About
RUDEBOY is a film about the origins and ongoing love affair between Jamaican and British Youth culture. A film that explores the power of music to break down cultural barriers and change lives and the eventual birth of a modern multicultural society – all told through the prism of one the most iconic record labels in history, TROJAN RECORDS. Combining archive footage, freshly shot interviews and drama – RUDEBOY tells the story of Trojan Records by placing it at the heart of a cultural revolution that unfolded in the council estates and shanty towns of the late 60’s and 70’s. The film begins in the 1950’s, as Jamaica is slowly transitioning to its eventual independence in 1962. We meet Duke Reid and his legendary Trojan sound system and explore the social and cultural conditions that give rise to the birth of the rude boy, the emergence of sound-system culture and the rise of the distinctive Jamaican sound ska. In Act 2 we land in Britain in the 60’s and look at the Jamaican immigrants’ experience through the eyes of a young Dandy Livingstone. We meet first generation Windrush immigrant Lee Gopthal and witness the birth of Trojan Records while Enoch Powell is giving his Rivers Of Blood speech. There is a growing market for imported ska and new rock steady sounds that Trojan records tap into. Act 3 tells a story of how working-class youth discover the sounds of ska and rock steady and the most the important subculture in modern British history is born, the Trojan Skinhead. A new sound Reggae emerges. Black and white unite on dancefloors as we build up to the landmark for underground skinhead culture and the ‘Spirit of 69’. From 1969 – 1973 Trojan becomes the most important Jamaican label in the world and is at the peak of its powers. The Tighten Up compilation series, spreads the Trojan word to the masses. The label begins releasing almost everything that is sent in as the volume of output becomes incredible. A new gold rush ensues with producers rushing over from Jamaica selling records to Trojan Desmond Dekker emerges as the first star of the underground scene. ‘Double Barrel’ by Dave and Ansel Collins give Trojan their first number 1 hit single. Ken Boothe inspires the lovers rock sound with Trojans second number 1 ‘Everything I Own’. Pop Reggae is born and Black identity and pride builds around these records as a new confident identity is cemented. But the good times can’t last forever as in 1975 the label over extends itself and folds. But the impact of Trojan records lives on, through the 70’s right up to the present day. Jamaican youth culture has flourished and is everywhere you look – it spawned 2Tone, the Notting Hill Carnival, Sound systems, the seeds of the Hip Hop revolution, club culture. The cultural impact of Trojan records has shaped the world we live in.
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Credits
Nick Davies
Nicolas Jack Davies is a natural storyteller with a reputation for highly cinematic, innovative and emotive work across film, television, commercials and music videos.
Earning a nomination for ‘Best Music Film’ at the Grammy Awards in 2014 for THE ROAD TO RED ROCKS. The same year he filmed and directed his first long form documentary for Channel 4 television – the Grierson shortlisted PAYDAY – to much critical acclaim.
2017 saw him developing and Executive Producing an award-winning US series adaptation of his own PAYDAY documentary for Viceland. Making a return to music as a director for Sky Arts on the landmark ROCK AND ROLL series. And beginning his first documentary feature as a solo director - RUDEBOY which is a unique look at the beginnings of multi-cultural Britain in the 1960s and 70s through the prism of Trojan Records and Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae music.
Jonas Mortensen
Born in Denmark, DOP Jonas Mortensen has been based in London for over 20 years. He has shot documentaries for cinema and TV, shorts, art films and numerous commercials and music videos. Jonas recently filmed Paul Dugdale’s feature doc The Rolling Stones: A Trip Across Latin America and completed his first feature drama Second Spring directed by Andy Kelleher. Other feature documentaries include We Went To War for the late director Michael Grigsby, the Ch4 film When Björk Met Attenborough and recently several episodes for the 10 part Sky Arts music series Rock and Roll.
This year Jonas received a BAFTA for the short film Cowboy Dave, which he shot and produced.
Chris Duveen
Chris began his career in observational documentaries building a solid grounding in storytelling. He has cut films and tv series for the major UK and US channels including Channel 4, BBC, Sky and Netflix.
