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Post by Difficult Diva on Nov 20, 2008 20:05:09 GMT -5
;-) Carl, thanks for the links,
Nice thoughts from Guy. Still dont't believe the SE worked, but I'm glad he's happy with his contribution. :-)
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Post by jaymac74 on Nov 21, 2008 3:04:37 GMT -5
Digital Spy interview with Guy Burnet! Hopefully no blonde model or snogging in sight! Hollyoaks favourite Guy Burnet - Craig Dean in the soap - returns to screens next week for a special bank of late-night spinoff episodes on E4. Hollyoaks - Later sees Craig whisk his sister Steph (Carley Stenson) off to a remote location for a break from the norm back in Hollyoaks village. However, the pair aren't prepared for nutty Niall's (Barry Sloane) appearance. Tragedy strikes, however, in the fourth episode when either Niall or Craig plummets to their death from a cliff top. Here, DS chats to Guy about Later, drawing a line under his Hollyoaks experience, and Pete the naturist. How did you first hear about Hollyoaks - Later?
"I was filming my TNT project over in America and I got a phone call from Lucy Allan, who's the new producer of Hollyoaks and a good friend of mine, and she said that she really wanted to use me in the late-night eps they were planning. The initial idea was to have a Craig/John Paul storyline in Dublin but both James and myself felt that the story was now over. Lucy re-approached me a few weeks later with this great story involving Niall. It's based on content rather than sex and swearing. It's trial and error with the late nights. There have been about eight of them and I'd say that all of them bar one have been poor. I think they've learned from past mistakes and have seen that you need story content to keep the audiences engaged." Where does Craig fit into it all?"The story I have involves Niall [Rafferty], Steph [Cunningham] and Tom [Cunningham]. We're in this amazing location - which we filmed in Wales, but it's set it Scotland - and it culminates in tragedy. Steph's going through this hard time and Craig phones her up to see if she wants to get away somewhere. We go off to this cottage in the middle of nowhere, no phone signal, no nothing. Then there's an unwanted visitor who turns up to find Steph. Once you get into the third and fourth episodes, it's action-packed. There's a cliff-top tussle and one of us dies. I wanted it to be a conclusion of my stuff. I think a lot of people think that I perhaps wouldn't be [killed off] but I can't tell you! You'll have to wait and see." How come there's no John Paul?"Basically, Craig comes over [from Ireland] and the only explanation that John Paul's not there is that he's in Dublin doing a lot of DJ gigs. The trip was just for me to go away for a bit with my sister. Craig and John Paul are going through a little bit of a rough patch but nothing serious. It's just a genuine relationship with the ups and downs." There's quite a freaky naturist, isn't there?
"That's the Hollyoaks late-night nudity! The guy who played Pete the naturist, he's called Martin McCormick. He's a lovely guy and was great to work with." Was he actually stood there naked? "Pretty much. He just has a bit of a leaf on his willy. That was about it. There was always something there to cover him up for the camera, but not for our eyes! Our eyes were abused!" Didn't you have a Hollywood cameraman for the cliff scenes?"Yeah. They brought in these guys who did the Bourne Ultimatum - the stunt stuff is amazing. We pretty much all did our own stunts. The weather was so severe on some days when we were doing fight sequences and falling off the cliff, we were all wired up. The camera goes flying down the cliff with us. We had to wrap because of the dangerous weather. Then we went back two weeks later and Barry and I had to co-ordinate our own fight sequences. Lucy Allan was amazing producing it, too. She's very much open to ideas and she was always there on set, making sure everything's right." Will you continue to make reappearances in Hollyoaks or do you want to leave Craig Dean behind?"I love Hollyoaks, but I see the late-night as a full stop. It was a really important thing for me to do because when I went back to finish the John Paul/Craig storyline, if it wasn't for Bryan, James and the McDeaners, I wouldn't have done it in a million years. When I went back to do it, I had a lot of days where I was really regretting agreeing to do it because I prefer leaving things open to people's imaginations. I think it ended in a good place initially and if it was my choice, I'd have ended it when I originally left. Hollyoaks is amazing, but you have to take a step away. Sometimes if you know that the door's still open, it's kind of uncomfortable because you're aware that that opportunity's there. I wouldn't want to go back to Hollyoaks in a regular role." What's your reaction to the news that Bryan's stepping down as producer?"Everyone seems to come up with a clichéd kiss-ass segment for this bit, but I want to genuinely say that Bryan is amazing. He's done so much for Hollyoaks, along with Lucy, Carolyn Reynolds and Tony Wood. Bryan spear-headed what was a revolution in Hollyoaks. Suddenly, we had decent actors doing decent drama. He really took the show places. In my opinion, you still get the silly things like releasing a perfume. I guess it's part of Hollyoaks and maybe it takes away some of the continually improving drama on screen. Bryan's managed to begin the revolution of moving the stereotype away from all that. He gave birth to the John Paul and Craig storyline and countless other ones. I think Bryan's made the right decision [to leave]. He's taken the show so far, but I think that to take it to the next level, it needs a fresh face. Lucy's the natural progression - she'll do an amazing job." www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a1361 ... yoaks.html Bonus Scoop Earlier this month, I caught up with Guy to chat about his Hollyoaks - Later experience, which sees his character Craig Dean take his sister Steph (Carley Stenson) on holiday to Scotland with little Tom (Ellis Hollins). When Niall tracks them down after finding their travel details on a conveniently-left-open laptop, it's ultimately the end of the line for one of them after a dramatic scene on the top of a cliff. The main interview with Guy can be found here. Below is some bonus material, including Guy's thoughts on the Sunset Ending and details on Craig still struggling with his sexuality in the Later eps. What did you think of the Sunset Ending?
