Sean and I had been asked by the people at the brit comic 2000AD to attend the convention dressed as Judges from the realm of Judge Dredd to help raise the profile of the stand. It took us months to make/get the costumes together and there still is some work to be done but we got the costumes to a standard that was good enough for the event. I would say 99% of the attendee's knew what were dressed as and absolutely raved about the costumes. Every single comment about the costumes was positive apart from 2 which was from Sean and myself! The costumes weren't exactly how we would have liked them because we are sticklers for detail. We had so many pictures taken we were dizzy from turning around to pose for photo's!
Judge Hershey and LopezAs the event was so huge we hardly saw anything we wanted to and looking at video's on youtube were amazed at how much we didn't see! We did get to meet lots of people and meet up with a couple of friends. We got several amazing compliments from some of the artists in attendance which means a lot. The 2000AD stand did really well and had the best year at the Con they've ever had! It's nice to think we might of had something to do with that and help raise the profile of the comic.
Hoping that we will be attending next years Con plus many more!
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On October 9th, Valencia was treated to a highly authentic recreation of 1428’s civic cavalcade, originally commissioned by Alfonso the Magnanimous to honor the memory of King James I. Over 700 characters lined the city streets, just as in 1428 as medieval musicians, banner twirlers, performers, costume characters, gigantic bulls, soldiers and over 100 horses carrying Lords and Ladies, standard bearers, light cavalry and 15 heavily armoured knights.Almost 100,000 people lined the streets and endured the rain to watch this amazing spectacle which wound its way across the old medieval part of Valencia. This years celebrations were the biggest ever (and expensive 500,000 Euros) as it commemorated the 800th anniversary of the birth of King James I.
I was one of the 15 knights at the front of the parade on a beautiful horse called Thiea (I've spelt it how it sounds!) All along the route flags marking the heraldry of the knights lined the streets, they matched the beautiful 'caparisons' (horse coverings) on the knights horses.
The weather sadly was not on our side and the rain got gradually heavier. This unfortunately effected the parade as many events that were arranged along the route had to be cancelled. One of these events was a performance in a large marbled Plaza, but due to the wet making it treacherous under foot for the horses it didn't happen. It was around here that some of the horses lost their footing but thankfully no horse or riders were seriously injured. Also a grand firework display was due to end the parade but was also called off, all this effected the timing of the parade which ended earlier than hoped.
Thankfully the crowds were so enthusiastic and never stopped cheering and waving all the way around and so many photos were taken. There is some television footage of the event, it is a little long winded and of course all in Spanish but it certainly will give you an idea of how big and exciting the event was. You can see me every now and then in the parade if your quick enough! Here is the link Televison Footage.
After the parade and back at the museum, formally a medieval convent with a lovely open courtyard was where the participants of the parade were based, we dried off and packed up our kit ready for the journey back. We then had about a 15 minute MAD walk back to where we were staying, now that doesn't sound mad and the distance wasn't, it was what was happening with the weather that was!! The rain at the start of the parade had now turned into one of the craziest storms I have ever witnessed. Thunder and lightening hit Valencia big time and the rain was unbelievable! I since learned that 6cm fell in an hour and in total approx 20cm rain fell causing floods all over the Valencian region. Sean and I had to walk back in this, so I wore a bin liner over my tophalf and my medieval leggings were open to the elements. Sean was wrapped in some packing cling film stuff you wrap around packing crates we found in a corner and we stepped out into the flood!
OMG! how wild was that! No word of a lie the water walking back was half way up my shins and filled my fur lined leather caterpillar boots! Ergh!!! Worst of all these were the only boots I had so I had to go home in them the next day! Things were floating past us as we walked along, I half expected to see Sean float past too! When we got back to the hostel the reception was under several inches of water! It was funny until you realised you had soggy clothes to take back home
On the journey back you could tell where I had walked, there were puddle footprints across the departure lounge at the airport!!
