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‘That’ll be the Stardust!’ has been 20 years in the making, and chronicles a 15-year period in the life of Jimmy Maclaine jr. who is attempting to come to terms with the legacy of his rock star father.
1979:
Sept: Tony first views That’ll be the Day on BBC Television.
1985:
March: Tony first views Stardust on BBC Television. The climax of the film has a lasting effect...
1988:
August: The original idea for That’ll be the Stardust!, albeit without a title, is first conceived in Blackpool, Lancashire (Tony’s hometown at the time) whilst he listens to an old copy of the 2-LP vinyl soundtrack of Stardust which he purchased at the Beach Market in South Shore. The strength of the music on the compilation set influences Tony’s creative thinking concerning the project. Warner Home Video release That’ll be the Day on VHS and this proves to be another major influence.
The premise of the idea is to evolve around a segment of the story which would include new expanded scenes for a theatre play featuring the two main characters of Stardust namely, Jim Maclaine (David Essex) and Mike Menary (Adam Faith). Alas, no project details materialise due to Tony’s work commitments abroad in 1989.
1989:
Aug: During a summer season in Club Theatre in the Balearic Islands, Tony revisits the Stardust soundtrack and observes the stage of the main showroom for ideas of scene settings for the project. Unfortunately, creative juices run dry due to other stage commitments at the time.
1990:
April: Llandudno. HTV Wales screen That’ll be the Day and Stardust back-to-back during the wee hours one morning, but Tony has packed up his portable TV ready for a move to Scotland and misses the double-bill. No further interest is raised in the project.
1991:
Jan/Feb: Warner Home Video release Stardust on VHS and Tony contemplates the original idea. Furthermore, the stage of the Butlins theatre at Wonderwest World in Ayr doesn’t ignite any enthusiasm for the idea during his second summer season contract at the resort.
1992 – 1998:
The idea is revisited at various intervals throughout the rest of the decade with a brief outline for a script along with further ideas but nothing is completed. Tony decides on a brief retirement from the Arts & Entertainment business in 1998; Computer skills are necessary for him to develop into the modern age therefore work commitments are prioritised.
1999/2000:
The purchase of a home computer ignites Tony’s creative juices and two promotional posters for That’ll be the Day and Stardust are designed with clip art in Microsoft Word format...they still exist in his portfolio today. No further development is considered for the original idea which is now over a decade old.
2002/2003:
Tony’s developing IT skills influence his desire to create an idea for a script for a mini-production based on some of his entertainment memoirs. The production is performed in aid of Comic Relief and takes the format of an onstage Radio Play performed live in a function suite setting. The success of the show enables Tony to consider writing a similar type of production for his fifteen year old original idea. Then, one day, somehow, the title of That’ll be the Stardust is born by combining both titles of the films; only the word Day is omitted. Suddenly, the basis for a duologue playlet between the characters of Jim Maclaine and Mike Menary is decided upon for a prospective production.
2006:
After two years of other work commitments and writing projects, Tony turns professional as a Voice Over Artist and his development as a writer enables him to script his own demo showreels for recording; the possibilities are endless...
2007:
Jan/Feb/Mar: Tony attends various acting courses at a local college and writes a monologue and a duologue playlet for his end of course assignments which are also performed in the college theatre to critical approval. He then records both pieces as short radio drama showreels in a local studio, and so the story begins:
May: The idea for That’ll be the Stardust! is revisited once again and promotional artwork is completed. The first solid idea is created for a prospective radio drama production; the song I’ll Find My Way Home by Jon & Vangelis influences the writing of a scene which is eventually cut from the production. However, further ideas expand into several other scenes until a synopsis for the story is created.
June: Tony re-works a scene that he originally wrote for an amateur stage production several years ago which features a character being driven to overdose by ghosts of his former girlfriends. The scene’s influence is the song Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes and this scene is specially re-written for inclusion in That’ll be the Stardust!
Aug/Sept:The script-writing begins and further editing continues.
