Guest guest Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 The League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss, who appeared in the 2005 remake of Nigel Kneale's famed 1950s sci-fi serial The Quatermass Experiment, pays tribute to the screenwriter following his death at the age of 84. He can really lay claim to having created popular television with Quatermass - there was nothing like it before, and after it everything changed. He didn't really like being regarded as a pioneer, even though he was one, because it sort of put him in the past; what really interested him, I think, were the ideas of the future. In his later one-off TV plays, things like The Stone Tape and The Year of the Sex Olympics, he kind of predicted the future of television and, in fact, the future of our society, quite spookily. Sex Olympics portrays a dystopian future in which TV schedules are dominated by mindless shows, and in a drive to improve ratings they maroon some people on an island and watch them 24 hours a day. Eventually they introduce a murderer into the concept to brighten things up a bit - basically, it was satire once and now it's probably being commissioned. The brilliant thing about those stories was that they were, in essence, popular sci-fi horror serials, but they were absolutely bursting with original ideas. Quatermass and the Pit, if you watch it now, it's absolutely unbelievable that it was actually live - it's so slick. An incredibly bold and challenging piece of work. I met him full of trepidation because he had this reputation for being a bit of a curmudgeon, but he was delightful. It was amazing to meet him, but also just to be in his company and hear his opinions on current events and how much he thought the world was sliding into chaos. His major works are absolutely of lasting importance Mark Gatiss He was a fiercely intelligent man, just a true original. One of his last great things, he did an adaptation of The Woman in Black for ITV in 1989. It's absolutely brilliant - it was so, so frightening and had a huge impact on me. He actually wrote it in 10 days and sent it to his agent, and his agent said, 'If you send it in now, they'll think you rushed it.' So his agent persuaded him to sit on it for three weeks. It was only through an accident he found out they were about to cancel it because they thought he was too old and he hadn't finished it, and he'd actually done it in super-quick time. He is amongst the greats - he is absolutely as important as Dennis Potter, as David Mercer, as Alan Bleasdale, as Alan Bennett, but I think because of a strange snobbery about fantasy or sci-fi it's never quite been that way. Now he's gone, perhaps people will reassess - his major works are absolutely of lasting importance. He was a TV giant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 i remember reading The Running Man by Richard Bachman (stephen king) many moons ago, and at the time thinking .. " oh, how eerie..its getting to be that way " and it's gotten worse still waiting to see the gameshow " swim the crocodiles " >heartwerk <jo.heartwork >Nov 1, 2006 11:50 PM > > Mark Gattiss on Quatermass Creator > >The League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss, who appeared in the 2005 >remake of Nigel Kneale's famed 1950s sci-fi serial The Quatermass >Experiment, pays tribute to the screenwriter following his death at >the age of 84. > He can really lay claim to having created popular television with >Quatermass - there was nothing like it before, and after it >everything changed. > >He didn't really like being regarded as a pioneer, even though he was >one, because it sort of put him in the past; what really interested >him, I think, were the ideas of the future. > >In his later one-off TV plays, things like The Stone Tape and The >Year of the Sex Olympics, he kind of predicted the future of >television and, in fact, the future of our society, quite spookily. > >Sex Olympics portrays a dystopian future in which TV schedules are >dominated by mindless shows, and in a drive to improve ratings they >maroon some people on an island and watch them 24 hours a day. > >Eventually they introduce a murderer into the concept to brighten >things up a bit - basically, it was satire once and now it's probably >being commissioned. > >The brilliant thing about those stories was that they were, in >essence, popular sci-fi horror serials, but they were absolutely >bursting with original ideas. > >Quatermass and the Pit, if you watch it now, it's absolutely >unbelievable that it was actually live - it's so slick. An incredibly >bold and challenging piece of work. > >I met him full of trepidation because he had this reputation for >being a bit of a curmudgeon, but he was delightful. > >It was amazing to meet him, but also just to be in his company and >hear his opinions on current events and how much he thought the world >was sliding into chaos. > > > His major works are absolutely