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Lord Puttnam attends OU 50th Birthday Celebrations

Lord Puttnam caught up with his old friend Sir David Attenborough at the 50th Birthday Celebration of the Open University at Gibson Hall, Bishopsgate in London last week.

Lord David Puttnam and Sir David Attenborough at OU 50th birthday celebration

The pair have campaigned tirelessly on climate change issues for over three decades, and share a passion for preserving the planet and ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable environment for future generations to grow up in. In particular, David Puttnam has strongly opposed the opening of a plastics factory in Skibbereen – a development that he believes will do irreparable damage to the locality's economy, tourism and West Cork's identity more broadly as a home of world-class agricultural produce.

The opening of plastics factory in Skibbereen, and the environmental issues it raises have become hot topics in the forthcoming elections across West Cork. Puttnam has made the argument on several recent occasions that the May 23rd elections offer a perfect opportunity for locals to make clear their overriding concern for the protection of West Cork’s unique environment.

Activities Recent Activities

Lord Puttnam contributes to Conduct of Debate in Public Life

On Thursday, the House of Lords discussed issues around the conduct of debate in public life. During the debate, Lord Puttnam made an intervention on his own experience of populism, the importance of maintaining civility throughout national life and the fragility of our democracy.

The intervention and debate is available on Hansard.

"My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Lord, Lord Harris, for making this debate possible. It is timely and it certainly is important.

Almost 49 years ago, I travelled to Heidelberg to meet Albert Speer, Hitler’s former architect and Armaments Minister, who had recently been released after 21 years in Spandau prison. I had audaciously put in a bid to buy the film rights to his then best-selling book, Inside the Third Reich. Like many born during wartime, I was desperately eager for a better understanding of how Hitler came to power, with consequences that dominated the lives of my parents’ generation.

By some miracle of luck and timing, my partner and I won the rights to the book, which led to our spending many hours probing and questioning Speer’s motivations, with the opportunity to go well beyond what was actually in the book. One story in particular stands out. He said that he was walking in Berlin a day or two after Kristallnacht, surveying the damage done to Jewish property and shops. He claimed to have been appalled by what was going on, but by now his principal concern was that the glass was cleared away before any child fell and cut themselves. He made the point that it is quite shocking how quickly the unthinkable becomes thinkable, then normalised, and, eventually, in the final phase of populism, brutally enforced.

In chapter 2 of his book, he writes:

“I did see a couple of rough spots in the Party doctrine. But I assumed they would be polished in time …The crucial fact appeared to me to be that I personally had to choose between a future Communist Germany or a future National Socialist Germany, since the political center between these antipodes had melted away. Moreover in 1931 I had reason to believe that Hitler was moving in a more moderate direction … Hitler was trying to appear respectable in order to seem qualified to enter the government”.

In other words, he was seeking to legitimise himself and his party in order to take back control. Does any of that sound remotely familiar? In the event, we produced two documentaries. The first, entitled “Double-Headed Eagle”, covered the years 1918 to 1933, and the second, “Swastika”, took the story from 1933 to 1945. [You can view the trailer for the Swastika documentary here]

I have always believed that this narrative ought to be compulsory viewing for anyone attracted to the simplistic rants of Nigel Farage or his venomous counterpart, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon—or “Tommy Robinson”, as he prefers to be called. When I was growing up, the term “nationalistic” was synonymous with a particularly pernicious form of authoritarian government. Somehow, the debates in this country around Brexit have allowed it to become somewhat re-legitimised. Nationalism is not the same as patriotism and they should never, ever be confused. This drift is a process that we in this House should be doing everything possible to overcome. To better inform that opposition, I thoroughly recommend an excellent new book by the young historian Tim Bouverie, entitled Appeasing Hitler.

Last Friday, the Labour MP Lisa Nandy gave the Clement Attlee Memorial Lecture at University College Oxford. It was a wonderful lecture and I can do no better than quote directly from it. She said:

“The problems of a deeply divided nation, and the many heartfelt views on Brexit, and the things Brexit has come to symbolise, are not going to vanish. They are complex, demanding of nuance and will not be wished or voted away”.

She went on to say:

“Never think that ‘the blood-dimmed tide’ is a threat only to immigrants and minorities. It is a threat to all of us. We all need constitutional protection, we need a centre that holds. Those who believe in civil discourse, who respect the truth, must be willing to find a common cause”.

I cannot top that, other than to remember that, in the final chapter of what was to be his last book, the late Lord Clarke—Kenneth Clarke—asks himself which of all human qualities he most values. It would be reasonable to assume that, as our foremost art historian, he would opt for some cultural reference. Instead he offers just one word: “civility”.

Civility will not be regained by accident. It is my belief that every member of your Lordships’ House has an absolute obligation to ensure that civility once again becomes the watchword in the practice of politics in this country. When he replies, I sincerely hope that the Minister will offer the Government’s determination not to allow extremism in its many forms to undermine what all noble Lords seem to realise is a dangerously fragile democracy."

Activities Europe

I feel no sense of identity for the country I grew up in

Source: Graham Clifford for The Irish Times – Saturday, April 27, 2019

Lord David Puttnam at his home - Photograph by Michael Mac Sweeney

There is usually a sparkle in David’s Puttnam’s eyes which stays with you long after you spend time in his company –but that sparkle is nowhere to be seen today.

