THE TRUTH ABOUT MAXINE SWABY"S PARDON ME
After my recent world critique of my music video Pardon Me on youtube. I thought I would set the record straight and give some insight into this classic music video. Firstly I will give you some background about me as my careers have been so varied. I worked in the building trade for over ten years, worked in warehouses, bars, and much more. Seems like my main skills were all pratical and required the use of my hands. So no one is amazed as I was when I started writing songs at the age of 36. At that age I can only explain it like an explosion went off inside me and I was writing 2-3 songs a day. Even my family were amazed and so was I.
I decided in the early noughties to pursue music and video and I ended up taking a diploma in multimedia.During that time Pardon Me was conceived. I think everyone needs to understand Pardon Me was a college project. But being the risk taker that I am I sent it into several TV companies purely to get some feedback. Channel 4 responded and said we could use some of this for our 4music programme.
A year passed and I was taking my degree when I had a phone call. A production company called Monkey Kingdom were making a late night friday night programme for channel4 called Born Sloppy. Susan Maxwell the producer contacted me and asked me for a copy of my video. I declined on the basis that it was my first video and it wasn't all that good. Susan came back to me again and asked for a copy which I eventually sent in. Next day I had a call from Susan to ask if Maxine could come down to London. Monkey Kingdom wanted to film her in London for two days. After discussing with Maxine we decided we would go together and I would act as her music manager.
We arrived on set and met all the directors and Susan and everyone was all very nice and friendly. Both Maxine and myself had never done anything like this before and we were really looking for guidance from Monkey Kingdom. To cut a long story short we spent two days in London and were told our video and bits that we filmed would be on the pilot programme. To our amazement they were not and no reasonable explanation was ever given. And in reflection now I am glad we were not and I shall tell you why. (Channel4 had the final edit).
That was over nine years ago and recent footage on youtube has shown that Monkey Kingdoms motive for getting Maxine and myself down to London in 2002 was clear and it was to humiliate us on TV.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ2dCanrlgk
This video can be seen on the Born Sloppy video on Vanillapod's youtube channel. The video of me was cut and taken totally out of context and MK cut it as it suited them. I cant think for any reason why a so called professional company would even want to consider manipulating my video and maximising my content and use it to degrade me and our potential. Both Sarah Cox and Susan Maxwell maximised their hypocrisy towards me by speaking out of both sides of their mouths. Saying one thing to Maxine and myself and then saying something else to the production team and on set. It doesn't do alot for someone like myself who is just entering into a career in media. Is this the way a professional production company should act? To be honest Born Sloppy was a disaster of a programme and was real gutter TV. I know there were other artists who were treated the same. And although MK planned and gave me a roasting at the start of my career. I can say that I have insight and experience on how not to act. Thanks guys.
Now for anyone thinking about producing and developing material for Tv it could leave you thinking what the hell is this? Is their anyone out there interested in development and in helping produce new artist and acts? Certainly not MK. It can only leave you in a place where you will be on your guard.
So here we are back in 2010 and Pardon Me on youtube and in four months has 200,000 hits. I think people need to understand that this was a college project and it fulfilled its purpose. It is a great song and does get your attention. Tim Constable, Maxine and myself had some great fun putting it together.
And we enjoyed that.
