Articles November
Get to know the Reporters of 2019/2020...
Sophie Dijkman - Editor in Chief
Dear Off-Screeners, my name is Sophie Dijkman. I am 20 years old and a second year Media & Culture student. Before this year, I have never had the chance to explore my creative writing, editing and photographing skills so I am very grateful that I get to be the head of this year’s Reporter Committee. All my (semi) adult life I have been obsessed with binging TV shows (shout out to almost every teenager girl), but my favourites at the moment must be Atypical and Peaky Blinders. I’d love to say the movie that describes my life best is ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, and with this I mean the eating good food in Italy part (I did last summer, will again soon) and meditating somewhere in India, I wish… In five years I hope to have travelled to many more places around the world, to have two dogs, three cats and be somewhat successful with my – hopefully – gained media skills.
Hola, my name is Camila Salcedo (Yes, it's written with one L, don’t forget it) and I´m 20 years old. I study media and Information first year. I´m from Colombia (Yep, I know Narcos. No, I don’t personally know Pablo Escobar.) And for the past 9 years I used to live in Chile. My main motivation in this Reporter Committee is my aim to become a journalist, so why not start involving myself in the media since now? My favourite TV show is… uff… this is difficult. I guess there are a lot of series that I was really into in different parts of my life such as Gossip Girl, Gilmore girls, oh and of course the best wannabe telenovela Jane The virgin. In the case of movies, is really hard to find some movie that really portrays your life so I´m just going to say any chick-flick movie without any real intellectual knowledge because I would really love to be part of one. And of course, in 5 years if I’m not doing that or some type of Journalism I would probably be married to a sugar daddy with 3 small dogs that I call my kids and also being the perfect housewife. (lol)
Camila Salcedo - Editor
Elisa Boulter - Editor
Hi fellow Off-Screeners! My name is Elisa Boulter, I’m 20 and half French half English. I’m currently in my third and last year of Media & Information following the track New Media & Digital Culture. I grew up on the mighty Côte-d’Azur and left home to study in Amsterdam when I was 17, ultimately leading to great moments and very bad decisions - but I guess it’s what made my experience one to remember for the rest of my life :) I think I’m quite sociable and easy to approach, I sing a lot in my everyday life in literally any situation - my parents and sister oftentimes used to shout through the house to tell me to shut up (my roommates don’t seem to mind it though, big up P&J!). I’ve always been very interested in writing and journalism but over the past years I’ve grown an interest for interactive content (coming to you soon on Off-screen Live) - Looking back, I’ve probably spent half of my lifetime watching Youtube videos by now, especially those sleepless nights watching One Direction interviews when I was 14 (the glory days!). My ultimate favourite TV show would be Skins, god what a funny show! Chaotic and reckless fuck up teens - it clearly never gets old! If my life was to be a movie it’d be The Boat That Rocked (2009), because of the chaos, the rock, the punk, the partying and friendships - I LOVE this film no doubt because I was brought up listening to this type of music and party lifestyle - I used to joke my dad could’ve been one of these men (he loved it). In 5 years, I see myself working a full time job and maybe living in England or Australia - most probably Australia, I need sun.
I’m Alexia, an 18 year old first year Media and Information student. In all honesty, trying not to sound too mainstream, I’ve always wanted to become a journalist so writing for Off-Screen seemed like the perfect place to start. When it comes to TV shows and movies, my personal taste varies from incredibly basic to at times unusual; still, my favourite TV shows would be Money Heist and Peaky Blinders. I don’t think any movie can fully portray my life but one aspect of it, my dramatic romantic life, could be somehow compared to the tragic story of Casablanca (I was joking). In 5 years I’m still going to write (who knows what). Where? Hopefully somewhere where it doesn’t rain all the time.
Alexia Radu - Editor
Hi guys! I’m Noa Jansen and I’m 20 years old. I study Media and Culture and I chose the film track. I’ve always liked taking pictures, making movies and writing, but since I started going to university, I kind of stopped doing it because I didn’t really have the time for it. The Reporter Committee seemed like the perfect opportunity to get the chance to do what I love more. My favourite TV show is Friends. I watched the whole show about 5 times and I know almost every line. If my life were described by a movie, it would probably be Bridget Jones, because I’m also clumsy as hell. In 5 years I see myself living in a house in Ibiza on a mountain, with 3 goats and 5 cats, making my own movies.
