Green Screen Dates

Absolutley brilliant work by all and thanks so much for thursday's session, it really feels like it is coming together. Matt the photos and designs you have made are ace and I will upload some of my pics onto your account - prob tomorrow. What setting did you have your camera on?

Dave here are a couple of dates for the green screen but I would have to check with School before we commit to one. Mon 16th June/ Tue 17th June/ Wed 25th June do any of these seem good for you?

Revised Header

Like Dave said this will change many times through the project incorporating different elements as we develop them, but I think this looks cooler for now, bit grungier to fit the newly realised theme but a bit cleaner aswell. The stylised lines were something I was thinking of for the mograph stuff to tie everything together.

Dave any feedback would be great and then I'll send it to you to actually put up there.

I've had a couple of comments on the photos on the flickr account from the lads so it's good to see them getting involved, don't forget to set up a blog here to throw ideas around on for the narrative etc.

*edit - just found a site with some illustrations of parkour, more on my blog. I'm currently researching any visual representation of parkour and freerunning online as I like to have lots of source material to inspire my work (both good and bad, so I can see what I don't want it to end up like). Anyway even though this is an illo it has an interesting angle and could be useful for storyboard ideas...

[deleted]

I also found a nice, erm, poem?
maybe something like this could be used in the titles to set the scene and anticipation (found this on deviantart, just going back cos there were a lot of images - again, will post more on my blog if anyone's interested)

How to explain, for one who doesn't know
Who hasn't experienced the way,
The life of a traceur, the path of silence

We move where others dare not go
Across rooftops and through dark alleys

Being fluid as water, always preserving the flow
Leaping, Climbing, Vaulting
All tools of the art used to craft the masterpiece

That one run, where everything fits
Each landing precise, every gap cleared

This is the goal of traceurs everywhere
To move swiftly and with purpose
No tricks, no flash, that is not the way

Glory is not to be found
Money is not to be made

However, one can find peace of mind
For every obstacle becomes conquerable
Nothing stands in the way of a traceur

**edit again - just uploaded a whole mess of images to the flickr account grabbed from deviantart (which means they range from pretty cool to pretty grim, but they all help)


- Matt

Ideas are flying…

Well done team so far. I like the ideas, the energy and the dedication.

As for feedback…

Matt

rough visual styles for any print/web presentation
We can discuss this soon. I think it is a good idea so to lead towards this outcone begin with the header

the header
Have another go at the header now you have the theme and shots to work with. We can change the blog header many times as we like until the movie is done. Each iteration of the design can then be archived on your blog

motion graphics sequence for an introduction like introducing the theory and ideas behind parkour/freerunning,
I like this suggestion. Do some tests. The tests could help the tone and aesthetics of the final video.

Dave/Jen

Illustrations
Great atmospheric shots. I love the fiery red burning sky.

Narrative
Sounds like a good starting point to me. Do the team a favour and copy and paste that part of your post into a new post so it's easier to find and read.

Great so far. Let's see some jpgs of mockups posted. Visual is best.

I'm proud of you guys! Stas and Paul will be told :-)

Flickr photos & yesterday

My turn :)

Really enjoyed yesterday, good to meet everyone and has got loads more ideas buzzing round my head now I have a better understanding of where the project is heading.

I've just set up a Flickr account, rather than have everyone sign up to yahoo, create their own flickr account and add me as a friend, you might as well all just have the username and password to access and add photos if you wish.
Jo if you haven't already uploaded yours maybe you could put them there so all the images are in the same place?
If you have accounts or can be bothered creating one feel free to add me, although I have no clue how you'd go about it.
(Despite the account name it's not my personal account, and the hotmail used to set it up isn't my proper one either, would have called the account something else if I had of known how awkward it is to share privately...)

www.flickr.com

account name: deleted
password: deleted

For obvious reasons I didn't want to just make it a public account even if the link would only be posted here.

Following Dave's post, I think the narrative is cool and the visuals are great, there's tonnes of research material to look at for that kind of thing (including every zombie film ever made, most recently I am legend?) Children of men has some good stuff too (although I wouldn't advise watching the film, never really gets anywhere).

I also posted this in a reply comment to him regarding the music, incase anyone missed the subcomments...

