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Birdcage – You, My Heavy Star: Behind the Scenes


There’s a certain stereotype about actors.

You know the one. Turn up on set to your luxurious trailer, be waited on hand and foot, wear glamorous clothes, speak a few lines and then go home.

Well, it’s not like that for everyone.

While my friends were probably propped up in bed at the weekend enjoying a lie-in, phone in one hand and cup of tea in the other, I was rolling around in mud pretending to eat someone. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it.

To be fair, the weather was lovely, if a little cold. I was picked up early in the morning to be driven to a secret location near Newport for the filming of a music video for brilliant local band Birdcage.

Morning location
Bright sunshine – great! Freezing cold – ouch!

The action would take place in a wooded area on the edge of a field a short walk away. The light needed to be right – the subject matter of the video is dark, so preparations continued all the way through the day until we had the right balance for the director.

Field View

Our group assembled under the watchful eyes of Director of Photography Steve Owen and Director Hefin Rees.  Stunt Coordinator Rick Manning put us through our paces as there were a few leaps and bounds to complete, not to mention the savage eating of a young lady!

Clapper Board
How cute is this clapper board?
Masked Elizabeth Coyle
A quite fetching hoodie and beak combination

By the end of the day we were all pretty exhausted but proud of the day’s work. Here’s the team – see, some of us are even still standing! And no, that’s not a Batman mask I’m wearing 🙂

You My Heavy Star wrap photo

Rawcut Media made a behind the scenes video of the day. Keep an eye out for me and my fetching eye makeup!

And of course don’t forget to listen to Birdcage and follow them on Facebook. The full video for You, My Heavy Star is in my portfolio too!