I last saw the city about 20 years ago. Yes,
there's been a lot of change since then! Like all UK cities near the
sea, Liverpool is making the most of it's water frontage.
I did have a short walk around the city between
rehearsals. There is a huge amount of building activity.
Albert Dock has also been lovingly restored. The
Liverpool Tate museum is based here.
Some images that appealed to me around
the waterside of the dock.
Back to rehearsals in Herodia's palace (St Georges
Hall)
It was my sight of the magnificent interior. I would
love to be there for an organ recital if it sounds as good as it looks!
Meanwhile, back at Seacombe, we resisted temptation
to play with the radio controlled model boats.
Graham, one of the ELP electrical crew, unloads some kit
for the cafe area that was to be my principal area of activity.
Snowdrop is to be 'our' boat for this, the BBC's most
ambitious location drama ever.
This was to be our on board location. The backdrop
had to be that of the Liverpool skyline.
In the cafe, Graham investigates means
of hiding our power cables so as to ensure a 'tidy' rig.
A 'Steadicam' was to be an important part of
camera coverage. 360 degree shots were to make my work a little
challenging at times!
Meanwhile, a tanker unloads fuel into the terminals
storage tanks. Snowdrop uses about half a ton of diesel per day.
Out in the car park, the BBC's High Definition truck
is being rigged for the complex operation.
Communications and the extensive network of radio
talkback are based on many years of experience in handling large events.
This is just a small area of the
interior.
Mark Faulkener is setting up the
intricate balance of his steadicam.
