Arsenal vs Birmingham City

Match

Watching this game at the Emirates on Saturday, October 16^th I was completely dumbfounded when Birmingham City scored the first goal at the 33 min mark. Looking at the mounted clock I actually began to wonder is this going to turn into another loss? The feeling in the pit of ones stomach to see the away supporters goad us made me stand up in my chair and like everyone else tell them to get stuffed – although not in such a polite manner. But at the 41^st minute Scott Dann who without a shadow of a doubt whilst on the ground stuck his leg out and fouled Chamakh. That was most probably the only saving grace about the referee – Martin Atkinson – who was making the strangest decisions that day. Anyway, Nasri took the penalty and just before half time we had levelled. The most spectacular goal of the month has to be the interplay between Wilshire and Chamakh. Wilshire trapped the ball upon his chest before dropping it to his feet and deftly passing into the firing line Chamakh. Because if Chamakh’s angle of attack and the two defenders coming at him he tapped ball and what can only be described as Dennis Bergkamp-esq, performed a 180 turn to tap the ball with his left foot into the goal. I believe it has to seen to truly admire this goal. Not exactly an easy day in the office especially as Wilshire as given a Red card – studs up challenge – for his sloppy tackle against Zigic. No doubt in my mind he deserved to be sent off for that.

Observational Research

Due to the London Underground engineering works taking place that day, I decided to take a circumferent walk which would take my favourite coffee house ‘Café Nero’. Whilst waiting in line to order my hot chocolate I noticed a child who was adept at ordering a coffee to her specific liking. As I observed her – I reckon she was about 11 maybe 12 (ideal age for my character in my story ‘Aahna’) who had a large soft faux-leather handbag (which looked rather big), neatly combed hair which a large fat pink paperclip like hairclip. I noticed on her right hand was a faded drawing of a heart with some writing. I began to think about my character Aahna who is still raw after the death of her mother. Seeing the hairclip and the faded drawing on this girl’s hand I realised that having the story take place 6 months after the mother’s death was too long. I really liked the idea of Aahna retaining the drawing on her right hand because that is the last fun thing she did with her mum before she died. By taking care not to wash that hand she was trying to preserve her mother. Going back to the girl at Café Nero, what was visually ironic – dressed in skinny jeans + skirt, ugg-like boots, smart jacket, straight combed hair, hair clip, large handbag and a scribble on her right hand. That scribble on her hand is her link to her youth and innocence. In a world that is constantly evolving and children are said to be growing up far more quickly than in previous generations, it’s quite refreshing to see a kid who still acts like a kid. Why is the important? In my story, Aahna is a mould of her loving mother – like most daughters are. Aahna has been imprinted with a certain look / style that incorporate her mother as well as Aahna’s own style. Now that her mother is gone, all she has are the basic tools left to her by her mother. So for Aahna, this ritual of combing her hair for example is not just so she can look nice in the mirror, but it’s actually her way of remembering her mother and the act of combing her hair – like her mother used to – is her way of remembering her.

Outside Emirates

When I got to Emirates the rain had died down. The whole area outside of the stadium entrance had a shine to the place which was reflecting the bright sun off all the wet surfaces including the concrete ground. It was a lovely crisp day but I wished I had worn more suitably warm clothing as sitting for 2 hours you do start to notice the chill and the breeze.

What is quite startling about these photos I took was how blue the sky was that day. All of us hate the rain and there is nothing worse than to be stuck in doors when the heavens open. But to be outside on a crisp day once the rain has ceased and you’re presented with an azure blue sky as rather uplifting.

Now, I can’t and won’t dictate the weather in my screenplay but I’d like to take the emotion I feel observing this weather and place that in the realm of the arena or use that emotion for the character.

Clockend

For the last few games I’ve been extremely lucky to get tickets in the Clockend (South). There are three reasons why I love being here:

1. Above you is the large replica clock that used to be situated in the Clockend at Highbury.
2. The banter at the Clockend is awesome. You can feel, taste and hear the anger & joy of the crowd. It sometimes feels that the heartbeat of the fans starts at the clockend.
3. We are within shouting and pointing distance at the away supporters which always gives rise to some violent verbal remonstrations between the two. I use the term ‘violent’ to depict the emotional response that both teams give to their teams and not ‘violence’ as is in a throwback to the 80’s face of football.