Instead he is weary, hurting, and bothered by the unfolding chaos of Brexit in the country he once called home and its impact on his new haven far from the din of West-minster.
He sighs, he grimaces, he grows irritated. This is not a David Puttnam I have seen before.
Even his tone is uncharacteristically low and lifeless. Brexit, its causes and mutations, has sucked the life from him and that Hollywood smile is replaced by the frown of a man who is afraid of what’s happening in front of his eyes.
As a member of the House of Lords he has worked to remind colleagues of the damage this meandering mess could do to Ireland and Anglo-Irish relations. In February he spoke at length about the power of the Irish lobby in America and how Britain’s recklessness would not be forgiven, nor forgotten, should they seek a preferential trade agreement with the United States in the future.
Do those in “the other place” listen?
“I have grown increasingly incredulous, not just in terms of what I’m hearing but in terms of what I’m not hearing,” he tells me. “The ignorance towards Ireland and Irish politics and history by British parliamentarians has come as an unbelievable shock to me. I started off being puzzled by it, then concerned and now downright angry.”
It’s 30 years since David and his wife Patsy bought this charming home on the road between Skibbereen and Baltimore. It’s seen much joy and life over the last few decades but today the mood is dark and reflective.
For David Puttnam – lord, movie-maker, educator, environmentalist, son, husband and father – the political and social strife which has accompanied Brexit has forced him to reconsider what was once a given.
“I feel no sense of identity for the country in which I was born and grew up. It’s a terrible thing to say, but I feel none whatso-ever. That’s very sad and I’m struggling with it,” he says.
Indeed, by the time Puttnam, now 78 years old, boards the flight back to Cork after his weekly work in the House of Lords he has a new sense of returning home.
“I think in the last few months that Patsy and I have both found it [the Brexit fallout] incredibly upsetting. That we’ve been very depressed as people and that’s just not us. We’ve no right to be depressed, we’ve too nice a life but this whole thing is so difficult and upsetting. It hurts, it really hurts.”

In Skibbereen locals ask Puttnam about what's going on and what he thinks will happen.
"All I can do is shake my head and roll my eyes," he says.
Regardless of what happens next, Puttnam is consumed by why Brexit happened at all. Where has all the division, ill will, hate and hurt come from? How did he and others not see it?
"One of the reasons we left our previous home in Wiltshire and came to Ireland was because of these post-colonial attitudes,” he says. “Sometimes the conversations were of another era, totally out of touch. People trying to recapture something which probably never was. And now across the UK these post-imperial attitudes have surfaced. They were ridiculous when they were imperial attitudes and are even more ridiculous now. It’s Charge of the Light Brigade stuff – they’ve totally lost sight of the damage they are doing there, here, everywhere.”
He reaches for a piece of paper on which he has scribbled a line. He reads it to me:
“It’s become neo-religious. It’s gone far beyond economics now. The Tories are stuck with a total imperial delusion.”

Corbyn
As a Labour peer, he laments the role Jeremy Corbyn has played in the mess.
“People simply don’t trust Jeremy Corbyn to run the economy,” he says.
“Within the Labour Party the control components he’s putting in are the opposite to everything he says he is. He’s a serial refusenik who is building a Labour Party which can’t deal with refuseniks.”
Puttnam, who grew up in East London, describes himself as a mongrel. His mother’s parents were Russian and his father’s ancestors French.
“You know what’s tragic? When my mother’s parents came to England around 120 years ago the same stuff was being touted. My dad, who was a photographer, took pictures of the Mosley marches in the Jewish quarter in the East End. People need to wake up to this. This is scary anti-immigrant stuff.”
In the days before we meet, Puttnam spoke in the House of Lords. The video record shows a man trying to contain his frustration. He keeps his hands tightly on a sheet of paper. There’s a controlled intensity in his voice. It’s like a scene from one of his films.

“There is one voice I’ve been waiting to appear during this debate and it hasn’t yet and that’s the voice of the people in the Republic of Ireland,” he told the House. “I would like to get across to your Lordships the incalculable level of anxiety that has been caused to the people of the Republic of Ireland by our apparent indifference to what happens (if this is) a no-deal outcome. It’s something I cannot stress enough …I would beg them to think of the people I live beside, who are terrified should we, by some ridiculous series of means, crash out of the European Union.”
He is now one of us. He says he even finds himself shouting for Ireland when the national team face England in the Six Nations. In 2007 he gave the oration at the annual Michael Collins commemoration in Béal na mBláth.
For an hour we discuss the roots of Brexit. I ask how, or if, British society can find away to heal itself.
“It won’t happen by osmosis,” he says.
“No way. Healing can happen through determination but there has to be a clear effort to make this occur. I’m not sure how this can be done now. Also the rebuilding of trust between the UK and Ireland will take, at least, a decade. That trust can’t just be rebuilt by commerce. I think the Irish Government are entitled to feel a very great sense of betrayal and the Brits are really going to have to go out of their way to justify and remediate that."

