Building the Pyramid

Hey all,

Been a while I know and slack on my behalf but hey.....who's gonna discipline me? you?

Anyways, wanted to write a little bit about my experiences recording my new show 'Pyramid' for Channel 9.

Having filmed Kids' WB now for 3 and a half years I've been very used to that concept. Studio based fun with a co-host introducing cartoons, reading out letters and running competitions. Not to mention the ritual humiliation that is my life as a children's television host. So finding out that I was to host my own show with a much more adult based concept was an exciting and different proposition. I first learnt about Pyramid by looking it up on Youtube where I found out it has been running in the US for nearly 30 years and the current version is hosted by none other than Donny Osmond! Don't know who that is? Neither, but he sounded big and famous. The only difference between the two shows is that theres is an adult show and we had adapted this version for kids.

The premise of the show is this: two teams of two kids are going head to head over 3 rounds to eventually face the final Pyramid for the day's prizes. Helping them out through the first 3 rounds are 'celebrity' guests whos only job is to give and receive clues and generally provide entertainment. Now I know what you're thinking. You're thinking "Shura, how many 'celebrities' can you possibly have on a show like this, and what calibre or 'celebrity' did you get?". Good question, well asked and nice grammar I might say. Then I'll tell you this. Obviously in this country the term 'celebrity' applies to many a genre. Oh yes we love to celebrate a reality tv star, sportsperson and little known actor, but that's fine because it made the show all the more interesting. So with names like Yumi Stynes (Channel V/Max host), Craig Lowndes (V8 Supercar driver), Emily Seebohm (Gold medallist swimmer), Charli Delaney (Ex-Hi5), the entire cast of the Shak, my co-host Heidi from Kids' WB and many many more big name guests we were on our way. I might add Stephen Bradbury came on the show. Yup. A bloke who won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics 10 years ago cos everyone fell over.......ok.

So I digress. The way the game works is this. In each round there are 6 categories on the board (or pyramid). Each team goes 3 times in each round. When a team member chooses a category there are 6 related words they need to guess behind that category. Confused yet? Good. So for example the category might be: "Feeling Hot Hot Hot" and the category is "Animals found in hot places". The celebrity then has 30 seconds to describe as many of the 6 words as possible without saying that word, without saying it rhymes with, and without saying it starts with the letter. So the words might be: giraffe, crocodile, lizard, kangaroo, snake, camel. Each time the celeb can use their voice or their body language to describe the word. You can imagine it's pretty funny watching someone like Blair McDonough trying to describe snake to a school kid.

In the first two rounds the celebrities give the clues to the kids and in round 3 the kids give the clues back to the celebs. Of course it's a different entity when a kid tries to describe a word considering the different levels of vocab and education.

My role was really just to keep the show together. To come into the teams between each round, decribe what the category is, come in at the end of the round, try and be witty and give a score. The biggest test for me was that there was no script, no autocue and no definite way of doing it because naturally the game is different in every round due to how many answers the kids get correct, what they say and where the game is at. Certainly kept me on my toes. Especially the being witty bit. When in doubt, bag yourself! I know I did.

In the final pyramid the team that won heads in alone, without any celebrity help. This time round the teammates are trying to guess the category rather than the words. So in this case one team member is facing the pyramid and listing heaps of different words, ie: shoes, socks, flippers, boots etc etc. And their teammate is trying to guess "things that go on your feet". Every answer correct is a prize.

Ok so have I described the game enough? Probably. Does it make no sense. Definitely. Do you have to watch the show when it's on. Up to you. I guess I really just wanted to give you an idea of what it's all about. It's meant to air sometime in September but I can't confirm anything right now, it was originally meant for July but you know how tv is. Don't you? Neither.

In my next post I wanna give you some of the highlights of shooting this show because there were some of the funniest and most ambiguous pieces of tv that I've ever been involved with and sure to make you laugh.

Until then my friends. Say hi to your mummy for me (bad Egyptian Pyramid joke)

'Nuff Said

Just car

Not a huge rant or rave this time. Just an appreciation of two 'athletes' who can drive/ride a vehicle with the best of them. You've got to think when you watch videos like this, how many times have they crashed or hurt themselves? However when the end result is as good as this all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the show.

Ken Block's driving skills
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ7R_buZPSo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fhansdc.word
and
Danny Macaskill's bike prowess
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o

Too much talent

'Nuff said

Back Out from the Out Back

It's hard to know how to document an adventure such as this. It was so many things and so many experiences rolled in to one I hope I can do it justice. All I want to make sure I do is effectively describe the differing emotions, interactions and the confronting nature of the trip, all while painting an appropriate picture.

So here goes.

After landing in Alice Springs the Red Dust team settled at the hotel and got to know one another. From Alice there were going to be 3 different tours to three towns to the west of Alice: Areyonga, Kintore and Yuendemu. I was going to Areyonga with Kyle Vander-Kuyp, Linley Frame, Darren Smith, renowned photographer David Callow and 3 Vodafone representatives. We were briefed on the town and what to expect, and all those who had never been on a tour were given a thorough education on what to expect, ie. what you can and can't say or do. It was also important to have a little understanding on the history of the place and of the people and also to recognise some of the confronting things we may see on the trip. I must say I was a little nervous but undoubtedly excited to get out there.

