Advanced Expert CAE Tapescripts
Advanced Expert CAE Tapescripts
Advanced Expert CAE Tapescripts
Tapescripts N: So, what did you think of Rita's talk. Would you have
found it useful?
A: Yeah. In my experience, most university students find
Module 1....................................................................1 they have about ten to 12 hours of timetabled teaching
Module 2....................................................................2 each week, and on top of this they will spend from 20 to
Exam practice 1.....................................................4 30 hours studying in their own lime. So 1 think she had a
Module 3....................................................................4 point when she was talking about the wall planner - you
need to get yourself organised, make the best of the
Module 4....................................................................6 available time - because it's also important not to overdo
Exam practice 2.....................................................8 it. Time spent discussing issues with friends isn't
Module 5....................................................................9 necessarily wasted - you're learning key life skills, such
Module 6..................................................................11 as how to debate, think on your feet and use logical
Exam practice 3...................................................12 reasoning and the art of persuasion
N: I agree that spending all day, every day with your nose
Module 7..................................................................12 stuck in a book or at a computer isn't necessarily your
Exam practice 4...................................................15 best use of time, but for me, the most relevant part was
Module 9..................................................................16 when she talked about what is expected of you. To my
Module 10................................................................17 mind, to be a successful university student, you need to
Exam practice 5...................................................18 be open-minded - ready to try out new ways of thinking.
You do your reading, you evaluate the information, and
Module 1 you come up with your own ideas and opinions about it.
That's what really marks it out from what you're used to
Listening 1, page11, Exercise 2a doing at school, and I think that was really what Rita
Hi. Now, I know a lot of you are planning to go off to helped them to grasp.
university or college next term, so I've been asked to talk
about how studying there is different from studying at school. Writing 1, page 14, Exercise 1b
Well, one big difference is that you have to manage your own Yeah, the training was really hard, wasn't it? There was no
time; on average, only ten to 12 hours a week is actually messing about Before Jamie's let us get down to work in a
timetabled teaching on a university course, the rest is up to real kitchen, we had to go through a demanding course at
you to organise. Another new challenge is that you'll have to college - just to cover the basics. After that, he got us into
set yourself learning objectives, and of course it's your work placements in some top-class restaurant kitchens to
responsibility to make sure that you meet them. So it's very learn the hard way - in real life! To round off our training,
different from school There are various ways of approaching we all cooked in Jamie's restaurant, as a team. Jamie said it
all this, however, and I'm going to go through some of them was going to be one of the best places to eat in London, so
with you. I've also come along with a few tips 14e picked up we had to come up with the goods. Sure, we were shattered
along the way which it may be helpful to pass on. half the time, but what a fantastic experience'
Speaker 5 Speaker 1
I sometimes become aware of people looking at me angrily, It's been described as a 'cultural revolution,' something that'll
as if I'm disturbing them, particularly older people, who think change the way we live It's the 'we-never-close' culture,
it s anti-social -sort of thing my gran would say! But I just already a way of life in the US, but catching on alarmingly
hate to feel out of touch with the office or the family while fast in other places, too Of course, 24-hour working is
I'm away on business But half the time, I'm just ringing for nothing new - Henry Ford did it in his car factories a century
the sake of it I know it bounds silly, like something out of a ago, and small shops in big cities have always opened all
soap opera, but I always feel quite nervous if I'm out without hours to cater for night workers What's new now is that
it, and I keep checking that it s still in my pocket It's we're not just talking about convenience shopping for people
becoming a real problem, actually, because my last bill was who work shifts, the whole concept is expanding to include a
astronomical, and there's no way I can conceal that from my whole range of leisure activities But honestly who wants to
wife. be able to lift weights or hit golf balls at three in the
morning? It beats me.
Speaking, page 113, Exercise 3a
Speaker 2
14
Well, twenty-four/seven's obviously sound from the economic MT: Good morning. Well, I'd like to emphasise that none
standpoint It creates more jobs and allows greater flexibility of the children we work with have ever actually
in the labour market If you ask me, the concept of a fixed committed a crime. However, criminologists have been
workplace w ill soon be outdated, and fixed times of work aware for some time that it is possible to predict with 80-
will be a thing of the past, too People obviously want these per-cent accuracy the factors which might result in
changes I was reading somewhere that people who do their certain children becoming the criminals of the future
food shopping after 6 p . m . now outnumber those who do it And the idea behind the project, which we call On
earlier But there's a fiipside to all this - what worries me is Track, is that we're eager to work together as a
that people might feel they should be available for work all community to prevent this happening. But if the scheme
the time, regardless of their circumstances I'm not is to work successfully, we've got to have the
suggesting that employers will take advantage of them, but cooperation of both parents and children. Unless we
there will be more things to consider before accepting a job. can work together, it's useless - that's why the scheme is
voluntary.
