Interesting things are happening at Blackbushe Aerodrome in England. The former WWII airbase is situated alongside the old main A30 road to the west of Camberley, not far to the north of Farnborough. This now houses a number of small aviation companies but is often used for filming movies, TV shows and advertising. The crew of the movie “Rush” has moved in there and are in the process of constructing 1970s-style motor racing pits, while some of the parking space is being taken up with trucks that look remarkably like McLaren and Ferrari racing transporters from the 1970s.
- Comment
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
joeblogsf1 
Joe
Just love those MALBORO colours from the 70’s to the 90’s.
Have you been following Ron Howard’s twitter feed? He’s been posting pics quite often. Last one was of actors learning to be McLaren pot crew circa 1976! Great stuff.
Yeah, I hear James Hunt liked a spliff or two..
== Murray == “and what do you think about that, James? James? . . It seems James has taken a break .. “
“pot” crew eh? Interesting slip.I know Hunt enjoyed the party side of life, not sure about his pit crew though! 😉
I knew I was in trouble as soon as I posted that!
Hi Joe,
Out of interest, do you have any idea how a film like this would get around the current cigarette advertising laws?
It would be pretty difficult to mask the likes of Marlboro, etc…
I have no idea.
Historical context. Viewers of Mad Men will recall regular and quite explicit reference to Lucky Strike as one of the agency’s key clients. Drama made in the 21C but set in the ’60s.
Good question, I would have thought as it was historical they would have that argument.
But I do notice that there is no text on the transporters but then maybe they haven’t got round to doing that yet! That or that’s how they were in the 70’s (I was only 6 when the 70’s ended).
Why not Tweet the man himself Leigh? He does answer questions. With the set photos as well its great use of twitter. – @RealRonHoward
I hate to be an anorak (but as they say, do what you’re best at…), but the style of Marlboro livery shown on that “McLaren” truck wasn’t introduced until 1981. In any case, it’s a minor point.
Martyn, FYI yes the trucks were fully sign written with Marlboro (and other cigarette logos) throughout that era. At that time the only place where cigarette logos weren’t allowed on the cars or personnel was in Germany.
Films do not have any limit on advertising tobacco products or product placement, although some Hollywood studios voluntarily sign up to the scheme suggesting they receive no money for showing characters smoking or using tobacco products.
The laws on live sport broadcast in some countries doesn’t apply to an American funded film.
Cigarette advertising laws, in any case, allow for historical recreation.
Random stab at it: it’s artistic representation, and you can argue that much tobacco branding is not going to be cursorily recognizable to a young audience because it has evolved distinctly.
What is going to be omitted, surely, is anyone lighting up after a race. But if it’s Hunt we’re talking about, that could easily be portrayed as a character weakness.
The final thing is going to be the rating aimed for. 13 or PG might be a bit hard to get, if you even start to be authentic to the period. Of course, I’ll argue any day, not from self interest, stuff these advertising bans, when drug culture and violence are continuously portrayed on the baby sitting machine, even in material aimed directly at barely teens on the major taxpayer funded / subsidized channels. Sex, booze, fags, a sneaky bifter even, wouldn’t have me covering a -older- child’s eyes, but gratuitous or glorified violence of any kind, including the recent Bond flicks, upsets me as an adult personally, and so that’s what I’d be strict about. That, and writing proper stories, so these things have appreciable resonant meaning when displayed. The problem with my last sentence is that the liberal brigade (as in “so liberal not got a thought”) have driven a truck through what on the face of it is a perfectly good condition of artistic discipline. Enough S.O.F. (hat tip to RShack for that acronym!) ranting . . .
I guess because it is a drama about the 70’s then it would be excempt.
Given it’s both real-life and historic in context, I don’t think it will be affected.
Whenever the BBC shows historic footage, they don’t have to blur all the logos.
Senna didn’t have any problems. It’s probably ok in a historical context. Plus they still have smoking and cig packs in the soaps and other films.
Didn’t Senna used the old mirror image trick with some images (Gauloises?)
Or was that just because they happened to use old French TV footage where they had to do that by law?
I forgot about the Bruce Mclaren biopic, I was at the Taupo A1GP race when they announced it. Haven’t heard anything about it since. Maybe its something to do with it.
Joe, a possible venue for that day seminar you are planning to host?
Shirley the laws are for tv not the cinema, and its a film not a race.
In any case we frequently see cigarette smoking on tv even in newly made series like Pan Am. (Worth watching even if spy training does include stealing the microfilm then tossing it in the air and catching it with an air of satisfaction it in the middle of a busy hotel foyer)
I wonder if Blackbushe will take over some of the duties of Northolt when it closes, that is unless it is still remains in use for the unpublicised comings and goings of our royal family and special forces.
