30 August 2010
Written by
patricia (
)
Published on August 30th, 2010 @ 02:10:28 pm, using 302 words
CHUCK CIRINO, DR SUSAN BLOCK AND PATRICIA MITCHELL
So,.. for those readers who don’t know; many moons ago, in the 90’s I hosted many programs; some cable, some network, some regional … one thing they all had in common was a degree of zaniness, a hint of sexuality and a pinch of the unknown and surreal … It all felt so new at the time. So imagine my surprise and also sense of familiarity when I started to work on a pilot here in the USA which again offers; a pinch of the unknown a touch of the surreal and a hint of sexuality…
During my time hosting ‘The Sex Show’, producing ‘The Sex Files’ hosting and producing ‘Dating The Enemy’ I saw it all… and I mean ’saw’ as opposed to experienced ‘it all’. I was the professor doing the observing and reporting back, and I have to say there were elements of some shows that took me to a place I would never choose to go. I have no judgment on the people that do go to these places, and understand a degree of curiosity and experimentation amongst ‘punters’ - what I do have trouble with is seeing how some people can make their whole life about sex … Call me old fashioned, call me a prude, but there you go …
I also have to say, all these years on; ‘once you have met one sexual therapist with exhibitionist tendencies, you’ve met them all’ … Like myself back in the 90’s, I thought I had discovered something new, - but there is no such thing as a new idea, there is just a different person making a buck in the best way they know how … God love the sexual exhibitionists; we would have many unfilled segments in our show without them - ooooh matron!
27 August 2010
Written by
patricia (
)
Published on August 27th, 2010 @ 04:21:13 pm, using 572 words
INDIAN MEAL BEFORE “CARRY ON” FEST AT AERO THEATRE ON MONTANA
Something weird happens to you when you live in another country … it sort of happened to me in Australia, but I lived there for under 2 years, and I have been in California for over 2 years now. Sometimes you do crave things from home - for example I have discovered a British Food Store in Tarzana and I am excited by the news that they stock Nairn’s Oat cakes and all sorts of other goodies … So, please be assure I would normally not gravitate to the screening of a Kenneth Williams bio-pic and a screening of “Carry On Camping” … My 2britsinLA buddy Sandro produced the event and was to interview and conduct a Q & A with Michael Sheen after the Kenneth Williams bio-pic … “HELL, that would be hell” I thought when the concept was first introduced to me (and I had already seen the bio pic on the BBC) … but bit by bit all my Brit buddies were talking about ‘the carry on night’ and seemingly making plans to go - somehow it turned into a bit of a party … even my friend’s Craig and Craig who are as tied to their Topanga home as the stuck Chilean miners are to their mine, came out for the night … So I went too… and it was fun! and I found myself more me than I had felt for a while … I was reunited with a part of my identity I had forgotten, a part of my silly humour, a part of my life … I felt a little more me, and a little less lost in a world where the cultural norms are all learnt rather than merely absorbed … so, going back to my last post … ’shift change shift change, and a very nice little side step back’ - what a nice dance … and I can shamelessly admit to shouting “ooh Matron” when Sandro introduced the evening … I would never have done that when I was 8 and watching “Carry On Camping” at the Hammersmith Odeon …
And as a little aside - Michael Sheen delivered a GREAT Q & A moderated by Sandro Monetti… HE was funny, gave insight, and told the sort of tit-bits of information you crave from a star without being indiscreet … he spoke of meeting 2 of the people he had played; David Frost and Tony Blair … of David Frost he said: ‘I bumped into him and London and he said “how long are you in the country?” - I replied ‘about 2 weeks’ - to which David Frost said to Micheal Sheen “how wonderful for the country!” - Micheal Sheen said there was no hint of irony … it was a genuine compliment .. he said he has a way of making you feel good! - of Tony Blair he said it was interesting to be with someone who clearly wants to make you like them … they meet at the invitation of Mrs Rupert Murdoch in the Murdoch home (apparently nick names ‘the dead star’ - the home that is) Michael Sheen said he could not resist the invitation to meet him… however ‘Tony’ was surrounded by his people and was protected though they did ‘meet’ … but he said it was very interesting/useful to meet him and sense his energetic and it truly helped his next performance playing Tony BLair …
And finally a THANK YOU to Sandro Monetti for producing the evening …
23 August 2010
Written by
patricia (
)
Published on August 23rd, 2010 @ 07:05:07 pm, using 305 words
OK - so, … I have been choco-block doing things I don’t usually do - Dog Parties for example, free Open Air Theatre in Griffith Park LA, “Carry On” nights on Montana … (that is still to come) … HOWEVER, I was beginning to rather enjoy stepping out of step with myself … (if that makes any sense) … So, in the spirit of ‘that which does not kill you’ I went along to see a collection of shorts entitled “Dance For Camera” - I imagined something akin to a BBC2 arty review where I couldn’t understand what the hell anyone was talking about … Imagine my surprise when 3 of the 7 films brought tears to my eyes; one on mother and daughters, one of a jolly dance peace shot all over the world, (check it out at: http://www.mitchellrose.com/ - the film is called “ADVANCE” … ) and then “NORA” … the story of a Zimbabwean woman and her journey from her tribal home. (http://www.movementrevolutionafrica.com/nora/) .. I can only imagine I was so moved because (a) I went with no expectations and (b) the dance movie art form seemed to circumvent my mind and went straight to my heart/emotions, or some such thing …
AND THEN … my friend Sophie asked if I wanted to go see Mari Wilson (Just What I always Wanted’ fame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsC7DhF7l7w) in cabaret at ‘The Magic Castle’ on Hollywood… ( http://www.magiccastle.com/) - its a bloody weird place, it is full of magic tricks and magicians, which is my idea of hell to be honest… but Matt wanted to go and given that I decided “why not” … shift change shift change was beginning to be the order of the day … So, I went along, again, no expectations … and again … FABULOUS!! Great company … great fun, great!
