Yesterday, I was lucky enough to attend an Exhibition called “Girls Behind Bars” held in the “Together Our Space Gallery” in Old Street in London. In this current exhibition all the art work, visual and spoken media, was produced by female prisoners or ex-offenders and aims to explore their lives and how the justice system has affected them.
“Together” is a national charity which works alongside people who have mental health issues. They aspire to “a world where each individual can play their part in breaking down the barriers that exist around mental health through ignorance and lack of understanding”.
Together run a specialist service for vulnerable people in the criminal justice system and are known for their campaign for positive change. This is especially important as more than 70% of the prison population has two or more mental health disorders and female prisoners are 35 times more likely than women in general. For prisoners, finding a way to open up and express their feelings and communicate this with the outside world is a huge step forward.
Now you may ask why I say I was “lucky” to be able to see this inspiring exhibition. I am presently a serving offender, working in the community to give something back to the community. So for me, this exhibition had two meanings. Firstly, I could really relate to the work that had been created as I understood the environment that the women are in and know how difficult it can be to express your feelings and survive the challenges. Secondly, I now appreciate things I previously would have found at the bottom of my list of things to do, work and earning money were always far more important in the past and never gave me any time to be creative.
It is amazing how a few words or a picture drawn with feeling can “paint a thousand words”. I found the work on display gave the viewing public a peek into the varied experiences of women in the justice system: some bad, some not so bad and some downright awful, especially if they are suffering from mental health issues. I have seen the effects of poor mental health on the female population in prison and this is often just one of many problems affecting them.
Inside Job Productions, where I currently work as a Production Trainee had a short animation in the exhibition, created by girls from a Young Offenders Institute in Brighton. I was very proud to see what they had produced. The work they created showed real understanding of the mistakes they had made and could have been avoided. It was an educational and informative presentation, which I don’t believe would have had the same impact if it was only in a written form. It proves that creative communication can educate and inform a wider population. From a personal point of view, I have been able to use artwork and media as a medium to fuse together all my previous interests and it has given me a “new voice” and increased self esteem.
Written by DM
Wednesday 25 May 2011
Monday 28 March 2011
Inside Job Productions recognised with two gongs at International Communication Ceremony
Inside Job Productions (IJP), a London based production company making ‘great films with a purpose’, have been crowned proud winners of two Bronze prizes at the World’s largest and most prestigious celebration of the best in corporate and public sector communication, the IVCA 2011 Awards.
Competing with the cream of the crop in corporate film making, IJP’s Managing Director Naomi Delap said “IJP’s resounding success illustrates that big budgets are not an essential necessity in making great films with impact”. A small social enterprise, IJP’s films get to the heart of important issues in informative and stylish productions that rival the big boys of the production world. And with all the company's profits going to fund projects that use media to empower isolated communities and an innovative training programme for serving prisoners, IJP shows that great businesses can also make a great social contribution.
Now in their 23rd year, the IVCA (International Visual and Communications Association) awards were established to recognize effective corporate and public sector communications in video, interactive projects, business television and digital media. Recognised internationally as a premier mark of excellence in communication circles, winning two Bronze IVCA award is testament to IJP’s wonderful talent and celebrates the power of communication to only entertain, but also to educate and inspire people to make positive change.
‘Better Drug Treatment in Prison’ - an evocative five minute animation created for the National Treatment Agency directed by Graham Clayton-Chance - won bronze in the Best Animation, Graphic and Special Effects category. Nominated alongside corporate giant Nokia, this beautiful short illustrates the immense power and impact of creative social enterprise to communicate messages that are often difficult to portray in mainstream media. Through the words of offenders, this original and imaginative short follows the personal stories of three users and the incredible support they received in their battle to kick their habit.
‘Making a Fresh Start’, an educational film for offenders, directed by Ed McGown and starring Joe Simms and Angus Brown won bronze for the Best Drama award. This film allows offenders to understand what positive steps can be taken to ensure a life beyond bars is not a life plighted with financial horrors. A hard-hitting and humourous film that brings to life explicit messages often lost in traditional communication strategies. ‘Making a Fresh Start’ demonstrates the impact of media in empowering isolated communities.
Commenting on IJP’s double success, Marco Forgione, IVCA Chief Executive said: “Congratulations to IJP for their innovative and much deserved award-winning entries. The judges were impressed by the high calibre of skills, originality and expertise displayed.” He added that they’d described “Making a Fresh Start” as “a relevant and memorable film.”
