‘The Ides of March are come’ [day 7]

30th April 2012

There is a blue, blue sky as I come out of the underground station at 6.20. The best weather of the shoot so far. But Saturday night saw thunder and rain of tempest-level force. So I'm truly worried as I more

‘Whoever knew the heavens menace so?’ [day 4]

26th April 2012

There was bright sunshine when I stepped out of the tube this morning (at 6.20, thanks for asking). But pretty soon the dark clouds were gathering, and not long after that there was the first of several bursts of torrential more

‘Peace. Count the clock.’ [day 3]

25th April 2012

In front of camera, it's a sweltering night in our nameless African city, some time after a thunderstorm has passed. The thunderstorm, however, seems to have taken up residence in the real world just above our location. It's day 3 more

‘When it is lighted, come and call me here’ [day 2]

24th April 2012

Above is the clapperboard at the end of day 1. Somehow it's reassuring that, even when all the other camera stuff is high end digital, we still need one of these totally traditional objects. Last night the digital rushes were more

‘Tell us the manner of it’ [day 1]

23rd April 2012

So... here we go. 05.05: leaving the house to catch the first tube heading north on the Northern Line. At least it's not raining. 07:35: First AD Kristian Dench gathers everyone for some brief house-keeping notes, including the fire alarm procedures - more

‘Their battles are at hand’

21st April 2012

The last weekend. On Monday - Shakespeare's birthday, in case you hadn't noticed - we turn over on our BBC film of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Julius Caesar. Director Greg Doran finished the fourth week of rehearsals on Friday with more

‘A very pleasing night to honest men’

17th April 2012

If it's Monday, it must mean there's a week to go. Seven days from now we start shooting Julius Caesar. At lunchtime, with our First AD Kristian Dench, I head up the Northern Line to the location. As I have indicated more

What a lot of Will

14th April 2012

In case you hadn't noticed, the Shakespeare spring kicks off tonight. First up is a cluster of programmes on Sky Arts - a goodly number of them, including Being Shakespeare, produced by Illuminations.  Then there is the big more

‘Be patient till the last’

12th April 2012

There's something slightly unreal about these final couple of days before we start work at the location for Julius Caesar. If all goes well, cleaning and prepping the site starts tomorrow, and then the art department will get going on more