32 Years in film and tv..

[harryfielder]

Hiya guys, I've just retired after working for 32 years (1966-1998) in films and tv as a supporting artist (bit player).
I got to work on many Ski/fi films and tv shows and had the best job in the world. You can see some of the shows I did on my siggy. IMDB or I list all my shows on my web.
If you've got any questions I'll try to answer them on here...

http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0276092

Aitch,

[celestia]

OMG!!! You were in the original STAR WARS, How cool is that. And Doctor Who!!! That is Very, Very cool.

[harryfielder]

Funny story...From my web...

STAR WARS…DIRECTOR GEORGE LUCAS…
After finishing a couple of Doctor Who’s Central Casting sent me to E.M.I.
Studios to work on another space film for seven days.
I did ask them if they had any other work because I was fed up with wearing space outfits and the like… (Little did I know about STAR WARS).
There must have been about fifty Supporting Artists gathered on the first day, some putting on white space type suits, some being fitted out in weird make up and costumes and the rest of us waited around to see what we were going to be.
We had plenty of time to sit around chatting and playing the odd game of cards.
When myself and a chap called Ronnie Conrad got a call to go to the wardrobe dept, They dressed us in black space type suits but without a facemask…(Were they telling us we were ugly enough to look like aliens).
When we were dressed we sat at the back of the set and waited to do our bit.
I got talking to a giant of a man (Dave Prowse) from the West Country and he told me he was playing a character called ‘’Daft Ada’’.
I found out later that day he was playing ‘’DARTH VADER’’ (It must have been Dave’s strong Bristol accent that made it sound wrong).
Ronnie and I did some odd bits during the week and then the 2nd A.D. called for us to do a bit of business with our old mate ‘’DARTH’’.
We were going to arrest Princess LEIA (Carrie Fisher)…
Carrie’s parents were Eddie Fisher (singer) and Debbie Reynolds (singer/actress). Debbie starred in the film ‘’Singing In The Rain’’ in 1952 and I, as a twelve year old, was in love with her... (It soon passed).
Anyway lets get back to ‘’DAFT’’.
Darth, Ronnie and I walk along some corridors and then into the cell where The Princess was being held. Darth had all the lines to say while Ronnie and I stood there looking ugly. (Typecast)
In between lighting the set Carrie was very chatty and asked what else we had done in films. (Has she got that much time to spare?)
I also met Harrison Ford and was to work with him again over the next few years.
Star Wars was the highest grossing money film that I ever worked on.
Some say it took a Billion Dollars at the box office and video sales…
I earned £11 per day for seven days. Total £77. What’s the % ?…
Twenty five years later I am held in deep respect for being one of "DAFT ADA’S" men, by my Grandchildren… Thanks Mr Lucas…

Aitch,

[nj1]

wow a whole £77, no wonder Lucas is so rich
What was your fav all time film that you worked on?
My guess would be one of the CARRY ON's, I bet they were a laugh.

[celestia]

You have a very impressive list of roles. Wow, Faulty towers, Entrapment.... Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!!!!, I loved that movie as a kid.

[Talysia]

Hello and welcome!

[Woodfoot]

And he looks like Jean-Luc Picard

Some good programs and films there!! especially Blakes 7, you used to scare me as a kid!!

[harryfielder]

Originally Posted by nj1

wow a whole £77, no wonder Lucas is so rich
What was your fav all time film that you worked on?
My guess would be one of the CARRY ON's, I bet they were a laugh.

That's as much as £400 a week now so it was ok.
The Carry Ons was always a laugh but I was in the biz to earn a living.

All time fav..????? Too many...

Aitch, (H)

[The Ace]

Hi and welcome aboard.

[harryfielder]

Originally Posted by Woodfoot

And he looks like Jean-Luc Picard

Some good programs and films there!! especially Blakes 7, you used to scare me as a kid!!

Thanks for the welcome....

http://www.turnipnet.com/aitch/aitch/maybury.rm


Aitch,

[Sephiroth]

Welcome, Harry.




Fascinating resumé. I'm sure I must have seen you several times before.

[Lady of Winterfell]

Hello and Welcome! Enjoy your stay here at Chrons.

[harryfielder]

Nice to be here....

Fun story....

BLAKE’S 7…BBCTV…
Another space epic that saw the hero’s of the show trying to save the planet (and other planets) from the bad guys…
I lost count of the episodes I was in but it was all played a bit tongue in cheek.
One episode I do remember well was when we (Bill, Patsy, Jimmy, and about ten others were filming on Box Hill Surrey)
It was a very cold Sunday and we were dressed as Cavemen. (Bits of fur and the like wrapped around us, teeth blacked out etc.)
At one o clock the A.D. shouted ‘’Lunch one hour’’.
Well I didn’t fancy joining the queue at the catering wagon when there was a warm Pub opposite. (We were freezing)
I was first in and a large brandy and a pint of the black stuff was soon in front of me.
The landlord didn’t seem to mind our strange dress sense as we half filled the bar. The locals took it in their stride.
After a couple of drinks I had warmed up a bit and was talking to some of the locals.
(Some had nipped home to get a camera to have their picture taken with a caveman)
A small dog had been sniffing around me and was snarling at my fur boots. I bent down and made friends with it… (I like animals)
As I was talking to another couple of locals that same dog I had made friends with sneaked up behind me and pissed up my boots. Patsy and the others were on the floor In fits of laughter. (They had seen it all)
An hour later with a bit of bread and cheese in our hands we were back on the hill to continue filming. (Cold, what cold? Except for my feet)
Aitch,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...6June20036.jpg

[Velvet Cyberpunk]

Hello there. I'm new as well. You must have had lots of fun working on those movies and TV programs.

I met David Prowse at the DragonCon in Atlanta in 1996. He was a lovely man, and very friendly. He shook my hand was was very kind to me.

[chrispenycate]

Best job in the world? At least we technicians get to follow through on the work, at least sometimes. Mind you, there might be someone left in the cinema when your name comes up on the end titles – location sound recorder is down there under "best boy's hairdresser" and "key grip unscrewer".
There seem to have been a lot of British personel used on *Starwars 1". I wonder if they were cheaper than their transatlantic equivalents?

Please feel yourself welcome in this refuge from the pressures of sanity and reality. Do not fasten your seat-belt; thr attachment points are just as imaginary as its tensile strength.
Normal service will be resumed as soon as anyone works out what "normal" is around here.