For one night only, from 8pm on Friday 18th December 2009 at Stereo (Glasgow), the Dummy Jim concert is back. DRESS CODE: FISH, FISHING & THE NORTH SEA

The One Ensemble & Sarah Kenchington will once again perform their suite of new works inspired by the story of James Duthie, a profoundly deaf Aberdeenshire man, who cycled solo on a 3000 mile return trip to the far north of Europe in 1951.

Sadly he was killed in a road accident in 1965.

According to his surviving cousin, 85 year old Joy Buchan, he set off on his adventure with just a couple of jumpers, a blanket & a pair of ‘khaki knickers’ with only £12 in the pocket.

Duthie later penned a journal called ‘I Cycled Into The Arctic Circle’ that artist Matt Hulse has evolved over the past 8 years as a project for web, cinema and now also as a book, called Dummy Jim.

Concert at Dovecot Studios

The music created by The One Ensemble & Sarah Kenchington is the result of an SAC New Music Award.

With additional support from Arika, the works premiered will form the basis of the soundtrack for Matt’s next feature film.

This special performance is a vibrant example of expanded cinema, with Super 8mm film projections shot on location along the route of Duthie’s original trip, extracts from the  journal and cut-ups of Hulse’s screenplay.

The new album Dummy Jim (released on Unshaped Led) will be available for just £10.

Sales of the album go into the making of the Dummy Jim film.

Sarah Kenchington

If you’d like a copy in advance so you can sing / sway / shadowbox along, just head along to Dummy Jim’s shop.

Additionally, Sokobauno Puppet Theatre have created a shadow peep box inspired by Dummy Jim’s story and this will be on show before and during the concert.

Oh, and there’ll be a raffle, too.

£3 on the door – Doors 8pm – please get there early.

Stereo Cafe Bar
20 Renfield Lane
Glasgow, G2 5AR
0141 222 2254

DRESS CODE: FISH, FISHING & THE NORTH SEA

LINKS

THE ONE ENSEMBLE
http://www.myspace.com/theoneensemble

DANIEL PADDEN & SARAH KENCHINGTON
http://www.myspace.com/paddenkenchington

The £1500 main prize went to Rich Curtis, from Alabama, USA, who is from the same Shoals area where Dr Helen Keller was born.

Sight Unseen

His work titled Sight Unseen comprises 20 textured paintings on paper.

Dummy Jim received a Highly Commended Award – £200 plus the ‘E.D.G.D. Fairfull-Smith’ Award & keepsake.

‘It has been a great honour to have the Dummy Jim website included in such a prestigious show as the Helen Keller International Award’ said Matt Hulse, director of the Dummy Jim project.

‘James Duthie, on whose story Dummy Jim is based, shared with Helen a genuinely optimistic, determined spirit & a firm faith in the power of knowledge & education to transform lives. Like her, James was also a great communicator & lover of the natural world.’

‘Sadly James was killed in a road accident back in 1965, but I have no doubt at all that he would have been intrigued by & proud of his connection to this show.’

‘On a personal level, I vividly remember reading about Helen Keller during my childhood. Recently I rediscovered her book ‘The Story of My Life’ & was struck by how deep an impression it must have made upon me back then & how she continues to influence my work to this day.’

Sleep Furiously
Dir. Gideon Koppel
UK 2008, 94 mins

A flock of sheep are slowly herded along a hillside. A bale of hay gets wrapped in black plastic. A dog watches a tractor disappear in the distance. A choir practice. A mobile library. This documentary portrait of a Welsh farming community offers only scraps of narrative to grab onto, but if you can adjust to its pace you may well find it a uniquely satisfying experience. Gideon Koppel earns his living as a photographer and the images are beautiful, as is the music by Aphex Twin. Bubbling under you can also sense a horror at what we might be losing as thousands of villages like this one disappear.

Showing with God Gives Nuts But He Does Not Crack Them (dir: Matt Hulse) – a taster for feature Dummy Jim, about a profoundly deaf Scotsman who cycled to the Arctic Circle.

The journal tells a story of a profoundly deaf James Duthie, known as ‘Dummy Jim’, who travelled 3000 miles on his bike in 1951, from his village in Scotland via France to the Arctic Circle.

