As many readers will know, before I wrote books, or even this blog, I worked in the film industry; I spent many years working as a runner and assistant director. Before that, however, I was an aspiring writer-director, and worked on my own films (shorts) both prior to, and after, attending film school.
It was during this time that I met the British director Antonia Bird, who'd been my idol for some years, and she took me under her wing, mentoring me whilst I was a student filmmaker, and supporting and advising me on my graduation film.
I'm struggling to express just how much of an impact she had on me, because I am too upset by her tragic passing, but it's fair to say that my work, my writing, my political approach to art have all been massively influenced by her; I've tried to share a little of that in this article I wrote for the Guardian.