

None of this would be possible without the help of my lovely friend Liz and her friendship with the manager of Mumford & Sons. Conor and I will be the guests of this incredible band.

In the mean time, enjoy this wonderful video of Mumford & Sons singing 'Little Lion Man'. Ben Magahy was Director Of Photography, and he has now been nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for it! GOOD JOB!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLJf9qJHR3E

Weekend At Byrnies

2010-07-27T08:13:00.000-07:00

T - 4 days

Our News, Sunday 25th July 2010

2010-07-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

First blog post of 2010. Hello.

My day has been pretty great so far. I woke up in Deirdre's with a mighty hangover after a full on booze seisiún yesterday in the sunshine in Hanover Square. Deirdre lives quite close to Broadway market, so i thought, well I'll pop down there to see if i can get some super nutricious hangover cure so my stomach will stop being so angry at me.

Sun shining, i trotted off and found a lovely place called Climpson & Sons which apparently is famous and in Time Out and all that but I didnt realise as I've only just started going to Broadway Market. In fact, if I'm honest, I never really knew where it was, and there are so many other awesome markets that I just gave it a miss. Like when you go to your favourite restaurant and don't try the fish everyone raves about because you just know that the duck is so goddamn delicious that you will definitely enjoy it.

Anyway... at the till, there was a hairy boy from Ireland. Whenever Irish people in London meet, they act like long lost friends - this is one of my favourite things about this mad city. So Steve and I shook hands, I ordered but I appeared to have a lot of change. I walked out of the shop with a delicious looking grilled haloumi and hummus sandwich (see picture attached) but no coffee as I thought Steve musnt have heard me, as I appear to have only paid for the delicious sandwich. I didnt mind and didnt want to embarrass Steve.

I sit on the step and next thing i hear "medb! you forgot your coffee" - "oh i'm so hungover thank you" - "no worries Medb!" - "Thanks Steve!"

So free coffee, delicious sandwich and a new Irish friend. Good times :)

I then met lovely Ben who was DOP on the last commercial I did for TCP who told me he and his very cute daughter had just been swimming in the Lido of London Fields. He also told me that he might know of a DOP who will work on Elizabeth's short film for free! GREAT NEWS!

After that, I walked down towards Columbia Road flower market with a quick stop in the garden of Hackney City Farm where I learned that Thyme is good for chest infections.

At Columbia Road I bought mom these lovely salad servers made of coco wood that apparently are heat and moisture proof and ethically sourced. I should have bought flowers but I'm not very good at keeping them - and carrying flowers in the heat and on the tube is never that fun.

Maybe when I move to London Fields, I will have fresh flowers every Sunday as the walk is not too long. After a day like today, it is clear that London Fields is the place I should live. New friends, great food, lovely flowers, a farm and a swimming pool all on your doorstep. Awesome.

Happy Birthday Karen

2009-12-06T08:04:00.000-08:00

A word from our sponsors....

Be Italian....

2009-12-04T02:21:00.000-08:00

This will be the greatest film of the year by far. And Daniel Day Lewis is, again, the most charismatic man in film.

Beeeeee Iiiiiiitalian!!!!

Merry Christmas from Sainsbury's

2009-11-13T03:34:00.000-08:00

It's finished, and it went on air last night... the Sainsbury's 60second commercial that took over my life for 4 weeks. Its got some nice reviews too!

"Peter Cattaneo of Academy pulls off a delicate balancing act with some aplomb as Jamie Oliver appears to be delivering the spirit of Christmas in person as he travels the land in an articulated lorry. In quite a subtle way, this ad appears to acknowledge the sense of hardship but urges us to use Christmas to escape from it for a little while."
http://www.davidreviews.com/DRBlog.asp?BlogID=474

Academy Lunch Series

2009-11-12T08:23:00.000-08:00

11th November - Academy Salad made by Lucy G (head chef), Lucy K, Kerry, Sam, Medb

Salad:
Prawn
Grilled Haloumi
Coriander
Lime
Rice Noodles
Spring Onions
Cucumber
Avocado
Mixed Leaves
Pumpkin Seeds

Dressing:
Rice Wine Vinegar
Lime
Sesame Seeds
Chilli

You Know You've Made It When....