It wasn’t the smoking I was thinking about, but rather the branding on the cars/ trackside.
Blackbushe is more a light aviation and smallish helicopter field.
For bigger stuff like the Queen’s flight, I’d guess TAG and Farnborough would get the nod over Blackbushe. Farnborough is often the chosen airport for unpublicised comings and goings already.
The sparse layout of Blackbushe didn’t stop a USAF B2 crew lining up for a display over there a few years back during the Farnborough Air show. Didn’t give one much faith in USAF precision bombing capability.
Blackbushe has still got a nearby Kart track (Camberley Kart Club), which in a gearbox kart is a bit “like cycling a motorcycle in your bathroom” to quote Mr Piquet snr.
Would it be fair to say we’d not be surprised if it turned out Marlboro was a major backer of this film?
I live within 5 minutes walk from the Air field and the surrounding Heath land. I have spend many hours walking around there and enjoying nature (it’s also a popular spot for plane spotters).
On one side I’m excited that this location was chosen for a big budget Hollywood movie (and even better – a movie about F1) and seems to gather general interest as a filming location.
However, it already caused a lot controversy and resistance within the local community. The area is under special wildlife protection and filming & planning permissions were only granted with various conditions in place (for example there are restrictions for night filming as the lights required for the sets are highly disturbing to some rare nocturnal species breeding there).
Let’s see how it goes on, but it appears that the film crew arrived and stuck 2 fingers up to all those conditions they had to comply with … and just went with their business without much concern for nature (any filming delay costs money – and apparently it’s cheaper for them just to break the local council permissions).
I want this movie to go ahead. But equally, when the film crew leaves, I want this part of my “back garden” left the way it was before they started.
That’s an iritating post F430-Fox. I also live 5 minutes away. Take a look at the planning application on Hart DC website; there were 18 objections and 24 supporters or neutrals. So not “a lot of controversy and resistance” really is there? Your fourth para is almost libellous! They are currently occupying probably less than 1 percent of the site, all on hardstanding and old runways. Sweeping and inaccurate generalisations do bother me…
Great karting circuit on the airport, raced there with Martin Hines RIP, David Culthard, Will Hoy and a few other ‘faces’ including Derek Redfern.
I remember Blackbushe from the early/mid 70’s when the runway was used was as a temporary drag strip. As a motor sport mad teenager I sold programmes and as a result was “accredited” for full access which included standing beside race control between the dragsters, top fuel included, immediately behind the Christmas Tree. Health & Safety was non-existent as I was in normal clothes and no ear protection, which must account for my poor hearing now!!
So it has motorsport heritage making it very apt it is being used to create this film.
Blackbushe played a key part in the development of British drag racing, starting with the Drag Festival in 1964 – Sydney Allard bringing over Don Garlits, Tommy Ivo etc.
You have to admit this is very different and fun to follow. The 76 season had plenty of drama, for sure. Ron Howard usually does a good job of drawing you into the story, whatever the subject-while not a big boxing fan, I loved his film Cinderella Man. Hope this is the same.
And, yes, his tweets finally got me to start a twitter account.
They’re filming the Hunt/Lauda film Rush.
http://ramtopsrac.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/rush-filming-on-blackbushe-public-meeting-fri-6th-jan-10am/
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1979320/maindetails
Yes, we know.
@Jonno
pardon a tangent to topic — do you know Rac of Ramtops, or were you pointed to her blog post by research into the proposed filming?
(am thrown by seeing a former fond acquaintance referenced in a completely unsuspected context, is all 🙂 )
Oh – I forgot to add. The locals are up in arms about it
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2106371_blackbushe_setback_for_hollywood_film_crew
A few of them. Lots more are in favour.
http://publicaccess1.hart.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=LW92VXHZAH000
Joe, Bring back any memories?
I did suggest in a Tweet they used Wisley, They shot War Horse there last year. By then I expect Blackbushe was a done deal by then.
By coincidence if you search You Tube for footage of a certain executive jet (I think it’s an HS125 (but that could be a train)) you will see some clips of Bernie (or at least his jet) landing and taking off at Blackbushe.
If you’re not careful, the conspiracy nuts will be accusing you of saying that the the owner of Blackbushe is a certain Mr B****e Ec*****e? (now it’s on the internet so it must be true!) and there is some dastardly plan afoot to build a Tilkedrome to rival Silverstone …
Joe,
Any chance they’re going to recreate the greatest interview of all time??
“Can I grab that cigarette off you? Thanks!”
That’s cool 🙂 Love the old trucks. Happy Memories…1976 was my first year I watched F1
James Hunt, absolute star!!! in car and in the commentary box with Murray Walker.