A female-driven deaf drama written and directed by Linda K Clarke and produced alongside other deaf students at the North East Media Training Centre (NEMTC). Set in 1984 the film follows three women who are protestors outside Greenham Common airbase against it being used as a storage location for cruise missiles. During their time at the Women’s Pease Camp, they strike up a conversation with a soldier inside the base patrolling the perimeter. Archive footage of protestors taking part in an...

A female-driven deaf drama written and directed by Linda K Clarke and produced alongside other deaf students at the North East Media Training Centre (NEMTC). Set in 1984 the film follows three women who are protestors outside Greenham Common airbase against it being used as a storage location for cruise missiles. During their time at the Women’s Pease Camp, they strike up a conversation with a soldier inside the base patrolling the perimeter. Archive footage of protestors taking part in an anti-nuclear match and of tents erected around the perimeter fence of Greenham Common in Berkshire. Title: The Fence was built on common ground in Greenham in 1980 They wanted to draw attention to the arrival of the cruise missiles and show their objections to war, bombs and male power Over more archive of the protest camps at Greenham Common are intercut with the opening credits and the actors posing as their characters. Credit: Written/Directed Linda K Clarke Caroline Parker as Susan Martin Lorraine Coker as Carol Clarke Nina Sleightholme as Tina Huyton David Milligan as Solider Title: Greenham Fence Susan, Carol, and Tina sit around a fire drinking cans of beer. Tina is wearing a blonde wig while Susan has on a crown and ceremonial sash. Tina gets to her feet and as she begins a story about the Newbury witches the film changes to her transformed into a witch with a crooked nose and pointed hat paddling across a river using her broomstick. Walking along the riverbank a solider dressed in a 17th century costume who sees the witch on the water. As she climbs onto the riverbank the solder pulls gun and fires it several times, but this only causes the witch to laugh. He takes out his rapier and cuts her across the forehead causing her to fall to ground apparently dead. Returning to the present Tina returns to join her friends around the campfire. They have a discussion about witch burning with Carol comparing what happened to women in the 17th century with a friend of hers Julie. A woman, Julie, standing in cell and lights a match watching it burn with a smile. Smoke comes under a door and alarm begins to ring. A woman races a long a corridor and into an office where she tells the man sitting there that Julie is dead. Placing his head into his hands he shakes he head despondently. The following morning the women wake in their tents, Carol and Tina talk about the challenges of getting up while Susan complains about having a hangover. Tina gets up and after putting on her blond wig leaves. Using a mirror Susan puts on her crown and sash after which she talks to herself in the mirror. Carol and Susan fall out of their tent while nearby a soldier patrols the perimeter of a metal fence. He looks on confusingly as Susan and Tina play about with Tina throwing her blond wig into a bin. Joined by Carol, they laugh in solidarity as Susan removes her bra and also throws it into the bin. Tina removes her shoes and also throws them into the bin. Carol takes out a chocolate bar and begins eating it in front of Tina teasing her. She tries to get her to stop by saying she’s trying to lose weight, but Susan comes over and takes a bite with the two of them now teasing Tina much to her annoyance. The soldier walks past again as the three women sit around the campfire. As Susan makes tea Tina, who can hear with hearing aids, goes over to the tent and turns on a television to watch the news. More archive footage of women working together to cut down a wire fence at Greenham Common and another woman being interviewed. Tina translates what the woman is saying, she is campaigning to stop nuclear bombs and to close all the [military] bases in England. More archive this time of the police patrolling and speaking with a protestor with Tina explains that the police had made arrests. More archive material this time of Berlin, Germany and the Nazi regime during World War Two. Tina turns of the television, takes out her hearing aids and throws them away before returning to sit around the fire. She then walks over to the bin, takes out her wig and puts it on her head again. She asks her friends what are they going to do to stop a nuclear war or nuclear waste? Both Susan and Carol mock Tina’s questions with Susan pretending to be a local reporter wanting to know why she was there. Carol gets up and after dropping some wood beside Tina walks over and leans against the fence. With all three women again sitting around the fire the soldier walks past. Carol asks him if he is cold warming herself on the fire. He walks over to the fence, and they all argue about why each of them is there and what life would be like without soldiers. Unable to see each other point-of-view the solider leaves. Carol becomes angry with her friends for being apathetic. She places a plastic bucket on her head and walks about like a solider with both Tina and Susan laughing. As Susan explains that she prefers the company of women over men, Carol returns handing her the bucket. Both Carol and Tina attempt to get Susan to go fill the bucket with water, buy she refuses believing she is being oppressed. She gets up and heads into the tent. That night with the campfire still burning Carol and Tina return with the bucket now full of water. Climbing into the tent they wake the sleeping Susan by waving a Garfield soft toy in her face. The three women come out of the tent and the film comes to an end with them performing a song and dance routine around the campfire about their friendship. Credit: Production Manager Rachael Hayes Production Assistant Richard King Camera Person Rajit Singh Assistant Camera Alan Marsden Lighting Ian Carpenter Sound Wayne Adams Editor Richard King Assistant Editor Jes Benstock Titles/Subtitles Ranjit Singh Make-up Effects Wayne Adams Sound FX Wayne Adams, Richard King Sound Dubbing David Maughan Interpreter Annie Brotherton, Robbie Grieve, Vicky Crawley, Pauline Coldwell Title: Special thanks to Sue Underwood and Jes Benstock! End title: NEMTC © 1994