Anna Morris - Making the pilot
Published: Tuesday 14th October 2014
Anna Morris discusses making the sixth episode of Bad Bridesmaid (which was actually the first to be filmed)...
The last episode of comedy reality show Bad Bridesmaid was actually the pilot episode, made over a year ago. This was also the first TV show I'd ever filmed, having only been signed by an agent less than a year before, after sending them some comedy videos (Georgina's Wedding Blogs). Talk about baptism of fire!
I'd gone from doing gigs in pubs, making videos for YouTube and doing my first solo show in Edinburgh, to facing the biggest acting challenge of my life: being in character for four days, and proving that this show could work as a series.
We only had one shot at making it work and I was in be in character 24/7 for 4 whole days. That was a huge amount of pressure for me, and for the production team. ITV put a huge amount of trust in me and [production company] Fresh One to make, it and it was brilliant that they gave female comedy talent a platform to shine.
We had two weeks to prep time before filming. We would prepare a plan, knowing that we would have to be completely open to last minute changes if things were not working, if the Bridesmaids were guessing, or if they were not reacting enough. There is a fine line between going too far and giving it away immediately, and doing just enough to annoy them/cause a reaction. We prepped for every eventuality and had contingency plans for everything to ensure we got lots of content.
Creating the first ever Bad Bridesmaid
The first thing we did was watch the interviews with the bride-to-be and her bridesmaids. They were brilliant and had great personalities. They loved getting glammed up. I decided to do the opposite -and create a character that was laid back, mischievous and a make-up free hippy. And so Daisy was created.
We then chose her back-story: she would be the groom's cousin, who had met Zoe (the Bride) once at a family BBQ... We also decided that it would be fun if Daisy had never been on a hen weekend before, so that she would innocently try and make it fun, but keep getting it wrong.
The Bridesmaids weren't big fans of hen party paraphernalia like L-plates, veils, blow up pensises etc... so we brought all of these as props for Daisy to pull out the bag and send some hens clucking!
After agreeing on the character we worked on the details and began to pin down what Daisy would do during each activity in order to cause chaos. What would she wear? What were her catchphrases? How would she walk/talk/greet people? It is improvised and you can't prepare for what the girls will say or how they will react, but having key lines and phrases to shoehorn into the different activities is crucial. David Jackson was my brilliant co-writer on this episode who penned some cracking lines for Daisy.
The Opening Scene
The first day of the shoot came and I was so nervous I didn't sleep the night before. I haven't even been that nervous for a one-hour solo show! I assumed they would rumble me immediately so that opening scene, when I first run in and hug Zoe for too long, I was shocked they didn't question it. I could tell they thought I was bonkers but did they think I was real? I'd never been filmed properly before so not only did I have six strangers to convince I was real, I had three cameras and a huge crew. It was very intimidating.
I felt bad throwing champagne on Zoe in the first scene - it went all over her hair and dress. It's tough as you are going against what you'd naturally do. Both me and the bride were jumping into the unknown and it was pretty scary.
At the races on day one I had to try and make them wear these awful hen party t-shirts which they declined to do. I had to keep thinking on my feet of ways to be a pain, so I got the inflatable penis out and started messing about with it - they were mortified (and so was I to be honest!). Staying in character was surprisingly easy - once I'm in, I'm comfortable being like that for as long as possible.
The Drunk Acting...
At the races I had to pretend to get very drunk and pass out. Drunk acting is notoriously difficult! I was drinking fake vodka and tonics. After each drink I became more slurry/wobbly and when the time was right I passed out on a bench, and then got carried out by the crew. In the car we all laughed and I was relieved to be driven home. The day had been so long, and all I wanted to do was be me again. Back at the hotel I questioned whether I could get through another three days...
It was tough for me and the bride and we were all learning how the show would work and how far we could push things. We realised we had to build it slowly, and make sure that all the jokes were always on me.
The Assault Course
The assault course was genuinely scary as I don't like heights, so I used that to be utterly rubbish at it! Being doubly nervous about performing and doing something you aren't a fan of is pretty full on. I tried to get stuck at one point but the lovely bridesmaids were being so helpful, so I took a banana out of my pocket that I'd planted there earlier and just casually stopped and ate it half way through which annoyed them. You've got to think of funny on your feet as the time speeds by.
We had regular secret production meetings throughout to keep the dialogue going between myself and producers and to discuss how to ramp up the drama. You can't do retakes, you're essentially shooting live and you have to make sure you deliver content. There is a lot of trust involved in this show.
Off Camera
That night I really went for it and during a cocktail evening I suggested we all tell each other some interesting sex stories, not only that but I tried to get them to wear the t-shirts, again! The scene was exhausting and I had really riled a few of the bridesmaids. I had to keep remembering it was a character they were annoyed with, and that the reveal would all be worth it.
I apologised and played the 'just been dumped' card. The off camera time was hardest part, and there is a lot of it - you have to remain in character at all times. Sometimes you've annoyed them so much that they understandably don't want to be around you much so you have to have a thick skin and remind yourself it's not personal.
The Photographer Guessed!
We did a photoshoot and I had to really annoy the Photographer, who wasn't in on it. I drove him mad with 100 questions and insisted I knew all about his craft. The photographer guessed I was an actress - the first person to! Luckily he only told the crew - not the bridesmaids - but goes to show how careful you have to be!
Working with TOWIE's Arg
My favourite scene was with Arg from The Only Way Is Essex. The girls were big fans of the show and him especially, so production arranged for him to sing to them as a last night surprise - of course I already knew!
I met him in a secret meeting in the hotel, and we discussed how to pull it off. He was so lovely and easy to work with. I asked him what would annoy him most and he said 'someone messing up my hair' so we agreed that he'd sing, I'd be really full on and try and touch his hair/sit on his knee/get attention. And then he'd sing again and I'd ruin it. We were both pretty nervous but we pulled it off and it's a very funny scene - especially the girls' reactions to my flirty behaviour.
The Reveal and Real Tears
I had another huge attack of nerves on the final day: the reveal. We wrote a reveal speech but you just don't know what to expect - it's very exciting but equally nerve-wracking! I was shaking as I read it and I also was very tearful for the character that'd grown across the weekend and made friends. You can hear the emotion in my voice.
But it worked - the girls were gobsmacked and that moment was better than any gig I've done. The adrenaline rush as I walked out and left them to let it all sink in was incredible. I think I cried outside because I was so relieved, and so proud of myself for getting through it. I didn't know if it would be commissioned, or ever be on TV but I felt like I'd really learnt how to improvise and improve as a performer!
When I met them all as me afterwards it was surreal and so lovely to say 'I'm really not like that'. They were lovely and I felt very sad to say goodbye to them, having spent all that time with them.
I actually went back to work the next day (I had a full time permanent job in an office then) - I was at my desk by 9am and Anna again. It was as if the whole thing was a dream. All I could do was wait to see if ITV2 found it as much fun as we did making it.
Being told I could do another episode was amazing, and Francesca popped into my head and said "hello... can I be your next Bad Bridesmaid?..."
The episode of Bad Bridesmaid featuring Daisy is on ITV2 on Thursday 16th October 2014 at 9pm.