Tuesday, the 11th of July - The detail Shekhar chooses to incorporate into his shots always impresses me. Today there was an intimate scene between Raleigh and the Queen, however Raleigh couldn’t get too close too soon. It took quite some time for him to feel confident to stand close to Her Majesty… In order [...]
Mel’s Blog – Like a Moth
Monday, 10th July 2006 - In short, today was a rather grim day. In the first half we filmed a Throckmorton devising a way to get back in favour with the Queen, then around lunchtime we watched Throckmorton being hanged on the rushes. Hmmm…not quite what I was after before lunch…but still this is the [...]
Evil Humours
Thursday 13th July. 4.00 PM – ‘A’ Stage, Shepperton Studios. In Elizabeth’s private apartments she and Bess discuss the thorny issue of what to do with Mary Queen of Scots whilst the Queen is bled for her health. During Elizabeth’s reign the prevailing medical theory was still that which had come down from the ancient [...]
The Consolation of Philosophy
Wednesday 12th July. 10.00 AM – ‘A’ Stage, Shepperton Studios. With the armada sailing Elizabeth’s reign is reaching a crisis and Raleigh finds her in her private apartments late at night, reading. For a scene as pregnant with foreboding and suppressed emotion as this there is only really one book that the Queen can be [...]
Death and Divinity
Tuesday 11th July. 5.30 PM – ‘A’ Stage, Shepperton Studios. Raleigh finds Elizabeth in her private quarters as she struggles with the hardest decision of her life. As I’ve mentioned in earlier blogs Elizabeth agonised and prevaricated over signing the execution warrant for Mary Queen of Scots and in this scene we hope to show [...]
Dangerous Liaisons
Monday 10th July. 9.30 AM – ‘J’ Stage, Shepperton Studios. Power in Elizabethan England was concentrated in the hands of a very few families but this could be as dangerous for them as it was convenient. Such was life for the Throckmortons and in today’s scene Bess received an unwelcome invitation from her cousin Francis. [...]
Mel’s Blog – Dressing Up
8th of July 2006 - In the private chamber, the Queen talks to her ladies in waiting. This scene is full of giggly, feminine energy yet the queen, whilst partaking, is still very much in control and not one of the girls. This scene sets up nicely the complex and intriguing relationship between the Queen [...]
Mel’s Blog – Human Needs
7th of July 2006 - Raleigh announced to the Queen today that he wanted to return to the colony. The Queen displayed a great deal of vulnerability during this scene but I won’t give it away entirely! I would just like to note the way Shekhar chose to shoot this scene as I thought it [...]
Mel’s Blog – Walking in Her Shoes
6th of July 2006 - One thing that became apparent in today’s scene with the Queen, Bess and Raleigh is the tentative nature of all of the Queen’s relationships. It made me think…is it possible that someone with so much power can have true and intimate relationships with those around her? In some circumstances the [...]
Queen Elizabeth’s Wardrobe Unlock’d
Saturday 8th July. 2.30 PM – ‘A’ Stage, Shepperton Studios. Elizabeth and Bess Throckmorton discuss Raleigh and his plans for the New World. We’ve set this scene in Elizabeth’s wardrobe, a room not based on the historical wardrobe but designed from scratch in which the Queen’s finest dresses stand in mannequined ranks under silk sheers. [...]