Up, up and away!

Just wanted to say goodbye as I am now off to Sardinia on a major climbing trip for 9 days.

I will be back to all of you guys on the 10th of July.

See you then!

Well I'll probably just stab you in the front

I ended work last night in a thoroughly foul mood. A pity because I was heading over to Jailbait's house for a discussion about our Sardinia holiday next week and the poor boy had to deal with me ranting and raving in regards to work for about 20 minutes before I finally calmed down.

It's funny. Here in the office there is a great comradeship amongst all of the Production staff. We're friendly to each other, we regularly go out for lunch and use each other for sounding boards about work problems and ideas.

HOWEVER

Underneath it all the claws will come out.

There is intense competition about who is going to get what show, who's contract is being extended, who is paid the highest and most important - who is going to get that long dreamed of promotion.

The problem is that we are mostly contracted so after the show that you are on there is a fair chance that the bosses will not extend it. Plus there are certain shows that we all want to work on - but of course only 1 of us can get that joy.

We're also not supposed to discuss our pay. But of course we all do. The reason for this is because then we might discover that the bosses are in fact lying to us and we are NOT on the highest wage for our position. This recently happened to one of my colleagues. I mentioned my rate, she realised I was x amount more a week than her and requested a pay rise. She firmly got told that she was on par with all the others and at this point they can't do it.

Uh oh.

Now she can't say anything cause then I'm in trouble - but believe me you WANT too!

I was annoyed because the powers that be know that I am angling for a promotion at the moment and keep fobbing me off with slightly more money and a promise that as soon as there is a position available that they can try me out in then it will happen.

The liars.

A new girl who started a couple of weeks ago just got contracted onto the junior position that I want.

They told me there were none available at present.

Does this mean I'm not good at my job or that they'd rather I did it on another show?

*sighs*

I really hate the politics.

They are putting me on an amazing show next and I am going to gain some invaluable studio experience on a live awards ceremony surrounded by celebrities - but part of me would rather have had that promotion.

I've made a boo boo

I always say that it is not what you mess up but how you deal with it and fix it.

Classic example is a horror story that my Production Manager told us about today. A few years ago he was in Post Production (editing and actually putting the programme together) of a certain show and had been for about 3 weeks. One day the Producer called him up and requested certain footage from the rushes (raw material shot onto the tapes during filming) that were missing in the edit.

My Manager asked the Researcher who had been working on the show where the footage was.

She said it had gone down to the edit 3 weeks previously.

He proceeded to spend the rest of the day on the phone arguing between the Producer and the Post Production Editing Company who had obviously gone and lost the rushes.

*This is everyone's worst nightmare. I feel physically ill imagining having lost rushes. This is not footage you can go back and re shoot if you're working on a documentary. It is lost. Scary.*

Suddenly this happened

Researcher goes completely white

Researcher: Oh. My. God.

Manager: What? What? What?

Researcher: I know where the rushes are. Holy crap.

Manager: Desperation in his voice WHERE???

Researcher: Terrified tiny voice They're in the cupboard back at the ski lodge in France. I forgot them.

Manager: Holy crap.

The Researcher then organised to go back, get the rushes and bring them back ASAP to the office.

All I can say is hats off to her for actually admitting it. She could have continued to pretend not to know where they were and avoided having herself in the firing line. No one would have been any of the wiser.

That must have been absolutely terrifying.

I'm so glad I wasn't her.

Quaking in my boots

It has started.

The awful Production Executive has moved in behind me.

She started exerting her authority immediately this morning and even managed to upset my Production Manager with her loud demands and louder complaints about our little piece of the office.

Apparently it's too cluttered, boxes need to go, coffee areas need to be cleaned up, fire extinguishers moved and we all need to do it as fast as possible in order to pacify her.

She scares me.

She's big and loud and cranky. The worst part is that she can see directly onto my computer screen. I've angled it slightly though so it isn't completely in her eye line but still.

*sighs*

Least she is out at a lot of meetings during the day and I technically only have until the 1st of August and then I am moving floors so won't be near her BUT STILL!

Bossman: Miss M do we have to come in tomorrow?

Miss M: I KNOW!!!! I'm terrified!

Bossman: ME TOO!!!!

Least I know I'm not alone.

Let's go shopping

Major panic stations in our little area of the office yesterday. Turns out that one of the Directors was paid his salary more times than he should have been.

