Andrew Gower is a guest at the latest episode of The Blue Room Podcast. The Blue Room is an independent website for Andrew’s favourite football team Everton.
In the episode hosts Matt Jones and Rob Vera reflect on Andrew’s work and love of the Toffees (which is the nickname for Everton fans) before they discuss the latest match.
He also reveals that he’s currently developing a feature length version of his short film Humpty Fu*king Dumpty, which he filmed in February 2019 and premiered on 8 May 2020. Fellow Outlander alumni Stephen Walters is back as the film’s writer/director with Michael Knowles (Running Naked) producing. They are hoping to shoot the feature version in early 2022 depending on the progress of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
First of all, thank you very much, Mr Daniels, for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to answer our questions!
Everyone just really loves the soundtrack, so the most asked question is: where can I buy, download or stream it? Are there any plans to release it?
Yes!! As part of the planning for S2, I had a chat with the wonderful Jeanette at Avant Music Publishing the other day. A soundtrack album with The Theme, Closing Credits Track and some favourite cues from S1 should be available to download and stream before S2 airs.
What is the song called that is played during the opening credits?
It’s based on a pre-existing library track the guys at Phase had done for Cratedigger Music called ‘Going Places’. When I played Rachael, Declan and all the other execs in the USA pieces that me and the team at Phase had done in the past to try and find the right tone for The Opening Theme, they fell in love with it. I shaped it and gave it the Scarlet sound and Cratedigger were good enough to allow it to reach its destiny as The Scarlet Theme.
During the theme song / opening credits, is there a female voice singing or vocalizing sounds? If so, what is the name of the singer?
There is a great company called Output who make brilliant synths and audio software for the computers that I use in my studio. They make a wonderful vocal plug in called ‘Exhale’. The vocalized sounds are from that.
Suzanne Lau: The main theme tune for Miss Scarlet & The Duke is one of my favourites. What inspired you to create the theme tune the way you did in relation to the show? I really love the rock music element to it.
The Execs wanted the theme to sound like current commercial music mixed into the ‘The Scarlet Band’ (which was the instrumentation we’d decided upon to deliver the score – all organic sounds that, although you couldn’t record them back in Victorian London, you could hear them back then…)
Lucy Feekins: Really love the whole soundtrack you’ve created (would love to be able to listen to it somewhere!) Were you influenced by anyone/thing in particular, and did you have to do any specific research for the show in relation to instrumentation/ ideas?
For the score, Dec & Rachael gave me the guidance that we wanted the sounds to be organic and believable from the past – no synths or electric guitars. I’ve been influenced by so many great composers, producers and arrangers along the way. They’ve all helped!
Helen Collins: I think there are tambourines and cymbals there? Could you tell me what other instruments are used in this amazing music?
I augmented the band with a chamber orchestra and sometimes a symphony orchestra too – for the ‘glamour cues’!
How did you come to be a composer?
My Mum forced me to have piano lessons. She used to say “you’ll thank me when you’re older” – she was SO RIGHT! I was very lucky and was given a few opportunities with the Phase guys. I delivered and they came to trust me.
Was Miss Scarlet & The Duke your first time composing for TV?
No, BUT it was my first time out on my own – scary, but thrilling, I loved it so much and am so proud that my first solo gig is a show that philosophically I truly believe in. Rachael has created characters that I love and a show that helps the world get better by showing us the folly of sexism and prejudice. It’s an honour to be part of that.
Final question: Will you be back composing the soundtrack for season 2?
Yes!! I can’t wait. It’s going to be even better!!!
Thanks for asking me to answer these questions Isabel. I’ve really enjoyed it!
Thank you so very much again, Mr Daniels! It was a pleasure talking to you and we look forward to hearing more of your amazing music!
Miss Scarlet & The Duke will return to our screens in 2022! Follow / join Scarleteers on Facebook (Page & Group), Instagram and Twitter for more information.
