About Me

About me

Ellen Holmes – 17^th April 1998

Other subjects studying at A level:

·         Psychology

·         Sociology

Initial reason for studying media:

I initially chose to study media as I enjoyed graphics at GCSE and thought it closely links with graphic design and the creative industry. It also gives me experience in marketing which is what I would like to go into.

After A levels:

I plan to go to university to study digital media/marketing. I would like to have a career in social media/digital marketing.

Magazines:

I occasionally read music magazines such as Kerrang. I also read a variety of magazine articles online.

Films:

·         The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials – I recently went to the cinema to see this as it is the second instalment of The Maze Runner trilogy. It is very similar to The Hunger Games series as it features teenagers escaping from the government/adults.

·         Boyhood – I watched this film as I thought the concept of a film being filmed over 12 years and using the same actors/actresses was interesting.

·         Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck – One of my favourite bands is Nirvana and I’m very interested in the life and death of Kurt Cobain. I really liked the animation that was used in this documentary.

·         Submarine – This is probably one of my favourite films of all time. Submarine is set in the 1980s and follows the life of a 15 year old boy living in Wales. I think it captures teen life perfectly and the soundtrack by Alex Turner is superb.

TV Programmes:

·         Skins – This show follows 3 different groups of teenagers in Bristol as they go through sixth form. I really like it as I feel like I can relate to them with myself being the same age.

·         My Mad Fat Diary – This show is based on a novel written by Rae Earl which is about herself. It follows Rae from the ages of 16-18 and focuses on her battle with mental illness. I like it because it focuses on all aspects of life from school work to your parents. It’s also set in the 1990s which means it has a great soundtrack from the likes of Oasis and Blur.

·         Breaking Bad – I started to watch this TV show as it was recommended to me by a lot of people. It follows a high school chemistry teacher, Walter White, through his battle with cancer and his plan to make crystal meth in order to be able to financially support his family after his death.

·         Orange is the New Black – This show is set in an American women’s prison. The main character, Piper, is a middle class woman who has got imprisoned due to her involvement with a drug cartel when she was younger.

·         American Horror Story – This is my favourite show of all time. Each series follows a new story, set in a new time and in a new place although each series is interlinked with another in some way. I think it is written and produced extremely well.

Music:

I listen to and enjoy a wide variety of music but my favourite genres would be indie and alternative rock. I also like music from a range of decades. My favourite artists are:

·         Nirvana – I first discovered Nirvana when I heard Smells Like Teen Spirit on the radio. I then listened to some of their other music and loved it. My favourite album is the MTV unplugged album.

·         The Neighbourhood – I started listening to The Neighbourhood after a friend recommended them. Most of their music is indie rock but they also have a mixtape which includes mainly rap and hip hop.

·         Panic! at the Disco – This band have a very varied sound. Some of their music has a very alternative sound whereas other songs sound more like pop. My favourite album is Pretty Odd because some of the lyrics are, as the title suggests, quite weird.

·         Fall Out Boy – I’ve been a fan of Fall Out Boy since I was really young. They have an alternative and pop-punk sound. I like their music because it’s great to sing along to.

·         The Smiths – I think it’s impossible to compare The Smiths to anyone. They have a unique sound and a lot of their songs have very meaningful lyrics. I particularly like the song There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.

I haven’t been to any gigs recently, my last one being McBusted in April 2014. In October I am seeing Years & Years perform in Norwich and Fall Out Boy perform at Wembley.

My favourite music video is Heart Shaped Box by Nirvana. I really like how strange and confusing the video is. I feel like it gets you to think about a range of things as well as just not making any sense at the same time. I also really like the video for Beach by San Cisco, which has inspired me for my own music video.