Cert E
Remember Ska? Originating in Jamaica in the late 50s, it was later revived in the UK and had a strong influence on Punk. Both styles came from inner city areas of high unemployment and deprivation – where there was significant cultural influence from Caribbean immigrants. The film tells the story of the British Jamaican Ska band Symarip which, Sharon Woodward says, “[…] did so much to engage a future generation of young working class people. Young people from different cultures working side by side in factories or wherever during the day, were going to the same clubs and listening to the same music at night.” A highly engaging and entertaining documentary, which also comments on the background social and political conditions.
Dir: Sharon Woodward 60mins UK 2017
This special screening is not included in your membership, and takes place in
The King Charles’ Room at The Kings Head & Bell, East St Helen Street, Abingdon at 7.45pm
Introduction and discussion by Sharon Woodward, the director.
Admission (to all) is £7.50 (full-time students £3.50) and early booking is advised, as seating is limited.
We will also be screening Sharon’s short film The Indian Army in the First World War: An Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Perspective . (8mins)
There will be a voluntary collection for Shadowlight Artists, a local charity supported by Sharon (shadowlightartists.org.uk/)
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Programme Notes
Welcome to this special event at The King’s Head and Bell for an evening of unusual documentaries. We are delighted that the director of tonight’s films, Sharon Woodward, has agreed to be with us and introduce them to us. Sharon enjoys a multi-faceted career, including independent award-winning film-maker, project manager and media tutor. She has been making documentaries since the 1980s and so has wealth of film knowledge and experience.
In tonight’s feature, the focus is on the creators of the iconic Skinhead Moonstomp album, the British Jamaican ska band, Symarip, whose music engaged a generation of working-class British teenagers. There are numerous interviews with the members of the band, and other musicians including Neville Staple (The Specials, Fun Boy Three, etc.) and band members from The Inflatables and Moonstompers.
The film was nominated for the Golden Heart Award for Best Music Documentary at this year’s Portobello Film Festival.
Acknowledgements/Sources:
Oxonarts.info/directory/sharon-woodward
film.britishcouncil.org/skad-by-the-music
Skasymarip.blogspot.com
Woodwardmedia.org
Anon, IMDb.com
“Great new film which sheds light on the story of Symarip and the skinhead movement in the UK, very informative […], just when you think you know it all […] well worth watching” Anon, Reggae Film Archive
Members of Symarip – Roy Ellis
– Frank Pitter
– Michael Thomas
– Monty Neysmith
Narrator – Natasha Marie
Director – Sharon Woodward
Producer – Sharon Woodward
Editor – Sharon Woodward
Executive Producer – Richard Duriez
Original Music – Symarip, Moonstompers et al
Comments
- A most enjoyable evening. Nice to see some possibilities for ‘popular’, non-elitist, art
- That was an interesting evening. An entertaining look at the rise of the skinhead culture through the influence of the Symarip band. Sharon brought powerfully her passion and enthusiasm for both her films
- Very interesting and imaginative. I learned a lot about the history of the music and the skinhead movement
- Enlightening film
- We were there but never realised it was that powerful
- A fresh perspective on the right-wing portrayals of skinheads
- Interesting look at something I knew nothing about. Suffered a bit from lack of contemporary film/photos for obvious reasons, so we were left with just talking heads. Typical (sic) that when we had clear sound you showed film with sub-titles!
- Great venue – very convivial. Let’s move here!
- Good venue, with the bar, but hard work getting up the stairs!
- Nothing wrong with the venue