LOUIS NEETHLING (Director)
DAVID HORBURY (Producer)
ALISON LYNCH (Production Manager)
First day of filming for Charlie Swinbourne's Departure Lounge. Set in hospital, its about the relationship between a terminally ill older man and a young hospital cleaner - both deaf - both, in their different ways, afraid and isolated.
We thought me might struggle to find a hospital location and also have to hire a lot of hospital props. However, Springfield University Hospital in South London has allowed us to film in a disused wing of one of their buildings - which has beds and cabinets and curtains. Jan, our contact there has been amazingly helpful and supportive. Steph, the art director, spent yesterday dressing the set - and when I arrived this morning it looked good.
We've got about 7 pages of script to shoot today - that's 10 scenes - a HUGE amount on this first day!
Things are always slow in a new location. Some of the difficulties and limitations of the space don't become apparent until you start trying to put up lights or block out the scenes with the actors. Also some time has to be given to fine tuning the set dressing - or putting in - and taking out - props!
I think we might overrun today...!
We've got several 'supporting artists' with us over the next few days. I'd explained to the agency which provided them that they would be playing terminally ill patients in a hospital. I needn't have worried. The agency obviously knew what they were doing. I watched the SA's arrive and they all looked grey and very, very fragile!