After posting BBC article " 'Talking' CCTV Scheme Expanding," the squawks (or entries) for this blog are looking rather scarce. Squawker Productions has been keeping busy. More squawks of interest will be included soon eg. our work at the Edinburgh Festival, the Baird Film & TV Initiative, Honey Pot Studios, Berlin and Cannes Festival.
Also, we are very excited to say we are in pre-production with our forthcoming project: a quirky 1 minute martial arts short to be short on 16mm.
Watch this space...
Wednesday
'Talking' CCTV scheme expanding
Something more to Squawk about - in BBC News today: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6524495.stm)
I shall paste the content of the link's article below in case it changes or is moved. Anything in italics (in this blog entry only) is from this BBC article entitled “'Talking' CCTV scheme expanding.”
Firstly, a question: does anyone remember what “1984” by George Orwell was about?
Does anyone care that the slowly, slowly catchy monkey approach of introducing CCTV cameras into UK means we are now the most watch country by camera surveillance in just in Europe, but the World?So, the book “1984.” A reminder: published in 1948 and set thirty-six years in the future, 1984 is Orwell's dark vision of the future. 
Written while Orwell was dying and based on the work of the Russian author Yevgeny Zamyatin, it is a chilling depiction of how the power of the state could come to dominate the lives of individuals through cultural conditioning.
Perhaps the most powerful science fiction novel of the twentieth century, this apocalyptic satire shows with grim conviction how Winston Smith’s individual personality is wiped out and how he is recreated in the Party's image until he does not just obey but even loves Big Brother. Despite the critics, Orwell maintained that the book was written with the explicit intention to alter other people's idea of the kind of society they should strive after.
“'Talking' CCTV scheme expanding”
Dated: Wednesday, 4 April 2007, 07:38 GMT 08:38 UK
"Talking" CCTV cameras that tell off people dropping litter or committing anti-social behaviour are to be installed in 20 areas across England. They are already used in Middlesbrough where anyone seen misbehaving can be told via a loudspeaker, controlled by control centre staff, to stop. Home Secretary John Reid has earmarked nearly £500,000 to fund the expansion.
Critics say the cameras are absurd and another example of excessive government intrusion into everyday life.
Mr Reid said they were aimed at "the small minority" who "litter our streets, vandalise our communities and damage our properties “We all pay council tax so, in the end, we all pay when our communities are disrespected - both in our pockets as well as in our daily lives," he said.
The Home Secretary also said competitions were being held at schools in many of the areas for children to become the voice of the cameras. "By funding and supporting these local schemes, the government is encouraging children to send this clear message to grown ups - act anti-socially and you will face the shame of being publicly embarrassed," Mr Reid added.
The home secretary also told GMTV that the scheme was "hugely popular" in Middlesbrough and that "the vast majority of the people here are right behind it".
He said: "It helps counter things like litter through drunk or disorderly behaviour, gangs congregating. "They are the sorts of things that make people's lives a misery. Anything that tackles that is better. "We want more police officers and we want more neighbourhood policing. There are always people who will claim when we do that it's a police society. It isn't. It's a society where the vast majority of law-abiding citizens are doing their utmost to respect each other."
There are an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras in Britain. A recent study by the government's privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner, warned that Britain was becoming a "surveillance society".
I shall paste the content of the link's article below in case it changes or is moved. Anything in italics (in this blog entry only) is from this BBC article entitled “'Talking' CCTV scheme expanding.”Firstly, a question: does anyone remember what “1984” by George Orwell was about?
Does anyone care that the slowly, slowly catchy monkey approach of introducing CCTV cameras into UK means we are now the most watch country by camera surveillance in just in Europe, but the World?
There are around 4.2 million CCTV cameras in Britain.
Written while Orwell was dying and based on the work of the Russian author Yevgeny Zamyatin, it is a chilling depiction of how the power of the state could come to dominate the lives of individuals through cultural conditioning.Perhaps the most powerful science fiction novel of the twentieth century, this apocalyptic satire shows with grim conviction how Winston Smith’s individual personality is wiped out and how he is recreated in the Party's image until he does not just obey but even loves Big Brother. Despite the critics, Orwell maintained that the book was written with the explicit intention to alter other people's idea of the kind of society they should strive after.
“'Talking' CCTV scheme expanding”
Dated: Wednesday, 4 April 2007, 07:38 GMT 08:38 UK
"Talking" CCTV cameras that tell off people dropping litter or committing anti-social behaviour are to be installed in 20 areas across England. They are already used in Middlesbrough where anyone seen misbehaving can be told via a loudspeaker, controlled by control centre staff, to stop. Home Secretary John Reid has earmarked nearly £500,000 to fund the expansion.
