Co-Stars Documentary

[Angus McLaurel]

ATTENTION FOLKS!!!



Seeing as we are having a year dedicated to the co-stars, I'm trying to gather enough information regarding the supporting stars to make a documentary later in the year.

My time is limited and I'm not too familiar with complete details of most of them to be honest. I know there already a few books knocking about with information in them, which I will research personally.

But I would appreciate your input on here too.
If you can find out any facts or any other interesting info, post it in this thread.

You own opinions on any co-stars will also be appreciated.
If we can gather enough information, I will produce the documentary personally & anyone wishing to take a more personal interest in the production is more than welcome.


Ideally, I would like the whole thing completed by 4th September 2010, in time for a premier screening at our 18th Annual Laurel & HarDay


I can't offer payment for your help (it's a below zero budget you see!), but any credit will be issued and a free copy on DVD for any contributors.


Thanks.



Angus.




;D

[judgefoozle]

Are you looking for complete profiles, footage, or snippets to put together? There's a recent book out with Charile Hall's photo collection and captions in his own hand, and there should be a new biography of him later in the year. I have quite a lot of DVD material of co-stars like Turpin, Finlayson, Chase etc. you are welcome to, as excerpts or complete movies.
There are books like Hot Toddy, that deal with individual co-stars, and various profiles all over the web.
Some of the existing docus have footage of people like Babe London, Henry Brandon etc. and of course the wonderful Jean Darling is always very co-operative. I'd love to help with this project, just tell me what you need.

[Angus McLaurel]

Jan 8, 2010 20:48:21 GMT judgefoozle said:

Are you looking for complete profiles, footage, or snippets to put together? There's a recent book out with Charile Hall's photo collection and captions in his own hand, and there should be a new biography of him later in the year. I have quite a lot of DVD material of co-stars like Turpin, Finlayson, Chase etc. you are welcome to, as excerpts or complete movies.
There are books like Hot Toddy, that deal with individual co-stars, and various profiles all over the web.
Some of the existing docus have footage of people like Babe London, Henry Brandon etc. and of course the wonderful Jean Darling is always very co-operative. I'd love to help with this project, just tell me what you need.

That's just the spirit I'm looking for! Thanks for that.


I'm not after doing a too in-depth thing. That would take too long and would probably mean a separate documentary for each.


Not quite sure yet how to go about it. This is only the first stage of it all, but I reckon an outline to each actor/actress who have worked with Stan & Ollie several times. ('the regulars' as it were)

- Why they are unique within the films.
- Any background stories would be good. Behind the scenes or otherwise, (which link to Stan & Ollie)
- Any rare clips would be very useful
- Fans comments. Their thoughts on performances etc...


Basically we need...

- Basic information (at least)
- Rare footage (if possible)
- Snippets from classic moments
- Vox pops from the sons.


From there, we can piece the thing together and work out how.

To do the vox pops footage, I will try and get that in Ulverston in July or if I can get to any conventions this year, I'll do it there. Or anyone going to a convention can do it on my behalf. I'll just let them know what I need.


There's plenty of time and it should make for an interesting story.

It would be handy to get everything by the end of July.
That way I will have a month to edit it together. (shouyld just be enough time!)

[judgefoozle]

Wow, that's some project! (I notice you didn't say WHICH July!).
It's a heck of a lot of ground to cover, and there's so much stuff to go through. Let's see if we can pin down a few names:
Charlie Hall, Mae Busch, Walter Long, Anita Garvin, James Finlayson, Edgar Kennedy, Rychard Cramer, Thelma Todd, Lucien Littefield, Harry Bernard, Billy Gilbert, Arthur Housman...where do you stop?
Anyway, I know a man who'll look after Thema Todd, a couple more who can do Charlie Hall, and a possible source of Noah Young.
It sounds like at least a 12-month project to me, but I'll help all I can. It could turn into a historic compendium on DVD or something, but there may be copyright issues.
What media do you want to use? Can you handle DVD stuff, or do you want it all online?
It's a great idea, and it could be very exciting, but it will need all hands to the brushes to meet the "deadline". It will be a lot of fun. It could even be dirty work, in those archives, but let's have a go, shall we?

[Angus McLaurel]

Jan 9, 2010 8:27:56 GMT judgefoozle said:

It sounds like at least a 12-month project to me, but I'll help all I can. It could turn into a historic compendium on DVD or something, but there may be copyright issues.
What media do you want to use? Can you handle DVD stuff, or do you want it all online?
It's a great idea, and it could be very exciting, but it will need all hands to the brushes to meet the "deadline". It will be a lot of fun. It could even be dirty work, in those archives, but let's have a go, shall we?

Hmm, do you think this is too big a thing to handle?


There would be copyright issues if we attempted to profit from this, but it also depends what actual footage or still pictures goes in.

DVD footage is better and easier for me to handle.

I understand there are so many actors to choose from and include in this, so we'd have to make some of them brief to be honest, otherwise it could be a 3 hour film in the end.


For now, I say just post any information here that you think is relevant. I'll also do some research on some of it, then when I think there is enough, I will begin to storyboard it together the best I can. The last thing we'll probably get will be the vox pops footage. Anyone with a decent camcorder could record there own and mail the footage to me for inclusion. Otherwise I could be driving around the country for months trying to grab interviews with several sons who I think would love to be a part of it.


It is a big project, but I think it can be done within the time given.

[mgm]

As ever Put me in, I'll do owt tha' needs

[Angus McLaurel]

Jan 10, 2010 15:33:49 GMT @mgm said:

As ever Put me in, I'll do owt tha' needs

Cheers old bean. Just keep the info posted in here if you can find anything out.