At 7pm this evening, Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble is being shown at the Houses of Parliament. As producer of the film, I'm very proud of the fact that a project I've been so intimately involved with is receiving this accolade.
Sadly, not a single Conservative member has bothered to see the film. I'd be more than happy to show the film to them, in fact they are the one group who really should watch it. The film shows a whole side of life which it seems many of our Conservative Councillors have no experience of and no interest in.
I don't believe that our Conservative Councillors are really that heartless that they din't care. I believe they have just never experienced the trials and tribulations of people with disabilities living on benefits. In the film we show Councillor Tom Davey saying "You can't help people who won't help themselves". Let's think about what he says. In the film, we show Lauren Ferebee, a young carer who looks after her younger sister Jordan. Her sister is 11 years old and she can't and won't look after herself. That is why her sister and her mum have to. What would Councillor Davey suggest we do with a young girl such as Jordan who can't and won't look after herself? Should we throw her to the wolves and let her starve to death? What would she do for her mother, who has been in unsuitable temporary accomodation for 11 years. Their mother Michelle has had a constant fight to keep the family together. Lauren recently did GCSE's and got good grades, despite having to share a bedroom with her severely disabled sister. She was given the honour of handing the Olympic torch to Matthew Pinsent, as the last public stage of the Olympic Torch relay, as recognition for her work for her sister.
Sadly for Lauren, Councillor Davey,who lives with Mummy and Daddy in a lovely big house in Langley Park Mill Hill, clearly has no sympathy for the predicament which the family find themselves. I invited him down to meet the family, but he wasn't interested. Sometimes, I find that I preach to the converted, and the people who should be listening simply stick their fingers in their ears and shout "la la la". Sadly I can't do anything about that, but collectively we can. Collectively we can all get involved. In May 2014 there is a council election and we have the opportunity to send the likes of Tom Davey packing.
In the next few weeks, Barnet Council will be voting on whether to outsource 70% of the councils functions to private contractors. These contracts will be for ten years and there has been no proper democratic scrutiny. The business case is based on all manner of elements which are pure guesswork. The risk register is over 100 pages long and no one apart from a few Council officials has seen the contracts.
I do not subscribe to the notion that all outsourcing is bad. There are many cases where it is clearly and quantifiably the best way forward. For instance, it is far cheaper and more efficient for the Council to let specialists maintain their vehicles. The One Barnet project is different. It involves uprooting whole departments that currently perform rather well and transfer them to private companies. The majority of the financial benefits in the business case are from selling services to other councils, which the outsources claim will deliver profits. There is no proven market for these services and no guarantee that any customers will emerge. One in four major outsourcing projects have failed in the UK, each time lumbering the taxpayer with costs.
The latest of these has been G4S at the Olympics, where the army stepped in. In Barnet, there will be no army to bale us out. My family have been residents of the London Borough of Barnet (and it's predecessor Hendon County Council) since the 1930's. My parents and grandparents are buried here. I don't want to be forced out by massive Council tax bills, if it all goes wrong.
That is why I made the film. In a perfect world, I wouldn't have had to and tonight I'd be sitting in front of the telly watching West Ham play Stoke City on Sky. Someone asked me if I had always wanted to be a film maker. The answer is no. Like most things in my life (including blogging), I got into it by accident. We've shown the film several times now and hundreds of people have seen it. I am very proud of the work I've done, but like the work I do at the Passage centre for homless people on a Thursday morning, I really wish there was no need for it.
I have been asked if I will be making any more films. I have no idea, I have quite enjoyed it, but I can only do things I have a passion for. I'd like to make a film about dyslexia and also about the way cancer effects peoples lives. If anyone out there has a few grand they want to invest get in touch.
Showing posts with label Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble. Show all posts
Monday, 19 November 2012
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Local Screenings of Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble
If you didn't make it to the Phoenix last bight for the Premiere of Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble, we have scheduled a whole series of local screenings. Please try and come along
Other local screenings at venues near you (all free entry)
Tues 23rd Oct.7.30 pm
Wyburn Room at Wesley Hall, Stapylton Road,
High Barnet,
EN5 4JJ
Thurs. 25th Oct, 7.00 pm
The Larches,
Rectory Road,
Edgware
Sat. 27th Oct 2.30 - 4.00 pm
New Barnet Community Centre,
Victoria Road,
New Barnet,
EN4
Thurs. 1st Nov. 6.30 pm
Cafe Buzz,
High road,
North Finchley,
N12
Tues 6th Nov - 8.00 pm
North Road Community Centre,
Edgware
Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble on ITV London Tonight
We have updated the film website following last nights Premier
Checkout the film website for latest details
http://www.billionpoundgamble.co.uk/
Here is a list of all forthcoming screenings
http://www.billionpoundgamble.co.uk/screening-info.php
Checkout the film website for latest details
http://www.billionpoundgamble.co.uk/
Here is a list of all forthcoming screenings
http://www.billionpoundgamble.co.uk/screening-info.php
Black Monday for Barnet Tories
Yesterday was the day when the Barnet Tories hit rock bottom. Things really could not have been worse for them. They made ITV London news with two successive items. You can watch the piece about Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble here - http://vimeo.com/51935140
and the main article is here -
http://www.itv.com/news/london/story/2012-10-22/barnet-on-film/
The first was about the film Barnet The Billion Pound Gamble. I produced this film with acclaimed US director Charles Honderick. The film exposes the effects of the councils policies on the local community. Yesterday we had the Premiere of the film at the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley. Despite atrocious weather and major disruption on the Northern Line, over 200 people paid to come in.
