Features
Interview with Neve Campbell
Coming soon to BBC2 is a nail-biting two-part thriller from the pen of multi-award-winning writer Simon Beaufoy. Burn Up is a powerful story of love, commitment and divided loyalty. Due to be broadcast in July, Burn Up is produced by Kudos Film and Television, the company behind of some of the BBC’s best loved dramas including Spooks and Life on Mars.
The cast is led by Emmy Award winner Bradley Whitford, best known for his role as Josh on The West Wing. Bradley is joined by Neve Campbell, Rupert Penry-Jones and Marc Warren.
The topical thriller sees oil executives, environmental activists and politicians collide in the battle between economic success and ecological responsibility. Rupert Penry-Jones stars as Tom who, having been named the new head of Arrow Oil, finds his life unravelling as he’s pulled into a high-stakes game of power and international intrigue. Neve Campbell plays his colleague Holly, whose covert collaboration with environmentalists puts her in great jeopardy.
Here is what Neve has to say about her upcoming role:
Who do you play in Burn Up and what attracted you to the project?
I play Holly Dernay. She’s an environmentalist working for the renewables division in an oil company. The script is incredibly well written, which is unusual nowadays. The characters are very strong and the writer is very passionate about this issue and the environment – as am I.
How did you find shooting in your homeland?
I love shooting in Canada, I love coming home. I usually come back once a year to visit my family, but if there’s ever an opportunity to shoot at home, I love to come back and film with Canadians.
It’s great to be here in the cold weather – some of the Brits had trouble with the cold, but as I grew up in Toronto, I’m used to it!
Has shooting Burn Up changed your opinion on global issues?
I don’t think doing this has changed my opinion on global warming, as it’s something that I’ve been very concerned about for a number of years, as have many of my friends and family. It’s has been good to learn more about it from the writer’s research though.
What difference does a big budget make to a production, when you’re used to productions like Scream? Do you think the programme becomes more reliant on good story telling?
I think that every piece should be reliant on a strong script and good storyline, but unfortunately some people think that with a big budget they can just get away with some great shoots.
Although, I think they don’t realise that the audiences are disappointed, they think if people sit in the seats, then it’s fine and everyone’s happy but that’s not necessarily the case.
I think either way, whether this production had a huge or small budget, the great script was there, the committed actors and director were there and if you have those things in place then you should have a good piece.
Last year you presented the UK leg of Live Earth. Are issues like this important to you?
Any time that I can help to raise awareness on the subject of global warming, I’m happy to jump on board. Although I’m not going to deny the fact that the great music also attracted me to the concert!
One of the things that they asked me to talk to the audience about was what a difference it would make if everybody just unplugged one light bulb in their house. You may not think so, but it would make a massive difference to the environment.
See Neve in Burn Up on BBC2 in July.
Interview with Pete Postlethwaite
The wonderful Pete Postlethwaite is back on our tellies in his latest role as hardened career criminal Hooch in the BBC’s brand new five-part crime thriller, Criminal Justice written by the highly acclaimed Peter Moffat. The series centres on Ben Coulter, who is prosecuted for murder when he wakes up in bed after a drink/drug-fuelled night next to a woman who has been stabbed to death. Finding himself at the hands of the criminal justice system, we see Ben (played by Ben Whishaw – Perfume, I’m not There) struggle with prison life, befriended only by Hooch.
Here’s what Pete has to say about it…
“It’s all about Ben getting involved in the criminal justice system, and how you actually defend somebody in this situation. There are complications between the different barristers and the lawyers, how they manipulate each other, how they play the game,” he says of his first TV drama since 2000’s The Sins.
“It’s been a while – it’s funny seeing myself on telly again,” admits Pete, whose career on the silver screen since The Sins has included roles in The Constant Gardener (2005), Valley Of The Heart’s Delight (2006) and the 2006 remake of The Omen. He says this move away from TV has not been deliberate, though: “Not at all. Either I’ve been doing other things or I haven’t read anything – or been asked, perhaps – for TV. Whenever I get a good script I don’t care whether it’s telly or theatre or big screen – I’m not bothered.”