2009-11-12T04:33:00.000-08:00

You're the Spot The Difference celebrity in the London Lite.

I take my hat off to you Whitmore.

Boring...

2009-11-12T02:50:00.001-08:00

Love of my Life
Bare my child
Everything I've ever wanted...

Boring.

Invictus

2009-11-05T05:41:00.000-08:00

Awh man, this is gonna be great! I've already shed a tear and that was just the trailer! Amazing.

Prague

2009-11-04T04:43:00.001-08:00

I had a lovely time in Prague. The fajitas were particularly delicious. And Conor looked lovely in the cold.

Terry Tate - Office Linebacker

2009-11-04T04:30:00.001-08:00

"I don't got time for pain. The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is"

Word.

Ella

2009-10-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

This is probably one of the most amazing music performances I've seen... and wanted to share it.

Incredible.

The Good and The Bad

2009-10-16T05:55:00.000-07:00

The Bad: When an artist commisions their own video and gets their brother to direct it
The Good: When the public get to watch it, and laugh together breaking down all social barriers, and mending years of anger and pain...

Amazing.

There's no Business like Show Business...

2009-10-15T16:26:00.000-07:00

While in the blogging mood, I would like to congratulate King of Kings (of Music Video), my FAVOURITE Dane and in the top 5 huggers of all time, Mr. Martin De Thurah for his SENSATIONAL performance at the Music Video Awards in London 2 nights ago, where he picked up:

Best Cinematography (DOP Lasse Frank)
Best Visual Effects
Best Pop Video for Will Young 'Changes'

and..

BEST DIRECTOR!!! (of ALL SHOWBUSINESS AND THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT I LOVE MARTIN)

and to

KIMMY! (Gehrig) who won

Best Urban Video for Wiley 'Cash in my Pocket'

and to

TIMMY (Nash) who won

Best Commisioner for the 2nd year running - aces

Links to Martin's incredible reel, proving his amazingness is here:
http://www.academyfilms.com/flash/#/music_videos/martin_de_thurah/

And to Kim's incredible reel, proving her amazingness, click here:
http://www.academyfilms.com/flash/#/academy/music_videos/kim_gehrig/

Garlicious Times

2009-10-15T16:12:00.000-07:00

I'm interrupting this period of silence, induced by the madness that is Sainsbury's 'Truck' commercial - AKA the evil Christmas Spirit, sent to Earth to test my loyalty to my favourite holiday - to introduce the world to my new favourite bar in London, only discovered tonight with Chris, Lucy, Louis, Kerry, Ellie and Dave. Its name is 'Garlic and Shots' and it is on Frith Street in Soho. Thanks be to Jebus I didnt meet Conor in the end tonight.

This bar has over 100 different shots, all containing fermented, delicious, insane garlic. You walk in smelling nice, and smelling dinner in the air, and you walk out smelling fresh air, and stinking like an underground train in Beijing.

I had:
1 x Vodka Cranberry (v. normal - so normal, in fact, I couldn't finish it, and Louis 'The Bin' Ellison helped me)
2 x Blood Shot*
1/2 x loaf (yes LOAF) of Garlic Bread
1/2 x bowl of Garlic Potato Skins

And it has a fully heated delicious beer garden that has a porthole to the kitchen. And it plays Norwegian Death Metal.... I have yet to find a flaw... except ordering vodka cranberry... seriously lacked garlic goodness....

Amazing.

*Blood Shot consists of vodka, tomato juice, entire clove of garlic, half a tub of chilli flakes, salt and pepper in one small shot glass - yes, i said entire clove of garlic

Best. Job. Ever.

