School-based drama Waterloo Road comes to
91Èȱ¬ ONE, Thursday 9 March 2006
Claire Phillips – producer of Waterloo Road
Tell us about the location you have been using to
film Waterloo Road:
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Our school is set in the heart of a housing estate in Rochdale.
It used to be a middle school and was used as an infant school prior
to us moving in.
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We had to empty out the tiny chairs and desks to transform
it into Waterloo Road Comprehensive.
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When did the school close on this site?
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The school closed at the end of the summer term 2005.
It closed on the Friday and we discovered it on the following Wednesday.
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We had spent so long looking for a suitable location and
Hill Top School just seemed to pop up out of nowhere. As soon as I walked
inside, I knew it was the school for us.
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What made the school stand out as a suitable location?
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A lot of the schools that we had visited had been empty
for a while. They had suffered from extensive vandalism or just simple
neglect, as they no longer had a purpose.
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With Hill Top, its pupils had
only moved out the week prior and therefore none of that damage
had occurred. It looked like a real school without us having to do anything.
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How did you choose the uniform?
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The uniform really helps tell the story of the school.
It is subtle but it's there.
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If you notice in episode one, there are only
a handful of pupils who actually abide by the uniform rules. A lot
of kids have customised their uniform or aren't wearing it at all.
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I spoke
with Sarah Ryan, our costume designer and we decided to portray
the improvement in discipline through the school uniform.
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By episode 8,
when the school has got itself back on its feet, there's not a
pair of trainers or trendy t-shirt in sight!
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Tell us how you went about choosing the school badge and crest etc:
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Paul Rowan, the show's designer, designed the Waterloo
Road Crest and it was down to me to choose a school motto. We came across
'Ex Nihlio Omnia' – It
means Everything From Nothing.
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I thought this was quite appropriate
both in terms of the story we were telling but also from
a production point of view. The show had a very fast turn around and we
had a lot to achieve in very little time.
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Tell us a bit about the casting process:
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We saw so many people when we were casting
this show but I knew instantly who I wanted from the second they read the
part.
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Jason Done is a perfect Tom Clarkson. Jamie Glover brings
Andrew Treneman to life and Jason Merrells makes Rochdale sexy. Angela
Griffin makes me want to teach and Jill Halfpenny and Camilla
Power have turned in formidable performances.
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Not only are they all extremely
talented but one of the most charming and conscientious casts I
have ever worked with.
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How did you cast the kids for the series?
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We used a local casting director and saw literally hundreds
of kids.
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We were
so blown away by the talent of some of the young artistes that
we cast that their roles increased as we continued writing the series.
We wanted their talent on screen.
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Tell us a bit about the show and what it means to you:
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I watch the episodes and it reminds me of my school days.
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What's trendy in terms of clothes and accessories may have
changed but the fights and dilemmas and attitudes still remain the
same. And the
life behind the staff room door is going to make people want to
come back for more.
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What I love is the organic nature of the political side
of the drama.
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It grows naturally out of situations and quite clearly
spells out for the audience what has changed in schools today in
terms of the politics. It's shocking and revealing.
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I am very proud of Waterloo Road. We have a wonderful
cast who have given their all and who have been so great to work
with. Their performances have made me laugh and cry
in all the right places.
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The location looks fantastic. We have had the most fantastic
designer in Paul Rowan with his team along side. It has
looked vibrant on screen with so much light coming through all
those windows. There's not the whiff of a set in sight.
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We have achieved more than I thought was within our grasp.
The lighting is fantastic – and
within the tightest of schedules. Lawrence
Jones who has been our principle DOP [Director of Photography] on
this series and has done a tremendous job.
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What has been the best and the most difficult thing about producing Waterloo
Road?
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The biggest challenge for Waterloo Road has been time. The
show was turned around in record time. I think we have astonished ourselves.
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But it has brought a lot of pressure from scripts through
to the filming to post production. It may have been done at record speed
but what will hit the screens is a classy piece of drama that will be
much talked about.
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The best part about the productions has been the people
involved. It has been about teamwork. This show belongs to everyone who
worked on it. It has been a creative collaboration at all levels.
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Tell us why you believe this series will appeal to both parents and kids:
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I think both parents and kids will enjoy this series. There
is something for everyone and I hope this will be a regular 8pm sofa
moment for all the family.
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