The rebuilding of trust between the UK and Ireland will take, at least, a decade. The Irish Government are entitled to feel a very great sense of betrayal

He finds hope in the rising movement to combat climate change and was inspired by the recent demonstrations by young people. "It was wonderful to see. I worked on the production of the environmental drama, Arctic 30, based on Ben Stewart's book Don't Trust, Don't Fear, Don't Beg, The Extraordinary Story of the Arctic 30“ it recounted the true story of the group of Greenpeace activists, who in September 2013 scaled a Russian oil platform in an attempt to save the Arctic, and the consequences of their action.
"I was delighted to work on that and hope that leaders and those in power wake up to the obvious threats of climate change before it's too late. We need to see more young leaders joining forces, talking to each other. The likes of Leo and other leaders need to sit up and take notice because these are the voters of tomorrow."
And locally he's been involved in an environmental fight of his own.
"You know, after working so hard to successfully brand West Cork as a natural, good food hub they went and granted planning permission to a nurdles factory here. Can you believe that? The mind boggles. The short-sightedness from an environmental and economic point of view is staggering. We're hoping sense will prevail, it will not go ahead and it should be a serious issue in the local elections in May."

Lectures
With the clouds parting to offer some light over Baltimore, Skibbereen, and every-where in between, we walk from this house to the studio shed. Here Puttnam gives lectures to media students in six universities around the world each week.
“I give two-hour seminars on a Monday and a Friday. Through our work with Atticus we work with universities in Cork, London, Bath, Sunderland, Brisbane, Singapore and Melbourne. I love it and, of late, the lectures have had a strong political slant because of everything that’s happening with Brexit. It allows me to explain to these media students the power they possess. This is real, this is now and by showing video clips of influential propaganda material, from war times and more recently, they can understand the subtle power of film and the media,” he says.
A few steps down is an inner sanctum from where Puttnam speaks to the world via a camera and large screen. The pictures on the wall tell the story of a life in film, education and environmental issues. On a shelf above his desk sits a collection of awards, including Baftas.
Talk of film lifts the spirits again.
“The foreign film category at this year’s Oscars was as good as I’ve ever seen it. Films like Roma and Cold War are great,” he says with passion. “It’s a good time to be in the industry. Lots of money and investment around. I’m convinced that Apple will buy Netflix at some point and you have AT&T buying Warner Brothers and Com-cast bought Universal.
“But the threat from other platforms to traditional film is very real. While box-of-five receipts are still strong they are driven by admission prices rather than volume and the whole thing is hidden by the amazing success of the box office in China.”
As we part ways. I try to reassure him there is no need to be so depressed by Brexit. He smiles kindly and disappears into his office by the water’s edge.

Activities Film

David Puttnam calls for end to “one size fits all” approach to cinema release windows

Lord David Puttnam, president of the Film Distributors’ Association (FDA) has issued a new call for the cinema sector to accommodate more flexible and innovative release windows.

David Puttnam’s statement

“The film eco-system continues to evolve rapidly and, in some cases, quite ruthlessly. We are witnessing new waves of convergence and a seemingly unstoppable trend towards direct-to-consumer relationships.

“The core skills of distribution, data-driven marketing and partnerships that connect individual titles with their audiences remain fundamental to the industry’s well-being as audiences enjoy an ever-expanding plethora of good content, delivered via an array of trusted brands.

“This brings particular challenges for the sector of the industry that remains closest to my heart.

“In 2018, the top 50 releases, led by Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War, generated almost three-quarters (72.4%) of the year’s UK box-office receipts, leaving more than 800 other titles competing for the remaining quarter.

“Such polarisation suggests that even the leading blockbusters have precious few weeks to play before they find themselves churned off screen; whilst also presenting increasingly existential questions for independent cinema and diversity of choice.

“To succeed fully in today’s world, it’s clear that traditional companies must re-think their operations root and branch. The solutions of previous decades are unlikely to best serve the digitally empowered audiences of today. To my mind, this will require ever greater flexibility regarding release windows, jettisoning the ‘one size fits all’ approach that can only serve to stifle audience choice along with digital innovation.

“It’s equally vital that, at awards time, there’s a level playing field among film distributors. Box-office data for every single release should be transparently reported, not least as an indicator that public audiences have enjoyed appropriate opportunities to see the titles involved.

“At its best, the cinema continues to deliver an unrivalled, visceral, out-of-home experience that can be shared by people of all ages. Nobody can wish more fervently than me that the media and entertainment sector continues to grow and thrive.

“But a year from now, the landscape could look very different, and we can therefore take nothing for granted. The imperative for ‘brand cinema’ is to move with the times, in such a way as to retain the affection, trust and respect of its audiences. The time to cement that trust is now.”

Activities Film

Screen legends provide a platform for young filmmakers

Source: Griffith Film School News

Screen legends provide a platform for young filmmakers

Oscar-winning film producer Lord David Puttnam and the late, great ABC cameraman John Bean are the driving force behind two scholarships for aspiring filmmakers at Griffith.

Griffith Film School graduates Dan Hodgson and Shay-Lee Smith will get the opportunity to hone their craft alongside the country’s top camera crews after winning the ABC John Bean ACS Memorial Scholarship.

