NORMAN HULL, WRITES AND DIRECTS THE KIDNAP DIARIES
10 April 2012
| Talent: | Norman Hull, Writer & Director |  |
| Client: | BBC Four | |
| Producer: | Garden Productions | |
| Call sheet project: | The Kidnap Diaries |
On April 26th at 21:00 on BBC Four, the long awaited single drama from writer & director Norman Hull will be TX. Based on the kidnapping in 2008 of journalist & documentary filmmaker Sean Langan and his Afghan translator Sami. The film throws us into the ordeal of capture; as Sean and Sami grapple with uncertainties within a labyrinth of twists, that keep throwing them to No Exit points.
Norman signed with F.I.T last month and we are delighted to be representing such a force in British film. I met with Norman to talk about the work and his method:
Can you explain the genesis of The Kidnap Diaries?
It came about because of a successful history with this type of film – drama based on real events - that Magnus Temple (of The Garden Productions) and I had previously had with the controller of BBC4 Richard Klein.
How important was it to you to have Sean onside and what effect did it have on the process of writing?
It was very important to have Sean “onside” but difficult in the sense that Sean’s ordeal – he felt – deserved a multi-million dollar Hollywood blockbuster. Sadly BBC4 cannot compete with Hollywood budgets.
What was your approach to directing this film that was set in Pakistan’s remote frontier and dealt with such a group of people seen as outright terrorists?
Pragmatic.
How did you cast the film and draw out the characters?
I had several actors in mind when I was writing the script. Douglas Henshall was certainly one of those, and I’m delighted that Douglas took the “gig” and I think his performance is excellent. The characters were based on the reality as told to me by Sean and then drawn out of the script.
What impressions are you hoping this film will have on a wider audience?
That news and current affairs stories have a human factor.
Thanks Norman!
You can see a trailer of the film in Hull’s profile area here.
Edited by Tariq Wahr
