“The Penultimate Truth about Philip K. Dick”

In 2007 I produced this documentary about the mystical experiences of sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick.

Philip K. Dick is considered by many to be one the world’s greatest science fiction writers ever; as a sufferer from mental illness himself he had the ability to turn his hallucinations about the universe into an extraordinary writing career.
During his lifetime, Dick produced an astonishing amount of prize winning novels and short stories, which were translated into more than 25 languages. Three of his literary works were transformed into blockbuster movies: Blade Runner, Minority Report and Total Recall.
Several years before his death, Philip started having mystical experiences that affected his everyday life. As a result, he started to wonder if what he had imagined for his stories was real and if life was just an illusion or the creation of each person’s subjectivity.
This in-depth program explores Philip K. Dick`s world, a universe full of mysteries and intrigues.

‘VALIS’ is a fascinating book to read. I also recommend ‘a scanner darkly’. I hope to read more of his work in the near future.

The source of some extraordinary sociological surveys and studies.

Enjoy!

“A boy has a dream that he can float, but unless he holds on, he will drift away into the sky. Even when he is grown up, this idea recurs. After a strange accident, he walks through what may be a dream, flowing in and out of scenarios and encountering various characters. People he meets discuss science, philosophy and the life of dreaming and waking, and the protagonist gradually becomes alarmed that he cannot awake from this confusing dream.“

“Filmmaker John Carpenter helped redefine the American horror film in 1978 with Halloween, a low-budget thriller which became a major box office success. Since then, Carpenter has devoted his career to bringing a fresh perspective to genre filmmaking, striving to maintain the freedom of an independent while working within the studio system. (Carpenter not only writes and directs his own projects, but often also serves as producer and composer as well.) John Carpenter: Fear Is Just the Beginning…The Man and His Movies is a documentary about this two-fisted maverick auteur, which offers a look at the making of such favorites as Escape From New York, The Thing, The Fog, and many more. The documentary includes interviews with Jamie Lee Curtis, Kurt Russell, Adrienne Barbeau, Debra Hill, and other friends and colleagues.”

David (!) Daniel Hannan for Prime Minister.

I’ll be honest, I’ve only watched the first part thus far. I found it interesting. I’ve posted it here mainly on the reviews others have given it.

Very much in line with my own views on creativity, this is a short and snappy pick-me-upper for all you budding artists out there.

Mentaloid.

I saw this last week and while I enjoyed it I could not help draw the same paralells this CNN journalist does. I’m relieved it isn’t just me. This film is a masterclass in government propaganda, right down to the point where Batman (read Bush) accepts the his villification in the eyes of the public for the greater-purpose of defeating terror. It’s quite sickening, really.