Pierrefonds - 13 September
Another brief report on today's filming in Pierrefonds! Alas, the last day of the block, and therefore the last of the fifth season for France - but of course, whether it's the last of the show, we've yet to discover.
This includes spoilers of the costume variety, and also some sketchy scene details.
Another pleasant day was had in Pierrefonds, though it was cold, but we were warmed with some really wonderful happenings...
I arrived a bit earlier, well before 9:30, but I still missed the first scene being shot! This was on the 'knoll' directly opposite the chateau. I didn't find out anything about it other than that there were fake flowers dressing the location.
We headed into the chateau once it opened, and watched a scene which featured Colin. Hurrah! It was basically him reacting to the hanging of one of the young women, that we'd seen filmed the previous day. He was tucked away behind a column, so basically all I got to see was a sliver of jacket, one long fine leg (be still, my heart!) and an ear. However, I think he acted very emotively with that ear, and one certainly got the impression Merlin was very sad to see the woman die. If ears could weep, I tell you, that one would have.
It was interesting to watch them film this, as they used one of the crew members (male) to stand in for the female character, and the director timed it all by watching the 'main' shot of the scene being played back on a monitor. He would call, 'Arthur! ... {female character's name} ... Drop!' at the relevant beats, and thus Colin would know what he was reacting to when.
We then had another scene in the courtyard which involved stand-ins for Merlin and Gwaine galloping out on horses, off to save the world. The director wanted as much speed and urgency from them as possible, while staying safe.
We then had a bit of an interlude before the next scene, which involved a crowd watching the hanging. The scene was set, but the actors hadn't arrived yet. So the chap playing the executioner conducted the crowd-extras in a verse of Frere Jacque. He tried getting the extras and fans involved in singing We Will Rock You, but that didn't last very long. Then he discovered that a crew member's birthday had been the day before, so he called him up onto the block on the scaffold, and had everyone sing him Happy Birthday. Which was nice. :-)
There was the usual break for lunch, and then we had Gwen up on the balcony, witnessing the execution. She was in her beautiful red velvet finery.
Close-up shots were taken by a camera loaded on top of a very tall tripod arrangement. Alice Canty - who is the First Assistant Camera this week, promoted from Second AC - had the unenviable job of getting the camera up there, and fitting the lens. And then they had to undo it and reset it again for a different angle! She was intrepid, and of course it all went without a hitch.
Then Bradley arrived, and we filmed Arthur and Gwen's part in the other execution. It was good to see them standing there together, even if on a rather gruesome occasion. After some banter between us fans, I said to a crew member, 'This isn't their idea of a date, is it?' And she said, 'Sure! Every Sunday.'
Bradley later came further along the balcony, which runs the length of the main hall there, and poked his head over to say hello to the gathered fans, and ask how we all are, whether we're enjoying ourselves, had we seen anything interesting. I don't know that any of us managed to respond at all coherently! But I'm sure he realised we were rather pleased. It was astonishingly sweet of him.
Then the final scene was set up in the courtyard. We only saw a couple of rehearsals before the chateau closed, but it seemed to involve Arthur, Gwen and Merlin riding in from a picnic - to find Leon tending to some distressed villagers. Not at all sure of the context. I have to say it was utterly lovely to see Arthur again in only a white tunic! Well, and trousers, too, but you know what I mean! Gwen was in a lovely purple riding outfit - terrific skirt! Colin must have been cold, because for the rehearsals Merlin was wearing a very un-medieval jacket. Leon was looking beautiful, and he could tend to me in my distress any damned time he wanted to.
Alas, I didn't get very good pictures of this last scene, as I ended up standing right up the back, but I'll upload anything that's passable.
Then, alas, it was time to say some very sad farewells to my fellow fans. ♥
Two pictures of the day:
I couldn't decide, so here's one happy one to continue the established theme, and one 'artistic' one.
Photos are now on Flickr!
This includes spoilers of the costume variety, and also some sketchy scene details.
Another pleasant day was had in Pierrefonds, though it was cold, but we were warmed with some really wonderful happenings...
I arrived a bit earlier, well before 9:30, but I still missed the first scene being shot! This was on the 'knoll' directly opposite the chateau. I didn't find out anything about it other than that there were fake flowers dressing the location.
We headed into the chateau once it opened, and watched a scene which featured Colin. Hurrah! It was basically him reacting to the hanging of one of the young women, that we'd seen filmed the previous day. He was tucked away behind a column, so basically all I got to see was a sliver of jacket, one long fine leg (be still, my heart!) and an ear. However, I think he acted very emotively with that ear, and one certainly got the impression Merlin was very sad to see the woman die. If ears could weep, I tell you, that one would have.
It was interesting to watch them film this, as they used one of the crew members (male) to stand in for the female character, and the director timed it all by watching the 'main' shot of the scene being played back on a monitor. He would call, 'Arthur! ... {female character's name} ... Drop!' at the relevant beats, and thus Colin would know what he was reacting to when.
We then had another scene in the courtyard which involved stand-ins for Merlin and Gwaine galloping out on horses, off to save the world. The director wanted as much speed and urgency from them as possible, while staying safe.
We then had a bit of an interlude before the next scene, which involved a crowd watching the hanging. The scene was set, but the actors hadn't arrived yet. So the chap playing the executioner conducted the crowd-extras in a verse of Frere Jacque. He tried getting the extras and fans involved in singing We Will Rock You, but that didn't last very long. Then he discovered that a crew member's birthday had been the day before, so he called him up onto the block on the scaffold, and had everyone sing him Happy Birthday. Which was nice. :-)
There was the usual break for lunch, and then we had Gwen up on the balcony, witnessing the execution. She was in her beautiful red velvet finery.
Close-up shots were taken by a camera loaded on top of a very tall tripod arrangement. Alice Canty - who is the First Assistant Camera this week, promoted from Second AC - had the unenviable job of getting the camera up there, and fitting the lens. And then they had to undo it and reset it again for a different angle! She was intrepid, and of course it all went without a hitch.
Then Bradley arrived, and we filmed Arthur and Gwen's part in the other execution. It was good to see them standing there together, even if on a rather gruesome occasion. After some banter between us fans, I said to a crew member, 'This isn't their idea of a date, is it?' And she said, 'Sure! Every Sunday.'
Bradley later came further along the balcony, which runs the length of the main hall there, and poked his head over to say hello to the gathered fans, and ask how we all are, whether we're enjoying ourselves, had we seen anything interesting. I don't know that any of us managed to respond at all coherently! But I'm sure he realised we were rather pleased. It was astonishingly sweet of him.
Then the final scene was set up in the courtyard. We only saw a couple of rehearsals before the chateau closed, but it seemed to involve Arthur, Gwen and Merlin riding in from a picnic - to find Leon tending to some distressed villagers. Not at all sure of the context. I have to say it was utterly lovely to see Arthur again in only a white tunic! Well, and trousers, too, but you know what I mean! Gwen was in a lovely purple riding outfit - terrific skirt! Colin must have been cold, because for the rehearsals Merlin was wearing a very un-medieval jacket. Leon was looking beautiful, and he could tend to me in my distress any damned time he wanted to.
Alas, I didn't get very good pictures of this last scene, as I ended up standing right up the back, but I'll upload anything that's passable.
Then, alas, it was time to say some very sad farewells to my fellow fans. ♥
Two pictures of the day:
I couldn't decide, so here's one happy one to continue the established theme, and one 'artistic' one.
Photos are now on Flickr!