WHAT IF? the mini-sequel to THE AGE OF STUPID set in a parallel universe Spanner Films 2019-03-15 | [ Subtitled version now at: youtu.be/LuUQnpi8Mjk ]In a parallel universe, a mad scramble is underway to save the people of “Earthly" from suffering the same fate as "those poor people on Earth”. Many of the faces in this faraway land are uncannily similar to those of well-known climate campaigners and politicians here on Earth, including YouTuber Jack Harries, naturalist Chris Packham, comedian Jonathan Pie, Ed Miliband MP, Caroline Lucas MP, the President of the Maldives and Jon Snow from Channel 4 News. This new film by the team behind The Age of Stupid is released on 15th March 2019 - ten years to the day since Age of Stupid launched at its green-carpet, solar-powered premiere. And also the day of the first ever *global* schools strike. Poetic indeed. The AGE OF STUPID will be broadcast on BBC4 in the next few weeks (exact date TBC), and is available now on iTunes, Amazon Prime (in English French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese) and Google Play. CREDITSWritten, Directed & Produced by Franny ArmstrongEditor - David G HillOriginal Music - Chris Brierley and the Band of Holy JoyScript Consultant - Mark LynasStarring (in order of appearance)- Pete Postlethwaite, Nicholls family & Maisie, Beekmayer family, Ed Miliband, Jon Snow, Jonathan Pie aka Tom Walker, Jack Harries, Tamsin Allen, Alaa Abdoun, Laura Jackson, Aljona Vasjutina, Hugh Warwick, Professor Peter Cox, Mohammed Nasheed, former President of the Maldives, Chris Packham, Cara Horgan, Matilda Warwick, Caroline LucasVoiceovers- Peter Armstrong, Anja TheobaldGreenscreen DOP - Neve CunninghamCamera Assistant - Joseph SlocombeStills photographer - Bianca ShirkDoc camera - Zoe Broughton, Alice Aedy, David Hill, Franny Armstrong Drone pilot - Peter ArmstrongSpace Shots - Marc Knapton @ Brewery VFXTitle Designer - Greg McKneallyMotion Designer - Jay Culley Graphic Design - Jules BaileyTracklay - James EvansSound mix - Nigel Edwards Archive - Pond5, Spanner Films, Empathy Media, XX, XXX, XX, XXProduction Coordinator - Jodie MortimoreLegal - Tamsin Allen, Clare Hardwick, Emma PiantaThanks - Pedro Ferreira, Danny Dorling, Gillian DuCharme, Bonnie GilmoreFunded By- Jam Today, Anthony Smith, John Durham, Ruth Funnell, Scilla Elworthy, Arthur Shenton, Claire Mackie, Heidi Watson, Helen Armstrong, Andy & Kristi Armstrong, Tracy Ferron, Dragana Gavrilovic, Richard Brown, R Walter, Johnny & Rachel Devas, Gerry Beauregard, Celia, Annie Leymarie, Edward Pickering-Symes, Peter Brannen, Frederick Mulder, Mark Morton, Melanie Wright, Zoe Wangler, Ordinary Guy, Maggi Gilkes - Climate Reality Leader, John Grant, Juliet Heller, Hetty Einzig, Terry Cannon, Andrew Rundle-Keswick, Adrian Skelton, Angela Seay, Nicole Saxby, Rosalie Chamberlin, Dave Hampton, Reb H, Harfiyah, MaG, Andrew Percy, Rachel Caplan, Rob & Julie Forrest, JV Neal, Jonathan Melhuish, John WhitakerCopyright Spanner Films, 2019
McLibel Trial: workers rights & trade unions (featuring Keir Starmer & Eric Schlosser) Spanner Films 2022-07-28 | A clip from Franny Armstrong's multi-award winning documentary "McLibel", seen by 25m people worldwide. Here, the McLibel defendants, Helen Steel and Dave Morris, together with Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser, lay out their case on working conditions, low pay and trade unions at McDonald's. Keir Starmer (then a barrister, now Leader of the Labour Party in the UK) was helping Helen and Dave as an unpaid legal advisor. Watch the whole film here: youtu.be/V58kK4r26yk
REGENESIS: George Monbiot calls for the end of (almost all) animal farming Spanner Films 2022-06-15 | Britain's leading environmental thinker presents his most audacious idea yet, in this 5 minute short film from director Franny Armstrong (THE AGE OF STUPID, McLIBEL) and the animation team at Brewery VFX (www.brewery-vfx.com).Franny Armstrong and George Monbiot launched this film at a special 5x15 hour-long debate. Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=az3DmKZK6JI
