Soulboy - The Movie. You've Seen It So . .

[Little-stevie]

watched it last night, 9/10...me and the Mrs enjoyed it simply because it sort of encapsulated when we were both kids.

I guess we are now in the eyes of the SS Police a couple of " right on brother" divs

Looks like you are king of the divs then Paul with such a high score... Good to see you got a lot out of the experience, aint that what film is about

Thats the great thing about film, it can have such a different affect on us all... Got some great feedback on the topic and a good cross range of views.... Like i said before, people with little or no attachment to this film or others are the ones who seem to really seem to have good things to say about soulboy... Very much like the soul scene don't you think, people who are just punters can have the best experience, they just pay at the door and look for the entertainment, people who are djs, promoters, record dealers etc can have a different agenda and not get the same experience...

Great post soul ninja/ Jem..... Glad to see you are doing something about it.... Enjoy, get out there and have the time of your life..

A post said put this topic to bed, no need as yet with some good feedback coming through and plenty more to come i should think...

Give us your views, all welcome but remember its just your view only and others may think a different way........ Its called FREEDOM!

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

Well i,ve just booked to see it in York, next Saturday-----i am expecting a film made 35 yrs after the events occurred ,with the few odd innacurracies, i wiil view it as such ,not a spot on Historically correct documentary.

Will report back

T.C

[Liljimmycrank]

Well i,ve just booked to see it in York, next Saturday-----i am expecting a film made 35 yrs after the events occurred ,with the few odd innacurracies, i wiil view it as such ,not a spot on Historically correct documentary.

Will report back

T.C

Get yourself down to the Riley Smith Hall in Taddy afterwards for the real thing, make a night of it

[Paul-s]

interesting point

though suppose there are many ways to judge if a film is a success

from a box office view

anyone out there who knows the uk film industry like to comment on what the actual box office figures are saying

https://www.ukfilmcou...-3-October-2010

£68,000 is very low unfortunately. They need a lot of help to get anywhere near break even, so a good job it was funded.

[Pete S]

I was on IMDB looking at a film called Cherry Tree Lane, this was a British film directed by the guy who did London To Brighton, anyway what I found interesting was that it was released to cinemas in the first week of September, and released on DVD in the last week of September! Talk about a quick turnaround. So they obviously had no hopes of it doing anything more than a weekp or two at the most on it's cinema run. And this made me think even more when someone said that the DVD release for Soulboy wasn't until next year, is that correct?

[viphitman]

https://www.ukfilmcou...-3-October-2010

What I think is quite interresting is the site average which at £1,022 is in comparison with the top 15 not that bad. If more sites put it on this may change but maybe soda pictures are not able to secure lots of cinemas nationwide ???? Nevertheless I would find it encouraging as a cinema oparator but I guess they also look at the marketing and awareness level of a film which in this case is not that great!!!! Anyway best of lcuk!!

Edited October 15, 2010 by viphitman

[Mike]

is there anyone out there who can give a idea of just how valid those figures are

the next weekend says it grossed £79 in just one cinema

the one linked to before says just 2 cinemas

are we looking at these figures the wrong way ?

[Paul R]

Went last night to a showing at a small cinema in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The film is on for 2 nights, and the first night was sold out for all 275 seats. The crowd were a mixture of Scooterists and a large number of old soulies. I was suprised by the amount of people who used to travel weekly from Pompey to Wigan. There were Djs playing oldies, on vinyl, both before & after the showing, and the sounds were quite mixed, from played out stuff to lesser heard. The film itself I found was quite enjoyable, even there were loads of faults. I found that generally the trouser lengths were alright, but one or 2 were either too long or too short;) . I've given it 8 out of ten.

Paul

[AlanB]

£68,000 is very low unfortunately. They need a lot of help to get anywhere near break even, so a good job it was funded.

I see that Made In Dagenham took 10 times as much in its first week but that was launched on over 300 cinemas and was trailered on these screens. Judging from its trailer it seems to have a similar retro/light comedy feel to Soulboy - bigger budget but not as much fun.

There's no way a small independent was going to make much from art house and scattered screenings. Ironically Soulboy the movie has turned out to be successful just in an underground way, bit like the scene itself! I hope a TV screening and DVD sales help it break even.

Alan

[Guest Paul]

I was on IMDB looking at a film called Cherry Tree Lane, this was a British film directed by the guy who did London To Brighton, anyway what I found interesting was that it was released to cinemas in the first week of September, and released on DVD in the last week of September! Talk about a quick turnaround. So they obviously had no hopes of it doing anything more than a weekp or two at the most on it's cinema run. And this made me think even more when someone said that the DVD release for Soulboy wasn't until next year, is that correct?

Hello Pete,

Yes the DVD is due in January 2011.

Going off-topic a bit, I've done sync deals for a few British films and it has amazed me how difficult the market is. Apart from a few major films, most get a cinema release which is either regional or very scattered, certainly not enought to recover their huge production costs from box office income.

So, unless they get some good international deals, they rely quite heavily on DVD sales and TV licensing. And the market for most soundtrack albums is also quite flat.

SoulBoy has done very well at some cinemas but it needs exposure in more regions.

I thought the music business was pretty tough but the film business is scary. They rely on grants, funding and tax advantages etc and most films just don't break even. The saddest part is that many people get to see the film for nothing via DVD copies and file sharing etc. so it's similar to the music business as far as lost sales are concerned. It's also similar in the way that a few major players dominate the market because the income from their blockbuster hits can subsidise quite a few failures.

I really can't understand how indie companies survive these days but it's nice to see good and artistic films being produced in the UK. I think we're pretty good at it.

