As the title suggests, this is just a short nerdy post. Today instead of going to class, our professor took us to the BBC Headquarters. Can you say…awesome? This is the biggest news company in the world and has the most foreign bureaus. It’s #2 in the states and technically competes with CNN internationally and SKY t.v. (Rubert Murdochs Cable) domestically. It was so amazing. The tour took us to the news part of the building which was incredibly inspiring for a journalist who isn’t quite sure she is cut out for the job. They have an incredible facility that overall employees 8000 people in the building and 2000 for the news. We were able to look at the journalists at work. Creepy? Yes. Kind of a fishbowl type deal for them. We were overlooking the internet section but so close to all this amazing talent. The BBC reporters for the news casts are not just pretty faces they are legit reporters who do their own writing and stories. Top of their game reporters. Seriously incredible. Anyway, then they took us to two studios. Fun fact: every morning they paint the floor the studio depending on what the set needs. Elaborate oriental rug? Done. Hardwood floor? No problem. Plain black? You got it. And a set for 12 hours? A mere 50,000 pounds. Thats $79,895 for you yanks. Tina Turner did it for her b-day apparently. Anyway, then they show us the dressing room they use for bands which are pretty swanky and told us about some of the crazy things people have asked for while waiting. Apparently, Jennifer Lopez required a large room. Bigger than the super star rooms. Bigger than the 8 person band room. She needed to 200+ green room. Great size, wrong color. She made them rip out the carpet and repaint the room white and then had two couches flown in from Paris. She was there for 1/2 an hour. Madonna? Well, she requested a lifesize portrait of the pope which the BBC doesn’t have. So instead, they got a wax figure from Madame Tussades. Swanky. Prince, the artist formerly known as prince, didn’t want to walk up stairs. Awkward since its a multi-level facility. So, they hired a bodyguard to carry him up and down the stairs. Naturally. Liza Minnelli wanted to chain smoke which caused a fire hazard. So they hired a firefighter to follow her around all day with a bucket of sand they she had to put out the cigarettes in. Apparently, Paul McCartney was cool just wanted a vegetarian room. No big. Elton John just wanted some sugar free ginger biscuits. Haha Spare no expense. Anyway, it has been decided that we shall try to go back and be in the studio audience.
Also, it is raining today. I hate people who look good in the rain.
Cheers,
Kasey
October 10, 2009 at 5:13 pm |
What would you ask for in your dressing room? I think i would ask to have my family flown in And Prince William and Harry to pop in to meet my girls.