Thursday, April 16, 2009

More from Blood Type - The Search

What can I say! I got back from the UK Tuesday night and went straight back into the ADR studio yesterday. So, my apologies for not posting about BLOOD TYPE sooner. I was totally blown away with the whole experience and owe so many folks a huge thank you!

We first filmed on location in London at Atlantis Bookshop on Museum Street, world-famous for its occult links with Alestair Crowley and Denis Wheatley and WW2 esoteric warfare history. The place exudes atmosphere and authenticity. Many thanks to Geraldine and Bali for their generosity and patience! 

We started shooting the opening scenes with 
Hamilton (Emrys Matthews) and Sophie (Emily Berrington) in the alley and moved onto the fight scene with Galen (Ed Blagrove) and Hamilton in the stairwell.

It was pretty tight maneuvering around those spaces but 
Anthony Straeger's “Quid in Shrapnel” productions crew, Dennis Morgan (DOP) Chris Reading (Sound) and Sally Alcott (Makeup and blood-dripper extraordinaire), all performed like magic and with exceptional good humor and enthusiasm!

Special mention must go to Anthony; he offered sound shooting advice and kept the whole thing moving as 1st AD. Also to Dennis, for capturing the incredibly claustrophobic and creepy wartime atmosphere in the period underground alleys and stairwells with his amazing use of light, shadow and smoke. Thanks a million chaps!     

Our second location was The
Prebendal, Thame in Oxfordshire, an amazingly beautiful 12th Century estate and home of Robin and Dwina Gibb. Robin-John Gibb (Robin and Dwina's son) also plays the part of Belisar, lord of the vampire clans, and an amazing discovery as a new face on the screen! Without doubt a highly charismatic and poised young man, RJ took in my multi-layered direction and guidance with focus and professional skill and turned Belisar into a leading BLOOD TYPE protagonist with a mesmeric and chilling charm.     

We shot all the “Vampire Universe” scenes, including the stone circle and sword cane duel at The Prebendal. The wonderful support, enthusiasm and hospitality of the Gibb family, especially Dwina Murphy-Gibb and all the staff were amazing! Dwina, you're an angel!   

The grounds at the
Prebendal are surreal  and suited to represent an alternative universe where Earth is ruled by “royal” vampire clans, and humans are slaves, owned and controlled as a convenient and docile work and food source. 

Sophie, played by the beautiful and talented Emily
Berrington escapes this terrifying world and arrives in our reality during the London Blitz, running for her life and suffering from amnesia. A fugitive, carrying an unknown strain of blood, Sophie is helped by a young psychiatric doctor, played with compassion and intensity by Emrys Matthews, who discovers her unusual blood type and falls in love with her.

Galen, (Ed
Blagrove) a ruthless vampire assassin sent to bring Sophie back at all costs, is dispatched by Sophie's master, Belisar (Robin-John Gibb), and the pursuit and clash of wills begins. This dramatic framework is unique, and a very colorful and darkly rich canvass on which to paint the conflicted brushstrokes symbolizing the drives and emotions churning within these characters. 

This conflict results in the deadly sword-cane duel between 
Emrys and Ed, who threw themselves into the fight with gusto! Very well done chaps! It looked really exciting and dangerous indeed! 

So! Thanks to John and
Wil for their confidence, support and trust in me to handle their thrilling and complex material. Thanks also to the entire cast who brought it all to life!

And remember: “Lots to do. It's four o clock”... 


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