I’m a huge proponent of finding the light in the dark; the hope that my characters hang on to, and often that light shines brighter when the world they’re in is dark. Stephen Nagel Stephen Nagel is an independent writer, director and producer based in Cape Town, South Africa, making films under the BTG Productions… “We’re not building alone”: writer-director Stephen Nagel on new film Protégé, passion and persistence in filmmaking Read More
48:1 – Episode 8 (The Crown season 4 recaps)
My series review is here. Or read my episode recaps: episode 1 (Gold Stick), episode 2 (The Balmoral Test), episode 3 (Fairytale), episode 4 (Favourites), episode 5 (Fagan), episode 6 (Terra Nullius), episode 7 (The Hereditary Principle), episode 9 (Avalanche), and episode 10 (War). “when put in the ring with her Queen, the Iron Lady melted.” The episode starts with… 48:1 – Episode 8 (The Crown season 4 recaps) Read More
Misbehaviour 3 stars
With the first UK women’s liberation conference taking place at Oxford University in 1970, feminists plot to disrupt the final of that year’s Miss World contest – while for the pageant’s Black contestants, success could mean opportunities that won’t get any other way. I came out of Misbehaviour wanting to flour bomb Bob Hope while… Misbehaviour Read More
Day Zero (Short Film) Short Film 3.5 stars
Stephen Nagel’s short film, Day Zero, was made with zero budget – achieved by shooting on mobile phones, pulling in actor friends to perform, and borrowing props wherever he could. That kind of filmmaking situation is something I bear in mind when reviewing a micro or zero budget film, though ultimately, whatever its cost, it… Day Zero (Short Film) Read More
District 9 4 stars
“He became the most valuable business artefact on earth… but his real value was that he could operate alien weaponry,” says Grey Bradnam, a journalist speaking long after the events of District 9. He’s discussing Wikus van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley), a desk-bound penpusher put in charge of clearing District 9, a shack-filled shanty town housing a million aliens,… District 9 Read More