Clients from AMH New Horizons, North Down & Ards have been very busy in recent months, developing, scripting, filming and acting in their own short film which portrays some of the difficulties of living with mental health issues. Local film maker, Michael MacBroom worked with the group to develop their ideas and concepts into the short film which is to be screened at Belfast City Hall on Tuesday 11th of October, as a fun and final event in a series of World Mental Health Day activities promoting mental health awareness. The special guests will be Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Ellen Campbell and Brian D’Arcy – writer, newspaper columnist and broadcaster, and everyone is encouraged to wear something bight and colourful to the event.
The film illustrates the restrictions that a mental health problem such as depression or anxiety, or long term conditions such as fibromyalgia, can place on an individual’s life. As part of the process, the film crew also looked at the positive things all of the clients in AMH had in their lives – their ONE THING – the thing, person, activity or place which helps them to push forward, that they can focus on, that makes a not-so-good day brighter and enables recovery. While their ‘one thing’ does not make all their problems go away, it can lessen the impact and help them to get through difficult times. The film is titled ONE THING as the film crew wished to focus on the most positive message in the film. The film project also involved the exploration of colour and our associations with it, through the creation of prints with a local artist, Eimear McCann. The film and artworks will be on show at the event in City Hall and the short film will be distributed across mental health and wellbeing agencies.
A civic reception and the use of Belfast City Hall has kindly been provided by Belfast City Council. The film has been part funded by North Down and Ards Borough Council through their Arts Grants Programme. AMH is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.
Speaking about her experience, Caroline Fraser said, “I’ve really enjoyed being part of this project. The film maker has been so patient, I’ve learned so much and the group has really gelled and we are all really understanding how it all fits together now. I don’t want this project to end.”
Colin Wright also agreed, “It’s been extremely fun learning about the film-making process and how much work goes into making even a very short film!”
This trailer for the film – a one minute teaser – will be played on the big screen in the grounds of City Hall periodically between 9am and 9pm on 10th and 11th October 2016. ONE THING will premiere on Tuesday 11th of October, 10.30am at the event inside Belfast City Hall
Those interested in attending should contact [email protected]
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