The Youth Reach Media project is an ambitious partnership project with Action for Children to support young people in care or leaving care to make a film about the often complex issues faced by our young people today.
Over 12 workshop sessions held at Donut Studios in Chesterfield, the participants are working closely with Film City Productions to write, act in, produce, direct and edit a short film.
Numerous ideas were explored, and the participants were encouraged to write from real life experiences. The script has now been written and the film will explore the themes of loneliness, addiction and stereotyping. Various film styles and genres were discussed and it was decided that the young people would play the main characters. Animation will be integral to the film and will utilise the skills of on of the participants, Lauren MacColl who recently graduated for Lincoln University.
Filming is now well underway and once completed sound tracks will be added and editing will begin. As far as possible industry methods and professional standards have been adhered to thus equipping the participants with the knowledge about the reality of working in the film industry. This is a particular strength of Film City. Film City Productions is a digital arts & media development agency based in the East Midlands. The team have extensive experience of work in the independent, broadcast and community sectors, professional development and educational media both across the UK and internationally.
This kind of project is well worth the time and energy spent on it.
What would be untold is if this kind of project were to be done in other locations around the country. And not just in the south which is where I am from and still live, but in many different locations.
Even projects involving kids and teenagers from different areas in a short film production, showing the effect that the latest recession is having on the kids and their families.