Terry Pratchett Read online

  The Mob Film Company

  Hogfather is a nicely made film but has had a little criticism from younger viewers, who find a death scene near the beginning of the film a little too unsettling for its PG label. Although the movie is aimed at a young audience, it will still attract younger children, and that’s where Pratchett’s work does receive some criticism: not all of it is suitable for the whole family. David Jason, Marc Warren, Michelle Dockery and Tony Robinson play their parts very well and it is nice to hear Ian Richardson, in one of his last appearances, as the voice of Death, and, of course, Pratchett himself as the Toymaker.

  The beginning of the film is taken directly from the very start of the book. Beautifully narrated by Ian Richardson and with impressive graphics of the great turtle, elephants and Discworld, it really grabs the attention.

  The important childhood nightmare scene-come-true is there in its entirety, interspersed with a Christmas Carol-like spiritual uneasiness from the vaults of the Guild of Assassins. There is a dark underlay to this interpretation of the Pratchett classic, which is as provocative as the original book. When Death takes over the mantle of the Hogfather to deliver all the children’s presents by daytime, an endearing humour begins to surface.

  Something I particularly like about Hogfather is the art direction. The black and ivory of everything is quite breathtaking, especially when a spurt of red is added.

  A very good movie all round, with lots of visual imagery and eeriness.

  Hogfather proved to be a hit with fans and inspired The Mob Film Company to follow up its success with the very first Discworld novel, The Colour of Magic, the following year.

  THE COLOUR OF MAGIC (TV)

  Release date: 2008

  Director: Vadim Jean

  Cast:

  Rincewind David Jason, Twoflower Sean Astin, Trymon Tim Curry, Patrician Jeremy Irons, Narrator (voice) Brian Cox, Galder Weatherwax James Cosmo, Death (voice) Christopher Lee, Ninereeds Janet Suzman, Cohen the Barbarian David Bradley, Arch Astronomer Nigel Planer, Broadman Stephen Marcus, Bethan Laura Haddock, Herrena Liz May Brice, Liessa Karen David, Picture Imp Geoffrey Hutchings, Death Marnix Van Den Broeke, Head Librarian Nicholas Tennant, Jiglad Wert Michael Mears, Lumuel Panter Roger Ashton-Griffiths, Ganmack Treehallett Will Keen, Greyhald Spold Peter Copley, Wizard Leader Ian Puleston-Davies, Narrowbolt James Greene, Ymor Ian Burfield, Rerpf Arthur White, Zlorf Miles Richardson, Luggage/Orangutan Richard da Costa, Third Rank Wizard/Spell 2/Kring Andy Robb, Master Launch Controller Adam Ewan, Astrozoologist 1/Rubble Rouser Philip Philmar, Astrozoologist 2 Terry Pratchett, Dim Student Thomas Morrison, Brother of the Order of Midnight Brian Hammond, Blind Hugh Paul M Meston, Gancia Christopher Willoughby, Weems Pia Mechler, Barbarian Chieftan Shend, Barbarian 1 Ray Newe, Marchessa Noma Dumezweni, Big Star Man/Star Refugee Joe Sims, Book Burner Woman Bridget Turner, Lackjaw Rusty Goffe, Alchemist Richard Woolfe, Spell 1 (voice) Eloise Joseph, Townsfolk (uncredited) Philippa Burt, Stren Withel (uncredited) Jason Daly, Cripple Wa Allin Kempthorne, Magic Sword (voice) James Perry.

