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Sunday, December 3, 2023

Father Lee's insider view of competing in TV Squid Game


* Lee Taylor (circled) with fellow players of the Squid Game.

As llanblogger recently revealed, Father Lee Taylor of St Collen's Church, has been competing as contestant #123 on the new reality TV series: Squid Game: The Challenge which is now showing premiere on Netflix.

The 10-episode competition, dubbed ‘The biggest Netflix show ever’ on the trailer, has had the largest number of players ever to compete in the history of reality television. Here, Father Lee gives an insider view on what it was like to be involved in the show ...

"Last year I was contacted by an independent television production company who asked if I would consider being one of 456 players from around the world to enter a reality television competition show in pursuit of a record-setting cash prize of $4.56 million.

I began watching the original series when it came out on Netflix in 2021 but didn’t get very far into the first episode. It was too gory! However, the casting production team urged me to watch the whole of the original series and I was relieved to be given the reassurance that all contestants for Squid Game: The Challenge would leave ‘unscathed.’

So, I ensconced myself on the sofa in front of the television and settled down to a Squid Game spree. Having overcome the spine-chilling scenes of the elimination process of the games, I was surprised and drawn in by the subliminal themes and motifs that began to emerge. There are many messages that call for attention! The story is not simply about a large number of people competing in a series of games, testing their agility and endurance for a life-changing cash prize. Something dark lies beneath the innocent exterior of childhood games and colourful playgrounds.

The overshadowing theme is capitalism. The Squid Games conveys a political, moral and social message of how the ruling, global elite are keeping the rest of us locked in a state of fear. Living in constant survival mode from one day to the next in a competitive, anxious, debt-laden and fear-driven society is making people sick. The Squid Game draws attention to fear: the emotion that drives people to take risks and betray each other.

So, what could I expect if I was to agree to go on the reality show? Surely there would be a chasm of difference between the hopeful contestants of Squid Game: The Challenge and the characters in the original series who were facing some harrowing dilemmas. Fear of deportation and crippling debt, the cycle of gambling addictions and the atrocities of gang violence had brought these players to the very edge of despair.

Trapped in a cycle of fear and as a last resort, they entered the deadly Squid Games in the hope of a way out of their pain and suffering. John Hay, an executive producer of Squid Game: The Challenge, recently responded to criticism about the new reality show missing the political point of Squid Game by saying, ‘Our version is driven by opportunity, rather than being driven by need.’

Finding the philosophy of the original show interesting, I decided I would take up the challenge. My only concern was how contestants would be eliminated in the games. Was I selected as a priest to read the Last Rites?

All contestants were accommodated at The Tower Hotel, just by the iconic Tower Bridge in London. We all arrived four days before filming. We were allocated a room, issued with our player number and advised that we were to stay in our rooms, not speak to any other players or leave the hotel unless it was an emergency. With a stunning view out of my window of all the London landmarks lit up at night it was so tempting to nip out for a few riverside cocktails! No chance! The hotel was monitored by security 24/7 with guards on each floor!

Meal times at the hotel followed a phased schedule to avoid all the players meeting up at once. Food was served into take-away boxes to be consumed back in our rooms. I did wonder whether the greatest test of endurance of the whole experience might be being cooped up in a hotel room. But apart from larking about with other contestants through our bedroom windows like something straight out of Commedia dell'arte - the pretend walking downstairs mime was one form of silent entertainment - some time was taken up for a number of pre-filming activities: briefing videos for us to watch via our iphones, a schedule of fitting times for our Squid Game tracksuits (as well as thermals) and photoshoots for graphic purposes.

All our personal items, mobile phones and luggage were collected from our hotel rooms by a member of the production team the night before filming. A combination lock, unknown to the players, sealed our luggage and we wouldn’t see this again until after filming. The only items we were left with were our Squid Game clothes, a complimentary hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste with our contestant numbers branded on them and a small zip-lock bag for any essential, approved items like medication and contact lenses.

We set off at 4am the next day for our unknown destination and it was freezing cold. Now the thermals made sense. Several coaches took the 456 players on a two- hour journey. We arrived at what appeared to be an old RAF hangar which I later discovered was Cardington Studios. It was even colder in that haunting, cavernous building. It was so cold my nipples could have cut through diamonds!

There was a lot of waiting around outside of the main set for more briefings and microphone fittings, but hot drinks, snacks and hand warmers were provided. When the time came to play the first game ‘Red Light, Green Light’ there was a lot of excitement as we all congregated outside the set to wait for the doors to open.