The music will have to be another discussion I think, don't forget we can't use copyright music so thats dragonforce out. if they end up wanting fast metal/hardcore (I'm not sold on the power/speed metal thing tbh, I'm not sure it fits) then it's just a case of looking through local (or further afield) unsigned bands on myspace, sending them a message and they'll all probably jump at the chance.

I wouldn't get blinkered by rock/metal though, as although it's not my cup of tea some pumped up adrenaline electro would really fit also (better still, one of those bands who combine the 2!)

I think the first thing I can physically do is just start to generate some more rough visual styles for any print/web presentation and sort out the header now I have a better idea of what the project's about.

The only other ideas I have for the actual video are perhaps to flesh out the main narrative for a dvd or the public view such as some sort of cool motion graphics sequence for an introduction like introducing the theory and ideas behind parkour/freerunning, which I think is quite important to appreciate the whole thing, and describing the purpose of the project.
Also as mentioned by the lads perhaps mix in some plain footage at the beginning/end (to allow for some longer shots) and then perhaps after the main feature and 'making of' documentary to show how the green screen stuff was done and how hard the lads work at their sport.

I recently learned some after effects basics so I could do the introduction and any typography (credits etc.) if needs be to take some of the workload off adam who's going to be editing everything together. Dave's seen my after effects stuff (not much yet) but I'll endeavour to get it up on youtube asap if anyone wants a look. I've been wanting to use the skills I have to do a title sequence actually so hopefully this is a good idea?

*edit - just set up a blog: biennialfreerunnergraphicdesign.blogspot.com

there's nothing on there yet, any work I do I'll post here anyway as it's more for my own use as a journal for the project, feel free to drop in and see what's going on though, and dave w can you add it to the links there >>>>

Cheers, Matt

Enviroment and Narative concept Feedback

Hello all , I thought i would get back to you all after today. Myself and Jen have been thinking about how this could go , and i believe i have a solutuion that will fill all the catagorys that we went over today , thing is , i really need feed back on this and we may need to change things abit obviously , i am just putting it out because i thought heavily on this specifically from the Kids point of view because when i was thinking about the idea , i was thinking how to make it exciting for them and at the same time have the stuff we talked about in it.

Listening to Dragon Force here , and i kinda fitted this all together so i am gonna take you over this and see what i get in the way of feed back, obviously the narative is the kids own idea , but till then i thought i would have my shot at input to see if i could get anything back from them in terms of ideas that myself and Jen could use.

For the Narative concept , i came up with is something similar to this ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCjGvIJzk6k

Just so you know , the video above is from a 3d animated movie based on Final Fantasy 7 a well know , big title for the original Playstation released in 1996 the characters are Sephiroth and Cloud , Cloud is the one with blond hair , and Sephiroth is the one with long silver hair (and also the bad guy)just for reference incase i mention them again and you dont know who is who.

The specific part of the video i am looking at is from 3:21 till 6:07 , the fight inside the building and the surroundings.

The Narative i sorta had was basically what the kids had before , the idea of the Master leading with the apprentice`s following , and it goes like this.

The film starts with all the kids on the roof top of a building , over looking the wasteland/post apocolyptic place we talked about before , one of the Kids obviously being the Master is stood slightly to the right of them all to make sure the difference between them is clear. Suddenly they look around and parts of the roof begin to collapse around them , from then on they are in a deadly race following the Master following in down the building as quick as they can , obviously pulling off style moves , jumping through holes in the floors , over bits of rubble and such as the building is giving way , glass shattering all over the place , and alot of stuff going on , in these sequences , the tag element could be added to show that the apprentices are still having a laugh with each other , as most apprentice and master storys normally have the learner doing stupid things and being told off at the end or something , this could be shown by them using the tag element inside as the building collapses they are messing around whilst following the leader playing style move tag as they avoid stuff , so it becomes a deadly game of tag and a race for survival inside the building.

Eventually they reach ground level , and run down the street , and then when a safe enough distance away the Master clips one of the others round the back of the head to indicate that their deadly game of tag was not the best idea , again like in most storys like this , the trainee gets punished for being reckless and irrisponsible.

As for the actual look of the buildings , i resorted to looking at these pictures that are copyright to Alexiuss from Deviantart , its right up our alley as to what was said.


http://alexiuss.deviantart.com/art/Aburod-Terra-26245523

&


http://alexiuss.deviantart.com/art/Entropy-32586942

Those where the kinda things i invisioned for the enviroment aswell as those , here is the Dragon Force music i was listening to aswell as the video to accompany it because i think it suits well with the idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U1vl-hHWzw

Check them out , and put all the stuff i have mentioned together and see what you think , like i said , i hope this fits in , and before anyone asks , i dont mind if its not done , i just wanted to fashion something along the lines to see what feed back we got so far.

