Focus's Schamus' Anti-Keynote Address in London

By Peter Bowen On October 28, 2009

Last night the CEO of Focus James Schamus delivered the keynote––or as he refers to it the “anti-keynote”––address at the London Film Festival. Why anti-keynote? Because the talk, entitled “Lessons in Storytelling From the Department of Homeland Security: An Anti-keynote Speech," would not only defy expectations, but defeat them. As he joked, “everything you’ll hear tonight will do nothing to further your career.” Indeed as Screen’s Geoffrey Macnab reports the talk was “unashamedly highbrow… with its references to contemporary narrative theory, intellectual property rights, definitions of privacy, the philosophy of Jacques Derrida and the art of Sophie Calle and Jenny Holzer.” Interestingly, Schamus smart (and sassy) speech was picked up quite differently by different people. Screen’s title “Schamus attacks US security agencies in provocative LFF speech” differed drastically from The Hollywood Reporter's Stuart Kemp’s piece on how “Focus Features chief talks narratives at London Film Festival.”  Anne Thompson simplified her title to: "LFF: Schamus Delivers Lessons in Redacted Storytelling" Only one thing that was certain: it was talk that had people talking.