The 5-minute Interview: Chris Atkins, Director and writer

'Most of the time, film-makers are narcissistic idiots, including me'

A tkins, 31, was a producer of low-budget films in Scotland until his crusade against the erosion of basic freedoms, "Taking Liberties", was released as a book and a film this year. A DVD, featuring interviews with commentators, including Tony Benn, Boris Johnson and Shami Chakrabarti, is released this week

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

Developing my next film but I've been told not to talk about it as then people know you're coming. That's how we got away with Taking Liberties.

A phrase I use far too often...

"Show, don't tell". How much do you want to tell people what to think in documentary-making? You want to show it and let people make their own minds up.

I wish people would take more notice of...

The environment. It's a ticking time bomb. People say, "Oh, it's terrible" and then book another short-haul flight and it's just screwing up the planet.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

The fact that I ended up doing something that had a point and a message. Usually film-makers make films for the sake of their own ego. Most of the time they are just narcissistic idiots and I count myself in that number. I had never done anything remotely worthwhile in my life.

A common misperception of me is...

That I'm gay and I'm not. I am quite camp. People also think I'm right wing and I'm like, "Noooo". But because I made a film that attacks New Labour, people think I am a Tory.

I am not a politician but...

I wish people would be more engaged in politics because it is actually fascinating and funny.

The ideal night out is...

Brick Lane: bars, clubs, curry – can't beat it.

In moments of weakness I...

Air guitar to "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You" by Kiss and then everything is OK.

The best age to be is...

You'd think it's your twenties but I saw some the other day and they seemed really obnoxious.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is:

Not to worry about what your philosophy should be and get on with life.

Sara Newman