UKTN - A Busy Week In Show Business

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TECHNICAL GLITCHES

There's a technical fault with the website at the moment and it's unlikely to be working this weekend. I've been chatting with one of my US partners to improve the templated website service that I offer (e.g. doug.uktheatre.net), but it seems that they've been tinkering without letting me know and the site now points to something strange. It's likely to be out of action all weekend I'm afraid.

EXCUSE ME MR PRESIDENT

It's not the only thing that hasn't gone to plan this week. There I was, makeup done, stories researched and rehearsed for my monthly slot on Sky's "news with a web agenda". My host Martin Stanford said hello and asked where my beard had gone as he passed the Green Room on his way to makeup. Two minutes before going on air, a production assistant came over and said that Martin's programme had been cancelled. â©I then saw George Bush walking towards the cameras. Something about the world's economy that was more important than my stories. â©Surely he could've waited five more minutes ?

A POPULAR PRODUCER

The Big Picture project is off the ground with around 150 scripts received in a recent call on various websites. I also attended the New Producers Alliance (NPA) networking session this week and as I was wearing a red badge to signify "producer", I was inundated with writers. At one point there was even a queue to speak to me with some people jostling for position and being a little impatient. Strange experience.

INSIDE NORTON'S SHOW

I also went along to get an inside view of the TV production of Graham Norton's new series at the London Studios on the South Bank. His guests were Eddie Izzard, who you may remember I filmed on the BAFTA red carpet for Making It In Hollywood. He certainly is making it big time and spoke about his recent film working with Tom Cruise. During the show he took a phone call on his IPhone and arranged a two day publicity campaign for the film in Hollywood while we all waited on him finishing. They edited that out, as well as quite a significant amount of the show. Graham Norton was very critical of Legoland and that was cut, and one of the audience got drenched with water but never got on TV. Poor guy.

AN AWARD WINNING AGENT ?

I also found a new London agent this week. Mark Summers who you may have seen on Shooting People, opened his books this week and after registering with him, he announced the following day that he has been nominated for a casting award for his work. So I timed it nicely as I guess he'll start to get busier soon.

FILM FESTIVALS

Raindance opened up this week with CHOKE, a strange but enjoyable film I had seen at Sundance earlier this year. Also kicking off is the London Film Festival and this week's schedule includes Tulpan, which you may remember I reviewed in Cannes and met the cast on the beachfront after they had won Un Certain Regard. I also noticed Shifty, which was one of the Film London Microwave winners from two years ago. Nice to see it making it's journey into the festivals.

IT'S BAFTA TIME

It's coming up to a busy time for BAFTA as many films start their journey to the market in readiness for the awards season. The screenings are held to help members decide who should win the best film, director, actors, screenplays etc. I've been invited to Frost/Nixon next week which I'm keen to see as it has potential written all over it. Peter Morgan's the reason. He wrote a couple of screenplays two years ago which did rather well. Last King Of Scotland and The Queen, which of course went on to win Oscars and BAFTAs. Very deservedly. Michael Sheen who played Tony Blair, is back playing the role of David Frost, a role he played on stage at the Donmar in the West End. Ron Howard is in the director's seat and he is also attending the Q&A session after the screening.

CASTING FOR LES MISERABLES

This week two children of UK Theatre Network members have been invited to the auditions for Les Miserables. The young boy as Gavroche has to sing the cheeky "Ow do you do, name's Gavroche" and the girl as Cossette singing the sad "Castle On A Cloud". They are only 8/9 years old and have a career that many performers would be envious of. I'm delighted I was able to help them on the next steps of their journey.

AND FINALLY.......

But it's not all auditions, guest slots, exclusive invites and TV shows. This week I'm at another NPA session to learn more about TAX as it relates to film production. The Big Picture project has some investors asking questions and I need to get some answers for them. So, as well as acting, casting, directing, editing, writing, blogging and funding, I'm having to add an accounting string to my bow.

Show business, there is no business like it.

Douglas McFarlane
editor@uktheatre.net
http://www.uktheatre.net/

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Message Added: October 3rd, 2008 at 5:38 pm