DETECTORISTS (2014)

Detectorists: BBC Four, Thursday Night, 30 minute show

Written and Directed by - Mackenzie Crook 

Not only do I really enjoy this show, I think it also shares many traits with the vision I have for my screenplay.

This 6 part series is set in a small town (Real life Framlingham Suffolk) where Metal Detectorists Andy (Crook) and Lance (Toby Jones) live without much excitement.  Both the men have mundane jobs in the town, but it seems their main interest is Metal Detecting.

Andy has a long term girlfriend whom he lives with in the town. He is studying for an archeology degree whilst always looking out for that piece of treasure that he might find with his detector.
Lance is still stuck in a vice like grip slaving away for his former girlfriend who left him for another man.

The whole idea of them using there hobby (deep in the countryside away from civilisation) as their escape is something I would like to portray with my characters love for photography during the Golden Hour. I am going to look to create this kind of feel, but hopefully it should be even more of the contrast as theoretically, my character works in a big city.

           

This story is a lovely character study with amazing and eccentric people helping the story. Hopefully my mysterious man might play a similar role to that of Mr. Bishop (David Sterne) who is a mad old man who can come up with some very sensible words of advice at times. On second thoughts my old man should not be quite as mad as Bishop.

Everything about this show is quite laid back, it certainly is not fast paced. But that is what I love about it, that the story and also the cinematography. The shots really express the countryside well and it makes you want to go out there to see how amazingly nice it is. 

As of yet I am still not a writer or a critic so I don't know what is right or wrong in a TV show, however in my opinion I think this is well written nicely paced and subtly comical drama about a subject that is most certainly not in the public eye. 

P.S. another point is I really like the soundtrack by the South African folk singer 'Johnny Flynn'.

This clip demonstrates how brilliant this show is complete with a bit of the soundtrack at the end: