Shows &  Events.

Souled Out - A new film for 2009.

3rd - 4th September 2008 (Stoke-on-Trent, UK)

Throughout August and September 2008, a new film called “Souled Out” was being filmed in Stoke-on-Trent. To quote the synopsis from Ipso Facto Films:

1974. Power cuts, strikes and boot-boy aggro on the terraces. Flares,Chopper bikes and beer at fourteen pence a pint.

JOE MCCAIN, 17 and restless, is bored with the flatline tedium of a life that seems like it´s going nowhere. Enter JANE, moving to the beat of a music that Joe´s never heard, a vision of loveliness who opens the door to a whole world of sound, movement and all-nighter dancing at The Wigan Casino - the home of Northern Soul! Swept along on this tide of pulsating dance and lust, Joe finally finds somewhere he belongs and the acceptance and true love he yearns for.

The film was made in Stoke-on-Trent as “Kings Hall” was the nearest building they could find that emulated Wigan Casino.

As Lucie (my Reliant Regal Mk VI van) was made in 1961, I was asked if I would take it along so that it could be used in one of the street shots as “background furniture”.

Having just ha a tow bar fitted on my Jaguar, I borrowed a towing dolly from Pete & Dee Gnosill and took Lucie over to Stoke on 3rd September for filming in Wellington Street. Not long after Lucie was released from the towing dolly, the rain hammered down. Caroline and I went to the community hall where they dished up spaghetti bolognaise for all those on set and we were told that due to the rain, Lucie would not be required.

Rather than tow it back 48 miles to Tamworth, I arranged to leave Lucie outside the security hut at Staffordshire University where the security guards said they would keep an eye on it over night. So, I fired up Lucie to take her down there and she wasn’t happy, when ever I pressed the accelerator, the engine would die and then the revs would come back when I took my foot off. I figured this was either due to the damp or debris in the carburettor.  With the choke out and at about 15  mph, I managed to drive Lucie 1 mile down the road to the university, locked her up and asked the security guards to watch her, then returned to Tamworth.

The next day, I was told that Lucie would be required on set for 4:30pm so I worked in the morning then got over to Stoke for 2pm so that I could fix the problem, hoping for the obvious, I soon realised the running problem wasn’t damp and figured it must be the carburettor.  I phoned my brother Geoff for a few ideas and amongst then was check the gap at the points and clean the carburettor out.  Luckily I had plenty of tools and after resetting the points, cleaning the distributor cap and cleaning the carburettor, I turned the key and the started up fine and revved with no problems. I then drove it down to Wellington Street so that it was on set.

Filming started about 4:30pm and thankfully the weather was superb.  After a couple of scenes were shot I was told that Lucie was required and so I parked her at the side of the road was the film crew directed where the wanted it. Infront of the car was a huge mirror on long legs and so I thought they would move this.  The scenes were shot and then after another hour or so, the chap who had provided two mopeds was told that he could now take them so I asked if they would still need to use the Reliant. They replied no, they had finished with it so suprised I said, “But it hasn’t been used”. “Yes it has”, they said, “It was used as background furniture”.  That puzzled me as there was a large mirror in front of the car so I was convinced that was in the way.

They thanked me and I started to load Lucie back onto the towing dolly when I spoke to someone else who told me that the car had been lined up for a shot and that with the angle of the camera, the mirror would not have been seen.  I guess that makes sense.  The scene it was shot in was about 30 seconds long and they filmed it from four positions and on one of the positions Lucie (or part of Lucie?) may be in the background. 

So ... now I shall wait until 2009 to see if Lucie is in there, though I’d best not blink in case I miss it.

Lucie next to a 1966 Bedford van used by one of the characters in the film. This was on the first day when filming was rained off.

Lucie next to the same van on day 2 with “1970s” extras who walk up and down the street. The Bedford van now had sign writing and “artistic” dirt.

One of the main characters of the film having just shot a scene with the Bedford van. (Lucie being out of shot).

Amazing how many people are involved in one scene.

Lucie in place for filming for one of the scenes when the main character comes home and is spoken to be another chap fixing his moped on the pavement.

Elvis Payne

September 2008.

My rough guess (the yellow area) of how the camera angle may have caught Lucie in shot.