Desire, Another “Duchess” Project, and December Delights: The Real and Potentially-Real Rumors of Harry’s Latest Projects (and Photographs)

With The Fear (2012) having concluded nearly two months ago during the four-day early-December marathon viewing of the mini-series, Lloydalists has been keeping a savvy-eye out for new news about Harry Lloyd’s upcoming projects.  While 2013 still promises us the offerings of Dreck and Closer to the Moon, we haven’t much more to add about the developments of those two pictures.  And we have yet to give our full-report of The Fear, the DVD-release of which has seemingly without been explanation been either pushed-back or cancelled.  (As a fellow Lloydalist has told us, a pre-order of the DVD on two different websites has resulted in an email explaining that the order has been cancelled; currently, Amazon.co.uk has removed the pre-order option for The Fear DVD from its site.)

All of these minor bits of business aside, this past week has dropped into our laps a couple of new Lloydalists-worthy tidbits of news, as well as Harry’s latest project, a radio broadcast.

No need to laugh—it’s no joke!  There’s finally some Harry Lloyd news for 2013.

Image: © Scotsman/Lee Randall, 2012.

 

 

Every Duchess in England (1931)

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on January 23, 2013, the 45-minute performance of Alan Pollock’s Every Duchess in England was led by a cast of actors including Tobias Menzies and Harry Lloyd.  The program is listenable HERE or four more days (until January 27^th). 

 

Produced and directed by Gaynor Macfarlane, the 1931-occurring male-dominated story shows England straining beneath the burden of financial crises.  The BBC Radio 4 site adds that “austerity measures and a Coalition government” do not help to make matters any better. “Frustrated by the failure of the political class to take on the might of the banks, maverick Labour MP Oswald Mosley,” called “Tom” and played in the radio program by Tobias Menzies, “attempts to take things into his own hands by forming a New Party” (Pollock).  Of course, Mosley’s plans have been mostly initiated while his co-founder and fellow Birmingham MP John Strachey (Harry Lloyd) has been out of the country and touring Europe.  When Strachey returns, however, it does not take long for him to see through the growing agitation, concern, and pretense of his old friend “Tom” Mosley.  In fact, Lloyd’s Strachey, in an affected, slightly-posh, upper-crust voice, “quickly comes to question the motives of his larger-than-life friend” (Pollock).  “When you speak, things happen,” Lloyd’s Strachey reminds Tom at one point: indeed, such remarks are leading precursors to Strachey’s growing realization that something is troubled in England and within the person of his old friend.  At another point, John remarks to Mosley, “This is not like you.  This is not like you at all!”  Meanwhile, Mosley’s continued, tenacious insistence that Harry’s John is acting strange because he is tired from his long journeys seems a glaring beacon of distress.

Harry is skilled at revealing and “showing” through sound frustration.  In one heightened moment, he complains most assiduously to Tom, “I suddenly feel like one of those creatures from the newspaper cartoons,” dangling “over the cliff!”  Any hint of cartoonishness in the expression is overtaken by the sobriety of the moment between the two men. 

 

Tom reassures John that the only reason he feels this way is “[b]ecause you have had the courage to stick your head over the wall, and people are beginning to take shots,” which “proves that there is something worth taking a shot at.”

Or that they’ve made a big mistake, as Lloyd’s John very seriously suggests.

At another juncture in the story, perhaps the most climactic portion and encounter between the two men, John tells an impatient Tom, “something rather ugly happened” during his trip when he happens to have encountered an old Oxford friend.  It’s the beginning of a warning that Tom does not seem ready to accept, or aware that it is coming.  He is wholly distracted and not keen about listening to Strachey’s travel narratives.  Yet, the story about the Nazis who come calling and an unexpected encounter with “a subversive” begins to rattle the nerves of both men. It is Harry Lloyd’s brash, engaging, powerful retelling of this story, though, that paints it for us, the listeners.  Quickly and fluidly, he shifts from his story into the pressing present circumstances.

“[W]e are in the grip of the most profound crisis this country has ever faced,” John gently yet intensely reminds Tom, who agrees, and that they need a way to get “out of this mess.  We’ve been calling this idea a ‘new start,’” and Tom quickly interjects, insisting that it must be a “corporate” decision, of all the people in society “acting as limbs,” orchestrated together as one moving body. John reassures his friend, “I know what you’re up against…political party doesn’t pay for itself, I know, but the fact is—the plain fact—” but then the growing roar of John’s voice is interrupted by a knock at the door.

