Happy Birthday: Mike Figgis

Mike Figgis

Born: February 28, 1948 in Carlisle, Cumberland, England, UK

I could write a short thesis on why there were so many men in the film industry and I’d say it was to do with the weight of the equipment. One can understand how a hierarchy of men, a film crew, has built up. In order for us to handle 100 to 150 large men who are carrying equipment almost like an army unit, then it makes sense to put a man in charge of all of that because there are gender issues about control and authority. Just like in the armed forces. The fact is that in the modern film industry those physical conditions no longer prevail; therefore there is no crude, physical reason why it should be so male-dominated.

Film is very important to our culture – it is the main story-telling medium. If it’s not representational…