NO.
I'm Alex Skerratt. Sometimes known as Darcy Sarto. I tell stories in weird and wonderful ways - whatever pays the rent! (Or not!) Website here: www.skerratt-media.co.uk
Friday, 19 July 2013
Friday, 21 June 2013
Doctor Who: 90 Episodes Recovered, or Clever Viral Marketing?
"Of all the ills there are, Rumour is the swiftest. She thrives on movement and gathers strength as she goes. From small and timorous beginnings she soon lifts herself up into the air, her feet still on the ground and her head hidden in the clouds." Virgil, The Aeneid
No hardcore Doctor Who fan could fail to have been gripped by the events of the last week. On Thursday, (June 13), news site Bleeding Cool revealed:
"...the rumour is that we may be getting a whole host of Doctor Who episodes [for the 50th anniversary.] Not new ones, but episodes not seen anywhere since they were first broadcast. We all know that through a series of cock ups, incompetence and lack of forethought, swathes of episodes of Doctor Who from the sixties were wiped by the BBC. Some episodes were found again, some were sold to other countries, some kept in people’s loft space, but over a hundred episodes of the show were missing, along with episodes, entire series even, of many other BBC shows. What I’ve been hearing... is that the BBC have secured a large number of presumed-wiped episodes of early Doctor Who. And there are lots. Lots and lots."
Followed by:
"UPDATE: Shortly after posting, I received further confirmation of the details listed above from another, better connected source."
To add weight to this, Doctor Who enthusiast and missing episode hunter Ian Levine took to Twitter and revealed:
"...the rumour I heard from an impeccable source was eight thousand film cans containing ninety missing episodes [had been found.]"
These whispers were met with a certain amount of cynicism by some, although I wouldn't say I pitched my tent in that camp; Levine's track record on such matters is pretty good. (In fact, he accurately predicted the announcement of Matt Smith's departure a good twenty-four hours before the news broke, the details having been leaked to him by another well-connected source.)
But as uncertainty mounted, with even Bleeding Cool beginning to suspect the whole thing may have been an elaborate scam, somebody (and we still don't know who) uncovered evidence that, in 2011, a 3 tonne shipment of old films had been sent from Lagos to a chap called Philip Morris, the executive director of a company called Television International Enterprises Archives Ltd. (Phil Morris has, apparently, spoken publicly about his interest in missing Who material several times in the past.)
After this revelation, the Internet basically melted. So great was the impact made by this fresh evidence that some fans tried to find ways to fake delivery notices on the website in question, in order to "prove" that it could be done. It was inevitable that an official statement would soon have to be made...
And it was, by Philip Fleming, the Head of Communications, Brands, Content and Digital at BBC Worldwide. It said:
"There are always rumours and speculation about Doctor Who missing episodes being discovered, however we cannot confirm any new finds."
But this vague, non-committal statement only fuelled the fan inferno, and it wasn't long until the man himself, Mr Philip Morris, showed his hand, in possibly the most amusing 'official statement' I have ever come across, (copied as it was written...)
"T.I.E.A DOES NOT HOLD ANY MISSING EPISODES OF THE LONG RUNNING DR WHO SERIES. THE ORIGINAL VIDEO TAPES WERE WIPED SUBSEQUENT FILM COPIES WERE EITHER RETURNED TO THE BBC AND SENT TO LANDFILL ODD FRAGMENTS HAVE SURFACED TWO EPISODES ON 16MM FILM BUT THATS IT. THE PROGRAMMES IN QUESTION LIKE MANY OTHERS WERE DESTROYED AS THEY HAD NO FURTHER COMMERCIAL VALUE .THEY ARE NOT MISSING BUT DESTROYED THE END.I am sorry if this upsets some people but these are the facts.I have also become aware of the tracking of some of our clients shipments these are local cultural materials sent to us for migration to a modern format as the playback equipment in the country of origin no longer exists and as such is the best road to preserve international cultural heritage .I will be making no more statements on this subject.Philip MORRIS Executive director T.i.e.a"
This seemed to be an end. Hopes dashed, dreams destroyed, the precious frames of The Space Pirates Episode 4 scattered to the solar winds...
But for some, it was nothing more than a blip. This was Bleeding Cool's reaction, (with emphasis added by me):
"Bleeding Cool has reported in the last week on rumours circulating at the highest levels that such a cache has been located and is being prepared for release during the 50th anniversary year of Doctor Who.
