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The Growlersworld Interviews is an ongoing quest, bringing you closer to successful and creative people in all walks of life. Christopher Whytock presents... A conversation with Rawle Austin – Growler, taking a break from interviewing others, bites back!
Christopher Whytock: Firstly, what inspired you to create this wonderfully designed website? Rawle Austin: It was meant to be an online portfolio of my writing (a kind of hybrid between a 'super-blog' and an information provider) and it basically expanded from there. It's a mechanism for growth and progress. Of the creative variety. This is how it used to look in the beginning. I’ve always harboured a creative urge or two and this was a way to do so and share it with the world at large. That’s the whole beauty of the internet. Being able to reach people worldwide. I also use it to channel my pent up creativity. It’s a kind of fantastic mix of words and pictures, brought together to tell a story, something that graphic novels do very well.
It’s a very organic process, meaning I try something, make a mistake, change it and keep doing that until it works. Then I rinse and repeat. Basically, I develop it naturally, currently broadcasting live from Streatham, London, UK. I have to mention that inspiration and moral support was and continues to be provided by my family and friends. CW: You have a great affinity for China; tell us how that was sparked? RA: I’ve always liked Chinese culture. I guess the passion started in my younger days from watching and enjoying Hong Kong Chinese films, particularly Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan films. Another reason for the strong affinity is probably because the culture seemed so different to our own in the West. It had a sense of mystery and an unknown quality about it. I also love Chinese food but the spark truly ignited during my first visit to China in 1999. I went to the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an. I was truly captivated by their individual beauty and ancient history.
During this time I rediscovered Chinese cinema and especially the films of directors Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Curse of the Golden Flower) and Chen Kaige (The Emperor and the Assassin) which I highly recommend. Then in 2004 I went back to China for three months to teach English. It was a fantastic experience and I made many friends there who I’m still in contact with. I had the incredible opportunity to visit the area around the Three Gorges Dam (Sanxia) in Yichang, Hubei province by boat. Words cannot describe the natural beauty I witnessed on that cruise on the Yangtze river (Chang Jiang).
It’s just that warmth and hospitality that I found so ingrained in the culture that hit me the most. It's very similar to that of Guyana in South America that I've also had the pleasure to visit. For example, a common greeting in China translates as “Have you eaten yet?” I found that quite heart warming and sincere. I also think the general contrast of the surroundings, it's a rapidly developing country, compared with home in London, a developed city, is a great refresher of the senses. That’s why I feel travelling is so important. Home or abroad. It’s easy to get bogged down with the everyday stuff so a break does so much good. I find the longer the break, the better, as you get to immerse yourself in different surroundings and your survival instinct is fully awake. The fact that the language couldn’t be more different to English is another challenge. The first time I was in China, just seeing all the billboards and shop signs in Chinese threw me as I didn’t have a clue what was going on.
It does actually flow when you write it in the correct order. They say the best way to understand another culture is by learning the language and also by trying the food. I did plenty of the latter, the food was fantastic! I have to say the taste and flavours were so natural and delicious that it easily surpassed the Chinese food that I had tried in London to date. CW: Your connection to China is enhanced by the fact that you are the film correspondent for Chinatown magazine. How did you land such an interesting job?
As I’m based in London and the magazine is based in Manchester, I cover various events happening in London which involve the UK Chinese community. These assignments have been great as they have taken me to places I’ve never been to and met interesting people I never would have met otherwise. It's great to part of such a vibrant, dynamic and innovative team. Some of the functions I’ve attended have been held at City Hall, the London 2012 Olympic site in Stratford and the London 2012 Olympic office in Canary Wharf, the London Eye, The House of Commons, the Dorchester Hotel and various film screening venues around London's West End.
I’m a huge science-fiction and fantasy fan so it stands to reason I love the recent Lord of the Rings trilogy by director Peter Jackson, the Star Wars Trilogy, The Blade Trilogy, The Matrix, Serenity, I-Robot and Spider-Man to name a few. However, I would have to narrow it down to Superman the Movie/Superman 2 (starring Christopher Reeve) and Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Between the two of them they have a lot of heart and I can still watch them and feel like it’s the first time. The big test is do they stand the test of time. A good film will always do so. It will have a heartfelt sincerity and a solid story filled with real emotion. This is seen in Terminator 2 by the reactions of people when they realise what Arnold Schwarznegger’s T-100 character actually is and the horror that is the T-1000. The T-1000 was basically an advanced, updated version of a robot machine, hellbent on stopping the mission of Schwarznegger's character.
