WHAT’S IT ABOUT
In the era of boybands and pop music, the early 2000s TV channels didn’t offer much for the “alternative” music scene. Two South Londoners tried to change that, starting up their own music video channel, they soared above the top dogs, until they tried to bring them down.
Through Interviews with bands, fan’s and the creator’s of P-Rock TV we look into DIY nature of the punk, ska, “alternative” music industry. Shining a light on the community this music scene has as well as answering the age old mystery of what happened to P-Rock TV.
Many elements of the story will be told through dramatizations, in style of early 2000s music videos, using mixed media such as stop motion, 2d animation as well as shooting on mini dv and film. The overall tone should be uplifting, championing forging your own path and sometimes the only way too get something done is say fuck it and do it yourself.
WHO’S MAKING IT
Directors Statement -
Alex Shipman
"I am very lucky to have grown up in a household with two very eccentric parents, my mother was a boxer and my dad was a serial entrepreneur. From a surfing clothing brand, to being a sell out comedy hypnotist at Edinburgh Fringe festival. The venture that has stood the test of time is the alternative punk rock TV channel that tried to take on the big guns. I believe this story is important as it shows the magic of following your passion. What happens when you throw away the structure you are supposed to follow and make something for yourself on your own terms. There was a sort of freedom that my dad and his business partner, Lol and then soon after Russell had because everyone thought it was going to fail. They saw a gap in the market not because they thought they could make money from it but because it was a gap they felt as music fans.
My dad has always seen this as some kind of failure but the legacy that P-Rock has left behind is incredible. That's what has always been very impressive about my dad, he isn't afraid of failing and although that might have led him to failure, it has led him to so much more. Failure is in the eye of the beholder, as his daughter I have never seen this venture as a failure. I hope this documentary inspires people to try the thing they have always wanted to do, as the true failure is not trying at all.
SILVER KNIGHT ENTERTAINMENT C.I.C
Our production company is different because it aims to have a feature film, that is made with majority young people, we want to offer a completely new style of education which is a middle ground between university and working in the film industry. We want to look at alternative ways of filmmaking from mobile phones to 16mm film, making films far removed from the mainstream. Using the normal structure and hierarchy of the film industry but with some room for people to present their idea’s working as a collective.
We also look at alternative ways for distribution. For our last film 'Female, Fifty and Fighting: BAM BAM' (LINK) we did pop up screening’s in boxing gyms and our next film will have pop up screenings in music festivals. These will all be arranged by a fantastic group of young people working with an expert in event planning. All positions will be paid at least NLW.
Throughout production, we have managed to employ a young, new entrant to the film industry in most departments. Working with a team of experts, the young people have been able to implement real skills on the film, instead of making everyone tea's and coffees. We are DIY in nature but aim to create high end, engaging content.
We are like a punk band but we make movies!