Charlotte Church sings her new song The River Is Us live on Rivercide Spanner Films 2022-02-18 | @charlottechurchmusic sings her new song, THE RIVER IS US, on the live documentary RIVERCIDE on 14th July 2021. _________ The world's first live documentary, RIVERCIDE set out to discover who is polluting Britain's rivers and why nobody is stopping them. Presented by journalist George Monbiot, directed by The Age of Stupid’s Franny Armstrong and with live performances by Benjamin Zephaniah and Charlotte Church, RIVERCIDE is both gutsy investigative journalism and ground-breaking filmmaking. More about the film and the campaign to save our rivers: www.rivercide.tvLatest updates on Twitter: @rivercide_live, @georgemonbiot, @frannyarmstrong, @nicolacutcherEdited version: youtube.com/watch?v=kSPtVkJ_UxsThis is the edited version of the live broadcast: it's shorter, snappier, includes the archive shots we didn't managed to get into the live version and also has the complete version of George Monbiot accidentally crashing his kayak into a bush. If you prefer to watch the 77 min live version, which has over 100,000 views, it's here: youtu.be/5ID0VAUNANAMore from Spanner Films: www.spannerfilms.net
Jonathan Pie: The Worlds End (COP26 short film with George Monbiot, Caroline Lucas & Ed Miliband) Spanner Films 2021-12-01 | As all the environment correspondents are sick with COVID, reporter Jonathan Pie gets sent to the UN Climate Conference in Glasgow (aka COP26) despite knowing very little about the climate crisis. But he reckons he can wing it. Two embarrassing interviews with Ed Miliband and Caroline Lucas later, he bumps into an inebriated George Monbiot drowning his sorrows at The World's End pub. Six pints later, Pie now fully understands the urgency of the existential crisis facing humanity, and, to the horror of his long-suffering Producer Tim, he decides to convey his new-found knowledge live to the nation. _______ "Jonathan Pie: The World's End" is a short film filmed at COP26 by comedian Tom Walker (Jonathan Pie) and director Franny Armstrong (The Age of Stupid, McLibel, 10:10).
RIVERCIDE live documentary [EDITED VERSION] with George Monbiot, Charlotte Church, B Zephaniah Spanner Films 2021-10-15 | This is the edited version of the live broadcast: it's shorter, snappier, includes the archive shots we didn't managed to get into the live version and also has the complete version of George Monbiot accidentally crashing his kayak into a bush. If you prefer to watch the 77 min live version, which has over 100,000 views, it's here: youtu.be/5ID0VAUNANAAnyone is free to screen our film whenever, wherever, free of charge. You can download a high res screening version here: vimeo.com/636075808_________ The world's first live documentary, RIVERCIDE set out to discover who is polluting Britain's rivers and why nobody is stopping them. Presented by journalist George Monbiot, directed by The Age of Stupid’s Franny Armstrong and with live performances by Benjamin Zephaniah and Charlotte Church, RIVERCIDE is both gutsy investigative journalism and ground-breaking filmmaking. More about the film and the campaign to save our rivers: www.rivercide.tvLatest updates on Twitter: @rivercide_live, @georgemonbiot, @frannyarmstrong, @nicolacutcherMore from Spanner Films: www.spannerfilms.net
RIVERCIDE live documentary [LIVE VERSION] with George Monbiot, Charlotte Church, B Zephaniah Spanner Films 2021-07-14 | [15th Oct 2021: Edited version now available at youtu.be/kSPtVkJ_Uxs. 56 mins. Faster, funnier, more ferocious and with the unabridged George-crashing-into-a-bush-in-his-kayak section] Anyone is free to screen this film whenever, wherever. Download a high res screening version here: vimeo.com/636075808_______The world's first live documentary, RIVERCIDE set out to discover who is polluting Britain's rivers and why nobody is stopping them. Presented by journalist George Monbiot, directed by The Age of Stupid’s Franny Armstrong and with live performances by Benjamin Zephaniah and Charlotte Church, RIVERCIDE is both gutsy investigative journalism and ground-breaking filmmaking. More about the film and the campaign to save our rivers: www.rivercide.tvLatest updates on Twitter: @rivercide_live, @georgemonbiot, @frannyarmstrong, @nicolacutcherMore from Spanner Films: www.spannerfilms.net
Rivercide trailer - 1 DAY TO GO Spanner Films 2021-07-13 | Watch live on Weds July 14th at 7pm (UK-time) via: rivercide.tvFree to view from anywhere in the world - no login needed. In 60 action-packed minutes, the world's first live investigative documentary will attempt to find out who is polluting our rivers and why we're not stopping them. Presented by environmental journalist George Monbiot and directed by Age of Stupid's Franny Armstrong, with live music from Charlotte Church. Updates via Twitter (@rivercide_live) and Facebook (facebook.com/rivercide_live)Oh, and as of 8th July, we still need to raise a last £12K (we raised the first £40K last year but the project has got a lot more ambitious since then): kickstarter.com/projects/frannyarmstrong/rivercide-stretch-campaign
