Gorilla Tapes

Gorilla Tapes was the collective name of British Scratch Video artists Jon Dovey (b 1955), Gavin Hodge (b 1954) and Tim Morrison [1](b. 1955). 'Scratch' is the art of 'sampling' and repeating found images and sounds, thereby making a new work. With simple video editing equipment and images recorded from television, during the mid 1980’s Gorilla Tapes made sharp satirical and political videos collaged from old film footage and the TV news imagery of the mid-Thatcher years. Gorilla Tapes have exhibited internationally in solo and group exhibitions. Highlights include participation in Tate Britain's A Century of Artists Films (2003).

Gorilla Tapes was founded in 1984 by Gavin Hodge, Tim Morrison, John Dovey and Jean McClements, to develop innovative approaches to the artistic use of Video in entertainment, documentary and dramatics forms. Our first production Death Valley Days pioneered and developed the editing style and techniques of Scratch Video.

We have since produced programmes ranging through non-broadcast, corporate and educational videos to magazine strands, drama, arts, documentary and entertainment programmes for the BBC, ITV, Sony, Channel Four, The British Film Institute and the former Greater London Council.

Our work has received popular and critical acclaim both at home and abroad and has been shown extensively at film and video festivals throughout the world.

Gorilla Tapes is also involved in lecturing and running workshops in editing technique, copyright, video production and writing in Europe and the Americas. Since the late 80's we formed creative and commercial production partnerships in Germany and in the early 90's Gorilla Tapes completed production of a BFI documentary on the work of the Photomonteur John Heartfield with Art+Com in Berlin and have been involved in production with ECG-TV in Frankfurt and Sony Deutschland in Cologne. Gavin Hodge is now based in Germany writing directing historical documentary, Tim Morrison in London works for ITV's arts department on the documentary series, the South Bank Show, Gavin Hodge and Tim Morrison still remain in contact and work together from time to time. Jon Dovey lectures in Video Production in the West of England and VJs at gigs with Rik Lander of the Duvet Bros.

1984 Death Valley Days
1985 Lo Pay, No Way!
1987 The Media Show
1987 Invisible Television 1989 Bilderwerk I
1990 Bilderwerk II
1991 Zygosis “John Heartfield and the Political Image”

     * Grand Prix Best Short Film, 33rd Bilbao International Film Festival, 1991.
     * Silver Hugo Award, Chicago International Film Festival, 1991.
     * Best TV Documentary Prize, Cadiz International Video Festival, 1991,
     * Red Riband, American Film Institute Festival, 1992.

See also

• Scratch Video