North Shields: In Fading Light-or why the cod has gone and the boats bob alongside the quay

The death of fishing in North Shields; 

A modern morality tale 

I know bloody Shields is out there man

In Fading Light is a film by Amber Collective; starring Dave Hill, Sammy Johnson, Joana Ripley, Joe Caffrey, a fishing boat, the North Sea, some fish and of course, North Shields

Now Amber collective is something I have for many years admired. Film-makers/writers/ photographers who lived amongst and documented a range of communities across the north east of England and in doing so capturing poignant moments; witnessing as frequently they did, their decline.

What is there not to like about 'In Fading Light'. It is set in North Shields, my home town-six generations plus on my mother's side with more than a few fishermen, drinkers and hard 'uns.
Most of the action takes place on an anchor trawler, fishing the North Sea; home port of North Shields. At core is the relationship between daughter and estranged father (the trawler skipper). There is also the Geordie sexism at its worse and then best (dealing with a woman on the boat and coming to terms with that she more than holds her own place). It has humour and heart but bitter sweet in an all too predictable ending. And for me, it was a gift seeing such a rich and unromanticised piece of North Shields and in particular the working life of North Shields quayside.

You might have to listen carefully as the dialect is true to its community. And that is a jewel to cherish, it reminds how after 52 years of exile, I have all but lost my first tongue.

I take my hat off to the crew and cast as this is a superb film in all senses. The actors learned to sail the trawler and to fish supported by the local fishermen. The cast were thrown in deep end an all. No wussy method acting for these boys and girl (and film crew) who were sent out by the mad director to be filmed in a full throated North Sea gale/storm. More authentic like, better tinge of green to the vomit spray. There is a deadpan part to the doco on this film's DVD where the lead said they thought it odd that as they were heading out to film a sequence in the teeth of a gale, all the deep water fishing boats were heading into the quayside as fast as they could seeking shelter, while waving cheerily at those blurry idiot actors headin' off to their deaths.

Film, story and doco are all rewarding and heart breaking. Last time I was on North Shields quay (visiting from Australia in 2011)-it was almost empty of boats and real industry based on the sea at its doorstep. Now it has 'apartments' and a lifestyle industry (didn't see any nouveaux cuisine mind amongst the posh nosh shops) and there is no longer a stink of fish and guts to salt the brine. The fish and chips are not the cod of old. But as the doco on the making of this film identifies it is the story/testament to another north eastern industry and community that supported it lost. Seeing the fishermen in the doco saying there are no fish left to harvest in the North Sea was sobering. That they had the insight to see it as a consequence of greed-run while the times are good and when its gone-its gone.

The DVD is available (with others including two series of fine short films) from Amber. Images here are the copyright of Amber Collective. http://www.amber-online.com I thank them for the use. I also note they are trying to ensure their vast and important collection of material is preserved. Look at their site and what they do an if your hand reaches into your pocket. Be Generous. They hold the lifeblood of our Geordie communities in their archives.