From an old car-boot VHS: an hour in the eighties with Carl Chinn and Malcolm Stent talking about what Brummies are…

The Chamberlian Files has good analysis on the Council elections.

The Council website has the results, somewhere.

Lolitics has teh funny.

You won’t remember this but, instead of weird psychedelia with top bands going ‘gabba gabba’, or gibbering stocky puppet simpletons with screens in their stomachs, kids would happily sit in front of the TV and watch stories about talking animals that had adventures in primarily human settings. One such animal was animated Sunday lunch Larry the Lamb, and when he had exhausted all his mint saucey options he’d go to see the head honcho. “M…M…M…Mr Mayor” he’d say, and a fella in a tricorn hat would sort it all out. Sweet. And decidedly tasty with mashed potatoes.

Where do the lambs of Birmingham go when the wool hits the fan? Well at the moment they’ve no Mr or Ms Mayor to trot along to see—but might well have later this year. This is a round about way of saying that on May 3rd this year there’s a referendum in Birmingham to decide if the city gets to elect it’s own mayor in a similar way that London gets to be presided over by Boris Johnson—although we probably won’t have any blond, bumbling, biking, bonking Borises in the running.

A ‘yes’ vote and in November brummies will get to pick their leader, and while we won’t know who’ll stand for a while it’s worth looking at some of the most famous mayors the World has had and see if we can guess what they’d do if we voted them in here.

Famous Mayor: Dick Whittington
Mayor of: London, three times.
Would they work in Brum?: Panto fave Richard Whittington was indeed mayor of London three times, and apparently loved his pussy as much as the current incumbent. Dick’s best days are behind him, and once a man has been mayor three times there’s not much chance he has another term in him. Not your turn again, Dick Whittington. We’re one hundred miles from London, puss, and there’s no sign of Dick here. Oh no there isn’t.

Famous Mayor: ‘Diamond’ Joe Quimby
Mayor of: Springfield
Would they work in Brum?: Mayor Quimby rules the city where the people are yellow with a rod of wads of notes wrapped in brown envelopes. No method of corruption or mode of bung is too obscure for ‘Diamond’ Joe to have a finger in, even though he only has six. His womanising ways wouldn’t sit well with the Birmingham electorate who are already confused enough by local MP John Hemming’s lovelife. That said, he his modelled on the Kennedy clan so Brummies could be turned by his celebrity connections—after all we’ve only really got Jasper Carrott.

Famous Mayor: Mayor McCheese
Mayor of: McDonaldland
Would they work in Brum?: The nuemero uno, the big cheese, of McDonaldland, Mayor McCheese has a beefburger for a head and sports a top hat, a diplomat’s sash, and a pair of pince-nez glases. So far so much like many of the current councillors, and the official McDonaldland Wikipedia page says he is “portrayed as a giggly, bumbling, and somewhat incompetent mayor” so maybe not one we’ll be voting for any time soon. His record on crime (or ‘hamburgling’) is poor.

Famous Mayor: The mayor off of 60s batman
Mayor of: The camp version of Gotham City from the 60s TV programme
Would they work in Brum?: You know, in Batman with Adam West there was a white haired old gent who basically stood around looking confused with Commissioner Gordon. His decisions ran like this: there is a problem caused by a supervillan, he’s not really sure what’s going on, Mayor Linseed turns on the bat signal. In Birmingham how would that really work? If an evil genius is draining the canals or turning everyone that touches the canapés in Glynn Purnell’s restaurant to stone, I’m not sure that flicking the switch on a giant lamp its going to do much.

Famous Mayor: Clint Eastwood
Mayor of: Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Would they work in Brum?: I don’t think he’s played one on screen, but ol’ Dirty Harry himself was the real life mayor of a tiny place in California—voted in by this fellow movie stars and artists. The town has—seriously—a ban on wearing high heeled shoes without a permit, so we’d like to see him tackle Broad Street on a Friday night with his Smith and Weston. Did he fire six shots or only five? And how many did he fire in Spearmint Rhino?

Oh, please vote. and Yes.

