#39 The curtain of the stars
Featuring BeReal, Neanderthals and Kevin O'Neill
Issue #39 The curtain of the stars
7th December 2022
Hey hey!
Chris Mead here. Nice to have you along for the ride.
I've had a really interesting week. The temperature has dropped dramatically here in the Surrey Hills, which means Radio and I have been treated to some beautiful morning runs with the frost still sparkling in the gorse and heather.
Improv-wise, I've booked trips to Israel, Amsterdam and Birmingham and had the opportunity to coach some impressive teams both in London and online. To top it off, I performed a Duologue show with one of my oldest and dearest improv friends, Jinni Lyons.
Jinni and I have been performing together since our first shortform team in 2010, and being back on stage with her felt effortless and joyful. It's a gift to play with people who know you that well.
And speaking of gifts, here are my recommendations for this week...
Rule of three
[App] BeReal
I love this new approach to social media. Every day, you take one picture (from both your front and back cameras simultaneously) at a random time specified by the app. This means that you can't prepare or filter what's happening in your life - and you get a snapshot of what all your friends are doing at the same moment.
I love the concept, but I need more people to join. If you're tempted, you can find me at BeRe.al/mrchrismead.
[Video] Neanderthals
This is my second favourite YouTube clip of all time. It is from a BBC documentary about Neanderthals and is utterly sincere in what it tries to do. No one here was trying to create comedy perfection, but that is what they ended up doing. ONE-TWO-THREE!!!!
[Artist] Kevin O'Neill
To my shame, I knew very little of Kevin O'Neill's work before I learned that he had died last month. He was an institution in British comics, and his run on Nemesis the Warlock is the stuff of legends. I knew him primarily for his work with Alan Moore on The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The poem Moore wrote for his departed friend really touched me.
Spotlight on longform thoughts
Work is winding down for the year, so instead, I'm turning my attention to 2023. I'm planning a range of new improv classes - both in person and online - and want to get a sense of what people might be interested in doing. If you have time, please fill in this 2-minute survey - I'll be scheduling new classes based on what people are excited about exploring. Okiloveyoubuhbye!
Radio Days
Radio loves sitting on our bed and watching the world go by.
PS - Ok, fine, this is my FAVOURITE YouTube clip of all time.