The Land of Academia

So, I am officially one degree of separation away from Raymond Williams, a major cultural/media theorist.  I went to another BFI Researchers’ Tales lecture tonight featuring Ian Christie and a study he conducted on the cultural impact of UK film from 1946 – 2006.  I loved engaging with what was being covered in his lecture, an account of the thoughts behind decisions made in the process of the study, but the true highlight was getting the chance to chat with Christie over wine & nibbles afterward.  The best part was holding my own in conversation with such an esteemed film academic; he actually found my thoughts on new media valid AND interesting!  Upon mentioning Raymond Williams, Christie slippantly mentioned how he worked with him.  The television/media/cultural studies student in me couldn’t let this slide (especially after studying him this morning in my British Cultural Studies course) — I instantly seized the opportunity to have him elaborate on the man, the methodology, and the experience of collaborating with him.

I knew he was British and based in Europe, like so many of the theorists I study, but little did I know I would get so close to him/them while studying abroad!  Ian Christie was brilliant, and it was truly an honor to meet and chat with him.  Yay academic discussion!  Now there’s a story to take back across the pond….

Buddies with the BFI

Apparently I am a buddy of the British Film Institute now!

After attending a lecture (Black in the British Frame: The Black Experience in British Film and Television by Stephen Bourne) as part of their Researcher’s Tales series on 12-October, I sent a follow-up thank you email to Nina Bishop, the administrator who books attendees and generously allowed me to attend for free since I am an international student, expressing how much I enjoyed the evening and how grateful I was to be able to attend.  Then last week I received an email from one of her colleagues, touched by my genuine interest and enthusiasm , inviting me to attend two more after Nina forwarded my email to him.  Obviously I took them up on the offer and attended Monday’s with speaker Sandra Reid, a programmer for the New Zealand Film Festival.  Like all of the events I’ve been attending in London, the people I meet at them are just as good as the program!  I had the pleasure of talking to an Italian film producer based in Berlin who was attending the London Film Festival and chatting with the BFI staff I have now become so close with (teehee).  It was another great evening…I truly never regret getting out into London and taking advantage of all it has to offer.  Here’s looking forward to the next one: Ian Christie discussing the cultural impact of UK film on Monday, 2 November!