What I did this summer

[Darren C]

Just been to the Premiere in Leicester Square this weekend. FAN BL**DY TASTIC!

Thought you might like to see this:

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/enterta ... -Bang.html

Now you understand my car cleaning nightmare!

Enjoy!

Regards
D

[arranj]

lol Darren! I hope you got "mud money" for that!

[Darren C]

Er..no, but it has cured my cleaning OCD!

Jokes aside, the film's great. I advise anyone with young children to go see it. Theres a great cartoon at the end credits and even a cartoon of my car! Stay till the very end of the credits cos theres some more film right at the end!

Opens nationwide this Friday.

Regards
D

[A Van]

Cheers Darren, I'll check it out

I liked the first one....still cant believe your car got that dirty!

[Darren C]

Check out:

www.nannymcphee.co.uk

Click on video, then featurette.

There are 3 great short films on the making of the movie with loads of the car. The overall thing that comes across is how great it was to be involved in the Magic. It was one great big family, I have never had so much fun and so many true friendships made in any one job. And you can't really call it a job

The film has a real "feel good" atmosphere, which is more than can be said for most drivel being released at the moment.

Regards
D

[mnickels]

Is that the last one then?

[delorean12uk]

Well, I've just taken the kids and Al to see Nanny Mcphee, and although I would never admit this openly in front of my work mates, I thought it was a very good film. I thought you was a very brave man Darren allowing the car to be used in that mud, not so much driven but obviously the cast members getting in and out with muddy footwear. Did they valet the car for you or did you take care of that???

[Darren C]

Glad you enjoyed the film.

The mud was a mixture of fullers earth and water, so that it wouldn't stain the costumes! They mixed it and delivered it to the set in tankers the size of petrol tankers, and pumped it with hoses onto the floor. The first few days it was quite sloppy, then as it dried out it was like stodgy glue and needed to be wetted down each day with a water tanker.

We filmed 3 months in the mud, it got everywhere, even filled the guages on the dashboard. The scene where the car first arrives was filmed over 7 full days, we did over 10 takes, before Daniel Mays stopped the car in the right spot, or they were happy with the shot. Each time I'd have to come running over and reverse the car back to the start around the back of the farm. Surfice to say after 10 minutes there was so much mud in the car and everywhere we stopped caring. They bought me two karchers to clean the car each day, so for 3 months it was up at 4am, clean the car till it was dark at 1030pm ready for the next day. Each weekend I'd spend the whole time cleaning for the following week.

It did pay off, as the car looks spotless in the film. We shot hours of film and lots of scenes but the movie has to be cut to fit the time, and a lot went onto the editing room floor. This was the same for a lot of scenes not showing the car too. Some days I was due to shoot a scene at the end of the day, and they'd over run so it got postponed until the next day; then it might rain etc, so we'd do scenes indoors. Although the car is only a small part of the movie I was on set for 90% of the movie, so enjoyed seeing the whole process, and the story unfold. (plus meeting everyone and making friends). Some of the funniest moments were Bill Bailey and Rhys Ifans, who ad libed a lot. We were in stitches on and off the set. Emma was there everyday, keeping us in check and having a great time off camera. She is a wonderful kind and genuine person. She'd play along with us while it was raining, telling jokes and sharing stories. (as did a lot of the cast) The kids were fantastic, and we had quite a laugh with Eros and Oscar.
Adam my son came along every weekend to set and over the bank holiday weekend, he had a whale of a time and made good friends with all the kids and Emma's daughter.

Kind Regards
Darren

[Darren C]

Heres some shot's of Adam on set:



Driving the Tractor



Warming it up for Asa. (Plays Norman)



Maggie, Adam's new best Friend (and Dads!)



And a little Nanny Magic of course

Regards
D

[A Van]

Great pictures Darren, Rhys Ifans I have always thought is very funny.