#canvas uk blank

[ancaporado]

I know that many ancaps/libertarians are pro population growth and pro development, I however think that the global population and megacities are a government abomination. I keep thinking that places like the UK/Beltway/LA of USA are so fucked up because they don't have any real wilderness left. it's just a cultivated grid of human housing, industry, agriculture, the largest undomesticated creature being a racoon or fox or something pathetically small and unthreatening. Even the meme "birds aren't real" I think is a riff on this; you live in a 100% man-made environment, even the birds might as well be government spy robots.

When you fundamentally have to interact with an artificial rules based world all the time you have a tendency to systematize everything, and believe the lie that imaginary things like laws and governments are real physical things, and not just the whims of the police officer on the corner. Somewhat like abuse victims internalize the rules of their abuser to avoid punishment and cope. The urban landscape is the breeding ground of the cancerous and parasitic human survival strategy we identify as socialism/collectivism/progressivism.

The only real laws are those of nature, physics, chemistry, biology, evolution. Humans are an animal and we adapt to our environment, which is a mouse utopia. The modern world is so sick and against nature because our power to wall it out of our lives has created a hubris to rebel against these things. Progressivism in a sense, is rejection of natural order, a rejection of subjection to nature or nature's God. This is how you get to where we are today. I don't need to list the examples, but the unreality of thinking we can abolish scarcity, inequality, sex, the family, etc...

I don't want civilization and cities and humans not to exist. I just want radical concentrations of those things. We had 2.5% the global population in antiquity and still got innovative and talented thinkers that we still discuss today, artists, engineers, etc. These people had ample access to an untamed world, one that was unpredictable, and challenged them.

The urban human is a domesticated one. They have no real self-determination. Without a world unmade by humans, they have no reference for something beyond the imagination of another human, no blank canvas to make their own. Like the shadows of Plato's cave I'd wager it's like a person forced to look into a mirror their entire life. They would have no ability to identify themselves in the mirror as they have no reference that the mirror isn't just the entire world.

Climbing mountains, navigating rapids, scaling rock walls, skiing couloirs... the physical conquest of nature yields a surprise that cannot be claimed from an artificial challenge.

Think of the sweating, yelling, heaving mass of Cairo,

Bangladesh

Lagos

Mexico city

You might just assume they make great films, music, art, thinkers, engineers, and we just don't hear about them because they don't get distributed here or something. No it's just a mass of human flesh consuming the natural world, no ability to reflect and create, just consume.

Almost all of these places import food from the temperate climates of developed nations. A two year breakdown of global supply chains would result in them starving in the millions.

Even here in western civilization we yield the prime 'high-density walkable" real-estate to degenerates via council and section 8 housing.

Government programs of fiat currency, the welfare-warfare state, followed by deindustrialization has resulted in a massive mismatch in human population and economic/environmental capacity. Sure, here's where someone could politely chime in that "humans have infinite creative capacity, we just need to unlock their potential and your Malthusian doomsday is no more" and I grant that to a degree.

But massive declines in human population, the standard of living, and technology are regular historical occurrences. Western science has had an absolute "ick" towards actually understanding and implementing Darwinism towards human populations. Country-wide datasets of IQ probably remain stable due to the continuing rise/Flynn effect of the middle/upper class offsetting the sliding downward of the welfare class. There's no evolutionary biologist who wouldn't recognize that the market economy selects for intelligence and the welfare state was our feeble altruistic effort to carry the "but I did have breakfast" population along with us.

We've had nearly a century and, in some cases of repeated teen pregnancies, 6 or 7 generations who were never asked to provide for themselves meaningfully. They live in an ever more confusing world of late payments, cash advances, welfare office applications, prison stints, evictions, and unplanned pregnancies. Each generation more befuddled than the last. Recent studies show that there have been population bottlenecks through human evolution. In the bronze age as few as 1 in 17 men reproduced at all.

Biological imperatives of reproduction rule over all other sentiments and altruistic masochism. For the silent generation and the boomers, the welfare state was a token price they agreed to pay to keep the peace and they could afford it as they got race-rioted out of their downtown homes into the suburbs. Now the jig is up and millennials en-masse are finding that they can't afford to have kids *intentionally*. They look at their pay stub getting taxed at 40% so that, over at the section 8 housing, "baby mamas" collect government checks for the consequence of a hookup with serial felons, who are also housed and fed with working people's taxes. The boomers made a devil's bargain, they cucked their children!

Now we enter the final death spiral of empires and welfare states: below replacement fertility rates and above GDP national debt!

The group most prepared for the coming calamity, the group who predicted it, and who will emerge as victors are those who are internally pro-growth/pro population but maintain in-group preferences. The stats bear out:

Now this shift isn't just conservatives but libertarians also. In a couple generations we have gone from 1% in the 70's to 10% in the 2010s and now easily 25% in the 2020's (many libertarians simply don't vote or vote republican). We will replace left-wingers, who only reproduce vampirically via public education, in the next generation. There is hope at the end of this journey but it will be difficult in the mean time. Prepare yourself accordingly.

[morphinejunkie]

Hi morph! I've been following you since i read crush the first time, I admire your talent and your way of working, so accurate and almost scientific! I will always thank you for that and I hope to read new writings from you soon.

I noted someone asked you for advice on writing mello, and now I would like to ask you for advice on writing matt, if you would like to answer! Writing matt is freer (as there is little canon information), but it is also more difficult, because of that. Did you use a different process? Did you create a spectrum for him too? Thanks for all you do ❤️

thank you so much, and sorry for the late response to this one.

here's my post about writing mello.

now writing matt is different as you mentioned because he is such an open character. you could interpret him however you'd like, based on the little information that canon has given you. there are a lot of possible interpretations to matt that will make sense - i think, contrary to mello where you constantly have to assess/compare your characterization with his motivations and goals in death note, with matt, the most important question is: does he feel real?

i found that because matt is so open, people tend to write him based on fantasy. this makes him so incredibly two-dimensional as a result, because he ends up becoming just a blank character for people to fill their desires, wishes, and projections on. i find that very often in fanfic he ends up basically just being a bland sum of the author's romantic/sexual interests, a direct reflection of the author's identity, or a blank canvas on which mello can extricate influence.

i'm not saying that's bad or not a good way to write him, but for me, i wanted matt to be a fully rendered, realized individual, independent of myself. you really have to treat matt as an OC, so a lot of this could double up as "how to create a realistic fictional character" advice.

this is what worked for me:

backstory

obviously the most important thing about how to write a character is knowing where they come from and how they became who they ended up becoming. so ask yourself the following questions:

where does matt come from? -> this answers his baseline cultural identity and temperament

what was his family life like? -> the dynamics of his family life before he was orphaned is really important in determining how you write his attachment styles and his relationships. things like his relationship with his mother, his father, siblings, wealth, stability, etc. all factor into who he is as a person

when was he orphaned? -> this answers how much of that cultural identity influences him vs. the UK

why is he the way he is now? -> aka why is he so lazy, chill, a chainsmoker, an avid video game player? with mello, canon answered this question for us: mello has a deep-rooted inferiority complex stemming from the competitive conditions of the orphanage. so why is matt so different from him?

2. get to know him OUTSIDE of mello

here's one thing that i find a lot of m2 fans forget while writing matt: he is his own person. a big mistake that i see is a lot of writers write him as a "satellite character" where his motivations, dreams, goals, thoughts, and intentions all exist in a vacuum that is all for the sake of mello. because even if he is somebody who has decided that his entire life is made to please mello (which wouldn't be ooc, though improbable given his personality canonically), he still would have had events in his life that would make him rely on mello so wholeheartedly.

i encourage writing out a character profile for matt that does not mention or reference mello at all. completely extricate mello from his personality and figure him out from there.

lastly, ask yourself: what drew him to mello in the first place? this isn't a given - mello is really not an easy person to be around, so why does matt seemingly have no problems with being with him? i think it's totally fine for matt not to know the answer to this question, and for there to be multiple answers to this question, but my point is, there should be some answers. it should make sense for matt, given the backstory that you've given him, to want to be around mello. matt was not born to love mello, despite what fanfics tend to want to believe.

3. consistently check your own biases

obviously we as writers want to write what we want to see, and again this is fine if you don't mind being indulgent as a writer, but for me personally, i wanted to keep it as objective as i could. i didn't want to create a matt that was a manifestation of myself or some sort of sexual fantasy. i found that the best way to do this was make sure there were times where i disagreed with matt or even found him a little bit personally dislikeable/repulsive - whether it be from his thoughts, emotional reactions, interests, or habits. this is of course not needed but i found it was an easy shorthand to make sure that i wasn't just creating somebody perfect.

4. find real life matts

this one's a little unorthodox, but i felt it was really useful for me in making sure my biases were checked.

when i was writing crush, i would often find users on twitter that reminded me of matt, or gave me a feeling of matt - whether it be through their typing style, their voice, their humour, or their posts - and follow them. seeing the way they interact with the world gave me a better understanding of how someone like matt would also interact with the world, especially in ways that i could never envision. i think for me, i had to come to terms with the fact that matt was not somebody i could create out of scratch based on my life experiences and the place i grew up. so the only way i could better understand him, was to find people who lived like him and acted like him and see what had made them this way.

of course this extends to even basing matt off of your family members, friends, or acquaintances: pulling inspiration from real people is often the best and most authentic way to build a realistic character.

[twopoppies]

hi, i'm looking for a work on ao3. i'm pretty sure it wasn't deleted, idk if ao3 is being slow and it's a mistake or if it was actually removed but here's the summary and the title is "lilac"

Harry was told what was expected from him. He was betrothed to the heir of the Tomlinson pack even before he was born. Surrounded and raised by biddable omegas, whose only purpose in life was to serve their alphas, he became one of their kind. He grew up being taught how to please his alpha, an alpha who he didn’t know anything about, save for his name.

Louis Tomlinson was his name. The almighty heir of the biggest pack of the UK. His name was well-known around the vicinity, being one of the fastest and slickest alphas, Louis was known for his fighting skills and political policies.

Harry always took pride in having such an eminent and smart alpha. Louis was faceless, like a blank canvas for little Harry to mold his alpha whichever way he wanted. He often found himself dreaming of sleeping in his alpha’s strong arms, sneaking inside his alpha’s office when his alpha was supposed to finish work, distract his alpha from working a tad but also be his little muse.

But of course, good things must come to an end. The little perfect fantasy that Harry had been thriving off to would just remain a fantasy at the last.

He would still love his alpha.

But his alpha wouldn’t.

It seems like it was removed from AO3 but is on Wattpad (It looks like it was originally a Wattpad fic).

[jack-kellys]

i said i'd do this today so here you all go. disclaimer this is not every single question, just the ones i cared about (so the fun ones)

notes from the most recent uk fansie night q&a:

i was not there but i was sent a video lmao

FOR DAVEY: how much free range have you been able to build on with your character?

answer: ryan said they all basically started with a blank canvas, but davey has rly grown since december. specifically davey's gotten “weirder”, and he hopes that “he will get even more strange.”

LONDON CAST RECORDING?

nothing is confirmed but the whole cast really wants one lmao

dance class from ireland came :) asked abt dance tips and industry ins

fav dance moves/moments in the show 

box jump for ross <3

sam demonstrated the leg pats as his fav

matthew loves the role call triangle lmao

michael demonstrated a front kick they do holding a rolled paper

have you ever hit anyone w something thrown into the audience?

archie tells on jack bromage (who isn't there to defend himself) and how he kicked a paper ball into a kid’s FACE LMFAO

jacob called out matthew for his slingshot hits into the audience 

biggest malfunction during a show?

ryan and michael acted out waiting for bronte and a les to enter during WWH reprise’s scene- “and that is what you call a beginning! ………….chill out, man!” “…you got a problem?” HELLO??

box jump update

if you could put your character into another musical what would it be

davey for mean girls 2023

splasher for matilda

OSCAR FOR B+C???

jack for wicked lmao “him and fiyero might fight”

specs as one of the annoying kids in charlie and the chocolate factory 

kath for sylvia!

ritz for young frankenstein (bc putting on the ritz heh)

CRUTCHIE FOR MOULIN ROUGHEJH PLS matthew ily

mush for annie

ike for something rotten

elmer for WSS

al for a rocky musical (fights.)

romeo for grease!! “kinicky vibe”

how do ur jumps get so high

ross: "i’ve been jumping for.. a long time"

what are the hidden personal gems that audience members might miss during the show?

albert pickpockets one of the theatergoers in medda’s theater. holy shit. and sometimes the actor leaves jacob and actual object to steal in his pocket PLSLOKFSF

crutchie sees snyder from his perch by the soundboard and reacts in fear

how long is fight call and do you call every stunt

this is interesting to me so. depends on the day bc of swings so they do the big fight and child actor stunts every day.

EVERYONES FAV GAGA SONG

ryans is bad romance

poker face ross

applause for sam

matthew is not a gaga person oops

“thank you for that question <3”

how do you approach making roles individual?

“determined early that its a diff version of jack and kath” (bronté)

purposefully ignore things that have come before!!!!

bronte and michael talked a LOT abt their jath 

“can only do the best version of your version” <3 (michael)

doing what you think is the right way, “offering your voice into the discussion” of a character’s legacy/existence. MICHAEL ONCE AGAIN FCUVKING GETS IT THIS IS !! WHAT I WAS FUCKING SAYING. fyi. we understand each other

fav character and why!

ryans is kath heheh

ross’s IS FINCH!! he loves damon and thinks he’s made finch special <3

owen (oscar) rly likes racer!

michael rly likes davey, “unsung hero”

sam likes kath <3

bronte likes the brooklyn newsiessssss, especially stray and mentioned the art piece of stray with a stray :) @chimeofthecomet YOURS BRO SHE MENTIONED YOURS !!!

lucy likes specs

matthew thinks pulitzer is cool to find nuance in

kai’s fav is lillie’s spot!

archie thinks finch is best bc he’s mysterious

damn bradley likes finch too! “always trying to come up with a solution” OKAYYYYY GO DAMON!! gets an a+ in characterization

jacob on his pulitzer villain moment stuff again

spencer likes davey’s contrast!! “one of the strongest characters in the group”

fastest quick change you’ve done

the oscar immediately laments his changes lmfaoooo

michael was morgrim??? in lion witch wardrobe??? a wolf??

preshow rituals

RYAN WATCHES STREISANDS IM THE GREATEST STAR LMAOOO??

interesting he was given her as a reference for a fast talking new yorker so heavy city accented davey jacobs truthers rise up we won (its just me) we won! 

the new kids dressing room does the wolf of wall street chest hitting thing lol

michael listens to two diff revolution speeches i think?

bronte’s is seeing ryan :)

THE GIRLSIES PLAY HIDE AND SEEK BACKSTAGE DURING THEIR BREAKS PLS

matthew talks abt what alex hatton used to do, look at a pic of his gf and grandparent pls aw

archie used to jump on a chair at the five before he. hit his head. bro

jacob does a diff riddle for each mic check!!

that’s all the best ones i could catch!!

[haematophiliac]

KNOWING YOUR PARTNER WELL CAN POTENTIALLY MAKE WRITING TOGETHER A LOT EASIER! Repost, don't reblog!

NAME: Jax. Or Jax-mun if needed lmao.

PRONOUNS : He/him.

PREFERENCE OF COMMUNICATION : The dis of cord.

NAME OF MUSE(s) : Jax... It wasn't my intention to share his name smh.

BEST EXPERIENCE : So, so many. Aside from meeting so many awesome people, there's been the great RP! Like imprisoning Silver and then John, and the RP leading to those moments (Imagine thinking you can arrest Jax-muse :)). And hurting John. And Silver. ... I'm gonna back away rn I must sound insane lmao.

RP PET PEEVES / DEALBREAKERS : God-emoting and pressure. I've said it before but I HAVE been through it. Someone on here decided Jax 'had to die' because their muse would kill him. Even when asking if we could come to another conclusion so I don't lose all my hard work and inevitably my best muse, they said no. Then they vagued me on the dash with some BS about me trying to use their muse and bend it to what I wanted, and well... That's not how RP should work, bro. It's a collaborative experience where we work things out and come to a conclusion we can both enjoy. I ain't killing off my muse. So if anybody does that to me, they're perma-blocked. Again. And yea, pressure in that sense and any other sense. Don't pressure me into anything and it's ok. (I've been pressured into some... Awkward RP and now it haunts me) so I've now learned to put my foot down.