"I said to everyone at the time that I was going back for two reasons: one because I agreed with Bryan [Kirkwood] and James [Sutton] before I left that when James left, I'd go back for his leaving storyline; and two, for all those McDean fans. They've given me gratitude presents, which is lovely of them. In terms of story, I warned the fans that it wasn't going to be necessarily what they wanted because generally, you think you want something, but when you get it, it's a completely different thing. Some people were disappointed by the return, but some people loved it. So long as I provoke a reaction, I don't care if people like or dislike me." Would you have done it any differently?"That's a difficult one. The Sunset Ending is what the fans wanted. So do you give fans what they want? I think in this case yeah - you've got your fairytale ending. I'd have probably preferred it to have been more original and less fairytale. Perhaps they could have ended up together and there had to be some kind of compromise. Obviously, there was the fatality of Father Kieron, which made the story a lot more interesting and three-dimensional. It's hard for me to suggest an alternative ending, to be honest. It was the obvious ending to go for… obvious and maybe a little clichéd." Is Craig still struggling to come to terms with his sexuality in the late-nights?"I think people are going to still be a bit pissed off because now Craig's become more comfortable with the sexuality issue. Steph might poke fun but Craig says 'Listen Steph, I'm not gay. I love him, but I'm not gay'. I know it pisses a lot of people off but that's the angle I think is good to stick with. There are a lot of people out there that perhaps might fall in love with one person and perhaps not categorise themselves into one sexuality. "I think that's important to reiterate consistently in the character. I know that there's always an uproar with Craig and fans say that they can't believe he doesn't know who he is yet and how it's so unrealistic, but from my research, there are a lot of people out there who aren't represented - those who don't want to categorise themselves in a sexuality. That's something I'd always stick by with Craig and I'd always tell the producers that's the angle to go down with him." www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a1361 ... urnet.html
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Nov 21, 2008 8:49:09 GMT -5
Thanks! He's become very good at these interviews.
I won't miss McDean, but I will very, very much miss Craig Dean.
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Post by Difficult Diva on Nov 21, 2008 11:00:50 GMT -5
Thanks for posting the new interviews of Guy. Very interesting to see his comments about the whole thing.
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Post by Bonobochick on Nov 21, 2008 12:21:15 GMT -5
I am not pissed off at that. I would be if Craig was still playing games regarding his feelings, desires and sexuality but if he's not, then I am cool. Clichéd is being polite. The SE was horribly written and Guy Burnett is being too kind in saying that it's hard for him to suggest an alternative ending. BK wrote the SE in such a contrived, nonsensical poorly executed manner that I think it would be diificult to think how it could have been worse than it was. Such a disappointment, IMO, especially compared to the original McDean story. And don't even get me started on how badly Kieron's death was handled in the SE.
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Post by caitlinp on Nov 21, 2008 13:10:16 GMT -5
I keep thinking there had to be a reason why it was handled like it was. I wonder what did he mean by a compromise? Is he talking about the characters, or TPTB reaching an agreement on how the storylines should have ended. I also agree with him about the story ending last September. And like you, my problem with Craig was his treatment of John Paul and Sarah, not his unwillingness to label himself. I am not pissed off at that. I would be if Craig was still playing games regarding his feelings, desires and sexuality but if he's not, then I am cool. Clichéd is being polite. The SE was horribly written and Guy Burnett is being too kind in saying that it's hard for him to suggest an alternative ending. BK wrote the SE in such a contrived, nonsensical poorly executed manner that I think it would be diificult to think how it could have been worse than it was. Such a disappointment, IMO, especially compared to the original McDean story. And don't even get me started on how badly Kieron's death was handled in the SE.
