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Alan Flyng Interview
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Written by Vance
Sunday, 13 March 2011 18:02


Vance: It was 1982; you were a wardrobe assistant on the movie “Giro City”. Where did Star Wars fit in?

Alan: I had been acting for years prior to 1982 and had decided to add another second string to my bow for extra income. To that end, I had worked on assorted shows and films in the Wardrobe Departments, whilst learning costume making and period tailoring. I combined all this with interpreting, tourist guiding (in French and German), singing with a touring company on and off and taking small acting roles that didn't tie me down too far in advance. But I finally had to make a decision to stick with one direction, as I was a Jack of all trades and couldn't advance any further. So, I decided to continue with theater and film in costume, when ROTJ happened.

I had been at the Royal National Theater in London, whilst also working on what I thought was my last film on secondment. I had given my notice to the theater as I had a contract offered me by a designer I had worked with at the National, who had secured the design job on a new TV station's first feature - Giro City. Walking out of Elstree on the day before I was due to start filming in Wales on Giro City, I was spotted by the 1st AD, whom I knew of old. He beckoned me over - asked where I thought I was going and told me they had a minor crisis going on and could do with my help! It turned out the actor they had to shoot on had a touch of 'The King's Speech' syndrome and 30-odd takes hadn't made the problem better. Could I go in and do it? So I did - easy as that! But the irony of the situation was that Ken Colley was the one I delivered the line to and I had already fitted him for Giro City! The look of WTF on his face was quite funny to see as he recognized me. But we both got over it. The following day I was in Wales and Ken traveled down to start filming and that was that.

Vance: When Star Wars first came out were you a fan? If so was it exciting to be in Return of the Jedi?

Alan: No, not really. I had been an avid SciFi reader since childhood, but I was not overly enamored of Star Wars. But then I was cast on Empire as a Stormtrooper and spent a long time on that film and I was caught! As I said before, ROTJ was an unscheduled stop on the line for me, but I enjoyed going out with a bang, so to speak! LOL

Vance: Did you get to meet a lot of the other actors? How were they to work with? How was working with Uncle George?

Alan: I had met quite a few on ESB and they were all very nice and chatty. But I knew many of the supporting cast and crew from other jobs over the years, so it was all quite comfortable. Uncle George was not a chatty person - he kept himself mostly to himself and passed remarks down the line. So, I never really had a lot to do with him. He did direct second unit sometimes, so I can say I was directed by him on ESB! :)

Vance: If you had to do it again would you?

Alan: Of course! My life has been an adventure - at least my youth and middle years! I never was slow to take advantage of an interesting offer. I had done some modeling too, so I had no problem with presenting myself or with nerves.

Vance: Do you enjoy going to all the conventions and meeting the fans?

Alan: I really do! I am not at all distant from people - I love to meet people and the costumers and fans who turn up are always so interesting. I am afraid I chat too much for the convention organizers’ liking, but I am fascinated as much by them as they are to meet me. I have made some great friends amongst the fans!

Vance: Did you always want to be in the movie industry?

Alan: No - it was just a natural progression and totally unplanned.

Vance: You have a huge list of movies that you have been in charge of the wardrobe department; do you also get to make the costumes as well?

Alan: I do make costumes - not so many these days - but yes indeed. I tend to hire makers and set up workrooms wherever the budget allows. Making costumes can be more economical for a big period film than hiring in. Of course, you also get the luxury of designing a complete look on occasions, but not so often. Those great budget spectaculars are few and far between in the course of normal film-making.

Vance: What has it been like working in the movie industry so long?

Alan: I have enjoyed nearly all of it. There have been times when I have labored to get through a film because of bad chemistry or sheer monotony, but on the most-part, I can honestly say I have loved it!

Vance: What has been your favorite movie that you had to deal with so far? Why was it your favorite?

Alan: Hard to say really, but I think I have to say that my favorite must be Hamlet, directed by Franco Zeffirelli. I had the greatest good fortune to come onto that film just after Zeffirelli had sacked the first designer. All his designs ended up on the back-lot on a huge bonfire!!! Zeffirelli is himself a costume designer of no mean reputation, and he appointed his old colleague, Maurizio Millenotti, from Italian opera to take charge. As the film was due to start filming very soon, Maurizio and the new team rapidly set to making new designs hammered out by committee. Everyone who could sew was occupied in every spare moment making and then running back to set to get the clothes on their backs for the next scene and we were actually still making Glen Close's last dress on the last day of filming five months later! It was a madcap and exhausting job, but wonderful! And, of course, Maurizio won the Oscar as the Designer.

Vance: What movies are you working on coming up?

Alan: I have the luxury of four films in the pipeline, but they are all on hold pending this depression! However, a film I completed last year has resurfaced and is opening shortly, which is nice to see! It is a gentle, Jewish comedy called 'Re-Uniting The Rubins', with Timothy Spall, Rhona Mitra, James Callis and Honor Blackman. It is very funny and was a genuine joy to do.

Vance: If you had to go back and change one thing about your work, what would it be?

Alan: I think I might have stepped up to designing earlier. I got swept along supervising and supporting some designers, who really hadn't a clue - so I ended up designing by default.

Vance: Did you have time to intensify the forward batteries like Admiral Piatt ordered? Because you kind of blew up..

Alan: An Imperial officer is only as good as his men under his command, so when that fighter crashed through the bridge, alas, the air was sucked out of my lungs as I gave the order....! The answer is obviously no! LOL!!!

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 March 2011 08:22
 

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