Over the years I have been involved with a few low-budget films and watched quite a few more. The image that the term ‘low-budget’ conjures up is of poor sound and visual quality, over-acting and editing that looks like it’s suffering from St Vitas’ Dance. So when I heard that some people I know had made a film, I’ll admit that while I was supportive of them, I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about seeing it.
Mea culpa! Mea culpa! Mea culpa!
Initial reactions from others to said film, Blood and Carpet, was positive; people in the industry were saying good things about it not because their mates were in it, but because they genuinely thought it was a quality film. And so, I became excited about seeing it and on Monday evening I did just that and I can honestly say that I take my hat off to writer, director and actor Graham Fletcher-Cook.
Blood and Carpet is a black-and-white film, set in the 60s; a ‘mod-horror’ according to Graham. The set uses authentic 60s decor and props and reminded me of my Nan’s house. The main protagonist goes for a ride on a Number 15 bus – a Routemaster – while through the window of the bus we see an old camper van and a 60s street. The interior of the pub, the Fiddlers – which got my brother and me nudging each other as our local growing up was the Fiddlers but this was a different one – was a 60s pub, complete with pop group, serving Babycham to bouffanted, beehived girls ( the gorgeous Debbie Krieger) and even the dancing was of the era. But the set wasn’t the only thing that was authentic. As a writer, the script is the first thing I find myself listening to because it doesn’t matter how professional the actors or how competent their performances, if the script is rubbish so is the film. Graham’s script was totally believable. The speech was really true-to-life; sometimes funny and sometimes quite poignant and delivered truthfully by a great cast. Kudos must go especially to Annie Burkin for her amazing portrayal of Ruby; Frank Boyce as Melvin ‘Call me Stan’, who, in spite of being a nasty bit of work actually had me feeling sorry for him and Billy Wright as the hapless Lyle.
The whole way the film was shot was innovative and different; the camera lingering on the characters for long moments, coupled with shots of props – teapot, scissors, saucers – and all added to the atmosphere. And I loved that it was black-and-white except for the seaside movies scenes which were in colour, showing us that life hadn’t always been colourless and dismal for Ruby and Lyle and in some ways I found those scenes quite moving, almost a love story. I also loved that the main protagonist was a woman. Hooray! And one with balls, at that. I don’t want to give any of the storyline away because I want you to SEE it for yourselves. It’s available on Vimeo to rent for 24 hours or to buy. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/bloodandcarpet/117826486
I did see the end coming from about halfway through, but that’s not to take away any credit from what is a film that is really and truly worth seeing. My sincerest congratulations to Graham and the whole team for producing a quality film on such a tight budget. And my thanks, because having seen Blood and Carpet my enthusiasm for my own film-scripts, which was waning a bit, is now well and truly back on the boil.