Critics say the cameras are absurd and another example of excessive government intrusion into everyday life.Mr Reid said they were aimed at "the small minority" who "litter our streets, vandalise our communities and damage our properties “We all pay council tax so, in the end, we all pay when our communities are disrespected - both in our pockets as well as in our daily lives," he said.
The Home Secretary also said competitions were being held at schools in many of the areas for children to become the voice of the cameras. "By funding and supporting these local schemes, the government is encouraging children to send this clear message to grown ups - act anti-socially and you will face the shame of being publicly embarrassed," Mr Reid added.
The home secretary also told GMTV that the scheme was "hugely popular" in Middlesbrough and that "the vast majority of the people here are right behind it".
He said: "It helps counter things like litter through drunk or disorderly behaviour, gangs congregating. "They are the sorts of things that make people's lives a misery. Anything that tackles that is better. "We want more police officers and we want more neighbourhood policing. There are always people who will claim when we do that it's a police society. It isn't. It's a society where the vast majority of law-abiding citizens are doing their utmost to respect each other."
The talking cameras will be installed in Southwark, in London, Barking and Dagenham, in London, Reading, Thanet, Harlow, Norwich, Ipswich, Plymouth, Gloucester, Derby, Northampton, Mansfield, Nottingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Wirral, Blackpool, Salford, South Tyneside and Darlington.
'Safer town centre'
In Middlesbrough, staff in a control centre monitor pictures from 12 talking cameras and can communicate directly with people on the street. Local councillor Barry Coppinger says the scheme has prevented fights and criminal damage and cut litter levels. "Generally, I think it has raised awareness that the town centre is a safe place to visit and also that we are keeping an eye open to make sure it is safe," he said.
But opponent and campaigner Steve Hills said: "Apart from being absurd, I think it's rather sad that we should have faceless cameras barking at us on orders from who? Who sets these cameras up?"
'Safer town centre'
In Middlesbrough, staff in a control centre monitor pictures from 12 talking cameras and can communicate directly with people on the street. Local councillor Barry Coppinger says the scheme has prevented fights and criminal damage and cut litter levels. "Generally, I think it has raised awareness that the town centre is a safe place to visit and also that we are keeping an eye open to make sure it is safe," he said.
But opponent and campaigner Steve Hills said: "Apart from being absurd, I think it's rather sad that we should have faceless cameras barking at us on orders from who? Who sets these cameras up?"
There are an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras in Britain. A recent study by the government's privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner, warned that Britain was becoming a "surveillance society".
Saturday
Super 8 Camera Purchased
Squawker Productions is now the proud owner of a 1979 Movexzoom 6 Sound Electronic Super 8 Camera, with a dandy original carry case, manual and microphone (although they don’t make sound stock anymore), and two roles of stock at 3 minutes 25 seconds - that should keep us out of trouble for, oh, say 6 minutes 47!
Thursday
"CAUGHT..." in a long, long Post road...
Looking at the last entry, Squawker Productions was in blissful ignorance to the long, frustrating road it would face in the Post-Production of Caught on Camera. Wow, and when we thought getting this film in the Can was a nightmare! This short certainly has tested the production team’s patience. Juggling other shoots, trips to Berlin and Cannes Festival then Hungary, Brussels, Dubai mixed in with a series of delays (including redecoration and refurbishment of The Yard, life threatening illness and hospitalisation) has meant the 1st Online Edit has only just been embarked upon.
Well, this is what filmmaking is all about: damage limitation. The break gave Director Julia Scott-Russell and Editor Keith Wilson a whole fresh perspective when looking at the film again.
January – Caught on Camera ’s running time: 12 minutes 45 seconds (excluding credits).
Objectivity was gained in the break. The film, which was written to be under 10 minutes, now needed to be re-edited. It simply was not an over 10 minute story. Caught on Camera under went a complete structural overhaul, with 2 working days out the 5 in the story being dropped, giving the Short a three act feel and combined with visual devices of split screens has made for a completely different Short to the one sitting in the Avid before Christmas.
Cutting scenes out is like cutting fingers off a baby: although time and money could have been saved with losing the scenes before shooting started, the production team know the real value of Edit. We are mere slaves to the story and telling it in the best way possible.
27-28th May – New off-line conformed, amongst other things, 4 and 9 split screens added, Matt Wasser’s excellent titles were cut in, as well as his CCTV camera, date & time plate dropped were on top of CCTV footage.
Next Online date TBC.
Keep watching this space folks…!
Well, this is what filmmaking is all about: damage limitation. The break gave Director Julia Scott-Russell and Editor Keith Wilson a whole fresh perspective when looking at the film again.
