Collaboration with Ken Loach at Campfire Bath
Acclaimed British Film Director, Ken Loach, was our guest storyteller at Campfire Bath a couple of weeks ago.
Ken has a long career directing films for television and cinema from Cathy Come Home and Kes to Looking for Eric, The Wind that Shakes the Barley and most recently Jimmy’s Hall. He is also known for his integrity, for never selling out to Hollywood and speaking out on issues in Society that matter.
Whilst Global Communications Director for the Homeless World Cup I became aware that it was Cathy Come Home that led to the foundation of Shelter. That a film, entertainment, a powerful story, can also inspire and create social change is very inspiring to me.
So it was a rare treat to gather in a local pub with a hundred or so people to hear his stories that traversed film, the NHS, Palestine and football, all weaved around the theme of Collaboration.
Ken shares: “We have a choice between collaboration or competition. You either work with people or against them, to dominate them. People try to make the spirit of our time about competition – doing a deal, being Alan Sugar’s apprentice. And I think we are better than that, we thrive when we collaborate when we work together and we are a team.” Here here!
Fresh back from the Russell Tribunal in Brussels, also know as the International War Crimes Tribunal, Ken explained his head was full of the atrocities recorded in Palestine. He has a great gift for laying out the difficult truths about humanity for us all to see and hear. The tension palpable and then just as it’s almost unbearable he flips us all to the power of football to unite a community.
My favourite story was listening to him share that one of the best bits of making a film is driving around with the location manager in the British Summer, listening to cricket on the radio. “Because you are in innocence and at that moment nothing is compromised.” I was transported right there with them, in the back of the car. Heaven.
Thank you to everyone who created a great night as you raised £440 for the Bath City FC Community Sports Foundation, bringing the benefits of football to children in Bath. Ken is Chairman.
Emma Horn, Simon Tapscott, Kat Byles, Co-founders of Campfire Bath
I set up Campfire bath with Emma Horn, producer and Simon Tapscott of Do Good Things to bring inspiration, collaboration and storytelling to the people of Bath directing their energy to create good things. Follow us on Twitter to hear of future gatherings.