Showing posts with label Digest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Digest. Show all posts

Thursday, 4 May 2017

10 Things to Do after Reinflytting - Reindeer Migration Slow TV

Courtesy NRK - and thankyou, too.
So what now? It's over.

Here are 10 things to do with your life now Reinflytting Minutt for Minutt Slow TV - The Reindeer Migration has finished.


1) Watch the end of Monty Python and The Holy Grail to get a bit more of that disappointment out of your system. About sums it up.



2) Watch the end of Wayne's World to fantasise about the possible endings for Reinflytting Minutt for Minutt. Except the villain in this case is the pesky weather. Or that everyone finishes holding hands on Kvaløya on a glorious sunny day with "I'd Like to to teach the world to sing", or should that be, "I'd like to teach the world to yoik".



Imagine the reindeer-swimming ending? The reindeer using the bridge but not getting so savvy they don't use it to get back ending? The barge ending?

3) If you can't imagine the swimming ending, watch this marvellous BBC Earth footage of reindeer swimming:



4) Explore and watch the recorded entirety of Reinflytting Minutt for Minutt via NRK's official platform, no geo-blocking there.

5) Get exploring the vast wealth of Sami music on the curated playlists from NRK, see Spotify (direct link) or NRK page.

6) Play this beautiful, soothing, epic long-form piece of Sami music from Nils-Aslak Valkeapää which is one of my highlights of the week. Over 30 minutes of ambient style but very authentically Sami music. Works for me on many levels and, perfectly embraces many of the criteria of Slow TV and bridges and blurs most beautifully the boundaries between Slow TV and Ambient TV. What a trip!

 

7) Understand that even with near three years of pre-production, aberrant weather will skew even the best laid plans. This was a massive production, the weather's turns and knock-on effects on reindeer grazing can not be outwitted. Health and safety of the animals (and of people) is paramount. More from Aftenposten HERE and from NRK HERE about reasons and problems which affected the broadcast. Hat's off guys and gals, this was a week of exceptional TV. Here's to a few learning opportunities along the way!

8) Anticipate the next big Slow TV project. We're overdue a 12 hour production from the USA. I'm increasingly thinking it's off the cards but knowing that a big amount of pre-production went into it, I'm hoping it's just on pause.

One to expect, maybe from next year onwards, is a live Slow TV rock climb of the 1km sheer Troll Wall (Trollveggen) which has been in pre-production for several years. Really have got to get the health and safety right on that one.
Information based Slow TV in October, a 500 minute lecture on 500 years since Martin Luther's theses, leading to the Protestant Reformation. Here's an interview with a couple of the producers of Norwegian Slow TV:



9) Check out some of the Slow TV (or Slow TV-style, depending on your point of view) streams around the web. If you need to keep it in Norway with wildlife and nature, do see Zooom. Otherwise, I enjoy checking out the tram on the streets of Prague in the Czech Republic. I like that one late at night, with wet streets, lights reflecting and Baroque classical music playing.

10) Explore and keep coming back to The Slow TV Blog! 

Since studying Norwegian Slow TV for my Masters Degree (I made a documentary about Slow TV, see it on Vimeo) I've been approached for interviews in media in the UK and abroad and contacted by people studying Slow TV, from UK AS-Level Media Studies, through to Bachelor of Arts Degrees and Masters.  Here are contact details and an overview of interviews I've given for TV, Radio and Print.

I have interviews, little features, pictures, memes, all sorts. Including Cats and Dogs watching Slow TV.

My life with Slow TV isn't done yet, by far. So if you like Slow TV, keep coming back here, tweeting, instagraming or even join the "Slow TV Fans Facebook Group".

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 6
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 5
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 4
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 3
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 2
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 1

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog

Sunday, 30 April 2017

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 6

Courtesy NRK - Migrating requires a lot of resting, too, it seems
OK, it's Sunday morning, we've been with the reindeer since Monday evening, Minute by Minute, but could it be the end is in sight?

Having spent a little time looking at the map of distance covered against distance remaining, and assuming current speed remains the same, I reckon it would conclude Tuesday or Wednesday. But, now, here's an element of peril.

Might the broadcast terminate before journey's end? There has been a rumour that it might finish Monday afternoon, wherever the reindeer are. This is very alarming. Firstly, there have been moments, many moments, of sustained beauty and marvel during this broadcast - so obviously that would mean it would end. Which we're expecting at some point anyway.

