An Interview With Edward Sylvan
I am currently promoting awareness of past refugee crises via the distribution and promotion of my film, Mousie. And I’m helping to promote contemporary refugee interests with the charity — the Separated Child Foundation — to which Mousie is affiliated.
As a part of our series about “Filmmakers Making A Social Impact” I had the pleasure of interviewing David Bartlett.
David is a British film and television writer, director and producer. Once a child actor, David graduated from university and became a journalist, before starting his television directing career at the BBC in factual programming. Most recently, David started working with novelist and screenwriter Michael Marshall Smith, having completed “Mousie”, a film drama concerning the plight of a seven-year-old Roma refugee hiding from the Nazis in pre-war Berlin.
Thank you so much for doing this interview with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit. Can you share your “backstory” that brought you to this career?
It all started with Laurel and Hardy… I watched their films incessantly as a child, and they became virtually family to me. I loved them. But deep down, the exquisite, timeless quality of their work was making a serious impression. At the same time, my parents were deeply involved with amateur dramatics, which I found mysterious and exciting. When it turned out that instead of ANY interest in sports, I had some acting talent, they indulged that and it led me to television and theatre work when very young. The first project I did earn a BAFTA nomination, and it went from there… I worked with Sir Anthony Hopkins on The Arch of Triumph when I was a kid, and he was just so kind, affable, down-to-earth… Not only did he share some sage advice re my growing desire to be a director — a professional storyteller — but watching him work was breathtaking. I decided that to create stories with artists blessed with only a modicum of that extraordinary talent would be a privilege. After school, I went to the fabulous University of York and studied English and Anglo-Saxon, then became a journalist in my hometown of Bristol before arriving in London at the BBC…
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your filmmaking career?
My career has granted me access to the most amazing and amusing people. Shooting The Great Train Robbery for BBC/ History Channel involved working around a farm in Peterborough in the middle of the night. The guys playing the gang members all knew each other well, and they used to prank me by crawling through the grain fields Seal Team- or SAS-style and jumping out wherever we were setting up the next sequence, and before they were called to set. The last time they did it, a horse was roused from slumber and took off after them.
One of the most interesting nights I ever spent in this career was in the Jordanian desert. I was shooting Trial of the Knights Templar for Ray Bruce/ ITV Studios and employing Jordanian/ Bedouin horsemen… We all got on very well, and one night they invited me to stay with them out under the stars in the desert. Even without sharing language beyond gestures, it was a wonderful experience!
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
Through interests and work, I have worked with an unusually high number of fascinating, exceptional people. My own Nana Rosina Yeates made a huge impression on me… Grew up in poverty in London before the First World War, but filled her life with music and humour and art. She communicated the passion to me, and it took hold. As a person, she was both modest and confident, and there’s a lot to learn from people like that. Her artistic talents were never really developed properly, but she shone nonetheless.
I have mentioned Anthony Hopkins. Working with actors Edward Hardwicke and Dudley Sutton on my first film “The Goodbye Plane” was a wonderful experience… Both were extremely generous, brilliant and kind, they had so many anecdotes and such natural, ready wit. Every second in their company was edifying and entertaining. For two years before he died, I enjoyed a lovely friendship with comic legend Michael Bentine CBE, a man who consistently encouraged me to believe in myself. Similarly, since we first met twenty years ago, Sir Derek Jacobi and I have been friends, and he’s a kind man of disarming modesty and great humour.
Through drama-documentary work, I got to know the most extraordinary characters — all of whom made a huge impression — including reformed white supremacist Kerry Noble; Saddam Hussein confidant Latif Yahia; and Hasidic Jew Samuel Liebowitz, whose remarkable “adventures” as a major drug exporter and then an inmate of the infamous Carandiru Prison in Brazil. A political drama for CNN brought me into contact with former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mike Dukakis, and also former VT governor, the brilliant Howard Dean. And early documentary experience in Britain allowed me to spend a week with progressive parliamentarian Tony Benn MP whom I found remarkably eloquent and kind.