...Repeatedly, [we have] stated that we don’t know the veracity of these rumours, only that they are very well sourced and virulent amongst the higher echelon of the BBC and Doctor Who production circles, who continue to insist that such a release will occur this year."
Doctor Who fansite Outpost Skaro seemed to share the view, reiterating on their website that their sources continued to confirm that some Doctor Who material had been uncovered, but that they were unsure as to its quantity or nature.
Now - this is the really fun bit! The summing up! Which I shall conduct in List Form...
Why the claims could be true:
1) Ian Levine believes there is some truth in them. Ian has a good track record and a number of sources with whom he is in contact.
2) Sources in "the higher echelon of the BBC" (apparently) continue to insist there is some truth in the story.
2) The BBC has not issued a denial. Saying "we cannot confirm any new finds" is not the same as "nothing has been returned."
3) The BBC has an excellent track record at trying to keep new discoveries secret for as long as possible. When the last two episodes turned up in 2011, it took them six months to make the news public.
4) If the BBC was to confirm it had uncovered a cache of programmes, it could harm sales of its upcoming lost episode animations, such as The Tenth Planet Episode 4 in the Regenerations box set, (which would likely have been commissioned before the discovery was made.)
5) Philip Morris: "They are not missing but destroyed the end." If this statement were true, we would currently have no Hartnell or Troughton stories in our DVD collections.
6) Philip Morris may have nothing to do with these rumours at all. A find could have been made elsewhere.
7) In October 2012, Anneke Wills (Polly in many of the lost episodes), alluded to the fact that The Power of the Daleks had been returned to the BBC when speaking at a convention, (although the source of this information is unconfirmed.)
And why these claims could be false:
1) Philip Morris has denied the rumours.
2) The whole thing could be a viral marketing scam deliberately started by the BBC to generate free publicity in the programme's 50th anniversary year.
Although, to be honest, that last statement sounds more unlikely than any of the rumours themselves(!) Personally, I think if there is any truth to these stories, we won't find out until much nearer the anniversary date in November. And it can't come soon enough for me!
Happy speculating :)
No hardcore Doctor Who fan could fail to have been gripped by the events of the last week. On Thursday, (June 13), news site Bleeding Cool revealed:
 |
| From 'The Savages' Episode 3. Copyright BBC. |
Followed by:
"UPDATE: Shortly after posting, I received further confirmation of the details listed above from another, better connected source."
To add weight to this, Doctor Who enthusiast and missing episode hunter Ian Levine took to Twitter and revealed:
"...the rumour I heard from an impeccable source was eight thousand film cans containing ninety missing episodes [had been found.]"
 |
| From 'The Smugglers' Episode 2. Copyright BBC. |
But as uncertainty mounted, with even Bleeding Cool beginning to suspect the whole thing may have been an elaborate scam, somebody (and we still don't know who) uncovered evidence that, in 2011, a 3 tonne shipment of old films had been sent from Lagos to a chap called Philip Morris, the executive director of a company called Television International Enterprises Archives Ltd. (Phil Morris has, apparently, spoken publicly about his interest in missing Who material several times in the past.)
After this revelation, the Internet basically melted. So great was the impact made by this fresh evidence that some fans tried to find ways to fake delivery notices on the website in question, in order to "prove" that it could be done. It was inevitable that an official statement would soon have to be made...
And it was, by Philip Fleming, the Head of Communications, Brands, Content and Digital at BBC Worldwide. It said:
"There are always rumours and speculation about Doctor Who missing episodes being discovered, however we cannot confirm any new finds."
But this vague, non-committal statement only fuelled the fan inferno, and it wasn't long until the man himself, Mr Philip Morris, showed his hand, in possibly the most amusing 'official statement' I have ever come across, (copied as it was written...)
