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I am making a documentary film about the events that took place in January 1990, using an extraordinary archive of material that was filmed by Laurentiu Calciu, who got a video camera just after the revolution. We have some fascinating material of ordinary people on the streets furiously debating about all things political, social and economic. The material is filmed with a patience that gives an insight into what people were thinking just after Ceausescu fell.

The first thing one must do when making a documentary film is to research the subject. This involves watching any existing films as well as footage (unedited read more…

Making films is probably the most boring profession in the world — as well as the most glamorous.  They say making films is like going to war: lots of hanging around while not knowing what the hell is going on; and then a sudden, brief, unsatisfactory burst of action.

Although documentaries are generally more boring than feature films they can be more interesting to make.  When making observational documentaries, you follow an interesting character around and let him tell the story; this means you constantly hear unexpected things, get led into unexpected places, meet new people — none of which would be possible in a feature film in which every word, gesture and action is controlled. read more…

By Sean Mc Allister

Returning to Dubai was a big thing for me.  I was here in September last year looking a film idea for the BBC. Then, it was still booming. Now it feels on the brink of going bust. My cab driver from the airport was moaning that he’d only had 3 jobs in 4 hours. Crazy for a Friday night. He’s thinking of going back to his family in Egypt. After 14 years here he says he’s never seen it so bad. As I get out of the can he whispers, “Dubai is finished”.  Maybe that’s my story. read more…