Gair Rhydd

Innocent until proven guilty?

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Annika Henderson talks to Welsh film-director Marc Evans about how he came to writing and directing a film about Mumia’s trial, the uncooperative nature of the police and the astounding corruption that has been uncovered along the way

A quick glance at the cast of In Prison my whole Life and it appears that every American has something to say about the case. One may be surprised to find the likes of philosopher, Noam Chomsky and rap-artist Snoop Dogg in the same film but this simply reaffirms the diverse nature of the debate, which has kept America and arguably the entire world at the edge of their seats for 25-years. Any director willing to make a film about such a delicate and controversial matter would have to have a lot of guts.

Cardiff-born Marc Evans seems an unlikely candidate and admits: “when I started, I didn’t know anything about Abu-Jamal”. It was only after script-writer William Francome, a man who has been obsessed with the Abu-Jamal case after coincidentally being born on the same day he was arrested, showed him a digital movie on the case that he began to form a deeper understanding of the true nature of the American Justice system and got gradually more engrossed by the case. “I was brought up on the American Dream and the civil rights movement” Marc explains “and these were kind of secret histories”.

Are the Guilty REALLY Guilty?

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Freedom is something most of us take for granted. However, it is this that differentiates the general public from those in jail. But they deserve it, right?

Since deciding to do his PHD on ‘The Presentation of the British Prison on Television’ 17 years ago, Cardiff University Lecturer Dr Paul Mason has been actively working to combat social inequality and abuses of power within the criminal justice system.

He also runs the Prison Media Monitoring Unit and co-ordinates the School’s Innocence Project, as part of the UK Innocence Network. Paul is a member of the prison abolition group No More Prisons and the European Group for the Study of Deviance and Social Control. He edited [jc2m] Journal for Crime,Conflict and Media Culture 2004-6 and has also taught at KIJAC in Kosovo and is a member of the Addis Research Group in Ethiopia.

Gorgeous George

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BBC newsreader George Alagiah discusses immigration. the media and future aspirations

First impressions do count. The criteria on which you are judged will differ according to your company. I am a firm believer in the handshake as a key signifier of the personality department (with firmness equating to strength of character). Many a time have I felt let down when a potentially intriguing candidate has a feeble first greeting. Every so often you will meet someone who knows exactly how to handle the initial meeting scenario. George Alagiah is one such individual. If he was judged solely on his handshake he would pass the personality test with flying colours. But he does not rely on this attribute. His open smile and willingness to make time for people makes him most endearing.

When we meet, he has just completed a book signing at the Hay festival. His queue of fans is particularly substantial and it is easy to see why. The warm reception he has received is reciprocated. Alagiah is a gentleman.

Director’s chair

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Interviews gets a behind the scenes account of the making of Black Book following last week’s DVD release

Paul Verhoeven made Floris, the most popular TV series ever in Holland. Wat Zien Ik?, Keetje TIppel, Soldier of Orange and Spetters drew millions to the box office, and Turkish Delight was honoured as the best Dutch film of the 20th Century. After The Fourth Man the acclaimed and controversial director went to Hollywood where he found new success with films like RoboCop, Total Recall, Basic Instinct and Starship Troopers. Twenty years on, Verhoeven returns to the Netherlands with the thriller Black Book.

Were you happy to make a film in the Netherlands after twenty years?

Billy Whizz

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Lizzie Pook celebrates the cult legend behind some of the best movies of the last 25 years. All hail Bill Murray...

When it comes to cult icons, there are none quite so effortless as Bill Murray. In fact, he almost has us convinced that he’d rather be anywhere than in front of a camera. He is just so wonderfully average and understated that one could be forgiven for overlooking the balding, middle-aged guy shifting uncomfortably on their screen.

Murray’s career kick-started with a spot on NBC’s hugely popular Saturday Night Live as part of their ensemble cast alongside Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, who would themselves go on to enjoy success as the infamous Blues Brothers. His character sketches earned him serious comedic credit, the film scripts ensued and early projects such as Caddyshack (1980), Stripes (1981) and Ghostbusters (1984) cemented him as one of Hollywood’s most quotable comedic actors. After all, who could forget Murray’s John Winger (Stripes) asserting “chicks dig me, because I rarely wear underwear and when I do it’s usually something unusual” or his Peter Venkmen (Ghostbusters) hollering “let’s show this prehistoric bitch how we do things downtown!”

Love school

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(or how to have a good study break date)

It’s that time of year again. The lambs are a-leaping, the sun’s a-shining and the ice-cream vans are out in force while you’re sat inside sweating over your essays/exams/ whatever. Let’s be honest, dating is probably the last thing on your mind. Or is it? Here at Blind Date, we know what you’re thinking as you ‘concentrate’ on that coursework. So put down your books, turn off your laptop and follow our five fool-proof steps to snaring yourself some summer lovin’.

Play the ‘100’ game

Talking heads

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Interviews gets the behind the scenes news from Dan Reed’s latest movie, Straightheads, which stars Danny Dyer and Gillian Anderson...

STRAIGHTHEADS:

WHAT’S THE PLOT?

Blind Date

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This week, Blind Date sent out two singletons for a bit of fun at Shot in The Dark. Were there stars in their eyes or were they left in the dark?

Tasha Prest Smith

Second year English Literature

What, no Space Invaders?

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Cult Classics on the videogames that shaped/ruined our adolesence - oh happy days

Civilization (1991-2006)

Five hours and I’ve only moved for the odd toilet break, food and drink. The reason is this: the war against the Russians had just turned in my favour after discovering gunpowder first.

The lowdown with Amira & Nicky

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Courtney’s got love for Ray

Courtney Love has reportedly set her sights on a new man and is determined to ensnare 18-year-old Ray Quinn, runner up of this year’s X-factor. Young Ray eventually lost out to female songstress Leona Lewis. However, now that Ray has recorded his debut album and in the style of runners up think Gareth Gates and Jordan – he has been chased by Courtney.