Gallery | September 2014 | the COMPACT issue by Gallery Magazine

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CULTURE

MANX LITFEST 2014

ISLAND BADMINTON STAR WEDS IN GENEVA

TRAVEL TRAVEL

Ghosts

MANX LITFEST 2014 THE THIRD ANNUAL MANX LITFEST KICKS OFF ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH, WITH FIVE DAYS OF LITERARY TREATS FOR BOOK LOVERS AT VENUES ACROSS THE ISLAND.

crime

A TASTE OF WHAT’S IN STORE:

STEAMPUNK

FRIDAY 26 SEPTEMBER

fantasy Sally Gardner

Sara Crowe

Mark Billingham

Samantha Shannon

Poetry

Harri Sansostri

Something for everyone at Manx Litfest 2014

<< FREEDOM FREEDOM Compact Compactdogs dogsfitfitinto intohandbags handbagsand andyour your compact compactwardrobe wardrobeshould shouldprobably probablyonly only contain a maximum of two variations on the contain a maximum of two variations on the leather mini skirt - even though everyone leather mini skirt - even though everyone knows you need at least three. knows you need at least three. It seems that for some, even our lives should It seems for some, even lives should be tightly that packed. Ensure we our entertain Yoga be tightly packed. Ensure weand entertain Yoga class during our lunchtimes maintain class during our lunchtimes and maintain the vegetable patch on our balcony. But patch on our But atthe thevegetable same time, we seek to balcony. live our lives at the same time, we seek to live our lives ‘without limits’.

‘without limits’.

Do you have to pack your lives full ofDo targets and deadlines in order you have to pack your livestofull somehow free? This is the ofto of targetsbeand deadlines in sort order question I ask frequently in the somehow be myself free? This is the sort of manner of Isomeone trying to remember question ask myself frequently in the some of what they learnt in their first year manner of someone trying to remember university Philosophy course. some of what they learnt in their first year So I’ve reached a crossroads and been university Philosophy course.

thinking lately whether or not and choice So I’ve reached a crossroads been is makinglately our modern lives bitchoice thinking whether or anot difficult. The happiest I’ve ever been is making our modern lives a bit was when I used to work at (and steal difficult. The happiest I’ve ever been jelly beans from) Woolworths aged 14. was when I used to work at (and steal If only nobody filled my head with silly jelly beansand from) Woolworths aged 14. ambition, if only the chain didn’t If filled myprobably head with goonly bustnobody (which was most notsilly ambition, onlytheft), the chain didn’t because ofand the if bean I could still go bust (which was most probably not be riding that polyester-clad sugar high, because the bean for theft), I could still instead ofofsearching a career path be thatme polyester-clad thatriding will give some tailoredsugar idea high, of instead of searching for and a career pathgain. intellectual gratification material that will give me some tailored idea of However, money makes the world go round. intellectual gratification and material gain. With money you can buy all the soda

streams andmakes pot plants your heart desires. But money the world go round. One theory moral With moneygoes youthat can it’s buymore all the sodato restrict yourself youryour generosity in streams and potand plants heart desires. One theory goes that it’s more moral to restrict yourself and your generosity in

life down to nil, until you have made a

life down to nil, until you have made a substantial fortune. Then, if you so wished, substantial fortune. Then, if you so wished, you would be in a position to donate a you would be in athan position to donate greater amount you might haveadone greater than you might have done with a amount lifetime of smaller donations. with a lifetime of smaller donations. Living the compact life means

Living the compact life means simultaneously setting yourself targets simultaneously setting yourself targets and limits, as there’s only so much you and as there’s only so much you canlimits, cram into a lifetime. can cram into a lifetime.

Another supporting theory for setting yourselfsupporting targets and theory establishing limits Another for setting is so that you don’t up being alimits yourself targets andend establishing waste spaceaand a iscompletely so that youuseless don’t end upofbeing burden to your friends andofrelatives. If a completely useless waste space and this sounds likefriends I’m giving life-tips burden to your and you relatives. If based on any degree of success in this this sounds like I’m giving you life-tips area, trust me I’m not. I realised recently based on any degree of success in this though that I work to deadlines every

area, trust me I’m not. I realised recently though that I work to deadlines every

day. I don’t keep on top of daily tasks like

lives. A world of opportunity is leading a

day. I don’t keep on top of daily tasks like eyebrow plucking, paying parking tickets eyebrow plucking, paying parking tickets or emptying out the ashtray because I oram emptying out the ashtray because I a thrill seeker who loves knowing am thrill seeker loves knowing I’magoing to have who to sort my life out in a I’m going have to sort my life out intoa matter of to seconds if someone happens matter knock of onseconds the door.if someone happens to knock on the door.

generation down the path less travelled. generation down the path less travelled. There’s so much we can cram in before There’s so much we can cram in before we this mortal mortalcoil, coil,you youcould could weshuffle shuffle off off this live lives in inaathousand thousand liveaa thousand thousand lives countries never stay stayin inone oneplace place countries and and never long upset anyone anyoneororhave have longenough enough to to upset someone you when whenyou yougo. go. someone miss miss you