The mood is temporarily dispelled and even though it is a radio broadcast, the program is well-orchestrated enough that the scene of these two men in a closeted chamber watching the roaring crowd below from a perch at a window seems reasonably tangible.

 

After the interruption, Tom tells John that he believes that England is on the edge of “catastrophe,” based upon “the evidence of our eyes, John.”  It is the swelling, clamorous crowd against Tom Mosley, or so the latter thinks, having felt imprisoned by his thoughts and political limitations since the War.   John won’t hear of it, though: “this is nothing more than fury against us, […] for betraying the friends who supported us.”

Tom feels the fury will spread, but John assures him, “it won’t.  This is fantasy, Tom; pure fantasy.” And yet, there is hesitation and apprehension in his fiery tone.  “Put my mind at rest,” he commands Tom.  “Tell me you did not intend for this to happen.”

 

A moment of hesitation, a slight sound of the crowd outside, and then, Tom’s response: “no.”

And soon after, John starts talking about the “rumors” going around and the “vacuum [that] is opening up.” The crowd begins to get unruly, and Tom and John seem heavy-breathed and worn.  An escape plan is then decided by Ted “Kid” Lewis (Jonathan Tafler), Mosley’s devoted assistant: but is it viable or wishful-thinking?  And is John even willing to let Tom get away so fast before he can continue sharing his stories and working psychologically upon his old friend?  “Chipping away,” as he says at one point, at Tom’s mental state?  Indeed, the main criticism that may be launched at the story is that John’s motives seem awkwardly misdirected or misplaced, as if he’s fumbling between the roles of friend and enemy without any sense of which is which.  Never mind: the banter between John and Tom, and the movement between their moments of accordance and discordances, often juxtaposed against the crowd’s din, is enough to keep the listener listening for the just-under-an-hour broadcast.

To find out what happens next, and to enjoy the pervasively desperate yet strict and tenacious voice of Harry Lloyd as he embodies the shrewd John Strachey, listen for yourself at the link above!  Or, for those of us on the other side of the pond, Harry Lloyd Tumblr has provided the audio of the program HERE.

Pensive Harry Lloyd, circa December 2012: Deep in-thought, just as John Strachey likely would be.
Image: © Scotsman/Lee Randall, 2012.

 

Over all, and like most of its kind, the radio program is an intimate affair, highly-propelled forward in narrative by the voice-acting of the talented Lloyd and Menzies.  It’s a political piece, as well as a timeless story of struggle, discrimination (such as anti-Semitism), and class-differences. The title refers to a line Mosley utters in a half-joking moment when every duchess in England may want to kiss the hand of the man who fixes things in the country.

Writer/Producer Macfarlane has done a substantially fine job tuning-up the additional touches, such as sound effects and background “voices,” to flesh-out the narrative and add the necessary touches of ambiance.  The slightly more dramatic music that swells into the story every now and then is a fine touch, bookending the taut and tight framework of the narrative complementarily. Yet, it is Pollock’s writing that makes this piece move along at a palpable rate, not to mention the actors behind it this time around.  The dialogue moves quickly when moments of panic arise; it pauses and crackles to represent the tense moments.  The program is like a stage production, the characters’ language highly-illuminating yet becoming the costume, setting, and props, too.  Yet neither Harry Lloyd nor Tobias Menzies are heavy-handed (or –voiced) and melodramatic in this otherwise pedestrian drama.  Truly, the actors save what could have been a dry tale by infusing in it inspired moments of perfected tones, meaningful exchanges that sound refreshingly vivid, and believable commentaries. 

 

December Photos Finally See the Light!

Thanks to Lloydalist “Roox Targaryen,” who Tweets via @ValyriaValkyria, we’ve found some unseen-by-us-before photographs of Harry that appear to be of the same shoot as the photo that complemented Lee Randall’s thorough, wonderful interview with him in December 2012 (read it ONLINE HERE, and be sure to contribute to the already-encouraging comments there!).  We’ll likely smatter our blog with the occasional image from the shoot whenever we’re in the mood to do so, but for those of you unwilling to wait: our Twitter feed has all the goods posted on its photos section.  Enjoy!

 

Casually Charming.

Image: © Scotsman/Lee Randall, 2012.

Desire (2013)—A Short Film and Long Rumor?

