ON-SET REPORT - October 2005
by Dave Clark
INTRODUCTION
It barely seems like a year ago, but it was October 2004 that
I first launched this website all about Shane and his films..
To have been told at the time that within a year, Shane Meadows
himself would be endorsing the site and that I would be privileged
enough to be invited for a day on-set of his new film, I would
have found the ideas pretty far-fetched to say the least!
To my astonishment, this is exactly what has transpired!
As many of you can probably imagine, the thought of visiting
the set of Shane's latest film, was a hugely exciting prospect,
if also a somewhat scary one.
Thankfully the winner of the Shane Idol competition, Phillip Nicholson,
had been able to send me his own on-set report and photographs
before I set off for Nottingham myself.
Phillip's on-set preview, coupled with the fact that I had met
Shane and his wife Louise once before (and they are both extremely
amiable folk!), meant that some of the scary notions of the visit
had started to wane.
6th October 2005
On my arrival in Nottingham, I rendezvoused with Louise Meadows
at the hotel where I would be staying during my visit.. With my
set visit not until the following day, I had decided to take a trip
to the cinema to while away the hours.. Louise was kind enough to
drive me into Nottingham and walk with me to the cinema, where coincidentally,
she was to meet up with one of the actors from 'This Is England'..
During the walk through the town, Louise and I talked about how
the film was going and covered such topics as, Frank Harper's brief
visit the day before to play a small role in the film, the change
of location to Grimsby the day before, and how Stephen Graham had
been delivering a phenomenal performance.
Arriving at the cinema, we met up with the as yet unnamed actor..
It turned out that it was none other than Jo Hartley (Dead Man's
Shoes, Northern Soul).
Jo was also extremely friendly (a theme that you soon find runs
through the whole cast and crew of the film) and was more than happy
to have a quick chat before leaving with Louise.
Left to my own devices, I now I had chance to relax before the exciting
day ahead.
With the benefit of hindsight, watching 'Land of the Dead' probably
wasn't the best choice of film to settle any nerves I still had
about the following day.
7th October 2005
The next day I was to be picked up by a minibus at 9.10am which
would then drive me to unit base and pick up some crew members on
the way.
It was lucky for me that it was a reasonably late start on this
particular day.. My job as a projectionist means I never usually
have to be up at an early hour, so I was dreading a possible 6.30am
start!
Arriving at unit base was the point at which I knew the day had
officially begun.. In a large open car-park were a number of trailers
and buses.
The smell of cooked breakfasts was on the air as I approached the
wide variety of breakfast options presented by the catering trailer..
I had always imagined on-set catering to be a pretty limited affair
and perhaps even have the slight hint of a "greasy spoon"
style cafe.. I couldn't have been more wrong.
I didn't feel up for the cooked breakfast, so plumped for yoghurt,
fruit and chocolate croissants!
Whilst queuing for my food, Louise (Meadows) came over to say hello,
and pointed out Shane and Andrew Shim polishing off their breakfasts
in the 'canteen' (or, 'double-decker-bus-fitted-with-tables' to
give it it's proper title).. As Shane finished off his breakfast,
he came over to say hello before rushing off for a quick meeting
with producer Mark Herbert.
After breakfast, I briefly got to speak to Andrew Shim and George
Newton who were both friendly characters (so no surprise there then!),
but I was soon called to my designated transport to set off for
the first location of the day.
I was lucky enough to be ferried about in Shane's car for most of
the day with either Louise or Andrew Shim at the wheel.. Shane had
only bought the car a few days previously, and to have said that
he was as 'pleased as punch' with his purchase would have been an
understatement.
CAFE EXTERIOR
The cafe being used for most of the days
filming
One of the two Super 16mm cameras being used on the film
The first location of the day was a small shopping precinct in
a residential area of the town.. I quickly recognised it as the
same location that competition winner, Phillip Nicholson had visited
a few weeks previously.
There was plenty of preparation underway when I arrived, with
cast and crew all moving about purposefully.. Shane was quickly
in discussion with Stephen Graham, George Newton and Joe Gilgun
with regards to the first scene to be shot that day.
By listening in on the discussion, I soon discovered that Stephen
Graham's character goes by the name of Combo, and George Newton's
character by the name of Banjo.
Joe Gilgun plays the character of Woody as Phillip Nicholson discovered
in his own on-set report.
Shane Meadows (right) watching Joe Gilgun
as Woody (in pink shirt), and Stephen Graham as Combo (centre),
during a rehearsal run.
With everything set for the first take of the day,
I was given my own seat behind the monitor, and my own pair of
headphones to listen in on the actor's radio microphones during
the filming of the scene.
Not having been on the set of a film before, it was quite a surreal
experience being in such close proximity to actors acting!
With it being a Shane Meadows film, the actors are of course acting
in a very naturalistic way, which makes it really quite impressive
watching them snap into character at the drop of a hat.. It isn't
like they are switching to some kind of stylised acting mode either,
it is more as though the actors are stepping into an entirely
different personality and mindset whenever "Action!"
is called.
The first scene to be shot was a short exchange of dialogue outside
of a cafe involving the characters, Combo, Banjo and Woody.
From behind the monitor you get to see just how the shot is being
framed, and through the headphones you get to hear exactly what
is being recorded from the boom microphone and the actor's radio
microphones.
George Newton, Joe Gilgun, and Stephen Graham
during a take, surrounded by crew.
On-set photographer Dean Rogers is leaning in for a shot in the
centre of the photo.
After the first couple of takes, the dialogue that
was used in the first take had begun to change slightly with new
lines and ideas being added to the scene.. Shane is clearly always
open to suggestions from the actors, and is also continually coming
up with new ideas himself as he watches each of the new takes.
Most of the scene development stems from the fact that as the
dialogue is brought to life by the actors, it begins to take on
a new dimension.. This in turn then often leads to new ideas arising
from both Shane and the actors.. This process develops the dialogue
to a point where it sounds as much like natural conversation as
possible.
Amusing ideas for dialogue also arise from this organic process,
in much the same way that amusing comments can arise in real-life
conversations.
With the dialogue always evolving, each new take is a fresh experience..
Occasionally you will see Shane and Diarmid Scrimshaw (Script
Supervisor and continuity) laughing like naughty school boys behind
the monitor whenever a new amusing piece of dialogue is incorporated
into the scene.
| With the external cafe scene being filmed in a small shopping
precinct which was still open to the public, there were quite
a few minor disturbances to contend with throughout the day..
There were local residents visiting the adjacent shops, and
one of the shop units nearby was having a refit done, so drilling
and banging had to be put on hold for the duration of each
take.. There was also a friendly local chap who had, shall
we say, 'had a few' wandering about giving encouragement,
and pointing out a good take whenever he saw one!
There are stewards on set at all times to redirect members
of the public during filming, and for the most part, people
are very happy to comply.. Of course you are bound to get
the occasional angry punter that shouts the odds and barges
through the set, but thankfully there were none on the day
that I was about.
|
The director's monitor used to view
the action. |
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