Two catalysts for the desire to lead a Two catalysts forthe theaspirational desire to lead a compact life are lifestyle magazines on the Internet compact lifeand aremates the aspirational lifestyle having more fun than you are.Internet Honestly, magazines and mates on the all I want to do live in a lighthouse with having more funisthan you are. Honestly, my manyto cats, all of I’m with all I want do but is live in aa sudden lighthouse wondering whether it if I I’m never my many cats, but allI’dofregret a sudden studied archaeology or regret boughtitaifboat or wondering whether I’d I never had some babies as well. studied archaeology or bought a boat or

THE STORMS HELD OFF ON LAKE GENEVA ON 30TH MAY WHEN CRISTEN CALLOW EXCHANGED VOWS WITH ALEX MARRITT BEFORE A LARGE GROUP OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY, MANY HAVING TRAVELLED FROM THE ISLAND.

Living a compact life is like picking from Living a compact lifethe is like a smorgasbord while restpicking languishfrom a full roastwhile dinner. Switching up jobs aafter smorgasbord the rest languish and friendship and netball teams after a full roastcircles dinner. Switching up jobs just friendship so you can circles have a pop everything and and at netball teams on offer might a strange way to just so you canseem have like a pop at everything dooffer it for might some, but forlike lotsathat’s whatway lifeto on seem strange is all about; packing uplots your leather mini do it for some, but for that’s what life and rolling withup theyour punches isskirt all about; packing leather mini

had some babies as well. People are opting out of marrying young People are opting out of marrying young and sticking in the same jobs, all of their and sticking in the same jobs, all of their lives. A world of opportunity is leading a

o comply with Swiss law the couple married in a private civil ceremony at the Old Town Hall in Eaux Vives, Geneva on the Wednesday prior to Friday’s ceremony in the ‘English Church’ of Holy Trinity. The service was conducted by curate Father John Askey in his last wedding prior to retirement and the music provided by organists Chris Thomas and Mark Charles with a 14 strong church choir, missing for the day occasional chorister and Father of the Bride Chris Callow, who had other duties. A reading from the Song of Solomon was given by the Bride’s brother Jonathan.

skirt and rolling with the punches.

WORDS BY ALEX WARLOW

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CRISTEN’S DRESS WAS ‘ VICTORIANA’ BY MAGGIE SOTTERO

Nicola Morgan

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9 33 33

MY NAME IS ...

CULTURE

PHOTOGRAPHS | Marianne McCourt www.mariannemccourt.com

... ME IS MY NA

MAKE UP | Barbara Coney F/barbaraconeymakeupartist

Tania Carver (Martyn & Linda Waites)

The wedding was followed by a short drinks reception at the adjoining Bristol Hotel, Rue du Mont Blanc before the wedding party and guests strolled down to the quayside to board CGN vessel Morges for an evening cruise and dinner. Quayside and onboard music were provided by the excellent Gilles Remy Jazzband.

Manx Litfest is a registered charity (number 1100), supported by Culture Vannin, Isle of Man Arts Council and several corporate sponsors.

CULTURE

The couple honeymooned in Koh Samui.

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FILM FESTIVAL 2014

CULTURE

BEAUTY

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

‘The Writers’ Day at King William’s College is traditionally one of the most popular events and this year involve a series of talks, panel discussions, workshops and pitch-to-agent sessions aimed at writers - both published and unpublished - in the Island. We were really pleased with how this event went down last year, and given the interest shown so far, we’re expecting it to attract even more writers.

The full schedule for Litfest 2014 can be found at www.manxlitfest.com along with details of how to obtain tickets, while printed programmes will be distributed soon via various outlets.

‘This year’s family day on the Saturday will be based around the works of Roald Dahl, and thanks to the backing of Sure, it promises to be a cracking day’s fun - for both children and adults.’

John said: ‘In addition to the visiting authors and poets, there will be a number of Island-based writers involved with the festival, some of whom will be taking part in panel discussions at the Writers’ Day, while others will be involved with the

John added: ‘As a charity, we’re indebted to all of our sponsors who back individual events, and those who offer other forms of support, not to mention the financial assistance offered again this year by Isle of Man Arts Council and Culture Vannin.’

