I just returned from two weeks driving around New Zealand’s South Island.  I packed the mask and jumper, and with nothing open on Christmas Day, we found ourselves with time to kill.

It was the easiest shoot we’ve done – we didn’t have to worry about lighting, and the dish is simple (but delicious).  Even more fun was shooting the dancing bits at NZ landmarks – waiting ten minutes for a quiet moment at Franz Josef Glacier, so you can slip on a pink mask and do a jig, is a surreal situation.  Whenever we’re filming, Lou and my oft-quoted mantra is, “this is what normal people do.” Patently untrue, but it reassures us enough to get through.

That’s ten episodes of One Pot Punk Rock in the can now.  The production has reached a level I’m satisfied with – my next goal is increasing their popularity.  Marketing and promotion have always been where I’ve let myself down.  Every band I’ve been in sucks at it, which is shameful, because I’ve known for years that it is at least 50% of the ‘success’ equation.  A good product has never been enough.  Waiting on a record deal, or for something to go viral, is to wish upon a star.  I still don’t know what the answer is, but it’s time to stop dumping it in the ‘too hard’ basket.

Vorn was in town from Adelaide for a few shows so we nabbed him and threw him in the car.

As we hit summer, it’s getting too hot to film during the day.  I love the vibe of the night shoots, but it means we’re only fulfilling half of our credo to “showcase Canberra musos and landmarks”.  Will have to scout for places still identifiable in the dark… or just do loops around Parliament House.

This episode went up a couple of weeks ago.  I’m sure I first read about cooking beans over an iron in On The Road.

We’re planning two more episodes before the end of the year – a PSA about hygiene, done in a Mr. T style, and our first international episode, cooking in a campervan in New Zealand.  Can’t wait!