This film was made by Darryl Johnson during his time as student at Leeds College of Art & Design.  Johnson uses published statistics about the City of Leeds as a counterpoint to another narrative which involves impressions of a cross section of the city’s people and their views on various aspects of life.  People of different ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic background all lend their voice to the film, and the interviews are intercut with images of the sped up hustle and bustle of...

This film was made by Darryl Johnson during his time as student at Leeds College of Art & Design.  Johnson uses published statistics about the City of Leeds as a counterpoint to another narrative which involves impressions of a cross section of the city’s people and their views on various aspects of life.  People of different ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic background all lend their voice to the film, and the interviews are intercut with images of the sped up hustle and bustle of Leeds and the juxtaposed slow-motion footage of a traditional Yorkshire brass band.  The film opens with external scenes of a factory and the cityscape of Leeds.  A brass band is seated, playing outside the town hall.  They are led by a conductor, and spectators have gathered.  This is followed alternating scenes of the industrial landscape and the brass band.   (All titles and credits are typed in real-time on a typewriter.) Title – Statis Quo by Darryl Johnson There is a series of different talking heads, men and women of different ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities.   Title – Fact:  There are 11,000 Commonwealth Immigrants in the City of Leeds. An Afro-Caribbean man talks about the changes in housing since his first arrived in the UK.  He thinks it’s easier now, and black and white communities are more open to each other.  This interview is intercut with people who have different views on the fact presented.  There are also shots of Leeds city centre. Title – Fact:  There are 20,067 persons between the ages of 15 and 19 in the City of Leeds. Sped up footage of a teenage disco is intercut with an interview from an entertainment promotor.   Title – Fact:  There are 3,110 persons unemployed in the City of Leeds. A man talks about his unemployment. Title – Fact:  There are 3,040 dwellings in the City with no hot water. External shots of the city – terraced street with a policeman on a horse and a young South Asian girl on the sidewalk.  Title – Fact:  There are 90,033 persons employed in the distribution and Civilian Services. Interviewees talk about the difference in between blue and white collar jobs as well as working as part of the police force. Title – Fact:  in 1968, 59 persons were convicted of assault on police officers. A policeman talks about urban crime.  There is a shot of a policeman directed traffic followed by a group of commuters waiting at the bus terminal.   Title – Fact:  Everyday 125,095 persons travel into the City of Leeds by public transport. There is a close up shot of a bus’s windows as it passes by.  Most of the passengers’ heads or faces can be seen as the bus goes by.  Interviewees talk about their work ethics.   Title – Fact:  In the first 20 weeks of 1969, 10,374 persons applied to emigrate to Australia. An older woman talks about moving from Leeds.  This is followed by fast scenes of the city centre and slow motion footage of the brass band. Title – Fact:  There are 60,097 private motor vehicles in the City of Leeds. A man and a teenage boy push a broken-down car in along a city street.   Title – Fact:  The total area of the City is 40,619 acres. Title – Fact:  There are 243,073 males resident in the City of Leeds. Title – Fact:  There are 260,091 females resident in the City of Leeds. Title – Fact:  The total population of the City of Leeds is 506,080. The film continues jump cutting between further facts about Leeds with sped up footage of the hustle and bustle of the city.  The sound of the typewriter remains as the soundtrack. Credits: Camera:  Ron Hurrell and Darryl Johnson Sound:  David Secker and Barry Spink A Leeds College of Art, Film and T.V. Production