abc – James O'Brien

28/05/202230/05/2022Blogging

Mary Poppins & the ABC

It may surprise you to discover there’s a statue of Mary Poppins in a park in the NSW country town, Bowral. I hadn’t realised the town’s connection until I visited a couple of years ago.

Though Mary Poppins is very obviously set in London, there’s an Australian connection to the story, as the author P.L. Travers came from Australia. Most commonly associated with Maryborough in Queensland, she once lived in Bowral, and apparently, that’s where the Mary Poppins character was created.… Read the rest “Mary Poppins & the ABC”

03/10/201904/10/2019Blogging

#ozpod2019

by James O'BrienLeave a comment

“Because a lot of producers come from a journalism background, they mostly think about the words. I love that he spent so much time speaking about the sound”, I said to someone over drinks at the end of #ozpod2019 today.

We were talking about Dan Blank, creator of the fiction podcast, “Carrier”. Dan, incidentally, has worked mostly in the film industry, virtual reality and such, and this is his first major exploration of audio.

“We have a lot of people in our area with a previous film or vision background, and they make some of the best radio short features, using wonderfully layered sound, often much better than some who have worked exclusively in radio”, I added.… Read the rest “#ozpod2019”

22/07/201914/11/2020Blogging

Check out this video about what’s on ABC TV this weekend

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Check this out. Terrific ep of Compass on Sunday night, featuring a bunch of people I know well. Check out the promo video for Love Your Neighbour

https://www.abc.net.au/…/compa…/love-your-neighbour/11325744

Baptist Minister Karina Kreminski is well known in the neighbourhood for her blog “Surry Hills and Valleys” which features stories of Surry Hills Residents. Compass explores Karina’s theology, life story and her views about the life and times of Surry Hills locals – all to illustrate what she calls her “Urban Mission.”… Read the rest “Check out this video about what’s on ABC TV this weekend”

24/02/201829/05/2019Blogging

Riot Preview Screening

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There were moments in the movie, Riot, where I had to look away. I’m not one for violence in movies, as I often find the violence in films is somewhat gratuitous. Though you wouldn’t say that about this film, which recounts the events of the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 1978. In fact, I was told, the violence (the police bashings) was nowhere near as bad was it actually was.

When asked to respond in a Q&A after the film’s screening, the panel, which included original 78er, Robyn Plaister, as well as some NSW police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers, were all visibly moved.… Read the rest “Riot Preview Screening”