Finding film-makers

Sunday night, I had a surpise, I met a film-maker, Carlos, who I had bumped into in Amman back in March 2004. He is making a documentary about the Palestinian football team. His 'human interest' approach to the situation here was part of what formed the ideas Roy and I have come up with for our documentary about a Palestinian family separated between the UK and Jerusalem / Palestine. It was good to see Carlos again and to meet his friend, Moina, too -- we had a quick drink in the Christmas hotel and agreed to meet again at Easter -- he's gone away to film Palestinian team players in Madrid and Chile.

Monday was mainly taken up with planning for the TV pilot documentary I am working on. First of all I spent a few hours with Michael. It is his family who I want to make the film about, and his sister, Claire, who lives in Rotherham who we have already interviewed.

I went to Ramallah to meet him -- so had to go through a major check-point at Kalandyia. Since my visit in March the separation wall has now been built right down up against check-point, there is something so grim about that place and the 200 metres walking through the tin shed walkway -- the pointless empty space, the restricted traffic, the knowledge that so many people can't leave the West Bank for any reason, let alone to find work is so disheartening.

I've also been to the offices of the media company Ramattan in Ramallah. There I met my second film-maker in less than 24 hours: he's called Labib, his style, body language, confidence and understanding of what is needed are spot-on. We have committed to working together on the TV project. I've made the financial arrangements with his company accountant -- so now I must write the schedule for filming, most of which will happen immediately after Christmas.

After that I met a TV news journalist who has invited me to the press conference that is being held there tomorrow with Tony Blair, I know if I went, and had the chance to ask a question I would want to ask Blair whether having the blood of 100,000 civilians on his hands makes him a less likely candidate than Yasser Arafat for progressing peace in the region.

Between now and Thursday I am planning to; meet scholars who have researched on Palestinian Christian issues, lead worship at the Cathedral, meet the rest of Claire's family. I also hope to see Moina and her friend Charline again after a very entertaining dinner last night when we solved all the political issues of the region in one go!