Fellow graduate Chris Saurdal received the inaugural Lord Puttnam Scholarship for Producers, which will allow him to learn from the best and gain entry into the global film industry with fully-funded trips to the prestigious South By Southwest (SXSW) Festival and Cannes Film Festival.

All three filmmakers will embark on a Master of Screen Production at Griffith Film School, partially funded by the scholarships.

A fitting tribute

The John Bean Memorial Scholarship for Cinematography was established in memory of Griffith University alumnus and ABC cameraman John Bean, who died in a helicopter accident in 2011.

The scholarship provides a meaningful partnership between the ABC and Griffith that enhances the local industry and helps the next generation of cinematographers find new and exciting ways of telling stories through film.

It includes an intensive 6-week internship with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and is designed to support the ongoing study of a talented postgraduate student in the field of cinematography.

Head of Griffith Film School, Professor Herman Van Eyken

Head of Griffith Film School, Professor Herman Van Eyken, said the scholarship was a fitting tribute to John Bean, one of the ABC’s most respected camera operators.

“John dedicated considerable time over many years encouraging students to pursue excellence in cinematography.

It is fitting that our students will have the opportunity to work closely alongside John’s colleagues to further her passion and professionalism behind the camera,” he said.

Griffith Film School Head of Cinematography Erika Addis said the scholarship would help the budding filmmakers build a body of work that would help launch their professional careers.

“Like so many artistic pursuits, cinematography demands total dedication and years of practice,” she said.

“Winning the scholarship means that Dan and Shay-Lee can focus all their energies on their studies and take up more shooting opportunities while completing the Masters degree.

Developing the next generation of filmmakers

Dan Hodgson said the scholarship would provide an opportunity to further develop his technical skills and establish a network of industry mentors.

A student filmmaker holding camera in the middle of desert like road

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to develop my craft by surrounding myself with the right teachers, peers and mentors,” he said.

Dan graduated from the Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production in 2016, and is keen to use the scholarship to pursue a career as a documentary filmmaker.

“Since graduating, I’ve have discovered how difficult it can be to stay on a niche pathway like documentary filmmaking,” he said.

“I’ve done a lot of corporate work and music videos, but nowhere near as many documentaries as I had hoped.

“I believe this scholarship will help me build a bridge to where I want to go, and I’m ready to give it 110%.”

Students prepping camera to go on a shoulder Fellow Bachelor of Film and Screen Production graduate Shay-Lee Smith said she was overwhelmed to have won the scholarship.

“My long-term goal is to shoot long-form drama, but I’m keen to try and everything – web series, music videos, short films,” she said.

“The course will give me the chance to develop my show reel and explore different styles and formats.”

Shay-Lee said she was also pleased that the industry was opening up to young female cinematographers.

“Cinematography has traditionally been a bit of a boys club and there aren’t many female cinematographers in Brisbane, so I’d love to be part of a new wave of filmmakers.”

Oscar-winner nurtures next generation of producers

Griffith Film School graduate Chris Saurdal won the inaugural Lord Puttnam Scholarship for Producers.

Oscar-winning producer Lord David Puttnam CBE, has a long-standing relationship with Griffith Film School. He regularly visits GFS to deliver lectures and masterclasses on everything from movies and money, the use of sound and music and the evolving role of the author and producer.

Chris, who moved from Norway to attend Griffith Film School, said the scholarship would enable him to undertake further study, and pursue his dream of becoming a feature film producer.

“The scholarship was announced at one of Lord Puttnam’s masterclasses, and it came as a big surprise,” he said.

“This has had a huge impact on my life – doing the Masters will help me get a foot in the door of an industry that is hard to break in to.”

Chris said he was keen to emulate producers like Lord Puttnam.

“Producing is my passion – I love working with the creatives and making sure their vision becomes a reality.”

Activities Europe

Lord Puttnam contributes to EU Withdrawal Debate

On Wednesday, the House of Lords debated ongoing discussions between the British government and the EU with regards to the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. During the debate, Lord Puttnam made an intervention on the fragile relationship between Britain and the Republic of Ireland, and the prospect of future trade deals with the United States:

"My Lords, like the noble Lord, Lord Cope of Berkeley, this is the very first time I have inflicted my views on your Lordships’ House on what is without doubt the gravest matter I have faced in the 20 years I have been here and probably in my lifetime. I have a number of reasons for not having previously spoken on the subject. In the first place, I was not sure there was much I could offer that was new and illuminating. Secondly, I continued to hope that the Government, and indeed the leadership of my own party, would do a better job of steering clear of the self-destructive path that both, in their different ways, seem to be taking.

I have always shared the common view that Britain was a pragmatic, sensible country with an instinctive aversion to extremism, be it of the right or the left. It is now clear that I was wrong on just about all counts. This has led me to conclude that I do in fact have one or two fresh observations to offer. For once, time allows me to put those thoughts into context. On this occasion, context is particularly important.

Like one or two other Members of your Lordships’ House I am a mongrel. My mother’s family were immigrants from Russia and my father’s family were French—albeit they arrived as invaders on these shores 953 years ago. Our family home is in west Cork in the Republic of Ireland, where, for 30 years, I have enjoyed watching the relationship between my country of birth and my country of adoption grow ever closer. Sadly it is now clear that relationship is dangerously deteriorating.

