Project Overview
Synopsis:
This single drama from Kudos Film & Television explores the explosive love affair between photographer David Bailey and Sixties Supermodel Jean Shrimpton, starring Doctor Who star Karen Gillian. Set predominantly in 1962, but also exploring the story of how Bailey and Shrimpton first met, this one-off drama reveals how a young, visionary photographer refused to conform. He insisted on using the unconventional model Jean Shrimpton on an important photo shoot for British Vogue and, over the course of a freezing week in Manhattan threw out the rule book and made startling, original photographs. We’ll Take Manhattan is the story of that wild week, of Bailey and Jean’s love affair and of how two young people accidentally changed the world forever.
The film was written and directed by John McKay, with Rebecca Hodgson producing for Kudos and Ruth Kenley-Letts exec producing. The film is due to air on BBC4 in January 2012 as part of the BBC’s ’Brits in the US’ season.
Technical Details:
We’ll Take Manhattan was shot on the Sony F3. Following the shoot in New York City (during which our VFX team acted as advisors), Molinare then completed full post production and VFX on the 90 minute drama. The project was ambitious in that the production shot without green screen, lighting or grip equipment in NYC, and the 1960s era was then created from scratch in the post production. John McKay was delighted with the final results, praising Molinare’s “excellence and imagination in every area.”
Gareth Spensley designed the film’s grade to reflect the movement within the story’s love affair; starting with a restrained sepia toned palette, then gradually evolving to evoke the energy and freshness of their climactic shoot in New York.
Justin Eely completed the online edit for the film, and Scott Jones provided the Mix.
