Jane Merrow – acts and chats

The Hatchery: a blog about my adventures in bird watching

Peace for Christmas 2025

With two major conflicts that get all the publicity and more that don’t, surely the one thing all sensible people pray for is Peace in the World. Ours is such a tiny planet, it is madness that the one mammal blessed with reasoning powers, could be using it more usefully, than finding even more ways…

December 21, 2025
AI AND MORE

The content of this blog is actually written by AI. I asked a search engine what will happen to UK productions made for streaming now that President Trump has imposed high tarriffs on the import of British made films for streaming. Here is Ai’s answer. I can give no credit as the information and words…

October 19, 2025
WANT TO MAKE AN INDIE FILM?

Making Andy Being an actor requires a lot of patience. There is a ton of competition for very few roles and a lot of waiting around for a job. Sometimes the best solution is to do it yourself. Want to make a movie? With Hollywood in thrall to big finance, there are more opportunities for…

May 2, 2024
Loneliness or Solitude?

Currently I am sending some time in an enforced stay at home recovering from a bit of surgery. All good. However the experiece gives one time to relax, apart from reading, watching too much television and just reflecting. And – being alone. Picture is from our film ANDY. Anne is lonely after Andy has gone.…

February 15, 2026
THE BBC aka THE BEEB

The whole world is in a state of upheaval currently. Hang on for the ride!! Actually I think it always was, it’s just that we hear about it, read about it, watch it more, thanks to the ever developing technology. The world has shrunk – I often feel that each country is right next…

November 12, 2025
FASHION OR ?

There really is no fashion now – anything goes and celebrities seem forced to wear something closer to fancy dress than anything we might call fashion. Style, elegance – both sexy in my book are out of the window for the attempt to stand out. Pink hair, multi-coloured hair, pantomime boots with shorts anything you…

September 6, 2025
LONELINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

Loneliness has now been labelled a disease for those over sixty, which can accelerate other more life threatening diseases. However it’s not confined to the elderly. So many of us are now living alone, isolated by technology, increased income, breakdown of relationships or simply by choice. Addressing loneliness on film is something we,…

August 24, 2025
MUSIC MAKES THE MOVIE

Without a doubt a great score can elevate a mediocre film to greater heights, And terrific movies can be made everlastingly memorable by a great score. A few weeks ago I recorded an episode of ” What’s The Score” a podcast on Podbean by Frank R Wilson. His podcast is about film scores…

August 2, 2025
AI The Story Continues

Independent film making is hard. And it is getting harder, however the rewards and opportunities can make it well worth while, but you have to have grit and staying power to keep going. The traditional ways of watching a film are disappearing or just becoming one of an expanding viewing opportunities YouTube has given…

July 8, 2025
AI and us

AI is here – make no mistake…it’s going to have a real impact on the creative industry, writers, actors, music….the lot. So we can either fight, deny or find a way to live with and work with it. I don’t think we have a choice. There will be Producers rubbing their hands with…

June 5, 2025
VE Day -80th Anniversary

To day in memory of the 80th anniversary of VE day, I think about my family, the ones from Germany who suffered the persecution of the Jews. Today in my thoughts are my aunt – Lisamaria, my father’s sister. I never knew her, but wish I had. I do have a photograph…

May 5, 2025