Nine months ago we collected a list of UK specific topics we wanted to turn into Tim & Moby movies. They were to be distinctly about British life, history and culture.
You can imagine what a wide and varied list that was. But we couldn’t make them all. We had to choose a handful to go into production.
The first of these has already premiered – Bonfire Night – which has since gone on to become one of our most viewed movies. Over the next week or so, to coincide with BETT2010, we planned to launch two more.
One of the two was a very hard topic: The Troubles in Northern Ireland, covering the period between 1966 and the signing of The Good Friday Agreement. We’re not afraid to tackle the tough subjects as you’ll know if you’ve seen examples like our 9/11 or Swine Flu movies.
Unfortunately, news of a car bomb today (7th Jan 2010) in County Antrim has made the act of releasing this movie, of which we are very proud, a difficult act. We have made a movie that has proved to be more relevant and topical that we wanted it to be.
This was not an easy movie to make. We consulted carefully in both communities of the province and in Eire, and researched well beyond even our most rigorous normal levels.
We did not want to avoid the contentious aspects of this part of modern history and end up with an anodyne and flavourless movie that only stated facts.
We wanted to stimulate curiosity and provoke discussion, but retain a context for this with a narrative that was accurate and informative. Roger Hurn, a hugely talented writer, ex-head-teacher and storyteller, crafted the script that walks the fine line with care and accuracy.
We realise that given the news in Northern Ireland today (both in terms of security and politics) there will be lots of children asking about this beautiful but troubled part of the UK, and we believe that to shy away from releasing this movie would be to let down the kids who are asking questions that deserve answers.
However, today’s act of violence is a rare break in the peace created by the people of Northern Ireland. Although Politicians captured ‘peace’ in a document – it is the daily life and choices of the people there that make it the daily reality.
This all new BrainPOP UK movie is dedicated to the people of Northern Ireland and their daily struggle to maintain the peace.