Paul

[Spacehopper]

havnt read all the replies so with the risk of repeating...

we werent suppose to be getting sb down here in bristol but due to a cancellation weve got it for a week and the opening night was friday.....

the getting together djs were playing in the bar after so me and nicci went with an open mind and enjoyed it...

i knew there would be mistakes,as there are in even the biggest hollywood movie and that other brit cult flik quadrophenia....

agree the dance comp could have been done better if at all but even that wasnt as cheesy as the short junction film

the plot was far from original but then robin hood,patriot,gladiator and the scottish one are all the same story,i believe there are basically only about a dozen plotlines to most films anyway

some great tunes,good dancin i think the mix of old and new film worked...laughed quite a bit too...in these shitty days whats wrong with a film where the good guy wins and makes the right choice....

saying all this its not gonna win any oscars and i wont go see it again but will probably get the dvd...if only to play on a sunday afternoon to stop my daughter comin over to watch eastenders ....again !!

gave go go children flyers out on the door after and it must have been 3/4 full and most were not regular soulies from the sw i knew...some where youngsters and most seem to enjoy it....

so i dont think it makes the soul scene look stupid...and i dont think it was made just to jump on the bandwagon for a quick buck...no more than those makin or playing bootlegs are anyway !

dean:)

[Guest naisygriff]

I won free tickets from the guys in Bristol promoting the film and djaying in the bar afterwards, and as I am really skint, and wanted to see the film, that was a result.

I wasn't expecting much, as feedback from a friend had already been negative.

I really enjoyed it.

My boyfriend has always been into mainstream music, and I am slowly educating him, he loved the music without being prompted.

Am also looking forward to the next film 'Northern Soul',by a friends' friend.

[Guest MBarrett]

Interesting to see Craig Parkinson playing another, and pretty convincing villainous role(s) in Whitechapel.

MB

Edited October 19, 2010 by MBarrett

[Markw]

Saw it at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff on Saturday night with my girlfriend (non-soulie), my son (took to a few venues inc Kings Hall about 10 years ago when he was 13/14), the lead singer in his band (non-soulie but she comes from Hinkley and was always aware of it) and Billy Jones (still souling though does more rock n roll weekenders these days). Some ex-Casino goers were in, lots of ex-Cardiff Cougars scooterists. Good atmosphere with a few of us singing along to Magic Carpet Ride at the end which bemused those attending who clearly had no connections to the scene!

Not going to make any more comment as most has been said. We all enjoyed it, thought the nighter scenes looked pretty good, some cheesey moments (yes - the dance-off), some funny moments and we thought the film had a decent heart and made Northern Soul mid-seventies look genuinely exciting (as we know it was but others might not).

And now, a shameless plug for my lad's band, Dirty Revolution. They are on tour for the next few weeks and you can check them out here - https://www.myspace.com/dirtyrevolution - or tap the name into YouTube and samples will come up. I thank you.

[macca]

I'm evidently not going to get to see this over here, so I'll buy the dvd in January. From what I can make out from previous threads, the main criticisms aimed at it before release were a weak plot/script. I don't know enough about script writing to offer an opinion, so I suppose it'll be down to the old feel good/bad factor after having seen it.

Edited October 19, 2010 by macca

[macca]

I'll eat my words. Looks like the film is getting some international projection, folks. It's being featured at the 48th edition of the Gijón International Film Festival in Spain.

Edited October 23, 2010 by macca

[Eamesy]

Interesting to see Craig Parkinson playing another, and pretty convincing villainous role(s) in Whitechapel.

MB

Been watching Whitechapel & thinking what have i seen him in recently??!!

Thanks!!

Alan

[Guest MBarrett]

I'll eat my words. Looks like the film is getting some international projection, folks. It's being featured at the 48th edition of the Gij³n International Film Festival in Spain.

Here's the page from the festival programme.

Translation please!!

I'm sure some on here will appreciate that it's classified in the "enfants terrible" genre.

Macca - will you get to see it?

MB

[Guest Geordie Soul Fan]

I went up to Wigan to see it last month and enjoyed it. Despite taking a passing interest in soul for years I've only recently just started doing something about it. I wanted to see the film to see what it had in common with clubbing today (Cream, Gatecrasher etc). As it turns out, quite a bit; long queues, posers hogging their 'spec' on the dance-floor, dodgy gear causing people loads of bother. I suppose the biggest change is the 'chase' for all the boss promos and rare tunes. New music is generally available digitally instantly so that buzz has died.

It must be difficult to pitch a film like this at an audience to gain as broad an appeal as possible, i.e. getting the right balance of fact and fiction to keep soulies and non-soulies entertained. I agree with the folks who point at the inaccuracies of the film but anyone who's committed enough to find out more will do so off their own bat anyway. Of course I'm gutted that I missed out on Northern the first time round (lucky sods, I was 8yo when the Casino closed), but it's a real privilege that people are keeping the scene alive with stuff like this.

Cheers all

Jem

Jem you must have read my mind, your bit about finally doing something about a tentative interest in soul mirrors mine. I know several people have been less than positive about the film and will see my post and believe it vindicates their views as I am totally new to the scene but I loved every minute, Im not old enough to have gone to the Casino so could never say how authentic it is, I liked the admitedly predictable storyline (who wants the ending not to be happy?) and it spurred me onto to register for this site and buy an couple of extra CDs, including the soundtrack for the film I have the DVD on pre order and cant wait to watch it again.

[Guest SoulNinja]

Jem you must have read my mind, your bit about finally doing something about a tentative interest in soul mirrors mine. I know several people have been less than positive about the film and will see my post and believe it vindicates their views as I am totally new to the scene but I loved every minute, Im not old enough to have gone to the Casino so could never say how authentic it is, I liked the admitedly predictable storyline (who wants the ending not to be happy?) and it spurred me onto to register for this site and buy an couple of extra CDs, including the soundtrack for the film I have the DVD on pre order and cant wait to watch it again.

