Fingersnapping, Night Shoots in Newcastle and Luke Goss

The day I left for Newcastle I met with two of the most talented mortals on the planet, David McAlmont and Guy Davies, who are now FINGERSNAP. There is a very good reason for the decision to call themselves something other than 'David McAlmont', and I will share that with you in my next blog....it all makes perfect sense.

So, here I am at the Groucho Club in the presence of greatness, not just my musical virtuosos but some of the most influential people in the music industry. As most of you know, I am a film publicist of some years and never thought the day would come when I would stray into the music scene, me a rock-chick at my age!! But I LOVE it, I love the creativity and learning about the layering of a great song. On reflection, it isn't that unlike the movie industry....shooting a film is just the beginning of the process, then comes the grading, the edit, the voice synching, the ADR, the music, and much, much more before you finally buy your cinema ticket...Fingersnap has a new EP, almost ready, and I am privileged to have heard all four fantastic tracks prior to their final remastering, which I am already humming. The lyrics are meaningful, heartfelt and topical. They are also quite brilliant. The synergy between these two very different and apposite men, is inspiring. The meeting starts and David's 'flame-haired Scouser compadre' takes the lead. Guy is the relentless driving force of the pair, and at times they behave like an old married couple, as David (and I) try to keep up with the 'business' side of things!

Our fellow team-members have many collective years in a tough old business, which has changed beyond recognition since the demise of vinyl. But blimey, they have kept up, and they know their stuff, I am in awe. The 'baby' of the team is a young computer whizz-kid, a technical and creative genius who will catapult our Fingersnapping duo in to the ether, to be enjoyed and appreciated all over the world. You gotta just love the internet. My job is more straightforward, as I shall be promoting their UK tour, the gigs that are being lined up kicking off at the Cluny in Newcastle, then Leeds and Manchester. There will be many more dates and venues and all will be announced soon via their website which is being tweaked and tinkered with as we speak.

I leave the Groucho inspired,excited, energised, and longing to get back 'on the road' with 'my boys'.

So, then it's over to Kings Cross for the long old haul up North. I am far too early, as usual, and hang about for the 2.30 train....which, according to the boards, is 'being prepared'. The station is packed with Geordies so I figure it's going to be a bun fight for the train (and a seat!)....at 2.25pm the board announces the train is cancelled....but how can this be as the last column is still displaying the fact that it is being cleaned and made ready for our departure? Inevitably, the damn train was indeed cancelled and so hundreds of us had to be crammed on to the subsequent Glasgow (via Edinburgh!) train, which lucky for me was stopping in Newcastle.....happily I did get a seat, and had a pleasant journey re-reading the script of 'Interview with a Hitman', the reason for my journey.

The last time I was in Newcastle I was with Charlie Dance, and the time before that with Rutger Hauer, so a fair time ago. As we pulled in to this very attractive and vibrant city, the sun came out but I was apprehensive. I had been hired at the last minute, and the film was already nearing the 'wrap' stage. Anyone who does this job knows how hard it is to be a member of the crew, but not to have shared the pain of the long nights, and long days on a three-week production. Yes, three weeks! This is not a short, this is an ambitious full length feature film, with 33 cast members, superlative crew, a multilayered and complex script, night shoots and a micro budget. When I arrive, I am welcomed with open arms - it's been a tough shoot and everyone is tired, and I really mean exhausted; they are hungry and frustrated - so I was happily surprised by my warm and friendly greeting. Perhaps now that the publicist has arrived, they can see beyond the weariness and imagine the film's name in lights, the posters on the sides of buses, and dare we imagine a red-carpet London Premiere?

I had worked with Luke Goss, the star of the film 'Interview with a Hitman ', once before, many years ago on a Sky production 'The Stretch'. His manager (a lovely man called David) remembered me from those days, and Luke also greeted me fondly. He hasn't changed a bit in 20 years (unlike this publicist!), still handsome, still honed, and still fragrant (he wears a heftily expensive scent - I couldn't possibly call it aftershave - called Creed, which costs more than my council tax!) He is very warm and friendly and flashes me the whitest of smiles....

And so begins, four very full-on days/nights in Newcastle. We got a lot done, and it was only thanks to the cooperation of Luke and some very key crew members, who were all really up against it time-wise. I had a really great time, fell in love with Newcastle all over again, and felt pretty happy with what we had achieved in such a short time. Interviews, and a brilliant photoshoot with the sweetest and cleverest photographer Topher McGrillis, which produced some amazing images, which sadly I can't show you yet....but look out for the posters!

