First Brush With Celebrity

So it was Nancy’s sixtieth birthday last night, and my first one to one encounter with a celebrity. Mum wasn’t sure if Tim McInnerny and his partner Annie were going to be there, because it was the first dress rehearsal of Annie’s new play in London. But, lucky for me, they arrived somewhat fashionably late. I didn’t feel as anxious as I first thought, but I wasn’t sure how to approach him and when to go for the kill and ask him if he’d give me an interview.

Mum was hastening me to introduce myself and get on with it, but I wanted to wait till he’d settled into the swing of the party. So I had a glass of sparking pink and felt less than comfortable in my borrowed red silk dress and mum’s original croc stilettos. They were too big for me, but suited the dress so well I had to forget the pain. I’d stuffed so much cotton wool in the toes that my poor feet felt thoroughly trapped. I sat and ate a Mexican feast at a table with dad, Tim, Nancy’s son Henry and his girlfriend. At this point I begin to feel at ease, but still didn’t feel it was the right time to approach the subject of the interview.

Paul and Nancy hired a projector for the night and we watched the classically cheesy cult movie Flash Gordon. (Something everyone could relate to in one-way or another.) We had a proper interval at half time, with ice cream and wafers. It’s hilarious to be aware of the ‘in jokes’ after so many years of viewing Flash purely as a fantastic rollick through space. Just as spectacular as I remember from my childhood, but now added with a thick layer of sexual innuendo and tongue in cheek humour. The special effects barely look dated, and the wardrobe department must have had all their Christmases in one go sourcing the whacky costumes (and painting Ming’s eyebrows.)

After the showing I felt the time dissolving, and quickly gravitated to mum and dad, who were chatting to Tim. I waited for my time to open a conversation, and asked him what it was like working on Severance. He was only too happy to divulge a fair few anecdotes about the experience, his relationship with the production team and the trials of filming in Hungary. At last I had engaged him, and although I was dying on my feet in those ridiculous heels, I was making headway. I couldn’t decide when to ask him about the interview, but when he told me about his casting in a new production of Othello at the Globe, I thought that would be a good angle for an interview; Tim goes back to the theatre.

So I said, “Would you be interested in giving me an interview sometime?” and then, “Is it ok to take your details?” To my immense relief, he said, “yes” to both. I wonder if the red dress had made an impression, or was it just my natural charm? So anyway, I got him to write down his number and email and he said something like, “lets do lunch sometime…” So I think as soon as I’ve got my work experience out of the way, I’ll give him a call and arrange a day trip to London. I was nicely surprised at how approachable Tim was, and how interested he was in what I was doing. He even said he’d be interested in reading my script! (Note that I never use exclamation marks, but I thought it was highly appropriate here.)

I know I was pretty lucky for it to work out like that, but it wasn’t quite as hard as I thought it was going to be. I hope he will follow up his promise. But if he’s too busy, I could always interview Annie, as I’m sure she’s got her fair share of stories to tell. Either way, it’s another name to add to my contacts book (yuck, that sounds so shallow.) I don’t know if I could make a full time living out of this, but it is kind of fun and involves a lot of careful planning (which I’m getting better at) and working out the best time to strike in the hope of turning a few tiny cogs in the media machine.

Meeting McInnerny

How ironic is this - I've been invited to a party (with my parents), by their friend, whose sister just so happens to be married to no other than... Tim McInnerny. And if I remember correctly, I was only writing about him here on this blog last week. What a fabulous chance to get drunk with him and persuade to give me an interview. I'd be very stupid not to jump on the opportunity.

I want to ask him about being the bit-part player, how it feels to have been in many a big movie, but never quite reaching lead man status (apart from Severance I guess). I've done some research, and I found out that McInnerny left Black Adder because he was worried about being type cast - but pretty much every role he's played since then, he's been a slightly different reincarnation of Percy. A bumbling, classically eccentric English man. Not that there is anything wrong with that, he suites that character to a tee. But I can't help wondering if he craves a bigger role, or if he just waiting to take himself and us by surprise? Maybe he's secretly craving to play a serial killer or Doctor Who, I can't wait to ask him what he's got up his sleeve. There must be something there, waiting to rustle some Hollywood feathers.

I'm back in Somerset for three weeks, two of which will be spent in Bristol, reading scripts for Calling The Shots. I'm also supposed to be reviewing a gig at the Bridgwater Palace (band called Babyhead), and working on my MA proposal. There's also bloc (www.bloc-online.com) artwork to create, business cards to make and two features to culminate. It ain't gunna be easy, it certainly ain't gunna be much of a 'break', but I'm quite used to working like Paul Daniels on speed now - so I won't complain.

My parents friend John is a bit of a geezer, he knows people who know people and he's a bit of a media bitch. I asked him last night, if he'd give me Julien Temple's (Big Film Director) number, but he declined - saying he thought he'd have enough press by now! That's fair enough, but should I persist with it? I know another of mum and dad's friend's who'd quite happily divulge that information. I want to get as many interviews as possible whilst I'm in the hood, and there are certainly enough eccentric characters to go around there.

I've met Julien before, when I was very young - but now as my interest in film seems to be becoming more than an obsession, it would be amazing to talk to him about what he does best. He's got a new film out soon, about Joe Strummer from the Clash (who he was good friends with), so it would be a highly topical interview. But maybe John's right, maybe he's too busy to talk to a (semi) professional writer, who happens to be the daughter of a friend of a friend. I'll going to give it a go, but I've got a feeling it may have to wait till I've found my feet in the world.

But, you know - Tim McInnerny will certainly do for now, and maybe he's got a host of famous friends he's dying to introduce to me....

(Excited face) My website www.hollywicks.co.uk is now live on the internet, so go have a look - now.

Severance

Watched a cracking good British film last night - Severance. I don't remember hearing anything about it when it was released, the promotion team can't have had much to work with, and what a shame. But now on DVD, I hope the word gets round - we need more British ballsy movies like this. Set in Eastern Europe, the plot centres around a group of employees sent on a 'team building' weekend that goes horribly wrong when they end up in the wrong place in the wrong part of the country.

Oh course, the mixed bag of characters play off each other perfectly - an array of oddballs straying just far enough from their stereotypes to be highly entertaining and empathetic. Tim McInnerny leads the team as the hapless, bumbling fool, blissfully ignored by Danny Dyer's perfectly portrayed 'geezer' - the rebel with an alternative motive to turn the trip into a drug fuelled orgy. But, unfortunately - something gets in the way. And that something involves lots of killing, blood, arguing and general unpleasantness.

What starts as a comedy 'fish-out-of-water' flick darkly moves into a serious horror. But the laughs still roll in thick and fast, with light relief generally provided by Danny Dyer. The third act may go on a little too long, but the action and clever plot devices make this a romper-stomper. Only two of the characters make it out alive, as the narrative gravitates full circle - and the irony of their situation is revealed.

Witty, potent and suitably gory, Severance's strongest hook remains, (for me) with the sterling cast of predominantly British actors and their lovable characters. And when the McInnerny character stumbles across a mine his company made, he's faced with a lose-lose situation. His demise bids the others some much-needed get away time, but you can't help wishing he had a few more minutes of screen time, along with the others that perished long before him.