Grant Gee
Dukey: Good evening all and welcome. And a special welcome to Grant Gee, who is gracing us with his presence here tonight for a short chat. Grant, thank you very much for popping by. We've had a hard time promoting this event, but even though hardly anyone has seen "Don't Crash" yet, some questions have trickled in. Right, here we go.
Seymour the Fractal Cat: Hi Grant, How did you get involved in Hitchhikers? Were you a fan before you made this film?
Grant Gee: Of course. Saw the TV series when I was about 13. Got involved with this one because the producer and director of the film knew me as a documentary director. I worked at their company about 6 years ago.
DarthBastard: 'Meeting People is Easy' had a very 'Radiohead' look and feel to it. From the clips we have seen it seems that 'Don't Crash' has infused with a Hitchhiker's Guide style. Do you make a concious effort to do this or does it simply evolve during the edit?
Grant Gee: Oi! These film/video commissions that I like and sometimes get are always secondary to the main act: Radiohead/Hitchhikers. It's just a case of wanting to give people a similar kind of experience with the secondary media that they get with the primary.
Fide: Did you have a synopsis prepared before you made the doc or did you sit down afterwards thinking "Ok, how on earth will I now build this puzzle"?
Grant Gee: The synopisis is a smarmy hussle. Then when you've got the job you think about what you're actually going to do. With this one the thing that seemed obvious was the human interest of the director and producer's (and esp. the director's glee and energy in getting the gig)
Then 'the puzzle' is an editing excecise....as much to do with how much time you can afford as anything else. It would be possible to edit anything forever.
DarthBastard: Were there any moments that weren't caught on camera that you wish were?
Grant Gee: Hold on while I try and remember
Grant Gee: well, there were obviously lots of serious stressful corporatre shenanigans that would've been lovely to snatch.... but unlikely it would ever happen. One simple thing: when Zaphod's head 2 was going to be mostly a prosthetic effect I missed the chance to see it getting glued to Sam Rockwell's head. I fet a bit sad abt. that.
Fide: Was there anything in the documentary from the beginning that had to be left out due to any request from the cast & crew? If so, what? :)
Grant Gee: Nothing from cast and crew. ONly thing I was asked to delete was a line abt. George Bush's stupidity. I don't know from where this edict came.
Hittejoel: I happen to have seen your brilliant documentary about hitchhikers, and I would seriously like to know why on earth Nick Goldsmith was wearing that hideously disgusting wig. Do you know?
Grant Gee: Very good that you liked it. Ta. I have no idea why he wore that wig. I asked him twice and still don't know.
biglou114: Do you know why this is only going to be availible on the UK edition and no the american?
Grant Gee: Excuse me I am going to get a drink...I will be one minute....
Grant Gee: Uhm...no real idea. I imagine they're waiting for people to suck it and see in UK then evaluate if it may be palatable for US.
Hittejoel: Who amongst the cast and crew was the funniest to be around with a camera? Who was the most trouble?
Grant Gee: Bill Nighy best. worst......hard to say. MAin thing is that as a "DVD extra/EPK" kinda chap you're looked upon as a pretty low form of life by some people on the real crew....that was a little difficult....but as I had a previous relationship w/ director and producer...it was all pretty good really. Nothing bad.
DaveH: How did you get tipped off about the green light meeting?
Grant Gee: Nick and Garth shot that themselves. They've always semed to shoot everything they do as a kind of diary. I got hired after green-light. They gave me all their previous tapes.
Leah: Have you read all of the Hitchhickers books, or any other books by Douglas?
Grant Gee: No not all Hitchhikers book. Seems that evryone's most attached to version in the medium in which they first encountered it. With me it was the TV show so I know all the TV show stuff first. Then radio, then books.
Filip: have you ever thought about directing feature films or television?
Grant Gee: I do little bits of telly. Directing features takes a kind of thick-skinned sociabilty that I don't think I have. Looking at GArth directing HHGG I could see him having a great time but it woul;d've scared the hell out of me.
Hittejoel: What of all your film works (private and professional) are you the most proud of?
Grant Gee: Pride is a vice!
DarthBastard: How does following a film production compare to following a band? Would you do it again?
Grant Gee: That's hard. Give me a minute.
Grant Gee: Film sets seem less like a production line than rock and roll tours. I would gladly hang aroud Nick 'n Garth's set again. Most people in features seem kind of wanky though.
The Monk: Is this version of the doc the final version or are you planning on making a standalone longer one in the future?
Grant Gee: Not planning to. There was some talk that there might be a longer standalone one but I think the movie needed to make $150 million rather than $100 million before that would be seriously considered. I'm joking, I think.
DaveH: Did you get any tips on Hitchhiker docmentaries from Kevin Davies?
Grant Gee: No tips but Kevin was a great help in giving/showing archiveal/collectable stuff and a lovely chap to boot.
JustThisGuy: Any rumours about a upcoming Part 2? Reminding the great prolog of the movie, where the Dolphins and the 'So long' message is pointed out - that looks like there must be more in the future?!?
Grant Gee: I have no idea. If the whole world buys the DVD then I guess it would be an incentive.
DaveH: Garth said your documentary should get its own release. Any chance of seeing it on the festival circuit?
Grant Gee: There was talk of it, but like I say I think there's a certain (massive) profit that has to be made before The Powers That Be would countenace spending an extra....i dunno $200,000 on doing a print and distribution deal for a little doc. I can only think of 'Lost in La Mancha as a recent one....and there was no disaster with HHGG.
Dukey: Ok, that's it, everybody! Thanks for stopping by! Grant, thanks so much for bearing with us, and sorry about the glitch in the beginning of it. Superbly nice of you! The last words are yours, if you want them said.
Grant Gee: It's odd that most people aint seen the doc. yet but if/when you do I really hope you like it. It's a comedy...but true! Thanks for the smart questions.
Night night.
Grant.
Login
FAQ
Search
I missed out on it but it was great to have a transcript. I'd probably not have thought of any good questions anyway so yeah 
but it'd have been nice to see him answer them one at the time in the chat hehe. oh well. next time maybe there won't be a thunderstorm here ...