 |
| From 'The Web of Fear' Episode 4. Copyright BBC. |
"T.I.E.A DOES NOT HOLD ANY MISSING EPISODES OF THE LONG RUNNING DR WHO SERIES. THE ORIGINAL VIDEO TAPES WERE WIPED SUBSEQUENT FILM COPIES WERE EITHER RETURNED TO THE BBC AND SENT TO LANDFILL ODD FRAGMENTS HAVE SURFACED TWO EPISODES ON 16MM FILM BUT THATS IT. THE PROGRAMMES IN QUESTION LIKE MANY OTHERS WERE DESTROYED AS THEY HAD NO FURTHER COMMERCIAL VALUE .THEY ARE NOT MISSING BUT DESTROYED THE END.I am sorry if this upsets some people but these are the facts.I have also become aware of the tracking of some of our clients shipments these are local cultural materials sent to us for migration to a modern format as the playback equipment in the country of origin no longer exists and as such is the best road to preserve international cultural heritage .I will be making no more statements on this subject.Philip MORRIS Executive director T.i.e.a"
This seemed to be an end. Hopes dashed, dreams destroyed, the precious frames of The Space Pirates Episode 4 scattered to the solar winds...
But for some, it was nothing more than a blip. This was Bleeding Cool's reaction, (with emphasis added by me):
 |
| From 'The Faceless Ones' Episode 5. Copyright BBC. |
...Repeatedly, [we have] stated that we don’t know the veracity of these rumours, only that they are very well sourced and virulent amongst the higher echelon of the BBC and Doctor Who production circles, who continue to insist that such a release will occur this year."
Doctor Who fansite Outpost Skaro seemed to share the view, reiterating on their website that their sources continued to confirm that some Doctor Who material had been uncovered, but that they were unsure as to its quantity or nature.
Now - this is the really fun bit! The summing up! Which I shall conduct in List Form...
Why the claims could be true:
1) Ian Levine believes there is some truth in them. Ian has a good track record and a number of sources with whom he is in contact.
2) Sources in "the higher echelon of the BBC" (apparently) continue to insist there is some truth in the story.
2) The BBC has not issued a denial. Saying "we cannot confirm any new finds" is not the same as "nothing has been returned."
3) The BBC has an excellent track record at trying to keep new discoveries secret for as long as possible. When the last two episodes turned up in 2011, it took them six months to make the news public.
 |
| From 'The Highlanders' Episode 4. Copyright BBC. |
5) Philip Morris: "They are not missing but destroyed the end." If this statement were true, we would currently have no Hartnell or Troughton stories in our DVD collections.
6) Philip Morris may have nothing to do with these rumours at all. A find could have been made elsewhere.
7) In October 2012, Anneke Wills (Polly in many of the lost episodes), alluded to the fact that The Power of the Daleks had been returned to the BBC when speaking at a convention, (although the source of this information is unconfirmed.)
And why these claims could be false:
1) Philip Morris has denied the rumours.
2) The whole thing could be a viral marketing scam deliberately started by the BBC to generate free publicity in the programme's 50th anniversary year.
Although, to be honest, that last statement sounds more unlikely than any of the rumours themselves(!) Personally, I think if there is any truth to these stories, we won't find out until much nearer the anniversary date in November. And it can't come soon enough for me!
Happy speculating :)
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Other People Say Stuff About Menston Green
Yes - for once you won't have to listen to me blather on! Menston Green - the SF radio comedy I wrote and produced starring former Doctor Who Colin Baker - is slowly taking over the net thanks to our first ever review, along with a 'making of' feature from sound aficionado Tim. (For the next phase of web domination, I will of course launch a Menston Green fragrance. Endorsed by Su Pollard.)
But as I was saying - Mr. Nick Blackshaw gave us a very favourable write-up on the website of renowned SF magazine Starburst, known to many 'Whovians' as the home of the infamous Sawardgate, (see what happens when you put that into Google...!) Indeed - a very kind 8/10, as Blackshaw writes:
"This is a delightful treat for radio comedy fans, sci-fi fanatics and those with a fascination for television. What it benefits from in its writing is very witty observations. Alex Skerratt... creates a world that feels very real to the listener; IBC1 is used to lampoon (with the help of noted mimic Wink Taylor) the familiar major TV channel to such an extent that you may find it hard to distinguish which one is the real channel. It offers laugh out loud moments, as well as affectionate nods for every avid TV fan to listen out for."
(See the full review here.)
At the same time, another sympathiser to the Cause, Mr. Timothy McHugh, (Menston Green's sound supervisor), also put pen to blog, giving readers a unique insight into the fascinating behind-the-scenes process, which often involved tea, bourbon biscuits and... Tequila? As Tim puts it:
"Working with a dedicated audio production without a video was a much needed change, and gave us a tremendous amount of freedom in the design process. Usually we are designing sounds to complement the reality of a video sequence or game, but with this project, we could take full control over the illusion, sculpting the reality through sound alone. Sitting down with Alex we came up with some comical sounds that enhanced his fantastically written script and made us all laugh out loud."
