Page 12 - Inspire Autumn/Winter Edition 2017
P. 12

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














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