DERBY: Friday 26 FebruaryDavid Morrissey: Blog #6 We’re heading for Derby on the last leg of our tour. I haven’t been to St Pancras since its refurbishment. I almost missed my train as I potted around the various delis and shops selling everything from French sticks to novelty pyjamas. We hadn’t booked our seats on this leg of the trip so as soon as the platform number came up Helen sprinted off like Sally Gunnell and bagged us two. And thank goodness as the train was stuffed. I got to my hotel and as I walked into the room I thought they’d made some sort of mistake. No bed! It was more of an office to be honest. There was a sofa and I wrestled with that for a while convinced it must have a bed somewhere inside. I looked in the bathroom, which although huge and even had a TV in it, still had no bed. As I walked back to the door to complain I noticed a staircase and there it was - an upstairs bedroom in a hotel room! Surely that’s a bit unnecessary. If it hadn’t been for independent cinemas our tour would never have happened...
The Quad in Derby is a brilliant cinema. Adam who runs it showed us around and was quite rightly proud of its facilities and the varied programme it puts on.
If it hadn’t been for independent cinemas like this across the country our tour would never have happened. It’s essential that there is somewhere putting on films outside of the mainstream. Places like The Quad and Watershed in Bristol act not only as cinemas but meeting places for film buffs and provide workshops and talks to encourage anyone interested in getting into the business. My guest in Derby was Vicky McClure
. I first saw Vicky in Room for Romeo Brass. She’s such a wonderful, natural actress. I also thought she was blinding in This is England. The scene in the car with Stephen Graham blew me away when I first saw it. She talked about her experiences of working with Shane Meadows and also on a recent film directed by Madonna. And she’s about to start shooting a TV series following the characters from This is England three years on. As she sat next to Helen in the Q&A, and I saw how alike they were and how they got on so well, I started thinking of a film with the two of them as sisters. Hmmmmm, must start writing that one when I get some time. Again, the film played well and the comments were all very complimentary. I got back to the hotel late and staggered up the stairs to my bed wondering if I’d be able to sleep in the novelty pyjamas I’d bought myself. I’ve had a fantastic time over the past few weeks and I must thank Jenny, Alex, Tricia and all at BAFTA for asking me to do this and looking after us so well on each leg of the tour. Lastly though, I must thank Helen, for putting up with me and pretending to find my jokes funny. |
DERBY: Friday 26 FebruaryHelen Elizabeth: Blog #6 David was in danger of some serious over-exposure in the run up to this, the last leg of our DWAM tour in Derby. He did The One Show on Thursday evening with lovely shiny-haired Christine Bleakley and Adrian Chiles with his interesting new beard. I was hoping they would make David comment on International Pork Pie Day or his favourite motorway, but the topic of the day turned out to be the rather more solemn issue. Happily, celeb psychologist Linda Papadopoulos was there to help. Hot on the heels of The One Show came GMTV on Friday morning. David was on plugging his new TV show, 5 Days, but steered the conversation firmly back to us and our movie. Good work by him. So the upshot of all this media whoring (and having a TV series to produce and act in) was that he was pretty tired by the time he got to St. Pancras, and ready for the end of the tour. I, on the other hand, am sad it’s all over and may spiral into a depression of self-loathing and despair where I don’t get dressed or leave the house or eat (the latter, at least, is unlikely). I have loved every minute of our tour and could happily travel the country with our little film forever! On tour with my own movie and watching the tobogganing from my disco-bath...
