Anglo-French art duo The Centre of Attention are making a shot-for-shot remake of Darling using members of the public. With an eye on the lawyers, they've titled their film Action! Diana
John Schlesinger's Darling made an instant star of the young Julie Christie, winning her the best actress award at the 1966 Oscars. Set in swinging 60s London, her character Diana Scott is a vivacious model who leaves a trail of destruction in her wake as she sleeps her way to the topPhotograph: Ronald Grant ArchiveThe film shoot takes place at spectacular Mount Stuart, a flamboyant Victorian gothic mansion which is home to the Stuarts of Bute, descendants of the Royal House of Stuart. It's open to the public, and The Centre of Attention hope to persuade visitors to take five minutes out of their day to appear in the filmPhotograph: Rex FeaturesSimon Zimmerman and Rebecca Freeman, from Yorkshire, film a scene inside Mount Stuart itself. The Centre of Attention's Action! Diana will be shown at Abandon Normal Devices, a new festival of cinema and digital culture for the north-west which takes place in Liverpool from 23–27 SeptemberPhotograph: Centre of AttentionThe Centre of Attention's Gary O'Dwyer sets up a shot. He is the cameraman, while partner Pierre Coinde takes more of an artist liaison role, approaching potential cast members and showing them the original scene from Darling they are about to reshoot. "Most people we ask say 'yes'," he says. "It's surprising how happy to be filmed people are and it was the same in Liverpool and Vienna."Photograph: Centre of AttentionJean Yves Horriot and Fanny Langevin from France prepare for a scene in the rain. Mount Stuart attracts visitors from all over Europe and beyond, so the cast - unlike the original's Brit-centric focus - has something of a continental slant. Darling featured actors such as Laurence Harvey and Dirk Bogarde, both huge homegrown stars of their day, in supporting roles Photograph: Centre of AttentionAmy and Clement Ginestet, from France, double for Christie and her gay photographer friend Malcolm, for a scene in which the model berates him as a "traitor" for leaving her alone to pursue a romantic endeavour. The original was filmed in Capri, but the Mount Stuart visitor's centre restaurant doubles nicelyPhotograph: Centre of AttentionCarol Thomson, a 43-year-old insurance broker from Edinburgh, after filming the same scene in Capri. The eventual film will feature a variety of Dianas aged 10-82, with rapid cutting between different actors and scenes Photograph: Centre of AttentionJean Pattison, from Bute, steps into the stylish shoes of Christie's Diana Scott for an indoors scenePhotograph: Centre of AttentionRobin and Andrea St Clair, both 48, teachers of the Alexander technique from Edinburgh, took to their work like ducks to water. "We saw some signs that said filming was taking place and thought it would be interesting to watch, but we didn't expect to be taking part," Andrea said. They shot a scene from the original in which Diana Scott's sister berates her young son for being "tiresome" in the garden of their country home, where the young model has gone to recover from an abortion Photograph: Centre of AttentionCoinde shows Felix Bradley, aged 7, from Edinburgh, the scene which he's been asked to take part in. It involves brandishing a toy gun and chasing around the garden of Mount Stuart for a few seconds, which seems to be more than agreeable to Bradley Photograph: Centre of AttentionYou can always spot a ringer, and consultant Gavin Clark, 40, from Glasgow, seems too cool about delivering his lines, even - in true method style - asking Coinde and O'Dwyer for tips on his motivations during the scene. It turns out he used to present a Scottish TV programme. "I need direction!" he laughs, then in mock concern: "They're showing this in Liverpool? I've got friends in Liverpool. I could get killed for this!" Photograph: Centre of AttentionVisitors to Mount Stuart are purloined by The Centre of Attention for a family dinner scene. In the original Darling, Diana Scott finds herself the object of the affections of a wannabe film-maker who's taking tea with her sister and her husband Photograph: Centre of AttentionDarling's Oscar-winning screenwriter Frederic Raphael is supportive of the project. Although The Centre of Attention's project may not prove commercially successful, it is likely to renew interest in the original filmPhotograph: Ronald Grant Archive
