Young people celebrated their music, their own films and the launch of their website www.myrootsmymusic.org.uk at the Premiere in Cineworld MK on Monday 21st May.
The Premiere was attended by Mayor Mike Barry and Mayoress Cheryl Barry who said they really enjoyed the evening. This energetic event was presented by Lady Fury, a well known UK Grime artist, and included musical performances by MK Grime artists, V!Ru$ (Anonomous Elements) and F-Tizzle. Lady Fury, whilst bigging up the achievements of the young filmmakers and performers, talked about the influence of music on her life.
Footage of the event can be seen at AskMK.tv
The DVD ‘My Roots My Music’ presents a powerful message about how young people are perceived in society today and historically. It includes the six mini heritage films made by young people, about their families and their lives, and the documentary about Grime music, called ‘Merking Time’, and is available from Living Archive.
Music That Moves You’ was documentary heritage project organised by Living Archive in 2006 - 2007, involving over 40 young people from the Close to Home Project at the Oasis Youth Centre, Woughton Campus. It was funded by a Young Roots award of £23,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. To find out more about the project go to www.myrootsmymusic.org.uk
Faye Gilbert, professional filmmaker and Artistic Director for this project, said: “A special thank you to all the young people who put a huge amount of time and energy into making their films, music and web pages - you were all brilliant!”
The mini heritage films were made by young people between the ages of 13 and 19 who are from many different countries and for whom English is often their second or third language. They wanted to explore the reasons their families came to Milton Keynes and how young people from different backgrounds communicate.
Merking Time’ is a 25 minute documentary film about the roots of Grime and urban music. It is an energetic, entertaining film which not only shows the roots of urban music but also asks the question: Why Is Grime Music So Angry?
To make this film a group of young people explored the roots of urban music and its role in both creating and dividing communities. They researched, wrote and directed their own film and interviewed BIG artists and producers from the Urban music scene such as Lady Fury and Skinnyman. Two of them commented: “We interviewed a lot of artists from around the UK who are known within the grime industry, we also used libraries and universities.” “The project has put MK on the map for young grime artists.”
The music was created and produced by young MC’s, DJ’s and music producers as a sound track for ‘Merkin Time’, with support from Pete Staffell and The Energizer Bus Project. These musical pieces were inspired by the sound of African drumbeats and tribal music. Lyrics were created from how the musicians felt about their own heritage and culture.
www.myrootsmymusic.org.uk Some young people were involved with the web designers making and setting up their own web site to show their mini heritage films, excepts from ‘Merkin Time’ and music from the project. Scenes from the Premiere will be uploaded onto the site.
Oxford College Network Qualifications will be accredited to some of the young filmmakers and musicians whose work in filmmaking and music production is being assessed by ACE.
Contact Living Archive for more information or to order a DVD of the work from this project, please call Jane Jeavons on 01908 322568 or email
Thank You to:
- Young Roots for the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for this project.
- ACE for supporting the OCN qualification.
- Millennium Volunteers for use of their camera & accrediting the young people's time.
- School Of Oriental and African Studies for providing us access to research material.
- British Library Sound Archive for allowing us access to archive music.
- Living Archive team for all their hard work.
- Close to Home and Woughton Parish Council for supporting the young people during the project.
- The Energiser Bus for providing musical expertise for the films and music production.
- All the artists, producers, journalists, parents and young people who gave their time to be interviewed for the films.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Background Information
Living Archive
Living Archive exists to help people share a strong sense of community and pride through collecting and celebrating their lives and place through high quality artistic and creative activities. Projects focus on participation, with the participants' life stories usually being our subject matter.
Young Roots : Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. Since its conception, HLF has supported 16,600 projects allocating over £3.3 billion across the UK.
|
