Still the Enemy Within

OUR TOTAL RAISED FROM SPONSUME AND DIRECT DONATIONS FROM TRADE UNIONS IS £36,790!!!!

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THE IDEA

In 1984, Margaret Thatcher labelled 160,000 striking miners, their families and supporters, ‘The Enemy Within’. It was to be the longest national industrial dispute in British history. As the strike began, a group of miners emerged who were prepared to fight on the front line of every major battle.

Dubbed ‘Arthur’s Army’, they were to lead a fight-back that would not just rock the government but would change British society forever… Still the Enemy Within uncovers the hidden story of these remarkable people and their role in The Great Miners' Strike of 1984 – 85.

Thirty years on, we catch up those who fought on the front line. Many of them have never spoken on camera before. Their stories are often funny, occassionally tragic but ultimately inspiring. Through their eyes we look back at a country at war, and the ordinary men and women who were forced to step on to the stage of history to fight for their communities.

Often, the story of the Miners' Strike is told simply as the story of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher vs Miners' leader Arthur Scargill. Here we’ll meet the real leaders on the ground who spent every day for a year, fighting not just for their jobs but for the soul of the country.

WHY NOW?

The film will be completed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the strike in 2014. We hope to secure a limited theatrical release, screening at independent cinemas nationwide throughout the anniversary year.

With a Tory government back in power, and the recent death of Margaret Thatcher next year will see a huge battle of interpretation for the legacy of the strike.  This along with the call for a public inquiry into the policing of Orgreave, means it has never been so important that people learn the lessons of that year and what really happened.

Still the Enemy Within will be a truly unique insight into one of Britain’s most dramatic struggles.  30 years on, there has never been a better time to tell their story.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR

We have conducted over 70 hours of interviews with ex-miners, women and supporters, up and down the country including those from the LGBT and Black and Asian support groups.

We have also filmed at the Durham Miners’ gala, the CWU conference in Bournemouth, the David Jones/Joe Green memorial in Barnsley and at the Tory party conference demonstration in Manchester.

We have started to edit the film and we are aiming for a rough cut by March  2014 ready to finish the film by the end of May.

WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO

Use Archive-There is so much amazing material from the time, much of it never seen before.  We want to use film, stills and other material  to bring the real story of 'Arthur's Army' to life. This cost thousands of pounds to process, transfer and research. We need to pay for a skilled Archive Producer to help us track down all the unknown or unseen footage to craft a really engaging narrative.

Drama Reconstruction- We plan to fillm stylish black and white abstracts to help recreate the personal stories of those involved. This is vital part of the film which has emerged after filming our interviews. Many things that happened in the strike were away from the cameras so filming these will be a key part of telling the story.

Further Shooting- We would like to interview miners from Wales and Nottingham as well as more women and supporters who were involved centrally in keeping the strike going

Post-production - So far this project has relied on everybody working on it for free but people cannot live on fresh air and passion alone. We are reaching a vital stage where we need to pay editors  and production crew to work on the film day and night in order to complete it, in time for the anniversary.  We are aiming to get a rough cut ready by March, which can be used to secure the final pieces of funding we need to finish the film.

CHALLENGES

The biggest challenge to this project is raising enough money so we can afford to work on this project full time until May. Everybody working on this project has been working full-time and part-time for free but unfortunately this is unsustainable. There is an enormous amount of work to do and we need to expand our team and pay our editors full time.

THE TEAM

This film is being made by Bad Bonobo, bringing producers Mark Lacey and Sinead Kirwan together with director Owen Gower on their first feature documentary. Owen has an extensive background in factual television and documentaries, most recently producing on the landmark natural history series ‘The Burrowers’ for the BBC. Owen began his career co-shooting the flagship Channel 4 documentary ‘Antony Gormley: Making Space’ with acclaimed director Beeban Kidron. Since then he has worked on a number of major television documentaries including the triple Emmy award winning ‘First Life’, with David Attenborough, as well as a huge range of productions for the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky One, National Geographic, Discovery and The History Channel.  This will be his first feature film as director.

