An Education: Owen Davey speaks to us about The Story Times on-line series
The Dave channel describes The Story Times producer Owen Davey, 23, as a 'video-auteur'. Owen graduated from UCA Farnham with a First Class Honors in Digital Screen Arts. Now working on-line for UKTV's Dave, he explains how to become a 'video-auteur' and what the hell that means.
1. How did you start your own series for Dave?
There was a full-page ad for Dave's 'Best Part-Time Job In The World' in a free newspaper I found on a train. I tore it out and put it in my left-back pocket; my 'to do' pocket. Some weeks later I found it and applied, since I was already filling my days with applications for jobs that were not advertised as the best in the world, or even as the best in the JobCentre that afternoon.
The online application form was demanding but vague. I had to send a video. I sent a small exert from a farcically, miserably narrated documentary I have been making, only to turn up at the interview to be told that everybody else had applied with enthusiastic "I'm the presenter for you" pieces to camera. The job wasn't mine, but a week later I was back with "some ideas" that Dave had asked for. One idea, my desperate first, was The Story Times pilot, which became The Story Times. To cut a long story short, I fell into an opportunity I'd always wanted, without reference to the five years I spent qualifying for the industry from which it arose. As for auteuriness, I'm cheap, so relatively risk free.
2. The Story Times is narrated by a supremely creepy voice. How do you do it and how can we replicate this for js?
Mostly by bending the pitch down with some free, user-friendly software. I got confused today by bending the pitch down, having already bent it. I am forgetting the sound of my own inadequately youthful voice.
3. You've recently faced legal restrictions in your work, which you protested against by making a statement video, using a dead fish a symbol for the death of your artistic freedoms... What's all this libelous bizzle all about,eh?
Corporate television, so I'm told, has to adhere to certain legal compliance. Dave's lawyers are secret marxist revolutionaries, but they still have to keep me out of trouble (admittedly because I'm new, rather than a badass). Fortunately I planned ahead with a back-up singing-fish episode.
4. We thought the fish was clever. where did you buy it?
The local farmer's market. Of course not! Sainbury's.
5. Did you eat it after?
I didn't. It's the only whole fish they sell, but it's buy-one-get-one-satircal-one-free. That sounds like a rubbish joke but they really do only come in packs of two.
6.How do you chose the villains of The Story Times?
I watch the news on and off in the 24hrs between one episode's airing and another's script-deadline and rather too hastily decide who's most easily bullied. But that's okay, because they're the popular kids, I'm the nobody, and the show's awfully self-deprecating.
7. This one is challenging. You made an episode about PM Cam. Name 3 good things about Cameron.
You think, just because I dedicated an episode to him being kicked in the face by a horse, that I don't like David?
Actually, the Big Society's not necessarily an inherently bad concept, just a familiarly untrustworthy one in the hands of The Conservatives. That counts as ONE. TWO: he is compromised in coalition. THREE: I'm sure he means well.
8. Can you give us a clue as to what episode six will be about?
It's the last in the pilot series, so I was going to cut loose and earn my modern-satirist's 'Pedo Badge', so to speak, what with Sarah's Law knocking about and all, but I've already eaten the remaining fish, so let's see what the dogs drag in. Cryptic.
9. Can you give us tips on how to sound as patronizing as you on The Story Times?
Trying to sound like Will Self or Werner Herzog or any other accomplished and distinctive narrator usually works. Aim for smart, and you'll get there.
10.Can you give us a real life situation when this patronizing tone would be useful in the workplace?
No. It should remain in The Story Times, as if it were stolen from me and trapped there by Ursula.
11. Why is it important we learn the lessons of story times?
It isn't. Just watch it. Leave it on muted repeat whilst you wash-up. Even if you're indifferent to it, send it to all your friends. Use your old hotmail account, if you're too embarrassed. Think of it as a good deed. A sponsorship initiative. You know, the Big Society! Pulling together! Supporting each other! It's ad-sponsored, so just watch it.
12. Favourite Youtube vid of all time?
Insane Robot Dance. I get sentimental.
Take a look at the latest Story Times episode here.
24 hours in the life of a David David intern: An exclusive glimpse into the fashion industry
Hannah is a Textile Design student in her 3rd year at Central St.Martin’s, specialising in printed textiles. When she got an insider’s glimpse into the studio of London-based, Grimsby-born fashion designer David Davidthis summer, we asked her to tell us all about the glitz, glamour and perspex handbags of the fashion industry.
10.30am
I arrive at the Conduit Street studio, where David Saunders works with his brother Michael. It is a creative and friendly place to work. I got a good feeling from it right from the beginning, when I applied for an internship there. The majority of fashion design studios want fashion students and so there is a limited places available for those studying textiles. Most studios never got back to my emails or CVs and although I managed to get a few interviews I was starting to lose hope! I saw David David's website and really loved his work so I called him up. He offered to interview me the following day.
11.00am
I meet my colleague Tom (who is super stylish by the way), another intern here. Tom is studying menswear design at Ravensbourne University in Kent. At the beginning of my internship I worked with him a lot, usually helping him trace and cut out garment patterns.
1.00pm
I shop for materials and collect some fabric swatches. I get to do some experimenting with inks and printing methods.I get sent to visit quite a few places including boutiques, markets, PR offices, factories and printing offices. This was great as I found out about lots of companies that would be useful to me in the future. David's designs are really colourful, geometric and quite quirky. Although his most recent Spring/Summer 2010 womenswear collection is really sophisticated, using beautiful colours. The cut of the garment is simple and the idea is to have a blank canvas onto which David can incorporate his colourful designs.
3.00pm
I am busy sewing handbags. David designed a hand bag made from laser cut pieces of perspex. It took a good couple of hours to sew them together, some re-doing as I managed to make some mistakes but the end result was great. The bags look lovely! As it got closer toLondon Fashion Week it got much busier, getting all the sample's ready for David David's presentation and video shoot. There was a lot of pattern cutting involved. I was nervous as there was no more room for mistakes!
5.00pm
I say bye and head off home. It was nice to work in a small studio as I got to see how David works with Michael who manages the business sides of things. It was a small group of us. I met really nice people and over all it was a great experience to see how the fashion industry works. The best bit about the internship was that it was great to finally see the collection come together at the LFW presentation. I dream about the day I’ll get to have some creative input, maybe design some print pieces for the collection. That would be just great!
David has said that the inspiration behind his Spring/Summer 2010 collectionwas “Japanese geometrics, vodka and coloured glass.” Based on this we really feel you ought to check it out.
MK & HJ
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