I haven’t forgotten!

Hiya all,

Again sorry for the complete lack of updates, however I’ve only got 4 exams left over the next fortnight then I can do whatever I want till that dreaded day (August 14th I think :-/ ) but yeah:

I’ve been working on a new look for the site and I’ve coded it all from scratch. There will be a few new things such as a chat wall, one-click share buttons, and other interactive features. I’m also going to try and move things around a bit so that it is easier to find what you want (e.g. series three only stuff, etc).

I’ve also written a little widget that you can download to your computer and it will give you the latest news then and there (you can even comment on news without having to come to the website).

Oh and if you are on Twitter you can soon have the latest news delivered straight to your phone for free (as a text message).

I’ve already had a few email suggestions regarding Skinsnation 2.0 so if you’ve got something you’d like to see then PLEASE let me know admin@skinsnation.co.uk

Oh and do let me know what you think of the new design ^ =]

Skins in New York

Video Of The Day: Tears in Heaven

by TaxxieLove

Skins in New York

Daniel Kaluuya News

Daniel will be appearing in a new play called Oxford Street at the Royal Court Theatre, you can book tickets HERE and read a review of it HERE

Also Daniel has made appearence in a sketch show called the Jason Lewis Experience you can see a teaser below.

Inside the mind of a budding screenwriter: Skins actor and writer, Daniel Kaluuya

Daniel Kaluuya, aka ‘posh Kenneth’ on Skins, has made the transition from actor to screenwriter for the BAFTA nominated drama. His first full Skins episode as writer aired this spring.

Daniel also presents the Skins Podcast (Skinscast) and his previous roles include playing Reece in the BBC drama, Shoot the Messenger. And he’s just 19 years old this year.

Episode 8 of Skins, which Daniel wrote, belongs to the second series of the E4/Channel Four drama. It sees Jal (played by Larissa Wilson) agonising about how best to break the news to her friends, family and boyfriend Chris (Joe Dempsie) that she is pregnant, at just 18. However, the episode makes it clear that the eccentric group of teenagers have been hiding plenty more secrets from each other. It is a hard hitting, emotional episode which showcases Daniel’s first ever complete script for TV. Not a bad start to a career in television drama. So, how does he feel about it all?

“I think it was received really well, from what I’ve heard from people that read some of the newspaper reviews,” says Daniel. “It still hasn’t sunk in that I’ve done it, really.”

So how does he go about writing?

“I usually don’t stop writing until I finish a section so when I’m in full swing I’d write 15 pages in a go,” explains Daniel. “I prefer writing like that – I just get carried away and can’t stop.”

And then there’s the editing. On completing the script, “you go in and meet with the script editors and producers, and talk about the most effective changes for the episode to carry an extra punch,” says Daniel.

The next step involved revealing the script to his fellow cast mates.

“It was quite daunting because I wanted them to like it as it’s the material that they’d be working on for the next two weeks. So I didn’t want to disappoint them especially Larissa who plays Jal”.

As a screenwriter for Skins,like other TV drama series, adhering to the traits of established characters such as Chris and Jal is all part of the job.

“It was quite hard, especially because I knew both the actors very well, I wanted to get their voices spot-on,” says Daniel. “But then I tried to forget that and just had fun with it and tried not think of them as ‘Jal’ and ‘Chris’ in Skins just treat them as this character in this situation. How will they react? What will they say?”

Daniel says it was “surreal”, sitting down with his family to watch his work on TV for the first time. “I was quite calm about it, but when it got to the end and you see your name up there, it was probably one of the best feelings!”

So, which was more worrying for the actor and writer, revealing it to the cast or his family?

“The read-through,” admits Daniel. “The cast seeing it for the first time was more nerve-wracking because of the way Skins works, they don’t tell the cast what happens in the episode until a few days before the read-through. Plus there’s a lot of secrecy and it felt that there was a lot of pressure because of my age: I was the teenager writing for the teenage show, showing everyone for the first time was hard.”

“I’d always been on the writing team from series one, but on series one I was a contributor which is when they bring young people in and they give their opinion on the scripts and what rang true and what didn’t. I co-wrote an unseen for series one and when series two came along they offered me a chance to write an episode.”

Although gradually gaining a larger writing role on the show, for Daniel, writing a complete episode was certainly not a planned move.

“I never expected to be offered it. The creator, Bryan Elsley, had mentioned it but I kinda didn’t believe they’d follow it through. So when I was offered it, it really did take me by surprise”.

The future looks even brighter for Daniel. “I’m writing for the third series at the moment, very early stages,” he explains. “Also I’ll be acting in a play at the Royal Court called Oxford Street so I’m trying to manage the both.”

Juggling the two disciplines of acting and writing seems to work for Daniel. He can’t begin to choose between the two.

“I need both,” says Daniel. “I get bored easily so I always go to the other that I’m not currently doing”.

When it comes to the best advice he’s ever been given it is short and simple. “Feel free when you write,” he recalls. And his own advice for upcoming screenwriters is just as clear-cut: “Write for theatre as they’re more willing to read scripts,” says Daniel. “Just tell good stories, honestly.”

Daniel is currently appearing in Oxford Street running at the Royal Court Theatre from 2 – 31 May 2008.

SOURCE

Backstage with 4Radio with Dev and Daniel

This was done last summer I’ve only just spotted it, this was when Dev Patel and Daniel Kauuyla did the 4radio podcasts, their is a few in out audio section.

Skins: Backstage Tour

Skinslife Records sign the Paper Heroes

Skinslife Records have sign indie rockband The Paper Heroes they will be doing a number of gigs around the UK at the Barfly Venues, you can find out what locations they playing at HERE and you can purchase tickets HERE also if you have a band of you own you can find out how you can be pick to be a support act for the paper heroes HERE Alex, music editor @ skinslife will choose his favourite, so good luck!

source:Toby@ skinslife

Auditions News

I’ve just got a email from Toby@ Skinslife the first set of callbacks have started and they’re down to around 50 people from the London and Bristol and party auditions and from this group they will pick their main cast very exciting, keeping checking skinslife for videos and photos etc, other news they already have the second of the 6 drafts in and they looking good, filming will be taking place in about 6wks.

thanks to Toby for the info.

Daniel in Delta Forever Video

Skins: Behind the Scenes DVD featurette

Video Of The Day: Skins Cast {You Shone}

By: xXxLetishaxXx

Britain’s Best 2008:

Nicholas Hoult attended Britain’s Best 2008. You can see the ceremony for yourself on ITV1 at 9pm on Friday.

Images of Nick Hoult at Britain’s Best 2008:

Skin & Tone Talented Teen:

THIS week we are celebrating the youth of Britain.