When you think of slam poetry, pretentious New-Yorker males come to mind. It's a poetry scene surrounded by mystery, with very little mainstream exposure here in Scotland. We met up with Jade Mitchell, a student involved with the Glasgow Poetry scene to find out more about the hidden talents here on our doorsteps, and to hear some of her work.
Ex Addict helps others achieve BAFTA success .
Garry Fraser, who has came to become a well known
figure within Scottish film, has now embarked in his next project helping others achieve more, after winning
a BAFTA with his previous ‘auto-biographic’ film ‘Everybody’s child.’
The film followed Garry as he relived his violent,
drug filled past and reminisces on some of the most harrowing days of his life
while living in Muirhouse, an area highlighted in Irvine Welsh’s book
'Trainspotting', and notorious for police brutality and drug usage.
Since his award, Garry along with his business partner
has launched ‘Wideo media’ an independent digital media social enterprise which
aims to assist and empower those from low-income backgrounds through creative
training and opportunities. The enterprise works with those involved to allow them
access to training, equipment, guidance and opportunities within primarily the
film industry – to try and keep them on the right path, and inspired to
achieve.
One of those assisted by ‘Wideo Media’ is Iain
Henderson, a film student from Edinburgh, who has worked with alongside Garry
to develop his skills and learn new opportunities. His training has definitely
paid off and he has now received a BAFTA 'New Talent' award for his film ‘The Wee hings’,
which was screened at the opening ceremony of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, at Celtic park last summer.
We spoke to Garry about his project, and asked him
about why he launched the Social enterprise he told us ‘ There is a
responsibility within the creative industries to give back when you do well, it
comes with Success. I feel like now that I am in the position to, I need to
give back to those who were in the position I was, then hopefully they’ll do
the same.’
Five Scottish Creatives that you need to know about.
Scotland is full of creative, talented people, which are often under represented within main stream media. Sometimes sourcing these talents can be a struggle unless you're already in the know. So, here are my top five Scottish creatives you need to know about.
1. Loki
Loki (Darren McGarvey) is one of the most well known names within the Scottish hip-hop scene, but still remains as modest as ever. Aside from his solo-music career, he is also a journalist, and community activist who has been recognised by people such as Alex Salmond, for his work in the run up to the reffarendum, where he realised the fourteenth project in his collection 'G.I.M.P' (Government Issue Music Protest) which aimed to help awnser questions surrounding the Scottish refferendum.
He has gained alot of recognition over the past ten years, from writing and producing over seven programmes for BBC Radio scotland surrounding the causes of social deprevation, to co-writing the national theatre of scotlands production 'Jump'. His presence can be seen and a appreciated in most areas of the Scottish creative industries.
2. Sam Small
Spoken word poetry is a mysterious thing, hidden from the mainstream viewing it remains something which most people haven't really delved into. Sam small is a spoken word poet with bags of enthusiasim and a way with words. He's discribed frequently as a 'firecracker,' because of the way you can see his passion and enthusiasim building when he performs. He also runs 'Inn Deep' a monthly spoken work event on Great Western road which is highly populaur within the community, along side 'high flight' a webzine, which features the best of short fiction and poetry.
3. Neil Rolland
Neil Rolland is by no means new to the industry. With over ten years within the Scottish film industry, he has mounds of experience working within shorts and features being shot in Scotland. Aside from directing and starring within films he is the man behind the famous 'Write, Shoot, Cut.' arguably Scotlands biggest monthly short film night which over the years has played the works of some of the best talent within Scotland. He now spends his time involved with 'Tartan Features' a Scottish film movement which aims to get a buzz about Scottish filmaking and assists filmakers in getting their ideas into an actual project. This year he screened his first feature length film 'Take it backa and start all over,' at a Tartan features event within the Glasgow Centere for Contempoary Arts. The film, which was produced on a micro budget in five days recived a great response from the audience.
4. Karlie Wu
Karlie, is the super classy student behind Glasgow's most talked about street style blog; Glaswegian Westwood. The blog started a year ago, as a personal project for Glasgow School of Art student Karlie, after she herself was snapped by a style blog. She began collecting images of Glasgow's best dressed and the blog instanly became a hit. 'Glaswegain Westwood' has recived mounds of praise, specifically from Gordon Millar founder of Scot street style, and has became well known for it's beautiful images.
5. Samantha McEwan
Samantha McEwan is a big name within the Scottish fashion scene. Since graduating back in 2011 and winning Scottish Young designer of the year back in 2012, she has gained recognition around the globe for her optimistic designs, which are notorious for being full of fluff and sequins. Over the past four years she worked with world renowned stylist Alex Knox and has created pieces for stars such as Azealia Banks and Kreayshawn. She now runs the label 'Isolated Heroes' out of her studio up in Dundee which is featured on sites such as Asos.
Glasgow Comedian Shows her Fifty Shades at The Admiral
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| Clair provides the audience with laughs and sass. |
With a title like fifty shades of Clair, you wouldn’t expect such a light hearted show. Starting instantly with one of Clair’s fifty odd persona’s it quickly establishes the tone for the rest of the show - bloody hilarious with a saucy twist.
The ‘fifty shades’ theme is evident throughout the show - every act has an underlying naughty theme which varied in content and context. How that was even possible in the personas of a desperately deluded wifey and a court judge I will never quite understand.
On that note, her persona’s are marvellous. Each sealed with some booty-shaking and a wild energy which totally fills the room. Clair as a comedian holds the full package - the gift of the gab, a sense of relate ability and a undying energy which never failed to amaze me. Never before have I see a fully grown woman pull off a perfect headstand, while still delivering a punchline.
Around the room, you see a variety in the audience - a mother and daughter duo in tears of laughter, a father and son combo near the back and then a gaggle of others from varying backgrounds up the front. The room is pretty full and has a sense of energy about it- even before Clair sets foot on stage the room is buzzing.
Her set was fearless and ambitious. Full of quick changes and somewhat controversial lines the performance was somewhat of a masterpiece. Clair managed to keep the audience totally invested at all times, even while she was getting changed and even got one member of the audience to trust him with a pin and his delicates - ow!
The variety and enthusiasm of the audience, I feel is down to Clair’s ability to make anything that comes out of her mouth ridiculously relatable. I found myself, and my fifty something year old mother both in tears of laughter muttering ‘that’s so me’ constantly throughout the show. Her final lines, tearing hard into life living in Airdrie was simply hilarious, and ridiculously relatable for any Glaswegian. 'Fifty Shades of Clair' is definitely a must see.
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