Shotgun Wedding or A Bridge Too Far?

On Friday 7th January 2005, 2020 Acting Classes took a metaphorical jump off the deep end and into the unknown of a wild and windy seaside resort.

Over the two and a half days that followed, 2020 embarked on a filming extravaganza in Margate, during which, 29 students (of all ages) and an elite group of professionals lead by Chris Villiers and Liz Mckechnie made a film. Working Title ? Shotgun Wedding.

Using the fabulous Walpole Bay Hotel once more as our location and base camp, Chris and Liz ? ably supported by Richard Trinder and Kate Arneil shouted ?action? across the ballroom and started what was to become a marathon of film and stamina.

Camera crew:
James Pugh
Stuart Branton
Martin Gooch (Goochcam)

Sound:
Gary Cummings

Lighting:
Ian Howes - DOP
Richard Miles - Gaffer

The result? 112 slates, 14 hours of footage, 31 hours of filming, 5 stunning meals and 36 hand guns, an armourer with a broken car, 6 x SO19 Policemen, a bride, a groom and a hit man, a fist full of vitamin tablets, 76 very tired feet, 76 very tired eyes, 29 very tired students and 8 exhausted teachers and crew and a film in a bag.

What made this event even more remarkable was that even though the ?teachers? had devised the story - the words spoken in front of the camera were going to be totally improvised by the cast. That they managed to pull this off was not only very impressive but that they managed to retain their individual characters over the period and keep their focus and integrity in the project was extraordinary.

The film will be cut together during the course of this year and a screening will take place, sometime in the autumn.

Well done everyone - the epitome of truly marvellous team effort.}