MUSE PREFERENCES: idk

PLOTS OR MEMES : I've yet to properly plot, ever lmao. I just go with the flow. So either works for me.

LONG OR SHORT REPLIES : Either, or. I don't mind. Things can depend on brainpower on both sides, so I don't mind matching length or anything else.

BEST TIME TO WRITE : UK evening because that's when the juices flow.

ARE YOU LIKE YOUR MUSE(S) : WELL FUNNY STORY. I made Jax-muse from a blank canvas of just 'I want a scientist' and what was it, four years later?? Me: Haha we're nothing alike, just sharing a few disorders so I can write them well enough :) Friend: Yea but *lists a million things how we are somehow similar*. Me: ... Oh fuck oh shit oh no. We share a lot in common!!!??? Otherwise, I'm not like Jax-muse because I'm not an asshole, a manwhore, I'm not cocky and confident, and I'm not tall and handsome! Or wanting to hurt people. Yea. Kinda similar but not.

[culttvblog]

Sapphire and Steel: Assignment 1, Part 1

I see I have somehow never blogged about Sapphire and Steel's first assignment so obviously that must be rectified at once.

I have to say that I love the beginning of this one inordinately. The atmosphere is perfectly set by the sound effect of the wind outside the house, the parents reciting nursery rhymes with Helen, the clocks' ticking which abruptly stops, and the way we see Robert essentially alone on the ground floor of the house. All of these things are a classic cinematic way of setting up a scary atmosphere: this is why it's always raining in film noir!

Robert naturally becomes concerned when everything suddenly goes quiet, and the original sounds are replaced by a strange noise. He calls to his dad to ask what's happening, but receives no answer. He finds both parents have disappeared and he is actually alone in the house with his little sister Helen. She tells him that their parents have 'gone', but that is all she can say. Considering this is the first episode of the show, the invasion of time is perfectly depicted, with pipe and book just abandoned.

Into this situation walk Sapphire and Steel for the first time, without explanation, invitation, or warning: they just turn up at the door.

One of the things which interests me, considering this is the first episode of the series, is the development of Sapphire and Steel's characters. I have to say that Steel arrives fully formed, subtle as a sledge hammer, and really can't be doing with anyone's shit. Sapphire is, I think, slightly more mutable. On the one hand, her role as the sympathetic one who understands humans is already fully present. However she also has a hint of Steel about her, when she tells Robert that the policeman, with his idiot pen and idiot notebook, won't be able to help them. This just strikes me as so much like the sort of thing Steel would say that I actually wonder whether it's a line that got passed from Steel to Sapphire.

However there is another way in which Sapphire acts quite steely in her first appearance. After telling Robert that the policeman won't be able to help them, she immediately launches in to quite a forensic analysis of the house, its contents, and the situation, without regard to the fact that they have just walked into a situation where the two children are going to be, at best, mystified. She does this even before she bothers to introduce them to Robert and Helen.

Of course it has to be Sapphire who does do the introducing when it next happens. She's not just the slightly more steely version of her character that I have described above, she also has a magnificent aspect of being a blond bombshell, a sexual aspect to her which is completely absent elsewhere in the series. As soon as she introduces herself to Robert, visibly he realises that women aren't just mothers, falls in love with her, and announces that her name is beautiful. Seriously, Sapphire doesn't go around having males fall in love with her in the rest of the series, but this is an aspect of her character here that I love enormously!

Robert's character is a reminder for me that the series was intended as a children's show. I would put the actor at about fourteen or fifteen: not a child in the way the little girl is (and not that long before would have been old enough to have been out of school and at work in the UK), but not an adult. Remembering that the series was intended for children resolved the dissatisfaction I was going to express with having someone so young as the 'straight man' for the narrative: he's placed in a literal older brother role, as the nearest thing there is to an adult in the household, who of necessity has to do the explaining to Sapphire and Steel because his little sister won't. The way he is placed in this pseudo-adult role is only unsatisfactory is you expect the show to act as if it is an adult show. Doh. That said, he is an excellent blank canvas for Sapphire and Steel to explain the whole idea of their work and the show: he has the right questions scripted and is exactly what is needed.

On the subject of children, I feel slightly bad that Helen has the most peculiar effect on me: she irritates me beyond all bearing. At points where Robert is trying to get her to do things, that are important and about saving themselves, she just announces that she's not going to. At another point she wanders off into the out-of-bounds bedroom when everyone thinks she is asleep. Frankly the child is a liability and you would expect that their parents would already have warned her that one day she would come to a sticky end. This is a completely personal reaction, that frankly I would rather she spent the entire show in silence and just did what she was told. In fact she could even just be unseen as well as unheard. Call me unfair, but that's what I am.

I have a criticism, which is that I'm afraid there's an element of pseudo-history here, which you would really expect Sapphire and Steel to be on top of, because Sapphire just knows about the nursery rhyme without having to look it up and would not be restricted to earthly sources. You would expect her to know that the idea that Ring-a-ring-a-roses is related to the plague, is in fact not true, and it is of more recent origin than you would think. If you know this it's a bit incongruous in a TV programme where the entire problem is because there is an old house full of old things. You may consider this nit-picking, but we're talking about the legendary Sapphire and Steel here and so I have to appear to be critical and not just roll over on my back and let it wash over me.

It is perhaps my long-term fanaticism about this show that manages to miss the obvious fact that it was made in a studio and not necessarily on a huge budget, but I think that adds to the charm. It also doesn't matter that the account of the elements in the titles is apparently complete nonsense, which I know bugs a lot of people: my own view is that since the show is fiction it's allowed to tinker with the structure of the universe.

Phew, it feels really good to be blogging about a Sapphire and Steel again, and I'm reminded that it really does take extensive repetition and discussion, always that sign of quality television.

This blog is mirrored at

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Archives from 2013 to September 2023 may be found at culttvblog.blogspot.com and there is an index to the tags used on the Tumblr version at https://www.tumblr.com/culttvblog/729194158177370112/this-blog

[freddiemercurylegendabovelegends]

November 21st, 1975 - Queen Story!

'A Night At The Opera' released in the UK

🔸“Bohemian Rhapsody was totally insane, we never stopped laughing. It was basically a joke, but a successful joke.”

- Roy Thomas Baker, Producer

Queen's fourth and probably best known album, was recorded in England between August and November 1975. Such was the complexity of the compositions that no less than six different studios were employed, with the band members often recording various parts simultaneously in order to work most efficiently and get through it all. The sessions were long and gruelling and spanned four long months. Once again the band produced the album with trusted collaborators, Roy Thomas Baker and Mike Stone, and what emerged was a genuine triumph on all levels, meticulously pieced together to make the best possible album. A Night At The Opera would propel Queen on to the world stage on a mammoth scale and establish them as a major international force. Though it was never in any doubt within the band, it proved that Seven Seas Of Rhye and Killer Queen were not fleeting hits from another glam-type British wannabe band; Queen were here to stay and Bohemian Rhapsody and A Night At The Opera would confirm it for those in any doubt.

It is a matter of public record that a very great deal hinged upon the success or failure of this album. Had it failed, it is entirely feasible the band would not have survived and Queen may well have ended there and then. Despite having two top ten albums under their belt, and significant international hits with Seven Seas and Killer Queen, and sell-out shows all around Britain, the band was in serious financial difficulty by the start of 1975. Recording and relentless touring for three solid years had still not yielded anything like what the band were due, and, to add insult to injury, Roger, John, Brian and Freddie were still struggling to get by on the minimal wage from Trident, to whom they were signed. Enter the story at this point, Jim Beach, the lawyer who would eventually negotiate Queen's release from Trident's grasp and from the deal that had so far afforded such little reward for the band. It would be some years before the band formerly parted company with Trident. Eventually Queen were extricated from their deal and left to make A Night At The Opera without distraction or financial pressure. So, with a clean slate and blank canvas on which to create, the much relieved Queen, along with stalwarts Roy Thomas Baker and Mike Stone, committed the next quarter of a year to the meticulous and all-consuming craft of honing the album that Brian would later refer to as ‘Queen's Sgt Peppers’.

