After another busy day with tradesmen renovating my new flat, I popped out for an early evening walk. I didn't realise that they had closed the main crossroads in the middle of Saltaire to traffic and were actively filming. Of course that limited where I could walk and I couldn't get that close to the action but every now and again they had to stop to allow local traffic and pedestrians to move around. It must be very frustrating for them really, trying to co-ordinate everything. There are loads of extras involved, which seems to involve an awful lot of standing around waiting for the odd few moments of actual filming.
The film is 'The Choral', set in 1916: screenplay by Alan Bennett, director Nicholas Hytner and starring Ralph Fiennes, Jim Broadbent and Simon Russel Beale, though I've still seen no sign of any of them.
I rather like the look of Saltaire when they convert the shops to more old-fashioned ones. It would be nice to have a post office, a greengrocer's and more 'ordinary' shops in the centre again. The village is now full of cafés, bars, a couple of gift shops, an art gallery, a bakery, hairdressers and an off-licence/sweetshop. The more 'useful' shops are concentrated up the hill on Gordon Terrace.
And then it rained - a sudden, very sharp downpour with thunder and lightning! Luckily by then I was sheltered under trees on the canal towpath and was able to avoid getting drenched but it must have caused havoc on the film set. All the gravel they'd laid over the tarmac was being washed away.
I just got home seconds before it tipped down here yesterday. Cambridge seems to have more coffee shops than anything else these days; even bookshops are closing down, which is sad to see in a university town.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people were standing around in their costumes...I wonder how wet they got? And how do the businesses that are closed for the "fake period set up" make up for their lost business? They must be paid well.
ReplyDeleteThat looks very exciting, and interesting to watch. Pity about the downpour - we've had plenty of those here too in June (after an unusually warm and sunny May).
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect place to be doing such a film. Too bad about the rain.
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