Behind the scenes - my Million Dollar Minute

My latest outing on television game shows aired this week. I can now reveal, for those who didn't see Million Dollar Minute, that I am not a millionaire. Repeat, NOT a millionaire. I'm not even a few bucks richer. They gave me a box of chocolates - a nice gesture, but of course I don't eat sugar. It's moments like these that I realise how sugar driven the world is. Small rewards usually come in the form of sugar. Even an order of sock yarn arrived with a lollipop in the package the other day.

But I digress.

Watching the show was strangely nerve wracking, even though I knew the outcome. I think I was worried that my slow start would leave me looking like some dumb person who answered one question and it was about Versace. You know?

While there's lots I'm contractually bound not to talk about, I can say that game shows are a fascinating opportunity to examine a cross section of the community. A bunch of twelve or so strangers are flung together in the green room for hours on end. It's easy to spot the ones who are deadly serious about their purpose: they don't say a lot and when asked anything they are reticent. Being the extrovert that I am, I talk to everyone and find out as much as I can, meanwhile, there's a guy asleep on the couch (how did they remove the sleep lines before he went to air?)

With the daily newspapers at hand, I decided to lead the quizzes. This is a great way to test the mettle of the deadly serious ones. They can't help but reveal their knowledge. At this point I ask if anyone needs me to shut up. They laugh and the crew who is minding us says "no" in a "thank god you're here" kind of way. It's their job to sit in a room babysitting adults all day. They were terrific.

A television, tuned to the home network, plays in the corner. It's infomercial hour, so after ten minutes of that we're all ready to shoot the television. DVDs have been provided for our entertainment, as well as several jigsaw puzzles. No Scrabble set though. I choose a retrospective of the comedy show "Fast Forward" which proves to be a hit. We all marvel at the cleverness and the fact that much of the humour would not be allowed on television today (think Magda Subanski in black face!). Ages of fellow competitors were revealed as people in my age group could quote along with the skits and characters.

There were some formalities - rules, contracts etc - and the opportunity to practise on the buzzers and the touch screen. I was first in and happily got all five questions in the practise round correct. Julius, one of the other contestants, said my name was written down by everyone else when I got the question about the fennec fox correct . It's renowned for its large ears. Apparently. I fluked that one, but they didn't need to know that.

I was glad to have my knitting with me. It's always handy for passing the time when you have to just wait. Nothing else, just waiting. We were in a time vortex with nothing much happening, but immense anticipation in the air. Contestants would come back from their filming either jubilant at winning some money or devastated after losing their chance.

I will confess that I sledged the champ in between sessions. Nicely. But I did want to get under his skin and rattle him a bit. He was an air traffic controller and cool as a cucumber. Meanwhile, I was in some weird tunnel for the first round. It took ages for me to hear and process the question before I could even get around to pressing the buzzer. I gave myself a good talking to and things picked up from there.

In the end, I got the second last question wrong which locked me out for the next one (which I knew) and I was beaten by 15 points. The champ had bought 15 points earlier in the game. It was an exciting battle at the end. It would have been more exciting if it was me playing for $20,000, but that's life.

My next sit-com idea will be set in a the green room of a game show.

Have you won anything lately?

The Sapphires - ticket giveaway

Regular readers will know that I love going to the movies.  One thing I love more than going to the movies, is winning free movie tickets so that I can treat myself and a friend.  Well, now I'm going to share that experience with ten lucky (Australian-based) readers!

My generous friends at Hopscotch Films have shared the love and I have ten 2-for-1 tickets for The Sapphires.

I saw the stage show here in Melbourne a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the story told with such humour and great music.  

