Through the lookin' glass

Just a quick snippet of info - good news is another member of cast has joined the production in principle, though as always this good news is tempered by condition, namely subject to contract, and tying in of finance. Unfortunately we can't give you any names (we're not allowed to mention just yet).

At this stage optimism is the buzz word (and with good reason) with the last element of finance very nearly in place. That is of course good news, as it means with all of our main cast all but secured and the project on the cusp of greenlight we are preparing to move forwards into pre-production 'proper' with the manufacture and fabrication of props, sets, costumes et al in readiness for an early Spring 2008 shoot.

Next stage in the talent chase will come once the money is secure. We will begin our search to cast Sheena and Gordo, before moving on to cast the cameo roles, for the likes of Janet, Robin, and Mags, as well as the supporting roles I mentioned in the last blog.

More info as it arises.

Nick

Bloodied but kickin'

Who'd be a producer? It's enough to leave you tearing out your hair! First one thing, then another - and just when you think you're sorted, some other little niggle jumps up to annoy you even further. What a life!

But we're making progress, albeit at a pace that would leave a snail laughing atus as we trail in its wake. I'll be needing to write my own eulogy at this rate. But joking apart (though in honesty I'm not laughing) though things have taken a turndown in progress terms, the waiting for responses dragging heels slightly, things are still on course. The one scourge that is most apparant in this business is that no matter how quickly you want things to happen, or may think things will happen, add at least 12 months onto any assumptions. Whether that be money tie-ins, cast responses, crew attachments, project readiness. It doesn't seem to matter. So much so that another project I am involved in, a short film, is scheduling for next summer before complete readiness to shoot - at the groundwork is already done. It's irksome.

However that said, we have got a great little cast developing and as soon as we can finally get Billy Boyd to commit (bless his agent) we can begin to make further progress with the lock down of the minor roles - especially for all you actors and actresses who desperately want to get in on the Hot Cal act.

Here's a quick summary of who, in principle, is attached (though always subject to contract). Those marked with an * are being approached / talked to currently.

Norman Tickle - Kris Marshall
Arty Harris - Billy Boyd *
Elsa McNamara - Kelly Brook
Casey Wright - Jemima Rooper
Searle Carson - George Calil
Amy Lowe - Joanna Taylor
William Pertwee - James Cosmo
Janet Pertwee - Honor Blackman *
Mags Pertwee - Gillian MacGregor *
Robin Pertwee - Tommy Flanagan *
Gordo Pertwee - tbc
Sheena MacD - tbc
Linda Tickle - tbc
Clifford Tickle - tbc

We have some options in mind for Sheena MacDonald but remain undecided as to the benefit to brought to the production by each. Amongst those are Pam Ferris (Darlin' Buds) and Claudia Christian (Babylon 5). For me, at least, Claudia remains a firm favourite, with her solid profile stateside, great acting ability, and the attraction factor for Trekkie fans everywhere she remains a front runner - and she loves the project as well! Perfect!

Outwith of that, the roles we are expecting to fill include:

Airline Staff
Car Driver
Trucker
Policemen / women
Paramedics
Fire Crew
Airport Passengers
Miscellaneous Backpackers
Newstand Vendor
Recovery Divers
Diveboat Pilot
Hippies & Stoners
Biker

That's it for now. Keep an eye on developments as we put info up on all our sites. Thanks for your continued interest in Hotel Caledonia (The Movie).

Nick

Keepin' on Truckin' .........

And the wheels of this rig keep on turnin'. It's been a month of highs and lows - the low really only being not having enough personal funds to make a visit to the Cannes Film Festival. That's how all-consuming the film-making journey has been for me. Busted broke most of the time!

On the flip side of things however, my friend and fellow producer, Yaw, did manage to get across to sample the festival's joys (as did our Exec, Keith Northrop) and ingratiate himself upon many an unwary financier, producer, director, and star of the silver screen. The lucky so-and-so even managed to secure a personal invite to Robert Rodriguez's villa party, and chatted the night away with the likes of Quentin Tarantino, and Eli Roth. Oh that I had been there! What Yaw brought back in contacts will serve us well now, and in the future.