Noa Jansen - Editor
Jessie Swart - Editor
Hoi, hoi! My name is Jessie Swart and I’m 19 years old. I’m from South Africa but I grew up in Dubai and I’m a second-year Media and Culture student doing the film track. I’ve always been more into the creative side of things since I’m always either writing, drawing or making videos, instead of what I should be doing ( sleeping, studying, and then sleeping some more) so I thought the reporter committee is perfect. I get to do all that except this time it’s actually put to good use. I wish I could say my favourite TV show is something that isn’t a cartoon, but it’s Bojack Horseman (but Breaking Bad is a close second). If my life would be described as a movie it would probably be Alice in Wonderland since chances are if you’re seeing me staring out in the distance, my minds somewhere else, can’t tell you where though. Thinking about the future is actually terrifying to me. Truth is I don’t know where I see myself in 5 years. I don’t really want to know either. I’m ok with just seeing what happens.
Camila's Hot News
By: Camila Salcedo
Chilean 'revolution'
At the beginning of the month of October the panel of public transportation experts (government entity that administers the public transport) announced the rising prices in the most used public transport, the metro. A lot of Chilean people, especially students, showed discontent and started organising some protests by evading paying for public transport and traveling anyways. The president of Chile, Sebastian Piñera, did not answer to this protest until they became more aggressive and violent. Soon after that he realised that the discontent of the majority of the population was reaching to presidential levels, thus he cancelled the new prices and changed some of his ministers. Due to the anger most of the Chileans still experience, not only for the prices on public transport but also for the general expenses of life, they still make protests that they call “cacerolazos”.
Catalunya's independence
In 2010 the movement of independence in Catalunya raised. In the beginning the protests were not that strong, until independent parties had more power in the government of Catalunya. After this the independent movements started increasing to the extent that the Catalunya government launched an illegal referendum in 2017, without the approval of the Spanish government, using their money. This government was imprisoned for two years, without a trial. During last October the government was sentenced with nine to thirteen years of jail. Catalunya ́s citizens were clearly not happy with this decision, as they started some protests and riots in especially Barcelona.
California's fires
The mix of the hot weather and the strong winds of the past two months led to powerful fires that are burning down everything in their reach. People that live near the area were recommended to always have emergency bags and their cars filled with fuel in case they have to escape. This picture was taken in San Francisco, California and it shows the smoked skies of the city and the pollution due this climate disaster.
Trump's speech on the death of Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi
The death of Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi was big news this month. Not only because he was one of the most wanted men in the world, or that he was the creator and leader of ISIS, but also because of president Trump's speech in which he announced his death. Once again president Trump generates scandal. Different types of media have compared his speech to the one ex-president Barack Obama gave when Osama Bin Laden was killed. They criticise how the free speech of Trump turns out to be disturbing, too explicit and morbid.
@xsebastien via Instagram
@jordiborrasfoto via Instagram
@sbdunkscar via Instagram
@whitehouse via Instagram
My Take on Murhpy's Law
By: Alexia Radu
I don’t usually start my writings with confessions but since this is my first one I feel like I should start with a fundamental statement about myself (note: self-diagnosis which should probably not be taken too seriously): I am a fake pessimist. In the light of not wanting to confuse, let me explain myself: obviously the hype associated with having a positive mindset is not to be questioned, however, after years and years of an established pattern of bad outcomes (I’ve come to terms with?), I now self-induce a substantial degree of pessimism in my life in order not to be disappointed. Fabricated or not, most of the times it works. Yet, on that particular day, the natural frenzy that comes with starting uni and living in Amsterdam replaced my pessimism.
Before jumping in the story of not one of the worst weeks of my life (exaggeration? maybe, but works for the sake of the argument), let me be upfront and admit that those days are kind off in a blur. Why? Intellectual explanation: although individuals view their memories as a coherent and truthful account of their episodic memory, their perspective is never free from error. In his research, Bartlett underlines the influence of other cognitive factors that ultimately distort our memory. And who am I to say that my memory works differently? On a slightly less serious note, that week is blurry due to the conventional partying on freshers’ week (a lot, I must add). Okay, now enough with the intro, let me reel it back.
Schiphol 8 a.m.
Dragging my inert body to the baggage conveyor belt. Haven’t slept in 24 hours and my responses are already robotic. My eyes fixate on each luggage as they go round and round like in a carousel. 5 minutes pass. 10 minutes pass. 20 minutes pass. I get bored of my little game and I start fidgeting like those really annoying people. I wait. The pointlessness of me waiting starts creeping up on me. A big sign on the screen announces that all the bags from Romania have been placed on the belt.
Schiphol 9 a.m.
I start smiling through the recognised pattern of doom. While my brain is muting the assistant’s speech, I only intercept that I will have my bag back in roughly 3-4 days. Then, it dawns on me: I packed all my T-shirts and sweaters in one luggage and all my pants and skirts in the other one. Guess I could start uni wearing only a skirt. Or not?
Student accommodation 12 a.m.
I make my way to the reception, ready to get the key for my room and finally get some rest. “Check-in only from 15.00 onwards.” 30 degrees outside and I’m wearing all black and walk around the block for 3 long long hours.
