2 August 2004 - The Adams Family on Set

It’s Saturday morning, and Douglas’s family are off to join the 2nd unit filming on location in the deepest depths of London, well actually, outside Moorgate tube station.
 
The days brief is to shoot several street scenes as the Vogon fleet arrive overhead announcing their intention to destroy the earth, with one slight addition, we are going to be joining the cast for the day.
 
We arrive to be met by Robbie Stamp, Douglas’ close friend, business partner and executive producer, Lita, the production assistant, and James, our very own runner for the day. First stop is our caravan (amusingly with the sign “The Adams Family” on the door) before heading off down the road to a side street that seems to be rather busy with commuters for a Saturday morning.
 
Without warning the whole street erupts into a scene of utter chaos, with everyone looking up into the air, screaming, running left and right, cars dodging bikes, men clambering onto a bus, others clambering to get off it, no one knowing where to go.
 
“CUT,” bellows a megaphone, normality returns. We are on the set.
 
Being in a sound stage is impressive, with the might and majesty of a beautifully crafted set contrasting against the rather drab interior of what could be an empty Ikea warehouse. Being out on location, especially for a street scene there is no such contrast, everything around you is the set, and it really takes quite a while to assimilate what is and isn’t part of the scene, who is filming who, who are actors, who are crew, and are any of these policeman real?
 
Undeterred by our constant barrage of questions, in between takes we are introduced to the crew, who are only too eager to supply the answers. I learn that a “Gaffer” is actually a rather important member of the crew, and not solely someone responsible for taping things together, and the large building covered in scaffolding and polythene sheeting is not a huge “blue screen”, but actually a building site covered in scaffolding and polythene sheeting. Even the intermittent and sometimes torrential rain doesn’t dampen the flurries of activity as the cameras are moved ready for the next shot.
 
Our presence on the set has not gone unannounced, and our little group is joined by a bevvie of camera and soundmen with fluffy appendages on long poles. They are introduced as the crew making a documentary for the DVD, and another crew from Disney who will be filming us throughout the day. They join us as we take over a little café on the corner so see a sneak preview of the first movie trailer. How can I describe it without giving anything away, despite being only 30 seconds long, it’s a big trailer for a big film, but unmistakeably Hitchhikers. Does that make sense? It’s the sort of thing that Douglas would pull out his laptop to show to a complete stranger in the street.
 
There follows some painfully funny footage of the Vogons in rehearsal with Garth (the director) watching from the background. The look on Garths face, not dissimilar to a kid discovering he has been given a sweet shop for Christmas speaks loads about the passion going into this film, not just by him, but seemingly everyone we meet.
 
Nick Goldsmith (the producer) has given up his well-earned day off after a week on Magrathea to come and see us all. He’s eager to hear what we thought of the trailer, and agrees that it does suddenly bring it home how big this film is going to be. Luckily for him he is in time to see the highlight of the day, our acting debut.
 
A quick run through with the 2nd unit director and we’re off, joining in the chaos and confusion as we rehearse our efforts to flee the impending doom, but which way should we run, where are we supposed to go?
 
“Cut”.
 
I gather together the clan and we head back to our starting positions, realising that these girls are perhaps taking this panic thing a bit too seriously, they all look absolutely terrified, especially Bronwen (my wife) and Polly (Douglas’ daughter) who look like they might need a few moments lying down!
 
The feedback is delivered, seems we did good for a first go, “but no one has told us which direction we’re supposed to be running in” I say, then thinking that perhaps that’s the best way to direct chaos. We have a giggle about a couple of little bits that have been put in, little touches that may well be missed on a first viewing, but they are just so Douglas, he would love them.
 
Take 2 goes pretty smoothly, despite managing to run over my sister Jane with a pram, but I must say she acts her reaction beautifully, somewhat violently but beautifully.
 
Next on the agenda is our close up scene, and while the camera is moved painfully near to us the sun decides to shine for the first time today, leading us to experience another trait of the filming industry, waiting. Cups of coffee arrive, and juice for Polly and Emilie, together with a couple of croissants that go down very well while we are waiting for a passing cloud. A quick apology to the props department, and more coffee juice and croissants are summoned, while entertainment is provided by the putting together of a DIY passing cloud kit which resolutely refuses to float 20ft above our table. Thankfully a real one arrives, the sun slips behind it and off we go again, and all too soon it’s over, in the can and the last I hear someone is asked to “check the gate”, why, I have no idea. Maybe they’re worried the dog might get out.
 
It has been a fantastic day, everyone has worked so hard to make sure we had a great time, and talking to these guys, hearing how they got to be on the crew, what they felt when they heard they would be working on this film filled us all with immense pride, that something Douglas had created could have this effect on so many people, makes you realise this is so much more than just a film, this is Hitchhikers.
 
Cast (in alphabetical order)
 

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