SOPHIE FIENNES
Because I Sing – The Film
15 July 2001, 7.30 pm Channel 4
Director: Sophie Fiennes
Producer: Gordon Baskerville
Editor: John Dinwoodie
Duration 90 mins
This extraordinary film stitches together the story of Because I Sing, the unique choral event staged in London at The Roundhouse.
Filmmaker Sophie Fiennes documents the performance (masterminded by Alain Platel & Orlando Gough) and the choirs in their natural habitats, weaving together a fascinating map of contemporary London through this A-Z of choirs.
The film eschews a conventional talking heads approach, letting the singing reveal its own intimate and poignant story of London's hidden voices and the communities in which they resound. Featuring 16 amateur choirs ranging from the London Jewish Male Choir and the W.I.'s champion choir, to the Gay Men's Chorus and a choir of deaf people, Because I Sing tells its powerful story through song.
Because I Sing is the first co-commission between Artangel Media and Channel 4. Artangel Media Ltd has been established to produce ambitious artists' projects in all media. It will develop and produce new projects with the same spirit of openness and collaboration that has always characterised Artangel's core commissions. Because I Sing was be broadcast on Channel 4 on Sunday 15 July 2001 at 7.30 pm.