While Lloydalists has heard nor found anything further to confirm or deny the rumors, Harry Lloyd has been listed as the lead in an upcoming short film called Desire.  The news emerged this week via Star Now, a talent and filming website (“‘Desire’”).  While no plot or summary or even keywords have been revealed, we do know (if the rumors are true) that shooting will take place in Crouch End on February 9^th and 10^th and that the production company is currently looking for extras of all ages to work for no pay but who will “be well fed and looked after,” according to the site (“‘Desire’”).  Other cast members attached are Natalie Gumede and Lauren Drummond, and Director of Photography is Paul Jenkins.

Lloydalists will keep an eye open and an ear out for any further news, but we also welcome any information from our readers.  You can comment below or email us at Lloydalists@gmail.com, if you have something worth sharing.  You can also, as always, find us on Twitter: @Lloydalists.

In the end, we “desire” to know more about Desire, as well as any other Harry Lloyd projects that may be budding as we speak!  Thanks in advance.

 

 

Special thanks to the fan(s) behind Harry Lloyd Tumblr for making the radiocast of Every Duchess in England so readily-available to others.  Also, thanks to Lee Randall for her exceptional interview and photographs that stemmed from that encounter, and to Roox Targaryen (@ValyriaValkyria) for her investigative skills and the sharing of the photographs.

 

 

Works Cited & Referenced 

“‘Desire’—a Short Film—London.” StarNow.co.nz. 21 Jan. 2013. Web. <http://www.starnow.co.nz/listings/ListingDetail.aspx?l_id=421192>.

Harry Lloyd Tumblr. 24 Jan. 2013. Web. <http://harry-lloyd.tumblr.com/post/41378068431/every-duchess-in-england-starring-harry-lloyd-as>.

Pollock, Alan. Every Duchess in England. Perf. Tobias Menzies, Harry Lloyd, Jonathan Tafler, et al. BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Drama. BBC.co.uk. 23 Jan. 2012. Web. 26 Jan. 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pzv2j>.

Randall, Lee. “Harry’s Gain: Why TV Drama is Banking on Harry Lloyd.” Scotsman.com. 2 Dec. 2012. Web. <http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/books/reviews-and-news/harry-s-gain-why-tv-drama-is-banking-on-harry-lloyd-1-2671559>.

 

~ Researched by K & C; Written and Posted by C ~

Lloydalists Weekly Round-Up (Featuring The Fear)

As Lloydalists resumes its weekly “Flashback Fridays” (Harry Lloyd-style) on Twitter (find us @Lloydalists; we revisit a role, character, and/or photo-shoot Harry’s done in the past every Friday and love others’ contribution and suggestions), we also thought it best to do a round-up of the most recent Harry-related news.  Now that The Fear is only a few days away from its UK-television premiere, the interviews, articles, and advertisements have been seeping out of the woodwork and oozing into our hot-little-hands.  Here, we serve them up for you!

 

  Gripping stuff (the mini-series and Matty Beckett’s (Harry Lloyd) clench on his drug-lord-/Alzheimer’s-fighting father (Peter Mullan). Image ©Channel 4/The Fear (2012), as posted on Harry-Lloyd Tumblr.

 

“And I Could Kill Everyone”: The Latest on The Fear

In a very recent interview for Channel 4, and still sporting slicked hair and slim-cut clothing while on-set, Harry discussed his character of what the station is calling “the cool and calm” (“Harry”) Matty Beckett in the following way: “of the two [Beckett sons], he’s the sensible, business-minded, logical, seemingly-intelligent one”  in comparison to the “wild” and “instinctive” older brother played by Paul Nicholls (qtd. in “Harry”).  In the same interview, Harry also explains Matty’s involvement in fending off “twin” horrors—his father’s Alzheimer’s disease and the Albanian mob.  Regarding the latter, and despite younger-Beckett-boy Matty’s “sensible” nature, Lloyd’s character seems very well-poised to get properly nitty and properly gritty.

 

Intense gesticulations are integral to great acting. Or, rather, to explaining great acting. Image ©Channel 4  (2012)

 

Regarding what may be, perhaps, a flaw in Matty’s character is his disconnection from his father’s disease.  Matty, according to Lloyd, takes a cold, if not callous tact and “doesn’t take it personally” (Lloyd, in “Harry”).  He “writes it off,” and—making useful gesticulations, Harry explains Matty as a logical, if not overly-pedantic mind, someone “who just has to get to the next step” (qtd. in “Harry”).

