builder of the K9 prop

TV Watching Edge of Darkness for the first time this morning, who should I spot escorting a radioactive corpse to the banks of a lake?



It's Mat Irvine, the BBC's visual effects wizard and builder of the K9 prop on Doctor Who.  It's 1985 and this was one of the many shows he would have worked on in that capacity, which also included The Tripods, Blakes-7, Rentaghost, Terry and June and To The Manor Born [source].  I wonder why he stepped in front of the camera here.

browsing for vinyl

Film Watching The Man Who Fell To Earth for the first time this evening (an experience I expect we'll return to at some point) who should I spot browsing for vinyl?



It's William H Macy, making his way as a background artist and looking like a young version of his interpretation of Frank in the weird US remake of Shameless.  

It's 1976 and this would have been the year he was setting up the St Nicholas Theatre company with David Mamet and starring in the original production of American Buffalo.

Believe me, it's unmistakable when he moves.