UK talent agency representing broadcasters, writers and presenters
“I’ve worked with Hedda for many years and I am proud to call her my agent. She’s clever, committed, informed, inspired and inspiring, always on hand with sound professional advice. Her knowledge of film and media is superb – and she’s great company to boot.”
Anna Smith, film journalist and Chair of the Film Critic’s Circle
Anna Smith is a film critic and broadcaster and the host of all-female film review show Girls On Film in which she discusses film with female critics and interviews actors and directors about their work. She is a regular film critic for BBC News, Sky News, BBC Radio, Metro, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Sight & Sound, Empire and more.
If you stayed up to watch the Oscars this year, you will have seen Anna commentating from Sky Cinema’s sofa – and if you browse through Metro newspaper in the morning, you’ll have read her ’60 Seconds’ interviews. Anna hosts Q&As with film stars in cinemas all over London.
Before specialising in film, Anna was the first woman to become the editor of a UK dance music magazine, Wax. She dedicated herself to film criticism in 2000. Her twitter is @annasmithjourno.
Award-winning broadcaster, writer, educationalist and cultural historian Sir Christopher Frayling is best known for his study of popular culture. His most recent publications are The Yellow Peril: Dr Fu Manchu & the Rise of Chinophobia (2014), Frankenstein: The First 200 Years (2017) and Once Upon a Time in the West: Shooting a Masterpiece (2019).
He has had a wide output as a writer and critic on subjects ranging from vampires to westerns and has written and presented television series such as The Art of Persuasion on advertising, Strange Landscape on the Middle Ages, The Face of Tutankhamun and Nightmare: Birth of Horror. He has conducted a series of radio and television interviews with figures from the world of film, including Woody Allen, Deborah Kerr, Ken Adam, Francis Ford Coppola and Clint Eastwood.
Frayling studied spaghetti westerns and specifically director Sergio Leone. His highly popular biography of Leone, Something To Do With Death (2000) was followed by the DVD documentaries of Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), and audio commentaries for the special edition DVD releases of A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, Once Upon a Time in the West and The Colossus of Rhodes. He curates an international travelling exhibition on Sergio Leone.
In 2001, he was awarded a knighthood for “Services to Art and Design Education” and chose as his motto, Perge scelus mihi diem perficias’, which can be translated as ‘Proceed, varlet, and let the day be rendered perfect for my benefit’. That is, ‘Go ahead, punk, make my day’.
He has 18 books to his credit and has been chairman of the Arts Council and the Design Council, a governor of the British Film Institute, and trustee of the Victoria and Albert Museum where he co-curated the Hollywood Costume exhibition, which was exhibited from October 2012 to January 2013.
The Business of Film is a carefully researched, beautifully argued, elegantly presented case in point.
It is always a pleasure to hear Observer film critic Mark Kermode talking about film. Whether you agree with him or not – and I know plenty who don’t – his passion and gift for performance lift his opinions above the usual movie obsessive. He’s also a great interviewer, though this is often forgotten… This was an interesting programme, absolutely packed with information without being too overwhelming.
BBC 5 live’s popular film review programme, presented by Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo, has been nominated for a prestigious prize.
Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review has been shortlisted for the Radio Programme of the Year in the Broadcasting Press Guild’s awards.
Broadcast every Friday afternoon on 5 live since 2001, the film show takes a look at the latest movie releases and news from the film world.
The podcast of the show has been downloaded more than 50 million times and is one of the BBC’s most popular podcasts.
Controller of 5 live, Jonathan Wall, said:
We’re in the middle of the Hollywood awards season so it’s fitting Simon and Mark are nominated for an award of their own. The programme is on top form – anyone who heard Mark giving his thoughts on the 50 Shades of Grey movie would agree with that. The show has become a firm fixture not just for film fans but for lovers of great radio, which is why the nomination is so richly deserved.
The show is made for 5 live by independent production company Somethin’ Else. The awards will be presented on Friday 13 March 2015.
“Hedda Archbold is the real deal, one of the best kept secrets in British TV and radio. She is more than an agent: she is a talent-spotter, adviser, impresario, consigliere, producer, format shaper, buddy, manager, sherpa and guide through the media jungle. She is ace to work with, fun to be with, and a winner.”
Eddie Morgan, producer at Northern Town and former editor of The Culture Show
“Hedda cares passionately about her clients and she combines that with a very professional relationship with stakeholders. I have worked with her for six years and we have always maintained healthy respect for each other – even when the going got tough.”
Jonathan Wall, Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra
“Working with Hedda is a joy and a masterclass in talent management and programming. Hedda is a skilled producer who is passionate, informed, professional and a great laugh.”
Sophie Kendrick – Lead Producer – Cinemas and Events at the British Film Institute (BFI)
Film critic and broadcaster Anna Smith has been elected Chair of the Critics Circle Film Section – making her the first female Chair since the legendary Dilys Powell stepped down 38 years ago.
Anna Smith says:
“I am thrilled to be elected as Chair of the Critics Circle Film Section. I’m excited to be representing my fellow critics in a time when the film industry is going from strength to strength, when social media is prevalent and when expert film writers are ever important. With new releases being viewed across platforms by many generations, our work in informing and advising the audience is key. I look forward to tackling issues that concern our members and working with the industry and the wider Circle to ensure the Film Section continues to go from strength to strength.”
Anna sends a weekly list of films she has seen. To subscribe, email her on annasmithjourno@gmail.com
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