• National Story Day - authors & poets visiting Manx schools (sponsored by Isle of Man Bank) • ‘Rogue Teacher’ - performance poet Mark Grist - Noa Bakehouse, Douglas - 8pm • Neil Spring - The Ghost Hunters - walk & talk in Castle Rushen 7.30pm

SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER • Roald Dahl Family Day - Laxey Glen Gardens - 1pm-5pm (sponsored by Sure) • Writers’ Day - King William’s College - 9.00am-4.30pm (sponsored by Pokerstars) • Library events at various venues • The Teenage Guide to Stress Nicola Morgan - Embassy Room, The British - 6pm • Mark Billingham & Martyn Waites: A Criminal Double Act – Embassy Room, The British - 8pm (sponsored by IQE)

SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER • Diary of a Wimpy Kid Show Bemahague School - 4pm • Celtic Influence in Literature - panel discussion, including authors Donald S Murray & Sara Crowe - House of Manannan - 2pm (sponsored by Knox House Trust) • Samantha Shannon - author of The Bone Season - Noa Bakehouse, Douglas - 7pm

For the full schedule and line-up of visiting authors and poets, along with ticket details, visit www.manxlitfest.com

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BEAUTY

The Island has the potential to be THE UK’s ‘hot’ cultural destination and centre for the arts where people flock annually to engage in our rich culture. WHAT DO YOU SEE THE CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF THE ISLAND BEING? Over the last few years, the Arts on the Island have experienced financial cuts (as have most other Government departments), however I strongly believe the sign of a healthy economy and thriving community is one with a blossoming arts community. The only reason we have the undeniable and flourishing creative energy on the Island is due to the hard working Arts Council (stretched beyond their means) and the passionate individuals who are prepared to give up their free time to power their energy into artistic initiatives and creative projects. I feel it’s a travesty that local businesses, and other Government departments, don’t provide more support to enable these initiatives to continue.

LIPS

The rest of my time is spent helping with running both the Isle of Man Film Festival as well as the local short film production scheme, MannIn Shorts. WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WHAT YOU DO? I love the variety of what I do. One day I might be out filming in the countryside of the beautiful Isle of Man, the next day working in London. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to shape my career around my passion for moving images. WHAT WOULD A TYPICAL DAY FOR YOU BE? There are no typical days! I spread my time pretty much evenly between my business, MannIN Shorts Film Scheme and the Isle of Man Film Festival.

them through the most immediate medium of today, moving image, making the words more accessible. The idea was to create a transmedia learning tool for the viewer, merging the boundaries between written poetry, film and spoken word. It’s a true celebration of the arts.

At just three years of age, IOMFF is a veritable young pup on the event scene. However, having found it’s three legs last year with a hugely successful programme, the 2014 festival will be striding back into town this month, with all the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood great.

Happily, my project has been met with enthusiasm from both the department of Education and the Arts Council who have been very supportive in nurturing my idea. It’s been great fun and extremely rewarding working on this project. THE ISLE OF MAN FILM FESTIVAL 2014 (10TH-15TH SEPTEMBER)

We wonder why people complain that ‘there’s nothing to do on the Isle of Man!’ I assure you there’s plenty to do. Go out there buy tickets, watch films, support music events, visit art galleries and if it’s within your means, please donate to keep these superb festivals and initiatives alive.

The other Island of Culture project I am heavily involved in is the Isle of Man Film Festival. Which takes place from the 10th to the 15th of September, and we are excited to present five days of Film related events. On the program we have a tailor made Future Shorts evening, a film première, Isle of Man Film screening with the special guests interviewed afterwards, VIP parties, international and local short film competitions, prizes, film and television industry practical workshops and a special guest Q&A lead by none other than UK leading film critic and Island of Culture Patron Mark Kermode. To keep an eye out for tickets check out the Isle of Man Film Festival Facebook page and sign up for notifications, to be the first to hear about tickets and events.

The Island has the potential to be THE UK’s ‘hot’ cultural destination and centre for the arts where people flock annually to engage in our rich culture. All that’s required is some financial nurturing and those in power to take action. The passion and vision already exists in abundance.

WHAT ELSE HAS 2014 PRESENTED YOU WITH... Up until this point in 2014, I’ve had a really busy year, taking film courses in London, helping to oversee the shooting of three MannIN Shorts films and working for Pinewood Shepperton on their latest Feature Film ‘Take Down’ shot this Summer.

Obviously there’s plenty of money on the Island. There are a multitude of projects, which are being suffocated by lack of funds, fueled purely by the passion of a select few individuals. There’s only so long that these initiatives can continue without substantial financial support.

MY JOB IS… I direct and produce films for my business, Reel Vision Film Productions, (www.reelvision.net) based here on the Isle of Man. However I am also involved in freelance television and film work with my most recent job being Production Assistant on the feature film ‘Take Down’ for Pinewood Pictures.

WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR 2014..? T.E. BROWN VISUAL POEMS I have been fortunate to receive an Arts Council grant from the ‘Island of Culture Fund’ for my project creating ‘Visual Poems’ to the works of Manx poet T.E.Brown. Basically I had the idea of recording audio of both traditional Manx Speaker John Kennaugh as well as local children reading the works of T.E.Brown, written over 130 years ago. It’s rather magical hearing T.E.Browns words spoken through the voices of the children of today. Following the audio recording, I went out on film shoots and collected film footage to illustrate the content of the audio recordings, from which I edited the poems as short films using the audio as the narrative.

IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING IN MY LIFE IT WOULD BE… To have more time in the day. IF I COULD WATCH ONLY ONE GENRE OF FILM FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE IT WOULD BE… I love Film Noir. Self-reflexive, stylized and dark with sexual undertones, what’s not to like? There are also plenty of Neo-Noir films to explore, such as the Coen Brothers - ‘The Man Who Wasn’t There’ (2001). WHICH MANX BORN INDIVIDUAL DO YOU MOST ADMIRE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF? Recently, I was fortunate enough to catch up over dinner with Manx born Fabien Riggall. For those who don’t know, Fabien has successfully conceptualised, founded and developed, Future Shorts, one of the world’s leading short film distribution labels, representing an extensive and eclectic catalogue of original, award winning films from across the globe. They have an impressively loyal online following, which has allowed for the development of their Secret Cinema brand. Secret Cinema is a growing community of all who love the cinema experience and the unknown. Secret audience. Secret locations. Secret worlds. They focus on creating ‘experiences’ based around popular films, with the film’s story being incorporated into an event before the film itself is eventually screened; tens of thousands attend these epic and exciting events.

GET INVOLVED:- To find out more about either how to get involved with or support the Film Festival or the MannIN Shorts film-making scheme, please visit us at: www.isleofmanfilmfestival.com or www. manninshorts.com We’d love to hear from you!

THE BEST TIME OF YEAR IS… The best time of year has to be September, as that’s the month we hold the Isle of Man Film Festival. The Island also holds the superb ‘Manx Literature Festival’ and ever expanding ‘Food and Drink Festival’ during this month, maybe we should call September, Festember?!

Chris Jones and Emily Cook at the Isle of Man Film festival 2013

THE BEST ADVICE I’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN IS… Surround yourself with the five people you respect the most and whose qualities you admire. After all we are the products of our surroundings.

Emily Cook at Technicolour (London) with Senior Colourist Paul Ensby

rom Wednesday 10th to Sunday 14th September, this year’s epic will include every size of event from intimate to extravaganza. There is the box-office appeal of ‘stars from the silver screen’, BAFTA winning Directors, minimovies to features, dramas to documentary.

Emily Cook with Elliot Groves at Raindance Film Festival Centre (London)

- would you like to see your work featured in Gallery Magazine?

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As an Island of Culture event, it’s a significant step up from last year. Preeminent guest and host for the weekend is celebrated BBC and Observer Film Critic and Island of Culture Patron Mark

ARTIST AND ILLUSTRATORS Simply get in contact with us mynameis@gallery.co.im

AMMA ASANTE (DIRECTOR ON BELLE) PHOTOGRAPHS | Hazel Thompson

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ASANTE’S POWERFULLY, MOVING AND GENTLY SUBVERSIVE MELODRAMA IS A FINELY WROUGHT TALE... PLAYS ELOQUENTLY ON THE HEARTSTRINGS...LEAVING NARY A DRY EYE IN THE HOUSE

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MARK KERMODE ON ‘BELLE’

Smashbox ‘Smokebox’ palette (£32): This set from Smashbox has all the tools needed to achieve the perfect smokyeyed look. With six shades to mix and match, you can play around and create your own tailor-made range of smouldering, smoky styles, beautifully blended with the included double-ended brush.

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ARTWORK BY: BRUNO CAVELLEC

Emily Cook Reel Vision Film Productions www.reelvision.net or contact me a emily@reelvision.net

My aim is to get these visual poems shown in local schools as part of the Manx curriculum, to take the words of the 19th century and deliver

We look forward to including a tailor made ‘Future Shorts’ evening at the Isle of Man International Film Festival this year, as Fabien is a huge supporter of the Festival...and of the MannIN Shorts film-making scheme.

Kermode. Chairman of this year’s Judging Panel, Mark will present the short film awards on the final night. He will also host the “Audience With..: gala event on Saturday 13th at the Gaiety Theatre, where he’ll chat on stage with very special guests before joining his award-winning band ‘The Dodge Brothers’. They’re visiting fresh from Glastonbury (if that’s possible!) to perform a live soundtrack to the celebrated silent movie “Beggars of Life”. Other highlights include an exclusive Q&A screening of critically acclaimed Isle of Man Film production “BELLE”, with director Amma Asante in attendance, one of Variety’s “10 directors to watch”. Partly shot on the Island, it tells the moving true story of Dido Belle and is one of Mark Kermode’s favourite films of 2014. The opening event on Wednesday 10th at the Gaiety stars Mark’s fellow Culture

EYEBROWS

Patron, celebrated blues musician Davy Knowles. The Festival offers an exclusive opportunity to preview his Island of Culture 2014 documentary, “Island Bound”, supported by Pokerstars and Culture Vannin. Davy and the filmmakers will introduce highlights from the production that led them from the Isle of Man to England, Chicago, Tennessee and Brittany, with interviews from Peter Frampton, Richard Thompson and Martin Simpson. Davy will perform an exclusive electric set with special guests and start the festival off in style.