  Crew:

  Production executive: Mob Film Company John Brocklehurst, Producers Rod Brown, Ian Sharples, Executive producer: Fluid Pictures Dave Throsell, Executive producer: Sky Sarah Conroy, Line producer Sean Glynn, Executive producers: RHI Robert Halmi Jr, Robert Halmi Sr, Executive producer David Jason, Line producer: Canadian water unit Allan Levine, Post-production producer Shaun Nickless, Executive producer Elaine Pyke, Original music Paul E Francis, David A Hughes, Director of photography Gavin Finney, Film editing Joe McNally, Liz Webber, Casting Emma Style, Production design Ricky Eyres, Art direction Mick Kelm, Set decoration Lee Gordon, Costume design Jane Spicer, Make-up artist: dailies Jessica Brooks, Special effects prosthetics Maria Cork, Animatronic character designer Neill Gorton, Make-up artist: dailies Jo Houtmeyers, Make-up designer Clare Juhasz, Senior make-up artist Kathy Kneller, Make-up artist Karon Mathers, Senior make-up artist Suzi Owen, Make-up artist Jacqueline Russon, Production manager Sophie Inman, Unit manager Ted Ladlow, Post-production supervisor Shaun Nickless, First assistant director Peter Freeman, Third assistant director: second unit Lou Hooper, Third assistant director Ian Hughes, Second unit director Chris Plevin, First assistant director: second unit Christian Rigg, Second assistant director Ben Sweet, Additional third assistant director George Taylor, Carpenters David Abbott, Simon Alderton, Daniel Byrne, Joe Cassar, Stagehand John Chamberlain, Plasterer Micky Chubbock, Painter Ben Crosby, Stand-by props Jonathan Downing, Stagehand Clive Drinkall, Art department assistant Natalia Eyres, Carpenter Eddie Farrell, Visual concept: RHI Entertainment Warren Flanagan, Storyboard artist David Allcock, Supervising props modelmaker Simon Gosling, Prop buyer Claire Grainger, Carpenters Peter Grove, Les Hall, Sculptor Emma Hanson, Dressing props Shane Harford, Painter Bob Harper, Plasterer John Harris, Carpenters Garry Hayes, John Heayn, John Allen, Painter Kenneth Hopkins, Props modelmaker Greg Horswill, Carpenter Michael Houseman, Plasterers Michael Houseman, Simon Jacobs, Art department assistant Samantha Kelm, Plasterer Pat Laho, Senior props modelmaker Matt Lewis, Stagehand Steve Malin, Prop buyer Alex Marden, Stagehand Mark Bailey, Prop modeller Glenn Marsh, Stagehand John McNeil, Props runner Nathaniel McNeill, Props master Ray McNeill, Props modelmaker Duncan Mude, Stagehand Jim Muir, Stagehand Keith Muir, Plasterer Eric Nash, Sculptor Matthew Neave, Carpenter Alan Neighbour, Plasterer assistant Otis Bell, Construction manager Brian Neighbour, Stagehand Terry Newvell, Carpenters Paul Nott-Macaire, Barry O’Brien, John O’Connor, Robert Park, Propmaking assistant Marie Parsons, Hod carpenter Dave Pearce, Carpenter Steven Pearce, Construction coordinator Nancy Pert, Painter Perry Bell, Prop storeman Neill Poley, Stand-by props Darren Reynolds, Stagehand Robert Rice, Props modelmaker Stuart Richards, Stand-by carpenter Steve Rodgers, Prop buyer Rosie Rose, Painters Brian Shelley, Lee Shelley, Plasterer John Gary Spraggon, Hod painter Adrian Start, Sculptor Joel Belsham, Supervising painter Matthew Start, Stand-by stagehand Jim Statchini, Carpenter Gerry Stewart, Plasterer Keith Turner, Set dresser Louis Turner, Dressing props Paul Turner, Senior props modelmaker Paula Vine, Plasterer Barry White, Visual concept: RHI Entertainment Milena Zdravkovic, Plasterer Peter Black, Carpenter Dennis Bovington, Foley editor Stuart Bagshaw, Foley recordist Stuart Bagshaw, Sound effects editor Mike Grimes, Re-recording