The album cover was given a simple but lavish treatment, with Freddie's original crest design updated and coloured and placed centre of the album cover. The LP gatefold complimented the style, with the lyrics printed over two sides of the inside cover, and for the first time the inner sleeve was in colour and featured live photos from Queen’s most recent tour.

A Night At The Opera is a wonderfully rich and diverse gathering of carefully constructed and, some might say, unlikely compositions from all four band members. Every track is strong and every moment from beginning to end is beautifully recorded. The late lamented Mike Stone (engineer), who sadly passed away in 2002, once again played an integral part in achieving the sound of this album. Opera spans all kinds of musical styles and genres and veers off at tangents as unlikely the album title itself.

Aside from the well known material, also on this album is to be found Freddie's exquisite Love Of My Life, rumoured to have been inspired by his long time girlfriend of the time Mary Austin.

A Night At The Opera was finally finished in early November of 1975 and released to worldwide critical acclaim later that month on the 21st. It very quickly became Queen's first No 1 album, and also their first to achieve Platinum sales status. It went top 5 in the USA and achieved Gold status there, helped in no small part by extensive tours of North America and Canada earlier in the year.

Singles from this album: Bohemian Rhapsody / You’re My Best Friend / Death On Two Legs (on Queen’s First EP)

(source: queenonline.com)

Pic: 'A Night At The Opera' – EMI - HOLLAND (2005) ~ 30th Anniversary Edition

[holisticalecsecareanu]

Bonus Alec Secareanu Media Wednesday!

We're switching it up this week, gente, and doing Alec Media Wednesday because there's NEW CONTENT!

AND new photos and he's SO BEAUTIFUL in them! I do love him in black and white photography!

Here's an interview with like5.ro, an online lifestyle and entertainment magazine where he discusses all things #spymaster.

He also talks about the differences between working in Romania versus a project in the UK and he's come SO FAR with his diplomacy, I'm SO PROUD of him!

Here is the link, which is in Romanian:

And because I could NOT get this particular site to translate at all, no matter how much I right-clicked, I've translated the whole thing under the cut:

Interview in English

xclusivAlec Secăreanu: "On the sets outside, the atmosphere is much warmer than here."

Alec Secăreanu: "On the sets outside, the atmosphere is much warmer than here."

You can watch Alec Secăreanu in the miniseries "The Veil" available exclusively on Disney+

Like5 Team

July 29, 2024

For Alec Secăreanu, the milestone of his career is "God's Own Country" (2017), the film in which he has Josh O'Connor ("The Crown", "The Challengers") as his co-star. The meeting with the director Francis Lee took place 2 years after the performance signed by Alexandra Pirici and Manuel Pelmus, included in the program of the Venice Biennale in 2014, an experience that gave Secăreanu rigor, discipline and a creative mindset to position himself as professional actor. Alec Secăreanu also worked as a casting director and had gained the comfort of approaching directors as a colleague. Roles followed in a series of international productions such as "The Saint" (2017), "Baptiste" (2019), "Strike Back" (2020), as well as the iconic character Victor Godeanu, the spy in the original HBO miniseries "Spy/Master ” (2023).

In the latest production "The Veil", a miniseries created by Steven Knight, available exclusively on Disney+, Alec Secăreanu plays the role of a Bulgarian spy, Emir. "The Veil" is a kind of American spy series adapted for a European context, about which the Romanian actor declares: "it is anchored in the current problems in Europe, it is a very good showcase with a relevant story in an area with peoples at war dealing with refugees, with terrorists infiltrating Europe and it is interesting to see what is behind the secret organizations and how they collaborate in the European space to dismantle a terrorist plan".

An exclusive interview with Alec Secăreanu signed by Cătălin Anchidin for Like5 about the experience on the sets of international productions and the miniseries "The Veil", available exclusively on Disney+.

CONSIDERING YOUR RECENT PRODUCTIONS, FROM “SPY/MASTER” TO “THE VEIL”, DID YOU SPECIALIZE IN SPY ROLES?

I am very glad that I have reached a point where I can be part of genre projects... Because I grew up with action, thriller, mystery stories. Basically, this is one of the reasons why I wanted to become an actor. I've been a fan of genre films since I was a child, and since then I've wanted to be part of the stories I saw in the movies, and this desire has remained somewhere deep inside me. Now I feel lucky to be a part of genre projects, mostly because I get to see how much work actually goes behind them.

DO YOU HAVE A MODEL, A REFERENCE WHEN YOU BUILD YOUR CHARACTER OR WHEN YOU READ THE SCRIPT?

When I first read a script in which I am going to act, I have a very strange feeling about my character, because unlike all the others, which I visualize very clearly in my mind, mine is very difficult for me to see . At first reading, the intentions and motivations of the other characters are much clearer to me than those of my character, and mine initially seems unknown to me, like a blank canvas. I feel like I'm at a painting exhibition, and of all the works on display, the only empty frame is mine. This is the zero point, which honestly creates fear for me at the beginning, but with rehearsals, discussions with the director, colleagues, things are building. I think it's important to have common benchmarks and references with the director and fellow actors to make the convention clearer for everyone. Then documenting and working individually helps me to have my own compass, not to anchor myself too strongly in patterns and not to stop investigating.

HOW MUCH DO YOU DEFEND YOUR CHARACTER? AND HERE I'M INCLUDING THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DIRECTOR.

I defend him, of course, because I consider him my own and I have to be on his side to some extent to understand his motivation and purpose, but I try not to forget that I have to serve the story and the relationship with the director helps me to better understand the context in which my character runs his route. It's a relationship that has to be based on trust and I try to calibrate myself with the director in the vision of my character. In film sometimes directors are more willing to take creative risks than in series. I have worked in projects where the directors were also the authors of the script, and sometimes a creative laboratory-like environment can develop, where experiments, new attempts, even changes are allowed.

In the relationship with the director I try to make sure that I have asked myself the right questions about the character and his role in the scene. Some answers regarding motivation are just between me and the director, the important thing is to make sure that the option is clear and serves the story as he wants to tell it. I can only defend my character relative to the other characters, but at the point where my options no longer serve the scene or are no longer relevant to the economy of the story, then I have to make sure I calibrate. This is where the director comes to the rescue, so I think we are more like working partners and defending the character together.

HOW DID ALL THE VEIL STORY HAPPEN?

When I first read the script, noticing that my character is Albanian and there are sequences where he speaks in his native language, I thought that it would be quite difficult for me to learn the language. They tried to calm me down by telling me that they were thinking of changing his nationality. Initially I took it as good news, myself hoping that they would make him Romanian, but they decided quite quickly that he could be Bulgarian. Apart from the Danube water levels, I was not at all familiar with the Bulgarian language, but I was surprised to see how many common words we have in our vocabulary. We started filming in February, in the middle of the desert, somewhere in Nevsehir, Turkey. I've never felt cold like that in my life. At temperatures of -15/-20 degrees, on some days we couldn't film, actually, because of the cold, because even the filming equipment has its limits. After a month spent in difficult shooting conditions, I was impressed by how well the film crew came together. Being all staying in the middle of the desert at the same hotel, a few kilometers from the nearest town I think helped maintain the friendly atmosphere. It's overwhelming when you see such a large film crew even for sequences of two people in a car sometimes. And in the second part of filming, the weeks spent in Paris made the desert frost of Turkey seem so far away. I really enjoyed meeting Elizabeth Moss, she is also one of the producers, the discussions we had helped me integrate into the project immediately. I really appreciate his work and I'm so glad we worked together.

YOU HAVE A QUITE IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO AND YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE. TELL ME 5 MAJOR DIFFERENCES OF HOW YOU WORK IN ROMANIA VS. OUTSIDE.

I think the major difference is that in outside productions all the rules are much clearer for everyone, from the beginning, the working conditions are fair and regardless of the project there is a base of rules accepted by all. They have a system that respects everyone. That's probably why it's a much warmer atmosphere than here, anyway. Even in productions with a lower budget, you don't feel any problems, that is, no one comes to put them in your arms, with nerves, with stress, something that I have experienced many times in Romania. Outside there are no major differences from one production to another, maybe you see them in the size of the caravan, but the people are just as polite.

