Earlier in March, Steph and Emma from the Community team took part in a top-secret Macmillan TV project!
I’m Steph and I’m excited to share some of our experience with you today.
We travelled to London to film with a professional crew so that a message about the Online Community can appear on primetime television in the coming weeks. The filming was part of a larger project, designed to increase understanding and awareness of Macmillan services. We know just how important the Online Community can be to those who use it. Through our TV spotlight message, we hope to reach more people living with and affected by cancer so we can be be there for everyone who needs us.
Intrigued? Whilst we can’t yet reveal full details of the project, we wanted to share a diary of our day in London and some of the photos we captured.
8.00am – My call to appear on set. I’m feeling nervous, but everyone is so kind and professional. Emma is here providing gentle reassurance, I make sure I have water to sip on and remember to breathe properly.
8.30am – It’s my first time in professional hair and make-up. It’s really interesting hearing about all the famous people the artist has worked with. Colleagues from Macmillan and the TV company pop in to check in. It’s a very busy room with lots going on, so I hardly have time to worry.
9:00am – We’re at Macmillan, is there such a thing as too much green? Well wardrobe have decided my green top doesn’t look quite right on set…. Luckily I have brought a few choices of outfit with me! They’re still focused on getting the lighting right on set, so we have time to relax until I’m called through.
10:00am – It’s my big moment! I’m called through to set, which is teeming with runners, boxes, lighting, camera operatives and their equipment. Wow! This is slightly more daunting than I expected. The director, Alex, is lovely and talks me through every stage.
Everyone’s goal is the same, to make sure our message about the Online Community is perfectly coherent, warm and welcoming. We have a limited slot and a limited amount of time to spend perfecting the delivery.
11:00am – Halfway there! I’ve been repeating the same few lines over and over for an hour now and my mouth is dry. It’s amazing how easy it is to trip up over your words when under pressure. I knew my lines perfectly until the camera was on me. I try my best not to provide too much material for the blooper reel.
Time for a quick break but I’m not allowed to leave my seat. A runner is despatched to bring me a hot drink. I feel like a bit of a diva but accept the superstar treatment as graciously as I can.
12:00pm – It’s a wrap! It’s a big relief that the project team seem happy with the takes we have filmed. I won’t get to see it for a few weeks but I’m confident that the TV people and Macmillan know what they are doing.
1:00pm – The Tate Modern is just a few minutes away from our filming location and it's lunch time. Emma and I are really excited to have the opportunity to go and view the new Tracey Emin exhibition. This is completely separate to the filming we're doing, it's just great to have the chance to go whilst we're in the city.
Tracey Emin is a British artist known for making works that convey experiences and events from her own life. Tracey has openly shared her experience of being diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2020. Tracey’s exhibition ‘A Second Life’ explores themes of mortality, frailty and survival, documenting the surgery, stoma and scars which followed her cancer diagnosis.
The exhibition was a stark reminder of the impact that cancer often has on people’s lives. The Online Community is here to make sure no one has to go through cancer alone but we’re still not reaching everyone who needs us.
Our important filming project will help us spread the word about the Online Community and other Macmillan services. We’re so excited to tell you more about it as soon as we can – WATCH THIS SPACE!