Following the US release of Running Naked, we reached out to Michael Knowles, one of the producers and writers of the comedy drama about two cancer survivors starring Matthew McNulty, Andrew Gower, Tamzin Merchant and Rakhee Thakrar. We’re extremely grateful he took the time to answer a couple of our questions while wrapping up his latest filming project in Mexico.
Michael Knowles is an English film producer, writer and musician. Having been mentored by Andrew Eaton through the UK’s Guiding Lights scheme, he has produced several full feature length films including the award winning drama Best Laid Plans and mystery horror film The Messengerstarring Robert Sheehan and Tamzin Merchant. He’s also produced a series of short films, among them one of British acting legends Pete Postlethwaite’s last films Waving at Trains. In 2004 he received a BAFTA nomination for his short film Talking with Angels.
He’s also the lead vocalist of the Manchester based band WinterGreen who recently released their 4th album Framed.
Ben (Andrew Gower) & Mark (Matthew McNulty)
First of all, congratulations to a truly beautiful and heartfelt film! I really enjoyed attending the virtual screening of Running Naked on World Cancer Day. For touching on such serious subjects like cancer and mental health, it is a surprisingly uplifting film.
Many thanks that’s very much appreciated.
You recently mentioned in an interview that “life is about living, not dying” and that it would be a great slogan for Running Naked. Could you explain how it relates to the film?
We are all dying at different rates. The film touches how reflecting on this can positively affect how we live our lives. We need to be present in the moment and sometimes bad thing happening make you focus on this. I know when my wife went through this, we really focused on what was important to us and what was a stressful time became strangely a positive one.
My friend is a survivor of teenage cancer. I know she would love to watch Running Naked but she’s hesitant it might trigger some unwanted memories. What would you tell her?
We were keen that the presentation of cancer was both true but also positive. With that in mind we screened the film to young cancer patients through the teenage cancer trust. Their feedback was both moving and overwhelmingly positive. See below:
Firstly, when I found out it was a movie about two young lads going through treatment. Straightaway I thought “oh no” this might be too close to home and thought I might need to keep tissues ready for the emotional scenes. However, with that being said, my reaction was actually quite the opposite. This movie highlighted friendship during tough times and how they had each other to support but also how important it is to be there for one another.
For me personally, I never thought you could put comedy and cancer in the same genre, but the Running Naked team made it happen. Keeping it light-hearted and making me grin rather than cry just shows it was well put together. From the script, the cast, the whole movie storyline was brilliant. I laughed throughout because I could relate to the scenes.
I always avoided cringe cancer type of movies only because it was emotionally distressing but this movie I highly recommend, it’s a good watch. The writer’s message was to highlight friendship aspects during tough times and how the main characters Ben and Mark are just trying to live their lives to the fullest which as a viewer was so inspiring. They do things out of the ordinary especially for Ben because he has OCD. Highly recommend this movie and I’m sure you’ll reach out to your friends after watching if you haven’t in a while, especially during the current situation, as this movie just give you a pure warm fuzzy feeling inside. I know I’ll be recommending this movie to my friends.
Director Victor Buhler on the set of Running Naked
Let’s go back to the beginning: the script for Running Naked was developed over a longer period of time until you and Victor Buhler decided to finally make it into a film. You called it a “leap of faith”. Are you glad you took it or would you have hoped for different circumstances?
I think films have a moment when they will or won’t happen. I am glad we took the leap of faith when we did as otherwise it wouldn’t have happened. I know when people find the film, they generally love it. Particularly if they have been through any of the experiences related in the film. My hope is over the years people will discover it and it will gain a following.
The script for Running Naked draws on some very personal experiences dealing with your wife’s own battle with cancer. Would you say it made it easier or more difficult to write?
Whilst the film doesn’t directly touch on the same experiences, having a pool of emotions and reflections based upon similar events did help. Particularly at a distance from those events.
Can you talk us through the casting process a little? How did Andrew (and the rest of the talented cast) become a part of Running Naked?
Andrew Gower came through an introduction from Tamzin Merchant (who I had worked with previously and who was cast as Sara) who was working with Andrew on Carnival Row. Matthew McNulty came through Andrew’s agent. Emma Stansfield and Sacha Parkinson I had both worked with before. Rahkee Thakrar also came through Tamzin (thank you Tamzin).
