Category Archive for: ‘Film Things’

Enjoy.

Adam.

Yes, you read that title correctly.

Available Now to buy on DVD is the new small-budget animated film ‘The Legend of Kawa the Blacksmith.’

It is worthy of note for two specific reasons: Firstly, it is a pioneering Kurdish film (a full CG animation, with a choice of English-language or Kurdish audio track) and Secondly – to bring in the Bakery connexion – it features the voice of yours truly, Richard Dadd, playing the two Guardsmen.

Only on the English audio track of course . . . my Kurdish is a bit rusty.

Yes, that’s right. I’m at the forefront of Kurdish film-making!

It was a pleasure to be invited to contribute to this charming production, and I wish Stuart and the rest of the production team the very best with any future features they might plan. And I’m always available to strain my larynx for any other fun roles they might ever have in store. Or anyone else for that matter.

Amazing.

http://www.vimeo.com/2074812

My thanks to the wise soul who sent that quote my way.

Yep, it’s time for another wee update from Scribe’s Corner. This week, I’ve been reading the truly marvellous book The Writer’s Tale by Russell T. Davies and Benjamin Cook. Yes, it has a certain fiery ellipse on the cover, but this outstanding tome is not a book about Doctor Who. Not really. It’s about writing. In the author’s own words, it’s about how the act of writing is a “mad, sexy, sad, scary, obsessive, ruthless, joyful, and utterly, utterly personal thing.”

Not only is this book fascinating and amusing, and possessive of that strangely voyeuristic pleasure of snooping on the correspondence of interesting people (for that is what the book is chiefly composed of). It is also oddly inspiring and reassuring. Reassuring because lengthy passages of it are spent by Davies describing the frustration and exhaustion and panic of bleeding oneself into ones own writing. Simply put, he describes all the shitty feelings that anybody whose every really written will be familiar with.

The first 56 pages are available as a teaser on the official website for those who may be curious.

It’s been a helpful companion to me this week because I have indeed been writing. And creatively failing. Both of these things. And it is comforting to do so in the company of an award winning professional. Because when Russell T.Davies fears failure, it is failure that brings upon his shoulders BBC One, the entire BBC Wales production unit, legion fans, his professional reputation, the viewing millions and 45 years of TV history. I on the other hand, just had Jan Grimshaw, some gawping French schoolkids and the milling crowds of Canterbury High Street watching me.

You see, we started filming ‘Woolworths Isn’t Dead’ this week, and it hasn’t worked. I think it’s good to admit failure. To address it, to learn from it. It makes you stronger. And Bakery products should be strong.

There are numerous problems. Some of them are script based. Some of them are filming based. It was also freezing cold, which stilted my performance. And shop alarms started going off. And drunken crowds came to talk to us. As did one rotund disabled boy. Then there was a camera fault, and the fact that we only had access to microphone equipment for one day.

Suffice to say, at the end of a day’s filming I wasn’t satisfied. I’ve edited together what we got, and it works. Roughly. But there’s so much missing. Hmm. This either requires a rethink or completely scrapping. I’ll keep you updated on what becomes of this particular project. However, if the currently abandoned High Street branch of Woolworths turns into another shop soon then the chances of completion are practically nil. I hate abandonning projects, it’s something I try never to do, but sometimes the Gods place too many obstacles in your path!

Anyhow, I feel I’ve learned a lot from this filming experience. And The Bakery still has LOTS of other things currently in production which are going well. Filming has continued on Al’s forthcoming short, and will continue to do so this Thursday. And plans are underway for the next Gulbenkian Podcast, and maybe even the aforementioned film ‘The Man at Number 11′ and lots more besides.

P.S.

If you fear that this latest blog post is rather too downbeat for your liking, then allow me to point you in the direction of something smile-inducing, of which I have been reminded this week, and which I have already mentioned over on the Konkerbury Blog. I was contacted by Ben, one half of musical duo Ben&Amy. They had previously supplied

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for my evening-long audio extravaganza KONKERS NIGHT on Kent radio station CSR FM. Well, they also happened to sample some of my speech and mix it into a track called ‘Guildford Based’ which is available to hear on their Myspace page. Silly and wonderful and full of blippy noises. We salute you Ben&Amy.

Hi everyone,

From the guys who brought you uncle leg, a new film “A Visitor Departs” is taking Cannes by storm.

Dan

Hello Blog-Readers, Richard here. My first post of the New Look Blog.

And while the other chaps here at The Bakery busy themselves with Html and shutter speeds and user-focused-interfaces, as they snort on their croissants and think outside the box (I’m sure Alaric will agree this is a perfect illustration of his attitude to creativity) I’m a rather more old-fashioned and technically retarded individual (by which I mean I am retarded in the technical area – not that I am technically a retard. I am not).

Anyway, I write. And I’m an actor as well. Sometimes I direct things. I also write copy and Have Ideas.

Now, I am well aware of some of the funky projects that the other Bakery Boys are up to. Al in particular has a very wonderful film in production, which we’ve all had a hand in making. But my job here is not to trumpet other people’s projects, they will be able to do that themselves with much aplomb as and when they are ready. No, I’m just here to do a little bit of Blogging about how things are going in my neck of the woods.

I’m having lots of ideas. In fact sometimes I’m writing them down just in a bid to get my head to shut up and let me have some sleep. However my sleep is usually far from uneventful (I recently dreamt about meeting Martin Clunes at a house party, where I was very concerned his agent wasn’t getting him enough work . . . and last night I dreamt my Nan was obstructing me from giving Stephen Fry a cup of tea).

