State of Play - Gurmesh Singh

STATE OF PLAY

with

COFFS HARBOUR MP GURMESH SINGH

Regular readers of this column will recall I was an avid consumer of podcasts. When driving (in a car or a couple of hours on a tractor), there is no better way to pass the time. Unfortunately, I don’t usually get to listen to podcasts anywhere near as much now.

My favourite podcast is called Hardcore History which delves into historical topics in great depth. The host, Dan Carlin, is a former journalist with a background in military history and he chooses topics that explore military conflicts mixed with the human element, which is so often lacking in mainstream historical media. Covering topics as diverse as the First and Second World Wars through to the Mongols and the fall of the Roman Republic, this podcast ignited in me an interest in history that no teacher was able to at school. The first series I listened to was Blueprint for Armageddon, which was a six-part series about the First World War. The first three-hour episode details the lead up to the War starting in the previous century. It examines the causes, the main players (many of whom were grandchildren of Queen Victoria, despite being on opposite sides of the war), and the breakdown of complex relationships between the European powers which resulted in millions of people meeting on the battlefield. The world we live in today is a very different world to that of 110 years ago. From a historical context, in the Western world especially, we live peaceful and prosperous lives.

The remaining 20 or so hours of the series detail the outbreak of fighting right through to the Armistice and the end of the War. As children, we learn about Anzac Day through our schooling. We learn about the sacrifices that soldiers made to protect our way of life. Using first-hand diary excerpts and with a lot of added historical context, this podcast added a vividness to that history that is hard to describe. Good governments will attempt to carry

The world we live on these historically in today is a very good times as long different world to that as they can – even of 110 years ago. From a through one-in-ahistorical context, in hundred-year events the Western world like the COVID-19 especially, we live pandemic. While no peaceful and prosperous lives. government has had the perfect response, I wouldn’t have wanted to ride out the COVID-19 pandemic anywhere else in the world, or during any other time in history. It will be interesting to see what future historians have to say about us.

JAIDEN

W H I T T O N

Jaiden Whitton is a 27-year-old COFF COAST LOCAL WHO HAS JUST FINISHED HIS FIRST NOVEL ‘THE PENDULUM’. We had a chat to him about the novel and the process that went into writing it.

Hey Jaiden, first off congratulations on your new novel ‘The Pendulum’. Tell us a bit about yourself and how you first got into writing?

Thank you, I’m a 27-year-old Coffs Coast local who enjoys all things creative. I play the guitar, paint on canvas, write poems and stories. I’ve done this all my life and decided when I was a teenager it was something I wanted to pursue as a career. I felt as though it was my purpose, plus I’m not really good at anything else.

What inspired you to take on the task of writing a novel?

I really wanted to add something of value to the world and the collective culture. Hopefully provoking thought within the readers, inspiring discussion and appreciation for literature. I also want the readers to question life and existence. I also finally wanted to unlock my potential and go from dreaming about it to actually having a published book.

Where did the inspiration come from for ‘The Pendulum’?

I wanted to create a compelling story with relatable, flawed characters the readers would connect with and enjoy. The story has taken many forms throughout the time I’ve been working on it, unfortunately I just had to look at what’s happening in the real world and in the media. I tried to rationalise what I was seeing and incorporated it into my story. There is a strong social commentary which I think will resonate

I really wanted with a lot of people. to add something Tell us a brief of value to the world description about and the collective the plot of ‘The culture. Hopefully Pendulum’. provoking thought It’s a work of within the readers, inspiring discussion fiction in the Thriller/ Crime genre with a heavy focus on and appreciation for philosophy. A literature. sovereign country is formed on the Australian continent, supposed to be a haven, but it quickly transforms into a dangerous place. It follows the main characters as they are unwillingly drawn into a far-reaching conspiracy while they struggle to comprehend their actions and role in life. Subsequently, some of them become involved in a coup to overthrow the increasingly tyrannical government. They are arrested and subject to a show trial that has devastating consequences not only for them, but for the entire country and its future.

What has the process been like from starting to a finished novel?

It was a steep learning curve, a lot of trial and error in refining my approach. I’ve learnt a lot from my mistakes on this project so I won’t repeat them in my next projects. My process was writing vast amounts then editing and revising. It’s easier to eliminate something than add it later. There was some overanalysing but I just never gave up and kept working on it.

You are being published in America in the coming month, how did that come about?

I entered ‘The Pendulum’ into a competition on a website and received interest from several publishers, but after much research and consultation I decided to go with an American publisher because of their resources and market reach.

Is there a chance of a sequel or more novels anytime soon?

At the moment I want to explore different concepts. I have another idea in progress for a story that I want to release after I publish ‘The Pendulum’, which I have left open to a possible sequel in the future.

ROD

O ’ H A R A

BELLINGEN VIDEO CONNEC TION

Rod O’Hara runs Bellingen Video Connection, one of the last classic video rental stores around. He has started running film screening nights amongst some other fun events to give the local community a chance for a fun, relaxed and affordable opportunity to watch some great films together.

Hi Rod. Can you tell us about when you started running Bellingen Video Connection?

