Me with Gavin Fraser on the set,
Some unfortunate news.
This is posted today by Rocking Horse Media. I am absolutely devastated and frustrated, but accidents happen, and mine could not have been at a worse time for this fabulous project.
So Henry House: The Pilot. What happened? Well yesterday, we should have wrapped on the feature length production of our care home comedy drama after three months of filming
We didn’t
And it’s about time you all found out why
Henry House, starring Γrla Jones Performs and TV legend Peter Purves in his first serious acting role for fifty years, was three weeks away from completion when Peter endured an innocuous but unfortunate accident at home, causing him to break his wrist in two places, bringing production to a sudden and unavoidable standstill
Despite every effort from the team to find a solution to keep us on schedule, including brave offers from Peter to continue filming regardless of his injury, we were forced to accept that, due to obvious and unavoidable continuity conflicts, we were going to have to close down production
It could have happened to anybody but it didn’t. It happened to a national treasure who was three weeks away from securing a well deserved fifty year comeback to television acting
We had to stop. We had got so close
And due to availability issues beyond our control it would not be feasible to return to filming for SIX months and, if we do, we would be tasked with filming the entire production again… from scratch
So we asked our cast and crew what they were prepared to do and we can now report that the ENTIRE team committed to returning in September and doing just that. That’s what Henry House has come to mean to this special group of people
Peter Purves, whose complex performance as our struggling dementia resident we were so excited to be bringing to the screen, had this to say to the cast and crew once the news filtered through as to what this damaging setback meant for the team:
“Hi, everyone. I really do sincerely apologise for the dilemma we have found ourselves in with Henry House. I know how rooted we have all been with the entire project. Hopefully we can have a successful crowdfunding campaign and all be together in the autumn. Take care. Love and best wishes to you all.”
We have all wished Peter the speediest of full recoveries and we are sure you will all join us in doing the same
But unfortunately, as Peter suggests, it is not as simple as just being prepared to FILM it all again. We also need to FUND it all again, as our previous budget was spent on what we have already filmed. And that is why, this coming Sunday, we will be launching a very unique CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN – a week to the day since we should have wrapped on production
We will also be holding a live variety night SUMMER SHOW fundraising event as we attempt to “bounce back” from this devastating setback, where the star of Henry House, Γrla Jones, will be headlining alongside a whole host of other acts
Our Writer and Director is going to quite literally put his body on the line and undergo (ANOTHER) paid CLINICAL TRIAL and we have an Assistant Director who is preparing to climb a MOUNTAIN just to help us climb THIS mountain of a setback
We have had children offer us their pocket money and runners from our set organise their own local fundraisers; that’s how much everybody wants to keep our little care home drama going…
Suffice to say, we are throwing everything we can into keeping Henry House and Peter Purves’ comeback alive. So… how can you help?
All we can ask is for you to keep your eyes peeled for the crowdfunding campaign, for news of the live event… and please, just support us
We are doing all that we can do. We do believe that we can “bounce back”. But that will not be enough on it’s own. Without your support… this will be one mountain too many
Henry House has helped so many people already, especially providing work experience opportunities for young people and those with special educational needs through our Partnership with Derwen College. And we want that good work to continue, but all of that good work now hangs in the balance
We have included a series of images which we hope sums up that good work and some memories that have honestly been career highlights for a lot of us. But we have also included the difficult, emotional moment where our Producers had to address the cast and crew with this crushing news, because we believe you need to see that too
Nobody likes asking for help but, unfortunately, we’re past that point
It’s very simple. Henry House needs your help
Now more than ever x
Thank you
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