As an entertainment journalist specialising in movies Ian has interviewed a large number of filmmakers and actors, including some of Hollywood’s biggest names. In addition, he has written pieces on other creatives involved in areas such as TV, radio, stand-up comedy, writing and theatre. The pieces appeared in a wide range of publications and websites including Empire, Hotdog, FilmFour, SFX, The Big Issue, City Life (Manchester), Musicweek, The North Guide, The Leeds Guide and VODzilla.
ENTER SANDMAN With Audible’s Sandman adaptation due out in July, Ian Winterton spoke to radio drama pioneer Dirk Maggs about his 30 year quest to turn Neil Gaiman’s ground-breaking comic book into an “audio movie”. “I will show you terror ...
INTERVIEW: Cast and crew of Brit body-horror ‘Await Further Instructions’ Is there anything more terrifying than being stuck in the house – unable to so much as wander onto the patio for a crafty cigarette – with your own family? ...
A pleasure cruiser chugs up the Thames in the mellow sunlight of a beautiful summer evening. On board, a handful of journalists sip champagne on deck, watching London slide past – the Eye, the Town Hall, swanky apartment blocks and, ...
“Leeds back then was very black and sooty,” says Alan Bennett. “When I first went to Cambridge, it just seemed like something out of a fairy story. It just looked so wonderful.” Though these words might not be altogether loyal ...
“It wasn’t about ‘I’m a big lesbian!’” laughs Lena Heady, of her latest film, Imagine Me & You. “It’s just about love.” Heady, a resident of Huddersfield, was actually born in Bermuda in 1976. “That always sounds very exciting,” she ...
It’s midday on a Friday and I’ve accidentally got drunk. Now, the floaty, vaguely tripped-out feeling may be down to the four pints I’ve just glugged down, but I’m more inclined to blame the fact that I’ve been locked in ...
Something Wicker This Way Comes… Ahead of a new re-mastered release, Ian Winterton chats paganism, Christopher Lee and Nicolas Cage in a bear-suit with Wicker Man director Robin Hardy. Though consistently rated as one of the best horror films ever, that epithet ...
“It was never my intention to become the Princess of Genovia. It was my intention to become an actress.” So says 24-year old Brooklyn-born Anne Hathaway, referring to the fictional kingdom that made her famous in The Princess Diaries, the ...
A room full of jaded hacks from all corners of the globe isn’t exactly a comedian’s dream audience. Add to this the fact that the press conference is actually scripted, all questions having been submitted in advance, making the assembled ...
By the very nature of their profession, actors are paid to pretend, but it’s not often – on film at least – that they have to make believe they’re looking at the Sun without it actually being there. But, when ...
WELCOME THE NEWCOMERS TO THE HARRY POTTER UNIVERSE... ROBERT PATTINSON CEDRIC DIGGORY Were you a Harry Potter fan before you got this part? I’d never read any of the books and hadn’t seen the movies either, so I can’t really ...
“I must confess that I think her as delightful a character as ever appeared in print, and how I shall be able to tolerate those who do not like her at least, I do not know.” - Jane Austen Almost ...
The Warriors (1979) "We made it on the shoestring, shooting almost entirely on location during New York’s wettest summer in 75 years. And we were in some very rough neighbourhoods. It was controversial when it came out in ’79 but, ...
“I was always drawn to the Grimms for the primal nature of their stories,” says Terry Gilliam, adding with a grin. “I like the darkness.” No kidding. The latest movie from the maverick director, a fantastical account of how the ...
“I loved being pregnant,” says Rachel Weisz. This wouldn’t be an astounding statement if it wasn’t for the fact that Rachel Weisz has never actually given birth. She’s talking about Tessa, her character in her latest movie, The Constant Gardener, ...
As you’d expect from Shane Black, the man who created Lethal Weapon, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is a buddy movie. This time, though, it isn’t tough-guy cops but a gay movie producer and a petty criminal, thrust together in a ...
“Please don’t mention her ex…” is the gentle warning from Amelia Warner’s people. This being Hotdog and not some scurrilous tab, that’s no hardship; besides, there’s much more to the talented Ms Warner than her four-month marriage to Colin Farrell ...
For George Clooney, 2005 was a hell of a year. And not just in a good way. Yes, he’s been nominated for three Oscars (Best Supporting actor for Syriana, Best Director and Best Screenwriter for Good Night, And Good Luck), ...
Most people in the West hadn’t heard of Rwanda prior to April 1994, when a million Tutsis were murdered by the Hutus. It was the worst case of state-sponsored genocide since the Nazis but the Western powers, then half-heartedly intervening ...
“He wanted me to speak in a totally flat monotone,” says Jena Malone. Breezy and upbeat, her speech, like many young Californians, liberally peppered with “dude”, “man” and “awesome”, it’s hard to imagine the 21-year old doing a Rainman. But, ...
“Churchill, Lloyd George, Birkenhead…” growls Ken Loach. “It’s always good to throw a snowball at those bloody imperialists.” The public perception of Ken Loach is that he’s spiky, probably dour, most definitely from The North and unashamedly leftwing. Only the ...
By Ian Winterton First published in CityLife magazine in 2005 There’s a T-shirt, popular with scientists I’m told, that bears on its front the legend: “Memes don’t work”, while the reverse reads, “Tell a friend.” I think this is a ...
By Ian Winterton First published in CityLife magazine in April 2004 Blending those evergreen themes of cannibalism and the living dead into a tale of romance, Shaun of the Dead promises to believe life into British films. Again... "Zombies..." says ...
By Ian Winterton First published in The North Guide magazine in 2004 As premieres in Leicester Square go, A Very Long Engagement is a low-key affair. The red carpet is decidedly short and the crowd is nothing compared to the ...
INTERVIEW Alan Moore on V For Vendetta Transcript of telephone interview with Alan Moore by Ian Winterton on Monday 6th June, 2005 Hello, Alan, it's Ian. Hi there. How are you mate? I'm good. Are you OK to talk? Yes ...
By Ian Winterton First published in The North Guide magazine in 2004 “It takes me a couple of years to understand what I get out of the process of making a movie. I couldn’t answer that right now. All the ...
Giggling. Reminiscing about their 15 years working together, Johnny Depp and Tim Burton are giggling together like a couple of kids. “When you squirted blood all over my face off-camera on Sleepy Hollow,” laughs Depp, speaking with a strange accent ...