assistant Kirsty Jellis, Re-recording mixer Dan Johnson, Foley artist Andrea King, ADR recordist Gareth Llewellyn, Sound effects editor Shaula Lumley, Additional effects editor Ben Meechan, Boom operator Richard Miller, Sound recordist Henry Milliner, ADR mixer Beauxregard Neylon, Additional sound re-recording mixer Howard Bargroff, ADR editor James Perry, ADR recordist James Perry, Sound effects editor Jeremy Price, Dialogue editor Matt Skelding, Foley artist Barnaby Smith, Foley recordist Barnaby Smith, Foley artist Jack Stew, ADR recordist Graeme Stoten, Foley artist Jason Swanscott, ADR recordist Paul Tirone, QC engineer Thom Berryman, Sound technical coordinator Dave Turner, Transfer engineer Thom Berryman, Foley editor Owen Bleasdale, Foley recordist Owen Bleasdale, Sound project manager Richard Conway, Sound trainee Lara Downie, Supervising sound editor Dan Green, Special effects technician Warwick Boole, Special effects technician James Dunn, Special effects supervisor Paul Dunn, Special effects coordinator Wilma Dunn, Special effects technicians Catherine Hart, Mark Howard, Russell Pritchett, Prosthetics technician (uncredited) Charlie Bluett, Special effects floor supervisor (uncredited) Luke Marcel, CGI artist: Lola Grahame Andrew, Compositor: Mac Guff Romain Arnoux, Visual effects producer: Mac Guff Arnauld Boulard, Visual effects producer: The Moving Picture Company Paul Branch, Compositor: Mac Guff Bertrand Breuze, 3D modeller: Mac Guff Matthieu Buchaski, Texture artist: Mac Guff Myriam Catrin, 2D artist: Lola James Cattell, Visual effects supervisor: Mac Guff Rodolphe Chabrier, Effects animator: Mac Guff Matthieu Chardonnet, I/O management: Mac Guff Marc Chauvet, Texture artist: The Moving Picture Company Rhys Claringbull, Visual effects supervisor: Mac Guff Romain Arnoux, I/O management: Mac Guff Yoann Copinet, 2D artist: Lola Joe Cork, Flame Compositor Fabien Coupez, 3D modeller: Mac
Guff Olivier Dannhauer, Compositor Rupert Davies, Compositor: Fluid Pictures Martin Davis, I/O management: Mac Guff Emmanuel Desbordes, Lighting and rendering: Mac Guff Selim Draia, Digital compositor Hasraf Dulull, Matte painter: Mac Guff Alain Duval, Compositor: Fluid Pictures MJ Azzopardi, Render wrangler: Mac Guff Thomas Foncelle, Rendering: Mac Guff Julien Forest, CGI artist: Lola Siobhan Fowler, Texture artist: The Moving Picture Company James Furlong, CGI artist: Lola Katrin Geilhausen, Compositor: Fluid Pictures Vincent Goodsell, 3D modelling: MPC Andreas Graichen, Effects animator: MPC Liam Griffin, Compositor: Fluid Pictures Dave Griffiths, Visual effects producer: Fluid Pictures Meg Guidon, 3D modeller: Mac Guff Julien Badoil, Compositor: The Moving Picture Company Alex Harding, 2D artist: Lola Rob Harvey, Compositor: Fluid Pictures Steven Hawken, Animation: Mac Guff Jean Hemez, Lead Compositor: The Moving Picture Company Suzanne Jandu, CGI artist: Fluid Pictures Tim Kilgour, Matte painter: Mac Guff Jean-Sebastien Leroux, 2D artist: Lola Kelly Lindsay, Digital compositor Kelly Lindsay, I/O management Matt Lobato, Lead compositor Reuben Barkataki, Assistant visual effects editor Matt Lobato, Matchmove: Mac Guff Peregrine MacCafferty, Visual effects producer: Lola Michelle Martin, Compositor: The Moving Picture Company Alasdair McNeill, Character animation: The Moving Picture Company Jorge Meurer, Senior compositor Humayun Mirza, Animation: Mac Guff Laurent Pancaccini, Rigging Laurent Pancaccini, Lead compositor: Mac Guff Benoit Philippon, Visual effects coordinator: Mac Guff Emmanuelle Pianko, On-set visual effects supervision Reuben