And Moffat’s script certainly fitted his criteria and immediately caught Pete’s eye, and he didn’t hesitate in accepting the role.
“It fulfils everything. I only read the first two scripts to start with and the writing was so compelling that I thought, well, if Moffat can keep this up, this is going to be something extraordinary.”
Hooch becomes Ben’s only ally in the prison and tries to protect him from the bad influences inside, including Freddy Graham, who, it soon becomes clear, practically runs the prison wing and even has the guards turning a blind eye when he most needs it. Ben is lost and confused and trying to come to terms with his new life and, without the help, care and companionship of his cellmate, who tells him to “play the game”, he would surely not have coped.
But, says Pete, while on the surface Hooch may seem to be a good guy, there is more to him than meets the eye: “Hooch is as complex as all the other characters, I think. That’s what’s great about the script – no character is linear. They’re all complex human beings in their own right. The interesting thing with Hooch is that he, too, is incredibly compromised. He’s in a terribly compromised position and he hates it but he feels that’s the only way he can continue.
“I’ve got a back story for him. I think he was horrendous, absolutely the pits. He was very dark and I think he is carrying that with him. That’s why he’s a listener, that’s why he listens to other people. He says at one point, ‘Being in here and being a listener is like being a priest. People talk to me like they’ve never talked to anybody before in their lives,’ and he feels that is a very positive thing to do.
“I think he finds redemption at the end though, and peace and atonement,” he adds, although he admits that “Ben feels incredibly let down by him, eventually”.
Pete Postlethwaite is full of admiration for Ben Whishaw, who plays Ben: “He’s quite an actor, quite a chameleon,” he says. “He’s very, very good and it’s a stunning piece of casting. And he really goes through it. I know towards the end of the shoot he was like a wrung-out dishcloth, poor lad. He was physically and emotionally drained.”
While Pete admits it was also a tough shoot for him, because it was filmed over a short period of time, he believes that this just adds to the drama: “In a way, it forces you to think very clearly and very quickly. There’s a kind of energy that’s created and I thrive in those situations.” ■
Don’t miss him in the high energy Criminal Justice in its five-day consecutive run as it debuts on BBC 1 on Monday 30th June at 9pm.
Top Ten: Cringeworthy Speeches
This week the Channel Hopper has gathered the Top Ten Most Cringeworthy Speeches. Whether through passion, pain, joy or drugs, many are the occasions where a slip up has been caught on camera. Both celebrities and the common man have their place in this list, so sit back, prepare to cringe, laugh and cry and watch
The Channel Hoppers Top Ten Cringeworthy Speeches!
10. James Corden: The Empire Awards
This is probably the best introduction at an awards ceremony ever. It’s cringeworthy but oh in the funniest way. James Corden is a dirty, dirty, funny man. So he comes in for this Empire Awards speech at no. 10, because it’s less humiliating and more hilarious, but still totally cringeworthy.
9. Police officer gives gun ‘safety’ speech
The fact that the word ‘safety’ is in quotation marks should give you a hint as to how this scenario pans out.
8. Vote for Vice President
This is one for the people, to prove that us regular folk can do just as embarrassing things as celebrities. Oh how he will look back and cringe…
7. Anna Nicole Smith: AMA Presentation
She’s dead now so I’m probably going to hell for including this but still, it was spectacularly embarrassing so really, it needed a place in the Top Ten Hall of Fame.