Nice one GSF, great to hear you enjoyed the film, I'm now sitting here wondering why I didn't sign up to SS years ago. It's a great site, the depth of people's knowledge is awesome and it's reassuring to know that I'm not the biggest train-spotter out there. lol:lol:

Enjoy your soul journey, and if you fancy a whiff of the Casino get yerself down to Kings Hall, Stoke in December, I've just been and was told it's pretty darned close.

All the best

Jem

[macca]

Here's the page from the festival programme.

Translation please!!

I'm sure some on here will appreciate that it's classified in the "enfants terrible" genre.

Macca - will you get to see it?

MB

Gijón is about 4 hours drive from me, so hardly worth the trek, I would have thought.

Here's a rough translation of the above.

Joe is a 17 year old lad bored with his grey existence. No prospects at work, no fun and no girls... following the lovely Jane around, he discovers what will become the reason for his existence: Northern Soul and Wigan Casino. It's 1974 while Tom Jones was taking the country by storm, a bunch of youngsters were getting their kicks dancing to Soul music.,

they had their own way of dressing and their own lifestyle codes: they were soulboys. In order to enter this select group, Joe spared no effort: he gets the right clothes, practises his dance moves, listens to the rarest records. But everything gets complicated when he has to choose between Jane and her best friend, and when he doesn't know what to do about his lifelong buddy who's not interested in Northern Soul, and when the hardboys/bullies at Wigan put a price on his head.

What is this film saying to us?

The transition to maturity, the search for one's own identity, the sense of belonging to a group, the importance of friendship. Northern Soul music and problems with drugs.

Edited October 23, 2010 by macca

[Guest Geordie Soul Fan]

Nice one GSF, great to hear you enjoyed the film, I'm now sitting here wondering why I didn't sign up to SS years ago. It's a great site, the depth of people's knowledge is awesome and it's reassuring to know that I'm not the biggest train-spotter out there. lol:lol:

Enjoy your soul journey, and if you fancy a whiff of the Casino get yerself down to Kings Hall, Stoke in December, I've just been and was told it's pretty darned close.

All the best

Jem

Yeah mate the site seems fantastic, every day I am finding new tunes to love and new books and articles to read. Dying to attend an event, would love to be able to pull off some of the moves but think I would have to crack the shuffle first, one step at a time eh .

Will have to see how I can talk the missus into either giving me a pass out or talk her into coming along, she came to watch the film with me and said she liked it so you never know.

Thanks again mate

[Shedhead]

Well i,ve just booked to see it in York, next Saturday-----i am expecting a film made 35 yrs after the events occurred ,with the few odd innacurracies, i wiil view it as such ,not a spot on Historically correct documentary.

Will report back

T.C

tried bookin 4 this last night! f#####g sell out.......

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

As promised-----the cinema was full (some very well known York "Faces" in the audience) the film was much as i,d been told--odd innaccuracies but a good story line, the dance-off was like a wild west shoot out, but the good guy got the right girl in the end!!!

7/10 an enjoyable night out and a gud italian meal after.

T.C and Rani

[Blake H]

As promised-----the cinema was full (some very well known York "Faces" in the audience) the film was much as i,d been told--odd innaccuracies but a good story line, the dance-off was like a wild west shoot out, but the good guy got the right girl in the end!!!

7/10 an enjoyable night out and a gud italian meal after.

T.C and Rani

Thought it was a mirage in the cinema.....Tony + Leslie sat on row 3...................guess it was as they dissapeared into thin air soon afterwards:yes:

BH

[Davetay]

As promised-----the cinema was full (some very well known York "Faces" in the audience) the film was much as i,d been told--odd innaccuracies but a good story line, the dance-off was like a wild west shoot out, but the good guy got the right girl in the end!!!

7/10 an enjoyable night out and a gud italian meal after.

T.C and Rani

Hi Tony, we have been to watch in Lancaster tonight, went with a open mind.

And guess what it was for better than I thouught it was gonna be, it was a very funny brit rom-com set in the 70s.

So we also gonna give it 7/10. went to do the do at the park after all and all it was a very enjoyable night.

Oh I forgot to mension Lou was driving and I got pissed. lol

Dave & Lou.

P.S. it was a sell out.

[Mrtag]

Hi Tony, we have been to watch in Lancaster tonight, went with a open mind.

And guess what it was for better than I thouught it was gonna be, it was a very funny brit rom-com set in the 70s.

So we also gonna give it 7/10. went to do the do at the park after all and all it was a very enjoyable night.

Oh I forgot to mension Lou was driving and I got pissed. lol

Dave & Lou.

P.S. it was a sell out.

Glad You Enjoyed It And Had A Good Night!! Atb John (Was This The Birthday Treat Dave?)

[Davetay]

quote name='mrtag' timestamp='1288438035' post='1435454']

Glad You Enjoyed It And Had A Good Night!! Atb John (Was This The Birthday Treat Dave?)

[Guest CapitolSC]

Haven't seen it as it has not come to Guernsey, but ordered the DVD and cheaper than going to the cinema and at least I can have a ciggie break and glass of wine in between.

Edited October 31, 2010 by CapitolSC

[Guest Geordie Soul Fan]

It's now showing in Los Angeles, not bad for a film that was thought to be a straight to video/dvd/bargain bin effort. Got my DVD pre ordered and can't wait.

[Guest JEFF W]

I might well live to regret this, but it's a one-time only posting and I really can't let go some of the comments i've seen posted on here about a certain script I wrote for the film that was Souled Out, but for various reasons was renamed Soulboy. Now that the film's safely out for all to see, I feel the time's right to admit how much I've been taken aback by the level of uninformed ill-feeling this thread was awash with from almost the first moment it appeared. While there were plenty of voices of reason, too often they seemed in danger of being SHOUTED DOWN by a chorus that felt almost orchestrated, pumped up and raging to a point that would've been almost comic if it hadn't been so intense. And as for the seemingly self-appointed Official Keeper Of The Flame and his alleged attempts to strangle the script apparently because he ordained it as being short of his own glittering standards... well, sadly there's nothing I can do to address that; I'm not a trained therapist.

