Something For The Weekend

a rather special stunt...

With the DVD launch of Casino Royal this week, Becky Wicks spoke to Gary Powell, the stunt coordinator for the film, and the fearless Adam Kirley, the stunt man who performed the record breaking Aston roll. How do they handle such a mad job, and why, when you've walked through flames and jumped from one helicopter to another, would you still be afraid to sit in a pot-hole?

So, James Bond, that’s a pretty cool gig for a stunt co-ordinator. How did you score that one?

Gary: You’re right, it’s a really good job! There comes a point when you’re getting a pat on the back for rolling a 200k Aston Martin, when you think, hey surely I must have the best job in the world!  But I was brought up in the business - my dad, brother and uncle all do it too. We’ve always had a Bond tie too – my dad worked with Sean Connery and my brother with Timothy Daulton, and now I’m lucky enough to work with Daniel Craig – who’s a really nice bloke by the way. 

Adam, what was it like rolling that car seven times, and breaking the world record?

Adam: We didn’t even mean to break the record for the most rolls – we did 7 and three-quarters by mistake really, it just kept on going! It was actually pretty cool though because my step-father held the world record before me, and I beat him. I don’t think he minds, at least we’ve kept it in the family!

Do you get some difficult actors strutting their stuff, being annoying?

Gary: I’ve not really met anyone who’s been difficult to work with – I’ve been pretty lucky in that everyone’s been nice. We always sort of lived in the shadow of the actors, as stunt men, but that’s just the way it is. Actually, we’re getting a lot more recognition now because people know more about the film industry, and they see the extras on the DVD’s. I was nominated for four awards for my work, so we’re getting a lot more understanding from everyone these days.

Adam: It’s true they’ve all been pretty nice to me – we have to spend a lot of time before the shoots with the cast and crew so we all get to know each other quite well. We get quite a good rappor with the actors after a while, most of us have performing backgrounds, too.

Been anywhere extra memorable on location?

Gary: I went to Australia when I worked on Ghostrider, and Thailand for Alexander, which was lovely. We get to go to some pretty good places on the shoots, places that make you think. I mean, you go to all these places where everyone’s got everything you could ever want - Monte Carlo, they’ve all got yachts, you know. But then you go somewhere like Morocco where kids are playing on the streets with old bike parts, and they’ve all got huge smiles on their faces, and you think, wow I’m pretty lucky with what I’ve got.

What advice would you give anyone who wants to become a stunt man?

Gary: You have to really want to do it. It’s very competitive and you need to go through a lot of training, a lot of different qualifications through Equity. People always think a stuntman is fearless but the truth is, you’ve got to be a little bit afraid. It’s usually only the macho men who think they can walk in and deal with anything with no problem, who get hurt.  I mean, I’ve done some pretty crazy things – I drove the tank in Goldeneye and the horse fighting scene at the start of Braveheart, but you won’t catch me going down a pot hole or anything. I’m claustrophobic, I’d be terrified!

Adam: It’s a pretty big ordeal getting into though, takes a lot of investment. You’ve got to be fit – there are a lot of gymnasts getting into it because they’re flexible, but they’re all the same height. Luckily we’ve got the big, rough and tough guy market covered!  There are only 300 professional stunt men in England but, as you can imagine, not enough work for them all – it takes a long time to get to the top of your game but you’ve just got to stick at it.

So what’s next in line for you guys?

Gary: I’ll be working on the next Bond film, set for November.
Adam: So will I, at the moment I’m doing some work on The Bourne Ultimatum as Mat Damon’s double, and some fast car driving for The second National Treasure film with Nicholas Cage.

Aaaah well, it’s all in a day’s work folks, (for some people).

To celebrate the DVD release of Casino Royale we're offering you the the chance to win one of five city breaks to Venice or Prague where the action unfolds, plus ten runners-up goody bags.
To enter, click here

weekend dreaming...

What I wish i was doing
Waking up and getting ready to go into London early. Take in a walk along the South Bank and checking out the latest exhibition at the Tate, taking in lunch at the Cinammon Club and then head to the Thames for a RIB river cruise to wake me up (basically bombing down the Thames on a speed boat), then relax with a few drinks by the Thames and head off to dinner at Boulevard and laugh the night away at Spamalot.

What I am doing
Got a phonecall last week from our freinds in Scotland saying how much they are looking forward to this weekend, then it hit me that they meant as they were visiting us this weekend. Have spent all week cleaning the house and thinking of what we can do only to be told by them they want to stay local so....... will be going under thier orders the same Italian as usual, the same pubs as usual and probably shopping in Milton Keynes, not very inspirational. - Mark, London

Tell us what you're doing and what you wish you were doing...

how 'bout the circus this weekend?

