Underground hip hop film-maker put in the spotlight

nlnews@archant.co.uk
15 August 2007

TEDDY NYGH’S documentary will be screened as part of the Portobello Film Festival

A FILM-MAKER who has documented the secretive world of underground hip hop has had his work picked up by a major London film festival.

Teddy Nygh, 28, made his first documentary on the capital's hip hop scene on a shoestring budget - even borrowing his friend's mum's camera to get scenes on film.

Called Clash A Da Tight 1's, the film highlights the wealth of talent in Hornsey - including MOBO Award winner Sway - as well as Tottenham, Leyton, Camden, and Sydney, Australia.

It's been picked for inclusion in the Portobello Film Festival, taking place this weekend in west London.

"It started with me going out on the streets, just me and a camera," said Teddy.

"I was living between London and Australia at the time, and I've been filming backwards and forwards for about a year, and the editing process has been about a year and a half. It has just grown into something massive now."

Teddy, who grew up in Park Avenue North and Nightingale Lane, Hornsey, said he grew up around much of the hip hop talent caught on film.

"I have been into hip hop since I was about seven years old, when I listened to my first Slick Rick, NWA and people like that," said the former Fortismere School pupil.

"I wanted to show it as an art form - it's something people use to express themselves.

"There is so much talent out there but people don't know about it because it's underground.

"The commercial stuff is more violent and materialistic, but the underground is really positive stuff."

Sway met Teddy twice during the making of the film, but he is just the tip of the artistic iceberg, says Teddy.

The acclaimed documentary featuring around 40 artists - some of who have toured the world rapping and DJing - from Blaze Drastic in Hornsey to North Star in Tottenham, and Don Desperados featuring members from Hornsey, Wood Green, Tottenham and Edmonton.

Some are so fresh they don't even have a MySpace site yet - a common self-promotional tool for artists these days.

"People all over the world are expressing themselves through hip hop and it's often misunderstood and neglected," added Teddy. "It's a film that people really need to see."

The documentary will be screened for free as part of the Portobello Film Festival at Westbourne Studios, Acklam Road, W10, on Saturday, at 6.30pm.