Matthew Alford
Matthew Alford is a British writer and commentator known for his work on the relationship between Western governments, war, and the media.
Career
[edit]Academia
[edit]In 2008, Alford earned a doctorate from the University of Bath. He adapted his thesis to write Reel Power: Hollywood Cinema and American Supremacy, published in 2010 by Pluto Press.
Journalism
[edit]In 2008, Alford co-authored articles about the disappearance of screenwriter Gary Devore for The Guardian and Fortean Times,[1] later producing a documentary The Writer with No Hands on the topic.[2][3]
In 2017, Alford co-authored National Security Cinema: The Shocking New Evidence of Government Control in Hollywood, based on FOIA requests to the CIA and Department of Defense. The book formed the basis for Theaters of War, a documentary he co-produced in 2022.[4]
Political Activity
[edit]In 2024, Alford criticised the US and UK for “sleepwalking into a third world war”. He was the Workers Party of Britain's parliamentary candidate in Bath the UK 2024 general election.[5] Entering the race, he declared, “this election just became an opportunity to shout like a lion and not vote like a lemming”. He received 230 votes (0.48%).
Selected works
[edit]Books
[edit]- Reel Power: Hollywood Cinema and American Supremacy. London: Pluto Press, 2010. ISBN 9780745329826.
- 2018. French edition with new introduction by the author. Hollywood Propaganda, Cinéma Hollywoodien et Hégémonie Américaine (Éditions Critiques). Translation: Cyrille Rivallan. ISBN 979-1097331092
- 2023. Final Cut (Éditions Critiques). French edition with new preface by the author. ISBN 979-10-97331-46-7
- National Security Cinema: The Shocking New Evidence of Government Control in Hollywood (CreateSpace, 2017). With Tom Secker. ISBN ISBN 9781548084981.
- 2021. Expanded French edition. L'Empire Vous Divertit: Comment la CIA et le Pentagone Utilisent Hollywood (Investig'Action). Translation: Philippe Stroot. ISBN 978-2930827773
Films
[edit]- Theaters of War (2022) (co-producer)
- The Writer With No Hands (2014) (producer)
References
[edit]- ^ "FT266 - FT Covers". ft.gjovaag.com.."FT248 - FT Covers". ft.gjovaag.com.
- ^ Gane, Thomas (5 May 2016). "The Mystery of the Dead Hollywood Screenwriter Whose Hands Were Never Found". Vice. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ White, Mike. "Special Report: The Writer with No Hands (2017)".
- ^ "Op-Ed: Why does the Pentagon give a helping hand to films like 'Top Gun'?". Los Angeles Times. 30 May 2022.
- ^ Wimperis, John (11 June 2024). "General Election 2024: Full list of candidates for Bath". Somerset Live. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