Rivercide trailer - 2 DAYS TO GO Spanner Films 2021-07-12 | Watch live on Weds July 14th at 7pm (UK-time) via: rivercide.tvFree to view from anywhere in the world - no login needed. In 60 action-packed minutes, the world's first live investigative documentary will attempt to find out who is polluting our rivers and why we're not stopping them. Presented by environmental journalist George Monbiot and directed by Age of Stupid's Franny Armstrong, with live music from Charlotte Church. Updates via Twitter (@rivercide_live) and Facebook (facebook.com/rivercide_live)Oh, and as of 8th July, we still need to raise a last £12K (we raised the first £40K last year but the project has got a lot more ambitious since then): kickstarter.com/projects/frannyarmstrong/rivercide-stretch-campaign
Rivercide trailer - 3 DAYS TO GO Spanner Films 2021-07-11 | Watch live on Weds July 14th at 7pm (UK-time) via: rivercide.tvFree to view from anywhere in the world - no login needed. In 60 action-packed minutes, the world's first live investigative documentary will attempt to find out who is polluting our rivers and why we're not stopping them. Presented by environmental journalist George Monbiot and directed by Age of Stupid's Franny Armstrong, with live music from Charlotte Church. Updates via Twitter (@rivercide_live) and Facebook (facebook.com/rivercide_live)Oh, and as of 8th July, we still need to raise a last £12K (we raised the first £40K last year but the project has got a lot more ambitious since then): kickstarter.com/projects/frannyarmstrong/rivercide-stretch-campaign
Rivercide trailer - 4 DAYS TO GO Spanner Films 2021-07-10 | Watch live on Weds July 14th at 7pm (UK-time) via: rivercide.tvFree to view from anywhere in the world - no login needed. In 60 action-packed minutes, the world's first live investigative documentary will attempt to find out who is polluting our rivers and why we're not stopping them. Presented by environmental journalist George Monbiot and directed by Age of Stupid's Franny Armstrong, with live music from Charlotte Church. Updates via Twitter (@rivercide_live) and Facebook (facebook.com/rivercide_live)Oh, and as of 8th July, we still need to raise a last £12K (we raised the first £40K last year but the project has got a lot more ambitious since then): kickstarter.com/projects/frannyarmstrong/rivercide-stretch-campaign
Rivercide trailer - 5 DAYS TO GO Spanner Films 2021-07-09 | Watch live on Weds July 14th at 7pm (UK-time) via: rivercide.tvFree to view from anywhere in the world - no login needed. In 60 action-packed minutes, the world's first live investigative documentary will attempt to find out who is polluting our rivers and why we're not stopping them. Presented by environmental journalist George Monbiot and directed by Age of Stupid's Franny Armstrong, with live music from Charlotte Church. Updates via Twitter (@rivercide_live) and Facebook (facebook.com/rivercide_live)Oh, and as of 8th July, we still need to raise a last £12K (we raised the first £40K last year but the project has got a lot more ambitious since then): kickstarter.com/projects/frannyarmstrong/rivercide-stretch-campaign
Rivercide trailer: SIX DAYS TO GO Spanner Films 2021-07-08 | Watch live on Weds July 14th at 7pm (UK-time) via: rivercide.tvFree to view from anywhere in the world - no login needed. In 60 action-packed minutes, the world's first live investigative documentary will attempt to find out who is polluting our rivers and why we're not stopping them. Presented by environmental journalist George Monbiot and directed by Age of Stupid's Franny Armstrong, with live music from Charlotte Church. Updates via Twitter (@rivercide_live) and Facebook (facebook.com/rivercide_live)Oh, and as of 8th July, we still need to raise a last £12K (we raised the first £40K last year but the project has got a lot more ambitious since then): kickstarter.com/projects/frannyarmstrong/rivercide-stretch-campaign