SHOULD THEY SADDLE UP AND RECREATE THIS TRIUMPH AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE, THEN MY ADVICE TO ANYONE IS BUY YOUR TICKET EARLY.

RICHARD O’BRIEN (ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW) RE DODGE BROTHERS SILENT CINEMA.

Check out isleofmanfilmfestival.com for the full list of unique events. Tickets are available at the Villa/Gaeity Box office. In the meantime, event organisers are on the lookout for volunteers to help out in all areas of the festival.

Sleek ‘Face Form’ face contour kit (£9.99): Available in a variety of shades to suit all skin tones, Face Form is made up of a contour powder, highlighter and blusher or bronzer depending on the shade you buy. Define your face shape with the contour powder, before topping with blusher or bronzer to add colour to your cheeks and highlighter to, well, highlight your cheekbones and give your skin a radiant appearance.

Contact shawn@isleofmanfilmfestival.com to find out how you can get involved. ISLE OF MAN FILM FESTIVAL 2014 IS SUPPORTED BY: ISLAND OF CULTURE, DAM PRODUCTIONS, ISLE OF MAN POST OFFICE, CLAREMONT HOTEL, CONISTER BANK, ISLE OF MAN FILM AND POKERSTARS ALONG WITH RL360 AND CHRYSTALS.

Benefit ‘Brow Zings’ brow shaping kit (£24.50): One of Benefit’s best-selling products, this dinky kit comes in three shades, so you can choose the palette best suited to your natural eyebrow colour. Apply the pigmented wax with the hard-angled brush to shape eyebrows, then use the blending brush to apply the powder, filling in any sparse areas and setting the colour so your brows stay defined all day long. Brow Zings also comes with discreet tweezers, mirror and a lesson booklet.

(MY) NEW FAVOURITE MODERN-DAY BLUESMAN JOE SATRIANI ON DAVY KNOWLES A LOOK BACK AT ISLE OF MAN FILM FESTIVAL 2013

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INTERVIEWED BY

Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre

Festival Director John Quirk said: ‘We’ve attracted some fantastic names this year, a job which is being made easier year on year by the positive feedback we’re receiving from previous festivals. We’re spreading things out over Mark Grist five days this year, instead of four, with the Poetry Slam kicking things off on the Wednesday night, for which we’re delighted to have UK performance poet Mark Grist as compere for the night.’

Schools Day, which is again one of our most important events. It creates a fantastic buzz each year, not just among the children, but the teachers, the Litfest team and the authors and poets taking part. Isle of Man Bank is once again kindly sponsoring the Schools Day, which is such vital support, as it allows us to deliver the day free to schools and help inspire children of all ages to read more and write more.

THURSDAY 25 SEPTEMBER • Book Fanatics’ Quiz Night, with quizmasters Philip Reeve & Sarah McIntyre - The Embassy Room, British Hotel, Douglas - 8pm (sponsored by Xela Ltd)

Words: Jenny Parkes

Emily Cook

Movers & Shakers

Neil Spring

Cristen’s dress was ‘ Victoriana’ by Maggie Sottero; she was attended by Bridesmaid childhood friend and fellow Island Badminton player Nicola Wilkinson, and Alex was supported by Best Man James Allison assisted by Tim Vickers & Alex’s brother Alister.

CULTURE

A Roald Dahl Family Day at Laxey Glen Gardens, a leading crime writing duo, the annual Poetry Slam and a ghostly walk & talk around Castle Rushen - there should be something for all literary tastes this year.

WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER • Open Mic Poetry Slam, compere Mark Grist - Jabberwocky, Duke Street, Douglas - 8pm

MICHELLE P. TONNESEN

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Too Faced ‘Natural Face’ natural radiance face palette (£31.00): ‘Contouring’ is the secret weapon of hundreds of celebrities and make-up artists, helping to accentuate your face shape and give your skin a warm, sun-kissed glow. This palette from Too Faced contains six essential contouring elements, including cream and

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IN THE NEWS

FEATURE

WORDS

LES ABLE

Beware! Rick Faragher, Broadcast Journalist at BBC Northern Ireland Tell us a bit about yourself and your journey to getting where you are today… Well, I’m Manx born and bred; an Onchan man from what I would call a traditional, close-knit Manx family. I went to St Ninian’s High School and then the University of Derby to study English Literature and American Studies. I never thought of journalism as a career, but I was good at English in school and quite creative, so I thought maybe writing would be my future. I also had a big interest in sports. Over the years I became increasingly interested in sociology and the world around me. I watched a lot of programmes like Question Time and the news, followed election coverage and the issues affecting people. I realised everyone is fascinating and has great stories to tell.