Dec: The first draft of the script is completed and David Preston is onboard as Producer. Furthermore, an advert is placed with starnow.co.uk and the prospect of recruiting actors and actresses for roles in the radio drama; from the first group of applicants Madeleine Havell is chosen to voice a number of the roles. A decision is made to expand the production into a ‘making of’ Documentary to be directed by Mike J. Spicer in conjunction with Nottingham Trent University.
2008:
Jan/Feb: During filming of the documentary Ray Connolly is contacted via his website and frequent email communication continues. Ray informs Tony that Canal Plus owns the rights to both films and therefore Tony would have to contact the company to establish his proposal for the project.
Feb: A letter is received from the offices of Lord David Puttnam who wishes Tony well with the project. A twelve month not-for-profit music contract is purchased to ensure the rights to the use of several songs for the both the making of documentary and radio drama.
March: Location work is completed in Oldham and Blackpool, Lancashire and new recruit April Harrison joins the cast; rehearsal recording work is undertaken at Confetti Studios in Nottingham for inclusion in the documentary.
April/May: The production achieves over 100 applications in reply to the second advert placing with starnow.co.uk; the complete cast is assembled within the first week of applicants. Joining Tony, Madeleine & April are Richard Ward, Alma Simpson, Erica Thomas-Lowe, Wayne Ross, and Holly Magrath.
May/June: During this period another project is born - Jim Maclaine’s DEA SANCTA. The musical project depicts the full telecast of the fictional Dea Sancta et Gloria from the film Stardust; Tony writes a further nine songs for the production and embarks upon recruiting several musicians and arrangers for the project but nothing materialises due to the musician’s lack of commitment.
July: A Cast ‘Meet & Greet’ is scheduled in London with a last-minute attendance by former Jimmy Maclaine jr. – Dominic Connolly, who in turn accepts the offer to voice Jim Maclaine in the radio drama. A great day is had by all with rehearsals, discussion and overview and also a food buffet provided by Tony’s Mother!
August: Some important advice is given by musical composer Sacha Puttnam concerning the Dea Sancta project. Sacha played young Jim Maclaine in That’ll be the Day and is the son of Lord David Puttnam. A meeting with Breast Cancer Care in London to discuss Jim Maclaine’s DEA SANCTA musical production in aid of the charity proves futile; plans are put on hold for the project.
Sept/Oct: During this period Tony continues further editing and redrafting on the script of the radio drama and an idea for a novel manuscript also materialises. The idea for Harmony’s Voice is born.
November 23rd: The official recording date for That’ll be the Stardust! and Tony’s 41st Birthday. Several attempts were made to get everybody together earlier but due to contrasting schedules this date was appropriately decided upon. Resident Studios in Willesden, London is the recording venue and Mark Tucker is the recording engineer. A hard-working day ensues!
2009
Jan: Tony completes his voice over links for the drama. Recording takes place at David Preston’s home studio in Leeds.
Feb: Plans are underway to promote the project via local/hospital radio networks in London; meanwhile, David Preston is producing the first mix of That’ll be the Stardust!
Mar/April: Tony is achieving significantly good results for his short story assignments with The Open University; White Marble Heaven (title is from one of Tony’s compositions for Jim Maclaine’s DEA SANCTA musical) expands upon a segment of Ray Connolly’s original script for Stardust. The other story is the opening chapter for Harmony’s Voice which is considered to be a sequel to That’ll be the Stardust!; this chapter is expanded into an idea for a combined novel, children’s book and audio recording project in aid of Bullying UK.
April: the first radio show – Woodside Radio at Newham University Hospital in Plaistow. In attendance is Richard, Alma, Wayne and Erica and they are individually interviewed by Tony in the final part of the show.
May: the second radio show is undertaken. Tony & Madeleine are interviewed at Citybeat Radio at London’s University College Hospital in a 1 hour 30 minute special!
June: the 2-CD recording of That’ll be the Stardust! is released to the Cast and Tony announces the finalisation of the project with the creation of its own website domain. The story of Harmony’s Voice is no longer the sequel to the original radio drama. However, this project will commence in aid of Bullying UK in 2010.
July: www.thatllbethestardust.co.uk
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