Director's Weekly Post Production Blog WEEK 105 Saturday November 07th...

I just finished reading the Lays of Marie de France. They are a retroactive step in my attempt at a thorough reading of French literature. The thing that surprised me most is that they are seemingly all Breton in origin and thus there is a strange synergy with DEP. There are even a few strange happenings in forests!

Monday saw the sending out of many cheques. How long they will take before they get to their destinations I do not know. The DVDs I sent to Jonnie and Julie a while ago finally arrived mid week and they started work on the film festival applications. The question is which one will want to premier the film? What will their reactions be?

Also I am waiting to see if Julie is successful in raising any money for the film. Although the creditor situation now is the best it’s been since we completed shooting, there will be another big invoice arriving in the near future. The final one I hope!

On Tuesday we got some proofs of new posters although, despite repeated submissions, the credit block was incorrect. I think the posters themselves are the best ones yet but I will wait to see what else comes in from other sources.

Yesterday I spoke to Rhys. He said that the 18 hours hadn’t been reduced any further as he was re-viewing it to think about what to do next. He was disappointed at the lack of interviews and acknowledged that I was right in how long it would take. I guess he is a third of the way there now. I asked “Are you enjoying it?”
“I am,” he replied in a curious tone.

I’ve not been able to get hold of Neil Harris so I don’t know if his pre-view theatre will be up and running next week.

Jonnie is back next week and I hope to meet up with him on Wednesday to do some admin although he said “I am back to earn money not just to work on Elephants!”

I now don’t think TP will happen till next year. We are about 8 Weeks away from finishing the documentary but still 2 weeks away from finishing the film as I am waiting for some things to happen.

Marc was good in Little Voice. Lesley Sharp was brilliant. My mother really enjoyed it. Me, not so much. I kept thinking of the film and how things were done better in that!

This week I have had to photocopy a great many contracts fro the DCMS. They have asked to see them before releasing they last of the money they owe us. We need that money so delivering them has been a matter of urgency.

I’ve not yet heard from Julie Dray about the investment she is looking for in France. Julie and Jonnie have certainly been at it entering film festivals all around the world. I wonder which one will take a nibble first and invite us?

Jonnie has had an industrious week. Apart from entering film festivals and helping me lock the credit block, he has finally finished the dialogue list (needed for subtitling the film) and done a great draft for the press packs which we will soon need.

We’ve also started receiving ideas for new posters now. There are some very good ones. We will make a final decision after we have had them all in.

Neil Harris still hasn’t been able to tie down Mark Foglino at Molinare and thus sort out the DCP that we now need. I’ve decided to take things into my own hands on Monday as this delay can’t go on much longer.

Today, my best friend Simon, “The Carlisle Catfish” arrives from Cumbria. I haven’t seen him for two years. He wants to play poker all weekend which is great by me. I just hope he gets here on time as Cumbria is absolutely flooded at the moment.

Rhys has been working on other stuff most of this week but he assured me that the first assembly of the documentary will be complete at the end of next week.

We are 6 Weeks away from finishing the documentary but still 2 weeks away from finishing the film.

I am now in Cornwall, visiting the writer I am working with down here. We are with a 1st AD, Gareth Tandy, visiting locations to tie down a schedule for that film. Strangely it is much milder here than in London.

I have had a week trying to get round the problems posed last week by the conversation with Mark Foglino. Two clear solutions to the DCP issue have come to light. One, Neil is working on and the other, I am. My solution will be followed up next Wednesday. I am tempted to do the two simultaneously as almost certainly one will find delays.

No news from the DCMS or Julie yet. The film’s lack of resources is mirrored by Jonnie’s and my own. Jonnie had a financial set back this week, as did I. I feel it’s a bit like a Scuba diver under water feeling that clunk as the oxygen runs out. I’ve not earned a penny since February so it’s hardly surprising. At times like this, I remember the money my friend Vincent Phillips borrowed “for a couple of months” many years ago before flying to New Zealand.

I spoke to Rhys again this week. He is finally at the first assembly stage but that first assembly is still 7 hours long. In any event that is progress as he has still managed to eliminate another 11 hours. I don’t think it will be viewable though until under 4 hours!

I think we are now 5 Weeks away from finishing the documentary and yet again still 2 weeks away from finishing the film!