Those of us that carry
inside us
an immense darkness
Where did time go ?
Yesterday was the first day of the shoot.
And on paper it says
I have shot for three weeks
Wednesday 10th May, 2006
2 PM Hatfield House, Hertfordshire. The whole of today is set aside to shoot a scene of Walsingham and his brother in the study in his London house on Seething Lane. There are books everywhere, on row after row of oak bookcase, on tables and desks.
Thursday 4th May, 2006
3.20 PM Priory Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield, London. One of the pivotal moments in the film is being shot today in this beautiful 12th century church – the execution by beheading of Mary Queen of Scots.
Tuesday 2nd May, 2006
10 AM Hatfield House. Out on location at Hatfield House but today however we’re using this as the home of Mary Queen of Scots and Hatfield House has become Chartley Hall to introduce her to the story.
Friday 5th May, 2006
6 PM Priory Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield, London. Finishing off coverage of the execution scene then down to the crypt for a scene from nearly four months previously, as Mary confronts her accusers at her trial at Fotheringhay.
Tuesday 9th May, 2006
11 AM Hatfield House, Hertfordshire. We’re using the Long Gallery here as rooms in Walsingham’s house. In today’s scenes Sir Francis entertain his brother. This is one of those scenes that people will write to me about as there are a number of key differences from ‘history’.
Monday 8th May, 2006
1 PM Hatfield House, Hertfordshire. First scene with Elizabeth and Francis Walsingham today and, as is the nature of filming, this is Walsingham’s last scene in the movie.
Saturday 6th May, 2006
11 AM Hatfield House, Hertfordshire. The last three scenes today with Mary Queen of Scots (Samantha Morton). In the first Paulet appears in Mary’s rooms to tell her that she is to be executed on the following morning.
A Director’s Prayer 2
At the end of week 2
Hanging on,
to the slim thread of instinct
which is lost so easily
if cut by arrogance