The points then -

Souled Out, (as was), always had Northern Soul as an integral part of it. The music element was absolutely never simply "tacked on" as some kind of selling point. Originally commissioned back in 1999 for a youth theatre group in Bishop Auckland, I developed the script from that stageplay to deal with the more "adult" issues I felt would more accurately reflect the story, the times, and my overall ambitions for the piece. True, Russ Winstanley's book was the starting point for me, but funnily enough I did actually then do my research, seeking out and talking to more than a few people who'd been to Wigan back in the day, scouring my own memories of growing up in the 1970's, trying to recall what it felt like to be young not just in that decade but at any time. The character of Kim Weston did feature in earlier versions of the script, but copyright and licensing problems meant that particular thread of the story had to be discontinued. Because licensing deals still had to be struck, specific song titles didn't appear in earlier versions of the script other than as general guides / suggestions to indicate mood, tempo etc.

I'm puzzled too by claims that earlier drafts of the script had been read, but once these things are written I guess they are certainly there for people to pick up and pass around. It's in the nature of the development process that changes - some of them pretty major - will occur, and that was most certainly true in this case. From the claims and comments on here, though, it's clear that if anything had been read at all then it's certainly been very early drafts, and I'm not going to waste anyone's time discussing that.

Neither I, the director or the producer are what could easily be called "Hampstead Luvvies". We didn't sit around at a dinner party and over the vol-au-vents cook this whole project up just to cash-in on anyone's memories, didn't set out to deliberately wind up some of the more prickly types out there, (although God knows, we seem to have done a hell of a job on that level). As a writer I was captivated by a time - the mid-1970's - that I genuinely thought had not been altogether best served by various productions, and a place, The Casino, which was a centre, (yes, I know - not the only one), of a working class / youth phenomenon that arguably has never been equalled before or since. All the people connected to the making of this film - and they are among the most creative and talented folk I've ever come across - worked tirelessly to ensure due respect was not only paid to the storyline and the characters, (as you'd expect), but also to the detail of the scene as it was and the legacy it's left behind. With the available time and budget, I don't believe we could've done more.

Soulboy's a film. A work of dramatic fiction. No marketing ploy yet devised could force anyone against their will into buying a ticket. If you did decide to go see it then hated it, that's your prerogative and I wouldn't argue your right to criticise; if on the other hand you went along and actually liked what you saw, then great: that's all we set out to do.

Sorry if this turned into an essay but as I said at the top, it's unlikely that I'll be repeating the exercise. I won't be drawn into any mud-slinging matches, and I don't want to give credence to uninformed insults driven by personal agendas. All I wanted, now that the film's out and been seen by enough people to have formed their own opinion on it, was to clear up a few points that have too long been left to go unchallenged. Whether or not it works...

Oh, and the film's doing very nicely, thanks, with way more people liking it than not and the DVD out early in the new year. Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?

Jeff Williams.

[Pete S]

I might well live to regret this, but it's a one-time only posting and I really can't let go some of the comments i've seen posted on here about a certain script I wrote for the film that was Souled Out, but for various reasons was renamed Soulboy. Now that the film's safely out for all to see, I feel the time's right to admit how much I've been taken aback by the level of uninformed ill-feeling this thread was awash with from almost the first moment it appeared. While there were plenty of voices of reason, too often they seemed in danger of being SHOUTED DOWN by a chorus that felt almost orchestrated, pumped up and raging to a point that would've been almost comic if it hadn't been so intense. And as for the seemingly self-appointed Official Keeper Of The Flame and his alleged attempts to strangle the script apparently because he ordained it as being short of his own glittering standards... well, sadly there's nothing I can do to address that; I'm not a trained therapist.

The points then -

Souled Out, (as was), always had Northern Soul as an integral part of it. The music element was absolutely never simply "tacked on" as some kind of selling point. Originally commissioned back in 1999 for a youth theatre group in Bishop Auckland, I developed the script from that stageplay to deal with the more "adult" issues I felt would more accurately reflect the story, the times, and my overall ambitions for the piece. True, Russ Winstanley's book was the starting point for me, but funnily enough I did actually then do my research, seeking out and talking to more than a few people who'd been to Wigan back in the day, scouring my own memories of growing up in the 1970's, trying to recall what it felt like to be young not just in that decade but at any time. The character of Kim Weston did feature in earlier versions of the script, but copyright and licensing problems meant that particular thread of the story had to be discontinued. Because licensing deals still had to be struck, specific song titles didn't appear in earlier versions of the script other than as general guides / suggestions to indicate mood, tempo etc.

I'm puzzled too by claims that earlier drafts of the script had been read, but once these things are written I guess they are certainly there for people to pick up and pass around. It's in the nature of the development process that changes - some of them pretty major - will occur, and that was most certainly true in this case. From the claims and comments on here, though, it's clear that if anything had been read at all then it's certainly been very early drafts, and I'm not going to waste anyone's time discussing that.

Neither I, the director or the producer are what could easily be called "Hampstead Luvvies". We didn't sit around at a dinner party and over the vol-au-vents cook this whole project up just to cash-in on anyone's memories, didn't set out to deliberately wind up some of the more prickly types out there, (although God knows, we seem to have done a hell of a job on that level). As a writer I was captivated by a time - the mid-1970's - that I genuinely thought had not been altogether best served by various productions, and a place, The Casino, which was a centre, (yes, I know - not the only one), of a working class / youth phenomenon that arguably has never been equalled before or since. All the people connected to the making of this film - and they are among the most creative and talented folk I've ever come across - worked tirelessly to ensure due respect was not only paid to the storyline and the characters, (as you'd expect), but also to the detail of the scene as it was and the legacy it's left behind. With the available time and budget, I don't believe we could've done more.

