The front cover of FAB 74 says it all. The latest issue of Fanderson’s club magazine is dedicated to celebrating the many worlds of Gerry Anderson. Our 30-page tribute to one of Britain’s most prolific and innovative film and television producers is something you definitely don’t want to miss.
Decade by decade, series by series, we examine the many highs and lows of Gerry’s life, with memories from some of the key people from his career.
Most UK-based Fanderson members should have received their copy by around April 10th, but if you’re not yet a member then there’s never been a better time to join.
In news that will be hugely exciting to all fans, the new official Gerry Anderson website has been launched to promote the revival of the producer’s unfinished projects.
Jamie said: “As evidenced by the sheer volume of entertainment that Dad managed to put out over his lengthy career – he was a pretty prolific creative. Over the last 20 years he put together a number of fantastic projects, with several of those being developed since 2005. Sadly he wasn’t well enough to see them through, but it’s important to me that we get them out there. They’ve all got the Anderson magic. There are four of those projects that we’re working on and developing right now.”
“None are what I would call reimaginings. There’s one book and TV project that he was working on for 2 years that, for me, takes all the best elements of an Anderson show and elegantly puts them into a brand new setting. I’m really excited about that one. The others are new but all true to the Anderson spirit.”
The British Kinematograph, Sound & Television Society (BKSTS) has announced a new award in memory of Gerry Anderson.
The Gerry Anderson Award for VFX will be given to an individual or organisation making a highly significant artistic or technical contribution to the advancement of film or television visual effects.
Gerry was a great supporter of the BKSTS, recognising the wealth of knowledge and experience that the Society holds in all areas of technology and craft in both Film and Television. He was an Honorary Fellow of the Society, and was the first ever recipient in 2006 of the Matthew Allwork Award which is given to a British citizen for innovation and quality in film and television production.
Jamie Anderson, Gerry’s son, said, “Dad was always so proud of his association with BKSTS; this award bearing his name would have meant a huge amount to him.” Jamie has agreed to present this Award in its inaugural year at the BFI Southbank on Thursday 7th March 2013, as part of the annual Bernard Happe Lecture and Awards Event. Full details of the event can be found on the BKSTS website.
This year’s winner of the award is Richard Bain, for his outstanding work over many years. He currently works as a freelance Visual Effects Supervisor in the film industry and has worked on titles such as Tomb Raider 2, The Brothers Grimm, King Kong, Casino Royale, Harry Potter, Inception and Les Miserables.
About the BKSTS
The British Kinematograph, Sound & Television Society was formed as a Learned Society in 1931, and has been supporting the technology and craft skills of the Film & Television industries ever since. With a variety of grades of membership from around the world, it numbers many outstanding people from the industry among its members – the Fellows Group in particular reads like a “who’s who” of industry leaders. The Society organises conferences and events, provides accreditation of training courses, and publishes information for the industry in various forms.
Hundreds of well-wishers, including family, friends, colleagues and fans attended Gerry Anderson’s funeral on Friday 11th January at Reading Crematorium.
During the Humanist Order of Service, five speakers from very different backgrounds paid tribute to Gerry, painting a multi-faceted picture of his life. Nick Williams, Chairman of Fanderson, spoke of the enduring appeal of Gerry’s shows for his fans, his unstinting passion for innovation in his film-making and the happy working environments he created that enabled his teams to achieve the best results.
From The Daily Mail
Actor and voice artist Shane Rimmer and Broadway Producer John Gore offered professional perspectives of working with Gerry. Shane described the world of wonder and imagination that he created through his shows in the 1960s and ’70s while John spoke about the drive and energy that he still maintained in the later phases of his career which helped to ensure the Thunderbirds stage play was a box office smash hit.
Jamie Anderson, Gerry’s younger son, offered some personal memories of him as a family man that were by turns both moving and funny. Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, praised him for the work he performed in the last year of his life alongside Jamie to raise the profile of Alzheimer’s in the national press and generate funds for the charity.
The service ended with “The Thunderbirds March”, performed by the Band of the Royal Marines. It was a fitting and poetic end to the service, with the working replica of FAB 1 that had been parked in front of the crematorium driving off into the distance as the music came to a end.
BBC Newsnight
(courtesy of James Fielding)
The funeral was followed by a reception at the Phyllis Court Club in Henley. A small selection of models and puppets were on display and guests were encouraged to leave their memories of Gerry on a series of specially produced postcards. Two spine-tingling audio-visual acts were provided courtesy of Kindred Productions and Crispin Merrell, composer on Gerry’s final shows (Space Precinct, Lavender Castle and New Captain Scarlet). Crispin, who also recorded a moving piano recital of Stingray’s ‘Aqua Marina’ for the service, played themes from across the Anderson catalogue, including Thunderbirds, Joe 90, UFO, Space:1999 and his own theme from Space Precinct. A teaser for the eagerly awaited Supermarionation documentary was also screened, plus a fond parody of Space:1999.
It was an emotionally-charged day that not only mourned his passing but celebrated his amazing life and legacy. Rest in peace Gerry – your work lives on!
If you have not yet left a tribute to Gerry and wish to do so:
MarlowFM 97.5 will be hosting a live tribute show to Gerry Anderson on Wednesday 9th January, from 12.00-14.00PM, GMT.
Gerry’s son Jamie will be in the studio while veteran voice artist David Graham will be calling into the show to give his memories of the great man.
