Blog | Srizzil

Would you like to sample some sunscreen?

December 15th, 2011

People fight over it, they steal it, they’re envious of others with more of it, they pity those without it, they throw it in the air, they work their entire lives for it, and it has the amazing ability to disappear faster than a small chocolate cake at a fat kid’s birthday party. Money. The root of all evil, the devil’s secret weapon, worshipped by some and hated by others.

This very evil thing has forced me from my break in the working world and into a new job, promotions. I’ve done the Blockbusters video store thing, the work experience thing where you get paid nothing to do hard work, but I’ve never done promotions. I’ve waved them off in many a shop with a flick of the wrist and an increased pace but I’ve now become one of them.

Last week I crawled out of bed at the crack of dawn and trekked a great distance to a shopping centre in another town only to be rudely shown the door by the manager of the store. “I don’t want any promoters in the store today.” A where’s the manager game and a signature later my first promotions gig had gotten a false start.

Jump forward a week and I was at COP 17, the UN’s climate change talks, handing out brochures and carrying boxes for the department of environmental affairs. Getting to experience walking through my own city, something I’ve never really done as a white South African, looking around the exhibits and working with some chilled people where just some highlights. I could get used to these kind of jobs.

The next day I was back in another town, in a small store, peddling samples of sunscreen and educating those who cared to listen on the UVAs and UVBs that were killing them. I began to get annoyed by the sound of my own voice as I offered sample after sample to innocent shoppers for the four hour stint. We proudly sold quite a few bottles and wrapped up with a swift signature by the store’s manager.

Although not the ideal job, I’m not one who enjoys promoting products I don’t really care about or use, it’s perfect for the extra year I’ll now have as a student. Damn you honours, damn you.

Posted in Articles, Blog, Lifestyle, Students |

Rolling In the Deep by Adele (Cover)

December 13th, 2011

I’ve been dieing to cover an Adele song for a while now and yesterday I finally turned on the camera and did it. Adele’s powerful lyrics and amazing voice have made her the biggest selling artist of the year and will no doubt lead to a pile of Grammys in 2012.

Beyond that, what makes me admire Adele the most is that her songs are not overproduced like most of today’s music. It allows the music to compliment her voice instead of overpowering it.

I am very proud of this cover, it’s the first time I’ve really been able to push myself and I’m feeling a lot more comfortable singing in front of the camera. I think the video showcases how far I’ve come this year with regards to confidence.

I hope you enjoy it, and let me know what you think and what I can do to improve.

Posted in Blog, Covers, Music, Music, Video |

The Awkward Date

October 31st, 2011

Dating is a strange phenomenon practiced by humans to get to know the other sex better and find out if they’re compatible. We strive to find someone to live with, I think, because nobody truly wants to be alone. This leads to many awkward situations and set ups with complete strangers. People have different expectations, and expect certain mannered behaviour.

The date scene is something of a dead horse beaten over and over because even if you’ve never been on a date, you can relate to the awkward situations they create. The challenge was to add a Srizzil spin to it. My biggest concern on releasing the video is that it may be so awkward it’s difficult to watch. But for people with a sense of humour like mine, you’ll find the awkwardness of two strangers trying to find something to say to each other hilarious in itself.

My friend Kate had made some date videos for her youth and was keen to do a Srizzil video, I suggested we do an awkward date video together. Kate and I hashed out some random ideas and my friends Jonathan and Graham added some great laughs. Soon we had a video.

Thanks to some connections another friend, Jared, organised for us to film at Blockman’s Grill in Pinetown. The staff were super accommodating, and let us film for the full six hours it took to get through shooting. At literally a moments notice, more amazing friends Ross and Kirsty (she’s the waitress serving us), dropped everything and rushed over to help us film. Jin, the man with an answer to all your girl problems, was on hand to help direct and record sound while I jumped in front of the camera.

I think what I’m getting at here is this was an awesome collaborative effort, and I’m super grateful to all those involved. Since exams finished I’ve been dieing to shoot another video and we got it done.

