Welcome

For one night only, on October 14th, Europe’s first ever interactive feature film Bloodyminded was broadcast live from an army base to European cinemas and online. 126,000 people around the world viewed the film online and up to 1,000 people watched on the night in cinemas across Europe. This site is dedicated to hosting a European archive of interviews and research material that inspired the Bloodyminded film.

The story follows SJ as she breaks into an army base to bury the ashes of her great-grandfather, a conscientious objector during World War One. Inside, surrounded by soldiers and the ghosts of past wars, she finds a place where her certainty begins to falter.

Part of 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, Bloodyminded is Europe’s first interactive live streamed feature film, shot in a single take and broadcast to cinemas and online – once and once only. Guided by the narrator, we are asked to consider our own relationship with violence – as individuals and as members of a society that continues to wage wars on our behalf. During the live broadcast, audiences were asked to add their thoughts via the Bloodyminded website.

As the story unfolded in real time, we interacted with questions posed to us by Harold, our narrator. Harold is a character developed from a real life conscientious objector called Harold Steele, whose story script writer Matt Adams discovered during his research at the Imperial War Museum, London.

Created by four-times BAFTA nominated Blast Theory, Bloodyminded took audiences on a moving and disturbing interactive journey that asks us to make our own decisions about the morality of war.

 

Please be aware this site contains graphic images and content which some people may find upsetting.

Watch

Excerpt 1

The words of  SJ’s Great Grandpa – Bloodyminded’s narrator – are drawn from those of Harold Steele, a conscientious objector from World War One.

Learn more about Harold Steele and conscientious objectors from across Europe here.

Excerpt 2

This scene draws on accounts from interviews with British Army veterans, in particular Roy Sellstrom.

Read more stories from these interviews here.

Excerpt 3

This scene between Varney and SJ is inspired by accounts given during interviews with British Army veterans, including Steve Cottam.

Read accounts from these interviews here.

Inspiration

Those who opposed the war

Bloodyminded was inspired by research into World War One conscientious objectors. We found real-life stories of conscientious objection throughout France, Germany and the UK, during the First World War, by investigating archives at the Imperial War Museum [London], Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr [Dresden], Bundesarchiv [Berlin] and Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

All British French German
Louis Lecoin

Louis Lecoin

French View
Käte & Hermann Duncker

Käte & Hermann Duncker

German View
Harold Steele

Harold Steele

British View
Walter Roberts

Walter Roberts

British View
Gaston Rolland

Gaston Rolland

French View
Ernst Friedrich

Ernst Friedrich

German View
Eugène Bévant

Eugène Bévant

French View
Dominik Richert

Dominik Richert

German View

Interviews

Servicemen

Meet the ex-servicemen who served with the British Army and inspired the characters, Varney & Roy. The stories of their experiences were selected from a number of interviews with British Army veterans who generously shared their experiences of training, frontline combat, banter, bullying and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Steve Cottam, photo while serving in Afghanistan

“It’s horrendous. You know, when you start off a day and everybody’s there, and then you finish that day and there’s four dead”

Steve Cottam

Roy Sellstrom, photo

“I saw blokes sat in boiling hot showers that would fucking burn the skin off you, stood there crying because of the job we were doing.”

Roy Sellstrom

FAQ

Who are Blast Theory?

We are a group of artists who make interactive work. We create conversations between strangers online, on the streets and in museums, theatres and cinemas. Read a bit about our history and our approach here  on our website or check out some of our favourite recent projects here.

What is Bloodyminded?

Bloodyminded was a live interactive film produced by Blast Theory that invited audiences to interact; responding to questions directed to them by a narrator who asked them to consider their own relationship with violence – as individuals and as members of a society that continues to wage war on our behalf.

How is it interactive?

The audience do not change the story: they share their own views and experiences. Audiences interacted with the live broadcast by responding to questions put directly to them by the narrator. During the live broadcast, questions appeared on screen and those watching online could type and submit their responses. Audiences in the cinema could use a web interface on their mobile phone to do the same.

How can I watch the film?

You can watch excerpts from Bloodyminded here at bloodyminded.org and on Blast Theory’s YouTube channel.

Did the film really happen live?

Yes. Bloodyminded was shot live in a single continuous 90 minute take on October 14th which was broadcast from in and around Longmoor Training Camp, an army base in Hampshire in the UK.

Can audiences with hearing impairments take part?

If you require a copy of the screenplay script please contact [email protected]

Is there certification for the film?

The film is not certified but we recommend Bloodyminded for ages 14+. It contains some strong language.

Where was Bloodyminded filmed?

The cast and crew filmed and broadcast Bloodyminded live in a single continuous shot from locations in and around Longmoor Training Camp, an army base in Hampshire in the UK.

Where can I find out more about the storyline?

SJ is on a quest … you can read more here.

Who funded the project?

Bloodyminded is co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions and Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts. Created with support from the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union and Polden-Puckham. Media Partner, Pathfinder International. 14-18 NOW is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, and from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Are there subtitles for non-English speakers?

Subtitled film clips are available here on bloodyminded.org and on Blast Theory’s YouTube channel in English, French and German.

Learn about future projects

Sign-up to Blast Theory’s email newsletter to find out about future projects:

 

Bloodyminded was shown online and at the following European cinemas:

Basel – kult.kino atelier, Belfast – Queen’s Film Theatre, Berlin – Sputnik Kino, Berlin – Rollberg Kinos, Brighton – Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, Bristol – Watershed, London – Barbican, Manchester – HOME, Newcastle – Tyneside Cinema

Bloodyminded is a new work by Blast Theory, co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions and Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts. Presented online by Boiler Room’s 4:3. Created with support from the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union (Project601437-CITIZ-1-2018-1-UK-CITIZ-REMEM), The Space and Polden-Puckham. Media Partner, Pathfinder International.

14-18 NOW is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, and from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.