Rather than a detailed analysis or serious tribute, this will be a fond look at some of Gerry’s TV and film work plus related music. The special programme will form part of the regular Eclectic Light Show, which features something different in each edition. Listeners can hear a live stream of the show by clicking the ‘live’ button on the station’s website, www.marlowfm.co.uk , while those in the Marlow transmission footprint can tune into FM 97.5.
You may like to know that Radio Six International will be broadcasting an hour-long tribute to Gerry Anderson on Saturday. The programme will include music from every TV series Gerry worked on from Twizzle to Lavender Castle, except for the Japanese “Firestorm”. Also included will be the unused “Thunderbirds” theme.
The programme – The Tony Currie Show – can be heard online at www.radiosix.com on Saturday at (UK times) Midnight, 10am and 9pm. A number of USA , New Zealand and Singapore affiliates will also transmit the show locally. Details can be found on the Radio Six International website.
Gerry Anderson, known the world over as the film and television producer of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Space:1999 amongst many others, has died at the age of 83.
On hearing the news the chairman of Fanderson Nick Williams paid tribute to him:
“To those who met him Gerry was a quiet, unassuming but determined man. His desire to make the best films he could drove him and his talented teams to innovate, take risks, and do everything necessary to produce quite inspirational works. Gerry’s legacy is that he inspired so many people and continues to bring so much joy to so many millions of people around the world.”
Anderson’s unique style of filmmaking influenced the imaginations and careers of countless creatives that succeeded him, and his productions continue to be shown around the world to new generations of fans.
Gerry was diagnosed with mixed dementia two years ago and his condition worsened quite dramatically over the past six months. Having already decided with his family on a care home for himself earlier this year, he moved in there in October.
Until very recently Anderson remained interested and involved in the film industry, keen to re-visit some of his earlier successes using the latest technology available. His last producer credit came in 2005 on New Captain Scarlet, a CGI-animated re-imagining of his 1967 Supermarionation series, which premiered on ITV in the UK. Most recently he worked as a consultant on a Hollywood remake of his 1969 series UFO, directed by Matthew Gratzner.
He also worked as a celebrity ambassador for The Alzheimer’s Society, helping to raise awareness of the disease and much-needed funds for the society.
Gerry leaves three children from former marriages, Joy, Linda and Gerry Junior, his son Jamie and widow Mary.
Fanderson will pay a full tribute to Gerry Anderson in FAB 74, due in March 2013.
Shane Rimmer, the voice of Thunderbird 1 pilot Scott Tracy, will be a special guest at the Movie Buffs Event at The Royal York Hotel on 2nd December. Shane will be appearing alongside Jeremy Bulloch of Boba Fett fame, from Star Wars.
Movie Buffs Collectors Fairs is a great way for film enthusiasts, collectors and dealers to get together.
On Saturday 13th October 2012 hundreds of people, including several Fanderson members, joined Jamie Anderson and Matt Zimmerman on the Memory Walk in Windsor to raise thousands of pounds for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Gerry Anderson was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease 18 months ago and this summer publicised his support for the Society by encouraging people to take part in a Memory Walk near them. Unfortunately, although he was looking forward to taking part in the walk himself, on the day Gerry wasn’t well enough. Those who made it along, however, were treated to Matt Zimmerman’s Thunderbirds-style countdown that opened the walk.
Matt then made his way round the course with his fellow supporters, including Fanderson members Stephen Billings, Stephen Brown, Geoffrey Ellis, Duncan Moss, Lynn Simpson, Glo Thorogood (with Virgil Tracy, of course!) and Nick Williams. Having raised much needed funds for the Alzheimer’s Society by walking the 10km course round Dorney Lake, Windsor, many decided to forge on with an extra mile in order to get an additional £5 donation from Bupa per person to the Society.
We know that many members still want to help this very worthy cause, and you can do so by donating at Jamie Anderson’s Just Giving page
A stunning series of five Gerry Anderson soundtrack EPs is being released by Silva Screen Records and Little Amber Fish to mark Record Store Day 2013 – the international music celebration. The recordings have been carefully restored and edited from Barry Gray’s own archives courtesy of The Barry Gray Estate and ITV Global Entertainment.
The EPs will be released regularly from now until Record Store Day on April 20th 2013, and fans will be able to send off to Silva Screen for a special stand to keep the set in!
Each EP is to be released in coloured vinyl as a numbered, limited edition of 700 copies. 200 copies of each will be kept back and sold as a complete set in May 2013 at a premium price, which means that collecting them piecemeal is certainly the way to go!
The first release will focus on Thunderbirds (in blue vinyl), to be followed by Captain Scarlet, Joe 90 and Space 1999. The final EP will be released on Record Store Day itself and will comprise a special flexi-disc poster package – content yet to be revealed!
Fans can order the EPs online from 15th October at www.silvascreen.com or by emailing info@silvascreen.co.uk, as well as from independent record stores throughout the UK.
The front cover of FAB 74 says it all. The latest issue of Fanderson’s club magazine is dedicated to celebrating the many worlds of Gerry Anderson. Our 30-page tribute to one of Britain’s most prolific and innovative film and television producers is something you definitely don’t want to miss.
The British Kinematograph, Sound & Television Society (BKSTS) has announced a new award in memory of Gerry Anderson.
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MarlowFM 97.5 will be hosting a live tribute show to Gerry Anderson on Wednesday 9th January, from 12.00-14.00PM, GMT.
