La Gazette du 221B : Hello David, Gus and Luke, Can you introduce yourselves and tell us about your Sherlockian Journey?
Gus Holwerda : I am Gus Holwerda. I am a filmmaker (director, writer, producer) and co-host of the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast. My Sherlockian journey began in elementary school. I can’t recall if I read A Study In Scarlet before or after I first saw the Granada Sherlock series on PBS/Masterpiece Mystery in the United States, but both came around the same time for me. I was probably a bit too young for Doyle at that age, as the both the stories and the TV show regularly terrified me but in later years I found myself constantly returning to both. As my career in film and television continued, I developed an even greater appreciation for the masterful work done by both Doyle the Granada company. And the unparalleled acting of Jeremy Brett has only proven more impressive as the years ensue.
Luke Holwerda : I am Luke Holwerda… Chocolate enthusiast, photographer and co-host of the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast. My earliest memory of Sherlock was being given a copy of The Hound of the Baskervilles to read in elementary school. I already knew about Sherlock, so at some point I must have had an even earlier memory… also, it’s hard to imagine reading that story in elementary school so it must have been a condensed, children’s version. I remember the idea of the spectral dog and allusions to the occult as being enticing even at that age.
David Youell : I’m David Youell, an IT specialist (a label imposed on me by my job), from Portsmouth, England and I sometime produce The Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast. Despite being born in the UK, I actually lived in America, Colorado to be exact, from the ages of 4-8, and it is there that I developed a keen interest in mysteries and detective stories. Specifically, I remember devouring Encyclopedia Brown stories, about a kid who sets up his own detective agency out of his garage, and the reader has to attempt to solve the mystery. As I got older and I moved back the UK, I remember reading The Speckled Band in the school library, and then receiving the entire canon for Christmas. I was captivated by this different yet enigmatic man who could see things that others couldn’t, interpret situations in a completely holistic way and who’s head completely ruled his heart. I admired his sense of morality, his logical reasoning and his humanity. He had flaws of course, but that just made him all the more real to me. In many ways, he, despite not actually being a real person, has been an inspiration and hero of mine throughout my life.
G221B : How was this passion for the Granada Series born ?
Gus: Our father, while not a Sherlockian, had a great fondness for eccentric performances of Jeremy Brett, and in spite of any danger to my fragile, young psyche, he insisted on watching the episodes as they premiered in the States. These cryptic and seemingly insoluble mysteries whet my young imagination like little else did and inspired my imagination from a storytelling perspective. The sense of true adventure (both physically and intellectually) in these stories and shows has never left me.
Luke: I remember watching the Jeremy Brett series at home with family. Something about the larger-than-life performance from Jeremy paired with the understated, yet slightly comic performance of David Burke stuck with me. Their adventures, which could at times be slightly dull on their own, especially to a child… (“Why am I being followed on my bicycle, Mr Holmes?”), were taken to memorizing heights when brought to life by the stellar cast and crew. I could disappear into Victorian England for a time. Star Wars, Transformers and Sherlock Holmes ignited my imagination and my love of fiction as escapism.
David: Jeremy, whilst not my first interaction with an interpretation of Holmes, was, from the very first moment I saw him, the definition of what Holmes should be visually. I remember my Mum telling me in my early teens that there was a Sherlock Holmes show on TV, so of course I went a sat down and watched it. I recall it being the episode, “The Three Gables,” which isn’t one of the strongest yet somehow caught me and drew me in to Granada’s Sherlock Holmes world. It wasn’t long before I had bought the box set and indulged in every episode.
G221B : When and how did you decide to create the Podcast?
Gus : The podcast came about around Christmas time in 2018. That year, I was given an autographed copy of Michael Cox’ excellent memoir on the series, A Study In Celluloid, which I read cover to cover (carefully so not to damage this rare copy) in a day. I remember listening to the exceptional Twilight Zone Podcast around that same time and wondering how many other of my favorite shows had similarly well-produced deep-dive examinations in Podcastland. Sadly, very few were blessed with coverage matching the high bar of Tom Elliot’s TZ Pod and there was a total void when it came to the Granada show. With a background in both production and sound recording (and with Cox’ book as a guide!), we took it upon ourselves to give the loving treatment to Jeremy Brett’s Sherlock as best as we could.
