I worked on several later episodes of Lovejoy as the location sound mixer. It was a total pleasure working on the series mainly due to the personality of Ian who had a role as Co-producer and star of the show of course and occasionally director too. He was able to get well known actors to be guests on the programme with a major part and it was always a pleasure to work with the whole cast because his attitude to the process of filming was great. As a sound man in a job which almost everyone else is concerned about the picture quality it sometimes means that if a take goes well for the camera but not sound we do not go for another take but it never happened on this programme. One great event I wish to share is when I had to record what we call a wildtrack which is a sound only recording of a sound effect which will be needed in the edit but is not considered vital when we are on location. I mentioned to Ian that we would need a wildtrack of his footsteps as he walked around the back of a car because when we filmed the person on the other side of the car who he was having a conversation with we could not record his footsteps seperately. I did this so that he would be aware of the issue and remember the way he walked so it would edit in comfortably. I also told the First Assistant that the wildtrack was necessary and at the end of the scene he said "cut and lets move on to the next scene"! Before I had a chance to tell him we still needed the wildtrack Ian spoke up and said "Tim needs a track of my footsteps" I responded by saying loudly "Sound running, quiet please" and everyone else stayed still and silent. Fifteen seconds later we had done what was required. I had never had such a helpful and positive response from an actor before or since. They normally keep away from issues such as that. That is just the best example of how he was exceptional to work with. There were many more but they were so regular and normal on that programme I don't remember them in detail and it would take up many pages of the comments to recall them. Ian was great to watch on the screen and work with too. I have worked with several other actors who are just as good to watch and work with but I did many months working with him and each day was so positive and enjoyable it seldom seemed like work!
Ian, thank you for for the best interview that I have ever seen from ANY actor. The way that you explain the characters is second to none. Happily you escaped typecasting and have become established in Hollywood, I only came across this interview in 2014 and will share it. Many lesser actors today receive accolades yet how many could describe Lovejoy and all the characters in such detail. Many get knighthoods for less!
Lovejoy is set mainly in rural England. Lots of big, expansive mansions with long heritage to explore. The only thing slightly American about him is that he wears cowboy boots. Having him poncing about the mid west looking in barns and getting all excited about a bumper from a 1985 Lincoln Town car is about as exciting as it could get. How would the posh totty in Lady Jane square up? A waitress in a burger bar who used to live in England?! Nah, impossible to recreate the quaintness of it in USA
How on earth would a US version of Lovejoy work?! Any series they take from us never works out as good. The only success they've had recently is with The Office... and it still isn't as good as the UK version. America has no history or tradition. It's a very young country compared to the UK. Their idea of an antique is something that's only 20 years old. So how on earth could it work?!
@Darwinion Furthermore, our poor, traditionless country is filled, as I'm sure you're aware, with family heirlooms. The important thing to remember is that we're talking about a television show....let's all mellow a bit! :))
@Darwinion Hey now! No need to get snippy. America is a very young country, of course, but I hardly think the statement can be made that we have no history or tradition. Historical shows do very well here, I suspect, in part, because people crave a connection to items with history and pedigree. Thankfully for us there is quite a large antique market in the States in which many people are able to procure pieces internationally.
