'Just Henry'
Just Henry is a really heart-warming script which follows the journey of one boy’s discovery that will change his life, family and friends forever. It’s rich with detail from the post war era and has a very sympathetic and engaging young character at its heart. The film will be a wonderful treat for the Christmas schedule.
Rising star, Josh Bolt (Nowhere Boy, The Be All and End All), will lead a prestigious cast including; Elaine Cassidy (Harper’s Island, A Room with a View, Felicia's Journey), Dean Andrews (Marchlands, Ashes to Ashes), Stephen Campbell Moore (Season of the Witch, Thorne, Ben Hur), Barbara Flynn (Miss Potter, Cracker, Cranford), and BAFTA nominated actress Shelia Hancock (New Tricks, Bedtime, Moving On), in ITV1’s new drama Just Henry.
Adapted by Michael Chaplin (creator of Grafters and Monarch of the Glen), from Michelle Magorian’s critically acclaimed novel, Just Henry tells an engaging story about one boy’s discovery that will alter his family life forever.
Set in post-Second World War Britain Henry is growing up in a fraught and unsettled household that includes his mother Maureen (Cassidy), stepfather, Uncle Bill, (Andrews) and his paternal grandmother (Hancock).
Henry is a troubled young man who suffers bad nightmares which everyone puts down to the aftermath of living through a war and the fact that he’s never really got over his father’s death or his mother’s remarriage.
In his last year of school and about to become an adult Henry’s grandmother has encouraged him to show a disinterest in his education because his father, Joseph Dodge (Campbell Moore), thought it was a waste of time.
When his father’s war medal for bravery gets posted through the door Henry wants to know more about the circumstances of his father’s death, something his mother has always preferred him not to know too much about.
At school, Henry keeps himself to himself but when he gets a new teacher, Mrs Beaumont (Flynn), who encourages his passion for film, he slowly starts to see the world differently. She wants him to show more compassion towards his classmate Paul Jeffries (Perry Millward - Monroe, Christopher and his Kind), a very talented writer and the son of a deserter who’s ostracised for that very reason. Together with Grace Ellis (Charlie May-Clark - South Riding), a new student who can’t read but has an exquisite singing voice, they are tasked with presenting a school project about cinema and are forced to spend time together. That is until Henry’s research leads him to believe that the man who killed his father was none other than Jeffries father!
Whilst visiting his father’s grave a man introduces himself to Henry as his dad – Dodge. Overwhelmed with happiness Henry doesn’t think to question the facts of his death. But things just don’t add up. If Dodge isn’t in that grave who is?
Grace has come to care too much for Henry to let his dad manipulate him and is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. With the help of Mrs Beaumont she seeks the help of the police but will it be too late for all involved?
Just Henry also stars John Henshaw (Red Riding, Looking for Eric, Confessions of a Diary Secretary), an ex-soldier and now the Commissionaire at the Plaza Cinema. Pooky Quesnel (Scott & Bailey, Five Days, Criminal Justice) plays Paul’s mother Mrs Jefferies.
Director of Drama Commissioning Laura Mackie and Sally Haynes, Controller of Drama Commissioning, have commissioned the 1 x 90 minute film, which is executive produced by Creative Director Kate Bartlett and Myar Craig-Brown - Drama ITV Studios
Produced by Paul Frift (Instinct, Crooked House, Room at the Top) and directed by David Moore (Monroe, Merlin, Sweeney Todd) for ITV Studios, Just Henry will be filmed on location in Leeds throughout August and will be scheduled this Christmas on ITV1.
Sourced from: http://www.itv.com/presscentre/pressreleases/programmepressreleases/justhenry/default.html
Rising star, Josh Bolt (Nowhere Boy, The Be All and End All), will lead a prestigious cast including; Elaine Cassidy (Harper’s Island, A Room with a View, Felicia's Journey), Dean Andrews (Marchlands, Ashes to Ashes), Stephen Campbell Moore (Season of the Witch, Thorne, Ben Hur), Barbara Flynn (Miss Potter, Cracker, Cranford), and BAFTA nominated actress Shelia Hancock (New Tricks, Bedtime, Moving On), in ITV1’s new drama Just Henry.
Adapted by Michael Chaplin (creator of Grafters and Monarch of the Glen), from Michelle Magorian’s critically acclaimed novel, Just Henry tells an engaging story about one boy’s discovery that will alter his family life forever.
Set in post-Second World War Britain Henry is growing up in a fraught and unsettled household that includes his mother Maureen (Cassidy), stepfather, Uncle Bill, (Andrews) and his paternal grandmother (Hancock).
Henry is a troubled young man who suffers bad nightmares which everyone puts down to the aftermath of living through a war and the fact that he’s never really got over his father’s death or his mother’s remarriage.
In his last year of school and about to become an adult Henry’s grandmother has encouraged him to show a disinterest in his education because his father, Joseph Dodge (Campbell Moore), thought it was a waste of time.
When his father’s war medal for bravery gets posted through the door Henry wants to know more about the circumstances of his father’s death, something his mother has always preferred him not to know too much about.
At school, Henry keeps himself to himself but when he gets a new teacher, Mrs Beaumont (Flynn), who encourages his passion for film, he slowly starts to see the world differently. She wants him to show more compassion towards his classmate Paul Jeffries (Perry Millward - Monroe, Christopher and his Kind), a very talented writer and the son of a deserter who’s ostracised for that very reason. Together with Grace Ellis (Charlie May-Clark - South Riding), a new student who can’t read but has an exquisite singing voice, they are tasked with presenting a school project about cinema and are forced to spend time together. That is until Henry’s research leads him to believe that the man who killed his father was none other than Jeffries father!