Harry also talked a bit about his preparation and process for the role, revealing that reading and preparing a script never adequately prepares him for what is to be discovered when he’s actually in the scene, acting it out (“Harry”).  “It does get very emotional,” Harry admitted, talking about shooting his scenes with the Dad (Peter Mullan) who’s just not there and how he “has to drag him back” (“Harry”).  Overly-preparing for such high-expression moments cannot and should not be over-rehearsed: “You kind of find it on the day, I found” (Lloyd, in “Harry”).

Other salient bits from the interview include his highlight-moments of working with his fellow actors and, for lack of a better phrase, playing family with his onscreen family.  Harry discusses the “little bits” and “big chunks” of the irregular shooting schedule (he watched The Olympic Games on a miniature t.v. during takes), and reveals that “the most fun…is my first bit of driving-acting!” (Lloyd, in “Harry”).  Citing that his frequent period-piece acting does not often require “a mobile phone and a car,” Harry says it’s “very exciting, still, for me” to continue evolving in his sundry roles, as well as as an actor (“Harry”).

 

Harry, mid-interview, not exactly looking too convincing as a serious, mob-fighting tough-guy.  Graffiti backgrounds add much-needed street-cred. Image ©Channel 4 (2012)

 

In The Fear, Episode One, be sure to look out for Harry, driving away from Albanians in a pricey Mercedes, and—while he likely will look horrified and stressed in the scene—more certainly feeling pretty darn content to have been able to be part of such a mini-series and to have had the pleasure to inhabit the role of Matty Beckett, not to mention the freedom to drive down a country road for real, as a job, in the aforementioned car, and “I could kill everyone” (Lloyd, in “Harry”).

 

Thankfully, his driving skills must be at least half as good as his acting: everyone in the car survived even if “it was terrifying!” (“Harry”).  Maybe not too much—the laugh at the end of that admittance gives him away.

 

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO of the entire Channel 4 interview with Harry Lloyd.

 

Would you trust this guy with your Mercedes? Or to drive your getaway car?! Image ©Channel 4 (2012)

 

On His-Own-Method-Acting, On-the-Road Antics, and Champion Hula-Hoopers

Another recent, print interview with Harry comes courtesy of The Shortlist. Interviewer Jimi Famurewa learns about how Harry went from preparing for the role of dragon-obsessed, “blond-wigged git” Viserys Targaryen in HBO’s Game of Thrones (2011) to that of “a drug lord’s son” in The Fear (2012).  Go to THESHORTLIST.COM to read more about Harry’s research, methods, and style when it comes to acting.  Read on for his thoughts on his now-well-known relation to Charles Dickens; and read further to learn about his United States Jack Kerouac/Neal Cassady and Company-esque road-trip.  Other memorable moments: The Doctor Who gossip, trademark blonde wigs, and the suggestion of, he laughingly reveals, that “if the [acting] work dries up then I can go on the circuit and record some audiobooks” based on Dickens’ novels (Famurewa).

Matty Beckett crosses the set...keep walking, Harry; cars may not be safe under your control. Image ©Channel 4 (2012)

 

 

Unworldly, Aesthetic Pleasures

Meanwhile, check-out some of the masterpiece work behind The Fear advertisements and that teaser-trailer we talked about in the last The Fear post.  A step-by-step TAYLOR JAMES CREATIVE PRODUCTION STUDIO video shows how the creative concept was orchestrated (Taylor James).  Working with Kevin Griffin to create the “rather unworldly theme of the crime series” (Taylor James), the ads and t.v. spots combine Griffin's photography with CGI effects. 

Paul Nicholls, Peter Mullan, and Harry Lloyd stand strong despite the weightiness of The Fear. Image ©Taylor James Creative Production Studio (2012)

 

As a reminder, The Fear will air on the UK’s Channel 4 for four consecutive nights, Monday December 3^rd through the 6^th, at 10 p.m.  With all-eyes watching, including perhaps the proud ones of Bristol residents, since The Fear was filmed almost entirely on-location there this summer (“Bristol”), we can’t wait to hear the fan reaction!

 

 

See you Monday, Matty! Image ©Channel 4/The Fear (2012), as posted on The Short List (2012)

Works Cited & Referenced

“Bristol on Screen.” Bristol.gov.uk. 30 Nov. 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2012.  <http://www.bristol.gov.uk/press/business-bristol/bristol-screen>.

