18 December was the 86th #MK3D @BFI, and we celebrated Christmas early by hosting a lineup of all-singing, all-dancing guests: Ian McKellen, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Molly Manning Walker, George MacKay, Jason Isaacs and special musical guests, The Dodge Brothers’ Mike Hammond and composer/drummer Stephen Hiscock.
The show opened with an original Dodge Brothers song from their new EP Trim Your (Christmas) Tree with Mike on piano and Mark on the double bass.
First on the stage was the legendary actor Ian McKellen, who talked about the new film adaptation of HAMLET, in which he plays the title role. Mark and Ian spoke about the difference between acting and audiences for film and for theatre, and the blind casting of Ian’s new film. The MK3D audience was also treated to a spontaneous rendition of a famous soliloquy from HAMLET.
Next to join Mark on stage were actor Mia McKenna-Bruce and writer and director Molly Manning Walker, who talked about their film HOW TO HAVE SEX. Mia spoke about how Kate Winslet’s performance in TITANIC had had a profound impact on her, and revealed that she was so traumatised by the film when she watched it as a five-year-old, that her mother asked her grandfather to call her pretending to be the film’s director James Cameron to assure her that Jack and Rose were made up!
Mark then welcomed actor George MacKay on stage to talk about his new film FEMME, for which he won the Best Lead Performance with his co-star Nathan Jarrett-Stewart at the BIFAs. George spoke about Roberto De Niro as a major influence, especially in Scorsese’s iconic RAGING BULL.
Lastly, Mark said hello to Jason Isaacs, who came on stage to discuss his recent series ARCHIE, where he stars as Cary Grant. Jason spoke about the challenges of depicting an authentic version of such a contradictory man’s life, before talking about a film that had a great influence on him, especially in his teenage years: Lawrence Kasdan’s THE BIG CHILL.
Mark drew the show to a close by inviting his guests, plus Executive Producer Hedda Archbold, up on stage for a performance of I’ll Be Home For Christmas and a rousing rendition of Run Run Rudolph.
With thanks to Charlotte Matheson, Nick Jones, Josh Glenn, Hannah Greenwood, Sophie Kendrick, Stuart Brown, Clair Dobbs, Molly Driver, Robyn Murphy, Marek Steven, Rosina Fielder, and Julia Nowicka for making it all run so smoothly. And of course for Julie Edwards Photography for the fabulous photographs.
