A bigger message: conversations with David Hockney by Martin Gayford

Thames & Hudson, 2011

This is a lovely book made up of a series of conversations (“interview” sounds way too formal) between Hockney and the art critic Martin Gayford. Both parties contribute lively and discerning observations over a series of encounters that range from the movies and photography to drawing on iPads and phones.

Tales from an actor’s life by Steven Berkoff

Robson, 2011

Actor, writer, director and general enfant terrible of the British theatre scene, Steven Berkoff has metamorphosed from struggling young actor to global cinematic badboy (chilling in A Clockwork Orange, not to mention Octopussy!). Here he assumes a Caesar-like third person in order to travel back over some of the more formative moments in a fairly crowded life, spilling a few beans along the way!

Queer by Sunil Gupta

Vadehra Art Gallery, 2011

Sunil Gupta is one of India’s leading photographers, writers and social activists and this book brings together a number of his photographic projects to present a visual and artistic document of his life and activism. This visual story of life as a gay man both in and out of India brings a unique perspective to what it means to be both gay and Indian.

Roger Corman: interviews edited by Constantine Nasr

University Press of Mississippi, 2011

This fascinating series of books brings together interviews with influential film directors past and present, and this recent volume shines the spotlight on Roger Corman, sometimes affectionately referred to as “the King of the Bs”. Perhaps most famous for the series of low budget films he produced in the 1960s starring Vincent Price and based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Corman’s career has infact been as varied as it is long; the people he has mentored over the years reads like a who’s who of contemporary Hollywood cinema.

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  1. I’ve seen Steven Berkoff on stage 3 times – a truly mesmerising presence. If he tours Australia again, don’t miss him.

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