AS LIVE: Ideas

Sex ed for 15-18 year olds, talk show?  game show?
Talent/Music show (Local/youth/established talent) (+ talk aspects?) (Hosted by Slaves(band)? - Jools with TFI's energy)
Game show - Candy floss race?
Chat show - Student survival guide

COMMISSION: Transcript [Ian and Cynthia]

MACA INTERVIEWS FOR BLACK HISTORY LIVE ORAL REPORT

INTERVIEW DATE: 28/11

INTERVIEWER: Zak Wilkins

RECORDED BY: Victoria Simmonds

Interviewee: Ian Goddard (78)

00:00:20.Barbados.

00:00:27 I grew up there, I was educated there.

00:00:32 Um, I was 21. I think I was 21, because I came in 1959.

00:01:38 My first impression of Britain? You don’t want to know. (Laughs) I think my first impression of Britain was travelling to .. some say London but you know the train was travelling the backyards of people. (Laughs) People’s backyards, ya know, ya know? I thought is this London, ya know?

00:02:04 I came to Medway through the military. I was in the army.

00:02:13 In 1959-60 I came to England. Bought a house - well I didn’t buy a house but I … we shared a house in umm, in Battersea. Ownership of a house in battersea all of us, because we’re immigrants ya know. Just come in so we bought a house in Battersea.

00:02:39 I assume that house now, probably wouldn’t be able to afford it now.

00:02:44 It was a good house but it was .. was a dump. If you know what I mean? Because Battersea post station was still working. Those four chimneys ya know, belting out all the smoke. (Laughs) And um, and the trains ya know. The steam trains coming up and down from Clapham junction. Didn’t help either. So that’s why we got it so cheap.

00:03:27 Just adventure.

00:03:33 Coming from Barbados. Because Barbados is so tiny so there isn’t a lot .. a lot to do.

(Audio problems render 00:03:42-00:06:26  mostly unusable)

00:06:52 Europe and half the countries in Europe. Middle east, Cyprus, Malta.

00:07:42 I just been back to Cyprus

00:07:46 After fifty years, been back to the camp I was serving in 50 years ago. 50-60 years ago! Well no, yeah, yeah 50-something years ago. And um, obviously things have changed a lot. In my days in Cyprus, it was a mixture of Turks and Greeks living together. And I was there as a peacekeeper ya know, makes it feel like it was all for nothing, ya know.

00:08:47 the comradeship is very very, ya know. People die for you ya know, not because they know you but because you’re in the same regiment. (Laughs)

00:09:23 That’s the army all together.

00:11:58 I came to England late December and joined the army just after Christmas and in February I was camping out in the North of England in the snow.

00:12:43 Barbados, again, as I said it was Little England but it was still under colonial rule. And a lot of people don’t know this but all the vicars and the priests were all white! (Laughs) And they were the eyes and ears - they were English or Scots or whoever came over from Britain to do these jobs. But they were the ears and they eyes, anything that was slightly to go awry they would .. you know they’d step in. Just to stop us from rioting.

00:14:19 but people had issues with, in fact one of the fellas I came with went straight back home. Given his job up, came to England, didn’t like it then went back within four weeks.

INTERVIEWEE: Cynthia OConnor (76)
00:00:32 I’m from Kingston Jamaica

00:00:42 I was twenty four

00:00:56 When I lived in jamaica, Jamaica was a successful country. We never had the hardship that hurts it now. Because we used to - I came here just before independence. And we used the same currency as England, because England made our pound. The same pound I use in jamaica is the same one I spend here. It’s changed a lot, because when England went decimal and we went dollars that’s when it began to slide. But still I don’t think it’s as bad as other countries. Because you have other countries in the Caribbean that’s worse than jamaica.

00:02:02 My husband came here first and then, as always with jobs and all those things it’s hard. And even now it’s hard. And his father send him here because his older brother was here and he sent for me for a better life. We only came here to spend about five years and go home but (laughs) because I had two children in jamaica and before you know it I came here had another two. And then you sort of get stuck into everyday life in England. Work, Family and all that. So what we wanted to go home in 5 years, I didn’t happen.