Famurewa, Jimi. “Film & TV: Harry Lloyd.” ShortList.com. 29 Nov. 2012. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://m.shortlist.com/entertainment/tv/harry-lloyd >.

“Harry Lloyd Interview.” Channel4.com. Nov. 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. <http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-fear/articles/harry-lloyd-interview>.

Photo: Harry Lloyd and Peter Mullan from The Fear (2012). “Harry-Lloyd.” Harry-Lloyd.Tumblr.com. 29 Nov. 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. <http://harry-lloyd.tumblr.com/post/36814206550>.

Taylor James—Creative Production Studio. “Print/Channel 4 “The Fear.” Nov. 2012. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://www.taylorjames.com/the-fear?thumb=7728>.

 

 

~Written & Posted by C, with Research from K~

The Only Thing We Have to Fear

We at Lloydalists are in a state of apprehension, stuck in a hard place between excitement at the soon-to-debut BBC Channel 4 miniseries The Fear (which premieres on Monday, December 3, 2012 at 10 p.m.) and the sad truth that, as Americans, we won’t be able to see it.  At least, not in the foreseeable future.

To reappropriate some famous words from United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address (albeit not to cheapen them or their profundity of connotations), the only thing we have to fear is The Fear itself not making its way to the other side of the pond.

 

Above: Screen-cap from The Fear teaser-trailer, released in late-November 2012. Apparently, the center cannot hold; all things fall apart. Image: ©Channel4/BBC (2012)

 

Curtis Brown Actors, the acting-section of the larger Literary and Talent Agency that represents Harry, has been surprisingly silent about The Fear in comparison to many of the other news outlets and even random fans who have happened to stumble upon a shooting-location for the dramatic small-screen work.  At one point in the past few weeks, Harry’s SHOWREEL on the Curtis Brown Agency’s website was updated to include what appears to be one or two snippets of The Fear, but if it were not for our ever-vigilant eyes, now so accustomed to scouring the internet on a daily basis in order to rustle up any new news about The Fear or Harry in general, we wouldn’t have thought to check for an update on his professional page without being signaled to do so.

 

Yesterday, however, the company graced its Twitter feed (and allowed us to feast our eyes on something other than leftover North American Thanksgiving turkey, gravy, and pumpkin pie) with a sneak-peek-esque photo featuring our very own Harry.  Take a look:

 

Curtis Brown Actors tweeted this image, above, on November 24, 2012, with the following caption: “Here is an exciting glimpse of Harry Lloyd in upcoming Channel 4 drama The Fear.” All the more exciting because our Harry Lloyd drought seems to be a borderline diluvia of late—no complaints. ©Curtis Brown Agency (2012)

 

In addition to the sumptuous treat above, which has received Harry’s agency’s seal of approval, two The Fear trailers, HERE and HERE, TOO , have also been released, and Channel4.com has updated its website to include a main page with various tabs offering sundry details on the four-part drama.

 

Don’t-Mess-With-the-Family Drama

From the moment The Fear was first announced, we knew that it would be a striking “mob-family drama,” but not in the expected sense.  There are dealings with the “mob.”  And there are dealings with “family.”  But these two coexisting worlds are a far-cry from The Godfather (1972) that gave new meaning to the Italian-American mob-family-business and spawned such pop-culture favorites as The Sopranos (1999-2007).  Even early stories about The Fear stressed that family tensions would flair when Richie Beckett’s (Peter Mullan) sons simultaneously attempt to control an actual mob invasion and their father’s “erratic and extreme behaviour,” which “only inflames the situation” (Hunt).  It is Richie’s sons and his wife Jo (Anastasia Hille) left to pick up the pieces of both a family business and the patriarchal mind.

 

What we can consequently glean thus far, in addition to what we have already commented upon on the Lloydalists blog, is that Harry’s role of younger son to Richie Beckett seems poised to be the tender-hearted and optimistic member of the family. When the threat of the Albanian mob tiptoes too close to the Beckett terrain, and Richie begins to grow unsettled, it’s Matty who “believes they can do business with them [the Albanians],” while older brother Cal (Paul Nicholls) “is intent on asserting the Beckett family’s power” (“The Fear: Series 1, Episode 1”). Perhaps we can expect brotherly tensions to flare up, in addition to the already-to-be-expected hazards of a mob series.  Plus, there is the element of Richie’s Alzheimer’s disease, which certainly elevates The Fear beyond the stereotypical guts-and-glory crime pieces of this type. Says Peter Mullan of his character’s dilemma, “in some respects it brings the family closer together—but obviously in other respects it rips them apart because his nature is to fight things” (“Peter Mullan”). Fighting outwardly and internally, Richie’s behavior “becomes more and more violent and unpredictable. That obviously pushes the family away” (“Peter Mullan”).  To just what extent all the pushing, pulling, and punching goes will be seen, of course, when The Fear debuts.

