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| Christopher at the BFI in December | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 20 2009, 09:57 PM (554 Views) | |
| ecclesno9 | Nov 20 2009, 09:57 PM Post #1 |
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You have to be quick to get tickets... http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_southbank/film_programme/November_seasons/radical_television_drama/our_friends_in_the_north_pane Ecclesno9 |
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| LeighS11 | Nov 20 2009, 11:45 PM Post #2 |
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Blimey! Sometimes I hate being on the other side of the ocean... |
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| shirlie | Nov 25 2009, 04:46 PM Post #3 |
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I hope to hear but I live in Hong Kong |
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| KathyC | Nov 28 2009, 10:06 PM Post #4 |
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Thanks for the alert ecclesno9. |
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| ecclesno9 | Nov 29 2009, 12:01 PM Post #5 |
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My ticket for the aforementioned event came yesterday after a telephone call for the BFI to send it to me at my home address. So, ladies as before I will definitely report back to you all later in December what went on! |
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| shirlie | Nov 29 2009, 05:03 PM Post #6 |
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ecclesno9, please post some photos to let me see. |
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| Sonic | Nov 29 2009, 11:04 PM Post #7 |
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Collector of Waifs and Strays
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That's great Ecclesno9. I would have gone but I've got my first St John's Ambulance duty on the Saturday and a Viva Voce on the Monday so I'm a bit busy. Plus the train fare is a bomb and I'd never catch the last train, dang being a student the perpetual brokeness is a total pain. |
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| ecclesno9 | Dec 12 2009, 12:45 AM Post #8 |
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Ladies I bring you an early Christmas present, at the National Film Theatre, he was slightly worse for drink and I well....just to say that I was just merry and bright Posted Image Thanks to Simon who took this photograph! Edited by ecclesno9, Dec 12 2009, 01:00 AM.
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| KathyC | Dec 12 2009, 07:28 PM Post #9 |
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I was also there ecclesno9, in fact I'm sure I saw the photo being taken in the foyer afterwards. I wondered if anyone there was from the forum. Here is my review: Great evening, very enjoyable. First I had a lovely time looking at the Christmas market on the bank of the river, then had nice coffee at the Festival Hall cafe, then went to find the BFI. The cinema they were using was small and intimate. I was in the 7th row i.e. very near the stage, had a good view of the film and panel. The eposide they showed was remarkable, the one where the police broke the miners' strike. It reminded me why I became a fan of CE in the first place, and a fan of Our Friends in the North. Then the panel came on stage, and what an illustrious panel. Michael Billington, Guardian drama critic - I've been enjoying his reviews for years - was chairman. Next to him was Chris, then Peter Flannery, the writer of OFITN and other excellent work, then Michael Wearing, the producer of OFITN and other wonderful stuff. The latter two had so much to say, mostly to despair at recent changes at the BBC. Billington brought Chris in like a good chairman. Chris was drinking red wine continuously, kept pouring himself glasses from the bottle he'd taken on stage. He spoke a bit about how the estate he was brought up in has changed, how a scene in the episode where his character's father is attacked in the council estate had made him want to act in the series, because he could imagine his real father in that situation. He was funny about some other stuff that came up - the others were talking about having to fill in a questionnaire online now before they can be allowed to write for the BBC. The questionnaire was such garbage, dreadul micro-management of creative people by stupid bureaucrats. This was a sample question Peter Flannery described, as well as I can remember it: You are writing a scene where the character is terrified of mice. You want to introduce a mouse into a scene. Do you 1) not use a real mouse 2) warn the actor that you are going to introduce a mouse at some stage and then do so 3) just throw the mouse into the room. Peter Flannery first tried 1), trying to be pc. That was wrong. He then tried 2). That was also wrong. He was supposed to say 3), because that would be Upholding the BBC Values of Truth. Can you believe it, those poor guys! These are world-renowned writers being subjected to this c##p. He joked with Chris that he'd have to fill it in as well because he has to act scenes like that. Chris then said "The mouse is in the room" and acted shocked. He then said "The mouse is out of the room" and relaxed. They then opened the discussion to the audience and said there must be things the audience wanted to ask. Chris said "They want to know where the mouse is". Peter Flannery tried to get the BBC to commission a prequel to OFITN, called Our Friends in the South. Chris interjected "Am I in it?" Flannery said "Yes, you play your father". But he was joking, the BBC had already told him they will never make it. Afterwards we all went out into the foyer. The panellists were mingling with the audience chatting to them. Chris wasn't there, but then came out of the Green Room and rapidly signed a few autographs. He then ran off to catch Peter Flannery before he disappeared. I can only hope he was touting for work. It was nice to see Chris in the flesh, he's got a nice smile when he's really amused. I think his answers would have been better without the red wine, but never mind. Maybe he needs that to put up with these events. It was lovely to go to something that good, that political, and to see this group of famous people showing not the slightest sign of arrogance. It made me want to go to more BFI events. |
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| LeighS11 | Dec 12 2009, 11:14 PM Post #10 |
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Thanks for sharing the pic, ecclesno9. And thanks for the lovely review, KathyC. You remembered a lot of details! |
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| KathyC | Dec 13 2009, 10:12 AM Post #11 |
