I've been asked to forward the message below from a researcher and
documentary film-maker who's looking for film footage on the former British
West Indies, c.1920 - 1970 for a special project, details of which are also
below. If anybody can help Tony with suggestions of libraries or
repositories where he might find resources, please contact him direct by
email at    [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>

The Royal Geographical Society and the British Universities Film & Video
Council have been contacted.

Many thanks, in advance.

-----Original Message-----
From: T, Tony [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 4:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Research/TV Doc: "The British Empire In Colour"/Caribbean footage ,
letters, diaries...

----
I am now into my second week as a free-lance, researching the Caribbean
contribution to a major documentary series now in production, for ITV,
titled; "The British Empire In Colour". My priority is a search for
(amateur/home movie & professional) colour footage dealing with the former
British West Indies, and covering the period, circa, 1920 to 1970.

I'm wondering whether the I.C.S. might be a good port of call - if not for
colour footage, then perhaps for letters and diaries..?

The following is a formal(ish) but brief outline of this project. It
includes an explanation of my own area of research. I have been in touch
with friends and collaborators in Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica as the
principle Caribbean search locations. I am also contacting possible sources
in the USA and Canada.

I will be contacting Cambridge, and Warwick University.. I welcome any
thoughts re. other potential sources in the UK (N.B. Judith Brown and
Catherine Pryor are the Historical Consultants to this project.

By the way. There is a working budget for each area of research, so I am
able to pay commercial rates for the film footage I use.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts when you have some time and the
headspace.

Warmest regards

Tony

"THE BRITISH EMPIRE IN COLOUR" / Caribbean Research:

'The British Empire In Colour', is being produced by T.W.I. for broadcast by
the British network, ITV, in the New Year. It will follow the format of
their earlier productions, "The Second World War In Colour", and, "Britain
At War In Colour":

*       The series will tell personal 20th Century stories from all of the
former territories of the Empire & Commonwealth - dealing with the period
from 1920 to 1970.


*       Colour film footage will be supported by readings from original
letters and diaries: 'personalising' and reflecting the whole of the
colonial spectrum without too much analysis or interpretation - all races,
all classes...


*       My job is to find colour footage of the former British West Indies,
and the letters and diaries to bring these pictures to life.


*       I am especially keen to find amateur/home movies (amateur footage
often tells the most interesting stories). I hope to track down those rolls
of film that may be sitting at the back of someone's cupboard somewhere...


*       As the important first step to our possible commercial use of colour
footage dealing with the former British West Indian territories, I need to
obtain brief listings describing any available colour footage - both
amateur/home movie and professional - covering the period, circa, 1920 to
1970.


*       I am interested in people's actual experiences - nothing is too
small or insignificant.    For the meanwhile the themes for my search are
pretty broad. But my thoughts for possible 'storylines' include; the broad
canvas of life in the West Indian colonies before and after the war; the
post war-nationalism movement; the Federation; Independence and the
transition from Empire to Commonwealth; Emigration to the UK; Race
Relations; the Imperial Legacy...


I look forward to hearing from you

Yours sincerely

Tony T
Associate Producer