Inner Calm Production Blog
Day 27, 28 & 29
On Monday, 13 October, the cast and crew of Inner Calm
invaded the top floor of The Stinging Nettle pub, Shepherds
Bush. The charming pub was our base for the finals three
days of filming. The pub’s function room was transformed
into Death’s room, with a wonderful roasting fireplace,
chandelier, candlesticks, and old fashioned leather chairs
to create a traditional gentlemen’s room.
Death (Orlando Seale) sits brooding over a glass of wine
Returning on set were Orlando Seale and Rebecca Santos, and
our regulars Tim Robinson and Olivia Chappell. While the
set was cosy and warm, the rest of the crew took haven on
the balcony terrace and underneath a giant umbrella as the
autumn rainy season had started. Our make-up and wardrobe
migrated down the road and were welcomed by another
friendly pub, The Prince, photos of our cast and crew can
be spotted on their wall of fame.
On the final day the Director, Becky Preston, led us to the
final point with seconds to spare (before we had to clear
out of the location), and when the call came “That’s a wrap
on Inner Calm”, everyone applauded as we were thrilled to
have completed the motion picture but there was a sense of
sadness, for it was all over. Luckily for us drinks were at
arm’s length, we gathered around and reflected on the past
six weeks as the cast and crew became a family, having
spent all their time together. It was hard to say goodbye…
but then again, there is always the wrap party.
Day 26
After barely 48 hours rest, shooting began again as the
entire production decamped to Wallingford (Oxfordshire) for
a much anticipated and slightly dreaded night shoot. With
added equipment and added crew the team set up camp on
Wallingford bridge, which, despite the town being all too
familiar with film crews (it is frequently used for filming
Midsommer Murder’s), drew a lot of local attention. Late
night pub crawlers were all too eager to be featured in the
film and coupled with the beautifully atmospheric fog that
settled in, made for a slow start to the night.
John (Phillip James) stands
on the bridge where his sister had her accident
The crew were happy to see the return of Helen Hobson who
had not been on set since the first day of shooting in the
Chaucer Bookshop Canterbury, also on set was Sophie Lovell
Anderson who had said goodbye in London and regulars
Phillip James, Olivia Chappell and Tim Robinson. Blankets
were on standby as actors had to lie in the road and dress
as if for a summer evening against the wintry October
winds.
Many energy drinks were consumed as shooting continued well
into the early hours of the morning and all were happy to
head home to bed when the wrap was called.
Day 24 & 25
After weeks of shooting exteriors through bitter wind and
pouring rain, the cast and crew were thankful to be indoors
for the last days of the Tabor shoot. With the help of
Cindy-Ho, and lots of Tabor grown ivy, Production Designer
Rhiannon Preece-Towey transformed Hotel Nautilus’ trendy
wine cellar bar into the otherworldly bar of Lethe.
Joining the cast for the last few days the Czech Republic
was Shane Rimmer. Shane has appeared in over fifty feature
films including Star Wars, Batman Begins and a number of
Bond films. While the crew crammed themselves into the
tunnelled catacombs Shane and lead actor Tim Robinson
enjoyed playing some of the films quieter scenes across the
intimate bar area.
Shane Rimmer as the Barman
pours drinks for Dave (Tim Robinson)
At the end of the second day the Inner Calm team returned
outside, to film a brief yet crucial scene where Dave picks
Lorna up on his motorbike. Despite a beautiful vintage bike
both cast and crew had to fight laughter as the crew tried
to push the beautiful bike in a smooth line towards camera.
Thankfully there was one day to recover and enjoy Tabor’s
sights before the entire crew left Hotel Nautilus for good
at a rather unpleasant time - 5am in the morning. Spirits
were high on the plane, despite leaving these beautiful
locations most people looked forward to getting home to
their own bed.
Day 21, 22 & 23
Three locations were filmed on the Thursday in the streets
of Tabor, the most locations filmed at within a single day
so far. This would have proved problematic if it wasn’t for
the fact that Tabor is the size of a model village. Much
ground was covered and everything that needed to be filmed
was, the next day however proved to be not quite so
successful for the heavens opened and it rained cats and
dogs. Cast and crew took cover under a gazebo waiting for
the rain to die down, the problem being that the Red Camera
would pick up every drop of rain in High Definition detail.
Scenes were pushed to the next day and everyone got up
early; yet again, everything that needed to be was
captured.
The Saturday was not without its difficulties. Actor Tim
Robinson, required for several scenes, had accidentally cut
his lip – his swollen mouth and lips needed severe make-up
treatment by Hannah Maxwell and Helen Smith who in the
early hours worked tirelessly to hide the cut. As his
scenes worryingly required him to kiss Olivia Chappell, the
camera needed to be placed in positions that allowed them
to fake it and just cuddle a little.
