If I was to be successful with this bursary, after a brief celebratory dance, I would work with North East based creatives/filmmakers to develop something really special…I propose to develop and create a short experimental film exploring the layered history of Darlington – not as a static retelling, but as a poetic and sensory journey through time, using the town’s pivotal role in the railway revolution as a jumping-off point. The film will weave together historical imagery, community voices, archive material, and dramatized sequences to reflect the spirit, resilience, and innovation that characterise Darlington’s past and present. I aim to collaborate with local historians, residents, and artists to co-create a piece that feels grounded and resonant.
So why this film, and why now? Well, Darlington’s industrial and social legacy is profound – the birthplace of the world’s first passenger railway, it’s a symbol of movement, change, and possibility. In a time where towns like Darlington often feel overlooked, this film will use experimental cinematic language to celebrate its contributions, provoke conversation, and reimagine what history looks like on screen.
In short I would like to blend experimental docu-fiction with voiceover (I have close working relationships with voice agencies, so could make an approach for Darlington’s own Vic Reeves to take part), reenactments, poetic narration, and abstract visual storytelling
I will hold open calls for oral histories, run visual storytelling workshops with young people, and seek input from local heritage organisations and artists to feed into the story development. I feel able to do this as a working-class filmmaker from the North East with a deep interest in community-rooted storytelling, I bring lived experience and a collaborative ethos to every project. My work often explores identity, memory, and place — and this feels like a natural extension of that journey.
Other ways in which I will use this bursary:
Research and development: engaging with local archives, running workshops
Production: filming on location in Darlington, collaborating with local cast/crew
Post-production: editing, sound design, and community preview events
Mentorship and network building to help grow my long-term practice
Rooted in Darlington’s rich past but reaching toward its creative future, my proposed film will celebrate the town’s legacy while spotlighting its contemporary artistic potential. By collaborating with North East-based creatives, local historians, and community members, I’ll create a poetic, experimental short that reimagines how we tell stories about place, people, and identity. This isn’t just a film about Darlington — it’s a film from within Darlington.
The project will actively involve local participants through open calls for oral histories and visual storytelling workshops, particularly targeting young people. This approach offers a creative platform for unheard voices and nurtures skills and confidence in the next generation of artists and filmmakers.
The finished film will act as both a cultural artefact and an outreach tool — screening locally, touring regionally, and reaching wider audiences through festivals and online platforms. By doing so, it will raise awareness of Darlington’s role in shaping British history while showcasing the town as a hub for bold, innovative, community-rooted art.
I want this film to be something the people of Darlington feel part of, and proud of — a creative conversation between the past and the present, made right here in the North East.
Our concept short, “Hadid and I” (a comedy drama short which tackles the male mental health epidemic, the rare disease journey and more) is set to premiere at the Omniplex, Sunderland, on the 18th May 2025 as part of the Sunderland Shorts Film Festival. Screened our monologue/narrative poem “Grim Up North” at In The Frame (a creative hub for filmmakers in Hartlepool) last month and further to this have been asked to speak to acting students at The Northern School of Art in May.
No, my degree is in English Literature (from Northumbria University and Georgia State University, USA) but I have in excess of a decade of experience of both writing and filmmaking, with a particular focus on cause-based/charitable projects (including’ Go Make Memories, Invisible Manners, A Rare Find, and Hadid and I).
– North East Screen: Open Horizons – received grant of approximately £780 this year to attend “The Introduction to Film Producing” course at NFTS led by Jack Tarling (Producer, Kneecap), to further my work in this area.
– Won Gold at the Smiley Charity Film Awards 2024 with our Robert Webb narrated short film, “A Rare Find”, leading to a £5k grant to market/promote the piece. In the end the video achieved over 2.2 million views on TikTok, which was fantastic for the charity and the cause (newborn screening in the UK).
No, my work has primarily been funded by charitable organisations/advocates on a project by project basis.
https://rarerevolutionmagazine.com/uk-lsd-collaborative-releases-a-new-concept-short-film-hadid-and-i/
https://www.sunderlandecho.com/retro/film-niemann-washington-sunderland-cora-lily-4739154
https://smileycharityfilmawards.com/films/a-rare-find
Email: john.lee.taggart@outlook.com
Address: 18 Alice Street, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR2 7AL, GB
Local Authority: Sunderland City Council
