To Orwell Today,

Dear Jackie Jura,

Hi there. I am with FIRECRACKER FILMS and we are making a documentary about surveillance.

The documentary is at its very early stages at this point, but we are hoping to progress with this quickly and have serious interest from channel Five – who would like to commission this film should this research phase prove successful.

We came about this idea by exploring how rapidly Britain has become a ‘surveillance society’ – and yet few people are fully aware of the extent to which information about themselves is available to government organisations and other companies - let alone questioning our increasing loss of privacy.

We would like to explore the lives of those who are aware of just how severely we are being watched – and whose direct experiences with government agencies or other such surveillance present a shocking case for exactly why we should be taking notice about who’s watching us.

We would like to feature the stories of individuals whose lives have been affected by such surveillance or who feel strongly about our loss of privacy.

I would like to reassure you that Firecracker Films has a great deal of experience in dealing with sensitive subject matters and that it is our intention that this will be a non-sensationalist and non-judgemental documentary.

At this stage, it would be fantastic if we could have a chat on the phone and I can find out a bit more about the work you do, as well as expanding on details of the documentary. If this is something that you are happy talking about but would rather not be on screen, it may be that you might know other people who would be happy talking to us about this. If this is something you might be interested in then it would be great to arrange a time to chat.

Many thanks and looking forward to talking with you.

With best wishes,
Paula Wittig
Assistant Producer
FIRECRACKER FILMS

Greetings Paula,

I enjoyed very much our conversation on Friday and am interested in contributing to your documentary on how Britain (and everywhere) is becoming a "surveillance society".

Orwell, being British, would be very unhappy that his country - which he loved "right or wrong" - has fallen victim to the inhumanity of Big Brother in all its manifestations - of which surveillance, as we discussed, is merely one aspect, albeit a very serious aspect.

As you requested, I'm sharing your contact information with readers so those whose lives have been affected by such surveillance - and who feel strongly about our loss of privacy - can be in touch with you to tell their individual stories.

I look forward to viewing your finished production and if I can be of any further help, please don't hesitate to ask.

All the best,
Jackie Jura

To Orwell Today,

Many thanks Jackie, your help is very much appreciated. I'll be in touch as soon as things progress further here.

With best wishes,
Paula