Saturday also saw the last scenes filmed with Edmund Dehn
and Sarah Wilkinson. Edmund’s wisdom and warmth and Sarah’s
lovely smile and enthusiasm will be sorely missed. With
less than a week of filming left in the Czech Republic, we
will surely see them on our return to London to finish
Inner Calm.
Day 18, 19 & 20
For the forest scenes the Inner Calm team moved to a small
forest on the outskirts of Tabor. Over the three days much
was filmed, including a sequence that required Olivia
Chappell to play three different versions of herself. A
section of this scene was filmed each day; Olivia’s
wonderful diversity as an actress and the stunning
differences in make up and costume meant each Lorna was
distinct. Tim Robinson’s solid performance as Dave in the
centre of it all meant the scene worked perfectly. The
sequence, which ends rather intensely, was hard to watch by
all; Tim said “it was a difficult emotional state to get
in, it put me in an odd mood for the rest of the day, but
hopefully it will look good on screen” and we can assure
him that it does look good, even if it was hard to watch.
Tarbo’s forest represented the paths the various characters
had to go on to get to their afterlife. Charon played by
Edmund Dehn was in his element as he walked along the paths
with Lorna.
Olivia Chappell as
Lorna
The Art Department was happy to use a swing they had built
in Canterbury all those weeks ago. Adam Etherington’s
beautiful photography worked brilliantly with the Autumn
leaves blowing in the wind as Olivia sat on the swing in
the forest. The scenes filmed showed the characters’
journey through the afterlife, so the actors now get to
rest their legs, after endless walking.
The beautiful forest with its stunning views and chilling
atmospheres will be missed however the crew is greatly
looking forward to some interior scene at the beginning of
next week.
Tomorrow the production moves on to start filming the last
of the exterior scene of the Czech leg of the shoot. With
its small winding passages and rustic fountains the streets
of the Old Town are set to be an exciting location to shoot
in and ideal in creating Director Becky Preston’s vision of
the Afterlife.
Day 15, 16 & 17
The ship of Inner Calm nearly hit some rocky waters these
last few days. Filming took place in the main square of the
old quarter. The large fountain in the centre suited the
days’ scenes perfectly, but unfortunately it was on a busy
roundabout, making the area the Times Square of Tabor.
Runners blocked off each road desperately stopping locals
who spoke very little English, what subsequently arose from
this was a bizarre game of charades. One other problem was
the large school situated directly on the square, 3rd AD
Andy Day frantically tried to stop the swarm of children
who left school at 4 o’clock, and managed to stop the first
twenty or so, but was eventually overwhelmed. Meanwhile
sound recordist Juliet Plumptre had to work around the
noisy presence of cars, children, dogs and planes that flew
endlessly over the town. After two hard days filming there,
we were all relieved to move to a location down a side
street with another smaller fountain.
The weather on Saturday was also far better than previous
days, the sun came out and it felt like the summer that
Britain had missed this year. The days before were cold and
wet but the cast and crew powered through with waterproofs
and blankets. Spirits where kept high with a ready supply
of Czech sweets and hot meals, arranged by Line Producer
Alexandra Davenport who has kept the ship on course
throughout the shoot.
The crew of Inner Calm
looking at the monitor
The Czech Republic and especially the town of Tabor lends
itself beautifully to the other worldly imagery director
Becky Preston is creating. The high backed neo-gothic
buildings tower over the small quaint squares making an
eerie, sombre backdrop for some truly moving scenes.
Solemnity was heavy in the air as Olivia and Tim performed
their penultimate scene. As the two fallen lovers embraced
each other, a teary eyed directed looked on with adoration.
After a hard day’s shoot the cast and crew are always
thankful of the home comforts afforded to them by the Hotel
Nautilus. At the end of this incredibly long and testing
shooting week all took advantage of Tabor’s teaming
nightlife; Bon Jovi was sung, tequila shots were downed and
on Sunday everyone recovered with a much-deserved break.
With bad weather forecasted for the coming days the
intrepid unit wait anxiously for 2nd AD Callum Just’s daily
weather reports. It’s going to be another long week…
Day 13 & 14
Joining the cast for the first two days filming in the
idyllic town of Tabor, was Orlando Seale. On Monday the
22nd Orlando watched from a distance as Olivia Chappell and
Tim Robinson continued their kissing scenes in another part
of the world.
The following day Orlando and Olivia joined in a scene
which required them to dance. The cast and crew took over a
public chess space in central Tabor. The floor on the
location was a giant chess board, and the set would have
been perfect if the space hadn’t been trashed by Czech
youths. Graffiti and dirt were some of the few problems
facing the Art Department; Rhiannon Preece-Towey, after
spending three hours on her hands and knees scrubbing the
chess board floor, became rather over protective when a
runner placed a foot on the now brightly shining floor.