Soulboy's a film. A work of dramatic fiction. No marketing ploy yet devised could force anyone against their will into buying a ticket. If you did decide to go see it then hated it, that's your prerogative and I wouldn't argue your right to criticise; if on the other hand you went along and actually liked what you saw, then great: that's all we set out to do.

Sorry if this turned into an essay but as I said at the top, it's unlikely that I'll be repeating the exercise. I won't be drawn into any mud-slinging matches, and I don't want to give credence to uninformed insults driven by personal agendas. All I wanted, now that the film's out and been seen by enough people to have formed their own opinion on it, was to clear up a few points that have too long been left to go unchallenged. Whether or not it works...

Oh, and the film's doing very nicely, thanks, with way more people liking it than not and the DVD out early in the new year. Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?

Jeff Williams.

Jeff, that was very interesting and as you rightly state, not ALL of us where against the film, however I wish you'd have come on and said all this a couple of months ago, then maybe we could have avoided all the punch ups, slanging matches and verbal insults. Though on second thoughts, that's my favourite aspect of the site so never mind

Good of you to come on and clear it up though. I heard a rumour that the DVD was going to be out before the end of the year, obviously wrong.

[manus]

I might well live to regret this, but it's a one-time only posting and I really can't let go some of the comments i've seen posted on here about a certain script I wrote for the film that was Souled Out, but for various reasons was renamed Soulboy. Now that the film's safely out for all to see, I feel the time's right to admit how much I've been taken aback by the level of uninformed ill-feeling this thread was awash with from almost the first moment it appeared. While there were plenty of voices of reason, too often they seemed in danger of being SHOUTED DOWN by a chorus that felt almost orchestrated, pumped up and raging to a point that would've been almost comic if it hadn't been so intense. And as for the seemingly self-appointed Official Keeper Of The Flame and his alleged attempts to strangle the script apparently because he ordained it as being short of his own glittering standards... well, sadly there's nothing I can do to address that; I'm not a trained therapist.

The points then -

Souled Out, (as was), always had Northern Soul as an integral part of it. The music element was absolutely never simply "tacked on" as some kind of selling point. Originally commissioned back in 1999 for a youth theatre group in Bishop Auckland, I developed the script from that stageplay to deal with the more "adult" issues I felt would more accurately reflect the story, the times, and my overall ambitions for the piece. True, Russ Winstanley's book was the starting point for me, but funnily enough I did actually then do my research, seeking out and talking to more than a few people who'd been to Wigan back in the day, scouring my own memories of growing up in the 1970's, trying to recall what it felt like to be young not just in that decade but at any time. The character of Kim Weston did feature in earlier versions of the script, but copyright and licensing problems meant that particular thread of the story had to be discontinued. Because licensing deals still had to be struck, specific song titles didn't appear in earlier versions of the script other than as general guides / suggestions to indicate mood, tempo etc.

I'm puzzled too by claims that earlier drafts of the script had been read, but once these things are written I guess they are certainly there for people to pick up and pass around. It's in the nature of the development process that changes - some of them pretty major - will occur, and that was most certainly true in this case. From the claims and comments on here, though, it's clear that if anything had been read at all then it's certainly been very early drafts, and I'm not going to waste anyone's time discussing that.

Neither I, the director or the producer are what could easily be called "Hampstead Luvvies". We didn't sit around at a dinner party and over the vol-au-vents cook this whole project up just to cash-in on anyone's memories, didn't set out to deliberately wind up some of the more prickly types out there, (although God knows, we seem to have done a hell of a job on that level). As a writer I was captivated by a time - the mid-1970's - that I genuinely thought had not been altogether best served by various productions, and a place, The Casino, which was a centre, (yes, I know - not the only one), of a working class / youth phenomenon that arguably has never been equalled before or since. All the people connected to the making of this film - and they are among the most creative and talented folk I've ever come across - worked tirelessly to ensure due respect was not only paid to the storyline and the characters, (as you'd expect), but also to the detail of the scene as it was and the legacy it's left behind. With the available time and budget, I don't believe we could've done more.

Soulboy's a film. A work of dramatic fiction. No marketing ploy yet devised could force anyone against their will into buying a ticket. If you did decide to go see it then hated it, that's your prerogative and I wouldn't argue your right to criticise; if on the other hand you went along and actually liked what you saw, then great: that's all we set out to do.

Sorry if this turned into an essay but as I said at the top, it's unlikely that I'll be repeating the exercise. I won't be drawn into any mud-slinging matches, and I don't want to give credence to uninformed insults driven by personal agendas. All I wanted, now that the film's out and been seen by enough people to have formed their own opinion on it, was to clear up a few points that have too long been left to go unchallenged. Whether or not it works...

Oh, and the film's doing very nicely, thanks, with way more people liking it than not and the DVD out early in the new year. Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?

Jeff Williams.

Well done for putting it all together - It was a great night out.

Cheers

Manus

[Ontherun64]

Got our tickets for the premiere in Spain at the Gijon Film Festival next saturday!

[Guest SoulNinja]

Can't wait for the DVD so I'm off to see again tomorrow with me mate John; Shrewsbury this time, and it's sold out again!

Look out Kings Hall next month, we're on manoeuvres

Cheers

Jem

[Ontherun64]

Saw the film last night at the Gijon Film Festival (Spain) and I like it. It was in a theater that has about 1100 people of capacity. Probably about 1000 people in and at the end everybody clap their hands so I think that everybody was happy with the film. The film won best Enfants Terribles film in the festival yesterday that is a season for boys and girls that have more than 13 years and the jury are young people too. Director recorded some images in so you will see at the web in a few days...

