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Title: RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH

Reference number: 6147

Date: 1991c

Sponsor: Strathclyde Regional Council and Scottish Film Council

Production company: TV Media Services

Sound: sound

Colour: bwcol

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 47.51 mins

Description: Richard Attenborough discusses at some length his career and film craft with an with audience of schoolchildren. He talks about the filmmaking process, representations of violence / actors and ethnicity, the film industry and influences on his own career.

Part of a series called 'The Strathclyde Tapes' designed to inform young people about a career in the media. See also refs. 6134, 6148, 6149, 6150, 6151.

The Strathclyde Tapes series 1990 - 1996 was produced by Strathclyde Regional Council in partnership with Scottish Film Council for Media Education Teaching. They grew out of collaboration between the Scottish Film Council and Strathclyde Regional Council, which were both involved in bringing the European Film Awards to Glasgow in 1990 to round of the celebrations for the city's year as Cultural Capital of Europe. Set of seven interviews with film industry personnel - Bill Forsyth, David Puttnam, Richard Attenborough, Paddy Higson, Jonathan Miller, Peter Brook and Alan Sharp.
For teaching notes and background information see paper archives file at 1/1/334.

Credits: with thanks to Richard Attenborough and the pupils and staffs of Belmont Academy, Prestwick Academy, Irvine Academy and Stewarton Academy.
shot on location at Stewarton Academy, Ayrshire
film clips courtesy of Pinewood Movie Acquisition Film Library, Twentieth Century Fox, RCA Columbia, United International Pictures/MCA International, Guild Film Distribution
additional assistance Glasgow Film Theatre
educational liaison Sheila Hughes, Ron Mackie, Strathclyde Region; Paula Visocchi, Glasow Film Theatre
recorded and ed. TV Media Services
The Strathclyde Tapes are a Scottish Regional Council and Scottish Film Council Presentation

Shotlist: [Shotlisted from control track - no timecode]

(00:00:00) opening credits (00:00:57) Richard Attenborough answers questions about his career, does he prefer acting, directing or producing? (00:03:14) [b&w] excerpt from 'Brighton Rock' (00:05:49) further discussion regarding how he came to choose to direct 'Gandhi' which he produced and directed (00:08:21) how does he approach directing and get a good performance from actors, getting their concentration and relaxation in performance? (00:10:55) [b&w] excerpt from 'Guns at Potassie' (00:11:44) confidence of the actor, and the preparation involved (00:13:15) why cast English and American actors in 'Gandhi' and 'Cry Freedom' (00:18:06) [col] excerpt from 'Gandhi' (00:18:44) discussion of 'Cry Freedom' and Denzel Washington (00:20:12) extras for 'Gandhi', how he organised everyone c. three quarters of a million people (00:25:00) [col] excerpt from 'Gandhi' (00:26:55) violence in his film (00:28:27) [col] excerpt, opening of 'Cry Freedom' (00:31:02) problems of raising finance for films in Britain (00:33:36) what avenues are explored for large scale projects such as 'Gandhi' (00:39:12) discussion of his latest film 'Charlie' about Charlie Chaplin (00:42:04) [col] excerpt from 'Charlie' (00:44:18) why always 'heroes' rather than 'heroines'? (00:44:15) how would you like to be remembered? (00:46:55) ecs (00:47:51)