so we arrive , and theres a sports thing going on so lots of lycra clad people packed out and 5 or 6 normaly dressed elderly folk milling around main door
,the whole site land building the lot are owned by them, BBC and others just "rent" the use of ,so may say BBC on the building it is in name only
A bit of kidology going on there and the young folk doing tour confirmed this and the mills that used to be there,there was no mills it was warehouses as it was a dockland for unloading ships,anyhow moving on
It would seem from opening intro that the studios (no mention of how many) are in use by channel four and ITV (who's site is yet to be built and finished) and apparently the Blue Peter people said No so anyhow blah happy to take pics not of equipment or corridors Blah
all led by none BBC staffers just what i guess to be students earning bit of cash at weekend with a BBC t shirt on
and onto our first stop
Don't worry i haven't heard of radio 6 either , and young red head lad spent 20 minutes explained what each screen is what each web cam is what each microphone does its a hydraulic desk the window so you can see your radio presenters and on and on and on and on for 25 min, now i was concerned a hour tour half of it in here something isnt right
now it was ,i admit freely ,full our tour of about 20 people around the age of 60 + ,fare enough ,but really 20 minutes of how Fred died in Archers and this is how it was done, and this is cassette tape and this simulates grass and ooo tap and this used to simulate water and this is a dead room used for outsides
and this is how this works (free demo from lady also doing tour with us) and this is foam (as modelled so nicely by my good lady) and we get details of how it is worked out in weight size and shape and then formula for placement on the wall..................................ever watch open university at 1 am ON BBC 2 ?. this is live version
Another use for foam damn comfy to lie up against and get a power nap
off outside through to a glass door and told how its "the stage door" and five minute talk on how the great and good have come through and had a cig outside and tour guide telling us of who they saw, then wear in a big corridor in front double studio door keren millagen on plasma screen oh were going to be shown where audience is and etc i thought ,nope, it is pointed out and down there see them doors?,thats a question of sport,see the doors down far end thats blue peter , and on we go
I am at this point awaiting to be shown studios prop stores ,makeup,costume,scenery docks etc
a corner of a room about 16 feet in length and 14 wide this corner is a small red couch for mock up of BBC breakfast and a small 3 seat row mock up for question of sport
a grey screen and ten minutes on how this works a cheesy intercession with a pre recorded section of BBC breakfast ,and told the real studio is two floors up i raised my hand ,can i see it ? ,no,
im now using my phone to check facebook.
back outside look in that window look people at desks ,that's BBC news that is ,regional and sport's only news is in Broadcasting house London i corrected
then onto tram stop where i came in and Blue Peter Garden well the pond this is it the one and only taken brick by brick from London each brick marked exactly,how come a third of the size i ask ,space availability i am told oh blue peter badges and ten minute talk on new presenters
scratching my head thinking surely a hours gone but when is the tour starting ?
thats it now collect bags balh blah
so i piped up errrrrrr that it?, when are we seeing something you do not normally see you know TV factory making stuff ?
its called the pie factory,i know it was a pie factory ,it was Hollands and things like dramas and comedy's are made in there Royal family being one ,can we go ?, oooo nothing to do with us its independent studios
Now i have done my homework BBC Birmingham just got some Dr Who monster heads it and London have props ,and for me what is important a shop,you know one off stuff, oppertunity to see get ,do ,take part, is this not what this is supposed to be ?
this all seems last second rushed not owned nor anything to do with BBC just there making cash from the fact there making some stuff here ,then so is everyone one else from independent companies to all other major TV stations its a massive let down i was furious and red mist descended
I was back in reception and gave a earful to other lady in there amid the cahos trying to book people in few hundred lycra people and there families ,she with the whole i just work here attitude and no phone or radio but will contact boss when phone found boss not there incompetent BBC should i be surprised ? not really after speaking to a good friend about the company for years i should of known better save your money walk around and be nosey for free !
e mail sent comment feedback left all over where i could
Ill end by saying Doctor Who moving here rumours,no bloody chance,where do you make them ? there is no facilities for them any where, 3 major actual proper studios always in use by well every company owning a camera , bity pop style audience shows fine, major Drama a struggle at best ,a long running high demand drama such as who ,no bloody way
UP SIDE
so day was not a waste Lowery is there Mall arndale and the war museum and not impressive at the moment gallery not much going on but war museum was fun and had a nice shop and FREE
 |
| Sten gun as Used a lot on film eg Dr Who UNIT gun Storm Troopers Star Wars |
