Miners’ Campaign Tapes, The

Synopsis

These six short films, released for the first time, are a crucial document of a cataclysmic episode of British history 25 years ago. A testament to solidarity and activism, the Miners’ Campaign Tapes tackle issues which continue to occupy
us today: the right to demonstrate, police tactics, political double-speak, and the role of the media.

In 1984 a group of independent film and video makers decided to show their support for the miners’ strike using the tools they had available: their cameras. On the picket lines, at the marches and in the soup kitchens, they recorded the testimonies of the striking miners, their wives and supporters, in a fight against anti-strike propaganda dominating the mainstream media. A testament to solidarity and activism, the tapes tackle issues which continue to occupy us today: the right to demonstrate, police tactics, political double-speak, the role of the media. They are a crucial document of a
cataclysmic episode of British history. Individual titles are Not Just Tea and Sandwiches,The Coal Board’s Butchery, Solidarity, Straight Speaking, The Lie Machine, Only Doing Their Job?. The filmmaking groups involved were Platform Films, Platform Films (London), Trade Films (Gateshead / Newcastle), Chapter Community Video Workshop (Cardiff), Amber Films (Newcastle)
Nottingham Video Project, Birmingham Film and Video Workshop, Open Eye Film and Video Workshop (Liverpool, Active Image (Rotherham / Sheffield), Films at Work (London), London Media Research Group, all of which were producing social action films at the time. Among those who appear are Arthur Scargill, Dennis Skinner and the late Paul Foot. Music comes from popular artists of the time; Heaven 17, China Crisis,
Kirsty MacColl, Joe Jackson and Linton Kwesi Johnson.

DVD extras include: Illustrated booklet with essays by Chris Reeves of Platform Films (discussing the making and distribution of the tapes), David Peace (author of GB84 and the ‘Red Riding’ thrillers) and Julian Petley (co-author ofMedia Hits the Pits: the Media and Coal Dispute and Shafted: the Media , the Miners’ Strike and the
Aftermath)

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2009

Year of production

1984

Subjects

Social Studies; History; Media studies; Politics & government

Keywords

campaigning films; media reporting; police; social history; miners’ strike (1984-5)

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£9.74

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

92 minutes

Year

2014

Sections

Title

Not Just Tea and Sandwiches

Synopsis

Examines the role played in the strike by the miners’ wives, whom the tabloids falsely painted as being vocally opposed to their action. Their determination and resolve can’t help but recall the solidarity of the miners’ wives of Harlan County U.S.A. during another hard fought industrial dispute.

Duration

12 mins

Title

Coal Board’s Butchery, The

Synopsis

Examines the running down of the coal industry under Ian McGregor and suggests that Margaret Thatcher’s long-term plan is to break the unions and hand all nationalised industries over to the private sector.

Duration

14 mins

Title

Solidarity

Synopsis

Looks at wider trade union support for the miners and the links with other unions at a time when attempts to crush any secondary action were already under way.

Duration

12 mins

Title

Straight Speaking

Synopsis

Dennis Skinner provides the facts and history behind the strike and responds directly to some of the statements made about the miners and their action by Ian MacGregor.

Duration

10 mins

Title

Lie Machine, The

Synopsis

A detailed assault on press coverage of the strike, presented by Gavin Richards of the Campaign Tape Project. Left-wing journalist Paul Foot contributes some analysis and the editing of BBC footage is questioned.

Duration

16 mins

Title

Only Doing Their Job?

Synopsis

Looks at the police handling of the miners’ strike.

Duration

25 mins

Production Company

Name

Platform Films

Email

Platform.films@virgin.net

Web

http://www.platformfilms.co.uk/html%20Site/index.html External site opens in new window

Phone

07973 278956

Fax

020 7278 8394

Address

Unit 14 Pennybank Chambers
33-35 St John’s Square
LONDON
EC1M 4DS

Distributor

Name

BFI Video

Email

video.films@bfi.org.uk

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7957 8957

Fax

020 7957 8968

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

 

Available from retail outlets