Barkataki, Lighting and rendering: Mac Guff Nicolas Renou, CGI artist: Fluid Pictures Adrian Russell, Visual effects supervisor: Fluid Pictures Mike Shirra, Flame artist: Mac Guff Patrick Siboni, Compositor: Fluid Pictures Sarah Soulsby, Concept artist Kim Taylor, Lead matte painter Kim Taylor, Production visual effects supervisor Simon Thomas, Visual effects producer Simon Thomas, Matte painter: Mac Guff Anne-Laure To, CGI artist: Fluid Pictures Howard Bell, Rigging: Mac Guff Patrice Vila, Effects animator: Mac Guff Pierre Villette, Digital compositor Paul Vorsman, Digital effects artist Imery Watson, CGI artist: Fluid Pictures Steve White, CGI artist: Lola Rhys Williams, Conform editor Andy Wood, 2D artist: Lola Max Wright, CGI artist: Fluid Pictures Sam Wright, CGI supervisor: Fluid Pictures Adrian Wyer, Effects animator: MPC Ashley Bernes, CGI artist: Lola Tim Zaccheo, Systems: MPC (uncredited) Martyn Drake, Visual effects supervisor: The Moving Picture Company Anthony Bloor, Horseman Andy Butcher, Stunt performer Michael Byrch, Stunt double: Sean Astin Bradley Farmer, Stunt rigger Rob Hayns, Stunt coordinators Frank Henson, Mark Henson, Stunt performer Nick Hobbs, Stunts Stephanie Lelievre, Stunt performer Nick McKinless, Stunt actor James O’Dee, Stunt performers Dominic Preece, Vincent Wang, Stunt double Bruce Cain, Stunt performer Maxine Whittaker, Stunt rigger (uncredited) Kevin Lyons, Stunt double Nick Chopping, Stunt performers Nick Chopping, Rob Cooper, Head stunt rigger Robin Earle, Stunt wire rigger Robin Earle, Stunt performer Rick English, Stunt double Bradley Farmer, Grip: dailies David Armstrong, Second assistant camera Alfie Biddle, Grip David Draper, Second assistant camera Kate Filby, Desk operator Jamie Fletcher, Electrician Jamie Fletcher, Second assistant camera: Snowdonia James Foster, Libra technician Dave Freeth, Grip trainee Liam Garret, Key grip Pat Garrett, Camera operator Rodrigo Gutierrez, Supervising rigger Christopher Hawkins, Crane grip Ed Burge, Electrician Jon Hearn, Stand-by electrical rigger Gerry Higgins, Video playback operator Peter Hodgson, Videomix operator: Canadian water unit Keith Holding, First assistant camera: second unit Alex Howe, Gaffer Terry Hunt, Still photographer Bill Kaye, Galaxy crane grip: Canadian water unit Rick Leger, Camera trainee: first unit Philip Martin, Aerial director of photography: Snowdonia John Marzano, Electricians Dave Campbell, Richard Mason, Daily camera trainee Glen Milner, Daily grip trainee Simon Muir, Grip trainee Ben Nicholls, Rigger Keith Perry, First assistant camera: Snowdonia Barney Piercy, Director of photography: second unit Chris Plevin, Crane grip George Powell, Rigger Greg Press, First assistant camera Miles Proudfoot, Rigger Ben Carey, Best boy floor Terry Robb, Second assistant camera: Canadian water unit Dana Rutledge, Camera operator: main unit Sean Savage, Rigger Dean Smith, Camera trainee: second unit Paul Snell, Best boy grip Brian Taylor, Mega 3 remote head grip: Canadian water unit Bernard Van Speyk, First assistant camera: Canadian water unit Brad Vos, Riggers Keith Carey, Stephen Casey, Steven Challis, Rigging gaffer Steve Cortie, Second assistant camera: second unit Barny Crocker, Sewing assistant Janna Bannon, Armour costumer: Schmitthenner Armory Brawn Barber, Dye assistant Sarah Hamza, Milliner Kate Humphreys, Sewing assistant Elizabeth Johnson, Assistant costume designer Amanda Keable, Costume assistant stand-by Alexa Koyuncuoglu, Costumer Catherine Lovett, Deputy workroom supervisor Cheryl Regan, Stand-by costume assistant David Wolfe, Costume