I've worked on Auf Wiedersehen Pet and Sunday for Sammy, now my mental health film is shortlisted for an award
A South Tynesdie animator’s film has been shortlisted for a national award.
Animator Scott Tyrrell has seen his film shortlisted for a national award.
Working with Sunderland-based mental health charity Headlight, the film tells the experiences of people using the charity as a way to help them after a tough time.
“This was the first time I’ve done a collaboration with service users” explained Tyrrell.
“Everyone involved responded well to it.”
After the success of the project, the team decided to find a way to get additional eyes on the film. This has now come through the Smiley Charity Film Awards.
Holding the title of the world’s largest cause-based film campaign, the awards are recognised by the British Film Institute.
This year will see money from the awards divided to the winning charities.
‘It takes guts to open up’
“That would be extremely helpful for a charity like Headlight” adds 51 year-old Tyrrell.
“A lot of the service users are middle aged to older people” he adds.
“The guts it takes for them to open up is huge.”
The collaboration came from North East group The Cultural Spring, who pair artists with charities to help the public create art.
Named ‘Any One Of Us’, the film looks at the importance of understanding anyone could be impacted by negative experiences with their mental health while supporting the charity by raising awareness of its work.
The film, which was made over four workshop sessions, is now in the judging phase of the competition but is also open to online public voting through the organiser’s website. Winners will be announced at the end of April.
‘I’ve had my own journey’
Scott has worked on Auf Wiedersehen Pet and Sunday For Sammy and has also made films for films for Children North East. He says the charity work is something he holds close to his heart: “I’ve had my own mental health journey” he explains.
“I thought this the process was going to be extremely triggering. The service users opened up about issues that were painfully familiar to me’ - it’s a tough thing to write about where everyone has a culture of taking it on the chin.
“It was really serendipitous that I worked on this project.”