In this photograph (to my immediate right) you can see the quadrant with the away supporters on the lower tier. In this case the away supporters are in blue. So you can see that we are in viewing distance of each other. It was pretty awful to see these clowns go mad after Birmingham scored the first goal. They went absolutely nuts. I just sat in my seat looking in disbelief. It was at this moment that two women Arsenal supporters (20’s) stood up and begun waving two fingers at Birmingham City fans. Whilst I found this quite amusing what I noticed on one of the girls wearing a thin red hairband with an Arsenal motif. I never knew such a thing existed (maybe because I’m not a girl!) and immediately I thought that would be perfect for Aahna as she gets ready for the game, perfect!

This was an emotionally charged game and I must admit for some Arsenal fans the goading going on between the two was a little terrifying but in an exciting way. In front of me were 4 guys who during the second half of the match would not sit down. They were chanting, dancing and swearing till they’re blue in the face towards the Birmingham City fans. It transpired that they were absolutely drunk. My Sherlock deductions led me to the base of their feet where many small mini-bar bottles of Jack Daniels were laid wasted. Now I know why the guys were slurping so much cola. In my story, if the relationship between Frank and Aahna is already strained, and the only way the two really can communicate is when they’re at the football ground what would happen if this sanctity was broken with these four idiots disturbing their view? Something I need to think about.

Frank and Aahna

After the game I decided to hang around and walk around the grounds. I wanted to find a perfect picture of Frank and Aahna. Something that I could refer back to during the writing of my screenplay. I am always intrigued about the distance between two people and nothing is more perfect than these two pictures listed here. These photographs are taken before the game and after the game by ‘The Spirit of Highbury’. This large monument depicts the entire Arsenal squad starting from its inception in 1886 right through to present.

The first photograph was taken around 2pm just after the rain died. The blue is such dominant colour which is reflecting off all the wet surfaces. You feel relaxed and calm. It has those soft colours associated with being on holiday or somewhere relaxing.

The next photograph (the child’s face has been digitally altered to preserve identity) is what I believe are my characters Frank and Aahna. She is looking directly at the camera avoiding Frank who stands appearing to eat something. He stands like a towering guardian over Aahna but the two never share a single word. This is such a great photograph as you can read as much as your creative mind will allow about their relationship.

Emotional Depth

These three photographs kind of depict the emotions that I want to portray in my story.

The first photograph: The dark clouds vibrate with a haze of blue and the stream of sun that partially lights the ground. Those clouds have robbed the daylight and to me I feel a sense of loss in this photograph. Something that we take for granted has now been taken away and no matter how difficult it maybe we need to continue. I feel for Aahna in this photograph as she has lost her mother. She doesn’t know what else to do but to carry on…but to what extent can she carry on if she doesn’t have anyone to guide her properly – i.e. Frank, her Dad. At some point Frank must stop being the 100% man and try to take the place of his wife to support and nurture Aahna otherwise their relationship will be broke beyond repair and Aahna’s childhood irrevocably ruined.

The second photograph: Looking at these clouds which sit independently of each other lit up by the Sun, I get a sense of isolation. How hard is it for Frank to maintain a place to live yet work so many hours to keep hold of it? For me, Frank feels even more isolated when they lose their family house which was the tipping point for Purveen’s suicide (Aahna’s mother). They now live in a 2 bedroom flat in an unsavoury area. Not only are they isolated financially, but from their neighbourly friends and more important they are isolated from each other.

The third photograph: A sense of longing. The warmth of that Sun is what all we humans crave for. To be blanketed in warmth to give us protection from the outside world. No matter how difficult this journey is for Frank and Aahna, by the end they will be together. Through Frank’s transformational change and coming to terms with Purveen’s suicide he will forge a greater emotional link with Aahna.