Last year in the early part of January (2013) I was approached by the Island Yacht Club commodore, Valerie Dean, with a request for a PhD student from Kingston University, Surrey, regarding the availability of a platform for a film. The student, Mitch Panayis, had two projects on the go – one to be completed for last summer’s East End (of London) film festival and the one I got wrapped up in…
Mitch came down to the ‘Island’ and I took him for a sail off the point and up Benfleet Creek: he wanted the mystic marshland views which dominate below Hadleigh downs. With that out of the way we settled on a week when the tides were ‘right’ and all we needed was a good window…
Mitch Panayis directs…
The film is set around the 2012 Olympics … man is forced out of home … decamps to Canvey after falling out with his dad … falls out with himself … finds a boat and finds himself… ‘Reg Hollis’ was the ‘odd man’ … this is of course, in real life, Jeff Stewart. There was a ‘Moll’ from Brazil, but I didn’t meet her!
Whimbrel in control of an actor…
On the day of the filming a host of bodies appeared… The mate stayed ashore to look after a film party filming the boat leaving the creek (With me below, out of sight, issuing guidance…) motor-sailing in a chilly south-easterly. We went here there and everywhere, doing this and that and wanting more… Eventually we got up as far as the Benfleet YC. The final part was two characters telling jokes and bantering as the boat jogged homewards into Smallgains under jib … by then the helm was ‘competent’ to be left alone: I sat up on the cabin top giving the odd instruction – easy sailing… Jeff said that he’d had a fantastic day on the water – never sailed before!
The two main characters sailing Whimbrel back into Smallgains Creek … with ‘Reg Hollis’ at the helm!
I asked for no financial benefit other than a donation to a charity of my choice and this was promised… The cheque was a long time in coming for Mitch is still a student! But come it did… It was more than I expected and I have donated it to the Sea-change Sailing Trust, with a little extra to help those good people on their way… So cheers, Don, ‘Stretch’, Hilary, Richard and many more besides… Thank you Mitch.
For me and my mate, both essentially retired, it was great to be able to give something back to some students. These aspiring film makers, the whole team, worked hard and coped within the confines of a 7.32 metre vessel … bobbing a little in the popple of an ‘easterly’ running up over the Ray Sands. The film is still being worked on…
Some of Mitch’s work can be seen at: http://madeinshoreditch.co.uk/2013/06/25/east-end-film-festival/
And: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Stratford_London/film/East_End_Film_Fest_We_Aint_Stupid/
His company, Hot Wings films, could be the one to watch!
I will let you all know when the film comes out…