Some metro station up north 12 p.m.
I am officially lost. The train conductor announces this is the final stop. The street seems deserted. Muffled sounds hit the cold pavement but I can’t identify their source. My mind starts making up scenarios with being kidnapped and I start speed walking (more like running) to the nearest bus stop.
Somewhere close to the Anne Frank house 12 p.m. (second day in Amsterdam)
I don’t have a bike yet (of course I don’t). My tipsy self attempts to keep her equilibrium in the back of my friend’s bicycle. First attempt, second attempt, third attempt, same conclusion: falling over. Thought process: only 2 kilometres to the club, I can run by my friend who’s biking. Repeated shortness of breath and countless scandalised exclamations, coming from the side, later I make it to the club. Fainting seems like a viable option.
My room 20:55 while writing this.
I have chicken pox. (second time in my life) (yes, it is possible) (yes, I am unlucky).
Coming up: Off-Screen
By: Sophie Dijkman
In this monthly section you will be informed about what is coming up Off-Screen! Stay up to date on all of our fun media related events, parties and trips. From the themes to the sign-up dates, this update will give you all the intel you need for the events.
Silent Disco Boat – 13th of November
For the 50 lucky Off-Screeners that are participating in this event, I have a short reminder of what you have signed up for. On this cold and cosy November night we will drink, dance and party the night away on a Silent Disco Boat! For only €19,90 per person, 50 Off-Screeners will enjoy a three-hour long boat ride through the Amsterdam canals. There will be two music channels available for you, so you won’t miss any of your favourite songs. Luckily, your dance moves aren’t the only thing that will have to keep you warm, as there will be heating on the boat and all the drinks are included!
Get ready for a wonderful November evening, cruising through the pretty enlightened Amsterdam canals, with your lovely fellow Off-Screeners.
IDFA x Off-Screen – 21st of November
Some of you might have heard that IDFA, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, is around the corner. For the very first time, IDFA, the UvA and VOX-POP will join their forces to host this educational festival which will combine great documentary film with academic talks, discussions and masterclasses. On the 4th of November they have launched the event by sharing their special program with the audience, and even a small sneak-peak was given about the documentaries.
Off-Screen of course takes part in this wonderful event by organising one of the documentaries with an after-talk. The documentary we will be hosting is the Netflix documentary Citizen K. The documentary tells the story of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once believed to be the wealthiest man of Russia, who rocketed to prosperity and prominence in the 1990s, served a decade in prison and became an unlikely martyr for the anti-Putin movement.
The two-hour long documentary will be shown at the 21st of November, at 12:00 in Pathé de Munt. Afterwards there will be hosted an after-talk at VOX-POP. Tickets can be bought on the IDFA website, and with the code 66UVA19 they will be €5,00 for both the viewing and the after-talk. Although Off-Screen organises this particular viewing, you are of course more than welcome to attend multiple viewings throughout the week for which you can use the same code when buying the tickets.
Santa Borrel – 2nd of December
On the 2nd of December Off-Screen will host a special Santa Borrel in our beloved Theatercafé de Richel. On this evening we will enjoy the tradition called Secret Santa. In this event the Off-Screeners that want to participate are randomly assigned to another participant to whom they give a small gift. The identity of the gift giver is to remain a secret and should not be revealed. It is preferred that the participants give a small hint on what they would like to receive as a gift, and the prices of the gifts will of course all be the same, student appropriate, prices. After the gifts have been given, we will continue to our regular Borrel ways by dancing, playing beer-pong and chugging a beer to one’s birthday.
The sign-up date will be announced very soon, so keep your eyes open so you don’t miss out!
Party #2 – 4th of December
When we just put our Heroes and Villains costumes back into our closets, it's time to get ready for Off-Screen's Party no. 2! On Friday the 15th of November the theme will be announced, but I can give you a small hint... With exams, the Christmas break and New Year's Eve around the corner, this is one last chance to look your very best while dancing the night away with your fellow Off-Screeners. Put the 15th of November in your calendars, so you will be the first ones to buy your tickets. In the meantime you can check out the Save the Date below and take a guess for what the theme might be...
Off-Screen On Piste – 11th till the 19th of January
When the new year has just begun and the Off-Screeners are still fresh from there Christmas holiday, we will be ready for you with our famous annual trip to the snow: Off-Screen On Piste. We will be taking 35 lucky Off-Screeners to hit the slopes, hike through the snowy mountains and enjoy the Après-Ski with its cold beers and hot chocolate.
From the 11th until the 19th of January we will take you to lovely Marilleva, Italy so you can show off your skiing, snowboarding or sledding skills. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a pro as the area is very suitable for beginners. Also, there is always the option to take lessons when you arrive. Next to that, there is no need to go skiing or snowboarding at all when you prefer to hike in the mountains or chill in the village.
