A documentary by Iain McGuinness

Tag: filming

Documentary contributors search

I’m looking for documentary contributors from across the nations of the UK to feature in The Problems About Men, a film about men’s inequality, exploring issues such as misandry, and violence against people, particularly domestic abuse against men and boys.

Contributors can get in touch with me by filling in this form.

The film will be shown on Amazon Prime Video and other online platforms in 2024. Some initial filming is being carried out at the moment, with additional blocks scheduled for later in the year. A podcast is also planned.

I feel making the film is necessary, due to the facts that men account for the majority of suicides, workplace deaths, homeless living on the street, and the prison population, amongst a host of other factors. For example, boys are doing less well in schools, and fewer men are going to university.

Men and boys are more likely to be the victims of violence. Most likely by another male. But that doesn’t mean we ignore those victims, and instead have governments and the authorities focus all efforts on stopping violence against women and girls (whilst a noble cause), whom are less likely to be harmed; they are, however, more likely to fear attack.

Men are more likely to receive harsher sentences than women for crimes committed. They’re treated less favourably than women in the family courts.

Men are about one third of domestic abuse victims, but there’s little help available for them, miniscule funding for organisations, and hardly any shelters. Police and the courts continue to help men less. Male victims just aren’t taken as seriously.

Firstly, I’ll be visiting London, Cardiff and Belfast to film. There’ll also be filming across Scotland, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, although that’s more open-ended in terms of dates, since I’m based in Scotland.

The topics I’m looking to discuss with documentary contributors include:

  • Criminal justice
  • Domestic abuse
  • False accusations
  • Family courts
  • Health
  • Homelessness
  • Parental alienation
  • Sexual abuse
  • Suicide

I’m also very keen to hear from any academics, professionals or organisations who work with men or boys, particularly in domestic abuse, mental health and homelessness, and from families who have experienced the death of a loved one.

Documentary contributors don’t necessarily have to appear on camera, and identities can be protected if the contributor requires this.

All contact will be treated in the strictest of confidence, with sensitivity, and everyone will be given the utmost respect and consideration. A chat via telephone or email would take place before meeting, to hear people’s stories, and to answer any questions of me.

Reasonable travel expenses and subsistence will be paid.

Contributors can get in touch with me by filling in this form, emailing hello@theproblemsaboutmen.co.uk, or writing to:

TPAM
Creative Zealots Group Limited
272 Bath Street
Glasgow
Scotland
G2 4JR

We’re in production and filming!

After a lengthy period of pre-production, filming of The Problems About Men has begun in Glasgow.

The film now has a page on IMDb here.

I’ve been working with my camera operator, Stewart, who is also a journalist. What have we filmed so far?

Well, mainly shooting a lot of ‘B-roll.’ For those of you not familiar with film jargon, B-roll is “supplemental or alternative footage intercut with the main shot.” So, if we have an interview with a man talking about, say, having been arrested on a false allegation, we might show B-roll of a police vehicle.

On the first day, we had a Karen moment while filming inside Glasgow Central train station. We were filming general views, when a middle-aged woman walked up to us, and demanded that the shot including her wasn’t used. Out of respect, I conceded, but Karen wanted an argument.

She proceeded to lecture us that we can’t film folk without their permission. I corrected her, stating that we had permission from Network Rail to be there shooting, and also that there’s no expectation of privacy in a public place. That wasn’t enough for Karen, and she said that we needed explicit permission of everyone walking through our shot.

Sure, I’ll just go and ask hundreds of people, individually, if I have their permission. In the end, I simply told her that I didn’t have time to argue with her. She wanted an argument. Stewart told her that if she continued to harass us, we’d speak to the British Transport Police. She walked away in a huff towards the Station Manager’s office. We never heard anymore about it!

Glasgow Sheriff Court
📷 Iain McGuinness

We also filmed outside Glasgow Sheriff Court and the High Court of Justiciary. Court staff and police were friendly enough.

Glasgow High Court of Justiciary
📷 Iain McGuinness

When we were filming outside Stewart Street police station, we were interrogated by three police officers who came out, asking what the purpose of our filming was. I gave them my press ID. I didn’t have to, but I consider it professional good practice to identify yourself. They eventually left us alone, and we went on to film the fire station in Cowcaddens. We captured a nee-naw coming out on blue lights.

We ended the day interviewing a young man at a Ukraine demonstration on George Square. He spoke about his escape from Kyiv to Glasgow as a 17-year-old. He (rightly) corrected me about needing the war not being ended, but being won by Ukraine. He believed that the conscription of men aged 18-60 was the right decision. Conflicting views will be included in the film.

He was just short of his 18th birthday, when his family travelled to the UK. He was very lucky, in my opinion.

On the second day, which was International Women’s Day, we captured more B-roll, footage of a feminist march, and got a couple more interviews.

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