 

Harry Lloyd, as sometimes-soft, sometimes-slick, and sometimes-strong Matty Beckett. ©Channel4/BBC (2012)

 

In the first trailer released for the series, we first spot Harry’s Matty as a slick-suit-and-hair-type whose soft, “Dad…dad?” nudging, more than interrogating, tone are cross-cut with shots of the zombied-out Richie.  Matty does not even look up, into his father’s face or at the camera: could the youngest son feel threatened by his father’s inner-demons and dementia, or could Matty have secrets of his own about to spill forth?  A brief, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment later, and we Lloydalists believe we’ve spotted Harry’s Matty protecting his father and ushering him away from the opposing, menacing-looking mob team, his silver-suited-back towards the camera.

Later, Matty is shown in a slightly-more-commanding light, walking his father backward down a hallway and towards what appears to be the family’s stairs. His tone and voice, slightly edged, are now clearly questioning: “you can’t remember, can you?”

Slick-hair seriousness: Matty interrogates his father Richie (Peter Mullan) at home. ©Channel4/BBC (2012)

The second trailer, a 40-second “teaser” type spot focusing on Richie’s internal monologue, shows our protagonist on a pier (likely in Worthing, which is set to stand-in for Brighton), the camera swirling around him as both sons, looking alarmed and impatient, call plaintively to him, attempting to get through to him while telling one another to “shut up” while begging, “Dad, look at me.”  This brief spot is clearly a hyperbolized version of the storyline, a small snippet of dramatic acting set up as microcosmic of the entire internal-meets-external milieu of The Fear.  Here, the Beckett boys stand glaring and in some cases screaming at their father on a collapsing pier, as Richie continues his internal thoughts and the camera sweeps out over the ocean, showing us gaudy, carnival-esque words of “The Fear” slung atop the pier, our three figures becoming smaller and smaller as if poised to be swallowed by what looms all around: fear (we cannot escape it), turmoil (represented by the sea), and fragmentation (marked by the truncated and quickly-breaking platform rising out of the water).

 

It’s a brilliant, if not almost literarily poetic, take on the story.

 

Cal Beckett (Paul Nicholls) and younger brother Matty (Lloyd) try to get answers from their self-consumed-in-thought father (Mullan) in an eerie and cleverly-orchestrated hyperbolized teaser trailer. ©Channel4/BBC (2012)

 

The link between both the full-length trailer and the shorter symbolic adaptation of the storyline is the shared tagline.  Both television spots end with the voiceover of, “the criminal mind is a fragile thing,” and we cannot help to wonder what constitutes “criminal.” As the trailer displays, everyone involved in the thickening plot seems prepared for some sort of eerie descent, metaphorically represented as Richie, in the longer trailer, physically attempts to make his way up the family stairs but always seems detained somehow.  The upward climb—out of physical terror; out of one’s own treacherous mind—never looked so dastardly.

The Beckett Brothers try to talk sense to Dad. “The Fear” hangs, literally, thick and heavy (if not ostentatiously lurid) in the air around them. ©Channel4/BBC (2012)

 

Tidbits and Links

For more of the latest tidbits regarding The Fear that have trickled in since we last wrote about it on our blog, see the following:

Peter Mullan sheds his latest insights on the new miniseries.

Crime Time Preview’s inner-look at The Fear, with some great photos included.

 

More of our original blog entries on The Fear:

July 25, 2012

July 26, 2012

September 17, 2012

 

Nicholls, Mullan, and Lloyd inhabit a world of varying shades of grey (inwardly and outwardly) in The Fear (2012). ©Channel4/BBC (2012)

 

One observation—and it could be nothing, but, then again, it could be something worthy of food for thought, if not a decent nibble—is that Channel4.com has the mini-series labeled not just as four-episodes but also by series (or “season,” as we say in the U.S.A.).  In other words, the station’s website presents The Fear in such a way that another series (season) is fathomable.  Does that mean more Harry?  If so, sign us up!  And even if not—the gripping work by director Michael Samuels and writer Richard Cottan has us already clamoring for more before seeing anything more than the trailer, the engaging teaser, or the few select photos.

