William Gibson: No Maps for These Territories

Mark Neale on his documentary about sciencefiction writer William Gibson: ‘Somewhere in the midNineties, Deborah Gibson, the wife of William, brought up the subject of making a documentary. People had asked her why none had ever been made. The reason, I found out soon enough, was quite simple: a documentary takes cooperation from the subject. I suggested several concepts, that were repeatedly swept aside. Time passed. In the meantime, digital video appeared. When I was sitting in my car at the end of 1998, and Gibson’s criticism of my last idea was still echoing in my ears, I thought that I could fit my car with mini DV cameras and, instead of trying to sell the writer an idea, I could just offer him a lift.’And so he did. During a journey from L.A. to Vancouver, Gibson speaks honestly and with inspiration about everything that fascinates him: the future, technology, the creative process and the death of his mentor William Burroughs. Shots of the writer in the limo are expertly intercut by Neale with images sometimes in the rearview mirror, sometimes of the traffic signs that illustrate his story. You don’t have to be a fan of the writer to enjoy the film: his ideas are clear and interesting, while there’s plenty to look at too.