PLEASE NOTE: We had some audio issues for the first 11 minutes of the episode, but they get sorted from then on.
This week, Nigel and Tazziii welcome the Scriptwriter Mariama Ives-Moiba, to unpack the story that is her journey into writing for television. Mariama has turned a childhood passion for theatre into a freelance writing career, writing on shows that include Pip and Posy, The Rubbish World of Dave Spuds, JoJo and Gran Gran, Little Stories Everywhere and more.
We talk about the craft of writing, Mariama’s routine and how non-technical skills like delivering work on time and networking have served her so well in the industry. This is a great episode particularly for anyone with an interest in turning their passion for writing into their own career in any medium!
This week, Nigel and Tazziii head to the Upside Down for a retrospective deep dive into Season 4 of Stranger Things with Auroch Digital Community Manager Pastelbat and Cosplayer Black Bettie. We get into the longest season so far and dissect the character journeys and troubled relationships seen from Hawkins to Russia Gulags. It’s a return to form for the show and we get to debate what worked so well, and what left room for improvement.
Other stories we’re enjoying: Destiny 2, Alchemy of Souls, Interview with the Vampire, Firefly Lane, Lilly and Dash, Saga Volume 4, Russian Doll, God of War Ragnarök.
This week, Nigel and Tazziii take on a common perception of comics…that there’s no money to be made in creating them. To help with the discussion, we’ve invited Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and previous UK Comics Laureate Hannah Berry onto the show.
We get into the common (mis?) conception that comics and money never meet, as well as digging into Hannah’s work on the first national survey of the UK comics industry to gain a better understanding of the challenges and ways to help those working within it.
If you are an aspiring comic creator, a family member supporting one, or just interested in learning more about the industry, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!
This week, Nigel and Tazziii welcome the founder of FORMAT, Simran Whitham, to unpack the story that is his journey into the world of video game events. Described as “the ultimate gaming social”, FORMAT is a nightlife event for gamers and non-gamers alike, and we discover how Simran found a passion for events and outreach that led him to create a platform for game studios, developers and fans to come together and have fun!
Simran talks about how family support shaped his outlook, and the lessons he has learned along the way from some of the biggest names in the games industry. We also learn about the places he has travelled to and how spending time away from video games has enriched the work he does today.
This week, Nigel and Tazziii welcome comic artist and writer Cara Gaffney to talk about her journey as into the world of comics. We discuss her anthology project Tilt: Six Tales, successfully funded on Kickstarter this month and how she tackles the concept of digital immortality in her story “In Lilac & Silver”.
Cara talks about her personal comic projects and what she learned from developing her craft in…underground “Original Comic Tournaments”?! We also discuss representation and the need to depict diverse relationship in stories, plus give a ton of advice for new and aspiring comic creators.
This week, Nigel and Tazziii welcome indie video game developer Graham Reid about his journey as a solo creator. We get into the realities of life since deciding to leave his job at Snapchat to become a full time developer, and what he has learned from his previous “9 to 5” role.
Graham gives us great advice on starting small as a creator, and how he overcomes imposter syndrome to be a positive example for future generations of diverse gaming talent. In between his multiple roles making Super Space club, Graham also tells us why he’s added YouTuber to his list of job titles, and what we can expect from the rest of his journey.
This week, Nigel and Tazziii welcome writer and photographer Mark Ōu Chéng for a deep dive into the fast-moving action comedy Bullet Train! We get on board this black comedy and its unique setting to debate where the stylised adaptation works and where it falls short of the station. With so many quirky characters and stand out moments, we have a lot of fun with this discussion…and even more fun with our (often questionable) train puns! This week’s storytelling tip is all about setting up the third act in your narrative.
Other stories we’re enjoying this week: The Three-Body Problem, She-Ra, Nope, She Hulk, Prince of Persia, One Piece, Castlevania, Sakamoto Days
Mark is also running a fundraiser for Abortion Support Network throughout September where 20% of bits and sub and 100% of donations go to helping people get access to information, travel and accommodation funding to get safe, legal abortions: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/prochoicepretendasaur
This week, Nigel and Tazziii welcome Producer Mike Anderson to talk about his journey into the video games industry. We have a deep conversation as Mike discusses the path that led him from Quality Assurance (QA) through to his current role at the London-based indie game studio Ustwo Games.
He breaks down what is involved in being a Producer as he recaps what made their breakout hit Monument Valley such a success. Mike is also an advocate for improved representation in games and talks about the case for diversity in the industry and the work he does with the POC In Play organisation. We also get into what makes the Nintendo DS such a great console!
In this week’s Story x Story episode, Nigel and Tazziii talk with self-taught comic creator Feff Silvers.
We discover her journey from physics to illustration and how a visit to a comic convention sparked her passion for producing “very British” manga-style stories.
Feff also talks about the realities of self employment in the comics space, while giving plenty of tips for aspiring creators.
In this week’s Story x Story episode Nigel and Tazziii welcome up and coming cosplayer Snickerdoodle Chan to talk about her journey and the craft of cosplay! We learn how Snickerdoodle got into cosplaying and the way she uses social media to showcase her unique spin on popular anime and video game characters. We also discuss challenges cosplaying as a person of colour and how to deal with negative encounters online. Tune in for great advice for aspiring cosplayers and creative professionals alike!
