Tipping The Velvet Thread

[Hanki]

well last night was certainly interesting... lol.



i'm another didn't-like-this-ep-as-much-as-the-last but i still thought it was pretty darn good. i agree with whoever said the dildo was scary, i knew it was coming but i still had the urge to hide behind a cushion.



i have to say i didn't think i'd like florence on the basic principle that she wasn't kitty but i stand corrected

~ Han ~

Ravenshill ~ an original web series, a group of teen witches fight evil in an English town.

[tyche]

Something else which occurred to me: was the maid called Xena (Zena?) in the novel? b/c if Andrew Davies changed her name as an in-joke, I think that's kind of funny...



And, according to the Daily Mail's TV section, Keeley Hawes was married, but left her husband for Matthew Macfadyen, with whom she co-starred in 'Spooks'.

Willow worries that the gang won't like her anymore. Maybe she could try to rape one of them, leave a fiance at the altar, and tie up her friends so a demon could kill them. Then she'd fit right in. - My fiance's review of Beneath You.

[tommo]

She was called Zena in the novel, too.

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"You exquisite little tart!" ~ Diana Lethaby

[urnofosiris]

Well it is ok to mention things about the actors that are of public record. Please try to not barf over an actor though, if you don't like one saying so will be enough, no actor bashing here.



Anyway, another brief summary, which would be easier if I could remember the characters names.





It starts where it ended last time. Nan walking in on Kitty and her manager Mr Bliss. He is evidently aware Nan and Kitty have been sharing more than sleep in their bed but he gleefully announces that he and Kitty are getting married. In reply to him saying he is aware they are sweethearts 'of a sort' Nan blows up and yells at him if Kitty also told him they are fucking each other to which he smugly replies something to the like that he would not use such language and especially not when talking about what two women do together. That can't be fucking, because you need a man for that.



Just so you know.



Nan immediately moves out and rents a room from some creepy old woman and does not leave it for months at first, when she finally does she soon starts going out dressed as a boy, and lo and behold, when wearing a uniform she soon gets propositioned by an old gentleman who ask for a blow job. She agrees and discovers that it is not that different from acting and it pays well.



She soon moves into a nicer place and becomes enamored with a neighbor girl. When they start to become friends Nan suddenly feels guilty about what it is she does and undeserving of the girl's attentions. She flees into the night dressed as a boy again and gets assaulted by an older man who tries to "bugger" her. Take her from behind against her will. She gets rescued by the man servant of someone who has taken an interest in her.



That someone turns out to be a wealthy beautiful and somewhat nasty woman. She takes Nan to her home and introduces her among other things to a rather large leather strap-on. This is the start of their 2 year love-hate relationship amidst the drag kings and queens of London's Victorian era. One night when they are going to the theatre Nan runs to another theatre nearby because Kitty is performing there with Mr Bliss. Kitty does not see her though, but it is quite clear that Nan is still in love with her.



Nan at the cost of a smack across the face and a split lip verbally abuses her Mistress at her birthday party in front of all their wacky friends because she was humiliating her maid. Nan and the maid who had been getting along rather well already comfort each other with a drop of brandy first followed by some good old lesbian gay type loving complete with the leather tarzan. This is the moment her -I assume now to be former- lover/sex partner walks in on them. So this time Nan is the one who gets caught in the act.







This second part was quite a departure from the first one all right. I am not sure what to think of it, except I liked it less in part due to the way it was edited. I did not like that black round/fade out thing they kept doing if you know what I mean. I don't know how else to describe it. It was very distracting and made it look more like a roadrunner cartoon.



I did like some of the wicked humor in it, the looks on Nan's face when she was unzipping the various 'gentlemen', heh, quite telling. I guess there was more of that shocking lesbian sex this time, I am forever ruined. Oh well, the nice BBC lady did warn me.



I am glad I have not read the book yet, it makes watching easier as I won't have to fret over what they changed. When I love a book I have a hard time accepting any changes made in movies. I will read the book one day, but for now I can just enjoy this series unprejudiced so to speak.

The acting and costumes and scenery are superb, I am curious to see how this will end.

--------------------

Tara: "uh Willow?"

Willow: "No dancing naked, huh?...It just won't be the same."

Tara: "That's all right, we can save it for later" ----From Wilderness, the newest WT comic written by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden

Edited by: DrG at: 10/17/02 2:02:05 pm

[witchfoo]

Was not actor bashing, honest!! I think they're great. There was some actor bashing going on on the bbc website though. Some people were suggesting that Keeley had claimed she was bi when she probably wasn't to please the lesbian audience. This obviously annoyed a number of people. I haven't read the article so I just wanted to know what was actually said.