Luke : Gus and I would trade VHS or DVD copies of the series and call each other to discuss hats or performances or how things were done by the production so often that we eventually said “it’s a shame there isn’t a companion piece for this series for us to reference.” There’s an adage I live by these days, “If you can’t find it, make it.” So we did.
David : I had nothing to do with the start of the Podcast whatsoever. I was from the very start, and still am now, a fan of the show. It appeared, almost the very day it started, on my Podcast app as something I might like to listen to, and of course I gave it a go. There are a lot of Podcasts out there covering shows, of varying quality, but that very episode was astounding. I was listening to something that was everything I would want to hear and in outstanding quality. It couldn’t have been done any better.
G221B : What are your respective roles in the process of creating a new episode of the podcast?
Gus : I tend to do the lion’s share of the research that goes into the main examination of the episodes (scouring old magazines, all the books on the topic, any interviews we can unearth, and more), and I record and edit that examination as a first step. Following that, Luke and I watch the show again, taking notes, before convening for a dissection and discussion of each episode. We try to examine them from a filmmaking perspective as well as a comparison to Doyle’s source material. David Youell, our UK-based friend and co-producer handles all the interviews on the show. His proximity to the largely British cast and crew has proven an invaluable asset. Luke handles all the artwork associated with the podcast.
David : Again, I take no credit for 90-95% of what you hear. My main role is to help facilitate interviews with the cast and the crew from the show, which has been unbelievably fruitful, having now helped to produce about 90 Sherlockian Conversation. I also answer the occasional question about various aspect of British life that may arise when Gus and Luke are doing their research, normally erroneously.
G221B : What influence does this passion have on your other jobs in the cinema business?
Gus : We are constantly drawing on the Granada show for inspiration in our own work. It is nearly impossible not to compare any bit of acting to the greatness of Jeremy Brett. And, as it is always a good idea to strive for perfection, Brett is the benchmark for which we aim. Similarly, so many top-notch directors and cameramen worked on the series that their images and styles serve as a constant tool for inspiration. From the solid work of John Madden (who would go on to win Academy Awards) to the quirky, highly-artisan work of Peter Hammond, there is always something to draw from in the Sherlock series if one needs ideas.
Luke : I find I unconsciously reference this series and the work of the directors and cinematographers quite often. I love shooting through glass and chucking a bit of color in here or there, an obvious nod to Peter Hammond. I also love to work in complex, or what I refer to as “motivated” dolly camera movements, into the the things that I shoot. A lot of my favorite episodes were photographed by Lawrence Jones, who I finally got the pleasure of meeting in May at Brettcon.
G221B : What are your opinions of other adaptations, and how do you react when a new one appears?
Gus : We are admittedly biased. And growing up with one adaptation can tend to overly-influence. But it is hard not to argue that the Granada series is objectively the most timelessly classic adaptation ever attempted. The care and the expense that was dedicated to that series has yet to be matched. Therefore, it is not unusual for us to be less than impressed with new adaptations. As filmmakers working in the industry, we know how hard it is to achieve the levels that Granada reached. Frankly, very few productions even try to maintain canonical fidelity these days, which I find paramount to a successful adaptation. The stories are certainly malleable, but why mess with perfection?
Luke : I try to approach each adaptation with an open mind. Maybe they’ll find a rich, new vein to source from, who knows? But invariably, every one of them is compared to the Granada series. It is the measuring stick for all Sherlock adaptations.
