From 10 November 1982, the inaugural ‘Visions’ cinema magazine for the then week old Channel 4. Features an interview with Paul Schrader, Angela Carter’s review of Greenaway’s newly released ‘The Draughtsman’s Contract’ and an opening montage What is Cinema? defining the scope of the series made by critic Tony Rayns. Produced by Keith Griffiths and Simon Hartog, series editor John Ellis
Interview and profile of experimental filmmaker Michael Snow from 1983. Includes extracts from ‘Back and Forth’, ‘Wavelength’, ‘La Region Central’, ‘So Is This’ and gallery piece ‘Two Sides To Every Story’. Made for Channel 4 ‘Visions’ and broadcast 19 January 1983. Interview: Simon Field; Director: Keith Griffiths
In 1983, Bombay’s popular Hindi cinema was just becoming known. Rosie Thomas and Behroze Gandhy explore its history, major films and styles, and interview Raj Kapoor and Kamal Amrohi. Part 2 shows how the films were showing in the UK… on videos delivered by the milkman!
History of filmmaking in China from its beginnings in the 1920s to 1982, featuring Shanghai cinema of 1930s; the progressive filmmakers; the organisation of filmmaking under the post-war communist government; the impact of the Cultural Revolution; the work of Xie Jin. Presenter: Tony Rayns. Director: Ron Orders. Producers: John Ellis Simon Hartog, Keith Griffiths. Channel 4 Visions series, 14 September 1983
. Total length 57 mins
Distributed on DVD by BFI as extra to ‘Two Films by Lino Broca’
Features Tony Rayns’ interviews with Lino Broca, Manuel Conde, Ishmael Bernal, Doy del Mundo, Mailou Diaz-Abaya
Two women directors of different generations – both trained as dancers – meet for the first time. Sally Potter’s first feature ‘Gold Diggers’ had just been released. Wendy Toye’s career began in theatre and she directed her first short ‘The Stranger left No Card’ in 1952. She worked for Korda and Rank, making both comedies and uncanny tales. Directed by Gina Newson for Channel 4’s Visions series, 1984. Duration 52 mins.
Neil Jordan directed ‘A Company of Wolves’ from Angela Carter’s 1979 short story in her ‘Bloody Chamber’ collection of retold stories. Anna Ambrose interviews them about storytelling and the film influences on this highly successful movie. From Visions 17 October 1984.
Chantal Akerman was commissioned by Visions to make this short film for £20,000. It was first shown on 21 November 1984. Akerman herself plays the role of a director visiting Hollywood to find financing from an uncle she hardly knows. Very little goes to plan… Also stars Aurore Clement and Colleen Camp
The Deutsches Filmmuseum opened late in 1984. On 16 January 1985, UK Channel 4’s ‘Visions’ monthly magazine programme about cinema celebrated in distinctive style. Keith Griffiths’ entertaining item, modelled on a magic lantern lecture about the eye, outlines the history of pre-cinematic devices with many hands-on demonstrations and present-day bricolage reconstructions of devices. Includes examples of Reynaud’s Theatre Optique, Kinetoscope, Thaumatrope, Zoetrope and a Lumiere Cinematographe used as a projector An imaginative 10 minute tour of the newly opened hands-on Frankfurt Filmmuseum. The narrator is a bored doctor outlining the nineteenth century theories of sight which underlie many of these experimental means of animating images.
Mac Karlin made this contemplative short film for a special edition of Visions about the state of the British Film Industry. In a series of moody sequences he reflects on the realities of the everyday life of filmmakers; on the ruination of entertainment cinema; the ingrained habits of much British filmmaking; and his hopes and fears for the future.
Mick Eaton directed and Alan Drury scripted this amusing and insightful view of the twists and turns of UK government film policies. Shot using the then-new video technique of blue screen studio, it features Geoffrey Keen (who played the Minister of Defence in six Bond films) as the hapless Minister, and Joan Blackham and Jack Elliott as the ineffectual civil servants. It was the first part of a special edition of Visions devoted to the problems of British cinema.
An obituary programme for the distinguished cultural critic Raymond Williams. Stuart Hall, Terry Eagleton, Judith Williamson and Dafydd Elis Thomas MP discuss his various legacies
Based on the pioneering work of feminist photographer and theorist Jo Spence, this 4 part Channel 4 series from 1988 was directed by Nina Kellgren. This first episode looks at having your photo taken by other people, including street photographers
Based on the pioneering work of feminist photographer and theorist Jo Spence, this 4 part Channel 4 series from 1988 was directed by Nina Kellgren. This second episode, about the secrets and stories behind the seemingly innocuous family photos, features Jo Spence, Sybil Phoenix, Stan Grant, Nuala Campbell, Maggie Murray and Allegra Damji.
Based on the pioneering work of feminist photographer and theorist Jo Spence, this 4 part Channel 4 series from 1988 was directed by Nina Kellgren. This third episode, about using photos as therapy, features Jo Spence, Leah Thorn, Maxine Walker, Tessa Boffin, Claudio Solano, Martine Houghton, Stuart Liebermann, Linda Sole.