Orlando Seale as Death
dancing with Olivia Chappell as Lorna
Despite heavy rain and impending darkness, Director of
Photography Adam Etherington and Gaffer Sam Alberg managed
to rig the room so beautifully that the photos have been
compared to a studio shoot. The Czech press were amazed
that we were filming on one of the coldest days in the
year, while Phillip James walked around in bare feet like
the trooper he is. That night everyone returned to their
rooms to enjoy a nice hot bath.
Traveling to The Czech Republic
The weekend was not a relaxed one for the Inner Calm team,
which had to travel to the city of Tábor in the Czech
Republic. This stunning city is on a hill, separated from
the rest of the country by the Lužnice river. Twenty four
cast and crew flew from Stanstead airport: it was chaotic
but they managed. While they flew, two vans containing all
equipment and costumes drove in convoy for two days through
Europe to reach the historic city. The shoot will take
place here for the next three weeks. Everyone is looking
forward to starting but will utilise their free day off to
try some of the Czech Republic’s world renowned beer, which
is also wonderfully cheap on home soil. We imagine the next
three weeks will be productive and fun.
More news when the filming starts...
Day 10, 11 & 12
The first days filming in London took place today in a
stylish flat in Canada Water. The day was relaxed, perhaps
because everyone was delighted to be indoors once again.
Food was in plentiful supply for the exhausted crew, who
had worked so hard by the lake. The house, which is by no
means large, played host to an invasion of twenty cast and
crew, but the actual residents seemed to enjoy the noise
and bustle of a busy film set, though careful navigation
was required amidst the maze of camera and lighting
equipment in order to exit their house …
It was to be an odd jump for us all from the fantasy aspect
of the lake, with mythical costumes and other-worldly make
up, to the serious nature of the scenes revealing
characters John and Kate’s troubled friendship. The film
will be shot here for the next two days so the house has a
way to go in its new role. The kitchen is now a make up
room and the bedrooms are now costume rooms and offices.
The house also provides the location for the cast and
crew’s latest game, “clipping”, which involves attaching
crocodile clips to the clothes of unsuspecting workers.
Second AD Callum Just has become so paranoid about being
clipped that he keeps his back to the wall almost at all
times … The price of freedom is eternal vigilance …
Director Becky Preston hard
at work
So, we’re having fun – and still managing good efficiency –
on this relaxed set, but it’s for all too brief a time.
Soon filming shifts to the Czech Republic which holds in
store many outdoor shoots and dozens of other locations for
the cast and crew to tackle. You could say we’re enjoying
the comforts of a London shoot while we can.
More news soon…
Day 7, 8 & 9
The last three days of filming took place at the Bell
Bedgebury International School in Goudhurst. The school has
220 acres of parkland including a mesmerizing lake which
was used to shoot the first scenes set in the Afterlife.
Fortunately for cast and crew the weather remained good for
the entirety of the outdoor shoot, and the morning mist on
the lake added to the magical element of the scenes.
Joining the cast in Kent was veteran actor Edmund Dehn,
Sarah Wilkinson and Rebecca Santos. Edmund, who featured
regularly on children’s fantasy show Knightmare, plays
Charon the Ferryman who takes the dead to the other side.
He once punted as a hobby and was somewhat dismayed to find
he had to make do with a rowing boat and a banister as punt
pole. While the boat and well-aged banister looked
beautiful, the craft was incredibly hard to steer, but over
the three days Edmund become expert at captaining the small
vessel and thoroughly enjoyed it. The boat itself, which
dates from 1964, had been hired from Dunorlan Park and
proved extraordinarily difficult to transport, finally
ending up tied to the top of a people carrier and was
slowly driven from the outskirts of Tonbridge Wells to the
location.
Charon (Edmund Dehn) waits in
his boat
Rebecca Santos and Sarah Wilkinson play Mia and Angel (or
as the call sheets name her, Angle). Sarah, who is a
dedicated ballerina, was radiant as she danced and leapt
around lead actor Tim Robinson (Dave), while Rebecca’s
solemn performance added a fascinating and very different
dimension to the scenes she was in. The new characters
looked magnificent in their timeless costumes designed by
Virginie Gehin, the film’s exceptionally talented Costume
Designer.
Actor Phillip James (John) was required to enter the
freezing lake in one of the scenes. Before the moment came,
make up artists Hannah Maxwell and Helen Smith, who had
worked on his hair and make up for the last hour, urged him
not to get his head wet, but Phil bounded into the lake, in
true method actor fashion, and fully submerged himself. The
subsequent vision of Phil, standing soaking wet in nothing
but a towel by the side of the lake, did much to relieve
their irritation. There is such satisfaction in others’
discomfort…
Phillip James emerges from
the lake, after drenching himself, against the instructions
of the make-up team
On the second night of shooting the van used to transport
all of the equipment got stuck in the mud. The crew
desperately tried to free it but, depressingly, only made
it sink deeper. All valuable equipment was taken out and
transported back to base. Focus Puller Benn Peacock cradled
the enormous Red Camera safely on his lap in the back of a
tiny car and in the early hours of the following day the
van was freed by a tow from a tractor.