There’s also plenty going on Flatpackwise, including…

LIGHT FANTASTIC
25 April-14 May at mac and Electric
This season of films is running alongside IDFB 2012,
and has been getting some great audiences. Still to
come there’s Wings of Desire on 35mm, the UK
premiere of dance-battle sci-fi flick The FP, and another
chance to see dancehall doc Hit Me With Music. Plus a
video disco at the Spotted Dog on 12 May – more
details down below.
> http://www.idfb.co.uk/lightfantastic

CINEMATHEQUE RIFFS
18 May-10 June in Brindley Place
To complement Ikon’s new Yto Barrada exhibition
(also below) we’re contributing some films to a special
programme on the Slow Boat, once again a floating
cinema and moored in Brindley Place for the month.
Expect Lotte Reiniger fairy-tales, Birmingham smugglers,
Dream Machines and the mysterious life of Egyptian
actress Soad Hosni. More info shortly.
> http://www.ikon-gallery.co.uk/programme/current/event/634/cinematheque_riffs

BIRMINGHAM BOOK BASH
3-4 June at Aston Hall
We’re again hosting the film tent for this young readers
jamboree, and this time we’re delighted to have Neil
Brand as a special guest accompanying a programme
of silent slapstick.
> http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/youngreaders

And before we move on to listings, a house notice.
Over the summer we are hoping to complete the
(slightly torturous) process of gathering Flatpack
Festival and 7 Inch Cinema into one website. One
upshot will be that the 7inch name fades into the
background, to be dusted off for the occasional
pub gig. Do not be alarmed; our year-round work
will continue unabated and more ambitious than
ever, but under the name of Flatpack Projects.

SO WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?

From 1 May at Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre
MAESTROS
Douglas Gordon show pairing his Zidane film with
‘Feature Film’, a spectacular Vertigo homage which
brings Bernard Herrmann’s score to the foreground.
> http://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/events/visual-arts/maestros

From 2 May at the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Bham
KNIT 2GETHER
Participatory project to knit Olympic-themed leg
warmers for BMAG’s pillars – drop in any time.
> http://knit2together.tumblr.com
This project is also on the hunt for investors:
> http://www.sponsume.com/project/k2tog-knit-2-together

Thurs 3 May in Birmingham
LOCAL ELECTIONS + REFERENDUM
To mayor or not to mayor?

From 4 May at New Art Gallery Walsall
TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER
Collage show featuring Eileen Agar, Chris Ofili, John
Stezaker, Grayson Perry and many others.
> http://www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk

Friday 4 May at Symphony Hall in Birmingham
THE WIZARD OF OZ
The BBC Symphony Orchestra provide a live score
for Dorothy and co.
> http://www.thsh.co.uk/event/the-wizard-of-oz-mat

Till 5 May at Eastside Projects in Digbeth
PACHA KUTI X
Couple more days to catch David Rowan’s films
of subterranean Birmingham.
> http://www.eastsideprojects.org/current/pacha-kuti-x

Sat 5 May, 8pm at The Edge, Cheapside in Digbeth
SOUND KITCHEN
Evening of live improvisation and electronics featuring
De Type Inconnu and Rodrigo Constanzo.
> http://soundkitchenuk.org/events/may5

Sat 5 May at Gibb St Warehouse in Digbeth
2MANYDJS
Ghent mashup artistes visit what used to be Space 2,
now run by the people behind Fabric. Too cool to have
a website at the moment, but while we’re on the subject
of new Digbeth warehouse clubs:
> http://lab11.co.uk

Sunday 6 May at AE Harris in the Jewellery Quarter
THE VOYAGE
New mini-opera by Stans Cafe and Michael Wolters,
suitable for all ages.
> http://www.stanscafe.co.uk/project-the-voyage.html
Not to be confused with the big outdoor spectacular
taking over Victoria Square in June:
> http://www.thevoyage.org.uk

Sunday 6 May, 1pm at St Columba Church Hall in Moseley
MOSELEY RECORD FAIR
Vinyl-shufflers gathering with good cake.
> http://www.moseleyrecordbookfair.com

6-7 May at mac in Edgbaston
FAMILY DANCE WEEKEND
Young corner of IDFB, including playground parkour in Spill.
> http://idfb.co.uk/whats-on/family-weekend

