MUSIC IS THE ANSWER; THE BECOMING OF 432 FILMS
Author: Sarah Cox, Senior Marketing Specialist
Music, more specifically dance music has always been at the heart of our business. It’s what lead us to working with dance music-based charity, The Last Night a DJ Saved My Life Foundation (LNADJ) who have played a pivotal role in the becoming of 432 Films. We are award-nominated film-makers and videographers, with music engrained in our DNA. Here’s how it all began…
Let us roll back to 2012 when 432 Films founder and DJ, Neil Kemp was working under the brand Clubaholic, filming and interviewing the Leeds city nightlife club scene.
Following a technical mishap during an interview with international DJ Danny Rampling [who at the time, was one of LNADJ’s lead ambassadors], the footage revealed that no audio had been picked up during filming. Feeling responsible for wasting Danny’s time, Neil contacted Danny’s agent and was able to secure another interview at Danny’s next gig, playing at the launch party of LNADJ’s House the House, a nationwide DJ competition aiming to get the younger generation off the streets and into creative endeavours.
The start of a beautiful relationship
Having always wanted to get involved with a charity, Neil stuck around to film the rest of the event and met the LNADJ management team, Jonny Lee, Jim McNulty and James Holdsworth. Neil has been involved with the charity ever since, as their official video production manager.
Later that year, Jonny invited Neil to Ibiza where they attended Carl Cox’s 50th birthday party and met legendary DJ’s and music producers, George Evelyn [Nightmares on Wax] Andrew Lovell, aka Shovell the Drum Warrior, as well as LNADJ Chairman Russell Clements, also the founder of global recruitment business SThree, which would later lead to an introduction with Gary Goldsmith, former SThree contract founder in 2014.
On that same trip to Ibiza, Neil secured an interview at “We Love Space", with legendary DJ and LNADJ ambassador, DJ Alfredo, aka the godfather of Balearic Beat and met again in 2014 when Alfredo was playing at an LNADJ fundraiser. It was at this event that Neil was formally introduced to Gary Goldsmith, co-founder of the recruitment network RDLC.
“Are you ready for some work?”
In early 2016 Neil launched 432 Films, with the aim of entering into corporate markets. That year whilst visiting LNADJ founder Jonny in Ibiza, he met James Del Gatto from Black Slate, marketing services supplier to RDLC. Talk turned to business and James offered to keep 432 Films front of mind for corporate filming work.
True to his word, James called Neil in late 2018 offering 432 Films a job to film RDLC's World Recruitment Summit conference in Ibiza. The job had to be turned down, as Neil was about to set off to film LNADJ’s Mt. Kilimanjaro climb, helping to raise funds to build a new unit at Share Tanzania, Feathers Tale Children’s Village.
Jump in to January 2019 and another call from James: “are you ready for some work?” This was the start of 432 Films’ relationship with RDLC and a huge step into the corporate world of filming and video production.
The cause and effect
The electronic music industry has created [and profited from] the opportunities engaged by many of the worlds corporations, from brand activation and marketing via sponsorships, through to the acquisition of creative and tech-savvy talent – and in our case, it would lead us on a journey to becoming 432 Films.
Neil says: “If it hadn’t been for the dance music industry, the people I met on the scene and the initial support I got from LNADJ, 432 Films wouldn’t be where it is today. Ok, you could say I was in the right place at the right time, but LNADJ welcomed me into a community born out of love for electronic music, which has allowed me to achieve the vision I had for 432 Films - and we’re still growing.
It saddens me to hear stories like the one released by Mix Mag (22 March 2024) and the article published in The London Evening Standard (03 April 2024) by DJ Fat Tony, about the financial and not-to-mention, health struggles [the aforementioned] DJ Alfredo (age 71) is going through, having suffered a stroke in 2021. The electronic dance music industry is worth $11.3 billion dollars globally, yet the industry still isn’t doing enough to help those who have spent years crafting their skill in order to entertain the masses through the positive energy that is music.”
In a world that revolves around money and profiteering, it’s easy to forget that many DJ’s and other musicians have shared their craft, not for status or profits, but for the love of the music. Just as the football industry champions and takes care of its retired legends, shouldn’t the electronic music industry be doing their bit to support its early pioneers?
Sure, the industry has a positive impact on the global economy and through charities like LNADJ, it is already supporting many of its communities with mental health and wellbeing initiatives, investment into education and training and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion to name a few. But, there is more that needs to be done for those who have shared their craft and helped shape the electronic music industry into what it is today.
Jonny, Founder, LNADJ says: “Having followed Alfredo’s musical journey and his integral part in shaping dance music culture and the birth of Ibiza’s iconic global recognition as the party island it is known for, it is time to play tribute and thanks to this.
As with many births of music subculture, there are always a number of unsung heroes and Alfredo is certainly one of those. Not only was he the back bone for all that has been termed Balearic, but he was also the first LNADJ international ambassador chosen for that very reason. He supported our mission from the very beginning and whenever I asked him to DJ, he would play for free. It seems that when a DJ like Alfredo reaches a certain age, which can naturally lead to health issues, that the scene should take stock and pay it forward to honour our DJ heritage.
To quote Winston Churchill: “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we gave.” This is certainly evidenced in the case of our longstanding charity partner 432 Films, and just one example of how music can be instrumental in the development and growth of businesses today.”
And so you see, this is why music and charity, namely LNADJ, is deep-rooted in our DNA. As the industry did for us, it is only right that we give back to the industry that made us. It goes without saying that we aim to put the same passion and belief that was given to us, into every piece of work we deliver for our clients.
Music is the answer; it’s in our DNA.
To support DJ Alfredo or The Last Night A DJ Saved My Life Foundation, you can do so here:
Alfredo Needs You
The Last Night A DJ Saved My Life Foundation
About us:
432 Films continues to be the official videographer for The Last Night A DJ Saved My Life Foundation, RDLC and RDLC member businesses. We also work within many other corporate sectors such as hospitality, virtual reality, security and construction.
Having spent year’s working on many non-corporate filming projects, we will soon be launching another production company, which will see us working across creative filmmaking projects.
With special thanks to:
The Last Night A DJ Saved My Life Foundation - a charitable foundation that creates fundraising initiatives to support grassroots projects that make a difference in the lives of children and young people in the UK and Developing Countries through the power of music and art.
The RDLC – a network for ambitious recruitment business leaders.
Black Slate Consulting – a marketing services provider for the recruitment sector.