Page 22 - ELSPETH TAVARES TRIBUTE

I met met Elspeth sometime during my first Cannes festival in in in 2007 when I visited her office in in the Carlton Hotel with a a a a few colleagues After a a a a a a brief conversation we agreed to have coffee back in London and hence began a a a wonderful friendship My birthday coincides
with the Cannes festival and each year year she would break off work for for an an an hour (which was always the the busiest time of of the the year year for for her) in order to buy me a a a a a birthday lunch In In doing to to ‘get myself known in in in the the industry’ In In 2008 she offered to to publish an article about me for the the AFM ‘but only if I I attended in person’ which I I did with relish That same year she launched TheWIFTS Foundation an an awards organisation recognising the unique achievements of of women women in in various fields of of endeavour particularly women women who were unlikely to to be recognised by by any other organisation It was a a a a a a a a a a pleasure for me me me me me to to contribute sometimes by by by simply recommending music music award candidates other times times by by composing ceremony music music or or campaign video scores Elspeth was a a a a a a a hard-working forthright and principled person We often had long political debates with much jocularity over lunch by phone or after a a a a a a a a a a a film screening Looking back as as write this she was one one of of a a a a a a a a a a handful of of British Afro-Caribbeans working in in in in in in the film industry whom I I knew and having her her sisterly support was very comforting I I shall miss her her dearly Christopher Barnett Composer _______________________________
Letter from California Senator Barbara Boxer re TheWIFTS About 30 years ago I was working as as a a a a a a a Personal Banking Officer at at City National Bank in Beverly Hills when a a a a colleague asked me me if I would help a a a a customer who apparently had a a a a a a a complaint My colleague also told me that she had trouble understanding the customer because of her accent and since I I was English I I should have no trouble That was was when I was was introduced to Elspeth Tavares Yes she did have a a a a a strong London accent but was was very clear about what was was going on with her bank account I settled the matter and it was not long before
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2008 – 2019
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The Business Of Film
MEMORIAL ISSUE 1980-2022