LZ: What inspired the idea of the film?

GW: I had just moved from Melbourne to London and was working as a Producer on a show called "The Media Report" for European Business News (now CNBC). I was broke and discovering London, looking for a film project that wouldn't take me away from my day job. One Sunday my sister and I were walking through Hyde Park & saw Speakers' Corner for the first time. I was mesmerized, mostly by the sounds, the chaos and yet the order all around. As it was only held on Sundays, it was the perfect subject for a documentary!

LZ: How long did it take you to make it? You seem to have footage from the 1998 in your film? Were you working on it back then?

GW: 11 years! I shot every Sunday for 3-4 years through every season - it was quite a labor of love. The project languished for a while due to lack of funds, but eventually I convinced enough people to assist and make it a reality.

LZ: Are you required to have a permit to film at Speakers' Corner?

GW: Um, yes. I did get that permit - once. It's a funny story, because once people saw the permits around our neck, everyone challenged us and it changed the entire dynamic of the scene.

LZ: Was there ever a political push to ban Speakers' Corner?

GW: Not that I'm aware of, but it is the site of famous acts of defiance, such as Tony Benn's reading of the banned MI5 expose book (published in Australia due to the ban) called "Spycatcher" - everyone turned up to film him. He gave a speech, and then as he opened the book, all the cameras were turned off. When he completed reading and resumed his speech, the cameras were turned on again. It was amazing.

LZ: Do you think there should be a Speakers' Corner in every country, every big city, etc?

GW: I think every city/country should allow forums for individuals to be heard, to have a voice, particularly a public voice. As Tony Benn says in the film - those examples of free speech "are a symbol, and symbols are important."

LZ: In your film there're no episodes of speakers getting "physical" and starting fights. Did you ever see it happen?

GW: No - there's a lot of disputes, debates and arguments, but the Royal Parks police are extremely vigilant in defending a peaceful tourist location. They aren't rough themselves, but they are present and actively involved in maintaining the peace.

LZ: Did anyone ever get arrested at Speakers' Corner for saying the "wrong things?"

GW: I've heard some shockingly horrid things there and I've never seen someone arrested for that. I have seen people arrested for physical provocation, but not for what they said. Hecklers do a good job of holding outrageous speakers in check - they play a critical role there.

LZ: A few words about yourself: where you were born, why you decided to make films, any other works and what's the next big project?

GW: Born in Newcastle, Australia. Involved in theatre and music since a child - it was a natural progression to sound design and film direction. After completing post-graduate film school in 1995 at Victoria College of the Arts (Melbourne University), I moved to London where I started Speakers' Corner. I lived in London for the entire production phase, moved to New York during the edit phase, and then San Francisco where I completed the project in 2009.

LZ: Will you be joining us at the festival?

GW: I would LOVE to - my wife & I love Astoria & New York - our favorite NY restaurant is Uncle Georges Greek! LIC is fantastic, in fact some of the "historical hanging" sequence was edited around the corner. I'm trying to sort out finances and travel arrangements, but we will do our best!