Leeds Animation Workshop Archive Films

Films By Leeds Animation Workshop

current films | archive films

A Matter of Interest

(1990 -13 mins)

Third World countries are giving the West more in debt repayment than we give them in aid. Soaring interest rates have resulted in increasing poverty for debtor countries, although their original loans have long been paid.
A MATTER OF INTEREST uses imaginative animation to explore the complex and seemingly distant problem of international debt. It looks at historical and economic factors, including the roles played by the banks, the International Monetary Fund, and the governments of debtor countries. It shows the crippling effect that repayment is having on economies, the environment, ordinary people and their traditional ways of life.
The film explores the parallel stories of Maisy, a woman caught up with rising mortgage rates, and the situation in Brazico, an imaginary South American state. It shows the actions taken by people in the Third World to resist the devastating effects of debt on their lives, and suggests that we in the West can also take action to confront this pressing problem.

Out to Lunch

(1989 - 12 mins)

Set in a cafe, OUT TO LUNCH shows a series of incidents between women and men which will be familiar to us all. At the different tables we see women listening while men expound their opinions. Men take up all the space and time they need while women apologise for getting in their way. Different incidents concern black women, women who are fat, and lesbians, but they all share the common experience of being expected to 'keep to the rules' in their talk, appearance and behaviour.
The film brings together themes of language and space to show how women's lives are constrained by male expectations. It explores such diverse topics as the slimming industry, building design and images in the media to show how women's style is cramped and her space limited.
Witty and thought provoking, this film will be of particular interest to anyone wishing to confront the ways in which sexism is perpetuated in our everyday lives.

Who Needs Nurseries? We Do!

(1978, 11 minutes, colour)

This video presents the serious facts about nursery provision in an entertaining and accessible way. The story is told from perspective of four-year-old Tracy who discovers for herself the benefits of nursery education. Feeling hemmed in by family life, she runs away and goes to a meeting of children presided over by three 'chairbabies'. They discuss their problems arising from a lack of nursery places, and in the end decide to take action.

Made with financial assistance from: the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Regional Arts Council, the John Cohen Trust, the Violet Melchett Children's Trust, and the Manpower Services Commission.

Risky Business

(1980, 15 minutes, colour)

A union safety representative, Carol, is the main character in this animated video which will be of interest to anyone concerned with health and safety at work. Reggie the Robot is Carol's assistant. Programmed with the Health and Safety at Work Regulations, he advises her as best he can, but he doesn't know all the answers. The hazards faced by Carol and her workmates include many common factory and office problems - lifting, noise, chemicals, machinery - and a dust monster which stiffles it's victims.

Made with financial assistance from: the Arts Council of Great Britain, Yorkshire Arts Association, the Gulbenkian Foundation and the British Safety Council.

Pretend You'll Survive

(1981, 9 minutes, colour)

This video tells the story of one woman and her nuclear nightmares. It points out links between 'peaceful' nuclear energy and the arms race, and exposes the absurdity of 'civil defence' in the face of nuclear weapons.

Made with financial assistance from: Yorkshire Arts Association, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Concord Film Council, the Champaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and others.

Give Us A Smile

(1983, 13 minutes, colour)

This video shows, from one woman's perspective, the effect of the constant harassment which women live with every day - ranging from 'street humour' and stereotyped media images to actual physical violence. Using quotations from real cases, it also shows how women who have been raped or assaulted are often subjected to further harassment by the police and legal system. However the film is not simply a depressing catalogue of women's bad experiences: an exhilerating final sequence shows the ways in which women are fighting back.

Made with financial assistance from: the British Film Institute and Yorkshire Arts Association.

Council Matters

(1984, 10 minutes, colour)

Freda the cleaner takes the lid off the Town Hall in this animated video about the services provided by local authorities, and illistrates what life would be like without them. As Freda's vacuum cleaner transforms itself into a 'hoovercopter' and flies over the city, she explains the structure of the local authority and the relationship between voter, council and central government.

Made with financial assistance from: the British Film Institute and Sheffield City Council.

Crops and Robbers

(1986, 15 minutes, colour)

This video points out the connections between surplus and famine, and questions many assumptions about aid and trade. Animated sequences show a game of chance being played across the continents and down the centuries, as the crops contend with the robbers. Inlive action sequences Yvonne, a young shop assistant in a supermarket, demonstrates the links between past and present, international and local events, and offers insights into the use of food as a commodity and as a weapon.

Made with financial assistanc from: the British Film Institute, West Yorkshire County Council, and Leeds City Council

Home and Dry?

(1987, 8 minutes, colour)

Four women discuss their housing situations. None of them would describe themselves as homeless - after all they've never slept out on the street. However, as they listen to each other's stories, they begin to understand that homelessness is indeed something they've all experienced. The video analyses the inadequacies of housing policies and examines the political thinking that lies behing them.

