6th January 2007
With Christmas out of the way, it’s time to get back to work on the film. It’s another casting session followed by a production meeting with all the usual suspects.
The casting session goes well but we still haven’t found TC or Marky. This is getting a little bit worrying because we’re looking to start filming at Bentwaters in a little over 3 months. I look across the table at Ray and wonder whether the make up team have got enough latex to turn him into a bronzed Adonis.
The production meeting drags on as Ali and Mike gang up on me about stuff like catering, the lack of numbers on the production crew, accommodation issues for the cast and the health and safety risks of a stunt man hurling himself off a 100 foot tower attached to an elastic band. I respond to all their questions with quotes from my favourite movies. I don’t think they notice.
10th January 2007
Mike has suggested that we meet an actor who was in a film called Hardcore and who is currently on TV playing a character called the Gimp. I’m a little uneasy about this so suggest a location with multiple escape routes and have Ruislip police station on speed dial.
I needn’t worry. James G Fain is TC. He’s absolutely brilliant.
12th January 2007
Haven’t heard from Jeff R about playing Mr Ree. Speak to Mike about playing it Blofeld like and he gets all luvvy saying he can’t grow another 18 inches before the shoot. Will need to recast 48 and Figure in Black…
17th January 2007
Jeff Rudom writes. Loves the script wants to play Mr Ree.
Have to reimburse Mike for £11,000 worth of steroids and Spanish fly.
20th January 2007
Ali, Mike, Ray and Lianne head to the base and are wowed by the potential of the sets. It’s got just about everything and I pencil in the dates with Sarah for Easter when the BBC vacate from shooting Dog Borstal.
Budget is so tight I wonder if I can get everyone accommodated on the base, trouble is that there’s only one communal shower and it’s not exactly palatial and miles from civilisation
Audition Gavin Hatcher for the role of Marky in my car with Ray and Mike. We close all the windows to soften the background noise and within minutes it’s a little claustrophobic. A passing cyclist, spotting four men parked up in a lay by with steamed up windows and a video camera, reports us to the local constabulary for cottaging.
Gavin was good but too close to Seb in looks and build. Sure I can find a part for him. Maybe first stag?
21st January 2007
Houses of Parliament – Shoot Day One
We’re under strict instructions from Film London where we can shoot the newsreader back story i.e. “not on Parliament Green”. We check and the pavement is not green so we shoot Alison’s Channel 6 footage and have three posses of security and police approach us. I was prepared for all three of us to be promptly incarcerated under the “Prevention of Independent Film Maker Getting a Break in The UK” but to my amazement each deputation apologised for being in shot and left us to it…
This is it. There’s no turning back. We’ve started to make Stag Night of the Dead.
