Charlie David – What’s on your mantelpiece?

A 20-question interview with director and producer Charlie David

The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

I have an uncanny knack for honing in on beautiful Brazilian men in a crowd. I’m mysteriously led to them like a dowsing stick to water.

“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

Be brave enough to be honest with everyone in your life.

Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2016?

Man buns.

Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

Playing the piano. I know, I know! Easy enough to fix. A little easier to get back in the saddle with than becoming the head of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom.

What might you swap all your wealth for?

One night of debauchery with Ricky Martin.

Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?

Like travel, music, film, and other industries before it, the big banks now face the squeeze of existing in the age of the Internet. There are better places to invest than through traditional means and people are becoming savvy to that.

What phrase or word do you most loathe?

In television, network execs are very fond of using the words ‘buckets’ and ‘wheelhouse’ to describe the topics or areas of interest on their shopping list. It makes me gag a little.

Overheard at the markets this year: “Murder is huge. We want BIG characters and murder. Like if you have anything with a village of little people who come together as a community to sleuth out a serial killer who has been stalking them? That would definitely be in our wheelhouse”.

In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

Through trips to Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa I was able to see a lot of wildlife, humanitarian and environmental initiatives. I think these are important but somehow we’re still really missing the mark in terms of foreign aid.

I recently read Paul Theroux’s Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town and it was a bit shocking to me in its frank and pragmatic assessment of the impact of foreign aid and voluntourism. Definitely a very good read for anyone who has spent time in Africa or other parts of the world as a volunteer. It certainly caused me to pause and reflect a lot on the type of initiatives I lend my time and dollars to.

Now on the international front, I micro-lend through Kiva.org which to me seems a more pragmatic way forward than hand-outs. It supports entrepreneurs around the world who are unable to apply for a traditional bank loan. I think it fosters business skills, accountability and trust which are all great characteristics for a thriving community.

At home I like to contribute to educational, environmental and arts organizations and generally prefer to donate time/money directly to ones I’ve been involved in. That way I know the people; I can gage the impact and witness the ongoing results.

The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

They should be well and truly hidden whenever humans gather to break bread.

If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

Ricky Martin. Can we have one carriage to ourselves? Please? Honestly, I just think he’s talented and a total D.I.L.F. It’s likely just a passing fancy, not fanaticism.

If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

I’d ask for something I could share with the other inmates like a pizza party at the gym in the courtyard. I’d want it to be a block party, not a solo steak dinner.

What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

If you’re in control of your use of alcohol and it’s not controlling you, then the hour of the clock is irrelevant.

A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

A Negroni s’il vous plait.

Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

My nephews’ and nieces’. I love watching them go to work on a piñata.

Who is the most positive person you know?

My mother. She is pure joy and gratitude. I strive to embody that outlook.

What’s your most guilty pleasure?

Pizza and Netflix.

If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

Ricky Martin eating a pizza and watching Netflix.

If you were a car, what marque would you be?

Honda – Reliable, frugal and pragmatic.

Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

I had a band as a teenager and opened for Destiny’s Child when Ferra was still part of the group.

What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

Books, books, books. And a bobble-head doll of Ricky Martin.

Charlie David is a storyteller with film, books and web. He lives in Toronto and Montréal, Canada and is the founder of Border2Border Entertainment, Inc.

Follow him on Twitter at @CharlieDavid and view his channel on YouTube at @MrCharlieDavid.

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