I guess I was just being nosy! Had my beak in other peoples quibbles! Didn't mean to be intrusive at all, and certainly not bashing.

[Traggic Prose]

I watched part two last night and loved it. It was more comedic than the first but very well done. I think it had to be funny to play down the sex scnes which were quite risky. It lightened the tone and made it more acceptable.



Laugh my ass off during the scene where Nan was earning a living as a rent-boy. The facial expressions she pulled during the act (if you seen it you'll know what I mean - if you havent then you in for a treat) was hysterical.





I read the book last year so had a high expectation from the show. The 1st part on initial viewing didnt look that good. The scenes and locations were too clean, not what I expected for that period. I had in my mind darker and murkier settings...but thats just me ;-)



But on the second viewing, I concentrated on the acting (escpecially their facial expressions) and the drama rather than what I imagine and it was alot better. Both leads were wonderful.



Wonder what the third part will be like...probably back to the seriousness of the first part.





TP

--------------------------------------------

Willow : I usually don't use so many words to say something so little, but do you get a little?



Tara : I do



Link: To my Xena wallpaper site

[Wytchi Grrl]

(newbie but joining in )



I'm really enjoying Tipping the Velvet, I have to say Nan is simply beautiful and the acting is brilliant.

The second episode was great to see how tv is developing, my mum thought it was very um Liberating, ah bless hehe





Wytchi

[Pipsqueak]

So, um, I hear there's some enjoyable smut in Part 2.



Hint Hint.



I want clips and I want 'em now! Hell, even a screencap or two will do. Take pity on us poor folk across the pond who can't even watch lesbian arm-touching.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Nothing in the world is the way it ought to be. It's harsh, and cruel. But that's why there's us. Champions.
It doesn't matter where we come from, what we've done or suffered, or even if we make a difference.
We live as though the world was what it should be, to show it what it can be." -- Angel

[urnofosiris]

Witchfoo, I was not talking about you, I did not name names, I made two separate general remarks and neither applied to you.

--------------------

Tara: "uh Willow?"

Willow: "No dancing naked, huh?...It just won't be the same."

Tara: "That's all right, we can save it for later" ----From Wilderness, the newest WT comic written by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden

Edited by: DrG at: 10/18/02 5:47:10 am

[witchfoo]

oops, sorry my misunderstanding!!

[walker]

Okay, as promised the Diva interview.



------------------------------------



Rachel Stirling and Keeley Hawes are bowled over. In fact the young stars - heterosexual and bisexual respectively - of the television adaptation of Sarah Waters' epic lesbian love story, Tipping the Velvet, appear to be more excited than kids at Christmas about their participation in the soon-to-be-screened trilogy. Indeed, any questions about taking on the richly Sapphic storyline are met with fervent protestations: "It's the part of a lifetime for a young actress," explains Rachel, who plays Nan, the oyster girl from Whistable who falls for touring male impersonator Kitty. "You have to understand, you just don't fucking get parts like that. Ever."



Were we in the Groucho pie-eyed and emotional, one might put Rachel's endearing enthusiasm down to drink. In fact we're taking early morning coffee at the drinking club's nemesis, The Hempel hotel. Almost Zen in its ambience - the reception area is seamless floor-to-ceiling white marble - our meeting place provides a fitting contrast to Rachel's fiery energy.



"I always think people assume you have a vast library of scripts to choose from," Rachel explains, "but it's so rare to find a believable part for a woman and also one that mirrors everyone's journey of personal discovery." Vibrant and gamine, twenty-five-year-old Rachel has the makings of a modern lesbian pin-up. Dressed in an ultra fashionable black poncho and denim jeans, her messy ear-length hair bestows a studied boyish air. Later she will tell me that she prefers to walk the street with head down and hands stuffed in pockets, like a boy, so as to avoid unwanted attention from leery men.



Keeley, 26, blonde, clear-skinned and more boyish still, arrives late thanks to an unfortunate car-clamping incident, but is quick to echo her co-star's opinion of Waters' acclaimed novel: "It's extraordinary, isn't it?" Fresh from her leading role in Spooks - the recent BBC series about MI5 - she says that Tipping...couldn't be more different: "I love costume drama, but this didn't feel like one. It feels really modern because of the way it's been filmed. Costume dramas can feel quite staid but this doesn't have to stick to any sense of decorum because it's not based in a posh country house. You know, it's rough around the edges."



