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Tonight you can all watch #GhostLight - a 30 minute film we made in 5 weeks from idea to premiere. Humour me as I take a thread to acknowledge all the people who have come together to pull this off.
First - to the @edintfest & @NTSonline for commissioning these films & understanding how important it is to celebrate & mark the (missing) festival. This allowed filmmakers to collaborate with theatre artists, musicians, dancers & singers. What a treat.
To @_jackiewylie for inviting me to captain this ship, holding my hand, and clearing the path for me to charge along it. @PipKeppel for his knowledge of Scottish theatre, kindness and generosity, and for empowering me to embrace my vision. Our collaboration has been a joy.
To @GriffinWendy for stepping up to produce the most ambitious project ever, and pulling it off with grace and humility and assembling the most amazing crew ever. Plus, she went on camera for us.
To @katereidDp for her vision, clarity and tenacious ambition in making every frame gorgeous, getting every penny up there, and leading her team with respect and humour. And to @SvetlanaMiko for her extraordinary steadicam work. What a team.
To designer #beckyminto and composer @patriciapanther for crossing the great divide from theatre to film & doing inspiring work under insane pressure. This is their first time working in film, and I promise you it won't be their last. And to #AlyMcRae for the heartbreaking song.
Eagle eyes will also spot @patriciapanther in a #GlasgowGirls poster in the film. She's a genius polymath who everyone should know about.
To editor #SimonStarling and the incredible post production team @dirty_looks who did the impossible, and did it so beautifully. I can't quite believe we did a remote grade from Brussels to Edinburgh via our iPads with the London team coordinating & assembling our deliverables.
To sound recordist #JordanMilliken and editor & mixer @aniaadventure for their incredible work in building a soundscape so delicious you will be transported into the ghosts of the theatre.
To the @NTSonline team led by @euanmclaren and #GemmaSwallow, including @Seth_Hardwick and so many many more who worked so hard on this while also delivering the #ScenesforSurvival films. To Sophie Cooper, Aileen Sherry & Sophie Ferguson and all those I never met.
To @CharlotteGross @emmaschad and their teams for introducing audiences to this project, and making sure the messaging is spot on. And to everyone at @edintfest who is doing the same. What a team you have, @FergusLinehan.
And now...to the writers who allowed us to borrow your wonderful words, and morph your captivating characters for this piece. Love and thanks to @DavieGreig @maysumb #RonaMunro @Jenni_Fagan #PamelaCarter #StewartLaing #JohnMcGrath @LungHasTheatre @kieran_hurley @EllieMStewart...
@VPointTheatreCo #MatthewLenton @FrancesPoet @HanLavery @robertsoftley #GailWatson #RichardConlon @JackieKayPoet @vladbutucea. I can't express the admiration I have for you all. It's been a great honour to work with your work.
And FINALLY to the performers who are going to make you laugh, cry, hold your breath and release it again. Thank you @LauraDCasting & @PipKeppel for your inspiring work assembling this stellar cast.
To @AftonMoran for bringing the magic, to #ThierryMabonga for captivating, to #JamesMcArdle for getting vulnerable, to @AnnaRussMartin for exploding off our screens, to #KirunaStammell who I hope to meet one day, to #ChristinaGordon for her angelic voice...
To #HannahDonaldson for taking a character she was about to play & reimagining her with such agility, to @Adamkashmiry & @HanLavery for sharing their personal stories for us again, to #GailWatson #RichardConlon @MatthewDuckett #NatalieMacdonald for making us laugh & laugh
To @TaqiNazeer & @Emiliepatry for the funny and moving sex scene that we just missed...and to Emilie for appearing in 2 other scenes with gracious joy. To #SiobhanRedmond for her magnificent presence and effortless talent, and to #DylanRead for sculpting poetry in light.
All this was done working with COVID protocol and restrictions, and everyone managed it effortlessly.
I know I'm forgetting people, so forgive me. And thank you all. It is online tonight at 9.35pm and you can watch it here: https://www.eif.co.uk/whats-on/2020/nts-ghostlight
If you are moved by tonight's piece, and would like to help #SaveLiveTheatre, please consider donating to the #TheatreArtistsFund https://theatreartists.fund/donate/
The @NTSonline https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/support/individual-donor-support?membership-tabs=friends&friends-tabs=individual-friend
