World of WINNERS!!

Well as many of you guys know, I WON OHTV's (sky chl 199) presenter competition. I had made it to the the semi - finals and then I WON, I actually WON!!
Due to my not so fabulous smartphone (using the word 'smart' VERY loosely) crashing, pausing stalling and loading whilst the info came through, I found out on twitter by a fellow contestant congratulating my self and Marlon Barclay.

Who?

Yes Marlon Barclay my co-presenter, another contestant who gained the same amount of votes as me, so there it is!!

Marlon Barclay and Amica Anselm OHTV Summer Presenter Winners!

 A double wammy and a fabulous twist that both Marlon Barclay and my self were completely surprised and elated about. So there I was jumping up and down and wanting to run to the studio's and immediately jump on screen when reality brought me crashing back down to North West London. I had to be at the Grosvenor hotel within the next hour! So thrusting my articulate frock on I headed down to Park lane where I was assisting media magnate Jodie Dalmeda at the Caribean expo.

(

(Left to Right) Amica Anselm and Jodie Dalmeda (Media consultant and artist management)

On the 9th of August I arrived at the Grosvenor where there were plenty of beautifully dressed Afro-Caribbean people ready to enjoy the melodies and the final jubilation of this culturally inspired event. Bolt and co were about to run the 200 metres that night, and Jamaica's fifty years independence celebrations were just behind us which had every one raring to go, it was evident that this event could not have come at a better time.

Usain Bolt - Gold Medalist

With Trevor Nelson MBE and Sarah Jane Crawford (BBC 1Xtra DJ and Television presenter) hosting the 'Caribbean Soul Fusion,' showcasing a cocktail of Caribbean artist's, the audience was fully entertained with the dynamics between the two inimitable presenters to say the least.

Pamela Coke Hamilton Executive Director Caribbean Export Develeopment Agency, Trevor Nelson MBE and Sarah Jane Crawford

Songs were covered from numerous genre's such as Jazz, Afro latin, reggae, soca and zouk to conclude the weeks long Caribbean expo London engage. The crowd was more than entertained with a night filled with homeland melodies, media personalities who intermingled and celebrated in great jubilation.
As if this was not enough a huge screen was displayed in the foyer as well as several other rooms, displaying the 100m race where Usain Bolt won the Gold medal. The entire party ignited with pride, hugs, dancing and sheer excitement uniting the guests even further.

Taking the audience back to the journey of the music inspired from the depths of the Caribbean, we were all back on the dance floor celebrating and supporting the likes of Usain Bolts favourite winner of the Digicel Rising Stars (the Jamaican version of American Idol) 'Chris Martin' and ‘Arturo Tappin’. The smoothest, horn man the Caribbean could offer the UK.

Christopher Martin

With their being too many acts to mention, take a look at some of the award winning, creative composers and chart toppers from the Caribbean who hails not only the West Indies and Haiti, but are also favourites at Jazz and Creole festivals all over the Caribbean.

Ximora Fortuna

Michele Henderson, Claudia Edwards, Mr Dale, B´elO, Arturo Tappin

Michelle Fortuna

Belo

The crowd was entertained by the creative artists till 11pm by Dominican Republican songstress Ximora Fotuna, who combines Latin, Brazilian and afro funk to her music melodies as well as Belo and award winning Haitian who fuses his beats and lyrics with rock, reggae and Afro-Haitian traditional rhythms
known as ‘Ragganga’.

Mystic from Guyana, 

The Caribbean had stamped its mark on this UK's summer and although we got off to a bad start with pure rain and little sunshine, the sunny rays did not leave us as Jamaica dominated the Olympics with the likes of all the other African-American athletes who did our race and their individual countries VERY proud. All in all The Caribbean expo was a positive event exhibiting the positive qualities the black race is providing  regardless of the stereotypes available today. Amongst all the proud and dynamic faces amongst the crowd was Doreen Lawrence who took part in the jubilations at The Caribbean Expo. With Lawrence being a strong iconic figure in the media as well as a respectable black person breaking barriers in a dignified manner and opening doors for the new generation, rounded up this event for me as a positive movement that should continue year after year.