RIVERCIDE trailer Spanner Films 2021-06-23 | In 60 action-packed minutes, the world's first live investigative documentary will attempt to find out who is polluting our rivers and why we're not stopping them. Presented by environmental journalist George Monbiot and directed by Age of Stupid's Franny Armstrong, with live music from Charlotte Church. Watch live on Weds July 14th at 7pm (UK-time) via: rivercide.tvUpdates via Twitter (@rivercide_live) and Facebook (facebook.com/rivercide_live)Oh, and as of 22nd June, we still need to raise a last £16K (we raised the first £40K last year but the project has got a lot more ambitious since then). Please chuck some quids into our crowdfunder if you can: kickstarter.com/projects/frannyarmstrong/rivercide-stretch-campaign
RIVERCIDE: crowd-funder intro with George Monbiot & Franny Armstrong Spanner Films 2020-10-25 | Launch video for the crowd-funder for RIVERCIDE: a one-off live documentary about the shocking state of Britain's rivers and how we can all help clean them up. Broadcast date = May 2021.Please contribute to our crowdfunder if you can: www.Kickstarter.com/projects/frannyarmstrong/Rivercide Deadline = 9pm on Thursday November 12th. More info about the project:Facebook: www.facebook.com/RivercideTVTwitter: twitter.com/rivercide_liveWebsite: spannerfilms.net/rivercide
Suddenly - bang! In the blink of an eye, everythings different actor Michael Sheen on The Flip Spanner Films 2020-05-06 | Hollywood actor Michael Sheen joined the founder of the Green New Deal UK, Fatima Ibrahim, the author of "The Spirit Level", Kate Pickett and the coordinator of the Rapid Transition Alliance, Andrew Simms, to debate inequality on the second episode of new debate show The Flip. Watch the entire hour-long debate here: youtube.com/watch?v=zo56tOYkdG8&list=PLHK2hryNhMCztdo-Ib462j1kqqveO-Qgr&index=2&t=0s
People in their homes are changing their ideas of whats possible - Fatima Ibrahim on The Flip Ep2 Spanner Films 2020-05-06 | The co-founder and co-director of Green New Deal UK, Fatima Ibrahim, joined actor Michael Sheen, economist Andrew Simms and author Kate Pickett to discuss inequality on the second episode of new debate show The FlipWatch the hour-long full debate here: youtube.com/watch?v=zo56tOYkdG8
THE FLIP: Episode 2 Inequality: Michael Sheen, Prof Kate Pickett, Andrew Simms & Fatima Ibrahim Spanner Films 2020-05-05 | In tonight’s episode of THE FLIP we discuss INEQUALITY before and after corona with: - MICHAEL SHEEN, Hollywood actor and fantabulous human being who once gave away all his money - Prof KATE PICKETT, co-author of The Spirit Level who believes "lots of things which mean I will never be elected to any kind of position of power”- FATIMA IBRAHIM, who is co-founder & co-director of the Green New Deal UK, despite being so young she's only ever known austerity- ANDREW SIMMS from the Rapid Transition Alliance, one of only a handful of people “in the room where it happened” when the Green New Deal was hatched in 2008
We think people fighting over toilet paper looks bad. George Monbiot talks famine on The Flip Ep 1 Spanner Films 2020-04-24 | ...
All of the wrongs of the last decade need to be put right - Faiza Shaheen on Ep 1 of The Flip Spanner Films 2020-04-24 | ...
Theres nothing foreordained about how we come out of this crisis Caroline Lucas on The Flip Ep1 Spanner Films 2020-04-24 | ...
The Flip Ep 1 highlights Spanner Films 2020-04-24 | "The worst possible people are in charge at the worst possible time""Suddenly the parameters are as wide as our imaginations""The biggest danger is not flipping at all"The best bits from The Flip Ep 1, with Caroline Lucas, Faiza Shaheen and George Monbiot all in blazing form
THE FLIP: Episode 1: Caroline Lucas, George Monbiot, Faiza Shaheen Spanner Films 2020-04-08 | Q: How can our societies flip from corona virus to climate safety in the next few years? On the first episode of new debate show THE FLIP, three of the brainiest people in Britain join us via Zoom from their own homes to tackle that epoch-defining question. They are: - Caroline Lucas MP, the UK's first ever Green MP- Dr Faiza Shaheen, director of CLASS and the woman who almost toppled Iain Duncan Smith at the last election- George Monbiot, writer, journalist & environmental activistThe Flip is brought to you by the writer/director of The Age of Stupid, Franny Armstrong, together with the co-creator of OneClimate.org, Peter Armstrong. Who just happen to be father and daughter.