I took this picture on my mobile phone as people were still arriving. We had to delay the start time by 30 minutes to allow latecomers to arrive. After the film there was a debate with three local bloggers, Mr Reasonable, Mr Mustard and Mrs Angry as well as Martin Russo from the Save Friern Barnet library campaign.
They fielded all manner of questions. It was encouraging to see that all walks of society joined in. The panel were asked about their political affiliations. Mr Mustard and Mr Reasonable have none. MArtin Russo said he usually voted Labour and Mrs Angry said she'd reecently joined Labour as she felt there was no alternative. As for myself, I don't belong to any party. I stood for the Lib Dems in the 2010 Council elections, but as I fundamentally disagree with the policies of the Coalition and was disgusted by the decision to break the pledge on tuition fees, I have left the party. I am banned from being a member of Labour, so I am an Independent. As for Charles Honderick, he's a supporter of the Democrats being from the USA.
Everyone who spoke to me after the film said they thought it was a good film and got the message across well. Some right wing commentators have dismissed the film as a "Left Wing Polemic". This is both unfair and untrue. I don't believe that outsourcing services is a "right wing" policy. Sadly many Labour Councils also do this. If what right wing commentators are saying is they believe in poor services, bad administration, library closures, anti business parking policies and the destruction of the High Street, then yes it is left wing, but I am sure these are not policies most Tories really want.
I made the film, not because I want to destroy Barnet Council. I made the film because I want the administration to see sense. ITV London Tonight came to the studios and interviewed myself and Charles Honderick. They then went to Cafe Buzz and interviewed Helen Michael about how the Car parking policies have damaged her business. Their last port of call was the Leader of the Council, Richard Cornelius. Richard told ITV that Barnet is "A successful London Borough with lower than average unemployment and better than usual services". It may shock you to hear that I agree with Richard. The problem is that One Barnet will export jobs, damaging the unemployment figures locally. We've already seen this with the outsourcing of parking to NSL, the first major One Barnet project. This exported 26 jobs to Croyden. As for the better than usual services, why is Mr Cornelius trying to fix something that ain't broken? The evidence is clear, One Barnet will destroy jobs and services and in five years time, whoever the leader of Barnet Council is, they will not be able to make the proud boast that Richard Cornelius made about the in house services.
Mr Cornelius also acknowledges that he hasn't seen the film. He states that it doesn't portray the real Barnet. Sadly it does. All of the people we interviewed are real Barnet residents with real problems. None of the people interviewed had to be coached or guided to make things up. They are just real life victims of poor policies. ITV interviewed Helen Michael at Cafe Buzz. She explained how the Councils parking policies lead to a 40% drop in trade.
Ironically, as they were interviewing Helen, Councillor Brian Coleman was being charged with assault, for an incident involving Helen outside her business in North Finchley in September. The story is on the ITV website here -
http://www.itv.com/news/london/update/2012-10-22/ex-barnet-mayor-charged-with-assault/
Back in 2009, I took Brian Coleman to the Standards Committee. I won a judgement against him, proving he breached the Barnet Council code of Conduct. At the time, I wrote that I had done it because I felt Brian Coleman needed to learn to respect other people. As his colleagues in the local Tory Party refused to take any action about it, in effect they encouraged him in an ever more self destructive mode of behaviour. In May 2012, the people of Barnet punished Mr Coleman. They sacked him as GLA representative in the elections. Whilst Boris got over 50% of votes in Barnet, Coleman was slung out on his ear. Coleman learned nothing. He sent more rude emails, losing another standards case. He then insulted women in the public gallery of Barnet Council chamber, calling them "Hags".
Sadly Barnet Council Tories took no action. Now he awaits a trial on the 5th November. Incredibly, his colleagues still refuse to suspend him. On Thursday, he will chair an important committee meeting for the Council. How can the local Conservatives fail to acknowledge how poor this makes them look?
In the 1980's, the Labour Party was nearly destroyed by "Looney Left" councils. In Barnet we have the "Rabid Right". Every day the news gets worse. The question everyone now asks about Brian Coleman is "What does he have on his colleagues that makes them so scared to take action?". I don't know. Only a fool would think his continued presence in the party is anything other than a millstone around their neck.
At a recent meeting with Barnet Council officials, I explained that Barnet will always find itself in the eye of a media storm whenever it screws up. The reason for this is that more TV producers, newspaper editors and reporters, film directors and producers and other media people live in Barnet than anywhere else in the Country. These stories are on their doorstep. Richard Cornelius says in his interview that "No one likes being Dr Evil". Sadly no one thinks Richard is Dr Evil. They just think he is a weak and ineffective leader who is not up to the job. He has a stark choice. He can man up and start behaving like a leader or the Barnet Tories will, sooner or later, sack him as an act of self preservation.
The bad news stories will not go away until someone on the benches of the Barnet Conservative Party sees sense. Let's just hope that whenever that is, it is not too late for the people of Barnet.
and the main article is here -
http://www.itv.com/news/london/story/2012-10-22/barnet-on-film/
The first was about the film Barnet The Billion Pound Gamble. I produced this film with acclaimed US director Charles Honderick. The film exposes the effects of the councils policies on the local community. Yesterday we had the Premiere of the film at the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley. Despite atrocious weather and major disruption on the Northern Line, over 200 people paid to come in.
 |
| Over 200 People packed into the Phoenix Cinema |
I took this picture on my mobile phone as people were still arriving. We had to delay the start time by 30 minutes to allow latecomers to arrive. After the film there was a debate with three local bloggers, Mr Reasonable, Mr Mustard and Mrs Angry as well as Martin Russo from the Save Friern Barnet library campaign.