No one is really sure of how this happened.

Thing is, it isn't like it was only a couple of hundred pounds that appeared in his bank account - we are talking over £7000!

How does one not notice something like that?

I mean seriously.

Or did he hope that no one would notice that we paid him that much?

How would we NOT notice? But then again I suppose it has taken us 6 weeks to notice but it was bound to happen eventually.

Now we can't get a hold of him as he is away on holiday - blowing that extra 7 grand no doubt.

I mean seriously! What was going through his head?

Director: Ooo it appears I've been paid a bit more this month

Director: Wow, my rate went up

Director: Hmmm my dodgy dealings have finally paid off ...

Director: Wow man whoring is paying well these day!

Or maybe he is just like me and never checks his bank balance for fear of what he might see?

Well all I know is that he now has to pay us back £7000.

That would suck.

How boring

I wish I had a fun and entertaining story to tell you today.

But I don't.

Off to go and see an outdoor screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show tonight. Jailbait has never seen it.

How shocking is that?

Power Mad

I think I'm starting to get sick.

Not really 100% sure; my nose is all itchy and runny and I can not stop sneezing - however I don't feel particularly sick. It might just be hay fever?

It is making me exceedingly grumpy though and I do pity some of my fellow colleagues.

I don't have a lot of power in my job, in fact most of the time I'm the one answering to everyone else on the Creative side but sometimes - just sometimes - I can with hold things in a bid to have some sort of power. It's pathetic I know, but hey I was feeling sick and cranky today ok?

My least favourite Editor has this thing about getting his taxi's home in the evening if he works past 8pm. He's the only person who does this and because good Editors are hard to come by and exceptionally rare we cater to his desire and generally just turn a blind eye. I'm the poor sap who has to book them though and let's just say that this Editor really must thing that I have nothing better to do with my time than book his cars.

1315pm

Hi Miss M, can you please book me my taxi for 2300 tonight and let me know the reference number? Thanks.

1430pm

Hi Miss M, did you get my earlier email regarding my taxi?

Now I'm not petty, but for some reason I just didn't feel like answering him. Perhaps it is that power thing I was talking about?

1500pm

Mobile rings, I don't recognise the number and figure since I'm sitting at my desk I'll ignore it as if it is work they'll call the land line number.

Message: Hi Miss M, it's Editor. Just trying to chase that cab. Can you please book it?

Yes. It must be that power thing. He is so desperate for that taxi.

1530pm

Land line phone rings. I'm on the other line so put it through to voicemail.

Message: Miss M, please let me know!

Shame, the poor sap. He's really getting desperate now.

1615pm

Mobile rings. It's my boss! (He was down in another Edit)

Bossman: Hi Miss M, Editor just rang. Apparently he's trying to get a cab booked and he can't get through to you?

Miss M: Ja I know, I heard and saw all the messages and emails! I'm just busy and didn't feel like doing it yet.

Bossman: Laughs

Miss M: I think I get some sort of perverse joy out of with holding it

Bossman: You're insane Miss M

So I gave in at 1710 and booked it for him. 4 hours later.

He wasn't impressed.

Sheesh. Can't please some people can you?

Evacuate the Building!

I got told the most scary thing ever today.

At the moment I have the most lovely Production Executive sitting behind me in an office. She is wonderful and I don't care if she sees that I am not doing working and am faffing around on Facebook.

She just told me that in 2 weeks she is moving to a different floor.

This is still okay. I can deal with this.

But then she told me that the most scary Production Executive ever is moving in behind me.

Oh. My. God.

She is so scary.

She'll never let me check my Facebook or chat to friends.

She might bust me blogging.

Oh. My. God.

What am I to do??

So tired I could sleep all day

I apologise for my little rant yesterday. It just got a bit too much and generally you think that if your friends have a problem with you they will actually come to you and not turn it into a public event on the Internet.

In better news work has improved and my wonderful boss is coming up trumps once again. He is allowing me to leave an hour and a half early today so I can spent my final evening with my parents. How lovely is that?

Post Production is hectic stuff I might add. I didn't realise how much effort goes into editing a show and how many people have to view it and okay it.