00:03:04 My first job was working into a carburetor company, that used to make carburetors for cars. Because I came to Lewisham. It was a carburetor company and I had a job there. It wasn’t long before I got pregnant and I had to go off and have maternity leave. I … I had a lady who would look after her when she was six months old and I went back to work. I didn’t go back to the same job I went to a job polishing darts up stanstead road. And the I got pregnant again (laughs). And then and now was the same sort of situtaion. After one or two children, the cost living wasn’t that high but the wages weren’t that high, it balances out.

00:04:40 I stayed home and looked after the children and when they go off to school, I trained as a chef. What I wanted was to go into auto catering. But the children were still at school so I went into school meals. I come home same time as them in the day and I see them go to school before I went to work. I was in the job for a long .. quite a while. Can’t even remember how many years now (laughs)

00:05:42 My mom was ill in jamaica and I took time off and I went to take care of her so the children then was big enough. And the father took care of them. I was out there 3,4,5 months and then I came back and change job again. (laughs)

00:06:06 I went to work in tesco, their canteen. The worker’s canteen. I did umm, days there - i was assistant manager in the canteen. They wanted someone to do night because the lady who was working with me, I was working with her, she never seemed to like me so I had a clash with her so I changed my job to work the nights and I worked with the boys (laughs)

00:07:04 I been there for quite a while before I decided, umm my husband and I seperated and he got married and moved back to Jamaica with his wife and I had the children. If I know then what I know now I send them back to him (laughs) No, i miss tem too much anyway.

0007:34 After decided to buy this house down here because the money I had I couldn’t afford to live in London so I live in Kent. When I first come here I lived just by the hospital. I’ve been down here now for nearly 20-30 years, something like that.

00:08:13 it’s different to London, it’s slower pace. When I came down at first the people were more friendly, everything changed (laugh) I don’t have too much problem with people. Because i’m the friendliest sort because if I say good morning to you and you don’t want to answer don’t make it your problem because some people aren’t morning people but I’m a morning person - if you talk to me at this time of day I get grumpy ( Laughs)

00:08:56 Down here there’s a lot of coloured people, it was mostly Asian people and the native or white people are much for friendly. If you only get certain type of aggravation from a certain kind of people you can’t help but pass it on. That’s how I look at it, they been having a hard time from the black youths and all that. But one thing I know for sure: when the sun’s shining you get a lot more happy people! Maybe it’s my disposition but I didn’t have a hard time. It was more, In Jamaica you’ve got a couple of kids you’ve got the backup. We didn’t come with our parents, we were adults so we had brother and cousins or whatever but we didn’t have any family to look after your children. You have to work and have nannies or these little ladies who retire, we had a lovely one called ‘Nora’. She was really good, my babygirl was at home and I could leave her there and I’d go off to parties with my husband She was a really nice lady.

00:11:40 In kingston, you can trust the child you put out front playing and if she wanders off there#’s eyes they’ve seen where she goes who she goes with but up here it was quite different.

00:12:15 It wasn’t scary, you just know that it’s what’s happening and the situation you’re in., You find a solution by finding somebody you trust with your child or you do it yourself. It was hard, you didn’t have money to chuck about. It’s an education, a life experience to realise the money you have you want to save some and spend a bit - i’m no good at it. (Laughs)

COMMISSION: Research into 1970's

 Whilst the 60's was a time of freedom and colour for Britain, by the 70's household time saving technology meant it was a decade of change. Whilst women were being presented with more freedoms and independence, their was still inequality. Women were still thought of as the main caregiver in the home, despite many working full time jobs as well. Second-wave feminism dominated discourse about women's role in society, contrasted by arguments about whether sexually liberating industries such as topless modelling and sex-work were actually a positive step towards equality.
 The 70's also brought along a drastic economic crisis in the early years, meaning major unemployment for many of the countries young people and the public services. Numerous major strikes followed, protests and trade unions fought to reach an agreement with successions of weak governments. The three day working week was implemented to conserve electricity lost by striking coal miners. The unrest bred confrontations with and distrust of the police and police racism was rife, causing even greater societal divides. By the end of the decade, civil rights riots were sweeping urban britain, mainly between National Front and organised anti-facism committees.
 Divergence was ripe and punk culture was born from a disdain towards the established order. New political parties were formed with sustainability and ecological care at the forefront of their ideals. However, many also argued that party politics was what was breaking the country and radical new ideals about life began to take precedence - communes, living hand to mouth without government or societal norms.
 Polarised politics also brought a large number of extreme protests by the likes of the IRA and the Angry Brigade. Although mostly forgotten to the history books, the Angry Brigade committed a series of bomb attacks - abstract idealogy and a feeling of disenchanment with politics reflected the harsh socio-economic climate of the 70's.

