Documentary, Culture, Social History
In 2009, Screen West Midlands made a call for projects to bid for financial support within the 'Digital Film Archive Fund' originated by the UK Film Council. This fund was conceived as a means to broaden access to audio-visual archives that in particular addressed the themes of ‘home’, ‘identity’ and ‘citizenship’. This presented a perfect opportunity to galvanise work on the Donnellan archive. In light of the commitment of Donnellan to region - as a base for production and as an object of representation, as well...
There will be a screening of 'The Colony' at The Drum, Aston, Birmingham on 12th October at 7.30. There will be a discussion with Perline Neale, who is the lady in the photograph, and at the...
“In 1985 a British tabloid called for Irish repatriation. I read the editorial with other Irishmen in a London railway siding. We weren’t worried, we didn’t exist anyway" It’s the third Sunday in September...
I've a hand in organising two events next week which will appeal to those with an interest in film and TV history and archives, not to mention the history of the Midlands. Both events are the outcome...
“In 1985 a British tabloid called for Irish repatriation. I read the editorial with other Irishmen in a London railwaysiding. We weren’t worried, we didn’t exist anyway” Live Words: Bohola MenThursday 3 February, 8pm Set in Bethnal Green’s Bohola House Bar, artist Denis Buckley’s performance traces the decline of Irish communities in post-war east London. He combines historical narrative with clips fromPhilip Donnellan’s film The Irishman: Portrait of Exile and Buckley’s own A Rose for Jack Doyle. A post performance...
Click here to download: PUMPDonnellan screening flyer.doc (1.27 MB) (download) Click here to download: PUMPDonnellan screening flyer.doc (1.27 MB)
I'll be introducing a screening of 'The Colony' next Thursday as part of Black History Month.The screening takes place at Fircroft College, Selly Oak. Attendees should arrive by 715. I'll introduce the film at 730 and the screening will commence at 745.Below is an extract from a recent piece I've written about why Donnellan, and this film in particular, is so importantif you are interested in attending do please email organiser Sean Mullen: Sean.Mullen@fircroft.ac.uk If you cannot attend and would like to know more...
I am pleased to say that I'll be speaking about the work of Philip Donnellan as well as the current archive project at an academic conference next week. 'On Archives' takes place at Madison University, Wisconsin, USA. More information about this event can be found here: http://www.wcftr.commarts.wisc.edu/conference/index.html I'll post up a version of my paper once it is completed and delivered but here is the abstract that outlines the core of what I'll be talking about: Inscribing the work of Philip...
Event: Home, Identity and Citizenship – The Films of Philip Donnellan. What? A screening of ‘Philip Donnellan’s The Colony’ (1964), and a discussion of an ongoing project to explore and promote the resources of the Philip Donnellan Archive. The Colony: This innovative TV documentary explores the experience of members of the Caribbean migrant community in Birmingham and the Midlands. The film allows its subjects space to candidly evaluate their reception in the UK and their relationships with home and other...
Work on the films and papers of Donnellan at the Birmingham City Archives is made possible by funding from Screen West Midlands. More information available at:
Philip Donnellan (1924-99) worked for the BBC from 1948-84. Much of his professional life was spent in the Midlands where he worked first in radio and then in television. One of his contemporaries and colleagues was the trailblazing radio producer Charles Parker and they collaborated on a number of works and shared many ideas about broadcasting and how it might better serve and represent society. Both expressed a belief in the value of ordinary life and culture and the need to give working people and under-represented groups a space in which to articulate their concerns in their own voices.
This site is a partner to:
http://www.philipdonnellan.co.uk/
The partner site offers more information on the life and work of Donnellan.
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