I am back in London again, and miss my new mates from the shoot. They are a staggering testament to why we have a reputation for producing the best of British in terms of creativity, and technical know-how, which is respected the world over. I for one would like to congratulate them all.

French Beach Huts...beastly technology and a rant...

I have been meaning to update those of you that might be interested in my recent trip to France. I woke up really early one morning, and got out the trusty laptop and wrote a long appraisal of the lovely part of France we were in, and described many lovely days - despite the rain - of peace and quiet, and bucolic scenes at every turn. I had also awoken in a fit of bad temper - which was unsettling since I was probably in the most relaxing place on earth, a farm built in 1680, and sleeping under beams older than me! I wrote a rant about the thing that irked me so much, and boy did it feel good getting it all off my chest. The thought that had awoken me at such an unearthly hour, and I suppose it might have been the cockerel next door exercising his lungs, or whatever moves them to cock-a-doodle so early, was about the British press. I can picture you all looking heavenward now, but please indulge me.

As a publicist of many years (long before blogs, online newspapers, iPads - hell, before computers and fax machines!) I am constantly astonished by their negative idea of 'what makes a story'. I have recently finished working on Ray Cooney's film version of his phenominally successful stage play (it ran in the West End for 9 years,) 'Run For Your Wife'. It really was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my career, and I can truthfully say I couldn't wait to get on set every day. That's rare ladies and gents, trust me on that! We had a great cast, fabulous crew and a very, very competent and charming production team.

We were graced with the presence of prolific journalists who visited the set and who went away full of good memories. They were treated to warm welcomes, fascinating stories, colourful filming and a great lunch. Since their visit nothing has run anywhere....nada, zilch. I know that if they had been able to report on-set spats between Sarah Harding and Denise van Outen, or the actors turning up without having learned their lines, or the scenery falling on poor old Ray (who at 79 years old must surely be a relic) we would have made headlines....so that is what woke me up and made me so cross....but I felt so much better having got it off my chest, even though none of you read it!!!

And that brings me to my bit about technology - I lost the whole damn thing! What I wrote was so passionate, so un-PC and so colourful (in terms of language) I couldn't wait for you all to read it...but, with the touch of a button, it was lost. I am guessing it was the computer's fault and not mine!!!

So, back to the trip - the above photo I took on my Brownie box, or the equivalent, and doesn't really convey the drama of the sky over the Bay of the Somme. This is a particularly beautiful part of France, which is still completely unspoiled and too far North for many travellers to explore. Actually, this wasn't taken at the Bay du Somme, it was taken on the windiest day ever at Berck Plage. Read what Sylvia Plath had to say about this area (http://www.sylviaplath.de/plath/berckplage.html). According to Wiki: During World War II the sea front was disrupted by the installation of the Nazi Atlantic Wall and the town suffered from bombing during the allied invasion in 1944.[6] This contributed to the diminishing of the ancient fishing industry, which numbered some 150 boats at the turn of the century and had all but disappeared by the 1960s.[7] Today, although the hospital sector remains economically important, the town has again promoted itself as a tourist attraction. A seaside bathing station, with an immense beach of fine sand on the Opal Coast, it continues to be a centre for sand yachting and the new sport of surfboarding. The former Berck Plage railway station has been converted into a casino.

I have to say that Berck Plage is one of the most unattractive places we visited, except for these lovely beach huts. It looks neglected, and dismal, but with the most amazing white sandy beaches, and these lovely huts. It did make us feel sad, and sympathetic to its plight, clearly having been rebuilt in the 50's and 60s following its wartime annihilation. And, on the day we went, it was closed! Only one sea-front Brasserie was operating, and we were grateful for its amiable hospitality, and a great plate of Moules Frites!

Oh yes, I know what I wanted to say...I HATE the word Blog! The french word for joke is 'blague' which seems more appropriate, but in the meantime I am just going to Tullettlikeitis!

Until next time....

A quick one before the holiday...

Just finished filming on Run For Your Wife, the hilarious new film version of Ray Cooney's hugely successful stage show. With stars like Danny Dyer, Neil Morrissey, Sarah Harding, Denise van Outen and Kellie Shirley, there was never a dull moment, and lots and lots of laughs. There was a fantastic atmosphere on the set every single day, and I think everyone was sorry to hear 'That's a Wrap' for the last time. Certainly for me, it was a wonderful experience, working with real veterans of stage and screen.

Now I am off on my long awaited hols, for a very short break in France. Then back to do the follow-up work on RFYW and the earlier film I did 'Payback Season', before putting on my 'music' hat again and helping David McAlmont and Guy Davies launch their new season, their new EP and their new name 'Fingersnap'. I am looking forward to a busy and rewarding autumn...