COMMISSION: research into 1960s

Commonly referred to as "the swinging sixties," this decade was a breath of fresh air for Britain. London transformed from a grey, conservative city still weary from world war 2 into a pinnacle of freedom and hope for the world.
 Free from conscription, there was an emergence of youth culture. Parents that had been forced to fight in world war two wanted their children to celebrate their youth and freedom. Arts, especially music played a big part in defining Britain in the 60s. While Rock and Roll had already been introduced to Britain in the 50s, the 60s brought the "British Invasion" groups such as the Beatles. The Beatles are a key example into how Britain changed in the 60s, moving from rock and roll to a more experimental sound that influenced many bands as well as turning their lyrics towards a more socially aware viewpoint. The youth of Britain began to stand up for themselves and their beliefs.
 Recreational drugs became a large part of late sixties British culture. Images of people high on LSD dancing through fields of woodstock festival became iconic and showbiz was quickly influencing the younger generations looking for fun. The hippie movement was spurred on by LSDs effects and this was reflected through psychedelic art of many forms. Vibrant colours and exciting patterns reflected Britain's newfound creativity and feeling of freedom.
 Despite not being directly involved in the Vietnam War, it was brought to the attention of british peoples through musicians such as John Lennon. Only just escaping the post-war depression, artists used their positions to highlight the horrors of war and encourage peace and freedom. People began to question authority, an aspect of life that wouldn't have been thought of a decade ago.
 Feminism became an increasingly influential ideology within the sixties, allowing women more independence and control over their own lives. In 1967 the pill became legalised for all women and provided the opportunity for women to follow their own dreams beyond marriage and motherhood. In 1968, 850 women at a Ford factory in Dagenham went on strike to protest inequal pay and saw the Equal Pay Act of 1970 passed. Women also started to become more involved with politics and in 1968 Barbara Castle became the only women to be appointed as First Secretary of State.
 Major advancements in technology changed how the British people spent their leisure time, every teenager owned a transistor radio and colour televisions were beginning to become more popular. As the decade ended the impossible was achieved as humankind stepped their first steps on the moon; people began to dream for bigger and better and the decade ended on a point of optimism.
 Despite bleak beginnings, the sixties ended as a technicolour wonder for Britain, allowing people the freedom to be themselves as they'd fought so hard for.

COMMISSION: Black History Live 'Oral History Project' brief

"The Oral History Project seeks to capture the stories of African and Caribbean people from the 19th and 20th centuries and bring them to life as part of the Black History Live Project. The stories will take people on a journey as we hear from people and descendants of people in the 19th century about what life was like during that era. The contributions they have made, challenges they overcame, and how things have changed.
The stories will be featured as part of a 2 month long exhibition taking place at the Chatham Historic Dockyard in October 2018"

COMMISSION: Initial interviews + Interview Skills

"The aim of an interview is to provide, in the interviewees own words, facts, reasons or opinions on a particular topic so that the listener can form a conclusion as to the validity of what he or she is saying." -Radio Production (R.McLeish , Fifth Edition, 2005) http://lib.myilibrary.com/Open.aspx?id=75430)

To prepare for our interview with members of MACA I looked into interview skills, specifically looking at interviewing for radio - as our project is solely based in sound. Since this was the first time we were meeting our potential key characters whose stories will carry our narrative I wanted to find out as much as possible about them, unhindered by the time constraints of recording. However, due to the nature of the club conversations were spoken over and easily lost track of. Whilst asking to relocate would have been easier and perhaps more fruitful for the interviews I think it was also important to make our interviewees as comfortable as possible to be able to explore their stories as naturally as we could.

