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Julie McNamara, Julie Mc, Writer, Performer, Actor, Producer, Disability Arts, Film Maker.

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Blue Pen

Blue Pen, made in collaboration with filmpro, is an experimental short film about censorship and the disappearance of dissenting voices. The film pays particular attention to the voices of women journalists in conflict zones, beginning with 19 year old, Dorothy Lawrence, who disguised herself as Sapper Denis Smith and enlisted for frontline action in WW1.

Winner of Picture This…Film Festival Award for Best Performance

Blue Pen, made in collaboration with filmpro, is an experimental short film about censorship and the disappearance of dissenting voices. The film pays particular attention to the voices of women journalists in conflict zones.

“Blue pen” is a casual term coined in WWI to describe the heavy edits and careful monitoring of the censorship committee. In 1916 all information was carefully controlled to support the war effort and to create hatred and suspicion of the enemy.

Penelope Freeman

In 2016 the ‘spin’ might well have changed but we still have propaganda published as fact, reportage used to shape public opinion and the truth as always is the first casualty.

Creatives

Written by Julie McNamara

Directed by Caglar Kimyoncu & Julie McNamara

Produced by Chas de Swiet & Vital Xposure

Filmed by Zeynep Dagli

Edited by Caglar Kimyoncu & Zeynep Dagli

Sound Design   Theo Holloway

Cast

Penelope Freeman
Matthew Gurney
Gareth Turkington
Simon Balcon
Suni La
Rhiannon Kelly

BSL interpreter   Catrin Thomas

Audio description  Alison Clarke

Music ‘The Ballad of Dorothy Lawrence’ by Lorraine Jordan

Installation

Produced by Crin Claxton

Set Build by Richard Rudnicki

With thanks to the people of Paziols, Cafe Six and Les Darling Artistes.

Blue Pen Audience Reactions

Blue Pen was screened for the first time in London at the Hackney Picture House.

Thanks to Diane and Mik Scarlet, Nick Llewellyn, Jocelyn Watson and Lesley Ewen and to all the audience who attended the launch of Blue Pen.

Thanks also to Claire Louissant for filming and editing this trailer

Picture this... film festival Award Winner

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