January – Caught on Camera ’s running time: 12 minutes 45 seconds (excluding credits).
Objectivity was gained in the break. The film, which was written to be under 10 minutes, now needed to be re-edited. It simply was not an over 10 minute story. Caught on Camera under went a complete structural overhaul, with 2 working days out the 5 in the story being dropped, giving the Short a three act feel and combined with visual devices of split screens has made for a completely different Short to the one sitting in the Avid before Christmas.
Cutting scenes out is like cutting fingers off a baby: although time and money could have been saved with losing the scenes before shooting started, the production team know the real value of Edit. We are mere slaves to the story and telling it in the best way possible.
27-28th May – New off-line conformed, amongst other things, 4 and 9 split screens added, Matt Wasser’s excellent titles were cut in, as well as his CCTV camera, date & time plate dropped were on top of CCTV footage.
Next Online date TBC.
Keep watching this space folks…!
Wednesday
CAUGHT ON CAMERA - The latest...
Squawker's latest project is CAUGHT ON CAMERA, a short film, (a drama, around 10 minutes long). Shot on DV Cam using a PD 170. It is currently being edited by Keith Wilson at The Yard, Soho, London, with an original score by composers Sheridan Maguire and Chris Marsh.
CAUGHT ON CAMERA's tagline:
Surveillance cameras stop crime.
Wrong.
Surveillance cameras watch crime.
(And they watch you dying).
Left: Filming colour ECU's in a warehouse dressed to be a car park. Left to right: actors Iva Dacheva as Sandy Newham and Paul Hampton as Sean Davidson, Director Julia Scott-Russell on camera and 1st AD Matt Sheahan.
Right to left: Matt Sheahan, Julia Scott-Russell, Iva Dacheva, Tom Allan Script Editor/Camera Operator, in the gloom Simon Owen, the ingenious Gaffer (who with minimal kit single-handedly lit the car park scene perfectly).
The above names are just some of the cast and crew. A huge thanks goes out to everyone involved on behalf of Squawker Productions for all the hard work and commitment to this project.
Thanks also to Jake Scott for taking the atmospheric set stills at this location. These photos are just a sneak preview, don't want to give too much away about the film! More will be posted in time once the film is screened!
Above: The happy couple for a photo frame in shot - Paul Brockhurst (Chris Spiking) and Sandy Newham (Iva Dacheva) ... Ah!
Below are headshots of some of the cast, right to left Iva Dacheva, Paul Hampton, Will Godfrey, John Cooper-Day (more headshots needed folks!):
CAUGHT ON CAMERA's tagline:
Surveillance cameras stop crime.
Wrong.
Surveillance cameras watch crime.
(And they watch you dying).
Left: Filming colour ECU's in a warehouse dressed to be a car park. Left to right: actors Iva Dacheva as Sandy Newham and Paul Hampton as Sean Davidson, Director Julia Scott-Russell on camera and 1st AD Matt Sheahan.
Right to left: Matt Sheahan, Julia Scott-Russell, Iva Dacheva, Tom Allan Script Editor/Camera Operator, in the gloom Simon Owen, the ingenious Gaffer (who with minimal kit single-handedly lit the car park scene perfectly).
The above names are just some of the cast and crew. A huge thanks goes out to everyone involved on behalf of Squawker Productions for all the hard work and commitment to this project.
Thanks also to Jake Scott for taking the atmospheric set stills at this location. These photos are just a sneak preview, don't want to give too much away about the film! More will be posted in time once the film is screened!
Above: The happy couple for a photo frame in shot - Paul Brockhurst (Chris Spiking) and Sandy Newham (Iva Dacheva) ... Ah!
Below are headshots of some of the cast, right to left Iva Dacheva, Paul Hampton, Will Godfrey, John Cooper-Day (more headshots needed folks!):
"Caught on Camera's" Product Placements
Caught's product placements were flyers of stand up comic Paul Kerensa and Chunky House Night Deepend (see below post and Links Section for more information).
As well, Martinell, UK agents to La Tazza d'Oro ® http://www.latazzadoro.it/ a specialist coffee blender and roasters in Sardinia. Some of their products were featured in "INT. SHOP - DAY," and their new coffee blend Karalis. Our thanks goes to Martinell, who very kindly supplied the production with a constant flow of caffine highs in their tea and coffee!
Left: Iva as Sandy and Brian Purfield as Shop Security Guard.
As well, Martinell, UK agents to La Tazza d'Oro ® http://www.latazzadoro.it/ a specialist coffee blender and roasters in Sardinia. Some of their products were featured in "INT. SHOP - DAY," and their new coffee blend Karalis. Our thanks goes to Martinell, who very kindly supplied the production with a constant flow of caffine highs in their tea and coffee!