-Dave

Recap on today's session

Hi all,

Well done everyone for your time and input today. The energy from everyone was infectious.

Just to summarize everything so that everyone remembers what was said and what to do:

The Concept
A post-apocalyptic chase within an environment devastated through a nuclear war.

The Narrative
The freerunning lads need to devise a story. Think beginning, middle and end. Use the photos that Jo and Matt are going to upload here to piece together to make a simple storyboard.

The Environment
Jenny, Dave and Matt to start PhotoShopping visuals together to begin the conceptualizing the look and feel of the virtual environment. I'll help art direct you. Post your ideas to the blog as you do them for feedback.

Jenny and Dave can you begin to think and plan the possible environment. How big? Internal or external? etc.

The videos
Adam will post the blue screen footage here for everyone's reference. Jo could you do the same? Adam will have the actual footage that the team can look at and use for some tests. These tests are just to aid final compositing and storyboarding.

Storyboarding
Adam and I will need time to do a final storyboard and I'm intending to make an animatic to show everyone how things may work in the final movie. To do this we will need the story idea locked down.

Green screen
We need to book this ASAP so I'll need times of availibilty from Adam and Jo.

Before the day we need moves to be discussed and planned (still allowing time for improvisation on the day). Any props need to be sturdy and painted leaf green. Crash mats will be good. Think about costumes too. This depends upon your story idea.

Schedule
The project schedule we will work to is as follows:

May - 13th June
Story idea
Environment idea
Visual design idea
Compositing tests

Between 16th - 27th June
Green screen shoot

Mid-June - mid-July
Environment building
Mid July
Compositing
Editing
End of July
Output

Availability
The schedule above needs to be locked down. Can all team members inform me of the days thay cannot be available ASAP. I cannot do the 18th and 23rd June, and I'm assessing up to 12th June. Otherwise I'm free so far.

I can't think of anything else right now. Feel free to post anything I've forgotten, or anything you wish to add.

Cheers

wow thats a fantastic insight, it will be so good for the lads from DLS to listen to you and actually think more deeply about what they do.

Dave W...prob best to finish at 4pmish tomorrow, if thats ok as will need to return crash mats to school and they will be finishing early.

See you tomorrow,

Jo

Hey Matt

Hiya Matt , i tried looking for you with Dave and Jen at the presentation , but unfortunately we had problems finding you before the night ended , just thought i would give you and everyone else my understanding of Free Running , as i actually practice it.

Free Running is derived from Parkour , Parkour originally started out from France with David Belle, the basic teaching of Parkour is part martial arts part movement. Parkour is about getting from point A to point B using the least possible energy , and the most fluid movement possible , Parkour contradictory to many peoples opinions does not include flips as they use up way too much energy.

Free Running is Parkours child in a sense , it uses more energy in the moves , and the teaching of Free Running is that when your doing it , you are putting on a show , showing yourself what you can do , and showing the world how you do it , so it uses more style moves and vaults.

As for the theme Free Running has always been classed as a rough anti establishment kinda thing , but its not really , at its core its about over coming your fears , the fears of , Failiure , Unknown , Limitations , and Yourself , the main fear for everyone that does Free Running or Parkour is their self , because your mind constantly tells you not to do certain things because they could result in something bad , like a bail or a broken bone , so its really about the power you need mentally to over come your own mind.

The only other thing about free running is , most people think its reckless but , its actually not , most runners i know including myself actually plan out their moves first , and look at their limits and see how to break them safely before trying them anywhere else , when you do Free Running , its all about how you plan your route , A-B , and what you choose to do along that route to keep yourself entertained , IE moves.

Normally flips are only used in Free Running to show off the runners ability to break their mind limit and do something like a flip , somewhere dangerous like off a wall onto a pavement or something from 4 feet up.

Hope its given you all abit more insight into Free Running.

-Dave Ball

New blog header (rough)

Hi all, dave w has asked me to design a new blog header to replace the rather uninspiring green squares up there ^^^ so in between sorting through about 500 photos for stock, planting herbs (for cooking!) and eurovision parties (last place, again, at least wogan was on form) I've been reading up a bit on freerunning/parkour (is it 2 things or just have 2 names?) over the bank holiday.

