Mark Stay's Blog, page 31

Robot Overlords: Test Shoot at Pinewood 16th March. 2013

I’ve only recently realised that Robot Overlords is nearly ten years old, and that we started shooting in May 2013. But before that we had a day of test shoots at Pinewood Studios. It was to see how the kids worked together, and so a set was built of a sweet shop for the scene where the gang stock up on fireworks and sweets and decide what to do next. At that point we had two of our eventual cast, as Alex and as Connor, and two cast members who wouldn’t be in the finished film: Harry Lawtey as Sean and Eros Vlahos as Nathan. Not sure why it didn’t work out with Harry and Eros, who were very good, but such is the nature of the movies and they’ve both gone on to great things.

Jon workshopped the scene with them all day. As screenwriter, I wasn’t really needed (but there was no way I wasn’t going to be there) and so spent most of the day wondering just how much grub I could pinch from craft services before I was evicted from the studio.

Here’s one entry from my diary for that day…

The big surprise was Milo, who — once you stopped him looking at the camera — was just terrific. Funny, watchable and full of energy.

Here are a few pics from that day on Stage H, Pinewood (and more to come throughout the year)…

Jon Wright on Stage H, Pinewood From L-R: Jon Wright, Eros Vlahos, Milo Parker (horns), Ella Hunt, Harry Lawtey. From L-R: Milo, Eros, Harry From L-R: Harry, Ella, Eros, Milo Ella Hunt obscured by a clapperboard. Note the film’s original title. Milo Parker contemplates exploring Vinland.

GEISTERZAUBER is out today in Germany

The third Witches of Woodville GEISTERZAUBER (Ghost Magic — aka The Ghost of Ivy Barn) is out today in Germany! I love what they’ve done with the covers and they all look amazing together. Grab your copies from all good German bookshops. There’s more info on the Heyne website here.

Ghost of Ivy Barn readings on Bookable Space

I was delighted to be invited by Yvonne Battle-Felton to read three extracts from The Ghost of Ivy Barn on her splendid podcast Bookable Space. I reveal the real locations that inspired the Witches of Woodville and why the series might not be as cosy as it first looks.

Download from your preferred podcast provider, or click on the link below to listen…

UNWELCOME available to rent in the UK

UNWELCOME is available to rent on digital in the UK today! A mere £4.99 for a slice of Redcap mayhem. Just pop along to Apple, Amazon, Sky or wherever you rent your digital movie! No blood sacrifice necessary… unless you *really* want to…

It should be popping up to rent across the world in other territories this week. Tomorrow is the USA and I think from Thursday we’re on Paramount+ in Australia!

Rosie Andrews on the Bestseller Experiment

Me and Mr D are in a peculiar mood in this week’s podcast. I’m recovering from a cold and he’s high on cold medication, leading to some very strange conversations about streaking… No, really. But fear not, Rosie Andrews comes to our rescue with some great insights into writing historical fiction. Her debut, The Leviathan, is face out in ever bookshop I go into these days and I think we’re seeing the beginning of superstar’s career here…

My Conversation with Dave McKean

Back in January I was lucky enough to be asked to interview Dave McKean for an event at Waterstones, Canterbury. He gave an amazing talk on his career working as an artist in comics, film, theatre, music and more. It was filmed by the folk at Waterstones and you can watch it here…

Two Chickens for Laura Long Arms

There’s a new FREE short story for subscribers to the Woodville Village newsletter…

Superb art design by Andrew Bowden!

This story was previously published in November 2021 as part of the Everyday Kindness anthology compiled by LJ Ross in support of the charity Shelter. All of us were still reeling from Covid and lockdown and the idea was to put a little good out into the world.

The result was an amazing anthology with stories from a wide range of incredible authors. I do urge you to check it out and support the good work of Shelter here: https://ljrossauthor.com/book/everyday-kindness/

Regular newsletter subscribers also know that I usually record an MP3 audio version of the story for them to download. Well, in this instance someone beat me to it. And that someone is only Dame Julie Bleedin’ Bloody Walters* herself! It’s part of the same anthology over on Audible and she gives a beautiful and heartfelt reading.

I was blown away when I heard that she chose to read my story, especially as I have a wee bit of history with Julie that you can read about here.

Laura Long Arms is based a little on the legend of Jenny Greenteeth and other such nymphs who lurk at the bottoms of ponds and wells and lure people (especially children) to their doom. I grew up in a time when children were bombarded with public information films warning us about the dangers of deep and still waters, so her legend has always resonated with me, and there’s no reason why she can’t return in another tale from Woodville. 

I really hope you enjoy this story where Faye learns that a little kindness can go a long way…

*To give her full honorific.

UNWELCOME is released in the USA this week…

American friends, UNWELCOME will be in selected cinemas from this Wednesday 8th March! To find if it’s showing near you simply click here, then on the BUY TICKETS button, and a list of cinemas and showtimes will pop up!

Mark Edwards on the Bestseller Experiment podcast

Anyone here remember Twinterviews? Or text-based book launches on Facebook? Mark Edwards does! He was pioneering online book launches long before Zoom and Streamyard, and in doing do he’s got an amazing connection with his readers and has sustained a career writing standalone thrillers and sold over 4 million copies of his books. He’s also a delightful bloke and it was a real treat to catch up with him again…

I’ll be at the London Book Fair in April…

On Wednesday 19th April from 5:15, I’ll be on this panel giving advice on what authors should do across various digital platforms to best represent themselves.

Byte the Book’s Justine Solomons will chair this discussion and she’ll be joined by Bookswarm’s Simon Appleby, Marketing Mentor and Confidence and Mindset Coach Kelly Weekes and Writer and me! The discussion will be followed by drinks and a facilitated networking. You’ll find more details here.