A memorial video for Paul Darrow (1941-2019) as Avon in Blakes 7 - Auld Lang Syne

Blakes 7 was a British space opera of the 1970's. The Federation of that universe was corrupt, and the uniforms featured our Star Trek emblem at a slant. It gave a fascinating, layered look at what happens when a small band of outlaws (Robin Hoody) are trapped in a space ship fighting everyone. Avon and Blake were the main characters - a thief and a freedom fighter clashing over survival and obligations. Complex Shakespearean tragedy.

I only discovered it because a fan in Baltimore wanted me to make music videos, but all the tape in the US at the time had been many times converted from PAL by a Chicago fan and had spread into an unwatchable, b/w state. So the BBC was JUST then starting to show it in the US for the 2nd time and she brought me her entire set of originals and taped originals on her machines for me as it reran. I made 3 full VHS tapes full of music videos of the show. It was absolutely compelling to work with.

One thing that drove me batty. I watch with the sound off to make music videos. And I knew each characters self description. And each one was 180 degrees off of what I was seeing with the sound off. They ACTED differently than they described themselves acting. So Blake, the humanist, turns away from suffering. Avon, the one who doesn’t care, is the one that reaches out. Yet, when you ask the actors who ACTED those actions, they can only repeat the descriptions from their dialog. It’s as if they didn’t even realize what they were doing.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.