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I hope I've got them all right Leigh! Ecclesno9, was Chris holding a pen? It wasn't a cigarette was it? :doh: I didn't think so but I wasn't right next to him! |
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| ecclesno9 | Dec 13 2009, 01:06 PM Post #12 |
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I remember the mouse question. "Where's the mouse?" Christopher asked, "Oh there's the mouse..." Reminded me somewhat of what happened on the set of "Alien" when Ridley Scott surprised the actors to give an immeidate reaction to when the alien bursts from John Hurt's stomach. I was sitting in B3 if you caught sight of me handing Christopher's Christmas present at the end. Again, he wanted to talk to me, saying first "Are you're alright, are you well?" Garrrgh what do you say to him when he starts talking to you eh? Am that interesting, does he want to know that am in a mad panic thinking am going to miss the last train home because it's on the otherside of the Thames? I also remember that Georgie Peacock was supposed to be in the jungle as an armed mercenary. Quality not quantity as Christopher injected "Lost, the show not me!" He also had a go at "Spooks" as being unrealistic. My mother reckons it's a cigarette, but you really can't tell from the angle the photograph it was taken. He signed my box set as well as Peter Flannery who commented to me, "that's deleted now, you are lucky to have that!" We were lucky then to have such quality dramas, anyone of Christopher's age (including me!) our diet was made up of "Play For Today", "Boys From The Black Stuff", "Abigail's Party" et al. The sad thing is that unfortunately twenty-one years later the BBC are treating us like dumb creatures and channeling all the licence fee into returning dramas (soap operas) and sidelining (as Christopher agreed with me) to minority channels such as BBC4 or making cheap, entertainment programmes such as "Strictly Come Dancing" etc. How Danny Boyle encouraged Christopher to take up the part and then subsequently going to America to make some "shite" (his own words!) movies and then coming back to find that there were no quality dramas being made any longer. No is prepared to take on such radical and challenging dramas. It makes me cry and at the same time angry that there are writers out there who are being forced to "tone down" their scripts. I despair too. How is it before long the Government tries to ban someone writing about what really happened to the events leading up to the Iraq war? We are not morons, we deserve better. As I said to Christopher, television drama is supposed to grab you by the balls and shake you violently that it leaves you asking important questions. Also the power of editing now in documentaries and in news that the "truth" is not always told, remember the furore over "Queensgate" when somebody thought it was a "joke" to make the Queen look like she had stormed out of a photo shoot? How Michael Grade turned it down in favour of light entertainment. How Michael Jackson, comissioned it and took the gamble with it and with "This Life" when BBC2's output at the time was 70% of sporting coverage. A fascinating insight into how television was being made, is now being made, or moreover how television isn't being made now. And I say it again, it saddens me as a viewer. Ecclesno9 |
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| mad_about_musicals | Dec 13 2009, 09:44 PM Post #13 |
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I find smoking such a turn off!! :( not good! But he does look lovely!! |
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| KathyC | Dec 13 2009, 10:04 PM Post #14 |
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Gosh, you remember a lot of the discussion ecclesno9. You've got a good memory. Yes, I saw you going to the front at the end of the panel discussion and giving CE a paper bag. I'd forgotten that bit about the mouse. I think your report is more accurate than mine. I agree with your sentiments about the decline in TV and how patronising the programming is. It's obviously very frustrating for writers and producers and actors - it was an eye-opener to hear this from people of such standing. Thanks for reminding me what Queengate was - I wasn't sure what they were talking about. BBC4 is pretty good, and some of their stuff goes to mainstream channels later, doesn't it? At least they are an alternative for people who want to do more interesting stuff e.g. Lennon Naked which the programme leaflet says will be screened next year. |
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| ecclesno9 | Dec 14 2009, 08:36 PM Post #15 |
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I tried to remember most of it, well I had a go at it. No pen, no tape, nothing. There's a fuller report elsewhere here: http://chrisecclestonbulletin.blogspot.com/ Wasn't so much a paper bag but a Christmas bag with his Christmas present and a handmade Christmas card from me Kathy C :D He even wished me a happy Christmas too, whilst we were having our photograph taken. It all feels like a blur now. The changes in television and in radio are deepling shocking and at times and it leaves people like me angry to see this taking place. Why does quality drama has to be sidelined to a minority channel in the first place? Because mainstream are running scared that it may offend the majority that's why am passionate about it. Just look for example "Being Human" on BBC3, it's a great programme (only recently been given a second series) and you'll understand what am talking about. Not everyone likes "X Factor" or any of other so called "light" entertainment being forced down my throat! Was I the only one watching the snooker yesterday?? Ecclesno9 Edited by ecclesno9, Dec 14 2009, 08:45 PM.
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| KathyC | Dec 14 2009, 09:58 PM Post #16 |
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Your report on that blog is excellent, thanks for the link ecclesno9. I didn't mean you gave CE a brown paper bag! :doh: I don't watch the X-factor, but plenty people at work love it. It's just not my taste. There's not that much I want to watch at the moment, though I like "Have I got news for you" and "Life" (the latest David Attenborough.) Last night I watched "Small Island" - loved it. I was wrapping presents for people at work but kept forgetting and watching the film instead. |
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| shirlie | Dec 23 2009, 02:00 PM Post #17 |
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I will suggest chris go to hong kong. All indoor place in hong kong are prohibited to smoke. IF he pay more than a thousand of money, I believe he will cut off his bad habit. |
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