Best wishes

[Little-stevie]

At long last i get to see the film.....

Not as easy to be objective as some maybe with my connection to another project in the past ( Function at the Junction ) but was looking forward to seeing this depite a lot of very mixed feedback from mates who took part in soulboy or got to see it on the big screen...

The plot line /script was without doubt weak, the final showdown was like putting my hand in a barrle of tits but i still come out sucking my thumb...

Use of too much original Wigan footage really does give me that feeling of a cup half full, it felt to me like a cop out, needing to prop up the dance scenes that lacked the va va voom that would could have made all the difference....

I have got to hear ideas from a script for a soul film that had the final showdown as a "Warriors" meets Saturday Night fever, a big climax that aimed to be the cherry on the cake and send the punters out on such a high that they would have been seeking the nearest Northern soul event with the adrenaline rushing through the body...

I have been waiting for 9 years for a film about what is to me is the greatest show on earth, not a 3rd rate circus thats short on quality acts and fails to give value for money.. Other bootlegged scenes from Function like the dj blowing dust off the records, a cheap shot will scream out to many after seeing both films..

3 of us ( all on the soul scene ) watched it hoping for a good film to drive home the real passion that makes people turn the passion for soul into the life long quest...

Where was the true passion, that feeling of walking on the moon for a few minutes while you took to the floor to music sent from the gods, they did try and get this point over but came up short..

All 3 of us have seen it, have no burning desire to watch it again, it would be like putting a record on the deck while already knowing its not gonna be a tune that takes you to that special place, why bother...Maybe it could be that record when first bought, it did not hit the spot but grew with time after several plays, not sure that could happen with this

Lots of reviews, many from friends and people i know, all posted their own take on this cinematic experience, some were well in favour and had a good experience, others got a cold cup of coffee...

Glad many enjoyed the film while others found it like pulling your teeth with pliers....

Its art and beauty is in the eye of the beholder... ... Its all our my own take on this, others will see it another way for sure.. More feedback the better in gaging reactions from this movie....

The next soul film will be out in 2011, comparisons are gonna be drawn without a doubt, could the next film capture all that was lacking in SoulBoy?? or could this film stand up strong against all other attemps to bring this thing we call Northern soul to big screen and capture the magic...

Time will tell...

I score this 4.5 the soundtrack had me tapping my feet and thinking of the times i have had on the dancefloor in the past to all them tunes, a good feeling of belonging to something we thought so pure..

It huffed and puffed but would never be able to blow my house down, it just removed a couple of tiles off the roof....

The use of old Wigan footage felt ike a cheap shot, a cop out to try and add some spice to a weak mixture....

The dj blowing the dust off the vinyl was a bootlegged copy from the Function at the Junction, lots of other scenes had me thinking " where have i seen this before"

Reviews.... Keep them coming.....

[Guest]

the final showdown was like putting my hand in a barrle of tits but i still come out sucking my thumb

Brilliant!

[Pete S]

So I finally watched the film.

After all that's been said about it, I was left with a feeling of....well nothing really.

It wasn't an hour and a half wasted but it's not one that I'll remember for long, I don't think anyone could call the film anything but "okay" to be honest, I enjoyed the dance footage (though I swear I saw two guys leap about 15 feet into the air in one shot) but I thought the scenes shot inside the allnighter suffered from there not being enough people in. The sub plot with his mate Paddy was half arsed as well. So I think I'll agree with Steve above, 4 or maybe 5, have to say I'm disappointed, though I really liked the brunette lead actress, she was 'right bonny'.

[Little-stevie]

So I finally watched the film.

After all that's been said about it, I was left with a feeling of....well nothing really.

It wasn't an hour and a half wasted but it's not one that I'll remember for long, I don't think anyone could call the film anything but "okay" to be honest, I enjoyed the dance footage (though I swear I saw two guys leap about 15 feet into the air in one shot) but I thought the scenes shot inside the allnighter suffered from there not being enough people in. The sub plot with his mate Paddy was half arsed as well. So I think I'll agree with Steve above, 4 or maybe 5, have to say I'm disappointed, though I really liked the brunette lead actress, she was 'right bonny'.

She was Pete and a good actress also i thought... She did put in a good performance.

[Reg Scott]

Seen it now, probably won't watch it again..

Just didn't set my pulse racing as I'd hoped.

The actors, in the main, did their best with the material - especially the female cast - but plot and particularly sub-plot had more holes than me mum's culinder.

Another OMG point was the fact that the lead character kept walking from or to Wigan from Stoke - now the billy might have been good but not that good.

And just to clarify, not everbody from Stoke lives in a pottery kiln ;-)

As for the dance off as the way two guys settle an argument over a girl and turf - please help me but I've never inhabited that particular planet.

IMO the clips from the Casino from the This is England documentary stuck out like a sore thumb in terms of authenticity - like Jessica Rabbit dancing with Bob Hoskins!

Apologies if a frank and honest opinion doesn't suit others but there you go - freedom of expression in action.

An average at best attempt at a coming of age story, whatever the backdrop, but a Quadrophenia for the Soul scene it's not.

[Guest soulmanvirgin]

I might well live to regret this, but it's a one-time only posting and I really can't let go some of the comments i've seen posted on here about a certain script I wrote for the film that was Souled Out, but for various reasons was renamed Soulboy. Now that the film's safely out for all to see, I feel the time's right to admit how much I've been taken aback by the level of uninformed ill-feeling this thread was awash with from almost the first moment it appeared. While there were plenty of voices of reason, too often they seemed in danger of being SHOUTED DOWN by a chorus that felt almost orchestrated, pumped up and raging to a point that would've been almost comic if it hadn't been so intense. And as for the seemingly self-appointed Official Keeper Of The Flame and his alleged attempts to strangle the script apparently because he ordained it as being short of his own glittering standards... well, sadly there's nothing I can do to address that; I'm not a trained therapist.