They fielded all manner of questions. It was encouraging to see that all walks of society joined in. The panel were asked about their political affiliations. Mr Mustard and Mr Reasonable have none. MArtin Russo said he usually voted Labour and Mrs Angry said she'd reecently joined Labour as she felt there was no alternative. As for myself, I don't belong to any party. I stood for the Lib Dems in the 2010 Council elections, but as I fundamentally disagree with the policies of the Coalition and was disgusted by the decision to break the pledge on tuition fees, I have left the party. I am banned from being a member of Labour, so I am an Independent. As for Charles Honderick, he's a supporter of the Democrats being from the USA.
Everyone who spoke to me after the film said they thought it was a good film and got the message across well. Some right wing commentators have dismissed the film as a "Left Wing Polemic". This is both unfair and untrue. I don't believe that outsourcing services is a "right wing" policy. Sadly many Labour Councils also do this. If what right wing commentators are saying is they believe in poor services, bad administration, library closures, anti business parking policies and the destruction of the High Street, then yes it is left wing, but I am sure these are not policies most Tories really want.
I made the film, not because I want to destroy Barnet Council. I made the film because I want the administration to see sense. ITV London Tonight came to the studios and interviewed myself and Charles Honderick. They then went to Cafe Buzz and interviewed Helen Michael about how the Car parking policies have damaged her business. Their last port of call was the Leader of the Council, Richard Cornelius. Richard told ITV that Barnet is "A successful London Borough with lower than average unemployment and better than usual services". It may shock you to hear that I agree with Richard. The problem is that One Barnet will export jobs, damaging the unemployment figures locally. We've already seen this with the outsourcing of parking to NSL, the first major One Barnet project. This exported 26 jobs to Croyden. As for the better than usual services, why is Mr Cornelius trying to fix something that ain't broken? The evidence is clear, One Barnet will destroy jobs and services and in five years time, whoever the leader of Barnet Council is, they will not be able to make the proud boast that Richard Cornelius made about the in house services.
Mr Cornelius also acknowledges that he hasn't seen the film. He states that it doesn't portray the real Barnet. Sadly it does. All of the people we interviewed are real Barnet residents with real problems. None of the people interviewed had to be coached or guided to make things up. They are just real life victims of poor policies. ITV interviewed Helen Michael at Cafe Buzz. She explained how the Councils parking policies lead to a 40% drop in trade.
Ironically, as they were interviewing Helen, Councillor Brian Coleman was being charged with assault, for an incident involving Helen outside her business in North Finchley in September. The story is on the ITV website here -
http://www.itv.com/news/london/update/2012-10-22/ex-barnet-mayor-charged-with-assault/
Back in 2009, I took Brian Coleman to the Standards Committee. I won a judgement against him, proving he breached the Barnet Council code of Conduct. At the time, I wrote that I had done it because I felt Brian Coleman needed to learn to respect other people. As his colleagues in the local Tory Party refused to take any action about it, in effect they encouraged him in an ever more self destructive mode of behaviour. In May 2012, the people of Barnet punished Mr Coleman. They sacked him as GLA representative in the elections. Whilst Boris got over 50% of votes in Barnet, Coleman was slung out on his ear. Coleman learned nothing. He sent more rude emails, losing another standards case. He then insulted women in the public gallery of Barnet Council chamber, calling them "Hags".
Sadly Barnet Council Tories took no action. Now he awaits a trial on the 5th November. Incredibly, his colleagues still refuse to suspend him. On Thursday, he will chair an important committee meeting for the Council. How can the local Conservatives fail to acknowledge how poor this makes them look?
In the 1980's, the Labour Party was nearly destroyed by "Looney Left" councils. In Barnet we have the "Rabid Right". Every day the news gets worse. The question everyone now asks about Brian Coleman is "What does he have on his colleagues that makes them so scared to take action?". I don't know. Only a fool would think his continued presence in the party is anything other than a millstone around their neck.
At a recent meeting with Barnet Council officials, I explained that Barnet will always find itself in the eye of a media storm whenever it screws up. The reason for this is that more TV producers, newspaper editors and reporters, film directors and producers and other media people live in Barnet than anywhere else in the Country. These stories are on their doorstep. Richard Cornelius says in his interview that "No one likes being Dr Evil". Sadly no one thinks Richard is Dr Evil. They just think he is a weak and ineffective leader who is not up to the job. He has a stark choice. He can man up and start behaving like a leader or the Barnet Tories will, sooner or later, sack him as an act of self preservation.
The bad news stories will not go away until someone on the benches of the Barnet Conservative Party sees sense. Let's just hope that whenever that is, it is not too late for the people of Barnet.
Monday, 22 October 2012
ITV News interviewing Helen Michael about parking as Brian Coleman is charged with assault
In perhaps the strangest of coincidences, at the very moment that Barnet Police were charging Brian Coleman with assaulting Helen Michael, she was being interviewed by ITV London Tonight News program about the dire effects of the parking policies Coleman introduced on local businesses.
Helan had been asked to turn her phone off for the duration of the interview, so was unaware initially of the breaking news story. The film crew were blissfully unaware of the breaking story.
The crew had arranged to interview myself as producer, Charles Honderick as Director, local blogger Mr Mustard and Helen as a news story concerning the release today of Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble.
You will be able to see the interviews etc on ITV London Tonight as part of the 6pm news.
Here is whatthe Barnet Times has to say
http://www.edgware-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=36858&headline=Brian%20Coleman%20charged%20with%20assault
and here is what the Barnet Times has to say about the film !
http://www.edgware-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=36561&headline=Film-makers%20produce%20second%20movie%20about%20impact%20of%20cuts%20in%20the%20borough
Helan had been asked to turn her phone off for the duration of the interview, so was unaware initially of the breaking news story. The film crew were blissfully unaware of the breaking story.