I don't have too much to draw upon except years of skateboarding in my teens, I notice a lot of the photography techniques are similar but am concerned about using the same anti-establishment/rough imagery associated with it because obviously this project is about promoting the activity in the opposite . Does anyone know of any good magazines/websites/dvds/books about freerunning and/or the culture (if it has one as such)?

On the skating note, I just remembered a video I was supposed to post here weeks ago that I sent to dave. Some interesting green(board)screen techniques used in the Girl video Yeah Right that's worth a watch...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4cPWCaRWe0w


Obviously the best research is first hand so when we get together on thursday I'll have a much better feel about where the project is heading and how everyone feels it should be displayed visually. The first thing that jumped out at me was the connection between free running and flowing water but apart from that I'm pretty much just doodling, so let me know what you think...



Cheers, see you thurs, Matt

Plan D is on

Yes sounds great! Toxteth TV looks good and we have money from the biennial to cover the cost. We can have a chat on thur, after we see what it is we need to do, and then go ahead and book it. Enjoy bank hol!!

RE: Plan C: Thursday Itinerary (proposed)

sounds good to me

(*testing 1 2)

matt

Plan C: Thursday Itinerary (proposed)

Hi all,

I propose we get as much done next Thursday as we can to brainstorm the project. Depending upon availability I propose the following rough outline. Post your comments and I'll then draw up a clearer itinerary for next week.

• [10:00am] Jo and lads arrive;
  
• [10:00 - 10:30] Tour of college and facilities;
  
• [11:00 - 12:00] Team meets with Jo and lads in C431 (Adam, Dave, Jenny, Matt and Dexter) for initial brainstorming of ideas;
  
• [12:00 - 1:00] Lunch (and maybe research filming of lads going through some freerunning moves outside somewhere?);
  
• [1:00 onwards] Video kids against blue screen.
  

What does everyone think?

Plan D: Toxteth TV Green Screen

Yo all!

I'm just been to Toxteth TV to recce their green screen facility. It is on par with the (current) TV studio at College. Check out the >shaky< vids below. There is a green carpet, which could cover crash mats, and we can bring props if we paint them leaf green.

Toxteth TV green screen


Toxteth TV lighting system


The cost of the studio with a technician is normally £250 per day + vat for 8 hours, but this could reduce this cost to £175 + vat. That's for 8 hours of access.

Adam I have the technician's contact details if you wish to talk to her.

We can discuss options on Thursday but so far they are free between 16th and the 30th June. Right in the timeframe I have in mind.

Plan B: ICDC Green Screen

Hi Jo, Adam et al,

I've just been to ICDC (International Centre for Digital Content) to see their green screen room. It is bigger than I initially imagined. My contact Mark Smith estimates it to be "green screen is about 2.8m high 6m wide and curves to the floor with about 2-3 m of floor". Check out the video I took (ok it is shaky).



Adam what is your thoughts on the facility?

Ian Bradley, who showed me around thinks it is free-ish in June and it is free. I need to check with Mark about availability.

ICDC has their degree show next Wednesday. I have invites for everyone on the team. ICDC is on Edge Lane in Liverpool in Liverpool Digital (straight down the M62 or the 7 bus from the city centre). You could then check out the facility. Let me know who wants to go.

Plan C update

Hi Jo,

10:00am is fine next Thursday. Go to student services, ring me and I'll give you all a tour. I need to check with Adam what time he is available.

If we use the College's blue screen further we will need to begin earlier in June. The whole floor with the TV studio on it is to be closed from the 20th for renovation over the summer.

I'll ask Toxteth TV if I can pay a visit on Friday to recce the facility.

Adam can you check the blue screen in college this week? I'll try myself but you know more. I'm thinking about props that can be used and if we need to paint anything blue? If so what colour blue?

