Oscar-winning producer Lord David Puttnam has challenged aspiring filmmakers from the North East to lead the way in a new cinema genre. Arts writer Gavin Engelbrecht meets the 74-year-old life peer.
OSCAR-WINNING film producer Lord David Puttnam is clearly proud of his new watch.
“It is called a Shinola,” he said, taking it off his wrist to show.
“Unemployed people in Detroit, seeing there was no future in the auto industry, got hold of an empty building and made a decision to do something about it.
“They decided to start making bicycles and watches. They got some guy from Switzerland to teach them and what they have done is create a fantastic business. It is a wonderful story.
“I got my wife to buy this watch for my 74th birthday. When my granddaughters, who are in their 20s, saw it they said ‘Grandpa, that is a Shinola. It is the coolest watch anywhere’. And do you know how they knew about it? Through social media.”
Lord Puttnam is not just showing off his gift but illustrating the fact that there are no barriers to success in the creative industry.