The videomatic shoot didn’t go too well, but we had a laugh. As I had grown to suspect during construction of my crude miniatures, shooting 4″ action figures puppeteered via sellotaped-on bamboo skewers is fairly darn tricky. The depth of field is shallower than a hydrophobe’s bath tub, which makes focusing extremely difficult. When I get chance to review today’s footage, I need to decide whether it’s worth persevering or whether I should think about CG previs.
Still, Rob and Jen enjoyed themselves. We succumbed to a giggling fit in the afternoon, as Rob jiggled his Jif-lemon-on-a-stick (representing a robot) at Jen’s scowling-bald-man-on-a-stick (representing the leading lady). It was possibly the silliest thing I’ve ever seen.

Had another meeting at The Model Unit, this time with one of the interested development producers along too. Mike duly impressed her, aided by the half scale miniature tube tunnel his team are in the middle of constructing for Keira Knightley’s new movie. Two guys were painstakingly sticking miniature tiles to it. Dave the Dalek has taken up a new position to cover the main entrance, the better to exterminate any intruders, and should any succeed in getting past, a sign from Red Dwarf VI informs them on exit that they are “now leaving existence”.
It makes it all the more laughable that I’m building a miniature airship out of cardboard boxes, to be peopled with cheap (59p, oh yes) “Corps” action figures (“Rule the Skies!”) for the videomatic, which I’m shooting on Monday with my friends Rob and Jen. They don’t call me the Spielberg of Hereford for nothing.

Phil Dale, lead animator on Corpse Bride, has pledged allegiance to the cause. How much involvement he will actually be able have in the project is unknown at present, but even just the moral support is welcome.
This evening I met a storyboard artist named Leo Delauncey who is going to start work on the film immediately, beginning at the beginning with the stopping of the world. (The Dark Side of the Earth: YOUR… WORLD… WILL… STOP. Can’t wait to cut the trailer so I can put that in.)

Soul Searcher journal veterans will be familiar with the many instances of Small World Syndrome which used to crop up in Hereford. But it’s not just Hereford. I met the second of the two interested parties this morning, only to discover that he’s producing two films by Lynn Davies, a director I know from my Hairy Ford days. Anyway, the meeting went well and the fingers will soon start to ache from being crossed so tightly.

No toxic smoke yet. I still have to meet with one of the two interested parties, but last week’s meeting with the first party went well. I can’t really say anything else at the moment.

So the Soho-based producing partners chickened out after reading the script, saying it was too big and ambitious for them. (Anyone else remember the “can’t be made for less than