Ian:
Came to Britain in Dec 1959
First house in Battersea, described as "Ghetto"
Paid £3,000 with 4 brothers, "It was cheap because it was such a dump"
Joined the army

Ron:
Lived in Jamaica, where white people were welcomed and treated with respect - found this a contrast to his treatment in Britain.
Came over in 1964 and had good starts.
Was received by friend.
Did 'this and that' - hard to find a solid job because of his race
Tries to take racism in his stride
"It's not the country, it's the people. Country is just land, it can't hate people."
"We (Jamaicans) are civilised, we don't need laws telling us how to treat each other."

Cynthia
Moved to London in 50s after husband
Rented from Jamaicans
Brought up christian
First job - car parts (company not their now)
Darts polishing
Already a mother but had more children
Once grown, back to work as chef - followed children and became a school chef
Once got called a "black bitch" - responded with a backhand

Lived in Lewisham, Brockly

Joined a temp agency and worked in cantines in Tesco, hospitals

Permanent job at Jigsaw nursery for 22 years

People are more polite and friendly but aggression still exists

"We weren't raised here but we came over, built and fixed this country"

 Whilst I think all three interviews could potentially make good stories, each presents their own minor problems. Cynthia would need to be kept on track as she has a tendency to drift off topic, hopefully having this knowledge will help us prepare more direct questions to achieve focused responses. I was annoyed that my conversation with Ian was cut short but I quickly realised his story will be interesting, fruitful and his entertaining charm, captivating to an audience; however, he is mild mannered and soft spoken - mic placement will be key to capturing his story clearly. Whilst Ron's intelligence and positivity make him a keen and engaging storyteller ideal for this project, our interview finished with him telling me he did not wish for his stories to be used - by being more direct in future I can avoid this potential disappointment. This being said, our conversation was still incredibly informative and I hope I can use what he has taught me of Jamaica and Jamaican culture to positively influence the work. 

COMMISSION: Production Blog (21/11 New Commission found)

 After a lot of calling, re-directions, mis-times and running around with several organisations I have been agreed to help out with the Black History Live oral report project alongside classmate Victoria.

COMMISSION: Production Blog (14/11 - Commission lost)

 I have received an email from Michelle who has hurt her back and due to prior commitments needs to postpone the video till the new year, past the deadline date for this unit. I am still going to continue working with Michelle on the video as it something I have wanted to make since working with them on our News Production unit. I have emailed Laura to inform her and will begin searching for other work immediately.

COMMISSION: Pre-Production (Institution research)

DOTS (Dogs On The Streets London)

 Founded by Michelle who runs various other homeless outreach projects. She is well known for her support towards street dogs, understanding the bond between homeless people and their pets. Has been providing essentials for street dogs for more than five years, using her Twitter page to raise awareness and collect donations. 

 DOTS functions within the Borough of Westminster, Camden, Shoreditch, East and parts of North London and is the leading volunteer street project that "protects, care and supports" street dogs. Michelle herself was the first to bring dog essentials to the homeless people of London. The appreciation from London's homeless was overwhelming and with growing awareness, more initiatives have acknowledged how necessary the support and donations are. 

 Dogs can be the only companion for many people sleeping on the streets and many will choose to prioritise their dog's needs and well-being over their own. Whilst dogs can live on a diet of human food, it's not ideal for their health; DOTS supplies (donated) foods and other essentials, (treats, leads, collars, warm dog coats, etc) to help ensure both pup and owner can be as healthy and happy and possible. 

 Each dog seen by DOTS is registered and given a wearable tag with the charity's details and unique number so other professionals can acquire their care history. Dogs may be on special diets, so the unique number is essential to ensuring each dog is given the best care it can receive – even if seen by other veterinary carers. This is a new initiative that DOTS will be implementing across the UK in hopes of better protecting dogs on the streets.