 

 

Final Thoughts and Hopes

While The Fear is very much a psychomachiac inner-struggle revolving around Mullan’s Beckett, it’s the repercussions that interest us, the ways in which one man’s mental downward (and perhaps inward) spiral begins to affect the people and the world around him. As aficionados of literature and film—well-crafted stories and character-studies—we are wholly engaged by the premise of The Fear, which makes the wait to see if (if we ever may) all the worst. A synopsis of the miniseries stresses that Richie’s personal traumas threaten “to engulf him, his family and his legacy” (“The Fear: Series 1, Episode 1”).

 

As we Administrators and Co-Founders at Lloydalists, not to mention some of our readers, remain in our agitated state, wondering of the reality of The Fear and how the storyline and action progresses as we feel trapped on the “wrong side of the pond,” we hope that those Lloydalists abroad will share their thoughts, reactions, and opinions of the dramatic series as each episode debuts.  Thank you in advance!

 

As a final reminder to those of you who are fortunate enough to be in the United Kingdom and have Channel 4: The Fear (a 60-minute-per-episode drama) airs over four consecutive nights, beginning Monday, December 3^rd, at 10 p.m.

 

 

Will the boys ever talk sense to dear old dad?  Stay tuned to find out. ©Channel4/BBC (2012)

 

Works Cited & Consulted

 

Channel4. “The Fear—Brand New—Channel 4.” YouTube.com. 20 Nov. 2012. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8YZfsYj6R4&feature=BFa&list=HL1353767110>.

Curtis Brown Actors. “CBGActors.” Twitter Feed. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <https://twitter.com/CBGActors/status/272030555493785600/photo/1>.

“The Fear: About.” Channel4.com. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. <http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-fear>.

“The Fear: Series 1, Episode 1.” Channel4.com. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. <http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-fear/episode-guide/series-1/episode-1>.

“The Fear: Trailer.” Channel4.com. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-fear/articles/the-fear-full-trail>.

“Harry Lloyd: View Showreel.” Curtis Brown: Literary and Talent Agency. CurtisBrown.co.uk. 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. <http://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/harry-lloyd//works/>.

Hunt, Debs. “Principal Photography Begins on New C4 Drama ‘The Fear.’” InsideMediaTrack.com. 26 July 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://insidemediatrack.com/2012/07/26/principal-photography-begins-on-new-c4-drama-the-fear/>.

Jarossi, Robin. “The Fear Starring Peter Mullan Ch4 PREVIEW.” CrimeTimePreview.com. 16 Nov. 2012. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://www.crimetimepreview.com/2012/11/the-fear-starring-peter-mullan-ch4.html >.

“Peter Mullan Discusses The Fear.” Channel4.com. 11 Nov. 2012. Web. 22 Nov. 2012. <http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/peter-mullan-discusses-the-fear>.

“TV Crews Choose Worthing Pier for Filming.” WorthingHerald.co.uk. 29 Sept. 2012. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. <http://www.worthingherald.co.uk/news/local/tv-crews-choose-worthing-pier-for-filming-1-4313768 >.

 

~Researched by C & K; Written and Posted by C~

Have No Fear—Harry’s Here! (The Fear Round-Up)

After what has, so far, been a vague, mysterious production shoot in which very little news, let alone photography, has circulated in the public sphere regarding the new Channel 4 drama The Fear set to air either later this year or (likely for US folks) some time next year, we finally have a breakthrough.

After a few minor photos (devoid of Mr. Harry Lloyd) trickled in, as well as some stories covering the casting, shooting, and production process, Lloydalists were left thirsty for some shots of Harry.

Until now.

Thanks to the heads-up from Demotix, a news reporting site that gathers media updates from the general, curious population, we are fortunate to present to you some new filming-in-medias-res photos from a shoot at Eastbourne.  All photos, unless otherwise noted, come courtesy of Demotox © 2012, and we are proud to be able to share them on Lloydalists. We do not claim the rights to any of them.

Above: Harry Lloyd and Peter Mullan pose on the (uncomfortable-looking) rocky beach. We wonder if, as the clapboards come out and the cameras get rolling, the two are trying to ignore their uncomfortable postures and get into the mindset of a father-son tête-à-tête.Those suits and dress shoes are a far-cry from swim trunk and flip-flop beach apparel.

