MFAA screens local short films at the Women Chainmakers' Festival 2014
On Saturday 7th June MFAA had a limited screening licence from Cradley Heath Film to show 'Cradley Heath Chainwomen' which is a 12 minute compilation including extracts from 2 short films which were; 'Lucy Woodall' filmed and produced in 1971 by Farmer/Barnsley. The film features Lucy Woodall who began work as a chainmaker in 1913 and retired in 1973 after making chain for 60 years and 3 months. It is said that Lucy was the last lady chainmaker in Cradley Heath, and probably the last in the world. 'The White Slaves of England' began as an audio tape recording made in 1971 featuring Wesley Perrins talking to a group of Cradley Heath women about chain making by women in Cradley Heath. Wesley was recorded by Miss Paynter as part of her Halesowen College course. Set to moving images and photographs by Cradley Heath Film the short black & white movie concentrated on Mary Macarthur and her involvement in the chainwomen's strike of 1910. Audio re-mastered by Jon Allen Studios, Brierley Hill and music by local musician Ashley Cole.
The film showings were screened in a caravan at the Women Chainmakers' Festival 2014 and feedback from the public was very encouraging with much praise. All in all the film film compilation was played approximately twenty times throughout the day. Footage of the experience is captured nicely in this small video ' Black Country Short Films in a Caravan' which has music from Dick Haymes.