Output details
34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
University of South Wales (joint submission with Cardiff Metropolitan University and University of Wales Trinity Saint David)
“My Life: Children of the Road”
1 x 28 minute Television Documentary: Broadcast twice in 2010
Research Context
“My Life: Children of the Road” is an intimate documentary portrait of three Irish traveller children, prior to their eviction from Dale Farm in Essex, providing a counterpoint to programmes such as ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’. It arises from an established programme of research concerned with ways of documenting the changing nature of childhood (Praxis theme) and the effective delivery of documentary television content for children (Praxis form).
Research Imperatives
Through unique access to and a rare glimpse into the lives of children on the margins of society and excluded from the mainstream, the research aims to use the methods of documentary film-making to produce a fresh narrative. The project asks how explicit and implicit documentary storytelling can revealing insights into underpinning concepts and thematic concerns including identity, gender, prejudice and representation.
Project methods
“My Life: Children of the Road” was shot (using a student crew) whilst the site was threatened with eviction. Winning trust of the community, gaining access and creating an initial research film took 6 months. Access was difficult and ‘trust’ was hard won by open approaches to the filming, editing and distribution of the content.
Through the act of making, through the presence of a film crew within the community (inside and outside the Dale Farm camp), Morris attempted to bring communities together through open portrayal. Praxis-based research methodologies, were vital in achieving this goal – and essential when dealing with an audience of children and with subject matter that provokes knee-jerk reactions both within the community to be filmed and the community to which the final output is to be shown.
The film was broadcast twice on BBC 1 in 2010.
Dissemination
Public screening at the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month Cymru Festival. Romani Cultural and Arts Company, Newport (2010).