The gritty world of the 19th century music hall provides the backdrop for Nan Astley's (Rachel's) first love affair with Kitty Butler (Keeley), a popular cross-dressing music hall star. They become a double act, both on and off stage, but their manager Walter (John Bowe) wins Kitty's hand as she ultimately chooses the safety of a traditional life rather than risking public disapproval of her true feelings for Nan.



Dubbed a lesbian Moll Flanders, Andrew Davies' production slips effortlessly from page to screen, sticking closely to the original storyline. Widely considered a master of TV adaptations - think Pride and Prejudice, House of Cards, Middlemarch - Davies is known for his racy touch. In fact, his somewhat fragrant stage directions reduce the two actresses to a giggly shadow of their former poise when they recall his reference to, ahem, "cunty fingers" in a recent production of Othello. "Some of his stage directions are unspeakable," says Rachel, who played alongside Keeley in the theatre production.



Davies triumphs yet again with his adaptation of Tipping the Velvet and, with the help of colleagues such as camerawoman Cinders Foreshaw, evocatively depicts the story exactly as one would imagine. Beautiful, almost dream-like images of the Whitstable seafront public house in which Rachel learnt to shuck oysters like a pro are cut with endlessly blustery, pale blue romantic seascapes. "I got scars all over my hand learning how to shuck oysters." Rachel reveals, miming the action with sound effects as she tells the story. "I got through an ice bucket the size of a small car of oysters, going ptchung, ptchung. I wasn't very good at first, but I did get better eventually."



While filming in Whitstable, the local newspaper rather sensationally announced the racier moments of the story to a somewhat hostile response. "They didn't like us that much," Rachel explains. "I heard of people who had gone to one of the pubs near where we were filming and said, 'What the fuck are they filming lesbians on the beach for? Whitstable's going to become the new Brighton.' But I heard that it already is," Rachel enthuses. "I heard that there are really comfy beach huts and a rife lesbian community. What fun!"



This seems as good a time as any to ask about the sex scenes. How did the two girls feel about recreating the lead characters' tender passion on screen together? "Just wait until you see us, because it's really beautiful, it's one of the sexiest love scenes I've ever seen," Rachel says, beaming. "Sex is a funny old thing because you've just got to get on with it. I think her being a girl (and knowing Keeley too) did make it easier. Neither of us found it difficult."



Keeley: "The love scene was absolutely fine. I mean, you're in fits of giggles with boys, and with girls it's no different, except there's a lot more to play with with another woman."

Cue fits of giggles. Keeley to Rachel: "We were all right, weren't we?"

Rachel: "Mmm."

Keeley: "We had good snogs."

Rachel: "Good snogs and lots of licking. My boyfriend was watching it the other day, and said, 'You didn't tell me there were tongues'!"

Keeley: "Everyone was asking me about the love scenes, but they were so far from my mind because I was much more worried about the singing and dancing and whether my voice would be up to par."



"Actually," Rachel adds, laughing, "the most challenging thing for me was being painted gold while wearing a dildo." She is of course referring to a scene later in the story, when, devastated and heartbroken post-Kitty, Nan takes to the streets as a rent boy. Spotted by a wealthy widow Diana Lethaby (Anna Chancellor), a woman in her thirties who lives by her own rules, Nan is introduced into a world of luxury and debauchery and virtually becomes her sex slave. "There was a moment when I was standing behind a curtain, just before Diana reveals me as Hermaphrodite, with five make-up ladies. One on each arm, legs, bosom and one going, 'bend over, are you embarrased?' as she painted my crack."



Tipping the Velvet makes for compulsive comedic viewing, but Keeley and Rachel are keen to stress the importance of the story, both for themselves and for the lesbian fans of the book. "I hope it's not a let-down. I hope it's not." Keeley says and stops for a moment, staring ahead, her forehead furrowed. "Do you know what I mean?" Another pause. "I'm going to say something very stupid." Rachel comes to her aid: "You mean you hope it doesn't let down all the people who are anticipating it, right?" Keeley nods. Has she felt this way before about a role she's played? "No. It's particularly this. I don't want to patronise people." She means lesbians, but her hesitation suggests a depth of feeling for the significance of the story that is beyond her own direct experience. "It's true to the book. Except for a slight change at the end. And I'm completely related to Kitty. Well not completely, because I'm not a lesbian. I'm bi."



Rachel appears in virtually every scene in the trilogy - her first bash at playing a lead role - and spent a gruelling nine-and-a-half weeks filming. As a showcase for the burgeoning talents of both actresses, it could hardly perform better and in the final analysis it packs a punch that will delight fans of the book. "I'm fucking proud of it," Rachel says with conviction. "God, I hope for Sarah (Waters) and everyone that they like it too. It's just really good telly. Which makes paying for your TV licence a little less agonising!"



