‘It’s a very emotional story’: Documentary drama by ex-offenders released
Young offenders from areas hit by gang violence have released a new documentary drama which shines a light on mental health issues with the help of service users from psychiatric hospitals.
Therapeutic Productions, a company created by ex-offenders and working with disadvantaged communities, first began work on the feature film, Prodigal Monster, in October.
The short production focuses 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.
Crew members include actors Jerome Prince, 39, of Sunny Hill Road, Streatham, and Simeon Jackman Smith, 20, from Gilby Road, Tooting, as well as assistant director of photography, Tyrus Preece-Walkes, 18, of South Norwood High Street, Croydon.
Filming began in February after the group received funding from the Arts Council, MSN Fund and the Wimbledon Foundation.
Troy Wilson from Deptford who plays the role of Joshua, the film’s main character, said: “I found shooting great. It’s a very emotional story, the process was adventurous and I loved it.”
Throughout the past nine months Therapeutic Productions worked with more than 15 ex-offenders, who spent time at the Royal Bethlem hospital in Beckenham, as well as young people with mental health difficulties to create the production which combines real-life interviews with dramatic acting scenes.
Service users from the psychiatric hospital were commissioned to create illustrated set designs and record soundtracks for the motion picture at a recording studio in Brixton.
Young people from the Notre Dame estate in Crescent Lane, Clapham, also worked with Brixton based social enterprise Lerato Community Initiative to create music for the film’s soundtrack.
Jerome Sewell, the film’s executive producer from Croydon, said: “It never ceases to fascinate me when it comes to all the creative energy and parts that bring us to this Junction.
“The collective energy of every person joining this means that everyone has imparted something in themselves to bring this to life.”
Mr Sewell said Therapeutic Productions’ wider objective for the project was to provide employability in the arts and access to arts based therapy for people from ethnic minority disadvantaged groups.
In total the organisation hired, trained and recruited an additional 32 cast and crew members and artists with a variety of needs, including young offenders, young people with learning and neurological disabilities, artists excluded from mainstream education and young people who live in council estates and gang hit communities.
To watch Prodigal Monster Click Here.
Pictured top: Frederick Konneh, lead actor (Picture: Therapeutic Productions)