Brad's Blog - #2
It still seems so unbelievable that I am sitting here writing about being one of this year’s nominees for a British Academy Children’s Award.
I’m lucky to have had such a varied career so far; my first experience was musical theatre which was just amazing. With Disney channel UK I have had fantastic opportunities - I’ve learnt how to present, play the guitar, sing in the style of pop-rock and even become an aspiring sound engineer and I’m so grateful.
My ultimate passion has always been for music and sound. I have enjoyed every minute in the studio recording ‘As the Bell Rings’, ‘Right Time’ and ‘Here I Am’, and with the generosity of my good friend Matt and the help from Jess at Scream Management, I’ve been experimenting in recording and song writing at home. My dream goal is to achieve a recording contract, record an album and ultimately go on tour. That would be so cool.
Brad, Wednesday 18 November
Akin's Blog - #2
This is a lift conversation I had with a work mate (let’s call him Dave)
DAVE: What’s it like being nominated for a Bafta?
ME: Err, well ...it’s kind of cool to be recognised (trying to sound modest).
DAVE: Do we get to call you ‘Sir Akin’ anytime we address you.
ME: I haven’t won anything yet (still trying harder to be modest).
DAVE: ...Or maybe ‘Bafta nominee Akin?’
ME: I’m just...
DAVE: Or better still ‘The honourable Bafta Nominee Akin’.
ME: (I give him a ‘this is getting silly’ look)
DAVE: Do you at least get to walk on a red carpet, sleep with a celebrity, sell your story and release a single by Christmas... for charity?
ME: (me smiling embarrassingly... hoping lift arrives at my stop very quickly).
DAVE: Have you at least written your acceptance speech?
Well, I haven’t written one yet. Indeed not only have I not written one yet, I haven’t thought about writing one yet.
And the only reason why I haven’t considered the idea of an acceptance speech is the feeling that if I actually contemplate winning- which I have to in order to write an acceptance speech- I will somehow Jinx it.
I have at moments on the Bus or Train thought about the long walk... the 5-10 seconds walking from seat to the podium to accept the Bafta, sweat across your brow, mouth desert dry. 5-10 seconds of trying not to stumble, trip, break into song, fart, puke, pass out.
There are a million ways it could all go wrong - and trust me I have thought every one of them. And that’s before we get to the acceptance speech. Do I just grab the gorgeous trophy and run back to my seat? I do have terrifying visions of me up there giving a prototype Internet wedding speech; of being dragged screaming of stage after accidentally using a lethal cocktail of obscenities; of having the Bafta stripped off me for bringing dishonour upon the Academy.
Or do I simply take the trophy, thank the Academy and leg it?
Fear as you can tell is a terrible terrible thing.
Akin, Tuesday 18 November
Josh's Blog - #2
After I heard the news from BAFTA, as soon as I put down the phone, I began to ring as many people as I could. I already knew what a huge deal it was, but I think it's only when you start telling people that you really realise - when you hear yourself say "I've been nominated for a BAFTA".
Some people reacted immediately, and some took a bit of time to really hear it – “Can you say that again, Josh? It sounded like you said you’d been nominated for a BAFTA.” But everyone was a mix of stunned, amazed and happy, and I was all of those things.
Now that it had become real, I suddenly thought about the night of the ceremony, and how I’d need to find something better to wear than the suit I wore to my Year 11 Leaver’s Ball more than four years ago. I thought about whether or not I should prepare a speech…just in case. Would that be pushing it? Having thought that, maybe I should also prepare my best “happy-for-the-winner, even-though-I-didn't-win” face, and a clap to go with it.
At the moment I’m also training to be an actor at Rose Bruford College, and for our final week before Christmas, we have to perform a political speech we’ve worked on. So surely that would help if I had to make an acceptance speech, I thought? Although, maybe it wouldn’t be a good idea accepting my break-through talent award as Stalin. Whatever happens, it’s incredible just to be nominated. And as my brother said to me on the phone – a BAFTA nomination will stay with you for life – it can’t be taken away from you. I’m very excited about the ceremony!
Josh, Monday 17 November
Akin's Blog - #1
I knew I was in trouble when people I hadn’t spoken to in ages started to leave messages on my phone.
It started off with the odd message from people that worked in the media, and now it has snowballed into screaming teenagers hurling themselves at me in front of Oxford Street tube station. In fact, I now live in mortal dread of perfect strangers walking up to me and maniacally asking for my autograph - okay I exaggerate a bit, but you get the idea: people have been really nice and congratulatory towards me on hearing or reading of my BAFTA nomination.
My wife hasn’t helped matter either. She had told my 'dirty big secret' to the next door neighbour, the double glazing guy and the child minder. Now their smiles are a little broader and their eyes brighten up just a little more when they say hi in the morning.
Akin, Monday 10 November
Brad's Blog - #1
I'm still in shock and can't believe that I've been nominated for the 'Breakthrough Talent' category of the kids BAFTAs Awards!