This week has seen two major developments in casting issues with both Kelly Brook and James Cosmo officially attaching themselves to the project. With bated breath we await Billy Boyd's nod, and making the final adjustments to a presentation to Scottish Screen - seemingly the final piece of the financing package. We are so incredibly close to greenlight that I can feel the glowing heat of the bulb!

Everyone is feeling the strain of both anticipation, and the gnawing desire to be unleashed, and as fortune would have it, all this without having lost anyone at all from the project. A minor miracle in itself. Whether we will get enough time to film the tail end of the summer season is anyone's guess, but as things never run smoothly in this industry I am preparing myself for having to sit tight until September. That will obviously have an impact on the production and delivery schedules, but I'd rather that than not being able to make the film at all.

So, hopefully more news in a week or so.

As the day dawns, the dead will rise

Except of course Hotel Cal has been alive and kicking all along. With the inevitable and yearly arrival of the Cannes Film Festival, members of the production team have headed out onto the circuit in pursuit of further distributors for the beast that is swiftly becoming Hotel Caledonia, or as it is now being referred to in some quarters, "Nick Harper-The Movie".

With some interesting developments already tabled, our Exec and Producer meeting to secure further territory distribution, and the process of finance tie-in now under way, the project draws ever closer to its kick off date. With principle photography earmarked for late July things are finally in full swing. It's going to be a hectic eight weeks or so before we finally get on set.

Casting issues remain fluid, and no final decisions as to the remainder of the targeted talent yet made, though we are in extended talks with a number of well known British individuals. As of yet no final decision has been made on location either, as the prospect of Hungary, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and Scotland continue to occupy the production team, and probably will continue to do so until the 11th hour.

So thanks for keeping the faith with us. I sincerely hope it'll be worth the wait.

Decisions, decisions....

As our Exec and Line Producers continue with their efforts to track down the most lucrative financial deals, both the Producer and Director have been extending the options for possible cast approaches. With the assistance of our US Casting Director, Zora, we have generated substantive lists of acquirable talent in both the US and the UK, and begun our approaches. With a host of top talent to choose from it has been a task identifying the possibles from the impossibles, and the likely from the unlikely. We have already had a few rejections, an inevitable process that eliminates the wish list from the truly attainable (a process we all go through). Nevertheless some interesting names have since entered the fray, and we are now trying to pin down one or two of the principal cast members to sit alongside those already committed to the project..............

Billy Boyd
Tommy Flanagan
Jenny Agutter
Honor Blackman
Summer Phoenix
Kelly Brook

As always, there is no guarantee of securing these actors, but we have been selective in our attempts to match our characters to our actors for the best possible aesthetic look as well as likelihood of agreement to attach. It's a definite science and one which takes a lot of time to get right.

We'll let you know how our approaches go.

The parameters of independent production?

As we have found in our journey towards wholly independent film production the parameters change, the goalposts of expectation are shunted, and we, as the purveyors of desire, must jump through all the hoops set before us in order to realise the dream! Nothing is ever set in stone. And nothing is ever guaranteed. And so, with the developments of the last week, the production moves into a new sphere of development, looking now at a change of shooting locations, and a revamping of the finance package. Both the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland are being considered, as each has a solid filmmaking support network and a lucrative funding system. Eastern Europe is looking ever more attractive both as a funding option as well as a location base with its rich diversity of landscape, architecture and culture. With the right combination of budget, cast, and location the filmmaking process looks set to provide a unique and enthralling experience.

We'll keep you posted on decisions as we make them. But as always, be prepared for change, right up to the point that we shoot our first frame.

British films take another hit!

With the revelation that GAAP fund utilities are being hit by government closures, and some finance houses are now facing liquidation because of that fact, we are one of approximately 90 films in pre-production that have suddenly lost a major element of funding without any choice but to find private equity or other investment from alternate sources. For the likes of some of the industry's larger financiers such as Ingenious, it means a radical rethink of fund options, but for others who rely for most of their business upon GAAP, or those like Baker Street Finance, it promises to be a catastrophic blow. This is not good news for the industry as a whole, and is yet another example of governmental greed at the expense of an industry they claim to want to support. But fear not, the filmmakers of Hotel Caledonia have other routes of finance sourcing, and will soon be back on track, even if it means having to rely upon shooting the picture away from UK shores entirely.