Speaker 3 I: So, what do you mean by 'young' children? And how do
I m particularly concerned about the needs of working you predict which ones may become criminals?
parents, who may be under pressure to work anti-soctal MT: The project targets youngsters between four and 12,
hours Most childcare services don't ran outside normal living in areas like the one Mary and her son Glenn live
working hours, for a start, which puts parents in a very in, places where there's a high incidence of crime, and
difficult position if they need the work, balancing work with where you often get a lot of poverty But when we decide
home life and leisure interests Having said that, there are which children are at risk, we don't just base it on the
some people who just operate better at night I'm like that neighbourhood they live in – we also look at the family
myself — a night owl - so it suits me down to the ground, but and the school. A child like Glenn, I felt, was at risk in all
I'm single at the moment, and that could change The thing three of those areas I felt he would almost definitely be
is, there's no turning back now, is there? I mean it was bound heavily involved in crime by the time he reaches
to happen - once the Internet had taken off and everything - adulthood although we obviously can't predict the type
you could see it coming. of crime he might get into – it could be burglary
mugging, armed robbery or anything.
Speaker 4 I: Four seems incredibly young to decide if someone's going
To me it makes sense. You avoid the queues, there's no to be a criminal' How did you feel about that Mary?
pushing and shoving - and you're helping to solve the F2. Well, the thing is that even when Glenn was small, I was
problem of overcrowding in our cities, too More traffic at feeling increasingly hopeless as a mother He hadn't
night means less in the day I even went to an art exhibition always been a bad boy, and when he got to around four he
in Los Angeles a few months ago at four in the morning - was constantly rude to me and his father He would get
you could just walk around, have the place to yourself aggressive, too - waving his fist at me and calling me
-magic I've found a 24-hour snooker place in London now names. When we tried to discipline him it seemed to make
so I'm a regular there, and they're talking about opening a matters worse We just didn't know how to handle him.
gym, too But you have to watch yourself - because these I: Was this the same at school?
things can be a bit of a np-off I paid well over the odds for a MJ: He didn't hit other kids, but the teachers said he was
midnight haircut the other week. unwilling to work, and disrupted the class Their solution
to the problem was what they call exclusion … you know,
Speaker 5 taking him out of class and sending him to other teachers
To my mind, the thing is that human beings are not designed - but nothing they did or we did worked.
for 24-hour living. Our in-built control systems are not I: And this wasn't helped by the kind of neighbourhood
really suited to the demands of a world where being up and you live in?
about regularly at 3 a. m. may become common. People MJ: No. We live on a council estate, and it's a rough, tough
have to accept that they are members of a daytime species, place. What shocked me was seeing kids as young as
and asking them to work at night is like throwing them in the seven throwing stones, stealing cars, that sort of thing I
sea and asking them to stay there for a week - it's possible, felt they'd put pressure on Glenn to do the same, and
but there are health risks Particularly for people who he'd end up in prison.
consider themselves night owls because of the way their I: How did you hear about Martin's project?
body clock operates. They think it suits them because they MJ: I picked up a leaflet from the library It said it was a
feel good at night, but they voluntary scheme which aimed to keep youngsters out of
could live to regret it in the long run. trouble It offered both parents and children support, so
we decided to go for it We had nothing to lose.
Listening 2, page 127, Exercise 2 I So what form docs this support take Martin, in practical
I = Interviewer MJ = Mat tin Таylor MJ = Mary Johnson terms?