Playing in the Big Leagues

When I returned home from the UK, I did what most Manx lads do: I started working in Financial Services; but I wanted to do something different – make a mark somehow. So I took a chance and gave up my good job to become a sports reporter at the local newspaper. I took a significant pay cut and moved back in with my parents. Of course, I had my doubts whether this was the right decision – especially when stood soaking in the rain with my soggy note pad covering

His face and name may seem familiar to you from his days as a presenter on the online TV service TVIM. Since then, Rick Faragher has become the first Manxman to present on BBC TV. We’ve had a chat with him to catch up on his journey from local sports reporting to global news broadcasting.

90 90

the local football. I knew that I wouldn’t work in print media forever, but I also knew that I was on the right track. I worked for almost two years at Publishing House, before making inroads into broadcasting. My first encounter with Northern Ireland was when I moved there to study journalism at the University of Ulster, and I liked it from the start. Scenically it’s very much like the Isle of Man – beautiful. I moved to Belfast to try to hack it as a freelancer, which was a very challenging time professionally with many ups and downs, but definitely character building! I moved back to the Island where I got a chance to work in commercial radio – and then the opportunity to do local community television. It was fun, and I was fortunate to work with some good people. It gave me the broadcasting experience which opened the door to my career at the BBC. Being part of the news team there is amazing and so interesting. The cultural context, the politics, and the social issues – it all brings challenges in terms of journalistic coverage which are so unique and sometimes extreme. Last Christmas, a large car bomb was planted outside the police station across the street from my flat. The building was evacuated late at night and wasn’t made safe until the following morning. It sounds extreme, but dealing with this type of news

WORDS Marcus Halberstam ILLUSTRATIONS Luke Moss

One of the greatest challenges facing any manager lies in recruiting the right people to play in your team. Sports is a fantastic (and in no way over-used) business metaphor, because running a successful organisation demands the exact same qualities necessary to lead a team to World Cup glory - you need to make sure nobody is caught biting people, taking bribes or bulldozing shanty towns if you don’t want to end up leaving the competition early or being beaten by the Germans.

is fascinating – especially coming from a small place. Being part of a team that helps deliver news of this magnitude really develops you personally and professionally. I’ve progressed more in the last 12 months than the previous six years of my career.

What are your greatest achievements so far? I guess achievements are relative. They depend on where you’re at in your life. When I first had my name by-lined in the newspaper; my first time on the radio; they are all accomplishments. I think the journey is the biggest achievement. The sum of all the highlights on the way: from covering local sports to getting my master’s degree in journalism, and now working for the biggest news organisation in the world. Every one of my colleagues has worked just as hard to get here. They’re all talented and experienced people; some have interviewed US presidents and worked in war zones. You have to pinch yourself sometimes. It’s great to be here, but I never rest on my laurels. I’m always aiming for the next thing.

TEAM TIP #1:

reward your star players… To steer a team through the knockout phase and into the final you need to pick the top talent, keep them happy and motivate them to follow your attacking formation at all times. Never underestimate the importance of climbing the corporate league table, either for yourself or for those star players (executives) who are the backbone of your squad. Treat boardroom recruits like floating prospects on the international transfer market - bring them on quickly, give them a new Ferrari and set up their wages so they pay less tax than the people who hoover the staff canteen. If they stop scoring, just use all the cash you made from replica strips to bring in a replacement before they break a leg and you pension them off to a league that only plays on Sundays.

What is the next thing then? To continue to develop myself and do the best I can at BBC Northern Ireland. The sky is the limit here. I’m definitely in the right place to do this. I want to be as much of an asset to the team as possible.

What have been your greatest obstacles on the way? How did you overcome them?

Being part of the news team there is amazing and so interesting. The cultural context, the politics, and the social issues – it all brings challenges in terms of journalistic coverage which are so unique and sometimes extreme.

Pursuing a career in media generally means you’ll fail more than you succeed. You have to be prepared to work hard and accept that you can’t get things on your terms. You’ll often be in and out of employment. For me it has been quite a rollercoaster ride, but it has all accumulated into the happy place I’m in now. It is a lifestyle choice, though. You start out with not getting paid very well, and your personal life can be a challenge. Journalism is hard work, but you will get back what you put in. You must have a constant drive.

Photography by: May Patsy Chan THE AGENDA SUPPLEMENT

DO BUSINESS IN STYLE

UPFRONT Edito..............................................................................................................................................3 Wilkins Watch of The Month...................................................4 Listings....................................................................................................................................6 Squeeze It All In..................................................................................8 What’s On..................................................................................................10 News in Numbers...........................................................................12 Current Affairs.....................................................................................................14 Badminton Star Weds In Geneva..................................16 Give...........................................................................................................................................18 Me & My Pet...........................................................................................20 Misc......................................................................................................................22 EVENTS The Swagelok Summer Ball...............................................24 Emma & Frankie Pitts Wedding Day.............................25 Sunday League Football...................................................................26 CULTURE Culture Vulture...............................................................................................28 Photographer Spotlight - R Nicholls..............30 Litfest 2014.................................................................................................................32 Culture News......................................................................................................34 Festival of Plays - ‘Wondrous’................................................36 Monthly Upload............................................................................................38 My Name Is - Emily Cook...........................................................40 The Top 10 Names To Have Filmed in The Isle of Man.................................................................................42 Isle of Man Film Festival..................................................44 Scene Stealer Challenge Filming.......................46

Voracious cougars are on the prowl and their favourite hunting grounds are the bars and clubs of Douglas where their prey – younger men – can often be found in abundance on Friday and Saturday nights.

