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Script front page and cast list for the BBC 2 drama Witchcraft. This was a two parter on BBC 2, transmitted in 1992, written by Nigel Williams and directed by Peter Sasdy.
It was a challenging production, with several members of the team left bruised by the experience.
Here is the BFI database entry for the drama:
Part 1:
A film school teacher chooses 17th-century witchcraft and adultery as the theme of his latest script. As shooting of the film begins, real-life events take on a menacing quality and events from the past seem to be being re-enacted in the present. http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/463201
Part 2:
As reality and fiction blur, the parallels between the 17th-century past and the present drive Jamie to a breakdown. He becomes possessed by the image of Ezekiel, the Witchfinder. Meg makes a bizarre discovery putting everyone’s lives at risk. http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/481195
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook Page:
Christine Houston: ‘(Film Unit) Made rare location visit to take replacement equipment. The set was a totally constructed medieval village in the middle of a field, complete with olde worlde long-horned cattle. Managed to watch about 30secs of filming before director “cut” to query authenticity of costumes for the period!! I had a catering services lunch with the crew while the exasperated costume dept tried to convince him all was good. Also remember being completely disorientated when Tim Everett put his headphones on me – thought there were people talking behind me when they were actually on the other side of the field. WEIRD!!’
Victoria Trow: ‘Oh blimey, Peter Sasdy, divide and rule merchant. The editing team was at the rehearsal rooms. The best advice we had was from the PA who said we should always write down any instructions from Peter to cover ourselves. John [Rosser] wouldn’t talk about Peter until he’d not only left the building but had been seen to drive away in his car – John was convinced he had bat hearing. Nightmare yes, intense yes, fun in some kind of crazy way, yes; was it worth it, was it a good film? No!’
Terry Powell: ‘The directer was a nightmare bully, sexist and just a complete —-. I think that covers that. Terry, costume.’
Edited by John Rosser…..i think assisted by Vicky Trow
I remember, in my first weeks of learning how to do TV and film, being SA in this. Earned a packet. Call-time 3am in the hot June sun for hours on end – with fire at our backs in several takes. Director wouldn’t let us off the location set between scenes, not even for a pee or a drink of water – until, that is, we organised. With the Cast members giving us support we made an approach to Production via our Equity Dep (me for the day). Then it all went off the next morning – when the Producer herself conveyed the message to the director (from The States) that we were professional performers and not extras from the dole queue – or something like that, we were straining to hear but saw him towered over by a very firm lady i.c.. After that, life became easier and he became over-sweet. No half-measures in his repertoire, clearly.