Left: Iva as Sandy and Brian Purfield as Shop Security Guard.
(Focus...Julia focus! Sorry Iva and Brian!)
"Caught on Camera's" alternative Production stills...
A rushed pub lunch near "EXT. OFFICE - DAY" location, Winchester. Left to right: 1st AD Matt Sheahan, Sean Davidson Paul Hampton, Paul Brockhurst Chris Spiking, Sandy Iva Dacheva, Office Worker Tineke Purnell, DP Nick Miles, Runner Nathan Gokhool... ...and then with Director Julia Scott-Russell...but where's that Tom Allan?
Below: Tom Allan is punished by Julia for being late for shoot...(you should see the damage done after the photo was taken..!)
Below: Tom Allan is punished by Julia for being late for shoot...(you should see the damage done after the photo was taken..!)
Left: Iva Dacheva & Chris Spiking posing with one of the hardworking runners...
You'll see this photo on the fridge at the beginning of the film as well as the below flyers (product placememts): Deepend Night and Paul Kerensa (see Links Section for more infomation on both).
Pre-production for "Caught on Camera"...
Above: Tom Allan (Caught on Camera's script editor, plus camera operator for some of the shoots), at one of the many pre-productions meetings. Rehearsing for Shaken's Billy, hey Tom?!
Above: "EXT. OFFICE - DAY" recce in Winchester for Caught on Camera... DP Nick Miles audtioning for Sean Davidson - or not! So you smoke Nick?!
Below: Nick showing how to forcefully slam a taxi door.
Casting for "Caught on Camera"
There were five castings in total. The first, held in Winchester (to find local actors, as it was to be a Winchester based shoot) saw ironically Londoner Will Godfrey cast as Phil - Office Security guard. The rest of the auditions were held in London at Sweet Entertainments, Holborn.
Due to the large amount of colour CU's and ECU's and the diologueless script, it was essential actors had expressive eyes, this especially so for the main character Sandy Newham. Frustratingly for Squawker, seemingly fitting actors' ECU's from the screen tests did not make the grade. The "right" Sandy, Paul and Sean were not found until the final castings with the actors being all London based!
Below: Original casting posters.
People seemed to like the "more eye catching" purple poster better!
Click poster to enlarge...
Due to the large amount of colour CU's and ECU's and the diologueless script, it was essential actors had expressive eyes, this especially so for the main character Sandy Newham. Frustratingly for Squawker, seemingly fitting actors' ECU's from the screen tests did not make the grade. The "right" Sandy, Paul and Sean were not found until the final castings with the actors being all London based!
Below: Original casting posters.
People seemed to like the "more eye catching" purple poster better!Click poster to enlarge...
The Inspiration behind CAUGHT ON CAMERA...
Squawker's latest project is CAUGHT ON CAMERA, a short film, (a drama, around 10 minutes long). Aimed at the festival circuit, this is a challenging project that will stretch both crew and cast to producing hard hitting, innovative and thought provoking work.Sandy Newham, is a normal, average law abiding citizen, with a loving fiancé and regular job. We follow her daily life over a few weeks through black and white CCTV-like long shots and colour mid to extreme close ups, which catch the details and humanity (or lack of) that CCTV misses. Every step of the way Sandy is let down by the system that has supposedly been put in place to protect her. Everything is caught in the CCTV's rewind, but this is too late for Sandy...
On average, in the UK's urban areas you are filmed on surveillancee cameras/close circuit television (CCTV) over 300 times a day, with statistics on the number of cameras in operation varying - a 2002 working paper by Michael McCahill and Clive Norris of UrbanEye based on a small sample in Putney High Street, London, "guesstimated" the number of surveillance cameras in private premises in London as around 400,000 and the total number of cameras in the UK as around 4,000,000). For a quick, but informative (non-political) summary on the history of CCTV in the UK check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-circuit_televisionThe short film aims to highlight: how for the
average law abiding citizen, (not the yobs looking for a punch up on a Friday and Saturday night or the gangland drug dealers/terrorists etc who are heavily watched through CCTV surveillance squads in highly organized police operations) CCTV let us normal folk down. The argument of the film: CCTV cameras are still only silent impotent witnesses. They do not make the average people feel safer as surveillance cameras only view crime, not stop it. Crimes are committed and watched in the rewind, if we are lucky the criminal may be caught, but it's all too late for the victim.
A nightmarish big brother state, where someone is watching every camera everywhere all the time, is not only totally impractical, but does not solve the root problem: the deterioration of self respect and decency in society.
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