It's true that in the last projects I shot in Romania, the atmosphere was much warmer than what I was used to before, but I don't know if it's just my impression, because the production relates differently to me as an actor , or even actively working to improve the work environment. The more I talk to fellow Romanian actors, I'm afraid that the positive experience I had on set here might be an isolated one, and unfortunately I think things can't improve until the actors want to be treated fairly with us too. I felt safer on sets abroad. That's because they have a well-established system and a union that protects the actors and manages them when, for example, they have a scene that involves sexual physicality or a fight scene. The preparation procedures are very clear and help the actors to better understand what they are going to do, because moments of vulnerability should be handled delicately.

Thanks for reading, everyone!

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Two Word Fic Titles (3) Masterlist

part one, part two

Blank Canvas - rosegoldjh

Summary: Dan is an extremely talented but unrecognized tattoo artist, his body a black and white masterpiece. Phil, on the other hand, has everything against tattoos. When he’s dragged along to his sister’s addition to her collection of ink, he realizes that perhaps turning one’s body from a blank canvas into a work of art is something to find beautiful instead of repulsive.

Breaking Free - gorgeousdan

Summary: Phil’s somehow stuck with the task of auditioning new freshmen for drama in his art school. When he meets Dan Howell, the boy with the beautiful voice and even more beautiful face, his opinion of freshmen may change.

Beautiful Liar (ao3) - withawhimper

Summary: A devastating revelation from a cute stranger sitting in the bar where Dan is supposed to be meeting his boyfriend rocks Dan’s world- but it turns out that might not be such a bad thing

Cloud Watch (ao3) - howelllesters

Summary: pastel!Dan hates his new journal but writes in it anyway, and accidentally just ends up recording his feelings on punk!Phil, in a suitably melodramatic way.

Falling Flat - the-squirrel-queen

Summary: Dan is a pianist. A recent graduate from Juliard, he finds himself at a job playing music for school children. Phil is a music teacher at said school. They have a rather interesting relationship in class. A rather flirtatious relationship. The children see the interactions between the two and begin to wonder if they are in a relationship. Soon, a work relationship blooms into a romantic one through a love of music and each other.

Gay Fairies (ao3) - moonythejedi395 (orphan_account)

Summary: Everyone knew of Phil Lester’s deep hatred for Dan Howell. Everyone knew that Dan Howell was the gayest gay man to ever gay. Everyone assumed that Phil hated Dan because Dan would not stop hitting on Phil, and everyone agreed that even they would be irritated by that much flirting, however everyone did not know or even guess that Phil Lester really hated Dan Howell so much because Phil actually wanted to make out with him.

Heaven’s Gate (ao3) - danfanciesphil

Summary: Phil Lester, better known by his Instagram handle AmazingPhil, is an acclaimed UK tattoo artist on the hunt for the perfect muse for the latest instalment of his subject series ‘Heaven’s Gate’. His focus is on the celestial, so when an utterly angelic creature strolls right into his shop, Phil knows he has to have him. But could there be more to Dan than meets the eye?

Imaginary Friends - adorkablephil

Summary: Nothing’s AU … except that Dan and Phil have been appearing in each other’s dreams since childhood without realizing it because they’re soulmates. Everything on the outside looks like the reality we’re used to irl.

Love, Becky (ao3) - husbants

Summary: At a We’re All Doomed pre-show Q&A, Dan gets a question about his old characters Becky and Jessica.

He has a dream about them. And sometimes dreams inspire in peculiar ways.

Midnight Garden (ao3) - silentdescant

Summary: He who plants a garden plants happiness.

In which Phil is a gardener at the palace and Dan is a reclusive prince.

Missing Pieces (ao3) - amczingphil

Summary: When an accident occurs in the middle of filming a new video for the gaming channel, Dan finds himself becoming more reliant on Phil than he was comfortable with. Unfortunately, Dan needs the help and can’t push Phil away, but he can feel the situation beginning to dredge up feelings that Dan had pushed away years ago and buried deep within himself.

Vampire Moon (ao3) - natigail

Summary: Phil knew it was foolish to stay out late on the night of a full moon. It was even more foolish to agree to take a walk with Dan who was never up do any good. But Phil couldn't admit to himself that he had a blind spot concerning the vampire, and now he was going to pay for that.

Opposites Attract (ao3) - Do_it_with_the_Howell_Lesters

Summary: Pastel!Dan and Punk!Phil are complete opposites. Dan is a pastel, popular, fuckboy with a lot of confidence. Phil is a quite, reserved punk who is surprisingly shy. They have one thing in common; they don’t particularly like each other. What will happen when a class project has the two boys paired up together?

Project Poliwag (ao3) - natigail

Summary: Phil hadn’t intended for his garden to become a haven for rescued Pokémon, but it had happened accidentally. This particular rescue wasn’t that different, even though he had never rescued 117 Pokémon at once before. But he couldn’t leave the Pokémon eggs to be destroyed, and he was willing to raise a whole army of Poliwag on his own if he must.

What Phil hadn’t counted on was a stranger with a lost look in his eye turning up on his doorstep and offering to help with the project.

Purposeful Permanence (ao3) - artbabe

Summary: Dan hates doing his laundry at the university laundromat, so he takes his dirty laundry to Phil’s place.

Redemption Arc (ao3) - philsmeatylegss

Summary: classic, slightly dramatic rags to riches au

Separate Pages - sin-n-city

Summary: Dan finds it nearly impossible to think he never noticed Phil Lester. His note book is filled with doodles of lions and planets and stars and maybe the fluttery feeling Dan gets in the pit in his stomach isn’t such a bad thing

Summer Love (ao3) - outphan

Summary: Dan on a holiday meets a stranger who changes his whole life.

Theatre Class (ao3) - Star4545

Summary: Dan Howell is the new drama teacher with a classroom the size of a jail cell, students who won’t stop singing Hamilton, and the English teacher who won’t stop giving him bedroom eyes.

winter winds (ao3) - dizzy

Summary: coffee shop au

Yellow Love - botanistlester

Summary: The deal is to make bamf!Dan Howell want to date Nerd!Phil. But how can he go through with it when Dan’s eyes are the colour of chocolate and he has a dimple that makes Phil’s knees weak? He decides he can’t go through with it because he’s too afraid of falling in love before Dan ever will.

[spooniechef]

Emergency Calories - Potato Salad (0-1 spoon)

I've been largely out of spoons lately, with weather changes, unexpected absences at work and resulting overtime, and all associated pain flares making most things difficult to impossible. I'm feeling better at the moment, so the next few posts are going to involve how I've survived the last few weeks. Because aches or no aches, we still need to eat, and UberEats is too damn expensive for all the time (especially with gluten intolerances).

Now, I've spent a good portion of my adult life fucking up potato salad. Somehow, I thought it was just ... potatoes, mayonnaise, done. Except ... not quite, apparently, because the mayonnaise would always seem to separate and it was never quite right. So I eventually started looking up recipes to find the common thread that makes other people's potato salad work when mine didn't. Took a good bit of searching, but I finally found it: vinegar. Or lemon juice - something acidic, anyway. As well as adding a certain amount of tart zinginess to the potato salad, it also seems to keep the mayonnaise creamy and smooth even when refrigeraged a few days. So while I got recipes from a lot of sources, I've never strictly used any of them, preferring to figure out the best way to do it by guess and by gosh so I can just thow everything together without thinking about it too much. So I'll give a basic overview and some notes for potential additions to jazz it up a bit. The great thing about potato salad is its versatility. Plus, potatoes are relatively cheap.

Here's what you'll need:

~2lbs (or 1kg-ish) potatoes

~1 cup mayonnaise

~1-2 tablespoons vinegar

Additions to taste (see notes)

The easiest way to do this in terms of potatoes is use baby new potatoes, cut into quarters. If you're doing anything larger, you probably want cubes about an inch square. Making sure the pieces are of uniform size is helpful. And I don't know how it is in other countries, but if you're in the UK, get more potatoes than you think you'll need. Our produce has been shit lately, and it's pretty standard to have to cut away bits of yick or just throw whole potatoes away.

Here's what you do:

Chop your potatoes and put them in to boil. Once boiled to reasonable softness (not mashable-soft, but not too firm either), drain and leave to cool and dry.

In a separate bowl, add the mayonnaise, vinegar, and whatever else you're putting into the dressing.