Would I do it again, definately! The weather did it's best to put a dampner on the event, and physically it did, but not mentally, it was an experience that doesn't present itself often in ones lifetime.
Thanks to Sean, and Griffin Historical for organising our part of the cavalcade.
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Music DemoJo has recently recorded a singing demo to go on her online acting résumé. She obtained permission from Jeff Wayne Music to use a piece from the Musical version of Jeff Wayne’s “The War of the Worlds”. We thought you might like to hear Jo’s rendition of “Forever Autumn”.
Permission to use the music, lyrics and samples from The War of the Worlds kindly given by
Ollie Record Productions and Jeff Wayne Music Group of Companies
Jeff Wayne and Jo at the NEC Birmingham
Credits:
Songwriters: Paul Vigrass, Gary Osborne and Jeff Wayne
Sound Engineer: Bartus Teknik
New Version Demo Now Online - Jo has re-recorded her vocals for the updated version of the demo and the accompliment has had a couple of tweeks here and there.
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Art DesignPhoto shoot for the Nottingham Evening Post newspaper - Jo attended a press release for the launch of an art competition - Pride of Nottingham. LINK
Jo was invited down in August last year with her friend Tony as Robin Hood and Maid Marion by Nottingham City Council to produce a couple of paintings for a series of images to go on the hoardings that are surrounding the Market Square. The Market Square is currently going through a major overhaul, dignitaries and members of the public were invited to submit a drawing or painting that is associated with a Nottingham image.
Jo's design entitled "Nottingham Beauty"
The images that were selected have been enlarged and printed on boards and are now on display in the centre of Nottingham.
Jo - With no preparation beforehand I was wondering what to do, and with the press and television in attendance there was a bit of pressure too. I normally set out what I am about to paint in advance so I know how I'm going to do things whenever I have done a painting before. I saw a brochure on the table next to me about whats on in Nottingham, as it happened there was an exhibition of Pre-Raphalite paintings at the Castle. I saw an image I liked and within an hour I produced the picture. So if anyone gets a chance to get to Nottingham within the next few months, my artwork is there for all to see! Apologies for the quality of the photo as I only had my mobile phone handy to take the photo.
Update* The hoardings have now been removed with the opening of the new market square due on 24th March 2007.*
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Star City Vue Cinema May 19th & 22nd
Finally the long awaited, last piece of the Star Wars jigsaw, Episode III Revenge of the Sith. With high expectations the fans were selling out screens weeks in advance breaking Vue box office records. Birmingham's Star City was no exception kicking off with a midnight showing on Wednesday 18th May. This special screening saw a group of Stormtroopers and Darth Vader making an appearance, this was greeted with much delight by the fans.With Jo having finally acquired her own stromtrooper armour, she attended the opening night of the film on Thursday 19th. Along side Jo's stormtrooper were Qui Gon Jinn and a couple of Jedi's.
The evenings promotion started on a high with the 7.30pm screening being totally sold out. As Jo and the Jedi's entered the screen the fans roared with approval! The fans were already buzzing waiting for the film to start, upon seeing Star Wars characters in front of them, this just added to the excitement of the evening. During the rest of the evening fans were able to meet the characters and have their photo's taken, as well as witnessing high speed light sabre fights! Jo and company certainly made a lot of Star Wars fans evening complete by bringing some of the characters to life and being there for all to see.
Sunday evening saw the return of the characters to the cinema for a final appearance on the opening weekend. Again the fans responded very positively and really appreciated the chance of seeing the characters up close. Many photos were taken and fans were greeted as they entered the screen by Jedi's and Jo's stormtrooper. One fan upon entering the screen joking said to Jo, "I suppose you are going to escort me to my seat", upon hearing this Jo did so in front of the sold out screen. When the guy turned around to say something to Jo, she in true stormtrooper fashion pushed him along before he could say anything much to the delight of the audience.
Yet again the weekends performance by the group went down very well with the cinema and the fans. The force was strong in the cinema that weekend!!
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