Monday 13 September 2010
Exit To Beach: Brighton Film Makers Document City's Socio-Cultural Structure
Three University of Sussex student film makers recently embarked on an investigative journey into the socio-cultural structure of the Brighton population, with the simple aim of expanding their knowledge of their local surrounds.
Armed with a camera Henry Degnin, Saul Abraham and Callum Cameron decided to turn their findings into Exit To Beach, a feature length documentary.
The prominent theme of escapism quickly emerged via the pressing issue of homelessness that, unbeknown to them before the start of the project, had a strong presence on the streets of Brighton.
The film makers told Lance Michaels that the project began when: "We decided to go out and try and interview some people about how they ended up in Brighton; instantaneously we ended up chatting with rough sleepers, drug addicts and genuinely disadvantaged individuals with stories to share."
Lance reported that: 'As far as the material itself is concerned, it is unmistakably moving. The documentary flows seemingly from conversations with Henry's father, an old Brighton hat who appears to link the various themes explored in the film together, to stories far and wide from rough sleepers, recovering drug users, week-enders and even street cleaners.
'The most encapsulating aspect of the film is that one is able to see perspectives from both sides of the fence. It is immediately apparent that the young men took no prisoners in getting out onto the streets themselves and exploring avenues that naturally opened up to
them.'
Exit to Beach - Trailer from Saul Abraham. Souleymane Films on Vimeo.
One of the projects originators, Henry Degnin, reported on his blog: 'Brighton is a city that, to a degree, is built upon a reputation substantiated by façades.
'For the majority of people who do not actually permanently reside here, it is largely observed as a place of escape. Whether this means a weekend soaked in alcohol, a short break during the summer, or, more poignantly, a place to come and search for a new existence in a new environment, it is easy to get 'lost'.'
It is this concept of escape that is so prominent in Brighton – twinned with the drab inclement seaside weather of the dark winter months – that really inspired us to document a side to the city that can be so easily surpassed.
I guess it would be imposing and somewhat arrogant to say that one of our aims is to educate people, as well as to tarnish their most likely positive opinions of the city.
However, there is a definite culture surrounding Brighton that bleeds ignorance. Homelessness, and people's obliviousness to it, was a central theme that was able to come into the foreground of the documentary almost organically.'
The final cut turned out to be far more poignant and impacting than they had first imagined, and after an extremely valuable learning curve, they thought it was only right that they gave something back to the homeless population of Brighton.
The intrepid trio have lined a charity screening at the Duke of York's Picture House on Sunday 24th October, with all proceeds donated to Off The Fence Charity.
To view the trailer visit www.souleymanefilms.com/Site/exit_to_beach..html
by: Mike Cobley
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