Life on Mars
Phil Marrison of the Maxi OC had already been invited to have his Maxi feature on the BBC Life on Mars series, which he accepted, and had an enjoyable day on set in Bolton. As our Maxi is of the relevant age for the show Phil gave me a contact email address for Rob Prosser (the supplier of cars for the show). I emailed him but heard nothing so, thinking he hadn’t received my email I emailed him again. Moments later I received a reply asking if we could make the location, at Bolton, in a week’s time on the 2nd August at 07:15! Luckily work were ok for me to have leave so Jacky and I set off for Bolton and made the car park just around the corner from the set. There were the Star’s trailers with their names on and a caterer’s van dishing out some very nice food to be eaten in a double decker bus. Rob asked the owners of the three cars to follow him in his Marina (loaned by the Marina OC) to the set. He had a little trouble with the auto box on the Marina but made it in the end.
It was not a nice day but we “extras” had use of the local Krishna hall. Whilst in the hall the director came in and explained what the shoot was to be about: An Asian community centre – a converted corner shop – is to be showing a Bollywood film to some Asians when Sam Tyler (John Simm) walks in through the door. There’s also to be some racist graffiti daubed on the Centre’s wall and the chasing of some Skin Heads. She also did say just how difficult it was to find Asian extras these days. I took plenty of photos but was not allowed to use flash, for obvious reasons. Some of the photos are a little blurred I’m afraid. It’s a combination of shaky hands poor light and poor knowledge of the camera.
It was interesting to see how much work is put into producing, what must only have been, ten minutes worth of footage. It took a team of about fifteen a good twelve hours of shooting. For a period drama they had to do a lot of covering up of none period things. Everyone was looking around for items we now take for granted: satellite dishes, double glazing, modern garage doors, for sale signs and many more. To cover a garage door they put up a sheet of very convincing rusty plastic corrugated iron.
I was asked to place the Maxi across the street from the community centre so as Sam Tyler walked in the camera would catch the car through the door as it opened. Unfortunately the house opposite was up for sale and had the sign up. With no one answering the door the crew took to work removing it with some of it being taped over. The team had to rig lights and reflectors/diffusers because of the poor light levels. It was interesting to see John Simm walking along “on his own” talking into a police radio with some chap walking backwards in front of him with a huge slab of polystyrene to reflect light up into his face. It’s amazing how these people continue acting when all this is going on around and in front of them. Unfortunately the crew’s lights gave the Maxi an appearance of a bad spray job! Later the Wolesely was placed in the same place by Rob but he had difficulty getting out! In order to cover some of the more glaring modern bits and bobs a 1970s cement mixer was placed at the end of the road. (Where did they get that from? Who saves a 70s cement mixer? Some would say the chap probably owns a Maxi) Everyone trooped back across the road for lunch then back again for the afternoon shoot. Mister Simm was chauffeured in a black Mercedes (He couldn’t act that bit of walking!).
We watched the Grips erecting the railway for the camera, which was most interesting. With spirit level and assorted chocks of wood it was up and level in no time at all There was much hanging around by the extras but eventually they got onto the “chasing the Skin Heads” where John Simm runs out of the centre, glances up at the racist graffiti and chases the skin heads round the corner. Up the street we placed the Maxi and the Herald. And dotted around were the extras; two chaps talking at the end of the street, three women walking up the street (two arm in arm) and a girl with a bag. The two arm in arm are mother and daughter and never do extras without each other! When “camera roll” they all walk up the street away from the community centre. I managed to take some photos of them before “cut” and going back to their positions Unfortunately being out of sight, at the end of the street, I couldn’t take any shots of the “Skin Head” Scene. Towards the end of the day the rain became torrential so they called “It’s a wrap”. Because they were now an hour behind schedule the Director said they’d have to work an extra hour next day.
It was an interesting day. Fascinating to see how it all works and also nice to know a Maxi will, again, be on Mars (before the Americans), Pity I didn’t get to see Annie Cartwright (Liz White) who I think is rather yummy.
It was also interesting to hear the Herald and Wolesely owners saying just how modern the Maxi looked next their cars, even though of the same era.
UPDATE Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Well, the episode was shown on the BBC on the 27th March ‘07. A very small piece of the Maxi was seen on two occasions (for about 1.5 seconds each time). The Wolesley showed one glimpse of the wing around the headlight for about 1.8 seconds and the Herald was nowhere to be seen. (As far as I can make out!) Damned expensive this film making business when you pay out for vehicles and not get the best out of them. There is now a followup called Ashes to Ashes. I liked it but not as much as Life on Mars.
John Simm on location and Yvonne in place ready for the filming.
A rare glimpse of Yvonne under John Simm’s right arm!
With the usual apologies to the BBC!
