Real World

Kirsty and Amanda are both 25. Kirsty is finishing a History degree, whilst bringing up her son Mark. As part of the research for her dissertation she interviews Jake, 53, who was a printer on the Scottish Daily News (A national newspaper run by 500 sacked printers, with a bit of help from Tony Benn, in 1975) / Jake was involved in the radical politics of the ‘70s – squatting, gender politics, and, via his lover Rhona, was influenced by the Italian autonomists, Angry Brigade, etc / Amanda starts off working at Gap, then moves from Charity Mugger, via actress and lingerie model, to being a lap dancer – the ultimate service industry. / By following her story it becomes clear that a service industry job doesn’t just take up your time – it gets right inside you and scoops out any kind of authentic response / Bleak stuff… but on the other hand, Kirsty’s growing career as a jazz-singer proves that, despite the mundane irritations of the showbiz world, it is still possible to ‘sing your own song’.