Monthly Archives: January 2014

Interview excerpt: Walter Murch recalls Michael Sundin’s Performance as Tik-Tok

Here's a nice mid-week treat for you all - a five minute excerpt from our interview with Walter Murch. Walter directed Return to Oz for Disney at Elstree Studios in the early 1980s.  Michael Sundin, who was the World Trampolining Champion at the time, was cast to perform as Tik-Tok - actually physically operating the robot character from inside.  In this clip, Walter recalls quite what Michael had to go through in order to be able to perform as Tik-Tok, including standing with his head pointing between his legs, his arms back to front and walking while watching himself on a TV monitor! During the filming, the BBC's flagship children's show Blue Peter visited the set and filmed a profile about Michael.  This subsequently led to him becoming the 14th Blue Peter presenter.  Michael sadly died in 1989. ...
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The Elstree Project badges arrive for our interviewees and alumni

For a while we've been thinking of ways of saying thank you to our interviewees and close supporters, and we came across the idea of giving each interviewee a "welcome pack" when they agree to be interviewed - telling them about the project, the history, aims, who else we've met etc. - and also a "thank you pack" after we finish filming with them. To go with the latter, we thought it would be a nice touch to give each interviewee a pin badge, so - with thanks to the help and support of UH Arts and Paul Upson - we've just received a whole bunch of lovely badges! Let us know what you think in the comments below!...
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Elstree Film Season 4, our next season of films arrives in early 2014

We are preparing a fourth Elstree Film Season with UH Arts.  Starting in February, we are screening three films all having a special anniversary during this centenary year for Elstree and Borehamwood. The films are:
  • A Shot in the Dark - 50th Anniversary Screening
  • Murder on the Orient Express - 40th Anniversary Screening
  • Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes - 30th Anniversary Screening
We will publish dates closer to the season beginning, and be sure to look out for UH Arts' Spring events guide....
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