For the past 50 years I have also run my own business, working in and indeed with the United States, during which I have made literally hundreds of trade deals. Most recently I spent four years as the UK’s trade and cultural envoy in south-east Asia, all of which allows me the conceit of believing that I know a fair bit more about the effects of Brexit on Ireland and the business of negotiating, most especially in the United States, than the current Minister for International Trade, Dr Liam Fox. From time to time I hear him and others speaking rather airily of a special relationship—that post Brexit we will be free to make the mother of all trade deals with the US. This belief is either a cruel fantasy or a deliberate falsification of what the best of his department know to be the truth.

“The chief business of the American people is business”.

That is not just a speech line dreamed up in 1925 by Calvin Coolidge; there is also a deep truth attached to it. No matter how close you may personally feel to an American business counterpart, when you sit across the negotiating table, all notions of a special relationship go out of the window and new rules apply. My friend the noble Lord, Lord Saatchi, knows well of what I speak.

The first of those rules is that only a fool allows the other side to know where their red lines are drawn. The art of the deal is discerning where the other side’s red lines are in order to begin to assemble your own. Having done so, the second rule is keeping them to yourself. We somehow managed to break both rules within months of the referendum. We have been trying to haul ourselves back from that absurd position ever since. I used to believe—no, I used to assume—that we had some of the finest minds in the world working in our Foreign Office, a number of whom have presumably been seconded to the task of attempting to fulfil our new trade fantasies.

As he takes note, I would like to throw a few questions at the Minister. I ask him to respect the House by offering a thoughtful response to them. As Dr Fox dreams of improving on the EU’s trade arrangements with the US, is he aware that around 40 million Americans claim Irish roots and in most cases actually describe themselves as Irish-Americans? That is 12.9% of the total population and close to 20% of the voters in the crucial north-western swing states of Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Is he also aware that no fewer than 63 US Congressmen and Congresswomen are members of the Friends of Ireland caucus, most of whom have direct Irish heritage? Did he know that US Senators Cantwell, Casey, Cassidy, Collins, Cruz, Durbin, Enzi, Kaine, Kennedy, Leahy, McConnell, Murkowski, Murphy, Murray, Sullivan and Toomey all have direct Irish heritage—that is, nine Republicans and seven Democrats? I will leave it to Dr Fox and those who advise him to work out the electoral consequences of a situation in which this country was rightly held responsible for severe disruption and maybe even disaster to the Irish economy on both sides of the border.

With the 2020 US elections just 20 months away, how would the Minister fancy the chances of a Senator or a Member of the House of Representatives who was felt to have in any way supported Britain in heaping misery on the Irish economy? As he prepares his response, I am sure that he feels that he can safely take refuge in an assurance that the Government have no intention of damaging the Republic of Ireland or its economy. But does he seriously believe that right now that perception holds good in Dublin, in Brussels or, crucially, in Washington?

I can confidently make him one promise. Should we crash out or endanger the Good Friday agreement, either accidently or through sheer ineptitude, then all the blame will lie with us. We will not be forgiven—not in Ireland, not in Europe and, politically at least, not in the United States. There will be no point in sending Boris Johnson off to attend a St Patrick’s Day parade wearing a green leprechaun hat, because Dr Fox is likely to find what he believed to be a friendly Congressional door slammed firmly in his face.

That is the purely political reality. But on any number of other fronts we are already discovering powerful lobbies in the US seeking preferential treatment in areas such as food safety standards, demands that are totally incompatible with our own established norms. Is Dr Fox, a medical doctor, going to suggest for one moment that we downgrade our own health and safety standards to close a trade deal? It is unthinkable.

Our Minister for International Trade has developed a habit of trying to retrofit his ideological preferences to imaginary world scenarios. However, despite small successes with Switzerland and Singapore, real life will surely close in, and he will be found to be what the Americans refer to as a blowhard.

John Harris, the Guardian columnist, wrote yesterday of his recent encounters with real life on both sides of the Irish border:

“Just about everyone I met knew perfectly well that Theresa May’s travails over the so-called backstop are the product of politicians and voters elsewhere forgetting about the island of Ireland, only to be reminded that for the people who live there, Brexit represents a profound set of dangers. No one was that surprised about this amnesia, but many were very angry about it”.

I am one of them. I am very angry. I am angry because most of the public discourse regarding the backstop, particularly from the ERG, has revealed a staggering level of either pig ignorance or malicious disregard, and I am not quite sure which is worse. As Harris wrote, Brexit is a,

“Pandora’s box, brimming with unforeseen consequences”.

Ever the optimist, my final question to the Minister is this. What specific plans do his Government have for healing the wound we have managed to inflict on our closest geographical and cultural neighbour, once all this present madness is behind us? It would be very wrong for him to either ignore this point or resort to any form of bland assurance, because, either knowingly or unthinkingly, enormous damage has already been done, and we will have to work very hard and with great imagination to recover the relationship that was so brilliantly forged by Her Majesty the Queen less than eight years ago, in May 2011. But even then, we will still be left with the question that many of us are forced to ask: was all this pain necessary? Was it really worth it? I profoundly believe it to be in the national interest to support the Motion of my noble friend."

