My Week of Work Expreience

Back in February I arranged a week of work experience with my local newspaper- the Kentish Express- for 14th-18th July. Yesterday was my final day there and I have to say I've had such a wonderful time!
I've learned so much about how the newspaper is put together and how professional journalism software works, and I was even lucky enough to attend an inquest- something that no other work experience person at the KE has had the opportunity to do.
After interviewing countless people for the 'My Ashford' snippet- where the public give their opinions of the town, what they like, what they'd like to see improved etc,- I think my interviewing skills and confidence to talk to strangers has increased. This has made me feel a whole lot better about my career choice and myself.
I even got interviewed myself for an article regarding the recent change to Cineworld's seating policy which was fun.
One large article and two NIBs (news in brief) were published in this week's issue, and I think I am right in saying that a couple more pieces of mine will be included in next week's issue, as well as the many 'My Ashford' interviews I carried out over the next few weeks.
Add this to finally getting my university place confirmed for September, it's been a fantastic week. I feel that any apprehension I had about pursuing a career in journalism has gone and that I have definitely made the right decision.
Bring on university!

Book review: 'The Fault in Our Stars'

I would consider myself someone who doesn't cry or get upset easily, and this is why I like 'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green so much; it manages to touch my emotions in such a way that no other book has done before. I bought this book last year to read on holiday, and I started reading it on the way there- trying to muffle sobs whilst my friend is driving on the motorway is never a good mix! Since then, I have read it countless times as I have fallen in love with the characters and the way the book is written.
The book was published in January 2012, topping the book charts and receiving highly positive reviews worldwide. It was the reviews that sparked my interest in the book, and I completely agree with those reviews. After reading just the first few pages, I was completely immersed in the character's lives and feelings, and I started to sympathise with 'Hazel's' life and thoughts, and also her angst against going to the support group suggested by her parents. 
As the book progresses, the emotional level of the book increases- what with the loss of 'Hazel' and 'Augustus' friend 'Isaac's' eyes and 'Augustus' death- which made me hooked to the story and I couldn't put it down. As cliche as that sounds, it's true, and as the story develops and changes happen to all of the characters, I felt a need to find out their reactions.
John Green has written this fantastic novel in such a way that you can picture what is happening so clearly- it feels like you are living alongside the characters and witnessing their gains and losses in real life. For a long time after reading it, I felt different and my outlook on many things had changed; it was just as if my troubles seemed inferior to those of people struggling with the traumas found in the story, even though I had never met them.
I have had first hand experience with having someone close to me suffer and unfortunately lose their battle with cancer, and I think that that is another reason why I was so affected by this book. In a way, it helped me deal with my experience as I could relate to the characters in the story dealing with theirs.
After the immense success of 'The Fault in Our Stars', a feature film adaptation was released on June 6th 2014. I am yet to see it, and it will be very interesting to see if the film version captures the same emotions as the book did.

Film Review: 'Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie'

Earlier this week I managed to get to the cinema to watch 'Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie', and

Film poster

I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much. With the exception of the ever beloved 'Simpsons Movie', other films based on TV shows have flopped, and I presumed that this film wouldn't be any different. For the most past, I was correct.
From start to finish, including the outtakes during the ending credits, this film is a laugh-a-minute hit. The audience, including myself, giggled at the gags which mirrored those used in the popular TV sitcom, and the amusing vibe of the cinema made the film even more enjoyable.
Even the camera mistakes and forgotten lines are kept in the film, just as the TV series, although they do seem to be more staged and predicable. One example of this is when main character 'Mrs Brown' [Brendan O'Carroll] and 'Winnie McGoogan' [Eilish O'Carroll] enter the National Archive Office to ask for the notorious missing tax payment receipt; the way the line forgetting is presented all seems too clean cut compared to the spontaneous and unpredictable mishaps in the TV show.
I will agree with some critics that the film could have been better. The start, featuring 'Mrs Brown' and other women parading around the streets of Dublin in an 'Oliver' styled fashion, is so promising, and the storyline itself should be fast-paced and energetic. The outcome: a little disappointing. The storyline is dragged out and becomes slightly boring after a while; this surprised me, as I am a devoted fan of the TV show which is quicker and a lot snappier in its plots.
All in all, I would rate this film a 6/10. The plot itself is good, and the jokes are up to standard, but the overall execution of the film is poor and too staged. It isn't a bad film, but it isn't all that good either.

Here comes the summer!

This past Friday (27th June) saw me finally sign off from college after two years of studying my BTEC in Journalism. I studied 19 units in all, ranging from creating page layouts for a children's book to creating a website from scratch, and from interview techniques to photography; overall, I gained D*D*D* and am so happy as this means that I have exceeded my university offer and can relax for the next three months.
So, just a quick update just to let you know what is happening in my life at the moment- more to come soon!

KP