03-21-2009, 12:43 AM
What I can say:
I was asked in as an extras wrangler because of my work on Brit comedy Faintheart... they wanted a gobby drill sgt who could shout in latin and not make it look like modern drill... and eventually advise on how a legion would move.
(I later realised that it was connected to 2 other enquires I had made earlier, following a call from another society... and a call about hiring our boats but that's a long story).
That's all I knew, we knew little about the project until we were on set, security was that tight.
They wanted me to bring a few of my lads along (at short notice) so we were able to get only about 18 of us into the ranks, they only used my lads who lived within a 50 mile radius of the set and many of my lot are based near Shepperton & Pinewood. We worked closely with a very large stunt crew on some major action scenes that took days to shoot, many of whom we knew well after working with on features like Ridley Scott's Gladiator.
Given more notice about times and indeed the subject matter I'm sure we'd have loved to have seen more groups specific to this period involved.
Again I cannot comment about plot-lines or indeed plot-related techniques involving equipment, I am not sure who the historical kit consultant was - however I know that certain decisions were taken due to safety, set logistics & time constraints, a pila throw WAS indeed considered at one point.
In kit terms it IS a step closer to the standards set by groups like the ESG than the stuff in Gladiator, Imperial gallics & properly fashioned lorica are used (whatever the materials used :wink: ).
They had obviously been referring to the works of Connolly, Sumner & Junkelmann along the way, I did see these books somewhere in Shepperton :wink: .
Even classics like Ben Hur (that I must confess to adoring and watching every Easter
) have truly awful Roman kit compared to more contemporary productions.
This production's wardrobe people really seemed to care about the accuracy... but
...this IS a feature film and not a documentary.
I know films like this are not to everyone's liking, but my take is that:
1. if societies can influence productions each time we work on them, then it's a step closer to movies that have full kit of a documentary standard.
2. I would prefer to be involved and be positive with the film industry, trying to change things slowly from the inside ... rather than have a sneering/superior attitude that I strongly believe- ulitmately does our hobby no favours (that's absolutely not a swipe at anyone here, I've always felt that).
3. Also - if it does well then the whole 'Roman' thing (or interest in classical warfare generally) gets raised in the public's imagination and as a result we all get more bookings, documentary work and who knows, probably new members!
Also - we had an excellent time and if the action scenes are anything to go by it'll get a good following :lol:
I was asked in as an extras wrangler because of my work on Brit comedy Faintheart... they wanted a gobby drill sgt who could shout in latin and not make it look like modern drill... and eventually advise on how a legion would move.
(I later realised that it was connected to 2 other enquires I had made earlier, following a call from another society... and a call about hiring our boats but that's a long story).
That's all I knew, we knew little about the project until we were on set, security was that tight.
They wanted me to bring a few of my lads along (at short notice) so we were able to get only about 18 of us into the ranks, they only used my lads who lived within a 50 mile radius of the set and many of my lot are based near Shepperton & Pinewood. We worked closely with a very large stunt crew on some major action scenes that took days to shoot, many of whom we knew well after working with on features like Ridley Scott's Gladiator.
Given more notice about times and indeed the subject matter I'm sure we'd have loved to have seen more groups specific to this period involved.
Again I cannot comment about plot-lines or indeed plot-related techniques involving equipment, I am not sure who the historical kit consultant was - however I know that certain decisions were taken due to safety, set logistics & time constraints, a pila throw WAS indeed considered at one point.
In kit terms it IS a step closer to the standards set by groups like the ESG than the stuff in Gladiator, Imperial gallics & properly fashioned lorica are used (whatever the materials used :wink: ).
They had obviously been referring to the works of Connolly, Sumner & Junkelmann along the way, I did see these books somewhere in Shepperton :wink: .
Even classics like Ben Hur (that I must confess to adoring and watching every Easter
) have truly awful Roman kit compared to more contemporary productions.This production's wardrobe people really seemed to care about the accuracy... but
...this IS a feature film and not a documentary.
I know films like this are not to everyone's liking, but my take is that:
1. if societies can influence productions each time we work on them, then it's a step closer to movies that have full kit of a documentary standard.
2. I would prefer to be involved and be positive with the film industry, trying to change things slowly from the inside ... rather than have a sneering/superior attitude that I strongly believe- ulitmately does our hobby no favours (that's absolutely not a swipe at anyone here, I've always felt that).
3. Also - if it does well then the whole 'Roman' thing (or interest in classical warfare generally) gets raised in the public's imagination and as a result we all get more bookings, documentary work and who knows, probably new members!
Also - we had an excellent time and if the action scenes are anything to go by it'll get a good following :lol:
BRITANNIA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.durolitum.co.uk">www.durolitum.co.uk
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.durolitum.co.uk">www.durolitum.co.uk
