Danny Graydon

I’m hellaciously busy at the moment: UniComics is now but four weeks away – ulp! – and we are now working furiously to promote the venture and, by extension, sell every damned ticket we can. It’s going well, though, and word about us is spreading steadily. Thankfully, the UK Comics scene is jam-packed with fine folk who are only too willing to help promote a new event on the landscape.

One promotional avenue that I am spearheading is Twitter: UniComics now has a Twitter feed located here – so please follow us via @UniComicsFest and help spread the word! I’m on Twitter myself as @FilmDan, although I confess to have struggled to utilise it to it’s full potential, because, frankly, I just don’t lead the kind of varied, jet-setting life a la Stephen Fry and, really, “tweets” about making yet another cup of tea from your home office are somewhat dull! (Even if I do make the most exquisite tea…)  That said, there’s no denying that Twitter is particularly effective in reaching a hell of a lot of people, so am throwing myself in to it in this instance.

In the midst of all that – and finishing CARTOON CLASSICS: THE JETSONS for Insight Editions over in the US – I have two imminent engagements that I wanted to flag up:

PRESS TV APPEARANCE: This Wednesday, I’ll be appearing on Press TV’s CinePolitics show, where I’ll be discussing the political aspects of Paul Greengrass’ new Iraq War thriller, GREEN ZONE. Hosted by Emmy nominated filmmaker Russell Michaels (Hacking Democracy), CinePolitics is a 25 minute, weekly discussion programme on film – reviewing dramas and documentaries from around the world, and discussing the social and political issues that have inspired them to be made. Joining me to discuss the film will be author and academic James Denselow. Press TV is available on Sky Channel 515 in the UK and Cinepolitics airs on Saturday.

FILM NOIR COURSE: On Saturdays 27th March and 10th April, I will be teaching a two-day course on Film Noir for the Film Education Consortium at University of Hertfordshire. UNDERSTANDING FILM NOIR will take place at the de Havilland campus of UH (just behind The Galleria shopping centre in Hatfield and where UniComics will be based) in Room R110 from 11am  – 4pm. Weekend #1 is anchored on the classic era of Film Noir (FILM NOIR: KEY FILMS, DIRECTORS, STARS AND BASIC CONVENTIONS) while weekend #2 focuses on its successor genre (NEO NOIR: CONTEMPORARY FILM NOIR AND ITS INFLUENCES). Students on the course will also be invited to a FREE film event and screening, Film Fatales: An Evening of Film Noir which includes a feature film screening of Double Indemnity (Wilder US 1944)at the de Havilland Campus’ Weston Auditorium (where you can also see a live performance by that delightful flame-haired chanteuse Katie Buckhaven) on the 26^th March, 6.30pm. To book your place call 01707 28 5949 or email: filmconsortium@herts.ac.uk.

DMG