PIE NET ZERO Spanner Films 2020-01-24 | [Head to Jonathan Pie's channel for hundreds of comments on this film: he posted a slightly different version to the one we posted here, which includes short animations: youtube.com/user/tomwalker78]When firebrand TV reporter Jonathan Pie gets a gig presenting eco-filmmaker Franny Armstrong’s new documentary about climate change he thinks he’s in for a jolly couple of days by the seaside.PIE NET ZERO is the new short film from the director of THE AGE OF STUPID and the creator of JONATHAN PIE, released on 24th January 2020. ______________________________________________CREDITS With Tom Walker as Jonathan PieWritten & Directed by Franny Armstrong & Tom WalkerEdited by David G HillProduced by Franny ArmstrongPost Production kindly provided by The Farm, BristolFeaturing - Franny Armstrong, TJ Hooper, Tim Stephens, Danny Cooke & Philip Martin as themselves- John Holmyard from Offshore Shellfish Ltd- Caro Warwick-Evans and Tim Van Berkel from the Cornish Seaweed CompanyFilmed on location in Coverack (Cornwall), Brixham Harbour (Devon), New Beginning Productions’ studio (Devon) and on the Holly Mai (at sea)Camera: Danny Cooke, Franny ArmstrongDrone: Danny CookeSound Recordist: Tim StephensCamera Assistant & Photographer: TJ HughesBoat driver: Robin HobsonProduction Coordinator: Jodie MortimoreResearch: Piers Guy, Ella Gilbert, Sarah BeckerPost Production Coordinator: Kaya HarringtonOnline: George WinfieldGrade: Daniel GillTracklay: James SpoonerSound Mix: Joe SiddonsAnimation: Sofja UmarikDesign: Jules Bailey & Rosie JohnsonWebsite: Mariela Zárate, Michiel Dethmers, Rhiannon RobertsArchive: Pond5Music: Audio Network LtdThanks to: Piers Guy, Bonnie Gilmore, Cas Casey, Bryn Higgs, Nicki Holmyard, Huw Thomas, all aboard the Holly Mai, everyone at The Farm, BristolCrowd-Funders: Alan Waugh, Alexandra Hannaford, Andrew Marston, Anthony Smith, Cormac Farrell, Daniel Bonnett, Dragana Gavrilovic, Fenella Rouse, Frederick Mulder Foundation, Jane Neal, John Craythorne, Marion Seed, Martin Wright, Michael Brook, Nigel Franks, Pat Bushell, Plumelia Tarrant, Rosemary Haworth-Booth© Spanner Films 2020
PIE NET ZERO (with subtitles) Spanner Films 2020-01-24 | When firebrand TV reporter Jonathan Pie gets a gig presenting eco-filmmaker Franny Armstrong’s new documentary about climate change he thinks he’s in for a jolly couple of days by the seaside.PIE NET ZERO is the new short film from the director of THE AGE OF STUPID and the creator of JONATHAN PIE, released on 24th January 2020. ______________________________________________CREDITS With Tom Walker as Jonathan PieWritten & Directed by Franny Armstrong & Tom WalkerEdited by David G HillProduced by Franny ArmstrongPost Production kindly provided by The Farm, BristolFeaturing - Franny Armstrong, TJ Hooper, Tim Stephens, Danny Cooke & Philip Martin as themselves- John Holmyard from Offshore Shellfish Ltd- Caro Warwick-Evans and Tim Van Berkel from the Cornish Seaweed CompanyFilmed on location in Coverack (Cornwall), Brixham Harbour (Devon), New Beginning Productions’ studio (Devon) and on the Holly Mai (at sea)Camera: Danny Cooke, Franny ArmstrongDrone: Danny CookeSound Recordist: Tim StephensCamera Assistant & Photographer: TJ HughesBoat driver: Robin HobsonProduction Coordinator: Jodie MortimoreResearch: Piers Guy, Ella Gilbert, Sarah BeckerPost Production Coordinator: Kaya HarringtonOnline: George WinfieldGrade: Daniel GillTracklay: James SpoonerSound Mix: Joe SiddonsAnimation: Sofja UmarikDesign: Jules Bailey & Rosie JohnsonWebsite: Mariela Zárate, Michiel Dethmers, Rhiannon RobertsArchive: Pond5Music: Audio Network LtdThanks to: Piers Guy, Bonnie Gilmore, Cas Casey, Bryn Higgs, Nicki Holmyard, Huw Thomas, all aboard the Holly Mai, everyone at The Farm, BristolCrowd-Funders: Alan Waugh, Alexandra Hannaford, Andrew Marston, Anthony Smith, Cormac Farrell, Daniel Bonnett, Dragana Gavrilovic, Fenella Rouse, Frederick Mulder Foundation, Jane Neal, John Craythorne, Marion Seed, Martin Wright, Michael Brook, Nigel Franks, Pat Bushell, Plumelia Tarrant, Rosemary Haworth-Booth© Spanner Films 2020
STUPID STARS ten years later: 2 ALVIN DuVERNAY Spanner Films 2019-05-20 | Age of Stupid's producer, Lizzie Gillett, and director, Franny Armstrong, Skype chat with one of the stars of the film, Alvin Ernest DuVernay III in New Orleans. They find out whether he rebuilt his house, how becoming a grandfather has changed his views on climate change, what he now thinks of his career with Shell, whether he's recovered from the PTSD caused by Hurricane Katrina - and what on Earth he's doing with the tonnes of empty oyster shells he collects from downtown restaurants.
