Matthew Alford is a British writer and commentator known for his work on the relationship between Western governments, war, and the media.
Career
Academia
In 2008, Alford earned a doctorate from the University of Bath. He adapted his thesis to write Reel Power: Hollywood Cinema and American Supremacy, published in 2010 by Pluto Press.
Journalism
In 2008, Alford co-authored articles about the disappearance of screenwriter Gary Devore for The Guardian and Fortean Times, later producing a documentary The Writer with No Hands on the topic.
In 2017, Alford co-authored National Security Cinema: The Shocking New Evidence of Government Control in Hollywood, based on FOIA requests to the CIA and Department of Defense. The book formed the basis for Theaters of War, a documentary he co-produced in 2022.
Political Activity
In 2024, Alford criticised the US and UK for “sleepwalking into a third world war”. He was the Workers Party of Britain's parliamentary candidate in Bath the UK 2024 general election. Entering the race, he declared, “this election just became an opportunity to shout like a lion and not vote like a lemming”. He received 230 votes (0.48%).
Selected works
Books
- Reel Power: Hollywood Cinema and American Supremacy. London: Pluto Press, 2010. ISBN 9780745329826.
- 2018. French edition with new introduction by the author. Hollywood Propaganda, Cinéma Hollywoodien et Hégémonie Américaine (Éditions Critiques). Translation: Cyrille Rivallan. ISBN 979-1097331092
- 2023. Final Cut (Éditions Critiques). French edition with new preface by the author. ISBN 979-10-97331-46-7
- National Security Cinema: The Shocking New Evidence of Government Control in Hollywood (CreateSpace, 2017). With Tom Secker. ISBN ISBN 9781548084981.
- 2021. Expanded French edition. L'Empire Vous Divertit: Comment la CIA et le Pentagone Utilisent Hollywood (Investig'Action). Translation: Philippe Stroot. ISBN 978-2930827773
Films
- Theaters of War (2022) (co-producer)
- The Writer With No Hands (2014) (producer)
References
- "FT266 - FT Covers". ft.gjovaag.com.."FT248 - FT Covers". ft.gjovaag.com.
- Gane, Thomas (5 May 2016). "The Mystery of the Dead Hollywood Screenwriter Whose Hands Were Never Found". Vice. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- White, Mike. "Special Report: The Writer with No Hands (2017)".
- "Op-Ed: Why does the Pentagon give a helping hand to films like 'Top Gun'?". Los Angeles Times. 30 May 2022.
- Wimperis, John (11 June 2024). "General Election 2024: Full list of candidates for Bath". Somerset Live. Retrieved 24 June 2024.