Media centre

Tuesday 5 Jan 2010

CALLING YOUNG ACTORS, PRODUCERS AND CREW FOR RAIL SAFETY FILM

Region & Route:

Who: Young people aged 13-19 with an interest in making films or acting.

What: Launch event for project to make railway safety awareness film

Where: Rugeley Youth Centre

When: 7-8pm on 12^th January

Ever wanted to be involved in making a film? Well here is your chance.

Network Rail is teaming up with Staffordshire Youth Service, Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service and Born Communication to work with young people in Rugeley to create a short film about the dangers of trespassing on the local railways.

This project follows on from the success of Stigma – a film produced by young people dealing with arson incidents involving teenagers (visit www.stoparson.co.uk).

Terry Hawkins, Network Rail’s community safety manager said:

“The railway safety message is so important especially in hotspot areas such as Hednesford. Young people need to know about the dangers of the railway and film is a really powerful way of doing this. Network Rail is really looking forward to working on this project and getting the safety message out to as many people as possible.”

Hednesford is known as a hot spot for incidents involving people trespassing on the railways, this is why a local group of young people decided to form R.A.I.L. (Railway Awareness Impacts Lives). The group have developed a series of promotional items that will be distributed to local youth centres and schools. This will eventually include the film once it has been completed.

The search is on for young people to volunteer to be involved in acting or producing a short film. Participants will need to attend workshops on Tuesday evenings every two weeks between January and March. The workshops will be run by media company Born Communication who will guide, train and support the participants to allow them to produce a film at a professional standard. During the workshops the young people will have the opportunity to learn how to use professional equipment, receive expert acting guidance and discover how to produce a film from start to finish.