STUPID STARS ten years later: 1 BILLY POSTLETHWAITE Spanner Films 2019-04-20 | Why did Hollywood movie actor Pete Postlethwaite agree to star in a low-budget climate documentary? Who fell asleep in his play? Who was the only person who could operate the futuristic Stupid computer? Why did Pete threaten to give his OBE back to the Queen? Will the Scottish play send Billy "bonkers" as it did his Dad 20 years earlier? On the 10th anniversary of the original release of THE AGE OF STUPID, Pete Postlethwaite's son, Billy Postlethwaite, talks to director Franny Armstrong. AGE OF STUPID is available now in 22 languages on BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Vimeo on Demand. (Not all languages on all platforms - see list at www.ageofstupid.net)
AGE OF STUPID original trailer (2009) re-released for 10th anniversary (2019) Spanner Films 2019-04-16 | ...
WHAT IF? (subtitled) - the mini-sequel to THE AGE OF STUPID set in a parallel universe Spanner Films 2019-03-21 | [ Original, unsubtitled version at: youtu.be/4g4YEfFUvM0 ]In a parallel universe, a mad scramble is underway to save the people of “Earthly" from suffering the same fate as "those poor people on Earth”. Many of the faces in this faraway land are uncannily similar to those of well-known climate campaigners and politicians here on Earth, including YouTuber Jack Harries, naturalist Chris Packham, comedian Jonathan Pie, Ed Miliband MP, Caroline Lucas MP, the President of the Maldives and Jon Snow from Channel 4 News. This new film by the team behind The Age of Stupid is released on 15th March 2019 - ten years to the day since Age of Stupid launched at its green-carpet, solar-powered premiere. And also the day of the first ever *global* schools strike. Poetic indeed. The AGE OF STUPID will be broadcast on BBC4 in the next few weeks (exact date TBC), and is available now on iTunes, Amazon Prime (in English French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese) and Google Play. CREDITSWritten, Directed & Produced by Franny ArmstrongEditor - David G HillOriginal Music - Chris Brierley and the Band of Holy JoyScript Consultant - Mark LynasStarring (in order of appearance)- Pete Postlethwaite, Nicholls family & Maisie, Beekmayer family, Ed Miliband, Jon Snow, Jonathan Pie aka Tom Walker, Jack Harries, Tamsin Allen, Alaa Abdoun, Laura Jackson, Aljona Vasjutina, Hugh Warwick, Professor Peter Cox, Mohammed Nasheed, former President of the Maldives, Chris Packham, Cara Horgan, Matilda Warwick, Caroline LucasVoiceovers- Peter Armstrong, Anja TheobaldGreenscreen DOP - Neve CunninghamCamera Assistant - Joseph SlocombeStills photographer - Bianca ShirkDoc camera - Zoe Broughton, Alice Aedy, David Hill, Franny Armstrong Drone pilot - Peter ArmstrongSpace Shots - Marc Knapton @ Brewery VFXTitle Designer - Greg McKneallyMotion Designer - Jay Culley Graphic Design - Jules BaileyTracklay - James EvansSound mix - Nigel Edwards Archive - Pond5, Spanner Films, Empathy Media, XX, XXX, XX, XXProduction Coordinator - Jodie MortimoreLegal - Tamsin Allen, Clare Hardwick, Emma PiantaThanks - Pedro Ferreira, Danny Dorling, Gillian DuCharme, Bonnie GilmoreFunded By- Jam Today, Anthony Smith, John Durham, Ruth Funnell, Scilla Elworthy, Arthur Shenton, Claire Mackie, Heidi Watson, Helen Armstrong, Andy & Kristi Armstrong, Tracy Ferron, Dragana Gavrilovic, Richard Brown, R Walter, Johnny & Rachel Devas, Gerry Beauregard, Celia, Annie Leymarie, Edward Pickering-Symes, Peter Brannen, Frederick Mulder, Mark Morton, Melanie Wright, Zoe Wangler, Ordinary Guy, Maggi Gilkes - Climate Reality Leader, John Grant, Juliet Heller, Hetty Einzig, Terry Cannon, Andrew Rundle-Keswick, Adrian Skelton, Angela Seay, Nicole Saxby, Rosalie Chamberlin, Dave Hampton, Reb H, Harfiyah, MaG, Andrew Percy, Rachel Caplan, Rob & Julie Forrest, JV Neal, Jonathan Melhuish, John WhitakerCopyright Spanner Films, 2019
Age of Stupid Jeremy Hardy DVD extra Spanner Films 2019-03-16 | At the premiere of The Age of Stupid in Leicester Square, comedian Jeremy Hardy explains why he was in - and then out - of the film.
