Knowle West Trilogy

Between 2002 and 2004 artist-filmmaker Joe Magee worked with young people on Bristol’s Knowle West estate - resulting in three award-winning short films.

Each film is an independent story and together they unite to form a coherent whole, with shared approaches, values, techniques and characters. The films were made with 15-19 year old non-actors, with no crew or lighting. Shot on digital video, the imagery has been heavily manipulated and graphically colourised, with Magee creating an experimental soundtrack for each film.

The films are set on 'an English housing estate', and each features a character suffering some form of alienation from their addictive behaviour. Gearhead presents a day in the life of a heroin addict. Fruit Loop looks at the problems associated with a fruit machine obsession, and Clot explores how a clean living teenager is detached from his peers because his behaviour is out of joint with theirs, ultimately questioning what constitutes 'normal' behaviour.

Awards
In 2004 Gearhead won the Film Council First Light Best Film Award. Sir Alan Parker, who presented the award, said "The judges felt that this film was a clear winner due to the incredibly sophisticated use of visual, aural and structural properties of film. This is a haunting film and stays with the viewer perhaps for longer than they would like. Very imaginative, edgy - strongly directed and grimly clear."

Also in 2004, Fruit Loop won the International Competition Special Prize of the Jury at OPERE NUOVE, 36th Festival Nazionale del Film Corto, Bolzano Italy.

Festivals
The films have shown at numerous international festivals, including Edinburgh International Film Festival, Tampere Film Festival, London Film Festival, Winterthur, Napoli and Brief Encounters, Bristol.

PERIPHERY

Trilogy Credits
The films were commissioned by Knowle West Media Centre (www.kwmc.co.uk) - Gearhead was jointly commissioned with Picture This Moving Image. All films were supported by Knowle West DETACHED Youth Project.

The films were funded by UK Film Council, Knowle Safe, Knowle West Youth Partnership, Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chest Fund Through Greater Bristol Foundation, Aardman Animation.

Gearhead

Directed by Joe Magee, 2003
Duration 9 minutes

SUMMARY
On a bleak English housing estate a dysfunctional teenager's automatic behaviour becomes more absurd as the day continues.

ABOUT THE FILM
Using heavily manipulated video and graphic colourisation, Joe Magee's film conveys the surreal experience of a young drop-out. The protagonist's state of mind manifests through extreme film loops and continually recurring sound motifs. Dogs become agitated, birds circle and clocks stop working all to the backdrop of a melancholy ice-cream van. And all the while children play in the never-far-away playground.

AWARD
Winner 2004 Film Council First Light Best Film Award.

CREDITS
Gearhead: Matt Kirk
Written by: Matt Kirk, Simon Willis, Nick Giles, Joe Magee
Camera: Joe Magee, Nick Giles
Editor: Yvonne Davies
Sound: Joe Magee
Directed by: Joe Magee

Commissioned by Knowle West Media Centre www.kwmc.co.uk and Picture This Moving Image. Supported by Knowle West Detached Youth Project and Aardman Animation. Supported by The Lottery through the Film Council's First Light Initiative.

Fruit Loop

Directed by Joe Magee, 2003
Duration 8 minutes

SUMMARY
When a young man's luck on the fruit machines conspires against him, fate dictates an absurd descent into self-destruction.

AWARD
Winner, International Competition Special Prize of the Jury at OPERE NUOVE, 36th Festival Nazionale del Film Corto, Bolzano Italy, November 2004.

CREDITS
Cast: 'Fruit Loop' played by: Ceejay
Producer: Simon Willis
Camera & Sound: Joe Magee
Editor: Yvonne Davies
Writer: Joe Magee
Director: Joe Magee

Commissioned by Knowle West Media Centre. Supported by Knowle West Detached Youth Project. Funded by Knowle Safe and Knowle West Youth Partnership.

Clot

Directed by Joe Magee, 2004
Duration 9 minutes

SUMMARY
An alienated teenager haunts the perplexed inhabitants of a housing estate

CREDITS
Clot - Liam Jest
Football players - Liam Churchley, Martin Febry, David Febry, David Parker, Carl Felby
Gearhead - Matthew Kirk
Fruit Loop - Ceejay
Three girls - Kirsty Brown, Claire Watkins, Danielle Hayward
Priest - Father Tom Finnigan

Thanks
Morris, Stephen Loach, South West Screen, Jenny at Broadway Cafe, The people of Knowle West

Special thanks
Knowle West Detached Youth Project

Editor - Yvonne Davies
Camera, Sound and Loops - Joe Magee
Produced by - Simon Willis, Nick Giles
Written and Directed by - Joe Magee

Clot was commissioned by Knowle West Media Centre www.kwmc.co.uk. Funded by Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chest Fund through Greater Bristol Foundation.