First film you saw?
The first cinematic experience I remember was Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark at The Odeon on Pilgrim Street. I sat perched on the edge of my seat and sang "DER DER DER DER, DER DER DER, DER DER DER DER, DER DER DER DER DER" until my six year old companion told me to shut up.
Cinematic hero
My cinematic hero is a strange mix of the bohemian pomposity of Withnail, the suave naivety of Frank Drebin, the dogged enthusiasm of Mark Borchardt and the inimitable cool of Steve Zissou.
Favourite film?
My favourite film is…changeable. But today it is La Haine. Ask me tomorrow and I'll say Dog Day Afternoon.
Worst film you've seen?
The worst film I have EVER seen is, hands down, Mamma Mia. And due to the fact I regularly staff hen dos at Side Cinema, I have seen that film more times than any human should have to.
Guilty pleasure
I don't believe in guilty pleasures. If it's a pleasure then you shouldn't feel bad about watching it. But I certainly don't shout about the amount of times I have watched Over The Top, a film that sees Sylvester Stallone win back his estranged son by winning an ARM WRESTLING competition. Great advice to parents across the globe.
What do we do?
At Press Play we are very proud of the fact that we put on events that are open to all and aim to appeal to that bit in you that is captivated by the magic of cinema. At our events, everyone is a VIP.
Why are you doing this?
I got involved in Press Play for the same reason most people do what they love doing. The chance to work with a team of friends, against the odds and in the face of funding cuts, to put on a fun, accessible festival. Oh, and I got to dress up and mince around a lot.
What do you when you're not doing this?
When I'm not Pressing Play, I am the epitome of a jack-of-all-trades. I work as a filmmaker both on a number of television and film projects and have taught extensively in schools across the region. I have worked on number of other festivals including NewcastleGateshead's EAT! Festival, AV Festival and Wunderbar. Currently I do tours of BBC Newcastle's Pink Palace but really, I just want to DANCE. Or be a stand up comedian.
