This promotional film for Gateshead Borough Council shows three character exploring what is on offer in the town from arts and culture, nature and the environment and shopping and transportation links. Title: Gateshead England The opening view shows the legs of a man wearing waterproofs and strong walking boots as he stops literally at the feet of the ‘Angel of the North’ sculpture near Gateshead. A commentary is of the man who says he has returned home to Gateshead. The film shows the full...

This promotional film for Gateshead Borough Council shows three character exploring what is on offer in the town from arts and culture, nature and the environment and shopping and transportation links. Title: Gateshead England The opening view shows the legs of a man wearing waterproofs and strong walking boots as he stops literally at the feet of the ‘Angel of the North’ sculpture near Gateshead. A commentary is of the man who says he has returned home to Gateshead. The film shows the full view of the sculpture and the man walks further towards it. He provides a commentary which he describes his return as being a long absent son of Gateshead eager to know what changes have happened during his time away. The film cuts to a woman putting items out at the front of her house to be picked up by the refuse collection service. She agrees wholeheartedly of separating out household waste into that which can be recycled and the rest which cannot. The film shows ‘green waste’ being emptied from green bins into a collection vehicle. The same resident shows her at work on a lap top computer at home. In her commentary she explains she is on the viewpoint citizens panel which the council uses as part of consultation exercises. She is seen out in green spaces with her binoculars as she is a Friend of Chopwell woods, a group of volunteers who make the area more pleasant for visitors and safer for wildlife. The film shows two young fox cubs at play. A change of view as she stands in front of Gibside Chapel, which she calls another part of her ‘greener, cleaner, Gateshead’. The film goes on to show a young woman crossing a field, carrying a bucket of animal feed. She walks past cattle and sheep and explains that she helps on the community farm. She looks over a farm gate and feeds some geese on the other side. She distributes feed to a sow with a group of piglets. A she walks towards a triangular structure mounted on a metal frame; she says she also has an interest in wildlife. The mysterious structure mimics the cliffs that kittiwakes and other gulls use for nesting. A closer view shows the artificial ledges are well populated with nesting birds. The young woman then mentions the tall ships festival. The film shows a couple of masted craft making their way on the River Tyne. Followed by a closer view of ships at the quayside, one festooned with flags and pennants. She then walks along part of the Tyne called the Keelman’s Way, a 12.6 km trail that starts in Gateshead. The man seen earlier who has returned to Gateshead is next seen walking through Saltwell Park changes to a series of archival photographs featuring Saltwell Towers mansion showing how little the park has changed. Some colour still photographs show flower beds in full display. The returning wanderer then crosses a main road and heads for Gateshead’s Shipley Art Gallery. Inside he walks past an array of paintings showing ships and boats at sea. Another gallery shows portraits and a sculpture, another is devoted to a display of textiles in the form of decorative quilts. Other galleries show different forms of handicraft. The man goes past Gateshead Civic Centre, and he stops to study some of the items of public art on show in the town. He then heads for the quayside and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. He visits the current display of British Art in the former grain storehouse and is impressed by what he sees, and emphasises, that like the Shipley Art Gallery, entry is free. The film abruptly cuts back to the woman who gets involved in the community seen earlier. She stands on some open grassland bordered by an area of trees. In her commentary she asks the viewer to guess what occupied the plot where she stands. Old black and white photographs show an old coke works, which occupied the spot until 20 years previously, it is now Derwenthaugh country park near Blaydon The film shows a much greener scene with paths for walking and cycling. The woman stops to look over the river Derwent which runs through the park. Off camera she states that otters and rare birds are returning the area. A short piece of film shows conservationists releasing birds of prey in the form of red kites in the park, the first for 150 years. The film moves to a view of two swans on a lake. The woman stops on the riverbank to watch a fisherman. Old photographs show that it was once a large colliery with a huge smoking pit heap. It is now known as Watergate Forest Park which leads into the great North Forest. It also supports sports such as rugby and football. The commentary by the woman describes a piece of old colour film showing the Gateshead Flower Show in full swing. She heads to the entrance of the Red Mall at Gateshead Metro Centre, as she says it was also once an industrial wilderness. She wanders through the mall, looking into various shop windows. She then takes an express bus from the Metro Centre into the town centre. She then gets off at the Metro railway station and bus interchange. She then takes the electric bus down to the quayside. The young girl seen earlier is now at Gateshead International stadium. She runs towards the camera on part of the running track. An archive film clip briefly shows runners in the Great North Run which passes the stadium and ends at South Shields. A brief view of a model shows what proposed new extensions at the stadium will provide. She then heads for a Metro station and gets off at Gateshead and makes for the newly opened Sage concert venue. The film shows brief views of orchestra musicians playing. She finds a study centre where she listens to some music. The film goes back to the Gateshead man who is taking a lift down to ground level in the Baltic Centre, the then leaves the centre. The woman gets off the electric bus at the quayside and expresses how glad she to be living in Gateshead. The young girl’s thoughts are of her parents who would no doubt say that Gateshead has changed significantly. The three explorers sit on quayside steps as another commentator summarises the attractions of the new Gateshead over views over the quayside area during the day and into the evening. End title: Gateshead – Bringing Quality to Life