ABERTAWE < 3 < 3 < 3

SWANSEA IS IN PREMIERE LEAGUE!!!!!!

Joe, Johan and me watched the game at out local pub Mountain Dew. Everyone went mental when Swansea won. SWANSEA <3 <3 <3 <3 Actually planning on maybe getting a season ticket, unless it's really expensive. I'm at least going to many games. Says the guy who doesn't like football xD Might hit the pub later tonight!

Today's song: Queen - We are the champion

FANCY DRESS PARTY

Had a great time out last night with some amazing people from both my course and uni. We finished first yesterday, so we decided to celebrate. Everyone (almost) dressed up as a film character, I went as Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.

Source: David Osgar

Source: David Osgar

People dressed up as vampires, Charlie Chaplin, Ace Ventura, Flubber, Clockwork orange guys and many more. We had a great time! Now I have admit I'm a bit reduced now, so early bed for me.

Today's song: Placebo - Running up that hill

FIRST YEAR IN UNI - CHECK

Source: tattmight.com

I'm now done with my first year at Swansea Metropolitan University! My last exam was today and feel that went good :D Now it's just time to wait for feedback around 7th of June, then back to Norway for the summer on the 10th. It's so weird, this year has gone SO fast, I can't believe in. Tonight our class is having a film fancy dress party, to celebrate that all of us amazing students have finished our first year. Guess what I'm dressing up as? I'll give you a hint, scroll up.... Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, most likely.

Source: http://modculture.typepad.com

Stopped by Boots today and bought Hawaiian sunoil and sun lotion (SPF 15). So for the next 2 1/2 I'm hoping to enjoy the sun and maybe beach and get a tan, cause I'm gonna be working in Norway so need to get one now!  It's been so warm today. Just came back from town with the girls and I was boiling in a t-shirt. As long as that wind stays away it's nice and boiling AND most important, I can get a tan!

Photo: ME. From when I was in France/Italy/Monacco in 2008

Summer people, my favorite time of the year. You don't have to think about if you're going to be cold, sunny and warm (normally). . I'm going on a holiday in Norway with some mates in July, which it's gonna be great!!! :D Really looking forward to that, fishing, drinking and taning <3 I wanna go somewhere very warm this summer, like Spain, never been there If I find some VERY cheap tickets to a random warm place I might buy'em.

In the summer spirit, here's Kid Rock:
Today's song: Kid Rock - All summer long

AVID + INSPIRATION #6

Tomorrow is my one and only exam. The subject is Avid Media Composer, the video editing software we use in uni. It's going to a bit weird having a theoretical exam in something that's practical. I feel fearly confident and think it's gonna go be fine. I've used Avid for almost a year now and haven't fallen in love yet I must say. It's different and for me slow. BUT on my last project I just used version 5 (one room's got Avid 3 and the other has got Avid 5). Version 5 is much better 3. Like Johan said a couple of weeks back: "Editing used to be fun... then came Avid" haha! We've agreed on that it's just an adjustment when you've used other editing software and that you'll get used to it after a while. After tomorrow I'm done with my 1st year in university, or I've got to wait for the feedback, but no more projects. So I'm just hoping for 2 weeks of sun before I go back to Norway for the summer.


INSPIRATION #6
This is as commercial for the WESSA/ WWF eco-schools programme in Africa. It was launched in South Africa in 2003 to teach future generations about conservation and how it improves all of our lives.


I think Western school should focus much more on this, which is an important topic. Kids don't learn enough about the environment and the nature. I think this film have some beatiful shots and great editing. It does a great job.

Today's song: Owl City - Vanilla Twilight

COUGAR TOWN + REDWINE = ?

I'm taking a well deserved brake from my revising (preparations for exam) with a glass of red Cabernet Sauvignon, France, with a fresh episode of Cougar Town, awesome series. So funny! Highly recommended. They always drink wine there and today I really wanted a glass, just one. So I'm gonna sit back and enjoy before I get back to revising tomorrow before my exam on Wednesday.

My grandmother posted this on Facebook a few months ago and it's been stuck ever since:


I realized today when I was at the gym that it's just 2 weeks and 5 days until I leave Swansea for the summer. So sad :( This year has gone so quick, omg.

Enjoy peeps!

Today's song: Pitbull ft. Jencarlos - Tu Cuerpo

PARKOUR

Johan, Edd and me went down to town to do some freerunning/parkour, or just general messing about. I had both of my cameras with me and got to play around with the shutter speed on my SLR (35mm film camera). Tomorrow it's all about practising for the Avid 1st year "exam", which is on Wednesday. So I'll be down in the editing room going through all the questions tomorrow and if I don't make it through them all, Tuesday to. Fun times 'ey? It's so weird, after Wednesday I'm done with my first year, just have to wait for my grades and feedback. So hoping for sun and no wind so I can hit the beach and get a tan.



