Chat Ed : Welcome to this evening's THE BOOK GROUP live chat with ANNIE GRIFFIN (writer/director)!
Annie Griffin : First of all I just wanted to say hello everyone and thank you so much for watching.
MOS boy : hi
Gingercat : Hi annie
khumu : hi :)
MOS boy : hey
Jason : Hi
Blueyes : Hello Annie!
Annie Griffin : There will be a 2nd series of The Book Group early next year and Series 1 is coming out on DVD and video. And the website is www.thebookgroup.co.uk so take a look!
Keiran : YES!
laura : Hi annie , to start with can i just say the book group is excellent , and i was wondering , did you expect it to do as well as it did ? thanks
Annie Griffin : No, because it was meant to go out late on a Thursday and it was very late that they decided it could carry a Friday night slot, so it was a big surprise to all of us.
Ben M : The show is fantastic, and the characters are really well observed, but would you care to elaborate on the epilogue? as in, what you hoped it would convey, and where you drew the line between the character's reality and fantasy?
Annie Griffin : I'm not sure in answer to your question! But I think it's about writing as much as anything else. Kenny is a key character for me. You'll note that Claire has decided to stop writing because she gets her man in the last episode and something about Kenny's character makes that decision difficult for him and so he continues to write.
Jeff Hare : Were you at any time tempted to ask for a role in the show yourself? Even a minor character?
Annie Griffin : I started as an actress actually. I used to put myself in my films but now I've lost the taste for it, I guess.
Ben Mc : What were you trying to achieve with the programme? Its very dark throughout and ends up quite tragically but in the end everythings hunky dory with a death virtually ignored?
Annie Griffin laughs
Annie Griffin : Hunky dory? It is a piece of fiction and people don't really die in fiction. So, in a sense Barney isn't over yet! I think I like to have characters that are difficult to like because it means more when you begin to empathise with them. Just as in life the people who really irritate you are the most interesting.
Steve Donna : Hi Annie. We both Enjoyed the series immensely, it was enthralling and a welcome change to the predictable formula-driven 'sit-com' genre. Was it a challenge to bring together such a diverse range of characters in just 6 half-hour episodes and were you happy with the finished product?
Annie Griffin : Thank you, Steve and Donna. Yes, I'm happy with the first series. I think the characters are not unlike people you'd meet on Saturday nights in Glasgow and I think there's a lot of story in them yet.
Tree : Is it true that you are an American woman living in Glasgow... and if so, well, the obvious question is how much of you is in Claire?
Annie Griffin : OK, yes I am an American woman and I live in Glasgow. I lived in London for a long time before that. The Book Group is about the relation between life and fiction and I guess I'm playing a bit of a game with my relationship to the characters.
I think I'm probably a bit more likeable than Claire, but maybe that's not for me to say.
mila : Did you cast while the writing was still ongoing, ie did the actors' work input into the writing?
Annie Griffin : The actors had huge input. The piece was already written but after we cast it we did a lot of rehearsal. All of the really funny lines came from the actors.
bookgroup_yeah : Are there plans to release The Book Group on DVD, 'cos I would definately buy it.
Annie Griffin : Yes, the DVD will be out soon.
Fool : Will the second series keep the format of the `next week you'll see...' and `previously, on The Book Group' intros and outros? I can't really see any need in them...and they shorten the episode time!
Annie Griffin : It is unusual to have such an ongoing storyline in a Friday night comedy slot and if you miss an episode I think there are a few things you need to know. People seem to be saying that the slot is too short, I suggest you write to Channel 4 and demand 1 hour episodes!
jimi : HI Annie, how long did it take to write the book group and did you have any input into who was cast for each character. Also im hoping to become a publised writer, have you got any tips for me?
Annie Griffin : It took 2 months to write and the casting was entirely up to me. As a writer I think you should stick to it and write everyday and good luck!
terry : Is the actor that plays Kenny, the guy in the Scot's Porridge ad??