Anyway, you probably don’t care about my dreams . . . Except for the one about Sophie Winkleman, that deserves a website of its own . . .

ANYWAY – the long and short of it is that I am writing a couple of scripts for short films. One might even be filming next week. Maybe. The other one will certainly be filming next month.

So there you have it. Two new Bakery films. What? That’s not a good enough teaser for you? Okay. I’ll give you the working titles. The first one is provisionally called “Woolworths Isn’t Dead!” and the second one is provisionally called “The Man at Number 11″

They might come to nothing, but I’m working on them. I’m trying to embark on a big learning curve of writing and acting here at The Bakery. I’d like to try out lots of different things in the coming year, but my main focus will be on characters. Creating them and then manifesting them in film. Stretching me as an actor. Keeping me writing. Building up a creative arsenal.

And other pretentious assertions.

I’ll meet you back here when the cogs start turning. Next week hopefully . . .

Today was the recce for the RUSTIC KNIVES music video. The following is a diary of events from Richard Dadd’s perspective:

10.05 - I wake, safe in the knowledge that I have 25 mins before I am due to leave the house with Dan

10.30 – Dan is not here yet.

10.50 - Dan is still not here. I text him and make myself a cup of tea.

11.00 - Dan responds he will be here in 5. I ask him to bring a camera. He says that will take 15 mins charging the battery.

11.20 – I leave the house and phone Dan. Apparently the camera needs more time. I go back in the house.

11.45 – Dan arrives! He has had a strenuous morning shagging. I liberally apply sun cream.After all, if I don’t I may burn.

12.00 – We leave the house and stroll through Canterbury. It is BLOODY BOILING.

12.15 – Stop off at Tesco to buy a sandwich and sweets for later. Dan strolls off down some aisle and I lose sight of him.

12.30 - Dan finally resurfaces outside Tesco. He looks sweaty and his cap is at a jaunty angle. I can’t understand what has taken so long. I think he must have shagged the checkout girl.

12.40 – We board a bus and learn this little excursion to Herne Bay will cost us FIVE POUNDS!! Damn this bloody recession.

12.45 – Dan tucks into some ribs and “Relentless” energy drink.

12.55 – Our £5 has earned us the privilege of sitting on a hot bus in a long traffic jam just outside Fordwich. Suffice to say the smell of Dan’s ribs in this confined environment does little to improve the commuting experience.

13.15 – A typical Kentish barazine; glimpsed through foliage

13.35 – We arrive in Herne Bay and begin our trek eastwards. The journey will be long, hot, and arduous. The ground is treacherous underfoot – all slimy rocks, pebbles and seaweed. Thankfully I am in resilient shoes. Dan is in flip flops.

13.40 – I walk alongside Dan, placing myself between him and the seafront, in order to come between him and all the young ladies sunbathing in their swimwear. It has been at least an hour and ten minutes since he last had sex and I am concerned he may pounce soon. The “Relentless” energy drink can only have exacerbated things.

13.50 – We soon come to realise that perhaps this journey will be even more risky than we had anticipated. We can’t say we weren’t warned.

14.10 - Dan and I bravely continue along the base of the Cliffs of Doom. As we progress, huge sandy chunks of rock – as big as lorries – detach from the cliff face behind us and seal the route back to Herne Bay. There’s no turning back now.

14.45 - After what seems like an age, we finally complete the several-miles-long path to Reculver. It rears up grandly in front of us: a beautiful crumbling relic of centuries past. After the trials of our long journey, a tear wells in our eyes. We thought we would never get here. The old stonework really is a wonder – so resolute and ancient in the burning sun. Next to this is a caravan site for working class people.

The ruins in their entirety. Perfect scenery for a video.

This entrance could make a great backdrop.

Dan stands in for Tom German. The final video will be in b&w.

The above shot with Reculver in the background will be perfect for the line where Tom plaintively sings “I watched as the horde left without me.” Imagine him, with his cape flowing, his hair ruffled by the sea breeze as he mournfully stares out towards a grey ocean.

The ruins can be shot from many different angles, making best use of the background ocean, and of the sun’s natural lighting. Ignore Dan Fryer’s bum crack as he scrambles up the wall like an excited 6 year old.

Above: a rough approximation of the Wizard’s Caper dance move courtesy of a stubbly ginger man. There is much potential for close ups like this to cut between the long shots of the ruins in full.

15.20 – We grab a pint at the King Ethelbert Inn.

15.45 – We begin the long journey back, but we will have to navigate those fallen boulders. Dan suggests we swim for it. That is until we spot the sea monster bathing nearby.

It’s a beast I tell ye!

16.30 – We arrive back in Herne Bay having traversed the cliff tops and discussed whether George Orwell can be considered a Post Modern author. When we arrive Dan heads to the ice cream stall. I have to step in and order an ice cream for myself in order to stop Dan pouncing on the pretty serving girl. It has after all been literally hours since he last had any loving. I am only thankful he never resorted to mounting me in desperation.

We begin planning our next adventure!

16.50 – We board the bus back to Canterbury. On the journey I attempt to get a clearer photo of the barazine (fig.2) and get serious abuse from schoolkids on the bus for, and I quote “perving on concrete.”

17.20 – We arrive in Canterbury, satisfied with a productive day. Dan discovers that his half-arsed attempts at applying sun cream have led him to having a hilariously precise patch of scarlet-coloured neck.

NOW ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS STORYBOARD THE VIDEO, PIN DOWN TOM GERMAN AND RECORD THE VIOLIN PART. THEN FILMING CAN COMMENCE!