(See Tim's full story here, at the Visionary Sound website.)
I can vouch for that; we laughed a lot, (inbetween the tears of despair...!) Never before have I had such fun selecting the explosions that would bring the Menston Greenoperative to its knees, (although my psychiatrist has since advised that I return to Play-Doh...)
So thank you Nick and Tim for your kind words and feedback. I'm a great believer that "no publicity is bad publicity," and your comments and criticisms are essential for me to continue doing what I do. And hopefully, with each project that I unleash, I'll improve! Thanks both.
But as I was saying - Mr. Nick Blackshaw gave us a very favourable write-up on the website of renowned SF magazine Starburst, known to many 'Whovians' as the home of the infamous Sawardgate, (see what happens when you put that into Google...!) Indeed - a very kind 8/10, as Blackshaw writes:
"This is a delightful treat for radio comedy fans, sci-fi fanatics and those with a fascination for television. What it benefits from in its writing is very witty observations. Alex Skerratt... creates a world that feels very real to the listener; IBC1 is used to lampoon (with the help of noted mimic Wink Taylor) the familiar major TV channel to such an extent that you may find it hard to distinguish which one is the real channel. It offers laugh out loud moments, as well as affectionate nods for every avid TV fan to listen out for."
(See the full review here.)
At the same time, another sympathiser to the Cause, Mr. Timothy McHugh, (Menston Green's sound supervisor), also put pen to blog, giving readers a unique insight into the fascinating behind-the-scenes process, which often involved tea, bourbon biscuits and... Tequila? As Tim puts it:
 |
| The sound team, from left to right: Matt Peel, Tim McHugh and Ashely Goodall. (Photo by Oliver Chapman.) |
(See Tim's full story here, at the Visionary Sound website.)
I can vouch for that; we laughed a lot, (inbetween the tears of despair...!) Never before have I had such fun selecting the explosions that would bring the Menston Greenoperative to its knees, (although my psychiatrist has since advised that I return to Play-Doh...)
So thank you Nick and Tim for your kind words and feedback. I'm a great believer that "no publicity is bad publicity," and your comments and criticisms are essential for me to continue doing what I do. And hopefully, with each project that I unleash, I'll improve! Thanks both.
Monday, 20 May 2013
Another Sooty DVD Hits the Shelves
Carnage broke out in Leeds last night as keen Sooty fans stormed the Headrow, desperate to pitch their overnight tents as close as possible to HMV's doors in the hopes of becoming the first to lay their hands on this high-profile DVD release. This morning, staff were overwhelmed and stockists struggled to meet demand as the latest Sooty compilation - 'The Children's Party' - sold a record 19 million copies in just three hours...
My advice to you is simple: order your copy NOW, before society breaks down and looters take to the streets.
Published by the stalwarts of Sooty series one, Abbey Home Media, 'The Children's Party' is available for a dizzyingly reasonable £7.25, (roughly the price of a chocolate bar), and, if you don't fancy braving the HMV flashmobs, you can order your copy from Amazon, from the comfort of your own home, safe from the jet of Dave Cam's water cannon.
But, faithful reader - you might be in two minds as to whether to purchase the DVD that everyone's talking about. Is it any good? Is it funny? Is it safe...? Let me tell you about the episodes involved, and set your troubled minds at rest...
The Children's Party
The eponymous episode. I must admit, I recently confessed to Richard Cadell, (Sooty's right-hand man), that, out of all the episodes we wrote, this one was actually my least favourite. But that's a bit like saying, 'I won some money on a scratch card - it was my least favourite victory.' It's still Sooty, even if it's not Oscar-winning Sooty. My criticisms? They're scanty, in fairness. I'm a sucker for a tight story, with jokes that make you groan, and people slipping on banana skins, going "yeaaaaaargh..." And this episode was certainly more about the visuals and the routines. But hey, they're good, and the whole thing is very colourful and pretty. Watch it for the drink-pouring routine.