The days have been long and cold, but even so cast and crew
are sad to leave this stunning location, as we drive to
London to carry on work on Inner Calm…
Day 5 & 6
Lorna (Olivia Chappell) and
Dave (Tim Robinson) share their first onscreen kiss
On the 11th and 12th of September, filming continued all
over the University of Kent Campus. Olivia Chappell and Tim
Robinson shared their first on screen kiss, then their
second, then their third and so on. On kissing a near
stranger, in a room full of even more strangers, Tim said
‘It was just like my uni days all over again… it was great
fun.’
The crew set up camp for the day in one of The University
Of Kent’s best known venues, K-Bar, the location for Lorna
and Dave’s first meeting and first of many kisses. The
crew, anxious to keep to schedule, decided to brake every
20 minuets to eat Ben and Jerry’s ice cream from a vending
machine outside. Tim and Olivia used this time wisely and
continuously rehearsed their intimate scene.
As the shooting day came to an end the team had to say the
first of many farewells as Amy De Bruhn left the set. Amy
in her lilting Irish accent, said; “I loved Canterbury, I
think I’d settle hear if there were some more pubs”.
The following day Tim and Olivia continued their kissing,
as scenes were filmed outside the Gulbeinkian Theatre and
once more in K-Bar. With Saturday being a day off, the cast
and crew joined to celebrate runner Cindy Ho’s birthday by
arranging a small party; where much merriment was had by
all.
On Sunday the shoot moves to its first major outdoor
location as the lake sequences begin filming. Hopefully the
sun will shine…
Dave (Tim Robinson) says
goodbye to Lorna before class
Day 4
Today the Inner Calm team invaded Bramley’s, a bohemian pub
in the centre of Canterbury. As runners sped through the
streets of the city looking for Extras, our DOP, Adam
Etherington set up the state of the art Red One camera
alongside his intricate lighting set-ups, helping realise
Becky Preston’s visions of the film. Soon enough the bar
was full with a wide variety of Extras, and filming began.
Cast and crew were tempted by the plentiful amounts of
alcohol on display but had to be on their best behaviour,
and was made do with a warm bitter shandy, and non
alcoholic beer. For dinner the crew were supplied with a
seemingly endless supply of fish and chips, only adding to
the tasty problem of Cod shortages in the country.
Olivia Chappell (Lorna) was thankful to not be laying in a
hospital bed all day and leapt at the chance to perform her
first dialogue, although as wonderful as she was a comatose
character, Olivia really shone playing opposite Phillip
James (John), her onscreen brother. The pair have developed
a strong bond even referring to each other off set as bro’
and sis’.
Sophie Lovell Anderson (Kate) who had finished all her
scenes in Canterbury was sad to leave the historic and
beautiful city but is looking forward to playing further
scenes in London next week. Filming continues tomorrow at
Kent University at the Students Union bar.
Olivia
Chappell and Phillip James getting ready in
make-up
Day 2 & 3
The last two days shooting on Inner Calm continued in an
abandoned wing of the Canterbury Christ Church Hospital.
Whilst some of the most dramatic scenes were filmed the
remaining cast and crew made themselves useful with the
prosthetic limbs and skeleton dummies.
Amy De Bhrún joined the cast today playing our Doctor
joining her was Marc Hankins our resident photographer who
was pulled in to play the orderly. Though it was later
agreed that using one of the dummies might have been a
better option.
After both days shoot the team headed over to The Parrot
pub for a banquet, where 1st AD Alastair Ferran ran to the
head of the queue like the greedy chap he is.
More news to come!
Lorna (Olivia Chappell)
preparing for the hospital scenes
Day 1
Principle photography started today as an excited cast and
crew joined in the cosy Chaucer Bookshop, in Canterbury, to
start work on Inner Calm. Director Becky Preston’s calm and
effective shooting style, settled the crew into a
comfortable first days shoot of this feature film, and
whenever anyone had some time off there was always
something to read from books on poetry to books on tanks.
Today’s shoot involved characters John (Phillip James),
Kate (Sophie Lovell Anderson) and Sally (Helen Hobson) in
some of the films most pivotal scenes. Sophie said of the
shoot “it was lovely first days filming, I feel welcomed
already.”
The shoot finished only slightly over schedule after which
the cast and crew headed to the pub for a much needed pint.
The ship sails on...
Director of Photography, Adam Etherington, frames a shot in The Chaucer Bookshop, Canterbury