Button up

INSPIRED by a chain of swaps that went from a paperclip to a house, Graham Kitchener wants to see what one button can make for charity

WHAT'S THE intrinsic value of a bright blue button? Not very much, you might think. However, writer and film director Graham Kitchener reckons a certain bit of haberdashery might, one day, be worth rather a lot to one charity. Inspired by a book called One Red Paperclip by Kyle MacDonald, which documents a Canadian's attempts to trade a single piece of stationery for something of higher value, and then that new object for another, even more desirable, piece and so on (in his case, after 14 exchanges, miraculously ending up with a two storey

house), Edinburgh-based Kitchener intends to swap his item in a similar manner.

The process will be recorded in a documentary, Bright Blue Button, which, fingers crossed, will have its debut at the Edinburgh Film Festival 2010. The stars of this movie will be those who have had their swaps selected by the director and his team. However, before you organise the dry-cleaning of your red carpet outfit, you should know that potential participants are not being encouraged to look at this as a chance to bag a cameo appearance.

"Of course, that's a bonus, but I want people to see the bigger picture," Kitchener explains. "As the director, I'd like this film to inspire others and be the kind of feelgood project that lifts us out of the current gloom."

To spread even more cheer, those who take part will be invited to a knees-up sometime after the process finishes on 1 March 2010 – when, hopefully, an enormous cheque (the proceeds of the sale of the final item) will be presented to a charity.

You see, in comparison to twentysomething MacDonald, who exchanged his red paperclip with a view to lifting himself out of his own financial doldrums, 46-year-old Kitchener is feeling rather more philanthropic.

"I read an article in The Scotsman last October, which explained that charities seemed to be losing out in the downturn," he says. "Then, when I thought about One Red Paperclip, things just gelled in my mind. I e-mailed Kyle, to make sure there weren't any copyright issues, and when he gave me the OK I got started."

It won't necessarily be a cause close to Kitchener's heart that nets the proceeds of the final donation. Each potential swapper, instead, gets to select a charity of their choice when offering up an item – then, at the end of the process, the most-nominated fundraising organisation will be chosen. So far there have been 17 anonymous benefactors. This may not seem a lot, as the project was launched in April, but, as Kitchener says, "Bear in mind, we're currently relying on friends to spread the word. Anyway, the variety of offers we've had so far is enough to start the ball rolling."

As this statement reveals, it's certain that the director of Bright Blue Button hopes the project will have an organic nature, with sheer enthusiasm and positivity helping it gain momentum.

In fact, the notion that they might not end up with something really special at the end of the process hasn't even entered Kitchener's mind.

"It maybe sounds naive, but I've got such a passion for this that failure isn't something that I think about," he says. "I'm certain that once people twig what we're doing, they'll think it's a great concept."

If you want to get an idea of what kind of items have been offered up so far, a few of the more idiosyncratic ones have been posted on the website. These include a breast pump (with the strapline "used, but sterilised"), an orange Biro, a random set of keys and a tartan blanket. These are interesting enough, but there are also a couple of potentially more valuable items, like the first issue of cult comic 2000AD from 1977 and a collectable Han Solo figure.

Also, it's worth noting that, although objects are the only things to have been offered to them so far, the team will also accept activities or experiences (such as a holiday) as potential exchanges for the bright blue button.

Still, according to Kitchener, before the first swap takes place there's a lot of deliberating to be done.

"We don't want to trade our first item too soon," he explains. "Also, I'm doing this whole project with the help of local production company 20/20, who have set up the website and are organising all the film editing for free. So, before we make any decisions, I'll arrange a meeting with the team there, and we'll go though every single item."

Once they've settled on something (MacDonald's first trade for his red paperclip, for example, was a fish-shaped novelty pen), they'll notify the first of the lucky "winners", then head off to pay them a visit, with camera and presenter, 23-year-old model and actress Sam Muirhead, in tow.

"We'll go wherever they are – they could be in Penzance, it doesn't matter, as long as it's UK mainland," says Kitchener. "We'll film the swap taking place with Sam and then do a little interview – so, if there's anything quirky about our subjects, that'd be nice too."

With "swapees" to date filling out the online form in order to offer items such as the breast pump ("It was also billed as 'available in various sizes,' '' laughs the director), it's already obvious that there are a few eccentrics out there. Still, the more idiosyncratic the participants, the more watchable the resulting film. However, as things stand there's already some amusing footage in the bag – namely, Kitchener attempting to cook the star of the movie.

"Once I'd decided on the name, Bright Blue Button, I looked everywhere for one of them," he explains. " I eventually found this haberdashery company in London, but they only had a huge 75mm one in white.

"However, the chap I spoke to there gave me an idea of how I could change its shade, which resulted in a comedic day at my house. You see, you have to boil dye in a container and drop the nylon button in, before something chemical happens and it absorbs the colour. My gosh, it certainly ruined my wok!"

However, Kitchener won't cry over one wrecked pot if his project achieves its aims and he exchanges a mere button for something amazing – perhaps, as happened in One Red Paperclip, they'll end up with a house?

"Just imagine that," he says. "It'd be great – as long as property prices recover.

"However, it doesn't matter what the final item is, every single penny will go to charity, and, for that reason, I hope we get something fabulous." sm

n For information and film updates on swaps, see www.brightbluebutton.com, www.facebook.com or www.twitter.com/Blue_Button