Weds 9 May, 6.30pm at the Barber Institute in Edgbaston
PERSIAN POETRY EVENING
Featuring Afghan poets Partaw Naderi and Shakila Azizzada.
> http://www.writingwestmidlands.org/an-evening-of-persian-poetry

Weds 9 May, 7pm at Waterstones New St in Birmingham
OWEN JONES
The author of Chavs: The Demonisation of the Working Class,
which now has a new chapter dealing with last year’s riots.
> http://livebrum.co.uk/2012/05/09/meet-the-author-owen-jones

Thursday 10 May, 7pm at the Drum in Newtown
MARGINS TO MAINSTREAM
Documentary on Black British theatre.
> http://the-drum.org.uk/event/margins-to-mainstream

Sat 12 May, 8 till late at the Spotted Dog
DIGBETH SHUFFLE
To round off our IDFB film season, a video disco featuring
go-go dance troupe the Actionettes, rockabilly trio
Magnificatz and vintage tunes courtesy of Sugarfoot
Stomp. Plus archive film of dancing Brummies, and Film
Ficciones will be plastering the beer-garden with visuables.
All for zero pounds.
> http://idfb.co.uk/whats-on/light-fantastic-film-season-digbeth-shuffle

Sat 12 May at St Paul’s Church in the Jewellery Quarter
ESMERINE
Modern chamber music from ex-members of Godspeed
and Silver Mount Zion.
> http://capsule.org.uk/event/esmerine
(Capsule also have Harvey Milk on the 22nd.)

Sat 12 May, 8pm at mac in Edgbaston
LAWRENCE OF BELGRAVIA + Q&A
We’ve got this unfortunate habit of publicising events that
clash with our own. However, if you missed Flatpack’s
sell-out screening of Paul Kelly’s bittersweet doc about
the man behind Felt and Denim, you may want to catch
this. (Then go straight to the Spotted Dog, of course.)
> http://www.macarts.co.uk/event/lawrence-of-belgravia–15–qanda

From 16 May at Ikon Gallery in Brindley Place
YTO BARRADA: RIFFS
Exhibition of photography, film and sculpture by a
Moroccan artist who also runs the Cinematheque de
Tanger. Her film work includes Hand Me Downs, a
blackly comic reworking of colonialist home-movies.
> http://www.ikon-gallery.co.uk/programme/current/event/594/riffs/

16-19 May in Victoria Square, Birmingham
WINGS OF DESIRE
To cap off IDFB 12, an outdoor extravaganza inspired by
the Wenders film (showing at the Electric on 13 May).
Features Goldie, 2Faced Dance Company, Circa and
building projections by Seeper.
> http://idfb.co.uk/whats-on/wings-of-desire

16 May-16 June in Birmingham
CHILDRENS FILMS
Interesting project. Gareth Moore has asked five other
artists to make 16mm films for children, and they’re
showing in various places around the city.
> http://internationalprojectspace.org/exhibitions/gareth-moore

Thurs 17 May, 4.30pm at Warwick Arts Centre
KNOWING THE SCORE
Silent pianist and compser Neil Brand, who opened
this year’s Flatpack and is also appearing at the Book
Bash, sheds some light on the genius of Bernard
Herrmann. Saw this in Cambridge last year and
recommend it if you’re interested in film music. The
same evening Neil is accompanying the 1922 film of
Oliver Twist.
> http://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/events/visual-arts/knowing-the-score

Friday 18 May at Symphony Hall
BURMAN IN BOLLYWOOD
Highlights from RD Burman’s lush, barmy film scores,
including Dum Maro Dum and Piya Tu Ab To Aaja,
performed by the CBSO.
> http://www.thsh.co.uk/event/cbso-friday-night-classics-burman-in-bollywood

Sat 19 May at the Academy in Bham
BLACK SABBATH
Yes, *that* Black Sabbath.
Tickets on sale from Friday.
> http://www.o2academybirmingham.co.uk/event/41406/black-sabbath-tickets

Sunday 20 May at Birmingham Ballroom
JIMMY CLIFF
40 years on from The Harder They Come, and still frisky.
> http://www.birmingham-ballroom.com

Sunday 20 May, 8pm at the Bulls Head in Moseley
KINO 10
Back for another monthly run of filmnights, this time
including a selection of Vimeo award nominees.
> http://www.kino10.com