The crew had arranged to interview myself as producer, Charles Honderick as Director, local blogger Mr Mustard and Helen as a news story concerning the release today of Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble.
You will be able to see the interviews etc on ITV London Tonight as part of the 6pm news.
Here is whatthe Barnet Times has to say
http://www.edgware-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=36858&headline=Brian%20Coleman%20charged%20with%20assault
and here is what the Barnet Times has to say about the film !
http://www.edgware-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=36561&headline=Film-makers%20produce%20second%20movie%20about%20impact%20of%20cuts%20in%20the%20borough
Friday, 19 October 2012
Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble - The Full Story
I was asked "Why have you made a new film about Barnet?" today. There are many reasons, but perhaps, if I tell the full story it may be easier to understand. Many readers will know that in March, Charles Honderick and myself unleashed "A Tale of Two Barnets" on the world. Although Charles and myself are immensely proud of the film, we were in many ways unhappy with aspects of it. The reason for this was simple. When the film was first conceived, it was going to be a short film on Youtube, giving an outsider (Charles is from Florida) view of Barnet. Charles motivation for making it was to experiment with a new movie making format (he'd previously made corporate films in the USA and pop videos). My reasons for becoming involved were because I have a deep love of Barnet.
When the project started, our aims were modest. Shoot a few interviews and make a short and interesting documentary. When the interviews started, it became apparent that there was a bigger story and that it was more interesting. Before we'd finished, we had been offered a premier at the Phoenix in East Finchley and a screening at the House of Commons. Barnet Alliance for Public Services had also arranged dozens of local screenings.
We had the task of editing footage shot over six months, in a variety of locations into some sort of order. We'd not had a pre defined narrative, so the whole thing was a bit of a mish mash. Charles is a brilliant editor, so we managed to turn a lot of people filmed in difficult circumstances and turn out something which was quite watchable. Many people have speculated that because I'm a well known blogger, my role was more than "producer". This does a huge disservice to Charles. He doesn't know the issues, so I have spoken more about them at screenings etc. Charles was interested in the film making aspects and "telling the story". We both watched the footage and both had input into the clips used, but in general it was fairly obvious what was good and what wasn't. We didn't tell people what to say, so the direction was all about getting people to feel comfortable and open up. Charles is brilliant at doing that.
After the film was made, both of us had a feeling that we hadn't told the whole story. We hadn't really shown what the people on the rough end of the council polices were going through and we hadn't really explained why the councils policy were not only causing misery but were fundamentally risky and dangerous. People approached us and suggested we make a follow up. Then they started offering to fund the filming. As I own a video recording studio, we decided to film the interviews on site where possible, so the issues with sound could be avoided. We also decided to agree the format beforehand..
The filming and editing has been a nightmare. This has been becasue the story has changed so many times as we've gone along. Firstly the leader of the Finchley traders gave a fascinating interview about her campaign against Brian Coleman in the GLA elections. After the filming, Brian Coleman was arrested for an alleged assault and the footage became potentially prejudicial, so we made a decision to not use it. Then we filmed Friern Library. The Council had closed it. After we filmed, Occupy London reopened it and a court case was set for last week. We couldn't finish the film without this, but had to wait until we knew what happened to do the interviews. The events superceded the original footage. Then the CEO of Barnet, Nick Walkley resigned. It is entirely unclear what is going on.
We actually finished editing the film yesterday. I watched it this morning. I am pleased. It is a much better film than A Tale of Two Barnets. It is a shame that Nick Walkley declined the offer to be interviewed as did all of the Conservative Councillors. Local politics should be a very boring subject, I think we've brought it to life. It isn't perfect, but on a budget of £2,500 it was never going to be. You will hear some tragic stories and I hope you will be moved. Some of the scenes are funny, some are shocking. Charles Honderick has a superb eye for detail and many of the interspersed clips are staggering.
I sincerely hope as many people as possible come to the Phoenix to watch the film on Monday and come to the other screenings.
When the project started, our aims were modest. Shoot a few interviews and make a short and interesting documentary. When the interviews started, it became apparent that there was a bigger story and that it was more interesting. Before we'd finished, we had been offered a premier at the Phoenix in East Finchley and a screening at the House of Commons. Barnet Alliance for Public Services had also arranged dozens of local screenings.
We had the task of editing footage shot over six months, in a variety of locations into some sort of order. We'd not had a pre defined narrative, so the whole thing was a bit of a mish mash. Charles is a brilliant editor, so we managed to turn a lot of people filmed in difficult circumstances and turn out something which was quite watchable. Many people have speculated that because I'm a well known blogger, my role was more than "producer". This does a huge disservice to Charles. He doesn't know the issues, so I have spoken more about them at screenings etc. Charles was interested in the film making aspects and "telling the story". We both watched the footage and both had input into the clips used, but in general it was fairly obvious what was good and what wasn't. We didn't tell people what to say, so the direction was all about getting people to feel comfortable and open up. Charles is brilliant at doing that.
After the film was made, both of us had a feeling that we hadn't told the whole story. We hadn't really shown what the people on the rough end of the council polices were going through and we hadn't really explained why the councils policy were not only causing misery but were fundamentally risky and dangerous. People approached us and suggested we make a follow up. Then they started offering to fund the filming. As I own a video recording studio, we decided to film the interviews on site where possible, so the issues with sound could be avoided. We also decided to agree the format beforehand..
