Paul Yule
Encyclopedia
Paul Harris Yule is a photographer and film maker.
Born in South Africa
his family emigrated to England when he was 8 years old. After studying at Aldenham School
and Oxford University he became an acclaimed photojournalist and documentary film maker, founding Berwick Universal Pictures in London in 1980. He has made more than 30 films on six continents, specialising in feature documentaries, often on controversial political and social themes, several of which have won major awards (International Emmy, Royal Television Society
, Edward Morrow
Prize, Amnesty International
Prize, etc.).
Following work as photographer in Peru from 1979 onwards, a book of his photographs titled "The New Incas" was published by The New Pyramid Press in 1983. Photography became the subject of his first documentary film, 'Martin Chambi
and the Heirs of the Incas' (1986), an award-winning collaboration with Andy Harries
for the BBC's Arena strand, which depicts the life, times, and contemporary relevance of that great Peruvian photographer of the early 20th century. In 1990 he made "Trains That Passed In The Night", a lyrical documentary about another photographer, the American O. Winston Link
, a subject whose life story he was to return to and re-assess fifteen years later in "The Photographer, His Wife, Her Lover" (2005).
In 1991-92 Yule's Emmy Award-winning Channel 4
documentary "Damned In The USA", a film about censorship and the arts in the United States which features Rev. Donald Wildmon
of the American Family Association
, became embroiled in a landmark legal dispute. Wildmon and the AFA sued Yule, his co-producer Jonathan Stack
, and Channel 4
for $8 million in an attempt to stop the distribution of the film, describing it as "blasphemous and obscene". Yule and his co-defendants fought the lawsuit in court in Mississippi and won the legal right to freely exhibit the film. Lou Reed
re-wrote the lyrics to his classic Walk On The Wild Side
in support of the case.
Over the years Yule's film work has ranged from polemical essays through observational documentary and biography to drama. The subject matter of his films have generally addressed the relationships between history and religion, politics, the arts and culture. Along the way he has collaborated with several writers, including with Nicholas Shakespeare
on films about Bruce Chatwin
and Mario Vargas Llosa
; with Peter Oborne
on exposés of Robert Mugabe
and the conspiracy surrounding Basil D'Oliveira
; as well as with Darcus Howe
, Miranda Sawyer
and Paul Morley
. He has also made a number of films in war zones - notably "Babitski's War" (2000, in Chechnya), "The House of War" (2002, in Afghanistan), Mugabe's Secret Famine" (2003, in Zimbabwe), and "Here's One We Invaded Earlier" (2003, in Afghanistan).
In 2008 Yule returned to South Africa to complete a three-film 60-year history of apartheid and its consequences ("White Lies" 1994, "The Basil D'Oliveira Conspiracy" 2004, and "The Captain and the Bookmaker" 2008 - the latter a documentary about the disgraced cricketer Hansie Cronje
). In 2011 he was invited to return to South Africa by The University of Cape Town to teach "The Big Picture", his course on Documentary Film Production.
He is married to the cartoonist Denise Dorrance
.
Born in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
his family emigrated to England when he was 8 years old. After studying at Aldenham School
Aldenham School
Aldenham School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged thirteen to eighteen, located between Elstree and the village of Aldenham in Hertfordshire, England...
and Oxford University he became an acclaimed photojournalist and documentary film maker, founding Berwick Universal Pictures in London in 1980. He has made more than 30 films on six continents, specialising in feature documentaries, often on controversial political and social themes, several of which have won major awards (International Emmy, Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
, Edward Morrow
Edward Morrow
Edward Sydney Morrow Anglican priest and anti-apartheid activist in Namibia, England, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and South Africa.-Biography:...
Prize, Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
Prize, etc.).
Following work as photographer in Peru from 1979 onwards, a book of his photographs titled "The New Incas" was published by The New Pyramid Press in 1983. Photography became the subject of his first documentary film, 'Martin Chambi
Martín Chambi
Martín Chambi Jiménez or Martín Chambi de Coaza, was a photographer, originally from southern Peru...
and the Heirs of the Incas' (1986), an award-winning collaboration with Andy Harries
Andy Harries
Andrew D. M. Harries is a British television and film producer. After graduating from Hull University in the 1970s, Harries began his television career on the Granada Television current affairs series World in Action, before moving on to freelance work...
for the BBC's Arena strand, which depicts the life, times, and contemporary relevance of that great Peruvian photographer of the early 20th century. In 1990 he made "Trains That Passed In The Night", a lyrical documentary about another photographer, the American O. Winston Link
O. Winston Link
Ogle Winston Link , known commonly as O. Winston Link, was an American photographer. He is best known for his black-and-white photography and sound recordings of the last days of steam locomotive railroading on the Norfolk & Western in the United States in the late 1950s...
