Beyond ‘There’s always a black issue Dear’

Press

Q&A Rankin Studios

Andy Polaris GQ Magazine

' A new documentary finally gives credit to the black queer people who built British nighlife'

Wylde Magazine -Pippa Brooks.

'Don’t miss this important, moving – at times hilarious – celebration of these legendary London children'

BlackOut UK -Dr.Rob Berkeley

'Our stories matter. To us and to communities of which we are a part '

Out in South London Resonance FM interview with DJ Stewart Who

Shapers of the 80's - David Johnson

'Talk candidly of being young black and gay in ways many of us never knew'

About the Film

SYNOPSIS

BEYOND ‘There’s always a Black issue, dear’

The 1980’s has been recognised as a period of great creativity and cross- pollination, a time where in spite of harsh political realities and the onslaught of HIV, the capital’s creative’s and nightclub kids expressed a myriad of identities. But recognition of the influential contribution of the era’s black and LGBTQ community has been less documented.

Beyond ‘There’s always a black issue Dear’, addresses the omission of these voices and explores the stories of 10 interwoven black & LGBT lives, to demarcate and celebrate the particular influence that black LGBT culture has had upon Fashion, Fine art, Dance, Music and Language, much of which has been appropriated by the cultural mainstream. Growing up in Thatcher’s Britain, children of the Windrush generation, and the first generation to grow up after the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality, the cast vividly recall daring to be different. Ballet dancing boys, and make-up wearing, gender-fluid school days, are described with humour. Their experiences shed new light on the UK in the 1970s/80s as it began to come to terms with both multiculturalism and sexual freedom. Creating their own identities in a time when, ‘if you were black you could be either Reggae or Soul’, these are the untold stories, where a queer black London begins to emerge. Soul and Disco, Punks and Blitz Kids meet. From underground clubs, like The Four Aces in Dalston and Crackers in Soho to the explosion of queer culture at Taboo. Beyond captures a vital historical period, that creates connections for the audience between the recent past and contemporary challenges. Here are the trailblazers.

ABOUT

DIRECTOR,EDITOR,PRODUCER

Claire Lawrie- b.london

Claire Lawrie was a part of the club scene in London and NYC. She was a model with Z agency and performed with artists the Neo Naturists & Mathew Hawkins Ballet company, (where she met Lanah.P.) She taught herself photography & began taking photographs of those around her, later graduating with a 1st class BA in Photography from the London College of Communication, her graduation work was collected by the Birth Rites collection. She has won Bartur, Life Framer and Portrait of Britain awards & been featured in Photoworks Annual, the Brighton Biennial & at Claremont Arts Project in London. Her first film Beyond 'There's always a black issue Dear' is the winner of The Queer Vision Film festival & Iris Prize Best of British 2018. She works as a freelance photographer in London.

CAST

Andy Polaris – b. London

One of the original club kids. Living with Boy George, Marilyn in the Carburton street squat, he went on to the be the lead singer/songwriter of 1980’s pop band Animal Nightlife. Andy is featured in the BBC documentary film 'Save me from Suburbia' and the film 'Punk in London 77' -as well as in artist Nicola Tyson's iconic images of the time, he has featured in Vogue, GQ, ID & The Face magazine amongst others. Andy lives and works in London writing cultural reviews for his blog www.apolarisview

Frank Akinsete – b. london

AKA, FrankStylist founded the iconic Souled Out vintage store in Portobello Rd & subsequently created, with his business partner, the first ever vintage concession to be sold in a Department store for Top Shop. Frank was a commercial stylist, clients ranged from Diana Ross to Oasis, All saints , The spice girls and many others. Frank deals in vintage clothing from his influential stall in Portobello Market, as well as at vintage fairs across the country and teaches Fashion Styling at University College of the Arts. He lives in London with the love his life, Rocky, a grey Burmese cat with an attitude.

Kenny Campbell – b. London

Kenny Campbell is an Internationally recognised make-up artist, creating iconic looks for photographers, artists including, Mondino, Paulo Roversi & Juergen Teller and artists such as Neneh Cherry, Annie Lennox & Tilda Swinton. Working with top fashion publications & fashion houses including Italian and British Vogue,Harpers Bazaar, Elle and Interview magazines Jean Paul Gaultier, Christain Lacroix,Chanel, YSL, Louis Vuitton. His successful career over 2 decades is on going.Kenney devised and runs the digital fashion archive KCTV, a go to resource for fashion students and institutions as well as the indusrty, the resent launch of his own make-up line 'K'. Colo(u)rs adds another string to his bow. Kenny lives in Berlin with his partner the artist Nelson Santos.

