Hackney youngster film road safety drama

Fifteen young Spielbergs strolled down a red carpet at Arcola Theatre in Dalston to premiere their road safety film to a host of their peers.

MMC, a group of 15 to 19 year-olds from Hackney, wrote, produced, directed and starred in their film, Concrete Dreams, designed to communicate road safety messages to other Hackney youths.

The teenagers celebrated the launch of the film, along with the first play of their song called ‘Unstoppable’, at a swanky reception at the theatre in Arcola Street.

The film will be used as an educational tool by schools, community organisations and youth groups and posted on YouTube and Facebook.

Concrete Dreams evolved from a series of free, half term ‘Make your Messages Count’ workshops last October.

Speaking at the premiere, MMC production assistant, Ethan May, explained why the group aimed the film at their own peers.

“We did a survey of over 200 young people from two different schools in Hackney and realised that only 14 per cent remember the road safety messages aimed at them,” he said.

“So that is why we created our own road safety film with support from the council and partners,”

Councillor Feryal Demirci, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “Concrete Dreams gets out important road safety messages in a way that young people enjoy and that will encourage others to take up the services available in Hackney.”