Morris: A Life With Bells On (film)

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 02:13 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 10:27 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Willa
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 08:07 AM

Coverage coming on BBC1 lunchtime news now.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Surreysinger.... at work
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 07:43 AM

Oh poo!!! The film company emailed people and said it was going to be on on Monday ... if I'd known I'd have set the recorder on to record it....doh!! boo! hiss! and similar comments.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Cat
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 07:32 AM

Oops..... I've just realised I've got the phone number wrong ;o) (Sits in the corner with a dunces cap on!)

It's 01865 425423

Double checked ;o)

Cat x

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Cat
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 07:20 AM

The Oxford Mail is doing a piece on this, and the reporter would like quotes from people who'd like to see the film - his name is George Hamilton and he's on 01865 327432.

If you're a morris dancer / morris fan and preferably are from Oxfordshire or nearby and would like to be quoted in the Oxford Mail can you give him a ring today?

Cat x

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 05:00 AM

Saw it just before 8am this morning. Quite an upbeat report.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: mouldy
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 04:23 AM

I just caught it before nine, but only because my friend rang and told me! I didn't think they were showing it till next week.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 03:52 AM

Just sent BBC Breakfast and email including links to this thread, Facebook group and the petition.

Still doing my bit to Make Morris Happen!

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 03:51 AM

No - not been on yet 8.50 gmt

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 03:30 AM

They showed the BBC report this morning and it's supposed to be on again this morning at 8.45am on Breakfast

I reckon one way to get the message over that we'd like the film on wider release would be to text or e-mail bbc breakfast

Sue

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,William Shakespeare
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 01:09 PM

Much Ado About Nothing

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 12:48 PM

Hi Malcolm,

My partner, whose review copy it is, is scrupulous to a fault, so it will definitely not be going anywhere it shouldn't! I'd love to see the film again in a cinema.

Derecq Twist, the lead character, reminded me a bit of Gareth from The Office.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Malcolm
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 12:15 PM

Lady Penelope said:

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: lady penelope
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 03:30 PM

I'd love to know where to see it!

------------------------------

The link to where it's being shown is:

http://www.moviola.org/

But it's nearly all at small venues in southern/SW England.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Malcolm
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 12:09 PM

From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 11:28 AM

> Malcolm, I wasn't there - I saw a review DVD.

Don't tell anyone that - people will go to enormous lengths to get their hands on one! Or so I'm told, anyway.

(which Malcolm are you?)

We haven't met (to my knowledge, anyway) but have brushed against one another briefly on line. Mostly due to me confusing you with other people.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 11:28 AM

Malcolm, I wasn't there - I saw a review DVD.

(which Malcolm are you?)

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Malcolm
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 05:32 AM

Apparently the Beeb Breakfast report from Fordingbridge has been put off until next Tuesday.
Time range 0600 - 0915.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: lady penelope
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 03:30 PM

I'd love to know where to see it!

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Terry
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 04:49 AM

Unfortnately I have not yet been able to see the film but have received or read reports from various people who have. Of those, some think that it is amusing and entertaining whilst others claim it is boring and portrays the Morris in poor light. Two very opposing views.
What is the opinion of Mudcaters who have seen it?
Terry

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: SylviaN
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 08:01 PM

The news about the BBC film crew being at Fordingbridge is great - all helps in the promotion of the film.

Cheers

Sylvia

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Malcolm
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 04:45 PM

It was a very enjoyable film, enjoyed enormously by the public despite its apparent "niche" content.
I will be looking to see it again, I think it has more to give. The humour wasn't "in your face" but there was lots of it.

Wish I'd known you were there, Ruth, I'd have said hello.

Malcolm

BRM

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: AlexB
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 10:12 PM

Was there at Fordingbridge t'other night. There was a lot of good footage of Bourne River taken and a few interviews with the audience about what draws them to the morris. Shall be interesting to see what makes it into Tuesday's BBC Breakfast show.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 07:21 PM

I watched this tonight - it's bloody hilarious. Very much in the mold of films like "Best in Show" or "A Mighty Wind" - more laugh-out-loud moments than I ever expected. Seriously, do see it if you get the chance.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Peter Elbro
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 02:47 PM

I'm the Treasurer at Fordingbridge Entertainments Society where we showed the film yesterday (30th Jan) in association with Moviola (moviola.org) and we had a capacity audience of 150 and even had to turn people away from the door. The last time this happened was for Mamma Mia. In the four years we have been showing films we have never had such a happy and delighted audience and we were also given an short, impromptu performance by the Bourne River Morris (thanks guys - you were a real hit) before the event. After the film Lucy Ackhurst (Director) and Charles Oldham (Derecq Twist) made a surprise appearance and the audience applauded them for so long I thought they would never stop. A BBC film crew turned up shoot film for a two minute slot sometime between 6-9am on the BBC1 Breakfast show on Tuesday 3rd February. We also had Southern Radio recording loads of interviews before and after the film. I really hope this film goes to the national cinema chains because it really deserves it. Good luck to you Lucy and the rest of you.

Peter

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Woody
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 02:04 PM

I got this on the email news today from the film company...


[i]
Dear Morris Fans

BBC Breakfast will be at Fordingbridge tonight to cover the screening. Those of you who can get down there to make as much noise as possible please do. You can meet the film makers and ask us anything you want.

Lets make Fordingbridge the Hollywood of Hampshire!

Lucy

Twist Films
[/i]

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 11:22 AM

My boss - Head of Heritage and Arts at ECC mentioned the Morris movie at East Anglian Traditional Music Trust meeting. They are aware and very keen to get film shown in East Anglia I am now in touch with named person at the EA Music Trust.

Also been in touch with person who used to be very involved with Maldon Morris. Hopefully he can forward information along to other Essex groups.

Subject: RE: Morris: A Life With Bells On
From: GUEST,Edthefolkie
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 11:10 AM

Just e-mailed the Broadway in Nottingham.

Not much point trying Odeon or Vue, Tom Cruise isn't in it as far as I know!