Actor and Writer, Richard Clements, has collaborated with the Digital Film Archive on several projects over the years. He talks about them now, and how the archive was able to enhance his vision.

The first time I used the archive was for a music video, ‘Solitaire’ (https://youtu.be/ip_DfAiQD-s), which featured old clips of Bangor. I'm from there, so searching through the videos was a real pleasure. The clip that most stands out was one of people dancing, down by the old Pickie Pool.

Since then, I have used the archive on two major projects. How to Bury a Dead Mule is a theatre show about my grandfather, and it incorporated a considerable amount of archive material. I remember we sourced footage of Lough Erne to stand in for the waters of Sicily, which was built into the video design for the show. On StoryMakers – a Northern Ireland Screen and Belfast Stories project – I used archival footage of the River Lagan for one of the pieces, a deeply personal film, ‘O’Connell’s Weir’ about my mum's childhood, growing up by the Ormeau Embankment.

To be able to delve into a resource like the Digital Film Archive is incredible for any creative. My relationship with the DFA, across multi-disciplinary projects has been so rewarding and collaborative. The archive has contributed immensely to my creative growth as an artist. 

I firmly believe in the power of preserving storytelling. The archive stands as a testament to the stories shaped and shared across the North of Ireland for decades. Our moving image heritage forms a vital visual thread in that continuing narrative. It is essential that we remember where we come from, learn from those who came before us, and recognise how our humanity is shaped by people, place, and the connections they inspire.

Watch "O'Connell's Weir" 

View more from the "Storymakers" project here