Add potatoes and fold until everything is fully covered.

Serve immediately and/or put in the fridge for later.

As I say, these are largely approximates because I measure it all by eye at the moment. It's pretty easy to get the hang of. Basically you want just enough vinegar to not have the mayonnaise swimming but enough to suit your tastes. And obviously you can jazz it up to suit you - here's some things that have been suggested in various recipes or just sound nice:

Hard-boiled egg

Crispy bacon bits

Dijon mustard

Chunks of dill pickle

Herbs and spices in general (paprika is usually suggested, as are chives, and obviously salt and pepper to taste, but I like adding onion salt, garlic pepper, and a little bit of celery salt)

Onions (I prefer green onions/scallions, but thin-sliced red onion can add some nice colour)

Honestly, play around with it, because potato salad is wonderfully versatile. Googling for recipes showed me that there are as many potato salad recipes as there are people, so I just left it at the absolute basics as a sort of a blank canvas to experiment on.

Potato salad lasts about five days in the fridge, and can be a meal in itself if done right, so it's great for a source of emergency calories. Enjoy!

(Oh, and side note: if you are gluten intolerant, do not try this as pasta salad. I tried to make pasta salad by the same principles and the dressing was fine but gluten-free pasta is disgusting cold. Even the good kind of gluten-free pasta. Sorry, fellow gluten-intolerants; we're going to have to stick with potatoes.)

[mariacallous]

Maybe it’s the sourpuss attitude. Maybe it’s the sincerity with which he campaigns for the countryside, rather than just shouting “cows” joyfully when confronted by them. Maybe it’s a general diminishment of interest in British royalty. Maybe it’s the gold state coach and cloak at a time when millions of UK adults are unable to afford essential hygiene products.

But today, as King Charles III is crowned in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London, the response of the internet’s meme-makers will feel muted in comparison to the one enjoyed by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who was a meme queen we all stanned.

On the face of it, King Charles should be an ideal candidate for memedom. He has unnervingly red, rotund, sausage fingers. He has a cartoonish visage, lampooned for years by cartoonists and eBay sellers, with jug-handle ears and a hangdog, sullen expression. He has an unnerving, innocent, naive approach to life that leads him to say outlandish things, which often come back to bite him. He once, reportedly, shrieked when he first saw plastic wrap.

Charles’ 1989 declaration that he was so infatuated with Camilla, who will become queen this Saturday, that he wanted to be reincarnated as a tampon so he could forever live inside her, has big dril energy.

Yet none of that has cut through to make Charles a perennial internet fave. Even attempts at internet traffic-catching roundups of the best King Charles memes are … underwhelming, and often not really about the man himself.

“He's not publicly weird enough to be endearing, but he’s also not like a patriarch because he's too weird to give off being normal,” says Hussein Kesvani, a journalist and podcaster specializing in digital culture. “When it comes to being popular online, especially cross-audiences, you need to have a malleable weirdness that makes you endearing as a subject or a feature.”

Perhaps the tally of “good-weird” when it comes to evaluating Charles’s suitability for memedom is outweighed by the tally of “bad-weird.” He has always been portrayed as problematic compared to his ex-wife, Princess Diana, who died in a 1997 car crash. He has been willing to intervene in politics in a way that unelected members of the royal family have tried to avoid. He has an unfortunate habit of accepting cash donations in suitcases and grocery bags from Middle Eastern sheikhs.

And perhaps he’s suffering from the problem likely to blight his reign: He spent much of his life playing second fiddle to Queen Elizabeth, living in her shadow and being unable to develop much of a kingly standing of his own in the public’s eyes. “The queen was around for a very long time,” says Jeremy Blackburn, an assistant professor in computer science at Binghamton University and cofounder of the iDRAMA Lab, which looks at memes on the web. “So there was a long history that people had to draw from there.”

While Queen Elizabeth II was seen as a grandmother figure to the world, an innocent, sweet old lady, like Angela Lansbury but with palaces, Charles has long been seen—likely incorrectly—as waiting for his mother to give him his time to shine.

To be memeable, royals have to be likable, which is where the previous queen excelled—mostly. “Usually, they have to do something [to become a meme],” says Blackburn. “What is Charles known for? He’s known for the Diana thing. That’s not a positive meme. Then he was in the background for a lot of time. His kids are around now and seem to be more likable and interesting than him. The guy is not an interesting fellow. And the country’s not in good shape.”

The public knew the queen—at least the concept of her. She was canny enough not to give much away about her views in public, allowing the world to project onto her whatever they wanted, sometimes literally, which made her ripe for internet ribbing. Part of her success was that she was an older woman who sometimes was quirky.

The problem is that the public knows Charles—or at least think they do—based on his years of waiting in the wings. While the queen came fully formed as monarch at age 25, Charles is trying to adopt the role of king after decades spent as a comparatively outspoken campaigner. We know what he likes and definitely know what he doesn’t, which makes it harder for people to accept him as a blank canvas. “I don’t think the new guy is very endearing,” says Blackburn. “What are you going to say about him? His mom was queen for basically as long as everybody was alive, and now he’s prancing around like he [has been king for just as long].”

Gender also likely plays a role. That he’s a man hinders people’s ability to think of him positively in the same way they did the queen, says Alex Turvy, a meme researcher at Tulane University in New Orleans. “He's a reminder of the literal patriarchy,” he says. “Seeing that face, for some reason, sort of reminds you of the ugliness of colonialism, and the state hoarding all of this wealth.”

[followmetoyourdoom]

As I'm out of the country, my partner in the UK bravely took on DMing for the group (plus a special guest) who we have our regular campaign sessions with, but as a chaos oneshot where nothing is planned except the bare minimum of the characters we rock up with. And my god what characters we had designed to unleash upon my poor boyfriend. And so I present:

Chaos Oneshot, a summary

We started with a simple d20 roll to determine who went first to describe their character and what they wanted to do in this blank canvas of a world. I won that d20 roll.

So I begin describing this oozing plasmoid of a creature that is a small naked ball but with very detailed human hands and a tiny gothic backpack with wings that just makes a beeline for the next character in the room and begins to ooze up their leg and body all while making a schlop schlop noise and very cutely repeating their own name "Bmlbodoo!"

Among the other characters we had:

Generic NPC Greeting, the kenku I had decided to latch onto and climb, played by the amazing @ktcalamity

Angus, the minotaur with big abs and a big coat, along with his cloak that billowed dramatically as he Aragon'd his way into the building, played by the wonderful @maybeawriter6

Ric, the half elf bard who was just here to play music for the place and kept getting distracted by the various going ons, played by the incredible @cayliana (our special guest for this oneshot)

Wyld Myrtle, an average sized giant tortle grandmother who entered the assassin's guild looking for work and/or gambling and immediately got the hots for good old Angus up there, played by the outstanding @ninjagozanefan14

And last but certainly not least, Emery, the aesthetically peacock looking tiefling bastard with fancy wooden legs, played by the marvellous @margoteve

After our introductions, Bmlbodoo switched targets to Angus, Generic NPC Greeting tried to put Bmlbodoo in a flask, Angus started shaking his leg to get the ooze off him, Ric started playing on stage, Wyld Myrtle lost 23 gold pieces gambling at Rexas Hold'em but with giant novelty cards, and Emery ordered wine while he played with the fire, getting it to dance to Ric's music and thus freaking him out a little.

Sure enough the rest of the room started to notice all this chaos, especially when Blmbodoo started to elongate and wrap up and around Angus, who in turn shot a geyser of 30 gallons of water from a magical item at himself to dislodge Blmbodoo. Blmbodoo then turned into a tinier and naked version of Generic NPC Greeting, Ric tried to calm everyone down with battle music, Wyld Myrtle tried to make her way to Angus to make a move on him, and Emery distracted encouraged Ric on stage, put a bet on 'the blob' to win, and then got more wine.

The owner and leader of the assassin's guild started yelling and holding up a sword and, after walking into a clock of billowing, Angus, with his cloak of billowing tried to calm matters down. Then Generic NPC Greeting threw a bag of magic beans on the floor and they burst into flames.

