Ex-offenders ‘determined’ to shine a light on mental health with new film

Young offenders from areas hit by gang violence are “determined” to shine a light on mental health issues with their new movie.

Therapeutic Productions, a company created by ex-offenders and working with disadvantaged communities, has started working on a new film – the Prodigal monster. 

The film crew behind Prodigal monster includes actors Jerome Prince, 39, from Sunny Hill Road, Streatham, and Simeon Jackman Smith, 20, from Gilby Road, Tooting, as well as assistant director of photography, Tyrus Preece-Walkes, 18, from South Norwood High Street, Croydon.

Set to be released in November 2024, Prodigal monster will focus on the positive impact that rehabilitative services can have on people trying to recover from mental illness and turn away from a life of crime.

Over the past few months, Therapeutic Productions piloted the film’s production by working with a team of hospitalised ex-offenders who spent time at the Royal Bethlem hospital, in Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, as well as young people with mental health difficulties from Sutton.

The team provided drama therapy services as well as workshops on creativity and mental health to the group before filming content for its film teaser. 

The teaser was shot by Mr Preece-Walkes and edited by London based media production company, JV8 Studios, and 18-year-old Croydon editor Sufyan Samsara. 

The film is now set to go into production in February, 2024, with funding locked in from public bodies and companies including the arts council, MSN fund, clothworkers for capital investment and synergy fund and is also being supported by national bodies like the association of drama therapists, mindfulness UK, and the restorative justice council.

Going forward the team will be working with the Brixton-based social enterprise, Lerato community initiative, to train and hire disadvantaged communities in Clapham, and work with mental health services in Croydon, to hire hospitalised ex-offenders who have gone through phsychiatric services. 

Jerome Sewell, managing director of Therapeutic Productions and executive producer, said: “We are determined to shine a light on these crucial issues and matters in society by opening a window into the lives of those with mental health conditions in our community. 

“At the same time as this we aim to have a transformative impact on the provision of arts therapy to our communities and the advancement of people’s artistic careers.”

Therapeutic productions was founded by hospitalised ex-offenders hoping to increase the participation of ethnic minority communities in the arts and their access to arts therapy. 

Members of their board spent time in the specialist psychiatric hospital, Broadmoor hospital, off Chaplain’s Hill Road in Crowthorne.

Pictured top: From left, Tyrus Preece-Walkes, Vincent Bugozi and Jerome Prince, during the shoot in Sutton (Picture: Jerome Sewell)