2009-10-01T02:19:00.000-07:00

Three of my favourite things, together, creating the perfect job for me.

OH MY GOD! CHRISTMAS, FOOD, JAMIE OLIVER!!

I'm very excited about the prospect of working on this commercial. Christmas begins right here, folks!

xxxxxxx

The Battle of the X-Factor Graduates

2009-09-29T07:43:00.000-07:00

So... who wins? Laura, the underdog - who hasn't had the massive push behind her complete with expensive music video, and cameo from Hip Hop Star of the Month - has created quite a tune. Will she be as big as Alexandra? Only you will decide.... or not you, because you probably don't care. Meh... it's worth a listen.

Here is a link to Alexandra's video. Go compare. MAN the styling is rubbish:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li_nzTVYpk8

Oh and in other news, here is a link to Diana Vickers' current occupation:
http://tinyurl.com/ycvp3ny

Morto.

ALL IS NOT LOST!

2009-09-28T01:45:00.000-07:00

"Regretfully, we have had to close JoBurger in Blackrock. Despite our best efforts, it was unviable, even with the support of our brilliant staff and many loyal customers. We are working with our creditors to achieve the best possible financial resolution for all. JoBurger Rathmines is unaffected and we look forward to welcoming you there for your JoBurger fix!! "

GO NOW, TO JO'BURGER, AND EAT ALL YOU CAN!

Here is a link to the delicious menu

http://www.menupages.ie/restaurants/joburger/menu.aspx

I <3 iChat

2009-09-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

iChat is great - its much better than Skype. When Lucy Kelly was away in Italy, shooting the new Flake commercial, myself and Louis had a great old chat with her, while she was in a palace in the Italian countryside, and it was just like she was in the room. We missed her a lot, so it made the loneliness a little bit more bearable.

I have also managed to pick up TWO vintage nighties from the 70s, thanks to the Flake shoot. Free chocolate, free clothes. Amazing.

Happy Birthday Guinness!

2009-09-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

250 years old today!

To all you foreigners, here is how to pour a Guinness:

"It has to be poured three-quarters full and then left to settle until a clear line between the dark liquid and the head, known as the Bishop's Collar, is formed, before being topped up – the famous two-part pour. The whole process should take 119 seconds, 90 seconds given over to the liquid-settling phase."

All the single babies...

2009-09-24T03:34:00.000-07:00

Something funny for this Thursday morning after a 20hour work day yesterday. Thanks Norton!

El Oh El.

Desert Storm

2009-09-23T07:04:00.000-07:00

If the people of Sydney see any of the following, alert officials and run for a bunker:

a) leather clad mel gibson
b) metal clad tina turner
c) the thunderdome

The New Sugababe

2009-09-22T13:33:00.003-07:00

Weird faced, shame spiral Eurovision entry, Jade Ewen. Amele should've stayed kidnapped.

Do what you want.... within reason

2009-09-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

Eoin and Alex

My good friend Alex said that 2008 was "the year for doing whatever you want... within reason*". My friend Eoin Kavanagh and I have an issue with obligation. I'm 27 now, and I think that this should be at the age... no actually, I think 25, should be the age... that we should be able to turn to friends, acquaintances, random work colleagues and say "Your activity sounds great... for you! Have a good time, and if I can make it, I will! But if I can't, don't hold it against me".

Let's all just agree that what might be exciting to me may not be exciting to you, so just do what you want, and let's not get offended.

(but obviously be there for someone if they need you to)

End of rant.

*reason being staying within our moral standards, eg not killing people

Zzzzz....

2009-09-18T02:21:00.000-07:00

Will there ever be a job where you have TOO much money and TOO much time to prep it?? Tuesday shoot, still no confirmation, and waaaay too little money.

There goes the weekend....