First-ever viewers react to seeing Age of Stupid movie Spanner Films 2019-03-14 | Viewers react to the first public screening of The Age Of Stupid, including the film's star Pete Postlethwaite and the leader of the UK Green Party, Caroline Lucas
McLibel: full documentary (Official) Spanner Films 2015-11-12 | Hello. This is the official, full-length (81 min) version of our 2005 documentary, McLibel. This film was made completely independently (no studio/broadcaster backing) over four long years. We're a tiny independent film company always struggling to make ends meet, so if you watch for free here, please make a donation - http://spannerfilms.net/donate - and also sign up to our email list: http://www.spannerfilms.net/mailing_list . Thanks v much and enjoy the film, Franny & Lizzie from Spanner Films- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The first documentary from renowned director Franny Armstrong (The Age of Stupid, Drowned Out), McLibel tells the true story of two ordinary people who battle McDonald's in what became known as "the biggest corporate PR disaster in history" (Channel 4 News). The Seattle Times called the film an "irresistible David and Goliath tale... you can't help but cheer along" and the Sydney Morning Herald described it as "an often-hilarious exposé of big business arrogance... and an extraordinary example of independent filmmaking".McDonald's often used the English libel laws to suppress criticism. Major media organisations like the BBC, Channel 4 and The Sun had backed down in the face of their legal threats. But then they sue single father Dave Morris (41) and gardener Helen Steel (34). In what became England's longest-ever trial, the "McLibel Two" represent themselves for three and a half years in court against McDonald's £10 million legal team. Every aspect of the corporation's business is cross-examined, from junk food and McJobs, to animal cruelty, environmental damage and advertising to children.McDonald's try every trick in the book against the pair, including legal manoeuvres, secret settlement negotiations, a visit from Ronald McDonald and even spies. Seven years later, in February 2005, the marathon legal battle finally concludes at the European Court of Human Rights - will the result take everyone by surprise?Filmed over ten years, with courtroom reconstructions directed by Ken Loach, McLibel features the first interview with a McDonald's spy, as well as in-depth contributions from Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) and Keir Starmer (then Helen and Dave's pro bono lawyer, now the Leader of the Labour Party).The McLibel trial became a cause-celebre in the UK, resulting in changes both to UK law and to McDonald's itself. It is often cited as influencing works which followed, including Fast Food Nation, Jamie's School Dinners and Super Size Me. The producers estimate that more than 26 million people have seen McLibel on TV, cinema, DVD and at local screenings worldwide.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - More about the film: http://www.spannerfilms.net/films/mclibel
Drowned Out: full documentary (Official) Spanner Films 2015-11-12 | "Documentaries rarely, if ever, come better than this" - Bermuda Royal GazetteHello. This is the official, full-length (75 min) version of our 2002 documentary, Drowned Out. This film was made completely independently (no studio/broadcaster backing) over three long years. We're a tiny independent film company always struggling to make ends meet, so if you watch for free here, please make a donation - http://spannerfilms.net/donate - and also sign up to our email list: http://www.spannerfilms.net/mailing_list . Thanks v much and enjoy the film, Franny & Lizzie from Spanner Films- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Shot over three years by renowned documentary director Franny Armstrong (The Age of Stupid, McLibel), Drowned Out tells the true story of an Indian family who decide to stay at home and drown rather than make way for the Narmada Dam. With just a few weeks until the village disappears underwater, bestselling author Arundhati Roy (The God of Small Things) joins the family's fight against the dam. She asks the difficult questions. Will the water go to poor farmers or to rich industrialists? Why are children dying in the resettlement sites? What happened to the 16 million people displaced by fifty years of dam building? Why should we care? Drowned Out follows the villagers through hunger strikes, rallies, police brutality and a six year Supreme Court case. It stays with them as the dam fills and the river starts to rise. According to the Royal Gazette newspaper in Bermuda, "Documentaries rarely, if ever, come better than this". Film Journal International called it "a real eye opener" and the San Francisco Film Festival said that it is "a film of enormous heart, grit and insight, that is both taut political essay and enormously moving plea." The film's producers estimate that Drowned Out has so far been seen by more than 14 million people worldwide.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - More about the film: http://www.spannerfilms.net/films/drownedout
BBCs Pete Postlethwaite tribute - Age of Stupid section Spanner Films 2011-01-17 | A short clip from the the BBC's tribute to Pete Postlethwaite highlighting his part in The Age of Stupid. You can watch the whole film at http://vimeo.com/18906599
Age of Stupid : Clips: The End? Spanner Films 2011-01-17 | Pete Postlethwaite playing the Archivist in The Age of Stupid
AGE OF STUPID: DVD EXTRAS: PIERS GUY RIGHT TO REPLY Spanner Films 2010-08-22 | Piers Guy, Windfarmer, tells Team Stupid what he thinks of the film
AGE OF STUPID: DVD EXTRAS: GEORGE MONBIOT Spanner Films 2010-08-22 | Extended interview with George Monbiot.
