Day: 8 February 2012

JASMINE IN THE ADIDAS VIP SUITE AT THE O2 WITH….(DEEP BREATH)…..GEORGIA (SBTV), COMEDIAN EDDIE KADI, MUSIC MANAGER RICHIE P, CLOTHES DESIGNER WALE ADEYEMI, MUSIC ACT BASHY, ACTOR JAY BROWN, ACTOR JASON LEWIS, ACTOR ASHLEY WALTERS, ACTOR JASON MAZA, ACTOR DANIEL KALUUYA, LONDON360 REPORTER ROSA DOHERTY, ADIDAS HEAD LADY PAOLA LUCKTUNG AND HER TEAM ADIDAS LADIES AKUA AND AISHA.
This week, aside from D’Angelo tickling our fancy with his shows whilst he was in town (did I ever tell you about when we were both in a bath together for an MTV interview? no-I’ll leave it there then), Sonys former big don Mervyn Lyn (VP strategic partnerships at Sony Music Entertainment UK-Vice President of Sony Entertainment, ) threw a party for his 50th birthday in east London. His former colleague Jennifer Mills and I both soberly cited ‘’we would never venture to E14 for anyone else’’ as the room full of Merv’s mates, family and huge number of SONY-BMG colleagues came out to celebrate his turning half a century old. From famous ex footballers, to record label execs and street teams, to his dearest and dearest a great night was had by all doing what the new generation refer to as the ‘’candy dance’’, the old generation refer to as the electric slide. The dj even laughed as he told us ‘’you kids think you made up that dance? You really don’t know’’ as the elders broke out into a few more old skool routines that had us standing back looking confused and shrugging our respective shoulders! Food nibbles were passed around on silver platters by Chef Collin Brown and we left at 3am dripping from a sweaty fun night-happy half-century Merv!

FULL CLIQUE!
The National TV Awards took place at the 02 Arena and it seemed that the Adidas VIP box was the only place to be as it was heaving full of movers and shakers from all industries having a sumptuous dinner and clinking drinks together.

JASMINE WITH PETER ANDRE.
Ex atomic Kitten Kerry katona was in the box next door so we all had a bit of a giggle with her before her management colleague Peter Andre popped by to be a part of the most fun box in the Arena on the night. artist manager/producer Richie P brought Peter in to meet us all but a bizarre spell came over all the men and ladies around me as peter came to join us. the ladies made him pose for pictures where he was kissing their cheeks which he was more than happy to do-and the men cleared their masculine throats and said ‘’oh well I might as well grab a picture with peter too’’ LOL. everyone loves them some peter andre!
We were over 20 strong with a cast that saw (deep breath. here we go..)…..actors Ashley Walters, Jay Brown (in lots of new TV and films this year!), Jason Maza, Daniel Kaluuya , comedy writer and actor Jason Lewis, comedian Eddie Kadi, musician Bashy, clothes designer Wale Adeyemi, London360 reporter Rosa Doherty, SBTV’s leading lady –presenter Georgia, Adidas head honcho Paola lucktung, team adidas ladies Akua and Aisha!.

SILLY ANTICS WHILST WE WERE ”WATCHING” THE LIVE AWARDS!
Adidas are a brand that have supported the UK urban scene whether it be music acts, dj’s, comedians , style setters and more as well as athletes. Their commitment to not only helping dress up and coming acts, films, putting on music events, organising community uniting events all across the country, is impressive and commendable and shows their non commercial pro-social department are clearly connected and in touch with the youth as well as the David Beckhams of this world.
The hot food feast provided was scrumptious! Salmon, salads, chicken, vegetarian fare-all amazing for a live concert venue! The drinks game was off and popping but most of the box were well behaved and sipped soft drinks or 1 cheeky alcoholic beverage (I think when there are this many movers and shakers around each other no one wants to get too tipsy-although Ashley Walters was having such a good attempt that at the end of the night he was the party with his shirt open and fans mobbing him!. Ashley’s most recent BBC drama is currently onscreen on Thursdays (INSIDE MEN) -this guy just underplays his achievements but look his role cast credits up and its staggering how long he’s been doing his thing humbly grinding away-and he’s a family man-well impressive! He bounced over to impressionist Jason Lewis at one point in the night and laughed as he asked him when he could expect an asher d impression/skit. Eddie Kadi arrived late so we all had to pose again to take our group posed pictures on my camera timer-0but he and the other gents had all made such a wonderful effort at looking amazing in their black tie outfits-and they all smelt so fresh-it was all okay in the end-how could we be mad?. When we weren’t all having too much fun we did catch parts of the TV Awards and I noted that clearly CELEBRITY JUICE is an “urban ting” cos everyone around me in the Adidas box went wild as it won.
JASMINE WITH THE 2 ASHLEYS! (WALTERS/ BASHY)
I was just about to do some crazy poses that I saw Ashley doing with Jay Brown when West London gent scooted over to us and recommended we just stick to the ladylike pose-thanks bash! Speaking of ladylike-SBTV’s leading lady Georgia is a breath of fresh air in a field of wanna female media ladies. She’s professional, intelligent, sassy, got ambition and respectful of all those around her-sure to go far-watch out for her!.

