I had an interesting day today, I took part in a film starring Alison Steadman and Paul Copley. It was shot in West Norwood cemetery and I had a small part playing one of the mourners in a funeral scene.
There was a lot of interest from my male friends when I mentioned Alison Steadman; I knew she had appeared in Gavin and Stacey and the singing Detective. She is a lovely lady and yes guys, she's a total babe! Paul Copley has been in everything from Downton Abbey to Coronation Street and narrating How clean is your house.
Filming was due to begin at 9am which in actual film production time means 11am. There is always lots of waiting around but its interesting watching everything going on and of course being in a cemetery I was in my element. They shot some initial scenes by the entrance gates and then we moved over to the chapel whilst they were setting up the funeral scene. On arriving at the chapel a real funeral was taking place, so once I had been checked over by the wardrobe lady for suitable black attire, they didn't need me for an hour - great. I figured it would be a good time to go walkabouts, stop off at Arthur Beresford Pite's grave and take some photos. I visited Arthur and then wandered off down a path I hadn't ventured down for a long time, stopping here and there when I came across anything interesting and kicking leaves when no one was watching. I then spotted a fox and decided to follow her. My phone was turned off because obviously I didn't want it ringing during filming so I didn't exactly know what the time was and well, I hadn't been gone that long...........really......had I?! I wandered back up the path and spotting a mausoleum was about to head straight for it when I saw one of the film crew, he was calling 'Laura' so I ignored him. He came running after me furiously waving and it transpired that he did actually mean me; he had just been given the wrong name. My husband Les also appeared, he too had been looking for me because they were about to start the funeral segment and I was holding everyone up! Ooop's, nothing like making a good impression is there!
Two other women and I were lined up so that the shot would show us and then pan out as we were walking away from the graveside. Several rearrangements later we were ready to go. 'Action', off we headed along the road, and up the hill. No one shouted cut. Further up the hill we climbed, still no cut. I was beginning to wonder if they had forgotten about us as by now we had reached the top of the hill and were about to turn the corner when one of the crew ran along to catch us up yelling "Cut, cut, you can stop now" - phew! Oh and we got it in one take too.
Fifteen minutes later we had trekked back down the hill to witness the closing scenes and the joyous words "that's a wrap"'. High fives all round. We stopped and chatted to the director and some of the production crew and also got the chance to talk to and have some photos taken with Alison Steadman and Paul Copley. Alison is really bubbly and very funny and Paul was lovely too.
So there you have it, if I don't end up on the cutting room floor you'll probably blink and miss me, seriously though it was a great day and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. The film is called 'The day my Nan died'. I'll keep you posted as to when the film will be out.
"That's all folks"