This coming autumn a new peak time BBC2 TV series, Melvyn Bragg’s Reel History of Britain, will tell the story of Britain’s social history through archive film. Running off the back of the programme the BBC Learning ‘Reel History’ Archive Partners will be screening a special event in Oxford on the 2nd October 2011(all day event).
Oxford Filmmaker Sharon Wooward and her Award wining documentary ‘Thank You Skinhead Girl’ will be screened at The Phoenix Cinema as part of the project. The day will show the important relationship between archived film and an awareness of local and regional history.
Following a short Q & A with the filmmaker Sharon will then be available for discussion and or debate in the upstairs bar of The Phoenix Picturehouse..
Thank You Skinhead Girl – 45 Minute Documentary
Director, Producer, Editor : Sharon Woodward
Executive Producer: Richard Duriez
Associate Producer: Gary Shenton
Research, Additional Footage: Richard Dawson
Assistant Researchers: Chris Adlem, Ali Palmer-Smith, Bill Smith
Sound recordists: Dan Goodman, Luke Parkyn, Suzy Prior
This film was enabled by the Film Oxford’s (OFVM) Production Award and Screen South Community Grant. The Producers would like to say a big thank you to Stephen Rench of the Oxfordshire Studies Department, Westgate Library and Jane Brown for her support.
The words ‘Oxford’ and ‘history’ might conjure up scenes of the English civil war, CS Lewis or JRR Tolkien. But there are other Oxford histories seldom told: more recent, those about the experience of marginal cultures.
‘Thank You Skinhead Girl’ is a documentary detailing the filmmakers experience of being in care and becoming a skinhead girl during that time. It gives insight through a female perspective into a sub-youth culture that has been one of the most misunderstood, of the youth groups. Through the voice of the filmmaker and interviews we are taken into the personal reflections of that time, documenting the local Oxford Skinhead scene from 1969- 89.
Features music by the Symarip, Oxford Ska band The Inflatables and Welsh Oi! band The Oppressed.
Awards
‘Best Documentary’ 8th Palace International Festival, Bulgaria
Nomination – Portobello Film Festival ‘Best film’ 2009
Sharon Woodward’s Biog:
Freelance Award Wining Filmmaker, Project Manager and Media Tutor. First break in television in 1984/85 with the emerging Channel 4’s Eleventh Hour, Youth Series ‘Turn It Up’. Trained at Newport Film School, The National Film and Television School and in the cutting rooms of BBC Wales and Tyne Tees Television.
Formed Mischief Pictures in 1996 with Producer Richard Duriez to make micro budget productions on digital video.
Specialized from 2003 – 2010 in media projects with young people with physical and learning disabilities. Teaches for Film Oxford, Oxford International Study Centre, has worked as a consultant/trainer for ‘Voices >From Oxford’ Oxford University Balliol College Oxford, Arts Mentor for the OYAP Trust, and run a number of drama and video workshops in schools.
Continues to make her own films as well as productions for other Corporate Organizations, Educational Establishments, Individuals and Community Groups.
To read the latest history Project Sharon is working on Down Memory Lane
Previous Awards include: the 1992 – David Altshul Award for Innovation and Creative Excellence in Film Making, Critic’s Award at 8th Edinburgh Fringe Film and Video Festival, Certificate of Merit in honour and recognition of the production’s superior quality, 28th Chicago Film Festival.
For more information about the day and the screening contact: Phoenix Oxford
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