Then the focus was on escaping. Ric jumped off stage and high tailed it out of there, Wyld Myrtle first tried to put the fire out with a hip flask, then got out of there, Angus, though he did debate using the geyser again, just grabbed Emery and ran for it, and Blmbodoo tapped zer little backpack with its little tiny wings that became actual wings and just flew over the flames and out the now open door. With the exception of Ric and Blmbodoo, everyone got stabbed by the assassin's blades as they tried to leave. Generic NPC Greeting, satisfied with their chaos, took out their magic broom, half lost control of it, got dragged into some tables and chairs, and then landed next to the rest of the assassin's who were heading to the basement.

With the majority of the... Party? outside the burning building, Bmlbodoo sat down to fish at the nearby lake that sprang into existence, Wyld Myrtle walked across the lake with her ring of water walking, Angus stopped dropped and rolled having still been on fire, Ric just wanted to go home, and Emery proposed they all band together to start an adventuring party. We don't know what happened to Generic NPC Greeting, but, presumably, they kept setting more things on fire.

[uk-clippingpath]

Guide on Changing Images Using Snappa Studio | UK Clipping path service |

Snappa Studio — for those of you in the creative world doing social media visuals. Snappa Studio is a simple online graphic design tool for anyone looking to quickly create eye-catching images. This guide will show you how easy it is to swap out images with Snappa Studio.

Why Snappa Studio?

The biggest advantage of Snappa is its simplicity, making it suitable for both novices and experts. Whether you want to optimize an image for social media, a blog post or a marketing campaign Snappa literally has all the dimensions documented and tons of fantastic templates that allow casual users to look good with zero experience.

How to Edit Images with Snappa Studio

Create a Snappa Account

The necessary first step for this would be to sign up at the Snappa site. Create a free account or upgrade for more features. Upon Registration, log in and access the Dashboard.

Choose Your Image Dimensions

Snappa tells you what the image size should be if you want to use it as a Twitter header or Facebook ad, etc. It might be for a Facebook post or Instagram story, probably even for your blog banner — Snappa gets the size that fits. Pick the correct size or type in custom dimensions, if desired.

Upload the Picture

If you want to replace or edit an image, first you'll need to upload the picture on Snappa. Select "Uploads" from the left-hand sidebar, and click on “Upload Image”. Select your image from the computer, and it will appear in the editing workspace.

Select a Template or Create from Scratch

You can start from nothing or select one of our template designs. If you choose a template, you can replace the image with your uploaded photo simply by dragging that pic into the work area. Start with a blank canvas for custom design.

Editing Tools Overview

Use separate pop adjust tools.drawImage: Snappa

Auto Background Remover: Remove the background of your image automatically if you have an unwanted view on it.

Cropping and Resizing: Size your picture using the cropping tool which enables you to crop various parts of an image.

Do changes on Filters and Adjustments for Brightness, Contest, Saturation or any filters to make the image a bit unique.

For Text and Graphics: Layer text shapes or icons to improve design. Pick from 100s of fonts and design elements to make your brand pop.

Make Detailed Adjustments

After your image has been uploaded and placed on the canvas, drag it to wherever you want around. Click Design to further fine-tune the image using Snappa design features:

Rotate or Flip Image: If you want to view the picture from another perspective then the rotate tool is a savior.

Shadows and Effects — Select the size, appearance of shadows or glow effects around text or objects to create depth in your image.

Preview and Export the Image

Once you make all your edits, press preview to see the final result. If you like how your image turned out, press the “Download” button and select one of 3 formats to save it in: PNG JPG PDF

You can Save your Changes for Later Editing

One of the features that you can use in Snappa is being able to save your designs for later. This way you can come back later and tweak something without redoing all the work.

How to best use Snappa Studio

Less is More: Do not provide your image with clutter. Favor a clean, simple design.

High-Definition Pictures: Use the best pixels in pictures and get quality outputs.

Always Keep the Logo Design Elements in Consistency with a Brand Slogan and Color Palette

Gs_test Your Image — test your designs before publishing or sharing to make sure the image looks great on a phone, desktop and other devices

Why Snappa for Image Editing?

Ease of use: Snappa has a very intuitive interface that enables even people without experience in graphic design to create beautiful images.

Saves time: You can even change and improve the pics in mins with templates, easy to use tools.

Low-Cost: Snappa has a free subscription tier and its premium plans are very budget-friendly for novices, amateurs to serious designers.

Conclusion

It's fast to change photos in Snappa Studio. In a few short steps, you can turn any image into something that looks great on social media or makes for attractive visuals in blog posts and other marketing resources. Whether you are working on a solo project or something for your business, Snappa Studio makes it easy to create stunning visuals.

But, give it a try and see how beautiful photos you can create using these steps.

We are UK Clipping Path. Your trusted image editing partner for stunning, attention-grabbing visuals. Our services : eCommerce photo Editing | Clipping path | Background Removal | Image Masking |Ghost Mannequin | | Photo Retouching | Color Correction | Jewelry Photo Retouching | Automotive Car Editing.| Shadow Creation |

#editing #photoediting #editingtools

[thechaseballroom]

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Wedding Hall M25

Introduction to Wedding Venues on the M25

When it comes to wedding planning, location is everything. The M25, encircling Greater London, is a convenient and accessible area for couples looking to tie the knot. Whether you're dreaming of a grand celebration or an intimate gathering, the Wedding Hall M25 corridor offers venues that cater to various tastes and budgets.

Why Choose a Wedding Hall Near the M25?

Choosing a wedding hall near the M25 offers several benefits. First and foremost, the M25's accessibility makes it easy for guests traveling from different parts of the UK. No one wants their loved ones to struggle with complicated directions or get lost on the way to the venue. The M25 also links to several major motorways, making it a central hub for guests coming from afar.

Another advantage is the variety of venues available. Whether you’re after a modern hotel, a historic manor, or a countryside barn, the options are endless. Plus, the M25 area often boasts more affordable venues compared to central London, without sacrificing charm or quality.

Types of Wedding Venues Available

When it comes to wedding halls near the M25, you’ll find something to suit every taste. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular types:

1. Historic Mansions and Manors

If you’ve always dreamed of a fairy-tale wedding, a historic mansion might be the perfect fit. These venues often feature stunning architecture, beautiful gardens, and a sense of grandeur that’s hard to match. Imagine walking down the aisle in a centuries-old hall, surrounded by the elegance of a bygone era.

2. Modern Hotels

For couples seeking a sleek, contemporary setting, modern hotels along the M25 offer a fantastic option. These venues often come with all the amenities you need, from spacious ballrooms to luxurious guest accommodations. Plus, they typically offer wedding packages that can simplify your planning process.

3. Countryside Barns

Rustic charm more your style? Countryside barns are an increasingly popular choice for weddings. These venues provide a warm, inviting atmosphere with their wooden beams, stone walls, and open spaces. They’re perfect for couples who want a relaxed, intimate vibe for their big day.

4. Garden Venues

If you’re a nature lover, consider a garden venue. Many estates along the M25 have beautifully maintained gardens that make for a stunning outdoor ceremony or reception. These venues are ideal for spring and summer weddings when the flowers are in full bloom.

5. Unique and Unusual Venues

Looking for something a little different? The M25 area is home to several unique venues, from art galleries to converted warehouses. These spaces offer a blank canvas where you can let your creativity run wild.

Considerations When Choosing a Venue

Choosing the right wedding hall is about more than just falling in love with the first place you visit. Here are some key factors to keep in mind:

1. Guest Capacity

Before you start your search, have an idea of how many guests you’ll be inviting. Venues vary widely in size, so you’ll need to find one that comfortably accommodates your guest list. Keep in mind that a venue might feel too cramped with a large number of guests or too empty with a smaller gathering.

2. Location and Accessibility

Consider how easy it will be for your guests to reach the venue. Is there ample parking? Is public transportation nearby? These practicalities can make a big difference in your guests’ experience.

3. Availability

Popular venues can book up well in advance, especially during peak wedding season. Start your search early and have a few date options in mind. Flexibility can increase your chances of securing your dream venue.

4. Budget

It’s important to have a clear idea of your budget before you start touring venues. Remember to ask about what’s included in the rental fee—some venues offer packages that include catering, decorations, and even accommodation, which can save you money in the long run.

5. Style and Ambiance

Every venue has its own unique style, so think about the type of wedding you want to have. Are you looking for something formal and elegant, or more relaxed and rustic? The venue should match the overall vibe you’re going for.

