Paul Frederick contacted me about recreating a scene from The Godfather we met up in the Cross Keys on Beverley High Road and made this image.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
I met Jason Dodd in the waiting room at the plastic surgery department of The Castle Hill in Cottingham. We were both waiting nervously for surgery on our heads. We started chatting and the subject turned to Made in Hull we laughed a lot, fear will do that to you and eventually things turned to all things Hullywood. Jason had seen the projections and liked them and asked if he could do one. I said yes sure – so here we have Jason Todd as Dr.Evil shot at Thieving Harry’s late on saturday afternoon.
Duck Soup
Ian Read is Head of Learning and Participation at Hull City of Culture. He approached me about recreating a scene with one of his favourite characters Groucho Marx in Duck Soup. We meet outside his office and head across the way to a solicitors office where we are given access to a rather splendid room. We both spot the pile of papers on the table in the corner and make this image.
The 300
It’s first thing saturday morning, I’ve already photographed Thelma and Louise on Fraisthorpe Beach and I’m stood next to Beverley Gate in Hull town center. I’m waiting for John Gilbert and Iain Thompson suddenly they both appear I know it’s them because John is wearing a Gladiator costume it’s freezing but he’s in high spirits. Some of the city centre building contractors crack jokes about it being a great party last night.
We scrub the original plan of making the image at Beverley Gate and head over to the Quayside near Prince’s Quay where we make this image celebrating one of John and Iain’s favourite films The 300.
Grease
I was approached to do a shoot from Grease by Claire Champlin. One of the ladies for the shoot had driven up from Cambridge and had suffered a breakdown en route so here we have the ladies from Grease minus the car abandoned by the side of the road in Cambridge. In the picture Anne Chatterton(Frenchie) Dianne Rees (Sandy) Zoe Allison (Rizzo) Claire Champlin (Jan), Beccy O’Sullivan (Marty).
Photograph Quentin Budworth © for merchandise click here
The Lady in the Van
Liz Dees got in touch with me about recreating a Hullywood moment for her mum Bea Dees. The film she had chosen was The Lady in the Van one of my favourite British film comedies of recent years.
Written by Alan Bennett, and starring Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings. It tells the true story of Mary Shepherd, an elderly woman who lived in a dilapidated van on Bennett’s driveway in London for 15 years. Smith previously portrayed Shepherd twice: in the original 1999 theatrical production, which earned her a Best Actress nomination at the 2000 Olivier Awards[7] and in the 2009 BBC Radio 4 adaptation.
We recreated the shot in Pearson Park on a chilly saturday morning.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Ian Mitchell said he’d like to be Darth Maul. Darth Maul, later referred to as just Maul, is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. Trained as Darth Sidious’s first apprentice, he serves as a Sith Lord and a master of wielding a double-bladed lightsaber.
Robin Hood
I’ve known Alan Raw for a life time. He’s a close friend and we play together in the legendary world music band Celtarabia. Alan is curating the Hullywood Icons Exhibition at the HIP Gallery which runs from Febuary 17th to April the 2nd 2017 in Princes Quay, Hull.
I could say a lot about Alan’s amazing work as a gallery director, curator, radio presenter, musician, arts and community activist or his deep commitment to family but I won’t. What I will say is that he is an extraordinary individual who will go the extra mile to advocate and champion the people of Hull.
Reservoir Dogs
It’s just after lunchtime on a windy thursday afternoon and I’m here to meet Lee Walton and his friends for a rather special shoot at the Lord Line Building. Getting everyone together in the same place at the same time has been a major logistical challenge they are all very busy people. I’m working with what is affectionately known as ‘The Chain Gang’ the Mayors of Hull and the East Riding and we’re all excited to be doing this shoot.
We gather in St. Andrew Car Park. We must have looked a sight something like the Mafia on a works outing. Black suits, sun glasses civic vehicles and bad attitude. There are a lot of laughs as we walk up to the Lord Line Building. I tell the Reservoir Dogs to take care for trip hazards and sharps. We get into position and we block out the shot, the Mayors get into character and start stepping towards me in a menacing manner and we make this image. The Mayors of Hull and East Riding as you have never seen them before.
Names and roles, left to right are as follows: Cllr Rob Begnett, Mayor of Beverley; Cllr Sean Chaytor, Lord Mayor of Hull; Cllr Liam Dealtry, Mayor of Bridlington; Thomas Martin, High Sheriff of the East Riding; Cllr Mark Blakeston, Mayor of Driffield; Cllr Lee Walton, Mayor of Hornsea.
Hullywood Icons 