17 August 2010
Written by
patricia (
)
Published on August 17th, 2010 @ 06:49:43 pm, using 192 words
TOSH’S 2ND BIRTHDAY
I used to be a city girl. I heard stories of my mother’s hateful period of evacuation in the then countrified village of Hatfield and empathized with her longing to return to the ’smoke’ and her lack of connectedness to ‘nature’/cows/green fields etc … My mother used to say “you’ll have enough of tress when your dead” ….Traffic, pedestrian crossings, parking meters, etc etc was my world. However, the last two tears something has happened.
This week-end I was invited to a dog party … and of course it was an excuse for us ladies to get together and chat give our dogs a bit of socializing - but as I sat there I was struck by just how beautiful EVERYTHING was - the connection of the owners of their dogs, the beautiful setting, the sun and light coming through the trees, the relaxed afternoon … and just the fun of hanging in a beautiful garden …
Having a garden such as this, a place so heartfull and nurturing is now something I aspire to …
LOLA - WHO SOMEHOW MANAGED TO SLURP DOWN 2 GULPS OF PINOT GRIGIO FROM THAT VERY TABLE
08 August 2010
Written by
patricia (
)
Published on August 8th, 2010 @ 07:02:15 pm, using 576 words
HOLLYWOOD BOWL - LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 2010
I do try to get a blog out every week, but I have noticed of late I am throwing things on the page just to hit the deadline - I apologies, I can’t say it won’t happen again but I’ll endeavor to be more disciplined … (but already this is over a week late - sorry to loyal readers)
I am happy to say the heat wave has gone, but the pace of things has stepped up… one new project and 2 old projects as well as a change over of tenants in my UK house, has kept me tied to my “TO DO” list … Just over 3 weeks from returning home from the UK and finally I feel the pace has become manageable …
HOWEVER - in all this activity I have managed to have some fun. I went to the Hollywood Bowl for the first time ever. When people talk about the Hollywood Bowl there is ALWAYS a certain buzz… A buzz I find a little over the top if not potentially nauseating, but then again, I have nver been to the Hollywood Bowl … I got my chance to be nauseating a couple of weeks ago when I was invited to attend a performance of “Planet Earth” set to music at the bowl … I jumped at the chance for a multiplicity of reasons; not least of all because I love the “Planet Earth Series".
Without going through all the ’stuff’ around the picnic you prepare to to take with you, and the meeting up with friends all of whom are excited about the adventure of being at the bowl, and simply being in Hollywood I did find even my own feelings of excitement and joy slightly nauseating - I was even shocked when the ‘Star Bangled Banner’ was played and I felt strangely emotional …. I was lucky enough to have seats in a 4 people box with a table for the picnic - it was amazingly well organized … we had wraps, white wine, popcorn, sushi … creme brulee, Pinot Grigio .. wonderful (see picture below) … The music was amazing; the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of the series’ award-winning composer, George Fenton. George Fenton is my kind of English; brilliant but with an intelligent humour, and quite dashing looks as well …
HOWEVER one strange thing for me was how the Hollywood Bowl reminded me of the local park I used to go to in Fulham (Bishop’s Park) when I was a little girl. There used to be a little stage that local children did tap dancing exhibitions on (badly) and old fashion talent contests, concerts and even beauty competitions. I was entered in a ‘Baby Beauty Contest’ by the family au pair girl who was like family. Ingrid was outraged I was only awarded second place. She was totally convinced i was the most beautiful baby in the whole wide world. Thinking about it now the Hollywood Bowl is nothing like Bishops Park - but the idea of outside performances on a stage, and community, and maybe even feeling at home, brought Bishops Park to mind. Its such a shame that stage has gone from Bishops Park, though thank Heavens the Park is still there and not part of Fulham Football Ground … The only problem (back to the Bowl) was getting out - but I had been warned and I guess you factor that in….
DINNER AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL - JULY 2010
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