The Research
It was a project that fully embraced the BU ethos of inspiring and is one of the more distinctive examples of staff/student co-creation on which the university is building an even greater reputation.
BU staff and students have been involved in a ground-breaking project looking at positioning, ageing and gay life in rural areas of South West England and Wales, which resulted in Rufus Stone – a powerful, short film produced by members of the university with key support from industry professionals.
A film about love, sexual awakening and treachery, it starred popular TV actor William Gaunt.
The research was conducted as a part of the ‘Gay and Pleasant Land?’ research project funded by Research Councils UK, with BU’s involvement led by Reader in Performative Social Science, Dr Kip Jones.
Through an exploration of the recollections, perceptions and storied biographies of older lesbians and gay men and their rural experiences, the project focused on connectivity and the intersections between place, space, age and identity. Connectivity and identity were central concepts within the project, used to develop an understanding of how sense of belonging may be negotiated within a rural context.
As the foundation of the project, a postgraduate student from BU’s School of Health & Social Care carried out in-depth, biographical interviews with older gay and lesbian community members in rural South West England and Wales. In addition, site visits and a focus group were conducted.
Inspired by the stories and testimonies uncovered, Dr Jones and his BU team created ‘composite’ characters, giving the film its unique ‘fictional’ presentation of the research findings and the themes explored.
Rufus Stone enjoyed a successful ‘World Premiere’ at BU in November, 2011 and scooped two awards at the prestigious Rhode Island International Film Festival the following summer. Further impact and acclaim will greet the film as it is screened at festivals and conferences around the world.
The Academic
What made the filming so special for me was the opportunity for Media School students and recent graduates to be part of the crew that shot Rufus Stone on location in south west England. They mixed seamlessly with seasoned London crew members, producing top-notch professional filmmaking by working with an award-winning director, Josh Appignanesi (“The Infidel”) and cinematographer, Annika Summerson.
The resulting film really has impact, challenging convention and stereotypes about sexuality that are often overlooked in terms of ageing issues. In the finished film, Rufus Stone, we also have something beautiful and tangible, an artistic vehicle to really showcase our research findings in a memorable and dramatic way, truly a fusion of art and science. What I think the film has done is dispel many of the myths surrounding ageing, being gay and life in Britain’s rural setting. The really important aspect of this project, however, is the trail that we leave. It is great that our finished product is not simply written journal articles or a book, but a film, a powerful visual record, the most tangible and important output that we can achieve.
The Student
After graduating from Bournemouth University Media School in the summer of 2011, I made the decision to become a freelance sound assistant and boom operator. Rufus Stone was the very first project that I became involved in after making this transition, and it proved to be a very pivotal production for me. Although the process of film making on BA Television Production was very different technically to Rufus Stone, the underlying values of professionalism and drive for perfection were found both in my academic and industrial experiences.
The production itself was a joy to work on, the attitude of the crew being the key factor. The willingness to explain and aid those of us who were inexperienced in professional filmmaking meant that the variations that I did find between academic and professional sets were exciting rather than daunting.
The Impact
I am absolutely blown over by how good Rufus Stone is. This film was as good as most Oscar-nominated shorts, and vastly superior to many. In my opinion, it was just about as good as a short film gets. Anyone of any age and background can sit and watch this film, understand it, learn from it and emotionally connect to it. If research is intended to teach, illuminate, shed light on topics of import and challenge our assumptions, Rufus Stone is an exemplary piece of research.
Kip Jones