Beach Patrol
I could be wrong, but I think this was the last script we wrote for the series, (or, at least, the last one I worked on, before returning to Co-operatraz...) I can remember it well - the final day of writing at Office Cadell, the light starting to fade, the work pile mounting... But, you know, by 9 o'clock at night, you're so high on caffeine and sugar, if someone told you to bungee jump off a cliff, with no rope into a pit of snakes and glass, you're far more likely to go "yeah, man - sweet!" to the accompaniment of a Heath Ledger cackle. So we knuckled down and formed two factions - Wink Taylor and Richard C began bashing out 'The Farm', whilst I set to work on this sandy number. And it contains one of my favourite bits of dialogue EVER, in anything from history, (Darth Vader, you've got nothing...) "Who's running this beach?!" Frank Bruno exclaims, in his role as a disgruntled sand sculptor, going big on the camp. The thing is, I don't remember writing it! It's far too funny to have been me. Not that it matters. I'm just so glad those words exist...
Pizza to Go
A Wink Taylor special, with a side order of Cole, (Brendan Cole, that is, giving an inspired performance as the Italian designer Valentino du Prado.) I love so much about this episode, especially Richard's crazed expression as he cranks the Pizza machine to maximum, going almost wild-eyed as the smoke builds up around him. Of course, this is followed by the inevitable explosion of ingredients, covering Mr C in tomato sauce and cheese. "Looks like dinner's on Richard...!" says Soo. (Cue groan...!)
The Wendy House
I didn't have much to do with this episode, which is a shame in a way; my DIY disasters are many in number. (Just ask my sister about the bookshelf I built... with ears!) But there are some funny painting routines, with lots of 'old skool' goofery from Sooty and Sweep. And keep your eyes peeled for a couple of surprising cameos, which will delight and amuse many a Sooty fan of old...
Who's a Clever Bird
Guest starring Norman Barrett, and his team of performing budgies! Seriously - they're incredible. Now I've never met Mr Barrett - and I've heard only good things - but there's a wonderful 'deleted scene' where Norman's character, having just arrived on stage, takes off his gloves and hands them to Sooty, who promptly tosses them over his shoulder. Norman, clearly incensed, then turns and gives the bear the most wonderful scowl a la Harry Callahan, as the audience erupts in a spontaneous explosion of laughter! And it was cut! Bah. Although I can sort of see why - are the pre-schoolers quite ready for San Francisco's most fearless law enforcer...? Probably not. That said, there's a scene later on where Mr Barrett, enraged at the misbehaviour of his birds, decides he's going to "sort them out" with his fearsome cannon on wheels, ready to blow the little blighters off their perch...! In short, if your ideal Sooty episode is somewhere between Doctor Dolittle and Magnum Force, then this is the one for you!
So there you are folks! I hope I've persuaded you to brave the high street, (or the internet!) It's a great DVD to get if you have kids. In fact it's a great DVD to get even if you don't!
What are you waiting for?
 |
| Storming up the charts...? The new Sooty DVD - out now! |
Published by the stalwarts of Sooty series one, Abbey Home Media, 'The Children's Party' is available for a dizzyingly reasonable £7.25, (roughly the price of a chocolate bar), and, if you don't fancy braving the HMV flashmobs, you can order your copy from Amazon, from the comfort of your own home, safe from the jet of Dave Cam's water cannon.
But, faithful reader - you might be in two minds as to whether to purchase the DVD that everyone's talking about. Is it any good? Is it funny? Is it safe...? Let me tell you about the episodes involved, and set your troubled minds at rest...
The Children's Party
The eponymous episode. I must admit, I recently confessed to Richard Cadell, (Sooty's right-hand man), that, out of all the episodes we wrote, this one was actually my least favourite. But that's a bit like saying, 'I won some money on a scratch card - it was my least favourite victory.' It's still Sooty, even if it's not Oscar-winning Sooty. My criticisms? They're scanty, in fairness. I'm a sucker for a tight story, with jokes that make you groan, and people slipping on banana skins, going "yeaaaaaargh..." And this episode was certainly more about the visuals and the routines. But hey, they're good, and the whole thing is very colourful and pretty. Watch it for the drink-pouring routine.
Beach Patrol
I could be wrong, but I think this was the last script we wrote for the series, (or, at least, the last one I worked on, before returning to Co-operatraz...) I can remember it well - the final day of writing at Office Cadell, the light starting to fade, the work pile mounting... But, you know, by 9 o'clock at night, you're so high on caffeine and sugar, if someone told you to bungee jump off a cliff, with no rope into a pit of snakes and glass, you're far more likely to go "yeah, man - sweet!" to the accompaniment of a Heath Ledger cackle. So we knuckled down and formed two factions - Wink Taylor and Richard C began bashing out 'The Farm', whilst I set to work on this sandy number. And it contains one of my favourite bits of dialogue EVER, in anything from history, (Darth Vader, you've got nothing...) "Who's running this beach?!" Frank Bruno exclaims, in his role as a disgruntled sand sculptor, going big on the camp. The thing is, I don't remember writing it! It's far too funny to have been me. Not that it matters. I'm just so glad those words exist...
Pizza to Go
A Wink Taylor special, with a side order of Cole, (Brendan Cole, that is, giving an inspired performance as the Italian designer Valentino du Prado.) I love so much about this episode, especially Richard's crazed expression as he cranks the Pizza machine to maximum, going almost wild-eyed as the smoke builds up around him. Of course, this is followed by the inevitable explosion of ingredients, covering Mr C in tomato sauce and cheese. "Looks like dinner's on Richard...!" says Soo. (Cue groan...!)
The Wendy House
I didn't have much to do with this episode, which is a shame in a way; my DIY disasters are many in number. (Just ask my sister about the bookshelf I built... with ears!) But there are some funny painting routines, with lots of 'old skool' goofery from Sooty and Sweep. And keep your eyes peeled for a couple of surprising cameos, which will delight and amuse many a Sooty fan of old...
Who's a Clever Bird
Guest starring Norman Barrett, and his team of performing budgies! Seriously - they're incredible. Now I've never met Mr Barrett - and I've heard only good things - but there's a wonderful 'deleted scene' where Norman's character, having just arrived on stage, takes off his gloves and hands them to Sooty, who promptly tosses them over his shoulder. Norman, clearly incensed, then turns and gives the bear the most wonderful scowl a la Harry Callahan, as the audience erupts in a spontaneous explosion of laughter! And it was cut! Bah. Although I can sort of see why - are the pre-schoolers quite ready for San Francisco's most fearless law enforcer...? Probably not. That said, there's a scene later on where Mr Barrett, enraged at the misbehaviour of his birds, decides he's going to "sort them out" with his fearsome cannon on wheels, ready to blow the little blighters off their perch...! In short, if your ideal Sooty episode is somewhere between Doctor Dolittle and Magnum Force, then this is the one for you!
So there you are folks! I hope I've persuaded you to brave the high street, (or the internet!) It's a great DVD to get if you have kids. In fact it's a great DVD to get even if you don't!
What are you waiting for?
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Filming Tweedy the Clown
As any Doctor Who fan will know - all timelines converge on Donna Noble.
In my case, all timelines converge on Cheltenham, which is where I found myself a couple of weeks ago, on a grey, rainy morning in April. It's where we filmed Theo the Mouse. It's where I pass through every time we hold a Sooty summit. This time, I was on my way to meet a clown - Tweedy, to his friends. I was concerned we wouldn't recognise each other, having never met before, but given his dazzling quiff of red hair and my deadpan demeanour, there was little danger of that!
He'd asked me to film and edit a short 'episode' of his show, written by himself and a chap called Andrew Emerson, in which the unfortunate Tweedy the Clown finds himself working in a theatre as a stagehand for the somewhat uppity Mr. Boss, played by Richard Alan. They are awaiting the arrival of a high-profile singer, (I like to think it was Lily Allen), whose extravagant list of requirements sends the poor clown into a bit of a spin.
Tweedy had secured a wonderful location for the 7 hour shoot - a theatre just a few minutes from the town centre - and a dream environment if ever there was one. No background noise, no freak weather, just the actors, the props and the stage lights, which the in-house technicians very kindly set up for us. And then they left us to it. That was it - we were away! Tweedy and Richard took to the stage and started running through their lines, (the interplay between these two characters accounts for roughly half the minisode.) During a break, Tweedy admitted he was most concerned about shooting the dialogue, not the slapstick. I admitted I was most concerned about shooting the slapstick, not the dialogue! Between us - we had it covered! (I hoped!) I'd been a little antsy because I'd never shot this kind of material before. Tweedy was climbing up a stepladder, swinging off a stepladder, walking a stepladder across the stage, running in circles with his signature broom... It required a lot of fast camera moves and I wanted to make sure I did the work justice.