Made with financial assistance from: the GLC for the Board and Lodging Information Programme.
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	current films \| archive films

	A Matter of Interest
	(1990 -13 mins)
	Third World countries are giving the West more in debt repayment than we give them in aid. Soaring interest rates have resulted in increasing poverty for debtor countries, although their original loans have long been paid. A MATTER OF INTEREST uses imaginative animation to explore the complex and seemingly distant problem of international debt. It looks at historical and economic factors, including the roles played by the banks, the International Monetary Fund, and the governments of debtor countries. It shows the crippling effect that repayment is having on economies, the environment, ordinary people and their traditional ways of life. The film explores the parallel stories of Maisy, a woman caught up with rising mortgage rates, and the situation in Brazico, an imaginary South American state. It shows the actions taken by people in the Third World to resist the devastating effects of debt on their lives, and suggests that we in the West can also take action to confront this pressing problem.
	Out to Lunch
	(1989 - 12 mins)
	Set in a cafe, OUT TO LUNCH shows a series of incidents between women and men which will be familiar to us all. At the different tables we see women listening while men expound their opinions. Men take up all the space and time they need while women apologise for getting in their way. Different incidents concern black women, women who are fat, and lesbians, but they all share the common experience of being expected to 'keep to the rules' in their talk, appearance and behaviour. The film brings together themes of language and space to show how women's lives are constrained by male expectations. It explores such diverse topics as the slimming industry, building design and images in the media to show how women's style is cramped and her space limited. Witty and thought provoking, this film will be of particular interest to anyone wishing to confront the ways in which sexism is perpetuated in our everyday lives.

	Who Needs Nurseries? We Do!
	(1978, 11 minutes, colour)
	This video presents the serious facts about nursery provision in an entertaining and accessible way. The story is told from perspective of four-year-old Tracy who discovers for herself the benefits of nursery education. Feeling hemmed in by family life, she runs away and goes to a meeting of children presided over by three 'chairbabies'. They discuss their problems arising from a lack of nursery places, and in the end decide to take action.
	Made with financial assistance from: the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Regional Arts Council, the John Cohen Trust, the Violet Melchett Children's Trust, and the Manpower Services Commission.

	Risky Business
	(1980, 15 minutes, colour)
	A union safety representative, Carol, is the main character in this animated video which will be of interest to anyone concerned with health and safety at work. Reggie the Robot is Carol's assistant. Programmed with the Health and Safety at Work Regulations, he advises her as best he can, but he doesn't know all the answers. The hazards faced by Carol and her workmates include many common factory and office problems - lifting, noise, chemicals, machinery - and a dust monster which stiffles it's victims.
	Made with financial assistance from: the Arts Council of Great Britain, Yorkshire Arts Association, the Gulbenkian Foundation and the British Safety Council.

	Pretend You'll Survive
	(1981, 9 minutes, colour)
	This video tells the story of one woman and her nuclear nightmares. It points out links between 'peaceful' nuclear energy and the arms race, and exposes the absurdity of 'civil defence' in the face of nuclear weapons.
	Made with financial assistance from: Yorkshire Arts Association, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Concord Film Council, the Champaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and others.

	Give Us A Smile
	(1983, 13 minutes, colour)
	This video shows, from one woman's perspective, the effect of the constant harassment which women live with every day - ranging from 'street humour' and stereotyped media images to actual physical violence. Using quotations from real cases, it also shows how women who have been raped or assaulted are often subjected to further harassment by the police and legal system. However the film is not simply a depressing catalogue of women's bad experiences: an exhilerating final sequence shows the ways in which women are fighting back.
	Made with financial assistance from: the British Film Institute and Yorkshire Arts Association.

	Council Matters
	(1984, 10 minutes, colour)
	Freda the cleaner takes the lid off the Town Hall in this animated video about the services provided by local authorities, and illistrates what life would be like without them. As Freda's vacuum cleaner transforms itself into a 'hoovercopter' and flies over the city, she explains the structure of the local authority and the relationship between voter, council and central government.
	Made with financial assistance from: the British Film Institute and Sheffield City Council.

	Crops and Robbers
	(1986, 15 minutes, colour)
	This video points out the connections between surplus and famine, and questions many assumptions about aid and trade. Animated sequences show a game of chance being played across the continents and down the centuries, as the crops contend with the robbers. Inlive action sequences Yvonne, a young shop assistant in a supermarket, demonstrates the links between past and present, international and local events, and offers insights into the use of food as a commodity and as a weapon.
	Made with financial assistanc from: the British Film Institute, West Yorkshire County Council, and Leeds City Council

	Home and Dry?
	(1987, 8 minutes, colour)
	Four women discuss their housing situations. None of them would describe themselves as homeless - after all they've never slept out on the street. However, as they listen to each other's stories, they begin to understand that homelessness is indeed something they've all experienced. The video analyses the inadequacies of housing policies and examines the political thinking that lies behing them.
	Made with financial assistance from: the GLC for the Board and Lodging Information Programme. top