Project:
A solo residency by Karen Guthrie in H.M.P Preston, making short films with inmates.
I was commissioned to work with a writer on a project that could
be delivered across just two weeks in the prison education
department of H.M.P Preston, an institution with over 750 men in
custody.
After a week's briefing, Laura Webb, the selected
writer, preceded me inside and worked with around 20 inmates to
develop pieces of creative writing that could form the basis for
video work to be produced with me the following week - many were
autobiographical, funny, sad and sometimes angry.
During my sessions I produced some twenty short films varying from
simple readings to surreal poetry to documentary interviews. The
inmates were full of ideas and willingness to experiment, and I
sincerely hope some will get to see the outcomes of the projects
inside or outside.
The films are now complete and screening summer 2009. The written
work is collated in the book 'The View from My House'
published by and available from Litfest
