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Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2 - The Story of "The Seeker:
The Dark is Rising" with screenwriter John Hodge
Part 3 - Interview
with Director David Cunningham Part 4 - Interviews with
the Cast:
Ian McShane
Alexander Ludwig
Christopher
Eccleston
Visit the official site at
SeekTheSigns.com
"The Seeker" opens in theaters October 5, 2007.
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 INTRODUCTION
By Kara Warner
It’s 10 a.m. on a bright, sunny morning in mid-May.
A group of jet-lagged journalists, fresh off their first ride
through the chaotic, almost anarchic traffic in Bucharest,
Romania, are debating the age of our van driver and whether
or not he’d pass a U.S. driving test. (Age guesses fall
in the 14-24 range, the ability to pass the driver’s
test gets a collective, “probably not.”). Eventful
van ride survived, we’ve been assembled from across
the U.S. and England, respectively, to spend a day on the
set of Fox Walden’s upcoming film, “The Seeker:
The Dark is Rising,” opening October 5, 2007.
Based on the acclaimed 5-book series of novels by Susan
Cooper, “The Seeker: The Dark is Rising” is the
first offering from newly formed Fox Walden films, as well
as the first film adaptation of Cooper’s work. The production
is located about 12 miles northwest of Bucharest at MediaPro
Studios in the small town of Bethea. The expansive site includes
15 soundstages, four water tanks, a lake and nearly 125 acres
of backlot. The majority of which we were told the cast and
crew made full use. It’s obvious the studio has a lot
of hope for this first film and (fingers crossed!) its franchise
potential. But back to the visit…
Shortly after we arrived on set, our PR guides for the day,
Susie Hayasaka and Moira Houlihan, lead us through various
areas of production prep – costume racks, set construction,
etc. to a makeshift staff lounge/craft service table in a
tent adjacent to the main sound stage. Here, after some much-needed
caffeine thanks to the craft service table, we were told what
to expect from the day. We’ll be taking tours of all
the standing sets, meeting with all the key players involved
with the production of the film, as well as cast members:
Christopher Eccleston, Ian McShane, Frances Conroy, Jonathan
Jackson, Jim Piddock, James Cosmo and newcomer Alexander Ludwig.
The first order of business is a meet-and-greet with screenwriter
John Hodge, wherein we shall learn the story of “The
Seeker: The Dark is Rising” and how the writer known
for his adult fare (“Shallow Grave,” “Trainspotting”)
came to be involved with a family oriented fantasy film...
Continued in Part 2: The
Story
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