Tues 22 May at Balti Cottage in Stirchley
INCEPTION
Cerebral blockbuster accompanied by prawn dhansak.
Just the way Christopher Nolan would want it.
> http://stirchleyhappenings.wordpress.com/

Weds 23 May at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath
POPPY AND THE JEZEBELS
Hometown gig for indie darlings who’ve left school
and gone all pop.
> http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

Thurs 24 May, 6.30pm at Ikon Gallery in Brindleyplace
DOES BIRMINGHAM APPRECIATE ITS HERITAGE?
Lunar Society discussion. Slightly leading question.
> http://www.lunarsociety.org.uk/pages/702.htm

Thurs 24 May, 8pm at Ort Café in Balsall Heath
OCCUPY BIRMINGHAM FILM FESTIVAL
Programme of films from within the Occupy movement.
Plenty of other gigs, workshops and language groups
going on at Ort too, well worth a look.
> http://ortcafe.co.uk

Thurs 24 May, 8pm at the Bulls Head in Moseley
BEARDS AND TONGUES TOUR
New collaboration between three solo artistes from
Spain, the UK and US, including the testifying Dorian
Wood. Support from Pete Prescription.
> http://beardsandtongues.tumblr.com

Thurs 24 May at Club PST in Digbeth
RETRO-AFRO-FUTURISM
DJs playing future hip-hop, 60s psych, and electronica
plus visuals by Mack of Sensateria legend.
> http://pst-club.co.uk

Friday 25 May at the Polish Club in Digbeth
TG COLLECTIVE
Jazz outfit touring new album.
> http://www.tgcollective.com/live

25-27 May at Wolverhampton Light House
DEAFFEST
The UK’s leading deaf film and arts festival.
> http://deaffest.co.uk

Sunday 27 May, 3pm at St Paul’s Square, Birmingham
BIG VINTAGE RIDE
Scenic tweed-clad two-wheel tour of the city.
> http://www.birminghamcyclist.com/events/the-big-vintage-ride

Sunday 27 May, 8pm at Kitchen Garden in Kings Heath
ATILLA THE STOCKBROKER
Performance poet who seemed to have permanent
residency in Glastonbury comedy tent during 1990s.
> http://www.kitchengardencafe.co.uk

Monday 28 May, 1.30pm at mac
BFI FUTURE PLAN CONSULTATION
> http://futurebfi.eventbrite.co.uk

Tuesday 29 May, 8pm at Symphony Hall in Birmingham
DRACULA: THE MUSIC AND FILM
Bela Lugosi meets Philip Glass and Kronos Quartet.
Only a few tickets left.
> http://www.thsh.co.uk/event/dracula-the-music-and-film

29-30 May at Birmingham NEC
SURFEX PLUS 2012
The UK and Irish coatings exhibition dedicated to the
paints, inks, adhesives, corrosion and construction
chemicals industries. Headliners look awesome this year.
> http://www.surfexplus.co.uk

Weds 30 May at Cherry Red’s in Kings Heath
PAUSE BUTTON EVENING
Playing old tape recordings of John Peel shows on the
last Weds of every month.
> http://pst-club.co.uk
As you may know, Peel’s record collection – or rather,
a list of his records – is starting to go online:
> http://thespace.org/items/e00000da

1-4 June in Tanworth-in-Arden
LUNAR FESTIVAL
New gathering from the people behind Moseley Folk
Festival, in Nick Drake’s backyard.
> http://www.lunarfestival.co.uk

Friday 8 June at the Wagon and Horses in Digbeth
THE NIGHTINGALES
Iconic post-punkers with support from Ted Chippington.
> http://www.thenightingales.org.uk

SUBMISSIONS CALLS

ABANDON NORMAL DEVICES, Liverpool
Various deadlines throughout May.
> http://www.andfestival.org.uk

OTTAWA ANIMATION FESTIVAL, Ottawa
Deadline: 18 May
> http://www.animationfestival.ca

AESTHETICA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, York
Deadline: 31 May
> http://www.asff.co.uk

FANTOCHE ANIMATION FESTIVAL, Baden
Deadline: 31 May
> http://www.fantoche.ch/2012

