Pierrefonds - 21 June

[merlocmod.livejournal.com]

Please be warned that these reports and the photos on Flickr now contain some totally serious casting (guest and recurring), costume, and prop spoilers.

After the heat of yesterday, it was a great joy to me to wake up and find that it was raining. Not sure if the crew much appreciated the rain, but then I don't think they'd enjoyed the heat very much either! The weather was quite changeable all day, creating delays, and culminating in a thunderstorm. At which point I called it a day! Presumably the poor cast and crew had to soldier on.



Filming started around the middle of the day. Angel filmed a short scene in the courtyard in that gorgeous red dress. And then Angel and Tom were down in the dungeons filming with Alice Troughton for much of the rest of the day.

Meanwhile, just about everyone else was up in the courtyard, filming a scene involving Arthur, Merlin and the other knights (Leon, Gwaine, Elyan) preparing to ride off on an adventure, along with the awesome Princess Mithian (Janet Montgomery) from last season and an old woman. Gaius was also present, though I wasn't quite sure if he was riding with them or seeing them all off.

Once Colin had done his close-ups, he headed off, and a Merlin-double took his place. The Merlin-double also filmed a brief scene on the drawbridge, of Merlin running into Camelot along with a young man. I'm not sure what Colin was filming or if he had other commitments of some kind.

I've already uploaded my photos to Flickr: you can find them here. You may consider it a promise or a threat, but there's lots of Rupert today!

I should warn you that about halfway through the day I realised that I had stuffed up my camera settings, going back to the heat of the previous evening when Colin was running along the balcony thing. Obviously my brain had just shut down at that point. I don't think it's ruined the shots, but many are rather over-exposed. So it's back to camera school for me!

Comments

[alayne yopp santiago (from livejournal.com)]

Hi Julie, well from what I can tell your pictures are still great regardless of the exposure. Trust me we've all slipped up on settings before... I have the habit of leaving the lens cap on... (shakes head and sighs) You have an eye for certain shots that I really like. Especially the one where you were taking a picture of the sky, but what I noticed was the top of the castle... such detail. And once again you had a plethora of subjects. soooo cool. Thanks for all the updates and insights.
Hope you have a most restful evening. One question... How long do they normally film at Pierrefonds and do you stay for the whole filming? (like a working vaction) I just had to ask because you do put so much into this... And it is appreciated by those of us who can't be there. I'm gathering they film in sections.
Bonne nuit
PS... Had to mention how cute they all look in their aviator sunglasses.. Reminds me of TOPGUN.. LOL

[merlocmod.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for your kind words about my photography! I was so mad at myself, as I only even noticed after taking a whole heap of Rupert pics... I was all 'Oh noes! I hope I haven't ruined them all!' Still, I think I have taken enough Rupert pics for now... Until Monday, anyway! :-)

The total amount of time they film in Pierrefonds changes so much, but it's usually for one or two weeks; it used to be for up to three weeks. They usually come over three times a year, but this year it's only twice. And yes, they film in blocks of three (or two) episodes at a time, so there are five blocks in total for the year (3+3+3+2+2=13).

I won't be here for the whole thing. In the past I've come for chunks of two or three days, or at most a week. This time I have an extra day at either end of a full week. But I'll be leaving Monday evening, and I'm afraid I won't be able to report on any of the filming after that.

They do all look adorable in their sunnies, it's true. I was never a fan of aviators, but they do suit Bradley, I cannot deny that - and now Rupert has completely won me over. ♥

P.S. I love that you use the word 'plethora'. I mean, it always was one of my favourite words, and then The Three Amigos made it hilarious. :-D

[alayne yopp santiago (from livejournal.com)]

My mother always said... "I made sure you were brought up with a large vocabulary, please use it and stop saying ummmm... LOL (I do the same to my boys :D )

Do you still post on here even after your trip or do you disapper like a ghost? I Think I'd miss seeing your posts. I've enjoyed chatting with you. :)

[merlocmod.livejournal.com]

Your mum was obviously a wise woman. :-)

Well, I certainly don't post every day once I'm home again and back into the demands of 'real' life. It's nice to think you'll miss this. ♥ I certainly try to post semi-regularly, but alas there's always so many other things to do as well.

Let's not lose touch, anyway! I'm going to presume to pop on over to facebook and friend you. :-)

[alayne yopp santiago (from livejournal.com)]

That would be great... do that. I look forward to a new friend.

