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Film-maker David Puttnam once carried his musician son, Sacha, on his shoulders to watch a Police concert

Sacha Puttnam on having British film-maker David Puttnam as a parent. -- PHOTO: EDWARD TEO FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES Oscar-winning British film-maker David Puttnam and his composer-pianist son Sacha Puttnam have a strong rapport that is apparent when one meets them.

The affable and chatty pair was in town last week to give a film and music talk at Lasalle College of the Arts, and also for Sacha, 48, to promote his new solo album, Puttnam Plays Puttnam.

It features new renditions of music from his 73-year-old father's iconic films such as Vangelis' Oscar-winning score for Chariots Of Fire (1981), Ennio Morricone's Gabriel's Theme from The Mission (1986) and Nessun Dorma from The Killing Fields (1984).

The idea for it "came from my mum", says Sacha, who is married with a nine-year-old daughter, Ava May. "She's always trying to get David and me to work together, so this was a chance for us. I'm really glad we did."

Activities Europe

Education in Europe in the digital age

It's likely to be a commitment to education, and the 'wisdom' and 'judgment' that hopefully develops from it, that will determine the eventual successes and failures of the twenty-first century.

As we here in Europe continue to work our way through the ramifications of the 2008 economic crisis, I'd suggest that wisdom is something we find ourselves increasingly short of.

Ever more demanding news cycles, economic and employment figures that are scrutinised every quarter, a world so 'interconnected' that a slip of the tongue, or an ill-thought through policy in one hemisphere, can wreak instant havoc in another.

This is a tough environment in which to make well-thought-through policy decisions, yet huge issues, like long-term youth unemployment, demand that we here in Europe dramatically – 'raise our game'.

Increasingly, many of the problems we face pit the present against the future; this generation against those as yet unborn – that's why the young need to have a far greater voice, and take far greater responsibility for what will, after all, be their future.

Activities Film

Movies, politicians need moral purpose: Lord Puttnam

David Puttnam with his son Sacha Puttnam, who accompanied him on his Australian trip. Photo: Michael Cranfield The British producer of films such as Chariots of Fire, The Killing Fields and The Mission said both filmmaking and politics shared a need for a greater moral purpose.

David Puttnam, honoured as Lord Puttnam since being made a Baron in 1997, spent 30 years bringing some of the world's most memorable stories to the screen.

He retired in 1998 to focus on his passion for education and the environment, working diligently in the UK's House of Lords.

The 73-year-old visited Brisbane this week to present a live lecture to Griffith University Students, capping off a year of guest lectures presented via sophisticated teleconferencing from his home in Ireland.

"I don't even try to teach them how to make movies, because the pace of technology makes that almost impossible," he said.

"I teach them why to make movies – what the moral purpose of movies can be, the way in which they can change lives."

After winning 10 Oscars, 25 BAFTAs and the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Lord Puttnam sensed a hesitance to the weighty subject matter and intense characterisation typical of his movies.

Activities Education

Times Higher Education: Q & A with Lord Puttnam

Lord Puttnam is a much-decorated film producer. His films, which include The Mission, The Killing Fields and Chariots of Fire, have won Oscars, Baftas and the Palme D’Or. He retired from film production in 1998 to focus on public policy work, of which education has been a substantial part. In May, he was appointed chair of Pearson College’s academic board. The college is part of Pearson, the first FTSE 100 company in the UK directly delivering degrees.

Your association with higher education is well established, but this is a departure from some of your previous roles, for example, as chancellor of The Open University and the University of Sunderland. What were your reasons for taking up the role?

Pearson College is providing innovative learning opportunities specifically tailored to the needs of the creative industries and other sectors. Given my background this was of particular interest.

Activities Europe

Digital Ireland Forum 2014: complete video highlights

Digital Ireland Forum

Silicon Republic’s sixth Digital Ireland Forum featured keynotes from Eventbrite CTO and co-founder Renaud Visage and Digital Youth Council member Ciara Judge.

The event took place on 12 September 2014 at the Convention Centre Dublin, opening with an address from Communications Minister Alex White, TD, who re-affirmed the Government’s commitment to national broadband roll-out.

This was followed by a special video presentation from Ireland’s digital champion Lord David Puttnam, who warned of complacency when it came to digital enabling businesses.

Video link with Lord David Puttnam, Ireland’s national digital champion

Activities Film

Lord David Puttnam’s Seminar: Marriage, Magic and Movies

LaSalle Students As his charming and endearing figure appeared on screen, the students of the Puttnam School of Film (especially the first years) took a deep breath, sat up in their seats, and looked straight into the eyes of the Lord David Puttnam in all his digital glory.

Surprisingly enough, this isn’t an uncommon occurrence in LASALLE’s film school. One of the perks of attending The Puttnam School of Film is being able to take part in these infamously exclusive seminars by the man himself, be it in flesh or digital flesh.

Activities Film

David Puttnam: a man who is very much on a mission

Lord David Puttnam with his dog Connor at his home in West Cork David Puttnam has tried many lives for size. Starting out as a messenger boy, he went on to work in advertising, and then he became an Oscar-winning film producer. You can hear the music from his films, including Chariots of Fire and The Mission in the National Concert Hall on September 13. He will be talking about his work, and Sacha, his film-composer son, will then perform arrangements of the famous themes with the RTE Concert Orchestra and The Mornington Singers.

Earlier on in the day, David will give a TED talk on the environment. He is nervous about that, especially as he is not allowed to use any notes. It's all go, but all part of the hectic life on which he thrives.

Activities Film

David Puttnam on Richard Attenborough: an irreplaceable man

Bafta FIlm Awards London We have lost someone utterly irreplaceable.

Irreplaceable to his family, irreplaceable to the country he loved, irreplaceable to the industry to which he devoted his working life; certainly irreplaceable to me.

Activities Film

Sacha Puttnam talks about P Plays P album

David Puttnam's son, the pianist and composer Sacha Puttnam, has recorded an album of the music from some of his father's great films called 'Puttnam Plays Puttnam'.

Listen here…

Activities Media

David Puttnam at RTE Radio 1 – Sunday with Miriam

Oscar winning Producer and Director David Puttnam spoke to Miriam from his home in Skibbereen.

Press here to listen…

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