Spirit Level Film

Shelby and I had made a deal which changed my life.

Before he took on Ferrari, went on to win Le Mans, the World Manufacturers Championship, build the legendary Cobra, Mustang, GT40 and run five international championship-winning race teams he'd been a 30-something bankrupt chicken farmer with a passion for driving fast. The bankruptcy forced him to face a choice - get a regular dollar-chasing job or follow your passion. Shelby knew this was probably his last chance to pursue the thing he loved - but not an easy choice to make when you've a wife and two kids to feed.

In the process of selling out of the company I co-founded 12 years earlier and not sure of what to do next I asked for Shelby for advice.

We'd come to know each other through motorsports (my previous company had a motor racing team) and Shelby was about the only person I knew who'd taken a radical mid-life career switch and was old enough to reflect on the experience. His advice was unequivocal - pursue what you love. I said I'd do it on one condition - that he agreed to be the subject of my first film. He'd essentially be entrusting his life story to a complete novice he barely knew. He didn't hesitate to agree.

I told him our film was to end at the point Carroll realises his success meant that he was no longer doing what he loved - racing. Instead he was sat behind a desk reporting to accountants - a Faustian tale ending with his decision to sell up and head to Africa.

The BBC liked the story, gave it the green light, Spirit Level Film was in business and I'd stayed in touch with Carroll ever since.

We'd spoken last year and he'd asked what I was up to. I'd explained the Price of Kings series of films to him and he laughed, "same old BS - what's the price for doing what you believe." Carroll had a way of cutting to the quick.

"You've only yourself to blame."

"When am I gonna see it ?".

Last week in LA showing The Price of Kings Film 2 : Shimon Peres at the Jewish Film Festival I called him to see if he fancied coming to the screening. His wife, Cleo, answered. She said Carroll was very ill in hospital with pneumonia but she was coming to LA on Weds and would call. Carroll had survived liver, kidney and heart transplants so I wasn't unduly worried - though this was the first time Cleo had answered his mobile and she didn't call back on the Weds. By Thursday I was on my way home and he was gone.

Spirit Level Film are running a work experience programme for students looking to gain a knowledge and understanding of working in the film industry.

The ideal candidates will be reliable, self-motivated, able to prioritise and willing to get involved with whatever tasks need doing around the office.

This is an unpaid position aimed at giving a candidate a first taste of working in an independent production company. However, Spirit Level are able to offer £10 per diem for expenses.

If you think you have what it takes for this position, please send a CV and covering letter to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery; Lamborghini, no less, have based their new advert on C'était un Rendezvous.

This week we took Havana Film Club on a field trip to Doc Heads.

This week it was oddball week.

This week, I set myself up for a fall by choosing some films to show the group.

Friday saw the third installment of Havana Film Club. We were going for less Jaws 3-D, more Die Hard With A Vengeance.

The Spirit Level Film office is pretty cosy. I don’t mean cosy in a negative, steerage cabin aboard the Titanic way though. I mean cosy in like a grandparents’ living room at Christmas kind of way – it’s filled with loads of weird ornaments and stuff which you don’t see every day. I’ve not been here long, so every day I see some new weird thing.

Last week’s Havana Film Club was moved to Friday evening from it’s regular Thursday night slot. I can’t remember why it was moved, but it was good for two reasons.

Because everyone loves photos of other people's pets right?