During the 1970ies Derek Jarman who had previously performed the Fine Arts, was drawn to the popular culture. His social life started to revolve around the world of designers, artists and pop musicians like Bryan Ferry, Brian Eno and Amanda Lear - a world he would call the "Glitterati", young and fashionable people characterized by unconventional behaviour and a broadmindedness that would favour Jarman's homosexuality.

In 1977, on the tide of the Punk-movement, Jarman started working on his film "Jubilee" with a budget of 50.000 Pounds. "Jubilee" deals with post-war England, seen through the eyes of Elizabeth I. Elizabeth requests to see the future, the shadow of her own reign, and an angel transfers her to contemporary (1977) Britain - a Britain ruled by anarchy, mayhem and degeneration. Jarman titled this film "A New Wave Movie" and said it was a portrayal of "the war between all factions of society". Female punk Mad is played by singer Toyah Wilcox, and ritualistic victim Kid is played by Adam Ant. The soundtrack for "Jubilee" featured songs by Brian Eno and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Two years later, Jarman did a promotional film for Marianne Faithfull's album "Broken English": it featured the three album tracks "Broken English", "Witches' Song" and "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" and is mostly made up of some imagery from previous films such as "Jubilee". This was the beginning of a new era for Jarman, for in the 1980ies he felt drawn to the world of pop music's promotional videos. His first attempts however are not very exciting: the early videos for Lords of the New Church or Wang Chung either focussed on the band's performance or were made up of leftover material.

In 1980, Jarman (in collaboration with James McKay) had shot a short film about Industrial Music's mastermind Genesis P. Orridge and Throbbing Gristle performing at London's gay club "Heaven". It was shown at the Berlin Film Festival, but did not receive much acclaim, mainly for the outrageous and noisy sound. Another collaboration with Orridge was to be a documentary film on William Burroughs' appearance at the Final Academy Event, co-organized by Orridge.

By the late 1980ies Derek Jarman's finances had been eased a little by his work for popular bands like Pet Shop Boys or The Smiths (who of course expressed a bit of irony by letting Jarman do their videos). Music videos seemed to become Jarman's main source of income.
 
> The final show
 

Scene from Jubilee (Jordan and Toyah)