Get Connected Recruits Movie Actors to Raise Awareness of Issues Facing Youngsters in the UK
Stars of Harry Potter, RocknRolla and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging support charity’s short film competition
Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs is one of the celebrities backing charity Get Connected’s new film competition Nobody’s Perfect. Young people between 16 and 25 can submit film, music and scripts to win the chance to work with industry professionals and produce short films that address issues like self-harm, sexuality and bullying.
The up and coming actor Tom Hardy (Layer Cake, RocknRolla) has a widely publicised troubled background and was happy to lend his support to the cause.
“A lot of gifted kids will slip the net to extraordinary career opportunities in the arts because they lack the fundamental knowledge required to make informed choices for whatever reason. I was naughty once, very over-stimulated – many people just gave up on me. The Arts taught me how to develop my observations and reflect in a positive healthy fashion bringing me pleasure, purpose and identity.”
Jason and Tom will be joined on the judging panel by young actors Georgia Groome (London to Brighton, Angus, Thongs & Perfect Snogging) and JJ Feild (Northanger Abbey), the musician Sandi Thom, writer-director Paris Leonti (Daylight Robbery) and of one of UK’s most successful producers, Nick O’Hagan (Fever Pitch, Tideland).
Get Connected, which provides a helpline for young people, will bring the winners to London in September to work on the Nobody’s Perfect short films. The finished films will then receive a premiere in the capital and be supported by numerous media partners including ITV Local, Tiscali and Raindance.
“Get Connected provides a confidential phone, email and web-chat service for under-25s and this competition will let them communicate their feelings in a way that’s relevant to them,” says Chloe Darlington, External Affairs Manager at Get Connected. “The support we’ve received from the media industry has been fantastic and we’re sure their enthusiasm for the project will really inspire the youngsters.”
The Nobody’s Perfect website can be viewed at http://www.nobodys-perfect.co.uk