Beyond ‘There’s always a black issue Dear’

Beyond ‘There’s always a black issue Dear’Beyond ‘There’s always a black issue Dear’Beyond ‘There’s always a black issue Dear’

Video

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE!


    Press

    Barbican Centre for Michael Clark  'Cosmic Dancer' 2020


    Q&A Rankin Studios 


    Hunger Magazine


    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


    Robert Elms show Radio London


    Shapers of the 80's - David Johnson

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


    Iris Prize 2018




    About the Film

    SYNOPSIS

    SYNOPSIS

    SYNOPSIS


    Beyond ‘There’s always a black issue Dear’, explores and celebrates black LGBT identities,  to demarcate the huge 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.  The cast vividly recall daring to be different. From  ballet dancing


    Beyond ‘There’s always a black issue Dear’, explores and celebrates black LGBT identities,  to demarcate the huge 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.  The cast vividly recall daring to be different. From  ballet dancing school boys, to make-up wearing gender-fluid school days, their experiences shed new light on the UK in the 1970s/80s. Creating their own identities in a time when, ‘if you were black you could be either Reggae or Soul’, these are the untold stories. The film spans an era, where  Soul and Disco, Punks and Blitz Kids met in underground clubs, like The Four Aces in Dalston and Crackers in Soho through to the explosion of queer culture at Taboo. Beyond captures a vital historical period. Here are the trailblazers.

    BEYOND ' There's always a black issue Dear'



    DIRECTOR

    SYNOPSIS

    SYNOPSIS


    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 Pho


    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 has recently completed her MA in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins in 2021.





    CAST

    SCREENINGS

    SCREENINGS



    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 Ty



    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

     An Internationally recognised make-up artist, Kenny creates iconic looks. Working with Italian and British Vogue,Harpers Bazaar, Elle and Interview magazine, Working with Italian and British Vogue,Harpers Bazaar, Elle and Interview magazine with photographers including,  Mondino, Paulo Roversi & Juergen Teller. Clients include,Neneh Cherry, Annie Lennox, Tilda Swinton. Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Lacroix, Chanel, YSL & Louis Vuitton. Kenny devised the digital fashion archive KCTV, a go to resource for fashion students and institutions. The recent launch of his own make-up line 'K'. Colo(u)rs adds another string to his bow. Kenny lives in Berlin. 


    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 and works in london.


    Velma ‘Vee’ Davis – b. TrinidadVee 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 on going career as a performer has seen her  create award winning  shows, working  with Andy Bell from Erasure amongst others.A career in performance has seen her appear in The Michael Clark company, sing in the backing band for The Fall, and star in the TV series, ‘The Comic Strip Presents’.  Lanah.P. became famous for her role in the movie ‘Eat the Rich’ (Dir Peter Richardson) and her chart hit in 1986 ‘Pistol in my pocket’ (Stock Aitken & Waterman.)  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 Lyndsay 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 has worked with The Waters, Jill Jones,Sandra St Victor, Daryl Hall,Gwen McCrae, Ellen Mcilwaine, Chris Whitley and Roy Ayers Band among many others. 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. GuyanaNo 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 legendary nightclub, Kinky Gerlinky,  founded by Michael & Gerlinde Costiff. Amongst Winn's many groundbreaking firsts she & designer Bok Goodall are collaborating on a lingerie range for transgender women, due to launch in March of 2020. Winn lives & works in London as a fashion/film stylist & consultant & teaches catwalk & attitude to the next generation of models for Models One & the Squad. 

    Find out more

    SCREENINGS

    SCREENINGS

    SCREENINGS


    15th November 2022 Corpus Christi college Cambridge University Free screening and Q&A


    24th September 2022 Screening at the Horse Hospital for 'The Museum of Sex Objects'


    17th Feb 2022 6-9pm Black Indigo 2 The Ministry Guest list only 

    11th November 2021 Afrika Eye Film Festival 


    29th October 2021  'We are the Light at the end of the tunnel' C


    15th November 2022 Corpus Christi college Cambridge University Free screening and Q&A


    24th September 2022 Screening at the Horse Hospital for 'The Museum of Sex Objects'


