10 most Recent Topics - Forum for former BBC staff

10 most Recent Topics - Forum for former BBC staff http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl - Forum for former BBC staff en-us Forum for former BBC staff Sat, 19 May 2012 11:45:02 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 30 History - The Story of TC programme pre-view tonight at the http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337115515/3#3 Forum for former BBC staff/History http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337115515/3#3 Well, <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/last-nights-viewing-tales-of-television-centre-bbc4the-great-euro-crash-with-robert-peston-bbc2-7763922.html" target="_blank">"The Independent"</a>. wasn't keen on the programme:- ".......it must have been fun to be there in the early days, when the BBC had an armlock on broadcasting excellence and there was a household name behind every door. A different kind of programme might have seriously addressed the question of whether you got better television out of a pre-Birt BBC in which everything was done in-house. But this was more preoccupied with anecdote and fond remembrance, its stories fuelled by the fact that very few celebrities are immune to the glamour of other celebrities they haven't met before. But the final montage, in which all the contributors were invited to sum up the building in just one word, was close to insupportable in its sentimental cosiness." But what did you think? Bernard Newman from the <a href="http://tech-ops.co.uk/next/" target="_blank">Tech-Ops</a>. web-site said:- "I really enjoyed it, for what it was - it was bright and it was fun. But then, standing back a bit, I realised that mostly what I'd seen was Richard's old colleaugues in kids and a few other performing types. Other than them, there was pretty much no-one at all. Roger Bunce did an excellent job and kept the tech-ops end up, and John Henshall told a tale to do with ends up. Graphics artist Bob Richards also did a bit. But where was everyone else? A bit of chatter about make-up, but no make-up people, nor actually anyone else who actually worked there at all. Richard had decided to have no commentary, but a good rounded history with lots of commentary needs to be made, and soon. It was fun, but there's a big hole in the schedule for a proper programme about the place." Any thoughts? For those that missed the programme, it is available on the BBC iPlayer until 28th May <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01h266w/Tales_of_Television_Centre/" target="_blank">here</a>. History - "Kaleidoscope"- A Vintage TV Society http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337430386/0#0 Forum for former BBC staff/History http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337430386/0#0 Kaleidoscope is a voluntary, non profit-making group devoted to the appreciation and research of vintage television in all its forms. Over the last twenty years, they have become renowned as the UK's leading provider of classic television festivals, retrospectives and other activities, and the publication of specialist books and reference guides. Their next meeting is at "The Talbot" Stoubridge, 9th June. More details may be found <a href="http://www.kaleidoscope.org.uk/next-kaleidoscope-event.html" target="_blank">here</a>. All proceeds from their events go to the RNLI. Notices, obituaries and tributes - Colin McIntyre http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337360086/2#2 Forum for former BBC staff/Notices, obituaries and tributes http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337360086/2#2 A tribute to Colin McIntyre from the BBC News web-site may be found <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18123992" target="_blank">here</a>. "The founding editor of the BBC's Ceefax service - the world's first teletext service - has died at the age of 85 Colin McIntyre, who worked for the BBC for 30 years, died in hospital on Thursday after a short illness. When Ceefax was launched in 1974, he updated all 24 news pages on his own, feeding punch tape into machines. When he retired in 1982, Ceefax had a 20-strong team. It went on to attract 22 million viewers a week and inspired teletext services around Europe." "He was a renowned journalist at the BBC and became one of the youngest chief-sub editors in the newsroom when he was promoted to that role in 1955. He later trained as a TV producer and served as a correspondent at the UN during the Suez and Hungary crises before becoming the BBC's chief publicity officer for seven years and programme promotions executive between 1972 and his appointment as Ceefax editor in 1974." News and Comment - Less red button and fewer channels after Olympics http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337290864/2#2 Forum for former BBC staff/News and Comment http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337290864/2#2 I'm all for a dedicated Sports Channel, then we won't have to put up with sport on BBC1 and 2! News and Comment - Buy a bit of Bush http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337362168/0#0 Forum for former BBC staff/News and Comment http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337362168/0#0 This email was sent to all News staff: From: Bush House Decommissioning Sent: 14 May 2012 To: GN All Staff Subject: Auction of BBC Assets from Bush House Auction of BBC Assets from Bush House The decommissioning process is gathering pace and we would like to give you some details of the auction of BBC assets in Bush House, and how you have the opportunity to bid for items you may be interested in. Peaker Pattinson are the auctioneers who are managing the sale of BBC assets from Bush House. You may have seen their representatives around the building cataloguing items to be included in the auction. What is included in the auction? Items being auctioned include the contents of studios, individual pieces of broadcasting equipment, televisions, technical chairs/desks, test equipment and other items of interest. It is anticipated that there will be over 1000 lots in the first sale in July. Viewing for the first auction will be on Wednesday 18th July and Thursday 19th July 2012. When does the auction take place? The auction sale will be on-line on 25th/26th/27th July 2012. How do I register my interest? All staff have the opportunity to bid in the public online auctions and in order to prepare for the bidding process, you need to register individually to create your own username and password. If you think you may be interested in bidding for items, it is advisable to register in advance because the approval process can take up to 5 days. Once registered, you will receive an email confirming your credit limit, which usually starts at £200 but is extended to £500 for individuals who