Rent Dockers (1999)
3.6 of 5 from 49 ratings
2h 15min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
During 1996, the Workers' Educational Association (WEA) began classes for sacked Liverpool dockers and their partners to help them put together a history of their dispute. The classes later expanded into new areas, including scriptwriting and multimedia. Meanwhile, Channel 4 had invited Jimmy McGovern to write a screenplay on the subject. Jimmy already had too many work commitments and recommended Irvine Welsh, author of 'Trainspotting', as an alternative. Unfortunately Irvine was also overstretched. Then it was suggested that members of the WEA classes should do the writing with help from Jimmy and Irvine. Channel 4 liked the idea and commissioned the script. At the same time, a fly-on-the-wall documentary team from planet wild, based in Liverpool, began to film the classes. The class met weekly and provided the raw material for the script. Despite his commitments, Jimmy was there every week, inspired by the atmosphere. Irvine also attended regularly. Sally Hibbin from Parallax Pictures, film director Antonia Bird and actors such as Robert Carlyle also provided support and expertise, completing tutorial team that any media student would die for. Then the historic moment came. Sixteen writers signed a contract with Parallax and initiative factory, a co-operative set up by the sacked dockers. All the money was donated to the Initiative Factory. It was a unique event in the history of British scripwriting. In February 1999 the filming began and the class moved on to a new phase. The writers found themselves on set alongside colleagues from the Initiative Factory, who were now actors, extras, crew members and part of the production team. Who said that adult eductaion was boring? - Actors:
- Ken Stott, Crissy Rock, Katy Lamont, Kristopher Lundon, Michael Ryan, Lee Ross, Christine Tremarco, Ricky Tomlinson, James Foy, Joan Kempson, Georgina Smith, David Parkinson, Peter Armitage, Shane Rimmer, Dominic Carter, James Davies Jr., Bill Speed, Thomas Eustace, Michael Cullen, Maurice Thompson
- Directors:
- Bill Anderson
- Producers:
- Sally Hibbin
- Writers:
- Jimmy McGovern, Irvine Welsh
- Studio:
- Revelation
- Genres:
- Drama
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