After cutting his first feature documentary on iconic 80’s band Spandau Ballet, ‘Soul Boys of the Western World’ Chris rekindled a passion for editing music documentaries and has gone on to cut the Sky series ‘Rock and Roll’ as well as latest feature documentary ‘Rudeboy: The Story of Trojan Records’.
Pulse Films
Pulse Films is an award-winning, next generation studio encompassing the development, production, financing and distribution of content across all platforms and for audiences worldwide.
The studio was founded by Thomas Benski and Marisa Clifford in 2005, and is headquartered in London with outposts in Los Angeles, New York, Paris and Berlin. Dedicated to creating moments of culture through innovative storytelling, Pulse Films operates globally under the following divisions: Fiction, Non-Fiction and Commercials & Music Videos.
Full Credits
RUDEBOY THE STORY OF TROJAN RECORDS MAIN END CREDITS CARDS Directed By NICOLAS JACK DAVIES
Produced By SAM BRIDGER VIVIENNE PERRY
Director of Photography JONAS MORTENSEN
Edited By CHRIS DUVEEN
Executive Producers THOMAS BENSKI MARISA CLIFFORD BRIAN LEVY
Executive Producers JUSTUS HAERDER KATHY RIVKIN DAUM
ROLLING CREDITS SVP Production & Operations CLAIRE WINGATE Line Producer ISABEL DAVIS Production Manager LAURA LAWRENCE Drama Producer JOHN BANNISTER Archive Producer JEANNIE CLARK Music Supervisor VICKI WILLIAMS Casting By KHARMEL COCHRANE Casting Associate JOELLE COCHRANE Sound STEPHEN HODGE Additional Sound DAVID LINDSAY Additional Photography WILL PUGH 1st Assistant Director TRISTAN MCILWHAM HEFELE 2nd Assistant Director CHARLIE HAVORD 3rd Assistant Director JOE MULVIHILL Production Coordinator MARTHA NANSERA Production Assistants LEWIS HARRISON JOE SOFTLEY TOM DAVIES Focus Puller FRAN WESTON CHRIS RANDAK Assistant Camera LOUIS SPANSWICK-O’BRIEN MITCH COLLINS ASHLEY HICKS ANIA BAHADRIAN Gaffer JOHN BURKE Electricians NEIL BLACKMAN STEVE BLYTHE ROBERT STEWART Art Director SCARLETT CLIFFORD Set Decorator ALICE WIGGLEY Stand By NICHOLAS HANCOCK Assistant Set Dresser MAX RANDALL Assistant Props BEN PEARSON Art Dept Assistant WILLIAM GRIFFIN Costume Designer NATALIE WILLIS Costume Assistants IRIS BÉLANGER NOËL MARIANNA BOURMPOULA Hair & Make Up Artist JOJO COPEMAN HMU Assistant DONNA-MARIE FIELD Medic MARK YOUNG Security KERRI MCCANN Post Production Facilities HALO DI Producer MARIE VALENTINO Supervising Sound Editor JAY PRICE Dialogue Editor SIMON HILL Sound Editor STEVE BEREZAI Re-recording Mixer JOHN ROGERSON Colourist ROSS BAKER STUART FYVIE Flame Artist MARK CHAPMAN DI Assistant CHRISTOPHER FRANKLAND
JAMAICA UNIT Fixer TANYA E. TAYLOR Locations Manager COLIN SMIKLE 1st Assistant Director ALEX MOORE Sound SHELDON TURNBULL Camera Assistants WAYNE JONES ALEXANDER DELAPENHA Electrician CHRIS DILWORTH Grip KADRI SAMUELS Wardrobe Stylist FIDGE FLETCHER Hair & Make Up Artist EMILY NEWLAND Art Director NICOLE MARSH Art Assistants ROLANDO ALLEN TAFAWA RUSSELL Armourer CAPT. ROBERT HIBBERT Production Assistant JEFF CROSSLEY Production Insurance JLT SPECIALTY LIMITED
CAST (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) AJ MACGILLIVRAY ANDRE DWAYNE BERTIE COX CHEEKO MUIR DAN GREEST INDI CONTI JEFF CROSSLEY JEMEIL ‘G MILLZ’ SIMPSON JERMAINE NWOSU JOEL OAWONG ELLIS JORDAN AJADI JOSSHUAN DALEY KATHARINE A JOHNSON KYLE BELL MATTHEW JACOBS MORGAN MICHAEL BOOTHE MICHAEL WARD NOBUSE JUNIOR PAUL BOWEN PHILIPS NORTEY SALLY HORWELL SONG HUNG CHANG TRE WILLIAMS Archive (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) AP ARCHIVE AP ARCHIVE / BRITISH MOVIETONE BBC MOTION GALLERY / GETTY IMAGES BFI NATIONAL ARCHIVE/COI BLUE RAINCOAT MUSIC / AWAL RECORDINGS BRITISH PATHÉ CRITICAL PAST GETTY IMAGES HARCOURT FILMS LTD INSTITUT NATIONAL DE L’AUDIOVISUEL ISLAND RECORDS / UNIVERSAL MUSIC OPERATIONS LTD ITN / GETTY IMAGES ITV ARCHIVE KINOLIBRARY NASA REELIN’ IN THE YEARS PRODUCTIONS SCREENOCEAN / REUTERS SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT UK LTD STUDIO HAMBURG ENTERPRISES VIRGIN RECORDS / UNIVERSAL MUSIC OPERATIONS LTD