Thanks to my 30-year friendship with the wonderful/ celebrated documentarian and silent film historian Kevin Brownlow, as a teenager I met silent pioneers like cinematographer Hans Koenekamp — the first man to film Chaplin in the tramp costume — and legendary producer of the Laurel and Hardy films, Hal Roach. Many talented contemporary actors I have worked with are mesmerising by nature, including fabulous Irish-American actor Mallory Adams, and talented Canadian comedian Tommy Campbell. My life has been fuelled and filled with the most interesting and exceptional people. They have all made an indelible impression.
Which people in history inspire you the most? Why?
I am most inspired by those who possess talent and commitment — with a theme of humanity. So, amongst my heroes are Charlie Chaplin, the most famous “champion of the underdog” in the history of art. (And arguably the most gifted genius who ever worked in cinema.) In the world of cinema, I also admire directors F W Murnau and Carol Reed: subtle, ingenious, sensitive to the passion and frailty of human beings. I am enormously inspired by the Nicholas Brothers — the tap-dancing brothers who broke through the racial barriers of the early to mid 20th century by sheer force of their extraordinary talents and wit. And finally, I am enormously inspired by Dr. Sir Frederick Banting, discoverer of insulin with Charles Best. An awkward man whose bombastic, unrelenting obsession with an idea was matched by the sacrifices he was prepared to make to pursue it… And save lives.
Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview, how are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting social impact causes you are working on right now?
I am currently promoting awareness of past refugee crises via the distribution and promotion of my film, Mousie. And I’m helping to promote contemporary refugee interests with the charity — the Separated Child Foundation — to which Mousie is affiliated.
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and take action for this cause? What was that final trigger?
Seeing the little Syrian refugee toddler Aylan Kurdi drowned on the beach in Turkey in 2015 — and knowing he wouldn’t be the last — was the trigger for me. At the same time, hearing psychopathic politicians and journalists tell lies about refugees (people who have already lost everything), and even refer to them as “vermin” or “rats”, made me squirm with anger. And it reminded me of the historical incidence of such people and such commentary… We have been here before.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
The Separated Child Foundation has helped — and continues to help — a number of abandoned or orphaned teenage refugees in England.
Are there three things that individuals, society or the government can do to support you in this effort?
- Governments in the West must create specific taskforces and funded projects to rescue and protect refugee children, rather than leaving it to charities.
- I would like to see governments and media corporations commit to freeze out the distributors of falsehoods about refugees and to censure defamation that will hurt children anywhere in the world. Lies and child abuse are immoral and indefensible, inarguably.
- World agreements on refugee aid commitments should be insured with the threat of trade sanctions if not met.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
- Don’t react emotionally to logistical crises.
- Luck gets you through the door; talent may keep you there, but knowing the right people account for more than 50% of a successful career.
- Everyone has been where you are — what differentiates is how we all respond to our circumstances.
- You can’t make everyone like or accept your message — but you can make sure they hear and understand it.
- Don’t worry about needing to be in charge, to lead, to manage. Film and television creatives thrive on being creatively empowered. Concentrate on that.
If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
Firstly, the positive impact you make on one group or section or community, or even individual contributes to a general elevation. Potentially benefits will ripple outwards. And secondly, the positive impact you have on others benefits you too. It’s a healthy and nice feeling.
We are very blessed that many other Social Impact Heroes read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would like to collaborate with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
Oscar-winning actor Olivia Colman is an ambassador for UNICEF which I think is terrific. I’d love to collaborate with her on this work.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Oscar Wilde once said “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars…” and I think this is a good mantra in my business. It’s easy to find yourself in a position of seeming insignificance or powerlessness or even disappointed. This adage tells us to keep aiming high.
How can our readers follow you online?
On Twitter at @db_hereatlast, on Instagram at @davidbartlettdirector, and website www.david-bartlett.com .
This was great, thank you so much for sharing your story and doing this with us. We wish you continued success!
Filmmakers Making A Social Impact: Why & How David Bartlett Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.