Back to life, back to reality... ;D
OK, XXL sick bags at the ready...
I've one of the best experiences of my life. Dreams do come true. Never think otherwise. I've got to work with a group of people I've long admired and it's all going to be with me forever. And my mum and dad are on cloud nine which is the cherry on the icing. I think mixed metaphors get a bad rap. I like 'em.
I took loadsa photos. Here are just a few...
While Le Donk signs dodgy contracts to the left, Patrick Coyle, from this 'ere forum no less, second from right, nervously checks his newly acquired Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee ticket wondering whether it's genuine or dodgy! ;D
L-R: Scor-Zay-Zee, Le Donk, ME! ;D, Richard Graham, Dean Rogers, Shane Meadows, Mark Herbert and Hannah McGill, EIFF's Artistic Director.
For some reason I got to the auditorium's doors a bit late and as the introductions had already started the usher wouldn't let me in!
. My partner, John, who had been ushered in ahead of me suddenly burst through the doors and to the surprise of the usher dragged me in just as Shane Meadows was talking about me! Shane then called for me to come to the stage! My legs held me up and I walked down to the stage. As I did so someone patted me on the back. I turned to see that it was Le Donk! My legs were still doing good. I think people were even clapping! Luckily, coz of the lights I couldn't see the audience too well so I stayed in a state of stunned-ness which kept me calm and kept my knees strong. Also putting my hands in my pockets helped.
We took our seats and I was about to see what I had done on a big massive cinema screen. I gripped the arms of my seat while wondering if I should try and hide in my pint of beer!
It looked amazing! Not what I had done, I'm pretty pleased with it, I still think It goes a little too fast, just that it was there so big! There was a ripple of laughter near the end as... well I won't go into detail. ;D
As Patrick says there was a round of applause after the titles had finished. It took me a couple of mili-seconds to calculate that it was for the titles. I turned to see if I could see my family who were behind me somewhere.
The audience barely stopped laughing during the film. It's so full of heart and soul and charm that it's going to be massive. The buzz about this film at the EIFF is incredible.
Then I saw my name in the credits at the end... Unbelievable. After the screening and the Q+A my dad revealed that my mum and my sister blubbed! ;D. It was too unreal for me to take in. Wonderful.
Right in the centre of the pic you can see Mr Coyle and (to his immediate left) his girlfriend enjoying the Q+A.
Scor-Zay-Zee performing an amazing freestyle ac-cappella rap; with Le Donk, Mark Herbert and Shane Meadows looking on. It's amazing what this guy can do. I still can't even sing a long to the Le Donk edit of Rupert Brown even though I've listened to it about a thousand times. I get tongue-tied or lose my place in seconds.
Me, Patrick Coyle and Neil (aka Salvador). Sorry Neil but Patrick Coyle wins the bestest smile competition! But you both win in bestest Le Donk-a-like flowing hair category. I lose dismally. I want a recount.
It was great to meet you both although I didn't get to chat with Neil enough! Maybe next year, Neil? It was great to talk to Patrick though about Le Donk and films in general. I'm even in the privileged position to have been given an edit of his short film,
Dirty Egg which features Thomas Turgoose. I'm going to watch it tomorrow when my brain cell is fresh.
DJ Shane Meadows about to start his Ska set, which was cracking, at the after show party. Mark Herbert is second from right.
Scor-Zay-Zee and Le Donk performing
Calm Down at the after show party
Scor-Zay-Zee and Le Donk performing
Calm Down with Le Donk about to launch into 'The List Of Names'
I finally got to say hello to Jo Hartley after chickening out at the Spaced event all those years ago! Although it does look like I'm squashing Jo. I'm not. Really I'm not.
It didn't occur to either of us to check which of our Bennys we'd be wearing! ;D
Cheers Shane. I've had the time of my life! ;D
. My partner, John, who had been ushered in ahead of me suddenly burst through the doors and to the surprise of the usher dragged me in just as Shane Meadows was talking about me! Shane then called for me to come to the stage! My legs held me up and I walked down to the stage. As I did so someone patted me on the back. I turned to see that it was Le Donk! My legs were still doing good. I think people were even clapping! Luckily, coz of the lights I couldn't see the audience too well so I stayed in a state of stunned-ness which kept me calm and kept my knees strong. Also putting my hands in my pockets helped.
