Vicki Lesley
@vickilesley
Director of 'The Atom: A Love Affair' (Netflix & DIsney+) Host of online film club ‘The Film Thread’. Proud Brightonian & autism advocate/parent. Writing about work, life & films at vickilesley.substack.com
Pretty chuffed with today’s charity shop haul of vintage Ladybird books. But even happier with the original Blue Peter Bring & Buy sale sticker. All the 1980s childhood nostalgic feels 😍😄
A few thoughts on the way home from @cantkillthespirit.bsky.social - a wonderful play I saw today about a Greenham woman whose activist spirit is reawakened in the climate movement 40 years on. One more performance tomorrow if you’re anywhere near Brighton #brightonfringe #greenhamcommon #protest
Last call for tonight’s essential webinar to hear about the past & present legacy of British nuclear colonialism on Western Shoshone tribal land #nukesky from-bombs-to-data-centres.eventbrite.co.uk
Have you seen this month’s Film Thread autism season pick, Barfi!…? I’d love to hear your thoughts if you have. Did you cry as much as me when Shruti let the deaf Barfi know the love of his life was calling out for him?? And how much did it make you wanna take a train trip in Darjeeling! ❤️ #filmsky
Honoured to be taking part in this webinar, a rare opportunity for UK campaigners to hear direct from the Western Shoshone about the toxic ongoing legacy of British nuclear tests in Nevada, with new updates on contamination & the connection to AI #nukesky from-bombs-to-data-centres.eventbrite.co.uk
Raspad, the Chernobyl film I’ve posted about today, prominently features the Eastern bloc version of the Tour de France which rode through Kiev in the days after the disaster. It’s a strange feeling thinking of that race as I sit watching Liege-Bastogne-Liege while reading today’s news headlines…
Anyone else still consult physical movie guide books? These two trusty old tomes have been by my side while I’m compiling a special little bonus for my film club. Yes, we have the internet now, but there’s just something about physically flicking through page after page of movie history… #filmsky
Finally made it to the new(ish) coffee shop in the converted ‘garden temple’ folly at Black Rock on the #Brighton seafront, built in 1835 but long fallen into disrepair until its recent restoration. Gets a big thumbs up from my daughter & I. Friendly staff, delicious food & the view is hard to beat😊
Wanna join my slow cinema film club for 49% off? It’s my 49th birthday so I’m offering a discount on The Film Thread until our last Zoom of series 1 on Sunday. Access all 6 deep dive essays/replays on atomic movies ahead of our brand new season on autism🎬🍿 #filmsky 👉 vickilesley.substack.com/49for49
After reading my early '80s Ladybird book version at bedtime last night we've been on a Little Mermaid extravaganza! Watched today: the 2023 live action version, a 1970s Readers Digest cartoon (narrated by no less than Dr Kildare!) and best of the bunch - the trippy 1968 Soviet animation #filmsky
Something I wasn’t expecting to see today: a rose in full bloom with a fully decorated Christmas tree & lights in the background… Climate change, what climate change?
I've recorded my latest video book report, this one on my mid-1960s vintage charity shop gem, 'The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Atomic Radiation'. Full thing will be up later on this evening but here's a sneaky peak... #nukesky
Current reading, from my pile of charity shop finds. Published in 1964 and written by a Scottish mother of four whose first job was on a New Zealand sheep station and who later wrote crime & sci-fi novels. And that cover! I mean how could I possibly refuse? 😄 #nukesky
Reading about the amazing Greenham rebel women and enjoying some autumn sunshine in the community garden this morning. The reading/researching/thinking phase of a new film is such a nice place to be…
Been reading a memoir from Greenham Common this morning and it's only making me even more excited about reading the new novel from @eanstruther.bsky.social Fallout, coming to your shelves next year. Check out the trailer! #nukesky
A flying visit to the beautiful Othona Community nestled by the mudflats on the Essex coast, in the shadow of Bradwell nuclear power station, to screen my film at an intimate gathering of artists, archaeologists & activists. What a landscape. I hope to come again someday and stay a little longer.
Found amidst the layers of old newspaper (2004 on top of 1974) underneath the fitted wardrobe the builders just ripped out of my bedroom. Yes that’s a Page 3 playing card! (I’ll spare you the picture on the other side). Cue explaining Page 3 girls to my 11 year old son. “That’s just *weird*. Yup.
Was about to say I had parenting of both kids at the Brighton & Hove CC Under 11s Friday night match fully under control. Until a neat cover drive from the first born almost took out my pint!! 🤣 #cricket
Counting down to the end of the launch discount on my slow cinema club The Film Thread. Half price till the end of today. Come chat about nuclear testing sending the world spinning off its axis! (thankfully only in Val Guest's movie not for real😁) vickilesley.substack.com/subscribe #filmsky #nukesky
One for the cycling fans amongst you. Check out the tiny Tim Wellens my 11 year old made today while we were watching the live Tour coverage (my T-shirt included for scale and entirely coincidental that it’s covered in bikes!!) #tdf
Inspired by my latest EBay purchase we’re having a Buster Keaton Sunday morning. Stone cold classic stuff even a century on 🤩
Delving into some crazy stories of post-war uranium fever in my latest atomic book report. Check it out! vickilesley.substack.com/p/book-repor...
What's your favourite atomic movie? I wonder if it will be on the programme for my shiny new online movie club 'The Film Thread'??! Stay tuned cos I'm revealing the very first film TOMORROW. And bonus prizes for spotting the obvious mistakes in the movie poster collage ChatGPT made for me 🤣#filmsky