I shot this on 19th of March, but totally forgot to edit it done. Never tried stop-motion before and gonna do more, cause it was fun. This isn't a great film, but it's fun to watch and make so definitely doing it again. Love the fact that we wore shorts in mid-March :D

Today's song: Avril Lavigne - Smile

35MM

I devolved my three first 35mm colour film yesterday with lovely Nora. So much fun! Everything is pitch dark so you have to work blind, threading the film to the wheel and submerging it into the different liquids. Anyway, really fun and can't wait the process more film. Here some of the pictures:



I just wanted to get to know the camera and test it. Still getting used to it a bit, but getting there. Shooting on film is a good experience, cause by having 24/36 exposures you have to think about what you want. And I feel the pictures are more "alive" with film. Some of the pictures had some small noise on them, that was because my UV filter was a bit dirty and realized to late. Thanks again grandma for the camera :D

Found a new band on my daily YouTube stumble today and liked it, The Downtown Fiction. Found their new album on Spotify, "Let's be animals", not to bad, some cool songs.

Today's song: The Downtown Fiction - I just wanna run

CHARLIE ST. CLOUD

Plot:
Charlie St. Cloud is a young man overcome by grief at the death of his younger brother. So much so that he takes a job as caretaker of the cemetery in which his brother is buried. Charlie has a special lasting bond with his brother though, as he can see him. Charlie meets up with his brother (Sam) each night to play catch and talk. Then, a girl comes into Charlie's life and he must choose between keeping a promise he made to Sam, or going after the girl he loves.
Source: IMDB.com

First of all, up to this point I've never really been a huge Zac Efron fan. Well I'm not going to be his number one stalker, but his performance in Charlie St. Cloud was very good I must say. He plays the role of the loving brother who lost his younger brother in an accident. Charlie can see Sam (Charlie Tahan) and they see each other every day. He blames himself for his brothers death. We get to see Charlie's development as he meets the lovely girls Tess and is torn between his promise and her. The story is touching and good and played out well. Its got some very good shots and good editing. I'm not saying it was life changing, but it was a GOOD film. I can recommend it and hope you'll watch it and like it too.

Fresh of YouTube (uploaded yesterday) the new music video for Run the world. I like some of it, the dancing and the clothes, but I'm not a huge of that song anyway so don't know.

Today's song: Beyoncè - Run the world

17TH OF MAY

Sorry again, just been drowning in work, but I've finally surfaced.

For those of you that didn't know, yesterday (17th of May) was Norway's National Day and of course we celebrated it Welsh-style. We were planning on going down to the beach, but it was (of course) raining so we went to pubs instead. What comes after rain? 18th of May We went to Potters Wheel yesterday and decided to sing to the Welsh people.

Pictures cutesy of Belinda Strømmen

Besides that I participating on the Cycling 465 miles around Wales for Japan and NZ earthquake appeal. I cycle one hour on the bike in the Mount Pleasant reception were people can get to see me sweat and support a great case. I've been on it two day, two hours now and I've raised 23£ just by cycling. We've got many miles left, but we're slowly getting there. There's about 17-ish different people taking turns cycling.

So funny, the first thing Johan said to me a couple of days of go was "Burn in hell Tom, cause I've now got Blue I can stuck. That was the first thing I thought about when I woke up!!" I just laughed :D Both Johan and me have been playing this every day for the last few days and it's no stuck alongside Blue - I can. 


Today's song: Don Omar - Danza Kuduro ft. Lucenzo

EUROVISON DRINKING CONTEST 2011

Eurovision drinking game 2011:

Finish your drink:

- Female mustache

- Rapping

- Bold

Drink one finger:

- Artist do a wink

- Peace sign

- Drop to the knees

- Sings in a foreign language

- Artist wearing a hat

- Artist with mustache

- Retard dancing

- Magic tricks

- Look lovingly at each other

Points/results:

Drink one finger every time XXX get's points.

- UK (because it's Blue)

- Ireland (because it's Jedward)

- Sweden (me and Kylie thought he was good)

- Denmark (the girls thought he was hot)

- Finland (good act)

(Here we had to throw in the towel and just drink when UK got points, cause by this point the alcohol level was pretty high) The official drinking game has a lot more rules, but we had to shorten them down otherwise we would have been on the floor by the third song...

