May 8Overcoming The MonsterSumming Up The Seven Basic Plots: Part One Few types of stories are as dominant throughout ancient, mythic and popular culture as ‘Overcoming the Monster’, the first archetypal story pattern Christopher Booker explores in his epic book, The Seven Basic Plots. Sometimes, this may serve as the dominant focus of…Storytelling5 min readStorytelling5 min read
May 2History of a Mystery: Ninety Years of NessieThe Birth of the Loch Ness Monster In April 1933, local hoteliers Aldie and John McKay sighted an unknown creature in Loch Ness. Mrs McKay, then owner of the Drumandrochit Hotel, was driving back from Inverness, with her husband, when she noticed a considerable disturbance on the water. …Loch Ness15 min readLoch Ness15 min read
Feb 5“Which One Is He Playing Now?: Somerset Maugham, Spencer Tracy & MGM’s Jekyll and Hyde”.When Somerset Maugham visited the set of MGM’s Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in 1941, the esteemed English writer approached George Cukor during the filming of a pivotal scene. “Which one is he playing now?”, Maugham asked. Little could he have foreseen the implications of his inquisitive quip. The question…Film10 min readFilm10 min read
Jan 15When The NeverEnding Story EndedThe NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter was released in 1990, six years after the original NeverEnding Story, which had been the most expensive film produced outside the United States at the time of its release. The first film also proved a succcess with a worldwide gross of $100 million…3 min read3 min read
Feb 9, 2021Film Releases in 2021A selection of the theatrical features coming to screens this year! To the relief of millions, 2021 has arrived. Unquestionably the most anticipated new year in recent memory, 2021 also boasts a slew of exciting new theatrical releases for UK cinema-goers to savour when doors reopen. January sees Edward Hall’s…Film2 min readFilm2 min read
Oct 4, 2020Covid-19 & The Film IndustryHow The Pandemic Has Impacted Exhibition & Distribution — As the most expensive film ever made by a female director, it’s doubtful that Disney executives anticipated Mulan would first reach audiences via a streaming platform. With a successful Hollywood premiere back in March, the studio’s live-action remake of their 1998 animated hit was all set for theatrical wide release…Covid-193 min readCovid-193 min read
Oct 4, 2020Romford Film FestivalThe UK’s first live, post-lockdown film festival — After 7 days of almost 200 film screenings, the UK’s first live film festival since lockdown has wrapped for another year. The 4th Romford Film Festival (RFF) has admirably battled through pandemic disruption, reduced attendance and some last-minute hiccups to leave audiences and filmmakers delighted once again. “We can honestly…Romford3 min readRomford3 min read
Oct 4, 2020Ripley & LambertLondon’s Independent Bookshop & Café — Despite being one of the world’s leading cities for film, specialist film bookshops are a rarity in London. In an Amazon-dominated age, with the independent bookshop increasingly under-threat, there is surprisingly little on offer besides the BFI Shop at BFI Southbank for the bookish film-loving Londoner. Fortunately, that has changed…London4 min readLondon4 min read
Oct 4, 2020Flying Back to RioThe Return of East London’s Art Deco Cinema — One of London’s oldest and best-loved cinemas has been welcoming back cinemagoers after nearly four months of closure during the coronavirus pandemic. The Rio Cinema, located on Kingsland High Street in Dalston, was one of the capital’s first independent cinemas to reopen since closing on 17th March 2020. “We wanted…London Cinemas3 min readLondon Cinemas3 min read
Jun 11, 2020Bidding Dracula WelcomeThe Count Rises In Hollywood — Though iconic is frequently tossed about in Film, few films truly are as iconic as Tod Browning’s 1931 version of Dracula. Nine years after the Count’s unauthorised screen debut in F.W Murnau’s legendary Nosferatu, Browning’s film established the character as a cultural icon. …Dracula4 min readDracula4 min read
