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Format: DV-CAM
Running time: 44 mins
Aspect ratio: 16/9
Reviews
Clips
Press
Edited on Adobe Premiere
Visual Effects
After Effects/3ds Max
Music composed on Pro tools
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KATIE'S MISSION began life four years ago, but at the time it was an over-ambitious production: how could all the elements needed to create a convincing period film, including costumes, weapons and locations, not to mention actors capable of breathing life into the characters, be brought together in a cost-effective way?
The answer came in 2002 with a two-pronged solution: first, the making of PROJECTION and the collaboration with the HTV Television Workshop introduced writer/director Paul Dudbridge to a whole new pool of talent; then, a chance encounter with a grip hire company based in Portishead put Paul in touch with the organisers of a large-scale World War II re-enactment battle, and access to period locations, weapons and costumes was suddenly a reality. Katie’s Mission was a go.
Of course there was still much work to be done: six months of extensive pre-production followed, during which further location scouting took place, and authentic props, including radios and genuine WWII uniforms, were tracked down. This was followed by two months of rehearsal leading up to the five-day shoot in early July 2003. Unfortunately for the actors, who were weighed down with heavy uniforms and props, the area was hit by the hottest weather in months. Says actor Jon Napier: “The uniforms were authentic, which meant they had to keep soldiers warm in cold winter months, so during the summer they were very hot and very itchy."
One day of the shoot was dedicated to location work at the Severn Valley Railway in Kidderminster, which once a year takes visitors back in time with a ‘40s weekend. The circuit of stations is decorated with propaganda posters and advertising from the era, and staff dress in appropriate costume, thereby vividly recreating the war years. HTV Workshop Coordinator Lisa Ruthven, who features in these scenes, comments: "I scoured charity shops to find old clothes and suits for the scenes, which span two years. The first time we see Alice, a soldier’s wife, she's dressed in a suit to see her husband off. When we next see her it’s two years later, so we wanted to dress her down slightly to show how the war had taken its toll on her. The costumes had to reflect that subtly.”
Shooting took place in Portbury and Portishead, and caused headaches for the crew: "Filming a period movie in 2003 was hell for our shots,” says assistant director and boom operator Bex Woodward. “By the time you cut out houses and modern-day telegraph poles in the background you're not left with much to shoot with!"
For a key battle scene late in the film, re-enactment groups from across the country were contacted and gladly lent their time for the one-day shoot; German troops were supplied by Kompanie 1, while the Allies were represented by the Allied and Axis Re-enactment Society. Regular special effects technician Mark Turner of MTFX was called in to handle bullet hits, explosions, wounds and fatal shootings, all of which adds realism to the final assault on a German bunker.
Paul Dudbridge, writer and director of the film, comments: "What interested me about telling this story was that the dilemma faced isn't about right and wrong, but right and right. The Captain who decides to disobey his orders is right to save the baby, but as his second in command points out, their real mission would save hundreds. Both men are right in their own way, so the story isn't just about battling the enemy but each other."
Katie's Mission premiered at the Imax cinema on Wednesday 16th June 2004. Read more here.
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