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Every Image Has A Story
by Donna Clarke
Every piece of archival footage has the potential for reuse. Some clips have more potential than others simply because they are pieces of a large, important historical puzzle. A piece of footage can be used so many times that the story becomes familiar not only to researchers, producers and filmmakers, but to audiences as well. But what about the clips that people rarely see. The undiscovered clip. The forgotten clip. The obscure clip. The little slice of history that was filmed, developed and edited, but later shelved, or worse, lost in the middle of a compilation reel. These can be some of the most interesting pieces of historical film because they can reveal a forgotten, or untold story.
Imagine you are screening archival footage of World War II. It's familiar, usable footage. Then the scene changes to a wide shot of water, with huts on top of four pilings, like a pier, but with no land in sight. This is not familiar footage. The shot cuts to a clip of men in uniforms, playing a game on the floor. Obviously soldiers taking a break, trying to relax. The huts appear to be made of metal. Gun turrets are shown. Small armed forts. Your interest is piqued! You begin to research the clip. Simple questions must be answered before the clip can be logged, key worded and categorized. Where was this shot? Who are the soldiers in the shot? What is the story behind the shot?
Research reveals that the British built forts in the Thames Estuary during World War II. These forts were used to protect the costal sea lanes and London from enemy aircraft and shipping attacks. The forts contained new radar equipment for early warnings, anti-aircraft guns for protection, and a large searchlight for U-Boat or mine-laying ship detection. There were two types of forts constructed - four by the British Navy and three closer to shore by the British Army. The Navy forts were supported by two hollow concrete legs containing seven decks. They housed 100 men, food, fuel and ammunition. The steel gun platform on the top of the structure also held the control tower and the radar equipment. The Army forts were 100 feet above sea level and built on four concrete lets supporting a steel structure. These complexes contained seven towers: a control tower, five gun towers, and the searchlight tower. All were connected by catwalks.
After the war, the forts were abandoned by the British government. This could have been the end of the story; instead it was the beginning of several interesting new ones. In 1967, one of the Army forts was taken over and refurbished by a British family who declared the island a sovereign nation, officially forming a country - The Island of Sealand. This tiny state, just 6,000 square feet, having survived a kidnapping attempt on a member of its ruling family, and an armed takeover by German nationals recently celebrated its 35th anniversary. The fates of the other structures have their own equally compelling stories including: murder, demolition, renegade radio stations and celebrity ownership.
Through careful research of an obscure film clip, a bit of history was uncovered. The clip has been logged, keyworded and categorized in the hope that one day, someone will be able to tell the complete story.
The Sealand story can be accessed at www.sealandgov.com.
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