The movie maker is raising funds to complete the project through the sale of special Dummy Jim merchandise and a percentage of these sales will go towards NDCS drama workshops for deaf children and young people.

The film director is appealing to people who believe in unique, innovative and independent films to support the project.

Dummy Jim has already attracted support from Jerwood Charitable Foundation. Well-known BBC ‘Switch’ actor Samuel Dore had been cast in the lead role.

Matt Hulse explains: “James ‘Dummy Jim’ Duthie had a real affinity with children, both deaf and hearing. He was concerned with their welfare, both in the UK and overseas, and shared with children a genuine, open-hearted curiosity about the world around him. It’s particularly appropriate therefore that the partnership is with a charity who shares the same interest in the welfare of children. “

“This partnership is of immense value to us. The public support of a well-established and respected charity sends out a clear message of validation and good will towards Dummy Jim. We look forward to developing the relationship with NDCS and helping raise money to support both the charity’s work and the making of our film.”

Ruth Couthino, NDCS Development Manager, adds: “We are pleased to have become a charity partner for the ‘Dummy Jim’ movie and are grateful to the team for supporting our arts projects for deaf children and young people.”

“Access to the arts is extremely important for deaf children. The opportunity to express themselves through a variety of creative forms can help deaf children develop their self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and conceptual understanding.”

An interactive website has been created in advance of a feature film to give visitors a chance to explore some of the highlights of Duthie’s journey.

Wedged tightly with Scots banknotes, the bottle was handed to director Matt Hulse on the occasion of his 40th birthday, along with a book on how to play the ukulele (properly).

The £25 donation secured the enterprising pair a set of limited edition Dummy Jim badges.

‘We want to see this film get made’ insisted Donnelly’s companion. ‘We’re putting our money where our mouths are.’

‘And besides’ added Donnelly ‘the badges are cool’.

‘Individual donations like this are really empowering’ said Hulse. ‘It’s simple really. £25 buys us over three minutes of Super 8 film – process paid!’

Reaching for his ukulele, he added ‘These guys were brave enough to be first in with the cash & we’ll not forget it’.

Limited edition badges, postcards, the Dummy Jim CD album and Special Edition DVD can be ordered easily online using the secure service Pay Pal – please head along to the shop.

‘Jerwood has a track record of finding exceptional artists & helping them do the things that they really want to do.’

‘Our grants are given to support excellence & enable talented artists to make outstanding work.’

‘We like to think of ourselves as pioneering. This is exactly the sort of project that helps us to continue to take creative risks.’

In response to Matt’s aim to reduce the film’s carbon footprint to zero, Dods remarked:

‘We would like our grant of £5k to contribute specifically towards the process of making the film as carbon neutral as possible.’

Matt Hulse expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Dummy Jim team, adding ‘it’s immensely empowering to be recognised by Jerwood, particularly for innovation & risk-taking.’

Click here for more about Jerwood’s inspiring work.

The event featured a live set from the film’s composer Daniel Padden along with The One Ensemble and projections of Super 8mm film shot along the original route of James Duthie’s trip to the Arctic Circle.

The One Ensemble

Samuel Dore, the talented deaf actor who will play the character of Duthie, gave an eloquent talk about his role in the film, and shared his insights into what life must have been like for a profoundly deaf young man back in 1951.

French actress Marie Denarnaud traveled to Scotland from Paris specially for the occasion & read aloud from Duthie’s journal ‘I Cycled Into the Arctic Circle’.

Samuel Dore & Marie Denarnaud

With grace & style she bravely handled Duthie’s text which includes peculiar, old-fashioned words like ‘perigrination’ & Scots towns such as ‘Kirkcaldy’.

A short ‘teaser film’ directed by Matt Hulse called ‘God Gives Nuts But He Does Not Crack Them’ was also screened which features Samuel & Marie in character.

The short film enjoyed its premiere earlier in the week at The Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams, a unique & original film festival established by Mark Cousins & Tilda Swinton.

BBC2′s See Hear filmed the launch.

The event was skillfully BSL interpreted by Jo Ross.

Matt Hulse would like to thank CCA Glasgow for their in-kind support & help in making the event such a success.