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TEAM TIP #2:

… but keep everybody else hungry In my father’s day, people used to believe that a job was for life, like a puppy or herpes simplex. In the 21st century things are very different, and not only because people like my father fired most of their employees and replaced them with Bangladeshi call-centre workers who are lucky if their contracts are as high as zero hours. No, today we profit from what I tell our HR people to describe as “a dynamic and flexible workforce”. You wouldn’t expect to pay Gary Lineker or George Best the big money to be kicking balls around at their age, so I don’t know why you’d expect a corporation to do the same thing when we can hire a graduate at half your salary. Aside from my star executives, my team wins trophies thanks to the little people who work extremely hard because we’ve just employed them and they’re still on their probation period, or because they got into the pension plan and don’t want to have their job out sourced to our offices in Dhaka.

You might think I’m taking the football metaphor a bit far, but you’d be wrong. Although I prefer to play golf myself, without doubt I am the Alex Ferguson of the motivational business speech, and anyone who disagrees is David Beckham crying because he got hit in the face with a flying boot. Yes, there may have been a few times when I’ve needed to “persuade” the ref after a particularly dirty tackle, but if you take some advice from me, you can assemble your own dream team and I promise you’ll be bringing home the silverware in no time.

TEAM TIP #3:

don’t confuse the team with the manager I’m fond of telling staff that there’s no I in TEAM, but I always follow up by reminding them that’s there’s no U in BOSS. I always get a good laugh from that one, but I’m making a serious point here - everybody should know their place in the organisation, especially if that place is below director level and therefore disposable. knowing that you will reward top scorers, but will happily transfer the sick and the lame to the corporate equivalent of Grimsby FC, really motivates your players to stay on the field. Making sure everybody is incentivised to give 110% (24/7) keeps our organisation running at maximum efficiency, give or take the occasional red card (nervous breakdown and/or sexual harassment lawsuit). Whatever happens I’m always there, stood at the sideline, wearing a sheepskin coat and swearing at you. There’s a reason they got me that “Boss of the year” mug, and it’s not just because I made my secretary drop a lot of hints before I signed off on any bonus payments.

GUERNSEY’S STYLE MAGAZINE THE AGENDA SUPPLEMENT

TEAM TIP #4:

think outside the 18 yard box

I’m not one to blow my own vuvuzela, but I didn’t end up in the Director’s Box by scoring own goals. I keep the pressure on my opponent at all times, and only hire people who can do the same. To be a business success you need to be bold and confident, a risk taker who still knows when to fall into formation and shred incriminating documents before the police turn up. This is hard to identify at the selection stage, which is why I pursue an exclusive policy of only employing males who went to the same school as me. The only exception is when I pick up a CV and find that somebody is confident enough to describe themselves as a “rock star” or a “ninja”. Who wouldn’t want to hire a compliance ninja, or an accounts receivable rock star? It doesn’t just mean you’re great at your job, it means you understand that business wisdom can only be communicated by either made-up anecdotes, obtuse buzzwords or an inappropriate metaphor that makes your job sound far more important than it really is.

TEAM TIP #5: bend the rules, distract the ref We all know that regulations and laws are there for a reason, but it’s equally true that it’s not a fair game if only one team is prepared to follow the rules. If you know your opponent is willing to take a dive, then the best way to keep the upper hand is to make sure somebody is always in position to put the boot in when he goes down, preferably crushing a few sensitive bits when they do it. Always try and have a distraction on hand to make the ref look the other way (i.e. a team of lawyers), and when you know the opposition will try to do the same there’s nothing wrong with taking care of any potential disagreements before it even gets to that stage. A little corporate hospitality will always lead to favourable decisions, as all those footballing fanatics in the boozefree, underpopulated desert of Qatar will happily tell you during the next World Cup.

BECAUSE DO BUSINESS QUALITY IN STYLE MATTERS

TEAM TIP #6:

keep your eyes on the prize

In business, like in football, there is no second place. Ask yourself why you’re reading this. Maybe you’re a middle manager and need to up your game. Perhaps you’re on a probation period yourself, and you think you’ve got what it takes to scale the greasy pole and receive your own boss mug one day. I admire ambition (unless you work for me), and am happy to steer you in the direction of success (at another company, of course). The secret is to focus on where you want to be, and who you need to defeat in order to get there. Think of the “boss of the year“ mug like the World Cup, or perhaps the golden goblet in that Indiana Jones film with the Nazis - hidden and dangerous, but with the power to make Sean Connery recover from being shot. In either case, the winner gets the glory and the loser gets a dangerous box that melts people’s faces if you open it at the wrong time - by which I mean the executive toilet after an especially tense penalty shoot out. GOOALLLLLLL!