[sallyna-smile.livejournal.com]

Baby jesus, that shoulders shot of Bradley and Colin *.*
There's a pic in particular (one of Rupert) where you can actually see Janet reflected in his glasses XD
AWESOME batch ♥

[merlocmod.livejournal.com]

Hee! So very glad you're liking this batch of photos! I'm sure you realise what a pleasure it is to have such a photogenic bunch of lovely peeps on the other side of one's lens! :-D

[oriane-34w4.livejournal.com]

Thanks Julie. Janet is stunning on the photos. I hope it wasn't too cold this time under the rain.

Bonne soirée !

[merlocmod.livejournal.com]

Merci, mon cher! Janet was looking so very beautiful - amid a crowd of gorgeous people! I am so looking forward to seeing the return of Mithian.

Thank you for your kind thoughts. I didn't find that day cold at all, actually - if anything it was a bit muggy! It got a bit colder today, and I actually put my hoodie on. :-) I really appreciate you thinking of me, but the only unhappy time I had was feeling too hot on Wednesday! ♥

[merlocmod.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, hon! I'm delighted that you're enjoying the photos, and especially the delightful Dale. ♥

I am having a wonderful time, thank you - but it's all the more special to be sharing it with you.

[pakafe.livejournal.com]

Thanks Julie. Looking forward to watching the Merlin double bit when its screened. They try so hard to fool us don't they, but you're our eyes.

[merlocmod.livejournal.com]

Thank you, hon! It will be interesting to see if anyone spots it. The double's certainly not Colin, but then he's not a million miles away, either! :-) And I'm sure you'll be watching the lovely Arthur so very closely, at least the first hundred times... ♥

[gealach-ros.livejournal.com]

Before falling into bed face first I wanted to thank you for your lovely report and wonderful pics. You have no idea how much looking at Rupert's gorgous face made me feel better.

I hope you'll have a pleasant Knight and another good day on set tomorrow. May the weather be more kind than today.

♥

[merlocmod.livejournal.com]

Hey there, my sweet girl... I'm delighted to hear that Rupert's healing powers had such a recuperative effect on you... Oh, he is certainly something awesome, isn't he?

I am hoping we both have very pleasant Knight-dreams tonight, my darling... You deserve them, and I wish for them despite all! ♥

[asifidletyou.livejournal.com]

That's a lovely one that you've captioned 'Oh, Rupert...' :-) and I love the one of the back view of the boys <3 It's so good to see them together again ♥

Thanks for the daily updates, hon :-) - it's definitely the next best thing to being there! And I'm so glad you're enjoying it all so much! ♥

[merlocmod.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, hon! It's such a pleasure to be sharing these days with you virtually - and hopefully in September we'll share them in reality as well. ♥

I'm so glad you're enjoying the photos, and especially those two you've mentioned. I'm rather fond of that one of Rupert myself! :-D

[moonlitpines.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for sharing info and pictures. You are just wonderful to do this!

[merlocmod.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, hon! It's a real pleasure to be here, of course, but I can't deny that sharing it with you all is the icing on the cake! ♥

[reveuse2.livejournal.com]

So the old lady is a young lady in old make-up and Mithian's hair has changed colour..? Interesting. And don't think I didn't totally spot what that well trained horse did there - flicking its ear up just in time to protect BJ's privacy. :D You almost had a smiley full face shot there! x

[merlocmod.livejournal.com]

Oui et oui! :-) Janet looked just so utterly gorgeous in the darker hair... And LOL, yes! That's the one where Bradley's laughing with Eoin, if I'm remembering correctly... Wouldn't it have been delightful, without those darned trained horses interfering...? :-D

[merlocmod.livejournal.com]

You may well be right about the old lady, and indeed that is my current working theory.

Mithien looked marvellous, and I love your point about the reversal in dress code between her and Gwen! It will be interesting to see how Mithien initially reacts to the blacksmith's daughter who usurped Mithien's place. :-)

[babydracky.livejournal.com]

I can't see anyone other than Leon xDxD
Once again thank you for sharing your stay in Pierrefonds, Reporter Flea!;)

[merlocmod.livejournal.com]

There wasn't anyone there but Leon, it's true! Oh, OK, maybe a horse or two. And perhaps a camera man... Otherwise, it was just Rupert all day long! ♥

;-)

your petite puce thanks you very humbly