Education and routes in:

BA Liberal Arts

Sandra’s viewpoints:

I have an audio archive of megastar interviews, which surpasses that of the BFI.  No one, including myself, can believe that one person accomplished them all. I now use soundbites from the audio archive of megastar interviews, along with Hollywood ‘makeover’ stills of some of the golden age stars for seminars and lectures about Hollywood and the corporate image.

What’s next?

A couple of books: one on Alfred Hitchcock locations; another about Hollywood’s corporate image using `makeover` stills from my own collection

Best bit about your work:

I do what I want.

Any downsides?

No money, and often a bum rap.

Sandra’s tips:

Know your genius and don’t rip off other people.

So what do you do with a BA degree in English Literature? 

Become a schoolteacher.  No. 

Write for your local paper.  No.

When I graduated from University Olga Barbi interviewed me for a job at ‘Newsweek’ magazine.  She wanted me to cover financial news.  I said ‘No.  I wanted the entertainment beat’.  No vacancies.  Everyone wants to review films and to interview film people.

So what did I do?  I made my own job.

Shortly after becoming a freelancer and interviewing (my first) Liza Minnelli – because I loved her mother, Judy Garland - I wrote a piece, which I submitted to `The New York Times`.  It was entitled `Down With Myth America` and was published on 24 May 1970.  The piece is now included in the `Times` compendium and can be accessed at the BFI film library.  I feel a bit like Lord Byron when I say `I was made famous overnight`.