Blood and Oil aka Sweet Delta

[Katy]

Jodhi May will appear in a new BBC Two project that will be broadcast next year. As a little aside, this project was filmed in South Africa.

Read the BBC press release.

Something to look forward to seeing.

Katy

[PantherPassant]

I just saw this.There is a news story about it.

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstor ... elta-drama

Has this already been filmed?
Sounds like a rough filming job.

[Katy]

I guess we shall see.

Katy

[whirled]

This looks interesting - seems like there will be more high emotions for JM to play. I've never heard of Naomie Harris before, but I always enjoyed David Oyelowo as Danny on Spooks.

Thanks for posting, Katy and Panther. Will keep my eyes peeled for more info.

[Katy]

Daisy Miller also posted about this project in another link-- the where is she now thread.

And I have seen Harris in Pirates of the Caribbean and 28 Days.

Katy

[Katy]

Although the BBC has made no formal announcement about this one, it seems it has undergone a title change to Blood and Oil. I've also update the thread title to reflect it.

Well wishes.
Katy

[Katy]

It may yet be called something different. JM's CV at Spotlight has it listed as Troubled Waters. So, not at all certain at this point of its final title.

Katy

[Katy]

Hmmmmm... this may mean a broadcast is very close, which I haven't read an announcement anywhere, or that it is going straight to DVD...

Blood and Oil R2 DVD release information

Wow, 159 minutes.

I will search BBC to see if I can dig up more information.

Katy

[Katy]

Great. I thought an announcement would be forth coming....

Blood and Oil will premiere on BBC Two during week 12 (20-26 March). It's unplaced right now, but it will be during that week.

Blood And Oil Ep 1/2
New series
Unplaced
Day and time to be confirmed BBC TWO

Award-winning writer Guy Hibbert returns to the BBC with a powerful drama about two British women and their extraordinary journey deep into the hinterland of the Niger Delta – a beautiful but highly dangerous region of Nigeria. Blood And Oil boasts an impressive and diverse cast including Naomie Harris (Pirates Of The Caribbean, 28 Days Later), Jodhi May (Einstein & Eddington, The Street, Friends And Crocodiles), Paterson Joseph (Survivors), David Oyelowo (Five Days) and Peter Firth (Spooks).

In the remote jungles of the Niger Delta, Nigeria, heavily armed militants attack an oil installation, kill several security guards and kidnap four Western oil workers. A leading militant group is fighting for control of Nigeria's oil wealth and seeking reparations for the pollution of the Delta by foreign oil companies. Kidnappings of oil workers are common, and the ransoms generated are used to finance the militant group's operations.

One of the kidnapped workers is Mark Unwin. Back in the UK, his anxious wife, Claire, is assured by his employers, Krielson International, that his speedy release is a mere formality. As the kidnappings are motivated by money, the hostages are always returned alive and in good health. Nonetheless, Claire travels to Nigeria to seek her husband's release.

Ed Davis gives up-and-coming Krielson PR executive Alice Omuka the task of caring for Claire until her husband is released. Alice comforts Claire and the two women warm to each other. Almost immediately there is good news – Mark is to be freed the next day. Sensing a PR opportunity, Alice suggests that Claire could be present at the handover to greet her husband. But after journeying deep into the creeks to the handover point, they are greeted by a truly terrible discovery.

Chaos follows and the women discover that nothing is what it seems. Accusations are being made by conflicting interests and life no longer appears safe. As the women dig deeper for the truth, Alice meets an inspirational local community leader, Keme Tobodo, who makes her question her version of what she believes to be true.

Claire and Alice come to the realisation that they are both being systematically lied to. But, why? Claire is stricken but determined to uncover the truth about the heinous events that have occurred and she begs Alice to help her. Against her better judgement, Alice agrees.

Mark Unwin is played by Tom Fairfoot; Claire by Jodhi May; Alice Omuka by Naomie Harris; Ed Davis by Paterson Joseph; and Keme Tobodo by David Oyelowo.

SJP

[Katy]

Jodhi May interview on BBC & LastBroadcast.co.uk....

Jodhi May plays Claire

What attracted you to the role?

"I read the script and immediately felt that I had to do it or die! It really was one of the most powerful scripts that I have ever read. It was a part I was desperate to play and I felt absolute conviction about it. I thought it was a brilliant piece of writing from Guy [Hibbert], a particularly exciting writer. He has a way of drawing you in to a very emotional, intimate drama between people and he approaches it in a very personal way through characters."

