Debbie Isitt, the writer and director of Nativity 2: Danger In The Manger paid a
visit to the Christian Resource Exhibition in Manchester earlier today where
she presented clips and answered questions about the film and its predecessor Nativity!
Inspired by nativity plays at her daughter’s school and the
stress and competitiveness that they bring to parents and teachers alike,
Debbie created Nativity! three years
ago. The home-grown, low budget movie was a surprise box office hit, showing that
cinema audiences value traditional family fare at Christmas too rather than automatically
turning to the usual special-effects driven blockbusters that fill the
multiplexes.
Debbie’s films are fairly unusual in that they are totally
improvised by her cast. “I create the story and I write it down, but I never
show it to the actors.” She explained, “So the actors improvise their way
through the film, making it up as they go along. I know exactly what’s going to
happen, but I don’t tell them. So they’re constantly in the dark about what’s
going to happen next, we have to film everything in order and they don’t know
how it’s going to end until it ends, so it’s very exciting.” It takes a lot of
faith by her actors to work this way and to trust in her and the project,
especially if they are used to reading scripts in advance and knowing how big
their role is going to be in the project. “But in my world they don’t know if they are
going to star in it or be an extra in it so they just have to come on board for
the ride.”
Debbie also tackles the challenges of working with children
and animals with genuine enthusiasm. Of course there are problems. “A pig bit
Pam Ferris” she confessed, “That was a tricky moment”. But the joy is not
knowing what is going to happen next; whether it is a donkey refusing to move
or the child actors just coming out with whatever is on their minds. She casts
ordinary children from ordinary schools, taking three months over the process
and making sure that they have the opportunity to be themselves and show her
their strengths and vulnerabilities. It is important to her that the children enjoy
the experience. “For them it’s all about
the social side, they don’t even care that they’re in a film which is really
reassuring. They are not bothered about the red carpet and all of that; it’s
about being together and making friends”.
The first Nativity! film
dealt with themes of growth and self-belief, as the underdog went on a personal
journey to discover their inner strengths and to succeed against doubt and
adversity. The plot of Nativity 2
follows similar themes, but this time the children of St. Bernadette’s go on a
physical journey, out into the big wide world and it is here that they, and
they adults around them, find the answers that will allow them to believe in
themselves. Key to the transformation is the character of Mr. Poppy (played by
Marc Wootton), a 35-year old man who sees the world through the eyes of a
child, without prejudice or cynicism, who guides the children through by encouraging
them to believe that they are able to achieve whatever they want in life. “The
children absolutely love him and they’re drawn to him.” says Debbie, “He’s fun,
he’s adventurous, he’s risky, he really loves the children and he really gets
them.”
The first Nativity!
film starred Martin Freeman, soon to be seen as the star of The Hobbit. Nativity 2 stars David Tennant in a dual role. “He plays his own
twin,”Debbie explains, “So there’s ‘Good Twin’ David Tennant and ‘Bad Twin ‘
David Tennant. They’re competing in the Song For Christmas contest, but
actually they’re competing for other things too, they’re also competing in
their own values. ‘Bad’ David Tennant is a very successful composer, an elitist
kind of songwriter, he’s hell-bent on winning everything, and ‘Good’ David
Tennant is a very humble primary school teacher who really isn’t interested in
the values of winning and success and money and more interested in the values
of family and self-confidence and faith. So they take on each other. The metaphor
is the Song For Christmas, but actually they’re taking on each other’s values.”
Debbie presented the film’s trailer and a clip of Marc
Wootton as Mr. Poppy encouraging the class of children to come up with their
own ideas for the Song For Christmas competition.
In Nativity 2: Danger
In The Manger the children of St. Bernadette’s enter a Song For Christmas competition
and, despite being forbidden to do so, they take a trip to the finals held in a
castle in Wales. It is there that they find that their values are not
necessarily the values of some of the other competitors, and they have to stand
up for their beliefs. Their song, Born In
The Hay, says Debbie, “…starts very humbly and grows into something tremendous.”
She finished by recommending the film as a Christmas outing
for families and groups alike: “There’s not many films that are U certificate,
accessible to all, safe, feel-good, funny, entertaining, that have a real heart
and a real message of Christmas.”
About the film:
This Christmas, the unforgettable pupils of St. Bernadette's
are heading to Wales to compete in the National choir contest; 'A song for
Christmas'. New supply teacher Mr Peterson (David Tennant) has the unenviable
task of trying to curb the hysterical enthusiasm of the kids - not to mention
Mr Poppy (Marc Wootton) - but reluctantly finds himself getting swept along!
Under the stars on one magical night the sparkle and shine of Christmas once again comes to life in Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger! The film is out in UK cinemas on 23rd November 2012.
Under the stars on one magical night the sparkle and shine of Christmas once again comes to life in Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger! The film is out in UK cinemas on 23rd November 2012.
Read more about the film here
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