Secondly, it would mean the narrative is truncated and we would miss the epic swim to the summer pastures. If it were a book, it would be tearing out the last chapter. As someone who studies Slow TV, and maintains that the Norwegian format is a long-form story or documentary, the story would go uncompleted.

Only time will tell. Only time.

Now, I must confess to having gotten a little bored during Friday and Saturday. This has been the slowest Slow TV. Significant periods of relative inactivity, repeated and similar in content.

However, the periods of boredom have been interrupted by something which may not have been so rewarding had I not become bored. Three random skiers out in the wilderness. The lowering sun. A smaller group of reindeer trotting along and spontaneously, unanimously stopping. That was so funny.


Perhaps my wife had something to do with it. She put the idea it was boring in my head. She came in to where I have the laptop linked to the TV and sat nearby, in her best counselor's voice, "Are you still watching the reindeer? Isn't it all the same now". I fumbled for a reasoned response but I reckon I justified it. In her defense, she has understood and supported my love of Slow TV. Massively.

Perhaps this being slower than before, at times feeling like a very high quality webcam production, explains why there is a little less media interest. (Check out Zooom in Norway for an independent wildlife and northern lights webcam site).

The UK's Guardian newspaper picked up on Reinflytting Minutt for Minutt, but what of the rest of the world's media? Earlier in April the networks were very interested but I've detected relatively little activity since. The official chat and twitter has been very busy, especially with a lot of interest from Scandinavia.

Courtesy NRK, thanks to Richard in Slow TV Fans Facebook Group
Much on NRK and Sami media about the reindeer migration. An insight into generational family activity of reindeer herding here is insightful.

Anyway, I will stay with  NRKrein through to its end, insofar as possible. To have a major media live stream bringing images of beauty and marvel instead of the intravenous drip-feed of horror and distress of rolling news coverage is a welcome medicine. There is a lot of glorious wonder in our world and, one of the reasons I love Slow TV, is that it helps address that toxic imbalance in our viewing and consequent emotions.

Want to get in touch?
Are you looking to interview someone about Slow TV? Here are contact details and an overview of interviews I've given for TV, Radio and Print.

Love Slow TV? Or curious? Join the "Slow TV Fans Facebook Group"


Watch my documentary about Slow TV on Vimeo.


Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 5
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 4
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 3
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 2
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 1

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog

Wednesday, 26 April 2017

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 5

Courtesy NRK - Sunset on Day Two of NRKrein
Well, things got moving yesterday! I checked back through Tuesday and saw the reindeer calmly (most of the time) being mellow in the snow, foraging, a little bit of rutting, and then almost suddenly (by Slow TV standards) the reindeer were being herded and off we went! Fantastic. Fine example of delayed gratification at work!

These times of 'not much' happening invests greater meaning to ordinary activities - something which Slow TV does well as some may argue that a lot of it is 'boring'.


Slow TV carries with it some innate concepts which mark it out from other forms of TV; let me introduce you to two - 


Eigenzeit:


and

Tempo Giusto

Sad drama overnight as one of the pregnant cows miscarried. You can see the clip of this right here on the NRK Website. There are further updates from NRK via NRK Sápmi and NRK Natur which act as hubs for a number of links and videos back to the main NRK Website.


The start of the migration was delayed; this was due to conditions in the snow; you can see just how late the snow is in thawing on the Finnmarks Plateau - see the Northern Research Institute's page which has been helping inform the production.


One of the NRKrein production team has been sharing a pictures and short Facebook Live livestreams via his own Facebook Page.


Where are you watching the reindeer migration from? When it was first announced, there was a lot of global media attention (see the list below). For the moment it has gone quiet!

5th April
Norway - NRK (Norwegian)

6th April

Germany - Greenpeace Magazine (German)
France - Sciences et Avenir (French)
Belgium - RTBF (French)
Luxembourg - Le Quotidien - (French)
France - France TV Info (French)

7th April

Luxembourg - Luxemburger Wort (English)
Norway - The Local (English)
United States - Daily News (English)
Singapore - Today Online (English)
Canada - CTV News (English)
Malaysia - Malay Mail Online (English)
Canada - Digital Journal (English)

Looking for an Interview?
Are you looking to interview someone about Slow TV? Here are contact details and an overview of interviews I've given for TV, Radio and Print.