David : In truth, my first introduction to a dramatisation of Sherlock Holmes, was via a cassette of the sublime Radio 4 series starring Clive Merrison and Michael Williams, which remains for me the definitive adaptations. I’m of the belief that radio provides the best pictures, as it allows you to create your own images in your own mind, which no one can recreate. Add to that the skill of the dramatisers and the depth of the acting in this series, as well as the staunch belief in canonical fidelity, just the same as the Granada series, and you have something that is phenomenal and truly timeless. As to other adaptations, I take each one as they come. I’m not precious over any aspect of Holmes and the stories, and believe there is fun to be had in trying different things. For example, I was a huge fan of the first two series of Sherlock. Anything that brings more light and eyes on the original stories can’t be a bad thing.
G221B : How was the idea of the Brettcon, to celebrate the 40th anniversary, born ?
Gus : We had long wished to publicly celebrate the series. If our podcast has taught us anything, it is that there is a huge fanbase for the show, with new people discovering it every day. Sadly, as time goes on we find ourselves losing more and more of the cast and crew who worked on the program. So, in spite of being quite busy in our day-to-day lives (we are currently in production on a feature film called The Vast Lonesome), we decided we simply couldn’t put the gathering off any longer, for fear of losing even more of the actors and creators of the show. A date was locked in and Brettcon was born!
Luke : The date on the calendar for the 40th anniversary kept getting closer and closer with no “official” celebration being announced or even discussed. This we could not abide. After 5 years of championing this series, interviewing numerous cast and crew and cultivating a very dedicated and hungry listenership, we decided it was our duty as custodians of the series to make sure the date was marked with an appropriate celebration. Once we started asking cast and crew members if they’d like to be involved, it took on a life of its own and grew into the 12-hour monster that everyone witnessed in Guildford!
David : Very often I have gone to similar events covering other shows, and had always wished to do one to cover Sherlock Holmes in some way. There were two events about 10 years ago covering Sherlock, and were hugely enjoyably if rather commercial. We had often talked about doing some sort of event, but the timing was never right, we couldn’t nail down exactly what and nor were we confident people really wanted it. However, the 40th anniversary was the perfect time and excuse to at least try, but as Gus said, the timing still wasn’t right so we ended up giving ourselves less than 6 months to organise it. Plus, Gus was going to be tied up with movie and Podcast editing as it had been many months since our last episode. But, if we’ve learnt anything from our show, amazing things happen if you ask and try.
G221B : How did you choose the location and why ?
Gus : Guildford was chosen because of its proximity to both London and Manchester, which is where the majority of the cast and crew reside.
Luke: Guildford is famously where Ford Prefect is not actually from.
David: The one thing we knew from the show was that this show had fans worldwide, and so transport links were paramount. Our heart was telling us Manchester, but our head told us London. If we wanted to have the maximum amount of people attending, then it had to be London as its the easiest to get to and travel around in. Unfortunately, with London, you also get London prices. With everything being so unsure as to this event, we had to be very tight on our budget and it was clear, anywhere in London would be out of our price range. That meant we had to be outside London, with direct transport links to make things as easy as possible. For a little while, we (me) was stuck on the idea of holding it in a hotel as that is where these type of event generally are held, but again, hotels don’t offer things cheaply. But, once the idea of a theatre entered our heads, and doing this differently, where we could really show some love and affection for the heart of the series, as well as doing things affordably, it became clear we were heading in this direction. It was then all about finding a theatre, with additional event space, that would have us, and the County School were one of the first to get back to us, and were very willing to work with us.
G221B : How did the Granada cast and crew react when you told them about your project?
Gus : There was not a single person with whom we corresponded that was not in full agreement that the series, and specifically Jeremy Brett, were long overdue for some serious recognition. We actually invited an excess of speakers presuming that many would be unable to attend. However, just about everyone we invited made the time to join us. In the end, I think many were shocked by the level of audience attendance at Brettcon and the sheer outpouring of love and respect for the show. But there was not a single guest or attendee who failed to express how meaningful they found the celebration to be. I think the cast and crew were sincerely touched by the outcome. We were so happy to give something back to those whom we admire so greatly.
