Hi All.

Again, my apologies for the late update but in my defence, I have been busy.

After Cannes I trimmed the film down to under one hundred minutes, this seems to be the length the market requires and I must say the film does go at quite a lick now which is no bad thing.

I showed the film in Cutting Copy (Rough) form to Ray Winstone last week and he was thrilled even though he saw no VFX shots and was listening to the temp score both of which in final form will enhance the film greatly.

There is a lot still to do.

Ray is coming in to do his ADR in the next couple of weeks, which completes sound preparations once it has been fitted.

The Visual FX Shots are looking great, they’re not all done yet but we’re getting there.

Unfortunately we have had to push back the Music Recording as some of the musicians Guy wants for the score are on holiday, a bit of a nightmare but I understand it because a John Barry like score needs great musicians to put life into the music.

So we are having to schedule the finishing of the film around the recording of the music score which will mean Final Mixing the films Soundtrack either the first (I hope) or second week in September.

Work in all other areas will continue concurrently and we are planning to have a 35mm Print – Mid September I hope – to screen to Distributors in London.

Thankfully, interest in the film is high and I remain confident in a positive result in terms of the UK sale and other sales going forward.

Once the Distributor screening has been done I will screen the film to all Wardour investors in the West End followed by a little party! – This will probably be at the end of September so hopefully you’ll all be back from holiday – I’ll let you know dates in good time.

Finally, thanks again for your patience, we’re getting close to the end and I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Best regards.

Tim

Dear All.

It’s been a very hectic few weeks, my apologies for not up dating the website as often as I would have liked.

Progress to date:

We took a version of, “The Hot Potato” to Cannes and screened it to some UK distributors so that they could provide input into the film prior to locking it. It was well received although most thought it was a little long but interest remains high.

One of the problems arising from working on a project for a lengthy period is that the creative members of the team get too close to it. So I think it was wise to screen to interested parties now rather than showing a locked picture, thereby giving us the opportunity to make changes before picture lock.

With this in mind we are now tightening the film to meet the comments and criticisms made after the screening are looking to complete the film in mid July.

We have finished most aspects of the Post Production process save for the Visual effects shots, recording the Music Score and of course the Final Mix.

As soon as the film is complete it is our intention to screen it in the West End for Distributors and Press with all actors, where possible, in attendance for PR purposes.

An investor screening or screenings will take place very close to that.

We will let you know in good time so that we can gauge the best dates now that we are approaching the holiday season but don’t worry I will ensure that all who want to see the film will get the opportunity.

I hope that this is enough news for you. I promise to give you another report soon. Again, please accept my apologies.

Thank you all for your continued support.

Best regards.

Tim Lewiston

Principal Photography was completed early November last year.

Since then the film has been in Picture Editorial, Final Cut was achieved Friday – 28^th January.

The film is now in the process of Sound Editing, Visual effects (CGI), Titles, Scanning and Grading.

Guy Farley, a talented composer has been contracted to write the films Musical Score.

The film is on schedule and will be delivered in April.

MARKETING.

Colleen Seldin our Sales agent will be representing “The Hot Potato” at the Berlin Film Festival, where we will host a Press and Distributor Event on the 10^th February.

- View the Berlin Trade Trailer- (Username & Password Required)

WARDOUR PICTURES

The office at Twickenham Film Studios has been mothballed until needed for the next film – “Cheltenham” – Shooting in the summer. The office is visited once a week so messages and mail are being picked up. See updated contact details on the website.

EIS Certificates and Newsletter will be sent out soon.

Finally, please allow me to thank all who invested in “The Hot Potato” via the EIS scheme. As I have said before, it is this money that financed the development of the film thus making it a reality.

I am very proud of what has been achieved and hope that you will be too when you see it.

Tim Lewiston.

Matt and I had a really special time on the set of ‘The Hot Potato. Tuesday night was great fun (even if a little surreal).  Having a few drinks in a bar full of famous actors unwinding was a real experience but more importantly how we were treated by Ray, Jack etc.