Source: Hansard

Activities Education

Meet the next generation of filmmakers

Source: UCC News

UCC's Puttnam Scholars (l-r): Ben Whyte O’Callaghan, Andy Killian, Oisín O’Driscoll, Liam Fleming, Lucy Creedon and Elinor Dolliver. Photo: Dan O'Connell.

University College Cork has announced the six recipients of the prestigious Puttnam Scholarship, which kicked off with a digital seminar with Lord David Puttnam.

The scholars Lucy Creedon, Elinor Dolliver, Liam Fleming, Andy Killian, Ben Whyte O’Callaghan and Oisín O’Driscoll, come from a wide range of academic backgrounds, from Civil Engineering and History of Art to English and Digital Humanities, and all hope to pursue careers in Ireland’s vibrant creative industries.

The Puttnam Scholars will work together to make a short film, which will be shot and edited in the summer of 2019, and screened in November as part of a presentation to Lord Puttnam and invited guests. Each of the students also received a bursary of €1500.

The Puttnam Scholarship programme offers UCC students from any discipline the opportunity to work with and learn from Lord David Puttnam, Oscar-winning producer of films including Chariots of Fire, The Mission, The Killing Fields, and Midnight Express.

Lord Puttnam is a former Digital Champion appointed by the Irish Government and a leading figure in the development of the creative industries. As part of the programme, the Scholars will receive video conference mentoring and coaching sessions with Lord Puttnam. This scholarship programme offers a unique mentoring opportunity for students and represents a new model of industry mentorship.

“This is a career-changing opportunity for the successful recipients of this new scholarship. Lord Puttnam has vast knowledge of every aspect of film production; he is also at the forefront of policymaking and positioned at the most pioneering end of the creative industries," said Dr Ciara Chambers, Head of Film and Screen Media, UCC.

"Through access to his expertise, a whole new world is opened up to these students. The diversity of backgrounds represented by the scholars adds to the creative mix of the group, and I’m very excited to see their first production when they turn their hands to filmmaking over the summer."

UCC President Professor Patrick O’Shea commented on the Scholarship programme: “At UCC we recognise the need to embed creative entrepreneurship into our teaching and learning programmes across all disciplines. We are hugely privileged that Lord David Puttnam has offered to create and support these unique new scholarships – the Puttnam Scholarship Programme.”

The scholars

Elinor Dolliver Eli Dolliver is a final year BA Film and Screen Media student, who is passionate about film, from independent art house cinema and hard-hitting documentaries to sci-fi, and horror movies.

"My studies in Shakespearean, Victorian, and Anglo-Saxon literature all inform my filmmaking and storytelling practice," said Eli Dolliver, a final year BA student studying Film and Screen Media and English.

Lucy Creedon is a final year BA (English and History of Art) student. Inspired by the film modules she selected as part of her English major and the camera she was given last Christmas, she has a keen interest in creative writing and is “extremely excited to be involved in the Puttnam Scholarship”.

Andy Killian is a final year Civil Engineering student at UCC and something of a Renaissance man. Self-taught in guitar, bass guitar and synth, he is classically trained in piano and has been composing music since he was 13. He plays drums in the band Pretty Happy and guitar in the band Selkies. He has self-produced an EP and an album under his own name and won the UCC singer-songwriter competition as Glassy Overture in 2018.

“After graduating from my Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, I plan to do a Masters in either film scoring or music production, to turn my passion into a career in the Creative Industries."

Liam Fleming is a final year student in UCC’s pioneering BA in Digital Humanities and Information Technology. He recently returned from his third year abroad in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, where he studied interactive media modules including game design and immersive sound, while also dabbling in animation and filmmaking.

"I ended up studying digital humanities and IT in UCC so that I could nurture these two neglected passions of mine – creativity and technology – which I have come to discover are deeply intertwined with one another."

Ben Whyte O’Callaghan Ben Whyte O’Callaghan is a final year BA Film and Screen Media student from Blackrock, Cork. He comes from a sporting family, but his true passion is storytelling. He was introduced to the world of film through classic westerns, by his grandfather.

“My main interest is in screenwriting, and I hope to continue developing this skill within the industry in the future.”

Oisin O'Driscoll Oisín O’Driscoll is a recent graduate of the BA Film and Screen Media in UCC. He is from Fermoy, County Cork and comes from a family of designers and musicians.

“My films to date have focused on alienation, individual social standing in modern Ireland and gender issues. I’m delighted to have gained the opportunity to further my passion for film and ultimately help me reach my screenwriting goals through the Puttnam Scholarship.”

Activities Education

LORD PUTTNAM, BATH SPA UNIVERSITY AND PINEWOOD STUDIOS PARTNER TO SUPPORT AND INSPIRE YOUNG FILMMAKERS

Lord Puttnam giving a talk at event in Bath Spa University

Source: Pinewood Group

Bath Spa University and Lord Puttnam’s company, Atticus Education, are set to host an innovative series of seminars, with the support of Pinewood Studios. The initiative will see Lord Puttnam, the Oscar-winning British film producer and educationalist and chair of Atticus, deliver six seminars to Bath Spa Undergraduate and Postgraduate students.

