The Hokey Cokey: A Full Structural, Choreographic and Philosophical Breakdown of Britain’s Strangest Communal Ritual We put Britain's strangest party ritual through full academic scrutiny — the real 1826 origins, the "hate crime" row nobody saw coming, and why every adult in the room somehow…

The Hokey Cokey: A Full Structural, Choreographic and Philosophical Breakdown of Britain’s Strangest Communal Ritual

We put Britain's strangest party ritual through full academic scrutiny — the real 1826 origins, the "hate crime" row nobody saw coming, and why every adult in the room somehow already knows the steps. Turns out it's older than the combustion engine and just as hard to stop.

garyjjspate.com

The Hokey Cokey: A Full Structural, Choreographic and Philosophical Breakdown of Britain's Strangest Communal Ritual

The Hokey Cokey: A Full Structural, Choreographic and Philosophical Breakdown of Britain's Strangest Communal Ritual

We put Britain's strangest party ritual through full academic scrutiny — the real 1826 origins, the "hate crime" row nobody saw coming, and why every adult in the room somehow...

garyjjspate.com

So glad I'm not American. Jennifer Hudson has murdered that national anthem. Bloody awful. #WorldCup2026

🔨 The Dad Jokes Society has landed. A Facebook group for the noble art of the pun, the groan-worthy one-liner, and jokes your kids have heard 400 times but still roll their eyes at. Bring your worst. We'll bring the groans. www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cvz... #DadJokes #Puns

Stuck Writing a Novel? A Practical Guide to Getting the Thing Moving Again Stuck writing a novel and staring at the murky middle? Here's a practical guide to diagnosing the problem and getting your story moving again.

Stuck Writing a Novel? A Practical Guide to Getting the Thing Moving Again

Stuck writing a novel and staring at the murky middle? Here's a practical guide to diagnosing the problem and getting your story moving again.

garyjjspate.com

Sorry about all the irrelevant links that were posted here. I updated my website with a new WP theme and it came with demo posts. The posts on my site automatically get shared here when they're published. I've deleted them all now. I've also reverted back to the original theme.

How to Budget an Indie Film: A Practical Guide for UK Filmmakers A practical guide to how to budget an indie film — covering crew, equipment, post-production, contingency funds, and where UK filmmakers should and shouldn't cut corners.

How to Budget an Indie Film: A Practical Guide for UK Filmmakers

A practical guide to how to budget an indie film — covering crew, equipment, post-production, contingency funds, and where UK filmmakers should and shouldn't cut corners.

garyjjspate.com

How to Start Writing a Novel: A Practical Guide for Complete Beginners Ready to learn how to start writing a novel? This practical beginner's guide covers finding your idea, planning your story, building characters, and actually writing the first chapter.

How to Start Writing a Novel: A Practical Guide for Complete Beginners

Ready to learn how to start writing a novel? This practical beginner's guide covers finding your idea, planning your story, building characters, and actually writing the first chapter.

garyjjspate.com

UK Film Legal Basics: Contracts, Releases and Permits Nobody Warns You About A practical guide to UK film legal basics -- contracts, release forms and permits every indie filmmaker needs sorted before day one.

UK Film Legal Basics: Contracts, Releases and Permits Nobody Warns You About

A practical guide to UK film legal basics -- contracts, release forms and permits every indie filmmaker needs sorted before day one.

garyjjspate.com

What My Music Taste Says About Me (Spoiler: Apparently Quite A Lot) From Garth Brooks to McFly, Michael Jackson to Mika — my music taste looks chaotic on paper. But there's a thread connecting all of it, and I'm not even slightly ashamed.

What My Music Taste Says About Me (Spoiler: Apparently Quite A Lot)

From Garth Brooks to McFly, Michael Jackson to Mika — my music taste looks chaotic on paper. But there's a thread connecting all of it, and I'm not even slightly ashamed.

garyjjspate.com

So You Want to Fund an Indie Film: Here’s What Nobody Tells You Funding an indie film is harder than it looks. Here's an honest guide to grants, crowdfunding, private investment — and the mistakes that will sink you before you start.

So You Want to Fund an Indie Film: Here’s What Nobody Tells You

Funding an indie film is harder than it looks. Here's an honest guide to grants, crowdfunding, private investment — and the mistakes that will sink you before you start.

garyjjspate.com

Character in Filmmaking: The Engine Behind Every Great Story What makes a great film? Not the gear, not the locations — the characters. A personal look at why character in filmmaking is the only thing that truly matters.

Character in Filmmaking: The Engine Behind Every Great Story

What makes a great film? Not the gear, not the locations — the characters. A personal look at why character in filmmaking is the only thing that truly matters.

garyjjspate.com

Nobody Warned Me It Would Feel Like This Two novels in progress, a head full of doubt, and what nobody tells you about writing long-form fiction.

Nobody Warned Me It Would Feel Like This

Two novels in progress, a head full of doubt, and what nobody tells you about writing long-form fiction.

garyjjspate.com

Nobody Warned Me It Would Feel Like This Two novels in progress, a head full of doubt, and what nobody tells you about writing long-form...