I am surprised David brought me with him actually because, again, my presence relegated him to Standard Class on the train. And we had no seat reservations, which was of grave concern to him, and consequently me. Standard is one thing. Standing in Standard I did not think would go down well. So when the platform was announced I ran like the wind, leap-frogging buggies and pushing old ladies out of my way, to secure DM a nice seat. Which I did successfully, and for which he mocked me about my quirky running style. The hotel was obviously a last leg treat. My room had stairs (a whole flight of them), an office, and three tellies, one of which was in the bath. The bath which had neon lights set into the sides that change colour while you soak. On tour with my own movie and watching the tobogganing from my disco-bath. I’ve totally arrived! We arrived at the Quad - a great new arts centre with exhibition and cinema space - where we met Vicky McClure
, the brilliant This is England actress, who was doing the panel session with us. She was like me in that she has a regular job that she does when she’s not acting, and that she doesn’t always get to act. And also not like me at all in that she has worked with Madonna and is about to begin filming a TV series. Note to self: must work with Madonna! We talked to lots of aspiring filmmakers and actors and I hope we were able to offer them some advice and encouragement, though I think it’s fair to say I have received far more than I’ve given over the past few weeks. We’ve travelled by plane, train and automobile, I have met so many interesting and talented people and had so much fun. Thanks to David for sacrificing First Class and letting me tag along, and Jenny at BAFTA for all her hard work and kindness. Also thanks to Jamie, my co-writer and actor and great friend, without whom there would be no play and DWAM might never have been. The making of this movie has brought me more joy than I can possibly say, and I hope this is just the beginning. |
LONDON: Thursday 18 FebruaryDavid Morrissey: Blog #5 When I first came to London just after the war (Falklands not World) I was filled with a mixture of fear and excitement. My fear was all to do with leaving home and finding my feet in the big city. Trepidation about being able to cut it as an actor. My excitement was all about the opportunities London gave me. The things to see and do, the landmarks, galleries, museums and theatres. The place I spent much of my spare time, (when I wasn't in my tights dancing around RADA) was the National Film Theatre. I'd spend hours here watching obscure films and TV, old favourites and Q+A sessions with the great and the good. I loved getting my programme booklet and highlighting....well, the highlights, and planning my coming month’s viewing. Sometimes seeing up to three films a day and hanging out in the cafe between times. And today I was here to show my own film. A group of people (quite a lot as it turned out) had highlighted Don't Worry About Me in their booklet and come along. I was so chuffed by the whole thing. My film has now had a West End premier, complete with red carpet, a national tour and now it's playing at the venue that taught me most about film. Short of me turning out at Anfield it doesn't get much better. The afternoon started with Bill Nighy and myself talking about our experiences as actors - which seemed to follow a similar path, both of us having had early experiences of both the Liverpool Everyman Theatre and working with the iconic Ken Campbell. It turned into a bit of a comedy double act with me as the straight man and Bill being wonderfully honest and hilarious as he told stories of various film sets around the world. It was so great to share the stage with him and the hour flew by. I then introduced my film and filled the audience in with a little back story of how the it all came about. Afterwards Helen and I took questions again and the reaction was really wonderful. I was a little apprehensive before the Q+A, the old superstitious paranoia that Bill and I had gone so well that surely the film will fall flat. But the comments and responses were all positive and afterwards in the bar loads of people sought me out to say how much they'd enjoyed it and asked me how we'd managed to make the film look so wonderful on our tiny budget. Luckily my DoP, Stuart Nichols Wright was there as well to answer any technical questions that were beyond me, i.e. all of them. A chat with Bill Nighy, screening my film to an applicative public and a hot pot in the cafe afterwards with my son. Not a bad way to spend a wet Thursday in February. Back to top
Helen Elizabeth: Blog #5 Here we are in our own city and lucky enough to be showing our film once again, at the BFI on the Southbank. Interestingly, David was under the impression the screening was at BAFTA, and landed himself in the middle of Piccadilly with half an hour to go until the screening. Clearly he needs an assistant. Have I mentioned I am available? Bill Nighy arrived looking every inch as dapper and debonair as I had imagined. He spoke of the importance of courteousness on set, and how anything less smacked of inexperience and always made you look like an amateur. I find this reassuring as there is nothing I hate more than yelling. If I liked being shouted at I’d have joined the army. (I wouldn’t really. I’d be the worst soldier imaginable and I’d cry all the time.) I sat in on the screening and was so pleased to hear the audience’s positive reaction.