6. James Cameron: The Oscars
Click here to see it
Watching the 2000 Oscars was painful. As the mediocre turd that was Titanic floated its way to victory like the proverbial unstoppable iceberg, we could only sit back and watch as it swept up 11 oscars. As LA Confidential was overlooked for best film for the sake of Titanic it seemed like surely the evening couldn’t get any worse. But then it did. Watch how James Cameron strolls up to the stage, shaking hands and smugly waving at the crowd of sycophantic mannequins, skin stretched to breaking and wearing more make up and jewels than could imaginably be dredged from the labour of third world child workers paid in buttons and pennies. His speech was unbearable. Smug, self consciously ‘off the cuff’ and yet there was a pay off. As he reaches his arms to the sky to mimic his leading man’s famous line, a sense of dread settled across the audience. They knew it was coming, they couldn’t stop it and yet like the titanic itself, he aimed straight for disaster. As he raised his arms in triumph and cried, ‘I’m the king of the Wooooooorld’ even this rent-a-crowd of blow up dolls in diamonds couldn’t comprehend the w*nkiness. Amidst a spattering of claps he used frat boy whoops to try and bring the crowd back. But its too late, they’re gone, and James my friend, you left us this precious piece of ultimate televised humiliation so that we could laugh at you for all time. Thankyou.
5. Miss South Carolina: Miss Teen USA Pageant
Click here to see it
When asked the question – why can’t U.S. school children find the U.S. on a map this Miss Teen America contestant bumbles into a mesmerisingly stupid answer that makes for highly entertaining viewing and quickly became an internet legend. The question of whether stupidity should be rewarded was answered quickly. The answer, obviously is yes, it should be as Caitlin Upton actually went on to place 4th in the 2007 pageant.
4. Kanye West: New Orleans Appeal
The thing about rappers is that they’re tough. Really tough. And eloquent. I mean, no matter whether you like rap or not, the fact is, it takes some tongue twisting to say fifty words in thirty seconds, not to mention adding in some obligatory ‘yeahs’ and ‘uhhnns’. Kanye is a top notch arrogant rapper in his dapper suits and bling drippings. He’s good and he knows it, and if you don’t know it, then he’ll tell you so. In rap, at awards ceremonies, probably in bed and the in bathroom mirror too. It’s all part of the image.
But oh, what a blow to the rep was this particular speech made in a TV appeal for help for New Orleans disaster victims. Now let’s get something straight, what Kanye is saying makes sense. Sort of. Once you decipher it. But mainly it’s his impassioned, nervous delivery that makes you imagine he went home and cried in the shower like a little girl, because he lost some serious cool points here. Also funny is Mike Myer’s reaction. Watch for it at the end. It’s like slow motion double take. Genius.
3.Chris Crocker: Leave Britney Alone
This meme took this kid from Loserville, USA to Loserville, the Universe. Within a week of airing, everyone knew about the impassioned plea of the guy to ‘LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!’ so garnering the same kind of dersision and net popularity heaped on the pop princess herself.
2. George Bush: Oh so many…
It was a tough call whether to put this first or not. The truth is there could be a Top 10 Cringeworthy Speeches made up of George Bush moments alone. However, since I couldn’t pick one I’ve gone for a whole bunch. Some would argue this should be at the top of the list, but I say no, you haven’t seen Halle Berry’s speech yet, so hold your judgemental horses…
1. Halle Berry: The Oscars
Click here to see it
As much as she cries with happiness I cried with laughter. So, a lot. Some could even say a mammoth, gigantic, galactic amount. I couldn’t breathe. Oh god, it was horrible. I wasn’t even laughing at her as much as FOR her. I didn’t want to hear it and yet I HAD to. Because this is The. Most. Embarrassing. Speech. Ever.
From the moment Russell Crowe announces it you can tell there’s going to be something different about the speech. Maybe it’s the way that while the other loser actresses are demurely clapping, Berry is clasping her seat screaming ‘OH MY GOD OH MY GOD’ in a way that makes you think her entire family, her dog and her favourite Manolo’s have been demolished in some bizarre act of god. But no, you can be forgiven for thinking otherwise but this is actually happiness. Pure - unadulterated for the camera - joy. It is a total meltdown of joy, like a triple decker ice cream sundae with caramel sauce left out in the sun.