Nobody Warned Me It Would Feel Like This

Two novels in progress, a head full of doubt, and what nobody tells you about writing long-form fiction.

garyjjspate.com

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? A Deep Psychological & Technical Academic Breakdown We subjected the world's oldest joke to psychological profiling, structural analysis, and a frankly unnecessary amount of academic rigour. The chicken had reasons. Many, many reasons.

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? A Deep Psychological & Technical Academic Breakdown

We subjected the world's oldest joke to psychological profiling, structural analysis, and a frankly unnecessary amount of academic rigour. The chicken had reasons. Many, many reasons.

garyjjspate.com

7 Essential #Cinematography Tips I Wish I’d Known Before Picking Up a #Camera garyjjspate.com/2026/06/23/c...

7 Essential Cinematography Tips I Wish I'd Known Before Picking Up a Camera | Gary JJ Spate

These are the cinematography tips I had to learn the hard way — from the rule of thirds to getting off Auto. Practical advice for filmmakers at every level

garyjjspate.com

Why I think amateur theatre is better than professional theatre.

5 Reasons Amateur Theatre Is Better Than Professional Theatre | Gary JJ Spate

It's not about polish or budget. It's about love. A Front of House Manager makes the case for why your local amateur theatre might just be the real thing.

garyjjspate.com

The Stage Is Not Dying. It's Waking Up. Theatre attendance is booming nationally — but south east venues are fighting for survival. Why live performance matters more than ever, and who's being left...

The Stage Is Not Dying. It's Waking Up.

Theatre attendance is booming nationally — but south east venues are fighting for survival. Why live performance matters more than ever, and who's being left behind.

garyjjspate.com

Stealing Hours: The Games That Keep Me Sane From managing Kings Lynn Town to Champions League glory to losing entire nights to Civilisation, here's what I play when life finally gives me a moment to...

Stealing Hours: The Games That Keep Me Sane

From managing Kings Lynn Town to Champions League glory to losing entire nights to Civilisation, here's what I play when life finally gives me a moment to breathe.

garyjjspate.com

My sincere condolences to the Hughes family. Rest in peace Alex. Always a Mariner. ⚫️⚪️🙏 #GTFC

Why My Website Is Now Fully Pirate-Themed and I Cannot Fully Explain Why My website just went full pirate-themed overnight—no strategy, no reason, just vibes. Here's the confused,...

Why My Website Is Now Fully Pirate-Themed and I Cannot Fully Explain Why

My website just went full pirate-themed overnight—no strategy, no reason, just vibes. Here's the confused, honest story behind the rebrand.

garyjjspate.com

Why every brilliant idea I have arrives at 2am and leaves by breakfast A comical confession about the brilliant 2am writing ideas that feel genius in the dark and ridiculous by breakfast — and what they've nearly done to two unfinished novels. garyjjspate.com/2026/06/20/w...

Why Every Brilliant Idea I Have Arrives at 2am and Leaves by Breakfast - Gary JJ Spate

A comical confession about the brilliant 2am writing ideas that feel genius in the dark and ridiculous by breakfast — and what they've nearly done to two unfinished novels.

garyjjspate.com

When the Dream Job Stops Feeling Like a Dream An honest reflection on what happens when the passion for your dream job quietly fades — and learning to sit with that without forcing it...

When the Dream Job Stops Feeling Like a Dream

An honest reflection on what happens when the passion for your dream job quietly fades — and learning to sit with that without forcing it back.

garyjjspate.com

Is This the End of Theatre? (Spoiler: No, But We Need to Talk) A look at why South East theatres are struggling with falling ticket sales this year, what's really driving it, and how venues — and...

Is This the End of Theatre? (Spoiler: No, But We Need to Talk)

A look at why South East theatres are struggling with falling ticket sales this year, what's really driving it, and how venues — and audiences — can help buck the...

garyjjspate.com

And it's back online garyjjspate.com

Typical, i just post an update on my website and the server goes down for maintenence. Very apt considering the subject of the post. SMH.

Did I Do Something Very Bad In a Past Life? A honest and occasionally comical account of life with a body that really hasn't been playing ball — chronic pain, cancer, diabetes, ADHD, and the daily battle with a... https://garyjjspate.com/2026/06/18/did-i-do-something-very-bad-in-a-past-life/

I just ventured into the cesspool that was formerly known as Twitter. It's just full of pro-Trump, pro-Israel, pro-Farage, pro-racism bots that seems to emanate from Asia. Deleted the app again.

Just watched #Horns starring #DanielRadcliffe. Not a bad movie but a lot different to the #JoeHill novel which is far superior. Watch for yourself @ amzn.to/3S9nPJr

"SOS!" ABBA Nation returns to The Tower on 13 June! To help during tough times, we've reduced tickets to just £18.50 online. Be a "Dancing Queen" for the night and enjoy an unforgettable escape. 🎶✨ Book now: purchase.towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk/EventAvailab...