MY LINK WITH RUPERT © Don Read 12.7.11
In mid July 2004 I took a phone call from a certain Emma Sayce, a researcher working for a London company making TV documentaries. She was apparently involved with a TV programme that was to focus on people doing “intersting jobs”. How she managed to pick on me I will never know.
My involvement with Neighbourhood Watch was the link. She wanted to come up and see me sometime as the saying goes. She arrived at 9-30am on the 29th of July and we spent a few hours discussing the typical daily doings of a typical Neighbourhood Watch coordinator. Apparently I passed the audition and on August 4th, 2004 Emma returned with a two man camera crew intent on following me around Lady Bay carrying out my duties as chief NW coordinator. It so happened that this was the day of the council run event, “A Lark In The Park” on nearby Albert Rd West Bridgford. An ideal location.
As we walked round the various stalls I handed out crime reduction leaflets to stall holders and the public whilst the camera whirled and I was committed to filmatic posterity. We had to re-take several shots due to aberrations such as small children making funny faces or swearing at camera.
WE adjourned back to Lady Bay for a coffee break and desperate for interesting activities I suggested an interview with my dear wife, Susan, who frankly was not quite as security conscious as me. Ah, controversy, good ingredient for a documentary. They filmed me jabbering away about public apathy, high crime figures and the like.
WE gave the movie folk lunch and headed off along Pierrepont Rd. in searching of a break-in, murder or mugging. The sun shone brightly. All was peace and tranquility, not a “burglar bill” in sight. The camera man suggested I walk slowly in the middle of the road whilst he crouched and filmed my feet. Well my shoes actually.
WE arrived at Trent Boulevard and set up a shot. I walked into the newsagent’s shop and chatted with the owner in a pre arranged scenario. Real Hollywood stuff this. I just needed to hear the voice of a director bellowing “Quiet studio. Rolling. Take three”. No such luck.
We spun out the film activities until 4pm when the camera man shot scenes of utter tranquility along Holme Rd. I negotiated a fee with Emma who went off to a bank and obtained some money.
The film clip was shown a few weeks later and filled no more than three minutes airtime. I slotted in between several folk doing boring part time jobs. Riveting. The call from Spielberg never came.
The company concerned was SHINE owned by Rupert Murdoch’s daughter, Elisabeth. In 2010 Shine was sold to News Corporation for £415 million.
In mid July 2004 I took a phone call from a certain Emma Sayce, a researcher working for a London company making TV documentaries. She was apparently involved with a TV programme that was to focus on people doing “intersting jobs”. How she managed to pick on me I will never know.
My involvement with Neighbourhood Watch was the link. She wanted to come up and see me sometime as the saying goes. She arrived at 9-30am on the 29th of July and we spent a few hours discussing the typical daily doings of a typical Neighbourhood Watch coordinator. Apparently I passed the audition and on August 4th, 2004 Emma returned with a two man camera crew intent on following me around Lady Bay carrying out my duties as chief NW coordinator. It so happened that this was the day of the council run event, “A Lark In The Park” on nearby Albert Rd West Bridgford. An ideal location.
As we walked round the various stalls I handed out crime reduction leaflets to stall holders and the public whilst the camera whirled and I was committed to filmatic posterity. We had to re-take several shots due to aberrations such as small children making funny faces or swearing at camera.
WE adjourned back to Lady Bay for a coffee break and desperate for interesting activities I suggested an interview with my dear wife, Susan, who frankly was not quite as security conscious as me. Ah, controversy, good ingredient for a documentary. They filmed me jabbering away about public apathy, high crime figures and the like.
WE gave the movie folk lunch and headed off along Pierrepont Rd. in searching of a break-in, murder or mugging. The sun shone brightly. All was peace and tranquility, not a “burglar bill” in sight. The camera man suggested I walk slowly in the middle of the road whilst he crouched and filmed my feet. Well my shoes actually.
WE arrived at Trent Boulevard and set up a shot. I walked into the newsagent’s shop and chatted with the owner in a pre arranged scenario. Real Hollywood stuff this. I just needed to hear the voice of a director bellowing “Quiet studio. Rolling. Take three”. No such luck.
We spun out the film activities until 4pm when the camera man shot scenes of utter tranquility along Holme Rd. I negotiated a fee with Emma who went off to a bank and obtained some money.
The film clip was shown a few weeks later and filled no more than three minutes airtime. I slotted in between several folk doing boring part time jobs. Riveting. The call from Spielberg never came.
The company concerned was SHINE owned by Rupert Murdoch’s daughter, Elisabeth. In 2010 Shine was sold to News Corporation for £415 million.