------------------------------------



Sorry this is up so late. I was going to do it yesterday but I'm a very slow typer and I had to go out last night. Damn my friend for forcing fun upon me. Any spelling mistakes you find were no doubt added be me. Enjoy!

"I hope that when the time comes I die like my Dad, peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming in fear like his passengers." The Son of a recently deceased American bus driver.

[witchfoo]

Thankyou so much for all of that! you are a star!!!

[Hanki]

can you still get this magazine? i forgot to look for it last week but i might get a chance tomorrow...

~ Han ~

Ravenshill ~ an original web series, a group of teen witches fight evil in an English town.

[walker]

Witchfoo - No problem at all, helped me improve my typing skills. Or should I say "skills".



Hanki - Unfortunately the October issue is no longer for sale. The November issue is out now with an excellent article about Tara written by one a member of this board. However I know for a fact that Diva sell back issues if you're desperate to get your hands on a copy. It's subject to availability and they cost £2.25. Don't know where you're based, but you can only get back issues in the UK. Hope that's of some help to you.

"I hope that when the time comes I die like my Dad, peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming in fear like his passengers." The Son of a recently deceased American bus driver.

[urnofosiris]

Walker, thank you so much for typing all that up. An interesting interview. They sound like really nice women. Interviewers seem to get stuck on the what is it like to play a lesbian or kiss a woman question don't they. Does anyone ever wonder what it is like for a woman to kiss the guy, he could be an ass or have bad breath or something. Mwah, well anyway, they need not worry I think, the series is wonderful just like the ladies themselves.

--------------------

Tara: "uh Willow?"

Willow: "No dancing naked, huh?...It just won't be the same."

Tara: "That's all right, we can save it for later" ----From Wilderness, the newest WT comic written by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden

[Ange]

You can also find the DVD here:



www.playserver2.com/play2...565#review



The price is smaller and the shipping is free.



That's where i ordered "Lost and delirious" and they're very good.



Ange.

----------------------------------- "Things are not always what they seem to be...." Shakespeare Videos and Caps for ep4, "Help"

[littlesplinters]

I'm glad everybody seems to be enjoying this drama it is such good fun and very refreshing in that it departs from the big build up to the one sex scene scenario that you usually get. I love the humour and all that snogging....

[witchfoo]

does anyone know whether the dvd is gonna have any extras?

[Rane018]

dear lord, my kitten friend in england is taping this series for me but i think i will die if i dont see a few caps or a little video from part two. i would greatly appreciate it if anyone had caps and stuff. please, please, please. thank you.

[the kat whisperer]

I loved part two!!



The beginning was extremely heartbreaking, I really felt Nan's pain... And I can completely understand her hiding away for months. I was glad that she was finally able to get out there again...so to speak.



The episode was very funny in places (Nan's reactions while unzipping her clients' trousers ), and very scary in others. And I totally cringed when Anna Chancellor's character hit Nan with that metal thing. That had to hurt! But I was glad that she did stand up to her.



I thought the ending was great with Nan and Zena the maid (couldn't help but smirk at her name ), which IMO was obviously foreshadowed from their first scene together, but nonetheless enjoyable...especially the "Oh Miss, what a thing to do..." (as has already been pointed out by EffieBlue ) That was my favourite line of the whole ep... I couldn't help but think of "Evil's...good" though, and if only those damn censors hadn't...but then that's another show...



I agree with DrG about the "roadrunner" effect, that's exactly what it's like!! IMO, it's the only thing that let's the series down...but it's only small, so I can forgive them one moment of silliness.



Much thanks to walker for typing up that interview, I thought it was extremely informative. I spit up my cup of tea when I read that bit about the make-up woman painting Rachael's crack! Oh dear, the things actors go through for their art.



And woo hoo for joining in Wytchi Grrl, I have to say I admire that you could sit with your mum and watch this...I don't think I could ever watch anything like this with my dear mother...



Before this post gets even longer, I'll just add that I rushed out the next day to buy the book to read on my big train journey next Friday, and of course, I had to engage in conversation with the shop assistant as to why I wanted to buy the book ...apparently she'd been watching it on TV as well and she thought that the actress who played Nan was an incredibly nice-looking woman. All I could say was that I thought it was a great drama, then I quickly paid for the book and left.



Anyhoo, the main thing is, TV is good again! Can't wait for part three!



kw

Tara... aye mindit

[walker]

Dr G and the Kat Whisperer - Glad you enjoyed the article. I thought it was very well written, both actresses came across really well.



