BBC Four finds itself in a Tight Spot
Lift – director James Hawes
James Hawes has built a considerable reputation in high-profile television drama and top-end documentaries.
He directed several episodes of the re-launch of Doctor Who, including the BAFTA-winning Christmas special. Documentaries include a film written and presented by Prince Charles; the Emmy-nominated Eygpt's Golden Empire and the critically acclaimed Lawrence Of Arabia for the BBC and PBS.
Mark Freeland explains: "James seemed the ideal person to direct Lift. We wanted someone who would be able to direct a project that is deceptively difficult to do.
"It's incredibly challenging to shoot in a lift as everyone is constantly in shot. In many respects shooting half an hour in a box presents as many challenges as shooting something on a grand scale, where you have lots of choices and lots of cutaways.
"James also had a wonderful opportunity to do something with those Marion & Geoff time lapses. It means you can create a sort of mosaic of these people and the progressions of their individual journeys."
Mark Watson admits presenting a challenge to the director and cast by setting the whole drama in the confined space of a lift, but says they rose brilliantly to the challenge: "I laughed a lot watching it back, and I never really laugh at my own stuff. Or anyone else's."
Mark Freeland adds: "After a day and a half the actors were going stir crazy. I can totally understand because at the end of the four day shoot I walked into the lift for the very first time and stood there for some minutes. It felt very claustrophobic, like being... stuck in a lift!
"The four cast members became incredibly good friends and it was a bit sad when everyone dispersed as they had become a little dysfunctional family!"
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