If you've steered quite clear of the Circus since Stephen King's It sent clown inspired chills down your spine, fear not. Billy Smarts Circus, coming to Coventry on March 6 to 1, is positively creepy-clown free. And better still it's only £10 a ticket.

You'll find a dynamic mix of breathtaking acrobatics, aerial expertise, comedy, juggling and illusion, all set to wow you on the 2007 Tour.

With its contemporary take on traditional circus skills, this one's a spectacle that will thrill everyone from your gran to your old man. No squirty flowers here. Instead, meet Chico Rico, the side splitting clown from Mexico, experience the fast paced illusions of Ross Presto & Company and marvel at Roman’s Aerial Silks.

One of the highlights to be added to the bill is a brand new flying trapeze act, that’s taken America by storm - The Flying Bull Dancers. Their act includes a top catcher and a passing leap, and Anton Von Ostendorf’s legendary triple somersault - a move that's made the act a massive hit in the circus world.

Book Billy Smart's Circus now for a tenner

this weekend I'll be mostly...

Watching 6 nations rugby!! woohoo! i'll prob be getting VERY drunk in a great pub in waterloo, that actually has the murial of the battle of waterloo, what better place to watch the english rugby team defeat the damn smelly french!?! - London man ;-p

fancy it doggy style?

From March 8 - 11, over 25,000 dogs from all over the globe will be travelling to The NEC in Birmingham to compete for the ultimate accolade of Best In Show at the world's greatest dog show, Crufts.

Crufts, organised by the Kennel Club and supported by Pedigree Masterfoods, attracted 143,000 visitors over the four days of the show in 2006, easily keeping this annual extravaganza’s place in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest dog show in the world – and this year it’s been extended! 2007 will see Crufts take over The NEC Arena that will be used to showcase a fantastic new dog display programme with seating for 6000 people.

The move not only gives more people the opportunity to see the ever-popular special events and Best In Show, but also creates a better shopping experience, more catering facilities and a more enjoyable experience for all.

Dogs representing twenty-six countries competed at last year’s Crufts resulting in a record number of overseas competitors, making this a truly international event.

With around 100,000 paws on parade, Crufts 2007 is expected to provide unrivalled canine entertainment for people of all ages, through its mix of traditional crowd favourites alongside a wealth of exciting new displays of the dog’s many talents and roles within society.

As well as the highly prestigious Best In Show title, other hotly contested canine competitions will include the Obedience World Cup competition with challengers from all over the world aiming to prevent England from completing a hat trick of successes. The event will also host the Kennel Gazette Junior Warrant Final, with a younger generation of dogs bidding to show their potential as future Crufts champions.

Crufts offers visitors much more than simply seeing dogs in competition. Dog lovers and prospective owners will also have the chance to meet and greet 190 different breeds of potential pedigree partners in the Discover Dogs area, where they can gain expert guidance from handlers who will help them to find their perfect match.

The event provides the ideal opportunity to treat the dog or dog-lover in your life. With around 500 trade stands offering everything that you and your canine could possibly wish for it’s the perfect place to check out all the latest trends and toys for your two and four legged friends!

Crufts will also act as a showcase for a wide range of animal charities, which will be on hand to demonstrate the diverse range of valuable skills that dos possess which can help us in many different aspects of our daily lives.

In short, Crufts is a must for dog lovers everywhere!
*Taken from NEC website

this weekend at the Whitehouse...

Saturday March 10th: MyHouse @ The Whitehouse 

In case you didn't know, The Whitehouse has undergone a massive refurbishment since the new year and will be officially opening in early March. Groove Factory has been given an exclusive pre-launch date to check out the spanking new bars, extra standing room, bigger toilets and brand spanking new Turbosound sound-system!

Invited back to host the upstairs room  (now with unrestricted entry) will be the MyHouse residents Stevie Dee & Aubrey Price and will be delivering a more funky flavour to the Groove Factory mix.

