Reflection#1:
A City Before Dance
Welcome to Coventry, a city before dance. It’s the mid 1980’s and we are in a recession where unemployment, poverty, violence and racism have become the normality of Thatcher’s Britain.
This first season of Reflection features a series of radio documentaries narrated by M.C Man Parris, including the titles Fractured City, Racism, and No Black in the Union Jack, which paint the picture of 1980’s Coventry - A City Before Dance. From a thriving industrial city whose “streets were paved with gold”, to a city marked by high unemployment, racism, and inner city violence between neighbourhoods These documentaries tell of the poverty, disillusionment and violence which characterised life for Coventry’s youth before the explosion of the underground dance scene.
The season also includes 3 early A Daylight Robbery films produced from 1993 to 1995: Sound System, A Piece of the Action, and Parks & Wilson.
Radio documentaries
Reflection#1: Fractured City
This radio documentary discusses youths fighting on the streets in Coventry in the 1980's. Listeners are advised this contains adult themes and language.
Duration: 26mins
Reflection#1: Racism
This radio documentary explores stories of racism in Coventry in the 1980's, told through the voices of Coventry street kids.
“You’re going to get racially abused while you grow up - get used to it”, Clever Trevor
Duration: 24mins57sec
Reflection#1: No Black in the Union Jack
This next radio documentary in the series continues to explore stories of racism in Coventry in the 1980's. No Black in the Union Jack was an anthem sung by the racist whites, often affiliated with the National Front and Anti Paki League movements.
Listeners are advised this contains adult themes and language.
Duration: 44mins44sec
Reflection#1: Graffiti
This radio documentary looks at graffiti in 1980's Coventry, featuring local street artists Andy Clare, Nathan Gascoine, and the legendary Rob May. A view into the origins of today’s street art, which in the 1980’s was typically described as “mindless graffiti”.
Duration: 30mins40sec
“There was an old saying that the streets of Coventry were paved with gold… so when it was all finished, the work was gone, I think our parents were angry and we were angry too. We just thought that was the norm.”
Films
Sound System
A film exploring the history and culture of Afro-Caribbean sound systems and parties in the midlands through video footage and interviews. Directed by Enda Murray and produced by Ray Henry Reid in 1994. This film was part of the First Cut New Directors Festival funded by West Midlands Arts.
Parks & Wilson - A Hard Days Night
A day in the life of DJ's/producers Parks & Wilson from Coventry. The film follows the duo as they work in the studio during the day, followed by playing at night at Life in Bowlers, Manchester to 6000 people. They were resident DJ's at the legendary Eclipse in Coventry in the early 1990's. Both have gone on the have considerable success around the world as DJ's and producers.
Travel with them in a day which captures the early dance music scene in all its glory…
Produced in 1993.
A Piece of the Action
This film examines Coventry's youth and urban culture prior to the explosion of underground dance music in the late 1980's. Featuring Amnesia House, DJ Dobbo, Mick Wilson, M.C Man Parris and more.
Filmed on Beta-cam, Hi-8, Super-8 and made with a budget of £15,000, this film featured in the First Cut New Directors Festival and was broadcast on Channel 4 and MTV in 1995.