Page 12 - Inspire Autumn/Winter Edition 2017

PROLONGING

LIFE

Smoking – there’s no denying its link to lung
cancer. 85% of lung cancer cases are smoking
related so, if we want lung cancer prevalence to
decrease, we need to continue to help people to
quit smoking or stop them from smoking in the
first place. Tobacco companies, though, are very
clever at recruiting the next generation of
smokers, using their vulnerability, their naivety
and even their rebellious streak.
“This year’s group really embraced the project.
With two out of three smokers starting before the They’re a highly creative bunch and are very funny
age of 18, we need a way to counteract this; one and witty so they decided to go against the grain and
that educates but doesn’t preach, that informs but produce a film that got the message across in a more
doesn’t patronise. This is exactly the aim of our light-hearted way rather than in the serious way
Cut Films project. previous entries have done. I think that’s what made
it stand out so much.”
In July, we gathered at
Curzon Soho, London, for The film – Tar Noire – uses humour to not only
the annual National Cut highlight the dangers of smoking on a person’s
Films Awards, celebrating health, but also cleverly incorporates the many
all the films produced in other issues surrounding tobacco, including costs,
the last 12 months. chemicals in a cigarette, media influence,
environmental impact and child labour
The Overall Judges’ Choice award winning film exploitation in the production of cigarettes. It is a
was created by a group of secondary school great film that highlights all of the issues covered
students from St Francis of Assisi in Liverpool. in the Cut Films workshops.
Inspire caught up with the school’s drama teacher,
Nicola Ousey, to talk about the impact of the It was a risky approach to
project and their unique take on it: take but the group were
able to strike a perfect
balance, scooping the top
“This was the second year our school has
participated in the Cut Films project; last year all of prize at both the
our Year 8 students were involved and this year we Liverpool and National
offered it to our drama students. Cut Films Awards.

Nicola explains how the
“It is a fantastic project – essentially students are
learning something that is going to prolong their life. team came up with such
The project is done in a highly engaging way because an original idea:
they’re also learning about film making and film
genre as well as important qualities like collaboration
and teamwork – all those things you want to foster in
young people.

Filmmakers of ‘Tar Noire’ won the National Overall Judges’ Choice award as well as an iPad each

12 Inspire 2017