|
|
 |
undercurrents
a brief history of the organisation
1993
A year when the Tory government embarked on Britain's largest and most destructive road building plan. A year which saw the introduction of a ‘draconian’ Criminal Justice Bill (CJB) - aimed at making direct action protest a criminal act, squatting disused buildings a crime, choosing an alternative lifestyle an imprisionable offence. This was the arena for Small World Media, a non-profit organisation, to step into and offer media support to grassroots direct action campaign groups. Working out of a cramped bedroom in North London with just a basic edit suite and a couple of borrowed camcorders, a couple of frustrated TV producers and a handful of environmental activists began work on what would become the country's first regular ‘alternative news service distributed via video cassette’.
1994
‘Undercurrents the alternative news video issue 1’ is released on VHS tape in April. Most notable feature included the countries first video feature informing about the imminent introduction of the CJB. The first batch of 250 tapes run out in a matter of weeks and press reviews are very positive. The Guardian tells readers that ‘Undercurrents shocks, informs and exposes’. We move into a resource centre in Archway, London sharing with other campaign groups. The Camcorder Action Network is set up to co-ordinate the increasing number of video activists getting in touch. Undercurrents 2 is released in December, with six first time video activists making their first campaign videos. Undercurrents wins its first of many international awards with first prize in the prestigious German OKOmedia festival.
1995
Small World Media moves to Oxford and gains charitable status. The name is changed to Undercurrents Foundation. The first Undercurrents stake holder meeting is held which brings a wide range of activists, media workers and visionaries together to plan the future of Undercurrents. A constant stream of volunteers join. Undercurrents alternative news video 3 and 4 are released. Time out magazine hails Undercurrents as “the news you don’t see on the news”.
1996
Undercurrents Foundation move into more long-term offices at 16b Cherwell Street, Oxford. The first nationally co-ordinated launch screenings of Undercurrents 5 and 6 are held. Over 3000 people watch issue 5 on one evening throughout Britain in May. We set up the country's first grassroot protest video archive where video activists store over 1000 hours of their footage for present and future generations. The Independent declares ‘Resistance culture sets up own news network’. Undercurrents wins awards in Britain, Brazil, France, USA and Japan.
1997
Channel 4 TV broadcasts 2 x 30 minute compilations from the alternative news videos. A founder of Undercurrents writes and releases (through Pluto Press) the ‘Video Activist Handbook’. Three years funding is gained to expand our archive and soon footage from video activists is included in over 100 TV programmes, broadcast around the world. Undercurrents 7 is released to over 5000 people in 5 countries in one evening in September. Our first website at www.undercurrents.org is launched.
1998
Demand for workshops and lectures on our work from media educators and activist groups increase. Undercurrents Foundation sets up regular workshops and a qualified media educator joins our crew to enable alternative media’s inclusion on the national examination board. The foundation gains three years funding to set up the first ‘Video Activist Training’ project. Undercurrents exposes a threat to press freedom with an investigative documentary, ‘Breaking news’. Our investigations lead to awards, press exposure, and begin negotiations between police and journalists for the freedom to report unhindered at protests. Undercurrents 8 and 9 are released.
1999
The final and tenth issue in the alternative news video series is released in April. More of our resources are diverted into increasing the distribution of grassroot news videos. Over 30 cable stations across the USA and Australia broadcast 10 specially compiled programmes of undercurrents. Undercurrents Foundation sets up an office in South Wales. Our offices in Oxford are bought by the Ethical Property Company, renovated and reopened. The website increases in popularity as we begin streaming video features. New staff members join undercurrents. We are continuing our fundraising efforts to produce a series of programmes entitled Global Views focusing on international direct action and global issues.
2000-2001
Our 21st century projects include BeyondTV video festival which started in Wales in December 2000 and travels to Australia and Ireland. A collection of undercurrents video features joins Picasso, and Andy Warhols' art in the Tate Modern art gallery in London. Undercurrents works closely with comedian activist Mark Thomas. Our alternative news video continues to be in huge demand. Undercurrents goes global with trips to Korea and Brazil to help set up video activist training and Korea. Undercurrents investigation into Police control of news is shown on Channel 4 ALTWORLD. We have much of our equipment destroyed in Genoa G8 protests. We take part in high level debates about mainstream reporting with heads of news at ITN, CNN, BBC, SKY and Channel 4. The Alternative is knocking down the doors of the mainstream!
The future is (y)ours.
|
|
partner linked with this Entry
|
Engage! Tactical Media :
Engage! Tactical Media is a dutch based political and cultural medialab.
For full details, click here
|
|
Conscious Cinema :
London based politically conscious production company, features include, Voces Argentinos, an MST feature, and Suits and Savages
For full details, click here
|
|
|
Video Activist Network :
The VAN is an informal association of activists and politically conscious artists using video to support social, economic and environmental justice campaigns.
For full details, click here
|
|
|
Groovy movie solar power cinema :
Get your video screened at all the major music and community festivals
They show undercurrents throughout the country.
For full details, click here
|
|
|
Global Vision - Online Video :
Loads of quality documentary Videos online with a focus on global human rights issues.
For full details, click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
