Category Archives: 2009

BAD DAY AT BLACKPOOL Just The Way It Happened! Dec ’09

“Mind not looking at me like that?” Mortician: “Like what?” “Like a potential customer.” Mortician: “Huh. Everyone is…” — Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) LONDON 1998. Setting off for a shoot — any shoot — is dead scary. Why? … Continue reading

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AS GOOD AS IT GETS Who Will Be the Best of the Best? Nov ’09

I worked at the BBC in London, went back to Australia for a couple of years, won some awards, and returned to London. LONDON, JANUARY 1969. Armed with my “award-winning” reel, I do the rounds of advertising agencies. They watch my … Continue reading

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CHUCK ‘N ME and Little Richard too Oct ’09

Here’s a true story that’s so strange you’ll be singing Do de do de do do de do — the theme music to The Twilight Zone. LONDON UK 1972. London has an afternoon newspaper, The Evening Standard. It’s bought by … Continue reading

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SUMMERTIME BLUES Sep ’09

SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA, JULY 2009 “In the summertime when the weather is high, you can chase right up and touch the sky.” What? Does that make any sense to you? What is Mungo on? Let’s get honest. If you’re in … Continue reading

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WORST OF THE WORST Aug ’09

I guess everyone who makes commissioned films — or commissioned anything, for that matter — has rotten clients. I thought I’d write about my favorite worst clients, if you know what I mean. Hmmmm… let me think: there’s Andy. He … Continue reading

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NOTHING FROM NOTHING – or No More Mr. Nice Guy Jul ’09

Above, left: Young Stefan thinks the approaching band is going straight ahead but, no, they suddenly turn and crush him underfoot. Above, right: Radio Caroline at sea. What price for rare archive footage? How about nothing? COOTAMUNDRA, NSW, AUSTRALIA DECEMBER … Continue reading

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WALL OF FEAR – or Look At My Wall, Ye Mighty and Despair! Jun ’09

LONDON UK, 1986. That’s me on the right up there. I may be smiling, but I’m afraid, very afraid. After this photo shoot, we planned to show that video wall to an audience of trade press and VIPs from British … Continue reading

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GRAPE EXPECTATIONS – OR Now That It’s Finished Is it Any Good? May ’09

FEBRUARY 2009 SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA Boy am I tired! On February 2, we shot the last sequence of my feature documentary Pinot: Sonoma Dreams. It was the bottling of Wall Street trader turned winemaker Jamie Kutch’s ’07 vintage. Almost exactly … Continue reading

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WHERE’S WALLY – OR THEY LIKE ME, THEY REALLY LIKE ME Mar ’09

LONDON, OCTOBER 1997. “Stefan, it’s Peter. I might have a job for you. We booked Walter Taggart. He makes films for banks. Has a Ph.D. in banking. Knows the banker-speak. Anyhow, Wally’s gone and we don’t know where he is. … Continue reading

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THREE FEET UNDER – OR IT WAS WORKING UNTIL I FIXED IT Feb ’09

SAN RAFAEL, CA. DECEMBER 2008. I had a client coming in at 10:00 today. It’s now 11:00. I phone. Nope – just an answering machine. “Hi Peter, where are you?” I email. “Did you think it was at YOUR place?” … Continue reading

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