runner Jeni Campbell, Costume textile artist Alex Carey, Dyer Alex Carey, Workroom supervisor Lorraine Cooksley, Millinery trainee Jessica Corlett, Costume maker Conchita Currie, Costume supervisor Louise Egan, Sewing assistant Rachel Farrimond, Online editor William Chetwynd, DI assistant Alex Gascoigne, Producer: Pepper Post Amanda Heatley, Digital colorist Kevin Horsewood, Assistant editor Laura Morrod, Sales: Pepper Post Martin Poultney, Editorial trainee: FT2 Steven Waltham, Supervising editor Shane Warden, Driver Nick Goulden, Unit driver Ergun Halil, Driver Jon Hearn, Driver: Snowdonia unit Aneuryn Jones, Driver: grip Andy Livesley, Driver Darren Lysenko, Driver: construction truck Ian Shubrook, Driver: SDJ Laurence Turner, Driver: SA Francis Udell, Daily production runner Will Abbott, Director’s on-set PA Saul Abraham, Unit medic Dylan Davies, Trainee rigger Clint Edwards, Floor runner Nick Goulden, Production coordinator Matt Grimwood, Production secretary Victoria Hair, Safety crew: Snowdonia unit Rachel Hamer, Script consultant: RHI Lynn Holst, Key floor runner Lou Hooper, Runner Joe Hornsey, Safety crew: Snowdonia unit Paul James, Assistant location manager Lee Alliston, Safety: Snowdonia unit Aneuryn Jones, Double: Snowdonia unit Dylan Jones, Horse master: Snowdonia unit Dylan Jones, Double: Snowdonia unit Paul Jones, Production runner Alexandra Lavis-Jordan, Horse wrangler John Kearney, Assistant production accountant Georgina Kelly, Script consultant: Sky Huw Kennair-Jones, Production runner Scott Kitson, Script supervisor Amanda Lean, Head of Sky One Press Chris Aylott, Production accountant Daniel Liddiard, Floor runner Darren Lysenko, Titles Dolores McGinley, Double: Snowdonia unit Penny Netherwood, Runner/driver Paul Rhodes, Stand-in Steve Ricard, Double: Snowdonia unit Trish Robertson, Helicopter pilot: Snowdonia unit Will Samuelson, Production runner Harvey Snelgrove, Aerial operations manager Andy Stephens, Location assistant: Canadian water unit Darren DJ Biro, Double: Snowdonia unit Vincent Todd, Production coordinator Kerri Trounce, Location manager Bill Twiston-Davies, Helicopter safety op: Snowdonia unit Michael Wright, Location manager: Canadian water unit Robin Brinsmead, Pre-production accountant Alex Chapman, Local location manager: Snowdonia unit Joel Cockrill, Stand-in Simon Cruise, Script supervisor Julie Daly-Wallman.

  The Mob Film Company

  Length: 189 minutes

  After the success of Hogfather, The Mob Film Company took a stab at the very first Discworld novel. As it turned out, the resulting film was based on the first two novels in the series, blending The Light Fantastic with The Colour of Magic. With Pratchett firmly involved – and taking a cameo part again – the resulting script was a good one. The production was slick, and the main character of Rincewind was played by seasoned character actor David Jason, who had wanted the part for over ten years.

  The movie clatters along at pace, taking in most of the fun of the novels and providing fans with a feature-length multicoloured fantasy adventure that can be loved by the whole family. The opening credits say that the production was ‘mucked about by Terry Pratchett’ and it seems all the better for it too.

  Sean Astin plays Twoflower and the chemistry between Astin and Jason is excellent – and Luggage too. With a nice little cameo from veteran Christopher Lee as the voice of Death, The Colour of Magic is one of the very best Pratchett-related films.

  GOING POSTAL (TV)

  Release date: 2010

  Director: Jon Jo
nes

  Screenplay: Richard Kurti, Bev Doyle