Every single major character is memorable, sincere, believeable and entertaining in their own way. The film is built around a trio of tremendous talents and giants of the screen, the late legendary Marlon Brando, the always excellent Gene Hackman, and the late Christopher Reeve. Brando plays Superman’s father with such gravitas and presence that plunges you deep into his world. Hackman, playing Superman’s arch nemesis Lex Luthor brings a touch of cunning charm that makes him the perfect opponent for the Man of Steel. But it is Reeve who brings Superman (and his secret identity, Clark Kent) to life like no other man could. Every mannerism, every action is picture perfect. Make no mistake about it. Reeve is Superman. And you believe it every second of the film. Even to this day, on hearing the opening theme tune, it sends a tingle down my spine and makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck in excitement. Pure class! Breaking news! Just saw Spider-Man 3 and this is definitely up there as one of my all time favourites. I won’t spoil the film for you but, for many of the reasons listed above, this ranks highly for me. CW: Can you name us your favourite actor, actress and director and tell us what they have that makes them number one in your eyes? RA: Again there have been so many of each that’s it’s impossible to choose. I think Tom Cruise is a terrific actor and has played a vast range of roles. He just seems to get inside the skin of whatever character he plays. One of his finest performances was as a sports agent in the film Jerry Maguire.
Able to do deep and meaningful character pieces such as those that she played in the film 2046, to complex and emotionally tortured warrior maidens in Chinese wuxia (sword and action) movies. She is incredibly athletic and can dance and perform incredible fight scenes with complicated choreography. These are seen in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon which was her break out movie and House of Flying Daggers. Favourite director is slightly harder to choose from so I'm limited to household names in this respect. I don't really follow directors rather than films and concepts. I like what Peter Jackson did with the Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong.
I'm not the biggest fan of horror films, after an over indulgence of watching them in the early nineties, but I can see their appeal. CW: Can you also tell us who provided you with your best interview while working for Chinatown magazine? RA: Definitely actress Bai Ling. I didn’t know what to expect when I met her and was bowled over by her down to earth personality. She was very relaxed and really went into depth in her answers. Her character really came through in the interview. Most of the answers I received were totally unexpected and beautifully natural. She’s someone who’s very comfortable with herself and oozes self confidence. Very charming, very kind and very wise. Interviewing her was an experience I will never forget.
As you cared more about the characters, you were on the edge of your seat wondering what the eventual outcome would be. The ending was just magic. The title alone, the Return of the King, said it all. All the drama had led to that point and seeing it was the icing on the cake. From the reluctance of Aragon to take up the mantle as the sole inheritor of his family's legacy to his gradual growth and maturity into the king he was born to be was just beautiful to see unfold.
They are superior to movies, novels and TV series that feature sci-fi and fantasy. Comics are a medium in which a creator can tell any story without being restricted by a budget. They are limited only by their imagination. You can be literally transported to any place and any time. The finest writers can immerse you in a world and hold you there until the story ends. A few can even create a body of work that you just cannot put down until the last page has been read. Writers such as Stan Lee, Alan Moore, Roger Stern, Dwayne McDuffie, Chris Claremont, Priest, Grant Morrison and Warren Ellis. Find work written by any of these authors and prepare for an enjoyable ride.
It had been an ambition of mine to work in a comic shop before that point so the realisation of that dream was fantastic. I met some great friends there and, of course, got to see many types of comic book. My favourite variety is the superhero comic as it contains the most cutting edge science-fiction and fantasy around. I just love the fact that you can be transported to another world, practically breathe the atmosphere and interact with the characters. It's an interesting counter-balance to everyday life and world current affairs, just like all entertainment should be. That's why I have such a love for comics.
The writer at the time was a guy called Roger Stern and the book was illustrated by the late, great John Buscema. Between these two creators I was captivated and catapulted into worlds as stunning as they were different. This was due to the quality of the writing. The level of sophistication in both the writing and the artwork is breathtaking and plotlines regularly tackle such topics as social and political issues. The recent Civil War event asked what if the government passed a law commanding all superheroes to become, effectively, civil servants. It dealt with people's views both for and against this policy and made for a fascinating storyline. The characters lives and decisions made within were absolutely engrossing and full of emotion and the only comparisons I can think of now would be the TV shows Heroes and LOST. Both these TV series and others have been heavily influenced by concepts from writers of superhero comic books and, indeed, several current comic book writers provide stories for the small screen.
Namely, the New Avengers and the Mighty Avengers. Both are written by writer extraordinaire Brian Bendis and illustrated by artists Leinil Francis Yu and Frank Cho respectively. They continue to build on the great legacy of the series by providing engaging and exciting stories and concepts. The title has grown into something of a franchise and is now getting some mainstream love with the recent Ultimate Avengers animated movies and the comic book remake titled 'The Ultimates' by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. If you've never tried a Marvel comic book or graphic novel I whole heartedly recommend you dive into some Avengers for a great read.