Doreen Lawrence

Words: Amica Anselm

Images credit: credit Paul Hampartsoumian 

POTENTIAL PRESENTER

The line  "SHORTY GOT POTENTIAL, I CAN BE HER SPONSOR...."


Well that seems to of been the theme of my previous week...

Deciding to explore all my options in media I decided to cash in my dreams account of being a TV presenter and enter OHTV's Jamaican Summer presenter competition.


SO...


I recorded a 60 seconds reel, courtesy of R U Media onto Youtube and tagged OHTV via Facebook and Twitter discretely. After about a week or two of mad voting by friends and family I became one of OHTV's finalist and went down to the studio to compete on film with all the other finalist's at the same time. (More info on that coming real soon)

Being quite content with the prospects of going to the Studios with the chance to be OHTV's new TV presenter, and being broadcasted on a daily basis in Jamaica where my loved ones can kick back and watch little old me, I was HAPPY to say the least.

Where it all began: 60secs show reel

Then I got a call from Sophia Jackson, editor and founder of Afridiziak Theatre News, explaining that my reel had been sent over to the executive producer Andrew Osayemi founder of Meet The Adebanjo's , and he wanted me to host The Worlds Premiere of Venus VS Mars and a CUP of T'! 

The same evening of the day that I was going to audition at OHTV was when it was all going to take place, so I jumped at the chance of getting my self out there, and typical journalist style wrote down every teeny bit of information possible as time was of the essence and it was not on my side!

After spending the entire afternoon at OHTV, I made my way to Leicester Square's very own Prince Charles Cinema and prepared to host the screening and live Q&A of Venus VS Mars and A cup of T!

Tonight's host Miss Amica Anselm

NOT TO SELF: Seperate the writer from the presenter and throw that clipboard AWAY!

DON'T JEALOUS ME!

Like most who put in the hard graft - we like to finish it off with a bag of laughs!! In this case we shook off the remains of hard work and tiresome preparation at the after party at Metra with a couple of boggles to the Bashment and Azonto free styling to the Afrobeats!!

Baby Isako -playwright and director

Girls getting their drink on!

From left to right: Andrew, Amica, and Remel London

Million Dollar SHOT!

Thank you all for reading this and supporting my movement into the presenting world. This is only the beginning and i'm in it for the long haul. So keep following, tweeting, Facebooking and of course supporting as there's a lot more to come, with my potential to articulate myself, be brave and put myself out there I bagged two fantastic opportunity's. STAY TUNED and keep me SPONSORED...

Here's a taster of the night captured by R U Media

                  THANK YOU! XX

International Architecture & Design Showcase

Architectures of change: Four continents, five perspectives

Celebrated architects from around the Caribbean have their work displayed at The International Architecture and Design Showcase with Caribbean Expo London and The British Council.

This exhibition showcases architecture and design as well as sustainable housing and its progression in the Caribbean, at the University of Westminster an amalgamation of countries such as Taiwan, Serbia, Namibia, and South Africa have come together under one roof, to present the historical diverse but fundamental shifts in city structures, and homes. 

This exhibition is an opportunity for the Caribbean and Africa to display their creative industries and create exposure for their businesses and the change in housing around the world. With the Caribbean being renowned for its sun kissed beaches, white sands and hot weather, architects such as the Caribbean Operation of Co-Operative Architecture (COCOA) uses a combination of solar and wind energy which is showcased in their design ‘Villa B’.

Talma Mill, one of the Caribbean’s leading landscape Architecture companies presents examples of their ‘green infrastructure’ whilst making a positive impact on the built and natural atmosphere combining natural and assembled elements whilst considering timely topics of each country their project is based in.