MUSIC Let the Good Times Roll Performed by Shirley & Lee Written By Shirley Goodman & Leonard Lee Published by BMG Rights Management UK Ltd, a BMG company, EMI Unart Catalog Inc & Universal Music Publishing Ltd Courtesy of Capitol Records LLC. Under licence from Universal Music Operations Ltd No More Doggin’ Performed by Rosco Gordon Written by Jules Bihari & Rosco Gordon Published by Universal Music Publishing MGB Ltd Courtesy of Ace Copyrights Ltd Caldonia (What Makes Your Big Head Hard?) Performed by Louis Jordan Written By Fleecie Moore Published by Cherio-Music Inc (NS) all rights administered by Chappell Morris Ltd Courtesy of Verve Records Under licence from Universal Music Operations Ltd Lover Boy Performed by Derrick Morgan Written by Derrick Morgan & Arthur Stanley Reid Published by Westbury Music Ltd & Jack Russell Music Ltd Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Carry Go Bring Home Performed by Justin Hinds Written by Justin Hinds Published by Blue Mountain Music Ltd adminstered by Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd Courtesy of Trojan Records., a BMG Company Blazing Fire Performed by Derrick Morgan Written by Derrick Seymour Morgan Published by Universal Music Publishing Ltd. My Boy Lollipop Performed by Millie Small Written by Johnny Roberts & Morris Levy Published by EMI Longitude Music Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Courtesy of Island Records Under licence from Universal Music Operations Ltd No Good Rudie Performed by Justin Hinds & The Dominoes Written by Justin Hinds Published by New Town Sound Ltd Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Tougher than Tough Performed by Derrick Morgan Written by Derrick Seymour Morgan Published by Universal Music Publishing Ltd. Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Rudy, a Message to You Performed by Dandy Livingstone Written by Robert Thompson Published by Carlin Music Corp. Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company 54-56 Was My Number Performed by The Maytals Written by Frederick Hibbert Published by Universal Music Publishing Ltd. Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Seven Letters Performed by Derrick Morgan Written by Derrick Morgan Published by New Town Sound Ltd Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Reggae in your Jeggae Performed by Dandy Livingstone Written by Mulby Robert Thompson Published by Chester Music Ltd trading as Sparta Florida Music Group Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Ali Baba Performed by John Holt Written by John Holt Published by Chester Music Ltd trading as Sparta Florida Music Group Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Shanty Town (007) Performed by Desmond Dekker & The Aces Written by Desmond Dekker Published by Universal/Island Music Ltd. Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Liquidator Performed by Harry J All Stars Written by Harry Zephaniah Johnson Published by Westbury Music Ltd Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Moon Hop Performed by Derrick Morgan Written by Derrick Morgan, Roy Ellis & Monty Neysmith Published by New Town Sound Ltd & B&C Music Publishing Inc. Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Tighten Up Performed by The Untouchables Written by Derrick Harriott & Rainford Hugh Perry Published by Westbury Music Ltd & Third Side Music o/b/o Jamrec Music Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Return of Django Performed by The Upsetters Written by Lee Perry Published by B&C Music Publishing Ltd Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Long Shot (Kick The Bucket) Performed by The Pioneers Written by Loren Robinson, Sydney Crooks & George Agard Published by Blue Mountain Music Ltd administered by Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Israelites Performed by Desmond Dekker & The Aces Written by Desmond Dacres and Leslie Kong Published by Universal/Island Music Ltd. & Chester Music Ltd trading as Sparta Florida Music Group Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Monkey Man Performed by The Maytals Written by Frederick Hibbert Published by Universal Music Publishing Ltd Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Wonderful World, Beautiful People Performed by Jimmy Cliff Written by Jimmy Cliff Published by Universal/Island Music Ltd. Courtesy of Island Records Under licence from Universal Music Operations Ltd To Be Young, Gifted & Black Performed by Bob & Marcia Written by Nina Simone & Weldon Irvine Published by EMI Grove Park Music Inc/Ninandy Music courtesy of the Nina Simone Charitable Trust and Steven Ames Brown Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Revenge of Clint Eastwood Performed by The Pyramids aka Symarip Written by Rupie Edwards Published by Rupie Edwards Musi Double Barrel Performed by Dave & Ansel Collins Written by Dave Barker, Ansell Collins & Winston Riley, Published by Greensleeves Publishing Ltd o/b/o Dub Plate Music Publishers Ltd, Maxwood Music Ltd, St James Music Publishing Ltd (a division of Prestige-Elite Records Ltd) & Westbury Music Ltd Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company You Can Get It If You Really Want It Performed by Desmond Dekker Written by Jimmy Cliff Published by Universal/Island Music Ltd. Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Let Your Yeah be Yeah Performed by The Pioneers Written by Jimmy Cliff Published by Univeral/Island Music Ltd. Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Everything I Own Performed by Ken Boothe Written by David Gates Published by Sony/ATV Tunes LLC Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Pressure Drop Performed by The Maytals Written by Frederick Hibbert Published by Universal Music Publishing Ltd. Courtesy of Trojan Records, a BMG Company Composed Music By STUART LITTLE
Special Thanks (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) ALEXI CORY-SMITH BERYL GOPTHAL DAVE STEWART DIDIER DEHAUTEUR JAMES MEADOWS JEFF CHRISTIAN JIM FLYNN KAMI NAGHDI LAURENCE CANE-HONEYSETT MARTIN GOPTHAL MAX NORLIN MICHAEL KACHKO PETER STACK STEVE BARROW STEVE BUNYAN THE JAMAICA FILM COMMISSION VALERIE HAINES WILL KENNEDY FILMED ON LOCATION IN UK & JAMAICA
Gallery
Photo credit: Jonas Mortensen
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REVIEWS
Set The Tape ‘Rude Boy’ Review
Ending my sixth day of this year’s Festival on an inarguable high note was the world premiere of Rudeboy: The Story of Trojan Records, Pulse Films and director Nicolas Jack Davies’ documentary about the groundbreaking British record label that brought Ska and Reggae...
BBC News Covers The Premiere Of Rudeboy: the Story of Trojan Records
‘The Story of Trojan Records’ ‘Rudeboy’ Review
Premiering at the 62nd BFI London Film Festival, Rudeboy: The Story of Trojan Records documents the emerging and ongoing love affair between Jamaican music and British youth culture. Produced by BMG and Pulse Films, the film follows the inception of one of the most...
Rudeboy: The Story Of Trojan Records Trailer Rocks Steady
Ska musicians have been rocking steady for half a century. The small Jamaican record label that started it all is celebrating their 50th anniversary with the documentary film Rudeboy: The Story Of Trojan Records and how Jamaican music paved the way for a modern...
‘Groundbreaking’ ‘Rudeboy’ Little White Lies Review
Despite its influence on the emerging multi-cultural Britain of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Trojan has always played second fiddle to its more famous cousin, Island Records. Perhaps that’s inevitable, given Island’s enviable roster of stars – Bob Marley being its...