The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Would you believe it if I said that this lion was actually a coffin?

Well it's true. It was made in Ghana by a master carpenter called Paa Joe.

A film maker called Benjamin Wrigley has just finished making a documentary about him and his lion coffin, and it's going to be shown at the Broadway Cinema over the weekend.

I met Benjamin a couple of years ago at a film club that used to run in Beeston, when they screened a little snippet of the film, which he was raising money to get finished.

In fact I blogged about it at the time: https://beestonblog.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Paa%20Joe%20and%20the%20Lion

The coffin is currently on display in the entrance to the Broadway, and there's also a small exhibition of how the coffin was made in a former shop on Heathcote Street.

Spirited Away

There was an unusual, and exciting event that took place in Beeston tonight, a world premiere film show based on close up photographs of the 'Ghost Bus'; the old dilapidated Bartons bus that was found rotting in a Suffolk field.

The bus made its first appearance at Bartons in October 2012, and of course I popped along to see and write about it for this blog. Last October a well known Italian writer and visual artist called Roberto Alborghetti saw the bus for the first time and was amazed at the state of the vehicle. He then spent a couple of hours taking 500 close up photos of the rust, peeled paint and general distress on the buses bodywork and has turned 130 of them into a thirteen minute film, naturally called The Ghost Bus.

Besides seeing the film, Bartons had put lights and a smoke machine inside the bus, to give it a supernatural and atmospheric air, amplified by the darkness of the garage setting. Would you want to spend the night alone on this bus?

Roberto has also made a shorter, six minute film, using some of the other photos called Seaside Film, Both films were impressive and well received by the audience. There was also time for a small question and answer session.

It was a wonderful event, and for those that are curious about what the film looks like, Roberto has put a small extract on YouTube - https://youtu.be/1YWqP38vHQo

Tatty Love

I picked this novel up from a charity shop yesterday, as a companion to my Saturday Night Sunday Morning which I got some years ago.

Local writer Alan Sillitoe created the story in 1959 and concerns a daughter of a rich scrap metal and textile merchant who falls for this thief and they run riot across Nottingham.

It was made into a film in 1972, and starred Victoria Tennant. Her first film. Sadly this film isn't currently available on DVD, as it features various locations across Nottingham, including Highfields. There are various bits of the film on YouTube, but it would be good to see the whole thing on the TV. One day perhaps...

Robin Hoody

No, it's not what it seems. Robin Hood hasn't turned into a vandal. Although I don't think aerosols were around in the outlaw's day, so I think we're safe!

It's actually a scene from a film that a friend of mine is making about the history of Beeston. Matt, who runs and writes the Beestonia blog LINK and Beestonia magazine LINK has written a script about Beeston and filming is currently underway.

I don't know what the finished product is going to be like, but I can expect great nuggets of information, familiar scenes and some surreal humour. Just like with this scene of Robin Hood spraying 'paint' onto a street sign.

Robin Hood is another friend of mine called Tim. He is Nottingham's official Robin Hood and often makes guest appearances at events, promotions and on television. Tim's also a great guy who loves science fiction, the Boar War, prog rock and role playing games.

Camera Man

I was given an old camera today. An Olympus OM 10. It's a film camera, one which my OMD is based.

Some time ago I signed up with a site called Freegle, as I had some stuff to give away that wouldn't be of any interest to a charity shop, and so every day I get emails about things that people want to off load. It can be anything; old pallets, furniture, material, even computers. So I was quite pleased to read about the Olympus.

I've put some new batteries in and found out that it seems to work OK. I will have to try it with a film to see if it takes any pictures.

It comes with a 50mm f1.8 lens, which although slightly battered, looks in good condition and with no fungus growing inside.

Lights, Camera, Action

A fab night tonight at the local film club that Gail and I go to on a Monday night. It was extra special this week, as film director Shane Meadows paid a visit to discuss a number of his short films that he was going to show us, including his first ever one made in 1993 and some that have never been screened before. He also did a question and answer session about his work and gave a bit of an insight into the film making business.

As an added unexpected surprise, the actress Vicky McClure also came to visit. Vicky has appeared in Shane's This is England series of films and TV series. They are about to start work on the latest instalment. She was recently in the crime drama Broadchurch, which starred David Tennant.

It was a great evening, helped along by Roya's wonderful buffet. All vegetarian food and very delicious. Of course I had my camera with me to capture the event, which had been organised by my pal Matt, who runs the Beestonian magazine. Here's a shot of Shane, Vicky and film journalist Ali Catteral, who had made the journey up from London to introduce and interview Shane, and to also get his DVD box set autographed.

Sauve, Smart And Deadly

Nottingham has always had a strong input in the entertainment industry, either through films that were made here like Saturday Night, Sunday Morning or TV shows like Boon. And actors that have made a name for themselves like Samantha Morton or the late Richard Beckinsale. Then there is Shane Meadows, who has made many movies that were filmed here, such as This Is England.

One local actor who you may not know that well is White Dolemite. His real name is a secret for some reason, but he specialises in violent thrillers that often depict revenge when he has to face the Yakuza and other gangs who have wronged him in some way. He has also done a couple of horror films with zombies, and some raunchy sex movies.  He always wears his trademark eyepatch and often wears sharp suits and Cuban heels.

I caught up with White this evening as he made a special guest appearance at the City Gallery where he opened an exhibition showing a number of posters of his movies. I was surprised that he has made so many films after seeing them all together on the gallery walls.

We chatted for a while and I got him to pose alongside some of the artwork. For such a screen icon, he was a real down to Earth guy, who just loved a cigarette and a beer like everyone else.

The 'X rated man' exhibition is worth seeing, and to see such collectable posters up close is amazing. It's really the sort of show that London galleries put on, that somehow makes it feel elitist, whereas at the City Gallery, you feel quite comfortable and normal, just like White himself.

To get an idea of what a typical White Dolemite film is like, here's the trailer for his latest cinematic masterpiece. Please be warned that even though it's only a trailer, blood and graphic violence are seen. So if you are of a nervous disposition, or a bit squeamish, then please don't watch.

Blast From The Past

In this age of digital cameras, I was somewhat bemused to see this chap taking a photo of the beach in the Old Market Square using a film camera.

But a special one at that, as I think it is a Rolleiflex. Not that I am an expert on cameras, just remember seeing them being used by the likes of David Bailey in films and documentaries etc from the 1960s.

I had thought about striking up a conversation with him and finding out more about his enjoyment of photography, but I didn't want to break his concentration, while he was composing his picture through the unique vertical viewfinder.