When researching competitors I discovered a number of films concerning the effects of discrimination, but found the majority were of a similar format and therefore were unable to create any unique meaningful impact on their audience. In most cases victims describe their experiences by speaking directly to a camera and, though very heart wrenching, I felt that one story almost merged with the next and did not have any lasting effect. This confirmed to me my initial idea of wanting to create something more unique and thought provoking.
There are various educational resources available addressing the issue of discrimination and schools teach children about diversity and tolerance as part of the curriculum. Ostracised will be aimed at a slightly older audience, 16-22, and will encourage viewers to question their own views and behaviour.
The Harms of Hate, by the University of Leicester, in Association with the Leicester Hate Crime Project
(University Of Leicester, 2014).
(University Of Leicester, 2014).
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| Screenshot from Film. (UniversityLeicester, 2014). |
This film was released by the University in February 2014 to highlight the effects of hate crimes by telling the story of seven different victims of a range of prejudices, including religion, race, mental and physical disability and simply the way a person chooses to dress. The film takes the format of the seven people speaking directly to the camera explaining what happened and the effect it had on them, sometimes physically and sometimes psychologically, with one victim being driven to attempt suicide. The film was 14 minutes, which I felt was too long, as having one person speak after another became monotonous with no variation to the format and nothing to challenge the audience to think for themselves. This confirmed my intention to make a short film of approximately 5 minutes, to keep the audience's attention and to try to challenge them by creating a film which needed interpretation.
The film ended with details of a number of charities to contact for support. This inspired me to include details of my website at the end of my film, as my website has information and direct links to relevant organisations which can offer support. However, I decided not to include these charity details at the end of my film, as I aim to bring particular attention to the work of The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, which I will be mentioning at the end of my film, and do not want to detract from the work of this particular charity.
Dark Angel, The Sophie Lancaster Foundation in Association with Illamasqua
(SophieFoundation, 2009).
(SophieFoundation, 2009).
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| Screenshot from Dark Angel Film. (SophieFoundation, 2009). |
The short film Dark Angel, by renowned French director Fursy Teyssier, was commissioned by Illamasqua in support of The Sophie Lancaster Foundation and released on YouTube in November 2009 to mark what would have been Sophie Lancaster's 23rd birthday. It tells the story of Sophie, who was attacked and killed in 2007 simply for the way she looked and dressed; as a member of the Goth culture. Her mother, Sylvia, subsequently set up the foundation to create a lasting legacy to Sophie, to create educational resources to encourage people to be tolerant of alternative subcultures and to campaign for prejudice against them to be covered by UK Hate Crime legislation. (ILLAMASQUA, 2017)
Dark Angel is a short animated film of just 3 minutes 50 seconds. In discussions with Sylvia Lancaster, she explained to me that it was created specifically to increase empathy levels amongst young people, as research had shown this age group lacked empathy, and that in her experience of showing the film in colleges and schools it had helped audiences achieve a better understanding of the emotional torment suffered by victims of discrimination. I found the film very emotional and liked that it was short, made a statement and then left me thinking about Sophie, what she had suffered and why. The film put its anti-discrimination message across in a different way, without a victim speaking directly to camera, and it asked its audience to empathise with the victims; both of which are points I aim to include in my film as I think they made the film more memorable.
I noticed that the film's acknowledgements and credits began a full minute before the end of the film, which I felt was too long, especially for such a short film, as it lost my attention and so I stopped reading. Additionally they followed a written message from Sylvia Lancaster in support of the foundation, which I did find touching; however it added to the bulk of writing which, towards the end, lost my interest. I will try to keep the credits short and concise; however I do like the idea of a short message or slogan at the end of the film to give the audience a final message for them to contemplate and I intend to include The Sophie Lancaster Foundation's 'Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere" at the end of my film. Additionally, the film is mentioned under Aims on the foundation's website but I did not find any direct link to it on the site. This has confirmed to me the importance of creating easy to use links to relevant information on my own site as I found it frustrating that I couldn't find the film quickly.
