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How I played a dream sequence sausage in Pudsey the Dog: The Movie How I played a dream-sequence sausage in Pudsey the Dog: The Movie
(about 5 hours later)
People love the fact I've played a sausage.People love the fact I've played a sausage.
I work in production, and for around six to eight weeks, I was working as an assistant director on the second unit of Pudsey the Dog: the Movie. About halfway through filming, we had a dream sequence scheduled for the end of the day.I work in production, and for around six to eight weeks, I was working as an assistant director on the second unit of Pudsey the Dog: the Movie. About halfway through filming, we had a dream sequence scheduled for the end of the day.
Pudsey is asleep, and he's dreaming of a sausage. But, as film shoots do, we ran over, and didn't have time to film it. The budget was tight; they didn't want to get the actor in and pay him for a second day. So one morning, I was eating breakfast when the director, Nick Moore, came over and asked me to go and see the costume department. When I got there they started giggling.Pudsey is asleep, and he's dreaming of a sausage. But, as film shoots do, we ran over, and didn't have time to film it. The budget was tight; they didn't want to get the actor in and pay him for a second day. So one morning, I was eating breakfast when the director, Nick Moore, came over and asked me to go and see the costume department. When I got there they started giggling.
"You need to try this on", they said. "You need to try this on," they said.
It turns out Nick had looked at the sausage costume and taken the measurements, and it just so happened that it fit me. So, I stepped up to the plate. I came out of the costume department as a new man: a sausage. It turns out Nick had looked at the sausage costume and taken the measurements, and it just so happened that it fitted me. So, I stepped up to the plate. I came out of the costume department as a new man: a sausage.
The costume went all the way over my torso and quite a way above my head. You can't see my face; it's behind netting. It was basically made out of pillows. I still had my job as an AD to do, so at one point I was on the radio dressed as the sausage, speaking to people I was working with.The costume went all the way over my torso and quite a way above my head. You can't see my face; it's behind netting. It was basically made out of pillows. I still had my job as an AD to do, so at one point I was on the radio dressed as the sausage, speaking to people I was working with.
The sequence involved me running from the edge of a wood across a meadow. Pudsey was bolting after me. It was quite difficult to see, especially in the sunlight. There were other ADs shouting directions at me, ready to catch me if I veered off too far. I did ask to keep the costume, but they wanted to keep it at Vertigo Films. I think they thought it might be an iconic bit of the film – that everyone will remember this massive sausage running out of the woods. The sequence involved me running from the edge of a wood across a meadow. Pudsey was bolting after me. It was quite difficult to see, especially in the sunlight. There were other ADs shouting directions at me, ready to catch me if I veered off too far. I did ask to keep the costume, but they wanted to keep it at Vertigo Films. I think they thought it might be an iconic bit of the film – that everyone would remember this massive sausage running out of the woods.
Pudsey himself is amazing – miles better than most of the actors. He always hit his mark. It was like him and Ashley [Pudsey's owner and Britain's Got Talent co-star] had a telepathic link. There's a scene we shot on the zebra crossing at Abbey Road. We only had a couple of us locking off traffic, and the crew was really, really minimal, but Pudsey walked across the crossing on his hind legs in one take. That was it. It took about five seconds. The bond between Ashley and him is very real. Although he's quite old now, I think. He'd go for a kip most lunchtimes. Pudsey himself is amazing – miles better than most of the actors. He always hit his mark. It was like him and Ashley [Pudsey's owner and Britain's Got Talent co-star] had a telepathic link. There's a scene we shot on the zebra crossing at Abbey Road in London. We only had a couple of us locking off traffic, and the crew was really, really minimal, but Pudsey walked across the crossing on his hind legs in one take. That was it. It took about five seconds. The bond between Ashley and him is very real. Although he's quite old now, I think. He'd go for a kip most lunchtimes.
They'll probably credit me as "Sausage". But I played another part too. At the start of the film, there's a scene where Pudsey stops and looks at a family playing in the park. In the script it reads "the perfect family". So I'll probably be credited as second unit AD, Perfect Dad and Sausage. They'll probably credit me as "Sausage". But I played another part, too. At the start of the film, there's a scene where Pudsey stops and looks at a family playing in the park. In the script it reads "the perfect family". So I'll probably be credited as second unit AD, Perfect Dad and Sausage.
• Pudsey the Dog: The Movie is out in the UK now • Pudsey the Dog: the Movie is out in the UK now
Thomas Bentley was grilled by Hannah Jane ParkinsonThomas Bentley was grilled by Hannah Jane Parkinson