Take for example The Thing in the Fantastic Four movie. Despite the quality acting by Michael Chilkis the effects still look a little cheesy. The character is supposed to be composed of rock but it doesn’t look quite right and is a little too cuddly for my liking. The technology will be available in the future to sort that out, of that I have no doubt. Also, the adaptation must have plenty of original source material, that is concepts and characters which come directly from the comic book which spawned it. An example where this was not done adequately was Ang Lee's Hulk. The film was quite good but failed to capture the spirit of the comic book and so it didn't feel like a Marvel Character. Bryan Singer really captured the essence of the X-Men and Sam Raimi bottled lightening in his interpretation of Spider-Man. Superhero comic books basically contain the most advanced science-fiction and fantasy epics that you can imagine. They contain huge concepts that are easily rendered by artists but would take billions of pounds to bring them to the big screen.
The problem for the movies is which story to adapt into a film. Many screenwriters hedge their bets and use several stories in one film. The recent X-Men 3 movies combined the Dark Phoenix saga and also The Cure storyline. Again, if done well, you get a great result, otherwise beware! CW: On to football, the great English game. You are a self confessed “armchair” Tottenham Hotspur fan. Why Spurs?
I must admit I’m no expert and have yet to set foot on the hallowed turf of Whitehart Lane! I used to put a pound on them every season to win the premiership in an act of blind faith. Previous odds of 350 to 1 should have warned me though! Since I stopped doing that they’ve gone from strength to strength! Typical! I think today’s squad 2006 – 2007 is one of the best we’ve had in years and it will continue to grow in stature. Jermaine Defoe, Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and all the boys are doing well and the future’s bright. CW: Who is your favourite Spurs player of all time?
RA: Yes, I love positive hip hop but I must admit I love RnB more. This is due to the amazing influence of hip hop on that genre starting from New Jack Swing (or Swingbeat) to hip hop soul which are the parents of today's RnB. I don’t really have a favourite type of hip hop as such and I should point out that I’m no expert by any means. I love the general themes in the genre which are, in my opinion, the innovation and raw energy of the artists and producers. Original stories and poems often based on real life experiences backed by infectious beats. Favourite MC’s? There are so many so I’ll just name a few. I like the smooth sound of LL Cool J, still going strong, to the comedy of Ludacris. Also, Run DMC and Public Enemy produced some great tracks.
RA: Well, I like change. No, I love change and believe that all things must change to survive. I like the old school style of hip hop and I also like a lot of the new generation stuff for its raw energy. The reality is that the world has changed since hip-hop first exploded onto the scene over twenty years ago and thus, socio-economic issues have also changed. Hip-hop has simply changed to reflect this. It has splintered off into various sub groups reflecting the different markets (audiences) that enjoy it. The bragging aspect has always been there to some extent and I feel it has now become a bit clichéd and somewhat slapstick. More comedy value than anything else. Again, reflecting changing tastes and attitudes.
This talks about the illegal trade in blood diamonds which is causing devastation to communities in many African countries. Hip-hop has grown from a small niche to a global industry which provides jobs for many people worldwide. Russell Simmons, Sean 'P Diddy' Coombs and Jay Z have done much in this regard. Both successful entrepreneurs. Hip hop has a worldwide audience and therefore it has a responsibility to tell the truth on socio-economic matters in a positive, inspiring message. To offer solutions as well as highlighting problems. To stress the importance of education and business. All music has the power to do this and entertain at the same time. Artists, record labels, music video producers, street dance instructors and recording studios are but a few of the businesses flourishing at the moment.
So hip-hop is one avenue for people to learn and hone their skills in various fields. It promotes positive achievement. Hip-hop, at its heart, remains true to its core values of helping people, enjoying life and rebelling against the status quo where necessary. Change is good! CW: Finally, what is next for GrowlersWorld? Will it continue to thrive and grow? Are you still full of new ideas for the site?
What exact form this growth will take and what's next is unknown at this present time and that’s good, as its free to seek new opportunities. One measure of growth is the number of hits recieved each day and month. These have been steadily increasing so that gives encouragement. As I've mentioned earlier GrowlersWorld evolves organically and all new ideas spring from that. The content will continue to be designed to contribute positively to society. The learning curve continues and as I come across new approaches and collaborate with more people then you'll see a steady growth of new ideas and content. GrowlersWorld is essentially a name and a set of core values (helping people, enjoying life). It can be attached to any business model which holds the above mentioned core values. I want to kickstart The GrowlerVerse which is basically my entry into the world of fictional writing and a long held ambition.
One advantage of the site is that it is able to change and adapt quickly to a changing environment, thus helping to cement its ability to last well into the future. Always welcoming new ideas and suggestions. After all, the internet is a vast and amazing place with something for everyone. It's a wonderful learning tool and a great teacher. I love working on GrowlersWorld and look forward to building it step by step everyday. I'll continue to invest in it financially and I don't intend to retire from it. It's a long term project. I also see GrowlersWorld as a kind of personal mechanism to stimulate progress. An opportunity to learn new skills and meet new, successful people. So, basically, I plan to continue to build the site until I drop, which means there's more GrowlersWorld goodness to come!
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