Untitled by Nick Knight, in collaboration with Naomi Campbell
(SHOWStudio, 2008).
(SHOWStudio, 2008).
 |
| Screenshot of Untitled Film. (Knight, 2008). |
Untitled is a political fashion film addressing the problem of lack of diversity in the UK fashion industry where racism is apparently accepted, with the vast majority of fashion models still being white despite the UK's increasingly multi racial society (SHOWStudio, 2008). The film uses quotes from Nick Knight to express his disgust at racism in the industry and how it must make non-white models feel. The film is silent, allowing the stark statements on his own personal experience of being dissuaded from employing black models and how this has made him feel, speak for themselves. Interspersed with pictures of Naomi Campbell pointing two automatic rifles towards the camera, the film ends with her venting her anger and frustration at this discrimination by firing rounds indiscriminately, supported by a powerful cannon. The eerie silence of the film and necessity to read the quotes on the screen keep the viewers' attention, before they are shocked by the dramatic ending. In Ostracised the story will be told through abstract visuals, rather than by a written message, with avant-garde styling, makeup and editing needing to be interpreted by the audience to understand the anti-discrimination message. I found the silence effective in creating emotion and will use this in parts of my film, combined with recorded sound effects to create atmosphere and reflect She's changing emotions.
TES.com Teachers TV : Homophobia
(Teachers TV, 2013).
(Teachers TV, 2013).
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| Screenshot from Teachers TV (2013). |
The TES website is a resource for teachers providing advice on job opportunities, updates on developments in teaching and a range of teaching resources, including a series of videos designed to encourage discussion on a number of subjects covered by PSHE lessons, such as discrimination and bullying (Teachers TV, 2013). This video focuses on a boy bullied for his sexuality and is aimed at 11-16 year olds. It is predominantly the victim speaking to camera about his experiences, how it affected him emotionally, how he dealt with the situation and his advice to other victims of bullying. The film is short and keep's the viewer's attention, encouraging sympathy for the victim's distressing situation, but I felt I was being talked at and just absorbing information rather than being encouraged to question the bullies' behaviour and the trauma they created. If this video is used in a class situation, it can be used as a starting point with a teacher encouraging the pupils to ask questions and delve more deeply into the subject after watching the film. However, with Ostracised I intend to create a film which forces its audience to ask questions right from the beginning in order to interpret the film, its setting and its underlying meaning, so that it can stand alone as a thought-provoking film and leave its audience wondering about She's own particular circumstances, interpreting them as it is most relevant to themselves and so empathising with her situation.
I found looking at some of Ostracised's competitors' work extremely insightful in making sure the film was unique and innovative in its educational approach and final outcome. It also helped me to develop my film further by inspiring me to include certain aspects, like a short credits list and the use of silence, to improve my film and make sure I was producing a film with the positive aspects of its competitors as well as its own individual elements.
UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER, 2014. New video exposes the harm of hate crime [viewed 25th March 2017]. Available from: http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/p
UNIVERSITYLEICESTER, 2014. The Harms of Hate [viewed 25th March 2017]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCFJd2U2BNQ
SOPHIEFOUNDATION, 2009. darkangel_sophie_lancaster_foundation.mov [viewed 25th March 2017]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
ILLAMASQUA, 2017. S.O.P.H.I.E [viewed 25th March 2017]. Available from: http://www.illamasqua.com/s-o-p-h-i-e/
SHOWSTUDIO, 2008. 'Untitled' by Nick Knight [viewed 25th March 2017]. Available: http://showstudio.com/blog/
KNIGHT, N., 2008. 'Untitled' [viewed 25th March 2017]. Available from: http://showstudio.com/project/political_fashion/films/undefined
TEACHERSTV, 2013. Teachers TV: Homophobia [viewed 25th march 2017]. Available from:
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