, a subject whose life story he was to return to and re-assess fifteen years later in "The Photographer, His Wife, Her Lover" (2005).
In 1991-92 Yule's Emmy Award-winning Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
documentary "Damned In The USA", a film about censorship and the arts in the United States which features Rev. Donald Wildmon
Donald Wildmon
Donald E. Wildmon is an ordained United Methodist minister, author, former radio host, and founder and chairman emeritus of the American Family Association and American Family Radio.-Biography:...
of the American Family Association
American Family Association
The American Family Association is a 501 non-profit organization that promotes conservative Christian values, such as opposition to same-sex marriage, pornography, and abortion, as well as other public policy goals such as deregulation of the oil industry and lobbying against the Employee Free...
, became embroiled in a landmark legal dispute. Wildmon and the AFA sued Yule, his co-producer Jonathan Stack
Jonathan Stack
Jonathan David Stack is an American documentary filmmaker.-Biography:Born in New York City to a teacher and worker, Jonathan spent much of his childhood exploring and took an early interest to film. He had the chance to travel a lot from a young age, which inspired him to learn about other...
, and Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
for $8 million in an attempt to stop the distribution of the film, describing it as "blasphemous and obscene". Yule and his co-defendants fought the lawsuit in court in Mississippi and won the legal right to freely exhibit the film. Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
re-wrote the lyrics to his classic Walk On The Wild Side
Walk on the Wild Side
"Walk on the Wild Side" is a Lou Reed song from his 1972 second solo album Transformer. It was produced by David Bowie. The song received wide radio coverage, despite its touching on taboo topics such as transsexuality, drugs, male prostitutes and oral sex and the term "colored" to refer to African...
in support of the case.
Over the years Yule's film work has ranged from polemical essays through observational documentary and biography to drama. The subject matter of his films have generally addressed the relationships between history and religion, politics, the arts and culture. Along the way he has collaborated with several writers, including with Nicholas Shakespeare
Nicholas Shakespeare
Nicholas William Richmond Shakespeare is a British journalist and writer. Born to a diplomat, Shakespeare grew up in the Far East and in South America. He was educated at the Dragon School preparatory school then Winchester College and Cambridge and worked as a journalist for BBC television and...
on films about Bruce Chatwin
Bruce Chatwin
Charles Bruce Chatwin was an English novelist and travel writer. He won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his novel On the Black Hill...
and Mario Vargas Llosa
Mario Vargas Llosa
Jorge Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa, 1st Marquis of Vargas Llosa is a Peruvian-Spanish writer, politician, journalist, essayist, and Nobel Prize laureate. Vargas Llosa is one of Latin America's most significant novelists and essayists, and one of the leading authors of his generation...
; with Peter Oborne
Peter Oborne
Peter Oborne is a British journalist and political commentator. He was educated at Sherborne School and The University of Cambridge. He is a Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph columnist, author of The Rise of Political Lying and The Triumph of the Political Class, and, with Frances Weaver, the...
on exposés of Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
and the conspiracy surrounding Basil D'Oliveira
Basil D'Oliveira
Basil Lewis D'Oliveira CBE , known affectionately around the world as "Dolly", was a South African-born English cricketer. D'Oliveira was classified as 'coloured' under the apartheid regime, and hence barred from first-class cricket, resulting in his emigration to England...
; as well as with Darcus Howe
Darcus Howe
Darcus Howe is a British broadcaster, writer, and civil liberties campaigner. Originally from Trinidad, he moved to America in the 1960s, then arrived in England intending to study law, where he joined the British Black Panthers, the first such branch of the organization outside the United States...
, Miranda Sawyer
Miranda Sawyer
Miranda Sawyer is an English journalist and broadcaster.She grew up in Wilmslow, Cheshire with her brother Toby, who is an actor. She has a degree in Jurisprudence from Pembroke College, Oxford...
and Paul Morley
Paul Morley
Paul Morley is an English journalist, who wrote for the New Musical Express from 1977 to 1983, during one of its most successful periods, and has since written for a wide range of publications...