The filming and editing has been a nightmare. This has been becasue the story has changed so many times as we've gone along. Firstly the leader of the Finchley traders gave a fascinating interview about her campaign against Brian Coleman in the GLA elections. After the filming, Brian Coleman was arrested for an alleged assault and the footage became potentially prejudicial, so we made a decision to not use it. Then we filmed Friern Library. The Council had closed it. After we filmed, Occupy London reopened it and a court case was set for last week. We couldn't finish the film without this, but had to wait until we knew what happened to do the interviews. The events superceded the original footage. Then the CEO of Barnet, Nick Walkley resigned. It is entirely unclear what is going on.
We actually finished editing the film yesterday. I watched it this morning. I am pleased. It is a much better film than A Tale of Two Barnets. It is a shame that Nick Walkley declined the offer to be interviewed as did all of the Conservative Councillors. Local politics should be a very boring subject, I think we've brought it to life. It isn't perfect, but on a budget of £2,500 it was never going to be. You will hear some tragic stories and I hope you will be moved. Some of the scenes are funny, some are shocking. Charles Honderick has a superb eye for detail and many of the interspersed clips are staggering.
I sincerely hope as many people as possible come to the Phoenix to watch the film on Monday and come to the other screenings.
Thursday, 18 October 2012
Press Release - 18 October 2012 - New documentary film exposes £1 Billion gamble in local authority finances
Press Release - 18 October 2012 - New documentary
film exposes £1 Billion gamble in local authority finances
On Monday 22nd October at 6pm, a documentary film is being
Premier'd at the iconic Art Deco Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley. The film is a
shocking expose of the how the policies of Londons largest Borough, Barnet, are
destroying the lives of residents, the viability of the High Street and much
loved local services such as libraries.
The Film opens with the Leader of the Council, Richard
Cornelius stating that "We are a Billion Pound Business and yet we only have
reserves of £15 million pounds, so it's a tightly run operation that has the
potential to go wrong". The film then features many interviews with residents
detailing shocking examples where it has gone wrong and the council has taken no
action.
The film then explores plans to gamble £1 billion of
taxpayers money on 10 year contracts with multinational companies. Experts
explain how similar schemes in other authorities have a 25% failure rate and
that savings are far outweighed by risks.
The film finishes with award winning film director
discussing the dangers to communities of outsourcing services to multi national
companies.
There is a preview trailer and the full Ken Loach
interview on the film website at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpoTSAV5efQ
Members of the press are invited to attend. As we
anticipate a sell out, please respond to Roger Tichborne using this email to
reserve a seat.
Ends
Full details of all screenings
World Premier
Monday 22nd October - 6-8pm
The Phoenix Cinema,
52 High Road,
East Finchley,
The London Borough of Barnet
Monday 22nd October - 6-8pm
The Phoenix Cinema,
52 High Road,
East Finchley,
The London Borough of Barnet
Entrance £1.00
Other local screenings
Tues 23rd Oct.7.30 pm
Wyburn Room at Wesley Hall, Stapylton Road,
High Barnet,
EN5 4JJ
Wyburn Room at Wesley Hall, Stapylton Road,
High Barnet,
EN5 4JJ
Thurs. 25th Oct, 7.00 pm
The Larches,
Rectory Road,
Edgware
The Larches,
Rectory Road,
Edgware
Sat. 27th Oct 2.30 - 4.00 pm
New Barnet Community Centre,
Victoria Road,
New Barnet,
EN4
New Barnet Community Centre,
Victoria Road,
New Barnet,
EN4
Thurs. 1st Nov. 6.30 pm
Cafe Buzz,
High road,
North Finchley,
N12
Cafe Buzz,
High road,
North Finchley,
N12
Tues 6th Nov - 8.00 pm
North Road Community Centre,
North Road Community Centre,
Edgware
Monday, 15 October 2012
Press Release - Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble - Official Film Trailer released
On Monday 22nd October at 6pm, the world premiere
of a new film, Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble will be shown at the
iconic Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley. The film has been made by acclaimed US
film director Charles Honderick and exposes the chaos being wrought by the
policies of Barnet Council.
Local residents are interviewed and explain just
how difficult life has become. A family with a child suffering severe
disability tells how no appropriate accomodation has been provided for eleven
years. Users of day centres explain how cuts to transport have affected them and
how they get charged £1.20 for a cup of nescafe. Local traders tell the tale of
how the parking policies have forced them to the brink. Award winning film
director Ken Loach explains how outsourcing destroys local economies. A host of
experts explain how the One Barnet programme is doomed to failure, it is a
Billion Pound Gamble, where private companies will pick up fat cheques, local
residents will get shoddy services and local taxpayers will be left to pick up
the bill.
The film also features shocking scenes filmed
inside the Town Hall as uncaring local councillors dismiss the concerns of
residents and laugh as important decisions, which will cause misery for
thousands, are passed without proper debate.
The official trailer for the film has been released
today and can be viewed on the film website - http://www.billionpoundgamble.co.uk
.++
Ends ++
Notes for Editors.
1. The world premiere for the film will be shown at
The Phoenix Cinema on Monday 22nd October. Doors open at 6pm and the film will
be shown at 6.30pm. Entrance costs £1.
2. The film has been directed by USA film director Charles Honderick. The film is a follow up to the acclaimed film "A Tale of Two Barnets" which has been screened at The House of Commons, The Edinburgh Festival, The Unision National Conference and the TUC centre at Great Russell St. There have also been over 20 local screenings.
3. The film features a new exclusive interview with award winning film director Ken Loach, talking about life, football and outsourcing.
4. The film website is http://www.billionpoundgamble.co.uk/ . This is being constantly updated with information, details and clips as we move towards the full screening.