JASMINE WITH MAN OF THE NIGHT-KOJO, MIS-TEEQ’S SABRINA, SIMON WEBBE AND HIS LADY AND LISA MAFFIA.
A week of the usual work hard play hard antics. To start it was roadblock time at Hackney Empire where the Fresh Prince of Hackney aka Kojo was hosting his first one man stand up show for a few years-this one for DVD recording so if you weren’t able to make it in person you can buy the DVD on your shelves in the very near future.
As we pulled up outside the queue was trailing all around the high street and into side roads, cars were traffic blocking and the excitement was in the air. We were handed our VIP passes and guided very slickly into the media reception where numerous celebs and power players in urban media were already gathered to welcome Kojo pre-show and wish him good luck.
Kojo swaggered into the backstage room wearing dark sunglasses and flanked by his whole business team a la a presidential Obama moment-I teased him. Come on-I had too LOL!
Eager to get into our seats we slid into the dress circle where I noted I was sat amongst Eastenders actors Preeya Kalidas (in a very bright fur hat a la Russian) and Fatboy, Simon Webbe from Blue (in an expensive Moncler looking puffa and his mate James Bond baddie actor Rick Yune, (who always mesmerises me as I recall his diamond scarred face in the movie!), So Solids first lady-Lisa Maffia who was looking as cute and lithe as ever, singers Jamelia (all glam hair and smile) and Mis Teeqs Sabrina Washington (sexy minx in black ripped jeans and curtain of luxurious hair) , ITV news reader Charlene White, THE VOICE newspapers Dionne Grant, PR donnette Vanessa Amadi, and many more.

JASMINE WITH PR MAVEN VANESSA AMADI.
The first half of the show saw comedian and host Mister Cee lead proceedings, a very funny white comedienne Maureen Younger who was absolutely hilarious and made a really unique niche for herself with the character she was playing (I think she was playing a charterer-in fact I hope she was). Loved her!

JASMINE WITH EASTENDERS ACTRESS PREEYA KALIDAS.
And we were treated to a live performance by new record label signing Cleo sol, who’s first cover track wasn’t the best received by the audience but she really came into her own singing her own stuff and is clearly a very beautiful and talented young lady.
Part 2 started and swept by so fast-time flies when you’re having fun. The audience loved it-Kojo was on fire and had the audience in stiches roaring with laughter. He commented on the riots, parenting, relationships and so much more-a great night!

ADAM DEACON AND JASMINE.
BAFTA nominee 2012 Adam Deacon came in to see the UK360 news team and record links for their show. He was a sweetheart who did really well on autocue considering he’s an actor not a presenter and was really keen to do takes over and again even when we said that was a take-he’s want to do another one even better-the measure of a perfectionist that’s mega ambitious!
After he finished hosting links we asked him about current news worthy topical issues like the 696 MET FORM that insists that music show promoters or anyone having an event that includes ‘urban music’ or ‘urban clientele’ have to fill in the form and bring in extra security and insurance. This has stopped many acts from performing live. Adam agreed ‘’I think it’s all to do with misconceptions in the urban scene, people think it’s going to be a certain way when really it’s not. something might have happened in the past at one event and people think it’ going to happen in every single event and it’s a shame because it stops artists from doing the work that they want to do. At the end of the day if the artist has a fan base and people want to hear their music then they should be able to put it out’’.

Recently Adam was in the press not just for his BAFTA nomination but also as he was touring schools across the UK and speaking to students about inspiring them in their assembly’s. Midway through his schools tour an ignorant headmaster cancelled Adams visit to his school at the last minute as apparently he had looked up Adam and his films and apparently Adam wasn’t quite the right time of character to be speaking to his pupils. Talk about outrageous ignorance and racism! Can’t a headmaster tell the difference between an actor and a role he is playing? If the BBC can have Adam on question time why does he think Adam isn’t good enough for his school? Adam retorted ‘’I’ve always been doing school visits, especially recently we went around loads of schools in hackney and we always got some good feedback from the students to the teachers. We were booked in to do a talk at the school and basically the head teacher told the students I was coming and plastered posters all around the school, it got the kids very excited about it. I was getting a lot of tweets saying that they were excited that I was coming and at 5 o clock that same day, my manager told me that the talk had been cancelled, the head teacher made the decision, he apparently saw a poster of my films and thought it wasn’t the right image for the school, people know me as a writer and director and I’m guessing people wanted to hear about that, so he told the school I cancelled when I didn’t. The last thing I’d want is for young people to support what I’m doing and then cancel on them in the last minute. So, I put it up on twitter and there was a protest in the school, which turned into a little riot and the teacher made it out like I cancelled. There are people that don’t understand young people that’s why we need younger teachers in schools and there are in those in positions of power who just don’t understand young people. It’s not right’’.
If you haven’t voted for Adam in this weeks BAFTA race make sure you do- http://bafta.orange.co.uk/rising-star-award/adam-deacon/
#TEAMUK is not just a myth-it’s a movement!