Her speech is momentously cringeworthy, when you can decipher it through the sobs.
At first, people smile indulgently, maybe even a little moved. These change to looks that are varyingly disturbed, weeping, or just plain old trying not to stare. Watch especially for Helen Mirren. Only an English woman could look that perturbed using so little expression. Press play. Close your eyes and enjoy our no. 1 Most Cringeworthy Speech.
Thunderbirds’ Brains encourages smart hydration with Britvic’s new advert for Drench
Interview with Executive Creative Director and Writer Ewan Paterson
When thinking up the concept for an ad to promote a bottled water drink, you might wonder, what’s the best way to go? Someone drinking some water? An overflowing water fountain? A mighty waterfall? Indeed, a puppet from a ridiculously famous 1960s television show dancing to a pumping early nineties dance tune set against a back drop that bears a remarkable resemblance to a scene from the 1952 musical Singing in the Rain is perhaps not the first thing that springs to mind. However, advertising agency CHI & Partners certainly had an inspired vision when asked to advertise Britvic’s new bottled water product, Drench – and what a unique vision it was.
With summer coming in fits and starts and bottled water simply a must-have item when travelling around, it looks like now is the perfect time to hit the market with a promotion that will become fixed in people’s minds. Executive Creative Director and Writer, Ewan Paterson, speaks to OnTheBox about how the advert came to be, what Brains was really like to work with and how the Drench brand is whipping up a storm among the online community.
OnTheBox: How exactly did the Thunderbirds’ character work his way into the ad concept for Drench?! Was it a long process or something that someone came up with quite spontaneously?
Ewan Paterson: Pretty well instantly (last year we used a real brain, this year the next most famous version).
OTB: Aha, it’s all got that bit more conceptual then? Considering that the product being advertised is bottled water and Brains is a puppet, a group not generally renowned for their hydration needs, do you think he is an appropriate ambassador for Drench?
EP: We’re very happy with Brains’ commitment to the job as a spokes-puppet. In many ways, he needs hydrating even more than us humans…
OTB: …I see. But obviously, you could have gone for a run-of-the-mill beautiful woman in pool sipping/drenching herself in Drench. What were your motivations to go for something a little more quirky?
EP: In answer to rule 1 of advertising: to get noticed. And Drench is all about smart hydration so it just made sense!
OTB: Rhythm is a Dancer. Snap! 1992. Explain please.
EP: We felt the time was right to bring back early 90s dance and get people performing at their best. It’s a song we all secretly love and something you wouldn’t expect Brains to dance to.
OTB: Speaking of which, the choreography all seems fairly complicated for your average marionette – did Brains pick it up easily?
EP: He started off a little stiff but ended up being a natural (He’s clever remember, particularly after a little Drench).
OTB: Clever and cool – impressive. Are you pleased with the way the advert turned out?
EP: Yes – we’re pleased that people really seem to be enjoying it and are drinking Drench. There’s some great feedback on YouTube and Facebook from the public.
OTB: Indeed, there are already four groups celebrating the advert on Facebook! It looks like you are enthusiastic about using the internet to create a buzz about the product. Your website gives users the chance not only to watch the ad, but also to see the making of it and even play a game to test your alertness! What kind of role does the internet play in Britvic’s marketing campaign?
EP: A major part – it allows the public to experience and interact with Drench and the whole area of smart hydration in a fun way and in more depth than with a TV campaign. You can also see how we got Brains to perform so well in the making of film.
OTB: So would you say that you are you hoping to achieve more coverage via the internet rather than television broadcasting?
EP: It’s important that they both work – people need to see and enjoy the television spots to encourage them to share it with friends on internet… ■
To check out the advert for yourself, watch the making of it and get involved in the general online stir, go to www.staydrenched.co.uk.
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