For the uninitiated, these are not big game predatory cats but usually women aged around 40 and over, although there are some as young as 35, who have an appetite for very young men with some of their ‘conquests’ almost young enough to be their sons.

The married cougar definitely doesn’t wear her ring when she’s on the prowl.

n early example of a cougar was in the groundbreaking film The Graduate in which middle-aged Mrs Robinson played by Ann Bancroft seduces freshout-of college Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman). Real life cougar relationships include actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher with a 15-year age gap.

In the United States it’s not so much a barman that’s favoured by the older woman. In California it’s likely to be the hunky young ‘pool boy’ whose job it is to ensure the swimming pool is looked after and is on hand to serve cooling drinks and perhaps more.

Some young men are attracted to cougars because they see the relationship as being one with “no strings attached” and offering them experienced intimacy that girls of their own age don’t have.

Ollie’s first cougar experience was on a night out with “some of the lads” at Guys & Dolls. “I got talking to this woman, she was clearly looking for some fun. She was 55, works in banking and married. I’d had a few drinks, her husband was away so we went back to her place and I left the following morning after having a cup of tea in bed and a cigarette.” For some young barmen, the cougar factor is seen as one of the potential perks of the job. According to one, whose name cannot be revealed, they are often “professional ladies, single but possibly divorced”. At one stage he admits to having three cougars “on the go” and recalls that on one occasion all three of them were in the bar at the same time, luckily oblivious to the fact they were sharing his attentions. Asked what his maximum age for a cougar “experience” is prompts a swift and unequivocal answer, “45, my mother is 46”!

“Mature men have leered after younger women for centuries so now in the 21st century it’s the turn of older women to appreciate and desire much younger men,” is the short, sharp response from a woman in her early 50’s when quizzed on her liking for younger men.

She adds: “It’s not about an older woman being desperate, it’s possibly a case of her being used to having power in her working life, she’s at the top of her career and proving she now has that power when out on the dating scene. She may be enjoying freedom after divorce, no financial worries, children if she has any are grown up so she wants the excitement and no commitment of a one night stand with a tasty young guy who’s in the prime of his virility and why shouldn’t she?”

How to identify a cougar: • Study her hands, women in their 20s and 30s don’t usually have lines and veins showing in their hands. • Lines around the mouth and eyes are another telltale sign but Botox may disguise them. • Tight fitting dresses that are too short, along with heavy make-up. • Shy and slow is not the cougar’s strategy. • She will be forthright on the ‘wanting fun’ factor. • And finally, be on the look for husbands or the jealous boy friend. A cougar may be playing the field but still married or in a relationship. Les Able is head of PR and Media Relations at Home Strategic.

Ollie, a boyish looking 22, knows which bars in Douglas are the haunts of the cougar, where some of them do their prowling in packs. Hen parties are also, he says, worth ‘checking out’.

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FASHION & BEAUTY High Street Fashion Trends.............................................48 Budget or Blowout......................................................................52 Beauty Products..........................................................................................54 APPETITE Boo’s Little Kitchen Recipes............................................56 JAR Restaurant - Open For Lunch............................58 Wine Talk...................................................................................................................60 TRAVEL Compact Creatures That Pack A Punch.......62 Zurich - Zest In Show..........................................................................64 PLACES Ballakilley Show Home - Port Erin............................68 The Laurel - Lonan................................................................................70 The Oak - Foxdale...................................................................................70 Finishing Touches.......................................................................................71 The German Kitchen Centre..........................................72 College Green - Castletown..............................................74 Glen View - St Judes.........................................................................74 Kingswood Grove - Douglas...........................................75

“Their chat is often loud and bordering on the boisterous and they may invite you to join them for a drink,” says Ollie, who works in the financial services sector. “They are usually seated at the bar or at a table, may even bit a bit flashy, look for the lack of a wedding ring.”

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Lasenby Knox - Wealth Adviser.......................................94 Creative Buzz - Creative Agency............................96 Employment Policies...................................................................100 Management Terminology..............................................102 Dear Lucy...............................................................................................................104 Beware - Cougars...................................................................................106 HARDWARE Compact Gadgets......................................................................................110 Phone Home......................................................................................................112 PAPARAZZI Tahiko...............................................................................................................................114 The Courthouse.............................................................................................116 Nexus.................................................................................................................................118 The Rovers.............................................................................................................118 The Outback.........................................................................................................119 Bar George...........................................................................................................120

AGENDA Business News.................................................................................................80 Movers & Shakers.......................................................................................86 Jo Cox - Sure International................................................88 Rick Faragher - Broadcast Journalist..........90

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