Love Slow TV? Or curious? Join the "Slow TV Fans Facebook Group"


Watch the documentary about Slow TV on Vimeo.


Lots more to come about #NRKrein on The Slow TV Blog over the next few weeks!


Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 4

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 3
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 2
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 1

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog

Tuesday, 25 April 2017

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 4

Courtesy NRK - Northern Lights and Reindeer Migration
Watch the Reindeer Migration Slow TV here: www.nrk.no/rein 

Welcome to the fourth brief round-up of media and links for the NRK Slow TV Reindeer Migration now that it is finally underway! Well, albeit in the same spot for 21 hours.

What has happened so far? Short clip from Instagram:



A couple reflections on wider tangents of the week-long production:


The change in the length of day and shortness of night during the week of broadcast is an amazing thing, testimony to the Earth's wobble as the tilt accelerates the Arctic Circle towards the midnight sun from mid May and the Midsummer Solstice in later June. 

The sun rose around  03:28 this morning in Karasjok, sets 21:07 tonight, rises 03:22 on the 26th. Each day will be around 10 minutes longer, by the time the sun sets about 21:43 on 2nd May - when we anticipate the migration to conclude, the night will be 72 minutes shorter


ENVIRONTMENTAL CONCERNS and REINDEER HEALTH

There are large environmental concerns for reindeer at the moment; one is that the arctic is becoming too (relatively) hot - more here at phys.org


There has also been a case of Chronic Wasting Disease in a reindeer (similar to BSE in cows) further south in Norway, which gives cause for concern. More on The Local 

On Twitter, also see @ReindeerHerding 

On Facebook, The International Centre for Reindeer Husbandy
The Reindeer Centre website

Two links picked up in the press yesterday:
10 Facts about Reindeer Migration Minute by Minute
and
Barents Observer about the production

The production caravan gumpi-train rides out for broadcast start:
A post shared by Tor Even Mathisen (@tittentem) on

Looking for an Interview?

Are you looking to interview someone about Slow TV? Here are contact details and an overview of interviews I've given for TV, Radio and Print.

Love Slow TV? Or curious? Join the "Slow TV Fans Facebook Group"


Watch the documentary about Slow TV on Vimeo.


Lots more to come about #NRKrein on The Slow TV Blog over the next few weeks!


Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 3

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 2
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 1

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog

Monday, 24 April 2017

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 3

Courtesy NRK - What beautiful TV this should be
The long awaited day of Reindeer Migration Slow TV beginning is here! Since this article first appeared in the Aftenposten in August 2015, I have thought, "this should be a particularly memorable Slow TV", and all the omens point that way.  

The production has been in pre-production for some time, working out technical challenges, getting the reindeer used to cameras and different people, planning for different contingencies. Including an uncertain start date.

Originally scheduled to start last Friday, the production was put back due to cold temperatures keeping the snow too hard for the reindeer to forage. Here's part of an interview I carried out with two Norwegian Slow TV producers about this (and other projects) back in February:



Broadcasting from areas of Norway with no phone or satellite coverage make for an immense technical challenge, about 31 staff are involved in getting this production out to the world. Triangulating the signal from mountaintops along the way, the pictures will come from a variety of cameras: sled-mounted, drone, go-pro from a reindeer's back. All very high quality images.

The outside-broadcast gallery is probably the most unique customised vehicle ever put together in broadcasting history; have a look at this from one of the production crew on Instagram:
A post shared by Tor Even Mathisen (@tittentem) on

Being on air 24/7 for around 7 days continuous, we will get the stunning snowy landscapes of the far north of Norway, and subject to clear skies - golden sunrises and sunsets, and hopefully, even some shots of the northern lights. For those of us on similar time to Norway, there could be some late nights in store.

After a week of this, we should all be more aware of reindeer herding and in particular, the Sami culture of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and north-west Russia. 

A fascinating insight into the world of reindeer husbandry is on the main NRK website, with great facts like "Miessemánnu is the Sami name of May.The name means "reindeer calf month," the month of reindeer calves are born." It's worth getting Chrome (or other browsers) to translate it, if needed, into your preferred language. See HERE.

On Twitter, also see @ReindeerHerding 
On Facebook, The International Centre for Reindeer Husbandy
The Reindeer Centre website

WHERE CAN I WATCH IT AND WHEN?

For viewers outside Norway, where we can watch this epic Slow TV broadcast is at
www.nrk.no/rein - nice and easy one!

