Morris: A Life With Bells On (film)

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 08:26 AM

Like Virginia Tam, I've done my bit to Make Morris Happen.

I too e-mailed [e-mail]
to request that they ask 'the powers that be' to distribute the film more widely. You could text 61124 instead. (In addition to signing the petition, of course)

Moviola lists showings in Dorset, Wilts, Hampshire, East Somerset and one in (my county of) Devon - but right on the Dorset border.

Congratulations to Moviola at being in the forefront for this.

Sue

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 08:38 AM

The BBC news reader announced that it was showing in village halls across the UK.   Somebody did not do their research. Anyway here is link to filmed report.

link to BBC news item

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 08:55 AM

Just watched the news item and signed the petition which is past the 3000 mark now.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 10:24 AM

It's unfortunate that the BBC piece refers to it as a "little" film and a bit of a curiousity, without mentioning the stars and all the familiar faces in the cast - the sort of thing which might make the mainstream public curious enough to want to see it.

Derek Jacobi is the most famous name, but there are famiiliar faces from a whole host of solid British films and TV: Greg Wise, Ian Hart, Naomie Harris, Sophie Thompson, Richard Lumsden, Harriet Walter - the names may not be that familiar, but when you see the film you realise they've been in loads of stuff - most of them in top-quality British costume drama (though Naomie Harris most famously starred in Pirates of the Caribbean and 28 Days Later).

It's a cracking cast, no doubt selected for its mainstream British film industry appeal - it will be a shame if the mainstream audience doesn't get to see it!

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 10:27 AM

But the Moviola chap did say that some other hit films had started life that way.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 10:48 AM

But how does one complain about the thinness of the BBC report?

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 10:52 AM

It wasn't that bad for a short item in what is, after all, a news program. The BBC can't push it too much as it would seem too much like advertising.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Bainbo
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 10:59 AM

Hmm. That doesn't usually stop the Beeb, manitas. I don't often have access to a TV, but I was stopping a hotel recently and every time I put the BBC news on, there was more and more about a film with Kate Winslett and Leonardo DiCaprio. I still haven't worked out why it was news.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Petals of Florist
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 11:43 AM

Here is a link to this morning's (Thurs 5th Feb) BBC1 Breakfast news report on the Fordingbridge Morris night.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7871439.stm

And here is the website for the film itself; Morris: A Life With Bells On. Good 3 minute clip and list of showing venues.
http://www.morrismovie.com/

Morris ROCKS!

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 01:17 PM

Petition signed - come on people, its moving now - lets keep the momentum going!!!!!!!

Over three thousand when I signed!!!!!

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 01:41 PM

Kev

'bout time you got your clogs in here. get dilligafxx to sign too please.

Also there is a facebook group. please both of you join it.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 02:13 PM

"The film is definitely minority taste"

So is ballet, and that didn't stop Billy Elliot. Or brass bands - Brassed Off. Or women's football - Bend it Like Beckham.

And there's a host more.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: BB
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 02:25 PM

Having gone to the appropriate Beeb news item, I wish I had the time to wait for each little bit to load so that I can watch it! The bit I did manage to see had the Moviola guy saying it was a 'little' film, not the Beeb reporter. Not using his brain there, I fancy!

Barbara

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 02:26 PM

Here's a link to a page with the contact details for the Independent Cinemas Office, and contact details for all independent cinemas and film societies in the country.

The thing to do is maybe bypass the big distributors by getting direct bookings.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 03:10 PM

Here is the film's trailer on YouTube - seems to run a bit smoother than on the other link.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 03:26 PM

I just emailed Chelmsford Borough Council via the Chelmsford Civic theatre link.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: mouldy
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 03:52 AM

Just mailed the Beeb.

C'mon you lot, keep the momentum going!

A friend of mine whose village hall in Yorkshire shows films has asked the organiser to try and get hold of it, and then he'll sort a morris side to dance before the event.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,ian kerry flicks in the sticks
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 05:14 AM

It seems that the producers will not release the film to people like myself (who run Flicks in the Sticks) on DVD until there is a distributor - we could easily show the film 30 times in our part of the country where we normally show 600 films a year in village halls.

it would be a great shame if this film was lost like so many other good british films...

here's hoping.

ian

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 06:33 AM

Surely there must be a potential distributor out there who would be only too glad to do the business?

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: mouldy
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:48 AM

Have the distributors realised that there are actually a lot of Morris sides in North America, not to mention the rest of the world?

