Dad's Army but with terrorists

Not really new, but news to me as I only came across it this morning. Chris Morris is to begin filming his latest project soon, claiming that he wants to do "what Dad’s Army did for the Nazis –by showing them as scary but also ridiculous".

Chris Morris article on Chortle

The original interview with the Times

Let's get lost: Chet Baker - UK Re-release

Let's get lost is a film by Bruce Weber about the life of Chet Baker. It features intimate interview footage with Baker, and was completed just before his death in 1988. I, personally, am not familiar with Baker's work but from what I have read in recent reviews, it is a moving and interesting portrait of a man they describe as someone for whom life was his art. I am hoping to go along to Curzon and see it on Thursday.

Listen to Chet Baker's music at last.fm

The film is in Cinemas across the country now

An early interview with Will Self

On the subject of idling. From the insightful people that brought you crap towns, crap jobs and crap holidays.  Here is an early interview with Will Self from November 1993.

The Idler

"Institutions fear idle populations because an idler is a thinker and thinkers are not a welcome addition to most social situations."

Terence McKenna

Somers Town previews at the BFI

Shane Meadows is previewing his first London based film, Somers Town, at the BFI Southbank on Sunday the 22 June. The film documents the friendship that develops between two boys in Camden,London and stars award-winning actor Thomas Turgoose from Meadows' last feature, This is England. Tickets have now sold out but a limited number are available on the door half an hour before the screening I think. See the link below for more information.

Somers Town at the BFI

A tribute to Humph

Stephen Fry presents a programme on Radio 4 this weekend to celebrate the life of the late (and irreplaceable) Humphrey Lyttleton. Best known on Radio 4 as the presenter of the antidote to panel games for 36 years, and amongst music lovers for his contributions to jazz, with his band and on Radio 2.

This program will preceded by Humph on Desert Island discs in 2006 and followed by King of the Swingers, Lyttleton's profile of musician Louis Prima.

Chairman Humph: A Tribute

Sunday 15 June 2008 12:00-12:57 (Radio 4 FM
The King of the Swingers
Sunday 15 June 2008 13:30-14:00 (Radio 4 FM)

Nothing to be frightened of by Julian Barnes

An amusing, well-observed and touching memoir, of what is at times bleak and morbid subject matter. This book discusses the philosophical, literary and religious connotations of life and death. 

Barnes draws on many sources. Mainly the personal writing of Jules Renard and his brother, philosopher Jonathan Barnes. He also describes his observations of the life and death of his parents, following their descent into illness and senility.

 

I found the perspective on his working life as a writer interesting and also the question of whether artists strive for immortality through their work, as opposed to spiritually. This too is believed to be potentially futile, as there will always be a 'last reader', for whom your work is not worth recommending to another. And so you are finally extinguished all the same. Much in keeping with Marcus Aurelius' views on those who seek fame, as described in his Meditations.

Buy Nothing to Be Frightened of from amazon.co.uk

Julian Barnes' website

Old Rope at The Phoenix

On a wet Monday night in London town, R and I decided to try out the Phoenix's Old Rope comedy night presented by Tiffany Stevenson and Phil Nicol. Old Rope is a platform for established comics and newcomers to test new material from their notebooks, scraps of dog-eared paper and scribbled-on-hand set lists on a live audience. It is a great experience for enthusiastic comedy fans to see how sets take shape. This time of year is particularly good for audiences as performers are honing their material for the Edinburgh Festival in August. A short set from an exhausted Robin Ince (on his way back from Dublin and Hay-on-Wye) was a nice surprise, as we hadn't even checked line up beforehand. Other performers you are likely to see there include: Wil Hodgson, Hils Barker, Adam Bloom and Simon Munnery.

Old Rope is held at The Phoenix, 37 Cavendish Square. Monday nights. £5 on the door.
Nearest tube - Oxford Circus

Find out more details and how to get there, you could also join the Old Rope Facebook group to see what acts are coming up.

Writers' rooms

For someone who often complains about the ubiquitous nature of intrusive celebrity culture, I am probably as guilty as most, for being curious about the lives of others. One such example of this is Writers' rooms. Some may see it as a distraction from the substance of someone's work. However, with artists, the finished product is the result of molding less tangible material into a cohesive form. So, I find the attics, spare rooms, studies and outbuildings where this alchemy takes place, just as interesting as the work they produce. I think it makes it a little more real to me, and brings me closer to a part of the creative process. Which is arguably the same as people who are interested in where a Big Brother star was seen buying their Olive oil, just from a slightly different angle. Pure human curiosity I suppose...

Writers' rooms on guardian.co.uk

Gardening Tip: Plant labels

If you pick up too many wooden stirrers the next time you're buying a coffee, don't throw them away. Take them home, neatly half them and use them as plant labels.