20 - Young people star on the big screen

John Freeman, director of children's services with Heidi Hallbrook and Kesar Abbas

Fifteen young people became stars of the big screen at the premiere of their fostering reality DVD at a Dudley cinema.

The young people have created a gritty four-part reality TV production about how fostering impacts their lives. The group of Dudley fostered teenagers and foster carer's birth children worked together on ‘Fostering reality’ tackling key issues that the young people themselves wanted to highlight. An audience of over 300 people watched the film at the event on 13 March at the Odeon cinema, Merry Hill. The audience then rapturously applauded as each star was given Oscar-style trophies at the premiere by Mayor of Dudley Councillor David Stanley.

The DVD covers bullying, homophobia, emotional and behavioural difficulties and misconceptions of fostering but also showed the fun side of fostering. The young people did the research, acted, interviewed, directed, graphically designed and had editorial control of the final DVD as well as some of the technical operations including camera and sound. ‘Chatback Productions’ was formed after obtaining £20,000 from Mediabox funded through the Department of Children, Schools and Families for the project.

A range of professionals in TV production and performing guided them through the entire process and were supported by their foster carers and two psychologists. Chatback Productions hope that this is the first of many filming projects where they can highlight other issues affecting young people and are currently looking for funding opportunities.

Anyone interested in fostering can contact the fostering team on 01384 815833.

Councillor Liz Walker, cabinet member for children’s services said:

“The young people appearing in the film took their acting roles very seriously and may become screen stars of the future. But there was obviously even more behind-the-scenes hard work that the rest of the team had put in during the production of the four programmes. The fostering service and foster carers can be very proud of the of the teenagers. The night was a fitting recognition of their achievement.”

Note to Editors

Mediabox is a £6 million DCSF fund to help young people have a positive voice in the media. It offers disadvantaged 13-19 year olds the opportunity to develop and produce creative media projects, using film, television, print, radio or online platforms.

Mediabox has offered grants ranging from £100 to £80,000, for projects to be completed and distributed by March 2008. Mediabox is delivered by a consortium led by First Light Movies, in partnership with Media Trust, Skillset and the UK Film Council.

News Release Contact Information

Name:	Jo Whitehouse
Telephone:	01384 813708
Email:	jo.whitehouse@dudley.gov.uk

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