Mike Alexander
Directing
Biography
Mike Alexander is a Scottish filmmaker. He co-founded the independent Glasgow-based production company Pelicula Films Ltd in 1972 with Mark Littlewood. Through Pelicula Films, he produced a variety of different films, both fiction and documentary. Working in long close association with writer and producer Dougla Eadie, his music credits include Transatlantic Sessions, Down Home with Aly Bain in North America, Beyond The Maypole, Aly Meets The Cajuns, The Jazz Apple and Follow The Moonstone. Outside of music, the Alexander/Eadie collaborations include: the Gaelic drama, As An Eilean (“From The Island”) winner of best feature film award at the 1993 Festival of the Americas in Montevideo, Uruguay; Gramsci – Everything That Concerns People, a dramatised portrait of the great Italian socialist writer; Haston – A Life In The Mountains, the life and times of the legendary Dougal Haston, enfant terrible of Scottish climbing; and Fishing For Poetry, with Billy Connolly, Aly Bain and Andrew Greig celebrating the centenary of the birth of the great Scottish poet, Norman MacCaig, by trekking high into the hills of MacCaig’s beloved Assynt to find and fish his favourite trout loch.
Known For
Series of single made-for-television dramas.
Screen Two
A drama documentary on the life and work of Italian communist Antonio Gramsci. Produced for Channel 4 in 1987, it was directed by the Scottish filmmaker Mike Alexander and starred John Sessions in scenes from Gramsci's life. Brian Cox provided the narration.
Gramsci: Everything that Concerns People
Unemployed Ayrshire teenager Sammy Nelson is a dreamer, using his vivid imagination to conjure up a gallery of heroes. But far from simply providing an escape from grim reality, his dreams become weapons to confront it. With appearances by Deacon Blue, Billy Connolly and Marianne Faithful
Dreaming
A profile of the Hippest band of the 60's and 70's as they prepare for a reunion gig.
Retying the Knot: The Incredible String Band
Docu-drama about the taking of the Stone of Scone from Westminster Abbey on Christmas morning of 1950 by a band of Scottish nationalist. The Stone of Scone is a holy relic (supposed to have been Jacob's Pillow when he dreamt of the Ladder to Heaven) on which the old kings of Scotland were crowned. It was stolen by Edward Longshanks - of Braveheart fame - in 1296 and had remained at the Abbey since.
Interrogation of a Highland Lass
The inhabitants of a remote Scottish village live and learn.
As an Eilean
Zimbabwean musician, Biggie Tempo, talks to a number of UK folk musicians about their work and their views on traditional music.
Beyond the Maypole
Explore the growth of Aberdeen’s sparkling streets.
Aberdeen
1969 short film
The Bodyguard
A young boy away at boarding school struggles when his mother and father split up.
Home and Away
In 1871, 'tired of the speakers of English', Mairi Mhor began writing resistance songs in Gaelic, protesting at the displacement of the Scottish Highland and Island folk by the Southern landlords. Unjustly imprisoned in Inverness at the age of 51, she expresses her anger in song, discovering a talent for music; these songs became central to the identity of the region and are still sung today. The achingly beautiful landscape of Skye, and the music it inspired, provide a haunting canvas for this valuable piece of historical research.
Mairi Mhor
Centred around the unwelcome visit of a happy young couple staying in a tent on a farmer's land, and the unforeseen consequences of their stay.
The Tent
A documentary following future seven time world snooker champion Stephen Hendry as a teenager in the run up to and aftermath of his first ever ranking event win at the Rothmans Grand Prix.
Stephen Hendry: Doing the Business
One of the greatest poets of his generation, Norman MacCaig (1910-96) was also an expert fly-fisher. His favourite loch, the Loch of the Green Corrie, lies high up in the mountains of Assynt in the far north-west of Scotland. Fiddle maestro Aly Bain, Billy Connolly and award-winning poet and novelist Andrew Greig celebrate MacCaig in the centenary year of his birth with a journey from Edinburgh to Assynt and then the long climb to the Loch of the Green Corrie with its elusive trout.
Fishing for Poetry - A Celebration of Norman MacCaig
This early film of Michael Alexander's centres on a young gardener whose work in a beautiful garden is contrasted with visions of his own death.
The Gardener
A look at the city of Edinburgh, Scotland with a particular focus on its famous castle.
Castle and Capital
An Evening With Nanci Griffith and The Blue Moon Orchestra filmed at the Armadillo in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 26 & 27, 1998.
Other Voices, Too: An Evening With Nanci Griffith
"This video takes you for a trip through the Cajun countryside, visiting some of the finest Cajun musicians and learning about the beautiful and fascinating culture. Featuring: Queen Ida, Boozoo Chavis, Savoy-Doucet Band, Dewey Balfa and more."
Cajun Country
A portrait of the Scottish island of Iona.
Iona - Dove Across the Water
A portrait of the past and present of the city of Dunfermline, Scotland's ancient capital.