The points then -

Souled Out, (as was), always had Northern Soul as an integral part of it. The music element was absolutely never simply "tacked on" as some kind of selling point. Originally commissioned back in 1999 for a youth theatre group in Bishop Auckland, I developed the script from that stageplay to deal with the more "adult" issues I felt would more accurately reflect the story, the times, and my overall ambitions for the piece. True, Russ Winstanley's book was the starting point for me, but funnily enough I did actually then do my research, seeking out and talking to more than a few people who'd been to Wigan back in the day, scouring my own memories of growing up in the 1970's, trying to recall what it felt like to be young not just in that decade but at any time. The character of Kim Weston did feature in earlier versions of the script, but copyright and licensing problems meant that particular thread of the story had to be discontinued. Because licensing deals still had to be struck, specific song titles didn't appear in earlier versions of the script other than as general guides / suggestions to indicate mood, tempo etc.

I'm puzzled too by claims that earlier drafts of the script had been read, but once these things are written I guess they are certainly there for people to pick up and pass around. It's in the nature of the development process that changes - some of them pretty major - will occur, and that was most certainly true in this case. From the claims and comments on here, though, it's clear that if anything had been read at all then it's certainly been very early drafts, and I'm not going to waste anyone's time discussing that.

Neither I, the director or the producer are what could easily be called "Hampstead Luvvies". We didn't sit around at a dinner party and over the vol-au-vents cook this whole project up just to cash-in on anyone's memories, didn't set out to deliberately wind up some of the more prickly types out there, (although God knows, we seem to have done a hell of a job on that level). As a writer I was captivated by a time - the mid-1970's - that I genuinely thought had not been altogether best served by various productions, and a place, The Casino, which was a centre, (yes, I know - not the only one), of a working class / youth phenomenon that arguably has never been equalled before or since. All the people connected to the making of this film - and they are among the most creative and talented folk I've ever come across - worked tirelessly to ensure due respect was not only paid to the storyline and the characters, (as you'd expect), but also to the detail of the scene as it was and the legacy it's left behind. With the available time and budget, I don't believe we could've done more.

Soulboy's a film. A work of dramatic fiction. No marketing ploy yet devised could force anyone against their will into buying a ticket. If you did decide to go see it then hated it, that's your prerogative and I wouldn't argue your right to criticise; if on the other hand you went along and actually liked what you saw, then great: that's all we set out to do.

Sorry if this turned into an essay but as I said at the top, it's unlikely that I'll be repeating the exercise. I won't be drawn into any mud-slinging matches, and I don't want to give credence to uninformed insults driven by personal agendas. All I wanted, now that the film's out and been seen by enough people to have formed their own opinion on it, was to clear up a few points that have too long been left to go unchallenged. Whether or not it works...

Oh, and the film's doing very nicely, thanks, with way more people liking it than not and the DVD out early in the new year. Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?

Jeff Williams.

Hi Jeff, My girl and myself watched the " MOVIE " while attending the I,O,W Scooter rally. Enjoyed the viewing while sat with like minded folk.

We atteded some of the filming days as extra,s and had a ball. well done for your effort in getting this to the big screen.

Shane & Bev.

[Chalky]

Please no mention of free downloads and proper reviews only please, thanks

[Simsy]

I might well live to regret this, but it's a one-time only posting and I really can't let go some of the comments i've seen posted on here about a certain script I wrote for the film that was Souled Out, but for various reasons was renamed Soulboy. Now that the film's safely out for all to see, I feel the time's right to admit how much I've been taken aback by the level of uninformed ill-feeling this thread was awash with from almost the first moment it appeared. While there were plenty of voices of reason, too often they seemed in danger of being SHOUTED DOWN by a chorus that felt almost orchestrated, pumped up and raging to a point that would've been almost comic if it hadn't been so intense. And as for the seemingly self-appointed Official Keeper Of The Flame and his alleged attempts to strangle the script apparently because he ordained it as being short of his own glittering standards... well, sadly there's nothing I can do to address that; I'm not a trained therapist.

The points then -

Souled Out, (as was), always had Northern Soul as an integral part of it. The music element was absolutely never simply "tacked on" as some kind of selling point. Originally commissioned back in 1999 for a youth theatre group in Bishop Auckland, I developed the script from that stageplay to deal with the more "adult" issues I felt would more accurately reflect the story, the times, and my overall ambitions for the piece. True, Russ Winstanley's book was the starting point for me, but funnily enough I did actually then do my research, seeking out and talking to more than a few people who'd been to Wigan back in the day, scouring my own memories of growing up in the 1970's, trying to recall what it felt like to be young not just in that decade but at any time. The character of Kim Weston did feature in earlier versions of the script, but copyright and licensing problems meant that particular thread of the story had to be discontinued. Because licensing deals still had to be struck, specific song titles didn't appear in earlier versions of the script other than as general guides / suggestions to indicate mood, tempo etc.

I'm puzzled too by claims that earlier drafts of the script had been read, but once these things are written I guess they are certainly there for people to pick up and pass around. It's in the nature of the development process that changes - some of them pretty major - will occur, and that was most certainly true in this case. From the claims and comments on here, though, it's clear that if anything had been read at all then it's certainly been very early drafts, and I'm not going to waste anyone's time discussing that.