1) The Edit Producer will view the show decide that they are happy

2) The Series Producer will view the show and decide if they are happy

3) The Executive Producer will view the show and decide if they are happy

4) The Commissioner will view a show and decide if they are happy

If around any of those 4 steps someone doesn't like something it's straight back into the edit and the changes are to be made.

The worst being step 4 as the Commissioner has bought a certain product and wants that product in a certain way.

It's like this: Imagine you've bought a brand new Ferrari; it arrives but isn't in your requested colour and nor does it have the interior that you paid for. You're going to complain. You're going to ask that they send you another Ferrari with the exact specifications that you paid for.

A television show is like that.

Now imagine dealing with 6 episodes!

It's exhausting.

I am woman, hear me roar.

I am a very strong person. I have very definite opinions and views and am never afraid to share them. In fact I sometimes enjoy nothing more than having a good old debate and quite enjoy arguing about different points of view. I don't mind if people have separate opinions to me and believe different things but what I can not stand is people who are not willing to open their mind to the fact that there could be

1) People who think differently to them

2) That they could be, in fact, plain wrong

If I hear or see something that immediately gets my blood boiling because someone is insulting people or things I hold dear; or is just saying something that really gets my goat because it is plainly insulting to the general public I am going to let my thoughts be known. I am not going to cotton wool myself ever.

You like it or leave it. If you don't like that part of me then you are never going to generally like the whole of me.

I refuse to pussyfoot around people because I might be insulting their little point of view. If they are not strong enough or have enough conviction in what they believe in to stand up for it then more the shame to them. I will fight to the death for the things that I believe in and do not see it as wasted breath.

The Internet is a wonderful space. It is completely open and when we (us bloggers) post something up we are letting it out into the wide world and in turn leaving ourselves open to any other views and thoughts from our readers. If you don't want this to happen then

1) Moderate your blog

2) Make it private

If you don't want to hear other peoples thoughts then you are only writing for yourself. If you want the type of blog that people read and are interested in then you should welcome debates and not chastise your readers for actually taking a real interest in what you've written other than just randomly reading and then closing the page.

I welcome this.

Tell me your thoughts.

Is my blog crap? Am I talking out of my arse? Do you know someone in television who thinks that everything I write here is a complete lie?

Please tell me.

Because if I read something on your blog that I don't like I most definitely will be telling you.

I will NOT be censored.

So take it or leave it.

Worst. Day. Ever (part 2)

I'm just so tired.

I have my parents staying with me this week which means I'm sleeping on a mattress in the lounge which is never the best sleep and I am working my tiny behind off.

People are annoying me.

Worst part is that I have no outlet as I haven't been climbing so the stress is just building up and up and up and up. I'm going tonight - hopefully the leg will hold but if it doesn't I guess I'll stop or risk permanent damage to myself over killing my colleagues.

One Edit Producer is going to get a smack in the mouth from me soon. He talks to me in the most patronising manner ever. It is like he doesn't want to have to do anything that might take a bit of effort or thinks that it is below him. Either or he deserves a smack.

Miss M: Hi Edit Producer, can you email me your script for your episode so I can send it to the Commissioner?

Edit Producer: Stares at me silently for about 10 seconds I think you'll find it in the script area or do you not know where that is?

Miss M: No I don't. Please can you email it?

Edit Producer: Again silent for about 10 seconds I suppose I can

AARRRGGGGG

Or my personal favourite

Email Conversation

Hi Edit Producer, can you please let Editor know that he is moving into (edit number) on Monday?

I did this as he was working with the editor in question that week

Hi Miss M, I don't understand why I have to do this. Isn't it your job?

AAAAARRRGGGGGGGG

But he was sitting with you and no one answered the phone!

He's just being a difficult pain in the arse.

P.S However I discovered later after getting really ansy with him that the editor had left for the day and he thought I was asking him to call him. Although that still doesn't warrent being that cranky.

Worst. Day. Ever.

I know I've been AWOL.

It's crazy over here.

All I have to say is that if I didn't love my Manager and Series Producer I'd quit right now.

I'm so fuming mad.

How can people expect me to do my job properly when I'm doing the job of 3 people at once?

Hello Miss M speaking

We had some fun and entertaining training today. Turns out that our telephone systems are changing over to some new fancy schmacy handsets and us Production staff need to learn how to use them in order to teach the rest of our teams.

I am not relishing that moment I might add.

