Introduction:
W: A Return to Oz, a short experimental documentary, tells the story of a once-prosperous 90s South West rave club called The Warehouse (or Club Oz), now reduced to a derelict shell. Through a combination of former ravers’ testimony, archives and current-day footage, we present a kaleidoscopic exploration of how a rave youth space can become the centre of the universe. If it works in Plymouth, it’ll nail it everywhere.
Inspiration:
I grew up in Plymouth, which, like many cities in the western hemisphere, has an epidemic of abandoned clubs and youth spaces. I was keen to explore their history and the people who inhabited them. Seeing videos online of urban explorers capturing these now silent, dust-filled venues made me keen to explore and film them myself, contrasting them to archives from the time. I was inspired by documentaries such as Moonage Daydream and Studio 54 to go unapologetically bonkers in the edit and explore the subject of clubbing in all its energy and madness! I felt Plymouth was an unexplored or underrepresented area in films and articles about former clubs and raves, favouring places such as Manchester, Sheffield, and London. So, I partly wanted to give Plymouth a cinematic zeal and the idea that any urban crevice on Earth has its own untold story.
The Process:
I started the interview process in early 2024 and began filming inside the Warehouse, with permission from the owners, from mid-2024 to early 2025. Once I had all the assets (audio interviews, current-day and archive footage), I edited the audio interviews together first into a radio cut. This was the longest but most crucial process, as the voiceover of the interviews was to become the narrative spine of the film. So, sifting through hours of interviews, selecting the best short chunks and arranging them into a cohesive beginning, middle and end was vital and foundational to the film. After which, adding all the archive and contemporary footage was relatively easy and quick, as the narrative and subjects discussed through the VO were locked, meaning it was just a matter of browsing relevant visual examples and adding them together in a montage. The biggest challenge was getting the necessary rights for the music and archive footage and negotiating fees, which was financially challenging. But with a film such as this which relies heavily on music and archive, I won’t have it any other way!
What It Means to Be a Finalist:
Making this film was done mostly in isolation, with my producer Louis, sound designer Isabel and colourist Zain coming on board late in the process. As such, it is incredibly fulfilling and validating to be selected as a finalist in Worcester, as well as other festivals and cinemas across the UK. It gives you legitimation in your process and work and an incentive to keep creating regardless of the challenges!
Where to Watch / Follow:
You can find out more about our screenings on our socials:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577148451656
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wdocshort/ www.danielhbfilm.com/wdocshort
Confirmed London screening:
W : A RETURN TO OZ @ The Cinema Museum, London – 23rd Sept 2026 w/ QNA https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/w-a-return-to-oz-the-cinema-museum-london-23rd-sept-2026-w-qna-tickets-1991055325075
We may have possible screenings in Bristol, Plymouth, and Exeter; watch our space!
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