I: Juvenile crime is one of the biggest problems we face in MT: It depends, because it s tailored to the specific needs of
Britain, and today we're going to hear about a the family It could involve home visits, family discussions
groundbreaking new project which is helping to address with a psychiatrist and so on In Glenn's case, we could
the issue With us in the studio today we have Dr Martin find no obvious psychiatric problem - so Mary and her
Taylor, the man who helped to get the project off the husband signed up for the parenting course we offer
ground, and Mary Johnson, whose child Glenn was one I: And was that helpful, Mary?
of the first children to benefit from the project Martin MJ: Very It made me realise that I wasn't a verv skilled
let's start with you What is the thinking behind the parent I'd lose my temper and shout at him or smack him,
project? and things would just go downhill from there The course
taught me to keep calm and communicate rather than
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shout The main thing was I was encouraged to give him will be in charge of operations They both join me in the
loads of attention when he behaved well, rather than just studio today So, Tom, turning to you first, it seems an
being negative all the time. adventurer needs a PA these days?
I: And did he respond well to this? T: That's right, although it's a relatively new thing for me I
MJ: Better than I could have dreamt That's what he took two and a half years to plan this trip, organising
obviously wanted and needed but I hadn't realised He everything from sponsorship and fundraising to testing
still has his off days, but the verbal abuse has stopped he the boat I'd be the first to admit that my particular skill
doesn't call me names any more and we communicate is not administration Being self-employed, it didn't
instead of shouting But best of all, he ь showing occur to me at first to take on a PA, but it was an
affection towards me, which he never did before In just excellent move because it's freed me completely to do
two years by getting involved in the project I feel I have what I'm best at, while Alison deals very efficiently with
given him the real chance of a future. what I'm not good at But I also like the comradeship of
I: And I gather that the government's quite impressed by working with someone, of having someone on my side
the success of the project? She's really the unsung heroine of this trip
MJ: Yes in f a c t they've promised money to expand it which I: So, Alison, what attracted you to the job?
is great. A: Well I had a good position as a graduate PA in
MT: And the potential benefit to society is huge, because it's advertising I'd worked in insurance and accountancy, but
the small percentage of children who offend youngest I was never quite comfortable in the world of commerce
who become the hardened criminals and commit most of and finance and I was looking for something different
the crimes Well, I think you'll agree that's a very positive I'd been doing voluntary work in my free time, and I
way to start the week and I think. actually met Tom by chance at a charity ball I had just
competed in the London Marathon to raise money for a
Speaking, page 130, Exercise 4a children's hospital, and I felt very energised. We talked
Now, I'd like you to discuss something between yourselves, about life's challenges, and Tom said he really needed
but please speak so that we can hear you Here are some someone to sort out his life, so I said, 'What about me 7'
photos which show different aspects of police work Discuss He told me to think about it and get in touch again if I
how challenging each aspect is, and decide which two photos was serious I took my time deciding and read his book
would be most suitable for a police recruitment brochure You before going to work for him He's very special, so
have about four minutes for this. driven by his passion I certainly made the right move.
I: That was the book you wrote after you'd sailed single-
Speaking, page 130, Exercises 5b and 6a handedly round the world?
E = Examiner S1 = Student 1 S2 = Student 2 T: Yes. That first book was called Reaching my Goal, and
E: Do you think there is more crime now than in the past, covers the early part of my life I've always been very
or are people just more afraid of crime 7 active, and I've had a go at most extreme sports - you
S1: Well, I think there was actually just as much of it before know, hang-gliding, kite-surfing, all that But, while at
it's just that everyone is much more aware of it university, I had a nasty horse-riding accident where I
nowadays because of the media coverage The hurt my back The doctors said, you know, 'No more
newspapers send out panic signals – you know, as if physical challenges for you - you'll have to take it easy
muggers were waiting around every corner S2: Yes, I from now on ' But I just couldn't accept it The book
wish people would realise that crime is really quite low talks about me getting back to fitness and the goals I set
What they should be worrying about more is for myself along the way I thought sailing round the world
example encouraging people to drive safely and SI: I was the ultimate one, but actually I didn't stop after that.
agree absolutely Road accidents are still the biggest I: So, what drives you, Tom?
killers - people driving too fast, or perhaps not T: One of the things that I do to raise money for my trips
concentrating because they re talking on their mobiles is talking to kids in schools and colleges about
It's time the police put more effort into preventing people motivation I found that preparing for those talks did lead
dying on the roads me to question my own motives for doing these trips But
E: Thank you Do you think violent films and computer I came to the conclusion that basically we live in a
games encourage people to commit crimes 7 S2: Well, that fascinating world and we're barely scratching the surface
s a difficult one Um I think the effect of these games of what's achievable - and that's what drives me.
