One of the films, Jack: Differently Abled, was produced by Film & Television Production students Jo Gill and Hayley Dean, and was released online last year as part of the BBC Fresh series. It follows the day-to-day life of Jack, a student at Impington Village College who also has cerebral palsy.
Hayley said: “We wanted to strip away the taboos of disability, concentrating on how fulfilling life is for Jack but also touching on the difficult times they have faced as a family. Most importantly we wanted to highlight Jack’s abilities, and show what a strong support network he has around him.”
Jack: Differently Abled has already gained attention after various charities helped to promote it, and the version on YouTube has had over 6,000 views.
Hayley and Jo, now in their final year of the Film & Television Production course at Anglia Ruskin in Cambridge, are currently working on another short documentary, this time focusing on people who care for the disabled. They are looking at the reasons why people volunteer their time to assist those who have disabilities and explore the relationships between carers and the disabled.
X by David Powell, a recent Film & Television Production graduate from Anglia Ruskin, will also be featured on the show. X is a short film about the treatment of disabled people in Portugal compared to the UK.
The filmmakers have been invited to a preview screening of the Life Through Your Lens programme at the BBC’s New Broadcasting House in London this evening [Thursday, 15 January].
Hayley said: “We are really, really excited! It’s a great opportunity to meet filmmakers and industry professionals, and discuss our film in depth. We are taking Jack’s parents to the screening as guests too, which is a lovely way for us to thank them for allowing our trust and cameras into their lives.”
Dr Shreepali Patel, Senior Lecturer in Film and Television Production, said: “We are extremely proud of Jo, Hayley and David. I have seen them really work through the complex ethical debates within their subject matter and step out of their comfort zones in order to tell the stories of their central characters. I have no doubt that we will continue to see more insightful and thought-provoking films from them.”
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For more press information please contact:
Jon Green on t: 0845 196 4717, e: jon.green@anglia.ac.uk
Jamie Forsyth on t: 0845 196 4716, e: jamie.forsyth@anglia.ac.uk
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