BEAUTIFUL THING ONLINE
Real-time digital clock, made out of planks in Berlin.
The piece is called ‘Standard Time’, by Mark Formanek.
> http://iprl.wz.cz/

FILMS COMING OUT
Lots of things we showed at Flatpack are starting to hit
cinemas, including INTO THE ABYSS, TWO YEARS AT
SEA, LE HAVRE, JUAN OF THE DEAD and the
aforementioned LAWRENCE screening. Also look out for
Wes Anderson’s new one in May, and Bela Tarr’s TURIN
HORSE. And if you want to keep up with Cannes coverage,
we recommend Mubi:
> http://mubi.com/notebook/posts

FAREWELL VIVID
This week VIVID are going through the sad and painful
process of clearing out of their building on Heath Mill Lane,
after twenty years of putting on exhibitions and events and
supporting countless artists and filmmakers. All the best to
Yasmeen, Laura and Marian in whatever they get up to next.
> http://www.vivid.org.uk

OBITUARY CORNER

RIP DAVID WEISS (1946-2012)
Der Lauf Der Dinge:
> http://vimeo.com/7198223

RIP LEVON HELM (1940-2012)
The Weight:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe8rgKc65xE

>>>What is Flatpack Festival?
An eclectic film jamboree which takes over venues across
Birmingham every March. We also produce film events
throughout the year, under the name 7 Inch Cinema.
> http://www.flatpackfestival.org.uk
> http://www.7inch.org.uk

>>>How do I get on/off this list?
Sign up at the festival website, or sign off here:
http://www.7inch.org.uk/mailinglist/?do=remove&address=jon%40jonbounds.co.uk

>>>What if I have a burning desire to engage via social media?
> http://www.twitter.com/flatpack
> http://www.facebook.com/flatpackfestivalA piece of PR we couldn’t be bothered to re-write.

Although we agree Birmingham is not shit, I think you’ll agree that it could be a lot better in some areas and that the current council system is either not trying or not working on them. We’re lacking jobs, there’s money wasted on huge vanity projects like the new library, the promotion to the rest of the country and the World is still poor. Independent research says that elected mayors can help with stuff like that and don’t cost any additional money. The no campaigners seem to have few coherent arguments and only scare stories. Go check them out, and remember that it only seems to be politicians that are doing okay out of the current system that are saying ‘no’.

Prof Colin Copus Professor of Local Politics, De Montfort University, and Editor of Local Govt Studies says:

I marked the Brum reasons to vote no to mayor leaflet out of 10. It gets 1 and that’s 2 halfs. Just wrong so many times

— ProfCopusLG (@ProfCopusLG) April 30, 2012

So I ask you to consider a vote for an elected major, please. It’s Brum’s chance to have a strong voice to talk to central government and the rest of the World.

We need a mayor, like New York has, like London (although a better one), someone to stick up for us. Vote yes. Vote Brum.

Here’s some good reasons why:

Mayor of New York Mayor Bloomberg tells you why voting ‘yes’ in the referendum is a “total no-brainer”.

Ex Birmingham Post editor Marc Reeves says:

“Someone needs to set out a compelling vision for this city. That vision has to be tested, informed and ultimately endorsed by the electorate. This person then has to use this mandate to go out and deliver the vision they’ve promised. For me, there’s no choice – this person has to be an elected mayor.”

Paul Dale, veteran Brum political journalist says:

Tory/Lib Dem failure to publish manifestos for Brum elections treats voters with contempt. Also, makes powerful case for elected mayor.

— paulmdale (@paulmdale) April 27, 2012

Community activist Paul Slatter says:

Do some people oppose #BrumMayor because they do quite well out of the current party political carve up? Do you think?

— Paul Slatter (@paulgslatter) April 26, 2012

 

And here’s why I’m voting yes.

Even the biggest dog in the World thinks it’s a good idea.

See the Yes to a Mayor Website for more reasons.

Get a Twibbon for your Twitter pic or Facebook Profile.

Join the Facebook Page or follow the Twitter account.

Share this message on your Facebook Timeline

But mostly put your cross in the box like this:

“Exploring themes of procrastination, futility and loneliness, Get Tea
chronicles one man’s surreal quest to make himself a cup of tea.”