 All items available at dog care stations are fully dependent on donations from supporters and self-funding.

Stations:

Location: 

The Strand London WC2R 0QN

Dates/Times:

Every Sunday – 2 pm – 4 pm

Essentials – (Weekly)

Dog food, leads, collars, coats, Toys etc…)

Vet –  Weekly 

Health checks, Micro Chipping, Medication (if required), Blue Cross Registration and a monthly vaccination clinic at our station.

Trainer/Behaviourist – Weekly

Dog Grooming Van – Last Sunday in every month

---------------------------------------------

Location:

Kings X Train Station London Nw1

Dates/Times:

Every Wednesday evening 7.30pm – 9.30pm

Essentials

Food,Collars,Leads,Toys,Treats)

Vet Care:

Basic health checks (flea/worm treatments) if further treatment is required we will refer you to our station on The Strand.

Misty's Memorial Fund

 A special fund for specialist veterinary care was set up by DoTs in memory of Misty, a street dog with neurological problems. The fund was established to give registered dogs that require specialist attention the immediate help they need. Specialised care is very expensive and the fund is separate to the regular donation fund. 

COMMISSION: Video Research (Dog's Trust - https://youtu.be/IrJhlVODG3w)

• Uses doll to represent potential owner - could be anyone
• dog and doll shots repeatedly match - builds relationship
• slow, acoustic music gives emotional feeling
• contrasts happy and stressful times for dog through ball and vet 
• doll used to relax and help teach dog - trainers know the needs of each dogs
• focus on dog
• sad, isolated night immediately contrasted by happy scene with new owner
• low shots at eye level of dog creates connection with audience and adds empathy to dogs

 I decided to look into a Dog's Trust advert as I wanted to see how dogs are represented and shot in other videos. By shooting low, (at the dog's eye level) audiences connect better the dog and a feeling of empathy is created with the dogs. This is extremely effective and keeps the dog feeling central to the film and something I definitely want to carry this into my film. 

 This film also uses simple, acoustic music to draw at audience's heartstrings and capitalise on emotional moments, I'll have to look into royalty free music that will best accompany my own piece. 

 I can use shots of  DoTS' volunteers interacting with the dogs to easily show how adept they are and use close shots to show the relationship between the dogs and the staff.

COMMISSION: Pre-Production (Video research: Breakfast in a Bag)

• Est shot shows work & Michelle
• Script gives 5 ws immediately
• hands+faces
• shows other companies getting involved
• then v/o includes audience to help
• intvs w/ homeless explain project worth and promote donating
• Low depth of field
• Michelle is involved
• words and pictures
• through outfit, audience are aware Michelle is primary subject
• hopes for future
• Aston matches logo
• slow pace
• simple piano track
• logo, link & hashtag at end
• v/o from Michelle, intvs w/ business owner and 2 homeless people

 I think this video shows a very effective format that I will try to adapt for my own video, however where DoTs relies on more staff than BiaB I would like to (if possible) include them as well - showing the work of their trainer, vet and grooming team. 

 I will need to enquire with Michelle if there are any upcoming events like the one shown in this video and if so, enquire further about filming permissions. 

 Whilst I think the interviews included were very effective, they could have done a bit more to highlight the usefulness and necessity of these services and would like to try and include longer interviews in my own film. 

 During my discussion with Michelle she told me she did not want to be interviewed on-screen but would be more than happy to provide a voice-over as she did for this production.

COMMISSION: Production blog (07/11 - commission acquisition)

  I was able to acquire a commission creating a short film for London based charity, Dogs On The Streets of London who provide food, training and vet care to London's street dogs. I had previously worked with DoTS during our news production unit and was so blown away by the incredible work the charity does that I immediately knew I wanted to produce something for them. I emailed charity founder Michelle after completing News Production to inquire if she wanted anything made and after a brief phone conversation discovered the organisation was about to hit send on an advert for a short advertising movie to go out to professional companies but offered the job to me once I expressed my interest.  Pushed for time, she promised to send me the link to a video her other charity recently had made and she asked me to email on Friday (10/11) to discuss the opportunity further.