Ray Knight

It is the holy grail for supporting artistes, who speak of it in hushed admiring tones, almost self conscious of their kudos for having been among the chosen ones. The more experienced members refer to the hey days (CHECK) when this was in fact the only one, when an Equity Card was a prerequisite and the latter credential more exclusive and hard to attain. Extras would clamor for membership. This at least has not changed. Today after three or four attempts I too have been enrolled onto the books of Ray Knight Casting. And I feel privileged as well as encouraged.
All the more so because John, who photographed and interviewed me, was charmingly admiring of my appearance and especially my hair. I would be suitable for period pieces (as I had already discovered) and he suggested I have a fashion shoot to present myself as a well-to-do, successful retired gentleman, to be seen on a yacht, for example. I like his style and will present him with the bill for said yacht asap.

BlOygster

My white suit and Panama hat akimbo, my hair sprayed into place and my shades on in the hope if not anticipation of a couple of hours of sunshine, I was ready for my filming today. This was something I had been selected to do 4 months previously, but for one reason or another my contribution had been postponed 2 or 3 times. The weather, a 6 days job I had that clashed and my co-star’s one month old baby had all conspired to delay this ground breaking piece of cinematography. I of course refer to the film Oyster, written and directed by Ryan Hall of Bad Rum Productions.
Five of us converged on a temple in India (more accurately recognised as Alperton).
Alas, no green room or crowd holding area was available, nor even a cafe in which to change into my pristine white suit. This is after walking at least 10 minutes. How do they survive here without coffee houses? Anyway, we found a sandwich bar. I swapped the off white old joffers jacket I was wearing for my white suit jacket and left my pale slim chinos on in place of said white suit trousers and promptly spilt my cappuccino over them. By this time I had been introduced to Vikram who was to play a young tour guide I meet as a retired film producer in India. Ryan the director described the shots he wanted and so off we all went with cameraman and assistant to a nearby temple. Action!
Further detail I cannot share, but the temple officials were becoming agitated by our activity. We were finished within 90 minutes. And then it started to rain.
So, look out for the film Oyster by Bad Rum Productions, which will be released on line within 4-6 weeks, and then entered in a number of competitions.
See you in Cannes.

In for me or not in for me (they’ve all got it in for me)

Being an S.A. is a lesson in humility. You can be featured one day and barely see any action the next. There’s a part of me that wants to be in front of the camera or at least within shot. And I admit this is partly vanity. But then again if I get up early and turn up on time, it seems pointless if I am hanging around the whole day off set. But for the lovely people I meet, this would now be soul destroying.
But I am ashamed to confess that the lure of the lens is intoxicating. The thought that my family and friends and anyone who knows me will be watching a film or TV series one-day (and let’s not forget that I will have given them due notice by any means possible) and then see me. Was that Philip? Yes, I think it was. And there you have it…the trapping of fame. And potentially captured digitally for future generations. Did you know your great, great uncle was a supporting artiste? He was in such and such. You can see him on Netflix.

Data Protection

I am not sure when to disclose what I am working on. For social media, the rule is simple – don’t mention it. But is this blog social media? Certainly not at the moment, as it is not released.

Below is text from the very film series I am working on:

‘Please remember you must not mention the name or share any of other details of any production in public or online, including but not limited to IMDB, Facebook and Twitter. This also extends to not taking or sharing any photos while on set.’

And yet, what films are being shot and who the actors are is all in the public domain. So, why cannot a humble supporting artiste mention what he is up to? Does he really have to wait until the general release?

 

My Crowning Glory

Today I learned that I have been selected to be a member of the Core Team for Crown Series 2 shoots for the remainder of the filming, some three months. It had been my ambition since I started this SA work to be involved in The Crown, and so I am absolutely delighted. Not wanting to get too much ahead of myself, but I hope that this will not exclude me from future series. But as I have very little in the way of confirmed work right now, this is great news.

If I Told You, I Would Have To Shoot You

Today, I was a spook (ie an MI6 spy) in a flashback to 1936, where two of us are sitting in an immaculate black 1930s Rover Mk12 near St James Park as we watch some nefarious activity.

Several of us in this scene were escorted from base camp (a plush hotel) to the food trailer near St James Park for lunch, having been adorned with plastic bibs over our elegant 1930s garb. I understand just a little of the life of a celebrity as passers by gaped at us. One brave soul asked what we were filming. Quick to recall protocol, I replied that this was classified information, and that if I told her I would have to shoot her.

That Other Feature Film

Sadly, I have been released from The Favourite (see blog of 22-Feb-17), owing to unavailability of costume for my size. Was I too tall, too short, too fat or too thin? Too slim, I imagine. Am a little disappointed, but wondering what else will take its place…

I had to turn down another feature file with code name BIG EARS a few days ago which promised a rather grueling schedule, and so I asked if that was still available…

IMP Model Management

I headed straight from Mad Dogs to a hotel in Holland Park for another interview/audition, this time for IMP Model Management. Thinking I was surely going to be suitable for modelling knitted jumpers (just the way Roger Moore started), or at the very least walking sticks or wheel chairs, they put me down as ‘talents’ not ‘model’. So, I will hopefully be given opportunities in TV commercials. Others there were talking about modelling jobs in New York and Tokyo.

I would be very happy with TV commercials, and so once back home I edited a couple of recent videos of my work and submitted them as requested. One was the result of a recent day’s training in TV Presenting at Pinewood Studios, and the other some self videos I submitted to the Director of the online feature film Hello Au Revoir (my credit can be found on the IMDb website).

Mad Dogs – more leg, dear

Today I attended an interview/audition to join the books of Mad Dogs Casting. I have lived in Ealing since 1976 and never visited Ealing Studios – the home of Mad Dogs Casting London.

I took a selection of clothes, but they liked the suit I was wearing (which has brought me some good moments in other filming scenarios, and which started its life as my son Matthew’s End of Year Ball outfit). The head of casting thought I was suited (quite literally) for roles as a politician. No comedy there, I thought. No intentional comedy at any rate. And she thought I was not being serious enough when she asked her photographer for more leg and I naturally rolled up my trousers.

I introduced myself to Hattie, through whom via a fellow supporting artiste I had achieved this interview/audition. She agreed that I look like Nigel Havers and Ken Barlow and said she would get me some great work. However in the case of the latter, I would need to relocate to Manchester.

Another Feature film

Well, well…confirmation today of my role as politician in my second feature film, called The Favourite and starring Emma Stone, Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz. It is exciting because it will engage me for several days (one assumes) from March to May. And more importantly, it will not require a short back and sides. So, bonza!