The Lesbian and Gay Youth Video Project formed in 1982, and about 25 young lesbians and gays made this video about themselves. Jeff Cole, one of the group, explains the process:

"We were challenging the ways that conventional documentary makers were showing lesbians and gay men on television documentaries and so wanted to include ourselves as makers and as subjects, not in any way trying to be balanced. We found ways to film each other that helped us feel comfortable and we did loads of experiments using the new VHS and Betamax cameras. When the editing came to be done the new technology of the freeze frame helped disguise some dodgily shot interviews but also had the great effect of helping the viewer to concentrate on what was being said. So what with adding in clips of tv and films as comment and videoing what we shot in the street on a monitor (to highlight the outside ‘straight’ world) we were throwing away all the conventions in the book, not to mention chopping up what we said underneath all the freeze frames to make it sound better — we ended up getting an award for Best Documentary from the BFI in 1983 and being shown on Channel 4 (at midnight in a youth slot) in 1986."

Credits

Facilitator:

Andy Lipman

Facilitator: Philip Timmins

Editors: Toby Kettle, Trill Burton, Pom Martin, Nicola Field, Jimi Somerville & Connie Giannaris

Fine Cut: Philip Timmins

Crew: Trill Burton, Rose Collis, Maureen Donnelly, Nicola Field, Pom Martin, Lil Trenchard, Jeff Cole, Julian Cole, Richard Coles, Connie Giannaris, Joe Lavelle, Toby Kettle, Carl Miller, Graham Pyper, Simon Shipman, Jimi Somerville & David Wiseman

Participant:

Femi Otitoju