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Neighbourhood
Watching
B.A.M.P
Video - Group E PSC Drama Project,
26/02/1993
(1
x 15 mins) Bournemouth University / B.A. Media Production
Couch
potato Derek is given an ultimatum by his wife: if he doesn't lift a
finger to tidy up their tatty house and garden, she'll leave him.
Nosey neighbour Doris overhears their row, and his threat to kill her
if she doesn't shut up. When Doris sees him digging a hole in the
garden that night, she phones the police, believing him to be burying
his wife's corpse. The police arrest Derek and turn over his garden,
but the inspector aborts his murder enquiry due to a lack of
evidence. When they leave, the police restore the garden to a tidy
state. Derek's wife returns from her mother's, to congratulate him on
a job done well in the garden. Derek admits that the neighbours
helped a bit...
The
ever-resourceful Simon Goddard had ripped off this old sketch by Mel
Smith and Griff Rhys Jones once before. He converted it into his
audio drama coursework. Later, given the role of director in his
video group's PSC drama project, he recycled the script again and
cast all his mates in the resulting black comedy. Simon recently
insisted that he only used the Smith and Jones story outline. The
lines in this film were all his own... So Neighbourhood Watching is
very funny. But whoever is responsible for the script, there are many
more laughs to be had from the casting, since this video offers a
romp through some of our year's stalwart names.
In
addition to directing, Simon starred as Derek - the couch potato
role was hardly a difficult one, he was essentially playing himself.
Greater amusement may be found in the casting of James MacDonald as
the surly police sergeant, and Gillian Isles as one of his
constables, complete with fake moustache. Plus, Rick Prosser and
myself in drag as the two old dears who report Derek to the police.
I've no idea whose dress I was wearing, but it had the reek of
mothballs and stale urine about it...
Neighbourhood
Watching disappeared from the BAMP tape library in April 1993, a few
days after its end of term screening to the whole year, and I never
got to make a VHS copy. But Simon sent me a tape in 2001, and I'm
delighted to say that I guffawed all the way through it. Fine use is
made of Percy Grainger's Country Garden as a theme tune, while 64
Stanfield Road Winton never looked so good on film. Despite some
atrocious acting, the film really does hold up well after all these
years.
Derek:
Simon Goddard
Derek's
wife: Alison Jenkins
Mildred:
Rick Prosser
Doris:
Simon Harries
Mildred's
husband: Stuart Derrick
Police
Sergeant: James MacDonald
Detective
Inspector: Karl Larsson
Constables:
William Bentall, James Deighton, Gillian Isles
Director:
Simon Goddard
Crew:
Lisa
Billard, Rachel Newell,
James
Deighton, Gillian Isles, James MacDonald. |