Savage Media: Grist To The Mill

On week commencing the 11th July, I spent a couple of days on Savage Media's film set for Grist To The Mill (working title, I believe).

Savage Media are an awesome bunch of people:

  

See here for the Savage Media website!

Savage Media Website




 

Bill Thomas (Director) and Jason Emery (Producer) run an amazing team every time they put a piece together and I love to go along and watch them all at work... whilst taking pictures as much as physically possible.

Now of course, any Canon 7D nut is going to know, that this baby can shoot at 8fps (that's a bit fast) and so all of a sudden, action was most definitely my thing. Yeah. *cheeks-are-in-agony-due-to-massive-grin* I could basically cry I am so happy.

(He's running)

"Snapsnapsnapsnapsnapsnapsnapsnap" - That's what it sounds like. :D

Sounds like it's purring at me...

Mmm. Happy noises.

ANYWAY!

So we had actors on set on the days I was there. Unfortunately I missed out on the actress, Eve Pearson which is such a shame as I really wanted to snap some pictures of her!

What's worse is I saw pictures of her later by Rachel Thomas, a fellow 'tog and she really did look as beautiful as ever. Hmph! *sulk*

Eve Pearson

Image courtesy of the wonderful Rachel Thomas

Moving on to the good bits that I didn't miss however... like the actors I did manage to catch!

There's Matthew Neal:

The devilishly charming actor who once spent a day speaking with a scottish accent for the purpose of an advert and had me totally confused when he went back to speaking normally after filming. I completely forgot that it wasn't his usual accent. Doh!


And yes, these sideburns were grown specially for this part. XD


There was Zachary Street:

Who is, quite frankly, a nutter. :) Always goofing around. Really lovely though and very good in his non-stop, cockney piss-taking, sarcastic accent throughout this piece. His girlfriend Emma also dropped by on one of the day and DEAR SWEET CHRIST is she pretty. Next beauty victim, I think...


There was Jason Marchant:

Who, rather impressively, read rather a lot of Latin to the boys in the prison wagon. Even under duress as the next actor tried to pull him in, mid story-time!

Then there was John Lee Pellett. Or, to our world, Baby John:

Here he is, the brutish 'thespian' holding his lethal weapon. A can of Relentless (product placement). XD


Now, for anyone who knows John, you may find it suprising to know that he lasted a long time through the filming before getting naked and jumping into a canvas tent full of unsuspecting camera crew...


Here's John getting shot though, just for good measure. :)

Yay!

Well done, John. :D



Now then, next, we have to bow down in adoration for the amazing work of Ruth Pease for her makeup skills!

This is Ruth Pease at work on Kiera Gould. Our stuntwoman (and Assistant Director!)

And this is Kiera going through the practise run with the ack-toars:

Just to remind those who aren't aware or haven't twigged, this is Kiera:

Transformation much!

Amazing work from Ruth. A round of applause if you will.

Of course we then have the awesome costume from Julie Elgar! Here she is at work, dressing Baby John, a difficult task for anyone:

Now, really, we were seemingly lucky to get any work out of Julie on this day as she had realised that morning that her hair was long enough to put into, like, pin-up rolls. Not sure of the correct term.

I did manage to catch her doing some in the mirror but I did say I wouldn't put those pictures up... *snigger*...

Next, there were the crew...

Faye - Director of Photography

...and the camera crew

The sound guys (or Jay and Silent Bob?)

Robin Gould - Fight Co-Ordinator

(mucking in as an extra, of course)

We had Stuart Chambers - Art Director

 

Mick and Becky Parkin - Prop Effects

Becky was our smoke machine. :D

We had Nick Lewis - Pyrotechnic Co-Ordinator

Who made this shot possible (him and my 8fps!)

Fellow Photographers:

 Rachel Thomas - Unit Photographer

 and Wayne again!

And of course all the extras:

Chris Puttock - Stunt Performer

Adam Gould

Jon Boylan (also in charge of Gaffer)

THE Gavin G. Smith

(Author of Veteran!)

Robin Gould - Fight Co-Ordinator

Kiera Gould - Assistant Director

Kristian Mitchell-Dolby - Behind The Scenes Footage

And finally, just some cool images that I took on the day that I haven't managed to squeeze in up there!

Matt looking out of the wagon.

Kiera amidst the fight in the wagon.

John 'acting'.

For sale: £1m ;)

Naww! Poor zombie! Did no-one want to play with you?

Brains?

Julie Elgar, stitching.

Kristian Mitchell-Dolby filming behind the scenes.



The wagon from the outside. Ooh.

Yuk.

Mark it!



Bill. In a man-catcher.

Ruth Pease. Standing by for more blood!

They should call her RUTHLESS Pease. Ah ha ha.

... I thought it was funny...

Om nom nom!

Zombie Love Scene pt 1

Om... nom... nom?

Zombie Love Scene pt 2

Bucket Carrying and Barrel-Rolling

I don't know why but I actually love these two images.

Sash at work filming Robin

 Setting up John's gun wound.

We thought he was brave getting that close to Baby John's trousers too.

Matt looking the exhausted hero.

*GASP!*

Who shot Gavin G Smith!?

And WHAT will happen to Jakob Douglas now!?

And if you don't know what I'm talking about, you really need to go here and purchase his book. It's really, very good.

Kiera. With a bomb. This wasn't a very good idea, now, was it!?

Sound guy (Freddie) on the roof.

Tsk! Get down, Naughty!

Gavin and Robin.

Pesky French!

Zombie?

Although at a film set it's very frustrating to be a photographer (people get in your way a lot) there really are some awsome reasons to be there. You get some incredible shots, get to see fight scenes, explosions and even Baby John getting set on fire!

Also, by the way, thanks to the help of Sashi Kassoon, I filmed this on my 7D. First time ever.