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Kevin Jon Davies

@kjd42.bsky.social

250 followers 61 following 78 posts

Filmmaker & Author Interview: https://youtu.be/XjGXDE1MPtE

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Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 1d

#OTD 45 years ago (7 Oct 1980) according to my diary, I drew these images for the Hitchhiker's Guide BBC TV series. Douglas Adams as both the ad exec and as Paula, the worst poet in the universe. I was 19 years old and having fun.

Mindless Jerks artwork for Hitchhiker's Guide TV series drawn by KJD (c) Pearce Studios Ltd. 1980.

Paula NM Jennings (Worst Poet) artwork for Hitchhiker's Guide TV series drawn by KJD (c) Pearce Studios Ltd. 1980.

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 1h

(Rod got his second BAFTA for some of the background animation and graphics in the Max H pilot film. He did use a computer for most of that.)

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 10h

Just been reminded of the time my family and I were kindly invited by a friend to look around #Leavesden Studios whilst #HarryPotter and The Prisoner of Azkaban was in production. Here we are with Buckbeak, the Hippogriff. This was long before the official tour was built.

Davies family at Leavesden with Buckbeak the Hippogriff in 2003.

Reposted by Kevin Jon Davies

Marc Morris @marcmorris.bsky.social · 12h

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 12h

The style was set by my boss Rod Lord, who won the BAFTA for his work. He got another later on for his contributions to graphics in Max Headroom.

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 19h

Ha ha! Thanks. I did animation for 13 years then made a lot of documentaries for 30. I art-directed "The Illustrated Hitchhiker...", a big silver book for Douglas in 1994, if you ever saw that?

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 19h

Yep. The only difference... is that it wasn't funny. ☹️
(Lots of people - authors and crowd-funding supporters lost a LOT of money.)

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 20h

There's a lot in the TV scripts which didn't appear elsewhere. I've been preparing a book of the annotated and illustrated TV scripts, but the publisher (who did my "42" book) went bust this year... twice! The project will resurface at a new company... eventually.

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 20h

Episodes 1, 2 and 5 (MIlliways) were recorded in TC1.
The BBC Blu-Ray release in 2018 wasn't perfect, but it did have a third disc of extras, including new HD transfers of the existing animation film. The original DVD of 2002 was only 2-discs.

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 20h

Yes, the two poems (Grunthos' "Armpit Putty" and Paula's "Dead Swans") were supplied by Douglas Adams, separately from the main script. We gleefully added them to the animation.

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 1d

The schedule became more punishing towards the end. The early eps were being broadcast as we finished animation for eps 5 & 6. I’m writing a book about it all.

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 1d

Later eps became a bit more ragged, with several pieces delivered as ungraded one-light prints, fresh from the film labs straight to the gallery edit session….
(by myself on a couple of occasions).

(Cont..)

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 1d

Some of those transfers were done in the studio in between the scenes of performances by the actors. Ep one was all edited and graded and matched to Peter Jones’ pre-recorded voice. (Peter did his recordings quite separately from everyone else in his own sessions.)

(Cont…)

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 1d

You were, but my brain makes these random obscure connections. Sorry!

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 1d

That’s a really good question. I’m full of random trivia about that production and about Douglas himself, but… I really don’t recall if he knew!

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 1d

That sounds like a “Future Sailors” lyric from “The Mighty Boosh”!

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 1d

Ooh! Was that during a studio recording day or one of the gallery-only sessions? (I have the dates).

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 1d

#OTD 45 years ago (7 Oct 1980) according to my diary, I drew these images for the Hitchhiker's Guide BBC TV series. Douglas Adams as both the ad exec and as Paula, the worst poet in the universe. I was 19 years old and having fun.

Mindless Jerks artwork for Hitchhiker's Guide TV series drawn by KJD (c) Pearce Studios Ltd. 1980.

Paula NM Jennings (Worst Poet) artwork for Hitchhiker's Guide TV series drawn by KJD (c) Pearce Studios Ltd. 1980.

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 7d

Timely clip…

Scarred For Life @scarredforlife.bsky.social · 8d

V - THE MINISERIES (1983) saw alien reptiles invade Earth and turn America into a fascist state, complete with stylised swastikas. But holocaust survivor Abraham and his friend Ruby are determined not to let history repeat itself...

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 14d

Enjoyed recording this!

Bon Mot Podcast 👥🎧🎤 @bonmotpodcast.bsky.social · 15d

Series Two - Episode Eight

With John Lloyd and @kjd42.bsky.social

shows.acast.com/bonmotpodcas...

Bon Mot Podcast - The Douglas Adams Special | Bon Mot Podcast

shows.acast.com

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 21d

Worth a listen if you like a bit of archive telly. Nice to hear knowledgeable pros (who've done the homework) talking so enthusiastically.

Samira Ahmed @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social · 21d

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · 27d

That's stuntman Eddie Powell, isn't it? Not sure I've seen that pic before.

Reposted by Kevin Jon Davies

Somebody wake up Hicks @jonmarkhicks.bsky.social · Sep 6

Do you want some inspiration for your arctic research station, your deep space facility or your remote settlement game?

Check out this excellent video of this South Pole Station.

youtu.be/gQ3_gZ3ZS_4?...

A tour of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station - Part 1

YouTube video by Joe Spins the Globe

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · Sep 5

Loved the film you made with his help... "Moon" with all its practical models and effects. Top-notch.

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · Sep 4

Lovely, talented bloke, Bill P. Worked with him, on and off between 1980 (Hitchhiker’s) and 1997 (Space Island One).

Kevin Jon Davies @kjd42.bsky.social · Sep 4

Wow, that's a real stinker of a review!