All systems go

The library's going ahead!

In case you missed it, a recap: we're setting up a library to circulate DVDs of Jennifer Ehle's works that aren't available commercially (Maitlands, Beyond Reason, Pleasure, Self Catering) as well as recordings of TV interviews and awards coverage. Those links go to transcripts.

It'll work like this. The DVDs will be lent as an entire set. There will be several copies of these sets, each for a geographic region. So far we've got three sets: Eastern US/Canada, Western US/Canada and Australasia, but more sets will be made if there's interest. We want to make this a global thing. Each region will have its own queue. The order in which we receive your signup e-mail will determine your place in the queue - if you wrote to us before, you've already been ranked. Each person will pass on the set on to the next in line within two weeks. If there is no one left, then the set will be returned to the regional librarian.

The only cost involved is forward postage. We've decided not to have donations to determine queue priority since the costs of VHS to DVD transfer were less than anticipated, thanks to the generosity of a couple of people. There is a requirement, however, that you join EhleNews and share your thoughts on what you've watched.

You can sign up for the library by sending an e-mail to ehleblog@gmail.com with the subject line "Ehle Library" and the following information:

1. Your full name and postal address
2. Your e-mail address
3. Your daytime phone number (this is for chasing up overdues)
4. Do you plan to copy the DVDs?

Once you've done that, come join and introduce yourself on EhleNews.

Just had to share this mp3 audio clip from the Rosie O'Donnell interview: "Mummy, can I wash ma ha-ir in the bath?" (think Lizzy Bennet meets Blanche Dubois). Too funny!

Ehle Library 2.0

In the past, there used to be a lending library that was run through EhleNews. This collection included all of Jennifer Ehle's rarer works as well as videos of interviews and the like. Unfortunately the lending library shut down several years ago, but we'd like to resurrect it. Holdings would probably include:

TV movies: Beyond Reason, Pleasure, Self-Catering and The Maitlands.

TV appearances: Mierella Folstrup interview (1999), Late Lunch (1999), Variety awards, Tony Brunch, Charlie Rose, BBC America for Possession, BAFTA awards (1996) and Tony awards (2000).

Are you interested? There needs to be a critical mass for this project to be worthwhile.

Ehle Library 2.0 would differ in several ways from the original. Firstly, we want to get the VHS tapes converted into DVDs, since they're durable, copiable and easy to post. Secondly, we want to make the library global, not just restricted to the US as it was previously. Third, whereas the version 1.0 library lent out items on a request basis, in version 2.0 the entire collection will be circulated as a set of about 6 DVDs. The idea is that from the master set, a number of lending sets would be dispatched to each region, eg. Australasia, UK/Europe, US/Canada, rest of the world. Postage would work on a "pay it forward" fashion: each person would post the set to the next person in line from their region, within a deadline. Each region would have its own queue. As with the old library you would be required to share your views on the work.

Ok. So if you're interested, e-mail us at jenniferehle@gmail.com with the following information:

Subject line: "Ehle Library"
1. Your name or alias:
2. E-mail address:
3. City/state and country:
4. Would you contribute $5-10 USD to help set up the library, if it meant you had priority in the queue?
5. Other queries/suggestions:

This is not signing-up for library membership; we just want to find out the numbers and regions to see if the project is viable. Your answer to #4 isn't binding.

Our cup runneth over

Yep! Even more photos from Josie. 16 stills this time: Summerfolk, The Real Thing, Bedrooms & Hallways, Paradise Road, This Year's Love and a rare Pleasure one.

Self Catering and Pleasure

There is little to be found on Self Catering and Pleasure, but Media Week from August 12th 1994 has this little blurb on the two "Alan Bleasdale presents" features.

Alan Bleasdale Presents.

A new platform for young script writers, produced by Alan Bleasdale. Self-Catering, which stars Jane Horrocks, tells the story of five survivors of an aircrash on a desert island who suddenly realise their personalities possess a life of their own. Pleasure portrays a modern Madame Bovary who, given an agonising choice, opts for freedom.