How did you find filming in South Africa?

"We shot it in South Africa and the streets were spick and span, unbelievably clean, so we had to get dirt put down so as to create an environment that was Nigerian. David [Attwood] is such a great director and it was a very happy experience. Everyone felt that they were taking part in something that they believed they had to be involved in. It's a subject that a lot of television channels would feel a little nervous about tackling because of the politics involved, however, I think it's really bold, brave and admirable – the kind of drama that should be made more often."

How did you enjoy working with the rest of the cast?

"We were completely spoilt by having such an amazing and wonderful cast. They were the nicest, most utterly professional and supportive people to be working with. Naomie [Harris] is unbelievable; she's incredibly generous as an actor and very down to earth. It was an absolute joy working with her and I felt that we were a great team. I thought that was really important, as our characters were such polar opposites of each other. I can't think of a more wonderful actress to be working with."

Did you know much about the oil industry and Nigeria before working on Blood And Oil?

"I did know a bit about the subject before the drama because some oil workers had been kidnapped a few years before I read the script. The politics and conflicts between oil companies and militants that remain unaddressed and unresolved interest me greatly, yet it is very difficult for journalists to get into the territory at all to report from there. It's hugely complicated but Guy's story tells not only an African issue; it's also a global issue with extensive repercussions."

What about identity?

"That is the irony of the situation. It asks the question of identity. How do you create an identity when your heritage is such a colonial one? That, again, is a very political question as well. How does an African state create an identity when their heritage is a colonial one? You could ask the same questions of Zimbabwe or South Africa. It is interesting from that point of view. More pertinently, the whole oil question is a valuable one and much more far reaching. Guy tackles the question brilliantly and confronts all sorts of issues brilliantly. It raises all sorts of questions which I think is great."

What are your views on women starring in thrillers?

"Guy went against the grain in making a story about two women. He writes beautifully and brilliantly for women, but their roles are a gift. I remember Guy saying that in some ways he finds it easier to write women and I think it's just brilliant!"

This doesn't 'sound' like her to me....

Katy

[Leigh]

I'm sorry, Katy, but I have to disagree with you on this point. As an intelligent, mature woman who's experienced various political situations during her many filming situations, I have to think that JM's fully aware of the dynamics of the world around her as she filmed this movie. It'd be hard for her to take part in this movie without being impressed by the outside interests/pressures of what's going on in that particular part of the world. As usual, she stands back and gives great accolades to her fellow performers. That's just as I'd expect from her....always being ready to push the spotlight onto her co-stars. In this particular project, one has to be concious of the politics that move the story forward. It sounds to me that JM's emotional connection with such a situation has once again served her well in telling this powerful story. Sounds like another winning performance from JM.

[Katy]

haha. I think it is the liberal editorial use of the exclamation points [!], esp in the answer to the first question, that brings out my cynical reading of this interview.

I should have been a little more descriptive in my originally posted opinion.

But I am with you in thinking this is beginning to sound more interesting now that we have gotten more information about it.

I wonder why it took so long to be broadcast. Any ideas?

Katy

[Katy]

OK. It's placed.

Ep. 1 on Monday, March 29, 9-10:30pm, BBCTwo
Ep. 2 on Tuesday, March 30, 9-10:30pm, BBCTwo

Here's a link to more information.

Katy

[Katy]

This article is really about Harris, but it still makes for some interesting reading.

Katy

[Katy]

Episode 1 was a slow build, but it's definitely intriguing. It has succeeded in convincing me of total corruption and a trust no one position. That's very good. I'm anxious to see what answers Claire and Alice find tomorrow night. It also has me thinking that JM should do episodic television more often. I was seeing how, given time and plot, JM could make so much of Claire, for example. I would like to see her in another modern episodic tv show. I like her contemporary stuff, and her heavy stuff.

As an aside, this movie illustrates why I am so concerned about many modern African countries. I've long been aware of the kidnapping of oil workers in Nigeria-- just part of knowing people in the oil business, I guess. And, for the past year I have been following what's going on in Zimbabwe too. And, I know the Colonial roots run deep in many African countries. I find it difficult to divorce Colonialism from the problems I see in places like Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Blood & Oil makes the connection far more articulate than I am able to make. It's just so troubling. I find it all so overwhelming too. --What can reverse this trend? Anyway that's a bit off topic and it's the middle of the night for me, and I am tired.

But for anyone else who has seen the first ep, pipe up!

Katy

PS Claire got to wear the Converses of which JM is so fond.