This isn't exactly on-topic but I just thought I'd give the UK and Netherlands inhabiting board members a heads up. BBC 2 are showing the Booker Prize live at 10pm on Tuesday. Sarah Waters is nominated for her novel The Fingersmith. It's usually the most boring televised event of the year. You have been warned.

"I hope that when the time comes I die like my Dad, peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming in fear like his passengers." The Son of a recently deceased American bus driver.

[Killin Joke]

Well, I just have to say I liked the first part a tinge better... but that's because I'm just a sucker for romance (shh, don't tell anyone ) Good thing I only saw one episode, coz I was willing to ship Nan and Kitty right away (blame Xena/Gab, W/T for it /chuckle/)

BUT I very much enjoyed the second installment, maybe because they mix so much humour in it. Don't get me wrong: I was absolutely heartbroken in the beginning when Nan discovers her love has betrayed her, but it was a good heartwrenching, coz I went like: See, that's how you handle hurt, grief ! People cry, scream, don't get over it that easily. Thought they handled it very good, in Nan dealing with it badly, staying in, refusing to eat, take care of herself...

Furthermore: Jodhi May a.k.a. Florence, didn't recognize the actress name until I read some kitten mentioned her playing the sister in The Last of the Mohicans, which I had naturally seen, being such a wonderful movie and all. Apparently she also played another sis in "Sister my Sister" which I had been reading the cover from but didn't realize that she was in it, till yet another kitten posted that somewhere. Bought the movie this friday: quite disturbing, but some touching acting.

Cute character: I reckon we're gonna see more (snigger) of her in the 3th part.

About Anna Chancellor: only appearance I can remember of her, was when she turned out to be a lesbian in the movie "The Crush" (also with Andie McDowell, etc.). Saw that one at last year's filmfestival in Ghent. Didn't know that was gonna happen, but pleasantly surprised, I guess. What a role: dominiatrix... She nailed that part.

I agree with some kittens: the strap on dildo's: SCARY !

Found the match between Nan and Zeena (OH MY GODDESSES, being a Xenite and all, I found that rather hilarious of course ) to be teasing and tender at the same time. Sweet ! The "Oh miss, what a thing to do..." the best line of the ep, whereas I laughed my ass off with the "I didn't want to be her sister"-line in the previous episode, knowing all the connotations the terms "sister" and "friend" carry in some shows/films.

It's a superb series, and I might consider buying it on DVD, if it has some wicked extra's. BTW, saw they sold the 2nd season of Bad Girls on DVD, when I went on this lesbian film shopping spree friday. Need the 3th season, though, since they won't show it anymore here, dammit. Ah well, freeze me now and wake me wednesday evening

"Visions dance throughout the night in the pale moon light in the witching hour" (Symphony X)

[Sarah Bennett]

the kat whisperer that is the most smilies I've ever seen in one post, how cute lol.

Sarah.

tvandfilmgrrl

[Hanki]

Walker - thanks for that info, i am in the UK so i'll try and order the back issue.

~ Han ~

Ravenshill ~ an original web series, a group of teen witches fight evil in an English town.

[hellmouthhottie20]

Well, i gotta say iam loving this,

and it was my MUM who told me to watch it, we sat down together, i got a bit of a shock cos she hadnt told me what it was about!!!

She had seen them talking about it on Richard and Judy (gotta love them ) and had decided to "bond" with me over it!

She thought it was great to, so it appels to many people, her words were, "its a lot better then Queer as folk" and i have to agree



caz

The very FIRST thing Neil Armstrong said when he landed on the moon - "theres no way a cow jumped over here"

[the kat whisperer]

Sarah I think you may be right. I have been a bit excessive with the smilies... But hey, I like smilies so



kw



Edited to make this post on-topic



Thanks for the heads-up about the booker prize walker. And caz, I'd agree with your mum about the comparison between TtV and QaF, I never did like that.

Xena: "Always looking out for me, huh?"
Gabrielle: "Always."

Edited by: the kat whisperer at: 10/20/02 1:35:27 pm

[feena191]

There's 8 vidcaps from Ep2 here, but you have to be a member to see all the pics on the site (not just TtV)



www.bomscans.com/samples.phtml?id=1796



Feena

-x-

--------------------------

"Run, flee, maybe skedaddle. We're not here to engage, this is strictly recon......what?"

"You said recon, you're like cool monster fighter."

[VampNo12]

Thanks Feena for the link to the caps for episode 2 !

[Twisted Rabbit]

I finally got my hands on the book!I couldn't even find it in Waterstone's in Brussels and I didn't have the time to buy it when I was in London, but now I just found it here in Leuven, in the bookstore across the street!

[Kendahl897]

Any clips that we can download?