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?

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?

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.

50 lines

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The interviews that said it all...

5 Bits of advice

I think good journalism depends on how far you are prepared to push it. (Jon Snow)

A New(er) Statesman

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Rik Mayall returns for a second time as amoral politician, Alan B’stard, but this time he’s bringing down New Labour. Rik talks to Nicola Menage about politics, comedy and his experience with death.

Rik greets us in a small room at the New Theatre in Cardiff, the venue of his new show The New Statesman.

Yet ‘new’ is probably the wrong word, Rik having already played the previously conservative politician in the television sitcom of the 80s.

Mark tells us Wats-on

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Winner of If.comedies Panel Prize, holder of the record for longest ever gig and regular guest on BBC2’s Mock The Week, Welsh(ish) stand-up and published author Mark Watson likes to push boundaries. He talks to Nicola Menage about his upcoming tour...

Mark greets me at a cafe in the centre of Cardiff with suitcase and bags, ready for a quick chat before he jumps on the train to make his gig later that night. A ranting, energetic Welshman on-stage, I’m eager to meet the real Mark and find out whether that accent is actually real or not.

So, how’s the tour going so far?

The lowdown - with Amira and Nicky

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Random facts about the stars that will also be celebrating their 50th birthdays this year...

SPIKE LEE (March 20) is married to Tonya Lewis Lee. He teaches film at a New York film school and encourages his students to listen to the commentary. He has acted in a number of his own films. Most notable are his supporting roles in She’s Gotta Have It, School Daze, and Malcolm X, and his leading role in Do the Right Thing.

MELANIE GRIFFITH (August 9) began work at just 9 months old in a commercial and later became an extra on Smith! (1969) and The Harrad Experiment (1973). Her first major role was in Arthur Penn’s Night Moves (1975), which got her attention and typecast her as a sexy nymphet.