It's been Yonks!!!!!!

[shanemeadows]

Sorry I haven't been on to do an update for a while. The world of TV production is fast paced and leaves very little space for one to have poos and wees let alone lift the lid on a laptop!

I finished the Edit of the final episode a few days ago and have been trying to convince my wife and son that I am actually their husband/dad and not Rich Gere in Somersby. I am actually Somersby love, honest.

Anyhoo. The first Ep is on in a few short weeks and the ads have started on C4 so I feel quite worried as I haven't sound mixed or graded my episodes yet (ep3+4) and can't quite believe how seat of your pants TELLY is compared to Film. Funny thing is, I kinda prefer it this way as it's an all in 6 months of Mayhem, rather than the 2 years of drawn out hell that a film can be. I will have, Shot, Edited, Mixed Graded and Broadcast the whole thing within those 6 months where as on the film, the edit alone was 9 months, so although it's a bit whacky at times and I keep catching glimpses of myself in the mirror looking like Roy Wood, It is somehow, more fun, more instant and leaves more time to do other things once its over.

Just so people on here know, I have given a 100% to this series, It is not a cash inspired spin-off. It is the first time I have had a female lead story in anything I've done and my first foray into TV since I made a 10minute documentry 15 years ago, so I am more excited about this than I have been about anything for a long time. Anyway, I like taking risks baby, it explains my tit's and my baldness.

After the film, I thought of the cast as friends, but since the series, we have become more like a (dysfunctional) family. I hope this shows in the final product. Always going to be a hard act to follow a bafta winning film and I'm sure some people will want to give me a kicking, but It has been a dream job for me and if all I had to do was work with this crazy bunch of bastards for the next 30 years I'd be as happy as a pig in shit.

Not long to go, yet loads to do. Hot off the press doesn't even begin to describe it! I'll hopefully see some of you at the preview next week at the BFI for the screening of Episode 1 (directed by Tom Harper) and some highlights from the rest of series.

Muchos Luvola,

Shania Pillows.

[Charles Newland]

Alright Shane, really looking forward to watching this! Are you going to be doing anything at the Broadway for it's release??

Charles

[1979mod]

Nice one Shane, nice to see you take the time for snippets.
Watched TIE the other day to jog memory, followed by DMS,ARFRB and Le Donk ........... Classics

Roll on episode 1 :-)

[bigbanjo]

Very much looking forward to it great work and thanks

[skinduff]

Cant wait, going through to edinburgh next friday. Im sure some folk will bitch and moan and people will be upset its not about skins but these are your characters and they have to develop right not just to please some grumpy gus. Good luck!

[Bill Edwards]

Looking forward to it! All sorts of new stuff to check out like someone else directing your stories and a female lead story too.

Cheers! ;D

[RydCook]

Thanks for the update Shane! Goes without saying, really looking forward to this one.

Can't make the preview unfortunately, as it's very close to my next big film shoot!

[Dave]

Cool update... does this mean Lol is the lead character then?

[kelpie]

I know it will be great. Interesting that Lol is your first female lead. She's a complex character with the potential to be heartwrenching. Is it still structured as more of an ensemble though?

[Gareth]

I've gotta admit I've had mixed feelings about this after seeing the second advert, it just got me a little worried as Woodys voice over seemed very close to the opening sequence of Shameless and I just had nightmares of seeing the TIE characters in a Shameless/Skins/the fun bits of TIE mixup missing all of the personal intense stuff that made TIE what it is, but after hearing about the female lead it's convinced me this is going to be everything it should be and more, not just a continuation on a story that ended just at the right place but a completely new piece of work that stands on its own.

[kelpie]

Lol's story is sure to be amazing. Hopefully, there will be a mix of the fun gang stuff and emotional material for all the main characters. I trust Shane. It was said the story of the gang was going to go broader and deeper.

[nikistar19]

wow..i'm just over the moon about all this.....totally obsessed is more the truth...and WOW LOL as female lead....perfection......just had to combine my saying hello with all the rest of this cause i JUST CAN'T WAIT :-))).....managed to get ticket for the preview in Edinburgh next Friday.....THRILLED..... dunno how i'm gonna get there but i don't care....have ticket...will go ........ try an stop me ...... and hello everyone xxx

[jill]

Thanks for the update Shane. Like everybody else really looking forward to it. Seems to be quite a bit of publicity around here and there now-Channel 4 website etc. Let's hope the show attracts a big audience and new fans-sure it will.

[shanemeadows]

Aug 18, 2010 18:55:38 GMT Dave said:

Cool update... does this mean Lol is the lead character then?

It is an ensemble, but, again like the film, one characters story is focused on a little more. What happens to Lol thru the course of the series (much like shaun's story in the film) will change her life forever and that is the reason that I chose (with Jack Thorne) to follow her story closest. I didn't want to make a spinoff or copy of the film, I wanted to make something new, that would stand up on it's own and focusing on the other members of the gang as well as Shaun was always going to be vital to creating something new.

The series is way more gang based than the film was and the whole cast really get a chance to shine. It's just that LOl's story happens to be the most catalytic at that point in time. Who knows, in TIE 90, it may be Cynth, Milky or one of the new Charactors like Flip or Chrissy.

The whole cast for me have turned in great performances, so it is always hard to single out people based on size of parts. But there's no getting away from the fact that Vicky's (Lol) story becomes the heart of the series and we had to shoot some of the most challenging scenes of our careers during this. Needless to say, I think she has given a (in my humble opinion) career best performance and should finally get the credit/work she deserves.

The true testament of a great cast is that there was no back biting or whining about part sizes, everyone gives their best throughout whether there in it for seconds or hours and fingers crossed it shows when you guys see it.

[nikistar19]

i'm even more full of anticipation now , Shane........ feel very very lucky to have been ages with your main characters in TIE and so obviously in TIE86......just makes it mean even more ALREADY !!!!.....they sure were massive milestone years for me...... though that's just a personal bonus..... yours charcters just shine as being GOOD people......and to me, lol stuck in my mind....maybe she just reminded me very much of my best friend at the time.....but REALLY thrilled she is betting such a fab opportunity to show us MUCH more....... she's here to stay thats' for sure.......oooooh roll on Friday in Edinburgh !!!!!!! .....and thanks so much for telling us MORE x