LTM > LTMDVD 2391 Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81

LTMDVD 2391 Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81; front cover detail
LTMDVD 2391 Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81; front cover detail
LTMDVD 2391 Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81; Peter Saville
LTMDVD 2391 Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81; Peter Saville
LTMDVD 2391 Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81; Section 25
LTMDVD 2391 Shadowplayers: Factory Records and Manchester Post-Punk 1978-81; Section 25

Release date

14 August 2006

Catalogue number

LTMDVD 2391

Format

DVD - NTSC (Barcode: 502 4545 4090 93

Shadowplayers is a feature-length documentary tracing the early history of iconic Manchester record label Factory Records between 1978 and 1981. The film was made by director James Nice.

The Facts and fictions are explored through candid interviews with 22 key participants, including Anthony H. Wilson (founder) and Peter Saville (designer), as well as musicians including Peter Hook (Joy Division / New Order), Vini Reilly (The Durutti Column), Simon Topping and Martin Moscrop (A Certain Ratio), Chris Watson (Cabaret Voltaire) and Howard Devoto (Buzzcocks/Magazine).

Other interviews include members of Section 25, Crispy Ambulance, The Names, Minny Pops, Swamp Children and Thick Pigeon, as well as other eyewitnesses and insiders such as Richard Boon, Annik Honoré, Lindsay Reade, Richard Jobson, Graham Massey and Killing Joke.

The film runs for 2 hours 15 minutes and is divided into 19 chapters, covering subjects such as The Factory Club, sleeve art and graphic design, genius producer Martin Hannett, the riot at the Joy Division concert at Bury in April 1980, the Factory Benelux connection, the tragic suicide of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, the beginnings of New Order, and the decline of the post-punk culture in 1981.

Shadowplayers is based exclusively on new spoken word interviews, with soundtrack music by Section 25 and New Order, and rare images and graphics. The cover art is based on the first Factory design (FAC 1) by Peter Saville from 1978.

The DVD is NTSC format. DVD extras include individual profiles for each interviewee.