Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2019 – Bartle
In a remote part of Yorkshire, villagers gather for a bizarre, ancient ritual.
Interview with Director/Producer Jon King
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I wanted to create a film about something unusual and unknown. I’ve worked in corporate video for many years, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could produce an engaging piece of documentary.
I’ve been aware of the Bartle ritual for a long time; but whenever I had mentioned it to friends, they were always intrigued by it. So it seemed like an obvious choice for a film!
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Bartle is an extreme example of the power of tradition. It’s about a community of people who have been undertaking a strange ritual for hundreds of years, and none of them really know why.
Set in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, the film meets the men who lead this ritual, examines why they do it, and what it means to keep such a tradition alive.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Almost every area of our lives is influenced by tradition and culture. We do things in a particular way because that’s how it’s always been done. The film demonstrates the power of tradition and culture.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I had initially planned for this to be more of a historical documentary which investigated the roots of the Bartle ritual. But, while we were filming, it became clear that the real story was about the men who lead the ritual, and how much it means to them.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We’re delighted that the film has been selected to feature at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival. We’ve kept the film under-wraps until now, so we’re looking forward to receiving some wider feedback!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The film has helped me understand what drives people to behave in the way that they do. Throughout filming, I asked each of the men why they lead and take part in the ritual. Their answer was always, simply, “it’s just tradition”.
It’s helped me to see the strength of tradition and culture, and that it’s a powerful influencer of our behaviour and choices. And I hope that viewers will see something of this through the film too.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We want as many people to see the film as possible, ahead of a more general online release next year.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We’d love the film to be shown at some more film festivals. And would be very keen to hear from suitable buyers or distributors who could help bring the film to a wider audience
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want the film to show an uneasiness about the power of tradition. I hope that it will help the audience to see the power of tradition and culture; both for good and for bad… and think about how it can influence bigger parts of our society.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What does it mean to keep a tradition alive?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m currently planning a few new documentaries, in the very early stages of development. Looking for new opportunities and collaborations.
Interview: June 2019
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Bartle
In a remote part of Yorkshire, villagers gather for a bizarre, ancient ritual.
Length: 10:33
Director: Jon King
Producer: Jon King
About the writer, director and producer:
JON KING is a producer and director of documentary films. Many of Jon’s films shine a light on challenging social issues but highlight unusual or unknown solutions. Jon’s gentle, reflective filmmaking style enables the viewer to feel as if they are discovering and exploring the subject for themselves.
Jon is the managing director of Envisuals, a small video production company based in Yorkshire. Envisuals creates promotional films and animations for businesses. Jon studied filmmaking at the University of Bradford, and graduated in 2007. Since then Jon has worked as a freelance filmmaker, working for a diverse mix of commercial clients. Since 2015, Jon has been producing independent documentaries on a range of subjects.
Looking for: film festival directors, buyers
Website: www.jonkingfilms.co.uk
Made in association with: Envisuals Ltd
Funders: Self-Funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, July 19, 2019, 11:00 pm