Time Flies / Time Flies Too
Enjoy all of Al Clark's absorbing recollections in this combined bundle of both of his memoirs.
Time Flies
Time Flies is an idiosyncratic memoir with a distinctive voice and a sense of the absurd: a wistful, reflective, sometimes comic view of a childhood in a remote mining village in Southern Spain, the dislocating shock of a Scottish boarding school education, and a remarkable introduction to working life in London at Time Out then at Virgin, both at the peak of their maverick self-confidence. A tireless spokesman for the company, and an improbable mouthpiece for the Sex Pistols at the time of their greatest fame and vilification, he later went on to produce numerous notable films, several classics among them.
Time Flies Too
Time Flies Too is the sequel to 2021’s beguiling and absorbing memoir Time Flies by Al Clark, who in its last paragraph married and settled in Australia after a Spanish village childhood, a Scottish boarding school education and nearly two decades of living and working in London in the pioneering days of Virgin Records.
These new recollections playfully explore his adjustment to life in a new country, the labyrinth involved in making films, the gifted collaborators he encountered along the way, and the work itself – notably one of Australia’s most enduringly successful movies (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert ). It completes the journey of a solitary boy who fell in love with cinema, and of the man who strove to bring it to life.
'A significant Australian filmmaker, Al Clark is also a superb writer and humorist, as this first volume of memoirs attests. A joyful experience.' – Phillip Adams
'An extraordinary life, observed with humour and fascinating tales of celebrities in the music and movie worlds.' – Bruce Beresford
'Beautifully written, hugely entertaining, Clark’s amazing adventures in the movie business are masterfully woven into a grand story of love and family.' – Richard Kuipers, Variety
'A warm-hearted, witty and insightful page turner from one of Australia’s leading producers, sharing the highs and lows and the behind-the-scenes dramas of some of our most loved and respected films. A tale of optimism and ingenuity.' – Jan Chapman
'Al Clark’s second volume of memoirs is a high-octane read. His wild ride through the rough and tumble of Australian filmmaking is exhilarating.' – Ana Kokkinos
Al Clark was born in Huelva, Spain, and educated at two Scottish boarding schools and one English university. Once a journalist at Time Out magazine, then publicity director of Virgin Records in London, he has written three books, produced 20 feature films – including Nineteen Eighty-Four, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Blessed and Red Hill – and been on the juries of several international film festivals. Elected to the boards of the Australian Film Commission (1989-1992) and later Screen Australia (2014-2017), he was the recipient of the 2013 AACTA Raymond Longford Award for lifetime achievement. He lives in Sydney.
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