A FILM director has partnered with the mum of a teenager who was stabbed to death to create a film to help tackle knife crime in the north of England.
Former Rainford High student Owen Seabrook has linked up with Sarah Lloyd, a knife crime campaigner whose 17-year-old son Kieran Butterworth was murdered in Harehills, Leeds, in 2013.
Owen has also teamed up with ex-gang member Vilson Duarte-Dong, for the project.
The film ‘Cut Short: Fighting Against Knives in the North’ aims to educate young people on the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife by sharing Sarah’s story of grief and loss.
It will also depict Vilson’s experience of overcoming and escaping the gang world.
The film also features interviews with a direct witness of Kieran’s murder, a Leeds General Infirmary trauma surgeon, and young people who carry knives.
Owen says West Yorkshire Police have also shared statistics on sharps-related confiscations and crimes.
Owen said: “We’re making the film in Leeds but it’s representative of knife crime across the UK.
“Some young people simply don’t have the guidance to access this information, so we want to bring it to them.”
Owen grew up in Dentons Green, before the family moved to Billinge while he was in primary school. After Rainford High he attended Winstanley College.
Owen then moved to Leeds for university to study film and did freelance videographer work while he did his degree.
Cut Short will be Owen’s first independent documentary with his production company Tell Studio, which uses film to tell important stories about people.
“It is a grim subject matter but it is designed to help young people understand the impact of carrying a knife.
“The film is about hearing people that have lived it.”
Owen is raising £4,200 through crowdfunding platform Kickstarter to produce the film.
The funding campaign will run until the end of November, with the documentary being shot between December 9 and 12 in and around Leeds.
The film will be shared with schools, community centres and across social media but Owen hopes to find more ways of reaching young people.
The crowdfunding campaign is live now and can be found by searching “Cut Short” on Kickstarter or @cutshortdoc on Instagram. Visit kickstarter.com/projects/tellstudio/cut-short-fighting-against-knives-in-the-north
Owen is inviting anyone on school boards or who wants to use the film to get in touch. Email owen@tell.studio
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here