Scarce

Sorry not to have posted for a while - I've been hard at work on City of Vice, a tiny but mightily well-formed 5-part period drama for Channel Four here in UK. I'm directing parts 3 and 4 - an hour each, great cast, cracking scripts by up-and-coming writers, great costumes and production design and all on the slimmest, thinnest, ropiest shoe-string. The stories all centre on Henry Fielding, the English novelist, who happened (in addition to his literary efforts) to be the uber-cop of 18th-century London... and his small band of cops-in-wigs, the Bow Street Runners. The Fielding brothers are played by Ian MacDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine for you Star Wars obsessives out there, and a  host of great credits besides), Iain Glen (another great British actor who famously partnered Nicole Kidman on stage in The Blue Room), Nigel Harman (does a brilliant turn as the gay lover of an 18th-century cop) and gary Lewis (dad in Billy Elliot - and a searing, intense performance in ep 4 for City of Vice) plus Rosa Hoskins (daughter of..) making a beautifully-judged debut as Gary's daughter. Otherwise there have been a good few scripts from USA, I've closed a deal for a new movie (currently casting) and am in negotiations on a couple (well, three) more... but can't give details at this point and showbiz being showbiz you're never quite sure what's round the next corner and what "next month" actually means...
So anyway I had coffee with the indomitable Julia Short today (you remember her?) and she tells me the Straightheads DVD is out before the end of Sept. There will be a good few extras, deleted scenes, comm by Danny, Gillian and me, B-roll of the shoot and some interview clips again with the three of us -  a great package and enough to keep the most dedicated of you busy for a couple of hours. Sony are releasing the DVD sometime AFTER the UK release, with different cover art and I don't yet know whether they will include the same extras, so watch this space. We've got no news of specifics from Sony at this point.
But I have to say I'm looking forward to Straightheads, or should I say Closure, entering American airspace, and the ensuing reactions...

Comments

[ericka]

good to hear from you, glad you are a busy man, though! i'm so excited for SH here in the US (I will never think of it as Closure!) We did hear a release date of Sept 18 here in the US, according to Sony's site. I hope this is still true. I can't wait much longer to see it again!

Take care!

[sara]

Yeah, you def. have some anxious people here in the USA! I'm pre-ordering it soon! Can't wait! And I'm gonna make my own SH banner to tape ovr the "Closure" heading on the DVD cover, hehehe.

SARA!!

[Leslie - NL, Canada]

You also have some people anxiously awaiting the DVD release here in Canada! Thanks for the update! And good luck on your new and current projects.

~Leslie

[Caitlin]

Sweet! good to hear from you Dan, and glad you're doing well with the work, and hopefully with all other aspects of life. Thanks for the multiple dvd extras, sounds great!
much gratitude,
Caitlin

[Elvin]

Good to hear you bigging up 'City of Vice'; it is sure to be one of the most talked about TV productions of 2007! Wonderful cast, magnificent crew, deserves a shed load of awards!!

[Alan]

Hey there Dan! Fantastic to hear from you again! Glad to know that your keeping busy and thanks for updating us on the information with regards to the release of the Straightheads DVD for the UK and beyond. That's very much appreciated. I've already placed my pre-order and I can't wait to own Straightheads on DVD!

I don't suppose there's any chance of you adding any more photos from Straightheads is there? I'd still like to see more if possible. If you could manage it then I'd be very grateful.

Also, is there any way that Straightheads's wonderful music score by Ilan Eshkeri will ever make it to CD? I'd love to own it!

Anyway, thanks for letting us know where you are at the moment Dan! As I said before it's been fantastic to hear from you again!

I eagerly look forward to your next update! Take care, pal and have a great weekend!

- Alan.

[Ann]

It is pleasant to know, that you have new projects, and that despite of total employment you find time to write small messages for us. I hope, that Sony all will make as it is necessary, and that DVD the version will be met with interest.

[marissa]

I pre-ordered Closure last week. I am sure most folks know you can pre-order it...if not Amazon.com is the place to do it.

It will ship at the end of September it says.

Can't wait! This is bigger than the IPhone for me! haha

[Lily]

Congrats and good luck with both SH/Closure and your next work(s)!! :-)

[Hatter]

Really looking forward to hearing the commentary by the three of you! so I'll die if that isn't included in the North American DVD release.
good hearing from you again.

[Troy Barnes]

Is there any idea on a date for an Australian dvd release yet??