Are you or ever have you been part of the graffiti arts movement? Then why not have your say and contribute to film maker Laurence Johnson's new street art documentary now in its early production stage and hopefully to be shown at various film festivals and public screenings that are still to be arranged.

The focus of the documentary will particularly relate to analysing the government's position on imposing custodial sentences on graffiti artists. Laurence Johnson's film seeks to address the arguments for and against street art, with focus on the extremity and illegality of incarceration of its artists. Exploring the arguments brought about between a highly unique and expressive subculture and mainstream society’s ‘cashing in’ on marketable forms in advertising, the media etc. All the while the artists themselves face the daunting prospect of incarceration in prison. In comparison to other sections of the arts world, explored for instance by the works of many writers whom are regularly applauded, published and commissioned by what is seen as 'respectable society, how can ‘graffing’, ‘street art’ or even ‘vandalism’, be the sole cause for imprisonment of others? At a time when the public are constantly informed that Britain's prisons are full, should it not be the case that we begin to reconsider the justice system’s approach to incarceration on a wider scale?

Highlighting the hypocracy of the law and the plight of contemporary street  artists in comparison to other mainstream arts and the evolution of graffiti art's relatively short history Johnson is seeking to interview hear anyone involved in the scene, from those who have experienced sentencing, to new/old school/legal/illegal writers, to art critics as well as legal representatives and those opposed to graffiti. Laurence is based in and around London and is happy to travel to meet with anyone interested within reason. Additionally he is seeking musicians to help with the sound track. All of you out there who feel you can contribute to this highly progressive project and can help in anyway possible should contact Laurence Johnson at johnson.laurence@ymail.com or call his mobile on 07855 864995. There is a deep and disturbing irony that the British psyche for the most part will not address, many countries across Europe and around the world openly invite and encourage creative practice, they have a long tradition of healthy political and artistic discourse, whilst Britain remains a 'closed shop' populated by intellectual snobbery and conservative 'nimbyism'. Is it any wonder that so many in the UK feel disenfranchised by the current leadership, community representatives and so called moral majority.

Laurence would also like to express his sincerest gratitude to all those in the arts community and further afield who have assisted in the making of the film so far. Many of whom have been really keen to get involved and help wherever possible which is really encouraging. As for deadlines, the schedule has been kept as flexible as possible, the production is 100% independent and is deeply involved is in following the outcomes of a whole variety of artist's legal cases, (this can be a long process) and this filming will simply take as long as it takes and Laurence is under no outside pressure to deliver early. However his aim is to have the filming completed by the end of 2009. Though it must be reiterrated that this is not a fixed deadline as the evolution of such a project is as always organic.

If you believe you have something to contribute do get in touch with Laurence, I myself am glad to help promote this most worthy process, it is about time that we the graffiti community were able to redress the balance so far dictated purely by the whims of a sensationalist and mainstream media and its political and corporate cohorts. The graffiti arts revolution is coming, will you be part of it?

This post is tagged graffiti, graffiti documentary, graffiti film, graffiti law, graffiti police, graffiti prison, graffiti rights, graffiti TV