Here’s the trailer: http://vimeo.com/justwallow/get-teaser

web: www.sounditout.co.ukA piece of PR we couldn’t be bothered to re-write.

Flatpack may be a fuzzy memory, but our year-round programme
continues to roll along. On Monday the International Dance Festival
Birmingham kicked off proceedings, and tomorrow we launch a
series of dance films screening throughout the next three weeks.
Highlights include…

Weds 25 April, 6pm at mac in Edgbaston
MAN ON WIRE (dir: James Marsh)
Heart-stopping tale of Philippe Petit’s 1974 high-wire act between
the towers of the World Trade Centre. Introduced by Canadian
dancer Louise Lecavalier.

Sat 28 April, 3pm at the Electric in Birmingham
MOULIN ROUGE (dir: Baz Luhrmann)
Flamboyant Parisian spectacle presented by choreographer
Shaun Parker, who played one of the Montmartre Dancers.

Sat 5 May, 10.15pm at the Electric
THE FP (dir: Trost bros)
UK premiere of a sublimely daft sci-fi dance-battle movie.

Sun 6 May, 2pm at mac
FEVER CHART
Compendium of dance shorts including Free Cinema jazz club
doc MOMMA DON’T ALLOW and Mark Keckey’s VHS elegy
for northern soul and rave culture, FIORUCCI MADE ME
HARDCORE.

Sat 12 May, 8 till late at the Spotted Dog in Digbeth
DIGBETH SHUFFLE
Video disco featuring the ladies from Sugarfoot Stomp,
archive Birmingham dance films, and 60s go-go troupe
The Actionettes.

Plus West Side Story, Pina in 3D, West Side Story on 35mm,
and another chance to see dancehall doc Hit Me With Music.
Further details and booking info can be found at:
> http://idfb.co.uk/lightfantastic

…And IDFB itself is well worth a look, offering among other
things the Royal Ballet Flanders, the annual Breakin’ Convention
and to cap it off an outdoor extravaganza inspired by the
aforementioned Wings of Desire.

Beyond that look out for the return of Ikon Slow Boat as a
floating cinema, and in June Flatpack will once again be
hosting the film tent at the Birmingham Book Bash.
In the meantime, a reminder:

FLATPACK 2012 SURVEY
Have you filled it out yet? Just four days left, and it takes a
couple of minutes tops. One lucky respondent will win a pass
to Flatpack 2013.
> http://www.flatpackfestival.org/blog/flatpack-survey

To jog your memory, here’s a late entry for Best Festival
Writeup from Electric Sheep magazine:
> http://tinyurl.com/flatpacksheep

>>>What is Flatpack Festival?
An eclectic film jamboree which takes over venues across
Birmingham every March.
http://www.flatpackfestival.org.uk

>>>How do I get on/off this list?
Sign up at the festival website, or sign off here:
http://www.7inch.org.uk/mailinglist/?do=remove&address=jon%40jonbounds.co.uk

>>>What if I have a burning desire to engage via social media?
http://www.twitter.com/flatpack
http://www.facebook.com/flatpackfestivalA piece of PR we couldn’t be bothered to re-write.

Birmingham youngster pens political track

A Birmingham youngster has penned a poetical protest track criticising
the government’s out-of-touch approach to young people in Britain.

Jamie Chapman, from Sutton Coldfield, has created a music video
portraying a bleak view of his home city as he reflects on how current
education policies are negatively affecting the future prospects of
students.

In the performance piece, titled ‘Taught from a Texbook’, the
21-year-old voices his concerns about the rise in tuition fees and the
loss of the Educational Maintenance Allowance, with the lyrics:

‘College will help you on your way, You will need a map to find that
EMA; And if university is where you’re off to, Nine grand a year?
You’d be stupid not to.’

Also explored in the recording are themes related to careers, the rat
race, university degrees being wasted due to a lack of opportunity as
well as a tribute to the lyrics of contemporary music artist Frank
Turner.

Explaining why he wrote the song, Jamie said he wasn’t attacking
individuals who are struggling to find work but rather speaking out
against the legislation and financial climate that is creating this
struggle for young people.

