My Life: Children of the Road

Chris Morris

My Life: Children of the Road

Chris Morris

Faculty of Business and Creative Industries

Research output: Non-textual form › Digital or Visual Products

Abstract

Research Context

“My Life: Children of the Road” arises from a long-term programme of research (1989-2013) concerned with ways of documenting the changing nature of childhood (Praxis theme) and the effective distribution and/or delivery of documentary television content for children (Praxis form). The research context for this project is built upon a desire through the act of making to create work that is honest in its approach to its subject. “In every honest bit of writing in the world…. there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love.” (1938 journal entry by John Steinbeck included in the introduction to ‘of mice and men’ Steinbeck, J. (1984) London: Penguin)

Research Imperatives

This particular work “Children of the Road” is an intimate documentary portrait of three Irish traveller children, prior to their eviction from Dale Farm in Essex. The film offers unique access and a rare glimpse into the lives of children on the margins of society and excluded from the mainstream. The film acts as a counterpoint to programmes such as ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’ and attempts to produce a fresh narrative, generated through explicit and implicit documentary storytelling. The key concepts and thematic concerns underpinning this project to be broadcast within the children’s television time zone include identity, gender, prejudice and representation.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2010

Keywords

television documentary

Cite this

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title = "My Life: Children of the Road",

abstract = "Research Context“My Life: Children of the Road” arises from a long-term programme of research (1989-2013) concerned with ways of documenting the changing nature of childhood (Praxis theme) and the effective distribution and/or delivery of documentary television content for children (Praxis form). The research context for this project is built upon a desire through the act of making to create work that is honest in its approach to its subject. “In every honest bit of writing in the world…. there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love.” (1938 journal entry by John Steinbeck included in the introduction to {\textquoteleft}of mice and men{\textquoteright} Steinbeck, J. (1984) London: Penguin)Research ImperativesThis particular work “Children of the Road” is an intimate documentary portrait of three Irish traveller children, prior to their eviction from Dale Farm in Essex. The film offers unique access and a rare glimpse into the lives of children on the margins of society and excluded from the mainstream. The film acts as a counterpoint to programmes such as {\textquoteleft}My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding{\textquoteright} and attempts to produce a fresh narrative, generated through explicit and implicit documentary storytelling. The key concepts and thematic concerns underpinning this project to be broadcast within the children{\textquoteright}s television time zone include identity, gender, prejudice and representation.",

keywords = "television documentary",

author = "Chris Morris",

note = "Project methods In 2008/9 Morris proposed to Children{\textquoteright}s BBC a series of immersive, child centred documentary stories. They were commissioned under the title of “My Life”. “My Life: Children of the Road” was shot whilst the site was under threat of eviction. Winning trust of the community, gaining access and creating an initial research film took 6 months. The film was shot (using a student crew) in the spring and summer of 2009 and broadcast twice on UK BBC 1 in 2010. Through the act of making, through the presence of a film crew within the community (both inside and outside the Dale Farm camp) Morris attempted to bring communities together through an open portrayal. Praxis-based research methodologies, were vital in achieving this goal – and essential when dealing with an audience of children (CBBC) and with a 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. Access to this closed community was difficult and {\textquoteleft}trust{\textquoteright} was hard won by open approaches to the filming, editing and distribution of the content. Dissemination June 2010 public screening of {\textquoteleft}Children of the Road{\textquoteright} at the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month Cymru festival under the stewardship of the Romani Cultural and Arts Company, at The Riverfront Arts Centre, Newport Gwent.",

year = "2010",

month = jan,

day = "1",

language = "English",

}

TY - ADVS

T1 - My Life: Children of the Road

AU - Morris, Chris

N1 - Project methods In 2008/9 Morris proposed to Children’s BBC a series of immersive, child centred documentary stories. They were commissioned under the title of “My Life”. “My Life: Children of the Road” was shot whilst the site was under threat of eviction. Winning trust of the community, gaining access and creating an initial research film took 6 months. The film was shot (using a student crew) in the spring and summer of 2009 and broadcast twice on UK BBC 1 in 2010. Through the act of making, through the presence of a film crew within the community (both inside and outside the Dale Farm camp) Morris attempted to bring communities together through an open portrayal. Praxis-based research methodologies, were vital in achieving this goal – and essential when dealing with an audience of children (CBBC) and with a 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. Access to this closed community was difficult and ‘trust’ was hard won by open approaches to the filming, editing and distribution of the content. Dissemination June 2010 public screening of ‘Children of the Road’ at the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month Cymru festival under the stewardship of the Romani Cultural and Arts Company, at The Riverfront Arts Centre, Newport Gwent.

PY - 2010/1/1

Y1 - 2010/1/1

N2 - Research Context“My Life: Children of the Road” arises from a long-term programme of research (1989-2013) concerned with ways of documenting the changing nature of childhood (Praxis theme) and the effective distribution and/or delivery of documentary television content for children (Praxis form). The research context for this project is built upon a desire through the act of making to create work that is honest in its approach to its subject. “In every honest bit of writing in the world…. there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love.” (1938 journal entry by John Steinbeck included in the introduction to ‘of mice and men’ Steinbeck, J. (1984) London: Penguin)Research ImperativesThis particular work “Children of the Road” is an intimate documentary portrait of three Irish traveller children, prior to their eviction from Dale Farm in Essex. The film offers unique access and a rare glimpse into the lives of children on the margins of society and excluded from the mainstream. The film acts as a counterpoint to programmes such as ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’ and attempts to produce a fresh narrative, generated through explicit and implicit documentary storytelling. The key concepts and thematic concerns underpinning this project to be broadcast within the children’s television time zone include identity, gender, prejudice and representation.

AB - Research Context“My Life: Children of the Road” arises from a long-term programme of research (1989-2013) concerned with ways of documenting the changing nature of childhood (Praxis theme) and the effective distribution and/or delivery of documentary television content for children (Praxis form). The research context for this project is built upon a desire through the act of making to create work that is honest in its approach to its subject. “In every honest bit of writing in the world…. there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love.” (1938 journal entry by John Steinbeck included in the introduction to ‘of mice and men’ Steinbeck, J. (1984) London: Penguin)Research ImperativesThis particular work “Children of the Road” is an intimate documentary portrait of three Irish traveller children, prior to their eviction from Dale Farm in Essex. The film offers unique access and a rare glimpse into the lives of children on the margins of society and excluded from the mainstream. The film acts as a counterpoint to programmes such as ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’ and attempts to produce a fresh narrative, generated through explicit and implicit documentary storytelling. The key concepts and thematic concerns underpinning this project to be broadcast within the children’s television time zone include identity, gender, prejudice and representation.

KW - television documentary

M3 - Digital or Visual Products

ER -

My Life: Children of the Road

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Keywords

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