A Carnival Films production for ITV. 3x1hr. First shown April 2nd 1998, currently unavailable. Broadcast ratio 4:3, never released in its full negative ratio of 16:9
Stephen Tompkinson, Maria Lennon, Lydzia Englert
TV Guide: An accidental discovery of a drug for the mass unconscious and a naive schoolteacher’s ardor lead to personal and almost global disaster. Harper’s world edges on nightmares between life and death, waking and dreaming, insanity and sanity. Somewhere this crosses the line between Seconds (1966) and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
Trailer:
Background: 8th March 1995, met with BBC script editor Craig Dickson and producer Kevin Loader to discuss ideas for ‘a British X-Files for BBC2’. We developed a proposal for a returning series based on my novel Oktober and submitted to the BBC2 Controller for the next production cycle. After a year of no response I had Kevin’s blessing to take it to ITV. Pitched it as a miniseries with the backing of Carnival’s Brian (Poirot) Eastman. ITV Drama Controller Nick Elliott was no fan of SF or fantasy but the rumour was that network drama head Jenny Reeks fished the script out of his waste bin and harangued him into commissioning it.
Production: Along the way I attached myself as director and waited to be challenged. At the outset I asked for (and got) Tompkinson for the lead, DP Bruce McGowan, and legendary stunt coordinator Peter Diamond. Shooting began in October ‘97 for seven weeks with a budget of 2.5m. Bruce shot on Super 16 negative with a 16:9 frame. Locations: London, Broadstairs, Chamonix (Aiguille du MIdi), Geneva.
Post Production: Digital workprint, negative cut to conform. Music by Alan Parker (formerly of Blue Mink). Sound mixed in stereo. Scanned from the negative in February 1998 to create two broadcast masters, a 4:3 and a 16:9.
Transmission: Despite the growing uptake of widescreen TVs, ITV opted to broadcast the 4:3 version. This version was used as the master for all international sales and the 16:9 was shelved.
DVD: Revelation Films licensed a DVD release in 2004. I pushed for the 16:9 and was assured it was in hand, but was disappointed to see the 4:3 master had again been used as the source. I was told that sales agents Southern Star had been unwilling to do technical checks on the widescreen transfer, which remains unreleased to this day.
Revelation’s DVD Extras included an on-camera interview, my written production diary, the episode 1 script, some deleted scenes (including one small but significant plot moment that had been cut without my approval), set photos, and a commentary track by Matt Hills, Professor of Media and Film.
2016: Working with Carnival on Stan Lee’s Lucky Man I took the opportunity to ask CEO Gareth Neame and Brand Manager Claire Daxter for personal copies of the Oktober 16:9 Digibeta tapes for my archive. I don’t have a player but each tape came with a DVD of its content. From these I edited together a low-res widescreen version for my own use, recutting a couple of the scenes I hadn’t been happy with.
Tim Beddows: Through Mark Stanborough I began a conversation with Network DVD’s Tim Beddows about a remastered Blu Ray release. With Southern Star no longer in the picture Tim pursued the chain of title with Carnival owners NBCU. Our correspondence ended with his untimely death and the winding-up of Network shortly after.
As far as I can establish, Oktober is unavailable for streaming anywhere. Nor has it been aired in any territory for well over a decade. The Revelation DVDs hold their value in the second-hand market but the company no longer offers the title.