Neither I, the director or the producer are what could easily be called "Hampstead Luvvies". We didn't sit around at a dinner party and over the vol-au-vents cook this whole project up just to cash-in on anyone's memories, didn't set out to deliberately wind up some of the more prickly types out there, (although God knows, we seem to have done a hell of a job on that level). As a writer I was captivated by a time - the mid-1970's - that I genuinely thought had not been altogether best served by various productions, and a place, The Casino, which was a centre, (yes, I know - not the only one), of a working class / youth phenomenon that arguably has never been equalled before or since. All the people connected to the making of this film - and they are among the most creative and talented folk I've ever come across - worked tirelessly to ensure due respect was not only paid to the storyline and the characters, (as you'd expect), but also to the detail of the scene as it was and the legacy it's left behind. With the available time and budget, I don't believe we could've done more.

Soulboy's a film. A work of dramatic fiction. No marketing ploy yet devised could force anyone against their will into buying a ticket. If you did decide to go see it then hated it, that's your prerogative and I wouldn't argue your right to criticise; if on the other hand you went along and actually liked what you saw, then great: that's all we set out to do.

Sorry if this turned into an essay but as I said at the top, it's unlikely that I'll be repeating the exercise. I won't be drawn into any mud-slinging matches, and I don't want to give credence to uninformed insults driven by personal agendas. All I wanted, now that the film's out and been seen by enough people to have formed their own opinion on it, was to clear up a few points that have too long been left to go unchallenged. Whether or not it works...

Oh, and the film's doing very nicely, thanks, with way more people liking it than not and the DVD out early in the new year. Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?

Jeff Williams.

Thing is Jeff, you wrote the script, you know how picky these people can be and with enough cheese to keep Wotsits going through the after life, what did you expect?

That said I thought the script was pretty good and was surprised how many funnies there were in it.

[Ceejay]

Can't be bothered reading through ten pages of stuff to find out what other member's thought.

After seeing the trailer I thought I may enjoy it.................I was wrong.............thought the best bit was when the lass from the chippy went off with the Irish bloke.

Didn't think much of the dancing, the acting, the story...............and above all I didn't think that there was enough emphasis on the passion for the music!!!

At least he chose the right girl in the end though!!

Edited December 2, 2010 by jobbo

[Sharon Cooper]

Too much to read and too little time so, because the vote section asks for the rationale for the vote cast, here it is:

My son is in it and I saw him clearly about half a dozen times so that was nice for us!!

Overall the film was a touch of light entertainment with a bit of a love story built on the premis of the nostalgia which is the Northern Soul scene. Not the Wigan that me and Chris knew and loved but then nothing could ever bring that back and I dont think I want the weak copies that todays `Northern soulies` purport their venues to be. Some are a good try but they will never be good enough!!!

The film served to help pass an hour or so pleasantly enough: No need for an in depth critique because I dont think it was made for any other reason than to entertain; It did that for me so thats good enough!

Sharon

[Guest MickD]

I've given it 8 out of 10 as I believe it has ended up pretty much what it set out to be.

That is - a coming of age/right of passage/teenage angst film with a strong Wigan/Northern Soul theme running through it.

It has a low-budget feel but don't think that's a bad thing as it suits the era.

If there is nothing in here you can relate to - then you weren't inhabiting the same planet as me in the early 1970's.

See it.

MB

[Guest MickD]

Thing is Jeff, you wrote the script, you know how picky these people can be and with enough cheese to keep Wotsits going through the after life, what did you expect?

That said I thought the script was pretty good and was surprised how many funnies there were in it.

'Opinions are like assholes....everybody has one' (Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry). The NS scene has endured, having been both battled and torn for more than forty years now and given the spectrum of comments on this film, there's apparently no change there then. The film in question seeks in part to be a retrospective appreciation of 'the scene', to my mind it fails without question in that. For example, in my experience as a teenager the initial push and shove was the music fuelled further by the hitherto unprecendeted exciting travel across country, the extravagent 'style' to meet and greet similar minded people. It was in short 'a movement' of youthful working class culture rejecting at long last the closed bonds and boundaries of our forebears. 'All Nighters' in my recollection were never akin to the night clubs of the day; girls dancing around the handbags with the predatory lads, lager in hand looking for the in. The NS scene equalised the sexes which for me was a wonderful experience as I could and did engage freely in meaningful conversation with lovely girls of my own age group as 'friends found' to natter close with then gone and fine. This film falls well short in its reality and fails ultimately in any recognition of the fact that we on the scene were want to be simply left alone.

[Guest]

Finally, I've seen it! And I enjoyed it!

Perhaps I was in a better position than a lot of you never having been to Wigan but I got the feeling the 'feel' of the place shown on the film was way smaller than the real venue. It almost came over as a large working men's club at times but that didn't do anything to ruin the over all feel for me.

I thought it was sensitive to the era it portrayed but then again I wasn't sat there 'looking for time travel errors'. Not sure how but the delivery was quite 70s in it's feel for me as well.

I agree about the dance off. That was quite unnecessary, not brilliantly danced, but it kept a wry smile on my face wondering whether or not the director/producers were serious or just taking the piss.

I also agree with Steve Cato about the similarities between this movie and the Function At The Junction one that I saw at the Soho launch. That was a bit of cheap plagiarism at worst. Lazy at best.

The sound track was perfect for the film I thought. Another omission I would have left on the cutting room floor was the dialogue at the end with the grown-up's. That I feel made it look as though it was trying to portray fact rather than the fictitious teen flick it was meant to be surely.

And, finally, a happy ending

Lastly, an ice-lolly van at a soul night.... what a brilliant idea - way better than burger vans

Now the long wait until the next Movie is released

[Naughty Boy]

And, finally, a happy ending

Lastly, an ice-lolly van at a soul night.... what a brilliant idea - way better than burger vans

Well the Cleeethorpes pier nighters used to do a roaring trade of their ice sticks , :thumbsup: