Urban Savannah

In the urban landscape of Coventry, UK, two wild tribes roam free. In this ten-minute documentary we are able to study them in their natural habitat as the "Townies" and the "Skaters" operate within their strictly structured groups. And it is as simple as that sounds – basically this is nature programme that has a very Attenborough-esque voice-over while we look at a group of skater kids and chavs doing what those young people tend to do.

For the Screen West Midlands funding stream "First Cut", 2004 was the year of the documentary and, yet again I held some vague aspiration to actually put my money where my mouth was and take part, however I never managed to get around to it! Seeing the end products, I'm not sure I would have had anything to really make a film about because the films are mostly pretty personal pieces. This film may not be a "documentary" in the strictest definition but the aim is simple but it is very effective thanks to some very good writing; the narration is dry and accurate while the on screen action looks mostly very natural. I found it very enjoyable and, of the four short films I watched at a local mini-festival of sorts, it stood out as the most entertaining. At times the cast overdo their parts and betray that they are acting for the camera as opposed to being in their natural habitat, but this is rare – normally they are spot on and only serve to make the narration funnier.

Overall this is hardly high-art and doesn't aim to be anything deep or fascinating but it takes a simple premise and, in exchange for ten minutes of my life, provided me with a very funny and entertaining little film that I would happily watch again.