5. The website for "A Tale of Two Barnets" is http://ataleoftwobarnets.yolasite.com/ . This has full details of all press coverage and clips from the film including full interviews with Ken Loach, Richard Cornelius (Leader of Barnet Council) and Nick Walkley (CEO of Barnet Council).
6. Please contact Roger Tichborne via the contact bar on this website or at enquiries @ Millhillmusic.co.uk (please type in without spaces).
2. The film has been directed by USA film director Charles Honderick. The film is a follow up to the acclaimed film "A Tale of Two Barnets" which has been screened at The House of Commons, The Edinburgh Festival, The Unision National Conference and the TUC centre at Great Russell St. There have also been over 20 local screenings.
3. The film features a new exclusive interview with award winning film director Ken Loach, talking about life, football and outsourcing.
4. The film website is http://www.billionpoundgamble.co.uk/ . This is being constantly updated with information, details and clips as we move towards the full screening.
5. The website for "A Tale of Two Barnets" is http://ataleoftwobarnets.yolasite.com/ . This has full details of all press coverage and clips from the film including full interviews with Ken Loach, Richard Cornelius (Leader of Barnet Council) and Nick Walkley (CEO of Barnet Council).
6. Please contact Roger Tichborne via the contact bar on this website or at enquiries @ Millhillmusic.co.uk (please type in without spaces).
Saturday, 13 October 2012
Barnet is in the spotlight again
Once more, the London Borough of Barnet finds itself in the National spotlight. The Guardian has a large article about how Barnet Council are completely disengaged from the community - http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/oct/12/friern-barnet-library-cuts-fight?commentpage=last#end-of-comments - Yesterday I attended the Friern Barnet Peoples library with Charles Honderick to film a couple of interviews for the film Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble. We interviewed a refugee from Rwanda named Alfred who told how the library had literally saved his life when he arrived as a refugee with his children. His moving story is one of success and hope. His eldest children are at University. He told how he was able to recommence his own studies and how how was thrilled to find books in Latin and Greek at the library. The right wing press demonises Asylum seekers. Alfred dispels the lies and shows that as a nation we are lucky to have people from all around the world, who see Great Britain and the London Borough of Barnet as a safe haven.
You can find out more about the film at the film website - billionpoundgamble.co.uk - please make sure you come to the World Premier on Monday 22nd October at 6pm, at the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley. It is only £1 and the Cinema would be worth a visit even if there wasn't a great film about Barnet being shown!
At a recent meeting with Barnet Council officials, I explained that Barnet will always find itself in the media spotlight, due to the huge numbers of journalists and other media people who live locally. This prophecy is proving true.
You can find out more about the film at the film website - billionpoundgamble.co.uk - please make sure you come to the World Premier on Monday 22nd October at 6pm, at the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley. It is only £1 and the Cinema would be worth a visit even if there wasn't a great film about Barnet being shown!
At a recent meeting with Barnet Council officials, I explained that Barnet will always find itself in the media spotlight, due to the huge numbers of journalists and other media people who live locally. This prophecy is proving true.
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Press Release - Ken Loach lambasts outsourcing in Barnet Council documentary
Press Release - 9th October 2012
Award winning Film Director Ken Loach has lambasted
Barnet Council's One Barnet outsourcing programme in a scathing attack in a new
documentary film "Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble", directed by Charles
Honderick. Mr Loach was interviewed exclusively for the film and
says:
"A
billion pounds, now that’s money you will pay, Barnet residents will pay, and
the jobs that will be provided will probably not be in Barnet. A lot of the jobs
will go to other boroughs or even outside of Britain
altogether."
Mr
Loach notes that taxpayers are getting poor value for money as jobs leave the
borough, causing poverty, hardship and economic decline.
"Now
that’s a bad deal for Barnet because you want your rates and money put in to go
to support your local economy, to go to
support Barnet people & this is not about being narrow & excluding
others, this is just commonsense that we need local communities to thrive &
the end of that logic, that says the money should go to the cheapest workers is
of course that the money goes to those who eat grass
first."
As well as Mr Loach, the film features people from
all walks of life in Barnet talking about their experiences and looks at all
aspects of life in Barnet in 2012, including the relocation of Barnet Football
club to Harrow, the closure of Friern Barnet Library, the cost of parking in the
High Street and the provision of care services for the disabled and elderly.
Director Charles Honderick said "The film gives a
voice to everyone who cares about what is happening in their community. The
stories we have heard are stories which should be shared. Some of the things you
will see you will find hard to believe can happen in a civilised society". Mr
Honderick continued "As a filmmaker I am honoured to have my work recognised by
Ken Loach. He has spent years making films with power and meaning. His wise
words are ones we'd be foolish to ignore".
The film has its world premiere at the Phoenix
Cinema in Finchley at 6pm on Monday 22nd October 2012. Admission is priced at
£1.
You can see the full interview with Mr Loach at the film website - http://www.billionpoundgamble.co.uk/
----------------------------------------------------------
Notes to Editors.
1. The world premiere for the film will be shown at The Phoenix Cinema on Monday 22nd October. Doors open at 6pm and the film will be shown at 6.30pm. Entrance costs £1.
2. The film has been directed by USA film director Charles Honderick. The film is a follow up to the acclaimed film "A Tale of Two Barnets" which has been screened at The House of Commons, The Edinburgh Festival, The Unision National Conference and the TUC centre at Great Russell St. There have also been over 20 local screenings.
3. The film features a new exclusive interview with award winning film director Ken Loach, talking about life, football and outsourcing.