The cinema was full, not of my friends and relatives for a change, but of real paying movie-goers (actually, I don’t think they had to pay, but you get the gist). It felt like the biggest test of all and I think we passed. The only negative comment was from one strange chap whose viewing-enjoyment had been compromised by my character apparently having changed her shoes half way through the movie. Which she did not! He was convinced I had changed from heels to flats somewhere in the middle and this caused him some considerable distress. “No,” I said, “I was just walking on sand.” Quick as a flash he came back, “But the shoes changed from beige to brown.” Again, I repeated, “I was walking on sand.” Our film is many things, but lacking in footwear-continuity it is not. I usually cannot bear the ‘networking’ sessions partly because the word itself makes me want to puke, and partly because I fear I will be exposed as a big fraud. So I generally skulk about in the corner guzzling the free wine and waiting for it all to be over. Not this time! This time I networked my socks off. Many thanks to Tricia and Jenny at BAFTA for all their help and hard work. Derby next week for the last leg. Onwards… Back to top
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NEWCASTLE: Tuesday 16 February David Morrissey: Blog #4 Helen and I headed for the station in the pouring rain. Kings Cross, like the rest of London it seems, is under construction. The taxi dropped us off around the corner and we got soaked as we tried to find an entrance through the blue hoardings surrounding the place. We stood in front of the departures board with about 200 other people waiting to join the mad dash to the train as soon as the platform number came up. It reminds me of It's A Knockout when I was a kid, people not built for physical exercise running an obstacle course of trolleys, toddlers and rucksacks while trying to balance their coffees and magazines in one hand and pulling lethal luggage in the other. I only remembered halfway along the platform as I pushed a pensioner out of my way that we'd booked a seat anyway so, why the rush? In Newcastle we headed for the Northern Film and Media building. It was a beautiful day here, cold and bright. So no Fog on the Tyne for us. A room had been set aside and as I went through the clips and slides with Rupert Lee my old mate Trevor Fox came in. I'd worked with Trevor a number of times, both as an actor and a director. I once played a Geordie (with a terrible accent it has to be admitted) with Trevor as my mate in the film; we immediately became friends and have kept in touch ever since. He’s a fantastic actor, and has done great work at Live Theatre in Newcastle and also in Billy Elliot on stage, and is about to go to Broadway with the Pitmen Painters. The place filled up and I gave my talk which seemed to go well. Trevor and Helen joined me and Trevor had everyone in stitches about his experiences auditioning and how some directors had not been overly sensitive to him on film sets. It must have been tough in reality but as he told these stories back he made it all sound so hilarious I wondered if he's ever thought of doing a stand up based on it. There were great questions afterwards and many people here were champing at the bit to go away and make their own films. Their ideas (and also finished screenplays) came thick and fast… it seemed a hive of creativity and not for the first time Newcastle reminded me of my own home town of Liverpool. The film played that night in the beautiful Tyneside cinema in the city centre and again the place was packed. Afterwards the response was amazing. A lot of people didn't have questions but raised their hands just to say how much they'd enjoyed it and picked out Helen’s performance in particular. I go to the BFI next and do a talk with Bill Nighy and then onto derby next week. It's been such a blast and I don't want it to end to be honest. Thank you Newcastle. Back to top
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NEWCASTLE: Tuesday 16 February
Northern Film + MediaHelen Elizabeth: Blog #4 King’s Cross on a wet and rainy Tuesday morning. As we boarded our train in Standard Class, David informed me that he would have been in First were I not with him. Great! As our fellow passengers proceeded to spill the contents of their lattes all over our seats, sit beside us with their BK Flame Grilled Whoppers and tuck into their Tupperware containers of potato salad (for breakfast!), I couldn’t help but think that David would happily have traded me in for the acres of legroom, unlimited china cups of coffee and the shortbread fingers of First! We arrived at Northern Film and Media where the afternoon session was taking place, and met Trevor Fox, an old friend of David’s who was joining us for the masterclass. He was brilliantly funny, full of good stories and completely no nonsense. There was nothing not to like. He and David compared notes about directors