Allow me to ruffle your Bel x Freddie feels as it happened with mine today.
p.s: Nothing you can see (furniture, floors, painting, clothes, hairs) etc in these images was made by me. I just put them together as I pleased.
So this is the front of the postcard I’ve sent as part of the 2.0 version of the offline to try to save The Hour.
Considering that my handwriting could damage your eyes, allow me to transcript what I’ve written:
Dear Mr. Stephenson,
Alongside a vast and passionate community, I’m writing to you about the cancelation of the series The Hour.
As you probably know, Portugal was ruled in dictatorship for almost 50 years: (1926-)1933-1974.
Like it happens in these regimes, the press was tightly controlled by the government.
During «Estado Novo», many of those who wanted and/or could look for «unadulterated» news would turn to the BBC radio to get them from bold and brave news coverage much like that portrayed on The Hour.
Even today, the BBC’s journalism is deemed to have many of the qualities that greaten and should rule the field - unbiased, competent and thorough, for example.
The Hour may be a piece of fiction but it may also contribute to imbue today’s new and old journalists with the same values - after all, many shows have found how fiction influences our lives, how they seem to makes more human.
In a time where television isn’t as far from “cinematic value” as it used to be, The Hour is a prime and exquisite example of what people expect from a show with the BBC stamp: intelligent storytelling, compelling and well-written characters, high artistic and cultural values, and powerful performances.
The Hour was planned to be a 3-seasons series and it would be a pity if its brilliant story came to an end more than halfway over that goal, specially in a cliffhanger.
Yours sincerely,
I also added the «Wish you were here, Moneypenny.», the hashtag, and the savethehour.tumblr.com address.
Looking back I could have probably tried to develop some points, but I wanted to keep it restricted to the post card. Even if the drama commissioner doesn’t end up reading them himself, I was taught in my journalism degree that we should try to be the most direct, clear and short we can when addressing busy people as he probably is. It doesn’t hurt to try, I guess.
Another bit of effort, as many of this community have made or will make.
Even if the #savethehour Video Project had a month-long deadline, it was only last week that I decided to do something.
School got in the way meantime, so I was only able to get it together and send it today.
It’s not very good quality-wise (damn you, The Sims video-capture), and sim Bel and sim Freddie weren’t very cooperative - don’t shoot with animals, children and sims, everybody. .
I think it’s an fun effort nevertheless, and I’d like to share it, despite its shortcomings and the fact that I’ve sent it too late.
“Come when the nights are bright with stars
Or come when the moon is mellow;
Come when the sun his golden bars
Drops on the hay-field yellow.
Come in the twilight soft and gray,
Come in the night or come in the day,
Come, O love, whene’er you may,
And you are welcome, welcome.
(…)”
Invitation to Love, Paul Laurence Dunbar
Now you can’t say you’ve never been sent love poetry before.Wish you were here, Moneypenny.Freddie.p.s: The casino nearby was the inspiration for CR and IF has actually stayed here.
(It features the front and the back of the postcard. Wait some seconds to see both.
I’d love to send this to the BBC but can’t because it’s not an actual postcard, just a graphic I made up.)
In the spirit of the offline campaign to try to save The Hour, I’ve sent these two postcards to the BBC the day before yesterday.
On the first I’ve written:
If you were here, I’d be ecstatic. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else or with anyone else.
You are exquisite, Bel Rowley.
Freddie
And on the second:
Wish you were here, Moneypenny.
Nothing’s impossible when it’s possible.
Freddie
I’ve also added that this show deserves a proper ending, at least, and the « I’m not here to hurt you. I’m from the BBC.» quote.
I’d like to have found one of Estoril, where Ian Flemming lived when he experienced and saw what inspired him to write Casino Royale.
Unfortunately, I didn’t but if I get the chance, I’ll try to fashion a postcard out of an 50s ad of the hotel where Flemming stayed I’ve found on-line.
People are trying to send on time for them to arrive at the BBC on the March 4th but even if yours would only arrive later, try to nevertheless.
It may amount to nothing, but it may also show the BBC that this show has a interested and passionate fanbase.
(p.s: I’m sorry about the poor quality of the images, but I didn’t have a camera available and my scanner acts weirdly sometimes.)
«Marry me, Moneypenny.»
Those had been Freddie’s first coherent words after more than a week of periods in and out of conscience, surgeries, and endless worry.
When Bel rushed to him, she didn’t even register their meaning. She was just so relieved, thankful and indescribably happy he was talking at all. Sometimes she had been afraid he’d never do it again, given all he had been through before and after he had been dumped on the front lawn of Lime Grove.
«Freddie», she said, having to stop herself from touching his beaten-up face, ridden with healing bruises and cuts, at the last moment.
