The Slow TV Blog - and blogger! - still live!

Thanks to you for dropping by!

Yes, it's been rather quiet here on The Slow TV Blog for a while. But, you know, Norwegian Slow TV still occupies my thoughts, emotions and aspirations.

Along with the pandemic, new job, and late-diagnosis at 49 1/2 years old of being Autistic, these and many other things have been demanding my energies. And yes, Autism explains why Norwegian Slow TV became such a core part of my special interests and identity.

As 2024 gets more of a grip, so does another Scandinavian-related project which has been niggling away at me, probably for more than five years now. I'll share more in the weeks and months ahead. Along with that, I'll be widening the scope of this blog and rearrange things somewhat. And find out what may or may not happen with Norwegian (style) Slow TV around the world.

The Slow TV Blog - and blogger - still live!

Rest in Peace, Jack Yost: A Nonagenerian who understood Slow TV

Jack aged 30, in 1954

On July 29th, my father-in-law, Jack Yost, passed away. It had been something we had anticipated for the whole year so far. Much of the spare time of the year had been spent travelling to be with and support my in-laws.

At 92 years old he remained strong despite a series of major illnesses over the last few years. He kept his mental acuteness and perception up to only a week or two before his death.

Always one to ask lots of questions, seeking to understand things and increase his knowledge, Jack had gained a good understanding of Slow TV from his conversations with myself. It will be an enduring memory of watching the Reindeer Slow TV on BBC4 and Jack offering his independent critique of what he was watching.

I sat many times with Jack in his last few days, taking it in shifts to watch and keep him company during the day and the night. The small changes in a larger story you get in Slow TV were parallels I'm sure Jack would have understood as I observed the small changes in his story point to their inevitable conclusion.

The sense of peace following his passing was tangible, touchable. He gave an example of living life to the full - even if not able to get around much in his last few months.

I'll miss watching more Slow TV with Jack. He asked so much about it, watched my documentary I made about Slow TV, and he was very proud to see me interviewed on BBC Breakfast earlier in the year.

His story took 92 years and a couple months to tell. The tale of his will-to-hang-on-to-life started on New Year's Eve last year, and took seven months to have its moments of stasis and moments of drama, with times of subtle changes if you knew where to look along the way. We paid our final respects yesterday, on the 10th August.

Thanks Jack - it was good to have another person who could understand and discuss Slow TV in the family.

Rest in peace.

Interview about Slow TV on BBC Radio Merseyside

My phone in interview on Tony Snell's BBC Radio Merseyside breakfast show on 15th May 2015 about Slow TV and its screening at the Nordic Church in Liverpool for 17th May 2015 - Norway's National Day.

Click the arrow in the top left of the picture to hear the interview.

Slow Television -The Slow TV Blog

The Edit Begins - Slow TV Blog slows...

If the Slow TV blog seems a bit, well, slow over the next month that's down to a couple reasons. Obviously there's Midwinter Solstice, Christmas and New Year to get through in various ways. Then there's the small issue of the reason this blog came into existence: editing the documentary I've been producing for my Master of Arts course in TV Documentary Production. 

"That Damned Cow... Just what is Norwegian Slow TV?" needs to be completed in a month. Besides putting together a film up to 30 minutes long from over 200 GB of filmed material and archive footage, there's a several thousand word reflection on the research and project to carry out and a large portfolio demonstrating research and production to polish.

There are plenty of ideas for the blog once the project is in, and I hope to keep studying Slow TV for some time yet. Even if I don't, I will update the blog with relevant pieces of news and thoughts as the format continues and develops.

My film (a shot of the very first files uploaded and connected above) should be shown at the Slow Media Symposium in March and there is agreement in principle to show the film at a relevant UK venue on 17th May - Norway's Constitution Day.

Things will be slow here for the next month but more will happen! If you want to keep in touch in the meantime, find me on Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram. 

Slow Television -The Slow TV Blog

Breaking Dawn in Trondheim for Slow TV

One of the better things about shorter days is not having to be up quite so early to catch the sunrise. Filming in Trondheim for the Slow TV event, Salmeboka Minutt for Minutt, I wanted to film something which requires patience, offers moments of contemplation and gives natural aesthetics. 

On the Sunday morning, what with BBC Radio Stoke phoning me, I resolved to be out early and catch Trondheim in the deep twilight of a weekend morning. A lovely blue grows over Vår Frue Kirke as I awaited the call.

