June 26: Five years ago today

Franny Armstrong
Location
Edit room in the office, 11.45pm
Mood
Frazzled satisfaction
Date
26.06.07

It's exactly five years to the day - possibly to the hour - that we thought of the idea for the film, so strikes me as a delightfully auspicious moment to go public about our little project.

June 11: 500 million people on the case?

Franny Armstrong
Location
1.10am, hire car on the M1, Lizzie driving
Mood
Despair
Date
11.06.07

The last ever day filming Crude didn't start too well for poor Lizzie as the hire car she picked up yesterday developed a flat tyre and she spent half the night organising tow trucks. Then had to get up at 5.30am to pick me and new soundman Ben up to drive to Bedford for the result of Piers's three-year battle to get planning permission for his latest windfarm.

May 27: Spices then gold now oil next water

Franny Armstrong
Location
In a tent in a field in Hay
Mood
Christmas morning before the parents wake up
Date
27.05.07

Rain, Cameras, Action.... Photograph: Charlotte Rushton  

No option but to keep going

Franny Armstrong
Location
D the E's house, babysitting his very cute twins who are supposed to be in bed
Mood
Amused
Date
25.05.07

Just finished two weeks script writing with David and Emily . Nearly killed me. Brain imploded. Far too many great ideas and no system for marshalling them.

Very much from the Spanner mould

Franny Armstrong
Location
Lord Stanley pub, near the office
Mood
Slightly more hopeful
Date
11.05.07

Suddenly remembered Emily James as I was washing up for the first time in three weeks this morning. She's an indie filmmaker very much from the Spanner mould. Her film "The Luckiest Nut In the World " famously used animated singing peanuts to discuss trade liberalisation.