The series starts on 19 February with a lecture on ‘Let’s Talk About Creativity’, and will be broadcast via a live, interactive format from the Atticus studio in Ireland, using Cisco video-conferencing technology.

Throughout the lectures, Lord Puttnam – whose films include Chariots of Fire, The Mission, the Killing Fields and Local Hero- will draw up his own distinguished career as a film producer to discuss the varied aspects of the creative process. The series will culminate with an in-person lecture on 18 June at the University on the subject of ‘An Ever Changing Marketplace’.

Lord Puttnam believes that harnessing young people’s creativity and ambition is key to a more secure, sustainable and imaginative future for all of us. He said: “Thanks to the generosity of Pinewood Studios, I’m delighted to be working with a group of gifted students at Bath Spa University. It’s important that as large as possible a cohort of students gain an understanding of the growth potential of the creative industries, and benefit from practical work experience. The association of Atticus, Pinewood Studios and Bath Spa is designed to make a meaningful difference to these students at an important stage in their careers.”

Andrew Smith, Corporate Affairs Director at Pinewood Studios Group said: “We are delighted to be working with Lord Puttnam and the University to support the next generation of filmmakers. This partnership is an important way to open up access to the industry and help forge connections with up and coming talent.”

Dr Susan McMillan, Head of the School of Creative Industries at Bath Spa University, said: "The main aim of the School of Creative Industries is to develop the next generation of talent in collaboration with industry. Our partnership with Pinewood Studios and with Lord Puttnam connects our film and media students directly with the UK’s top movie studio. The series of lectures provided by Lord Puttnam also means students get the opportunity to learn from an Oscar winning producer, who knows the film business inside out.

"Our creative students will benefit from Pinewood’s generous support and from Lord Puttnam's thought-provoking lectures. It is a great honour for Bath Spa University to be working with such prestigious partners."

Students who graduated from Bath Spa University and attended previous lectures by Lord Puttnam have gone on to secure positions within production companies working on titles such as ‘The Only Way is Essex’ and ‘Geordie Shore’, in addition to roles at Drummer TV based in Bristol who make children’s documentaries.

Activities Environment

Lord Puttnam at TEDx Ho Chi Minh City

TEDxYouth@BISHCMC: On the Road

Source: Nord Anglia Education Website

On the evening of the 19th November, BIS HCMC played host to the global initiative of TEDx conferences. Drawing from the theme of “On the road”, our speakers took the BIS community by the hand and led them through a winding path of Technology, Education and Discovery.

Working tirelessly for the past six months, a group of students led by An Gulinck and her team of creatives, actors, musicians, artists and visionaries planned and executed an event that stressed the pressing issues of education, adjustment, cultural identity, survival and climate change. We welcomed speakers and guests from all over the world, united in their passion for sharing ideas that spark debate and conversation.

Following an opening drama performance on the theme of the sounds of Ho Chi Minh City, the event’s first talk came from CEO of Nord Anglia Education Andrew Fitzmaurice. Andrew relocated several times as a child and attended many different schools. As such he is no stranger to the benefits as well as the potential pitfalls of being a student ‘on the road’. His talk emphasized the value of an outstanding international education and the importance of preparing our young people for the unpredictable challenges of the future.

Next, the audience were taken on a journey of self-discovery by Year 13 student Minh Phung. During the summer, Minh spent a few days in his grandparents’ village experiencing the rural life that many of his young compatriots have left behind. He argued that the community of family and friends in the village offers something of great value that we should strive to preserve in our city lives.

Following on from Minh, we heard from Simon Finnigan. He has worked in a range of fields across a number of countries and recently became a father. Dr Finnigan’s talk was a thought-provoking journey through his own peripatetic career. He reflected on his familial roots in the north west of England and what it means for his own identity as well as that of his son as he grows up so far from everything that his parents knew in their childhoods.

Next, we had the pleasure to welcome Nord Anglia’s Education Director Andy Puttock. Andy wove a rich tapestry of his own educational voyage through the many countries he has lived in, which in turn has aided his development as an impassioned teacher and educationalist. Andy is fervent in his desire to give every child the opportunity to reach their true potential, be it academically, socially or in the arts; no child should ever be left behind.

Following an exceptional performance of Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G Minor by BIS student Celestine Koh, the audience heard from another BIS student speaker, Charlotte Jacquemin. Like so many international school students, Charlotte is a Third Culture Kid. However, rather than lamenting the troubles of those growing up outside their parents’ home countries, Charlotte calls for TCKs to celebrate their uniqueness and, rather than being unsettled about where to call “home”, strive to construct a more varied identity less grounded in geography. A more transnational identity could lead to a more inclusive sense of belonging and, potentially, a more compassionate world.

Furthering our own BIS community, we are lucky to have in house staff who are willing to share their own experiences. Exploring and reflecting upon the idea of a ‘road to recovery’, Claire Easter, a self-proclaimed number lover, bent the rules and spoke about how we should accept that we may face extreme difficulties such as illnesses and we need to manage ourselves and our response to such challenges. There are only certain things about which we have control and in such situations, even the most well intentioned words may not be received in the way in which they were intended.

