Swallows and Amazons – Fin & Albie talk to Producer Nick Barton!!!
Who came up with the idea? (Fin age 6)
Nick Barton – Arthur Ransome (the writer of the original book) came up with the plot and the characters (except the spy bit) and I came up with the idea of making the film several years ago. Then with Andrea Gibb , our scriptwriter and Philippa Lowthorpe our director.
Why did you decide to make a film of the book? (Albie age 8)
Nick Barton – A film had been made over 40 years ago, and we thought it would now be good to make a new version but using elements of Ransome’s own exciting life as a spy in Russia in 1917.
Why is it set in the Lake District? (Fin age 6)
Nick Barton – The original book is set in the Lake District and we felt it was important to keep to the spirit of the book. The lakes are very dramatic and the scenery there is incredible.
How hard was it to film the scenes on the water? (Albie age 8)
Nick Barton – It was very difficult to film on the water with boats and children ! Sometimes the wind wasn’t very strong, and you need good winds to make a sailing boat go fast.so sometimes we had to tow them with a RIB. We also had a fast camera boat with special stabilised mounts to film the close up boat scenes . We also had safety boats in case of capsizes , with divers on board (and we had a diver lying in the bottom of each boat! Just in case)
What was your favourite bit of the film? (Fin age 6)
Nick Barton – My favourite bit is the seaplane sequence. We filmed the seaplane on a Scottish Loch and the shots of the Swallow and Amazon being pulled along on Derwentwater, then we edited them together, with VFX shots. Quite difficult!
Who’s your favourite character and why? (Albie age 8)
Nick Barton – That’s hard to answer. I guess my favourite character is Captain Flint. He is a writer, a sailor, and an explorer (like Ransome himself) and a SPY ! I became a sailor because of reading the book. But I also have a sneaking admiration for Roger. He is the youngest and he always seems to get into trouble , and he’s funny. ( he is based on a real life Roger, who became a famous scientist and grew up to be a Spitfire pilot ! Hard to believe….)
Why did you make a film for children scary? (Fin age 6)
Nick Barton – Well sailing alone without adults on a big lake, Coniston is 200 feet deep , can be dangerous. So we wanted to show that. But also that you need to study Man Overboard drills so you can rescue someone if they fall in. Like Roger. In realty children in those days would have sailed with their parents and now days they ALL would wear life jackets, like my children do, whenever they go in a boat, also they would have adults to supervise them.
But the film is an adventure story and the children learn to use their skills to save Captain Flint, and themselves. They all become heroes………..and it all ends well , as in the best stories.
Swallows and Amazons in Cinemas 19/8/16 – Review CLICK HERE!!!