They are collaborating with Mike Simons, the author of two acclaimed books on the strike: ‘Blood, Sweat & Tears: Photographs from The Great Miners' Strike’ and ‘Striking Back.  The project is also being made in collaboration with photographers John Sturrock and John Harris  of reportdigital.co.uk and Martin Shakeshaft from Past Pixels, who took some of the most iconic images of the strike. They are donating all their images free of charge.   

The film builds on the 30 year relationship Mike and Sinead have had with the miners and their families.  This has allowed us access to people who have never been willing to talk about their experiences on camera before.

Malcolm Hadley is a highly experienced Director of Photography with a strong background in specialized cinematography for stop-motion features, commercials , series animation and documentaries. As an integral member of the team he has played a key role in developing the films look and feel, through a combination of creative flair and scrupulous technical consideration. As the film combines beautifully shot interviews and abstract drama recon, he is the perfect man for the job. Has collaborated with some of the best directors in the business including Tim Burton, Peter Lord and Nick Park.

Simon Modery is a London-based film editor. He has extensive editing credits from corporates and promos to feature-length drama and documentary. His latest documentary “Four Horsemen” has been an international festival success. He has a passion for political documentaries and has the ideal combination of creative instincts and technical expertise needed for the project.

SUPPORT FOR THIS FILM

Lee Hall, writer of 'Billy Elliot'.  "The Miner's Strike was a watershed in post-War British history. The real story has been buried behind an avalanche of propaganda. This is a vitally important story. Please support it."

Ken Loach, veteran film maker “The mainstream media didn’t tell the truth about the miners’ strike when it happened. And the same lies are still being told. It’s therefore important that we tell this story. The film should be made.”

John Pilger, journalist. "This is an important film. What happened to the miners in the 1980s is happening again in other forms as an increasingly totalitarian, surveillance state touches our lives. If you can, please support this project."

Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades' Union. "This film will be vital part of educating new Fire Fighters on the role of the union and on wider working class history. We face similar attacks today as the miners faced in 1984 and I am proud the FBU is supporting this film and we will do everything to make sure it reaches its target".

Jane Loftus, President, The Communication Workers Union."This is about solidarity, just like the miners’ strike itself was about solidarity. We need to support this film and get it funded, so we can use it next year to take back our history, working class history. I ask you to support and donate to this film".

We have recieved support nationally from  Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust,  Dartmouth Films The Fire Brigades Union, The Communication Workers Union,  National Union of Teachers  Durham Miners Association, University and College Union  and Education in Scotland

RMT LUL Engineering branch, RMT Bakerloo Branch, RMT Jubilee South, RMT Piccadilly Branch, RMT Scottish Regional Council, NUT Ealing branch, NUT Wakefield branch, NUT Doncaster and District, NUT Hackney, NUT Islington, Sandwell NUT,  Unison Kirklees Branch, Unison Tower Hamlets branch, Unison May Day health branch, Edinburgh City Council Unison, UNISON LFEPA, University College London Hospital Unison, Unison Health Branch Bournemouth,  Brighton and Hove Unison, York City Unison ,  Camden Unison,  Sheffield PCS, Goldsmiths UCU,  FBU London Region, FBU South Yorkshire Region, GMB  North West London, TSSA York, Unite Tyneside electricians, Unite Leeds Branch, Unite Hillingdon Public Services branch,  Unite North West 389,  Unite Greenwich, Unite St Pancras Branch, Unite Retired Members Tauton branch,  EIS East Renfrewshire Association,  NUJ Salford Branch

York Trades Council, Lewisham Trades council, Bexley Heath and Greenwich Trades council, Leeds Trades council, Milton Keynes Trades council, Bath Trades council, Hull Trades council, Crewe Trades Council, Notts Trades Council, Medway Trades Council, Barrow Trades Council, Southampton Trades Council, Haringey Trades Council, Brighton and Hove Trades Council, Vale of clwyd Trades Council

We need your help to make sure the film is completed it, so donate today!