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Title: TOMMY GOES CARACAS

Reference number: 7992

Date: 2004

Director: d. Aimara Reques

Producer: Aimara Reques

Sound: sound

Original format: unknown

Colour: col

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 23.35 mins

Description: Oil rich Venezuela is in the grip of a popular revolution but has a major problem: pressure from wealthy Venezuelans and their frightened, powerful neighbour, the United States of America. In Scotland, Tommy Sheridan, MSP and leader of the Scottish Socialist Party, is dreaming of Scotland's very own Socialist Republic. He decides to go on holiday to Caracas to find out more about "the first revolution of the 21st century".

See post card in sleeve for details - notes the film received no production money however the director made it anyway and it was shown at the Edinburgh International Film Festival as part of the Saltire Society Grierson Award.

Screened at Document 2, International Human Rights Film Festival, 17 - 20 September 2004.

Fly-on-the-wall documentary made with very low budget. Regular captions throughout, not all included in shot-list.

Credits: camera Aimara Reques, Alexander Arias
production assistant in Venezuela Marianella Yanez
ed. Aimara Reques, Cassandra McGrogan
sound dubbing Paul Wilson
co-producer Cassandra McGrogan
m. Maestro Juan Vicente Torrealba, Sexteto Criollo de Cuba, Alfredo Naranjo y su Guajeo, Ezequiel Siem
p. Aimara Reques

Shotlist: talking head Tommy Sheridan to camera - title - gvs Sheridan at home with wife Gail, preparing for journey to Venezuela - TOMMY SHERIDAN MEMBER OF SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT LEADER OF THE SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY - Sheridans leave house with film-maker Aimara Reques - TOMMY DREAMS OF BUILDING A SCOTTISH SOCIALIST REPUBLIC - HE IS OFF ON HOLIDAY TO VENEZUELA IN SEARCH OF INSPIRATION - FILM-MAKER AIMARA REQUES ACCOMPANIED TOMMY AND HIS WIFE (1.35) shots of Reques and Sheridans in market in Caracas - talking head Sheridan in cable car about political situation in Venezuela (2.32) gvs Sheridan and Gail at political event in theatre held by supporters of president Chavez (4.22) Sheridan buys newspaper in street - gvs of Sheridan meeting Guillermo Garcia Ponce, former leader of Venezuelan Communist Party - discussion about popularity of President Chavez (8.26) sequence of TV coverage of Chavez's election win in 1998 - sequence of contrasting images of poverty and wealth in Venezuela, oil industry - sequence of images of Pardos and Mantuanos, different Venezuelan ethnic groups, right-wing demonstrators (11.40) talking head Sheridan about balance of power in Venezuela - long tracking shot of area of poor housing - images of flags and Simon Bolivar (13.57) shots of Sheridan in radio station in Caracas barrio discussing Venezuelan media - street shots around Caracas (16.00) shots of meeting between Sheridan and Venezuelan Vice-President, Jose Vicente Rangel, discussing South American political situation - talking head Sheridan about socialism in South America (19.19) shots of Sheridan addressing crowd at political meeting in theatre - talking head Sheridan about Scotland following example of Venezuela (22.38) ecs over shots of band and dancing in club (23.35)

[Note:- Regular captions throughout, not all included in shot-list.]