It all seems so overwhelming to be nominated for such a prestigious award and I never thought something like this would happen to me. When I heard about the nomination I was amazed and it still hasn’t sunk in. To be recognised for doing something you are passionate about makes it all worthwhile and I feel so lucky to be one of the nominees this year especially as I've enjoyed ever minute of it!
Disney Channel has given me the opportunity to try so many different things - from my role as Dylan in As the Bell Rings, to being a presenter on High School Musical: You're the Star, to singing a cover track for Camp Rock! I'm really thankful to them and their input and guidance - I've learned so much! It also wouldn't have been possible without my agent at Scream Management who works tirelessly to realise my dreams and ambitions.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride of a year and I would like to give thanks to my family and friends for supporting me and keeping my feet firmly on the ground! I'm counting down the days to the awards ceremony...
Brad, Tuesday 11 November
Josh's Blog - #1
When I first heard that I had been nominated for a Children's BAFTA for Break-through Talent, it didn’t quite sink in, and it still hasn't!
I’ve been making films ever since I was six years old, when my cousins and I would nick my uncle’s video camera for a day and go off and film something. None of us really knew what we were doing, or why we were doing it, apart from knowing we had a brilliant time when we made a film.
I’m now twenty, and have just finished my latest short film, Shadow Observers, and whilst my life and films have changed rather a lot in fourteen years (at least I really hope they have...), what has remained constant is that same excitement and contentment that comes to me when I’ve made a film.
What’s so great about being nominated for a BAFTA? Aside from it sounding pretty cool of course. I think it’s this: for a while I’ve been sure in myself that what I’ve been doing all these years was the right thing to do, but now I’ve also got this huge nod of appreciation that agrees with me, and what a nod to have! When you’re working towards breaking into one of the toughest industries, it’s surely the ultimate nod of appreciation you can have. It’s nice to know I’m on the right track.
Josh, Tuesday 11 November
The Break-through Bloggers
What does it feel like to be nominated for a BAFTA? Do people start treating you differently? And, what on earth can you wear to the Awards ceremony?
Follow the thoughts and feelings of the four Break-through talent nominees as they record their experiences in our BAFTA blog. Get an exclusive insight into how it feels to be a nominated - from speading the news to getting ready for the biggest night of their lives on Sunday 30 November.
Our Break-Through talent nominees:
| AKIN AKINSIKU - Head of Graphics Nickelodeon/Art Director Akin is now well on his way to realising his childhood dream of becoming a superhero! Arriving at Nickelodeon via MTV and VH1 his work includes the Kids Choice Awards, the BAFTA-winning short film Big Green Thing and a best-selling graphic novel, The Manga Bible. |
| JOSH ALWARD - film maker, BBC Blast Josh is a 19 year old film maker who won the Blast Film Bursary in January 2008 with his film Possession. Making films since he was 10, he proved himself a promising new talent and is now working with BBC Drama to create his next project. |
| ELIOT-OTIS BROWN WALTERS - actor Eliot began his acting career aged seven and was soon spotted by Shane Meadows for Once Upon a Time in the Midlands. His many acting roles include appearances in Bernard's Watch, Outlaw, The Bill, Doctors, Casualty as well as playing Ryan in BBC's Summerhill. |
| BRAD KAVANAGH - Disney Channel talent Brad is a multi-talented 15-year-old from Cumbria who sings, dances, acts and presents. In his first year of television Brad has begun a promising music career, presented several key shows for Disney and starred in As the Bell Rings. |
The Children's Awards: An Introduction
BAFTA / Marc HobermanProgramme-makers, directors, video game developers and online editors are today faced with huge challenges as they aim to educate and entertain children whose viewing skills and choices are already extremely sophisticated.
This makes the Academy's role in recognising and rewarding excellence in Children's entertainment all the more vital and challenging.
This year's EA British Academy Children's Awards will take place on Sunday 30 November 2008 to celebrate excellence in all forms of children's moving image entertainment, whether in film, television, video games or online.
While the annual Awards are voted for by BAFTA members (including film-makers, programme-makers and games developers), the Academy also gives children a voice. The BAFTA Kids' Vote
will empower children to vote for their favourite film, TV programme, video game or website experience of the past 12 months. The film selection will likely derive from (1) Certificate of U/PG/12/12A films on release from 1 August 2007 and 31 July 2008, (2) Box office takings, (3) Intent of films to entertain a family audience. The rest of the selection will be made from the top-rated children's programmes, the best-selling children's video games and the most visited children's websites. Only children aged 16 and under will be eligible to vote.
In addition BAFTA is again partnering with CBBC on the second children's film-making initiative to inspire and enable children to make their own films and tell their own stories. CBBC me and my movie, in association with BAFTA
launched on June 10 2008.
On the CBBC website children can access an original 3D interactive space filled with film-making tips. The competition is also being supported by film-making events and workshops across the country. A super jury comprising BAFTA experts, film-makers, writers and children's presenters will decide the final four nominations and the winner. The final four will all be invited to attend BAFTA's Children's Awards on November 30 at the London Hilton at which the prize will be awarded. Last year's winning film was The Unwelcome Stranger by 14-year-old Rosalind Peters.
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