The winners were Azerbaijan.... Didn't like this song at all...


Now I got Blue - I can and Jedward - Lipstick stuck to my brain... Actually I have to admit that Blue isn't that bad. But I HATE JEDWARD!!!! They are really the most annoying thing to ever come from these islands...

    

After Eurovision we carried on untill 5:30 in the morning (I went to bed 04:30). Two of my hallsmate were still pretty tipsy when the woke up today. I on the other hand felt fine and went for a quick morning run, 2,97km/1,85 miles. Thanks for a GREAT evening people! :D Later we're going to Weatherspoons to have a good old Sunday pub meal.

UPDATE + INSPIRATION #4

I'm so sorry that I haven't blogged in days now. Well on the 11th and 12th Blogger had a nervous breakdown, so I couldn't log on to my account. So let go through the days:

On Wednesday, we went out for a meal at Peachy Keens to celebrate mine and Chris's birthday. They had a all-you-can-eat-buffet for 10,59£ with food from ALL over the world. It was AMAZING! I could also walk over to the Indian kitchen and the chef would make me fresh Indian pancakes or whatever else that was on the menu.

After a lovely meal, we went out on town. Felt a bit weird walking in to Bank Statement at 20:30 and still daylight. Later went to Oceana and met up with some other friends and had a great time. Thanks guys :D

On my birthday, Friday the 13th, I went shopping for birthday gifts. There is nothing more fun than buying presents for yourself.

Summer shirt 9£, swim trunks 6£, t-shirts 2,50£ (Primark)

Armless hoodie 9,99£ (H&M), light scarf 12,60£ (Topman) and white beanie hat 7,99£ (Republic)

About 50£ in total, so not bad. I don't care about brands at all, I go for what I like with a combination of prize and quality. The first thing my mom said when she saw the hat was "What do you need that for? It's summer" I know, but I use a beanie all year round, love those hats. I lost my white one on the bus back to Norway in the easter :( The grey one I've got, I've had for 3 years now I think.

My family are unique, really. My grandmother (both of them actually) are on Facebook and yesterday three generations of Laugerud sat on face commenting until 23:00 (UK) / 00:00 (N). So fun! Do you know see why Face in embedded into my body? xD One time I'm gonna make a documentary about my very unique family, so watch out!

Now just been doing some finishing touches on my visual diary, which now is amazing if I can say so myself. Of course NOW the sun shines... I was thinking of taking my camera out and cycle over to Clyne wood, because when the suns out the light there is amazing. Might go, don't know yet.

Inspiration #4
This song is by itself awesome and with video it becomes exploding. Have been talking to a mate of mine that studies visual effects and computer animation to collaborate on a piece maybe.

Today's song: Justice - D.A.N.C.E.

SHOWREEL DONE

My showreel DVD is done too! YEAH!!! I'm so tired now, so tomorrow I'm gonna sleep until 9-10 before doing some work on my visual diary. Tomorrow we're going out to celebrate Chris and mine's birthday :D

My birthday is on Friday 13th!!! :D Halfway to 40. It's fun to think of that my mom turns 41 in June and my step-dad turns 40 tomorrow (11th), so I'm half the age of my parents xD And grandma and grampa are 61 and 63.

Today's song: Pitbull - Give me everything ft. Ne-Yo

CARDIFF'S GOT TALENT

I'M DONE! My new film is done :D So might upload it before 25th of May if I have the time. Even though my film is done I still got more to do. I'm satisfied with the result, of course you'll always see the faults/improvements like light, sound, composition etc., but with what I did I'm satisfied.

New dance routine today, so have to try to practice a bit during the week. We'll have this exact dance routine for three weeks now. Watched Saturday's Britain's Got Talent, this time from Manchester and Cardiff (the capital in Wales, 40 min from me). Many amazing acts and some special ones. One of the best ones this times, I think, would be James Hobley (see description below). It's kids like that inspire me, to go out into the world and give it your best. Never let anyone or anything stop you from reaching your goals. Really looking forward to circus tomorrow now.


Britain's Got Talent: 11-year-old James' incredible talent was discovered by his mum taking him to a dancing event when he was younger. As well as loving his amazing and natural skills - it's even helped him overcome a problem with his legs and his struggle with autism. With his teacher and biggest fan, Mum, watching from the wings - James comes alive to the music on the Britain's Got Talent stage, wows the audience and renders the judges speechless! Will James overcome all the odds and take his fantastic dance routine to the semi-finals?

Just saw Owl City's music video for Alligator Sky today. AMAZING! I think I've watched it 10 times today alone. Really good shots, costumes, story and song :D Check out Owl City on Spotify.