“My reason for doing this was to express my views on certain issues,
but mainly to encourage people to think a bit deeper into their lives
and life in general. To think outside the box and to not always follow
what they’re told is the best path to take,” he said.

“I think university can be helpful to some, but disastrous for others.
Some people go to university as they have a genuine passion or
interest they wish to pursue as a career, which works well. However,
some people go to university just for the sake of getting a degree
that’s not related to their passion or future.”

He also clarified he wasn’t attacking so-called “McJobs” in the lyrics
‘You have your degree, whoop-de-doo; that job at McDonalds is waiting
for you’, and felt those who pay for a complete education should
expect more than menial labour work.

“I don’t think working in a fast food outlet is a bad thing either, I
just feel people that spend thousands of pounds on an education and
study hard for years deserve to be in a job they have studied
towards.”

Having already explored youth service cuts and unemployment in
previous social action videos, Jamie hopes his current film can
provide a voice and platform for ordinary young people in the city.

“I guess the main thing I want to get across with the video is that
everyone should be able to live a happy life. I know we don’t live in
a perfect world but I really dislike seeing people ‘trapped’ within
the system and unhappy to be working the same job every day just to
get by.

“So think about your life if you’re not happy, and then make a
positive change before one day it’s too late.”

You can watch Jamie’s ‘Taught from a Textbook’ video at
www.youtube.com/ChapperzTV

[END]

LYRICS

Taught from a Textbook

We’re taught from a text book, from a very young age

To stay within the lines and to not go off the page

They tell us that we’re free and have got it made

“Follow the plan and you’ll earn an honest wage”

In your teens, they build your dreams

With tales of high flying careers

But all is not as it seems

And will probably end in tears

College will help you on your way

You will need a map to find that EMA

And if university is where you’re off to

Nine grand a year? You’d be stupid not to

You have your degree, whoop-de-f***ing-doo

That job at McDonalds is waiting for you

Happy days though mate

Your future is now all set

Just another eight years

To pay off all your debt

A life time on the hamster wheel, you’ve sadly slaved away

The rat race was a mouse trap, but there was another way

Your pension is all that’s left and that’s still locked away

Should you change things now? Or regret that final day?

Frank Turner once taught me, don’t leave it too late

“Why slave 50 years away on something that you hate?”

We’re taught from a text book, from a very young age

To stay within the lines and to not go off the page

They tell us that we are free and to suppress the rage

Really we’re under lock and key, trapped inside a cage.

———————————————————————————

VIDEO LINKS

Jamie’s Video Channel:

www.youtube.com/ChapperzTV

Direct video link:

Embed onto your site:

MULTIMEDIA

A censored MP3 version of the audio track is available on request,
should you require it for radio broadcast.

A high quality version of the track video is available on request,
should you require it for television broadcast.

Selected images and video stills are attached with this release. High
res. images of Jamie Chapman along with video stills are available
upon request.

All press and media requests should be directed to adamyosef@live.co.uk.

CONTACT

Jamie Chapman | 07825881023 | chapp3rzuk@googlemail.com

Adam Yosef | 07805049383 | adamyosef@live.co.uk

See the full gallery on Posterous

PRESS RELEASE Birmingham youngster pens political track 23.04.12.doc Download this file

A piece of PR we couldn’t be bothered to re-write.

Better than most things that are leafleted at you on New Street.

A piece of PR we couldn’t be bothered to re-write.

A piece of PR we couldn’t be bothered to re-write.

Meanwhile the government’s consultation process on its proposals for a
register of lobbyists is currently underway.  The minister in charge
of lobbying regulation, Mark Harper, will be speaking at a public
meeting in Birmingham to discuss the proposals in April just before
the consultation process closes:

Open Up Lobbying with Mark Harper MP

Wednesday 11th of April – 7pm to 9pm

The Birmingham Midland Institute, Margaret Street, Birmingham (see map).

In addition to the minister, we have an especially strong line up of
experts to address the meeting: Spinwatch director Tamasin Cave,
Friends of the Earth West Midlands campaigns organiser Chris Crean and
Unlock Democracy’s own director Peter Facey.

The coalition have pledged to create a register of lobbyists, but
unless the public show enough interest in the issue, it is likely to
be watered down or forgotten.