Finally, BIS HCMC had the honor of welcoming award-winning film producer Lord David Puttnam to the stage. After an 18-year hiatus from film production, he is now returning to the silver screen with a focus on climate change. Lord Puttnam delivered an outstanding commentary on man’s use of resources, our actions to change for the better and how action is what “makes a nation great”. While famous for his backlog of successful film productions including “The Killing Fields” and “Chariots of Fire”, Lord Puttnam has taken a keen interest in the state of man’s consumption and has returned to Cinema to produce an upcoming satire on the rate of climate change. His knowledge of education, politics and social commentary really shone through and it is clear that climate change is a topic that Lord Puttnam will be fighting to put right.

TEDx being TEDx, it did not stop at remarkable and humbling speeches. The BIS HCMC audience was immersed full throttle into the hustle and bustle of a typical Ho Chi Minh City street. Lead by the keen creative eye of Ms Anne-Marie Astley, guests heard from the experiences of those living and growing up in this city, how it has changed and how it is turning to new direction.

The outside of the theatre space was dominated by the sights and sounds of Vietnam. Traditional street foods such as banh mi and café sua da along with fusion twists on spring rolls and cupcakes; the catering team pulled out all the stops to ensure a feast befitting to HCMC was prepared. Likewise, the team managed to recruit some of the best interactive and workshop-led learning that is offered by BIS. The Social Space hosted a mono-printing art workshop based on textures and collected detritus the students had found along their personal travels through Thao Dien. Guests were invited to take part creating individual art pieces from the “On The Road” debris.

The Social Space displayed BIS’ exciting STEAM projects that our leading Design and Technology department have been facilitating with their students. Two highlights of these projects was the F1 in Schools demonstration area, where BIS’ own Nam Phong Racing displayed their prototype car and merchandise as a part of the ‘technology’ side of TED. Secondly, the array of student STEAM projects were displayed around the area, showcasing the creativity, hard work and commitment our students have to push themselves to the limit.

A highlight of the space was the fantastic display of photographs and drone time-lapse videos produced by Matt Payne, a Year 6 teacher at BIS HCMC. Matt has travelled the length and breadth of Vietnam, snapping away to uncover the real beauty of this country. His work will continue to be displayed in the area to promote not only our student talents and artistry but to show the investments that BIS makes in the teaching staff, staff who offer more than just what happens inside the classroom.

Here are some quotes from our team to truly illustrate the zeal of BISHCMC’s own TEDxYouth event:

"We have a voice, which as a powerful tool, I believe we should take advantage of and use with purpose. The very well-organized TEDxYouth@BISHCMC allowed for just that, and forms a memory that I will look back on fondly as I carry on down the road." – Charlotte Jacquemin, speaker

“During the event, I learned things not only from the organising process but also from the talks themselves. It was especially intriguing how some of the topics that the speakers were discussing linked to what I am currently studying and what had recently been on my mind.” – So Young Park, TEDxYouth@BISHCMC organiser

“This was the best school event of this nature that I have ever attended.” – Andrew Fitzmaurice, CEO Nord Anglia Education.

Activities Recent Activities

Puttnam Reiterates Call For Shorter Theatrical Windows

Source: Variety

Leading producer-turned-educator and lobbyist, Lord David Puttnam has once again called for a shortening of theatrical release windows. As recently as May this year, Puttnam had suggested a six-week exclusive period for theatrical releases. He now says that 30 days is ideal.

Puttnam was in conversation on Sunday with Singaporean filmmaker Boo Junfeng (“Apprentice”) at the ongoing Singapore International Film Festival.

“There is this ridiculous holdback on product,” said Puttnam. “Ideally, we should, very rapidly, move towards a 30-day holdback. After which (films) should be available on whatever medium people want.”

Puttnam was scornful of the idea of a film being available in cinemas for just three weeks, before making way for newer releases, but then not being available to audiences for the next 12-14 weeks when they need to be re-launched in other formats. “All that people want to see, has disappeared. Then, you’re surprised when people pirate it,” said Puttnam. “They can’t get it in the cinema, they still can’t get it on the mobile, they’ve to wait for three months to watch it. It’s ridiculous. So, the industry has a lot of thinking to do.”

Puttnam has film producer credits including “The Duellists,” “Midnight Express,” “Chariots of Fire,” “Local Hero,” and “The Killing Fields.” After hanging up his producing boots, he has been involved in a range of activities, including being the U.K.’s cultural envoy to Southeast Asia. He has close ties with Singapore – the film school at Lasalle is named after him, and he regularly delivers masterclasses there.

Talking about the current state of the Singapore film industry, Puttnam said, “I think there is just a sense of ‘success is possible,’ but it now needs a push. I really think it’s taken too long to come to the party. The moment is now. Actually, the moment is past now, the moment was two years ago.”

Puttnam said that the Singapore industry needs to grow in self-confidence, and that neighboring Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam are making faster progress.

Puttnam also spoke out against red carpet events. “As an industry, I’m very worried that we’ve become red carpet obsessed,” Puttnam said. “It’s got nothing to do with making movies.” Puttnam said that making cinema is a lengthy and painful process and the red carpet is fleeting. He described red carpet pageants as “90-second thrills.”

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