register with their bbc.co.uk email address. If you would like to discuss a higher credit limit, please contact Oliver Player from Peaker Pattinson (oliver.player@ppauctions.com) or tel. 01778 590111. Please go to <a href="http://www.ppauctions.com" target="_blank">www.ppauctions.com</a> to register and create your username and password and don't forget to use your bbc.co.uk email address if you require a credit limit of £500. We will send further details about the bidding process closer to the auction date. Notices, obituaries and tributes - John Fabian http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337327629/0#0 Forum for former BBC staff/Notices, obituaries and tributes http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337327629/0#0 This is taken from the Daily Telegraph: John Fabian 7:42PM BST 17 May 2012 John Fabian, who has died aged 84, had a long and successful career in television production, notably in the popular 1970s series The Onedin Line (1971-80). As associate producer, he helped re-create mid-Victorian Liverpool at Bayards Cove near Dartmouth, where much of the series was filmed. Created by Cyril Abraham, The Onedin Line followed the fortunes of an ambitious young sea captain, James Onedin (played by Peter Gilmore), as sail and steam struggled for supremacy on the ocean waves. But visually the star of the show was his first ship, the magnificent three-masted schooner Charlotte Rhodes, which flew the Onedin flag on her voyages halfway around the globe. The job called for much ingenuity on Fabian’s part; as well as its home base in 19th-century Liverpool, episodes of The Onedin Line were also set in more exotic locations, for example the Virgin Islands. In 1971, however, his budget for each episode was a mere £29,000, which meant much improvisation. Using copious amounts of straw and old barrels together with donkeys and carts, Fabian not only helped transform Bayards Cove into 1860s Liverpool but also Kingswear into Cardiff; a local quarry into a Turkish volcano; and a stretch of the Dart near Dittisham into the Amazon, complete with dugout canoes and natives, some played by locals roped in as extras, and many shots fringed by branches of palm trees stuck on with gaffer tape. He also managed to re-create the Arctic using artificial snow during a Devonian summer when temperatures climbed to 84 degrees. John Fabian was born on May 19 1927 in Wolverhampton, where his father was a director of the Star Motor Company. From Merchant Taylors he went to Birmingham University to read Medicine, and did his National Service in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Having become interested in the theatre, he joined Birmingham Rep as a student under Peter Brook, making his West End debut in Blood Wedding, with Maxine Audley, at the Playhouse. He appeared in Pablo Picasso’s only play, Desire Caught by the Tail, in 1950 . Fabian diversified into radio, making features, drama and poetry programmes with, among others, Dylan Thomas, and in 1955 starred as David Flame Secret Agent. He joined the J Arthur Rank Charm School under Sidney Box, appearing in such films as Under Capricorn (1949), directed by Alfred Hitchcock; with Gene Kelly in Crest of the Wave (1954); Cockleshell Heroes (1955); and A Town Like Alice (1956). Settling on a career behind the cameras, Fabian became a director on Panorama and the Tonight programme with Cliff Michelmore. From current affairs he moved to the BBC’s drama department, directing episodes of Dr Finlay’s Casebook, Z-cars, Compact and The Newcomers. When he branched into production, he worked as assistant producer on such programmes as Late Night Line Up and The Onedin Line. Fabian was then contracted as production manager, planning and deploying multi-million-pound budgets for new programmes such as Warship and The Buccaneer and was associate producer on Secret Army, Juliet Bravo, Angels, Morgan’s Boy, Trainer and Howards’ Way. His innovative ideas on The Onedin Line led to an invitation to direct action sequences for Sils de Strandjutter, a film company based in Holland, Belgium and Germany, in particular storm sequences at sea. He also worked for NCRV TV Holland, making documentaries about the British way of life . When he left the BBC in 1987, Fabian became a freelance lecturer and producer. In his later years he qualified as a psychotherapist and worked with the Training Enterprise Council on the problems of the long-term unemployed and the training of young people with special needs. John Fabian is survived by his wife, Margaret, their son and four stepchildren. John Fabian, born May 19 1927, died April 11 2012 Help! - BBC OB Green http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337200210/0#0 Forum for former BBC staff/Help! http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337200210/0#0 The following post has been made on a Usenet Forum (uk.tech.broadcast) Richard Hi Does any one know (or know where I can find out) the colour that BBC OBs were painted back in the 50's? Green with a grey stripe is what I'm thinking of, but should it be deep bronze green (BS224) or mid bronze green (BS 223) or something else? Dave Hill -- Dave Hill - dave _ _ news at hillcroft dot org dot uk News and Comment - Boris slams BBC http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1336984741/3#3 Forum for former BBC staff/News and Comment http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1336984741/3#3 Once again, Boris has shown himself to be an oiky toff and not to be trusted. In my day, no gentleman - nor decent journalist - would dream of broadcasting or publishing an opinion presumably shared in confidence by another journalist. Gompertz should demand redress. And the Orbit thing is indeed a pile of poo, free or not. Where are they now? - Steve Turner http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337079391/0#0 Forum for former BBC staff/Where are they now? http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1337079391/0#0 Does anyone know of Steve Turner's whereabouts? He produced a programme called Colour Me Pop in the 60's and then at some point moved to Central Television in Nottingham. Yasmine Giles (née Pervaiz) For Those Of Sound Mind - Where's the 'mute' button? http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1253100883/50#50 Forum for former BBC staff/For Those Of Sound Mind http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1253100883/50#50 This article <a href="http://t.co/wa3qHbRz" target="_blank">here</a> includes a most apposite link <a href="http://tinyurl.com/8ytxvf2" target="_blank">here</a> which should be made compulsory reading for all editors no matter what type of programme they work on. Amigo 10 tips for using audio more effectively in multimedia stories (by Casey Frechette) Music in Multimedia: Add Sparingly, Not as a Crutch (by Regina McCombs)