Throughout the week preceding the end of September '04, several community groups were contacted by Kaye Elliott, Community Liaison Coordinator of Big Strike Films Limited. Plans had been made for their group to come to Stainforth on Saturday 2nd October, where over 200 locals turned up to have their photographs taken and to submit their applications to be film extras.

Big Strike Films Limited are here to create a one-off drama, called Faith, for the BBC, which is to be screened sometime in 2005. Through this page I hope to keep a diary of the events that take place in the coming months.

05/10/04
The next venue where you can apply to be an extra in the drama, "Faith", has been announced. Anyone wishing to apply should go to Hallcross Upper School, Thorne Road, Doncaster, on Saturday 9th October, between 10.00am and 6.00pm.
Alternatively, you can go to Thorne Grammar School, St. Nicolas Road, Thorne, on Monday, 11th October, between 4.30pm and 9.00pm.

Or, contact Kaye on 07977988371.

12/10/04 - 14/10/04 - 15/10/04
The meetings at the Fox attracted quite large crowds, where they met the production team from Big Strike Films Limited. Everyone there is now on first name terms, and this included David, the Director, who pulled the crowd together for an "actor's workshop" evening, which was filled with some hilarious moments. David, who was joined by Alison, the Producer, and other team members, Eleanor and Kaye, passed along some acting techniques and shared his experience and knowledge with the gathered hopeful "extras".

Those who attended were treated to some impromptu acting scenes of the Battle of Orgreave and of a miners soup kitchen, played by themselves of course. The would-be actors varied in ages, from the very young, to the grey haired 50 somethings, who remember the events of 1984-85 with passionate clarity.

Some professional acting members of the cast were at the Fox for that evening, including a young man who played Billy Elliot's better looking brother, in the film about the miner's son who became a ballet dancer.

Filming of the drama is scheduled to start on 24th October and will end on the 28th November. A note of caution! Those wanting to take part as extras will have to brave the cold late autumn mornings, as work on the set begins at 7.00am each day.

Throughout the week, members of the production team met with local schools and introduced themselves to the staff and children. They plan to reproduce a Christmas party, in the spirit of that held in the midst of the strike in December '84.

People who had volunteered to be extras in "Faith" received notices to show up at the colliery at 4.30pm today.
The colliery car park was filled almost to capacity at the designated hour, something not seen since Hatfield was turning coal on a regular basis, as people flocked to the pit to sign up for parts in the drama.

On arriving at the colliery, everyone followed the signs marked "Extras", which guided you into a building once used for several purposes, including the Colliery Control Centre, the Wages Department, and the "Covered Accommodation". This building looked very tatty and dilapidated in comparison to the last time it was seen by many of those who had worked at the pit before it was privatised. Now, it was litter strewn, untidy, and very dirty. In the hallway, between what was once the time office and the control centre, a large queue formed. The wages department was bereft of any reminders of its previous designation, and now looked like a cloak room at a church bazaar. This was where the extras should have been fitted out with clothing for their character parts in the drama. However, it soon became apparent that the few staff who were there would be unable to cope with the large numbers who had turned up for the wardrobe fitting.
Those who were to play the parts of police officers were asked to go to the front of the queue, so that they could be fitted out first. The rest of the throng were told that if they had been requested to attend for less than three shoots, they would receive their costumes on the day of filming the relevant scenes.
Many people left then, and made their way up to the Pit Club, where a workshop had been planned to commence at 6.00pm.
This was to be the final workshop before filming started, and David Thacker, the director, introduced everyone to Rad, the first assistant director.
Between them they explained how a typical shoot would progress, the language used on the set, and how to respond when "action!" was called.
The remainder of the workshop, which lasted until after 8.00pm, looked at the different ways people would have used a typical welfare hall during the miners strike.
By this time, regular faces were beginning to assert themselves within the mini dramas being reenacted at this and the previous workshops. There were many others in attendance who were there for the first time, and many of these were people who had traveled from various places in and around Doncaster.

Prior to the final workshop taking place, and for much of the following day, Hatfield Colliery began to come alive, as more and more people connected to the drama team readied themselves for the imminent flurry of activity required to produce a TV drama. Lorries filled with gear and other mobile units began to assemble in the pit yard and car park. The BBC had arrived in Stainforth and their creativity entourage were assembling for the job ahead.