I’m most excited to note that the sound issues should be pretty much gone and quality will continue to improve as I get used to my great new sound equipment. I also pulled out the keyboard and weird opera voices to create some background music which you can see me putting together in the Behind the Scenes video:

Posted in Blog, Comedy, Main Channel, Video |

Justin Bieber releases Mistletoe

October 17th, 2011

It’s finally out, NEW Justin Bieber music. While we wait for the next album (Believe) Justin Beiber and his crew are throwing us an original star studded Christmas Album. Today, October 17 2011, the first single – Mistletoe – dropped on iTunes. The Bieber team is hoping it’ll go straight to the top of the charts for Justin’s first number 1 single on iTunes. Listen to the song courtesy of Ryan Seacrest above.

Update: Within hours of releasing, the song raced to the top of the iTunes charts to become Bieber’s first No1 on iTunes.

Here are the lyrics to the original song:

Lyrics from http://ryanseacrest.com

Aye, it’s the most beautiful time of the year,
Lights fill the streets spreading so much cheer,
I should be playing in the winter snow,
But Ima be under the mistletoe.

I don’t wanna miss out on the holiday,
But I can’t stop staring at your face,
I should be playing in the winter snow,
But Ima be under the mistletoe.

With you, shawty with you,
With you, shawty with you,
With you, under the mistletoe, yeah.

Everyone’s gathering around the fire,
Chestnuts roasting like a hot July,
I should be chillin’ with my folks, I know,
But Ima be under the mistletoe.

Word on the streets Santa’s coming tonight,
Reindeer flying thru the sky so high,
I should be making a list, I know,
But Ima be under the mistletoe.

With you, shawty with you,
With you, shawty with you,
With you, under the mistletoe,
Yeaaa.

With you, shawty with you,
With you, shawty with you,
With you, under the mistletoe.

Hey love, the Wise Men followed a star,
The way I followed my heart,
And it led me to a miracle.

Aye love, don’t you buy me nothing,
‘Cause I am feeling one thing,
Your lips on my lips,
That’s a Merry Merry Christmas.

It’s the most beautiful time of the year,
Lights fill the streets spreading so much cheer,
I should be playing in the winter snow,
But Ima be under the mistletoe.

I don’t wanna miss out on the holiday,
But I can’t stop staring at your face,
I should be playing in the winter snow,
But Ima be under the mistletoe.

With you, shawty with you,
With you, shawty with you,
With you, under the mistletoe.
Sing it again!
With you, shawty with you,
With you, shawty with you,
With you, under the mistletoe, yeah.

Kiss me underneath the mistletoe,
Show me baby that you love me so,
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
Kiss me underneath the mistletoe,
Show me baby that you love me so,
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

Posted in Articles, Blog, Music |

Honours exams, Steve Jobs’ death and BB woes.

October 13th, 2011

One might liken the nine or so months of UNISA’s accounting honours to being pillaged by ruthless criminals continuously in a fiery pit, and one would be spot on. However the frightful wait for results and the prayers for a miraculous pass still hang in the air like a bad odour. It’s been over a week since the final blow in the epic beating that the final exams distributed, and only now are my senses beginning to awaken with my creative mind stirring from its slumber.

The last week however has brought news that has shaken the world and revealed the stupidity on which it lies.

Steve Job’s death was a terrible blow on my joyous first day of holiday. I find myself saddened by a man’s death whom I never knew, but who I’ve watched with admiration since the launch of the iPhone. The only Apple products I’ve had the privilege of owning are iPods, all of which were gifts. I’m oddly obsessed with a company whose products I can’t afford, but who can blame me when the shiny Apple logo mesmerises my battered mind?

Then of course there’s the disgusting episode with Blackberry’s RIM. Not disgusting because of what happened, but disgusting because of how people reacted. With the internet service down loud morning and gnashing of teeth ensued on social networks everywhere. Really, we should have all been rejoicing that the evil technology monster that has consumed our lives was injured. Instead people everywhere jumped onto those strange computer things and wailed at the loss of their so called social lives.

This also allowed the opportunity for technophobes everywhere to jump on the band wagon and whack each other with a proverbial I told you so stick. As if they themselves created the products they mindlessly worship, the all out war for who has the better product had a douse of fuel added to its fire.

With an entire month at my finger tips I plan to march on with making great videos and then begging people to watch them. How fascinating we humans are that we need constant praise from our peers. By the way, if you just read this, you must be extremely good looking. I’m going to go look at myself in the mirror, you have yourself a good day.

Posted in Articles, Blog, Lifestyle, Reflections, Technology, The Life and Times of Marc Williams |