Writing
Notes from the work
Six decades in film and publishing, written down as it happened — on producing, writing, the industry, and the people in it.
Essays
2 min read
Why?
During the last week the BBC showed two programs with Jewish themes on one night. They were an interview with the gay Liberal Rabbi Blue and another, which was the first episode of a three part doc…
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3 min read
The B R I C
What is the BRIC? It is the acronym for the four big, new economically surging power countries, the future super powers. They are Brazil, Russia, India and China. Here I am about to argue that desp…
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3 min read
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a truly fascinating film with a German central character, an eight-year-old boy, set in the Second World War. Ironically I happen to be writing a book about a Germ…
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2 min read
Priority
Some days a story surfaces that demands our immediate attention. The government of the United Kingdom is denying the right of cancer sufferers to receive National Health Service treatment if they a…
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5 min read
Starting Out
About two or three times a month I get a call from someone telling me that they have a younger relative, or the son or daughter of a friend who is looking to break into one part or other of show bu…
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2 min read
Scary Times
Today there will be two blog articles, this one about domestic matters, and the other to say goodbye to President George W. Bush.
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4 min read
New Book
I’m just starting to write a new book. For any of you who have ever undertaken this kind of creative work you’ll know that I am currently going through the usual pre sit down and do it stage. The k…
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3 min read
National Health
One of the first casualties of decreasing democracy and the rising probability of a dictatorship is the degeneration of the language. This was noticeable during the time when Spiro Agnew was Vice P…
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5 min read
Politics of Life
It’s strange how politics shape our lives, and how we change our political views as we grow older. I was a pretty extreme left-winger when I was a teenager. I couldn’t understand anyone who wasn’t.…
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2 min read
Female Agents
Today I went to see the latest Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. I am pleased to report that there was a very long line to get into the cinema and the first couple of shows were sold out. I am …
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4 min read
Seismic Shift
Every so often, randomly arriving at our door through fate, not design comes a seismic shift in our collective destiny. We are, in my view, living through the beginning of such a shift.
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2 min read
The Gift of Friendship
Before my dad and mum died I had the opportunity to tell them how much I loved them. I think that was hugely important. You should, right now, tell people that you love them if that’s the case, don…
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6 min read
Socialism and Greed
In these days following the almost total collapse of our economic system we all dared hope that there might be some chink of light, some moral compass injected by common sense and self preservation.
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1 min read
Remembrance
Today we all celebrate the memory of the millions of our people who gave everything on the behalf of us all in all the wars that are the cruel price of democracy. Many died, almost too many to coun…
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2 min read
Olympian Ideals
Many of us love the Olympic games, what it stands for and the sheer pleasure of seeing excellence, hard work and talent rewarded in an orgy of competition.
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5 min read
Uni Entry
Education is something about which one should be objective, but I guess I’ve become too knowledgeable to remain objective.
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3 min read
You've Got To Laugh
I was watching some people with their dog walking in the countryside yesterday. Let’s be honest, I am not nature boy, and the reason for me being in the green area, grass I think is the name, is be…
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3 min read
Stop Digging
Today the German leader, Frau Merkel, appears to have broken ranks with her peers in the European Union. Just a couple of days ago in an emergency summit of the major EU economic powers it was agre…
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1 min read
Cost of Going Out
I’m an unusual reviewer. You might already have guessed this from my writing style or the fact that commenting on the creative work of others, when you work creatively yourself is a fairly rum way …
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5 min read
My Arrest
Apparently my arrest is imminent. I appear to have broken the law, but honestly I thought I was doing the right thing. It all started as a dispute with a neighbor some years ago. In fact it was the…
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2 min read
DO INCENTIVES BUY WORK?
Among my many sins is my compulsion to tell stories. OK, these are not fibs, they take the form of books, screenplays and now, my first stage play. My most recent book, and I plug it without shame,…
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3 min read
Obama Carter
The world needs the USA to be strong and true to the aspirations of its founding fathers. For this to happen the country must occasionally be lead by outstanding people of vision. This has not been…
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