Culturewatch TV
Culturewatch.TV is a collection of short videos exploring the latest films, music, books and TV. They can be viewed here, or you are free to republish them on your website.
High resolution downloads are FREE for subscribers to Tools For Talks (non-subscribers: you can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).
The Spiderwick Chronicles and the problem of fathers
Tony Watkins and Bex Bennett discuss the fantasy movie The Spiderwick Chronicles, focusing particularly on the importance of the theme of fathers. This video contains clips from the film and interviews with director Mark Waters and actor Sarah Bolger.
Other Culturewatch resources on The Spiderwick Chronicles:
- Article: Closer than you think, by tony Watkins
A high resolution version of this video can be dowloaded FREE by subscribers to Tools For Talks (non-subscribers: you can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).
Vantage Point and trust
Tony Watkins and Tom Price discuss the film Vantage Point. The story of an attempted assassination of the American President is told from several different perspectives, leaving the viewer to question which characters and versions of events are trustworthy. Is there anyone we can really trust?
A high resolution version of this video can be dowloaded FREE by subscribers to Tools For Talks (non-subscribers: you can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).
There Will Be Blood and religious delusion
Tony Watkins and Tom Price compare the attitudes to religion of the two main characters in Paul Thomas Anderson's film There Will Be Blood. Oil prospector Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) and church leader Eli Sunday (Paul Dano) are both prepared to use religion for their own ends, but Eli is either deluded himself or is deliberately misleading others. How can we distinguish between religious delusion and the real thing?
Other Culturewatch resources on There Will Be Blood:
- Article: Blood, sweat and tears, by Nicola Lee
- Video: There Will Be Blood and the danger of self-obsession, by tony Watkins
A high resolution version of this video can be dowloaded FREE by subscribers to Tools For Talks (non-subscribers: you can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).
There Will Be Blood and the danger of self-obsession
Tony Watkins and Tom Price discuss the acclaimed film There Will Be Blood. They reflect on how the film's protagonist, Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) sets himself on a road to destruction by living only for himself. This programme includes clips from the film.
Other Culturewatch resources on There Will Be Blood:
- Article: Blood, sweat and tears, by Nicola Lee
A high resolution version of this video can be dowloaded FREE by subscribers to Tools For Talks (non-subscribers: you can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).
National Treasure: Book of Secrets and the importance of history
A high resolution version of this video can be dowloaded FREE by subscribers to Tools For Talks (non-subscribers: you can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).
Tony Watkins and Nicola Lee discuss the film National Treasure: Book of Secrets. They consider why history is so important, and how it is central to our sense of identity. This programme includes clips from the film and interviews with actors Justin Bartha, Ed Harris and Bruce Greenwood.
Other Culturewatch resources on National Treasure: Book of Secrets:
- Article: What's in a name?, by Nicola Lee
A high resolution version of this video can be dowloaded FREE by subscribers to Tools For Talks (non-subscribers: you can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).
Atonement and true forgiveness
Tony Watkins and Nick Pollard discuss Joe Wright's adaptation of Atonement by Ian McEwan. They focus on the need for finding atonement for actions which have devastating consequences on others - and the lack of true atonement within this story. This Culturewatch.tv programme includes clips from the film and interview footage. Tools For Talks subscribers may download a high-resolution file.
Other Culturewatch resources on Atonement:
- Article: Imagining it all put right, by Tony Watkins
- Study guide (on the novel), by James Murkett
A high resolution version of this video can be dowloaded FREE by subscribers to Tools For Talks (non-subscribers: you can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).
Juno - affirming the value of life
This programme features Tony Watkins and Nicola Lee discussing the film Juno, which has been nominated for four Oscars. They reflect on the film's positive messages which are communicated in a refreshing and unstereotypical way. This programme includes clips from the film and interviews with director Jason Reitman, screenwriter Diablo Cody and actress Ellen Page. Tools For Talks subscribers may download a high-resolution file.
Other Culturewatch resources on Juno:
- Article: A girl for all seasons, by Nicola Lee
- Study guide, by Nicola Lee
A high resolution version of this video can be dowloaded FREE by subscribers to Tools For Talks (non-subscribers: you can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).
Cloverfield and why we like to feel afraid (contains spoiler)
This programme features Tony Watkins and Tom Price discussing the film Cloverfield. They consider the importance of resolution in scary stories and what this indicates about the nature of reality. It includes clips from the film and interviews with actress Odette Yustman and producer J.J. Abrams.
Other Culturewatch resources on Cloverfield:
- Article: Things that go bump in the night, by Tony Watkins
A high resolution version of this video can be dowloaded FREE by subscribers to Tools For Talks (non-subscribers: you can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).
The truth in The Golden Compass
This short downloadable video relates to the film The Golden Compass (Entertainment, 2007). Including clips from the film, it encourages people to think about the ways in which this controversial film portrays the church, and what it has to say on the subject of truth.
Other Culturewatch resources on The Golden Compass:
- Article: Agenda squabbles, by Tony Watkins
- Article: Heading in the wrong direction, by Tony Watkins
- Article: Navigating life, by Tony Watkins
- Study guide (on the book), by Tony Watkins
A high resolution version of this video can be dowloaded FREE by subscribers to Tools For Talks (non-subscribers: you can obtain immediate access with a 1 year or 30 day subscription).