Thank you to everyone who has supported and contributed to our crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the filming costs for Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché. You can still order from our limited edition range of merch and contribute towards the making of the film – any additional funds raised will go towards paying for essential licensing fees for archive footage and images we plan to use in the film. Order via our online store at www.polystyrenefilm.com
POLY STYRENE
Beyond the songs, beyond the look (incorporating the most famous braces in rock) and beyond that warrior-cry voice, Poly Styrene's fascinating and sometimes frightening story - incorporating struggles with misogyny, racism and mental health issues - has remained largely untold. Until now.
In this feature documentary the jigsaw pieces of Poly’s life will be brought together for the first time, as a thrilling, poetic and at times impressionistic portrait of a singer, seeker and mother. Combining original interviews, new research and previously unseen archive materials - and underscored with Poly’s music from throughout her career - I Am A Cliché celebrates one of punk’s most uncompromising mavericks.
Narrated by her daughter, Celeste Bell, the film will examine the past through the lens of the present by revisiting pivotal moments and iconic spaces in Poly’s history, while at the same time raising awareness of the issues she struggled with - and rose above - throughout her life. I Am A Cliché will also explore Poly’s legendary anti-consumerist stance, and muses upon what she would make of the gentrification of her old stomping grounds and gig venues in London, Hastings and New York.
THE DOCUMENTARY
The film takes us from Poly’s freewheeling early years through to the punk era, focusing on her sharp-as-a-tack songwriting, always exposing the crass consumerism of modern life, the incendiary shows, TV appearances, a complex relationship with her manager and the psychic hallucination she experienced onstage, which would lead to her being sectioned and ultimately diagnosed as bi-polar.
The story will then take us through the more reflective but no less intriguing years, which saw Poly entering the Hare Krishna movement. We also learn what brought her to the decision to reform X-Ray Spex, performing at a packed Roundhouse in 2008.
Tragically, Poly would soon be diagnosed with terminal cancer, but she would release one final album, Generation Indigo, a record that reflected her punk spirit, sense of fun, observational and often haunting songwriting and spirituality all in one fell swoop, and she insisted on conducting interviews around its release even during what we now know would be her final weeks. Even as Poly was dying, she had a youthful warmth and a serene clarity; her beliefs giving her strength and peace as she prepared for the next stage of her journey.
THE TEAM
Director: Paul Sng (Sleaford Mods – Invisible Britain; Dispossession: The Great Social Housing Swindle)
"Poly Styrene remains one of the most original and dynamic voices in popular culture to this day. We're aiming to make a film that reflects her effervescent and vivid life, and provide a fitting cinematic tribute to her legacy as an artist and icon."
Narrator & Executive Producer: Celeste Bell
"This film will be a celebration of the life and work of my mother, an artist who deserves to be recognised as one of the greatest front women of all time; a little girl with a big voice whose words are more relevant than ever."
Writer: Zoë Howe (Lee Brilleaux – Rock ‘n’ Roll Gentleman; Barbed Wire Kisses – The Jesus and Mary Chain Story; Typical Girls? The Story Of The Slits)
"We have an opportunity to celebrate an artist, a satirist, a free-thinking feminist and a serious style pioneer, but ultimately the thread running through the film will be the deep, enduring connection between a mother and her daughter."
WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT YOU GET
We need your support to help us fund the production costs - in return you can choose to receive a reward (scroll down for the complete list on the right-hand side of this page and view our image gallery at the top of the page underneath the video trailer for photos of the various rewards).
We tried to think of perks that Poly would have loved; in keeping with her identity as a champion of individuality and freedom of expression, we are offering a range of unique limited edition rewards including, t-shirts designed by Celeste Bell (Poly's daughter), tote bags, theatrical posters, mugs and a special one-off limited edition postcard.
FYI: T-Shirt/mug/tote #1 are the items with 'I Am A Cliché'on them, T-shirt/mug/tote #2 are the items with Poly Styrene wearing a helmet. If you're ordering the t-shirt/mug/tote bundle, we will email you to get your t-shirt size and design preference for each individual item.
We are also offering some one-off perks to thank you for your involvement, including Executive Producer and Associate Producer credits, a 'thank you' in the film's end credits, signed copies of the film script, and an opportunity to have lunch with the team.
In addition, you can also pre-order I Am A Cliché on DVD/Bluray, plus a copy of the forthcoming Poly Styrene biography by Zoë and Celeste, which is due via Omnibus Press in November 2018.
PLEASE NOTE: Donations may also be made anonymously and you can choose whether or not to receive a reward in return for your donation.
HOW WE INTEND TO USE THE FUNDS
Making a film is an expensive process. We want to make the best one possible, and with your support we will. The documentary will be filmed from July to November 2017 in London, Hastings and New York. Below are the areas of the production to which we will be directing campaign funds.
- Crew hire costs for a camera person and sound recordist
- Equipment hire costs
- Travel expenses for crew
- Film graphics and animations
- Colour grading
- Audio mix
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
Please share this campaign with others and help us to reach our target. We will be posting exclusive updates and news across our social media channels - keep up to date with the production by liking our Facebook page and following us on Twitter and Instagram. We also have a website: www.polystyrenefilm.com