Andrea

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 12:43 PM

Maybe they could get Prince Charles to get a Royal Film Premiere set up...

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Folknacious
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 12:52 PM

Maybe they should get Prince Charles to dance morris. His ears would give the bloke's in the film from "Moss Side Morris" a run for their money!

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: CupOfTea
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 09:10 PM

CBC's "As it Happens" had an interview with the film maker, Chas Oldham. He seems to think there are more Morris sides in the US than in the UK.

They say that the movie has become a "cult hit" in small villages in England. I'll be looking out for it here. It would be great if this stirs up more enthusiasm. The most recent local side in Cleveland "Rigor Morris" (logo of a dancing skeleton) is several years moribund, unfortunately. It would be great to see this at the Cleveland International Film Festival and better still if this inspires more participation.

there is a website: Morris Movie

Joanne in Cleveland (the one in Ohio, US)

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: romany man
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 04:20 AM

Perhaps a mass dance in trafalger square would get some attention, yeh mass border, flyin sticks, screamin voices , loadsa people , some one will notice , then the bbc may get it right in the face of the so called distributors.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: mouldy
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 05:02 AM

I mailed BBC Breakfast yesterday, asking for their support, and got a note back from the co-producer saying that their feature on this "lovely film" had been shown the previous day.

I replied that I had seen most of it, but was asking that the BBC might like to put a wee bit of leverage on the distributors by showing support, as they had a higher profile than us.

So far, no reply.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Willa
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 07:08 AM

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: SylviaN
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 12:32 PM

This article in the Saturday Guardian was written by Mary Neal's great-great niece (I think I've got the right number of greats).

Article in the Guardian - 7/2/09

It's certainly more ammunition to our cause, and a positive article from a young person who, not previously knowing much about her ancestor, once she did find out is now full of enthusiasm, and has very good things to say about Morris dancing.

Cheers

Sylvia

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: mouldy
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 12:58 PM

There's a piece in today's Independent on Sunday encouraging people to have a go at Morris, and talking about the groundswell of support for the film. It's written by a journalist, Cole Moreton, who had a go (for the sake of research) with Hunter's Moon.

He also reckons that word of mouth is making the film a sleeper hit.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: SylviaN
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 03:56 PM

Great, Andrea - even more great stuff.

Here is the blue clicky thing:

Article in Independent on Sunday - 08/02/09

Cheers

Sylvia

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: BB
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 02:26 PM

There might be hope yet. We were negotiating with Moviola, who are the people who are putting it out in the West Country, to put the film on, but they only had the rights up to Easter, and we wanted a date after that.

Just heard from them, and they say that the film company has an embargo on any future shows until they hear about a main national distributor. Which personally is a bit of a pain, but it sounds to me as though they think they might be able to get it out there big time.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 03:02 PM

Yet another mention of the film was on the South East local news here in Kent tonight - it was part of an item regarding the untimely death and then, subsequent Morris Funeral, of Andy from Dead Horse Morris. A sad link there, but hopefully it will again show that we are out here, doing what we love and that there is great respect - it would be nice to think that Andy could play a little part in getting this out to a wider audience.

Keep that petition going!!!!

Kev

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: JohnB
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 03:06 PM

I gave the link information to the lady who organizes a local thing called "Monday Night at the Movies" last night. Her ears pricked up when I mentioned the CBC interview on "As IT Happens" last Friday.
They show smaller types of movies which don't make major distribution(in the local LARGE Galaxy chain cinema). They do however still need some sort of Canadian distributor she said.
They pick up a lot of movies from the "Toronto Film Festival" so if you can get it in there, I have already offered our side to dance before each showing. There are other sides who would do the same in Toronto too, also London, Cambridge and Hamilton all Ont. Canada.
Good Luck JohnB.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Tradsinger
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 05:43 PM

The Gloucestershire Morris Men have just been interviewed by BBC Radio Gloucestershire concerning a beginners workshop we are holding in Cheltenham on 28th February. We told the interviewer beforehand about the film, he saw the trailer and loved it, so we managed to work a plug for the film into the interview. The interview will be broadcast on the Radio Gloucestershire Sunday morning magazine programme 'Country Matters' on 22nd February, sometime between 0900 and 1200. You can always hear it on 'Listen Again'.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: romany man
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 04:27 AM

What has to be done to get this thing out there, its been on telly in clips, its been in the papers, its been mentioned on radio, we all know about it, is it all just a huge government conspiracy to keep morris under wraps so that only we the educated know about it, what about a mass we want the film shout out all over the country with morris sides taking over high streets, a nightmare to co-ordinate but im sure it could be done, what about dancing at downing street,

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 04:33 AM

Does the BFI know?

