One Friday night a few weeks ago, the upstairs room at Sandown Library was buzzing with activity.
Packed with local politicians, members of the Police, community groups and local businesses, the venue was hosting the premiere of a new film made by a group of young people.
A film about living in the Bay area
Members of the Sandown and Lake Youth Forum had chosen to work with film director and lecturer, Bruce Webb, to make a place-changing piece of art.
Supported by youth workers from Community Action and working as part of the Artswork-funded Supporting Young Minds project delivered on the Isle of Wight through The Island Collection with Independent Arts, the young people created a film about the experience of living in the Bay area.
Involved in all aspects
The last few months have seen the young people getting involved in all aspects of the production, from planning the content and conducting the interviews, to filming and sound recording.
Bruce supported them with tuition and editing, but the young people took care of everything else.
Powerful and thought-provoking film
The result is a powerful and thought-provoking film, Do Something Different, which has already started conversations which the young people hope will end in the Bay becoming a better place for young people.
More places to go and things to do was highlighted as an issue and the irony of some local politicians in the room being responsible for previously voting in a way that resulted in the loss of youth clubs and youth services was not lost on some of those watching the film.
Ending on a positive note
Although the film tackles issues such as knife crime, hate crime and vandalism, it ends on a positive note, with a focus on the benefits of the landscape and Island’s Biosphere Reserve status.
The premiere of the film was met with high praise and great applause, and the articulate young people delivered insightful answers in the Q&A that followed.
Congratulations to Cayden Cornwell, Betty George, Adin Gumus, Oliver Mclean MYP, Olivia Padina-Gray, Finn Lenard Parson, Evan J H Simpson, Camryn Staley, Jaeden M Staley and Maria Thacker.
Watch the film
You can now watch the film yourselves by clicking on the play button below. Hit the full screen icon (the broken box in bottom right hand corner) to make it larger.
