PLAY SWAP Film Screening - Photos!

Game collection, skipping, limbo and the film screening. 

A brilliant end to an amazing project.

Eleanor Shipman

PLAY SWAP

PLAY SWAP Film available online now!

A huge thank you to those who came along on Wednesday night to the screening of the PLAY SWAP film. Over 80 people came along, the majority of whom were local people and participants, some of which had never come to Pembroke House before, and others who made new contacts - the older people's group in the film are now joining the Lunch Club on their outing to Cambridge. It was fantastic to see the project continue to bring people together, with local children playing in the space and people of all ages and cultural backgrounds adding their games to the board. 

A massive thank you as well to Michael Radford, the filmmaker for the project, who did a brilliant job filming the interviews, editing and processing the film.

For those of you who were unable to attend (and those keen enough to watch it again!) the film is now available on Vimeo. Just click here!

And last but certainly not least, I would like to thank the participants and all those involved in the PLAY SWAP project. It has been an inspiring, enlightening and amazing six months and I have had the pleasure of being well and truly welcomed into the Southwark community. Thank you!

PLAY SWAP film screening and private view: 12.09.12 from 7.30 - 9pm

You are invited to the first film screening of the PLAY SWAP short film at Pembroke House on 12.09.12 from 7.30 - 9pm. 

Watch the PLAY SWAP film, learn some games from around the world, meet local people and maybe have a drink or two... 

Please RSVP to eleanorshipman@gmail.com or 07909 773637.

See you there!

Eleanor Shipman

PLAY SWAP

Third and final day of filming!

Today was the third and final day of filming with the brilliant Michael Radford. We had a great day talking to the older person's group at Brandon Library, local children playing around the blocks near Pembroke House and Patricia Dark, Southwark's archive manager. From cups of tea being forced upon us, to tales of discovering treasures playing in bomb shelters, rowdy teenagers showing off for the camera, skipping with local girls to the history of Southwark coming alive in front of us, I think it's fair to say we had a good end to filming. Yes, I did say 'It's a wrap'. 

Eleanor Shipman 

PLAY SWAP

PLAY SWAP behind the scenes: Day 2 of filming

Second day of filming the upcoming PLAY SWAP film as Michael and I wandered Walworth again absorbing the wealth of knowledge and stories from local people as well as stocking up on a bit of visual context...

Today we spoke to East Street shop owners from Pakistan who told us about playing football and cricket from behind their butcher's counter and between the upside-down chicken heads then Luis, a local boy we met playing in the park with the soon-to-be-cut Southwark Play Team. Luis was a brilliant interviewee, keenly telling us about games he plays in the local area including the well-known Run Outs, as well as Family It and Camouflage as well as highlighting his love for the local park. 

We also had a fascinating chat with Ricky, a member of staff with the Southwark Play Team which sets up a bouncy castle as well as art activities in Nursery Row Park every Monday and Wednesday. Ricky has grown up on the Aylesbury Estate and spoke to us about the effect the architecture of the space has on its participants, most notably the council's removal of bridges linking the blocks together to prevent easy escape for burglars, but also severing the communal pathways between blocks, now creating hostility and very separate residential islands. 

Thursday is our last day of filming where we have some more exciting interviews lined up, ready to culminate over the next month in the production of PLAY SWAP's first short film. We will be screening the film at Pembroke House early September. Watch this space. 

Eleanor Shipman

PLAY SWAP

PLAY SWAP behind the scenes: Day 1 of filming

Today was the first day of filming for PLAY SWAP's upcoming short film. A full on first day kept well in order by the fantastic Michael Radford included interviews with East Street Market stallholders; Graham - an ex London bus driver from Pembroke House Lunch Club; Janet, Beverly and Sandra - local grandparents two of whom have lived in the area their whole lives, and one of whom moved here in 1956 from the West Indies; and Alfie and Freddie, two local brothers aged 8 and 11. 

The boys showed us a new park in the area where we met lots of other local children including Tida, Rayquia, Mohammed and Larcon who soon became a big, brilliant tech team expertly holding the mic, zooming, panning and being very, very quiet during interviews. Well done PLAY SWAP crew!

Eleanor Shipman

PLAY SWAP

PLAY SWAP is making a film!

Exciting times ahead as PLAY SWAP is planning to produce a short film with photographer and filmmaker Michael Radford. 


The film will document PLAY SWAP by inviting local children to interview local people about the games they played as children, and discussing the challenges and benefits of play in Walworth and Southwark. Filming will be taking place over the next few weeks on East Street Market, in Nursery Row Park and in and around Pembroke House. 


We are hoping to then screen the film at Pembroke House and in other local venues.


If you would like to get involved with the PLAY SWAP film or have games to share, then please get in touch: eleanorshipman@gmail.com