Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay
A DOCUMENTARY FILM
We will be filming Daniel Meadows next Monday reflecting on Bill’s evangelical lecturing approach to photography that so inspired Daniel as a student in 1971 when Bill presented the work of photographers Benjamin Stone, Art Kane and Tony Ray Jones amongst others . Daniel was in the same lecture as Martin Parr and fellow Manchester Polytechnic student Brian Griffin.
A big thanks to Martin Parr (left) who let us into his home yesterday and allowed us to film him talking about the influence Bill Jay had on the early development of his work. Our conversation centered around a particular talk Bill gave at Manchester Polytechnic that Martin attended in the Autumn of 1971, whilst still a student and where Bill introduced Martin and his fellow students to the work of Tony Ray Jones.
Martin was supportive of our film and even made some suggestions as to where and how it might be first screened. Watch this space for more details concerning this!
A big thanks this week to Homer Sykes, Paddy Summerfield, Andrew Lanyon and Carol McCusker for sharing their memories of Bill. The support for the film is incredible and we have many conversations still to have over the coming weeks.
However, if you knew Bill or know someone who did please let us know, we are always open to more information and new leads.
A big thanks to iconic Magnum photographer and great friend of Bill Jay, David Hurn for devoting a whole day to helping us with the filming of Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay.
David welcomed us into his home and spoke to us about Bill’s life and work in great depth.