We hope you can join us on the 11th April to show your support for
opening up lobbying. We want you to be part of the debate to tell Mark
Harper, the Minister in charge of political and constitutional reform,
what you think.

Register at http://action.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/event/detail/general/jrc

We also need to help us promoting this meeting to make it big. Can you
send this to your supporter mailing lists, friends and family?  I’ve
attached a sample email, tweet and links to the event page on facebook
and on our website.

We would appreciate your support on an issue which is crucial to the
health of our democracy.

All the best,

Emily Randall

Sample email:

Subject: In the wake of ‘Cash for Cameron’, it’s time for our members
to help open up lobbying

Unlock Democracy and Take Back Parliament Birmingham have teamed up to
host an evening with Mark Harper MP, Chris Crean from Friends of the
Earth, Tamasin Cave from Spinwatch, and special guests from the local
community to talk about opening up lobbying.

The events of the last few days have focussed the public’s attention
on the access and influence that can be bought within our political
system. The coalition have pledged to create a register of lobbyists,
but unless the public show enough interest in the issue, it is likely
to be watered down or forgotten. The government has been holding a
consultation on lobbying which is coming to an end on the 13th of
April 2012. It is in our interests to have a more transparent lobbying
system, and we want our members to have a strong presence at this
meeting.

The evening will take place on Wednesday the 11th of April between 7pm
and 9pm at the Birmingham Midland Institute, Margaret Street,
Birmingham (see map: http://bit.ly/H0VOXv).  Register here:
http://bit.ly/lobby-birm

Hope to see you there,

Sample tweet: If you’re in Birmingham join @UnlockDemocracy for a talk
with Mark Harper MP to help open up lobbying http://bit.ly/lobby-birm
#lobbyingbrum

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/316954441697224/

Webpage: http://action.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/event/detail/general/jrc

OpenUpLobbying Birmingham.pdf Download this file

UD Lobbying Leaflet A3 for printer.pdf Download this file

OpenUpLobbying Birmingham A3 Poster.pdf Download this file

A piece of PR we couldn’t be bothered to re-write.

BBLTPress26Mar.doc Download this file

A piece of PR we couldn’t be bothered to re-write.

Below is information about a new show coming to Birmingham’s
independent theatre Blue Orange, plus an attached image.  Please
include this event in your publication/website.  Many thanks.
Liz John, Big Script

LOVE! SEX! CONFUSION!
Come and ride the merry-go-round of love at the Blue Orange Theatre in
Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, as ten writers tackle the thorny issue
of intimate relationships.
Ten spellbinding short plays explore Love! Sex! Confusion! and ask if
any of us really know what we’re doing when it comes to relationships?
  BBC Doctors writer Liz John contemplates wifely duties in an 18th
century vicarage, while Birmingham Rep writer Robert Warrington
wonders if his character can stop talking long enough to get a date!
This gripping compilation of new writing is directed by Graeme
Braidwood (Arcadia, Festen, The Homecoming), featuring local actors
and has a three-day run on April 27-29 April at new independent
theatre, the Blue Orange.   Recommended age 15+ as it contains adult
themes. Tickets £10/£8.50 concessions. Box Office: 0121-212 2643 or
www.blueorangetheatre.co.uk/whatsonbigscript

Editor’s Note:
Founded in 1995, Big Script writers have written for television,
theatre (Birmingham Rep, Pentabus and many other companies), BBC Radio
4 and a host of short films.  They meet fortnightly in Moseley to read
and feed back on each other’s scripts and help develop new work.
www.bigscript.org
Graeme Braidwood has enjoyed an extensive career as an actor, stage
manager and latterly as a director, bringing his specific and unique
take on a variety of classic work and new writing.
The Blue Orange Theatre is a new independent theatre which opened its
doors in 2011, and presents a range of new writing and classic stage
plays.
It is located at 118 Great Hampton Street B18 6AD in Birmingham’s
Jewellery Quarter.  0121-212 2643. www.blueorangetheatre.co.uk

A piece of PR we couldn’t be bothered to re-write.

Stan Laurel at Birmingham Hippodrome

from Flatpack Festival

from Brumblr, the scrapbook of Brum web ephemera: