ON SATURDAY, a Reading film-maker’s documentary saw a private premier celebrating a cult TV classic from the 1980s.
Tugs: a Bigg Retrospective looks at the making of Tugs, a TV show made by the team behind Thomas The Tank Engine in Shepperton Studios.
Its director, Lewis Gilbert, from Reading, met with members of the production team and other contributors to talk about their experiences on the project.
From practical effects to storyboarding and editing, the documentary film formed a start-to-finish retrospective archiving the show’s history and development as well as its reception, much of which might otherwise have been lost to history.
The film is due to be released for free on Youtube, through its production company’s channel, I.T.H. Productions, on Tuesday, April 4.
A select audience was invited to preview the film on Saturday, March 25, where contributors joined the director and production team for a premier event at Reading Biscuit Factory.
The film featured contributions from Giles Christopher, Penny Morris, Brian Mount, Jeremy King, Chris Tulloch, and David Greaves, who also attended the premier.
Giles Christopher, a camera assistant on the show for over a year, said at the event: “It is really weird being interviewed by people who weren’t even born when we were making it.
“I’m amazed that of all of the jobs I’ve worked, this one has had such a legacy.”
“The production was such a small production when it started, but David [Mitton] and Bob [Cardona] were pioneering and very forward-thinking.
“It was their strength and vision which has kept it going all this time.”
Jeremy King, a model maker, said: “Most of us were in our early twenties on our first or second job, very early in our careers.
“The fact that it’s become famous its way, it shows that if you think you’re doing something relatively inconsequential at the time, you could be doing something historic.”
He continued: “I was inspired by Thunderbirds and its models; following Tugs I got to meet all sorts of people, like Gerry Anderson, not long after Tugs, so I understand the fandom.”
Speaking on how the documentary would preserve the show’s techniques and production, Mr Christopher said: “It’s a real document of not just a person, but a team, and the industry at the time.
“The amount of work it took, and the rebuilding– it was an analogue time, maybe the last of its kind to be made that way.
“So I think it’s great– in 50 years’ time, it’s gonna be gold having something like that.”
It was Mr Gilbert’s first time directing a feature-length project, and he said at the event: “It’s been interesting to say the least.
“I had some small experience during my time at university, but you find you have to consider yourself more.
“I spent every evening at my desk, editing away, and didn’t stop until about 11 o’clock at night, so the learning curve showed me where my limits were.”
He explained: “This has been on my plate for years, so it feels really great to finally get what I envisioned all those years ago put together.”
During the course of the film, he had the opportunity to speak to much of the production team personally, which he described as “surreal.”
“There’s an entire take on my hard-drive which is just Adam Masters talking about his non-Tugs work, which wasn’t related.
“But I got to hear about their passions; the team is so passionate about this series, after all these years and having countless fans ask them about it.
“You would have thought they’d be fed up with it, but it’s still there and amazing to see.”
While it’s his first, he says that it likely won’t be the last: “I’ve got other documentaries I would love to do.
“And obviously, one of my big aspirations is to see Tugs come back.”
TUGS: A Bigg Retrospective will be released for free on I.T.H Productions’ Youtube channel on Tuesday, April 4, via: youtube.com/@i.t.hproductions2555