Kenrick Davis – b. London

Brought up in Ladbroke Grove, Kenrick has been integral to London's alternative nightclub scene. In the 1980's Kenrick worked alongside the legendary Leigh Bowery and Rachel Auburn at their store in Hyper Hyper, leading to him taking a key role at Cutler & Gross, the luxury eyewear company. Kenrick lives with his husband Tom and works for Soho house.

Velma ‘Vee’ Davis – b. Trinidad

Vee has lived in Ladbroke Grove, for over 50 years. Her knowledge of local history and her razor sharp memory mean that she has contributed to research on the Windrush era for the likes of Steve Mqueen. Her love of performance has seen her appear in commercials for Virgin and British Vogue.

Lanah.P. – b. Grimsby

Lanah.P's career in performance has seen her appear in The Michael Clark company ballets, sing in the backing band for The Fall, and star in the TV series, ‘The Comic Strip Presents’, as well as on youth TV programme ‘Whatever you want’ in the 1980s. Lanah.P. became famous for her role in the movie ‘Eat the Rich’ (Dir Peter Richardson) and had a chart hit in 1986 with ‘Pistol in my pocket’ (Stock Aitken & Waterman.) Her on going career as a performer has seen her create award winning one woman shows and work with Andy Bell from Erasure, amongst others. She lives and works in London.

Les Child – b. Birmingham

Les Child's career in dance and choreography has spanned 5 decades. Trained at Ballet Rambert, Les was a principal dancer in many dance companies including The Lyndsey Kemp Company and The Michael Clark Company. Les formed the House of Child in the late 1980s. His on going career as a choreographer sees him working in fashion, theatre and film. Les currently works with some of the world's top fashion photographers on campaigns for Burberry, Gucci, DVF, Alexander McQueen & Top Shop amongst others. As well as working in fashion choreographing shows and shoots, Les has choreographed shows for some of the world's most well recording artists, including, Boy George, Eartha Kitt, Erasure, Marc Almond, The Pet shop Boys and the Rolling Stones. Les Child lives and works in London.

Nicky Green – b. New York

A well known socialite on the nightclub scene in both NYC and London. Nicky worked in the 'downtown' club scene in NYC at World, Nell's, Danceteria, CBGB's, Area & various clubs and boutiques in both NYC & London. Alongside the club scene she worked as a fashion buyer for which she studied at F.I.T. working for Showroom 7 amongst others. She modelled and hosted various club nights in London & in Italy. Nicky lives part of the year in London and part in New York & is an avid collector of French antique silver. She is currently working on Ryan Murphy's TV series Pose.

Robb Scott – b. London

Musician, composer and recording artist, whose career spans three decades. Robb Scott ran well known club nights with the 999 boys in London in the 1980s. His music career is on going having just won Best R&B soul Album 2018 Bright Star music awards for his critically acclaimed new album Siren. He lives and works in London and Malaga.

Roy Brown – b. Birmingham

Model, performer, icon, Roy’s modelling career spans over three decades.

Working with photographers such as Rankin, Juergen Teller, Nick Knight, David Bailey, Tyen, Jean Baptiste Mondino and Solve Sundsbo. As a dancer he has worked with The House of Child, Donna Summer, Grace Jones, Neneh Cherry, and Frank Ocean. As a singer and songwriter, performing as ROY INC. he’s releasing new tracks with Hot Chip's Joe Goddard & Horse Meat Disco on the upcoming album. He runs S.O.S the best Soul/Funk night on London's LGBTQI+ scene & lives in London.

Winn Austin – b. Guyana

No night is complete without Winn Austin in attendance. Icon & Muse to London's creatives Winn has modelled for Pam Hogg, Vivienne Westwood, Rifat Ozbek, Thierry Mugler and Anthony Price. In an era of 'grunge chic' Winn brought the glamour back to London when she famously compered & travelled the world with the nightclub, Kinky Gerlinky, founded by Michael & Gerlinde Costiff. Creating many of her own looks, she often wore full length gowns, diamonds & feathers, accentuating her renowned beauty. Winn is an effortless performer and compere & a tour de force cabaret artiste. She lives & works in London as a fashion/film stylist & consultant & teaching catwalk & attitude to the next generation of models.