Filming the house I grew up in

[lethargic_man]

In the closing days of last year, my parents were approached by a film company who wanted to use their house—both inside and outside—for a gritty 1970s drama film. The house was built in 1971, and, after the whole production crew—all fourteen of them, in a minibus—came around a few weeks later, they said they loved the seventies decor (actually, half of it dates from the eighties, but don't tell them), but they'd need to temporarily remove everything in the house that was put there in the last thirty-plus years—flatscreen TV, DVD player, etc.

Filming started last night; my father had to go into the garden (in 1°C temperatures) when I called him up, and they didn't get to bed until half past midnight. There was at least one big-name actor present. It all sounds tremendously exciting, and I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product, later this year.

The thing is, my parents (or more specifically, my mother) have been looking to sell their place for some time now. They've been living there since 1978; it's the house I grew up in (I can scarcely remember the one before), and I for one would be gutted if they moved out. But I recognise that it's not my decision, and there may in the end be compelling reasons for them to do so. However, if they do do so, this film promises to be a wonderful souvenir of the house they and I have spent so many years living in.

Comments

[curious_reader]

That sounds very exciting but also a bit of a pain for your parents although they signed up for it. How did they manage to get to work the next day? It sounds unfair to me to send them out in the cold besides keeping them awake instead of just letting them roam around behind the camera. They had nowhere else to go. There should be also a limit of filming hours. Anyway, what is the film or series called? I want to see it, too. Do you think it will be on BBC or channel 4. I can always see films for free on bbc iplayer.

[lethargic_man]

How did they manage to get to work the next day?

A good alarm clock, and coffee?

It sounds unfair to me to send them out in the cold besides keeping them awake instead of just letting them roam around behind the camera.

Oh, they did get to roam behind the camera. It was only when I called my Dad's mobile that he had to go outside. You obviously can't talk on the 'phone when there's filming going on!

There should be also a limit of filming hours.

If they were filming a night scene, they had to film whilst it was night! Budget restrictions whilst filming often mean keeping funny hours; they probably would have gone on even longer if it wasn't a private house they were filming in.

Anyway, what is the film or series called? I want to see it, too.

Don't know, yet.

Do you think it will be on BBC or channel 4. I can always see films for free on bbc iplayer.

Don't know. I don't think it's commissioned for TV, so it may be a case of going to the cinema, though maybe the film-makers will try and sell it to a broadcaster too. I don't know; my information is second-hand, and I didn't write it down when my parents told me on the 'phone.

[curious_reader]

It is already dark at 5pm in winter. You can also pretend then it is night. Coffee only makes you temporarly a bit awake but not all day. Usually someone needs enough sleep to be able to function properly. With little or poor sleep there is no way of fixing it with coffee. No doctor recommends coffee at all also no cofein. You cannot get it in a normal pharmacie. It is seen as unhealthy. My brother is not even allowed any form of cafein. I take every day cofein tablets and now increased it but it still does not do anything for me.

[lethargic_man]

It is already dark at 5pm in winter. You can also pretend then it is night.

I wouldn't be surprised if they were filming the whole time from then until half eleven.

Coffee only makes you temporarly a bit awake but not all day. Usually someone needs enough sleep to be able to function properly. With little or poor sleep there is no way of fixing it with coffee.

You can't get by without enough sleep on a regular basis, but you can use coffee to prop yourself up after a single night without enough.

I take every day cofein tablets and now increased it but it still does not do anything for me.

Of course not, if you're having it every day: your body gets desensitised. That's why I stopped having coffee every morning too: I now only have it when I need it, and it has the effect I need.