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Nov 21, 2008 19:11:37 GMT -5
Until this interview I didn't realize that both James and Guy were so resistant to repeating McDean. I used to think that some of Guy's earlier hesitancy was based on his career, but now I think that they must have both become very wary of what happened to this pairing.
I think the relationship went from making some sense for the characters to just being McDean for the sake of McDean. The show didn't make a strong effort in the writing for the SE, because they seemed to assume people would be pleased solely because it was a McDean happy ending. Never mind that the ending wasn't even that happy, what with being shrouded in death and unresolved issues.
I still don't understand what Kirkwood was thinking. Guy and James, not to mention the fans, or Jake Hendriks, deserved better.
I can't help wondering if the heart of the story left when Daran Little quit last year.
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Nov 24, 2008 17:57:12 GMT -5
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Dec 7, 2008 5:24:28 GMT -5
Here are Barry Sloane, Bryan Kirkwood, and C4's commissioning editor talking about how Hollyoaks has changed, taking questions, and discussing the late night special. www.youtube.com/watch?v=43xWalj3wE8
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Post by darcolover55 on Dec 7, 2008 19:24:27 GMT -5
OKAY, HOW ADORABLE ARE THEY. I DIDN'T KNOW THEY HUNG OUT. AND I THINK THIS MAY BE MY FAVORITE PHOTO OF JAMES S. EVER.
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Post by caitlinp on Dec 7, 2008 19:48:43 GMT -5
They are childhood friends, and I believe they attended school together. OKAY, HOW ADORABLE ARE THEY. I DIDN'T KNOW THEY HUNG OUT. AND I THINK THIS MAY BE MY FAVORITE PHOTO OF JAMES S. EVER.
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Post by Difficult Diva on Dec 8, 2008 12:46:11 GMT -5
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Dec 9, 2008 3:48:50 GMT -5
Nothing for McDean or Kieron. Given the writing, I guess I'm not surprised.
I didn't realize Michaela was quite so popular, but that's good, Hollie's a great actress.
Emma Rigby for favorite actress when she's barely had any stories the entire year.
All those Niall/Barry Sloane wins shows why HO should have kept him around and redeemed him.
Of all the categories, only a handful were won by people who are not leaving or have not already left the show. I hope that tells HO something about their current slate of stories and characters.
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Post by caitlinp on Dec 9, 2008 9:20:34 GMT -5
Most of the nominees were for people who have left.
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Post by anthonyl on Dec 9, 2008 12:10:48 GMT -5
Can anyone explain to me why Michaela is so popular. The actress is fine, but I find the character totally unappealing and unlikeable. Is she supposed to be written that way or am I just not 'getting' it? And..... sorry to people who like her!
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Post by caitlinp on Dec 9, 2008 20:11:57 GMT -5
Can anyone explain to me why Michaela is so popular. The actress is fine, but I find the character totally unappealing and unlikeable. Is she supposed to be written that way or am I just not 'getting' it? And..... sorry to people who like her! I didn't like her at first either, but then I realized that her main purpose is comic relief. Sadly, she's not a three dimensional character, despite the fact that Hollie has great range as an actress. But once you realize that you aren't meant to take her seriously, she is very funny. i think that's why a lot of the younger viewers like her, she's a welcome break from the other characters who are usually mired in very heavy storylines.
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Post by caitlinp on Dec 14, 2008 23:21:05 GMT -5
The After Elton "gays of our lives" poll results have been posted. While VL pretty much swept everything, HO was well represented, and the Kieron storyline was voted as most shocking plot twist by over 60% of the vote. www.afterelton.com/TV/gayslives/12-15-08?page=0%2C0
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Post by Bonobochick on Dec 15, 2008 1:05:56 GMT -5
The After Elton "gays of our lives" poll results have been posted. While VL pretty much swept everything, HO was well represented, and the Kieron storyline was voted as most shocking plot twist by over 60% of the vote. www.afterelton.com/TV/gayslives/12-15-08?page=0%2C0Part of me wants to be very catty about that plot twist and say it was that "most shocking plot twist announced months in advance". Yes, I am still bitter at Kieron's death. Waste of a character that had lots of room to grow (and a character that could still be of some use on HOL considering the current state of the show) not to mention a good actor.