Westminster University’s Ambika P3 gallery is currently transformed into a series of unique sectors reconnoitring the architecture of five countries. With printed images from the past and modern day structures, a virtual platform which focuses on low cost housing solutions are illustrated in a 3D animation featuring different design concepts. The Caribbean, Taiwan, Namibia, Serbia, and South Africa have come together presenting rare architecture that is worth going out to experience. 

3D virtual platform, by Amonle architects 

Info: Until July 15 | Ambika P3, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS | Mon – Sat, 10am – 6pm | Sunday, 11am – 5pm
http://www.afridiziak.com/theatrenews/reviews/july2012/architectures-of-change.html

The Price of Kings – Film Two - Shimon Peres *****

The Price of Kings Film Two on Shimon Peres is a smooth successive documentary focusing on his personal life and career, following the political sacrifices made by Yasser Arafat in its prequel. The Price of Kings is a 12 part innovative documentary researching the posed question to the political elite ‘What would you sacrifice for what you believe?’

With unprecedented access to his family and closest allies such as Uri Savir chief negotiator for Israel during the secret negotiations which led to the Oslo peace agreement, Uri Avnery peace campaigner, writer, and politician and Mika Peres, Shimon Peres granddaughter who was asserted by him to be a part of this documentary helped to create a unique insight of the president of Israel.

A review of his achievements and failures whilst building the nation of Israel who are still at war is candidly confessed in his own words. Footage of film and images are implemented to give a graphic comprehension to the unfamiliar eye of what the non-combatants around this political period has had to endure. Succinctly this documentary tells a historical story from additional perspectives, not only from those who have spoken- but also for the unheard voices that are relevant today.

With his Polish (Jewish) grandfather being his most looked up to family member whose life was claimed in the holocaust, Peres carried his upbringing close to his heart. When he immigrated to Israel before World War II, the holocaust claimed many lives including his family members back in Poland. This according to Uri Savir is a great insight into Peres: to understand his values as a man are to understand the events of his childhood.

Spirit Level makes the finest claim yet on creating a digestible documentary, exploring the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the 1940s. Although based on war and politics this documentary deciphers through the proofs of Peres long reign as a political leader in a war torn country. Piecing together a life of a now elderly man who was twice Prime Minister, President once and an important family figure - whose greatest importance is his work. Producer Joanna Natasegara and director Richard Symons helped to provide Shimon Peres reign in the Middle East some justice to the outside world.

http://www.afridiziak.com/theatrenews/reviews/june2012/the-price-of-kings-film-two-shimon-peres.html

Conquest of the South Pole

The Conquest of the South Pole by Manfred Karge is a mind over matter struggle between unemployment and the need to dream. Decidedly melodramatic and poetic this modern classic splits the idea of dreaming of success like an orange and lemon peel pushed simultaneously inside out- budding the question is it reality that’s sweet and the dream that leaves a bitter taste?

Characters such as Slupianek, performed by O-T Fagbenle a deep driving force guiding the unemployed men in a game that plays with the realities of their lives, leading the gang of friends towards acts as big as robbery and minor blunders like upsetting the washing- when turned on its head ,the latter weighing much greater than the former.

Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

Slupianek fights daily recruiting his friends to master his obsession with the South Pole inspired by the story of Norwegian Roald Amundsen, the man who truly led a team to the South Pole. Instead of signing on and handing out black and white CV’s, the men decide to focus on the historical Polar journey manipulating the rudimentary beings of reality to help create the make belief escape they are trying to create, but the line between reality and fate are so thin at the top of the attic with just white sheets and stolen goods to help them conquer the tale.

La Braukmann( Emma Cunniffe) is the feminine driving force that hurls the play back into reality always drawing on the obvious in her casual clothes and her womanly stresses. An achievement, using her white sheets as glaciers to get further in their attic of make belief is an action that could defeat the entire idea.

During a time where our youth have looted due to the fact that their actuality is far from the achievements in their dreams, Karge’s 1988 play could not have felt more contemporary and pertinent as many ruin their reality to try to accomplish dreams.

http://www.afridiziak.com/theatrenews/reviews/may2012/the-conquest-of-the-south-pole.html