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The Yard
Earlier this year, we were asked by Helen McGukin if she could use our space to shoot an editorial piece titled, 'The Yard'.
Helen McGuckin (stylist/art director) and Jamie Shipston-Mourn (photographer/ director) decided to take a look at a time when all we had was a space.
Youthful unappreciated gratitude for this safe space which was used daily for socializing, gossiping, sports, bin day, parties, bbqs, going to school, suitcases outside on the way to a holiday, shouting, laughing, car horns heard beeping.
A space celebratory as well as mourning. All occasions, all neighbours, all community, growing up in different ways but paved a way by cement.
We talked about the texures of our houses, differentiated by grey hues and pebble dash, chipped off this from the ball games.
We talked about the delicious smells coming from neighbours windows shortly followed by a mum shouting to get in for tea.
We talked about how the pub was a playground for experimental milestones.
We talked about how appreciative we are for the people and characters we had around us and that even though we had moved from our original space, it didn’t really leave us.
We then wanted to visualise this with a fashion editorial, poetry and short film called The Yard. Here it is.
"Across the Yard, someone's shouting, "Y'alright?" And you actually are, just dodged another scrap tonight.
Babies crying, passed around like collection plates. A moment of peace. That’ll have to wait.
A man in the pub selling meat out of bags.
Two regulars are interested, haggling a price with some fags.
She’s after that one, you know; you’ve seen it playing out for ages, Love letters scratched into benches and dog eared pages
Balls flying everywhere, flinch at every bloody sound. Will one smack you in the face and flatten you to the ground?
Spit down the drain, SUCK IT BACK UP, before it hits sides. Shopping trolleys spinning like fairground rides.
Who melted the bus stop timetable again? Pavilion’s our paradise, cricket pitch our den.
Mad little place, you swore you’d leave here one day, But your back, its home, and here to stay."
Art Director & Stylist & Casting
Helen McGuckin
Photographer & Director
Jamie Shipston Mourn
1AC
Sean Lomax
Hair and Make Up
Caroline Menkes, Mica Jones & Ashley Jordan Jones
Styling Assistants
Adam Ocutts, Adele Parr
Stills Assistants
Carter Shipstone
Poem by Helen and Jamie read by Benjamin Cockayne
Location
Yard Ball with thanks to Scott Riley & Oliver Booth
Cast
Ruby, Amber, Lucy, Donna and Mark Savage and Baby Margot.
Bunny, Bo, Frankie and Jai.
Alex Royston and Poppy Heath Williams.
Laura Mosely, Frank and Robyn
Bella @BossModelManagement
Tahlia @BossModelManagement
Joseph @JadoreModels
Yousif @Brother.Models
Fashion
Adidas, Versace, Nike, Yves Saint Laurent, Vivienne Westwood, Comme des Garcons, Moschino, Levis, Ganni. The Grossery Store, Vulgar, Savage Sister, Amani Ahmed.
Yard Ball is available for photshoots and events. To find out more about editorial hire, email us on bookings@yardball.co.uk.
WHAT IS YARD BALL?