JG Ballard: interview - part 2

PART 2. This videointerview was recorded on the 10th may 1994 in Shepperton at JG Ballard's home by me, E. "Gomma" Guarneri, from Milano, and Matthew Fuller, londoner. As, with my publishing cooperative ShaKe, I had published the italian edition of "Re/Search JGB", I had the idea to
pick up the phone, call JGB and ask him: "Can we come to see you?". That was the first time I talked with him. And he said yes, come now! In 30 minutes we took the train from Victoria and reached Shepperton. The first thing he did was to offer us a big glass of whisky. Because of it,
and of course because of JGB magnetic presence I was totally out (you can notice that the videocam is not exactly stable). Berlusconi has been just elected, I was in my cyberpunk/techno phase and this is what happened. What a day. Thank you Jim!

Questa videointervista è stata registrata il 10 maggio 1994 a Sheppertonn a casa di JG Ballard. Da me, E. "Gomma" Guarneri, Milano e Matthew Fuller, londinese. Con la mia casa editrice ShaKe avevo appena pubblicato l'edizione italiana di "Re/Search JGB" e mi è venuta l'idea di telefonare a JGB (il numero era sulla guida) e chiedergli: "Possiamo venire a trovarti?". Era la prima volta che ci parlavo. Ha risposto di sì e di andare subito! In mezz'ora abbiamo preso il treno a Victoria e abbiamo raggiunto Shepperton. La prima cosa che ha fatto è stata quella di offrirci un bicchierone di whisky. A causa di questo, e ovviamente, a causa della sua magnetica presenza, ero totalmente fuori (cosa che si capisce da come è instabile la telecamera). Berlusconi era appena stato eletto. Io ero in piena fase cyberpunk/techno. E questo è ciò che è successo. Che giornata. Grazie Jim!

Per gli italiani: la traduzione la trovate sul sito shake.it

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• jg
• ballard
• cyberpunk
• SF
• modernity
• shake
• decoder

[ThePeely]

Unbelievable! An iconic author invites you into HIS HOME to be interviewed, and you witter on and on and on about Italian politics! Seriously? Thank you for showing us what a gentleman he was. Opportunity of a lifetime, wasted. At least we see his immense social graces.

[Brianjonestown]

Almost a complete waste of time, but how nice for JGB to allow the crew into his home.

[mahound9]

[Ballard's voice:] Hm...

Such a nice guy, too nice to steer the conversation away from the italians. Should have got a Canadian to interview him.

[librathene]

Always wanted to know Ballard's views on the Italian economic / political landscape! Gommo, you are a boring, boring, man.

[BigJohnWoody]

I am concerned that what I have just seen is JG Ballard receiving a lecture rather than an interview.

[babayaga77]

mi sa che di berlusconi non gliene frega un cazzo