Dorset Eye is fortunate to be able to interview the facilitator of local media Zzipp TV about his life history; the role that Zzipp TV plays and can play in the local community and his perspectives on Weymouth and the surrounding area.
Can you start off by telling us a little about yourself and Zzipp Media?
Peter Lythgoe: I was born In Glossop in the foothills of the Pennines and moved to Weymouth about 30 years ago. Here I did various jobs, including Photography Shop Assistant, a member of a Theatre Company at the Weymouth Pavilion, and a Night Merchandiser at a local store. I first experimented with Super 8 and 35mm photography at school and progressed onto video and Digital photography…
I began Zzipp Media after being one of the first team to start ‘Neighbourhood News’ for the Dorset Echo in Weymouth and also writing news content for the Western Gazette with 35mm and then Digital photography.
I soon discovered Podcasting and started to produce shows that were available free, worldwide, twenty four hours a day. My audience started to grow. Then I branched out into video when I began interviewing local authors at Imagine Books, Weymouth. All the interviews are still available on ‘Zzipp TV’ (link below). I also created a smartphone app (IOS, Windows etc) that is fully updated with all my Media.
Do you give people a script/copies of the questions you are going to ask them before hand, for example like the BBC, ITV, etc..?
P.L. If you watch my videos and listen to my podcasts you will discover that I try to put my interviewees at ease when I talk to them. I try not to have a set list of questions, I believe that the people I talk too can best talk about what they do… I only ask questions if the interviewee falters or they lose track of the subject…
Do you get people you are interviewing to sign an intellectual rights waver, so you are free to use the interviews later for other money making projects?
P.L. I have never thought of using the interviews to make money later. I think of them as I think of my photography – recording a moment for the future to judge… I always explain where the interviews are being used, what a podcast/youtube video is and how they are available and that there will be no editing of their words. As the recorder or camera is running I state that “This interview is to be included included in a world-wide podcast/youtube video. is this ok?” If the answer is “yes” the interview continues, if “No” the interview is terminated.
Do you supply the people you interview with free branded copies of the interviews that they can show/play to their own fan base?
P.L. With the videos I say to the interviewee that they can use them wherever they wish, for free (on websites, etc). With the podcasts I send the interviewee the Show number and an email link to the show they were involved in, so they can refer their own ‘fan base’ to listen or copy to websites. There is also an embed code on Podomatic. The shows are available 24/7/365. They are free to share world-wide.
How does Weymouth compare with the Derbyshire of your childhood?
P.L. In the North I lived in cities and the countryside, in Pubs and on Farms, I’ve seen drunks on doorsteps and calves being born. I been part of Thanksgiving festivals and helped with Haymaking. I miss the hills around my home County of Derbyshire, but over the years the sea has become a great fascination. My father was stationed down here at Osprey during the Second World War and he told me stories that really should have been recorded before he passed on…
It always seems to me that Derbyshire is composed of hard edges… Hard granite rock and grey buildings but the people are always open and welcoming… The door is always open for a “cuppa”. It has been harder to fit into the pace of Dorset. Everything is slower, less angled… But over the years I have grown to love it…
What is it specifically that endears you to Weymouth?
P.L. The Sea, and the people… memories, ideas and projects I still have to collect and create…
What could/should Weymouth offer that it currently does not?
P.L. A proper Arts facility to cater for all types of creative endeavour.
You have recently travelled to Los Angeles. What was it about that area of California and Nevada that so impressed you?
P.L. The heat… My wife and I travelled over two thousand miles in the first week we were there. Being a bit of a UFO geek I always wanted to go to the famous Little A’Le’Inn, Rachel, in Nevada. After many years dreaming about it I finally got there. It was a very surreal experience…
How would you like to see Zzipp Media evolve?
P.L. I want to move into Streaming video and create a TV show/s live from Weymouth available worldwide with its own podcast and smartphone app. There would be amazing advertising possibilities for local companies in this project.
If you could interview one person alive or dead who would it be and why?
P.L. That is a difficult question… I have so many…Carl Sagan, Albert Einstein, Bob Moog, Victor Borge, Stanton T. Friedman, Arthur C. Clarke but one answer I can give for sure would be Richard Feynman (American theoretical physicist). To me he always seemed like a great teacher who made complex ideas simple…
What memorable moments have you had in the interviews so far?
P.L. For my ‘Neighbourhood News’ time I did an interview on the top of Maiden Castle. I like the idea that they will all be memorable… Always there… Like a kind of immortality.
I also did an interview with Douglas Welch (https://youtu.be/oBF7LYh8rfI) my first interview over Skype to Los Angeles, USA.
Which piece of technology has made the most important contribution to Zzipp Media so far and why?
P.L. My iPhone 5. A great note taker, video camera, stills camera, and reference device. I am always posting to my Facebook profile with it (link below). I am a big fan of Apple devices now.. I have an iPad 2 also. Great…
In the Studio I have a mix of microphones, computers, cameras that I always find useful. I am a bit of a collector/magpie!
Other than Weymouth where is your favourite part of Dorset and why?
P.L. Lyme Regis. It’s a very photogenic place. I love the gentle pace of life here and visit as much as I can…
A website that links all my media is being created as we speak. it will have its own Domain name and the most recent podcast/video content as well as links to past shows/videos/photography and ways to support my free media.
LINKS:
If you would like to learn more go to – https://www.facebook.com/zzippsterFree Zzipp Podcast at https://www.zzipp.podomatic.comZzipp TV at https://www.youtube.com/zzippsterFree Smartphone app at https://zzippapp.conduitapps.com/My UFO Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fastwalker1
Many thanks to Peter.
The Facilitators