ENDS 11:00 am 28th March 2011
Contact: Beverley Morrison 020 70332171
Written by: Gail Wilson
______________________________________
Notes to Editor:
For further information about the production of ‘Better Drug Treatment in Prison’ or ‘Making a Fresh Start’ display please contact:
Beverley Morrison, Acting Managing Director
beverleym@insidejobproductions.co.uk 020 70332170
Ann Summerhayes, Production Coordinator
anns@insidejobproductions.co.uk 020 70332170
• Inside Job Productions is a unique film production company with a twist. Not only does IJP make great films with a purpose, but 100% of profits are channelled directly into funding not-for-profit projects aimed at empowering isolate communities through media. http://www.insidejobproductions.org.uk/who_we_are
• Media for Development, is IJP’s parent social enterprise who utilise different media projects to reach, engage and empower isolated communities throughout the UK and internationally. For current list of projects contact Christy McAleese, Development Manager on christym@mediafordevelopment.org.uk 0207 0332170
• ‘Better Drug Treatment in Prison’ was produced in collaboration with National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, a National Health Service (NHS) Special Authority established to improve the availability, capacity and effectiveness of drug treatment in England. http://www.nta.nhs.uk/. To watch the film visit: http://www.insidejobproductions.org.uk/our_work
• ICVA Awards took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, on the evening of Friday 25th March 2011. The ICVA awards celebrate creativity and effectiveness in Film, Interactive Media, CD-Rom, Websites and Production Arts and gives out more than 30 awards annually. http://www.ivca.org/award-schemes/ivca-awards/about-awards.html
Competing with the cream of the crop in corporate film making, IJP’s Managing Director Naomi Delap said “IJP’s resounding success illustrates that big budgets are not an essential necessity in making great films with impact”. A small social enterprise, IJP’s films get to the heart of important issues in informative and stylish productions that rival the big boys of the production world. And with all the company's profits going to fund projects that use media to empower isolated communities and an innovative training programme for serving prisoners, IJP shows that great businesses can also make a great social contribution.
Now in their 23rd year, the IVCA (International Visual and Communications Association) awards were established to recognize effective corporate and public sector communications in video, interactive projects, business television and digital media. Recognised internationally as a premier mark of excellence in communication circles, winning two Bronze IVCA award is testament to IJP’s wonderful talent and celebrates the power of communication to only entertain, but also to educate and inspire people to make positive change.
‘Better Drug Treatment in Prison’ - an evocative five minute animation created for the National Treatment Agency directed by Graham Clayton-Chance - won bronze in the Best Animation, Graphic and Special Effects category. Nominated alongside corporate giant Nokia, this beautiful short illustrates the immense power and impact of creative social enterprise to communicate messages that are often difficult to portray in mainstream media. Through the words of offenders, this original and imaginative short follows the personal stories of three users and the incredible support they received in their battle to kick their habit.
‘Making a Fresh Start’, an educational film for offenders, directed by Ed McGown and starring Joe Simms and Angus Brown won bronze for the Best Drama award. This film allows offenders to understand what positive steps can be taken to ensure a life beyond bars is not a life plighted with financial horrors. A hard-hitting and humourous film that brings to life explicit messages often lost in traditional communication strategies. ‘Making a Fresh Start’ demonstrates the impact of media in empowering isolated communities.
Commenting on IJP’s double success, Marco Forgione, IVCA Chief Executive said: “Congratulations to IJP for their innovative and much deserved award-winning entries. The judges were impressed by the high calibre of skills, originality and expertise displayed.” He added that they’d described “Making a Fresh Start” as “a relevant and memorable film.”
ENDS 11:00 am 28th March 2011
Contact: Beverley Morrison 020 70332171
Written by: Gail Wilson
______________________________________
Notes to Editor:
For further information about the production of ‘Better Drug Treatment in Prison’ or ‘Making a Fresh Start’ display please contact:
Beverley Morrison, Acting Managing Director
beverleym@insidejobproductions.co.uk 020 70332170
Ann Summerhayes, Production Coordinator
anns@insidejobproductions.co.uk 020 70332170
• Inside Job Productions is a unique film production company with a twist. Not only does IJP make great films with a purpose, but 100% of profits are channelled directly into funding not-for-profit projects aimed at empowering isolate communities through media. http://www.insidejobproductions.org.uk/who_we_are
• Media for Development, is IJP’s parent social enterprise who utilise different media projects to reach, engage and empower isolated communities throughout the UK and internationally. For current list of projects contact Christy McAleese, Development Manager on christym@mediafordevelopment.org.uk 0207 0332170
• ‘Better Drug Treatment in Prison’ was produced in collaboration with National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, a National Health Service (NHS) Special Authority established to improve the availability, capacity and effectiveness of drug treatment in England. http://www.nta.nhs.uk/. To watch the film visit: http://www.insidejobproductions.org.uk/our_work
• ICVA Awards took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, on the evening of Friday 25th March 2011. The ICVA awards celebrate creativity and effectiveness in Film, Interactive Media, CD-Rom, Websites and Production Arts and gives out more than 30 awards annually. http://www.ivca.org/award-schemes/ivca-awards/about-awards.html
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