Here's the blurb from Hopscotch Films: 

The Sapphires is an inspirational tale set in the heady days of the late ‘60s about a quartet of young, talented singers from a remote Aboriginal mission, discovered and guided by a kind-hearted, soul-loving manager. Plucked from obscurity, the four spirited women with powerhouse voices - called The Sapphires - are given the opportunity to entertain American troops in Vietnam. Catapulted onto the world stage as Australia's answer to the Supremes, their journey of discovery offers them not only the chance to show off their musical skills, but find love and togetherness, experience loss and grow as women.

The Sapphires is an adaptation of the hugely successful Australian stage musical of the same name, and is inspired by the remarkable true story of writer Tony Briggs' mother and three aunts. The four Sapphires are joyfully played by AFI Award winner Deborah Mailman, Australian pop sensation Jessica Mauboy and newcomers Miranda Tapsell and Shari Sebbens. Bridesmaids actor Chris O'Dowd delivers a tour de force comic performance as their manager, that is at once incredibly funny, likeable and genuine. 
Receving a ten minute standing ovation at the prestgious Cannes Film Festival, The Sapphires is a crowd-pleasing combination of comedy, heart and romance and an unbeatable soul music soundtrack, set against the racial and social upheaval of the late 1960s. A jewel-bright charmer and an Australian classic, The Sapphires is not to be missed.

Check out the trailer for the movie here.

TO WIN: Leave a comment on this post telling us what your favourite musical film is by Sunday, 19 August 2012.  Passes will be allocated in order of comments made, so get in fast!

And don't forget...

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY & YOU GET THE GIFTS!  Only one more week to enter!
As I contemplate renewing my commitment to divacultura for another year, I feel excitement and affection.  Thank you for sharing some of your time with me. As a thank you gift - and so I can gain a better sense of who's out there - I'll be giving away a pair of my hand knitted socks to two very lucky readers, where ever you are in the world (ie two readers will receive a pair of socks each).  To be in the running, leave a comment on this post by Friday 17 August 2012, stating why you like reading divacultura. My favourite responses will receive the prize (my decision is final).  Why not take the opportunity to sign up and follow too! 

Bach is alive and well in Melbourne

Steinway awaits
(c) divacultura 2012

One of the things I love about Melbourne is that there are often great things to do that cost very little or nothing at all!  Yesterday afternoon I went to the magnificent Melbourne Recital Centre and spent a couple of hours listening to music by one of my favourite composers, JS Bach.

The occasion was the Bach Competition for musicians aged 17 years or under and they must be citizens or permanent residents of Australia.  The competition is in its third year and there is a $2000 prize, donated by Richard Mills AM who is also one of the judges.

There were pianists, violinists, a cellist and an oboeist (accompanied by harpsichord).  It took me back to my own days competing in piano competitions and the breakthrough that I had playing Bach.  I always entered the Bach Two Part Invention section at the Toowoomba eisteddfod.  I have a beautiful edition of the pieces which includes copies of the original scores.  It started my love affair with Bach.  One year I received a Highly Commended from the adjudicator.  I was thrilled!  I collected my certificate and the written report which included detailed comments about the nature of Bach, the need for balance between the parts.  I remember there being a particular reference to "conversation" between the parts.

It changed my life!  Suddenly I had this new insight into the music and played it much better.  The following year I won the section playing invention number 13.  It was a very big deal at the time.

I also remembered the nerves as I watched the young musicians take the stage in the home of serious music. I silently congratulated the young girl who patiently adjusted the height of the piano stool before commencing.  I was sitting so close that I could hear the breathing of the cellist.

I sat longing for some personality (having seen James Rhodes play, it spoils you for all future serious music concerts) when a boy with a mop of red curly hair timidly took the stage with his violin.  He looked very nervous.  When he chose to stand side on to the audience I inwardly groaned.  Then I looked at his feet.  He was wearing shoes with an extended toe.  Brave move with that hair!  His performance wasn't very good.  Playing solo violin leaves no room for error and was completely exposed.  The performance was out of tune and uncomfortable for all.  He seemed to know it.  At one point he turned the page of his music and shook his head.  Even he couldn't believe that he had to keep going.

