Wow – the last time I wrote something was July 2020. Time flies!
Since then, I’ve had my head down, doing everything I can to keep my head above water, workwise. That first lockdown in March 2020 I couldn’t work for a full 6 months – it was a scary time.
With every passing year, month, day and hour, things seem to be getting worse for everyone not only in the UK, but around the world. Wages are down, bills are up. No matter how bad things get, the Tories plough on with their devastating, disgusting cuts to public services. As a direct result of their policies, there has been, and will continue to be a record number of excess deaths over the coming months. Many would argue the corporations who have made record profits over the last two years should maybe pay a bit more tax to help pay for the vital public services that we all need – only the Tories seem to disagree with this and unfortunately, they’re the ones still in power.
After Labour’s loss of the 2019 General Election, it took me a long time to work out what I should do next. Somewhat naively, I thought we had a real chance of winning the election, so it took me a while to pick myself back up and refocus on how to fight the Tories, using the main thing I know – filmmaking. After the 2019 General Election loss, I was actually asked by Labour to stay on full time as part of Labour’s film department, but I just couldn’t do that under Starmer’s leadership, and feel vindicated in that decision with every awful decision he makes. He’s alienated vast swathes of the Labour membership and I do worry when it comes to the next election that fact will come back to haunt him.
From early 2020, I began working with left wing MP’s and trade unions to start the fightback. Over the past 2 years I’ve shot films for MPs such as Zarah Sultana, Dawn Butler, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Angela Rayner, Sam Tarry and many others. I’ve created campaign films for many trade unions such as the NEU, TUC, Unite, Fire Brigade’s Union, CWU and the Baker’s Union, to name a few. I’ve also worked with many green and political campaigners and movements, such as Led By Donkeys, Organise Now!, Green New Deal Rising and Extinction Rebellion, as well as charities such as PETA and Battersea Dogs Home. Collectively these films have had millions of views.
It feels great to be playing even a miniscule role in helping to amplify the voices of people that are taking the fight to the Tories. After 12 years of their lies, it seems their time might finally be up when it comes round to another General Election. Fingers crossed.