Saturday 10th March
The Whitehouse - 65 Clapham Park Road, London, SW4 7EH
9pm till 4am
FREE before 9pm!
£8 - 9pm to 11pm
£12 - 11pm onwards

What a Treat

You’d have been forgiven for thinking there was a lightning storm brewing as Chris Evans walked out of the Garrick Theatre on Monday night. However, despite the barrage of paparazzi flash-lights, he had a cheerful grin on his face. To judge from his face, his verdict on Treats was a big thumbs-up to Billie. But, given that he’s hardly impartial, we thought we’d better give you a bit more to go on:

Who’s in it?
Billie won’t be the only familiar face you’ll find in this play, though; Kris Marshall who you’ll remember as the loveable klutz from My Family (or the long-suffering new-man of the BT adverts) takes on an altogether different role as the aggressive, opinionated and bullying ex-boyfriend, Dave. In fact, his usual typecast - the amiable but unfortunate puppy-dog - is taken on by Lawrence Fox (from Gosford Park and Becoming Jane). Lawrence’s character, Patrick, is the third point in the play’s fraught love-triangle.

So, what’s it about?
Dave, world-jaded journalist, returns home from a stint in war-torn Basra to find that in his absence Ann (played by Billie) has changed the locks and moved-in the most boring man in her office on the rebound. Tired of his intellectual tyranny and very un-intellectual philandering, Ann appears to have found a quiet happiness with the sweet and thoughtful Patrick. Dave’s refusal to accept her rejection, though, and Patrick’s cripplingly easy-going nature put the three of them in a stalemate of territory, possessions and desire.

What’s it like?
Initially, the play feels like a British sitcom; it has a cosy, three-person cast, a static “apartment” set and witty, fast-flowing banter (though if it were a sitcom it’d be a very well scripted one). As the action unfolds, though, a sinister battle for emotional possession begins to show through, motives, passions and allegiances are relentlessly interrogated and all three characters begin to crack under the pressure.

But, will I like it?
Treats may enrage you and it may frustrate you, but only because the characters feel like people you may have met in the real world and their situation is one that begs an uncomfortable question about the ways that men and women behave in relationships. You might see echoes of your own relationships, in fact, poking their familiar faces through the witty, energetic dialogue. So, if you like a few thought-provoking home truths, served up with a good helping of smarts and laughs, then you’ll love it.

Buy tickets to Treats from £25

Sara Sha’ath

Ed Blum on Scenes of a Sexual Nature...

Scenes of a Sexual Nature is best described as a comedic and sexually charged look at what makes us tick. On a sunny afternoon in August, temperatures soar between seven couples as they explore love, sex and relationships on London’s Hampstead Heath. Director Ed Blum shot the movie over just three days on a budget of just £260,000 and managed to score super hot stars such as Ewan McGregor and Adam Lincoln for the cast. To win a copy, enter here

Prior to the DVD release of Scenes of a Sexual nature on March 12th, Becky asks Ed Blum, exactly how did he manage it all?

I read that you re-mortgaged your flat to increase the budget? Is that true?

I took a loan out yes, if only so I could keep on going and feed myself, you know. I had to take a fee so I could get myself provisions mostly!

What did your bank say?

Oh they didn’t know what the money was for, I doubt they would have leant me it for a movie. I think I told them it was for a new kitchen. If I need another loan for another movie I think I’d like a bathroom next…

I was going to ask whether you would have invited a mean bank manager to the premiere, just to rub his nose in it?

(laughs) Well, we actually did have a bank manager there, as well as all sorts of people, but he was a specialist bank manager, just for film projects. I actually invited everyone to the premiere - even the cast came. We had lots of support but we just didn’t know what would happen.

You met the film’s writer Aschlin Ditta at School, had you worked together before?

Aschlin’s a great writer – we met at the National Youth Theatre. It’s not the first time we’ve worked together no, but it’s the first time anyone decided to put our movies into production. Aschlin actually knows Catherine Tate through other comedy projects and she loves his writing, so that definitely helped.

What’s Catherine really like, was she fun to work with?

Catherine’s great, she’s not only funny in real life but she’s incredibly down to earth and good natured. Actually, everyone was, they were all such a pleasure to work with. Because it was such an independent film that we’d started ourselves from scratch, there was a real buzz about it – everyone believed in it. And even though it was sort of made on the cheap, so to speak, everyone was excited to see what would happen with it.

Is it true that the actors were only offered Equity minimum and a percentage of the future profits to take part?

Yes that’s true, and there were no ‘favoured nations’ as we call them – everyone was involved on an equal footing from the start, which wasn’t a problem because everyone seemed to enjoy the script so much. Plus I think it was an easy project for everyone because there were only about three days of filming, no studio hassles, no long contract negotiations – you know, I think it must have been quite refreshing. Because of the speedy nature of it all it, taking part didn’t really affect anyone’s schedules.

You went on last at the Raindance film festival – were you surprised at the reaction?

