Gillian Abbott

I just came back from Aldourie Castle Estate on Loch Ness where I threw myself suddenly into some preliminary shooting with the crazy and delightful artists around Nicolette Saina’s new feature film, working title…”Le Castle Papier”. Production Company is ImagiNation TV and Film.
A gathering of diverse talent lived and worked at the castle for a week in order to test-shoot production design, costume design, acting/dancing talent and the exquisite location. The cast included 6 brilliant female dancers, some of them ex-performers in Le Cirque Soleil and one of them (Tara-Jean Popowich) a recent winner of the Canadian talent show “So you think you can dance” (“Strictly Come Dancing”…Canuck-stylie) . All choreography was by LA based Stacey Tookey backed up by her brother Kevin Tookey, who also performed in some scenes. Both fantastically impressive at what they do…and nice straightforward folk to boot!
The film is a kind of multi-layered fairytale set in a rich and  bountiful place…where a non-specific natural disaster has occurred. Few have survived…………but those few gradually overcome a monstrous grief  by working together to create beauty from whatever is cheap and natural. Trees and Paper figure alot…and a section of the exterior castle wall was in fact covered in paper designs for the shoot. This was done by Fin and Al of DufiArt based near Tain. Paper was also used extensively in the costumes along with autumn leaves. There was also an appearance by Michael Grab, one of the world’s top “Rock Balancers”. He spent the week working on his own around the estate creating remarkable “balances” (columns of balanced stones using only gravity to sustain them.) He’s a quietly inspiring man who’s character may well feature in the finished script.

A "balance" by Michael Grab at the shore of Loch Ness

Kevin Tookey, Liz Tookey

Kevin and Liz Tookey

Nicolette encouraged a spirit of creative openness in which I basked ! Every time I set up a shot beautiful things seemed to form in front of my lens! I did very little lighting, using or enhancing natural conditions even on interiors.We worked 12 hour days (and alot more besides) but we were fast and lightweight  and the  fantastic Scottish weather gave us all the conditions we needed….when we needed them….aided by some astute scheduling by 1st AD Eric Spoeth. Of course our principal photography will, of necessity not be quite so nimble-footed. Things will get a tad more military….but “spritely” seems worth having as a goal .

The Wedding Bridge: Liz Tookey, Emily Armstrong. Tara-Jean Popowich, Gillian Abbott

 

Maple Tree, Tara-Jean Popowich, Corynn Barron, Emily Armstrong, Gillian Abbott, Emma Annetts, Liz Tookey

 

Leaf Dance in The Great Hall: Liz Tookey, Corynn Barron, Gillian Abbott, Emma Annetts

 

Leaf Dresses by Judy Armstrong

Leaf Dance in The Great Hall: Liz Tookey, Emily Armstrong

 

Leaf Dance in The Great Hall: Corynn Barron, Gillian Abbott

 

Leaf Dance in The Great Hall: Emily Armstrong, Corynn Barron, Emma Annetts, Gillian Abbott, Tara-Jean Popowich

Emily Armstrong in maple leaf dress mourns lost lover

 

The Red Forest: Gillian Abbott, Tara-Jean Popowich....after The Disaster. None can speak or even touch.

 

The Red Forest: Corynn Barron, Emily Armstrong...after The Disaster. None can speak or even touch.

 

They begin to trust each other. Papermaking: Tara-Jean Popowich, Gillian Abbott, Liz Tookey, Emily Armstrong, Corynn Barron

 

Papermaking: Liz Tookey, Emily Armstrong, Emma Annets

This is a departure from Nicolette’s previous film work . She has made dramatic films in the past about real-life stories of terrorism and journalism. This film should go into Production this winter. Its not a musical or a ballet…there will be a narrative and some principal protagonists. The film is essentially about beauty…as Nicolette says…its a bit out there and a bit arty…but it has already attracted alot of major artistic talent because of this.
Me I’m fine with out there and arty.

Mock Fashion Show: Corynn Barron

National TV Awards O2

Well, like the valiant Andy Murray we didn’t win. Not only that our Idiot Abroad 2 clip, lovingly crafted by Richard Yee our Series Producer fell victim to the only visible technical cock-up at this spectacular show-biz event. None of the other Nominees in this category got their clips shown either! On the plus side we got a fantastic cheer when the programme was announced, there was plenty of champagne, some fancy little tarts described by staff as “Haggis” and we all had a superbly condensed education in popular British television. It was also a rare opportunity for me to wear a skirt….prompting the staff to offer me whisky at every opportunity.
Every important TV face was there. The men in their suits and the women poured into impossible dresses with the help of other attentive behind-the-camera folk. I enjoyed it all. Karl Pilkington would have hated it.

http://www.nationaltvawards.com/vote-shortlist

Ricky, Steve and Karl can’t make it to the ceremony so I’m going instead along with the directors. Its a Black Tie event and Jan. 25th is also Burns Night (that’s Robert Burns, renowned Scottish poet, lefty, and ladies’man) so I think I shall air my knees and wear my dress kilt.The Awards ceremony is being broadcast live on ITV1, hosted by Dermot O’Leary.

Ricky Gervais, Karl Pilkington and Stephen Merchant

An Idiot Abroad 2 starts its North American airing at 10pm on The Science Channel, 21st January. Its been screened in UK already with record ratings and has been nominated for a number of awards.
Its a very funny comedy travel series in which Karl Pilkington is sent round the world by his two friends Ricky and Stephen in order to broaden his mind.This series is “The Bucket List” or “Things to do before you Die”. As cinematographer I and the team followed Karl to Alaska, Route 66 (starting in Santa Monica), Japan, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, South Africa, Uganda, Russia and China. Many adventures were had and Karl’s take on them is off the wall and hilarious. You will occasionally see the camera shaking uncontrollably!