Documentary Film +
Filmography
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ENORMOUS YES - Vibracathedral Orchestra live in London (2014/2024, 48’)
A unique film record of stellar West Yorkshire improvisers Vibracathedral Orchestra, capturing their incendiary live performance at London’s Cafe OTO in 2014. Reflecting the band’s mode of sonic bricolage the documentary incorporates kaleidoscopic fragments of 8mm and 16mm analogue films by Yorkshire-based artists Joanna Byrne and Christopher Hall woven with SuperVHS footage of the band on stage. An exploded concert film in which the band maps a soundscape of psychedelic boogie, blissed-out breakdown, resurgent drone and fiery catharsis, ENORMOUS YES provides a multi-sensory impression of the group in full flow. Featuring Julian Bradley, Neil Campbell, Adam Davenport, John Godbert, Michael Flower and Bridget Hayden. UK | 2024 | 48 mins | Colour | Stereo [contains some flashing images]
A TRANSATLANTIC SESSION: Pete Cooper, Dan Stewart, Peta Webb and Ken Hall Live in Dulwich (2024, 75’)
Concert film depicting an evening of traditional music from North America borne by migration of British and Irish people across the Atlantic Ocean. Recorded live at The Castle pub, south-east London.
A BRIGHT NOWHERE – JOURNEYING INTO IMPROVISATION (2023, 103’)
A feature length documentary about a landmark series of concerts of improvised music at London’s Café OTO. Filmed across four Saturday nights in July 2022 when over 30 musicians joined improvising percussionist Eddie Prévost on stage for a residency to mark his 80th birthday. Featuring interviews in which improvisers including John Butcher, Ute Kanngiesser, Marjolaine Charbin, Sue Lynch, Nathan Moore, Alan Wilkinson, David Toop, John Tilbury and Eddie Prévost speak about their approach to making music.
“Elegant … astonishingly moving” - The Wire magazine
HIGH HOPES: VOICES FROM THE STREETS OF LEWISHAM (2021, 16')
A documentary film in the Tape/Slide tradition setting the words of local residents over monochrome stills of the new buildings in the London Borough of Lewisham.
VOLCANO THE BEAR – LIVE IN LEICESTER (2006/2020, 50')
One of the last public performances of the original line-up of this free-associating Leicester quartet. A valuable record of a full live set by the group at the height of its powers in front of a home crowd at Leicester’s Phoenix Arts centre. The viewer’s experience is one of an absorbing dream - or nightmare - highlighting the visual and physical dimensions of the band’s live performances which were a vital part of their work.
BLURT LIVE AT THE BIRDS NEST, DEPTFORD (2020, 46')
An intense and unforgettable live set on home turf in Deptford for BLURT - Ted Milton (saxophone, voice) in a trio with longtime bandmates Steve Eagles (guitar, voice) and David Aylward (drums).
ALL MY LIFE'S BURIED HERE – THE STORY OF GEORGE BUTTERWORTH (2018, 97')
Feature length portrait of George Butterworth, the Edwardian English composer, folk song collector and folk dancer killed on the Somme in 1916. Including new recordings from Butterworth’s personal folk song manuscripts by Peta Webb; exclusive new live recordings of Butterworth’s A E Housman song settings by Roderick Williams and Iain Burnside, plus classic recordings by The Copper Family, May Bradley, Gordon Hall and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
"Very moving ... the best film account of a composer's life I have ever seen." - Ralph Vaughan Williams Society Journal
“A beautiful film. I don't remember seeing a more brilliant collection of research in terms of photographs, witnesses and music.” - Barrie Gavin
IT'S OUR PARK: SOUTHWARK PARK IN THE SUMMER OF 2014 (2014, 36')
Made to mark 150 years since the Act of Parliament that established Southwark Park on the borders of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe in London Borough of Southwark.
Part of the LONDON’S SCREEN ARCHIVE COLLECTION
WELLBELOVED (2014, 17')
A day at W. H. Wellbeloved’s butchers shop on Tanner's Hill, Deptford (est. 1829) which finally closed in July 2021.
EDDIE PREVOST'S BLOOD (2013, 26')
A short portrait of percussionist, improviser and animator Eddie Prévost in live performances and interviews.
SON KORUYUCU (aka 'THE LAST WARDEN') (2012, 7')
A visit to the last film shop in London, and a chance to hear the thoughts of its owner Umit on the situation facing fans of mechanical film. Student film exercise no.2
THE SMELL OF FILM (2012, 5')
A day at the 61st British Film Collectors Convention in Ealing, west London. Student film exercise no.1