Chasing False Idols: My Night As A Belieber...

Hi there,

It all started when I was eleven years old, and Anastacia (of "I'm Outta Love" fame) was to perform at Bankstown Square Shopping Centre.

I pleaded with my parents but was denied permission to go, so on the morning, while my family slept I snuck out with only coins in my pocket, rode the train using commuters' directions, and arrived just in time to see her perform two songs. 

I didn't have an album for her to sign, so instead I nervously phoned home, and after my frantic mother realised where I was, I begged a butcher for two dollars (using the line "I know you're a kind man..."), bought a train ticket and guiltily made my way home to face the music (much more than two songs). 

Fast-forward 12 years and the chase was on again; now for worldwide teen superstar Justin Bieber, who was in Sydney to perform a harbour-side concert. ...so with a camera, a microphone, and Amanda, I headed to Circular Quay.

We started at the queue where fans had been waiting since early in the morning. With one more sleep until Bieber's concert, the kids planned to camp out overnight; something that would've never been allowed when I was their age. 

After interviewing some queueing Beliebers, we headed to Bieber's hotel, where packs of screaming/singing teenage girls yelled joyfully at every black SUV that entered the carpark. We waited three hours, but alas Bieber was never seen.

We returned to the queue at 3am. Joy and chatter was replaced with yawns and whispers. It was a long night for us too. Luckily the next day was full of energy. Justin Bieber appeared, performed more songs than planned, and made his young fans ecstatic.

After the gig, we ran with the Beliebers as they followed their idol's car, but while they headed towards the hotel in hopes of a sighting, for us the chase was over.

When I got home, my worried father asked me where I had been all night. ...As I fell asleep, I realised I was back where I started.

Yours lovingly,

Jeremy Moses.

www.varietygarage.com

Email: varietygarage@gmail.com

Twitter: @varietygarage
VG EXTRA: www.youtube.com/vgextra

VG blog: varietygarage.blogspot.com

VG: Chasing Bieber (Sydney 2012)

Non-Belieber Jeremy Moses follows diehard Justin Bieber fans as they camp out in the lead-up to his Sunrise concert in Sydney, Australia.

Written, Presented & Edited by: Jeremy Moses.
Camera Operator: Amanda Goltz.
http://www.varietygarage.com/

VG: Staying Afloat

Filmmakers Jeremy Moses and Hugh Berry camp out on Avoca Beach as the No Ship Action Group protest the scuttling of the HMAS Adelaide in April, 2011.

Presented by: Jeremy Moses & Hugh Berry.
Edited by: Jeremy Moses.
Special thanks to: Quentin Riley, Michelle Meares & the No Ship Action Group.
(Full Edit)
http://www.varietygarage.com/

VGE: Crazzy Dance (From 2012 Teaser)

Fiverr ad:
videofun will crazzy dance with holding your website, sort message, company name, slogan and birthday wishes by crazzy lazzy man for $5.

From "Variety Garage: 2012 Teaser":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZfVNz0Yflk&list=UUAOhUjZXZWji0Dy5JF8tcqA&...

See more videos at:
http://www.varietygarage.com/

Variety Garage: 2012 Teaser

Using testimonials bought on http://www.fiverr.com/ Variety Garage relaunches for 2012 to finish what we started.

See more videos at:
http://www.varietygarage.com/

Special thanks to:
captainskit,
chompasaurus,
videofun,
oldbittygrandma,
bethan,
& dflare.
Edited by: Jeremy Moses.
http://www.varietygarage.com/

Obama Down Under - Script

Hi there,

It has been a long time since my last blog entry, but with American president Barack Obama in town, it seems right to post the script I was working on in March 2010 for his previously planned visit.

A lot was different back then. Kevin Rudd was still our Prime Minister, with the opposition criticising him for using Obama's visit for his own political popularity.

The plan was for Obama to visit in March after a visit to Indonesia. My plan was to visit Canberra and embed myself amongst the action; filming a Jeremy Moses Reports piece - wearing a suit and using my silly reporter voice. An actor would play the backbencher.

