Archive | October 2012

Lights, Camera, Action …and Bump!

Oct15

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Following a sleepless night, the day arrived for filming  Celia episode 2.  Fortunately Guy has been very understanding about moving out of our bedroom and having it on show globally because he knows how much making these films means to me.  My OCD went into overdrive & after wiping the downstairs loo for the umpteenth time, listenupnorth arrived with lots of reassurance for my ragged nerves and we started to prepare the set.

Through The Looking Glass

Then camera & all-round expert Shirley Anne Wood arrived.  Shirley is now with ‘bump’ and after a big hug was immediately forbidden to lift anything heavier than a teaspoon.  Time to put the kettle on & arrange a tray of fruit & Mars Bar Mini rolls placed out of camera shot to ensure we all keep our sugar levels during the strenuous task of filming.  Whilst Shirley set up the lights & camera , listenupnorth and I watched  episode 1 in freeze frame so we could place all the toiletry bits & pieces on the dressing table  just as I had left them as I walked out at the end of the last episode  to answer the door to Simon.

Following on, this episode takes place in the evening & I’m recounting what went on (or off!) when I found Simon on the doorstep.  As before, the idea was that delivering the monologue, actor Penny Lamport would express her internal thoughts to the camera placed behind her dressing table mirror (with glass removed).  She would also address the audience directly into a second camera at the side of the dressing table.

Penny & Sue arrived to more hugs to complete ‘Team Celia’.  After putting the kettle on again & a quick catch up on everyone’s gossip, we had a final call for the loo as we would be unable to leave the room for several hours once the cameras were in place.   Part of the driving force to complete our series of 6 short films was Shirley’s worry that, as she expands with baby, she would soon be unable to fit into the tight space between the camera & the door!  In addition, actor Penny has expressed concern that she might not look 49ish for much longer.  But I would take that with a pinch of salt as that woman has drunk the elixir of eternal youth.

'Team Celia'

‘Team Celia’ in action

It seemed to take an age of faffing around with lighting to ensure the correct night time ambience  plus checking sound levels & positioning cameras before we were finally ready to call ‘Action!’.  However, all the preparation paid off and the actual filming progressed very quickly & smoothly.  It was ‘in the can’ by late lunch and we were able to sit down to our baked potatoes followed by celebratory chocolate eclairs.  Now more hard work as Shirley takes it all away to edit & prepare Celia – episode 2.  So watch this space!

Click below to watch Celia – episode 1

Lights, Camera, Action – and Cocoa!

Oct4

Actor Penny learning lines at the dress rehearsal

I am waiting eagerly for tomorrow when filming is to start on episode 2 of ‘Celia, Housewife 49ish’ .  Hopefully.  We were supposed to  film last Tuesday but rainfall of biblical proportions meant that poor Shirley with all her camera & lighting equipment had to turn back due to floods & blocked roads.

However we did manage a dress rehearsal the day before.  Preparing for a night time scene we had to blu-tack lots of thick black card up at the bedroom windows.  Sue gave lots of really helpful advice from her time at the BBC & was very tactful when dealing with writer & director listenupnorth’s indecisiveness.   And I did think that actor Penny cut rather a dash in my dressing gown & slippers.  She looked quite at home as she rehearsed her lines.  Just needed a cup of warm steamy cocoa to complete the picture and calm her conscience after a romantic brush with Simon from the village Greenhouse & Gardens Society.

No expense spared - new slippers for the star

No expense spared – Penny borrows my slippers for this demanding role

Of course living with OCD it’s been a nerve wracking experience to prepare my bedroom for the shoot. I must have wiped round a dozen times already not to mention washing & ironing the curtains.  You should have see the dust behind the drawers when Guy moved them out to make room for the camera.  I thought if my bedroom is going out global I don’t to be found wanting in the cleanliness department.  So I had Guy paint the skirting boards just in case.

Now all I have to do is put a note around the neighbours asking them not to use their lawn mowers & chainsaws tomorrow. Very difficult round here with so many active retired people, as the wives do like to send their husbands out into the garden every day.

It’s a little while since they shot episode 1 so they’ll  have quite a job to line everything up on the dressing table for continuity purposes. Roll on tomorrow when they arrive – ‘Lights, Camera,  Action – and Cocoa!’

It's cocoa time!

It’s cocoa time!

Hot Chocs All Round!

Oct1

‘Team Celia’ Executive Management Meeting
listenupnorth, Penny, Sue & Shirley

After an executive committee meeting in Starbucks round hot chocs & cafe lattes, I am delighted to introduce a new member to ‘Team Celia’.  In addition to Penny the actor who plays yours truly, Shirley on camera & editing plus listenupnorth  who created me & puts the words in my mouth, we now have Sue who comes with lots of experience at the BBC & is going to help with producing & publicity, developing a sound business model & giving listenupnorth an occasional reality check. That way we can all make more in the series of short films about me ‘Celia, Housewife 49ish’ to delight you – our audience.

listenupnorth was absolutely chuffed that everyone wants to continue.   In fact she was so excited that she became very bold & interrupted a gentleman in the corner  reading ’50 Shades of Grey’ over his Expresso Grande and asked him to take a team photo.

Enjoy ‘Celia – the Film’ episode 1: