Reposted from Channel 4 Press website
In an unprecedented live television event, Channel 4 is to hand over creative control to six world-class DJs, including Grandmaster Flash and Annie Mac. And on the same night, Idris Elba returns to count down the defining moments of the greatest cultural phenomenon of our generation in a two-hour film, How Clubbing Changed the World.
In the past DJs have taken over warehouses, fields, car-parks and derelict office blocks. This summer, for the first time ever, DJs take control of a national broadcaster to bring the country together with a six-hour House Party.
With no advert breaks, no commentary and no interruptions, this all night takeover will see a line-up of top international DJs play live to the nation with six hour-long sets in a clubbing experience like no other – this is not a programme about clubbing; this is the club. Channel 4 will turn the television into the ultimate DJ booth with the party blasting through the TV, phone and laptop screens, without the mediation of a presenter or studio audience, to transform living rooms, bedroom and bars across the nation into dance floors.
Commissioned by Arts Commissioner Tabitha Jackson, and part of the London 2012 Festival, this six-hour live event is a visually exciting, experimental and interactive night of music, highlighting the importance of innovation in Arts on Channel 4. House Party aims to push the boundaries of conventional programming and offer audiences a totally new party experience.
Jackson said: ‘There are four things about this all-nighter that excite me. Firstly, almost every element is uncharted territory: from the visual artists having to transform our screens by responding live to the DJs; to the scale of the real time on-screen and online interactivity; to the DJs having to reach directly into our living rooms rather than playing to a venue. If we can pull it off, we will have created a pretty unique experience.'
‘Secondly, great DJing is about much more than just hitting play and standing there with your hands in the air. We are about to get up-close and personal with some of the world best exponents of the real art of turntablism.'
‘2012 is also the perfect summer for this television event. Not only does it mark 20 years since the ultimate free rave at Castlemorton, the weather has been rubbish and money is tight. There's never been a better time for us to throw the ultimate house-party bring an awesome line up of talent directly into your living room for free. All you have to worry about is making sure you have enough friends and big speakers.'
‘Perhaps the most radically innovative element of the night is that, in direct contrast to the new on-demand TV landscape, House Party is a genuine one off. It will not be repeated and it will not be available on 4oD. Like all the best club nights and parties if you want to be there you do have to actually turn up. Don't miss the House Party…'
The DJs – many of whom are stadium fillers and festival favourites in their own right – will leave their meticulously prepared ‘main-stage' sets at home to go back to their DJ roots. The line-up will include a founding father of New York rap, the legendary Grandmaster Flash and internationally renowned club and radio DJ and new talent champion Annie Mac with further names to be announced in due course. In addition to the top DJ talent on offer, a selection of the nation's most exciting cutting edge VJs, computer animators and graphic artists will provide a constant video and graphics, playing visual sets every bit as live and unrehearsed as the DJs' musical selections.
Alongside the DJs and VJs, the booth will also include a brand new third element of the clubbing experience: Social Media Controllers, who will provide a live and super-reactive link between the audience and the booth. Just like at any other nightclub or house party, people on the dance floor in their homes around the UK will be able to shout out their requests, chat to each other, salute a genius selection (or boo a dud) through the many social media sites hooked up to the booth online and via the House Party website.
House Party (1 x 6 hours) is made by ACME Films (Life of Rhyme and The Antics Roadshow and Banksy All Nighter, from Channel 4's Street Summer 2011). The executive producer is Jaimie D'Cruz (Exit Through The Gift Shop, Grierson Award 2010, Bafta and Oscar nominated 2011) and Paul Dugdale is the director (director of live shows and music videos for The Prodigy, Florence and The Machine, Metronomy, Jessie J and Faithless).
HOW CLUBBING CHANGED THE WORLD
Before the live takeover begins in House Party, and following the success of 2011's How Hip Hop Changed The World and featuring some of the biggest names in dance music, actor and international DJ Idris Elba returns to count down the defining moments of the greatest cultural phenomenon of our generation in a two-hour film, How Clubbing Changed the World.
Twenty-five years since the birth of Rave, a new generation of British DJs and producers are at the forefront of a global musical revolution. With personal insights and club-raising anecdotes from David Guetta, Armand van Helden, Paul Oakenfold, Will I Am, Nile Rodgers, Goldie, Pete Tong, Katy B, Skream and former Home Secretary Michael Howard plus many more this entertaining and thought-provoking two-hour film celebrates the British success story that has conquered the world.
How Clubbing Changed the World explores how clubbing went from a counter cultural movement that defined a generation to a multi-billion pound business whilst revealing how 25 years on Great Britain is still king of the underground.
This 1 x 120m film is produced by Fresh One Productions, executive produced by Jeremy Lee and Idris Elba, and directed by Sam Bridger.
How Clubbing Changed the World will be broadcast Friday 24th August at 10pm, and House Party will go out live from midnight to 6am. @C4houseparty
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