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Working Title: THE ROCK CHRONICLES
history at 24 frames a second
16mm Reversal Colour Film Origination
Status: POSSIBLE FILM PROJECT
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SYNOPSIS:
This film was started in 1974/75 on a beach location in Saltwick Bay, North Yorkshire. It was
an unusual film with a cast of around 6 people and props including a purple hat stand and a
six foot long paper mache snail large enough to conceal an actor! Two 100' reels of Kodachrome
25 reversal were shot but one was lost in processing. The filming could not be repeated with
actors, props etc. so all progress on the film ceased until 2017. The remaining reel and the
original 1/4" tap recordings still exist. Work by the makers, on an exhibition of 8mm film from the
1960s, led to the idea of restarting work on this "archive 16mm film".
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Working Title: SPIRIT OF '68
16mm Black and White Film Origination
Status: IN PRE PRODUCTION
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SYNOPSIS:
The idea of the film has been taken back to the original concept. This was some film in london,
including crowds in trafalgar square, and students in "freshers week" at Leeds University in 2008.
The soundtrack can be edited from the original audio from "October '68" recorded on the anti-Vietnam
war rally in London, October 21st 1968. Soundtrack and the images are to be edited so that
comparisons between 1968 and 2008 are encouraged but not "sign-posted" by voice over! The video
transfer is Ok and loads correctly in Sony movie studio 11 and tapes are playable on the UHER
open-reel tape recorder. The B/W film could still be edited to match the video in future. The wav
file of the soundtrack could be used with the picture negative to produce a traditional 16mm
combined optical print as a short if required.
There is another possibility to extend the film with a colour section at the beginning, setting
the scene giving some background to the 60s and utilising soundtrack from "Nation of Little
shopkeepers" with some of the same images that were used in the original film. The sections
which have a connection with the later part of the film will be used. Some of the sound may be
used in later parts of the film to highlight the links. The use of colour for some sections
should help the viewer follow the time shifts and the sound may be processed differently when
it is from a different time to the image. Some kind of echo is one possibility but expermnetation
will be needed to ensure effect does not impair the clarity of the speech. The three sections,
the final one being from 2008 to 2019, will be edited separately as this makes the craation of
the final film much easier. However, the current plan is to initially finish at the VIDEO
EDIT STAGE.
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Working Title: MEMORIES OF A LONG WINTER
16mm Black and White Film Origination
Status: PRODUCTION COMPLETE
16mm B/W COMOPT PRINT and NEGATIVE LOST
DIGITAL VERSION of VHS COPY made in 1986
available as an mp4 Running Tme 8.5mins
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SYNOPSIS:
This film covers the period from 1979 when the Labour Party lost a vote of no confidence,
to just before the election of 1983. This film did not follow all the earlier documents
made of attempting to reflect both sides of a situation equally. Dismay over the lack of
impartial reporting in the popular press caused this change to a more propagandist style.
The use of "direct to camera" pieces at the start and end of the film emphasises the
personal nature of this film. The section covering the election period includes footage
shot in Belfast in 1976. The heavy snow fall and later floods in the York area feature
as a metaphor for the situation in the country. Many different protests in the York
streets are covered with other images providing silent comment on the coverage. The
voice over continues the tone set by the opening shot.
The Director regrets that some viewers may be offended by some parts of this Film.
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Working Title: MUSICAL CHAIRS:
An Interactive Musical Experience.
16mm Colour Film Origination
Status: PRODUCTION TERMINATED
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SYNOPSIS:
The first section is project development at Leeds University in the Music department with
testing and development and a description of the device being produced to set the scene.
The next section has images of Newcastle and the engineering heritage of the area.
Focus then moves to the "Centre for Life" in central Newcastle and its role in highlighting
the present scientific, engineering and artistic role of the area today.
The wider background to the work is covered and the working of the project as an installation
at the Museum for Life is also featured. The final days of the project at the "Centre for Life"
during the Maker Faire make a natural ending. The topics are not necessarily dealt with in a
linear sequence but may be combined in other time relationships to give extra insight into the work
and its conception. Extra footage and soundtrack work will be needed for the final version.
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Working Title: WHILE ONE
16mm Black and White Film Origination
Status: PRODUCTION TERMINATED
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SYNOPSIS:
The film follows the path of a stream from close to source down to the sea. Evidence
of technology, both old and new, is highlighted along the journey. Gradually the focus
shifts to the modern technology used in river level monitoring and flood control. The conclusion
of the film outlines the control techniques being used in flood control and the part
played by embedded systems within it.
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Working Title: RENEWABLES OLD AND NEW
16mm Colour Film Origination
Status: PRODUCTION TERMINATED
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SYNOPSIS:
The film looks at renewable energy in a number of ways. The first is in terms of
development as in Windmill to Windturbine or Waterwheel to Water Turbine. More recent
devices for conversion of solar energy are also to be included.The ways in which these
types of energy conversions are used, with emphasis on elctrical output. Finally, the
technolgical and political issues involved in the use of these technolgies. |
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Working Title: GIBRALTAR 1895
16mm Colour Film Origination
Status: PRODUCTION TERMINATED
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SYNOPSIS:
The film starts with images of modern day Gibraltar, but focusing on the part it
has played in history. The film is actually about my Grandfather who, as a band boy, went
to Gibraltar in 1895 with the British army. The film will look at important episodes in
his life and expand into the political and cultural implications of these same events to
the wider community. An obvious example being the first world war. Gibraltar lends itself
to use as a recurent theme due to the common history that we share. It also provides the
ending with photographs of "the Rock" from the sea by his son, my father, just prior to
the second world war. The date of the photographs is 1936, an important date for the
nearest neighbour to Gibraltar, Spain, and ultimately the rest of the world. |
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