Sealand Fort Family Creates Sovereign State Footage

SEALAND FORT Family Creates Sovereign State
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	Catalog #:	365074
	Clip Number:	365074-1
	Orginal Film:	69/9
	Timecode:
	Location:	The North Sea
	Year Shot:	1969 (Actual Year)
	Audio:	Yes
	Color:	No
	Headings:	BUILDINGS: Houses, Unusual DOMESTIC LIFE: Unusual LOCATIONS/EUROPE: Misc
	Description:	MAN-MADE ISLAND OF SEALAND Roy Bates and his family live on a former wartime gun fortress in the North Sea. The sovereign state of "Sealand"; a leftover gun fort houseboat in the North Sea; with a family of squatters who have declared it a separate political unit. Roy Bates has declared himself Prince. North Sea. General view of the sun on the horizon in the North Sea. In the distance we see the Sealand Fort - formerly a wartime gun fortress. Inside the Sealand Fort we see middle-aged man Roy Bates and his wife asleep in bed. Roy picks up a telephone and dials through to the kitchen where his 16-year-old son, Michael, picks up the phone. Michael makes tea or coffee for his mum and dad and takes it in to their bedroom. Exterior shots of three young men painting a white girder on the outside of the fortress. Roy hoists a flag. General view of the family waving to a passing ship. M/S of Mrs Bates hanging washing on line. M/S of Mrs Bates' teenage daughter, Penny, fishing. Inside the fort we see C/U of dartboard. Several shots of Michael playing darts. C/U dartboard as dart hits board. General view of the lounge with the family sitting down and relaxing - one young man plays the guitar. C/U of daughter Penny. C/U of Mrs Bates, pan to Mr Bates. Commentator explains that amongst their plans for the fort are a radio and tv station, a homeland for stateless persons, tax-dodging company registration and other profitable schemes. General view exterior of the Sealand Fort. LV Of the sun on the horizon in the North Sea. In the distance the Sealand Fort. GV The Sealand Fort. GV Interior. Roy Bates and his wife asleep in bed. SCU Roy Bates wakes up and picks up telephone and dials through to kitchen to his son Michael 16 years old. CU Phone on hook in kitchen. Michael answers the phone. SCU Roy Bates talking on the phone. CU Michael placing receiver back after conversation. CU Of kettle on gas stove. Michael takes it from gas ring. SCU He pours boiling water into cup and places kettle back on stove and then walks away with tray of coffee for his parents. GV As Michael comes out of kitchen and makes his way to the bedroom. GV The bedroom Michael walks in. SV As Michael serves the coffee to his mother. CU Ext. of a person painting. SV Ditto also two other people painting. CU Roy Bates. SV Pan up as Roy Bates hoists a flag. GV The family waving to a passing ship. SV The family waving. LV The boat going past the fort. SV Mrs. Bates hanging washing on line. CU Mrs. Bates. SV Of Mrs. Bates' daughter Penny fishing. CU Penny. CU Of dartboard (interior shot). SV Of Michael playing darts. CU Dartboard as dart has the board. SV Michael throwing another dart. CU Dartboard as another dart goes into it. GV Int. of the lounge with the family sitting down relaxing. CU Of Penny. CU Of Mrs. Bates pan to Mr. Bates. GV The Sealand Fort. Opens with tracking shot moving forward on the shining sea. Platform in the middle of the water. Mr.&Mrs. B. lying in a narrow bed; she wakes him up. CU Mr. B. turns over; picks up telephone receiver hanging on wall.Zoom in; he turns crank on phone box; speaks into receiver.CU hand picking up another receiver (Bates was calling his son; also on the fort.)CUs of Bates and son each hanging up.The son gets tea--looks like regular working class kitchen; breakfast scene. CU battered kettle on stove is lifted from burner; hot water poured into cups on kitchen counter; tray lifted; Teenage boy carries tray of tea and biscuits. He enters bedroom; hands tea to mom. Next a very cool shot of a paintbrush moving toward camera; then away; as someone paints the platform.3 people painting. CU Bates; Bates pulling rope; pan up to Sealand flag rising on pole. The family waving at passing ship. Mrs. Bates hanging up laundry.CU same. Miss Bates with fishing pole. CU same. CU dart board; dart hits near center. Boys playing darts.CU dart board again. A cozy scene: Mrs.B. reading magazine; while boy plays guitar; girl sits by him;table with lantern.CU girl listening. Mr. & Mrs. Bates sitting together; smiling.Family bliss; etc. Exterior of the fort.Weird stuff.