Luke : It was overwhelming. Everyone was so positive and so eager to chip in to make it a success. A number of the cast even flew in from different corners of the globe! Alastair Duncan from California, James Faulkner from France and Kristoffer Tabori from the Philippines! Betsy Brantley arrived early and helped us set up the stage the day before! It was wild.
David : I think very much similar to being asked to be interviewed about the series. One thing I’ve always tried to be conscious of is how strange it is to receive a request to talk about a show you worked on 30-40 years ago by a bunch of complete strangers, 2 of whom live thousands of miles away. To then be asked to attend an event and talk about it in front of an audience plus everything else that happened on the day, is a whole different level of strange. The biggest advantage we had to get over any initial reluctance is the fact that we had established relationships with many of the guests already, and they trusted us and knew we were genuine in our want to celebrate them, Jeremy and the show. So, I would say, mostly, overall astonishment yet positivity and an embracement of the idea, with whole-hearted support.
G221B : What was the most challenging in organizing, and why ?
Gus : Organizing any event (even partially) from a distant country is a Herculean challenge. Each of us took on different jobs to ensure Brettcon would be a success. My personally biggest challenge was simply preparing questions for nearly 30 panelists over a 10 hour event. Typically, this wouldn’t be that difficult, but when juggling the setup of the venue with audio-visual needs of the day, and a 100 other logistical issues, all while severely jetlagged from international travel – focusing on the speakers became more of a challenge than I anticipated. Luckily, weeks of preparation and research, revisiting old interviews, and re-familiarizing myself with all of the episodes paid off. And it always helps to have a cheat-sheet with you on stage! In truth, most of the panels required little in the way of questioning. All of the panelists had countless stories to share from their time with Jeremy, David and Edward and their adventures on the series. Each story was a revelation to the fans and a joy to behold.
Luke : If you want something done well, every aspect can be, and probably will be challenging. And it was for Brettcon. I enjoy the challenge. Anything worth doing is worth overdoing… and I certainly tried to overdo things for Brettcon. Because it wasn’t held in our hometown, every idea was filtered through a British lens… with an eye on our modest budget. I tend to focus on style while Gus watches out for the substance… David unfortunately had to try and balance between us and also plan the logistic side.
David : This isn’t an easy question to answer, and in truth, I’m sure we could write a whole book about how this all came together. I don’t think it would be accurate to say the old cliché of “everything that could go wrong, did,” but it would also be fair to say that nothing went smoothly. For me, personally, it was balancing everything going on. Organising this event was a full-time job in itself, but when you add my actual full-time job to that, my son, my girlfriend and a dozen other day-to-day commitments, it can become exceptionally stressful to keep up with everything and complete things in the timely manner they need to. This only intensified as the event drew nearer. Being UK based as well, I was the focal point of all the communications going on with every aspect of the event. You also have the issue of the difference of timezones between me, Gus and Luke, and finding the best time for us to talk…and boy did we have some long conversations on this. That’s a very surface level answer, and each aspect of the event came with its own complexities, complications and awkward moments.
G221B : What is your best memory during the convention and why ?
Gus : At the end of the event, dozens of attendees thanked us for organizing the gathering. Many of them stated that it had been one of the greatest experiences of their lives. Comments like that left me speechless. The fact that we were able to meaningfully connect with so many of our listeners and make so many new friends was such a gift. There was a real sense of community in the room – not just between those in audience, but with the cast and crew as well. Everyone was there for the same reason: to celebrate Jeremy Brett and 40 years of the greatest depiction of the world’s greatest detective. The fact that those who personally knew Jeremy Brett repeatedly told us that he would have absolutely adored this event was more vindication that I could have ever dreamed. There were smiles on everyone’s faces all day long. These are things I will never forget.