. He has also made a number of films in war zones - notably "Babitski's War" (2000, in Chechnya), "The House of War" (2002, in Afghanistan), Mugabe's Secret Famine" (2003, in Zimbabwe), and "Here's One We Invaded Earlier" (2003, in Afghanistan).
In 2008 Yule returned to South Africa to complete a three-film 60-year history of apartheid and its consequences ("White Lies" 1994, "The Basil D'Oliveira Conspiracy" 2004, and "The Captain and the Bookmaker" 2008 - the latter a documentary about the disgraced cricketer Hansie Cronje
Hansie Cronje
Wessel Johannes "Hansie" Cronje was a South African cricketer and captain of the South African national cricket team in the 1990s...
). In 2011 he was invited to return to South Africa by The University of Cape Town to teach "The Big Picture", his course on Documentary Film Production.
He is married to the cartoonist Denise Dorrance
Denise Dorrance
Denise Dorrance is an American-born cartoonist and illustrator.Born in Iowa, USA, during the 1980s she worked for Conde-Nast magazines in New York and the photography agency, Magnum, before moving to London in 1992....
.
Filmography
- 'Martin ChambiMartín ChambiMartín Chambi Jiménez or Martín Chambi de Coaza, was a photographer, originally from southern Peru...
and the Heirs of the Incas' (1986) - 'Our God the Condor' (1987)
- 'Iquitos' (1988)
- 'Mario Vargas LlosaMario Vargas LlosaJorge Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa, 1st Marquis of Vargas Llosa is a Peruvian-Spanish writer, politician, journalist, essayist, and Nobel Prize laureate. Vargas Llosa is one of Latin America's most significant novelists and essayists, and one of the leading authors of his generation...
: The Story of the Novelist Who Would Be President' (1990) - 'O Winston Link: Trains that Passed in the Night' (1990)
- 'Damned in the USA' (1991)
- 'As American as Apple Pie' (1992)
- 'Good Morning Mr Hitler!' (1993)
- 'White Lies' (1994)
- 'Return to the Sacred Ice' (1994)
- 'Geiger Sweet Geiger Sour' (1995)
- 'Elgar's Tenth Muse' (1996)
- 'Lone Star Hate' (1997)
- 'In the Footsteps of Bruce ChatwinBruce ChatwinCharles Bruce Chatwin was an English novelist and travel writer. He won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his novel On the Black Hill...
' (1999) - 'Welcome to Armageddon' (1999)
- 'Babitsky's War' (2000)
- 'Battle for the Holocaust' (2001)
- 'Marquis de SadeMarquis de SadeDonatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade was a French aristocrat, revolutionary politician, philosopher, and writer famous for his libertine sexuality and lifestyle...
— Pornographer or Prophet?' (2001) - 'The House of War' (2002)
- 'MugabeMugabeMugabe can refer to:*Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe.*Sally Mugabe, first wife of Robert Mugabe.*Grace Mugabe, second wife of Robert Mugabe.*Omugabe , a title given to kings of Ankole of Uganda.*Mugabe Were, a Kenyan politician....
's Secret Famine' (2003) - 'Afghanistan — Here's One We Invaded Earlier' (2003)
- 'Not Cricket: The Basil D'OliveiraBasil D'OliveiraBasil Lewis D'Oliveira CBE , known affectionately around the world as "Dolly", was a South African-born English cricketer. D'Oliveira was classified as 'coloured' under the apartheid regime, and hence barred from first-class cricket, resulting in his emigration to England...
Conspiracy' (2004) - 'The Last Waterloo Cup' (2005)
- 'The Photographer, His Wife, Her Lover' (2005)
- 'Is This My Country?' (2006)
- 'A Matter of Life and Death' (2007)
- 'Not Cricket 2: The Captain and The Bookmaker' (2008)
- 'Black Star — An African Football Odyssey' (2008)
- 'How To Be A ComposerHow to Be a ComposerHow to Be a Composer is a British television documentary first shown on BBC Four in July 2009.- Background :The show , was based around the former New Musical Express journalist Paul Morley learning how to create a piece of classical music...
' (2009) - 'God Don't Live Here Anymore?' (2010)
- 'Derek Parker - A Life in Architecture' (2011)