Today's song: Owl City - Alligator Sky ft. Shawn Chrystopher

LET'S MOVE

My nice Sunday run, 14,55km/9,05 miles. Had to get all the alcohol and pizza from the weekend out of my body. Haha!

The Clyne wood is filled with lovely old stone structures, this is one of them. It's filled with old pipes, bridges, walls and tunnels, so I'm just trying to take it all in. You never know, might come in handy in a film sometime. I so wanted my camera here, instead of that shitty phone camera. Could have used my Ricoh 35mm camera. It's so unique and special lighting in this forest, so to go back here with my cameras in my to-do list after 25th of May.

Until uni work is done: It is 16 days, 19 hours, 5 minutes :D

Source: Deano Matten - Sorry about the focus (not my fault)

Had a really good time out last night with Deano, Kylie, Sara, Thomas and David. Went to several places and enjoyed most of them. Yes I have coloured my hair, gonna post a picture as soon as I've been to the hairdresser, hopefully tomorrow. The colouring went great, it's just that I've got way to long hair right now.

The First Lady, Michelle Obama, have started her new campaign Let's Move! to try to fight the obesity in USA. I think this is a great campaign and one that's really needed. She's got Beyoncè to create a song for it and its being shown all over the states. You can learn the steps here.

                
Damn that lady can move! Did you see those heels!?!

Today's song: Let's Move! "Move Your Body" Music Video with Beyoncé

1000 BALLOONS

One of our housemates went to Germany for a few days, so we decided to fill his room with ONE THOUSAND balloons :D Not many friends love you so much, haha! We took them all out into the hallway afterwards.



We had so much fun this morning, popping'em and all. Some of them were filled with glitter too, so now all us have glitter in our hair, clothes etc. HAHA!

Went to the Swansea Met 2nd Year Photography Exhibition opening yesterday. Some very nice pictures I must say and some interesting and a few not so great. Really like going to exhibitions, see other peoples works, mingle/socializing AND free wine :D After a most succesfull exhibition (except the fact that the janitor decided to kick everyone out at eight o'clock) we went out. Elise, Silje, Janne, Ingelin, Arne, Guillaume and me went to Bar Reef. Never been there before, but I'm definately coming back, very good food and excelent staff. Probably be back already next Friday (my birthday) when it's a live jazz group preforming.

Now I'm going out for a quick cycle around town to find the hair colour I need, cause I'm in need of blond highlights again!

Have a great weekend peeps :D

New video from Panic! at the Disco :D Love it!
Today's song: Panic! at the Disco - Ready to go

WORKATHON

Deadline 09.05.11: Essay - Film review in "Sight & Sound" magazine style. My choice: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

- Here I'm up to date, only missing the conclusion which I'm gonna add during the weekend.

Deadline 20.05.11: Hand in Personal Narrative Fucking perfect, visual diary and showreel DVD

Today: - editing 

             - made several showreel DVD design sketches, the cover, disc and menu

Tomorrow: - editing

Weekend: - making the titles and text animation for the intro to Fucking perfect

Monday: - editing

Tuesday: - editing

Wednesday: - exporting/finishing touches

Thursday: - design the DVD, cover and menu

Friday (my birthday): - design the DVD, cover and menu, finish!

Weekend: - fine tuning on DVD showreel

Monday: - print out DVD cover/disc

Tuesday: - burn DVD, for Fucking perfect + project files for visual diary

Wednesday: - check that everything is in place in visual diary (which it is cause I've been working on that all year, 5 min a day is much better than 3 day at end term)

Thursday and Friday: - two extra days in case something happens

Deadline 25.05.11: Exam in Avid Media Composer, 1st year

- As soon as I'm all done with the above, it's Avid training videos all the way

(For the record, the more I use Avid, I hate it. Cause I think it's a old interface and time consuming. Personally I prefer Adobe Premiere pro or Final Cut)

And after 25 May we basically don't have any more uni, except waiting for feedback and grades. So then I'm gonna enjoy nice warm days down at the beach with friends, finish one of my my film/photo private project (which has taken much more time then I originally hoped), Circus eruption on Tuesdays, exercise, exercise and exploring :D And some charity work for Discovery charity. Basically I'm so fed up with all the paper, we live in 2011, we hardly need paper. So I'm setting up a digital systems for all Discovery staff/volunteers to use for gathering info etc. Also design the website for Discovery.

Have you seen it??? Lady Gaga's brand new video for the song Judas. I love her videos, even though they are a bit look-a-like Madonna and Christina Aguilera.

