The Diary: Lucian Freud; Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lily Allen; Pascal Chaumeil's Heartbreakers

Lucian Freud emerges from his nest

Could Lucian Freud be relenting on his reclusive stance? To mark his retrospective at Paris' Pompidou Centre the famously private artist agreed to be filmed by Tim Meara. But the 15-minute short, Small Gestures in Bare Rooms, is far from the usual biographical trawl. Rather Meara has spoken to Freud's sitters and created a series of "silent portraits" based on their reminiscences. There are close-ups of Freud's old Holland Park studio, complete with iron bedstead and paint-spattered boots and shots of a sharp-eyed Freud walking along the canal in Little Venice, with a kestrel perched on his arm (he kept birds of prey in his studio in the 1940s). Meara never expected Freud to appear in the film, but the artist was glad of the chance to rediscover old haunts. "He had a really nice time. We just allowed him to have a wander by the canal," says Meara. "The kestrel meant he could forget he was being filmed." Meara aims to make it into a full feature in time for Freud's 90th birthday in 2012.

The rising son

Andrew Lloyd Webber has famously rejected the idea of leaving his £750m fortune to his children, so it's good to see his eldest son earning a crust. Next month, the Oxford Stage Company's Tempest begins its tour of colleges and palaces, with musical direction and an original score from one Nick Lloyd Webber. Until now, the 30-year old has been a touch shy about his famous papa. His tunes for television's CBeebies go uncredited, his pop persona is Archangel and his advertising work comes under the banner of Aurotone or Nick LW. So what persuaded him to drop his disguise? He is married to Charlotte Windmill, the founder and producer of OSC. A spokesman tells me, "He was initially very reluctant, for obvious reasons, but he had particular commendation for Twelfth Night and enjoyed it to such an extent that I think he'll be doing a lot more theatre in years to come."

First fight

Easels at dawn! Last month, Douglas Nyasiri, the gallery manager of Salon Contemporary launched "First Wednesdays", in which West London galleries open late on the first Wednesday of the month. Sound familiar? Well that's because the Whitechapel launched "First Thursdays", in which East London galleries, er, open late on the first Thursday of the month, three years ago. "They have as much as suggested pursuing a legal action against us," claims Nyasiri. Over to the East side. "Public money is part of the core funding for First Thursdays and the Whitechapel treats this investment very seriously, and wishes to do so, while also acting in support of all other galleries, museums, cultural events and their efforts to engage with audiences for the arts." Fight! Or you could just go to both.

Green pastures for Lily Allen

Lily Allen, at the grand old age of 25, has hobbled out of retirement to provide winsome vocals on "Just Be Good to Green" by the east London rapper Professor Green. Originally hailed as the English Eminem when he signed to Mike Skinner's now defunct label, The Beats, Stephen Manderson (as his grandma knows him) struck up a friendship with Allen online before supporting her on her last tour. "She suggested singing the chorus. I didn't take much persuading." As for Allen, could this be the start of the longest faux- retirement in pop history?

Frantz for all the dubbing work

To Soho for a screening of Pascal Chaumeil's Heartbreakers, a French attempt at a Hollywood rom-com, starring Vanessa Paradis and Andrew Lincoln as lovers with cross-Channel appeal, released in July. Romain Duris stars as the man hired to break up the relationship by the bride-to-be's protective father, played by Jacques Frantz. You may not have heard of Frantz, but if you've ever watched television in France, you will certainly have heard him. Frantz is the francophone voice of Hollywood, having dubbed the parts of Robert De Niro, Mel Gibson, Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Nick Nolte, to name but a few. Pas mal.