Behind the Film: We’re All Black Down Here

Introduction:

Our film, We’re All Black Down Here, is a visually stunning narrative drama film that explores the harsh realities of racism, belonging and identity. It is a personal project from the writer/ producer Milly James. Created with support from BFI NETWORK Short Film Funding.

Inspiration:

The original idea was inspired by the personal history of co-producer and writer Milly James, whose father was a coal miner and part of the Windrush generation. Milly wrote We’re All Black Down Here after reading her father’s written accounts of working in the pits.

It tells a universal story that transcends its historical setting. The film has an allegorical quality, ostensibly simple but conveying a hidden depth and meaning about racial tensions that exist in society.
The story also places Caribbean men in an industry of which there is little documentation.

The Process:

The film was shot over 4 days underground at the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield.
The biggest challenge was shooting in confined, cold spaces. It was quite a unique experience for our actors, who handled the tricky conditions with good grace. For safety reasons, there was also a limit to the number of crew and cast we could have underground at any one time. Another challenge was the lack of electricity, which meant all camera, lighting equipment, etc had to be run on batteries.
All of this meant we had to be very organised, fully prepped, patient and adaptable when something didn’t go according to plan, like when the cage which transported us underground was out of service, for example.

What It Means to Be a Finalist:

We are thrilled to be selected as finalists at Worcester Film Festival. Not only will we be showcasing our film to a new audience, but also to industry professionals. We are honoured to be included in a program of such an eclectic array of high-calibre films.