Deadline Pressure | The Friday(ish) Update

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Friday Update, in which I give a little insight into what I’ve been up to for the past seven days.

What have I been up to this week?

Anyone who read last week’s edition of the Friday Update will know that I spent a bunch of last week in Italy with some friends.

Well, this week it’s been back to reality. Which was initially a bit of a bump. On my first day back, I tried to walk to the bakery to get some lunch in my sandals—not particularly thinking about the fact that it’s a bit more inclined to rain here in the UK than in Italy…

Ever since, I’ve had my nose down in my laptop furiously typing scripts for two projects: our election special and Boomers, my Nebula Original feature-length documentary.

Both of these projects are now imminent which is certainly piling the pressure on.

The election video is due to go out next Sunday, whilst I jet off to start filming Boomers on Sunday 1st July.

Deadline pressure is a bit of a constant in my job.

In theory, I set most of my deadlines myself; however, the economic realities of making videos for the internet means I can’t keep working on projects for ever.

I also have other creatives who are often waiting for me to send scripts or briefs or audio or footage to them so they can do their jobs.

And, with projects like Boomers or the election video, there are sometimes real-world events which releases need to tie-in with which won’t be delayed just for little old me!

So, the pressure’s certainly on! But I’ll try not to let it get to me too much, I promise!

And outside of work?

I came back from Italy pretty inspired.

After many years of making fresh pasta at home, I decided the time had come to make a cannelloni.

(If, like me, you also grew up in a house that was somewhat culinarily limited, cannelloni is basically a big pasta parcel containing a sauce. It’s effectively a slightly fussy lasagna)

While my wife and her family went out for a nice Spring walk, then, I set about getting every single pot we own out the cupboard to bot only make some pasta dough and roll it into shape, but also to make two separate sauces: bolognaise for inside and a white sauce for glazing the pasta with.

On top of all that, I also decided to bake a loaf of herby bread too.

I have a habit of being a little over-ambitious when it comes to cooking big meals. And this was no exception.

I had been planning on doing a bit of reading and relaxing that day too; but that wasn’t quite to be!

Nevertheless, it’s always fun to have the opportunity to cook for a whole bunch of people and I thought it turned out alright!

My béchamel sauce was maybe a bit thick, but it’s good to have something to improve upon for next time…

Above: Cannelloni. Not mine, unfortunately...

What have I been reading/watching/listening to?

This weekend, I’m taking part in a panel at a local politics festival.

Exeter Transformed is part of the The World Transformed network of events here in the UK.

They’re a series of events in which left-leaning folks can get together and talk ideas and strategy; commiserate and inspire one another.

I was asked to take part in a panel about anti-fascism in popular culture.

The particular focus is on Andor, and so I’ve been rewatching that.

It’s reassuring to know that Andor holds up really well. I’m a bit fatigued by Star Wars and superhero films and the like at the moment.

But, it’s great to see that, even in a context where franchises are so dominant, it’s still possible to do something exciting.

Some of you will know the work of Ken Loach. Loach is a radical filmmaker from the UK whose work includes The Wind That Shakes the Barley and Land and Freedom.

Both those films fictionalise real revolutions: the former the Irish War of Independence and the latter the Spanish Civil War.

Loach’s style tends to involve very human, compelling narrative arcs which nevertheless contain moments in which characters will take time to discuss the political dynamics of the events they’re a part of.

This has the effect of ensuring his films are a bit of an education. You both feel emotionally connected to the characters in the film whilst coming away with a real sense of the political forces and desires fuelling the events featured.

Watching it again, it’s clear the extent to which Andor is just a Ken Loach film but set in space. There are plenty of similar moments where the action stops to really dig into the politics of the Star Wars universe.

Combined with the more “gritty”, realistic aesthetic, it’s interesting to see a show take the concept of a futuristic fascist landscape seriously.

It’s also interesting to spot the various real-world rebellions and repressions it draws from. I’m thinking in particular of a moment in the first episode where the residents of Andor’s home planet bank metal on the ground to signal the police are coming; something which Catholic communities in the north of Ireland did during the Troubles.

I do think it’s worth remembering that it’s still only a film; and particularly only a Star Wars film. Even as someone who spent much of my young adulthood making politically-oriented art, I think there is a hard limit on the real-world impact these things can have.

Nevertheless, an interesting show, which I enjoyed just as much on second watching.

Thanks as ever for your generous support and I’ll look forward to updating you more next week!!