The set for the first game, ‘Red Light, Green Light’, was very similar to the original series, very colourful but eerie. It was a huge cathedral-like space with a painted scene of a cornfield that spanned all surrounding walls. The temperature was unpleasantly and painfully cold. There was a personal trainer from a local gym who led us all in ‘warm up’ exercises before the game began: jumping jacks, jogging on the spot, squats and burpees etc. I guess this was to prepare us mentally, physically as well as to increase body temperature.

In the far distance, across the finishing line, was the iconic doll whose tune we had to run to. The aim of this game was to get to the doll's side of the field within a set time limit, but we could only move when the doll was singing and had its back to us. The doll sang the chilling song we recognised from the original series, ‘Mugunghwa Kkoci Pieot Seumnida’ which translates as ‘The hibiscus flower has bloomed’. Hibiscus is the national flower of South Korea.

When the doll stopped and turned around we had to freeze (and we did in more ways than one) on the spot, maintaining the same position for ten, fifteen and even up to twenty-five minutes while drones flew overhead to detect the slightest movement from players. I knew the longest time was around twenty-five minutes because I sang (in my head) the popular Christmas carol, ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’, five times and I know it takes about five minutes to sing this carol once through. Very appropriate for these post-Christmas, ‘hard as iron’ conditions. This was the most challenging part of the experience. The game took around 7 hours to film. About a quarter of the way through, pain, tingling and numbness set in all over my hands. My nose was dripping like a leaky tap. 

Several people collapsed and concerned players nearby yelled out ‘medic!’ In my stationary position and from the corner of my eye, I noticed that a couple of people were being taken out on stretchers. At these points throughout the game it was announced that we would take time out to relax a little while the medics intervened. Although we could relax a little, we were told not to move from our spot. During these pauses many of the players around me were advising each other to keep hands in pockets. 

I felt so sorry for Jordan (Player 385) who was stuck in a squat position for almost 15 minutes. I stood behind her (almost 1 o’clock position when viewing the scene on TV) and watched her. With the shivering and numbness caused by the penetrating cold, and the rapid onslaught of eliminations, it’s fair to say that I became a bit fearful.

But let us make no mistake: fear is the key note of the Squid Game. The tone of fear even makes its way into the theme music of Squid Game. Having an interest in sacred music, I became fascinated at how Gregorian Chant is adroitly utilised in the Squid Games soundtrack. The haunting Pink Soldiers melody signals when trouble and danger is brewing around the games. The first four notes are taken from the opening of an ancient plainsong melody Dies Irae, from the Latin text meaning, ‘Day of Wrath’.

This chant was sung regularly during Requiem Masses in churches over 800 years ago. It is a very foreboding melody that matches the solemnity of the funereal text which goes on to remind those grieving the dead of the day of impending doom and judgement when everything will turn to ash. This four-note Dies Irae musical idiom has been picked up by many film composers as an effective way of sending a cue to the viewer of imminent peril and danger. It is meant to be fearful! For example, this musical motif can be heard at appropriate points in films such as, ‘The Shining’, ‘Friday the Thirteenth’, ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ to name just a few.

Fear is the undercurrent of the philosophy of Squid Game. Fear is generated by money: who deserves to have enough of it and who is willing to compete for it. I guess this is capitalism and the underlying message of the Squid Game." 


* Father Lee's hotel room overlooking the bright lights of London.


* Father Lee (left) with some of the other contestants. 


* The toothbrush and comb handed out to players.


* Contestant number 123. Picture: Andrei Daniel.

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Collision near Sun Trevor closes A539

UPDATE: The road was reopened later in the evening.

North Wales Police posted on Facebook just after 7pm tonight (Saturday):

"Due to a Road Traffic Collision not far from the Sun Trevor Hotel the A539 between Llangollen and Trevor is currently closed. Please avoid the area for the time being. Thank you for your co-operation."


Firefighters up for award for dramatic Llangollen river rescue


The BBC is reporting how s
ix firefighters who sprung into action to save an injured kayaker in Llangollen have been nominated for a heroes award.

"Outstanding actions" by the Staffordshire crew - Dale Glover, Phil Salwey, Martin Bailey, Tim Bullock, Justin Cooley and Adrian Smith - led to the Uniformed Heroes Award nomination.

It is part of the Your Heroes Awards, taking place in Stoke-on-Trent.