Plan B & Plan D as well as Plan C

Hi Jo, et al (including Adam who has now been given author rights to this blog),

Plan D: Toxteth TV
I have received this email reply from Toxteth TV which can form Plan D:

"Hi Dave,

We have a green screen which I am told is just the same as a blue screen, I would need to know exactly what you need....for instance will you need lighting with the screen, if you do then you will need to use our technician and I am afraid we would have to charge you as they are only employed when we have a studio booking and paid accordingly.If you just wish to use the space with the house lights then I would only charge 50% of the usual costs which would be £7.50 per hour +vat. The cost of the studio with a technician is normally £250 per day + vat for 8 hours, I could reduce this cost to £175 + vat .Please let me know if this is of any use,

Kind Regards"

Obviously there is a financial cost here. What do you and Adam think about this facility?

Plan B: ICDC

I will pop into ICDC to recce their green screen facility on Friday to check suitabilty/availability.

Plan C: St Helens College Blue Screen

Adam and I had a chat with Millard last night and we have the space probably available. So I think next Thursday is certainly on. The day will only be about test shots, taking footage to evaluate what we can do on a proper shoot in June. Maybe we could even shoot the kids going through some moves elsewhere for research. Adam has some really positive ideas. But I'll let him blog them (over to you Adam)...

Jocan you bring some crash mats with you and let me know when you can get here. Now that it is at college we can potentially have between 9:30 and 5:00.

Matt, Dave and Jenny can you remember to pick up a CRB form from me to complete.

I think that's all for now.

PS: Jo I've given you Admin rights to this blog so you can add your students' emails to the permissions page to allow them to read the blog. Click Customize > Settings > Permissions from the main blog page.

A bit of good news (Plan C)

There is a plan C for blue screen that may work depending upon timing. We have a large roll down blue screen in our TV studio that will probably suffice. We may be able to use it next week to shoot some tests and if in June we can get in before the re-building work it should be big enough to film the jumps etc.

I'll enquire ASAP before the guy goes on a college trip to Spain.

Watch this space.

A bit of bad news… but we may have a plan B

Hi Jo,

FACT has pulled out of next Thursday's bluescreen. Here is Karen's email (so much for being helpful)…

Hi Dave
I have chatted with the relevant people here at FACT and unfortunately it was considered the H+S risk to be too great a risk
As this is not part of a FACT project and it's only a one off activity the time to implement things was seen as too big
The studio we have is a temporary space for people to experience a bluescreen environment it was also felt that an alternative established bluescreen would be a better option
Hope this is ok - I know it must b a disappointment after our discussion but there is nothing I can do
We can still offer the Box to screen your work once completed
Best Karen

I'll try and visit ICDC on Friday and see if we can secure their Green Screen facility for next week instead. A disappointment but I did have my suspicions when she didn't ring me back.'-)

Good stuff

Hi Dave and Jenny,

Good to see you researching the problem. That footage should be ready at the end of next week. The brainstorming wont begin until the week of the 23rd June at the earliest. Keep up the trouble-shooting until then. Your expertise will be very useful.

Cheers

Engine Research and other things...

Greetings all,

Myself and Jenny have already started trying to think about how this will play out eventually either in a game engine enviroment or 3dsmax.

We have begun our research into camera controls for various things , such as 3d Studio Max , and Unreal Engine 2 , and so far we think that there may be some small things we may come across that may cause us trouble, but it is still uncertain at the moment.

What we both do need to do , is once the CRB forms are through , and filled out , is to arrange a get together , or the alternative is to view some footage of the movements and various tricks that will be recorded via blue screen to see how we want to design the enviroment in 3d, because obviously we cannot begin to design a level without first knowing what will be done in the enviroment.

We have come up with basic ideas for the enviroment , but it really is depending on what is going to be pulled off really.

We shall continue our research into the matter , and keep thinking of ideas until such a time that everything can be arranged.

-David

…and more of all that

Hi Jo,

I've just followed the Toxteth TV link through my contact Mark at ICDC (International Centre for Digital Content) in Wavertree. I may have sourced a green screen facility, which Adam informs me is better for digital. I've invited Mark to read this blog (hi Mark!) so he can see what we are after. It's easier than writing it in an email.

So far I am still awaiting Karen from FACT's final confirmation (I've CCed you into the email) about the 29th. [reply finally arrived - see "A bit of bad news" above]

Dave Ball has been added as an author and he has also set up his own project blog too. The link is opposite. Maybe your lads might wish to do the same as a way of documenting their involvement? Just a thought.

I think that's it for now. I must go and check my eBay sales.

Ta ta.