who had clearly wanted someone else for the part, but ended up with them. Trevor mentioned one job where the director had said simply, “Him? F***ing hell!” Which isn’t going to fill you with confidence on your first day. David also spoke of actresses on set and what a tough time they can have compared to the men. He said if an actor asks questions about his character he’s seen as intense. If an actress does it she’s seen as difficult. Oh for the chance to be difficult! I have many friends in Newcastle, and had managed to wangle 23 tickets for them to come to the screening. I have been banging on about this movie for so long that I swear people must think I made the whole thing up, so it was great to be able to show them it wasn’t all a big lie! They laughed, cried and forgot it was me, so that’s a resounding success in my book. David says I am unashamedly using this tour to gallivant about the country watching films with my friends. Which is only semi-true. The train back to London this morning was thoroughly pleasant until some mothers got on in Darlington. I have nothing against mothers per se, nor their children. But I object to loud shouty ones who think the world owes them a table and who make way more noise than their offspring. One declared to her surly 12 year old who was trying to out-debate her that she was “not going to parent by committee.” What does that even mean? I am also inclined to dislike women who name their children Marmalade and Starshine (seriously, we shared a carriage). If you must go in for a conserve-based theme, at least stick to it. Damson for a boy perhaps, and Lemon Curd for a girl. Many thanks to Rupert Lee at Northern Film and Media from whom I wangled my tickets. And as always to Jenny at BAFTA, for her organization, patience and continual provision of good snacks. Back to top
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ABERYSTWYTH: Thursday 11 February
Keith MorrisDavid Morrissey: Blog #3 The most beautiful drive through the Brecon Beacons heading for Aberystwyth and the Ffresh festival. There are still some traces of snow on top of the hills but the sun is shining and I feel so lucky to be seeing Britain in this way. On tour with my own film through spectacular scenery. I can’t help wishing I had a film crew with me so I could jump out and shoot the wonder of it all. I’ve never been to Aberystwyth. And as I drive down Marine Terrace it reminds me of holidays I had as a child in little Welsh towns and villages along the North Wales Coast. The only difference today is the weather. I never remember any sun in Rhyl in 1972. We get to The Aberystwyth Arts centre which is part of Aberystwyth Uni and has the distinct campus feeling. It’s the largest venue I’ve done so far and I worry about the distance between myself and the audience, I’ll have a microphone and a lectern but I want it to be a bit loose and friendly and want to encourage people’s questions. This is my third talk and I feel a little more confident that I can open my mouth and have more than hot air come out. Also, here in Wales Helen and I are joined by the director Philip John
. He’s a very experienced TV director and afterwards talks about his early days working with actors and the techniques he uses now for getting the best out of them. One question from the audience was, “Do you ever feel TV and film critics can bring anything to your work?” Philip gave a resounding “No” to this, but I had to admit that in doing my own independent film the critics have been hugely important for me. Without their support and comments I’d have had more difficulty getting the film seen. So on Don’t Worry About Me they’ve played a very important role I think. It brought to mind a review of a play I did once though, the critic said something like, “During this performance a plane flew over the theatre, I don’t know where it was going but I wished I’d been on it.” Of course, I’ve wiped that from my mind... Back to top
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ABERYSTWYTH: Thursday 11 February
Keith MorrisHelen Elizabeth: Blog #3 The weather could not have been brighter or more lovely for our trip to Wales. The Severn Bridge in the morning sunshine was magnificent. We drove north through the Brecon Beacons – I’m sure I did those in Geography. I remember making very good pie charts about rainfall and keeping the local post office open. The country is remote and wild up there, made no less so by a roadside stall selling giant carved wooden bears: human-sized grizzly bears standing on their hind legs and baring their claws at unsuspecting motorists. We stopped for a sandwich at a café which was full of Dr. Who fans who couldn’t remember David’s name but definitely wanted his autograph. And I didn’t even get car sick which was a total relief. It would be far from ideal to vomit in the BM with DM! The hotel smelled alternately of old cigarettes, disinfectant (reassuring) and chips. I almost wondered if it was