4. The film website is http://www.billionpoundgamble.co.uk/ . This is being constantly updated with information, details and clips as we move towards the full screening.
5. The website for "A Tale of Two Barnets" is http://ataleoftwobarnets.yolasite.com/ . This has full details of all press coverage and clips from the film including full interviews with Ken Loach, Richard Cornelius (Leader of Barnet Council) and Nick Walkley (CEO of Barnet Council).
6. Please contact Roger Tichborne via the contact link in this blog for more details
1. The world premiere for the film will be shown at The Phoenix Cinema on Monday 22nd October. Doors open at 6pm and the film will be shown at 6.30pm. Entrance costs £1.
2. The film has been directed by USA film director Charles Honderick. The film is a follow up to the acclaimed film "A Tale of Two Barnets" which has been screened at The House of Commons, The Edinburgh Festival, The Unision National Conference and the TUC centre at Great Russell St. There have also been over 20 local screenings.
3. The film features a new exclusive interview with award winning film director Ken Loach, talking about life, football and outsourcing.
4. The film website is http://www.billionpoundgamble.co.uk/ . This is being constantly updated with information, details and clips as we move towards the full screening.
5. The website for "A Tale of Two Barnets" is http://ataleoftwobarnets.yolasite.com/ . This has full details of all press coverage and clips from the film including full interviews with Ken Loach, Richard Cornelius (Leader of Barnet Council) and Nick Walkley (CEO of Barnet Council).
6. Please contact Roger Tichborne via the contact link in this blog for more details
7. Full Transcript of Ken Loach interview #1 -
“Sadly
Barnet is becoming the by word for unscrupulous outsourcing of contracts for the
council, there have been many campaigns, big campaigns against this and we need
to support those campaigns. The
amount of outsourcing I am told is to be a Billion pounds come the end of this
year....
A
billion pounds now that’s money you will pay, Barnet residents will pay and the
jobs that will be provided will probably not be in Barnet. A lot of the jobs
will go to other boroughs or even outside of Britain altogether, now that’s a
bad deal for Barnet because you want your rates and money put in to go to
support your local economy, to go to
support Barnet people & this is not about being narrow & excluding
others, this is just common sense that we need local communities to thrive &
the end of that logic, that says the money should go to the cheapest workers is
of course the money goes to those who eat grass first.
The
money goes away to other countries where the workers are far more exploited,
so
really it is a licence for exploitation, it’s a licence to those who will screw
the workforce as hard as they can.
Now
that is not a society we want to live in. It
is no way to promote job security.
It’s
no way for people to be able to look forward to being able to buy a house, have
a job which will provide an income to support their family and that’s the kind
of society we want.
Monday, 8 October 2012
Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble - update
Many people have been asking us how the production of Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble has been going. Do you want the honest answer? It is a nightmare. We interviewed the Friern Library Campaign about the closure and then the Library was occupied and re-opened. A whole new story appeared. We interviewed Helen Michael about her parking campaign, then Brian Coleman was arrested in connection with an alleged assault. We interviewed many people about the CEO, Mr Nick Walkley and last Thursday he announced he was resigning. How can you make a film on a shoestring, when the story keeps changing?
The answer is "with passion and commitment". As well as having to film a whole new set of interviews, we have to rewrite the storyboard and recut the rough edit. On top of that, we have to change our press releases (I'd written a set of four, three weeks ago). Charles Honderick is tearing his hair out. He has been receiving all manner of offers of work since A Tale of Two Barnets was released and yet has committed 100% to make the new film. It has cost him a small fortune in lost opportunities. We are lucky that he feels a debt of gratitude to those who have helped make his name in Barnet. As soon as this project is completed, I believe he has two new ones lined up (that hopefully will actually pay him a living wage).
We have started putting clips together for trailers. the first of these features Ken Loach speaking about outsourcing and One Barnet. It is featured in the sidebar of this blog and is sound common sense. I sincerely hope that our councillors listen to his wise words.
We hope to have the full trailer completed next week. Charles joked to me that the way things are going, One Barnet will have been abandoned by the 22nd when we show the film, so we won't actually have a story to tell.
He has spent the weekend editing footage and compressing the 22 hours of film down to about an hour and a half. Being from Florida and not familar with local council politics, he said "you gotta see some of the town hall insanity and the parade and Theresa (Mrs Angry) and John and Susan Sullivan. I do believe there is a great film lurking in there".
By the time you see it on 22nd, I'll have probably watched the edits as we refine them at least 20 times and Charles about 100 times. For ATOTB, I've seen the film at over 20 screenings, in Barnet, The Houses of Parliament, The Phoenix, Edinburgh Festival, in Bournmouth at the Unison Conference and in Great Russell St at the TUC conference.
I think that it is a good film which stands up. We intend to make a better one.
The answer is "with passion and commitment". As well as having to film a whole new set of interviews, we have to rewrite the storyboard and recut the rough edit. On top of that, we have to change our press releases (I'd written a set of four, three weeks ago). Charles Honderick is tearing his hair out. He has been receiving all manner of offers of work since A Tale of Two Barnets was released and yet has committed 100% to make the new film. It has cost him a small fortune in lost opportunities. We are lucky that he feels a debt of gratitude to those who have helped make his name in Barnet. As soon as this project is completed, I believe he has two new ones lined up (that hopefully will actually pay him a living wage).
We have started putting clips together for trailers. the first of these features Ken Loach speaking about outsourcing and One Barnet. It is featured in the sidebar of this blog and is sound common sense. I sincerely hope that our councillors listen to his wise words.
We hope to have the full trailer completed next week. Charles joked to me that the way things are going, One Barnet will have been abandoned by the 22nd when we show the film, so we won't actually have a story to tell.
