Anattic Director James Copson Celebrates Authenticity in 'Manchester, You've Got Work to Do'

Anattic director James Copson has created an authentic and intimate online ad that celebrates the amazing art and creativity growing from within Greater Manchester.

Titled ‘Manchester, You’ve Got Work to Do’, the film focuses on the creatives and artists who are helping to shape and build on the Northern city’s amazing reputation as Europe’s second most creative city - after London. Filmed before the outbreak of Covid-19 and lockdown, it’s weight and poignancy is even more prominent, with so many artists and creatives struggling financially, or falling through the cracks. 

The entire project was shot with real people and real creatives, within their actual working environment or in places that inspire them from around the region.

Director James Copson says: “I wanted the film to feel authentic and to represent the real people, artists and agencies from Manchester who are putting out great work into the world. Obviously, there is a big focus on London as a creative city, but there’s some really exciting things happening up north, and not just in the music scene. I hope the film helps some of the talent up here to get more recognition and that it encourages other artists to keep making - especially in these weird times.”

Created as part of the Creative Scale up Programme for the UK Government’s Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), the Business Growth Hub and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the short promo raises awareness of the amazing talent and work in the North, to help businesses and individuals gain more recognition and encourage artists to keep making.

“The video produced by Anattic for the launch of the prestigious DCMS Creative Scale Up programme earlier this year was produced with insight and flare, offering an imaginative and dynamic approach to depict the creative entrepreneurial potential of the city of Manchester. Adding huge value to the launch of this major initiative.” Says Jenny Tooth OBE, chief executive, UK Business Angels Association.

Shot over five days with a small crew and multiple locations, the ambitious project was filmed by DoP James Stier on RED cine camera, with Cooke anamorphic lenses from Shift-4.

James comments “The lenses have a soft, subtle look, especially in the focus roll off. They have a little less contrast that really suited our characters and the creative world we were creating - it took the edge of reality, especially when balanced with the RED’s sensor. We wanted to draw attention to details - faces, equipment, actions, so we chose to shoot in 2:35 aspect ration and shoot wide and fill the frame horizontally.”

The location based shoot had it’s fair amount of challenges and with little options for power and space in some locations, lighting was tricky. The film offers a unique view inside many different worlds, and the lives of inspirational characters.

“I felt really proud to be able to represent the creative scene in Manchester, through film. It felt like a lot of responsibility and I got a serious case of Imposter syndrome. So, It was important for me to work with real people and to work with real talent.” Manchester (Tameside) born, director, James Copson. 

The film was inspired by the variety of work and art that is coming out of Manchester and explores what is keeping the resilient city so united.