Alston Ramsay is an old National Review hand, and an old WFB hand. When he worked here, he assisted WFB on his Notes & Asides compilation. Alston went on to work for Donald Rumsfeld, Robert Gates, David Petraeus, and Jeh Johnson. Now, mirabile dictu (as WFB would say), he’s in Hollywood — writing and producing movies. Just out is Midnighters, directed by Julius Ramsay, Alston’s older brother.

Alston is my guest on Q&A. We talk about the movie, of course. And about NR and WFB. And about Petraeus and whatnot. And about basketball. A North Carolinian, Alston is a passionate Tar Heel. I pretend that I don’t know the difference between a Tar Heel and a Blue Devil — because, in a sense, what does it matter, to those of us outside that state? Blue-and-white uniforms, Coach K and Dean Smith — it all runs together.

Anyway, Alston takes all this in stride, blithe spirit that he is. Meet this versatile and admirable guy on the ’cast.