24/10/ - 4/11/04
Filming of the drama began with shoots taking place in Thorne, Moorends, and Stainforth.
In Thorne, a local florist was asked to prepare over 50 wreaths for use as props in the filming of a scene taking place there. Meanwhile, on South Common, a house was the backdrop for several scenes. Later, a "fight" was filmed at the Dolphin, a Moorends fish & chip shop.

5/11/04

VOLUNTEERS

Big Strike Films are looking for local people to take part in 2 pivotal scenes from the film as volunteers. These volunteers will not be paid for their involvement but we hope the experience will be rewarding by providing access to the filming process, advice from Screen Yorkshire about entering the industry. And also provide all those involved with the opportunity to take part in a film based around an event of historical importance firmly rooted in Yorkshire.

VOLUNTEER DATES
SUNDAY 7TH NOVEMBER
MEETING POINT: DONCASTER COLLEGE, WATERDALE, DONCASTER
FILMING AT: CIVIC THEATRE
TIME: 7.30AM

SUNDAY 14TH NOVEMBER
MEETING POINT: HATFIELD PIT CLUB, EAST LANE,STAINFORTH, DONCASTER (ON THE CORNER OF THE COLLIERY ROAD)
FILMING AT: HATFIELD COLLIERY
TIME: 8.00AM

For more info contact Kaye on 07977988371

A striking miners' rally was held at Newby (Doncaster's Civic Theatre).

Looking out from the stage, the audience area was a sea of waving banners and placards. Many of those who had been striking miners at Hatfield Main were present in the audience, and they were joined by people from all over the Doncaster area.
The scene was shot several times, from several angles, as is normal for the filming of this sort of drama. After each shoot, the audience stood and applauded Michelle with fervent gusto. There were several choruses of, "The miners united, will never be defeated!" which had the hairs rising on the back of my neck each time it was repeated.

Tuesday/Wednesday 09-10/11/04

For these two days the activity was centered at the Moorends Hotel, or Unc's (Uncle Arthur's), as it is more fondly known by the locals.
Several scenes were shot, using one of the small bars and the larger concert hall.

Sunday 14th November

Today the "Back to work" march, marking the end of the strike, was filmed. In 1985 the defeated miners' returned to the pits with a show of unity that was symbolic of their united year long struggle. It was hoped that a large crowd would turn out to take place in the march, but, despite an aggressive advertising campaign throughout the preceding week, the 'hoped for' throng failed to materialise.

For the remainder of this week, the crew and cast of Faith were busy in and around Thorne. On one particular day, an actor's stunt workshop was held, so that the supporting cast could be educated in the way that violent scenes were created without causing harm to the performers.

Wednesday 17th November

It may be cold outside, but on the picket line it's summer! Today a scene set in July was shot outside the Newby picket hut, with supporting artistes stripping off to emulate a summer sizzler. The ice on the puddles around the picket hut was broken by stamping feet, but a wind cold enough to strip your flesh from your bones blew across the scene, as the actors bravely talked about the coming autumn.

Sunday 21st November - Thursday 25th November

The final week of filming concluded on Thursday, with just sound bites and some finishing touches required to be scheduled for the next day.

The week commenced with the building of a large marquee on the site of the pit car park. This was to be used every day of the final week for meetings and meals.

On the afternoon of Sunday the 21st, everyone was introduced to Gareth, the stunt coordinator. The following two days were designated for shooting the scenes where a massed police presence attempted to break the strike at Newby by forcing two scab busses across the picket line.

The following day saw more of the same, but this time with addition of mounted police. This time two busses approached the picket line, causing mayhem between the striking miners and the massed police. With the help of the make-up department, several pickets and police suffered an assortment of bloody wounds.

On Wednesday there was a fall of fake snow, as winter came to Newby. The now very familiar snowman story was filmed, amid riotous laughter, as the "chief inspector" stumbled into an open drain.

On Thursday morning there was another march; this time from the Pit Club on East Lane, to Newby Colliery pit gates. That wound up the last of the main takes, with bits and pieces being finished off in the Pit Club car park and on the pit lane that afternoon.

Have Faith Celebration Day
27th November 2004 10.00am - 11.00pm
The Old Club, Market Place, Hall Road, Stainforth
There was a full day of singing, dancing and fun, which was well attended by the cast, crew, supporting actors, and many others.
In the evening there were some impromptu performances on stage, and a disco provided music for dancing.
By the end of the evening there were scenes of tearful farewells, as the guests left Stainforth to go to their hotel, before returning to their homes the following day.
Stainforth will return to a sullen winter silence until next spring, when there will be a meeting in the Fox to see a preview of Faith.
It promises to be a great night!