and films is probably exaggerated to some extent, but I'd I: So, Alison, tell us what you're doing to support Tom on
really rather they didn't show violent films on TV when this latest trip.
children are likely to see them What do you think 7 SI: A: I'll have my hands full pretty much 24 hours a day, just
Well, yes, probably for most people there's no problem - running the logistics That means things like contacting
they can separate reality from er games, but coastguards, arranging refuelling, etc I'll basically be
suppose someone with violent tendencies was watching a acting as the headquarters The expedition from North
film like this or playing a game - they might get ideas America to the UK will take three to four weeks This
E: Thank you. particular route hasn't been completed before - it's very
dangerous There'll be five men, including Tom, in a boat
Exam practice 4 which is essentially a large inflatable dinghy and it has
Listening, Paper 4 Part 1 no shelter
I = Interviewer T = Tom, A = Alison I And how are you feeling Tom - with just a week to go?
I: Next week, adventurer Tom Westfield is setting off on T: Before you go on an expedition, you go through the
his latest expedition, crossing the Atlantic by an whole range of emotions At times, I've felt terrified at
especially perilous route in an open boat Meanwhile, the thought of what I've taken on, at others, anxious
back in London, his personal assistant, Alison Nunn, about the details - I suppose I'm rather insecure in some
16
ways, I like to feel in control of everything But now notice at the time - you know, not what they discuss
we've reached this stage, I just feel rather vulnerable, as when that person's just walked out the door.
if I've done all I can and it's just down to luck with the I: So, let's imagine that a company has narrowed the field
weather Once you start, you go into survival mode and, down to, say, six candidates - all with an equal chance
as time goes by. you get tired, wet and fed up and you on paper How would you, Gary, advise those people to
start missing home behave at interview 7 What about the issue of dress?
I: Where will you actually be based during all this, Alison - G: Well, according to another study, 70% of employee
do you have an office? turnover results from people not fitting in with the
A: Well, when I started the job, one problem was where I culture of a company, rather than a lack of ability or
would work Tom lives in a small flat with his wife and skills So the interviewers are looking to see whether or
baby He works on his laptop in a small spare bedroom, not someone seems to be the sort of person who'll get
so there wasn't room for me there But like all the recent on in the sort of place it is. So candidates need to do
trips, this one will be featured on a television their homework on this The general rule of thumb is
programme, and a publishing company will do a book find out what people wear m the job - it's often smart
So Tom has set up a public-relations team to handle casual in offices these days - and go up a notch You
that side of things, and I have a desk and a computer in want to look as if you've made an effort, but also that
their office you're going to fit in with the culture.
I: So, Tom, best of luck on the trip, and thank you both I: And Jodie, what about body language 9 Can we really alter
very much for taking time out to join me today the signals we send out about ourselves?
A/T: Thank you. J: Well, at interviews candidates are rather nervous and
often too bound up with their own feelings to think
Module 9 about how the interviewers may perceive them So, I'd
say be yourself, but do think about how you're going to
Listening 1, page 139, Exercise 2 behave It's important to look people in the eye, for
I = interviewer, J = Jodie, G = Gary example, and to smile Candidates who project an image
I: In today's programme, we're looking at job interviews, of vitality and energy come across as more capable to the
how to present yourself if you want to land the job in interviewers, more inspiring than those who seem flat
question With me are Jodie Bradwell, a recruitment and characterless So, stay upbeat, sit up straight and
consultant with a top London agency, and Gary Smart, a speak clearly Think about the total message you're
university careers officer So Jodie, I've read that first communicating to the people opposite you - because it's
impressions really count in interviews Is that the case? not just what you say.
J: Well, research has shown that when we meet people for I: Gary?
the first time, we very quickly make up our minds about G: I'd go along with that. We do role-plays with students to
them What the researchers found was that in job get them thinking about how body language affects
interviews especially, it's the impression people give as verbal communication You know, we get a volunteer to
they walk through the door that sticks, no matter what sit on a chair with their arms folded, legs crossed,
they may go on to say and do It's an alarming thought, looking at the floor - all classic symptoms of interview
and I'm not 100% convinced, but those were the findings nerves - and then ask them questions Then we get the
As a candidate, your best defence against this, of course, same person to sit in a relaxed way, looking straight at
is to make sure you send out the right messages from the the interviewer, and ask them some more questions What
moment you walk in, the way you greet people what you always happens is that in the second position, the
wear, anything that can influence the interviewer's person's voice sounds different, the tone lifts, and they
opinion. suddenly sound sure of themselves, more energetic and
J: Gary, would you go along with that? enthusiastic, and these are all the qualities you need to
G: Well, if we're talking about graduate recruitment, I project in an interview.