(gotta have a yawning hippo)

Chairman Dave

2009-09-16T04:40:00.000-07:00

Chairman Dave is back in Europe to promote communism and party. Welcome home Chairman Dave!

The Good and The Bad

2009-09-16T04:37:00.001-07:00

As with every job, there is good and bad. The good part of my job is that we are doing a commercial for Flake and there are about 6 million Flakes in my office.

The bad part of my job is that it's always Flake time, and I feel permanently sick.

Tough times.

Keith Floyd makes it number 3

2009-09-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

What a dark day, September 14th. Lets raise our glasses for the original celebrity chef... RIP

Douche

2009-09-15T05:44:00.000-07:00

Just a little addition:

- Carrying Hennessy up the red carpet, holding hands with the She-lizard, does not make you Biggy Smalls.

Douche.

Incredibly sad times...

2009-09-15T02:14:00.000-07:00

Just like June 25 - the day of Jackson and Fawcett - yesterday saw the death of not just Patrick Swayze, but Irish middleweight olympic medal winner, Darren Sutherland. He committed suicide - so sad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Sutherland

He's like the wind...

2009-09-15T01:55:00.000-07:00

Sad times... Patrick Swayze - 80s Hearthrob,singer, actor, weird modern dancer...

The perfect hangover cure

2009-09-15T01:42:00.000-07:00

1) Ham n Cheese Pret Croissant
2) Monmouth Coffee
3) Berocca

Solpadeine may also be added into the mix on a very bad day.

That's so gay...

2009-09-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry, I know it's offensive to many... but seriously...

this ad is so gay...

Freak or Unique?

2009-09-14T03:19:00.000-07:00

So as everyone knows, Kanye is a total Douche. And his jumping on stage escapades are nothing new to us.

BUT.... Single Ladies WAS one of the best videos of the year (although he states ever - that might be pushing it). BUT I do love a bit of Taylor Swift.

Overall, it's a total Mort-fest for Kanye, but was he right?

Here is the incident:
http://tinyurl.com/p3g5eo

Here is another 'classic Kanye' moment:
http://tinyurl.com/2kpfbl

Our News, Monday the 14th September

2009-09-14T02:22:00.001-07:00

Today's Happenings... finish wrap of last weeks shoot. Hope that I dont get put on another job for a week or so, so can do things like create a blog.

Over the weekend, I experienced a couple of bumrushes.

Bumrush the 1st:
http://www.joburger.ie/
Jo'Burger - Dublin's best reasonably priced restaurant, and the sole contributer to 2007's Great Weight Gain, is in danger of shutting down. This is horribly uncool, as when it opened, I assured Conor, (he who has a degree in restaurants and hotelerating), that this restaurant was a sure fire winner for the following reasons:
It's the best burger i've had in any country any where at any time
It hit the nail on the head, mixing youf culture and good food, with great design and environmentally conscious menus
The owner was sound
It completely lacked any sort of pretensions, despite the fact that it was clearly the coolest place to eat in Dublin
It had things like this on the menu "Caramelised chili banana, bacon & goats cheese on a burger". Spooge.

Unfortunately, Jo'Burger has been hit by the global economic blah blah, and now is appealing to the high court for an injunction or something legal. It sounds like a I know what I'm talking about, but I dont. But read this:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/examiner-appointed-to-award-winning-dublin-restaurant-425625.html

Now, vote here to save the Bacon ... and beef... and incredible veggie burgers... and all the brie ... and...

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Cp5BWilMYG4vWH6aYU69dA_3d_3d

Bumrush the 2nd:
On a less serious, but still annoying note, I realised late last night that this weekend was the 18th, not the 25th. This affects me in 2 ways.
1) White Wedding is NOT on this weekend, and I now have nothing to look forward to:
http://www.whiteweddingclub.com/
2) I am not getting paid this Friday, meaning that the nothing i had planned will turn into doing nothing. Rubbing pennies together will not create Ducktails Style pool of money to leap into.

Boring.