Oh it was fantastic on so many levels to have such a great reaction and to close for them. I used to go on courses at the Raindance on how to make budget films, as did a lot of people, including some executive producers! It was very important to us to be received well by them, especially as ours was an independent film and we couldn’t really afford to pay for our own premiere. As it was there was a line around the block to see it and it totally sold out. We probably couldn’t have paid for a better one!

I’m told you’re off to LA. Does that mean the hard work is finally over?

No, I’m only half going out there for a holiday. I’m actually meeting all sorts of people. We’ve had some interest from America considering variations on the film and that was probably helped by the great cast in the film. But the best thing that could have happened was our deal with Sony.

How did that come about?

Well we actually set up our own distribution company called “The really honest little distribution company” which the cast loved as it really was all our own work, from start to finish. Sony just loved the approach in that the cast all wanted to help promote it, attend the premiere, help with PR and everything, it was like a family production.  Luckily that helped us get where we are, and helped get me my agent, William Morris in LA.  And now, who knows what’s next?

To win one of 10 Scenes of a Sexual Nature DVD's, email us here

Underneath the Lintel Q&A night...

Our Q&A with Richard Schiff last week went down a storm with our lovely customers, with about 150 people staying behind after the show to chat to the ex-West Wing actor, turned West End star.

For about 40 minutes Richard answered questions about the play and told us how different it is, playing to a British audience, than it is to playing in the States. He mentioned how quiet we are. Can you believe that? Quite obviously he hasn't spent much time standing outside McDonalds on Oxford Street at 2am on a Saturday night. That would change his ideas about quiet Brits.

Richard told us that on his first preview of the show in the States, after just a couple of lines, a person in the front row shouted 'Speak Up!' - which made him pretty nervous. Well, it would hardly fill a person with confidence on their first night to have a personal heckler in the audience, would it? We're pleased to report the volume levels have been fully checked and are quite fine for the current production of Underneath the Lintel.

Towards the end there were a few questions about West Wing. As you can imagine, Richard had a fair few stories to tell - one being about a visit to meet the (real) president - President Clinton. He was walking beside him in a procession, where people were waving their flags and shouting for Clinton's attention and Richard couldn't help turn round to the president and tell him that it all felt like an episode from the West Wing. Very surreal. We can imagine. Well, actually, we can't. Must be nice having presidential fans. It'd be a bit like Tony Blair coming up to our office and offering to make us all a cup of tea, forgetting the biscuits, and us saying, wow Tony, that's awfully nice of you, making the tea,... but forgetting the biscuits sort of feels like when you offered me a free education and National Health Service and somehow, I'm still going to be in debt to my country until I the day I die. Oh well. Might be different in America.

Anyway, the evening went very well and Richard was very relaxed - so much so that when leaving, he left with the audience, through the stalls and out to the front of the theatre, signing programmes for everyone. Aaah it's nice to know the presidential fanbase hasn't gone to his head.

Get tickets for Underneath the Lintel here

win a night in myhotel Bloomsbury

The most luxurious backdrop for your next visit to London, or even if you’re just looking to stay the night somewhere nice like a tourist in your own town, is a chic myhotel in either Chelsea or Bloomsbury. Through the influence of feng shui and cutting-edge design by Conran & Partners, myhotel Bloomsbury is a haven of tranquility in the heart of Bloomsbury and just a stone's throw away from Covent Garden and Soho – perfect for your shopping and socialising ventures. We’ve got a one night stay in myhotel Bloomsbury up for grabs when you enter this sexy little competition.

In each myhotel, guests can enjoy the delectable 24/7 mybar, the energy zone and the library, a peaceful residents-only retreat. Both myhotels are feng shui hotels – you’ll feel completely balanced thanks to the aromas used throughout, in every room and corridor. And the crystals and fish tanks are placed in just the right spots to sooth you.

These gorgeous, boutique hotels fuse influences from the East and the West in order to create a stay that is as memorable as it is unique. Forget the stuffy hotels of old and enjoy the thoughtful, lovely staff, all eager to make sure you have a stay to remember. Make the most of the chocolate fountain when you check-in and then enjoy yummy chocolate eggs and mini truffles in the comfort of your room.

The rates to stay at myhotels for Easter are also fully inclusive of an energy boosting continental breakfast and late check-out until 2pm to make the most of your stay in London.  Shop till you drop or dine until you explode in the swanky, Manhattan-esque restaurant.  With oodles of cocktails to die for you might not opt for the generous and mouth-watering healthy smoothies, but chances are you’ll be back to try one another time. We certainly did. 

Enter the competition here

Book your stay in the myhotel Bloomsbury here
Book your stay in the myhotel Chelsea here