I took over Bellingen Video Connection, or Bello Video, in June of 2018, from Pamela and Edward. I moved to Bellingen, with my wife Nell and 3 kids in early January 2018 and one of the first things the kids and I did was join the video shop, and rent some movies. Nell and I used to go to the local video shop in Mascot before it shut, and my brother and I were lucky enough to have Dr What! Video in Bondi when we were growing up, so I was stoked that there was still a shop in Bellingen, and when I learned it was for sale a seed was planted! Because of my librarian background, nearly 20 years employed in Film & Television Archives, and wanting to be my own boss, the video shop seemed to be the perfect solution. There was also the added bonus of being in town and in close proximity to my kids’ schools so they would have somewhere to go if needed, as my wife does shift work at the hospital.

Have you always had a love of film and television?

I have always enjoyed movies and TV, and my wife especially is a bit of a classic film buff, but what drew me to Bellingen Video was the opportunity to own and curate my own collection, and to preserve films and shows that get lost over the years, or that don’t make it onto online streaming services. I have certainly learnt a lot over the past four years and have watched many great films and shows, and many of those have been recommendations from customers that I normally wouldn’t have checked out.

Bellingen Video Connection is one of very few video stores around, what do you think keeps it going? What sets it apart?

There aren't many video stores left – the one in Coffs closed last year, and the one in Lismore sadly won’t be reopening due to the flooding. As far as I am aware there is still a dedicated video shop in Brunswick Heads but that’s about it! I think it is a combination of the location, clientele and the shop itself that sets Bello Video apart. Up until recently fast internet wasn’t available outside town, and even town has only had NBN for a couple of years, so streaming wasn’t really an option. Bellingen is known as a bit of a

My favourite “hippie” town and a lot film of all time of people choose not to is probably have streaming services, Terminator 2, and I because they want to love the 90s slacker limit their own or their films like Clerks, children’s screen time, or Mallrats, Reality Bites, SFW and because they believe in supporting local business or because the social Singles. interaction you get coming to the shop means more than just scrolling through a bunch of algorithm-chosen selections! And finally I have tried to make the shop a relaxed, inviting and safe space for anyone who wants to come in here. To paraphrase The Castle, the shop has a great vibe to it, and all of the people who come here contribute to that vibe, and they’re all pretty amazing.

You have an amazing selection of films in

your store, what are some of your all time faves?

We have about 22,000 individual titles here in store, about 25,000 movies all up when you take into account multiple copies, and TV shows. I am particularly proud of the Australian section and the World Cinema section as we have many hard-to-find titles. The previous owners weren’t huge horror fans, whereas I love classic horror so I’ve been trying to build that collection up a bit as well over the past 4 years. My favourite film of all time is probably Terminator 2, and I love the 90s slacker films like Clerks, Mallrats, Reality Bites, SFW and Singles. As mentioned before I also like the 80s horror films that scared me as a kid such as Elm St and House, that are really quite tame compared to modern horror. But some of the best movies I have seen have been recommendations from customers, things I normally wouldn’t watch, which turn out to be fantastic, or films shown at the annual Screenwave International Film Festival in Coffs. It’s good to broaden your horizons!

You run regular film screenings at the store, can you tell us about these?

One of my original plans when taking over Bello Video was to hold film screenings. Unfortunately I got diagnosed with cancer not long after I bought the business, then Covid hit and we went into lockdown so I didn't get to start them for about 2.5 years into it, then we had the second lockdown and I had to stop again, just as they were gaining traction. I am currently running weekly screenings, on Thursday nights, and the reason for doing it is just so people could have an affordable, fun night out watching classic films in a theatre-like space but more relaxed than going to the movies. I try to play a range of films, from New Releases to 80s VHS to Arthouse and Classic titles. Previous screenings have included the American Folk Music drama Songcatcher, Russian anti-war film Come & See and the recent sci-fi epic Dune. So something for everyone, and I also take requests!

What events have you got coming up?

I have a few events coming up – by the time this goes to print I would have held my first gig at the shop, synth-punk artist Schkeuditzer Kreuz is playing at the shop over the Easter Weekend which will be a lot of fun and hopefully there will be more. For the month of May I have collaborated with a local costume designer for Cult Cinema Sessions – 4 weekly sessions each Thursday night showing the cult movies Rocky Horror Picture Show, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Lost Boys, Dirty Dancing – and we are encouraging people to come and dress up and sing along to all the songs. Finally, for Star Wars Day on May The 4th, I am collaborating with Tropical Decay productions to host a VHS screening of The Man Who Saved The World, better known as Turkish Star Wars, a 1982 Turkish cult B-grade

The opportunity to own and curate my own collection, and to preserve films and shows that get lost sci-fi/martial arts film that over the years, or that lifts most of its vision and don’t make it onto soundtrack from Star Wars online streaming and other sci-fi films! services. What are your hopes

and plans for the future of Bellingen Video Connection?

One of my future plans is to advertise my birthday party and private hire service and expand on that – I have held quite a few kids parties here and they have been successful from both the kids’ and parents’ points of view! It’s basically just hiring the space to play a film of your choice, but I also do popcorn, drinks, lollies and treats for the kids, provide plates and cutlery and space for cakes or food, and then I clean up at the end. But really the main plan for the future is to keep the shop going. Since the second Covid lockdown, the rental side of the business has declined a fair bit, so I am hoping to entice people to the shop with the film screenings and other events. The main criteria for any event I hold is that it is fun, inclusive and affordable so if I can get the word out about the shop via events then people will learn that there is an extensive film collection here that is available to hire, and that choosing a movie is often more rewarding when it is from a video shop as you never know what you are going to find, or who is going to recommend you something great.

Thanks Rod.