Annie Griffin : Yes, he is here in the room with me, do you have a question for him?
Gingercat : Oh yes, I have a question for Kenny, is he single?
Annie Griffin : He says... he has a girlfriend.
stepin : the darkness of the writing is inspired, an original piece of writing and comedy, who would you say are your influences in comedy
Annie Griffin : Thank you stepin, what excellent taste you have! TV stuff, I like The Sopranos, Twin Peaks and my favourite thing about TV as opposed to movies is that you get to know the characters over time and that people can change quite a bit. And they stay with you week by week.
miranda : how would you feel if your programme inspired a whole bunch of nutty bookgroups around britain?
Annie Griffin laughs
Annie Griffin : I think that would be...interesting! Although I don't think reading books is any more valuable than watching TV programmes. But I think people join book groups to meet people, not to talk about books.
jazzy129 : is there any plans for Rory mcCan to appear in films, because i think he would be very good a James Bond, a Young Sean Connery if You like.
Annie Griffin : I think Rory's favourite phrase in the English language is 'young Sean Connery'!! Yes, he does want to appear in films and yes he is getting offers.
Steve Donna : In the first episode, it seemed that Claire was the neurotic screw-up and Barney was the cool, together type. Did you plan his gradual disintegration or was it something that happened organically?
Annie Griffin : Both are true. Barney is one of those guys who is very sexy, very confident and very screwed up. I have to admit that of all the characters I dislike him most intensely and I wanted him to die!
Wendy : Please , please answer my question!! How did you become a writer and director of your own series. It's my ambition to do it!
Annie Griffin : I started as an actress. And I just got interested in what I was saying more than how I was saying it. I spent a very long time trying to get short film scripts commissioned. Then eventually I found a really, really good commissioning editor at Channel 4 who understood my work.
Dave : I think you provide a great sense of realism through comedy and do it better than some straight up dramas do. Do you think comedy is a good way to get messages and points across to the viewer?
Annie Griffin : Yes, I think comedy gives you a structure. To be honest, I'm not all that interested that the work is funny, but gags can be a kind of punctuation. And also when something really awful happens or really embarrassing happens, you want to laugh.
RedBen : Why did you want him Barney to die? He was the most compulsive figure - dark and comedic without caring what others thought. His character was an individual with sound intellect who did not need the security of company to enjoy life. In fact, I wonder what his motives were to join the group at all?
Annie Griffin laughs
Annie Griffin : RedBen, what is your problem!? There are a lot of Ben's logging on tonight too! I hate Barney! But I suppose that means there is a lot of Barney in me. What irritates me is his pretentiousness and his selfishness.
michael40 : Do you not feel that your comedy is being over-analysed?
Annie Griffin : By who? I think comedy is the most technical form and requires the most careful attention and always has the most analysis. But I'm not sure if you're talking about the characters here.
Chat Ed : Our half hour with ANNIE is almost up, so last three questions now...
Aisling : To what extent did you mean to portray homoerotic tension between Rab and Janice's husband? Was anything going on there?
Annie Griffin : Yes! They were shagging!
lindsay : Who else on the production team would you give credit to for the success, and for what contribution?
Annie Griffin : Everyone. We had the best actors, the best DP (Tim Palmer), the best Editor, the best Production Designer...film is very collaborative.
anne : Is the Book Group a figment of Kenny's imagination and all the people merely characters in his book?
Annie Griffin laughs
Annie Griffin : No.
Chat Ed : That's it! Thanks for coming and talking to us ANNIE!
Philip_T : Can't wait for the next series thank you!
elaine campbell : byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
topbloke : bye Annie... I look forward to the next series
Frankie : Thanks Annie - more please!
derekandclive : cheers Annie :D
Chaka : Chow
Annie Griffin : Thank you so much for watching, log on to www.thebookgroup.co.uk and I hope you enjoy the next series!
cammy : cherio
Dave : annie your cool thanks
PeterR : Thanks for the great show
Annie Griffin leaves the room
