Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Butterflies OF DEATH

If anyone remembers me asking for wind-up butterflies quite a long time ago, you may be pleased to know (or you may not care less) that although a number of butterfly sources were discovered, the scene in question was actually filmed with a different papery item entirely. I've seen the scene, and it works fine - there were some concerns that the effect I was after wouldn't have quite worked anyway: the effect being so random and fast, it would have been over before you knew what had happened. The amount of thought that goes into these things is slightly worrying, frankly.

Anyway, The Mighty Evans (now promoted at her workplace, so if you work at the BBFC and you've recently had a madwoman in a paper crown and a sceptre made of Cheesy Wotsits* ordering you to bring her coffee in a 'gold mug', that'll be why. She'll settle down soon), has sourced a tiptop and highly reputable supplier of windup paper butterflies, that seem likely to satisfy any reasonable person's desire to fill envelopes or books with propellable erstatz insects that, when opened, release themselves into the air in a startlingly violent manner likely to cause at the very least, a serious cardiac arrest. The suggestion is that you use these for advertising, but unless you're advertising those paddles you rub together and stick on people's chests whilst shouting 'CLEAR!', I think it could backfire.

Still, great work, the Evans - may your new role as Queen of Films last long and get you lots of perks and that.


*if you bite the ends off and lick them, they stick together - I once made a ET-style long Wotsit Finger at school lunch break and turned round to David Eddy, pointing it at him whilst doing a very creditable 'phoooooone hoooooome' bit. D.E. then flicked it with a fingernail, sending the ET Wotsit Finger to oblivion and leaving me with A) a hitherto-excellent impression suddenly weakened by the lack of an appropriate visual backup and B) no lunch. D.E. is now married and lives in Liverpool, where he presumably STILL RUINS PEOPLE'S LIVES.

5 comments:

Johanna said...

Oh, I literally CANNOT WAIT for the second series. Just rewatched the first one and laughed my arse of again. James, do you know anything about the Green Wing Calendar that people were talking about? Apparently the actors didn't approve the pictures - now THAT makes me even more curious. Were they nude? Rude? Or just unflattering?

James Henry said...

I heard they might be doing one, but that's all I know I'm afraid. Wouldn't like to comment on why the pics haven't been improved (if that's actually the case), other than to say that as all the cast were in the show they were in, I really don't think they'd veto photos on the grounds that they were 'unflattering'. The cast of GW must be the least vain bunch of people I've ever come across, god bless them every one. I suspect instead it's rather dull legal issues such as to who controls the rights over GW likenesses, characters etc.

We did suggest an alternative 'GW writers' calender, with all of us in suggestive poses, draped languidly over bits of hospital set (I wanted to be 'April'), but the company said they'd 'get back to us'. And then ran away, screaming.

James Henry said...

I have no idea when the DVD's coming out either, just in case anyone asks. Not a clue. Bizarre when the Doctor Who DVDs came out practically the day the series ended (from a company notoriously crap in the past at putting out DVDs), and everything else on at the same time (max and paddy, nathan barley) also seems to be out now, but there we are, what would I know?

Anonymous said...

Funnily enough, these days the same company is putting out DVDs of BBC and Channel 4 shows.

Though I'm none the wiser as to why there should be the big delay in issuing the GW one - possibly best filed under "seriously misguided promotion strategy".

James Henry said...

Ah, which might explain why BBC stuff has been coming out at a decent rate of late. Still pining for the 'bit of fry and laurie' set though....

But yes, I don't know what on earth they're thinking.