* For the full story, see: Staffordshire kayak rescue firefighters get heroes nomination - BBC News

New book highlights growing importance of trees in landscape

 

* At the launch of Trees in Our Landscape in the Plas Newydd cafe are, from left, Howard Sutcliffe, lead officer of the AONB, Loggerheads Ranger Imogen Hammond and Andy Worthington, chair of the AONB. 

A new book highlighting the growing importance of trees in the natural landscape of the area had its official launch at the cafe in Plas Newydd yesterday (Friday) morning.

The 50-page book, entitled Trees in Our Landscape and available free to the public, has been financed by the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and compiled over the past 12 months.

It has been overseen and collated by resident Loggerheads ranger Imogen Hammond and includes contributions from a host of tree experts.

Trees in 42 locations across a swathe of Denbighshire stretching from Llangollen to Prestatyn are featured.

Each tree, ranging from the Carrog Yew and Pontcysyllte Field Maple to the Cilcain Huntington Elm and the Pentredwr Sycamore, are described in detail with their significance highlighted.

Those interested in taking a closer look are guided to their locations by Ordnance Survey maps.

In his foreword to the book Rob McBride, known as the Tree Hunter, says: “Trees in Our Landscape brings readers face-to-leaf with a diverse selection of culturally significant trees.

“With its clever use of Ordnance Survey maps enabling readers to easily find the trees and the beautifully crafted tree illustrations, it is a joy to turn each page.

“The AONB has curated a fine selection of special trees. It brings greater awareness of their importance in terms of species, habitat, biodiversity and cultural value to the communities living within the AONB.”

At the launch – held appropriately during National Tree Week -  Howard Sutcliffe, lead officer of the AONB, said: “Trees are fantastic. Both the UK and Welsh governments are putting real emphasis on them at the moment.

“The Welsh Government wants all farmers on their land to have ten per cent of tree cover, so the importance of trees has many different aspects.

“They suck up Co2 produced by cars and industry, they produce oxygen to help keep the air clean. They also help stop flooding and provide shade. In fact, up at Pengwern the dairy cows are always under the same tree in the middle of the field.

“As a nation we are just starting to realise the importance of trees and what we have done in this book is identify some special ones.”

Guests at the launch were taken on a tour of the trees in the grounds of Plas Newydd which, according to Howard Sutcliffe, contains a number planted during the first National Tree Week in 1973.

* Copies of Trees in Our Landscape are available free from the cafe at Plas Newydd and Llangollen Library.

St Collen's Christmas fayre today

 


Friday, December 1, 2023

Friends of Pengwern enjoy their Christmas lights switch-on


* Llangollen Silver Band play carols at the Friends of Pengwern Christmas gathering. 

Friends of Pengwern braved sub-zero temperatures this evening to hold their Christmas lights switch-on and gathering around the tree on the green near the park.

Santa himself was there direct from the North Pole - which can't have been that much colder - to lead the festivities with carols provided by Llangollen Silver Band.

On hand to provide further entertainment was popular local musician Chris Burton.

Later, people headed over to a much warmer community centre for kid craft, hot dogs, mince pies and very welcome mulled wine. 


 * Santa and entertainer Chris Burton joined in the fun.

Some council homes to be tested for RAAC concrete

Some council tenants in Llangollen are being informed that their homes are to be tested for Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). 

However, the county council says it is "reasonably confident" that none will be found.

This type of concrete is known to have been associated with structural problems in certain buildings and tests for it are being carried out by councils across the UK.

A letter to tenants from a senior officer of Denbighshire County Council says: "I am writing to advise you that we are in the process of sending letters to some of our council home tenants informing that we will be contacting a sample of them, to arrange to carry out an inspection in their homes, to look for the above concrete, known as RAAC. 

"Welsh Government have instructed these checks to be carried out on housing stock built between 1950 and 1990. We are reasonably confident that we will not find any of this type of concrete in our homes. 

"We don’t wish to cause any undue alarm to our tenants, however, these checks, as mentioned are instructed by WG and are necessary. We have asked a company called Xrail to carry out these checks for us. 

"In the unlikely event that RAAC is discovered in any of our properties, we will instruct a further more detailed survey and carry out a risk assessment as tenant safety is paramount, to determine what remedial works we will need to carry out, this may include temporarily having to re-home some tenants whilst work is carried out."

The letter then gives details of the officer to contact for questions and further information. 

The same letter is being sent to tenants in Denbigh, Cefn Meiriadog, Rhyl, Ruthin, Prestatyn, Meliden and Dyserth.