The next day we headed off west out of Alice Springs and toward Hermannsberg (which happens to be the hometown of famous Aboriginal painter Albert Namintjira and the birthplace of my dentist!?!). Once at Hermannsberg it was dirt track all the way to Areyonga. I drove with Kyle and we talked sport the whole way and also about his experiences on these tours and his own background being an indigenous man brought up by a white adopted family. Coincidentally I hurdled at school and looked up to Kyle as my coach had been one of his training mates. We got along very well.

One of the main messages we'd been given was to sit back and observe when we arrived and not to expect the kids to know or trust us straight away, however the members who had been out before like Kyle, Linley and Darren were well known in the community and you saw that impact immediately. I was blown away as we drove into this tiny picturesque town tucked between two mountains, as kids and adults ran up to the car to greet the crew and yelled out to their mates "red dust's here, red dust's here!". From that point I realised how much of an impact this charity had made on this community.

So much for sit back and observe. After 5 minutes in the town I was playing basketball with a couple of the kids and no more than 15 minutes later I was being used as a stepladder, climbing frame and pommelhorse all in one. I could tell straight away these kids were incredibly tactile. It seemed as long as you were wearing the Red Dust tee-shirt you were accepted as a friend in this community.

So, onto the program.

Basically we had a house in town in which the 9 of us chucked our swags and slept and ate in, but most of our time was spent in the school. Each morning we'd get up and head straight there to start helping the kids. First off was to ensure they ate their breakfast which is something not all of the kids do. Then we needed to ensure they blew their noses and cleaned out their ears, which is such a seemingly obvious thing to us but hasn't yet become the norm to these kids. We'd always start the day with a warm-up and stretch, ably delivered by Kyle and at these moments I was usually running the warm up with at least one child on my shoulders. Then during the day our role was to be in the class room assisting in any way we could. That could mean helping them read, write or just understand the lesson. These were incredible experiences. I'm no teacher but being able to help a child who's English is only just starting to develop, felt really good. By this point we had started to build a fantastic rapport with the kids and I felt my time was going to be worthwhile. In between classes there were plenty of games of football, four square, hop scotch, basketball and general gallivanting around and everyone seemed to be having a great time. After a day or so we knew every one of the 40 or so kids there's names off by heart. It was also great to learn that attendance at school goes up when Red Dust's in town, so I felt perhaps the message was starting to get through.

I don't want to rattle on too long but I want to share one thing which made this experience all the more special. After school would finish at around 3, we'd head home for lunch and in no time we'd have 15 or more kids in our front yard yelling out to come out so they could show us around. They wanted to share their native education with us and we were only more than happy to oblige. They took us to the top of the closest mountain, named 'Helicopter Hill' and to the local water hole where they told us stories of the 'Rainbow Serpent' and other local myths and legends. It was truly brilliant to be let into their world. The other thing that was so amazing about these children was firstly the fact that they are completely devoid of any of the materialistic urges in our society. I gave one kid my hat to keep and by the end of the day 14 other kids had worn it. They just don't have the idea of 'ownership' that our western society has. Secondly, the kids want to take your camera and take photos. Often it disappears for hours but it ALWAYS comes back and always in perfect nick and usually with some brilliant photos on it. Those two things really drew me to love these kids.

The funny thing about the whole experience is that I really feel as though I've only scratched the surface. I've now formed some incredible friendships and relationships with these kids and I need to go back again, otherwise I feel they were all formed in vain. If I don't get to go back and help these kids develop and see the improvement in them, then I feel that I only went for selfish gains. It was so amazingly clear that these communities need our help and are still a long way from functioning at what I see as a socially acceptable level. The evidence of obesity, diabetes and a long list of other problems were glaringly obvious and the government are only beginning to help arrest these trends. With charities like 'Red Dust' doing these sorts of tours I feel as though the gap is closing a little, although much of Australia could afford to go and spend a bit of time with these people to see how fantastic they are and see that all of the negative stereotypes are somewhat of a millstone keeping us from helping more.

Anyway, that's my two cents on it all. Overall it was a brilliant, incredible, often confronting but completely worthwhile experience and I'm so thankful to have shared in it. I will be heading back to Areyonga sometime in the near future and I look forward to seeing how far some of those kids have developed. I believe some of them could really go far if they got proper education and training.

'Nuff Said

For more info check out reddust.org.au

Red Dust Role Models

Tomorrow I am heading to the centre of Australia to a town called Areyonga which is a town close to Alice Springs and home to a small Aboriginal community. It all started last year when I received a phone call from ex-champion Aussie swimmer Linley Frame, who is one of the founders of a charity called 'Red Dust Role Models'. Red Dust is a charity who's intention is to promote positive lifestyle and and healthy life messages through the influence and profile of 'role models' from the wider community. I was touched when they offered me a position on one of their tours to central Australia.

