#SIMON CURTIS HYPNOTIZED HOW TO#

It’s a kind of shot we’ve seen many times in Downton. For example, a little scene where the cars drive off to France. You do want to deliver the fans something they will like, but I always wanted to do something a bit surprising at the same time. I just wanted to be a bridge between what I could bring to it and the existing brand.

#SIMON CURTIS HYPNOTIZED HOW TO#

Thompson: People might assume that having a limited number of locations and a solid structure used for filming for many years might make things easier to do as a director because there is some sort of procedural production Bible about how to do things.Ĭurtis: Many people are telling you things like, ‘Oh, no, a dog wouldn’t bark because they were too well trained in those days,’ and nonsense like that. You had to really work at accommodating everybody in the scene, and sometimes what would usually be considered extras in most films are the greatest living British actors of all time in this case. I used to say to my AD that there is no such thing as an easy scene in Downton Abbey because there’ll be a one-line scene where they cut a cake and half of British Equity turn up to rehearse.

I already had relationships with most of the cast and crew, I’d watched everything, but still, there were surprises. Thompson: As a director and now being a part of the Downton universe, did you look at the episodes you’ve seen previously slightly differently? You’re not only someone watching it and enjoying it, but you’re also a custodian.Ĭurtis: I would say that no director has ever taken on a job with their eyes more wide open than I had mine.

Simon curtis hypnotized