Undercurrents (news)
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Undercurrents is an alternative video news network which began with the UK distribution of videotapes shot by volunteers. It has since expanded to include a web presence, media training for volunteers, and a film festival, BeyondTV.
History
Undercurrents is an alternative news agency which came into being in 1994 with a VHS videocassette of news which the founders (Jamie Hartzell, Paul O'Connor, Zoe Broughton,and Thomas Harding) felt were not being addressed by the mainstream media. One of the issues covered was the introduction of the Criminal Justice Bill, whose varied measures included attempts to curtail large gatherings both of travelers and raves and make direct action protest a criminal offence. A second video compilation was released before the end of the year. Bands such as the Levellers included Undercurrents references on their CD sleeves. Radiohead have donated funds and Comedian Mark Thomas allowed undercurrents to produce and distribute his first DVD to raise funds.Undercurrents was amongst the first groups which coined the phrase 'video activism'- the use of camcorders for social change. A co-founder, Thomas Harding, wrote the video activist handbook published by Pluto Press. Undercurrents now distribute films via DVD and in 2009 they launched visionOntv - a Peer to Peer TV channel over internet.
Many of the video activists who worked at Undercurrents went on to work at Oxford Channel including Roddy Mansfield, Jason Torrance, Thomas Harding and Debora Harding. But they found that local TV was not the way forward[1] and Undercurrents continued to distribute via DVD and community screenings. In 2009 they launched The Sol Cinema a micro touring cinema powered by lithium batteries and designed by Jo Furlong. Undercurrents has won a number of awards including Digital Hero awards 2011, as well as film festivals in Germany, Tokyo, France, USA, UK and Czech republic.
Status
Undercurrents subsequently became a non-profit company and a registered charity. They have moved their office from London, to Oxford and are now based in The Environment Centre in Swansea.
Court Cases
Some of their footage of political protests has been used in court cases, including footage of Genoa G8 summit, and a police raid on indymedia work spaces.
Current projects
In 2006 Undercurrents was chosen as the Guardians campaign of the week.[2] The article stated that undercurrents 'most successful piece is probably Evolving Minds, a film by Melissa Gunasena about dealing with mental health problems'. In 2007 Undercurrents released EcoVillage Pioneers- a documentary exploring sustainable low impact communities around the world.
Many of their latest videos are hosted on YouTube. Undercurrents have also embarked upon a new project for distributing activist video.
Undercurrents are currently producing video podcasts about environmental issues such as Climate change. Online Video series include Surfing and climate change, Bushcraft and sustainable housing. In 2010 Undercurrents produced a step by step guide to building a house using Roundwood Timber Framing with Ben Law. In 2014 Undercurrents will be producing a project on low cost housing.
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