On the Friday morning I walked up to Kristiansten Fortress on the east side of Trondheim for a full-on sunrise. Getting used to the relative position of the sun from being in Manchester was a surprise, though if I'd thought about it, it ought not to have been. The sun rose very far in the south east. I'd already noticed twilight was a much more protracted affair at this time of year in this part of Norway.

The sun rose much more slowly and at far more a shallow angle than I'm used to in the UK. It took ages to barely scrape under a hill, the intensity of the glow and reflections on the windows on the west side of Trondheim all giving the sun's near presence away. Slow moments do help you notice more than when we operate at a pace our daily routines usually dictate.

It was bitterly cold, too. Probably only about -3 celsius but having come from just one light frost in Manchester so far it was a bit of a noticeable difference. I'd packed scarf and gloves which were an imperative part of the morning's wardrobe. 

Thankfully I chatted with a local lady during filming and some men involved in the setting up of four giant advent candles for ecumenical church services during the run up to Christmas. All very lovely moments, but getting back down hill to the warmth of Kaffebrenneriet coffee shop in the charming Bakklandet area was welcome. Soon to be followed by the official opening of the Salmeboka Sakte TV event.

Slow Television -The Slow TV Blog

Speaking about Slow TV at Cafe Albin

One of the good things about being around other people wanting to create is that sometimes interests and opportunities overlap. Invited by fellow MA media student, Krzysztof Augustyn (from animation) I spoke at an event he arranged called Cafe Albin in Manchester to profile the creativity of different people - poetry, drawing, music and animation and documentary. The sustained crescendo of the evening was Krzys performing original music with animation by himself; if you like Pink Floyd, prog rock, you will love the music and animation. When that part of the evening is online, I'll add a link here.

For the moment, here's the clip starting at about 6:40 with some Slow TV style ambient real time sequences (which are inserted into my talk) giving an idea of part of the feel of Slow TV. What it can't communicate is the feel of a national event, connecting to national identity, heritage and culture, participating in real life or online in the buzz which Slow TV can generate.

Slow Television -The Slow TV Blog

That interview about Slow TV on UK BBC Radio Stoke

Here is the interview from BBC Radio Stoke which went out 7:22am GMT / 8:22 Norwegian time on Sunday; nicely sandwiched between The Beach Boys "God only knows" and Lindisfarne "Run for home", I give a short overview of the Salmeboka Minutt for Minutt project and add some context about Slow TV. 

The audio quality, especially of my voice over the telephone is very poor; I plan to work on the quality of the audio when I can... and I nearly get the Norwegian correct for 899; if I continue to study Slow TV after this Masters Degree, learning more Norwegian will certainly be on the cards.

Click the arrow in the top left of the picture to hear the interview.



Slow Television -The Slow TV Blog

Back in the UK after Salmeboka Sakte TV in Trondheim

Interviewed during Salmeboka Minutt for Minutt

Well, back in the UK after 5 nights and 6 days in Trondheim. Things expected and unexpected happened. Much to sort out. Photos, film, unpacking, picking up domestic commitments and roles. Equipment back to university, rental lens returned in the post. Planning the final structure of this documentary which caused me to be in Trondheim in the first place. Catching up with social media, information gathering about Slow TV, and more.

One of the unexpected things was to be interviewed on NRK2 during Salmeboka Minutt for Minutt; screen grab attached for your interest. Should you wish to see it, it's here at the start of this segment. One of the roles of this blog is to add to the portfolio about my working on and producing the Slow TV documentary for my Masters Degree, so while this project is active I'll need to include more on my interaction with the subject, as well as the subject itself. I'm hoping to continue studying Slow TV after my Masters Degree - more on that as, when and if it happens.

I've almost caught up with essential things from time away and so I can do some more blogging in between stitching the film together into a rough cut I hope before Christmas, and a shiny fine cut afterwards.

Slow Television -The Slow TV Blog

Speaking invite for Slow TV - Cafe Albin

My interest in Slow TV is being noticed. Kind of obvious to state, but anyway I've been invited to speak at an invite only event (so, sorry, if you're name's not down, you're not coming in) in mid November. Put together and featuring the very talented Krzysztof Augustyn (take a look at his music and animation here on YouTube), the evening will feature a diverse range of content, truly multimedia and international in its scope. Feels very exciting to be contributing some thought and content about Slow TV. The talks should be being filmed; I hope to be able to post my Slow TV presentation to this blog not long after. Watch this space!

Slow Television -The Slow TV Blog