arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

The Democracy of the Streets

RICK ROWLEY and JACQUI SOOHAN shot, edited and produced This is What Democracy Looks Like. This is an inspiring film about the protests against the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Seattle in 1999.
On the first anniversary of the protests the film was shown in 50 cities in 5 continents.
The film, along with footage from the recent Genoa protests, will be shown across Britain later this year.
Socialist Worker spoke to Rick and Jacqui.

WHY DID YOU MAKE THE FILM?

Rick:
Because we believe in our movement. The state has the military, the political system and jail. We have our voice.
We started touring with a radical documentary I had done about the Mexican group the Zapatistas.
I spent over 2 years travelling back and forth between the US and Chiapas, the Zapatistas' home state. It was a transformatory experience.
During our tour we heard about the protest up in Seattle and thought, why don't we go up there?
In Seattle we had 27 screenings in a week. They were some of the best screenings we'd had. The energy in the city was unbelievable.
We hooked up with some independent film-makers and decided to shoot some footage of the protests, which outpaced our expectations.

Jacqui:
This is What Democracy Looks Like is the narrative account of what happened. It takes you through the week.

WHERE DO YOU WANT THE FILM TO BE SHOWN?

Rick:
We tried to get it shown on traditional places like TV and corporate film places but it was rejected.
We then took the film on tour. This is an increasingly powerful way to distribute our media.
This is What Democracy Looks Like was shown on national TV in Canada and the response we got from the screening was smaller than it is showing to 200 people in Nova Scotia in Canada.
It is less powerful to see a film on your own with the advert breaks than with 500 people.
The best screenings we've had of the film were in Seattle itself, where we showed it six times over two days.
People showed up with their signs and costumes from the protests, shouted back at the film, cried, chanted the chants.
This has been replicated all over the place - people really feel the film.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE FILM IN THE ANTI-CAPITALIST MOVEMENT?

Rick:
We are activists using cameras. The video that grows out of big actions is a way of amplifying the voice of the movement to the public who can't see it.

Jacqui:
Video is a powerful way to organise people. It's not just coverage of protest, it is the continuation of protest itself.
This is What Democracy Looks Like is a collective film. It is made from the footage of over 100 people, plus music and photographs from others.
All of those people gave the footage for no profit. There was a free sharing of skills, experience and equipment. We are working in the movement for the movement.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PROSPECTS FOR THE MOVEMENT AFTER GENOA?

Rick:
Genoa was a turning point of some kind. You couldn't be on the streets without feeling tectonic plates moving.
Jacqui:
Every protest shows our strength - that we are continuing to win.
The IMF and the World Bank have scaled back their meeting in Washington at the end of September. The G8 are running into the Rocky Mountains in Canada. The World Bank had to cancel its meeting in Barcelona.
These are all victories. People are very energised in the US, infuriated by the state's violence in Genoa and heartened by the people's bravery, strength and joy.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
Rick:
The main thing is a film about resistance to corporate globalisation, North and South.
It will have footage of the Zapatistas in Mexico, landless peasants in Brazil, farmers burning GM crops in India, along with Quebec and other protests.

For more information about Rick and Jacqui's work go to http://www.bignoise films.com
For information about the film tour in the UK phone 020 8980 3005