Combined with the crew we met, what a lovely bunch of people.  I thought Ray and Jack were really nice and we did thank them for their hospitality when we left but they really did make an effort to help us feel at home, even down to Jack asking if we wanted to have dinner with them.  Shame we lost them on the walk . It was amazing meeting Derren Nesbit who played Major Von Happen.  Genius, and a character that really had an impact on me as a young boy.

I know that The Hot Potato is going to be a very cool film to be associated with and will enjoy real success. I hope to catch up in November when filming comes to town but in the meantime thank you and the team for letting us share some of the experience of filming.

Duncan Murray Clarke
5th October 2010

Ok so just got back from the most amazing experience on the set of Hot Potato in Belgium. First stop was Ghent City Centre in the most beautiful building, where scenes were being filmed.
My husband and I got lost and were going to ask a group of men where we should go, but didn’t as one of them was the charming Mr Ray Winstone, so we kind of figured we were in the right place!! Then saw inspired, productive, Tim Lewiston, who gave us the warmest of welcomes, and told us that we would be left in the capable hands of the lovely Candy Pollock, who is just one of the most comical, charming, warm, yet professional ladies I have ever met. Oh I felt like such a VIP.

We had volunteered ourselves to be extras in the film and dressing up was so much fun. We were both put into the capable hands of Howard, who, being the complete genius that he is, picked the outfits without asking our sizes, in the most glamorous 60’s costumes. It was like being a child again, only this time the clothes weren’t 10 sizes too big. Felt so smart. Once we had be preened and painted (hair and make up), we were directed into the restaurant, and asked to sit down. Our brief was to mime talking. Having never tried this before, and knowing that the camera was very close by, I was very nervous but the crew made us feel so at ease. Then the Director called ‘Action’!  Ray Winstone, Lois Winstone, Jack Huston and Colm Meaney were in the scene. I felt like such a superstar, especially when Jack told me I looked great. After the first couple of takes I started to relax into it. Next the Director was recording the sound of the restaurants which was great, pretending to be visiting Rome in the 60’s.  What an experience!

The rest of the day was spent watching the monitors, as the scenes were being filmed, such a fascinating insight into how films are made and put together.

On Wednesday we travelled to Bruges, and met the cast again, and watched more filming. We both loved every moment, being so close to the action. We met more Investors who were dressed as extras, looking every bit as glam as we had. We had a great day laughing and chatting with everyone.  Later that evening  we met some of the Investors for drinks, and a chat. Everyone was on such a high, and really felt that their experience had been incredible. We had been made to feel so welcome, and treated exceptionally well. To casually chat to the Cast, and Crew, to be one of the first to watch scenes being filmed, and to be able to get so close to the ‘thick of it’, is one of life’s ‘must do’s’.

We will never forget this experience and now really can’t wait for Hot Potato to be finished, and to be present at the first screening.  It will be enthralling to see the completed film and even more astonishing to say “we were there”

Rubina Latif
4th October 2010

Even for the experienced film maker, stunt days bring excitement and trepidation.
Professionalism and planning are the key but even with that you are stepping into the world of controlled risk.
Our driving stunts were co-ordinated by the highly experienced Dutch man-mountain Willem De Beukelaer and his team.

Several practise passes were made before there was a delay as we waited for the morning mists to clear and give us continuity of light for the shots done the previous day.

Finally the moment came and there was a collective hush and holding of breath as the cars sped towards us. As rehearsed, one veered left, hit it’s ramp and sailed 20 meters turning in the air before hitting the ground upside down then pitching over it’s bonnet to end up on it’s wheels facing the wrong direction. The cameras were called to cut and the stunt support team and paramedics raced in to check on stunt driver Lutz Schleisner.

After nervous seconds it was thumbs up from the support team as Lutz was unharnessed and walked away from the specially strengthened vehicle to relieved and appreciative applause. Just another day at the office!

Nigel Pollock – Art Director

Just wanted to say thank you  to everyone at Wardour who helped make my set visit so memorable, especially Sonita who never got tired of explaining who was who and got us all to the right place at the right time all day and to the director, Tim Lewiston, who first thing in the morning took time out from his preparations for the upcoming scene to make me feel welcome and make sure I’d got a cup of coffee!

