Screenplay writer Danny (working with Rig Arts) hosted last nights workshop on the Lee Jeans Sit-In which happened at the factory in Larkfield, Greenock back in 1981. RIG Arts is a multi-award winning socially engaged charity that brings artists and the community together in a collaborative, creative way using art & film. Their aim is to do a documentary film to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the pioneering stand taken by the 241 women who took part in the sit-in to save their factory from closure. To compliment this documentary they are hoping to get 4 small (3 to 4 minutes long) comedy/drama pieces written by GWC members. Along with Danny last night were Daisy Docherty singer/songwriter and Rhia Laing from the Heritage Fund – who are funding this project.
Danny mentioned several events during the 7 week sit-in that could be used by GWC members to represent elements of the women’s struggle. The 4 short screenplays produced, either individually or collaboratively, will later be filmed.
The only payphone in the factory eventually got jammed up with coins and stopped working.
Many of the women learned to knit in their spare time.
On one occasion some of the women snuck out to Aldo’s to order 240 fish suppers.
The women would project video-recorder movies on to a sheet for film nights.
One woman left to get married , another to visit a dying relative.
It is intended that GWC members will get to see/hear some footage of the women involved to get a feel for the vernacular. There will also be a certain amount of freedom to improvise round actual events and to facilitate this a WritersRoom event is scheduled for next Thursday 3rd March. Basically this is where you get a whole bunch of writers in a room and they bounce ideas off each other before delegating writing tasks. This is how a lot of American sitcoms are written. So even if you’re not sure if you want to work on this project it’s definitely worth coming along just to experience this.
In other news a Big-Up to Margaret, Tony and all contributors to the Diversity Pamphlet. We managed all 18 poems! and they have now been passed on to Katherine MacFarlane. Next week’s meeting on March 2nd features ‘Young Adult Fiction’ with guest speaker Claire Watt along with the adjudication of the Memoir competition . Remember this is being held in person at the Ardgowan Club – in the big room. Also the following day Thursday March 3rd there will be a WritersRoom meeting hosted by Danny McCahon (7 – 9pm) at a meeting place TBA to kick around ideas for the Lee Jeans project (bring an A4 pad).
Ho Hum, onwards and upwards.