Alas, the trip was cancelled, but the script still remains - littered with silly wordplay, some witty observations, and numerous spelling mistakes.

Enjoy...

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Obama Down Under

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Yours lovingly,

Jeremy Moses.

www.varietygarage.com

Email: varietygarage@gmail.com
Twitter: @varietygarage

VG EXTRA: www.youtube.com/vgextra

VG blog: varietygarage.blogspot.com

Remembering The iPad Sleepout

Hi there,

It’s hard to believe that just under a year ago I spent the night outside Apple’s Sydney city store; anticipating the launch of the then-new iPad 1.

It was a freezing night in May 2010, and with chance of a storm, it was bound to be a night I’d not soon forget. Those at home told me not to go, citing the weather as a deterrent for customers, but I knew I had a job to do. My mission was to put on my reporter hat, brave the cold, and film the pants off these crazy nerds.

…figuratively.

Amanda (my girlfriend/camera operator) agreed to follow me in my madness. We got a taxi to the city and started by filming the crowd from across the road. They were huddled under umbrellas, resisting the short-term showers, grouped around several pre-obtained iPads. For them, the sleepout seemed less about the purchase than it was the camaraderie – together seeking a seemingly absurd goal. They loved the challenge, and I found it fascinating.

I was nervous to approach them. I didn’t want to overstay my welcome and wasn’t sure how willing they’d be to appear in my video. After filming some overlay of the store’s preparations, I approached the group with greetings, sussing them out for possible leads. We decided to halt production until the city slowed down; a perfect opportunity to go exploring.

Sadly, our journey stopped three doors up at the 24hr McDonalds – where we spent most of the waiting hours. It seemed a good place to find shelter, have incremental tea breaks, and use the bathrooms. Those in line took turns doing the same.

To stay awake, we regularly ate from the big arches – something that sickened us after not eating from there in years. I even ate a Filet-O-Fish at 3am. Needless to say my body hated me afterwards.

I interviewed several people - some who didn't make it into the finished video, but all were very kind and most were happy to share their stories; even after many sleepless hours. They put up with my stupidity: something I'm truly grateful for.

Far from the 'crazy nerds' I described earlier, I discovered that those waiting in line were actually quite admirable. They were there to support something they respected, with far more commitment than many of us are willing to

give to anything. That has to be commended.

Now, almost a year on, a new batch of people are waiting outside the Apple Store in the city. They are eating the same crap we did. They are using the same bathroom we did. They are sitting in the same line we sat in. Although I still don't completely understand it, I definitely respect them; now more-so than ever before.

Yours lovingly,

Jeremy Moses.

www.varietygarage.com

Email: varietygarage@gmail.com
Twitter: @varietygarage

VG EXTRA: www.youtube.com/vgextra

VG blog: varietygarage.blogspot.com

One Year On...

Hi there,

Well, it has been exactly a year since Variety Garage first launched - March 1st, 2010. It was quite a year, with 20 full videos and close to 10,000 total upload views.

Between March and August 2010 we produced some content we're really proud of. Myself, and those who have contributed would like to thank you for watching. It's not over yet!

VG will kick off March with a new mini-doco on Sydney musician Anthony McKeon as he plans an ambitious viral stunt over Christmas 2010.

Stay tuned!

Yours lovingly,

Jeremy Moses.

www.varietygarage.com

Email: varietygarage@gmail.com
Twitter: @varietygarage

VG EXTRA: www.youtube.com/vgextra

VG blog: varietygarage.blogspot.com

A SLOW RESTART

Hi there,

Recently, VG relaunched after a month off in July. The first video back was the RELAUNCH TEASER, a good visual summary of our work so far. We were ready to go...

It was an exciting time with an election campaign afoot. A decision was made to approach our coverage in a more creative way, rather than the couch pieces we've done in the past.

Two pieces emerged: JULIA GILLARD; MORE THAN A WOMAN and TONY ABBOTT'S TOAD POLICY.