I was impressed by the Belgian crew who were totally professional but at the same time always appeared relaxed. I thoroughly enjoyed filming our “walk on…walk off” extras scene and can’t wait to see it on the big screen. And thank you to all the cast and crew  for putting up with us hanging round their set all day!

Once again thank you all for a very memorable day,

Regards,  Chris Baird

It’s a Thursday morning at 10am. I am standing on a street corner in Bruges with a 75 year old man, who has a pistol down his trousers. He’s telling me, rather graphically, how terribly uncomfortable it is. Around the corner, out of sight, I can hear some people struggling to move a large wooden bear into a shop.

This is not my average Thursday. I’m on the set of The Hot Potato. As an investor in Wardour Pictures, I’ve been invited out to a day of shooting in Bruges to see what’s happening to my money. But somehow I have become an extra in the scene, dressed in a 1960s suit and braces, a heavy coat and hat. Around the corner is the Director, Tim Lewiston and the rest of the crew, the camera, Lois Winstone, a vintage red Jaguar, and, of course, the wooden bear, who normally spends the day outside the doorway of a toy shop. Today, however, he is deemed to be spoiling the look of things, and has to be moved.

The man with the gun is Derren Nesbitt, veteran of Where Eagles Dare. He played a German then, and he’s playing one today. With us are Ray Winstone and Jack Huston. While the bear is being moved, I mention that I really should have gone to the loo earlier. Ray helpfully points out a nearby drain, but I don’t fancy it, especially with a street full of tourists staring at us.

We are still discussing the merits of the drain, when we hear “Action!”. Ray and John head around the corner into shot, and I hear Lois say her first lines. Derren stops adjusting his pistol, and runs around a few seconds later. Then it’s my turn – to walk across the road in the background. Demanding stuff.

Throughout the day, I’m struck by how well everyone gets along, and by the professionalism of everyone involved. Everything is where it needs to be, when it needs to be there. It’s exciting and satisfying to see something tangible happening. Sonita Gale, Associate Producer from Wardour Pictures, kindly shepherds us to lunch with the crew, and then back to the set.
My daughter and I head for the Eurotunnel at the end of the day, confident that we made a good decision to invest. Tomorrow I am back at work, my daughter is back at school with a prized Ray Winstone autograph, and the wooden bear is back in the street outside the toy shop.

Graham Wilde
11th October 2010

Belgium Brussels
Château de la Haulpe

Early morning our Line Producer Rob How and  new Associate Producer Sonita Gale picked me up for the half-hour drive through Brussels traffic to a wonderful Chateau location near Waterloo. This third day featured Ray Winstone and David Harewood shooting interior scenes.  We’re all thrilled to have David join the cast, and I was proud to be able to tell him I was at The Cottesloe to watch him play the best Othello I’ve seen staged.  I didn’t manage more than a few words with Ray, I was struck not only by his immense presence on and off set, and by how much fun he was having playing Kenny. You are really going to enjoy this movie when you see it.

I had deliberately chosen the man-in-the-suit look to demonstrate that Wardour Pictures plc means business but I didn’t need to dress up because every aspect of this production was businesslike and professional . Our partners, the Belgian company U-Media and Novak their production company know what they are doing and are great hosts.

Shooting is going well and on schedule. Let me tell you everyone on set I spoke to told me the same thing – our Director Tim Lewiston is bringing it all together brilliantly.  I am confident that we can show a very satisfactory return to those with money in Wardour Pictures Plc.

Principal photography continued today in earnest in the incredible surroundings of a disused safety deposit vault in Europe’s old diamond capital Antwerp.

Paradoxically our debutant Director was instantly able to call ‘ACTION’ on the FINAL scene of his movie ” The Hot Potato”!

Such is the magic of the filming schedule!

Following this, an elaborate exterior crane shot co-ordinating a fleet of period vehicles and the best part of 80 costumed extras was expertly dispatched with bravura.
Bring on the morrow!

Candy Pollock
Wardour Pictures PLC