alan neilson                 polymath

How Die Son Die was made:

 

 

I had already made a couple of video promos for the band Miss Halliwell (‘I’m a Puppy’ and ‘kinnell’) and interviewed Matt for my own documentary.  During that interview he spoke of his intentions to record and film their next album live.

And so it came to pass.

 

Through the next 9 frustrating months I shelved my documentary and agreed to produce, photograph and edit “Die Son!  Die!”, with Matt writing and directing.  This entailed filming two live performances in Stourbridge and Digbeth, with between 2 and 5 separate camera angles, as well as additional storyline scenes in and around the Black Country.

With Matt’s instructions for the scene running order, I edited the film during the Spring and Summer until the soundtrack was mastered and could be properly added.  The final cut of the film was approved and the DVD was released in September 2009 along with a digital download album of the songs.

 

I will admit that I believed in the project with every ounce of my being.  I thought musically it was the most exciting concept in years and visually it documented a band in full control.  I expected the country’s media to grasp this post-modern post-punk rock band to its breast and catapult its members into a dizzying drug and booze soaked fame.  But it was all but ignored.  The national press passed over every press release I sent and only a couple of the local rags printed the odd, limp paragraph that did nothing to inspire their readers.  Local radio and TV news preferred their usual ‘charity shop’ stories. The final nail in the coffin was the premier of the film at the Public, in West Bromwich (an art gallery so mis-placed and badly directed that it has no future).  It was a poorly attended occasion, only lifted from the misery by a stunning live performance by Miss Halliwell in between the first and second parts of the film.

Financially the night was a disaster and there was a major short fall on the costs for the venue even on top of the door receipts.  As producer and organiser I accepted this responsibility.  Artistically I believe it was on a par with the Sex Pistols playing the Lesser Free Trade Hall... one day I will be proven right.

 

by alan neilson (Producer)