Based on the pioneering work of feminist photographer and theorist Jo Spence, this 4 part Channel 4 series from 1988 was directed by Nina Kellgren. This fourth episode, examining the relations between personal and public histories, features Maxine Walker, Stuart Hall, Maggie Murray, Thelma Reynolds, Sybil Phoenix, Ann Burrell and Allegra Damji.
Tony Rayns presents the work of the ‘Fifth Generation’ and other innovative filmmakers who emerged during the 1980s in China. They include: Chen Kaige, Zhankg Yimou, Zhang Zemin, Hu Mei, Wu Tianming, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Huang Jianxing, Zhang Jianya, Wu Yigong, Huang Jianzhong,Zheng Dongtian, Ling Zifeng.
Derek Cooper tells the amazing story of the making of this classic Ealing comedy, on location on the island of Barra. Includes an interviews with director Alexander Mackendrick, islanders who appeared or contributed to the filming and Charles Crichton who edited it for release. Available on Studio Canal’s 2 disc DVD/BluRay as an extra, along with the full version of islander Angus Campbell’s storytelling about the original wrecked cargo ship. Directed by Murray Grigor.
Writer Angela Carter’s last work, a searing critique of Christian imagery, narrated by Carter and directed from her detailed script by JoAnn Kaplan. For script see Press
Rosalind Coward presents the arguments from her ground-breaking book ‘Our Treacherous Hearts: Why Women Let Men Get their Way’ (Faber & Faber 1992) in this stylish film directed by Agnieska Piotrowska. It examines how women collude with old patterns of “feminine” behaviour which encircle and limit them; two pairs of sisters examine their lives from girlhood to the present day. Produced by Large Door for Channel 4’s ‘Female Parts’ series, first shown May 1992
Simon Hartog’s definitive 1993 investigation into the power of TV in Brazil, and the power of TV Globo in particular. Partly a history of TV in Brazil; partly an examination of Globo’s innovations and its cultural power; partly a revelation of how that cultural power was used to support successive right-wing regimes. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyond_C… for more information
Nick Cooper had the brilliant idea of dramatising a cookery book, specifically the 1930s classic French Cooking in Ten Minutes. In each episode, the writer of the book, Edouard de Pomiane, cooks a 3 course meal for two in ten minutes. Why? That is the mystery which sustains the series. It was made for BBC2 and screened between 10.20 and 10.30 over six weeks.
Nick Cooper had the brilliant idea of dramatising a cookery book, specifically the 1930s classic French Cooking in Ten Minutes. In each episode, the writer of the book, Edouard de Pomiane, cooks a 3 course meal for two in ten minutes. Why? That is the mystery which sustains the series. It was made for BBC2 and screened between 10.20 and 10.30 over six weeks.
Nick Cooper had the brilliant idea of dramatising a cookery book, specifically the 1930s classic French Cooking in Ten Minutes. In each episode, the writer of the book, Edouard de Pomiane, cooks a 3 course meal for two in ten minutes. Why? That is the mystery which sustains the series. It was made for BBC2 and screened between 10.20 and 10.30 over six weeks.
The romance intensifies, and so does the cuisine. The secrets of ten minute cookery revealed by the author of the 1930s classic book ‘French Cooking in Ten Minutes’, Edouard de Pomiane. Episode 4 of the 6 part BBC2 series from 1995, scripted by Nick Cooper and expertly played by Christopher Rozycki.
Nick Cooper had the brilliant idea of dramatising a cookery book, specifically the 1930s classic French Cooking in Ten Minutes. In each episode, the writer of the book, Edouard de Pomiane, cooks a 3 course meal for two in ten minutes. Why? That is the mystery which sustains the series. It was made for BBC2 and screened between 10.20 and 10.30 over six weeks.
Edouard de Pomiane’s romance with food, and with a mysterious woman, continues in this adaptation of the 1930s classic French Cooking in Ten Minutes. It is July 1930. A Polish doctor in Paris lets us into the secrets of his speedy yet elegant cooking, as well as giving a discrete glimpse into his private life.
Nick Cooper had the brilliant idea of dramatising a cookery book, specifically the 1930s classic French Cooking in Ten Minutes. In each episode, the writer of the book, Edouard de Pomiane, cooks a 3 course meal for two in ten minutes. Why? That is the mystery which sustains the series. It was made for BBC2 and screened between 10.20 and 10.30 over six weeks.
Nick Cooper had the brilliant idea of dramatising a cookery book, specifically the 1930s classic French Cooking in Ten Minutes. In each episode, the writer of the book, Edouard de Pomiane, cooks a 3 course meal for two in ten minutes. Why? That is the mystery which sustains the series. It was made for BBC2 and screened between 10.20 and 10.30 over six weeks.
Controversial profile of Sir John Davis (1906-1993), the fearsome managing director of the Rank Organisation in the 1950s and 1960s, when it was responsible for much of British film production and exhibition. Davis still had the power to intimidate many of the interviewees from beyond the grave. Features interviews with Lewis Gilbert, Derek Bond, Christopher Lee, Anthony Havelock Allen, Betty Box, Sir Denis Forman, John Boulting, Bill Annett. Produced and directed by John Ellis for Large Door and Channel 4, 1996