Monday 24th July. 12.40 PM – ‘A’ Stage, Shepperton Studios. Into the last week of principal photography now and back to the private chambers on ‘A’ stage for one last visit. It is here, in a corridor just off the main atrium, that Raleigh and Bess kiss, setting in train a series of events they [...]
Out of the Fire
Saturday 22th July. 11.30 PM – ‘H’ Stage, Shepperton Studios. Picking up the scene from yesterday we find Raleigh now alone on the fireship, lighting the charges before jumping from the floating bomb he has created. Another big special effects day today as Raleigh leaves the rocking ship, flames towering around him. Onboard propane burners [...]
Fireships
Friday 21th July. 4.00 PM – ‘H’ Stage, Shepperton Studios. Another change around for our multi-purpose ship as we reach the fireships sequence. Today Raleigh is preparing to sail his fireships into the anchored Spanish fleet and we find him in the moments before the first ship strikes, on its deck as the crew finish [...]
Tell England We’re Home
Thursday 20th July. 2.00 PM – ‘H’ Stage, Shepperton Studios. The Ark Royal cabin has gone and we are now back aboard the Tyger as we introduce Raleigh to the movie. We find the Tyger as she returns from the New World and the English coast appears before her. This is a chance for Raleigh [...]
Money Well Given
Wednesday 19th July. 4.00 PM – ‘H’ Stage, Shepperton Studios. Back on our ship today which has had the stern redressed to turn it into the Admiral’s cabin on the Ark Royal. The Ark Royal was Lord Howard of Effingham’s flag ship during the Spanish Armada campaign and the first of five English (and later [...]
Beneath the Surface
Tuesday 18th July. 10.00 AM – ‘A’ Stage, Shepperton Studios. Our last day filming with Cate, as the Queen takes a rare bath and uses the opportunity to discuss men with Bess. Elizabeth was considered rather fastidious for her time, bathing more frequently (several times a year) than most. Generally at this period bathing was [...]
Wooden Worlds
Monday 17th July. 11.00 AM – ‘H’ Stage, Shepperton Studios. Finally onto the most spectacular set we have at Shepperton – a full size reconstruction of Raleigh’s ship ‘Tyger’. There is something peculiar about opening the huge doors of what looks like an aircraft hanger and finding an Elizabethan ship inside. And what a ship [...]
A Dance to the Music of Time
Friday 14th July. 2.00 PM – ‘A’ Stage, Shepperton Studios. Another dance today but in a very different vein from Raleigh and Bess’ volta. Today it is the Queen who dances with Raleigh in one of the most powerful scenes in the movie. As there was no dialogue in this morning’s work it’s perhaps an [...]
Mel’s Blog – Love
Friday the 14th of July - Today is my last day on set. What an amazing day to finish on -- today Shekhar was definitely on fire. In only one shot, he captured what the whole film is about – a queen’s struggle in deciding whether to remain an ‘untouchable divine entity’ or to give [...]
Mel’s Blog – Dancing Flame
Wednesday, the 12th of July - Like a flame flickering in the wind, movement mesmerizes the eyes. No other director I know uses ‘movement’ like Shekhar does. The camera flows and glides throughout so many scenes giving the film a sense of the ‘playfulness’ of life. When I asked Shekhar why he was so fond [...]