Epic 24 hours!

So I went to film at this gig that someone at the BBC hooked me up with. His bro wanted camera ops. Anyway...

It was a dubstep/jungle music gig in a warehouse in Dalston. I had many preconceptions about this, basically I was all thinking it would be drugs and violence. Couldn't be further from the truth on the latter, and saw none of the former, although suspect a lot of people were under an influence of some kind! Everyone was so friendly and chatted to me, I couldn't believe it.

Anyway; the premise. Go to some backstreet place, in a random not too posh place, in London, late at night, till 4am, to film a gig with someone I have never met, in a place I have never been, of a music genre I'd never really heard of and deffo not a fan of. For nothing.

2 months ago I would have never on earth considered this, yet I found myself getting on the the bus, tube, and rail replacement bus to Dalston. Transport this weekend was a f**king nightmare - more on that later.

So the gig was pretty packed eventually. Full of smokers, so I was coughing for a good while after. It was mental. But we filmed loads. I got completely squashed in crowds with a sizeable Sony camera, but I did ok. The guy who I was filming for, Jonathan (who bears quite a resemblance to James MacKenzie, scarily) said 'I like you, you're fearless! You just dive in there and get in people's faces!' This isn't normally what I am like, but I had a job to do and footage to get. So jumping up on stage, wading into dancing crowds etc, it all gets done!

Finally at 4am it finished, I had survived, all my stuff was intact, I was intact. Jon's phone died so he stuck his sim card in mine and we ordered a cab to his. He lives in Peckham - that place has a rep - so we arrived there at about 5am finally. Made sure we had footage, had a coffee, I had my pot noodle that I'd brought, and then we passed out on the sofa. Woke up a little later and grabbed an hour's sleep - in seperate beds I hasten to add!! Then it was up at 8am - I awoke first, had no idea where I was and how I would get home - we had all the kit to return, before Jon had to catch a Eurostar at midday to see his girlfriend in France! This was compounded by utter travel woes - all the tube lines we needed were closed! After several buses and some waiting around, we delivered the kit back to the owner. Jon was now panicking about getting to the Eurostar, so we found a bus to Kings X and got him there.

After I saw him through departures I had to deliver a light to someone in Acton! Cue a bus to Paddington cos the hammersmith&city and central lines were out, and then a very quick train to Acton Mainline. Delivering the light was dead easy and quick - guy's place was very near the station and easy to find. Then it was back to Paddington, Bakerloo line to Central line, and Central line to Gants Hill to get a bus back to where I live. Unfortunately the bus stops were closed cos of roadworks so a wasted trip! Back on the tube and off to South Woodford on the other branch. Finally managed to pick a bus up - it's now 4pm and I am beyond tired and wonder how I stay awake. Get home and collapse into bed. Sleep 11 hours broken sleep from 6pm, and am amazed I survived. Want to kick London Transport in the balls repeatedly.

I don't think this taught me much in terms of technical filming skills, but the confidence I gained from doing all this in deep London and not dying etc is incredible. The other guy who was filming was cool - good to make aquaintences, and Jonathan seems to be a solid guy. But what I really gained from this will stand me in good stead for anything. I realise now what a protected soft life I lead until now. That's over now I live here. It was a bloody tough 24 hours, but I do not regret it. Life experience!

Jules xx