would hope that it's not quite so superficial I mean, I. Have you ever tried that, Jodie?
companies invest heavily in their recruitment J: I've seen it done on a video - it's really striking But I'd
procedures, and what we seem to be saying here is that like to add that, sure, it's worth knowing what the
all you need is a smart suit and a firm handshake and optimum body-language signals are, but don't get hung
you're in, and I think that's too simplistic In any case, if up on them If you're projecting the right qualities, and
you present a false impression of yourself in an feeling the appropriate emotions, the body language will
interview - wear clothes you'd never be seen dead in follow naturally But if you sense during an interview
elsewhere, adopt a different way of walking and talking - that you're flagging, urn, that you're sounding less
you're hardly going to feel comfortable and at ease in the positive than you would like to, you should monitor your
situation, so it could be counterproductive. body language and adapt it to lift your mood and your
I: Jodie? verbal tone.
J: Gary's right, of course It's important to be yourself in an I: Moving on to what to say and what not to say, perhaps
interview, and what we're talking about here is presenting you could …
yourself in the best light - not pretending to be
somebody you're not The thing to remember about this Listening 2, page 143, Exercise 2
research, though, is that it s talking about subconscious
impressions Of course, the interviewers don t mean to We've all got at least one T-shirt. They're cheap, stylish and
base everything on a first impression, but it seems that easily replaceable But how many of us know the history of
they are influenced, on a deep level, by certain aspects this familiar garment?
of a candidate's behaviour, even if that's not what they Well, it all started during the First World War Sailors in the
United States Navy noticed that their French counterparts
17
were wearing cotton undershirts which were much cooler turn out to be popular People who can tell jokes and who
and more comfortable than the woollen ones they were laugh at our own attempts at humour are always welcome
issued with The Americans quickly adopted the French habit, guests, and we look forward to seeing them But in actual
and cotton shirts shaped like a letter T soon became standard fact, humour, as in finding things funny and laughing at
issue for all ranks of the US forces A modern classic had them, only explains between 10 and 20 per cent of laughter,
arrived. the remaining 80 per cent actually serving quite a wide range
The 1930s saw great advances in the cloth industry The mass of social and psychological functions.
production of cotton cloth made it cheaper and more widely The theory of evolution, for example, encourages us to
available, and something resembling the modern T-shirt believe that everything humans do has a purpose - and
became a popular item of underwear for the masses in the laughter is no exception In my research, what I've found is
USA The shirts were made of the same material as they are that, more often than not, laughter is used as a way of easing
now, although they were much looser, had sleeves down to social communication Think about how we smile and laugh
the elbows and a V-shaped neck The modern classic shape, to show that we're friendly or to break the ice at parties, to
of course is with a round neck and much shorter sleeves than lighten the atmosphere and build trust with people Laughter
was originally the case. is also a good form of medicine What actually happens
Exposing one's underwear in public before the 1950s was during a big belly laugh is that, as well as the muscles of your
unheard of, however In the 1930s and 40s, this was felt to be face and body getting a good workout, your heart rate also
appropriate onlv for people such as sportsmen or workmen, rises, as does your blood pressure As the heart beats faster
who needed freedom of movement to play or work However, oxygen is sent surging through the bloodstream In other
news pictures of T-shirted soldiers fighting in the Second words laughing can actually make you fitter.
World War contributed to the gradual acceptance of the What's more, people who laugh regularly have also been
garment as outerwear. found to produce a high level of antibodies - the things the
The person who did most to cement the popularity of the T- body produces to fight the minor ailments we all seem to get,
shirt, though, was probably an actor In the early 1950s, the like colds and flu So it might be that a good giggle every day
play, A Streetcar Named Desire starred the young Marlon could help fend off those runny noses and sneezes And if you
Brando, wearing a skin-tight T-shirt which showed off every still remain to be convinced recent research has suggested
muscle Suddenly, every young man wanted one, and not a that laughter also triggers the release of endorphins -
loose floppy one either 1 But it was when the T-shirt got taken hormones which can help to prevent pain. So, who knows,
up by film stars in Hollywood that it became associated not soon doctors may be prescribing comedy videos instead of
so much with physical strength as with rebellion, especially painkillers!
