This student film produced by Alex Joyce of Newcastle University looks at the changes in the filmmakers home town of Consett, Co. Durham since the closure of the steel works and how it has affected her family. The film opens on an industrial chimney emitting dense pink tinged smoke. Title: Red Dust: The Story of Consett Steel A street of terraced houses, an industrial cooling tower can be seen in the distance. Title: In 1979 Thatcher announced the privatisation of British Steel A...

This student film produced by Alex Joyce of Newcastle University looks at the changes in the filmmakers home town of Consett, Co. Durham since the closure of the steel works and how it has affected her family. The film opens on an industrial chimney emitting dense pink tinged smoke. Title: Red Dust: The Story of Consett Steel A street of terraced houses, an industrial cooling tower can be seen in the distance. Title: In 1979 Thatcher announced the privatisation of British Steel A dramatic view of sparks from molten metal being processed. Title: This prompted the decline in heavy industry around the North East. A large steel vessel in a steelworks, possibly a ladle, changes to steel workers operating equipment. A public march along a street, accompanied by police officers. A banner is displayed which reads ‘Consett Crusade: Title: My Grandad David Joyce was one of those affected. A photograph of what appears to be a wedding group. Those in the photograph are identified by the appearance of ‘labels’ next to them Title: Leaving future generations of Joyce’s to choose between… Molten metal being poured, followed by an man sitting in a chair in front of a domestic fireplace reading a newspaper. Title: HOME Or WORK Over a commentary of the man reading, headlines in the newspaper. ‘No offer so BSC pulled plug’. The man folds up the newspaper changes to a crane using a large electromagnet to load a metal spoked wheel on to a lorry. A montage of a bulldozer at work moving scrap metal and flowing molten metal. Sitting in an easy chair a man speaks on camera. Title: David Joyce Alongside the commentary men at work in the steelworks. Three boys, one pushing a bicycle walk along a pavement in a suburban street, two young girls sit on or stand next to a garden wall as the boys pass by. David Joyce appears on camera again, explaining that despite the situation in Consett he has no plans to move elsewhere. A still photograph showing a young man in a cap and checked shirt. Title: Shaun Joyce The film cuts to a view of a packed labour conference. On stage behind the main officials, lettering on the back wall reads; ‘Labour 85’ The camera moves into the main speaker on stage, Labour leader Neil Kinnock followed by graffiti on a steel structure at the steelworks which reads ‘Stuff The Tories’. Neil Kinnock speaks at the Labour conference and family photographs next to some books. Someone working a laptop computer, surrounded by literature – books, pamphlets, articles covering the Consett steelworks closure. People going about their business in Consett town centre, in the distance structures and buildings associated with the steelworks. David Joyce continues his narrative over these images. He appears on camera again and continues over views of cars parked near terraced houses. A different street with cooling towers in the distance. A lorry travels past with men sitting on chairs on the flatbed behind the driver’s cab. David Joyce appears again on camera followed by a crane moving scrap metal with an electromagnet, a lorry then drives away with a full load of the scrap. A family photograph shows three young men posing for the camera. David Joyce talks about his relatives changes to a brick school building not far from the steelworks, some schoolchildren walk along a street towards the camera. The commentary outlines the shortage of jobs for school leavers. On camera David Joyce talks of his own personal circumstances following the Consett closure over views of the demolition of a concrete cooling tower. Title: I left Consett in 2017 for a better future… Title: But its people, history and politics will always be HOME. End credit: Written and Directed by Alex Joyce End credit: With special thanks to North East Film Archive, Consett & District Heritage Initiative.