The interactive magazine for regional film journalists
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Radio/Waves
When Frank Gillard, former BBC war correspondent and future Director of Radio, visited America in the 1950s, he was impressed by the country's local radio stations and the way they spoke “to listeners as a familiar friend and neighbour”. Inspired by his findings, he wanted the BBC to launch a similar service.
Fast forward to 1967 and Gillard's vision was realised as BBC local radio was born, starting in Leicester, Sheffield, and Merseyside. He didn't want”'amplified juke boxes”, but “modern radio journalism” which would provide “a running serial of local life in all its aspects, involving a multitude of local voices; what one might call the people's radio”.
Scoot forward 40-plus years and although local radio sounds rather different than in 1967, its essence remains the same: responding to the local community and covering local stories. And that's why it's great to be able to bring listeners closer to the world of film. We're lucky in Cambridgeshire as
The local connection
DREAMING SPIRES: Punting on the Cam is only one of the attractions in Cambridge, a rich area for the film world
there's lots of activity film-wise including the Cambridge Film Festival, which attracts a mix of art-house and big-budget films along with visiting filmmakers.
We also have our fair share of live Q&A events, whether with former Cambridge students such as Stephen Poliakoff and Julien Temple, or filmmakers from further afield like Armando Iannucci, Stephen Woolley, and Bruce Weber.
Cambridge University provides us with lots of filmic connections, from Julian Fellowes, through Iain Softley and Nick Hornby, to Nick Jones, the producer of Nativity! And listeners always love hearing their Cambridge reminiscences along with news of their latest movie.
Of course, they also want to hear from Hollywood stars, so we bring them the likes of Sandra Bullock or George Clooney as well – Cambridgeshire connection or not. But wherever there's a link that brings actors and directors closer to listeners' lives, we make it!
Jan Gilbert
