‘North’s dirty energy jobs can be green’
WIND POWER Renewables TENS of thousands of “dirty” energy jobs in the North could be replaced with posts in renewables by 2030, a report claims.
Up to 28,000 roles in the region’s coal, oil and gas sectors may be lost by the date, according to thinktank the Institute for Public Policy Research.
But experts say the Northern Powerhouse initiative could be fuelled by 46,000 new green jobs.
The North produced 48% of renewable energy between 2005 and 2014 and has the potential to be home to a “clean energy revolution”, the study says.
Author Josh Emden said: “The opportunity is there for the North to become a powerhouse for the UK once again, provided the Government takes action.”
When Britney Spears released the video for Baby One More Time in 1998, she made one of pop’s most memorable entrances to the world stage.
The video catapulted the 16-year-old into overnight superstardom with a look and attitude so iconic you can guarantee that come Halloween, the fancy dress will include plenty of schoolgirls.
With its slick dance moves, school setting and daydream plot, Baby One More Time looked like a masterclass in how record firm PRs create an image for a performer that ticks all the right boxes.
But as the video turns 20 this week, we can reveal it was actually the result of the young star schooling her label, which had very different plans for the shoot.
Today, choreographer Randy Connor finally tells all on the story of the shoot – and insists what you see in those three minutes and 56 seconds is all Britney.
While it is hard to imagine it any other way now, the video was planned to be half-cartoon and have nothing to do with school. And even the tied-up shirt flashing Britney’s midriff was her idea.
“Britney was no record label’s puppet,” says Randy. “She had a key voice in the production and her creative touches made the video iconic. The school class was her idea, which she convinced the management would be better than their idea. Britney wanted the video to relate to her fans and their experiences, so felt a school was more natural and realistic to them and her personality.
“The idea was they are daydreaming about getting out and having fun, remembering a guy she broke up with.”
Britney talked Randy and director Nigel Dick around on the school theme at the 11th hour and they grabbed the outfit from a department store.
“It was kinda last minute but Nigel and I thought it was a fantastic idea,” says Randy.
“All the uniforms were picked up from K-Mart for about £19 with costumiers working fast to get them fitted.
“After a couple of takes Britney felt that the tails of the shirt were getting in the way of her hand movements. So before another take she tied a knot in the shirt. It happened naturally. She was in fantastic shape so her midriff was toned. “I heard she kept that outfit. It has become an iconic look. It is now one of people’s go-to costumes for Halloween.” When the video was released, its impact on pop culture was seismic. “It was innocent in its conception, but the integration of the styling and choreography created that edge,” says Randy. Of course, with the internet in its infancy in 1998, Britney’s overnight success did not come by chance. Her transformation from a child star in the Mickey Mouse Club, performing alongside the likes of Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling and Christina Aguilera, to being a pop solo act took a year of work. Bosses at Jive Records teamed Randy with Britney in late 1997 after signing her to be “the next big thing”. Preparations included her learning acrobatics, having six-hour rehearsal sessions, five days a week, before writing and recording sessions.
Randy says: “Jive saw Britney as their next big project. And their plan was not simply to knock out a quick song and video but to grow and build her as an entertainer. We wanted to create moves that would have people hooked.
“She learned acrobatics and practised for hours. She is a natural athlete and fast learner, who just relished every rehearsal.
“When I looked into her eyes I saw a genuine, sincere kid, a young girl, who was driven and willing to work 150%. She never complained.”
Baby One More Time was filmed over two days at Venice House School in LA – the site used to film Grease in 1978. Randy, 47, says: “It was relentless but there were no complaints because this was her passion.
“I lost count of how many backflips she did. It was groundbreaking too with the casting, because we had a diverse cast of dancers – which represented the truth about American schools.”
Britney even did a Dirty Dancing lift but it was cut from the final edit. “It was