Welcome to TOTAL FILM

THE SMARTER MOVIE MAGAZINE

Another month and still the strikes continue. The fight here is often reduced to rich, greedy actors wanting more money and more time off, but the impact this industrial action has is felt throughout the business. The drivers, the caterers, the PAs, the publicists and yes, Total Film, are hamstrung by the action, with livelihoods threatened and projects collapsing. And in the case of this issue, not being about to talk to Wonka himself, Timothée Chalamet, about playing the chocolate king and getting covered in the sweet stuff. Not to worry, we got your story without Mr C, and I got to hang out in Abbey Road Studios listening to an orchestra create the gorgeous Wonka score in one of the most famous recording spaces in the world. Also had a cuppa in the canteen like Messrs Lennon, McCartney, Starr and Harrison. Created no iconic albums or groundbreaking singles myself while I was there, but I did put this lovingly crafted issue together with the help of an exceptional team whose work is under immense pressure right now because of the strikes. They’re not billionaire actors living in Hollywood mansions and neither are pretty much all the people being put under strain in this fight. The studios think they’re starving their talent out, but they’re just starving artists and creators – and everyone of wonderment. Willy Wonka would have something to say about that I imagine…

Enjoy the issue!