Whilst visiting his father’s grave a man introduces himself to Henry as his dad – Dodge. Overwhelmed with happiness Henry doesn’t think to question the facts of his death. But things just don’t add up. If Dodge isn’t in that grave who is?
Grace has come to care too much for Henry to let his dad manipulate him and is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. With the help of Mrs Beaumont she seeks the help of the police but will it be too late for all involved?
Just Henry also stars John Henshaw (Red Riding, Looking for Eric, Confessions of a Diary Secretary), an ex-soldier and now the Commissionaire at the Plaza Cinema. Pooky Quesnel (Scott & Bailey, Five Days, Criminal Justice) plays Paul’s mother Mrs Jefferies.
Director of Drama Commissioning Laura Mackie and Sally Haynes, Controller of Drama Commissioning, have commissioned the 1 x 90 minute film, which is executive produced by Creative Director Kate Bartlett and Myar Craig-Brown - Drama ITV Studios
Produced by Paul Frift (Instinct, Crooked House, Room at the Top) and directed by David Moore (Monroe, Merlin, Sweeney Todd) for ITV Studios, Just Henry will be filmed on location in Leeds throughout August and will be scheduled this Christmas on ITV1.
Sourced from: http://www.itv.com/presscentre/pressreleases/programmepressreleases/justhenry/default.html
BUT,
back some time ago in the Summer...
The Film was set in 1949/1950.
Inspector Titmuss played by Simon Kunz
Inspector Titmuss played by Simon Kunz
Getting the car in the right place.
"Evenin' all!"
Looking all glamorous under the bright film lights.
The warmth of the Summer certainly feels an age ago now, but this Summer was indeed a rememberable one. The journey from Nottingham to Leeds, being passed by many, many lorries wasn't the most pleasant trip out in FAB, but once we'd located the base, we knew it would definitely be worth those extra miles. Now, for those of you who don't know the film industry well, the Base is where everyone arrives to, the crew, tech, camera operators which is located close to the location(s) that will be used during that day's shoot. Here, the catering is located along with a dining bus (where they most certainly serve some good old grub!), trailers where main cast can chill when not on location, costume trailers, a hair and makeup trailer with a full saloon and of course, any cars being used on set.
Breakfast was served at 6pm. I know what you're thinking... Breakfast, 6pm? Madness? Pretty much, yes. A good choice was on the menu; I was left to order food for Roger whilst he was away getting into costume and having his hair and makeup sorted. He'd been given a nice 1940's hair cut- short, back and sides and kitted out in a Police Uniform and really looked the part with FAB. Very glam indeed!
For some time we sat around, watching the sun fade below the tall buildings of Leeds, observing the comings and goings in the base, cast arriving- Stephen Campbell-Moore, Josh Bolt, Elaine Cassidy and Sheila Hancock. The crew began to move off to the location to begin setting up the camera dolly tracks, lighting rigs, sound recording systems and begin lighting tests. At this point I was given a crew walkie-talkie to allow me to keep in contact with the crew and the director whom I was to receive directions as to when and where FAB would be needed to move to.
The location was based in a near-by factory that really did indeed suit the era that the drama was set in. Daylight was beginning to fade now. To begin with, a short scene was shot in an ex-air raid shelter under the factory canteen floor. Three hours later, darkness had fallen and the crew and cast had moved outside of the factory. We were asked to move FAB into place against the factory doors; the lights were adjusted, camera moved and ready to shoot. Roger and a group of other background artists were in place and ready for some action. After many takes, re-sets, we were taken back in a minibus to the dining bus ready for some lunch. At 2am.
Returning back to the location, now lovely and warm from lunch, the shoot was continued. After another few hours, we moved into the inside of the factory with FAB, where a dramatic scene was shot and the factory being covered in a smoke screen.
The night sky outside was soon beginning to gain lighter shades once again and the shoot was over. Finishing at 5:35am, we were off again on the journey back to Nottingham again. A somewhat tiring day/night, but the experience of the whole thing was one definitely not one to forget.
~Charlie~
Breakfast was served at 6pm. I know what you're thinking... Breakfast, 6pm? Madness? Pretty much, yes. A good choice was on the menu; I was left to order food for Roger whilst he was away getting into costume and having his hair and makeup sorted. He'd been given a nice 1940's hair cut- short, back and sides and kitted out in a Police Uniform and really looked the part with FAB. Very glam indeed!
For some time we sat around, watching the sun fade below the tall buildings of Leeds, observing the comings and goings in the base, cast arriving- Stephen Campbell-Moore, Josh Bolt, Elaine Cassidy and Sheila Hancock. The crew began to move off to the location to begin setting up the camera dolly tracks, lighting rigs, sound recording systems and begin lighting tests. At this point I was given a crew walkie-talkie to allow me to keep in contact with the crew and the director whom I was to receive directions as to when and where FAB would be needed to move to.
The location was based in a near-by factory that really did indeed suit the era that the drama was set in. Daylight was beginning to fade now. To begin with, a short scene was shot in an ex-air raid shelter under the factory canteen floor. Three hours later, darkness had fallen and the crew and cast had moved outside of the factory. We were asked to move FAB into place against the factory doors; the lights were adjusted, camera moved and ready to shoot. Roger and a group of other background artists were in place and ready for some action. After many takes, re-sets, we were taken back in a minibus to the dining bus ready for some lunch. At 2am.
Returning back to the location, now lovely and warm from lunch, the shoot was continued. After another few hours, we moved into the inside of the factory with FAB, where a dramatic scene was shot and the factory being covered in a smoke screen.
The night sky outside was soon beginning to gain lighter shades once again and the shoot was over. Finishing at 5:35am, we were off again on the journey back to Nottingham again. A somewhat tiring day/night, but the experience of the whole thing was one definitely not one to forget.
~Charlie~