Making the “Scene”

Over the past few years, I have enjoyed attending London’s Crime Scene festival of films and literature, which has traditionally been held at the National Film Theatre on London’s South Bank of the Thames. During the 2005 Crime Scene fest, for instance, I met and interviewed spy novelist Robert Littell, whose 2002 book, The Company, has been adapted into TNT’s new three-part miniseries.

After skipping last year, Crime Scene returns this autumn with a new format. Events are set to begin on September 6 and run through the 9th at a trio of London cinema locations: the Curzon Mayfair, the Brixton Ritzy, and the Clapham Picture House. Media broadcasts will also be on offer. The whole affair is generously sponsored by Turner Classic Movies (UK).

As ever, the organizers of this celebration are the energetic Adrian Wootton and the debonair Maxim Jakubowski, books critic, crime-fiction anthologist, and the proprietor of London’s Murder One bookshop. In addition to a terrific line-up of movies (They Drive By Night, Bugsy Malone, Kiss Me Deadly, etc.), they’ve scheduled talks by Lynda La Plante, Martina Cole, Alan Parker, David Suchet, and Ruth Rendell. However, a particular highlight for me will be the closing-night presentation, which is to feature director Quentin Tarantino. He’ll be showing a special excerpt from his latest film, Grindhouse. As the program explains:

Quentin Tarantino’s movie originally started out as part of Grindhouse, an epic attempt to recapture the style and atmosphere of 1970s exploitation B movies. The version of Death Proof being screened as part of TCM Crime Scene has extra footage and was received with great acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. Kurt Russell plays a stunt man in this high octane, full-on action movie. Packed with cool dialogue, plenty of film references and a cracking script Death Proof is yet another unmissable Tarantino classic.

Tarantino is flying into London especially to participate in a post-screening discussion that will be beamed directly to cinemas nationwide via satellite.

Another highlight of this festival, at least for me, will be a “behind the scenes” discussion of Life on Mars, BBC TV’s wonderfully retro 1970s cop drama, which concluded its run earlier this year. Again, quoting from the program:

Life on Mars burst on to the small screen last year to huge critical acclaim and viewer approval. A mix of science fiction and cop drama with some fantastic characters, Life on Mars was one of the most inventive new shows in recent years. TCM Crime Scene director, Adrian Wootton is hosting a discussion about how the idea came about and the issues involved in putting together such a successful series. Guests include Philip Glenister, who played Gene Hunt the un-PC cop; creator/writers, Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham; plus Executive Producer, Claire Parker and producers, Jane Featherstone and Cameron Roach.

You can download the full Crime Scene 2007 program here. For ticket information, click here.