Behind-the-scenes production of calendar girl

The film is based on the true story of Rylstone and District Women's Institute, and the slogan of this women's organization is "Finding Happiness in Achievement". In April 1999, the organization published their calendar in 2, with a view to raising funds for treatment in local hospitals. Not long ago, the husband John of Angela Baker, a member of the organization, died in this hospital because of ineffective leukemia treatment. Angela and her good friend Tricia Stewart and other members of the organization hope to give back to the hospital and medical staff. In order to increase the sales of calendars, Tricia suggested that the models in calendars all engage in traditional housework, such as squeezing apple juice, baking cakes and arranging flowers, and these models are middle-aged naked women.

Once published, their calendars became hot items, and soon spread all over Yorkshire, and then sold to London and even Hollywood. In the eyes of British, European and American media, this is a rare story, which quickly appeared on the front page of The New York Times and the popular TV program CBS's 6 Minutes, NBC's Today Show and People magazine. Everyone wants to know more. By the beginning of 23, the sales of calendars had reached 3, copies, * * * raised nearly 6, pounds for leukemia charity, and the women on calendars also became world celebrities.

Angela Baker said, "We didn't expect the calendar to be distributed so widely. We thought it would only attract our friends and their families." Soon, Hollywood began to contact them, because their stories contain heartbreaking plots and brave decisions, which are natural materials for filming. They were stunned by the film appointment that came in file, but they were very cautious in their attitude. Angela said: "Making a movie is a very nerve-racking idea. Putting our story on the big screen will embarrass me and my family, because this is my privacy, and I'm not sure I want to share it with others. I'm worried. Maybe it all happened too soon after John died. "

When producers Suzanne Mackie, Nick Barton and screenwriter Juliette Towhidi visited the protagonist in the calendar, their ideas quickly attracted the latter's attention. "Angela and Tricia tested us at the first meeting," McKee recalled. We said that we thought it was a very interesting story, but also a touching human drama, and its depth and meaning were unique from other stories. In addition, this is a story of women who are waving flags and shouting: Although we are all over 4, it doesn't mean that we are no longer beautiful. There is a strong sisterhood in the story, and these women are really supporting each other. "

After being approved by Angela and Tricia, the producers immediately began to meet with other members to get the right to shoot each story.

In December, 2, director Nykiel Cole officially signed the film. McKee said: "We have many directors to choose from, but we know that Nykiel will give the film the right feeling, and he will make the sex story interesting and bitter." In 1999, Cole made his first feature film Save Grace, which was premiered at Sundance Film Festival and won enthusiastic praise. Besides being awarded the audience award, it was also nominated by british independent film awards. Among many candidate films, Cole decided to take this film as a sequel to his film career. He said, "Coincidentally, these two films are both women's films, but I really like working with women. Some directors are good at expressing violence, but I like to combine comedy with drama, such as Save Grace, Calendar Girl and TV series Cold Feet. My heart is a little weak and sentimental, but I feel uneasy about it, so I like to express it by humor. "

Chris and Anne, based on Tricia and Angela, are played by helen mirren and Julie Walters respectively. Mirren said: "I have never appeared in such a group film. There are few films about middle-aged women. It is wonderful to cooperate with these experienced and talented women. There are so many actresses that the director is undoubtedly difficult to deal with, but Nykiel is comfortable with charm and humor. " For Julie Watson, playing Annie faces a different problem. She said, "When I first saw the script, I began to ask myself, Who is Anne? Because Chris in the film story has a distinctive personality, in contrast, Anne disappears into the background. I am eager to meet Angela Baker, Anne's archetype, not to play her, but to understand her relationship with Tricia. I met all the people, and they were very humorous. At first, I thought Angela was shy, but contrary to my first impression, she was actually a strong and sunny person. Later, I discovered the relationship between Chris and Annie. Annie was always quietly witnessing Chris's reckless rampage in front. Annie liked that because Chris was completely opposite to her. "

In the whole shooting process, the most difficult thing is to shoot the naked calendar scene. Director Cole said: "Some actors have never shown their bodies in public or on the screen, some are old, and we can't and won't use body double. We started to hang the calendar scene in the middle of shooting, because at this time everyone deepened mutual understanding and trust. "

The shooting of this scene not only referred to the calendar of that year, but also the photographer Ashley Rowe consulted the calendar photographer Terry Logan about the lighting method. "Terry only used a 1-watt photographic lamp, which looks very natural. In order to make a film, we must increase the light, but only improve the natural light source to create a sense of simplicity. We use stockings to cover the lens, thus giving it a soft and flesh-colored texture, so as to make these women as beautiful as possible. I have photographed nude scenes in the past, but this time it is different, not only because of the age of the actors, but also because it is used for calendars. These experienced actors are very professional and they know how to make themselves look the best. "