McLibel: DVD Extras: Rob Newman Commentary Spanner Films 2010-08-22 | Rob Newman steps up to play many of the characters from the McLibel story
McLibel: Media Coverage: ABN NEWS Australia Spanner Films 2010-08-21 | Franny Armstrong interviewed on ABN's Foreign Correspondent in 1999
TRUTH OR DAIRY: who, what, where, when, how and why vegan (1994) - starring Benjamin Zephaniah Spanner Films 2010-08-21 | The first ever film by director Franny Armstrong (The Age of Stupid, McLibel, Drowned Out), TRUTH OR DAIRY, is a light-hearted and fast-moving introduction to veganism. Presented by vegan poet Benjamin Zephaniah, the 20-minute promo video made for The Vegan Society way back in 1994 features music from Moby and appearances from well-known vegans of the '90s, including River Phoenix, kd Lang, Bryan Adams and Uri Gellar. The film is thought to be the first ever example of a crowd-funded film, as it was paid for by £7,000 raised from small donations from individuals. As far as we know, it is the first film ever made about veganism - unless anyone knows of an earlier one? Franny wrote in 2019: "Watching Truth or Dairy now, I’m struck/reminded that :1. Benjamin Zephaniah doesn’t age.2. Video graphics have come on just a bit.3. My preoccupations - and writing style - have changed not one iota…. “So in a perfect world, everyone would be vegan, there'd be no global warming, the ozone layer would’ve got patched up and nobody over the age of 30 would be allowed into raves, but so what? We’ve heard it all before, nice film Ben and all that, but what do you want me to do about it?”4. We contacted River Phoenix, along with lots of other vegan celebs, and were completely thrilled - dancing round the room thrilled - to get a faxed reply from his mother/manager on a Friday saying that he would film a special message for our film. That Friday must have been the 29th October 1993 as the very next night, in the early hours of Sunday 31st October, River died of a drug overdose.5. We’d spent every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night of the last year dancing to Moby's seminal rave track “GO”, amongst many others, so when he sent us a hand-written fax - decorated with the first smiley face I’d seen - offering us free use of his tracks as “a musical bed” we were in heaven. Despite having no clue what a musical bed was.6. All the issues are just the same now as they were then, except more so: “The destruction of the rainforests is not just bad news for both the human and the animal inhabitants of the forest, but also for every living thing on the planet that needs oxygen to breathe”.7. The sparkly Northern Irish cameraman who clandestinely shot the rainforest scene with us late at night in the MTV studio in Camden - permission to be there had not entirely been granted, had it Arlene O' Sullivan ? - is now the world-famous Oscar-nominated cinematographer Seamus McGarvey.8. Katherine Monbiot, the vegan arm-wrestling champion at 7.46, was the sister of George Monbiot. She tragically died a couple of years after we made the film.9. When we were filming spoon-bending Uri Gellar, the battery on our microphone died. “Sorry, I’ll just run to the car to get another”, I said. “Give me that microphone”, replied Uri, and he held it out at arms length and concentrated his magic mind-bending powers on bringing the battery back to life…. He handed it back to me... I plugged it in and…. it still didn’t work. So I got a new battery from the car.10. The rainforest-destruction scene at 14.35 was initially written as a clown taking away the pot plants, rather than a burger, but the Vegan Society bods put a stop to that saying that McDonald’s were too litigious…. hadn’t I heard they were suing two activists who’d criticised them over a leaflet? …. (Little did I know that that story would be the next ten years of my life - and us not-including McDonald’s in this film was an example of McDonald’s using the threat-of-litigation to silence their critics into not speaking before they even speak…)11. After I'd spent the best part of two years writing, producing and editing the film - unpaid obviously - at the launch party at My Young's Screening Room in Soho, the boss of the Vegan Society, made a speech thanking everyone. He ended with "and there's one person whom we must thank above all else, without whom none of us would be here blah blah" - I readied myself for a modest smile and wave ".... thank you so much, Benjamin!". I was flabbergasted - of course Benjamin was brilliant, but he'd done 3 days work and I'd done two years! My Dad, Peter Armstrong, leaned over and said "Get used to it, people always think the people on screen have made the film". Wise advice, Dad, wise advice.12 - infinity. Most of all, how much I miss being one half of the Armstrong Sisters (see the final credit). My sister Boo, who died of cancer in 2012, and I made every frame of the film together - she was the front half of the pantomime cow at 4.37, the dancing feet at 4.17, the person weighing the spinach, the person collecting the receipts, the person throwing the chicken head, the person persuading the chip shop to let us film there, the person walking through the shouting protestors outside McDonald’s (see point 9) as she went in to buy a Big Mac for a prop...
McLibel: DVD Extras: Spy Interview Spanner Films 2010-08-20 | Interview with former private investigator Fran Tiller, who was one of seven known McDonald's spies who infiltrated the London Greenpeace campaign group