The young Ben (James Senneck) and Mark (Samuel Bottomley) came through contacts with Matthew McNulty. Andrew and Matthew cast their youngers selves effectively.
Ben (Andrew Gower) and Sara (Tamzin Merchant)
This needs to be followed by the unfortunately inevitable question: how was working with Andrew Gower?
He was great and gave so much to the role of Ben. He is a fab actor and we are looking to work together in the future.
Running Naked was filmed in summer 2018. Since then the world has changed quite fundamentally and in quite an unpredictable way. Do you think this has also changed people’s reception of the film?
It’s strange in the film the character of Ben washes his hands a lot with gel. This was meant to be unusual but now is the new norm!
Hopefully the hope and positivity in the film chimes even more now.
Stoke-on-Trent seems an unusual choice for a filming location. Why did you choose it? I personally liked the contrast between the more “clinical” look of the city and the lush English countryside, just like the film itself balances a very serious matter with heart and humour.
We shot there because it hadn’t been seen on screen before but also because I teach film at the university of Staffordshire and the university (and the students there) helped in the making of the film.
What would you say was the biggest challenge in making Running Naked?
I would say making what is such an ambitious film on a pretty micro budget.
Do you have a favourite scene?
There is a scene towards the end of the film when the two leads reflect on their friendship that I love and that echoes what I feel about friendship. However lots of great scenes and special moments in the film.
Running Naked is now available in the UK and in the USA digitally and as VOD. Are there any plans for releases in more countries, more theatrical screenings? I’m quite old fashioned and like physical copies of my favourite films. Any plans for a DVD release maybe?
No plans for DVD but looking at potential cinema screenings post covid. Working through sales agents to release in other territories.
You’re currently filming in Mexico. Is there anything you can share about your new project? Or any other projects we should look out for?
Thank you so very much again, Mr Knowles, for your time and patience. Hopefully many people will have the chance to experience Running Naked soon, on the big or small screen, and we’re looking forward to seeing your future work, especially if it involves our Andrew Gower!
Running Naked, the “feel good buddy dramedy” starring Andrew Gower and Matthew McNulty as cancer survivors Ben and Mark, is available to rent or buy digitally or as VOD on several streaming sites in the UK and the USA.
Please consider leaving a positive review if you liked the film to support this micro-budget independent production!
Andrew Gower plays Rupert Parker in the popular period crime drama and was part of the first Scarleteers Q&A on 10 December 2020. You can also watch a recording of it on YouTube.
Journalist Sarah Bradbury (The Upcoming) interviewed Andrew Gower about playing cancer survivor Ben Taylor in the British independent production Running Naked. They talked about researching Ben’s OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and how it relates to a world in lockdown from an infectious disease, filminig in “exotic places” like Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton and Manchester and finally how humour helps to deal with the toughest situations.
Running Naked is a film about Ben and Mark (Matthew McNulty), who met at a cancer ward as teenage patients and became lifelong friends. It is described as a comedy drama about “love, friendship and streaking”. It is available to stream online after its world premiere at the Beijing International Film Festival in August 2020 where it was nominated for the Tiantian award.
Matthew McNulty talked to Sue Crawford (Metro.co.uk) about catching Covid, making a splash in Coronation Street and stripping off for his new film Running Naked which he stars in alongside Andrew Gower.
Your new film is called Running Naked – did you?
Yes! It was in an area of the hospital we had full control over, so it wasn’t too embarrassing, and we filmed in the summer so we weren’t too cold. It was liberating and nerve-wracking at the same time.
It’s been described as a film that will make you laugh and cry…
There are sad moments but it’s uplifting more than anything else. It’s about two cancer survivors, Mark and Ben [played by Andrew Gower], who are friends from being teenagers. The title comes from the fact that when they were younger they streaked through the hospital naked. It’s also a metaphor for being free – running without the things that weigh you down.
Andrew Gower Online 