Case Studies:
Violence Against Women & Girls
The Brief.
We were tasked with creating a hard-hitting film for VAWGs, a charity campaign that spans the whole country and aims to tackle violence against women and girls. Armed with purpose, we took on the project knowing we had to deliver something that was real, tactful and frank.
The simple brief was to create a film that followed two friends during, what should have been, a safe night out.
Hard-Hitting without Exploitation.
Crafting content that strikes a powerful chord while avoiding exploitation is a delicate balancing act. It's essential to maintain integrity and impact without compromising the dignity of those affected. To achieve this, we prioritised authenticity and truthfulness, capturing the real-life struggles faced by women and girls on a daily basis.
During the scriptwriting stage, we understood the crucial role of preserving reality in the final film. Working closely with individuals affiliated with Safe and Sound Derby, we sought external assistance to ensure an accurate depiction of the challenges encountered during a night out. This collaborative approach allowed us to infuse genuine experiences into the narrative.
In addition to meticulous scripting, we recognised the value of incorporating a mix of acting styles. By combining trained actors and individuals who had never acted before, we harnessed the power of authenticity. Though it presented a bunch of challenges, this blend ultimately enhanced the final film's impact.
For the film's climactic scene, we made a deliberate choice to depict a brutal and protracted sequence. Despite receiving suggestions to shorten this scene, we understood that doing so would detract from the essence of the topic and undermine its importance. Fortunately, we had the support of most stakeholders to maintain the scene's integrity, ensuring justice was served to the cause. It's undoubtedly a tough scene to watch but it's also the most important scene.
Safe Derby.
Enter the "Safe Derby" campaign – an endeavor to transform Derby into a city liberated from gender-based violence, abuse, and exploitation in public spaces. This powerful initiative, supported by Derby City Council, Safe and Sound, and a league of other influential partners, sought to instill unwavering confidence in the safety of Derby while challenging prevailing notions and areas of concern.
Throughout this project, our aim was for the video to be part of a bigger picture that would inspire action and raise awareness, making Safe Derby a beacon of hope and progress. Our collaboration with Derby City Council, Safe and Sound, Derby Community Action, and other local partners has yielded a powerful culmination of efforts towards a city where gender-based violence is unequivocally denounced.