#9 Precision engineered to make you smile
Issue #9 Precision engineered to make you smile
11th May 2022
Knock, knock. Who is there? Me. Me Who? Chris Mead
What a week!
I've had an amazing time exploring the harmonious relationship between improv and acting for video games with Mark Estdale of OMUK. I've had the pleasure of watching Mark work with actors in his studio and even had the opportunity to lead an impromptu improv demonstration at a big conference organised by The Voiceover Network.
There'll be a lot more to say about this collaboration in due course but for now I'll simply state that I'm overjoyed to be working on a project that combines my love of improv with my love of video games.
And to top it off, as you receive this, I'm on a plane to Rome for the fabulous Welcome! Festival - playing with Project2 and teaching my beloved Emotional Connection workshop.
Onwards and upwards!
Rule of three
[TV] Doctor Who
Doctor Who is my absolute favourite thing in the whole of time & space. In many ways it defines my outlook on life - I've adored it since I was in primary school. This week Ncuti Gatwa was announced as the new Doctor. I couldn't be happier with that choice (although I still think Lydia West would have smashed it). Gatwa has such range - he is the perfect Doctor - funny, kind, smart and capable of such depth, vulnerability and compassion. If you've never seen Doctor Who then let me recommend the Season 5 opener The Eleventh Hour (UK/Elsewhere) as an excellent introduction. All you need to know before watching is that the Doctor has just completely regenerated his body to avoid dying and now has a new persona.
[Music] Cate's Brother
Nothing can lift my mood like a perfectly crafted pop song. This year, my vote for song of the summer goes to Cate's Brother by Maisie Peters. It's been a wild ride watching the song being written almost in real time on Tiktok and the unfolding soap opera of whether Masie is really dating her friend Cate's brother has been intense. Anyway, it's precision engineered to make you smile and owes more than a little of its vibe to Stacy's Mom. Enjoy.
[Blog] Mechanical watch
Ever wondered how the movement of a mechanical watch works? Me neither but in this amazing blog, Bartosz Cienchanowski breaks down the whole process with incredible interactive 3D models. It's such a labour of love and extreme geekiness and I am here for it.
Spotlight
After the success of our last class together, myself and the incredible Stephen Davison are co-teaching another online course. This time we're tackling Crafting deep relationships on stage - it's 4 weeks long and will include all our thinking on physicality, metaphor, language, silence, history and repetition in the service of building grounded relationships in improv. There isn't a subject I've put more time into exploring, so this is very much my happy place and Stephen is such a brilliant, supportive teacher too. Please do join us if this sounds like your cup of tea.
Longform thoughts
Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is not purely coincidental. It is entirely meant. Many of them are real, but they will not act in my story how they would act in theirs. They will be interpreted through me. My ideas, my prejudices, my respect, my privilege. You must understand that as I speak.
Read This is how we will change the world.
Radio days
#nofilter, Radio.