TheOwlService第一季  

TheOwlServicewasaneight-parttelevisionseriesbasedonthefantasynovelofthesamenamebyAlanGarner.Producedin1969andtelevisedoverthewinterof1969-1970,theserieswasremarkablyboldintermsofproduction.ItwasthefirstfullyscriptedcolourproductionbyGranadaTelevisionandwasfilmedalmostentirelyonlocationatatimewhenalmostallTVdramawasstudio-bound.Itusededitingtechniquessuchasjumpcutstocreateasenseofdisorientationandalsotosuggestthattwotimeperiodsoverlapped.Fortheseries,thebookwasadaptedinsevenscripts(laterstretchedtoeight)byGarnerandwasproducedanddirectedbyPeterPlummer.Thedirectionwasquiteradicalandseemedtobeinfluencedbytheavant-garde,anotedcontrasttowhatmightbeexpectedofachildren'sserial.　　Background　　Followingthesuccessofthenovel,whichhadwontheCarnegieMedalandGuardianAwardforchildren'sliterature,therewasmuchinterestinturningthestoryintoaTVserieswiththreecompaniesvyingfortherights.Intheend,duringthesummerof1968,Granadawonout,approachingAlanGarnertoscripttheserieshimself.ThedirectorchosenwasPeterPlummer,whoalsoactedasProducer.Sincethenovelwasbasedonreallocations,PlummeroptedtousethesameplaceswherepossibleandalthoughthescenesinthehousewerefilmedinamanornearLiverpool,therestofthefilmingtookplaceinWales(wherethestorywasset).Filmingbeganonlocationon11Aprilandwascompleted20June,afewstudiosceneswereshotfortheproduction,withthesewrappingupon3July1969.Trailersfortheserieswerealsoshot,featuringmaterialnotusedinthefinishedshow.　　Thethememusicwasthetraditionalfolkpiece"TônAlarch"playedontheharpbyJeanBell,whiletheincidentalmusicwastakenfromstocksources.Thetitlesequencefeaturedahandshadowdepictinganowlinflight,photographsofthevalleyandaflickeringcandlealongwithsoundeffects.