After several conversations with my friend and creative partner, actor Moey Hassan, we decided to begin shooting our pilot for our comedy-drama TV series idea LAPD (Latif Ali Property Developments). I was sick of working alone and found (as a result) my latest ideas ended up being white middle class male boring fare that I didn't care too much for, felt dated and irrelevant, copied and lacking in any kind of edge, intrigue or originality.
At the same time I was researching American indie filmmaking and reading books on the subject from the likes of JJ Murphy, Michael Z Newman and Geoff King. I also interviewed filmmakers such as Alex Holdridge and Kevin Allen. What began to emerge was that in order for new waves of filmmaking to exist there had to be a certain type of climate, certain things had to be in place.
For example there had to be either a market for the films or the films don't exist. The French, British and American new waves of the 50's and 60's fed youthful audiences hungry for something new, young, fresh and truthful. Holdridge's Austin in the 90s fed youtube style audiences of the 00s in a similar way through theatrical distribution. That possibility is no longer there on any commercial/theatrical level for independent film, it's all online now.
What also emerged is that there has to be an artistic community exchanging ideas. Almost all new waves had a synthesis between art forms, transcended different mediums, inspiring new thoughts and ideas. Filmmakers mixing with artists, dancers, poets, actors etc. But this kind of bohmemian mix of people need a cheap place to live in a young, dense population. Somewhere they can make a living to feed their own creative autonomy. That possibility has disappeared in most major cities now (e.g. London, Paris, New York), they're too expensive.
Bradford has the highest proportion of young people in the UK. It also is not somewhere I thought I would like. I fell in love with the city when we moved there eight years ago. I really had no idea about the city and was struck by its differences to Leeds. Apart from its obvious financial problems of late, there is such a sense of pride and incredible history to the city, it oozes character and off-the-wallness and has sense that anything is possible. Bradford has great people. Home to my favourite British new wave film Billy Liar, as well as producing the man who inspired the new wave, Tony Richardson.
The research made Moey's complaints all the more louder in my ears... He was sick of going to audition after audition where he was one of: a kebab shop owner, an angry taxi driver or a corner shop owner. He wanted a true representation of the values he grew up with as one of the first Asian families to settle on Leeds Road in Bradford in the 70s - a crazy subversive place to be. He had something to say. I am always reminded of Alan Parker's quote about Ken Loach - how Loach's films remind Parker that we should always have something to say in filmmaking.
Just last year the BFI stated that:
‘the single biggest challenge facing the UK screen industries is inclusion. What we find is a pandemic lack of representation across the industry affecting all minority groups… Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups (13% of the population) are also significantly underrepresented. They make up 3% of the production and post-production workforce.’ (Future Film Skills, p.18)
When I saw that stat, I was astonished. Then I began to think about my experiences within the industry and felt totally ignorant and blind to it. It was true. So with Moey's comments ringing in my ears and research evidence in front of my eyes, I began to take action.
60% of our cast and crew for LAPD are from BAME groups and it feels like it could be the start of something fresh, exciting and new. We could potentially be operating at a much higher level in future. Many new waves come from the communication of a different value set on screen, a new style and synthesis. The seed has therefore been planted to make a success of this film and get the pilot funded, in order to create a research project based around a production company in the coming years.
By actively seeking BAME cast and crew, we're hoping to quickly make a big impact in one of the most diverse and intriguing areas of the country, inspiring bright, new, fresh ideas and crucially, making inclusive work. Take a look at our teaser here: https://vimeo.com/249560395