Fishing Industry
Nick Hedges
Photographic
A documentation of the North Shields fishing industry, developed in 1979, as Amber Films was working on Tom Hadaway's fish quay drama The Filleting Machine.
The Filleting Machine (1981)
Amber Films
Tom Hadaway
The Filleting Machine (1981)
Amber Films |
Tom Hadaway
Amber Film's first drama, The Filleting Machine is an adaptation of Tom Hadaway's play of the same name. It explores the tensions within a working-class family in a North Sheild's fishing community at the end of the 1970s.
- Film and Video
- Communities
- Coastal Locations
- Northern Documentary
- Politics & Struggles
- UK Documentary
- Work & Unemployment
- 1980 – 1989
- Tyne & Wear
- UK
Amber, 45 mins, 1981
The Filleting Machine is a 1981 film adaptation of Tom Hadaway's play of the same name, produced by Amber Films. Set in North Shields, the narrative explores the tensions within a working-class family as they navigate conflicting aspirations and the challenges posed by economic uncertainties. The plot centres on 15-year-old Davy, who faces pressure from his parents regarding his career path: his mother ("Ma") aspires for him to secure an office job, while his father ("Da") wishes for him to continue the family tradition in the fish filleting industry.
The film authentically portrays the working-class environment of the North East, reflecting the community's camaraderie and hardships. Amber Films' commitment to social realism is evident, providing a genuine depiction of the era's socio-economic conditions.
Located in North Shields’ Ridges Estate (later renamed Meadow Well) The Filleting Machine represents Amber’s first drama.
Hadaway had a close relationship with Amber, writing the screenplays for Seacoal, 1985, and In Fading Light, 1989, as well as episodes for some of Shields Stories,1988. The Filleting Machine was written for Amber in the 1970s, along with The Pigeon Man. Both were adapted for the stage, Murray Martin producing and directing tours of working men’s clubs with Live Theatre, the Newcastle-based company that was associated with Amber at the time.
Channel 4 purchased the film in 1982, when when Amber’s Workshop franchise began, commissioning a contextualising programme that would also demonstrate the group’s integrated practice. Engaged with the community, whilst Amber was making the film, Side commissioned Nick Hedges to document the North Shields fishing industry through photography.
The Filleting Machine serves as a significant cultural artefact, preserving the history and experiences of the North Shields fishing industry. It stands as a testament to the region's heritage and the enduring spirit of its people.
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Related Works
In Fading Light (1989)
Amber Films | Tom Hadaway
Film and Video
Written by local writer Tom Hadaway, this feature drama explores interpersonal drama and resilience in the declining North Shields fishing industry.
