Archive for August, 2008
Monday, August 25th, 2008
Devil in the Detail
The writing has had to take a bit of a back-burner. Not only because of other work, but simply organising the logistical angles of shooting the filmed elements of the project seems to have taken over my life somewhat. Actually, organising the logistical angles doesn’t take that long, but worrying about them has become very time consuming. Luckily my fellow producer Mike Cunsolo (who has already produced his own excellent webcomedy Extra Mundane) is proving to be a rock whenever we meet up, sourcing good deals with camera equipment and managing to borrow a nice big van from his own workplace with which we can abduct our Nigel.
Who our Nigel will actually be is still a little murky. I have pretty much given up on the notion of getting a ‘name’ to play our eponymous role. When speaking to one or two agents, they seem to have had trouble comprehending what the project actually is and have basically come away with the impression that I want their client to appear in my youtube video. Oh well.
But in other casting news, I have my first choice cast for Verity. Victoria Pratt who I know through Heather due to their extraordinary work with the Slung Low theatre group - most recently on their excellent production of ‘Helium’ (also starring the vocal talents of Patrick Stewart) which I don’t mind admitting brought a little tear to my eye in it’s final moments. Similarly, Mike’s ‘Extra Mundane’ cohort Andrew Dempsey is up for playing the part of Lecturer Stu. I haven’t actually met Andy yet but know from their work together that he makes me laugh so I’m looking forward to what he can bring to a small but fun role. Joyously, through a random reunion through Facebook, my old uni chum Michael Ross has agreed to play the sinister Warren Chambers. I haven’t seen Michael since I moved up from London to Sheffield several years ago but he and I used to write and perform comedy together and Michael is also an enviably good playwright. So apart from the title character, we’re pretty much there.
I also now have my director for the filmed sections too. Chris Elliott who did a brilliant job assisting on our horror short film promo ‘The Emaciated Man’ a few months ago is just graduating from Hallam uni and is now out and about looking for work. Obviously, what this production can afford to pay will make little dent in any student loans or overdrafts but hopefully a director credit won’t do his CV any harm (especially as I’d like him to self-shoot and edit too!) He also knows a few friends who could help crew for the shoot days too so I’m now confident that this feels like a production rather than just some people with access to a camera.