I wondered about him.  Would he rather be playing football?  Was he really a flautist, but discovered he had entered the wrong competition and had a violin thrust at him as he took the stage?

Listening to young musicians is instructive.  Many are skilled technicians and hit all the right notes.  They excel in the fast music but when it comes to the slower pieces a lack of emotional maturity is evident.  It will be exciting to hear these musicians play as they grow as people.

Richard Mills referenced Virgil Thomson in a perfectly pitched speech as he prepared to announce the winner.  I've looked for the reference this morning but haven't been able to find it, so I paraphrase.  In France during the War he was in such despair at the state of things that he decided to stay home and practise Mozart.  It was the best way he could find to stay in touch with humanity and beauty.   Richard Mills applauded these musicians for their contribution to humanity by staying home and practising Bach. He also thanked the audience for coming out to support and nurture young musicians.

Congratulations to William Soo who won, playing Toccata in C Minor, BWV 911 on the Steinway and Sons piano.  Commendations were also made to pianist Oscar Jiang and oboeist Andrew Kawai.

Who's your favourite composer?

Supermarket shopping

The second supermarket in the village has been taken over, renovated and is open for business.  When I first moved here, I went to that supermarket because it seemed bigger and that seemed to be what I was looking for in a supermarket.  I didn't find it to be very appealing though and went to the other one.  It was brighter and very cold inside - excellent in summer but not in winter.  It didn't take long for me to never go to the bigger supermarket and always go to the cold one because the cold one had lots of good stuff, even if it was a bit chaotic.

Whenever I was out of the village and had to shop at one of the Big Two supermarkets I noticed that their stock provided a lot less choice and I would quickly return to the village and happily pay the slightly higher prices in order to support the local community.

I've lived in this community since 2007 and had never been back into the "other" supermarket.  One day late last year, I noticed that all the windows were papered over and the shop was closed.  I felt bad.  I hoped it wasn't closed for good because even though I never shopped there it seemed important that there was a second supermarket.  I soon discovered that it was closed for renovations.  What a good sign.

I planned to give it another go when it opened for business again.  While it was closed, I noticed that my regular supermarket started to get some new lines in.  Things were moved around a little bit.  There was a whole new nut section in the green grocery department.  Competition can be a good thing for consumers!

The other supermarket did indeed open again and I could see that it was much improved even before I went in.  I went in just to have a look.  I wasn't committed to buying anything yet.  The atmosphere was better.  Things looked cleaner, brighter and more inviting.  There were staff everywhere and no other customers, but all the staff greeted me with a smile and the request that I let them know if there was something particular I was looking for.

On my way out a man stopped me and introduced himself as Mark.  He was the new owner of the supermarket and he was keen to find out what I thought.  I told him truthfully that I regularly shopped at the other supermarket as I had never found this one appealing.  He listened and he told me that he was still working on his lines, so if there was ever anything I was looking for that he didn't have I was to let him know.

I was impressed.

Other things were great too - no plastic bags are offered at all.  You can take a box away, bring your own bags or pay a small price for paper bags (20 cents I think).  They will be holding tastings once a month which should be an interesting community event as well as smart business on Mark's part.  They have a recipe up the front, invitingly displayed with the ingredients required to make it.  Today's recipe was a grilled peach, Persian feta and mint salad.  Yum!

I told my friends who live in the village about my experience and encouraged them to go in.  We'd all shopped at the other supermarket as a matter of course.  Other friends have also reported meeting Mark and having conversations with him about their shopping needs and his hopes for the business.  So it wasn't a one off.

Today I was looking for a particular item and couldn't find it.  I asked one of the women working there for help and she directed me to where I needed to go.  As I walked to the checkout she asked me, genuinely, whether or not I had found the item I wanted and whether it was the brand that I was looking for.

I think the other supermarket might be getting a run for its money.

What do you look for in a supermarket?