What I thought was going to be a very boring hour and a half (yes AN HOUR AND A HALF to learn how to use a frikken handset??) actually turned into a totally hysterical session with us all playing silly buggers and driving the trainer absolutely bonkers.

We sat around a table with our own phone in front of us and got taught how to:

1) Change our ring tones (We can have some fantastic tunes that will drive my colleagues MAD)

2) Access our voicemail

3) How to divert calls/transfer calls/park calls/screen calls

4) How to set up conference calls

The last one really rocks my world. We can create conference calls with 7 other people and those can be internal numbers, external numbers and international numbers.

Do you know what this means?

It means I can have fantastic gossip sessions with my friends on conference calls! We can natter the day away about random crap all together!

I can phone SA and conference in my friends back home! It'll be brilliant! Hysterical! The best time ever!

Do you think I'll get into trouble?

Always look on the bright side of life

I must apologise for my recent current bad moods and general listlessness, this can be attributed to one of my housemates and her constant negative mood.

It really is starting to affect me in so many ways.

1) I don't want to come home at night if I know she is home and my other housemate is not

2) It is making me uncomfortable in my own home as she barely talks at all and when she does she just moans

3) She is just so negative about everything that it starts to bring me down too

4) It is starting to make me resent her and dislike her in general which is a pity cause we've been living together for almost 3 years really well.

Now I know she is going through a hard time. I know she is depressed. I know that she feels trapped in London and really wants to go to Australia. I know that she is lonely as many of her friends have left London.

I know all of this.

But what I don't know or can't get is why she isn't trying to do anything about it.

You aren't happy in your life? You try to make it better. You're lonely? You pick up a hobby and try to meet people. You hate your job? You start actively looking for a new one. You're depressed? You don't go out drinking and getting absolutely hammered 3 or 4 times a week as that just generally does not help with depression.

Hang on, if you can afford to go out on the piss 3 or 4 times a week how can you complain about being broke? Just put that money aside and I'm sure in a couple of months you'd have enough for a plane ticket to Aus - just sort out the rest in the mean time.

I can't stand people who don't actively try and better their lives. It drives me mental. I want to slap her. Hard. I want her to stop complaining and moaning about everything and actually get off of her arse and do something about it.

Otherwise I might kill her.

Housemate: Oh god, I can't believe this weather. It just upsets me so much. I can't stand rain. I hate it. Man this country is just so crap!

Miss M: Oi, we can't do anything about the weather so don't let it get to you! There is plenty to do even when it is raining.

Housemate: Ya but I just want to go surfing and I can't. I hate it. I hate this place. There is nothing to do.

Miss M: You can surf, just go to Cornwall. There is loads of surfing there.

Housemate: It's too expensive. I can't afford it. I hate my job. I don't make enough money.

Miss M: SO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!

Housemate: Whatever

I. Really. Might. Kill. Her.

It's a zoo

I went out for lunch with my old colleague from last years show on Friday. It was actually really nice. We don't hang out regularly but when we do I remember how much fun it is to work with people that you really get along with.

Neither her nor I take our jobs very seriously. We are both utterly convinced that a trained monkey could do our job for us and no one would know the difference. We were in stitches over this at lunch.

Colleague: So they want to film over my Glastonbury period. I've said I already requested that time off and have bought tickets and organised everything already so I have to go.

Miss M: So go, I'm sure they can survive without you

Colleague: I know, I'll bring in a monkey to replace me. A trained one could do this job!

Miss M: Even better, bring in a wild one! That'll really spice up the office

Colleague: Laughs Can you imagine? I'd phone in to check that everything is fine and they'd be like "oh yes, you're replacement is doing a sterling job" meanwhile it will be jumping up and down on the chair, screeching, waves it's arms about and smashing the computer.

Miss M: Hey it'll fit right in!

Both of us cackle with laughter

Miss M: Just imagine if it started flinging it's shit around!

Colleague: Noooooooooooooo! Bet you it still would do a sterling job though.

Miss M: Yup, no one would notice that you were gone would they?

In all serious though I do sometimes believe that a trained monkey could do our jobs.

Our other colleague, who works as a Researcher on the creative side, spent a week on location washing up dishes for a high profile television chef.

He spent 3 years in University and got a degree to wash dishes?

This industry really does take the piss sometimes.

I'm not in the most positive mood this morning.