IS WILLY STILL SAD?
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:52 am
Is Willy still sad? Reading his sad story about the closing of his beloved 'club house' he can be assured that the very same things happen in the UK. In this case, not a movie making club, but a long established children's theatre workshop. The only connection with movie making, is that I endeavoured to make a documentary about this unfolding story.
I became involved in making this film, because I believed an injustice was being done by the local district council. This together with the obsession by the council's paid officials to be as obstructive as possible over the years. The building, a Victorian school which had been declared surplus to needs thirty five years before and had been taken over by that council. Another good reason was, that I had involved two actors in a drama film, who had grown up within the group and were now in their early twenties.
A children's theatre workshop had been developed, over many years, introducing youngsters to various interactive skills, give them self esteem and become more confidence. The building had been used on a rental basis and the group converted into a small workshop theatre over the years. Several plays and activities were staged thought the year. The town was deficient in places for people to meet, not the least the youngsters in this small town. It was also used by the small local drama group.
The local council decided that the building must close. The reason? Take your pick. Every reason under the sun was fielded but really they [the council] wanted the land to build on. Not enough car parking, the building was unsafe, there may be asbestos in there, health and safety et al. For 'closure' read the relevent council papers about 'exit strategy'.
I started shooting my film in February 2006 as the buildings fate was to be sealed by the following September. The documentary was never concluded and stays on my computers time-line unfinished.
The building remains forlorn and closed. The theatre workshop of more than a hundred youngsters is almost disbanded after more than thirty years. What has been achieved? The old school could not be sold for building land as the council had overlooked the fact that the building had been 'listed'. The group tried to buy the building, but a higher bidder 'emerged' the council claimed.
In the course of trying to make the film, everything from the councils point of view was deemed 'confidential'. Yet, I had in front of me papers stating the facts, which were in the public domain. Why so secretive anyway, state security was not at stake.
So in getting involved in a project, it does tend to take you over and although you are endeavouring to maintain an editorial balance, you may find that you haven't and perhaps my case, it is why the project remains unfinished.
So Willy, don't be too sad, these things happen both sides of the water to a greater degree. Many of us can sympathise with you and your plight. These are the very activities which make up a local community in the UK and yet many local councils are 'hell bent' on putting an end to them.
Perhaps to complete my documentary, I can get a colleague in the UK to film the run up to, and results of the next local elections! However, in saying so, does it make the point in my case, I may have become too close to this issue? PW.
I became involved in making this film, because I believed an injustice was being done by the local district council. This together with the obsession by the council's paid officials to be as obstructive as possible over the years. The building, a Victorian school which had been declared surplus to needs thirty five years before and had been taken over by that council. Another good reason was, that I had involved two actors in a drama film, who had grown up within the group and were now in their early twenties.
A children's theatre workshop had been developed, over many years, introducing youngsters to various interactive skills, give them self esteem and become more confidence. The building had been used on a rental basis and the group converted into a small workshop theatre over the years. Several plays and activities were staged thought the year. The town was deficient in places for people to meet, not the least the youngsters in this small town. It was also used by the small local drama group.
The local council decided that the building must close. The reason? Take your pick. Every reason under the sun was fielded but really they [the council] wanted the land to build on. Not enough car parking, the building was unsafe, there may be asbestos in there, health and safety et al. For 'closure' read the relevent council papers about 'exit strategy'.
I started shooting my film in February 2006 as the buildings fate was to be sealed by the following September. The documentary was never concluded and stays on my computers time-line unfinished.
The building remains forlorn and closed. The theatre workshop of more than a hundred youngsters is almost disbanded after more than thirty years. What has been achieved? The old school could not be sold for building land as the council had overlooked the fact that the building had been 'listed'. The group tried to buy the building, but a higher bidder 'emerged' the council claimed.
In the course of trying to make the film, everything from the councils point of view was deemed 'confidential'. Yet, I had in front of me papers stating the facts, which were in the public domain. Why so secretive anyway, state security was not at stake.
So in getting involved in a project, it does tend to take you over and although you are endeavouring to maintain an editorial balance, you may find that you haven't and perhaps my case, it is why the project remains unfinished.
So Willy, don't be too sad, these things happen both sides of the water to a greater degree. Many of us can sympathise with you and your plight. These are the very activities which make up a local community in the UK and yet many local councils are 'hell bent' on putting an end to them.
Perhaps to complete my documentary, I can get a colleague in the UK to film the run up to, and results of the next local elections! However, in saying so, does it make the point in my case, I may have become too close to this issue? PW.