Next will be a piece we shot at the local primary school on voting day. It was the first one shot with my new camera (other than some tests) so the camera work is a little rusty, but overall it's a solid piece.

Another new feature is our secondary channel "VG EXTRA" which will house some outtakes, behind the scenes footage, and content that didn't make the cut. Check it out now!

www.youtube.com/vgextra

It has been a rather slow restart, but in the coming months VG will re-emerge, leaving the election behind, with a lot of exciting content. Stay tuned!

Yours lovingly,

Jeremy Moses.

www.varietygarage.com

Email: varietygarage@gmail.com
Twitter: @varietygarage

VG EXTRA: www.youtube.com/vgextra

VG blog: varietygarage.blogspot.com

WATCHING NEWS 24/7

Hi there,

This week, as well as following the election campaign, a close eye has been kept on the launch of ABC's new 24 hour news channel, cleverly titled "ABC News 24"... Go figure.

With the launch on Thursday, I was hoping for a lot of funny slip-ups and problematic formats leading to hilarity. Unfortunately, the new channel is running surprisingly smoothly, with not many glitches and really great news stories. It's a triumph for Australian television, but a struggle for satirists. I'll have to keep recording in hope of a meltdown after the shine wears off.

All this news watching is starting to take its toll. This morning I predicted Gillard's climate change speech word for word. I know her patterns like the back of my hand. It's scary.

Our election coverage is shaping up nicely. Hopefully the News 24 piece will go in a positive direction too.

Exciting news ahead. Stay tuned!

Yours lovingly,

Jeremy Moses.

www.varietygarage.com

Email: varietygarage@gmail.com
Twitter: @varietygarage

VG blog: varietygarage.blogspot.com

VG NOW ON ELECTION WATCH

Hi there,

Today was definitely an interesting day in Australian politics. Gillard called the election, which means Variety Garage is now on election watch.

I spent the morning recording and logging Seven and Nine's coverage of Gillard's journey to Parliament House. They followed her every move with helicopters, and when the news stopped coming in, inane conversation was all that remained. There's definitely some gold in there.

The next step will be keeping an eye on the coming days' news, looking for funny lines or bungles in TV coverage. It's hard work and can sometimes take hours of recording, but it is important to find those little, interesting/funny moments.

After that, I will compile the clips into inserts and then write a script that joins them together. It should be challenging but fun.

I'm unsure what format to use for VG's election coverage: Whether to do the couch pieces I usually do, take to the streets talking to voters, or even build dramatic skits around the weekly events.

Nonetheless, we'll be back August 1st, no doubt with a piece about the first week-or-so on the campaign trail.

Stay tuned!

Yours lovingly,

Jeremy Moses.

www.varietygarage.com

Email: varietygarage@gmail.com
Twitter: @varietygarage

VG blog: varietygarage.blogspot.com

FOUR MONTHS OF VARIETY GARAGE!

Hi there,

Welcome to the new VG blog, where you can interact with us, read about upcoming videos, contribute ideas and take a look behind the scenes!

Variety Garage has now passed the four month mark since our launch on March 1st. Since then, we have contributed 14 full videos (as well as an outtake and a teaser), and have just passed 5000 total upload views. We're growing with every video, and we thank you for staying tuned!

In an effort to reduce confusion of VG upload days, from now on content will be added weekly (usually towards the end of the week). Not having a set upload day will ensure higher quality content at times when it's the most topical.

Please keep an eye on our Youtube, Facebook and Twitter pages for new content alerts.

We're also looking for feedback, so please let us know what you enjoyed and maybe some ideas for future pieces. We're always open to more contributors.

Due to equipment upgrades and in an effort to produce more ambitious content, we will be on break for the rest of July.

VG WILL RELAUNCH AUGUST 1st, WITH NEW VIDEOS WEEKLY.

We've got a lot of exciting things ahead. Stay tuned!

Thanks again.

Yours lovingly,
Jeremy Moses.
www.varietygarage.com

Email: varietygarage@gmail.com
Twitter: @varietygarage

VG blog: varietygarage.blogspot.com