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 05:13 AM

Just to let people know that Lucy Akhurst (Director of said film) will be appearing on the Alan Titchmarsh show this afternoon. (ITV1 1500-1600 UK time).
Probably worth a watch...
Ralph

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: romany man
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 05:46 AM

ahh am at work cant watch and no record facillity damn, still an email to said company may work

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: SylviaN
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:33 AM

Thanks for the heads up on Lucy appearing on the Alan Titchmarsh show today, Ralphie. Just watched it.

The show opened with Morris dancing.

Lucy was joined by and Charles Thomas Oldham (Dereq Twist in the film) on the show, and what a plug for the film. Alan said that his jaws ached after watching the film and that it doesn't make fun of Morris dancing, but praises it (not his exact words, but that's the gist).

They have had about 110,000 hits on the website per week, which is apparently what a big hollywood movie would expect to get. Hopefully, those of us in the rest of the UK and the world will now get to see the film, not just you lucky ones in the South East.

Now's the time to sign the petition, if you haven't already done so.

I don't know if we'll be able to view the show on a play it again facility - anyone know?

This is really getting exciting, isn't it!

Cheers and keep dancing

Sylvia

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 10:55 AM

Sadly don't think there is an I-Player facility for ITV. But it was a pretty good plug. As Sylvia says. now is the time to point your mates in the direction of Cat Moores petition.
Slum Morris Millionaire anyone? (After all they couldn't get a distributor either and got 7 Baftas last weekend!)

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 11:14 AM

There is a sort-of I-player equivalent for IRC -

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 11:17 AM

There is a kind of i-Player for ITV, not as good, and whether it will have this programme is another matter - but it's maybe worth trying - ITV Player

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 02:48 PM

Typical - the programme is NOT on the list of programmes from today that are available on the ITV Player, SO!!!.....

.....I've just sent emails to the department that is responsible for the web site and to the department that is responsible for programmes.

If enough of us do this, then this too could be made available so that we can all see it.

The content of the email is listed here - feel free to use or ammend as is necessary if you wish.

COME ON FOLKS!!!!!

Kev

*******************************************************
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE - why isn't the alan Titchmarsh Show for Thursday
12th February, Re the Film Morris: A life With Bells On, available on the
ITV Player. You might be aware that there are serious moves to get this
film NATIONALLY distributed. Whilst it was FANTASTIC that you covered the
film in the programme, it would be even more helpful to our cause, if we
could access at any time over the next month, so that we can publicise it
to Morris Dancers who missed it, and more importantly, to our friends and
colleagues. PLEASE redirect to correct Dept if necessary :-)

*********************

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Surreysinger
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 08:03 PM

Sylvia .. I only wish that we in the South East had had the chance to see the film, but so far its restricted to the South West only. Boo hiss! However, I've now taken the opportunity to send a a copy of Kev's email with a supporting comment on to the viewerservices section of ITV .. who knows maybe we can bump it up from that direction as well ?? Every little roll of the snowball will help, I reckon... good to see that the Facebook group now has over 2000 members !!

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Jane Bird
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 06:59 AM

Just something to amuse you: an article in the Oxford Mail about Cat Moore's petition

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: billybob
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 07:42 AM

I have e mailed my son, manager of the Fisher theatre in Bungay, if he can show the film I will post here so any catters in East Anglia can go see it!
Wendy

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 01:22 PM

Jane - thanks for the link!

Kitty (not sure if I've got a cookie at the moment, so this will help me to check!)

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Surreysinger
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 02:12 PM

I've heard from elsewhere that the producers of the film have had hundreds of requests for the right to show it throughout the country, but are refusing them and actually holding out now for showing by a major chain. Looks as though the campaign may be working ... fingers crossed!

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: SylviaN
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 05:25 AM

Irene, sorry, South West it is - I never did get that 'O' level in Geography.

Kev - I'm just about to send an e-mail to ITV about the Alan Titchmarsh interview.

Cheers

Sylvia

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 05:49 AM

As Wolfie Smith would have said "Power to the people!" :-)

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 15 Feb 09 - 06:57 AM

There's a good article about the film in today's UK Observer newspaper:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2009/feb/15/morris-dancing-life-with-bells