A countdown is showing; as of Sunday afternoon it looked like a 15:00 time start in Norway, but as of Monday morning, it's now 19:45 Norway time (18:45 UK, 13:45 US East Coast, 10:45 US West Coast).
This is the Cineflex camera - expect some stunning distant shots, panoramas and zooms from a not-very-cheap piece of equipment.
A post shared by Jan helmer olsen (@janhelmer) on

#giđđajohtin is another hashtag to watch out for besides #NRKrein

Read about Norwegian choir, Cantus' new album (the choir sung in Frozen)

Looking for an Interview?

Are you looking to interview someone about Slow TV? Here are contact details and an overview of interviews I've given for TV, Radio and Print.

Love Slow TV? Or curious? Join the "Slow TV Fans Facebook Group"


Watch the documentary about Slow TV on Vimeo.


Lots more to come about #NRKrein on The Slow TV Blog over the next few weeks!


Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 2
Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 1

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog

Saturday, 22 April 2017

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 2

NRK Logo for the Broadcast (Sami version with next update)
Woh there, Santa! Hold the reins, Rudolph! OK, it's a bit like Christmas being delayed. Well it is if you've been looking forward to this week-long reindeer migration Slow TV as much as I have.

The reindeer can't depart just yet as due to the cold Easter (even with it being a very late Easter) the snow is still too thick; it needs to melt more so the reindeer are able to forage along the way and also when they reach their destination. We don't want hungry reindeer!

At the moment, the earliest Reinflytting Minutt for Minutt can start is Monday evening 24th April - so, The Slow TV Blogger will be monitoring for signs of mission-start throughout this weekend. At the moment, it looks like 19:00 Norway time, so 18:00 UK time, 13:00 US East Coast, 10:00 US West Coast. This could change! See the NRK TV Guide.


In order to get a little more in the mood, there is a 12 minute trailer / prologue to the Reindeer Migration Slow TV - right here - and there are some great behind the scenes photos going up on Instagram from

See also here on the NRK website for news.


A post shared by Tor Even Mathisen (@tittentem) on

Read about Norwegian choir, Cantus' new album (the choir sung in Frozen)

Looking for an Interview?
Are you looking to interview someone about Slow TV? Here are contact details and an overview of interviews I've given for TV, Radio and Print.

Love Slow TV? Or curious? Join the "Slow TV Fans Facebook Group"


Watch the documentary about Slow TV on Vimeo.


Lots more to come about #NRKRein on The Slow TV Blog over the next few weeks!


Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest No 1

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog


Friday, 7 April 2017

Slow TV Reindeer Migration Digest Number 1

Welcome to The Slow TV Blog's first round-up of news for covering the forthcoming reindeer migration on Norwegian Television. A week long story of the reindeer heading to their summer pastures under the guidance of the Sami reindeer-herders, with many smaller stories.

The cat is well and truly out of the bag, or perhaps better put, the reindeer is out of the corral! These are the news stories over the last few days for this exciting reindeer project. (Well, I've been anticipating it since August 2015... )

5th April
Norway - NRK (Norwegian)

6th April
Germany - Greenpeace Magazine (German)
France - Sciences et Avenir (French)
Belgium - RTBF (French)
Luxembourg - Le Quotidien - (French)
France - France TV Info (French)

7th April
Luxembourg - Luxemburger Wort (English)
Norway - The Local (English)
United States - Daily News (English)
Singapore - Today Online (English)
Canada - CTV News (English)
Malaysia - Malay Mail Online (English)
Canada - Digital Journal (English)

See the Instagram account of Norwegian NRK Producer, Thomas Hellum, for some behind-the-scenes photos.

ON THE RADIO THURSDAY 20th APRIL

Join me from 10am BST for 2 hours of Slow Media content, including an interview with the producers of Norwegian Slow TV, Thomas Hellum and Rune Møklebust
Also included in the broadcast is an hour of Slow Radio courtesy of The Wetland Project in Canada. Listen via RedShift Radio or the Tune In app.

Looking for an Interview?
Are you looking to interview someone about Slow TV? Here are contact details and an overview of interviews I've given for TV, Radio and Print.

Love Slow TV? Or curious? Join the "Slow TV Fans Facebook Group"

Watch the documentary about Slow TV on Vimeo.

Lots more to come about #NRKRein on The Slow TV Blog over the next few weeks!

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog