Category Archives: 2014

We leave Robert Altman’s yacht and walk to the Hôtel Majestic Barrière in Cannes. David sees the concierge and tips him 200 francs. “Bonjour. Je m’appele David Whiting, Hollywood correspondent for Time magazine. Je suis incognito. If anyone asks for … Continue reading →

Hitchcock, Altman and Me It’s May 1972. I’m at Nice airport in the south of France. “Stefan, what are you doing here?” Behind me is the towering figure of Clyde Packer with a new GF. I went to school with … Continue reading →

Adam and Eve No, not that Eve. I mean the one before the new year. Today is New Year’s Eve 2013 and it’s my neighbor’s birthday. Happy birthday, Patrick. So who’s Adam? He is Patrick’s daughter’s husband’s brother’s son. Confusing, isn’t … Continue reading →

DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN July 14, 1995. Tricia and I arrive at Bordeaux  airport. André, the local ICI rep., is there to meet us. He takes us to our hotel. It’s huge. Long, white terraced gardens and an Olympic … Continue reading →

Where There’s Always Beer and Popcorn “Hi, Alan, glad you made it. Hope you didn’t park outside. Our neighbors, they think they own the road. They’ll put a note under your wipers: Don’t park here—I bet you voted for Bush. … Continue reading →

I started with a Bolex 16mm camera. Over the years my Bolexes were accidentally smashed or stolen and replaced, but effectively I owned the same camera for 35 years. With video it’s a different story. I have moved from updating every … Continue reading →

LOST I regret losing my very first documentary, Portrait of an Adventurer. I made it in ’61 on spec. It was about Ron Flockhart, who was in Australia to fly his plane solo from Sydney to London. Crazy Guinness Book … Continue reading →

“DE-CRUCIFY THE ANGEL!” * Behind the camera, the world is one removed – you’re not really there; all that matters is inside the viewfinder. And so it is with Keith. He has setup his heavy, clockwork Newman Sinclair camera way … Continue reading →

LORS IN TRANSLATION Frappe! Frappe! (knock, knock) Qui est la? (who’s there?) Lors (Lors: short for Loraine) Lors Qui (Lost Key) Exactement (I’ve lost my key, let me in!) STUTTGART GERMANY It’s all been organized: letters, phone calls, faxes. We … Continue reading →

Was it 1977 or ’78? I don’t remember. I’m in a small office in the British Treasury. “Anything you say may be taken down and used in evidence….” You’ve heard it all before, but this time it’s me, Stefan, the … Continue reading →