Luke : I am the kind of person who will plan, plan, plan and overthink every angle of something… understanding that we can only do as much as we can do and eventually you have to stop and see if the thing comes together or not. The morning of the event, we were scrambling to finish setting up the stage, which was a recreation of 221b, right up until the moment we let folks into the theatre. We were lucky enough to have a curtain at the front of the stage and had it closed, just in case anyone had stuck their head in early. So when the time came, the music played and the curtain opened… and everyone gasped and applauded. I took a breath. That was the instant I knew we’d be ok. After the first panel went down smashingly well, I took another breath. After that, every moment was amazing. Watching Esther Dean and Kayt Turner dress our mannequin in Jeremy’s costume, bumping into director David Carson between panels and just seeing cast, crew and attendees co-mingled in the theatre for all the talks were all great memories.
David : The “sorry I can’t be there” video is perhaps the thing that affected me the most emotionally. I watched it about a dozen times before the event and saw each individual videos a few times more, and there was never a time that it didn’t bring a tear to my eye. To then watch it in a room full of people, and feel the warmth, love, affection, emotion, thankfulness pouring out of every single one of them, wasn’t something I expected. To also know that the likes of Colin Jeavons’ son and grandson saw and felt that heart-warmingly, genuine reaction to Colin appearing on screen, and Patrick Gowers’ family hearing Stephen Fry pay homage to his work on the show, or even see people react to David Burke’s stunningly beautiful words about Jeremy, it was a moment I am exceedingly proud of. And I guess, this is a long way of going about answering your question as it applies to the whole day really, in that my memories are all about the emotions we were able to facilitate for everyone that attended. Genuine, raw emotion, all positive and with so much love.
G221B : How do you feel after the success the Brettcon obviously was?
Gus : Brettcon was one of the most uncertain projects I have ever undertaken. We really had no idea how it would all come together and play out. The fact that it was unanimously hailed as a success ranks it among the very best endeavors of which I have ever been lucky enough to be a part. I think all of those who were in attendance will carry that day with them forever. I know I will.
Luke : I feel tired. I’m tempted to leave it at that, but the truth is I’m quite proud to have been a part of it. To have had a hand in publicly celebrating a series that meant so much to me and to have brought together cast and crew members who haven’t seen each other in years or even decades made all the effort completely worthwhile. There was a lot of mutual appreciation in the room. Us thanking people for being there, them thanking us for bringing them together, etc. It was a magic day. I only wish I could have sat and watched it from the other side of the theatre.
David : This is something I’m still not sure I have processed fully, or can fully comprehend how successful it was. The whole process was a feeling of unsurety and trepidation, and perhaps there’s a part of me that has held onto that feeling. Also, the majority of the event was the panels in the theatre, which I missed almost entirely due to my role on the day. But, the amount of people that spoke to me on the day, and the messages that have been rolling in since from everyone who was there, I’m just very grateful. Seeing all the photos as well, and peoples faces, I’m proud we were able to deliver what we set out to and that was to honour, as best we can, Jeremy, the show, and everyone who worked on it and show them how much all their work has meant to people all over the world.
G221B : What are your future plans for the podcast and do you plan to organize other events ?
Gus : Our next podcast episode will examine the stage play The Secret Of Sherlock Holmes, which starred Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke, back in 1988-1989. But we have many special episodes planned in addition to our regular coverage of the episodes. One which we are eager to release is our examination of the work of series composer Patrick Gowers. However, we are in the midst of finishing photography on a feature film (written and produced by us), so our release timing may be inconsistent for a while. But we promise to make up for it with fascinating content! As for future events… there has been much talk in the aether about Brettcon 2. But…. We are still recovering from Brettcon 1! Ask us again in a year!
Luke : We’ve just released EP46 of our podcast which goes very in depth into the day’s events at Brettcon and our manic schedule before and after it. Recounting it all on tape was a great idea while it was still fresh in our minds. It’s like an audio journal of our memories. I tend to run myself ragged on a project and then fairly instantly purge my brain of the minute details, so it was nice to have a record of it. Would we do it again? Ask David.
David : More interviews and no discussion about Brettcon 2 for at least 6 months!!!
La gazette du 221 B 