once teenagers had seen James Dean wearing one in the film And, of course, as any psychologist will tell you, laughter is
Rebel Without a Cause By 1955, it had become fashionable good for your mental well-being An ability to see the
for young men to wear the T-shirt without another shirt amusing side of life, to laugh rather than cry when things go
covering it, and by the end of the 1950s, the impact of the wrong, suggests that someone has the flexibility to cope with
movies was such that even women were wearing them. whatever life throws at them something people with a less
Oddly enough, it wasn't until the Budweiser beer company flexible attitude to life find much harder to do
began giving away T-shirts bearing its logo in the mid-sixties The clear message, then, if you want to live a longer and
that everyday brands realised the advertising potential of the healthier life is lighten up and make room for more laughter
garment But the idea quickly caught on, with logos for in your life.
everything from Coca-Cola to cigarettes appearing on the
front of T-shirts. Listening 2, page 159, Exercise 2
In the 1970s, the T-shirt evolved yet again, this time as a I = Interviewer, P = Paul Daniel J = Jane Gilchrist
vehicle for political protest Inexpensive and stylish, it was an I: In the television documentary Operatumty, viewers
ideal way to comment on issues in the news Feminists wore T- followed the fortunes of a group of aspiring singers
shirts with legends like A woman needs a man like a fish needs taking part in a talent competition organised by the
a bicycle, and when black activist Angela Davis was English National Opera company. With us in the studio
imprisoned, Free Angela T-shirts appeared worldwide So, today is Paul Daniel, from the company, and Jane
when we look at the T-shirt today, … Gilchrist, chosen as one of the six finalists Paul, what
was the idea behind the competition?
Module 10 P: Well, it wasn't meant to be like Pop Idol, because we
weren't out to manufacture a star But we did suspect
Listening 1, page 155, Exercise 2 there was a wealth of untapped talent out there, and our
primary aim was to bring out the best in non-
Many people think laughter is an odd thing for a professional singers, open up avenues for them The
psychologist to study, but I became interested because it winner will go forward to star in an opera on stage, but
seemed to be one of the most common and universal forms of all the finalists are benefiting from coaching from some
behaviour. of the company s top singers and music staff At the back
My starting point was trying to explain what it is that makes of our minds was also the hope that televising the whole
us laugh The best explanation I've found is that when process might also increase understanding of opera in
something happens that's unexpected something which feels general.
out of place or inappropriate this affects us emotionally I: …. and there must be a lot of preconceptions about
leading to a build-up of tension And in order to release this, opera out there Jane, do you think you fit the
we often burst out laughing The more unexpected the cause stereotypical image of an opera singer?
of the tension, the more likely we are to laugh as a result J: Far from it. The thing is, people expect opera singers to
Perhaps this ability to handle the unexpected is one of the lead exotic lives, whereas mine is anything but - you
reasons why People with a good sense of humour usually know, I'm just a supermarket cashier I did grow up
18
surrounded by music - Mum used to sing in a choir, and I: Well, this weekend the winner will be chosen, and we
Dad would play guitar - but we were enthusiasts rather wish Jane all the best and hope ...
than serious musicians It was actually my school which
put me in touch with an excellent amateur operatic Exam practice 5
society It's thanks to them that I got some training, and
I've been singing in their productions ever since. Listening, Paper 4 Part 3
I: And were you never tempted to make it your career?
J: Well, I was offered a place with a professional opera Speaker 1
company at the age of 21, on the condition that I did Directing their own production, whether it's in film,
three years at a music college first Anyway, I was television, radio or theatre, is the dream of people working in
persuaded probably quite rightly that I wouldn't be able the arts. So I jumped at the chance of directing this new
to afford the fees, so I got married instead and went on romantic-comedy series. It'll be broadcast at primetime on the
to have four children I mean, I don't regret having a autumn schedules. The writing's full of witty banter, so I'm
family, of course, but, you know, all this time I've busy checking that the story is well-structured enough - that
harboured a nagging feeling that maybe I blew my big there's something there beneath the laughs - because
chance of a career in music. something so reliant on brilliant dialogue still needs to have a
I: So how did you feel when this competition came along so visual appeal. I entered the industry via a film-studies degree,
many years later? working as script supervisor on a number of films before
J: Well, a good friend of mine turned up at my door one getting my present post with the network. My advice to
day and shoved some papers at me and told me to fill them young hopefuls is to try to get on with everybody because it's
in. I told myself I mustn't blow this second chance. Mind a personality-driven industry.