    17th Feb 2022 6-9pm Black Indigo 2 The Ministry Guest list only 

    11th November 2021 Afrika Eye Film Festival 


    29th October 2021  'We are the Light at the end of the tunnel' Camden together Festival 


    28th October London Metropolitan University Black history 365 festival


    22nd October 2021 Black Indigo at The 

    Ministry 

    Wed October 20th 2021 at 8.30 pm  BFI Flair Festival with Marlon T. Rigg's 'Tongues Untied' intro by programmer Rico Johnson - Sinclair


    August 1st 2021 The Batty Mama & Evidence to Exist 


    July 15th 2021  Kiki X Queer Vision Taking Liberties 


    February 23rd 2021 Screening of the film and discussion: University of Lincoln 


    December 4th 2020  -Jan 3rd 2021Free screening Barbican online for Cosmic Dancer Michael Clark exhibition 


    November 5th  -15th  2020 Cine Q 


    27th November 2020 2 brewers screening and Q&A


    20th October Winchester Art school 


    5th October Scottish Queer Film Festival  


    6th March  Paris at A la Folie timings tbc 


    28th February 2020 Stonewall Housing 

    Queerstory screening Tickets Eventbrite


    27th February 2020 Museum of London 


    25th February 2020 Manchester Library,Rainbow Noir & LGBT Foundation Screening Event 



    17th Feb New Zealand PRIDE  SAMESAME but BLACK


    13th Feb 2020 Winchester Art School


    6th Feb 2020 7-11 at The Batty Mama,Monthly British Black Queer Shorts + Open Mic Night 


     12th Dec 2019 Happy Clitmass party  tickets Eventbrite  


    PROVOKE 17th LGBTQ+ History & Archives Conference  7th December


     

    Central St Martins UAL 28th Nov 2019 

    6pm Lecture Theatre


    16th Nov 2019 Fringe! Queer Film Festival 


    14th November Berlin!

    Bring Down the Walls at Village Berlin 

    https://www.facebook.com/events/502124827235792/


    11th Nov 2019 Adobe networks London

    Private screening Trans Awareness week.



    9th November 4pm with Q&A

    https://filmhubmidlands.org/q-film-weekender-returns-to-northampton-filmhouse/


    13th October 2019

    Screening Seattle Queer film festival https://threedollarbillcinema.org/sqff24/films/queer-yesteryear-shorts#elevent


    October black history month 

    10th October 2019 

    Private screening for the Labout party BAME & LGBTQ networks  at Portcullis house 


    Screening 28th August 

    with panel Emmanuel Balogun, Lady Phyll,Glamrou, Sanah Hasan & Sarah Gregory

    10 Triton Street 

    London 

    NW1 3BF


    Screening 8th August with Opening doors at Age Concern Tavistock sq London 

    Ticket on Eventbrite here :



    Screening 23rd August at Manchester Pride Superbia Weekend at The Refuge



    THREE  London PRIDE week

    screenings coming up... 


    3rd July Rankin Studios host us at an invitation only event 


    4th July Vogue Fabrics Dalston host a community screening 

    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-theres-always-a-black-issue-dear-x-vfd-x-ukbp-tickets-63482803775


    LONDON PRIDE 

    Screening with BlackOut UK at the Conduit Club tickets available here 

    https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pride-in-london-screening-beyond-theres-always-a-black-issue-dear-tickets-64174887817



    SCREENINGS BRIGHTON FRINGE FESTIVAL
    Beyond will be screened 16 times in May 2019;

    Thu 2 May - Fri 3 May 7.45pm 

    Sat 4 May - Sun 5 May 4.45pm 

    Tue 7 May - Wed 8 May 4.45pm 

    Fri 10 May, Mon 13 May, Fri 17 May, Mon 20 May, Fri 24 May 12.15pm 

    Wed 15 May, Sun 19 May, Wed 22 May, Sun 26 May, Thu 30 May 4.45pm

     at The Warren: in the venue The Bunker. (more details: https://www.otherplacebrighton.co.uk/)




    https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/beyond-theres-always-black-issue-dear-film


    WE GOT a 15...



    The #IrisontheMove screenings are coming to;

    https://www.irisprize.org/irisonthemove/bournemouth/



    Watch this space for a London Screening coming soon!




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