Johnson, Esther

Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive

1	  Esther Johnson  Professor of Film and Media Arts Sheffield Hallam University asunder1916.uk @1916asunder  blanchepictures.com 2016 commemorative project for the centenary of the  Battle of the Somme, with a particular focus on the North East  Primarily funded by: 14–18 NOW WW1 Centenary Art Commissions across the UK and Sunderland Cultural Partnership  ·  to uncover untold stories of WW1   with a focus on Sunderland and the  North East of England  ·  to experiment with mixing archive with  contemporary footage shot especially  for the film  ·  to create a narrative that weaves oral  history testimonies, diary entries and  memoirs from those that lived through  WW1 with newspaper stories published  in 1914–18 editions of the Sunderland  Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette  ·  to collaborate with musicians from the  North East to create an original  soundtrack to be performed live at the premiere  PROJECT AIMS 2	  NARRATIVE RESEARCH !!!!!Memoirs Essays 1914–18 Newspapers Diary Entries Oral History Testimonies FILM CHARACTERS individuals from the North East Bella Reay Arthur Linfoot Garnet Wolsey Fyfe George Thompson Plus: Lizzie Holmes and Lisbeth Simm (no found photographs) Norman Gaudie Robert Hope (Hepple) Margaret Holmes !!!!!MUSIC “One of the things which intrigued me especially about this project was our  love of the orchestral music from that period. Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring premiered in 1913, Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire in 1912. Bela Bartok and  Maurice Ravel were composing, as was Claude Debussy, so it was a time of  huge change in harmony and composition and we’ve dipped into that period for inspiration a lot.”  – Peter Brewis from Field Music ·  Orchestral score inspired by early 1900s experiments in   music  ·  Use of woodwind and celeste popular in late   1800s/early 1900s. Decision not to use brass and  traditional notions instrumentation for war.    ·  Researched traditional folk songs – found  The Rigs of Sunderland Fair   about an ideal day at the fair,   sung A cappella in the film  ·  Researched Music Hall   and early recorded music   technologies such as wax cylinders  ·  Score – Orchestral and string quartet version 3	  !!!!!Barbican London  12.02.17 PERFORMANCES WITH LIVE MUSIC PREMIERE – 10.07.16  Sunderland Empire Theatre Sun 12 Feb, Milton CourtAsunderField Music and Warm Digits provide the live soundtrack to Esther Johnson’s moving documentary about Sunderland during WW1Image © Imperial War MuseumsRehearsals and recording at Sage Gateshead Conductor Hugh Brunt Asunder team with Royal Northern Sinfonia Asunder premiere programme Asunder sheet music Performances  with Live Music Premiere included additional  Asunder inspired arts activities !!!!!ARCHIVE RESEARCH !!!!!4	  STUDIO RESEARCH Themes of Archive Film  Search for Ghost Signs	  Mapping Timeline for Film and events in 1916 Textural Visual Research ARCHIVE FILM 90+ archive films used from 4 film archives CONTEMPORARY FILM locations in the North East as they are now 5	  !!!COMMUNITY SCREENINGS CINEMA SCREENINGS – Special screenings for schools – Screenings with Q&As    include: – The Women’s Library, LSE – International Women’s Day – Sheffield Museums – Sage Gateshead – performance with live music     on the Armistice anniversary  http://asunder1916.uk/events  Screenings taking place in locations in which  the film characters once lived and knew:  e.g. Sunderland; Roker; Hendon; Blyth;  South Tyneside; Gateshead; Newcastle; Durham 2018 SCREENINGS PREMIERE AUDIENCE FEEDBACK “very special indeed”              Living North “a fascinating kaleidoscope”           ????? Chronicle “Asunder casts its spell”           Sunderland Echo “In the plethora of events marking the centenary of the First World War and especially the Somme,  Asunder really stood out for me: its highly imaginative concept, brilliant storytelling, geographical and cultural specificity, above all its power to move and connect with the reality of events 100 years ago.  A fantastic piece of work.”  – Michael Chaplin, Writer    “The film was meticulously researched and put together to evoke so many emotions, what a tribute...  I think the resounding set of applause at the end of the show said it all!” – Vicky Willis, Sir James Knott Trust    “Asunder was phenomenal!”  – Brenda Graham, Sunderland Heritage Forum  “I thought it was amazing and loved every minute.  The stories were so lovely and left you wanting to find out more – faultless.”   – Louise Clamp, Sunderland Vibrancy Group   “The show was incredibly moving and powerful, I was very emotional at points.”    – Lynne Patience, Sunderland resident Shortlisted for Living North 2016  Performance of the Year Nominated for Focal International 2017   Best Use of Footage in a Factual Production Winner Journal Culture 2017  Best Event of the Year AWARDS asunder1916.uk @1916asunder  blanchepictures.com esther@blanchepictures.com REVIEWS 

Asunder · Conference Presentation

http://shura.shu.ac.uk/17497/1/-ASUNDER_Presentation-EJ_2018-pdf-4_page.pdf

Asunder · Conference Presentation

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