Engineers, Films&ScootersAwhile back we wrote about afilm looking to be made called‘The Pebble and the Boy’.It’samodern-day mod film,inspiredby the music of PaulWeller.Well, the filming is finally happening,starting July 2019, and now Scomadi are involved too.I’m the one!
There’snodenyingit, funding for the filmhas
beenastruggle.Though eased inabig way by
NeilPrimettof80sCasualClassics(providing
wardrobe), as well as Kayeand Frank
SandersonofScomadiWorldwide,who have
alsohelpedenormously.They’vedonatedfour
Scomadis,notonlytobeusedinthefilm,but
alsoone of thescooters,‘The Who’scooter,is
to be soldor au ctioned toraisefunds.
TheWho scoot isastandard 125, because
that’sthemostpopularmodelandrideableon
‘L’plates. Scomadifoundthatmost UK
buyers haveacar li cence,but nofull bike
licence.However ,subsequentorderscan be
tweakedtoanyspectheymake.
ThescooterwillbeuponeBay to bid for, or
if youreally, really must have it...maybe (for
theright amount offolding) Chris would sell
it,butitwouldonlybeavailableAFTER
filming. Email [email protected] and as
asweetener,the buyer couldappear in a
scene on it.Blimey ,opportunityknocks!Mani
of The Stone Rosesisint he film, andhe’s
becomeaconver ttoS comadi too. His
compliment was: “I gotit up to60 and my
filling sweren’t rattling.”
Scomadi and the Boy...
So how did TheWho scoot offercomeabout?
Chris was lookingfor retro-style scootersand
he foundScomadi on theInternet.It worked
wellast he fil misamixofold an dnew.The
dad inthefilm wasmod an drode an Li125,
whils tthe inclusion of Scomadi, though
modern, retains theorigi nalclassic scooter
looks. Chris wantedthe whole story to be a
blendofold and new.
Frank andKayeoriginally letChris take a
TL125forthe pr omo,and because the film
looked so cool they thought moreScomadi
scootersshouldbeinvolved. They tried to get
thefactory in Thailand to back it, butthey
were hesitant, seeing the filmasasolo
British project. So,itw as downtoFrankand
Kaye.Atroughl ythe same time, the PR
people representingThe Whocontacted
themabou tapromo piece, andthe
possibilityofalimited edition scooter.They
agreed the conceptandthe scooter couldbe
used in the filmandfor promo as well.How are the scoots to be
used in the film?
Chris tod us: “Weoriginally wanted about
thre efor thefilm.John’ srideshis dad’s old
Liandhemeetsthedaughterofhisdad’s
mate. She’s youn g, cool, hasaskinhead look
and ridesaScomadi. They end up at another
of John’sdad’smates, who hasaman- cave
fullofs coots. He’salso gotaScomadi,
which hisson uses onthe last leg of the
journey.The Whoscooterwillbeused in
scenes,andthe fourthscooterisKaye’s
originalscooter; we’reusing it as anaction
vehicle,acamera-mountedScomadi.
In effect,the story iscondensedwithin
the Scomadis.”What sparked
Scomadi involvement?
Frank proffered an explanation: “I’vealways
wanted an action heroleadpart, but me
hipslet me down, soIhad to decline Chris’kindoffer,”
laughed Frank.
“No, in reality...
Imissedbein gin
Quadrophenia, I
couldn’t get the
time offwork for
filming. There
were about 10
ladsfrom our
scooterclubwho
went. So I
thought...I’m not missingthis one!”
Kayeadded :“Scomaditookalongtime to
cometogether. LikeChris, we had nobig
funding,itwasanewproduct,newdesign,
and thebanks didn’t want to know.That’s
whyit’staken 10years to getto mass
production. Whenwetalke dtoChris we saw
similarities;weknowwhatit’slikeand we’re
both British productionswith huge passions.
We think thefilm will go down well
worldwide.We’rehere representing Scomadi
Worldwideandwefeelthiswillhelp
promote us.”
Chris closedby lettin gusknow afew final
details: “FilmingbeginsonJuly 22and
we’ll advertise forscooter ride rextras on
social media. I’msure there won’t be a
shortage!It's going to be atough shootand
abig challenge,but with the team we have,
I'mconfidentthat we’l lovercome anything...
even theGrea tBritish weather!”For more info of how to get your mitts on
the scoot, or just want to find out more:
http://www.facebook.com/pebbleandtheboy
Words:Rik
Photographs:Rik and supplied by
ScomadiWorldwideI’ th!