CRB and all that…

Hi Jo,

No probs, I'm still awaiting the CRB forms to arrive (I think they've been sent to my namesake Dave Woods in another campus) so I'll chase them up. It would be great to see you at the show. It will be a bit hectic that night so maybe if we arrange another pre-project meeting to revise the basic schedule we initially discussed. Assessments are on but I'm sure I can escape for an hour. Then we can see about filming ideas etc. My students need CRB clearance before they can work with your students, silly but true.

We can discuss any initial ideas at FACT after the filming. I would like then to get your lads and my students together to brainstorm the ideas into a tight, workable project. Again CRB is the stumbling block here.

I saw Sophie last night at the theatre and she was asking how the project was going. She says hi!

Hi,sorry for late reply. Had a short, abrupt! message from Alex Jukes saying that we had to go through LINC at Edge hill so I will contact them and find out possible dates for the blue screen access. I will sort all the risk assessments etc out this end for going to FACT and will look into H&S (boring!!) issues for filming them out at the weekend sometime. I think thats a great idea and will add to the amount of footage that can be used but will have to check out a few things first. I cant remember if mentioned this but the lads are keen to film the whole process also so they can have a chance to edit a sort of documentary about the project.

Dave, I think the work you have done so far is amazing and I am not precious about this project at all and see this totally as a collaboration, making links and connections for future projects or discussions. Oh and its great getting Adam on board, he already has links with us and we are very impressed by his work and enthusiasm!
Would you like to know about environment ideas when we go to FACT or at a later meeting?

See you soon...oh see you at the opening next week! byeeeeee...

St Helens Team Members (proposed)

Hi Jo,

Here is the list of student team members I have asked to take part in supporting your project:

• Jenny Swann - Environmental Artist
  
• Dave Ball - Environmental Artist (and fellow freerunner)
  
• Matthew Frodsham - Graphic Design
  
• Dexter Powell - Urban Art (if needed)
  
  added to these names are staff members:
  
  
• myself - Team Leader, DVD creator, exegesis
  
• Adam Hamilton - Camera Operator (Editor, if free)
  

As the team signs up to your project I'll add them as authors to the blog so they can post to it as well.

Last few pieces…

Hi Jo,

I have asked Adam Hamilton to work with us in FACT on the 29th as a camera operator. I believe you know each other. I have also added him as a reader to this blog so that he can get up to speed. (Hi Adam if you are reading this!)

The last few pieces I can do for now to enable the project to run from St Helens College's end are:

• getting confirmation on the College's liability insurance [update: still awaiting information]
  
• getting my students to complete a CRB form [update: crb forms will be given to students to complete]
  

I'll update this post ASAP as these matters are dealt with. Once I know where the College stands then it will be over to you and the lads to begin the project in June. So far, so good, feasibility wise. My line manager is excited, so that's a good sign. I'm holding off getting my Director on board until the project begins.

I'm conscious that I don't want it to seem that with all this preparation I've done I've lost sight that it is your project. So I'll be tailing off for now and I'm looking forward to supporting you and the students when the project begins.

The FACT connection

Hi Jo,

I've just got access to the web so I'll update you on what I told you on the phone on Friday.

After having a meeting with Karen at FACT she has offered the following:

• time in the blue-screen room in FACT
  
• access during half-term on Thursday 29th May between 11:00am & 1:00pm (she needs to confirm this)
  
• potential screening in The Box during September/October - (need to confirm dates but Mon-Wed is best)
  
• a possible lead to blue screen facilities at Toxteth TV
  

The following will need to be sourced for the day:

• a camera operator to record some footage (See above post))
  
• blue crash mats for blue screen (Jo)
  
• for continuity it would be good if the kids chose their clothes they want to wear to be the same for all shoots (kids)
  

This event will only be a tester for what we can do later. The kids will be restricted to certain moves. Would it be possible if we could video them performing some Parkour moves one weekend for reference?

I've a meeting tomorrow morning concerning the kids coming to college during the summer. I'll keep you informed. I'll also email my Edge Hill contact who is a professor to see about using their facilities. I'll mention that you've contacted Alex Jukes already.

Students on standby

Hi Jo,

Not much to report yet except I've spoken to 4 of the students who I have cherry-picked for this potential project and told them to keep June/July free. They all seem interested so far.

Any news from Edge Hill? Should I try to contact the people I know there who are higher up?

My laptop will be going in for repair, probably for 2 weeks (I hope not) so I may be sluggish in posting updates.