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Accidental Anarchist: Life Without Government
A Storyville documentary: Carne Ross was a career diplomat who resigned over the Iraq war. One man's epic journey from government insider to anarchist.
Carne Ross was a career diplomat who believed western democracy could save us all. But after the Iraq war he became disillusioned and resigned. This film traces Carne's worldwide quest to find a better way of doing things - from a farming collective in Spain, to Occupy Wall Street to Rojava in war-torn Syria - as he makes the epic journey from government insider to anarchist.
Last on
Sun 23 Jul 2017
21:50
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Producer Clara Glynn answers the Storyville Q&A
What is more important, story or character?
The best stories grow out of character.
What made you first want to explore the subject?
We both read Carne鈥檚 book and John said this has to be a film.
How long did it take to get the film off the ground?
Longer than either of us care to remember.听 It鈥檚 like childbirth, if you didn鈥檛 block the memories you鈥檇 never do it again.
What were you most surprised to learn in the course of production? 听
The necessary security precautions for filming 8km away from the Isis front line in Syria were a bit of an eye-opener.
What have been the differences in reception to the film in countries it has now travelled to?
It鈥檚 just starting out on that journey.听 It鈥檚 been to Sheffield and Copenhagen so far and went down a storm 鈥� so it will be interesting to find out how it plays elsewhere.
Which documentary has most inspired you?
Don鈥檛 Look Back by D. A. Pennebaker and Home from the Hill by Molly Dineen both made me want to make documentaries.听 More recently Exodus by James Bluemel blew my socks off.
Favourite Website/blog?
Nothing I want to own up to.
Person you鈥檇 most like to interview (living or dead?)
Shakespeare, natch.
Best piece of filmmaking advice you鈥檝e ever been given?
Adam Curtis told me the way to stay in control of your film is to work harder and care more than anyone else does.听听 And less usefully one of the first cameramen I ever worked with told me to always put something red in the shot.
Best piece of filmmaking equipment you can鈥檛 live without?
I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 about the kit.听 For me that鈥檚 like asking a writer what pen she uses.听 But my creative partner John would say the C300 camera.
If money was no object, what is your dream documentary subject?
I鈥榙 love to make a film about fox hunting that鈥檚 really about class and Britishness.听 I recently spent some time in a secure unit of a mental hospital to research a radio drama I was writing,听 I wished I鈥檇 been there making a documentary.
Favourite film of all time?
Snowpiercer. His Girl Friday. The American Friend
Most difficult access?
I want to make a film about Prevent and de-radicalisation.听 If you can help me with access do get in touch.
Best recent read?
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Sprout
The best stories grow out of character.
What made you first want to explore the subject?
We both read Carne鈥檚 book and John said this has to be a film.
How long did it take to get the film off the ground?
Longer than either of us care to remember.听 It鈥檚 like childbirth, if you didn鈥檛 block the memories you鈥檇 never do it again.
What were you most surprised to learn in the course of production? 听
The necessary security precautions for filming 8km away from the Isis front line in Syria were a bit of an eye-opener.
What have been the differences in reception to the film in countries it has now travelled to?
It鈥檚 just starting out on that journey.听 It鈥檚 been to Sheffield and Copenhagen so far and went down a storm 鈥� so it will be interesting to find out how it plays elsewhere.
Which documentary has most inspired you?
Don鈥檛 Look Back by D. A. Pennebaker and Home from the Hill by Molly Dineen both made me want to make documentaries.听 More recently Exodus by James Bluemel blew my socks off.
Favourite Website/blog?
Nothing I want to own up to.
Person you鈥檇 most like to interview (living or dead?)
Shakespeare, natch.
Best piece of filmmaking advice you鈥檝e ever been given?
Adam Curtis told me the way to stay in control of your film is to work harder and care more than anyone else does.听听 And less usefully one of the first cameramen I ever worked with told me to always put something red in the shot.
Best piece of filmmaking equipment you can鈥檛 live without?
I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 about the kit.听 For me that鈥檚 like asking a writer what pen she uses.听 But my creative partner John would say the C300 camera.
If money was no object, what is your dream documentary subject?
I鈥榙 love to make a film about fox hunting that鈥檚 really about class and Britishness.听 I recently spent some time in a secure unit of a mental hospital to research a radio drama I was writing,听 I wished I鈥檇 been there making a documentary.
Favourite film of all time?
Snowpiercer. His Girl Friday. The American Friend
Most difficult access?
I want to make a film about Prevent and de-radicalisation.听 If you can help me with access do get in touch.
Best recent read?
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Sprout
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Participant | Carne Ross |
| Producer | John Archer |
| Producer | Clara Glynn |
| Director | John Archer |
| Director | Clara Glynn |
Broadcast
- Sun 23 Jul 2017 21:50