He has spent the weekend editing footage and compressing the 22 hours of film down to about an hour and a half. Being from Florida and not familar with local council politics, he said "you gotta see some of the town hall insanity and the parade and Theresa (Mrs Angry) and John and Susan Sullivan. I do believe there is a great film lurking in there".
By the time you see it on 22nd, I'll have probably watched the edits as we refine them at least 20 times and Charles about 100 times. For ATOTB, I've seen the film at over 20 screenings, in Barnet, The Houses of Parliament, The Phoenix, Edinburgh Festival, in Bournmouth at the Unison Conference and in Great Russell St at the TUC conference.
I think that it is a good film which stands up. We intend to make a better one.
Monday, 1 October 2012
Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble
Press Release - 1st October 2012 - Barnet - The Billion Pound Gamble - World Premier
On Monday 22nd October, at 6pm the first screening of a brand new film about life in the London Borough of Barnet will be screened at the Phoenix Cinema in Finchley.
The film explores how the people of Barnet are coping with changes to parking, cuts to care budgets and the effect of the councils One Barnet outsourcing program are making changes to the lives of residents.
The film will feature interviews with residents from all walks of life in Barnet detailing their experiences of life in the 2012. Interviews with Olympic Torchbearers, gold medal winners from the special Olympics, local business people and stories from carers and disabled people are interspersed with some of the landmark sites and local events which have happened in Barnet in 2012.
The film is the follow up to the highly claimed "Tale of Two Barnets" and has been directed by Charles Honderick and produced by Roger Tichborne.
The film has been made in direct response to requests from local people who saw "A Tale of Two Barnets" and wanted to see the stories behind the stories. After the success of the film, many people approached the director and producer and wanted to particpate in a follow up. The production team found that "A Tale of Two Barnets" had only scratched the surface of the story.
This film lifts the lid on the real life stories of the people you never get to see and tells you the stories that the council don't want you to hear. Charles Honderick said "The response to the film (A Tale of Two Barnets) has been overwhelming. So much has changed and moved on since January, when we finished filming the film. I have been inundated with requests to make a follow up. We have also received several donations from ordinary members of the public to help with the costs. It reached the point where it would have been impossible not to make a follow up".
***** Ends *****
Notes to Editors.
1. The world premier for the film will be shown at The Phoenix Cinema on Monday 22nd October. Doors open at 6pm and the film will be shown at 6.30pm. Entrance costs £1.
2. The film has been directed by USA film director Charles Honderick. The film is a follow up to the acclaimed film "A Tale of Two Barnets" which has been screened at The House of Commons, The Edinburgh Festival, The Unision National Conference and the TUC centre at Great Russell St. There have also been over 20 local screenings.
3. The film features a new exclusive interview with award winning film director Ken Loach, talking about life, football and outsourcing.
4. The film website is http://www.billionpoundgamble.co.uk/ . This is being constantly updated with information, details and clips as we move towards the full screening.
5. The website for "A Tale of Two Barnets" is http://ataleoftwobarnets.yolasite.com/ . This has full details of all press coverage and clips from the film including full interviews with Ken Loach, Richard Cornelius (Leader of Barnet Council) and Nick Walkley (CEO of Barnet Council).
6. Please contact Roger Tichborne via the contact link on the film website for more details
The film explores how the people of Barnet are coping with changes to parking, cuts to care budgets and the effect of the councils One Barnet outsourcing program are making changes to the lives of residents.
The film will feature interviews with residents from all walks of life in Barnet detailing their experiences of life in the 2012. Interviews with Olympic Torchbearers, gold medal winners from the special Olympics, local business people and stories from carers and disabled people are interspersed with some of the landmark sites and local events which have happened in Barnet in 2012.
The film is the follow up to the highly claimed "Tale of Two Barnets" and has been directed by Charles Honderick and produced by Roger Tichborne.
The film has been made in direct response to requests from local people who saw "A Tale of Two Barnets" and wanted to see the stories behind the stories. After the success of the film, many people approached the director and producer and wanted to particpate in a follow up. The production team found that "A Tale of Two Barnets" had only scratched the surface of the story.
This film lifts the lid on the real life stories of the people you never get to see and tells you the stories that the council don't want you to hear. Charles Honderick said "The response to the film (A Tale of Two Barnets) has been overwhelming. So much has changed and moved on since January, when we finished filming the film. I have been inundated with requests to make a follow up. We have also received several donations from ordinary members of the public to help with the costs. It reached the point where it would have been impossible not to make a follow up".
***** Ends *****
Notes to Editors.
1. The world premier for the film will be shown at The Phoenix Cinema on Monday 22nd October. Doors open at 6pm and the film will be shown at 6.30pm. Entrance costs £1.
2. The film has been directed by USA film director Charles Honderick. The film is a follow up to the acclaimed film "A Tale of Two Barnets" which has been screened at The House of Commons, The Edinburgh Festival, The Unision National Conference and the TUC centre at Great Russell St. There have also been over 20 local screenings.
3. The film features a new exclusive interview with award winning film director Ken Loach, talking about life, football and outsourcing.
4. The film website is http://www.billionpoundgamble.co.uk/ . This is being constantly updated with information, details and clips as we move towards the full screening.
5. The website for "A Tale of Two Barnets" is http://ataleoftwobarnets.yolasite.com/ . This has full details of all press coverage and clips from the film including full interviews with Ken Loach, Richard Cornelius (Leader of Barnet Council) and Nick Walkley (CEO of Barnet Council).
6. Please contact Roger Tichborne via the contact link on the film website for more details
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