I think I did. Well - I got paid anyway!
Even nicer, it was one of those rare occasions in "the Industry" in which we actually wrapped early. A whole 3 hours early, in fact. Always better to have too much time than too little, (gave me chance to munch on a fourth sausage roll.) This was largely down to Tweedy's rigorous preparation. When it came to shooting the quite complex routines, (like, climb up the ladder, fall over, lie flat across the top of the ladder, forward-roll off the other side, swing round, collapse onto the floor), Tweedy just got up and did it, in one take. I could then punch in for a couple of close-ups, and that was it, we could move on.
So yes - great fun, but a very long day with lots of travelling, and lots of asking people to shift out of my reserved seat on the train home, ("Oh - shall I move then...?" came the disheartened reply - happens every time!) Hopefully the finished video will be available for the world to witness soon.
In the meantime, here's a rather good one from Tweedy's YouTube channel. It's a promo for one of his live shows, called Tweedy's Lost Property... Enjoy!
In my case, all timelines converge on Cheltenham, which is where I found myself a couple of weeks ago, on a grey, rainy morning in April. It's where we filmed Theo the Mouse. It's where I pass through every time we hold a Sooty summit. This time, I was on my way to meet a clown - Tweedy, to his friends. I was concerned we wouldn't recognise each other, having never met before, but given his dazzling quiff of red hair and my deadpan demeanour, there was little danger of that!
Tweedy had secured a wonderful location for the 7 hour shoot - a theatre just a few minutes from the town centre - and a dream environment if ever there was one. No background noise, no freak weather, just the actors, the props and the stage lights, which the in-house technicians very kindly set up for us. And then they left us to it. That was it - we were away! Tweedy and Richard took to the stage and started running through their lines, (the interplay between these two characters accounts for roughly half the minisode.) During a break, Tweedy admitted he was most concerned about shooting the dialogue, not the slapstick. I admitted I was most concerned about shooting the slapstick, not the dialogue! Between us - we had it covered! (I hoped!) I'd been a little antsy because I'd never shot this kind of material before. Tweedy was climbing up a stepladder, swinging off a stepladder, walking a stepladder across the stage, running in circles with his signature broom... It required a lot of fast camera moves and I wanted to make sure I did the work justice.
I think I did. Well - I got paid anyway!
Even nicer, it was one of those rare occasions in "the Industry" in which we actually wrapped early. A whole 3 hours early, in fact. Always better to have too much time than too little, (gave me chance to munch on a fourth sausage roll.) This was largely down to Tweedy's rigorous preparation. When it came to shooting the quite complex routines, (like, climb up the ladder, fall over, lie flat across the top of the ladder, forward-roll off the other side, swing round, collapse onto the floor), Tweedy just got up and did it, in one take. I could then punch in for a couple of close-ups, and that was it, we could move on.
So yes - great fun, but a very long day with lots of travelling, and lots of asking people to shift out of my reserved seat on the train home, ("Oh - shall I move then...?" came the disheartened reply - happens every time!) Hopefully the finished video will be available for the world to witness soon.
In the meantime, here's a rather good one from Tweedy's YouTube channel. It's a promo for one of his live shows, called Tweedy's Lost Property... Enjoy!
Monday, 8 April 2013
The Oldest Life on Earth DVD is now FREE!
When relationships end, some people go mad, some achieve madness, and some have madness thrust upon them. I managed all three when I decided to make my first proper film, (and start a business!)
The Oldest Life on Earth was the DVD that launched Skerratt Media as a website and a studio, way, way back in the Year of Our Lord 2011 A.D., when Amy Winehouse was still alive, the Higgs-Boson was theoretical, and Tom Daley had yet to present Splash. 2 years on, I've still got copies left, so I have decided to offer the DVD for free.
Continuing the story of Spike Ombre, a self-proclaimed 'professor' with a passion for gadgetry and all-things ancient, the film follows him trying to piece together his broken memories. He knows he died, and yet he is still alive. His friend Rachael said something important, but he can't remember what. And then there's the elusive Cunabula, and the number 33... This incomprehensible weirdness by no means reaches a definite conclusion, and yet, in some ways, the story is very self-contained, and can be understood with repeated viewing. It's hyper-niche stuff, with a concept that makes Steven Moffat's writing look linear.