of lasting importance > >Mark Gatiss >He was a fiercely intelligent man, just a true original. > >One of his last great things, he did an adaptation of The Woman in >Black for ITV in 1989. It's absolutely brilliant - it was so, so >frightening and had a huge impact on me. > >He actually wrote it in 10 days and sent it to his agent, and his >agent said, 'If you send it in now, they'll think you rushed it.' > >So his agent persuaded him to sit on it for three weeks. It was only >through an accident he found out they were about to cancel it because >they thought he was too old and he hadn't finished it, and he'd >actually done it in super-quick time. > >He is amongst the greats - he is absolutely as important as Dennis >Potter, as David Mercer, as Alan Bleasdale, as Alan Bennett, but I >think because of a strange snobbery about fantasy or sci-fi it's >never quite been that way. > >Now he's gone, perhaps people will reassess - his major works are >absolutely of lasting importance. He was a TV giant. > > > > > > > >To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 I havent read that book for yonks.......... The Valley Vegan..............fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: i remember reading The Running Man by Richard Bachman (stephen king) many moons ago, and at the time thinking .."oh, how eerie..its getting to be that way"and it's gotten worsestill waiting to see the gameshow "swim the crocodiles">heartwerk >Nov 1, 2006 11:50 PM> > Mark Gattiss on Quatermass Creator>>The League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss, who appeared in the 2005 >remake of Nigel Kneale's famed 1950s sci-fi serial The Quatermass >Experiment, pays tribute to the screenwriter following his death at >the age of 84. > He can really lay claim to having created popular television with >Quatermass - there was nothing like it before, and after it >everything changed. >>He didn't really like being regarded as a pioneer, even though he was >one, because it sort of put him in the past; what really interested >him, I think, were the ideas of the future. >>In his later one-off TV plays, things like The Stone Tape and The >Year of the Sex Olympics, he kind of predicted the future of >television and, in fact, the future of our society, quite spookily. >>Sex Olympics portrays a dystopian future in which TV schedules are >dominated by mindless shows, and in a drive to improve ratings they >maroon some people on an island and watch them 24 hours a day. >>Eventually they introduce a murderer into the concept to brighten >things up a bit - basically, it was satire once and now it's probably >being commissioned. >>The brilliant thing about those stories was that they were, in >essence, popular sci-fi horror serials, but they were absolutely >bursting with original ideas. >>Quatermass and the Pit, if you watch it now, it's absolutely >unbelievable that it was actually live - it's so slick. An incredibly >bold and challenging piece of work. >>I met him full of trepidation because he had this reputation for >being a bit of a curmudgeon, but he was delightful. >>It was amazing to meet him, but also just to be in his company and >hear his opinions on current events and how much he thought the world >was sliding into chaos. >> > His major works are absolutely of lasting importance >>Mark Gatiss >He was a fiercely intelligent man, just a true original. >>One of his last great things, he did an adaptation of The Woman in >Black for ITV in 1989. It's absolutely brilliant - it was so, so >frightening and had a huge impact on me. >>He actually wrote it in 10 days and sent it to his agent, and his >agent said, 'If you send it in now, they'll think you rushed it.' >>So his agent persuaded him to sit on it for three weeks. It was only >through an accident he found out they were about to cancel it because >they thought he was too old and he hadn't finished it, and he'd >actually done it in super-quick time. >>He is amongst the greats - he is absolutely as important as Dennis >Potter, as David Mercer, as Alan Bleasdale, as Alan Bennett, but I >think because of a strange snobbery about fantasy or sci-fi it's >never quite been that way. >>Now he's gone, perhaps people will reassess - his major works are >absolutely of lasting importance. He was a TV giant. >>>>>>>>To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 yonks? peter VV Nov 2, 2006 8:29 AM Re: Mark Gattiss on Quatermass Creator I havent read that book for yonks.......... The Valley Vegan..............fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: i remember reading The Running Man by Richard Bachman (stephen king) many moons ago, and at the time thinking .."oh, how eerie..its getting to be that way"and it's gotten worsestill waiting to see the gameshow "swim the crocodiles">heartwerk >Nov 1, 2006 11:50 PM> > Mark Gattiss on Quatermass Creator>>The League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss, who appeared in the 2005 >remake of Nigel Kneale's famed 1950s sci-fi serial The Quatermass >Experiment, pays tribute to the screenwriter following his death at >the age of 84. > He can really lay claim to having created popular television with >Quatermass - there was nothing like it before, and after it >everything changed. >>He didn't really like being regarded as a pioneer, even though he was >one, because it sort of put him in the past; what really interested >him, I think, were the ideas of the future. >>In his later one-off TV plays, things like The Stone Tape and The >Year of the Sex Olympics, he kind of predicted the future of >television and, in fact, the future of our society, quite spookily. >>Sex Olympics portrays a dystopian future in which TV schedules are >dominated by mindless shows, and in a drive to improve ratings they >maroon some people on an island and watch them 24 hours a day. >>Eventually they introduce a murderer into the concept to brighten >things up a bit - basically, it was satire once and now it's probably >being commissioned. >>The brilliant thing about those stories was that they were, in >essence, popular sci-fi horror serials, but they were absolutely >bursting with original ideas. >>Quatermass and the Pit, if you watch it now, it's absolutely >unbelievable that it was actually live - it's so slick. An incredibly >bold and challenging piece of work. >>I met him full of trepidation because he had this reputation for >being a bit of a curmudgeon, but he was delightful. >>It was amazing to meet him, but also just to be in his company and >hear his opinions on current events and how much he thought the world >was sliding into chaos. >> > His major works are absolutely of lasting importance >>Mark Gatiss >He was a fiercely intelligent man, just a true original. >>One of his last great things, he did an adaptation of The Woman in >Black for ITV in 1989. It's absolutely brilliant - it was so, so >frightening and had a huge impact on me. >>He actually wrote it in 10 days and sent it to his agent, and his >agent said, 'If you send it in now, they'll think you rushed it.' >>So his agent persuaded him to sit on it for three weeks. It was only >through an accident he found out they were about to cancel it because >they thought he was too old and he hadn't finished it, and he'd >actually done it in super-quick time. >>He is amongst the greats - he is absolutely as important as Dennis >Potter, as David Mercer, as Alan Bleasdale, as Alan Bennett, but I >think because of a strange snobbery about fantasy or sci-fi it's >never quite been that way. >>Now he's gone, perhaps people will reassess - his major works are >absolutely of lasting importance. He was a TV giant. >>>>>>>>To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 Showing my age, its a term/slang I used since the 70`s means ages........... The Valley Vegan...............fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: yonks? peter VV Nov 2, 2006 8:29 AM Re: Mark Gattiss on Quatermass Creator I havent read that book for yonks.......... The Valley Vegan..............fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: i remember reading The Running Man by Richard Bachman (stephen king) many moons ago, and at the time thinking .."oh, how eerie..its getting to be that way"and it's gotten worsestill waiting to see the gameshow "swim the crocodiles">heartwerk >Nov 1, 2006 11:50 PM> > Mark Gattiss on Quatermass Creator>>The League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss, who appeared in the 2005 >remake of Nigel Kneale's famed 1950s sci-fi serial The Quatermass >Experiment, pays tribute to the screenwriter following his death at >the age of 84. > He can really lay claim to having created popular television with >Quatermass - there was nothing like it before, and after it >everything changed. >>He didn't really like being regarded as a pioneer, even though he was >one, because it sort of put him in the past; what really interested >him, I think, were the ideas of the future. >>In his later one-off TV plays, things like The Stone Tape and The >Year of the Sex Olympics, he kind of predicted the future of >television and, in fact, the future of our society, quite spookily. >>Sex Olympics portrays a dystopian future in which TV schedules are >dominated by mindless shows, and in a drive to improve ratings they >maroon some people on an island and watch them 24 hours a day. >>Eventually they introduce a murderer into the concept to brighten >things up a bit - basically, it was satire once and now it's probably >being commissioned. >>The brilliant thing about those stories was that they were, in >essence, popular sci-fi horror serials, but they were absolutely >bursting with original ideas. >>Quatermass and the Pit, if you watch it now, it's absolutely >unbelievable that it was actually live - it's so slick. An incredibly >bold and challenging piece of work. >>I met him full of trepidation because he had this reputation for >being a bit of a curmudgeon, but he was delightful. >>It was amazing to meet him, but also just to be in his company and >hear his opinions on current events and how much he thought the world >was sliding into chaos. >> > His major works are absolutely of lasting importance >>Mark Gatiss >He was a fiercely intelligent man, just a true original. >>One of his last great things, he did an adaptation of The Woman in >Black for ITV in 1989. It's absolutely brilliant - it was so, so >frightening and had a huge impact on me. >>He actually wrote it in 10 days and sent it to his agent, and his >agent said, 'If you send it in now, they'll think you rushed it.' >>So his agent persuaded him to sit on it for three weeks. It was only >through an accident he found out they were about to cancel it because >they thought he was too old and he hadn't finished it, and he'd >actually done it in super-quick time. >>He is amongst the greats - he is absolutely as important as Dennis >Potter, as David Mercer, as Alan Bleasdale, as Alan Bennett, but I >think because of a strange snobbery about fantasy or sci-fi it's >never quite been that way. >>Now he's gone, perhaps people will reassess - his major works are >absolutely of lasting importance. He was a TV giant. >>>>>>>>To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 Hi Fraggle It seems that most of the science fiction ideas come true eventually. I don't like the sound of 'swim the crocodiles' though. Jo - " fraggle " <EBbrewpunx Thursday, November 02, 2006 4:17 PM Re: Mark Gattiss on Quatermass Creator > i remember reading The Running Man by Richard Bachman (stephen king) many moons ago, and at the time thinking .. " oh, how eerie..its getting to be that way " > and it's gotten worse > still waiting to see the gameshow " swim the crocodiles " > > > >heartwerk <jo.heartwork > >Nov 1, 2006 11:50 PM > > > > Mark Gattiss on Quatermass Creator > > > >The League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss, who appeared in the 2005 > >remake of Nigel Kneale's famed 1950s sci-fi serial The Quatermass > >Experiment, pays tribute to the screenwriter following his death at > >the age of 84. > > He can really lay claim to having created popular television with > >Quatermass - there was nothing like it before, and after it > >everything changed. > > > >He didn't really like being regarded as a pioneer, even though he was > >one, because it sort of put him in the past; what really interested > >him, I think, were the ideas of the future. > > > >In his later one-off TV plays, things like The Stone Tape and The > >Year of the Sex Olympics, he kind of predicted the future of > >television and, in fact, the future of our society, quite spookily. > > > >Sex Olympics portrays a dystopian future in which TV schedules are > >dominated by mindless shows, and in a drive to improve ratings they > >maroon some people on an island and watch them 24 hours a day. > > > >Eventually they introduce a murderer into the concept to brighten > >things up a bit - basically, it was satire once and now it's probably > >being commissioned. > > > >The brilliant thing about those stories was that they were, in > >essence, popular sci-fi horror serials, but they were absolutely > >bursting with original ideas. > > > >Quatermass and the Pit, if you watch it now, it's absolutely > >unbelievable that it was actually live - it's so slick. An incredibly > >bold and challenging piece of work. > > > >I met him full of trepidation because he had this reputation for > >being a bit of a curmudgeon, but he was delightful. > > > >It was amazing to meet him, but also just to be in his company and > >hear his opinions on current events and how much he thought the world > >was sliding into chaos. > > > > > > His major works are absolutely of lasting importance > > > >Mark Gatiss > >He was a fiercely intelligent man, just a true original. > > > >One of his last great things, he did an adaptation of The Woman in > >Black for ITV in 1989. It's absolutely brilliant - it was so, so > >frightening and had a huge impact on me. > > > >He actually wrote it in 10 days and sent it to his agent, and his > >agent said, 'If you send it in now, they'll think you rushed it.' > > > >So his agent persuaded him to sit on it for three weeks. It was only > >through an accident he found out they were about to cancel it because > >they thought he was too old and he hadn't finished it, and he'd > >actually done it in super-quick time. > > > >He is amongst the greats - he is absolutely as important as Dennis > >Potter, as David Mercer, as Alan Bleasdale, as Alan Bennett, but I > >think because of a strange snobbery about fantasy or sci-fi it's > >never quite been that way. > > > >Now he's gone, perhaps people will reassess - his major works are > >absolutely of lasting importance. He was a TV giant. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >To send an email to - > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.