For me, the idea of making a film was an organic one that grew out of having more time to think about creative projects than music ones after years of running my independent label Invada Records. Growing up in Portishead, I had close friends who were ravers, including Marc Bessant and Rob Williams – both writers involved in the creation of Game.
Initially, we set out to make a horror film where our protagonist faced rabid dogs; however, after a while, we decided that it was going to be something different. We went with an idea inspired by JG Ballard's Concrete Island: someone trapped upside down in an old car. The character initially had a more sinister plot, but then we turned the script into a story set during the dying days of rave culture.
That was when I thought of Sleaford Mods' Jason Williamson, who would not only bring that edgy energy to our film but also possess a real talent for acting due to his own father's rabbiting past.
In terms of recreating the 90s rave scene on film, it was actually quite challenging, although we did manage to capture some pivotal moments from that time. For me, the beauty in Portishead – or Bristol – lay not in its flashy outfits but rather in the humble clothes people wore.
We found a way to do justice to the culture of the time by looking at old footage and buying many of our outfit pieces on eBay. It was an effort to keep things grounded. The 90s rave scene wasn't all about high fashion; it was more about everyday kids in normal clothing who still had this wild energy.
Our film, Game, is now going to be shown at the Clevedon Curzon – a venue with amazing history where my own love for cinema first began when I watched Blue Thunder as a teenager. The old cinema holds special meaning and has played a key role in shaping our music over the years.
It's interesting to reflect that some of our songs have become synonymous with specific moments or emotions, especially our track 'Roads'. In its 50-second opening, we get goosebumps every time; it reminds us of that first moment when you're lost and yet somehow found.
In terms of influence from other music, I must admit to being moved by Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet – particularly the intro to Contract on the World Love Jam. The combination of church bells and powerful beats never fails to get my adrenaline pumping.
On Myspace, we would release instrumentals for some talented MCs who were just starting out. That was an incredible time where discovery was possible through shared music websites; it allowed us to help artists achieve their potential, such as Guilty Simpson or Tone Tank, and people like Jonwayne are even teaching others about music.
When I see other musicians struggling because of the business side, that's what leaves me feeling down – frustrated by the lack of recognition for truly talented artists who are doing genuine work.
Initially, we set out to make a horror film where our protagonist faced rabid dogs; however, after a while, we decided that it was going to be something different. We went with an idea inspired by JG Ballard's Concrete Island: someone trapped upside down in an old car. The character initially had a more sinister plot, but then we turned the script into a story set during the dying days of rave culture.
That was when I thought of Sleaford Mods' Jason Williamson, who would not only bring that edgy energy to our film but also possess a real talent for acting due to his own father's rabbiting past.
In terms of recreating the 90s rave scene on film, it was actually quite challenging, although we did manage to capture some pivotal moments from that time. For me, the beauty in Portishead – or Bristol – lay not in its flashy outfits but rather in the humble clothes people wore.
We found a way to do justice to the culture of the time by looking at old footage and buying many of our outfit pieces on eBay. It was an effort to keep things grounded. The 90s rave scene wasn't all about high fashion; it was more about everyday kids in normal clothing who still had this wild energy.
Our film, Game, is now going to be shown at the Clevedon Curzon – a venue with amazing history where my own love for cinema first began when I watched Blue Thunder as a teenager. The old cinema holds special meaning and has played a key role in shaping our music over the years.
It's interesting to reflect that some of our songs have become synonymous with specific moments or emotions, especially our track 'Roads'. In its 50-second opening, we get goosebumps every time; it reminds us of that first moment when you're lost and yet somehow found.
In terms of influence from other music, I must admit to being moved by Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet – particularly the intro to Contract on the World Love Jam. The combination of church bells and powerful beats never fails to get my adrenaline pumping.
On Myspace, we would release instrumentals for some talented MCs who were just starting out. That was an incredible time where discovery was possible through shared music websites; it allowed us to help artists achieve their potential, such as Guilty Simpson or Tone Tank, and people like Jonwayne are even teaching others about music.
When I see other musicians struggling because of the business side, that's what leaves me feeling down – frustrated by the lack of recognition for truly talented artists who are doing genuine work.
their idea to make a horror movie but then changed direction to something more meaningful is actually really inspiring 
i love that they went for everyday kids in normal clothes who still had this wild energy - no fancy outfits needed 
it makes me think about my own projects and how we can keep things grounded and true to ourselves. also, their story about releasing instrumentals on Myspace to help up-and-coming artists is so awesome 
gotta support the talent who's doing genuine work
just saw this interview with Geoff Barrow from Portishead and I'm low-key emotional about it... 
they've got an amazing discography too - have you listened to their album 'Dummy'? 
stats: 
btw, I love how Geoff emphasizes the importance of humility in fashion during the 90s rave scene - it's all about the everyday kids in normal clothes who still had that wild energy 
. and can we talk about the nostalgia factor? 
they're showing their film 'Game' at a legendary cinema in Clevedon... where my own love for cinema first began when I watched Blue Thunder as a teenager 
.
and it's no surprise why - that album dropped in 1990 & has been certified gold by the RIAA. 
what's your favorite music memory?
. Jason Williamson is gonna bring so much energy to that film, can't wait to see it 
Game and Roads always give me chills too 
I'm all about those indie labels and Myspace days, it's crazy how much music changed with the internet 
. I love how they're not going for a flashy, high-fashion approach but instead embracing that DIY spirit of everyday kids having wild energy 
. That's what made the music scene so special back then.
, that Fear of a Black Planet album is a classic! And Myspace nostalgia 
is real – I had some of my earliest memories listening to Guilty Simpson and Tone Tank on there 
. Sometimes it feels like talented artists get overlooked because they're not playing by the 'mainstream' rules 
. I hope this film can bring some attention to the real OGs out there 
.
anyway he talks about how he wants to create a film that stays true to the 90s rave scene without getting caught up in the glam aspect, and idk why but theres something really inspiring about that