He’s the name behind movies like Chariots of Fire and The Killing Fields and he’s in Brisbane.

Lord David Puttnam, is here to pass on some of his wisdom to budding film students.

Charlotte Collins reports.

TRANSCRIPT

One of the most celebrated figures in cinema, he’d rather simply be called David.

In a seminar he spoke to students and invited guests at QUT’s Gardens Point campus.

He says now, more than ever, is a great time for the local film industry.

David Puttnam, Film Producer: “I think that Queensland and Australia generally are known to have very good levels of support, technological support, crews, people like working here.”

David Puttnam’s impressive career as an independent film producer includes such classics as Midnight Express, Chariots of Fire and The Mission.

He entered the film industry, after a stint in advertising.

David Puttnam, Film Producer: “It was in the late 1960s, it’s quite hard for people who didn’t live through that era, to imagine what it was like, in that anything was possible.”

It seems David Puttnam has continued to champion the mantra of ‘anything is possible’ throughout his diverse career.

Since retiring from film production in 1998, he has been actively involved in politics, public policy and education in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Today, he had this advice.

David Puttnam, Film Producer: “I think what works very well, is when a generation of young people, of the same age, or people the same age, emerge from a film school, believing in each other.”

And that’s his key to creativity.

Charlotte Collins, QUT News.