For the price of €387,50 you will get transportation, accommodation and your pass for the ski lifts. If you want to play in the snow without going on the slopes, money will be deducted from the total price! If you don’t have your own equipment, you can rent it there. We will again be travelling with Skifest this year, and they will make sure we have everything we need to make this trip the best experience ever. Of course, next to our adventures during the day, we will also explore Marilleva’s night life, which is supposed to be very exciting!
If you don’t want to miss out on this magical, snowy trip mark the 17th of November in your agendas as the sign up is upon us! Be ready at 20:00 and sign up for one of Off-Screen’s most iconic trips.
Filming and editing by: Jana Franck & Julia Wegman
Editing by: Jana Franck
Coming up: On-Screen
By: Sophie Dijkman
In this monthly section I will keep you up to date with new or yet to come Netflix and cinema releases. A selection will be made of movies and series that are, in my opinion, new, different, popular, not so popular and surprising to watch. Do you need a good movie tip or a new Netflix series to binge? You will find them here!
This month will be all about Netflix’s new releases, which seem to be very promising...
Series
Atypical
On friday the 1st of November, Netflix’s drama Atypical was back for a third season. The series follows a teenager, called Sam, who is on the autistic spectrum (and has a an obsession with penguins). We follow Sam and his family as they are struggling with his behavior and him going through everyday practices such as school, work and dating.
In season three we will see Sam starting college life as he won a place on Denton University’s Scientific Illustration course.
The series catches your eye as it gets you thinking - who and what is normal in this world? This might seem like a cliche underlying meaning, but it fits the purpose of the series: Sam’s autism does not make him less human.
Series: Atypical (3 seasons)
Source: Netflix
Release date new season: 1st of November
Bojack Horseman
The series is set in a place where anthropomorphic animals live side by side. The series leading character is a man, who is also a horse, an anti-hero called Bojack. He peaked early in life as he is a washed up actor and has been trying to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life. The show is best described as very dark comedy with as the central question: “What happens when you have the world at your fingertips but you still can’t figure out how to be happy?”
The sixth and final part has been split in two parts, of which one aired on October 25th of this year. Season 5 ended with Bojack being dropped off at rehab, so in season 6 we will probably see Bojack during his time in rehab while he is searching for redemption.
Series: Bojack Horseman (6 seasons)
Source: Netflix
Release date new season: part 1 October 25th, part 2 January 31st
Daybreak
This series takes place in a post-apocalyptic sphere in the city of Glendale, California. As all the grown ups have turned into some kind of zombies during the so called apocalypse, the city consists of groups of jocks, gamers, cheerleaders, and so on. Follow the youngsters in this series as they try to survive life during an apocalypse. Due to the genre mixing, thrills, comedy and teen storytelling, it’s a very interesting show to watch. While you are watching you will probably feel like the story is both exciting and tiring at times, which makes for some quite surprising elements.
Series: Daybreak
Source: Netflix
Release date: season 1 - 24th of October, season 2 predictions - October 2020
Movies
The Irishman
Scorsese’s new work is based on the book ‘I heard you paint houses’ by Charles Brandt. In the trailer Netflix has released, we can see that the movie seems to have a serious Goodfellas-vibe. This of course makes sense, since that 1990 classic was also directed by Scorsese. We see slick haircuts, high quality suits and intimate Italian families, and of course a good share of fighting scenes. Legendary actors such as Robert di Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci fulfill the main roles. Di Niro portrays the Irish-American Frank “the Irishman” Sheeran, who committed crimes in World War II and eventually ends up being in the Pennsylvanian mafia. He is accused of being allies with the crime family Bufalino, the head of this family, Ruselle Bufalino, is played by Joe Pesci. Further on he seems to have this connection because he wanted to get rid of Jimmy Hoffa, the mighty union leader who is portrayed by Al Pacino.
With a budget of 175 million dollars, the Irishman is the most expensive Netflix Original ever made. Next to that it is also a very long one, as the movie is three and a half hours long.
Movie: The Irishman
Director: Martin Scorsese
Source: Netflix
Release date: 27th of November
The King
The King is a modern take on Shakespeare’s ‘Henriad’, with Timothée Chalamet starring as king Henry V of England in 1413. The movie tells the story of Hal, a wilful prince who has decided to live amongst the common people and who is a reluctant heir to the English throne. When his father died, he is crowned King Henry V. With his crowning, came the life he previously tried to escape. The story continues with him adapting to his new life and him finding his way through the politics that come with being a king. King Henry V is confronted with the chaos and the war that his father left behind.
This movie is also one of Netflix’s investments of 2019, the budget is unclear but next to the Irishman this is also meant to be a new successful Netflix Original.
Movie: The King
Director: David Michôt
Source: Netflix
Release date: 1st of November