A Touch of Eastern Promise 1973 – Tara Prem

A Touch of Eastern Promise 1973

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m half Indian, so I was always very anxious to reflect what I saw when I went up to Birmingham.  I wrote a film called A Touch of Eastern Promise, because when I went there I realised there were loads and loads of Indian people, not probably as many as there are now, but nothing was being done about it, and there weren’t any writers.  So Barry was script editor, because I said I wanted to write something, so I did and that was the first thing on British television ever to have an entirely Asian cast.  So I felt very proud about that as well.  But that also spun on to other things.  Michael Abbensetts came and wrote Empire Road, which Peter [Ansorge] produced, and I do think that it was quite new then, but it was very, very apparent in Birmingham – it opened a door really.   In a way it’s what Peter and I are still kicking at the same door of thirty years later.  It’s a bit sad in a way. But it was rather good that we had that opportunity.  So those sort of things I do feel quite proud of.  I do think it kicked open a door.

Tara Prem

(Excerpt from an interview with Tara Prem recorded in summer 2009 by Vanessa Jackson and Olivia Swinscoe from Birmingham City University).

A Touch of Eastern Promise was recorded in Balsall Heath Birmingham.  Michael Lindsay-Hogg was the director, David Rose the producer, Barry Hanson the script editor, Tara Prem the writer.  Mike Williams was the cameraman and Oliver White the film editor.

The cast included Dev Sagoo as Mohan, a young Indian boy who dreams of film stars, and in particular ‘Shalini’, who is coming to perform in Birmingham.  Jamila Massey played Shalini, Zareen Kamal played Lata, K.S. Matharu played Balraj Kumari, and Charan Kaur Matharu – Mrs Kumari.

‘Red Shift’ by Alan Garner

In this video, Bob Jacobs (1st Assistant Director) and Oliver White (film editor), talk about their experiences of working on the 1978 ‘Play for Today’, Red Shift. The drama was written by Alan Garner and directed by John Mackenzie.  It was a complex play set in three time periods: Roman, Civil War and present day.

‘Red Shift’ by Alan Garner, 1978 Play for Today from pebblemill on Vimeo.

For more information about Alan Garner you might want to take a look at this Alan Garner website  http://alangarner.atspace.org/index.html .

Oliver White – Film Editor

Bob Jacobs – 1st Assistant Director

Philip Donnellan – Greg Miller & Oliver White

Philip Donnellan from pebblemill on Vimeo.

In this video film editors Greg Miller and Oliver White talk about working with the documentary producer, Philip Donnellan, at BBC Pebble Mill.  They discuss editing ‘Gone for a Solider’ (1980), ‘The Big Hewer’ (1974) and ‘The Fight Game’ (1973).  ‘The Big Hewer’ and ‘The Fight Game’ were adaptations of radio ballads.

If you are interested in finding out more about Philip Donnellan then check out these links:

http://philipdonnellan.posterous.com/

http://paullong.posterous.com/33608194

Oliver White talks about Mike Leigh and Nuts in May

Oliver White on Nuts in May from pebblemill on Vimeo.

This video is of Pebble Mill Film Editor, Oliver White, talking about working with writer and director Mike Leigh on the 1976 Play for Today: ‘Nuts in May’.  The drama starred Alison Steadman as Candice Marie and Roger Sloman as Keith.  It was produced by David Rose.  ‘Nuts in May’ was screened at the ‘It Came from Pebble Mill’ weekend held in July 2010 at the Midlands Arts Centre, and Oliver is talking after watching the drama there.