Thoughts for the day

Childhood Hero

I met a childhood hero last night, Kenneth Cope perhaps better known as Marty Hopkirk from the 1960’s TV show Randle and Hopkirk Deceased. We are often told never to meet your hero’s because it can ruin how you thought of them or they may turn out to be arses.  This was not the case at all.  A nicer man you are unlikely to meet.  I’m lucky enough to be friends with his son Mark, so it was a very nice environment to meet him.  He insisted on buying us drinks and being just lovely, as are the rest of his family.  You can see that his wife is still thoroughly in love with him too, which is fantastic.  I’ve only ever really scene that with my mum ad dad before.  So I did something very different for me, I asked to have my photo taken with him!  Only Maggie Philbin has ever had that pleasure before.

He did point out that we both had big belly’s, reinforcing that I really need to do something about mine.

You’re Shit Sherlock

I watched about half of the first of the “New” Sherlock Holmes last night when I got back.  Am I the only person to think that this is awful?  Only upon reading some other reviews dis I realise what I suspected at the back of my mind.  That this was the work of the people that made Dr. Who? How badly cast is the new Sherlock? Rather then seeming calculated and  astute he comes off as arrogant and “pricklike”.  In Fact he is almost a carbon copy of the latest Dr. Who? in Casting.  The biggest shame for me is that this comes at a time when America is ruling the airwaves in good quality T.V. and we in the U.K. need to really step up our game.  The quality of writing needs to be improved, how we cleverly re-invent things certainly needs a kick up the arse.  I cant help but think if we are not careful all we will be known for is mediocre children’s television.  Holmes was never meant to be a toned down program akin to CSI-USA, its an adult story with actually very clever deductions, done in a way that is intriguing.   So what we have done is take the worst bits of successful American shows and carefully made them into a kiddies show, taking one of our greatest treasures with it.  The thing with Dr. Who when it was reinvented was that it could not get any worse.  The latest addition of SH?  Well it cant get much worse, so there is some hope that it can get better?

And how do the Americans Re-Invent Sherlock?

By making the brilliant television series “House MD”, they don’t use his name, its House rather then Holmes and Wilson over Watson.  Oh and they cast amazing actors too.  Yes they do have the budget, but its been proven time over, that that is not the be all and end all.  Just be clever with how you put things together.   The shame is that because we have been conditioned to poor, poor lazy writing and show making, this new show will be a success at least for a little bit.  And Martin Freeman?  I really liked him up to this performance.  Now I’d struggle to cast him, I think this may have damaged his career.  And the guy in the lead role, fucking hell, what are you doing on screen - you are appalling.  Let alone playing such an impotent character.  I’m dismayed.  We used to make such good television.  Soon all we will be know for is Top Gear, but I suppose at least the acting is better in that.

Laters,

Chalkster

Up Up and Away

This week has a been a better week in the world of film making, or in fact the world of trying to get to the point where you are film making.  Its a tough gig at the best of times.  So when your driven to getting things happening right now, and I mean NOW, it becomes very difficult to have the long pauses between communication and meeting people and of course getting things done.   The last two weeks has been better, I’ve met with two very good producers, both seam to be very, very interested in the project.  As usual, both have different skill bases and it will eventually be down to the one who has the best skill set for this project combined with the most enthusiasm and of course “getting” the project. Its a great position to be in although I really don’t want to have to turn anybody that is interested, however this is probebly the first time in many situations that the choice will have to be maid.  It needs to be done in such a way that we don’t burn bridges, as I can see myelf working with both again.

Directors of Photography

I also met up with XiaoSu and Andreas, the Cinematographers that have agreed to work with us on “No Balls”, its impotent to me that I get on with whoever I’m going to work with as essentially I will be working more closely with them then anybody else I have ever worked with in my life before.  I need to know that we can buckle down and work hard, yet enjoy a beer.  That I can absolutely trust them to give me a great opinion.  I’ve seen their work and already know how fortunate we are to get what are likely to be two of the most sought after cinematographers in the future of film.  They have my enthusiasm for the project and of course come very highly rated.  I accompanied them to the Premiere of “BaseLine”, which they had DoP’d on.  The film to be fair was not great, it lacked strong directing, the timing was out by a mile and the edit needed to much tighter.  You could see by the way they talked and their body language that they felt that they had been hit by their work not having the right amount of follow up which was out of their hands.  The most important thing for me though is that I felt we Clicked.  I also introduced them to my friend who helps with the film and is a SteadyOp.  They got on really well and I feel an work really well together so good, good, good…

Downs

Well they happen too, although none of them are all that bad they do tend to hit quite hard.  Unfortunately one of them hit during a high I got a message saying that the person doing a re-write with us was not free until mid August. Witch is to late with filming due to start at the end of September.  having slept on it I do think we can reach a compromise, which will again mean an awfull lot more work for me.  But that is the nature of the game is it not?

Laters,

Chalkster

2 Perf

I consider myself very lucky at the moment, I’m genuinely moving into  the world of feature films.  Bu not only that I’m also being looked after by a number of very bright and very well connected mentors.  Some times I’m just given hints or quick ideas to look at.  One of those this time is for me very interesting.  A different way of using 35ml, which is historically the most expensive way of filming, but by using less of the negative you get twice the amount of footage on the same role of film, and better rates for developing.  It’s interesting when you call around and get quotes as although it’s not a new technology, it could be seen as a way of saving the film format with digital taking up huge chunks of the market.  For this reason they are offering amaising details [as long as you name drop a little].  So it looks very much like the quality of our first feature will be bigger and better then ever expected.

 DoP’s

I also get to meet my joint DoP’s on Tuesday and they have got me a +1 to the Baseline Premiere, it gives me another chance to dust the Tux off.  There could be a number of people I know going judging by the list of cast and crew on IMDB.

Come on England

Please beat Germany.