Monday, January 28, 2013

ON PROFESSIONAL WRITERS

This evening I listened to an archived BBC Tees radio program about a new in-depth book (in 2009, anyway) on Gerry Anderson’s puppet shows. Written by Stephen La Riviere, “Filmed in Supermarionation: A History of the Future” covers the story of the prolific British television producer/creator and his talented team, including wife Sylvia Tamm, and their tele-offspring: From The Adventures of Twizzle to The Secret Service.

At one point during the radio chat with show host Bob Fischer, Mr. La Riviere talks about taking a small documentary film crew to Las Vegas to interview actor, and former star of the early 1970s series The Persuaders!, Tony Curtis. The writer proceeds to tell the story, between his giddy fits of self-amusement, about when he first saw the American actor and how ‘degraded’ the former movie star appeared. I’m listening to this “writer” yap away when it suddenly strikes me that he is openly, not to mention, publicly, taking the piss out of one of his interview subjects; an actor who agreed to appear on camera for his soon-to-be mocker.

Not only is this unprofessional -- good luck to Stephen La Riviere in securing future willing interviewees -- but it is not proper behavior, period.

I’m not sure I want to find and read that book, now. Having an ‘aftertaste’ before indulging is not appealing to me. Call me weird.

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