the sort of establishment where you get chips with your breakfast and found I was quite disappointed when we did not. In my room there were pipes which didn’t go anywhere protruding at odd angles from the floor and a toilet I thought was going to take off when it flushed. The bathroom light flashed on and off while I was in the shower which made me feel like I was at my own private foam party! The organizers of Ffresh told us this was all part of the experience and I believe them. David’s masterclass and the panel session afterwards were the biggest ones so far, delivered to about 150 students attending the festival. I wore my new Topshop jumper in a bid to fit in with the youth. I thought it had the Eiffel Tower on it, but on reflection I think it might have been more Blackpool than Paris. Either way, I felt old enough to be their mother. The thing with students is that they stay young and I keep getting older. I’m afraid I was particularly mute (even for me) during the panel discussion. I must be braver. I vow to say more stuff. I have wisdom to impart about expectation versus reality! We were taken to the restaurant of choice for all seasoned and discerning festival guests – Gannets, where we were looked after brilliantly by Dyllis who served us steak the size of a small country and amazing sticky toffee pudding. The night was young so we went to Pier Pressure on the seafront, which wins the award for the best name ever! Many thanks to the great people of Aberyswyth who welcomed us so warmly. Also the Chair of Ffresh, Maggie Russell, who promises to make it her mission to get me a job that isn’t in an office! And lastly thanks to Faye at Bafta Cymru, and a special mention to Alex who donated me her belt when my jeans would not stay up. That’s above and beyond… Back to top
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BRISTOL: Wednesday 10 February
Neil YoungDavid Morrissey: Blog #2 Snow! Snow on the North Circular! What the f…!! I thought we were through this madness. I'm diving to Bristol Watershed for the second leg of our tour. I have visions of us being stuck in a blizzard, snow ploughs sent to dig us out like the poor people of Washington on the TV last night. But, by the time we’ve reached Chiswick, it’s like the Costa Del Sol and I’m wishing I’d brought my Ray Bans. Helen is with me but also joining us at The Watershed is Adrian Dunbar
who I haven’t seen for ages. We use to live in the same area of London and had a few mutual friends back then but our paths haven’t crossed since, so it’s wonderful to see him. He’s well turned out, in an immaculate three piece pin striped suit. I feel a little under-dressed as I take the stage in my jeans and sweat shirt! The majority of the people at the talk here in Bristol have made at least one short film so their questions are more about getting to the next stage of production, feature film finance or longer TV drama, rather than how to get started in the first place. Adrian wrote and starred in the brilliant Hear My Song as well as developing his own independent films, so his insights were valuable to those people who saw themselves as writer/directors. We also talked about the great directors we'd had the pleasure of working with - John Boreman, Paul Greengrass, Peter Chelsom amongst others - and I was enjoying chatting to him so much I nearly forgot to open it out to a Q&A for the audience. Afterwards, we also talked about the match that night, Arsenal (his team) and Liverpool (mine). Thankfully, he had to head home early so wasn’t there to gloat at their rather dodgy one nil victory at The Emirates. Back to top
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BRISTOL: Wednesday 10 February
Neil YoungHelen Elizabeth: Blog #2 Transport wise, David and I are traveling together on this leg. He’s the designated driver, partly because I don’t have a car and partly because if I did, it wouldn’t be as good as his! We began our road trip of the West in the midst of an oddly violent and seemingly impromptu snowstorm. I’m sure Peter Cockcroft hadn’t mentioned it. As we drove out of London we found ourselves driving through a giant blizzard that made me grateful not to be a hitchhiker or a sheep. For a while it was like being inside a BMW 5 series-shaped snow globe. All we needed was a sled and a Christmas jumper each. David told me about his next project and asked me for suggestions of 40-something actresses who could play the lead. Strangely, I kept coming back to me, aged-up a bit. On a bad day and without foundation I can totally pass for 45. Almost. There was also a story about a convict teenager who drinks vodka through his eye. The conversation is eclectic! The masterclass session at the Watershed went really well, with many participants having made one or more short films of their own, asking interesting and pertinent questions and clearly having much more experience than me in some cases. I was in danger of being exposed as an ignoramus