Below: Lloyd and Mullan, getting into character to play son Matty and father Richie, respectively), go through the make-up process.

 

Above: Sure, all eyes seem to go to Peter Mullan, but we spot the grey-clad back of Harry Lloyd in the bottom left-hand corner of this photo. His hair looks slick and coifed—like he means business.

 

 

Above: Peter seems to be showing Harry something on his phone during a break.  Our curiosity as to what is piqued!

Above: Oh, look—does Harry spot some Lloydalists on the beach?
It’s nice to see him in a suit and not a period costume for a change.

 

Below: Although we’re unclear as to which The Fear actress stands between the two “Beckett” men (perhaps Emily Beechum, who plays Janey Beckett?), the trio of cast-mates seems to be having a good time—and Peter Mullan appears to be telling the young people some amusing anecdote. Harry in particular is alive with laughter—which is probably much-needed on the set of what promises to be a somber, serious drama.

Above: Our Beckett Boys don parkas, likely to ward off the chilly beach air as they await direction.

Check out the full recap of shooting pictures HERE.

The Fear news does not exactly end there, however.

Less than two weeks ago, the mafia-centric Channel 4 mini-series was caught in real-life drama when it filmed some scenes (no photos available that Lloydalists could wrangle out) at Redland Green Park. The concern was that thescenes filmed in this area were inappropriate for the child-friendly environment. On September 11^th, TheBristol Post reported, that the “Bristol City Council has been criticised for allowing Channel 4 to film violent scenes in a children's play area.”  Based upon one concerned parent’s report, a scene she witnessed being filmed involved “a man being badly beaten up” (Bristol).  The anxious mother continued to add, “There was a lot of grunting and shouting going on during the filming of this scene” (Bristol). Although it seems that the city and production company did all they could to ensure that the film would provoke and scare as few residents of the area as possible, the mini-series’at-least-two violent scenes filmed in broad-daylight still sent the neighbors’ nerves rattling.

The Bristol Post article concluded with a little recap of The Fear: “Set in Brighton, the series is about the criminal underworld in the city. [Peter] Mullan portrays Richie Beckett whose past in the crime world is masked by a new-found respectability as he tries to revamp the city's West Pier.” 

Given the promise of a “criminal underworld,” grittiness, mob scenes, and scenes so violent as to incite the fury of parents in the area, we can imagine what to expect from Harry’s performance in the mini-series, and hope that it promises to be a piece that allows him to show physical and emotional range, to highlight his natural acting skills, and to convey his ubiquitous charisma and vigor on the screen. 

 

We, for one, are ready for Harry Lloyd, Action Hero.  But we’ll gladly take baby-steps towards that arena, as we don’t want to rush Harry, or his career, any time too soon.

Earlier this week, the Twitter feed of Beachy Head, which is part of the South Downs National Park, tweeted a thirst-inducing sneak-peek photo of The Fear team’s trailers, with the caption, “Another week another film crew @Beachy_Head this time Channel 4's new drama The Fear with Harry Lloyd” (Beachy Head). Intriguingly, although Harry Lloyd’s name was mentioned in the tweet, there was little (if any) sign of the actor, or any human life of all, in the photograph.

 

Where’s Harry? ©Beachy Head (2012)
 

Now we at Lloydalists can rest assured knowing that, perhaps, Beachy Head’s feed was right and that somewhere lurking, lingering, lounging, laying, or lunching within one of those trailers was the talented young actor set to play slick-suited Matty Beckett.  Much like Harry’s career, this casual gathering of vehicles was likely housing some outstanding potential—and we’re looking forward to seeing how that of The Fear plays (or punches) out.

 

Works Cited

Beachy Head. @Beachy_Head. Twitter Feed. Twitter. com. 21 Sept. 2012. Web. <https://twitter.com/Beachy_Head/status/249079676952272896>.

The Bristol Post. “Anger as violent TV scenes filmed in park as children were playing.” www.thisisbristol.co.uk. 11 Sept. 2012. Web.<http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Anger-violent-TV-scenes-filmed-park-children/story-16871135-detail/story.html>.

Pascoe, Chris.“Channel 4 Caught Filming ‘The Fear’ at Eastbourne.” 21 Sept. 2012. Web. <http://www.demotix.com/news/1467823/channel-4-caught-filming-fear-eastbourne#media-1467807>.

 

~ Researched by K & C; Written and Posted by C ~