So, if you're in the mood to be mentally stretched, order your free copy here! There is a £2 charge for postage and packing, as I suspect my local post office will be unwilling to dispense freebies with the same gay abandon as the Skerratt Media employees, (well, me!)
The above link will also take you to an exclusive preview clip, so to make sure you're getting the complete Spike Ombre experience, have a gander at this rather confusing trailer as well:
The Oldest Life on Earth was the DVD that launched Skerratt Media as a website and a studio, way, way back in the Year of Our Lord 2011 A.D., when Amy Winehouse was still alive, the Higgs-Boson was theoretical, and Tom Daley had yet to present Splash. 2 years on, I've still got copies left, so I have decided to offer the DVD for free.
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| Spike Ombre fights off... someone! |
Continuing the story of Spike Ombre, a self-proclaimed 'professor' with a passion for gadgetry and all-things ancient, the film follows him trying to piece together his broken memories. He knows he died, and yet he is still alive. His friend Rachael said something important, but he can't remember what. And then there's the elusive Cunabula, and the number 33... This incomprehensible weirdness by no means reaches a definite conclusion, and yet, in some ways, the story is very self-contained, and can be understood with repeated viewing. It's hyper-niche stuff, with a concept that makes Steven Moffat's writing look linear.
So, if you're in the mood to be mentally stretched, order your free copy here! There is a £2 charge for postage and packing, as I suspect my local post office will be unwilling to dispense freebies with the same gay abandon as the Skerratt Media employees, (well, me!)
The above link will also take you to an exclusive preview clip, so to make sure you're getting the complete Spike Ombre experience, have a gander at this rather confusing trailer as well:
Thursday, 4 April 2013
CD Goings-on as Menston Discs Arrive!
My office hasn't known what's hit it this week. The world's smallest workhouse, Skerratt Media H.Q., also known as My Bedroom (to passers-by), is now drowning under a sea of shiny Menston Green CDs. For those out of the loop, the production is a radio comedy starring former Doctor Who Colin Baker, and the estimable Wink Taylor, (Basil Brush's personal assistant!)
Interestingly, these CDs are not going to be sold on my website. In fact, they're not going to be sold anywhere! (I'm not a hoarder, in case you were wondering...) Nay - these discs are going to be used for promotional purposes, given away to friends, family, sworn enemies, and hopefully strangers. The CDs will act as living, breathing adverts for the production and for Skerratt Media, as a pamphlet or blog can only say so much, and I want Menston Green to speak for itself.
So I'm going to start shipping these out to unsuspecting members of the public over the course of this week, starting with the cast! (That's right - nobody's safe!!) And then to magazines to see if they're interested in reviewing it, (realistically, so they can put it on their desk and forget about it), and then to the local press to see if they'd like to run a feature of some sort, (realistically, so they can put it on their desk and forget about it), and then to the BBC, (who, realistically, will point me in the direction of the FAQ page on their website, so I can put my request to them in 300 characters or less, like a slightly laid-back version of Twitter.)
Ooh the bitterness! Haha. No, I'm not bitter. Such a waste of energy, bitterness. But I am persistant!
Anyway, I only have a limited number of these, so if anyone would like a copy for the purposes of reviewing or featuring, please get in contact with me via my website.
Of course, to the casual listener, Menston Green is still available as an MP3 download for a very respectable £3, and can be found here.
"May the Force be long and prosper!" - Dale Delaney, Menston Green
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| The Menston invasion has begun! |
So I'm going to start shipping these out to unsuspecting members of the public over the course of this week, starting with the cast! (That's right - nobody's safe!!) And then to magazines to see if they're interested in reviewing it, (realistically, so they can put it on their desk and forget about it), and then to the local press to see if they'd like to run a feature of some sort, (realistically, so they can put it on their desk and forget about it), and then to the BBC, (who, realistically, will point me in the direction of the FAQ page on their website, so I can put my request to them in 300 characters or less, like a slightly laid-back version of Twitter.)
Ooh the bitterness! Haha. No, I'm not bitter. Such a waste of energy, bitterness. But I am persistant!
Anyway, I only have a limited number of these, so if anyone would like a copy for the purposes of reviewing or featuring, please get in contact with me via my website.
Of course, to the casual listener, Menston Green is still available as an MP3 download for a very respectable £3, and can be found here.
"May the Force be long and prosper!" - Dale Delaney, Menston Green
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