ITV - THE HISTORY OF MR POLLY

About... well exactly what it says on the tin really. A period feature length film shot in and around South Wales on Super 16mm Film for ITV. The starring role goes to none other than the king of comedy himself, Mr Lee Evans. Along with a wonderful cast including Anne-Marie Duff, the beautiful Richard Coyle (You know the OTT Welsh bloke on UK sitcom 'Coupleing' and Only Fools and Horses Legend Trigger to name but a few.

Lee was so wonderfully down to earth, on my first day he practically jumped over a coffin in a graveside scene and came right over to me in between takes. Obviously sensing my nervous and clumsy demeanour, he extended his hand and said 'Hi, I'm Lee, nice to meet you!' and continued to chat casually about my course and his family. He is such a lovely guy and always made everyone on set really at ease, not one hint of primadonna behaviour!

My time on 'Polly' was spent helping the DOP, Focus Puller and Clapper Loader, which was great to get a taste for working in the Film Medium as I'd only worked on Documentaries and with Video previously. As well as doing the clapper board, laying marks for actors and making a great deal of black coffee for the camera department(!) I would have the Finder ready for the DOP to frame up the next shot, get the required Prime Lenses, Filters and Film Stock to the Focus Puller to prep the camera and help out on the truck with the clapper loader filling out forms and checking equipment, I even learnt how to load and unload a magazine in the darkroom.



We had many sets and locations on Polly so it was great to see the countryside around the areas I've lived for so long and knew nothing about, as well as being part of a very large film crew. One of the most exciting days was the Fire Stunt where we had stunt specialists and Fire crew come in to recreate a building fire in which Lee has to run into the burning building.

Walking back from set one evening I heard a car pull up beside me and a voice say 'You getting in then or what?!' I had no hesitation to accept a lift from Mr Lee Evans himself in his chauffer driven Jaguar!