6. On-Site Services

Some venues offer additional services, such as catering, wedding planning, or decor rentals. While these can be convenient, they may also limit your options. Decide whether you prefer an all-in-one package or the flexibility to bring in your own vendors.

Popular Wedding Halls on the M25

The M25 corridor is home to some truly stunning wedding halls. Here are a few that stand out:

1. The Halls at Down Hall Hotel & Spa

Located in Essex, Down Hall Hotel & Spa is a historic mansion set within 110 acres of parkland. The venue offers a variety of spaces, from the grand Prior Suite to the intimate Oak Room. The beautifully landscaped gardens provide a picturesque backdrop for photos, making it a top choice for couples looking for elegance and charm.

2. Botleys Mansion

A stunning Palladian mansion in Surrey, Botleys Mansion combines grandeur with modern amenities. The venue features a spectacular glass-roofed atrium, perfect for an indoor ceremony with an outdoor feel. With exclusive use of the mansion, you can enjoy a private and luxurious wedding day.

3. The Barn at Old Down Estate

For a rustic yet elegant setting, The Barn at Old Down Estate in Bristol offers a beautiful blend of charm and sophistication. The barn features exposed beams, brick walls, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the estate’s manicured gardens. It’s an ideal choice for couples who want a country-style wedding close to the M25.

4. The Lensbury Resort

Situated in Teddington, The Lensbury Resort is a modern venue with a variety of spaces to choose from, including riverside lawns and contemporary suites. The resort’s proximity to the River Thames offers a scenic backdrop, making it a popular choice for both ceremonies and receptions.

5. Fanhams Hall

This Jacobean mansion in Hertfordshire offers a mix of historic charm and modern amenities. Fanhams Hall boasts stunning formal gardens, a grand ballroom, and several intimate spaces for smaller gatherings. The venue’s blend of old-world elegance and contemporary style makes it a versatile option for weddings of all sizes.

What to Ask When Touring a Venue

When visiting potential venues, it’s essential to ask the right questions to ensure it meets your needs. Here are some critical inquiries:

1. What’s Included in the Rental Fee?

Understanding what’s included can help you determine if the venue is within your budget. Ask about furniture, linens, catering, and any additional charges for setup or breakdown.

2. Are There Noise Restrictions?

If you’re planning on having a lively celebration with music and dancing, check whether the venue has any noise restrictions. Some historic venues may have limitations that could affect your plans.

3. What’s the Backup Plan for Outdoor Weddings?

For garden or outdoor weddings, it’s crucial to have a contingency plan in case of bad weather. Ask about indoor alternatives or marquee options.

4. Can We Bring in Our Own Vendors?

Some venues require you to use their preferred vendors, while others allow you to bring in your own. If you have a specific caterer, florist, or photographer in mind, make sure the venue can accommodate them.

5. How Is Parking Handled?

Parking is a practical consideration that can affect your guests’ experience. Ensure there’s enough parking available and inquire about any associated costs.

Budgeting for Your Wedding Hall

The cost of a wedding hall can vary widely, depending on factors like location, size, and services offered. Here’s a breakdown of what you might expect to pay:

1. Venue Rental

Venue rental fees can range from a few hundred to several thousand pounds, depending on the venue’s prestige and location. Historic mansions and exclusive-use venues tend to be on the higher end of the scale, while barns and smaller venues may be more affordable.

2. Catering

Catering is often the most significant expense after the venue itself. Some venues offer in-house catering, which can simplify the process, but it’s essential to ensure the menu fits your budget and preferences.

3. Decor and Rentals

Depending on the venue’s style, you may need to budget for additional decor and rentals, such as lighting, furniture, and linens. Some venues include these in their packages, while others require you to bring them in.

4. Additional Services

Consider any additional services you might need, such as wedding planning, transportation, or accommodations for guests. These can add up quickly, so it’s important to factor them into your budget early on.

Tips for Personalizing Your Wedding Hall

Your wedding hall should reflect your unique style and personality. Here are some tips for making the space your own:

1. Incorporate Personal Touches

Personal touches can make your wedding feel more intimate and special. Consider incorporating elements that are meaningful to you as a couple, such as family heirlooms, favorite quotes, or photos from your relationship.

2. Use Lighting to Set the Mood

Lighting can dramatically affect the ambiance of your wedding hall. Whether you prefer a romantic, candlelit atmosphere or bright, festive lighting, choose options that enhance the mood you want to create.

3. Choose a Theme or Color Scheme

A cohesive theme or color scheme can tie everything together and make your wedding look polished and well-planned. Whether it’s a specific color palette, a seasonal theme, or a particular style (e.g., vintage, modern), make sure it’s reflected in your decor, attire, and even your invitations.

4. Add Greenery and Florals

Flowers and greenery are a beautiful way to bring life and color to your wedding hall. Consider using seasonal blooms and lush greenery to create stunning centerpieces, bouquets, and floral installations that complement your venue.

5. Create Interactive Elements

Interactive elements, like photo booths, guestbook stations, or a DIY cocktail bar, can add a fun and engaging aspect to your wedding. These features not only entertain your guests but also create lasting memories.

Booking Your Venue: Timeline and Tips

Booking your wedding venue is a significant milestone in the planning process. Here’s a suggested timeline and some tips to ensure everything goes smoothly:

1. Start Early

The sooner you start your venue search, the better. Popular venues can book up a year or more in advance, so aim to start looking at least 12-18 months before your wedding date.

2. Have a Few Dates in Mind

Flexibility with your wedding date can increase your chances of securing your preferred venue. Consider having a few potential dates in mind when you start your search.

3. Visit Multiple Venues

Even if you fall in love with the first venue you visit, it’s a good idea to tour several options. This gives you a better sense of what’s available and helps you make an informed decision.

4. Read the Contract Carefully

Before signing any contracts, read the fine print carefully. Ensure you understand the cancellation policy, payment schedule, and any additional fees that might apply.

5. Consider Off-Peak Dates

If you’re working with a tight budget, consider booking your venue during the off-peak season or on a weekday. Many venues offer discounts for off-peak dates, which can save you a significant amount.

Maximizing the Location: Nearby Attractions

One of the benefits of choosing a wedding hall near the M25 is the variety of nearby attractions. Whether you’re looking to entertain out-of-town guests or simply want to make the most of your wedding weekend, here are some local highlights:

1. Historic Sites

The M25 area is rich in history, with numerous castles, manors, and historic towns nearby. Consider organizing a group tour for your guests to explore the local history.

2. Natural Beauty

The M25 corridor is home to some beautiful natural landscapes, including parks, gardens, and nature reserves. These spots are perfect for pre-wedding photoshoots or a relaxing stroll with your guests.

3. Shopping and Dining

If your guests have some downtime, they’ll appreciate the many shopping and dining options in the area. From charming local boutiques to world-class restaurants, there’s something for everyone.

4. Cultural Attractions

For art lovers, the M25 area offers several museums, galleries, and cultural centers. Consider suggesting a visit to a nearby museum or attending a local event during your wedding weekend.

Conclusion

Choosing the perfect wedding hall M25 is a significant step in making your wedding day special. With so many options available, there’s something for every couple, whether you’re looking for grandeur, rustic charm, or modern elegance. By considering your budget, style, and guest experience, you can find a venue that perfectly matches your vision. Happy planning!

FAQs

1. What is the best time of year to book a wedding hall on the M25?

The best time of year depends on your personal preferences. Spring and summer are popular for outdoor weddings, while autumn and winter can offer a cozy, intimate atmosphere.

2. How far in advance should I book my wedding venue?

It’s advisable to book your wedding venue at least 12-18 months in advance, especially if you’re planning a wedding during peak season.

3. Can I bring my own caterer to a wedding hall on the M25?

Some venues allow you to bring your own caterer, while others may require you to use their in-house services. Be sure to ask about this when touring venues.

4. Are there any restrictions on decorating the wedding hall?

Some venues have restrictions on decor, especially in historic buildings. It’s important to ask about any limitations during your site visit.

5. What should I consider when choosing a wedding hall on the M25?

Consider factors such as guest capacity, location, budget, style, and available services. It’s also important to ensure the venue aligns with your wedding vision and can accommodate any specific needs you may have.

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