#12 Decorated with thousands of human skulls
Issue #12 Decorated with thousands of human skulls
1st June 2022
Chris Mead, reporting for duty.
So I'm back from the Czech Republic with a head full of ideas and fizzing with the possibilities.
I had a hugely inspirational time meeting game devs, eating pork belly, learning why Brno rings noon at 11am and visiting a church basement decorated with thousands of human skulls.
This week, I'm meeting up with Katy Schutte to plan something very ambitious and very exciting.
But for now, please allow me to recommend the following...
Rule of three
[Article] Showrunners
Absolutely fascinated by this Vice article about the rise of the idea of “showrunner” in the public consciousness. I was particularly struck by how little understood the role is, especially by the people who are asked to do it. (Image is Arcane on Netflix which I also heartily recommend)
[Game] Unpacking
I met the wonderful couple who conceived, wrote, designed and programmed this brilliant indie game at Games Access last week. They were a delight and so is this zen puzzler about the things we own and the people we become. The storytelling is particularly beautiful, told elegantly through the items you are asked to unpack at different moments in the protagonist's life.
[Podcast] Dead Eyes
In 2001, Connor Ratliff was fired from a small part in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by none other than Tom Hanks. The reason given was that he had 'dead eyes' in his audition tape. In this podcast, Connor sets out to discover why with all the seriousness and journalistic integrity of a well-researched true crime podcast. The result is funny, compassionate, deep thinking and utterly compelling. Listen from episode one and don't read ahead.
Spotlight
Bit of a grab bag this week. Join me as I break my own rule of only mentioning one thing I'm promoting by offering the following enticements
I'm performing at Hoopla this Saturday 4th June with the mighty Paul Foxcroft and our show Duologues presents Outpost
There are precisely 2 tickets remaining for Improv Cinema Club (as well as the 2 free Bursary tickets)
The excellent Stephen Davidson and I still have a number of tickets left for our online class Crafting deep relationships on stage
Longform thoughts
"And I know I’ll never sing like Rhiannon or play characters like Cariad or think as quickly as Katy but that’s alright. There are other things I can do better than them. Like jump chairs."
Read Jealousy in Improv in full.
Radio days
Are you sleeping comfortably, Radio?