Tag: Alistair Askham

Messing about on the river – photos by Ian Collins

Photos by VT editor Ian Collins, no reproduction without permission.

These photos are from a day off on location on the Norfolk Broads, whilst filming nights on the drama series, ‘Vanity Fair’. The photos date from May, 1987.  Included are cameramen Paul Woolston (without shirt), and Bob Meikle, grey hair and glasses, and the man with the plastic cup is probably soundman Alistair Askham.  The man with the beard is Rod Bach, and the man foreground in the 2nd shot with blondish hair and sunglasses is broadcast engineer, Chris Glover.  The man in the 2nd shot on the back, right, is engineer John Bradley.

Thanks to Andy Frizzell, Lesley Weaver, Stuart Gandy, Ian Collins, Chris Glover and Richard Stevenson for identifying those included.

Vanity Fair – Dave Bushell’s photos

Sidmouth 1         Tracking shot on Sidmouth seafront, Paul Woolston on camera, Diarmuid Lawrence (director) at left. Sidmouth is deputising for Brighton in the book.

Sidmouth 2         Sidmouth beach scene, Paul Woolston and trio of soundmen (Chris Rea, Paul Willcox, David Hughes) ready for action. Make-up and electricians also enjoying the late April sunshine.

Edinburgh 1        Shooting in Edinburgh, a late substituted location for Bath following an injunction by a resident there prevented filming. L-to-R, Roger Willcox (sound), John Alison (electrician), Ronnie Fleet (grip), Paul Woolston (camera)

Edinburgh 2        Diarmuid Lawrence directs Paul Woolston on a crane shot in Edinburgh

Edinburgh 3        Ronnie Fleet and Bob Few take the strain on a tracking shot in Edinburgh

Edinburgh 4        Another short tracking shot in Edinburgh, Paul Woolston on camera, unknown First Assistant shouting action.

Edinburgh 5        Some sort of sound ritual – Roger Willcox and Alistair Askham

Blickling 1             Gavin Davies (designer), in characteristic pose, watches the building at Blickling Hall, Norfolk, of the set for Vauxhall Gardens.

Blickling 2             Set built in the gardens of Blickling Hall, Norfolk. Four nights of shooting until the sun came up, in freezing weather. So much artificial light on that the birds got confused and started the dawn chorus at about 1 am.

Blickling 3             Set built to represent Vauxhall Gardens

Heydon 1             John Bradley fettles up an LDK14 camera at Heydon Hall, Norfolk

Heydon 2             Tracking shot from a specially adapted Citroen 2CV with Rob (?), engineer and Michael Owen Morris, director, in the back

Heydon 3             Freddie Jones, playing Sir Pitt Crawley

Heydon 4             Paul Woolston and First Assistant Director shelter while rain sweeps all the set dressing material into the Heydon rains.

Thetford 1           Lesley Perry (makeup designer) photographs while Tracy Southam (makeup assistant) put the finishing touches to Simon Dormandy. Location is Thetford, the setting for the Battle of Waterloo.

Photos by Dave Bushell (lighting director), no reproduction without permission.