you, I didn't think I stood much of a chance. You had to
make a video of yourself which I found a bit daunting, Speaker 2
but in the end I managed it OK. I've been interested in this work all my life, directing my first
I: Presumably. Paul, you and the other judges had a clear production whilst I was still at school. I'm soon going to be
idea of what you were looking for at that stage? taking on the role of assistant director in my first musical,
P: Absolutely. Out of 3,000, about 100 were invited to an which is really exciting. Once the show's opened, I'll be
audition. Just by studying the video, we could eliminate responsible for ensuring that the director's original creative
people whose \oices weren't strong enough. Obviously vision is maintained, no matter how long it runs. So I'll be
it's important to be able to act as well as sing, because continuing to work with the actors as they develop their
each role is different, but even that's irrelevant if the roles. I would warn aspiring directors to be prepared to work
person concerned hasn't got what it takes in terms of for nothing with reputable companies as the best way of
determination, energy and stamina. You've got to be able gaming the necessary experience. You only get absolute
to take the knocks as well as having the musical range. determination if you can't conceive of doing anything else in
Unfortunately, some of the people who were outstanding your life - so the financial rewards should be immaterial.
on the video were less impressive live'.
I: And for the 20 who passed the audition, there was an Speaker 3
intensive weekend's coaching with the other finalists. I'm hyperactive with a low boredom threshold - that's what
How did that go, Paul? attracte me to directing. There's three of us in the unit,
P: Well, when you're working with professionals, you're making both science and arts documentaries, and I've been
dealing with people who have been trained over many there four years. I began as researcher on national radio
years and who are used to the cut and thrust of rehearsals which, as it turned out, was fortunate, was in a fairly small
- we all expect positive criticism from each other. For the department there, so soon worked my way up assistant
Operatunity finalists, things were very different. They producer. When the resident director left for a job in TV. lost
were, of course, much less used to the speed and no time in jumping into his shoes. Before long, I'd followed
intensity that professionals deal with on a daily basis, him into TV, too. My words of wisdom for young media
and we had to match their enthusiasm with very careful graduates too would be: broadcasting is a terribly competitive
feedback They needed longer to adapt what they had industry, so don't all the rejections you get at the beginning
prepared, and often needed help and support at a more get you down.
basic level. But, coming from different walks of life, they
were full of experiences and were the kind of characters Speaker 4
that us professionals don't get to work with -that was a My background was in fine art - and I've no formal training
real bonus. in film making. Perhaps that's win I've no aspirations to
I: And throughout, the TV cameras have been recording become 'part оf industry', as it were. I'm more interested in
everything. Did that affect you, Jane? experimentation, and I advise young people to ignore all the
J: It was a tense time over the weekend - we obviously hype they hear on film-studie courses. Always work
wanted to do our best - and yet the TV people were intuitively, that's my advice; you .. you should welcome
constantly popping in and out. Oddly enough, the uncertainty and challenge - that's how you learn. I won a best
cameras never bothered me, really - it's amazing how new- director award at the Edinburgh Festival last year, but I
you seem to unconsciously block them out. Mind you, I didn't get that by doing what everyone else was doing. And
did feel a bit defenceless at times, if I did or said I'm still learning. I'm going to be more ruthless about how
something silly, I'd start wondering whether they were much film I shoot in future - if there are too many
going to show that bit on TV. But I needn't have worried. I possibilities at the editing stage, it gets too complicated.
mean, it wasn't as if we went into this not knowing about
the documentary. No, it could have been a lot worse!
19
Speaker 5
My ambition has always been to make feature films,
although I actually studied theatre studies in Sydney and did
a bit of acting the in modern drama. Then I came over to
Europe, where I was lucky to get my present job as artistic
director of a small touring company - they were dedicated to
producing and promoting works by contemporary Australian
playwright, so it was perfect. Although it's all good
experience, I'd still like to get into films. Film-making's such
complex process, so receptive to chance, and films work on so
many levels. I like the idea that there's a finished product - the
stage is very here-and-now, which is great for the audience,
but what if your work never seen by the right people?