A review on “Cinepolitics” of the new film of John Le Carre’s classic spy novel, and its continuing relevance:
Category Archives: Film
Publicity for the film, “The Bank Job” (2008)
I did a PR interview for the 2008 film “The Bank Job”, which was included in the extras on the DVD.
In the interview I discussed MI5 dirty tricks and spy influence over the media.
New Film by Ryan JW Smith
I had the pleasure recently of working with a talented film maker called Ryan JW Smith, and his partner/producer, Brianna.
Brianna is an artist by training, and also a mean hand at producing. Ryan seems a bit of a renaissance man — film maker, poet, writer, actor. In fact, he wrote a play called “New World Order” in, I believe, iambic pentameter, and performed it to packed audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe a couple of years ago, and recently had a short film called “Army Strong” screened at a Polish film festival.
Anyway, they are in the middle of making a feature-length film about the post-apocalyptic, post-9/11 world we all share — the lies of intelligence and government, the illegal wars, the erosion of our democratic rights. Just the sort of light material that I like to work with — and certainly what I think is of vital importance.
I’m working on helping to promote the film later this year, and organise some screening tours for them across Europe and North America.
I think it’s going to be a very powerful wake-up call to us all. Watch this space for more news.
Here’s a trailer Ryan and Brianna cut from my interviews with them called “Using Her Intelligence”. I like:
FBI Whistleblower Sibel Edmonds
I strongly recommend you take the time to watch this film about FBI whistleblower, Sibel Edmonds.
“Kill the Messenger” joins some interesting dots, not just about what might have been going on round Sibel’s case, but also adds a different perspective to the notorious outing of CIA officer, Valerie Plame.
Of course, a film that investigates how the might of the state can be used to stifle the legitimate dissent of a whistleblower will always resonate with me.
Same message, different country.
Last Man Out
In July 2008 an excellent film, Last Man Out, was screened at the New York Independent Film Festival.
LMO is a film directed by Jonathan Kerr-Smith and is a documentary following 9/11 survivor, hero, and campaigner on behalf of the families and first responders, William Rodriguez, as he tours the UK and Europe. I organised the tours and feature in the film.
Film Review of “Secrecy” on Cinepolitics, January 2009
Over the last few years I have been a regular guest on political discussion programmes on the rapidly growing Press TV. Occasionally I am invited onto the film review show, “Cinepolitics”, by the host (and film maker) Russell Michaels.
The film under review is a documentary called “Secrecy”, looking at the stifling effect censorship and the creeping concept of national security have had on democracy in the USA under the former presidential régime. When this was filmed in January, there was hope that the new presidency might roll this back. However, “Secrecy” is just as pertinent now that the issue of torture and Guantanamo Bay is being addressed more openly by the media.
The Elephant in the Room
In September an award-winning independent documentary, “The Elephant in the Room” was screened at the Portobello Film Festival in London.
The film, made by British director Dean Puckett, had already won “Best Documentary” at the London Independent Film Festival earlier this year. At Portobello, Dean won the “Best Director” award.
The film documents Dean’s personal journey and response to the tragic events of 9/11. In October 2001 he visited New York with his father, who was running in the marathon. As a budding 19 year old film maker, Dean recorded images of the traumatised city and his personal response to the events, and includes this early footage in the film.
He then goes on to meet activists in the UK and Europe who question the official account, and interview 9/11 hero William Rodriguez and US Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, amongst others. He also deals sensitively with the first responders who are ill and dying because the US government lied about the safety of the air in NYC after the attacks. These people are generally ignored and given little help or support.
I helped Dean in some sections of the film, and he accompanied William Rodriguez on the European leg of the speaking tour I organised for him last year — I’m chuffed to have an “Assistant Producer” credit!
The film can be downloaded and watched here.
BBC Radio Bristol Interview
A recent interview on BBC Radio Bristol to publicise the screening of an award-winning new documentary called “The Elephant in the Room”, made by talented director Dean Puckett.
I had the chance to explore the mechanisms by which the UK media is controlled by the spies and the government, including the section in MI6 called I/Ops, which plants false stories in the media to the benefit of MI5 and MI6.
