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.