Filming on the 60's underground documentary continues.

We have once again enjoyed the distinct honour of working on forthcoming documentary Hoppy: Underground Head.  This month Carney has had the privilege of meeting more of the 1960's visionary friends: Adam Ritchie, Mike "Mouse" Laslett and Ralph Stephenson in London.

Adam Ritchie moved to New York in 1962 and is possibly best known for his arresting photos of The Velvet Underground over the period when they first started to gain notoriety.  He also captured behind the scenes stills during the production of Venus In Furs.  Early photos of the band were taken almost exclusively by Adam Ritchie and Lisa Law.  Ritchie returned to London in 1966 and ran straight to Hoppy and Joe Boyd's UFO Club.  Here he took photos of Pink Floyd's earliest performances and forged a friendship with Hoppy.

Mike "Mouse" Laslett met Hoppy through his mother Rhaune Laslett and the two later worked together on many projects.  Regarded by many as the founder of the Notting Hill Carnival, Rhaune became president of the London Free School, organised by a group of local activists, including emerging artists of the area, notably, the late photographer and activist John ‘Hoppy’ Hopkins. The aims of the school were to promote cooperation and understanding between people of various races and creeds through education and through working together.

Ralph Stevenson worked with Hoppy and Sue Hall at Fantasy Factory, a facility that revolutionised lowtech video editing, bringing it within reach of community activists and independent directors. UNESCO funded Fantasy Factory’s educational package and distributed it widely in the developing world.

Malcolm Boyle and Carl Stickley were approached by Hoppy to film a full biographical interview with him.  The interviews conducted with Hoppy and his contemporaries yielded fascinating, funny and shocking stories about the Sixties underground scene and alternative culture, inspiring the production of this exciting documentary that has already become linked to the V&A exhibition You Say You Want A Revolution which runs until 26th February.  If you want to be part of this extraordinary documentary then you can contribute to its crowdfunding here.
Ritchie has taught photography at Central School of Art and Design.  Carney was so inspired by Ritchie that he hotfooted it straight to the Colchester Institute in Essex where he delighted in sharing some of his own experience with the students.  There's even a rumour that he'll do it again...