Mixed Up - on set

So I finally caved in and went to visit the set.

Well, I say set; but really it’s just Beanos as is. The shop is so quirky and interesting to look at, it needs no dressing or enhancements. Every corner is incredibly filmic and just looks amazing on screen.

Mandy and I stopped in for a few hours on the way home, just to poke around a bit and so I could show my face. We met the core cast members: Adele Silva, Zara Dawson, Lee Otway, Katia Winter and Staten Eliot along with a handful of technical people whose names and jobs I can’t remember.

For which, yes, I am deeply ashamed; but it was late, I’d been up early and I’m generally a bit shit.

Director Lawrence Pearce and Producer Jonathan Sothcott, seemed on good form - despite eleven days (nights) of consecutive night shoots. In fact, given the exhausting schedule, everyone was quite upbeat and seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Despite visiting the set of a movie I wrote, I completely failed to see anything bring filmed or to take any photos proving I was there. Although Staten did trick me into giving an interview for the EPK. I say trick, but it wasn’t very complicated: he shoved a camera in my face and started asking questions. It wasn’t until he was halfway through that I realised this was in fact an interview and not personal curiosity.

After that, a girl took us to one side and showed us some of the raw footage from the shoot so far. I’d love to tell you her name and her job, but … I can’t remember either. I’ve since discussed this with Mandy and our over-riding impression was of a lime-green bra and a quite spectacular pair of breasts. Not, I hasten to add, quite as spectacular as Mandy’s; but to be fair, she is heavily pregnant and is therefore cheating.

After closely consulting the credits on IMDb, I’ve decided she was probably Rosemary Hill, the camera assistant. I’m not 100% convinced of that, but for the purposes of this blog she is now called Rosemary.

So Rosemary showed us the raw footage, which looked fantastic. There was no sound, but Rosemary helped by filling in most of the dialogue.

At this point I started to feel a little ashamed. Earlier, Staten asked me if I had a favourite line in the script; and I was forced to admit I can’t remember a single word of it. It’s been a while since I worked on the script and I’ve worked on several other projects since then; but surely I should be able to remember my own dialogue?

Apparently not.

Oh well, Rosemary filled in the blanks and showed us numerous scenes including some of Sylvester McCoy’s and Billy Murray’s. It all looks wonderful and I can’t wait to see the finished product.

Everyone I met was very complimentary about the script, but as discussed before - they would be, wouldn’t they? Furthermore, there just seemed to be a real buzz about the production. It’s going well so far, but time will tell.

And that, apart from a cup of tea* and a biscuit, was pretty much it. We came, we chatted, we slipped off before the cameras rolled. Still, at least I can say I made the effort.

* A cup of tea I had to make myself, and ended up making one for two other people. That’s right, I was teaboy on my own movie.