Gordon Films - Colours, Clouds and God (2007)

A trio of films exploring the subject of mathematics by the author and filmmaker Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon, with contributions from well-known figures such as Arthur C. Clarke, Benoit Mandelbrot, Ian Stewart and Michael Barnsley. For the first time together these three brilliant films study science, mathematics and observable universe.
"Colours of Infinity" celebrates the discovery of the Mandelbrot Set at IBM Yorktown Heights on March 1st 1980 - one of the most profound and remarkable events in the history of mathematics. The film explores the revolutionary world of Fractal Geometry - its far-reaching and often unexpected implications - what it means, its internal consistency, and the revolutions in thought resulting from its discovery. COLOURS was broadcast on Channel Four in the UK. David Gilmour of Pink Floyd wrote and recorded the music for this production.
Following the success of COLOURS Nigel wrote, produced and directed the broadcast documentary "Clouds are not Spheres", a biographical portrait of Benoit Mandelbrot, the founding father of fractal geometry, covering the life and work of this maverick math genius.
Third film "Is God a number? Maths that mimic the Mind" is an account of the science of mathematics and its connection to mind and consciousness.
Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon has published poems and short stories in the UK, the US, and France. Gordon Films UK was formed in 1995 to produce the award-winning television documentary "The Colours of Infinity". His first book was "Introducing Fractal Geometry".

Part 1: Colours of Infinity (1995)
When Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon made the groundbreaking TV documentary, "The Colours of Infinity" about the Mandelbrot Set and fractals - the geometry of roughness, his enthusiasm brought together a dream team of contributors. Sir Arthur C. Clarke presents it. Benoit Mandelbrot, the Belgian mathematician who first coined the term fractal and whose equation, the Mandelbrot Set, would reveal the wonder of fractals only when fed into a computer, explains how it began. Professor Michael Barnsley, the computer graphics researcher who developed fractal image compression technology, explains the applications of the breakthroughs. Professor Ian Stewart, author of "Does God Play Dice?" adds his insights into the beautifully simple equation that gives birth to fractals. A simple mathematical formula has led to a amazing uses in all branches of science, medicine, computer graphics, weather reporting and analysis, geography, topography and even economics.


Part 2: Clouds are not Spheres (2000)
"Clouds are not Spheres" tells the story of the life and work of Dr. Mandelbrot. Polish-born French American mathematician was largely responsible for the present interest in Fractal Geometry. Mandelbrot's earlier work combined linguistics and statistical thermodynamics, as well as mathematics and finance. His work led to a simple mathematic formula called the Mandelbrot set, which described the self-similarity of shapes found in irregular objects in nature and even galaxies. He showed how Fractals can occur in many different places in both Mathematics and elsewhere in Nature. Until recently geometry was 'cold' - incapable of describing the irregular shape of a cloud, the slope of a mountain or the beauty of the human body. Fractal geometry is the geometry of nature, of familiar and apparently random forms like trees, coastlines, rivers, and lightning. With fractal geometry, Benoit Mandelbrot gave us a language for our natural world. In this documentary, hosted by Martin Shaw, Benoit Mandelbrot tells his story in his own unique style, supported by interviews with a dozen contributors, including Nobel Laureate Professor Ivar Giaever, Yale University's Professors Peter Jones and Michael Frame and with scenes from the natural word and stunning visuals of the Mandelbrot set.


Part 3: Is God a Number? Maths that mimic the Mind (1999)
"Is God A Number?" is an account of the science of mathematics and its connection to mind and consciousness. If mathematics underpins the elegant precision of the macroscopic and microscopic worlds, is there a Master Mathematician as well? This fascinating film examines the computational paradigms being used to model human consciousness and to quantify reality, from Euclidean geometry to fractal transform algorithms. Oxford mathematician Sir Roger Penrose, quantum physicist Reverend John Polkingorne, compression technology expert Michael Barnsley, and physiologist Horace Barlow seek to understand how the brain functions–and grope for evidence of a guiding force. The film looks at the mystery of consciousness, whilst exploring the links between mathematics, the mind and the physical, observable universe. Computer graphics enhance this exploration of inner and outer space.


Part 4: Infinit - The Journey (2007)
"Infinit" is a DVD bonus chillout film feature, 16 minutes of Instrumental soundtrack composed and performed by David Gilmour with the fractal animation.