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Steven Knight - writer of Taboo, CGI resurrections, the Bard's medical knowledge, Alice Oswald

Should film resurrect actors using CGI? Steven Knight on his new 大象传媒1 drama, Taboo; Shakespeare's knowedge of nature's medicines; Alice Oswald, winner of the Costa Poetry category.

Peter Cushing died in 1994 yet curiously he reprises his famous role of Grand Moff Tarkin in the new recently-released Star Wars film Rogue One. A lawyer, an actor and a film critic consider Hollywood's increasing use of CGI in giving film actors a screen life well beyond the grave, from the early days of Peter Sellers in Trail of the Pink Panther and Oliver Reed in Gladiator.

The hero of Taboo, the new Saturday night 大象传媒1 block buster, is an arresting amalgam of Bill Sykes, Sherlock Holmes, Hannibal Lecter and Heathcliff! Screen writer Steven Knight describes how he worked with star Tom Hardy and his dad Chips to work their initial idea into a gripping eight part historical drama.

Today scientists announced a breakthrough in the medical use of spider silk. But it's clear from A Midsummer Night's Dream that Shakespeare already knew about the healing properties of cobwebs. Historian of Medicine Anna Maerker looks at other examples of the Bard's surprising medical knowledge.

Alice Oswald's latest collection of poems, Falling Awake, has won this year's Costa Poetry Award. With its classical themes and exploration of the natural world, she discusses why carving rather than writing might be a better verb for describing her approach to creating new work.

Presenter: Samira Ahmed
Producer: Rebecca Armstrong.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • CGI

    Duration: 11:05

  • Taboo

    Duration: 08:00

  • Shakespeare & Medicine

    Duration: 03:38

  • Alice Oswald

    Duration: 04:49

Taboo

Taboo
Oona Chaplin in Taboo
Main picture shows Tom Hardy in Taboo
Photo credits: FX Networks

Taboo starts on 大象传媒 One on Saturday 7 Jan at 9.15 pm

Alice Oswald

Alice Oswald
Alice Oswald
Photo credit: Kate Mount

Alice Oswald's poetry collection Falling Awake is available now

CGI Resurrections

CGI Resurrections
Rogue One: Ben Mendelsohn in A Star Wars Story
Photo credit: Film Frame 漏 2016 Lucasfilm Ltd

Rogue One is in cinemas nationwide

Credits

Role Contributor
Interviewed Guest Steven Knight
Interviewed Guest Anna Maerker
Interviewed Guest Alice Oswald
Presenter Samira Ahmed
Producer Rebecca Armstrong

Broadcast

  • Thu 5 Jan 2017 19:15

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