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Dec 18, 2008 10:08:04 GMT -5
Bryan Kirkwood talks about Hollyoaks 2008 and gives some spoilers for 2009. An excerpt. www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a138665/producers-perspective-2008-bryan-kirkwood.htmlYes, not underestimated like KILLING HIM OFF FOR NO REASON. Whatever. And no mention of McDean or the SE. I can't help wondering if the show just wanted that done and over with. James and Guy deserved better. As did viewers. I'm glad they finally realized they overdid the darkness. I hope it's not too late for the show to recover.
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Post by Difficult Diva on Dec 18, 2008 10:24:36 GMT -5
Thanks for posting that link, Carl.
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Post by caitlinp on Dec 18, 2008 10:29:56 GMT -5
Those are some wonderful thinks that Mr. Kirkwood said about Jake Hendriks. I also agree with his assessment of Barry Sloane, he is a very good actory, but I fear that he will have a hard time avoiding being typecast.
I'm also happy that he realizes that Sarah has been a doormat for the men in her life. I would have bet good money that he didn't see the level of misogyny in some of her storylines.
ETA: Thanks for posting this Carl. I doubt KG is finished covering the SE/Guy/James. I don't think he would do an interview with BK and not mention those three. While the Niall storyline was HO high mark of the season, followed by Max's death, the SE was Kris Green's high point, as he highlights in his year in review column.
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carld2
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Post by carld2 on Dec 18, 2008 11:06:25 GMT -5
I'm sure DS will mention the Sunset Ending, I was only surprised Kirkwood didn't. There was a very apathetic tone to the way the SE was written (and don't even get me started on the poor pacing and all over the place motivations in John Paul/Kieron), and Kirkwood not going into the big McDean ending at all made me more curious about the show's real feelings on that relationship.
I still wish the show had done more with Niall. Big wasted opportunity. I think this was a huge break for Barry and since HO isn't a huge soap (like EE or Corrie), he may not be typecast in the role.
Sarah has been a doormat, but she's also been so inconsistent in her motivations. There was no real reason why she ever would have wanted Elliot, as there's no real reason why she now may have feelings for Zoe. All I hope is they won't make her into the latest attempt at a superbitch.
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Post by caitlinp on Dec 19, 2008 12:24:52 GMT -5
I'm sure DS will mention the Sunset Ending, I was only surprised Kirkwood didn't. There was a very apathetic tone to the way the SE was written (and don't even get me started on the poor pacing and all over the place motivations in John Paul/Kieron), and Kirkwood not going into the big McDean ending at all made me more curious about the show's real feelings on that relationship. There's a part two of this interview that will be posted after the new year, and Green already said that his discussion with BK about the sunset ending will appear in that part. I seriously hope they talk about more than the SE, because that is a subject that needs to die already. I also hope Green has two part interviews with the producers of other soaps, because if he is just doing this with HO, that's just sad.
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mj128
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Post by mj128 on Dec 20, 2008 10:19:30 GMT -5
The Times has released their 2008 Soap Awards and HO comes away with three wins: COUPLE OF THE YEARMcDean! Craig and John-Paul in Hollyoaks.BEST SOAPHollyoaks. For sheer bravura and audacious writing and direction, the 'Oaks slays the big beasts. BEST CREDITS SEQUENCE entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article5325886.eceIt's mighty impressive to see that out of all the other soap couples out there on the four soaps, The Times found that John Paul and Craig were soap couple of the year for 2008. I think The Times are spot on with this well deserved award for McDean. There's a part two of this interview that will be posted after the new year, and Green already said that his discussion with BK about the sunset ending will appear in that part. I seriously hope they talk about more than the SE, because that is a subject that needs to die already. I also hope Green has two part interviews with the producers of other soaps, because if he is just doing this with HO, that's just sad. I can't help but wonder, Caitlin, if perhaps Kris Green is doing a two part interview with Bryan only since Bryan is the only soap producer vacating his post at the end of this year, whereas the other soap's producers are not. Since BK was at the helm when the show, its cast and storylines won multiple soap awards, won a Stonewall award, a Mental Health Media Award and was the driving force behind some extremely well publicized storylines during his three year tenure, some of which helped the show to garner worldwide attention from fans and the media (US based AfterElton, for example), perhaps it was felt by Kris Green that Bryan was deserving of a two part leaving interview. Just a thought.
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Post by Difficult Diva on Dec 20, 2008 11:07:00 GMT -5
Good for you guys to get a "shout out" that you're proud of this time.
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