Obviously there are plenty of things that are going to be confronting, challenging and daunting about the whole experience but the reality that it will most likely be completely compelling, uplighting and inspiring has me excited at the prospect. To know that I can perhaps help even a little bit in a community that faces challenges everyday makes me feel positively overjoyed. The biggest thing is learning (and quickly) how I can and can't act and what I can and cannot say etc.

The day we arrive we have a briefing with the team to better understand the culture we are about to enter into. Already I've been doing a bit of research and I'm well aware that my social norms are in many ways different to this community's way of life. Even something as simple as taking a photo needs to be undertaken delicately because many elders never let their photo be taken.

One of my team members is ex-Australian champion hurdler Kyle VanderKuyp and an indigenous Australian himself. What excites me most, apart from the fact I hurdled at school and greatly admired him, is that he will be able to guide me through the ins and outs of dealing with the kids because he's done it all before. I can tell from the videos and photos I've seen that he is adored by the kids and hopefully will be able to help me form some relationships with the children.

It's going to be a culture shock, it's going to take me out of my comfort zone and I think it is going to be one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences of my life. Watch this space as I update you after my trip. I will be taking heaps of photos and filming the experience and hopefully next time I write I'll be able to effectively relay how the whole adventure was.

Anyone wanting more info on Red Dust can go to http://www.reddust.org.au/

'Nuff Said

picture courtesy of: http://www.news.com.au

Iphone Antics

So I was totally against the iphone for a long time. Then I gave in and got one. Now I'm addicted and it's unhealthy and stupid. I mean it's actually a really bad phone, and it's battery life is terrible and the fact that you can't send or receive MMS or take videos is a pain in the tit, however all the apps (wanky iphone term for applications) are just too good not to love. The obvious ones like facebook, google maps, flashlight, online banking and aroundme are all exceptional and useful. Then comes the totally pointless and timewasting apps like mini golf, driving sims and tap tap (copy of guitar hero). Which brings me to the app which I think is possibly the greatest time waster of all time. It's called 'flight control' and although it cost me a few dollars, the dollars it has saved in wasting my braincells on other pursuits cannot be counted. It was created by an Australian dude and as far as I know it's now the most popular app on the iphone.

It's damn simple. Guide the planes onto the runway, the helicopters to the helipad and the small twin props to the smaller runway without crashing any of them, but by golly its got me by the balls.

I guess my point is if you have an iphone, have a spare couple of bucks and have no need to be productive for the next year then get on board this game and you'll be well on your way to procrastination.

'Nuff Said

Image courtesy of: www.allaboutiphone.net

Hokay, so here is de earf...DAM dat is a sweet earf

Hows ya?

So, occasionally in the digital world there are moments of brilliance that bob up and prove that creativity doesn't have to be claimed to be anything more than a moment of inspiration. It doesn't need to be advertisised with a song and dance, all it needs is to be be 'self fulfilling'. Sometimes the viral world does all the leg work for you and this creativity gets spread worldwide with just a few mouse clicks.

One of the best examples of this, at least in my experience, is a website called 'endofworld'. It's just a short, funny cartoon but as yet it's creator has not been found even with extensive searches. At the end of the video someone has placed a disclaimer to try and track down the master of this brilliance, so they can be congratulated. But nothing.

So I guess it's just one of those things that's on the web to just be enjoyed for no other reason than it's pretty damn hilarious. Keep an ear out for the beautiful voice over work from the unnamed creator.

Enjoy: endofworld.net

'Nuff Said

Copycat from Ballarat?

Lady GaGa. She's lovely, she's attractive and she makes slightly annoying fizzy pop music. However, I want to know whether she's also a bit of a music thief, or a sufferer of coincidence.

I can't question her huge hits 'Just Dance' and 'Eh Eh', however with her latest offering 'Love Game' I became suspicious of her credibility.

Before I explain what I'm talking about I need you to be familiar with the incredibly odd but mind blowingly brilliant 'Mighty Boosh' television show. If you're not already familiar I urge you to watch it for your own sake anyways, however for the purpose of this exercise I only ask you to view this piece of brilliance from an episode entitled 'Old Gregg'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC42BHXLhaQ

I think you'll all agree quite humourous and intensely weird.

Right. So, Lady GaGa. Let's check out the filmclip for her new song 'Love Game'. Pay particular attention to the song after 50 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocwZU89NPi4

Now is it just me, or has Lady GaGa taken some 'inspiration' from the cerebral brilliance that is the Mighty Boosh, or is it all a coincidence? I'll let you decide and leave you with this. I think it's fair to say that whatever the case, the lines:

"Let's have some fun, this beat is sick, I wanna take a ride on your disco stick" from 'Love Game' have to be some of the best lyrics since Nickleback's:

"I want the hottie with the million dollar body."

Nice one Gaga.

'Nuff said