Today's song: Lady Gaga - Judas

TEASER: FUCKING PERFECT

Still editing, but here's a teaser for my new film "Fucking perfect". The film is shot as a documentary style and is about eating disorders amongst teenage boys. It's also connected with the anti-bullying campaign I had a few months ago. This is for my uni project "Personal Narrative".



Like it says in the trailer, the full film released on 25.05.11 on my Vimeo channel. Gonna tell you more about the film, the process behind it and where I got my inspiration from, so tune in the 25th of May.

Today's song: Noah and the Whale - Tonight's the kind of night

MILK ANYONE?

Got a 57% on my essay, which is the equivalent of 4+/C+, so I'm pleased with that. Gonna try to improve of course and aim higher. I want at least 5/B :D

I just saw Milk, a great movie about the true life and passion of Harvey Milk's fight for gay rights in the USA in the 1970's. They way some people treated them (and some still do today) is apoling! It's not about sexual orientation, ethnicity or believes, it's about basic human right for all humans. Harvey and the mayor of San 

Fransisco was murded in cold blood cause some people wouldn't not accept was they stood for. 

 

Storyline: Using flashbacks from a statement recorded late in life and archival footage for atmosphere, this film traces Harvey Milk's career from his 40th birthday to his death. He leaves the closet and New York, opens a camera shop that becomes the salon for San Francisco's growing gay community, and organizes gays' purchasing power to build political alliances. He runs for office with lover Scott Smith as his campaign manager. Victory finally comes on the same day Dan White wins in the city's conservative district. The rest of the film sketches Milk's relationship with White and the 1978 fight against a statewide initiative to bar gays and their supporters from public school jobs. Source: IMDB.com

Milk is a film I highly recommend both because of the contents and because of the cinematography of the film. The film is made up of old footage from the 1970's mixed with today's techniques. Throughout the whole film Harvey Milk is a narrator and is recording his "biography" on tape in case he's assassinated. The director, Gus Van Sant, has an amazing way of traveling through time. Even though we're following the characters for several years, it's still flows nicely. Some amazing shots and great acting, especially from Jean Penn (Harvey Milk) and from James Franco (Scott Smith).

Rent it, buy it, borrow it or whatever, but this is a great film :D (£3,98 at Amazon.co.uk)

I love The Script, another great song is The Man Who Can't Be Moved
Today's song: The Script - If you ever come back

END OF BANK HOLIDAY

Got up today and wrote 800 out of 1000 words on my essay, laid outside in my hammock and went to the gym (danceclass and full body workout) :D Great day, a bit windy though. Like I said on Facebook this morning, hope the nice weather stays like this until the 20th of May (deadline for my film). After that, just relaxation, finish my secret private projects and put the finishing touches on my visual diary. Also expect it to be some fitness, beach, friends, filming, mind mapping and pictures for the rest of the time until 15-20th of June ish. It's not long at all before the summer holiday, 6 weeks, omg, this year has gone so fast!

Live the life you love, so you can love the life you live.

Today's song: Ronan Parke - Britain's Got Talent 2011 Audition (read below to find the link)

Watched the London auditions from Britain's Got Talent yesterday and many good preformers. Ronan Parke (picture) 12 years old, had an amazing voice and what a charming smile! OMG! Unfortunatly I couldn't put the audition video directly in the post, cause ITV are stupid, but watch it HERE. I know people have started comparing him with Justin Bieber, but this kid actually has a great voice and outshines Bieber on the spot!

Have a great night peeps :D

INSPIRATION #3

Don't think I've posted this video before, it's really good. Posts with the title inspiration is works/products that inspire me.


About: A documentary about a journey to "The Edge of the Earth". The Gates of the Arctic National Park is the northernmost national park in the U.S. (the entirety of the park lies north of the Arctic Circle).There are no established roads, trails, visitor facilities, or campgrounds in the park.


Following the Alatna River you will see an amazing place people rarely see, including the amazing Arrigetch Peaks.

This documentary has some amazing shots, both the technical aspect and on the contents. I wish to do something similar when I hope to go through Europe.

Today I've been getting to know my Ricoh KR-10 super camera, so much fun. Went down to Pounland of all places and bought 3 x Kodak 200 film to try out. I've never used a 35 mm film based SLR (speilrefleks) for a longer period of time. It's the same principal as a DSLR, but you have to think it more through. It's a really good exercise getting used to the fact that you only have 24 pictures on one roll and you're out. The pictures feel more "alive" and I don't know, I just love it. I'm gonna try to process the film within the week and post'em here :D

Today's song: Bob Sinclar - Together