imposter, so I lay low and hid behind the wisdom and experience of David, and Adrian Dunbar who was on the panel with us. My favourite piece of advice he offered to young directors was not to be afraid to give the note “quicker” to an actor. Sometimes all a scene needs is “just to be done quicker.” I like that. When asked what one piece of advice he would give to aspiring filmmakers, David said they should cast well, and trust their actors. I hope very much he feels he did both on this movie. Many thanks tonight to Alex at Bafta, Holly at Watershed, Chris Moll for chairing the Q&A, and Adrian Dunbar for answering all the hard questions. Travelling on up to Aberystwyth tomorrow morning. Apparently there is no motorway. Who knew? David hates the Sat Nav woman but we don’t know how to switch off her irritating voice, so we abandon it completely and wing it till we’re almost there. Makes for an exciting trip! Back to top
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BELFAST: Saturday 6 February
Ronan O’DonnellDavid Morrissey: Blog #1 I was on the first leg of my tour heading for Belfast. Helen Elizabeth, the leading actress in my film, and I flew off in the early hours of Saturday morning. As we landed at the George Best Airport it was grey and rainy but Helen, who’d had long family holidays here as a kid, informed me it was the norm so I didn't take it personally. Don't Worry About Me was playing at the The Queens Film Theatre in the evening, but first, in the afternoon, I was doing a talk giving my "insights" on being an actor. Susan Picken who runs the QFT welcomed me warmly, and we ran through the clips and did a quick sound check. Before the event began I was introduced by Moyra Lock from Northern Ireland Screen and I blushed as she went through the work of mine she'd seen and enjoyed over the years. I never get over the nerves of screening my film - It's such an exposing experience...
I spoke for about half an hour about being an actor, auditioning, first day on set, building character etc. and then I was joined on stage by Helen and also Lisa Barros d'Sa and Glenn Leyburn who'd jointly directed a brilliant film set in Northern Ireland called Cherrybomb, which is released later this year. We swapped stories about our experiences, both in front and behind the camera, and took some great questions from the floor as well. Don't Worry About Me played in the evening and Helen and I did a Q&A session afterwards chaired by Brian Henry Martin. I never get over the nerves of screening my film. It's such an exposing experience and you think I'd be used to it by now, but it's always a rush of anxiety and excitement. It'll be interesting to see if there are different reactions to the film as I tour it around the country: will people laugh at different bits in Newcastle than they did in Belfast? Cry at a different scene in Derby than in Bristol? Walk out earlier in Aberystwyth than they do in London? Back to top
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BELFAST: Saturday 6 February
Ronan O’DonnellHelen Elizabeth: Blog #1 Just back from our whirlwind 24 hour trip to Belfast on the first leg of the Don’t Worry About Me UK tour. When David asked me to accompany him on the tour (during which he delivers a master class on filmmaking, acting and directing) he told me that my job would be to talk about the realities of being a jobbing actress in London today. My response was, are you sure? My brief was to talk about expectation versus reality. The reality of my experience of being an actress is, to be frank, more jobless than jobbing. I have plenty to say about the gulf that exists between how you think things will be when you head for the bright lights of London and how things actually are. David qualified his request for my contribution with an email saying, “but don’t be too negative!” So I should say that making this movie has given me endless joy, invaluable experience and a hunger to work that keeps me here and trying to do so. I feel very lucky to have been a part of it. Being half Irish I had a great many family members in the audience at the screening, all recruited by my Granny, who entirely missed her calling and should have gone into PR. Great to have so many friendly faces there. I stayed in the Fitzwilliam in Belfast, a hotel so swish it took me ten minutes to turn on the lights. Gorgeous dinner, though a point deducted for the inclusion of mushroom “foam” in my main course! I am averse to foam in food on the grounds that you are paying for air. Amazing soda bread for breakfast, the like of which you can only get in Northern Ireland! I expect this is too food-based and David would prefer me to talk about film! We were looked after brilliantly by Jenny at Bafta, Moyra at Northern Ireland Screen and Susan at QFT – thanks to you all. It was a great day and a wonderful start to the tour. Looking forward to Bristol… Back to top
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Keith Morris
